//------------------------------// // A Nice Hot Cup of Tea // Story: Puzzling Insanity's Getaway Day // by PuzzlingInsanity //------------------------------// Puzzling Insanity and Rarity stood outside a quiet little cottage on the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. The unicorn knocked on the door. “Fluttershy, darling,” she said, “it’s Rarity. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve brought somepony else with me.” The door slowly opened, revealing a yellow pegasus mare with long pink hair. She looked nervously at Puzzling and gave her a tiny smile. “Um, hi,” she said quietly. “Hi,” Puzzling said, “I’m Puzzling Insanity. I met Rarity at the spa today.” Fluttershy nodded and asked, “Won’t you come in? That is, uh, if you don’t mind.” Puzzling followed Rarity into the cottage and stopped to look at all the animals running through the place. She didn’t know what to make of it all. “I know,” Rarity said, picking up on Puzzling’s fascination. “Fluttershy is Ponyville’s resident animal caretaker.” The pale mare nodded as a white rabbit tugged on her leggings and squeaked angrily. “Language, Angel Bunny,” Fluttershy chided. “Um, Puzzling, would you be so kind as to close the door, if you wouldn’t mind?” “Right,” Puzzling said, a sheepish look on her face as she blushed and closed the door. “I’m sorry.” “Oh, you don’t have to apologize,” the pegasus said. “I’m sorry for not warning you about all my animal friends.” “Before I forget, darling,” Rarity said, “Puzzling said that she likes lemon ginger tea. By any chance do you have any?” “Let me check,” Fluttershy answered, heading to her cupboards. Opening one, she looked at the many teas on the shelves and said, “I have lemon tea; is that okay?” Puzzling nodded. “Yeah, lemon tea is just as good as lemon ginger. It doesn’t taste that different to me.” Fluttershy smiled. “Um, feel free to make yourselves at home,” she said. “Just watch out for any critters, if you don’t mind.” Rarity and Puzzling carefully sat down in the living room, trying to avoid sitting or stepping on any of their host’s animal friends. To Puzzling’s surprise, a black cat jumped onto her lap and began to purr. “Aw, hi there,” the fanged mare said, petting the cat gently. “Aren’t you cute?” The pegasus put a kettle of water on the stove and looked into the living room. “That’s Miss Fortune,” she said. “She likes you.” “Cats usually do for some reason,” Puzzling said, shrugging. “Hey, where’s your bathroom?” “Oh, it’s just down the hall,” Fluttershy said. “First door on the left.” Puzzling nodded her thanks and gently set Miss Fortune down on the floor, carefully standing and making her way into the hall. When she reached the first door on the left, she opened it, went inside and turned on the light. Fluttershy’s bathroom was simple-looking, with its spring green-painted walls and clean hardwood floor. On a small table by the white clawfoot bathtub was an arrangement of small potted succulents. Hanging on the wall across from the toilet was a calendar, the image for November being a ginger tabby kitten wearing a pilgrim’s hat. Overall, the room had a very cozy air about it. Puzzling looked at her reflection in the mirror. She still couldn’t believe how she looked and felt after her spa trip. The tear tracks on her cheeks were much less noticeable now, and she looked happier, if only a little bit. Satisfied, Puzzling turned out the light and left the bathroom. On her way back into the living room, Miss Fortune walked up to her and meowed loudly, looking up at her with big golden yellow eyes. Puzzling picked the cat up and carried her back to the chair, sitting down carefully and giving her a gentle scratch on her neck. Miss Fortune purred, her eyes closing slowly as the earth pony gave her affection. Fluttershy peeked her head into the living room and asked, “Did you find the bathroom okay?” “I did,” Puzzling said, gently setting Miss Fortune down on the floor. “That’s wonderful to hear,” the pegasus said, smiling. “By the way, the tea will be ready in just a few minutes.” Rarity smiled. “Thank you, darling.” The unicorn turned back to look at the earth pony and couldn’t help but notice something about her clothes. Puzzling cocked an eyebrow and asked, “Do I have cat hair on my hoodie?” “No, no,” Rarity said, “nothing like that; I just couldn’t help but notice what a lovely contrast that’s been created by your outfit. Dark fabric against pale fur is always chic.” The fanged mare smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “Who’s ready for tea?” Fluttershy asked, carefully carrying a small tray