//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Hard to Forget. // Story: Stressful Nights // by silvermoon15000 //------------------------------// Rarity smiled and closed Midnight Onyx's door as quietly as possible. Her son and her sister were having fun, so she didn't want to bother them. Instead, Rarity decided to head to her own bedroom as it was starting to get late and she was tired. "Yes tired...that's why I'm going in there." She told herself as she shakely opened her door and quickly stepped inside. She closed the door, turned the lock, and faced her bedroom. The purple satin sheets on her bed accented the white walls perfectly. The sunset shined through the windows on both sides of her bed and illuminated the room in an orange glow. The sunset also shined through a single bottle on her nightstand, a clear liquid of temptation sitting inside of it. _________________________♡_______________________ Some Time Ago "To a new start!" Rarity said happily as she held a glass high with her magic. A hoof touched the glass and lowered it down to drinking height. Rarity followed the blue hoof down to where it met the orange face of a handsome stallion. "Let's keep the drinking to a minimum tonight, okay?" His voice was higher than most Stallions but it was also more gentle. "We don't want to forget the night now, do we?" Rarity blushed and moved his hoof away with her own. "It's only one drink Star, I think I'll be fine." The stallion chuckled and grabbed his own glass. He then picked up a bottle of clear liquid and slowly poured it into the glass before raising it to his muzzle and taking a sip. His eyes widened and he coughed after swallowing it, the liquid burning his throat. "Sweet Celestia, that's some strong alcohol!" He managed to get out as he coughed for a bit longer. Rarity giggled at her new husband, his black tuxedo contrasting his orange fur. She placed her drink down and felt her ring cling against the table in front of her and their night continued. _________________________♡______________________ The Present. Rarity placed the bottle back down, a sudden gasp escaping her lips as something cold ran down her cheek. "Why...why do I still care?" She asked herself through gritted teeth. She quietly sobbed and flopped down on to the bed, doing her best to fight the urge to drink. "It seems like every day, you torture me." She tells herself as she wipes a tear away. She sniffled and opened a drawer on her nightstand. She grabbed a photo with her magic and lifted it out, closing the door as she did so. The photo was of her holding a 2 month old Onyx and her ex-husband with a big smile on his face. Other than Onyx who was crying, Rarity and her husband looked happy. "What happened to us, why did you have to abandon us? Was I not good enough? Was I not a good wife?" She started to slowly tear the picture in anger. "What did she have that I didn't? What was it that drove you away? Was I too controlling? Did I not make enough time for you and Onyx?" She finished tearing the picture in half. "Or was I just not good enough?" She repeated these questions twice a day every day ever since she had quit drinking. It was her only way to cope with it all. She wasn't even mad that he had cheated on her anymore. She just wanted everything to go back to normal. She'd do anything to go back, anything. "Maybe, I should go for a walk today, that would brighten me up." She told herself. She hadn't gone a walk since the last time both her and Flutter Shy were free. She wiped her tears from her eyes, and smiled. "It may be a little late in the day, but a walk is still a walk." She sniffled once more and blew into a tissue close by before throwing it away. She cleaned herself up to the best of her abilities, from fixing her make-up to trying on clothes. She eventually decided on a simple magenta sun dress that matched her purple mane. “Okay Rarity, time for that walk.” She left the boutique with a smile, not really knowing where she was going as that was apart of the fun. She hummed a small tune to herself, something that she had heard from a feline friend as her head swiveled left and right to look around. She would nod at a few other ponies here and there, but for the most part she kept to herself. She enjoyed the small talk of the ponies around her. Most of them were spreading news about each others lives and discussing the more recent rumors of Button Mash and Sweetie Belle. However, she paid no mind to those as they were crude and almost always filled with lies. “Rarity?” A raspy sounding voice said above her, cutting out the small talk from the ponies around her. Rarity