//------------------------------// // Arrangement // Story: No Hugs for Sugar Crush // by FerociousCreation //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie was in a mix of emotions. Her heart fluttered in her breast as she reminisced her embrace with Steadfast. It was impossible to deny his gorgeous figure. The stallion’s muscles quite literally glittered in the sunlight! And how he was so quick to help be there for Pinkie Pie flattered her.  “Pull yourself together, Pinkie!” she whispered to herself, though she was worried somepony would look around the corner she just fled behind. “You just met him! And you wouldn’t want yet another subplot to come forward! Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves on her cheeks. “Keep. To. The. Friend. Ship. Pro. Blem.” Regretfully, Pinkie Pie pushed Steadfast from her mind and was back at the newest issue at hoof: Princess Luna’s rejection letter.  “‘No?’” Pinkie Pie muttered. She wanted to round the corner and come into the group’s discussion as they wondered what the princess meant. “I’m- not surprised she rejected the request,” Pinkie heard Nightshade say, though there was some confusion in her voice.  “This… this isn’t like Princess Luna,” Rarity said.  “You don’t know the princess like I do,” Nightshade bluntly responded.  “Nightshade!” Morganite warned. “Relax!” “Come on, Morganite! You can’t just say that to me!” Nightshade said with a worried tone. No doubt did she want to avoid the cause for an argument, but Pinkie Pie could understand Nightshade’s stance before she heard the words. “She’s a princess! And she rests at this hour! You don’t know how tiresome her tasks do to her!”  “But it’s the way she responded,” Rarity said softly. “Just a simple, bold ‘no?’ Couldn’t Princess Luna have said something on the lines of, ‘I’m resting. Please wait until evening hours?’ That would have sufficed.”  “We can decipher all we want about how Princess Luna is feeling when she sent this letter,” Spike said. “All we know is that she denied the request.” “Agreed,” Nightshade said. Everypony around the corner voiced their agreement. It did bother Pinkie Pie that the princess would simply reply with a “no” and be done with the matter. But what else could Pinkie Pie do? Besides, the friendship problem was coming together nicely. Maybe they didn’t need Princess Luna.  Or maybe there was something more to the word “no.” Pinkie Pie shook her head in an attempt to remove any motive the princess may have. But it wasn’t out of the question. Everypony in the friendship problem had a reason for their actions. Even Saradiamond had a purpose behind how she used to lash out at Mineral. She had more than just pure lament and rage. It was also a defense mechanism, used to push Mineral away from her and not have to see him anymore, lest he would remind Saradiamond of Nebula’s loss by simply existing.  Saradiamond’s reason wasn’t good in practice, but it was her reason nonetheless. And a bigger part might be behind Princess Luna’s one-worded rejection.  Pinkie Pie sighed and pushed all assumptions about the princess to the back of her head. All Pinkie Pie could do was focus on the present and wonder what would happen next.  At the end of the Hall of Fame stood Mineral and Saradiamond staring up at the golden figure of Nebula. Pinkie Pie would have been fine with them being alone. However, the statue was moving, its eyes glaring down at Saradiamond.  Pinkie Pie frowned, knowing there was still internal conflict inside Mineral. She couldn’t blame him for the feelings in his heart. But Pinkie Pie wished that this friendship problem was easier to fix than any she’s faced herself.  “These things take time,” Pinkie Pie whispered to herself.  Instead of interjecting herself into the conversation and addressing the golden elephant in the room, Pinkie Pie slowly approached from behind Mineral and Saradiamond to listen in on them and Nebula.  ***  Why now? Mineral thought. Why can’t you go away! Nebula looked down at Mineral and rose an eyebrow. “I never thought you’d say that to me,” she said. Mineral twitched when the statue talked to him and was worried Saradiamond would hear it. The sudden jolt he made caught Saradiamond’s attention. “Are you cold?” “I little,” Mineral lied. “The air conditioning does its job too well.” “Trust me, when the stadium gets bustling with bodies, the smell of musty bodies combats the cool air.” Mineral winced at the thought. “Thanks for the visual.” Saradiamond giggled a few notes before ending her laughter with a sigh.  Nebula blinked a few times and frowned. “What’s wrong?” she asked Saradiamond. Of course, Saradiamond said nothing in return. Nebula looked at Mineral, desperate to have him speak for her.  Mineral repeated the statue’s words, “What’s wrong?” “It’s nothing.” “Great deflection,” Nebula snorted. “Be quiet!” Mineral scolded.  Mineral’s blood went cold when he realized what he did. Saradiamond quickly stepped to the side, repelled by confusion and hurt. “Not you!” Mineral defended. “You just told me to be quiet-” Mineral flushed with folded ears as he pointed at the statue. “I told her that.” Mineral felt naked as Saradiamond’s eyes danced over him, trying to find what part of him said such a strange comment.  “Well, this is awkward…” Nebula muttered.  