Silence awkwardly filled the office with Twilight, frantically looking back and forth at a stunned Aria and her mother, who was just as surprised as both girls released each other, allowing Aria to slowly approach the older woman. Once Aria stood in front of Velvet, the two started each other deeply into their eyes for a few moments, then suddenly they both embraced in a tight hug as new tears began to leave Aria's eyes.
"Oh my God, Mrs. Velvet! I didn't think I ever saw you again after I moved away! I-I-I-"
"I know, sweetie, I know. It's so wonderful to see you again, I just wish the circumstances were a little bit better." Mrs. Velvet interrupted as she rubbed the back of Aria's head.
The two ended the hug as Velvet wiped the tears off from Aria's eyes, while watching Twilight now had a shocked expression on her face with her mouth wide open, trying to process what was going on.
"Look at you, Ariana! You've grown so mature and beautiful since the last time I saw you. How's Starlight been? Is she still doing well?"
"Yeah, she's doing great, better actually. She's still with Trixie and still works at EU but as a guidance counselor." Aria quickly responded with a big smile on her face.
"I knew from the start that she would be a great guidance counselor. She always gives the best advice to many of my patients".
Before either one of them can get another word out, they hear a small cough as they turn to see Twilight suddenly standing next to them with a concerned look.
"I don't mean to interrupt this sweet moment, but I have a question.... Mom, Aria... How do you two know each other like long-lost relatives!?" Twilight shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Wait, mom? Mrs. Velvet is your mom!?" Aria shouted back as she got a good look at both her friend and mother and finally saw the resemblance.
"Twilight dear, I must ask. What's Ariana doing here with you and how do you know each other so much?" Twilight began to fiddle with her hair as she began to look around the office nervously.
"O-Oh well... You see... She's my first friend I made it to school that I kinda did and didn't tell you about."
Her mother had a shocked look on her face while Aria had a confused one as Twilight gave them a sheepish grin.
"Ariana is the secret girl you didn't want to tell us about!? Honey, why? You know how happy I would have been if you had told me but it was her the whole time!?!"
"Yeah, Twily! Do you know what a great reunion that would have been between the two of us, if you have just told her my name or more about me?"
Twilight let out a scared laugh as she slowly backed away from the two angry ladies in front of her.
"I'm sorry Aria, I didn't know because mom never talks about her patients, due to her oath as a licensed therapist! Also mom, whenever I've tried or made a friend, you and everyone else in the family kind of scared them away! Why do you think I never told you about Sunset?" Twilight defensively responded. Velvet thought for a moment while Aria sits next to Twilight.
"Anyway, I'm just glad that your first friend is Ariana. I am relieved that someone will be protecting you". Velvet said. It made Aria smile.
"Wait, Ariana? Mom, her name is Aria". Twilight said that Aria blushes while she starts to rub her neck.
"Well, my actual name is Ariana Blaze. I changed it to Aria because it was too long and I don't want to be compared by the famous singer". Aria shyly said.
"Well regardless, it's very wonderful to see you again, Ariana and thank you so much for taking care of her. How would you like to come over to dinner in our new house as my guest of honor? It'd be a good chance for the both of us to catch up." Mrs. Velvet requested as Aria's eyes lit up with excitement.
"You've moved in town?! That's so great! But I can't today. I have cheerleading practice today and I ca-" Before she can finish, Aria's phone went off with a loud ding. Quickly pulling out the phone to see what it was, her eyes widened in shock as it was a group message from Pinkie.
Sorry for this sudden message, girls! I'm canceling practice today, I need to take over a shift for a sick co-worker. Enjoy the day off! ;)
Aria stared at the winky face with an unsure look as the rest of the girls replied back in the group chat.
Okay, that was just coincidence, right? No way, Pinkie and her Pinkie sense knew this, right? She just needed to cover the shift, that's all... Right?
Suddenly, Aria received another message from her, this time privately, where this time it was just a winky face in the text. Freaked out, Aria quickly puts her phone away and gives the mother and daughter a quick, nervous smile.
"N-Nevermind... I would be delighted to join you and Twilight for dinner tonight." Both Velvet and Twilight let out a squeal of excitement as their eyes sparkled brightly, freaking out Aria to even move.