slowly looked up and saw the Rainbow Mane of Rainbow Dash looking at her. “I thought I recognized that dress.” Rainbow Dash gestured with a hoof as she lowered herself to the ground before continuing. “Whatcha up to? I don’t see any of the others around and Onyx isn’t with you either.” Rainbow questioned, now standing in front of Rarity. “Oh, Vanilla Bliss is watching him for me.” Rarity explained. “And is it wrong for an endearing pony to walk alone?” She added defensively, placing a hoof on her own chest. The Blue Mare shrugged, “I dunno I was just curious.” She said as Rarity laughed. “Dear I’m just teasing you.” Rainbow Dash laughed awkwardly in return. “Sorry, it’s just been awhile since we last talked alone, not since well…ya know.” Rainbow Dash ran a hoof through her mane. “You mean when we argued about You-Know-Who and you telling me ‘I told you so’ afterwards?” Rarity mentioned before sighing. She smiled warmly at her friend afterwards, not wanting to sour the mood. “That’s in the past Rainbow Dash, and besides…” Rarity stepped past her and looked back. “…You were right about him, and I didn’t listen.” She told her. Rainbow Dash didn’t hesitate to turn around and walk beside her. “It is still partly my fault, I wasn’t great with words back then.” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “And between you and me, I’m still not.” She told her friend. Rarity giggled in response. “Yes well, that makes two of us, hm?” Rainbow Dash nodded silently as they walked through Ponyville for some time. “However, that doesn’t change that we are still friends, something I value greatly between us, more so now that we are older.” Rainbow Dash looked at her in mock surprise. “Has the Rarity just admitted to being old?” She exclaimed. Rarity bumped her flank with her own. “Watch it, this old mare still has the looks of a filly.” Rarity flipped her hair and batted her eyes at her jokingly. Rainbow Dash hesitated for a moment before rolling her eyes. “There’s the Rarity I remember, but hey you’re not wrong.” She shrugged as they made a turn and could see Sugarcube Corner in the distance. Rarity glanced at her for a moment. What does she mean by that? Rarity thought to herself, pushing the thought away not to long after. “So what are you doing down here?” Rarity asked, changing topics. “Came here to see Scootaloo, apparently she did it again.” Rarity stopped in her tracks. “Are you talking about what I think you are talking about?” Rainbow Dash bowed her head for a second. “Yep…Rumble called…I’m heading to their place now.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “She hasn’t tried anything yet, but the signs are there again. Rumble thinks I can magically make it better, but that’s not how it works.” Rarity could see the sadness in Rainbow Dash’s eyes as a memory flew through her. _________________________________________________ “You are going to hurt yourself!” A younger, pregnant Rarity called out to Rainbow Dash who was flying way too fast. “Nah I’m fine…even an old timer like me can still keep…keep…“ there was a loud crash sound as Rainbow Dash’s wings suddenly locked up and she went limp, falling several feet out of the sky and hitting the ground. “RAINBOW DASH!” “Both of her wings are broken, one leg has a major fracture, and six of the disks in her spine have slid…she won’t be able to perform anymore…her wings themselves will barely recover.” The Doctor told Rarity and all of her other friends as Rainbow Dash lay in a hospital bed in a room nearby. “Honestly, she’s lucky to be alive. Not only did we find all of this, but her Blood Pressure and Stress Levels are through the roof. I believe that is what caused her to pass out mid flight, but we can’t be too certain.” ________________________________________________ Rarity blinked herself back to the present. “Yes…I guess you would have an understanding of that wouldn’t you.” Rainbow Dash nodded, mentally wincing at what Rarity said. It was the truth, and if it hadn’t been for Rarity, she wouldn’t be around anymore. “Yeah, I guess so…at least I found out I could train the Wonderbolts still. Scootaloo on the other hoof, hasn’t been able to get what she wanted though. So, I gotta do what I can, like you did for me.” Rarity looked at her friend again who was smiling now. Why is she talking like that to and about me? Rarity questioned mentally. She looked at her friend, studying her behavior for a moment before shrugging and passing by a couple of ponies that were chatting about the weather. “Shall we head to Scootaloo’s?” Rarity asked. Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Nah, I’ll just fly there, you don’t really need to have anymore stress on your plate. “But I, mmf…” Rainbow placed a hoof over her muzzle. “You really should start taking my advice for once and shut up.” She winked at Rarity and spread her wings. “See ya later Rarity.” Rainbow Dash made a salute with her wing before flying off, leaving Rarity alone once again. “I didn’t even get to say thank you for walking with me.” Rarity told her friend who was already long gone. And what is this feeling? Rarity couldn’t describe the weird ache in her stomach, and found herself pressing a hoof on her muzzle where Rainbow Dash’s hoof once was. She thought it was strange and shook her head of the thought. “Well it doesn’t matter, I came out here to walk so let’s walk.” She then notices ponies looking at her with strange expressions. I really do talk to myself aloud too much. Rarity told herself mentally as she blushed in embarrassment. “Sorry, it’s a um…designer thing.” She smiled nervously. The ponies all shrugged in unison and returned to their previous tasks. She exhaled the breath she was holding in relief. She continued with her walk in silence, thinking about the past and Remembering the good ol’ days. From her and the other girls dancing at the gala to Onyx’s birth and her wedding. She smiled through the pain, refusing to ruin her make-up. The memories were somber to say the least and it soon became difficult to keep her smile up. It eventually faded when she saw a couple sitting in the shade of a tree laughing and leaning against each other. She blinked a few times and saw a younger version of herself and ex husband laughing and messing around. When she blinked again, the couple was now staring at her awkwardly. “Sorry.” She said sheepishly and turned away. Why…Why can I not forget that horrible stallion! She mentally screamed at herself in frustration and hit her tongue. She decided to go home, the walk suddenly sounding like the worst idea she had ever had. She began the trek home, keeping her eyes to the ground as to avoid another awkward situation. But, her hooves had other plans as she now stood at the doorstep of Scootaloo’s house. When she realized though, it wasn’t because of the door or the building. No…it was because she could clearly hear Scootaloo’s and Rainbow Dash’s yells inside. Rarity looked at the door, the yells were clearly those of anger and they were loud enough that the neighbors could probably pick up what they were saying. Rarity lifted her hoof to knock as Scootaloo’s muffled voice echoed in her ears. “OH YEAH? AND WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING THE FIRST TIME! NOW YOU CARE…JUST GET OUT ALREADY, I STILL HAVEN’T GOTTEN OVER WHAT YOU SAID THE LAST TIME!” Rarity took this as her cue to knock and did so, the yelling stopping immediately afterwards. Not a few moment passed before the door was opened by Rumble, who looked extremely stressed. “Oh hey Rari-“ “Move.” She demanded, shouldering past him with a smile and straight into the living room. The room was a mess to say the least with several pillows on the floor and even some garbage and broken glass. Rarity wasn’t focused on that though, instead her eyes were Scootaloo who was crying and extremely angry from the way her brow was furrowed and twisted her muzzle was. Rainbow Dash on the other hoof, looked tired and had a piece trash in her mane. “Now…can somepony please explain what is going on,” Scootaloo opened her mouth. “Calmly…please.” Scootaloo spoke without waiting on Rainbow Dash or the approaching Rumble behind Rarity. “My stupid Coltfriend, doesn’t understand the word Privacy!” She growled, her glare switching to him. “And she has no reason to be here, especially with what happened last time!” She pointed a hoof at Rainbow Dash. “I’m here because you are having another spi-“ “shut up, I didn’t ask for your help, I didn’t and don’t want your help and I swear to the Celestia, Rumble, if you pull a stunt like this again…” she took a few deep breaths. “We…are…done!” She warned him. But all this did was frustrate Rarity. “That’s enough Scootaloo, he is just trying to-“ “what? Help? Thats rich coming from you! An alcoholic who refused help to the point of alcohol poisoning!” Rarity felt like her heart had just been ripped from her chest. “I…” “exactly…now leave me alone…all of you.” Scootaloo turned away from them. “Most of you didn’t even care until I decided to go through with it.” She told them coldly. “Don’t start on something I have been going through since I was a filly.” She flicked her tail and left the room, leaving the other three alone quietly. Rarity felt a little lightheaded