Buttercup waited anxiously for Lavender to come out of Princess Twilight’s office. They had arrived 10 minutes earlier. Lavender was in Twilight’s office, talking to her about seeing buttercup today. Buttercup sighed. 10 minutes of Lavender talking to the Princess. 10 minutes of nervous waiting with only Scarlet and the swinging fan to keep her company.
So, how long do you think she’ll be in there? Buttercup was startled out of her nervousness by Scarlet.
Go away.
Aw, I was just asking!
Go away.
hmph.
Buttercup sighed. She looked up when the door opened. Lavender and Twilight came out.
“Come on, Buttercup. Princess Twilight is going to take us to her lounge now so she can see what’s wrong.” Buttercup smiled and nodded.
“Kay.” she followed Lavender and the Princess to the lounge. Princess Twilight sat down on a plush chair across from a plush couch. Lavender and Buttercup sat on the couch.
“So, how are you two doing today?” Twilight smiled warmly at Buttercup and Lavender.
“I’m doing well so far. Lav’?” Buttercup looked at Lavender.
“Well… my dad and I aren’t on the best of terms right now. But that can be fixed after Buttercup tells you what’s wrong.” Lavender smiled.
“So, what’s wrong that I can help with? Is there something that’s driving you and somepony else apart? Is there something going on that’s bothering you?” Twilight smiled comfortingly. Buttercup didn’t react. She didn’t say anything.
“I can tell you’re hiding something. Not to pry, but your smile looks like a mask, and it’s obvious. And I can tell you don’t want anypony to know. Is it something I can help with?” Twilight asked. Buttercup sighed. She looked down.
“Princess, the things you want to know about me are not things that I can tell just anypony. I’d likely end up in a dungeon cell for telling you or anypony else.” Buttercup sighed.
“Do… you want to talk about it? I won’t judge you or have you arrested, I promise.” Twilight’s smile was still comforting, but now held an air of caution. Buttercup looked at the princess.
“Can you really promise to uphold justice?” Buttercup asked.
“I can try. If it helps you, I’ll try the best I can.” Twilight smiled.
“Alright. But… I want Lavender to wait outside. She doesn’t need to know this. It would only hurt her.” Buttercup looked down again. Lavender just nodded and left. Twilight waited.
“Well…” Buttercup bit her cheek. Getting awfully close to telling, aren’t we, Partner?
“No. I can’t. She’d just get angry.” Twilight tilted her head to the side.
“Who’s ‘she’?” Twilight asked. Buttercup refused to speak. Twilight bit her cheek.
“Buttercup… are you being… abused by somepony?” Twilight asked. Buttercup was shocked out of her stupor.
“N-no! Well, not in the way you think.” don’t you dare…
“Well, what’s happening to you? I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.” Twilight sighed. Heh. The idiot. She doesn’t even know what’s happening to you, Partner.
Go away.
“I know you can’t help if I don’t tell you, but you must understand… I can’t tell you. If I told you… if I told anyone… well. Let’s just say things would bode ill for the ponies I told. She would take care of them by any means necessary. I’m sorry. But I just can’t tell you.” Buttercup sighed.
“If this is that bad, then maybe we get the guards, or something?”
“No, that would only make it worse.” Wow, partner, she’s really trying to get you to tell her, isn’t she? Not that you would, of course, You don’t want a certain something to happen, do you?
“Then how about we try and talk it out?” Shut up, Scarlet!
“She’s not that kind of pony, Princess.”
“W-well maybe we could get Princess Celestia or Luna, or I could come help!” Buttercup shook her head. She sighed.
“Princess, dragging them into this wouldn’t help either.”
“If you’d just tell me, then I could help you.” Buttercup sighed. Partner…
“…” Buttercup looked down. If you tell her, I swear…
“I… I want to tell you, but…” Buttercup, darling, remember the murderer in your head? Well, that will get you locked up, IF I don’t get to you first. “But she won’t let me.” Buttercup stood up. Leave, now.
“I should be getting home. She’s getting restless.” Buttercup moved towards the door. Twilight stood up.
