Chapter 7: a lesson in theatre.
It had been a few months and, despite the setbacks, the new theatre was built on time. Gray, ever aware of the fact nopony knew it was part of his name, called it the Lapis theatre. It was big. Walking inside, Gray was aware of the ever-so-slight hoof falls that he was making. This was good. It meant that sound wouldn’t bounce too much. The grandstands hadn’t quite been installed yet, but that didn’t matter. The stage was sound, the Skylights worked. He had a theatre.
Gray was so busy thinking about the wonderful things he could do with this theatre that he didn’t hear Rarity walk in. She stood behind the daydreaming stallion for a while, watching him. They’d been on a few dates now, but every time there was potential for an intimate moment, Gray freaked and couldn’t do it. She’d introduced him to the rest of the gang, much to their rather excited surprise, and they’d liked the actor ever since. All of them except Spike that is. He’d kept shooting Gray nasty looks whenever he could. But Gray wasn’t thinking about that now. Rarity spoke from behind him, causing a smile to appear on his face.
“See? Told you it was beautiful Gray.”
Gray turned.
“No, you told me it was nice.”
Rarity shrugged.
“That was before it was finished my dear.”
She was taking slow steps towards him the whole time and now they were just in front of each other. Gray shrugged.
“Alright, I’ll give you that one. What are you doing here? Where’s Sweetie Belle?”
Rarity laughed softly.
“So many questions Gray! I’m here because I wanted to see your face when it was finished on time. Sweetie Belle is with the rest of the crusaders at Sweet Apple Acres.”
Gray nodded thoughtfully, his face transforming into one of exaggerated thought. He looked at the stage, the same look on his face. It transformed into a smile. He took Rarity’s hoof in his and gently pulled her to the stage. Situating her under one of the sky lights, he motioned for her to stay put and walked over to a row of levers. Rarity looked nervously around.
“There isn’t a trap door here is there?”
Gray chuckled.
“No Rarity. Just hold on.”
He found the right lever and threw it. The skylight above Rarity was thrown open and a shaft of sunlight encompassed Rarity in light. Gray gasped. Rarity, caught by surprise, blushed at his reaction.
“Rarity...”
The light threw dramatic shadows over the bottom half of her frame, and accentuated the shine of her hair. In short, it accentuated her beauty to the realm of the fantastical. She tossed her mane to one side, eliciting another small gasp from Gray.
“Well, you certainly know how to make a mare feel good Gray.”
She walked out of the light, walking up to him directly. His face was still awestruck and it made her giggle. She nuzzled him affectionately.
“Wake up Gray. I’m not over there anymore.”
Gray shook his head and looked down into her blue eyes. For a moment that held. But too soon, Gray looked away. Rarity sighed, it was always like this. Her eyes were soft as she encompassed Gray in a hug. A hug he returned. He was taken back to the first time... He was in the bed once again having felt the sharp crack of her rather impressive slap... the rose scent, the softness of her coat...
He lost himself in those sensations that day. He could think of nothing else, even after the grandstands were installed.
~*~
He arrived back late at the boutique. Rarity was up, waiting for his return. Feeling impish, Gray looked through the window to locate her. She was on the first floor alright. Her horn was glowing and there was something behind her back. Gray smiled and translocated. There was no light and no sound. He appeared behind her and immediately saw what she’d hidden. It was a pearly white suit with gold stitching. He smile dropped. The fabric looked like it cost a fortune.
“You know I can’t accept this Rarity.”
Rarity spun around, not aware that he’d teleported. Her face turned from a look of shock into a frown.
“How did you get here without me seeing you?”
Gray shrugged and his horn glowed. Rarity’s eyelids dropped.
“Oh. Of course you teleported. But anyway, that’s not what I wanted to tell you. Or ask you.”
Gray frowned. Ask him? Ask him what? Rarity answered before he could ask, swinging the suit around as she did so.
“I spoke to Fluttershy today about her upcoming wedding-“
Gray started in alarm.
“Oh Horseapples! The wedding! Tonight is the bachelor party thing! Oh shoot, I’m sorry Rarity, I really have to go, I’m already late!”
He kissed her lightly on the cheek before he realised what he was doing and bolted. Rarity stood dumbstruck.
“What just happened?” she muttered to herself.
She sighed. The suit was for him to wear to the wedding. Demonheart may not suit white, but on Gunmetal grey and black it’d be the perfect combination. Rolling her eyes, she went about preparing for the little get-together Fluttershy was having with the rest of them. The old six friends together for another night.