from that remark, but she kept her cool as Rainbow Dash and Rumble sat down. “She isn’t wrong, ya know.” Rainbow Dash stated. “None of us could truly understand what she is going through. On top of that, all we did was treat her normally as if she could fly when she couldn’t…I thought that’s what she wanted though.” Rainbow Dash bowed her head. Rumble nodded in agreement. “Most ponies do, the problem is she isn’t like other ponies.” He ran a hood through his mane as he spoke. “She’s honestly stronger than most of them…and has a lot of willpower considering her parents were never around much.” He added. “She matured too early for her age.” Rarity sat down as she spoke. “And no pony understood her for it.” The three looked at each for a bit. “There’s gotta be something we can do?” Rainbow Dash broke the silence. “I dunno…” Rumble replied. “…she is, pretty dead set on this baby thing…it’s starting to make me wonder if I’m a good match for her.” He told them with a sigh. “Oh don’t go saying that, you two are fine.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “If she really didn’t want to be with you, you wouldn’t be around here anymore.” She explained. “I don’t really think it’s about the baby.” Rainbow Dash pointed out as her eyes widened. “She said she had been dealing with this for years, right? Maybe it’s a whole purpose thing?” She said almost as if something clicked. “She doesn’t want our help, Remember?” Rumble reminded the two ponies who were looking at each other. They looked at him and Rainbow Dash sighed as Rarity grinned. “But I do believe we all know somepony who could.” Rarity placed a hoof on her chin. “Somepony that had to fight a literal magic power hungry monster to find hers?” She hinted further. Rainbow Dash picked her head up her wings fluttering a little. “That’s right, Twilight dealt with something similar!” Rainbow Dash began to float a little. “Rarity that’s problem the most awesome idea you have ever come up with!” She told her flying towards her and hugging her. “Maybe we can help Scoots!” She picked Rarity up slightly who was suddenly red in the face. “Rainbow Dash…um…can you please put me down, being this high in the air is giving me some…terrible memories involving butterfly wings.” She giggled nervously. “Oh right sorry.” Rainbow Dash lowered her to the ground gently and landed with her. They both looked into each others eyes for a moment before suddenly looking away. “Let’s…um…let’s get Twilight.” Rainbow Dash said, lightly punching Rarity’s shoulder and then dusting it off. “Sorry…” “Maybe not today?” Rumble requested. “I um, think she needs some space for now.” He looked back in the direction she disappeared. “But I’ll…I’ll keep an eye on her for tonight and then you two bring Princess Twilight tomorrow, okay?” The two nodded in agreement when Rumble looked back at them with a smile. “Tomorrow then.” Rarity repeated one more time with a determined smirk before heading home for the day. ___________________________________________________ The two mares walked to the boutique side by side, a silent aura sitting around them. “I’m sorry that you, ya know, got dragged into that mess.” Rainbow Dash apologized, breaking the silence. “No need to apologize, darling, I’m the one who passed by and got involved.” Rarity lied, still unsure to why she had gone there. “Yeah well, you saved my wings somewhat, I was just gonna run out…” Rarity looked at her and arched her eyebrow. “The most daring pony I know running away? Now that doesn’t sound right.” Rarity exclaimed in mock surprise. “It wouldn’t be the first time…” Rainbow Dash said, lamenting about something in the past. “Yes well, it doesn’t bother me that you did anymore…after all you were right.” “There’s more to it-“ “shush darling it’s in the past, I’m not upset anymore.” Rarity cut her off. “Just promise it won’t happen again, and I’ll drop the subject.” Rarity smiled jokingly. “That’s…fine…I promise it won’t happen again.” Rarity looked at her blue pony friend in shock. “That was a joke dear.” “Even if it was, I mean that…I’m supposed to be the strong hero who will fight back against danger and problems, not run from them.” Rainbow Dash made stood on her hind legs and made a punching motion with her hooves a few times. Rarity used her magic to push her back down. “Yes, however not every hero can handle the same situation, that’s why they have friends to help them when things get hard.” Rarity explained. “I mean it didn’t go over well, but that’s why I went to you after I found out…I couldn’t handle it alone.” “And yet…I messed it up…I’m sorry…” Rarity’s eye twitched. “Apologize