It took every fiber within Mineral to keep himself from talking to the statue. After all of the times Nebula’s memory spoke aloud to Mineral, he chose to speak aloud to it with Saradiamond around. Mineral hasn’t told Sugar about his talks with Nebula. What made this moment different? Mineral knew it was pointless to wonder what-if possibilities. He had already opened his mouth and let out a hidden truth.  “You told… the statue?” Saradiamond asked.  Mineral nodded slowly, “I did.” Saradiamond humored the stallion. “I suppose you were pretending she was here.” Mineral turned his entire figure away from Saradiamond in shame. “I-” He tried to admit the truth, but was only able to think of a way to jab at himself. “You probably think I’m crazy. Mr. Basement Dweller sniffed too many shampoo bottles.” “Were. You. Pretending?” Saradiamond asked bluntly.  “I don’t know anymore,” Mineral managed to say, his voice choked with emotion. “When I was alone for the last year, I gave the photos that had Nebula her personality. I pretended she was right behind the picture frame glass just so I can cope. But soon, I found myself not pretending anymore, or at least, I didn’t think so anymore. I gave Nebula’s pictures too much personality. And now, they speak on her own accord. Eventually, it got too depressing for me to talk to them because…” Mineral snorted hard, unable to cry. He turned back at Saradiamond, hoping the tears would come back and show her his true emotions. “-Because she’s gone!” The stallion’s voice pushed Saradiamond a few steps back. “I knew Nebula isn't here anymore!” he continued. “I couldn’t bear hearing her voice in my head any longer! I couldn’t tell the real Nebula I was sorry! Even if her voice did forgive me, it wasn’t our Nebula!” Mineral snapped his eyes at the statue. Nebula flinched at the frustration bearing down at her. He tried to tell himself she wasn’t the real Nebula. But seeing the golden statue frown at him broke Mineral’s heart, freezing the rest of what he was about to say in his throat.  Saradiamond looked helpless as she spectated Mineral. “Did I do this to you?” she asked. Her ears fell down, the blue at the tips twinkling as they retreated.  Mineral’s voice cracked as he said, “Yes.” He had to clear his throat in case another embarrassing crack happened. “Tell me, did you want to do the most damage to me?” “I now regret my choices…” Saradiamond answered. “Too little, too late!” Nebula said, leaning at the oblivious Saradiamond.  “I agree,” Mineral said in kind. Saradiamond rose a brow, not sure what he meant. “The statue said, ‘Too little, too late.’” “O-oh…” Saradiamond muttered. “What else does she say?” “Why did you do it if you knew deep down it was all wrong?” Mineral and Nebula said in unison.  Saradiamond looked up at Nebula, trying to see what Mineral saw. “Everything was so convenient when it happened. Your… mistake, Nebula fleeing to the moon, and Sombra bucking it all up. None of it was my fault! Everything else played out of my control!” Saradiamond’s voice deepened, “And I hated that! I was helpless while fate played its disgusting hand against me! Fate stole my foalhood friend from me! And the only pony who could have stopped it from happening was you!” Nebula reared her golden head to bellow down at Saradiamond. But Mineral rose a hoof to stop her. Saradiamond glanced between Mineral and Nebula, curious what invisible strings were at play.  “Go on,” Mineral said despite hating every word Saradiamond said.  Saradiamond nodded and continued, “I used you as a scapegoat to direct all of my anger at. I didn’t have that special pony who kept my spirits in check. Nebula wasn’t- wasn’t my anchor anymore…”  Somehow, Saradiamond managed to find tears despite crying not long ago. “Nebula was the one mare who I felt comfortable being girly around. And I hate getting this emotional around anypony that isn’t her. Or Sugar.”  “I know,” Mineral said. “But why did you almost always go to Nebula and not Steadfast or me when there was something wrong?" “Mares want to be confidential mares sometimes,” Saradiamond answered as she wiped tears from her eyes. “It’s not that I didn’t trust you or Steadfast. It’s just that Nebula knew me on a level I cannot explain. Then again, don’t all friends understand each other on various levels. I won’t understand why Nebula was so enamored by you, but she was.”  Mineral rose a brow, “You don’t find me flattering?” “You’re just not my type, no offense.” The stallion sputtered at the comment, while Nebula said, “Yeah, I agree with that.” Mineral frowned at the statue with irritation. “What did she say?” Saradiamond asked. Mineral repeated what Nebula said and Saradiamond laughed aloud, “Haha, she would say that!” Mineral rolled his eyes at the two mares’ teasing. Saradiamond finished her laugh with a few weak giggles before saying, “And Sugar knows you on a personal level only shared for you two.” The mention of her name made his heart flutter in a mix of romantic passion and nauseous nervousness. “She doesn’t know why I play our ‘No Hugs’ game so seriously. Sugar knows so much of me but that secret.” “Why not tell her later today?” Saradiamond asked.  “It involves-” the statue began but Mineral looked at it in a silent stare. “Right, you tell her.” Mineral nodded and looked at Saradiamond who was still trying to comprehend what she couldn’t see. “My reason involves the past. And I don’t want our game to end. As long as she never directly or indirectly holds me, then I am safe.” “You mean to tell me you won’t let Sugar hug you?” Saradiamond asked.  