~*~
Gray stopped outside Applejack’s barn. This was where the bachelor night was meant to be happening. Composing himself and trying to stop breathing so hard, Gray walked in to see seven stallions rather than the six he’d expected. The last one was a big white stallion with a golden mane and tail. He looked over at Gray with all the rest of them. Rock Ranger’s face split into a wide grin.
“Hey Gray! Just in time! I need your help beating these guys at dice and I’d take a gander as to think that, since we have less player on our team, you’d be willing to join!”
Gray nodded, his face turning into a smile. He ended up partnered with Rock Ranger, Big Mac and the new stallion he now knew as Defender. It was a game of luck, but Gray could tell what was happening. Ranger’s slight smile every time Demon rolled the dice. Something was up with those dice. He was letting Demon and the others win. But Gray wasn’t going to dob him in. He was enjoying himself immensely, and did so even after those games.
~*~
Rarity’s night was much more exciting. Pinkie Pie had automatically made it into a party, as she did best. It was actionpacked, full of games that Pinkie had cooked up just for their benefit. The decorations, having been set up by Rarity herself, were, of course, perfect. Fluttershy wasn’t sure if she liked it at first, but she got more into the spirit of things after she was plied with a few glasses of wine. They were all plied with a bit actually, which made them all quite friendly. Most of the night passed in a daze to Rarity.
~*~
Gray returned to an empty boutique. Gray shrugged. Rarity would come back eventually. Leaving the lights on, Gray went up to bed. When he woke up the next morning, Rarity had still not arrived. Gray frowned. Rarity should have returned by now...
Back at Sugarcube corner, Rarity blearily woke up and rubbed her tired eyes. She had a splitting headache and her vision was blurry.
“uugh... Too much wine...”
There was movement to her left and a very sluggish Pinkie Pie sat up.
“Wow... What happened last night?”
Rarity shrugged, trying desperately to remember the events of the previous night. All it did was increase the effects of the headache. Rarity moaned in pain.
“By Celestia... that hurts...”
The door to the room creaked open and Twilight Sparkle poked her head around the door.
“Hey guys. Feeling a little delicate this morning?”
Rarity smiled at Twilight.
“Maybe a little Twi... What happened last night?”
Twilight chuckled softly.
“The rest of you girls drank a lot of wine. That’s when things got a little extreme.”
Pinkie looked groggily at Twilight.
“Wha... extreme?”
Twilight nodded.
“You girls got very happy and in Applejacks’ case... Rather affectionate.”
Rarity and Pinkie both looked at Twilight curiously. Twilight continued.
“If you come down here, I’ll show you what I mean.”
Rarity and Pinkie both followed Twilight down the stairs, wincing at the change in light. Their headaches were forgotten as their eyes widened in shock.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash were sleeping together, tightly entwined in each other’s arms. Rarity giggled slightly. Applejack stirred in her sleep, and snuggled up into Rainbow’s chest. Rainbow slowly woke up. She moaned, her head aching.
The quiet didn’t last long.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!”
Rainbow jumped backwards, her wings opening up suddenly. Applejacks’ eyes snapped open and she sat up suddenly, her eyes wide.
“What the HAY!?”
Rarity fell onto the floor with laughter, clutching at her head at the same time. Twilight was trying desperately not to laugh as she spoke.
“What’s wrong girls? Not feeling so affectionate anymore? You were kissing last night!”
All the ponies in the room looked at Twilight, shocked.
“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?”
~*~
“They did what?”
Gray roared with laughter, causing a slight wince from Rarity. He looked at her apologetically.
“Sorry Rarity, but that’s just...”
He chuckled, restraining himself. Rarity nodded.
“Twilight said they did! On top of that, Fluttershy was actually very talkative... and loud apparently. Twilight knows a lot more about Demonheart now, let me just put it that way.”
Gray blushed furiously, not wanting to know anything about what Twilight now knew. Rarity giggled and pressed herself up to Gray.
“Graayyy... My head hurts... Fix it for me.”
Gray chuckled and stroked Rarity’s head gently. Rarity sighed in pleasure.
“Oh... that’s divine...”
Her head pressed closer to him, trying desperately to get more of the gentle touch. Gray smiled, and then jumped back when Rarity’s horn poked him.
“Ah, that kinda hurt Rarity.”
