//------------------------------// // 20. Home // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// As Rarity stepped off the train and breathed a sigh of relief to set foot in the familiar Canterlot station, she was delighted to see Rainbow Dash was at the station waiting for her, even if the poor pegasus looked like she hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep since Rarity left. And of course, she was not nearly so delighted as Pinkie Pie was to see Applejack. Pinkie didn’t even wait for Rarity to get off the train before speeding past her and galloping toward Applejack, jumping into the bigger mare’s arm and being wrapped up in a tight hug, Applejack proceeding to spin Pinkie around for good measure, Pinkie giggling like a schoolfilly all the while. “Hey Rarity,” Rainbow Dash said with a yawn, and pointed her thumb at Applejack and Pinkie, “you wanna do that?” “No thank you, dear,” Rarity playfully rolled her eyes and gave Rainbow Dash a much more reserved hug, and a kiss on the cheek for good measure. “I’m glad to see you, though you look positively dreadful. Are you alright?” “Yeah, yeah,” Rainbow batted Rarity’s concerns away with a flick of her wrist, “don’t worry about it. Just a couple late nights chatting it up with a friend. No biggie.” “Oh, you have friends other than me?” Rarity stuck out her tongue and poked Rainbow teasingly, Rainbow letting out a smarmy chuckle and trying to give Rarity a playful shove but her sleepiness made her miss her target and stumble forward, Rarity catching her before she tripped. As Rainbow got her footing back and cleared her throat, keen to pretend that hadn't just happened, Rarity noticed Applejack looking her way and fluttered her eyelashes. “It’s a pleasure to see you as well, Applejack,” Rarity said with a wink. “I know you’re here for Pinkie, but no doubt you simply couldn’t wait to see me too, hm?” Applejack rolled her eyes and gave Rarity a light punch in the arm, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “Good to see ya, Rarity. Thanks for keepin’ Pinkie safe like you promised.” “Of course, darling,” Rarity said with a dazzling smile. “I would never let one of my best friends be hurt on my account, I assure you.” “And I take it all my gear came through for you okay?” Applejack asked with a gleam in her eye that made Rarity chortle. “Absolutely, dear,” Rarity crossed her arms and rolled her eyes playfully. “Honestly, what would I do without you?” “Be a timberwolf snack, probably!” Pinkie helpfully chimed in, getting a laugh from Rarity and Applejack both. Rainbow also let out a small, reserved chuckle and Rarity looked over to see Rainbow looking rather uncomfortable. “I suppose I’d better head off,” Rarity didn’t know what was bothering Rainbow, but she had more tact than to ask around Applejack or Pinkie Pie, “I do have a report to file to Queen Celestia.” “That’s gotta be the next step on my adventure!” Pinkie said, pumping her fists. “Meeting Queen Celestia!” “Alright, sugarcube,” Applejack gave a long-suffering sigh and picked Pinkie Pie off the ground, helping the little darling hitch a ride on Applejack’s shoulder, Applejack being more than strong enough to carry Pinkie with ease. “Let’s maybe focus on one step at a time. Like, how ‘bout helpin’ me set up shop? Y’know, at our job?” “Ugh. Yes, boss!” Pinkie grumbled huffily, but her inauthentic grumpiness gave way to an enamored giggle in no time, as she wrapped her arms around Applejack and gave her friend a kiss on the neck. The pair of earth mares walked off, giving fond ‘see you laters’ to Rainbow and Rarity, which Rarity returned by blowing a kiss at the two and flashing a winning smile, and Rainbow did by… waving awkwardly. Once the two were out of sight, Rarity wasted no time in getting to the bottom of things. “What’s the matter?” “It’s, nothing,” Rainbow said unconvincingly. “You know I don’t believe that for a second,” Rarity scolded, “and you’ve never been terribly good at hiding things from me, so why don’t you—” “I don’t wanna talk about it,” Rainbow said coldly, slamming a metaphorical door between herself and Rarity that took the unicorn by surprise. “Oh,” she stammered sheepishly. She soon regained her composure with a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” “No biggie,” Rainbow shrugged, offering a tepid grin. “I’m just-” Rainbow groaned and shook an empty paper coffee cup “-a little bit tired.” “Are you going to be alright if I go home,” Rarity asked, gently massaging Rainbow’s shoulder, “file my report?” Rainbow nodded, her eyelids drooping as she herself stumbled forward a step, her eyes jolting open at the sudden movement. “Y-yeah, I think I’ll be alright,” she chuckled nervously, Rarity biting down a giggle of her own. “Think I’ll head back home, try and get some shut-eye.” “I think that’s wise,” Rarity said with a smile. “That said,” Rainbow grinned and stroked her chin, “I’m gonna head over to the library later tonight. You wanna come with?” “The library?” Rarity shook her head and stared in utter confusion at Rainbow Dash, Rarity certain that she must have misheard. “Yeah,” Rainbow snickered, “does that surprise you? That I’d spend time at a library?” “It does a bit,” Rarity said seriously, though she quickly gave a teasing smile and tapped Rainbow’s arm. “I didn’t even know you could read! I’m so proud of you!” “Hey! I’m not a total meathead!” Rainbow replied huffily, and Rarity giggled in response, getting a fuming look from Rainbow that quickly melted away into a soft laugh. “That said, I mostly go cuz I think the librarian’s cool. And her kid’s actually super rad too. I think you’d like ‘em a lot.” “Well, I may take you up on the offer,” Rarity groaned and arched her back as the exhaustion of her mission was beginning to catch up to her now that she was home. “But for now, I think the only place I’d like to go is home.” “Fair enough,” Rainbow shrugged and patted Rarity on the arm before taking off. “See ya later, Rarity! And don’t forget, I still owe you a drink!” “I promised Pinkie Pie one as well!” Rarity called out to her friend, getting a thumbs-up in reply. With Rainbow gone, leaving Rarity standing alone in an empty train station, Rarity finally gave a weary sigh as she had no more reason to wear a mask of charismatic cheerfulness. Truth be told, after the timberwolf mission, Rarity was feeling anything but cheerful. It was true that all Rarity wanted was to go home, but she had little interest in filing a report—though she would do so anyway because it was her responsibility and she would not be tardy on a report to Queen Celestia. But what Rarity really wanted was her bed. She wanted to fall into her bed and simply sleep. For no less than two straight weeks, if fate would allow her.