“W-wait! If it’s really that bad a friendship problem, then you can’t just--”
“IT’S NOT A FRIENDSHIP PROBLEM, TWILIGHT!” Buttercup spun around. Twilight staggered back.
“W-w… it’s… not?” Twilight only managed that.
“No. it’s not. It’s nothing like that.” Buttercup walked out, leaving Princess Twilight unable to speak.
Lavender waited outside for Buttercup to come out. She looked up when Buttercup came out.
“How’d it go?” Buttercup sighed.
“Not well. I’m going home now. You can stay if you want, to get some help with your dad.” Buttercup didn’t say another word. She walked out of the castle. Twilight came out a few minutes later, slightly shocked. Lavender went up to her.
“That bad, huh?” Lavender asked.
“Yeah. she told me something about some mare who’s been hurting her, but then she backed out. When I suggested getting the guards, she snapped at me and left.”
“Oh no…” Lavender put a hoof up to her mouth.
“From what she told me, it sounds like it’s only getting worse. I would normally suggest asking her about it, but when I asked, she snapped. For now, just keep a close watch on her, and tell her family the same. I have a feeling things will be getting worse for her soon, and you may find out what she’s dealing with in the worst way.” Twilight said.
“Thank you. I suppose I’ll have to take a raincheck about my dad. I’d better follow her home to make sure nothing bad happens.” Lavender smiled.
“You’re welcome.” Twilight smiled back. Lavender nodded and left.
Buttercup trotted briskly home, making sure to avoid other ponies on her way. She wondered why Lavender had thought this was a good idea.
Maybe because she wanted us to get sent to jail, Partner.
You’re chatty today.
Oh, I just feel like it, Partner! After all, it can get so lonely in here alone!
Says the pony who doesn’t feel love.
Touche.
Buttercup opened the front door to her home. She had to face Sunset now. Sunset was sitting in a chair in the living room, waiting for her.
“Hey, Sunset.” Buttercup tried to sound as okay as possible.
“Hey, Buttercup! How’d it go?” Sunset smiled.
“It went… okay.” Buttercup smiled.
“Okay? Just okay?” Sunset tilted her head in confusion.
“Well…” Buttercup rubbed the back of her head and grimaced.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” Sunset smiled.
“Thanks.” Buttercup smiled. She went into her bedroom and closed the door. Sunset sighed and waited for Lavender to return.
Lavender trotted up to the door of Buttercup’s home, hoping to find Sunset. She opened the door and went into the living room where Sunset was sitting.
“Hey, Sunset.” Lavender smiled.
“Hey, Lavender. So, how did it go with Buttercup?” Sunset asked.
“She didn’t tell you?” Lavender asked.
“No, she didn’t. She went into her bedroom without telling me more than ‘it went okay’.” Sunset sighed.
“Well, she lied. It didn’t go well at all. Twilight told me that when she asked, Buttercup kept avoiding the questions and then finally snapped. She also told me she had a very bad feeling about what’s to come. She told me to keep an eye on Buttercup and to tell you the same.” Lavender sat down on the couch.
“She… snapped at the princess?” Sunset asked.
“Yeah. I heard her snap a bit. It sounded bad.” Lavender looked down. Sunset sighed.
“Oh, Buttercup, what have you gotten yourself into?” Sunset muttered. She rubbed her temples.
“Thanks for telling me. I’ll make sure to keep a closer watch on Buttercup. Celestia knows she needs some help with whatever she’s dealing with.” Sunset looked down. She sighed. There was silence. Tense, cautious silence. After a while, Sunset spoke again.
“Hey… Lavender?”
“Yeah?”
“Can… would you promise me something… please?”
“What is it?”
“Please… whatever it is Buttercup’s dealing with… it’s not something she wants to tell us. If… if she tells you… and it turns out to be bad… please help her. I don’t want to lose my little sister. I just… I can’t…” Sunset couldn’t look up.
“I promise.” Lavender smiled and hugged Sunset.
“Lavender…” Sunset smiled.
“Thank you.”