Seriously?! Even Mrs. Velvet does that weird, anime eyes thing!? I'm scared to meet the rest of the family.
Before Aria could calm down from her stun reaction, Mrs. Velvet gently grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the office as the older woman proceeded to look for the entrance of the school.
"Ariana, it's going to be so wonderful to have you over for dinner! I promise you the best meal you had, while I introduce you to my family and for us to catch up!" Mrs. Velvet said with excitement as she quickly turned to Twilight, who was following behind them.
"Twilight dear, why don't you go get your things and meet us outside? The cars just in front of the school." Mrs. Velvet said as Twilight began to head in the opposite direction.
"Okay mom and Aria, I'll grab your things out of your locker too!" Twilight said in a small shout, just before she turned into a different hallway.
"Twilight knows how to get into your locker, Ariana?" Velvet said with a raised eyebrow at Aria.
"Uhhh yeah, I told her what my combination was, since our lockers are across from us and while I was still trying to fully recover from my trip to the hospital." Aria responded as Velvet stopped in her tracks with a look shocked on her face.
"The hospital!? Oh my dear girl, what happened to you!? What were your injuries!? How did yo-"
"I'm okay, Mrs. V, I promise you. As for what happened and how I got there, why don't we say a different time just between us, oh, so I don't ruin dinner, okay?" Aria interrupted her former counselor with a small smile on her smile.
Mrs. Velvet had an unsure and concerned look on her face, however she simply took a deep breath and gave a smile back to Aria. "Alright then, I'll drop it for now until you and me have the time to talk about it over a cup of coffee."
Aria's smile grew slightly bigger as she leaned in and gave her former therapist a hug. "Thanks Mrs. V and don't worry, coffee will be on me."
"Good, my wallet is spared for another day." Both ladies shared a laugh as Aria ended the hug as the two continue their destination to the entrance.
"So Mrs. Velvet, where do you live now, if you don't mind me asking? I was supposed to be picked up by Trixie today for our trip to the mall, so I can let her know that we need to move our plan to tomorrow." Aria asked as she pulled out her phone to get ready to send Trixie a couple of texts.
"Of course I don't mind and I do apologize for this last-minute change, but I couldn't miss this chance to finally have you in the same building with me as a guest and not a patient and therapist."
Aria smiled at Velvet's statement as she answered "It's perfectly fine, Mrs. V. We were supposed to go to the mall after school, but we can go tomorrow, since she doesn't have any shows for the next couple of days."
"That's good to hear. Now to answer your previous question, Twilight and I have moved into this wonderful second story house on a street called Crystal Road. It's actually not very far away from this school."
Aria halted abruptly as a stunned look appeared in her face, which didn't go unnoticed by Velvet.
"Is something wrong, Ariana? Are you not feeling? We can go back and wait for the nurse?"
Aria shook her head as she composed herself before answering. "N-No I'm fine, it's just that... A week before I was in the hospital, a house was bought at the end of the street... It was a 2 story house."
Velvet had a stunning look of her own as Aria continued. "Everyday after the house was bought, only movers and electricians were seen going in and out with no one knowing who and what the new owner looked like. Then, late last night, when Starlight and I got back from the movies, we saw two cars and some lights on."
A bright smile appeared on Aria as she finished, while Velvet was doing her best to compose herself from her shock. "A-Ariana, that's exactly how my moving experience went... H-H-How?'
Aria giggled at her former therapist as she placed a hand on Velvet's shoulder. "Because Crystal Road is my address ... Mrs. Velvet, we're neighbors."
"Oh... MY GODNESS!!!" The old woman let out a shout of excitement as her eyes once again sparkled brightly as she pulled Aria into a bone-crushing hug.
"Oh, Aria, this reunion has become even more special! After dinner, you're staying over for a sleepover with Twilight! No exceptions!" Velvet said with pure joy, while poor Aria was desperately trying to get out of the tight grip.
God, if you're up there, please let her know that she's gonna kill me with her grip hug... Aria prayed in her head, hoping the Almighty would answer... Unfortunately, her hugger spotted a re-emerging Twilight heading towards the entrance.
"Twilight! Sweetheart, come here! I just the greatest news of all time!"
Oh no.... Aria began to embrace herself, knowing what was about to happen...