with three teacups on it into the living room. Setting it down on the table, she sat herself down on the couch and smiled. “Jasmine for myself and Rarity, and lemon for Puzzling. Everypony please be careful; it’s hot.” Puzzling picked up her cup and breathed in the bright citrusy aroma of her tea. She smiled before blowing on her tea and taking a tentative sip. “This is really good,” she said. “Thank you for inviting me, Rarity.” “It’s no trouble at all, darling,” Rarity said, lifting her tea with her magic and sipping it daintily. “Fluttershy, dear, what exactly did you mean this morning by ‘animal problem’?” Fluttershy looked at the unicorn and said, “I had to mediate an argument between Angel Bunny and Alice. Bunny rabbits are cute, but they can be quite vicious.” Rarity snorted, “I can think of another name for that rascally rabbit that begins with ‘A’, but a lady doesn’t curse.” Puzzling nearly choked on her tea as she fought back a laugh. Just how bad was that rabbit? Fluttershy gave the fanged mare a few slaps on the back and asked, “Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” Puzzling said. “Note to self: don’t drink and laugh at the same time. Just how bad is Angel Bunny?” “Oh, I wouldn’t say he’s bad,” Fluttershy said. “He’s just very temperamental and likes things to be a certain way.” The earth pony smirked. “Sounds a lot like me in rabbit form,” she said. “I have a short fuse and like things to be a certain way.” “He’s quite ornery, that rabbit,” Rarity said, sipping her tea. Angel Bunny climbed the couch and tugged on the sleeve of Fluttershy's fuzzy white sweater, chittering angrily. “There’s no need for that kind of language,” Fluttershy scolded gently, her cheeks reddening. “We’ll change the subject.” Puzzling nodded. “Do you have a cat, Rarity?” “Why, yes, darling,” the unicorn said, smiling. “I have a gorgeous little girl named Opalescence. What about you?” “I do,” Puzzling said. “He’s a sandy-blonde tabby named Corpsegrinder.” Rarity cocked an eyebrow while Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “Why that name in particular?” Rarity asked. “Mostly out of irony, like naming a poodle Killer.” Fluttershy swallowed a lump in her throat and smiled. “That’s kind of funny if you think about it,” she said quietly, “and you’ve both met Miss Fortune.” Rarity nodded absentmindedly as she noticed something about Puzzling’s expression. It almost looked like she was crying on the inside. “Puzzling, are you alright, darling?” The earth pony sighed. “I just miss my dad,” she said, her eyes welling up as a fresh wave of grief and anger washed over her. “Faust damn it, I thought I was done crying!” Fluttershy took Puzzling’s hand and squeezed it lightly. “It’s okay to cry, Puzzling,” she said gently. Puzzling’s shoulders heaved and tears streamed down her face as she began to sob openly. “I’m sorry,” she managed to say as Fluttershy sat her down on the couch and hugged her. “You don’t need to apologize,” the pegasus said. “Just let it out.” The fanged mare cried for what seemed like an eternity, but by the time she was done, she felt as though the weight of the world had fallen off her shoulders. Her face was a mess of fluids, and her eyes were red and swollen, but she felt so much better in that moment. “Feeling better?” Puzzling nodded, wiping her eyes on her hoodie sleeve. “Y-yeah,” she said. “Darling, I don’t know who taught you that you needed to suppress your emotions,” Rarity said, offering Puzzling a box of tissues, “but they were wrong. It is perfectly okay to cry when you need to.” The earth pony took some tissues from the little blue box, wiping her face. “Thank you for the tea,” she said, “but I should probably get going. You two are more than welcome to come to my place anytime.” “Thank you for coming over, Puzzling,” Fluttershy said, smiling. “It was a nice change.” Puzzling smiled and finished her cooled tea, standing up, grabbing her things and carefully making her way to the door. “Do you know your way back to Ponyville?” “Not really,” Puzzling said, fishing her phone from her purse. “I’ll be fine, though; I have GPS.” With that, she waved her goodbyes and left for home. By the time she made it back to her trailer, she was exhausted. She opened the door and saw Corpsegrinder sitting on the coffee table, waiting for her. Closing the door behind her, Puzzling Insanity collapsed on the loveseat, her hooves aching and her lungs ready to burst, and the cat jumped onto her belly, purring contentedly and sniffing her muzzle. In spite of everything that she’d felt, she thought her "getaway day" was a success.