again and I’m gonna force you into a pretty pink dress.” She told her semi-annoyed but joking all the same. “Sor-“ Rarity covered Rainbow’s mouth with a hoof. “I mean what I say Rainbow Dash, don’t test me.” Rainbow nodded silently and Rarity dropped the hoof as they continued their walk to the boutique. The eventually arrived at the door and Rainbow Dash sighed. “Thanks for the help, Rarity.” Rarity nodded. “Anything for my friends Darling…now it’s getting late you better get home.” She told Rainbow Dash as a drop of water hit her muzzle. “Wait…there’s no rain scheduled for today?” Rainbow Dash looked confused for a moment as it began to rain on the two mares. “Quickly let’s get inside.” Rarity opened the boutique doors and hurried Rainbow Dash inside. Vanilla Bliss and Onyx looked up at the two from their spots on the couch. “Oh hey Rainbow Dash, I haven’t seen you in forever.” Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. “I have been busy with the Wonderbolts, Sport.” She lied to him. Rainbow Dash then waved at Vanilla Bliss who waved back. “Hey there.” She smiled. “Hello.” Vanilla Bliss responded. Rarity noticed how quiet it was in her home and tilted her head. “Where’s Sweetie Belle?” She asked Vanillia Bliss. “She had an errand to run I think, something to do with a cookie or cake.” She explained. Rarity sighed in relief, “that’s good, it means she was finally able to get out for once for her own reasons.” Vanilla Bliss shrugged and turned back around. “Hey…why do I suddenly have less money.” She jokingly glared at Onyx, who rolled some dice. “You traded me for Baltimare Bank Remember?” Onyx mentioned as he moved his piece and landed her property. “Aha…I will be taking that money back now.” She held out a hoof. Onyx rolled his eyes and dropped the amount in her hoof. Rarity took note of this and trotted over. “Do you have a colt or filly at home, Vanilla Bliss?” The mare smiled. “Yes I do, a little colt named Star Leaf. He’s named after my ex-coltfriend’s grandcolt and my dad.” Vanilla Bliss reached into her purse and pulled out a photo of a yellow furred colt with a green mane and tail. His flank had a camera with a star on the lens. “You look too young to be a mother.” Rarity tells her. “Yes well, when you are from Baltimare, you tend to do dumb stuff at a young age.” She responds. “But I don’t think I would change it for the world.” She smiles brightly at the photo. Rarity looks at Rainbow Dash for a second and remembered what she told her ex-husband the day they had that last awful fight. ”I wish I had never met you…” She blinked a few times and looked at Onyx with a small smile of her own. “Yes I guess you are right…after all without those mistakes…we would never have brought new life to our worlds.” She felt her eyes water a little but she held it back. “Anyways…” Rainbow Dash spoke up. “…I’m gonna go to the kitchen.” She gestured a hoof at the kitchen and made her way there. Rarity watched her go and looked back at Onyx who looked at her. “What?” “Oh nothing…just noticed something is all.” She says before following Rainbow Dash into the kitchen. She saw Rainbow Dash looking through some of the cupboards. “Did you have to move everything around just to spite me?” She joked as she gripped a cup with her hoof finally. “No? I just wanted to reorganize my kitchen is all.” Rarity walked up behind her and closed the cabinet before hugging her suddenly. “Thank you, Rainbow Dash…” the mare looked down at Rarity confused. “For what?” “For everything…I’m sorry I didn’t trust you or take your word and that I basically exiled you from my home without the other mares around.” Rainbow Dash gently pushed Rarity back some. “Don’t worry about it…seriously…I’m over it at this point. I’m just glad we can be friends again. Now can you please let go of me…my cup has been overflowing with water for the past couple of minutes.” Rarity pulled away suddenly. “Oops, sorry dear.” She felt her heart bump excitedly for a sec and she used a hoof to push a strand of hair away from her face. “Well, I will um…let you, enjoy your water…you are free to leave when the rain stops…or you can stay, I’m not forcing out.” She began to fumble her words a little and Rainbow Dash Snorted with laughter. “Rarity, relax seriously…I know what you meant.” Rarity blushed in embarrassment and left the kitchen quickly, Rainbow Dash’s obnoxious laugh fading as she disappeared into her room. Rainbow Dash stopped laughing once she heard the door close and took a deep breath. “That was a close one…” she took a drink of water to dissolve the heat in her cheeks and sighed afterwards. “If only she knew.”