Rarity looked at him with an apologetic look. Gray sighed in resignation as she pressed against him again. He went back to his gentle stroking. Sweetie Belle came down the stairs at that moment and Gray froze. Rarity opened her eyes, looking past Gray’s hoof and she too froze. There was an awkward silence. Sweetie Belle smiled widely and squeaked happily, running up to the frozen couple.
“Gray!”
Gray smiled awkwardly, slowly removing his hoof from Rarity’s head as she moved away from him.
“Yes Sweetie Belle?”
Sweetie Belle looked at her sister happily. She was loud and it made Rarity flinch when she spoke.
“Do you love my sister?”
Gray started. He looked to Rarity and saw the same fear in her eyes as in his. If they told Sweetie Belle, she would tell everypony else. They weren’t quite ready to reveal that yet. There was a flicker of acceptance in Rarity’s eyes and Gray smiled. He looked back to Sweetie Belle.
“This is about my hugging her yes?”
Sweetie Belle nodded frantically.
“Well there was a reason behind that. See, Rarity had a bit too much to drink last night and her head is feeling a little...”
He shot a mischievous smile toward Rarity.
“Delicate. She has a bit of a headache at the moment, and I was trying to help.”
Rarity smiled in relief. Sweetie Belle looked at her in curiosity.
“Is that true sis?”
Rarity nodded and Sweetie Belle, accepting the answer, pranced to the kitchen to get some breakfast. Gray let out a breath he’d been holding. He looked at Rarity and grinned.
“Well miss delicate, I have to go see to my theatre. Think you can handle Sweetie Belle on your own?”
Rarity raised an eyebrow in amusement. Then playfully huffed and threw her head.
"Of course I can Gray. You shouldn’t think less of a lady.”
Gray chuckled and left, leaving a slightly disappointed Rarity behind.
~*~
“What? What do you mean we can’t? It’s there, why not use it?”
Gray slammed his hooves onto the mayor’s desk, making a rather loud sound. The mayor was unperturbed.
“I’m sorry Gray, but not this year. There’s too much that’s happened that went wrong, I don’t want anything else going wrong.”
Gray looked at the floor, his jaw clenching in anger. He’d requested to use his theatre, his OWN theatre, to host a show for the end of the year and the mayor wouldn’t have anything to do with it! He closed his eyes, denying the angry tears he felt from flowing. Going wrong? She didn’t know anything about things going wrong. He lifted his hooves off the desk, fighting to calm down. There were two dents where he’d slammed the desk. His head still lowered, he spoke with an angry tone.
“So be it. Good day.”
He turned abruptly and walked out, his face not leaving the floor.
~*~
Rarity was making sure she had everything ready for her clothes for the wedding. Being the maid of honour, She had to look good, but not as good as the bride herself. She’d already delivered the dress to Fluttershy, who’d seemed ecstatic about the gift, and was now working to co-ordinate her clothing. Since green wasn’t her colour, she’d gone with a deep pink colour. She turned as Gray walked in. Her happy demeanour faded as she saw a tear drop to the floor. She took a tentative step forward.
“Gray? Are you alright?”
Gray stood with his jaw clenched. He didn’t trust himself to speak without snapping. His anger was gradually fading though, replaced instead with a hollow despair. He looked up and heard a sharp intake of breath from Rarity. He looked a mess. His eyes were red rimmed and his face was haggard. She walked over to him.
“Gray... What’s wrong?”
Gray’s anger vanished, replaced with sorrow. He threw his arms around Rarity and buried his face in her shoulder. Rarity slowly wrapped her arms around him and held him, letting him cry. Sweetie Belle came down to see what the commotion was and her eyes widened. Rarity spotted her and waved her away, her eyes turning strict. Sweetie Belle nodded and left, walking back upstairs. Rarity gently ran her hoof down the sobbing stallions back.
“They won’t let you run a show will they.”
Gray shook his head, still crying. The two separated and Rarity looked at the brokenhearted stallion.
“Don’t worry Gray. It’ll work out.”
Something inside Gray snapped. His eyes turned angry again.
“What do you know...”
Rarity looked at him sharply. He raised his head and she recoiled at the rage in his eyes.
“You’ve got EVERYTHING! Everything you wanted you’ve gotten! This is the ONE thing I’ve ever asked for, and it’s thrown out the window without a chance to be shown! JUST LIKE ME!”
There was sheer animalistic violence potent in his eyes and Rarity took an involuntary step back.
“Stop thinking like a filly and face reality Rarity! I’m done.”
Gray vanished, a large puff of smoke and a harsh light following him. Rarity stood shellshocked for a while before she collapsed to the ground.