//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Hard To Say Good Bye // by BellChime //------------------------------// Rarity trotted through town absentmindedly, her thoughts focused primarily on Rainbow Dash. She wished that Twilight and Fluttershy would perk up, despite the injuries, Rainbow seemed well taken care of. Now it’s only a matter of her waking up…Rarity mused as she opened the door. “Rarity!” Sweetie Belle cried, immediately before her. “Rarity...you got...home...quickly!” Should I tell Sweetie Bell? Rarity stared down at Sweetie Bell intently, causing the filly to shrink back in fear. “Rarity...we’ll clean it up, we swear!” Wait a second… “Clean what up?” “Rarity-Umm…” Sweetie stammered awkwardly, shifting from one hoof to the other. Rarity pushed past her sister and rushed into the kitchen, where Scootaloo and Applebloom were frantically scrubbing a huge chocolate stain on the table cloth. The instant say saw her they dropped their cloths and ran to grovel at her feet. “Please don’t get mad-” “Candy-Making Cutie Marks-” “My friend Twist was gonna come help-” “But Twist has the stomach bug-” “So we tried, but-” “We’re really sorry!” Scootaloo wailed. Rarity groaned. She wanted to give these fillies a good talking to right then and there, but alas, a proper lady did not lose her temper in front of guests. She checked the tablecloth. It wasn’t any of her good linen, thank goodness-but still… “Let’s get some cold water.” She said decisively. Five Minutes later, the tablecloth had been hung up to dry, and Rarity, having shepherded the crusaders out of the boutique, sat down with exhaustion. With the crisis taken care of, her thoughts returned to Rainbow Dash. Again Rarity wondered how her sister (Or, Celestia forbid, Scootaloo, for that matter) would react. Oh, Sweetie Bell...is this something you need to know? Is it silly of me to wonder? Rarity felt a twinge of guilt keeping things from Sweetie Belle...but really, was this something Sweetie needed to know? Was it something Sweetie wanted to know? Rarity shook her head and sighed. Nothing to be done about it now, Sweetie Belle and her friends had gone off to town. She needed someone to talk to. That was what. Rarity still wasn’t quite sure what she was upset about...Rainbow Dash probably had it better than their friend Twist, who, rather then lying peacefully in her bed was probably vomiting all over the place...ugh. Now, let’s see. Pinkie Pie said she was going to stay at the hospital a bit longer, Twilight’s busy tracking down Rainbow’s kin, Fluttershy-well, much as Rarity adored Fluttershy, all those animals-spilled food, and droppings-definitely not Fluttershy’s, at least not at feeding time. “Well, I guess that leaves one pony to go to.” It wasn’t her ideal place, but...it was still something better then brooding in her studio all afternoon. So she set off. "It’s terribly kind of you to entertain me on such short notice.” Rarity told Applejack as she was given a mug of cider. “No problem, Rarity,” Applejack responded, pouring a mug for herself. “So, what’s on yer mind?” “Well,” Rarity said quietly, “Um, I, you see, Um,” Rarity said, playing with her mug a bit. “It’s about our friend-” “Friend?” Applejack asked. “Is somethin’ the matter?” “Well-yes-no-I don’t know, dear, I-I-I that’s the problem.” Rarity finally said, taking a lady like sip of her cider. (A hard feat considering the huge mug) Applejack frowned a bit, looking slightly confused. “Ah’m listenin’, Rarity.” “O-Oh...I see,” Rarity said. “I suppose you feel the same way. I don’t know-Twilight told me about a stage of grief called Denial, but-I don’t know if that’s what I’m feeling about Rainbow Dash’s-Um-injuries. Is something the matter?” Rarity said. “You look a bit faint.” “Rarity! Rarity-Um, could ya not?” Applejack whispered, pulling back her braid. “Please?” “Not...what?” Rarity asked in confusion. “Not...not…” “Oh, dear, now things are getting awkward,” Rarity fretted. “Well, darling, I guess I want to get your opinion on…er...ah-hah!” Rarity shouted. “Eh…?” Applejack asked. “There!” Rarity pointed over Applejack’s should at a framed picture of Rainbow Dash. Applejack hastily flicked her tail so Rainbow Dash’s picture so that it was face down. “Applejack…” “Now, now, Rarity,” Said Applejack. “L-let’s t-talk about something else.” She sounded upset as she wrapped her hoof around Rarity. “I-I-I-oh…” Rarity groaned in defeat, suddenly feeling very tired, allowing herself to be supported by Applejack’s shoulder and sighing in frustration.