Mineral nodded and said, “It would be nice if Sugar did hug me. To feel her arms around me, to have her face against my chest. The warmth would be addicting. But then the game would be over. She would stop her persistent quest to embrace me. Her struggle would end, knowing very well she got what she wanted. I fear that she will stop and I will fall back into old habits.”  Saradiamond stood with her mouth slightly parted. Mineral felt his ears fall back into his curly mane, the truth about his game told yet again to another mare. And just like the other mares, Saradiamond smiled at Mineral’s reason.  “Let me guess,” Mineral muttered, “you think it’s cute?” “Would it be a crime if I did?” Saradiamond said with a raised brow. “I thought it was cute when Nebula would fuss about how hard it was to confess her feelings, only to freeze up when you came around. There’s just something adorable seeing someone you care about struggle to get the truth out.” Mineral shook his head and said, “I don’t understand how my fears are ‘adorable.’” Saradiamond let out a hard huff. “The part about you that loves Sugar is adorable! Get it?” Mineral looked at Nebula and saw the statue nodding in agreement. “I think so,” Mineral said.  “Good!” Saradiamond said. The mare gave Mineral a serious stare that made him uneasy. “Now that I know the truth about your game, later today you will tell Sugar the truth.” “But Sugar doesn’t want to know about the past,” Mineral argued. “I know that! So why don’t you tell her the basic truth?” Mineral turned his head at the question. “And how will I do that?” “Just tell Sugar you don’t want her to hug you because you don’t want to fall back into bad habits. No need to go into talk about my horrible past behavior, no need to talk about how you behaved when you were a bitter workaholic, and no need to talk about Nebula.” Saradiamond looked up at the golden statue in melancholy. Nebula stared down at her friend with a frown. Mineral wanted Saradiamond to see Nebula’s reaction as he did in his imagination, but he knew Saradiamond would be tortured like himself.  “We both know Nebula’s memory brought us close to Sugar,” Saradiamond continued. “But Sugar is her own pony. Tell her the truth. Tell her you are afraid of your game ending.” She winked at Mineral and said, “And once you’ve confessed everything, I have a strong suspicion Sugar will tell you truths both you and I don’t know.” A smile too strong to hold back grew on Mineral’s lips. “I think we can guess what those ‘truths’ are.” “But you’ll never know until you ask!” Nebula sang. “Stay out of this,” Mineral said to the statue, then repeated to Saradiamond what it said. “But it's true,” Saradiamond said. “You won’t know until you tell Sugar the truth.” Saradiamond placed a hoof on Mineral’s shoulder. “Today we are learning so many truths. We’ve learned about Nightshade, Steadfast, you, and myself. It’s time we hear the truth behind how Sugar feels about you.” Mineral’s cheeks began to twinkle with ruby blush and Saradiamond giggled at his expense. Mineral pondered Saradiamond’s suggestion and the basic truths. Maybe there was no need to go more than skin deep regarding the past. “I’ll do it,” Mineral said with determination in his heart. Saradiamond pulled Mineral into an uncomfortable embrace and ran a hoof across his ribcage. “Then go get her!” Mineral tried to struggle away from the mare’s vice grip as he cried, “How dare you let me lower my guard only to have you treat me like this!” *** Irritated from his tickle attack from Saradiamond, Mineral stood a good distance away from her as he, the rest of his friends, and friendship problem-solvers stood in the lobby of the Crystal Stadium.  Mineral and Saradiamond were informed about Princess Luna’s single-worded response. Both ponies expressed interest with Saradiamond being the more disappointed of the two. Deep down, she wanted to know what became of Nebula. Saradiamond wanted to know if was trapped on the moon just like Sugar, and what caused Princess Luna to become this Nightmare Moon. However, she kept her thoughts to herself even when Steadfast and Mineral pressed her if she was okay. All Saradiamond said was she was fine when she clearly was not fine with the princess. Nightshade didn’t appear to be pleased with Saradiamond’s disappointment, but she too kept her thoughts to herself. During the final exchange of comments discussing Luna’s letter, Mineral figured the best thing to do was focus on what they could do; and what he had to do. It did feel awkward to switch subjects in quick succession, but Mineral knew Saradiamond would perk up once he began talking about his plan. “Personally, I think we can do well without the princess,” Mineral said after the group concluded Princess Luna would be in no mood to help in the friendship problem. “I’ve been convinced by Saradiamond that I can tell Sugar the truth.” In an instant, everyone’s curiosity about Princess Luna evaporated and all eyes were on Mineral.  “Will you be confessing your love to her?” Morganite beamed. The mares around him giggled as mares do while Mineral rolled his eyes before answering, “I will go above and beyond that. But I will need some help in arranging it.” “Arranging what?” Rarity asked. Mineral responded with a second question, “Do you think it would be possible to rent out space at the crystal heart?” “‘Rent out space?’” Rarity repeated. “Yes,” Mineral nodded. His heart began to flutter as he continued, “If I’m going to tell Sugar the truth, I want to give this my fullest effort.”