//------------------------------// // 243. Old Biases // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie kicked her legs in the air as they dangled off the single bench on the Crystal Empire train station platform. Even under the soft, flattering glow of the moonlight, the station wasn’t much to look at, and it didn’t have the trademark hustle and bustle of the stations that Pinkie was used to. Oh well. It was pleasant enough, and the air was really crisp and clean. There was a bit of a chill, but not like an unbearable one. It was… nice enough. Granted, the train Pinkie was waiting for wouldn’t be coming until tomorrow morning, and it’s not like she was going to wait up all night, but it just felt right to sit at the station for a bit. Pinkie had a lot to think about. She was excited to hang out with her sister Maud, it’d been a while since they’d gotten to hang, but she was decidedly less excited to hang out with Trixie. Pinkie wasn’t sure what to do. Trixie was mean, and she tried to eat Pinkie! Was Pinkie just supposed to forgive that? Pretend that it never happened? Then again, the parallels to Pinkie’s relationship with Fluttershy didn’t escape her. But even still, as much as Pinkie hated to admit it, she had been a little bit distant from Fluttershy since that night. Too much thoughts. Brain full head empty. Or was that the other way around? “There you are, darling!” Rarity called out, and Pinkie looked back at her and beamed. It was nice to see a friendly face. Rarity sat down next to Pinkie and slapped her thigh. “I was almost worried!” “You don’t gotta worry about me,” Pinkie grinned, “I’m just sitting here waiting for Maud.” “Isn’t she, uh, coming tomorrow?” Rarity asked, cocking her head a little bit and pursing her lips. “She is,” Pinkie nodded, “she is.” Pinkie let out a big sigh and rested her cheeks on her hands, Rarity rubbing her back all rhythmic like. It was nice. “And you’re worried about her,” Rarity said, “because of Trixie, I take it?” “Mmmm yes,” Pinkie grumbled and crossed her arms. She wanted to be understanding, but she just—oh wait, she could just say this stuff to Rarity! “I want to be understanding! But I just— Trixie is—ARGH!” “What exactly is the problem?” Rarity asked. “I understand to a point, if one of my friends started being chummy with Lightning Dust, I would take some umbrage, but I’m not sure that’s a one-to-one comparison considering Trixie didn’t skin anyone.” “True, though she did attempt to murder a kid, from what Twilight said,” Pinkie said grumpily. She stood up and paced the empty station platform, her hooves clunking against the crystal echoing in the otherwise silent night air. “She tried to kill Spike,” Rarity hummed, crossing one leg over the other, “and yet Twilight found it in her heart to forgive her.” “Yeah what’s up with that?” Pinkie sputtered and scoffed and spat and other words that expressed disgust. “What was she thinking?” “I don’t know,” Rarity said, “but frankly, I trust her judgment. There is a part of me that agrees with you, of course, but I also worry that old biases die hard, and if Twilight is willing to put her faith in Trixie, and I put my faith in Twilight, well…” “And you know what, Rarity? I respect that!” Pinkie said gladly, Rarity nodding her approval. “And also?” Pinkie blew a big raspberry, Rarity glowering in disapproval as Pinkie just kept going until she ran out of steam. “You don’t have to get along with all of Maud’s friends, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity said. “If you don’t want to give Trixie the time of day? Then don’t. But you do have to respect Maud’s agency, and you should trust her judgment.” “Well, it’s not just that I don’t like Trixie,” Pinkie pouted and sat on the ground, crossing her legs all meditatively like. “I’m worried about Maud, I’m worried that Trixie might hurt her!” “And that’s where the trust comes in,” Rarity shot back. “Maud isn’t a precious plaything that you can nurture and protect and smother. She’s your sister, and your friend. But most of all? She’s her own woman, and you need to respect her choices, and trust that she knows what’s best for herself.” Pinkie huffed and puffed and if there were any houses around to blow down she would’ve done that too but only if they were empty and didn’t belong to anypony, though if they belonged to the city she’d still blow them down cuz what was the city doing with empty houses if someone needed them there was no reason for the city to be protecting buildings when those buildings could be used to protect and shelter actual lives which were always always always more important than measly ol’ property. “Okay, you’re right,” Pinkie grumbled and twisted her face up into a big mean scrunch, “but I don’t have to like it.” “No, you don’t,” Rarity chuckled and stood up, cantering over to Pinkie before kneeling in front of her and taking Pinkie’s hands, “but you do have to accept it.” “I know, I know,” Pinkie sighed. “And I will and I do. I still don’t like it though.” “Well if it makes you feel any better,” Rarity put her hands on Pinkie’s cheeks and smiled at her, pressing their noses softly together, “I’ll not like it with you.” “Thanks, Rarity,” Pinkie cooed, giving Rarity a big soft hug, “that makes me feel a lot better.”