Rarity was seated at the bar in Canterlot’s Moon District, elegantly posed and sipping from a delightful little pink cocktail—
No, okay that’s not true. Rarity had her head firmly against a wooden table in the corner of the slate-gray bar, a half-empty mug of cider sitting on the table in front of her.
Rarity generally dealt with any kind of tragedy or emotional turmoil by barricading herself in her room with several tubs of ice cream— crying hysterically for hours at a time in the most dire of circumstances, which this certainly qualified as— but she didn’t have the opportunity to stock up on ice cream since everything that happened with Twilight, and one could only cry so hysterically in a public bathroom without attracting unwanted attention.
So here Rarity sat, lying in pathetic squalor in a seedy rundown bar, cursing herself for ever having feelings for the woman that somehow managed to save her life and then ruin it all over again.
Rarity’s wallowing would have to wait however, as she was suddenly interrupted by Rainbow Dash slamming her palm down on the table, Rarity jolting up in alarm.
When Rainbow took her hand off the table, Rarity looked down to see a piece of paper that Rainbow had left there.
“What is this?” Rarity asked.
“That is a piece of paper,” Rainbow replied, and Rarity just sighed. “It’s a mission. A simple one, just go hunt down a manticore that’s been bothering the ponies in Luna Bay. I figured you could use some time away from-” Rainbow gesticulated in disgust “-all this, so I signed you up for one.”
“Without asking me first?” Rarity arched an eyebrow.
“Well, I’m not gonna twist your arm or anything,” Rainbow shrugged. “If you don’t wanna do it, I’ll just do it myself, I just thought you might appreciate having some time to yourself to sort your head out, y’know?”
“Honestly, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity scoffed, “I’m not sure why you think I need to be sequestered from the all the important things going on with Twilight and everyth—”
“Whatever, Rarity,” Rainbow interjected, batting Rarity’s arguments away with a dismissive hand. “Like I said, if you don’t wanna do it, that’s totally fine. I know I could definitely use some time to think about everything that’s happened.”
Rarity tapped her finger against the wooden table and let out a slow, dreary sigh through her nose. Perhaps Rainbow Dash had the right idea. Just seeing the woman known as Twilight Sparkle made Rarity feel ill, and angry, and sad, and heartbroken, and depressed, and—
“Okay, fine,” Rarity grumpily said aloud, if only to silence the torrent of intrusive thoughts smothering her mind. “Fine.”
“You’ll take the mission?” Rainbow sat down and gave Rarity a friendly smirk, and while it was but a small gesture, it somehow made Rarity feel like she could breathe again for a short time.
“I will,” Rarity nodded and reached her hand across the table, Rainbow looking at it for a second and biting her lip before deciding to put her hand overtop it. “Thank you, Rainbow Dash. And I apologize, for snapping at you before. You didn’t deserve that at all.”
“Thanks, Rare,” Rainbow chuckled, “I appreciate that. Cuz yeah, I totally get why your patience is on thin ice right now, and I feel ya, but don’t forget that Twilight was everypony’s friend, and we’re all reeling right now.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Rarity sighed and gently squeezed Rainbow’s fingers. “And I’m sorry that I’ve just been thinking of myself.”
Rainbow Dash merely nodded in reply, a soft smile on her face. She stood up, and Rarity stood up as well and embraced Rainbow in a tight hug, the two just holding each other for a brief moment in time.
“I will say,” Rarity whispered, “I am incredibly fortunate to have such wonderful friends in my life.”
“You sure are,” Rainbow snickered, and instead of sniping back at her, Rarity only giggled. She couldn’t even hope to argue with that.