Fluttershy sat under an umbrella at an outdoor cafe, trying to avoid the harsh rays of the sun. ...I hope Princess Celestia isn’t angry about something... She glanced at the stallion sitting across from her, worried. “...so...you and Little Strongheart?”
He nodded curtly, never taking his eyes off the juice in front of him. “It was the happiest day of mah life.” He gave a small smile. “She asked me, right in front of her father, to be mah wife.” He shook his head, chuckling softly. “Turns out it was both their idea. Ain’t that a hoot?”
Before the yellow mare could respond, a voice called out to them. “Sorry we’re late!~”
They both turned to the source, their jaws dropping in surprise at the sight of Soarin’ and Rarity. Of course, it wasn’t the couple that garnered the reaction - it was the fact that the fashionable mare had her wings back.
Fluttershy found her voice first. “...Rarity...I thought you never wanted those again...especially considering what happened last time...”
Rarity frowned, crossing her forehooves over her chest. “I thought we agreed never to mention that again.” She glanced back at her coltfriend, smiling brightly. “You alright, darling?”
He grunted, struggling under the weight of a dozen shopping bags. “Peachy.”
She waved a hoof dismissively, giggling playfully. “I should hope so. This is your punishment, after all.” She moved in close to his ear, whispering into it. “Maybe next time, you won’t brag about something so...unbecoming like that in public.”
The timid mare blinked, surprised and not hearing what Rarity had whispered. “...was that part of their deal?”
Braeburn and Soarin’ stared at her, confused. The blue pegasus spoke up. “...what deal? We never made any bet; we just did the rap battle to settle a disagreement.”
“Wait a minute.” The earth pony took off his Stetson, his eyes wide in disbelief. “Are ya sayin’ that Ah won?”
Fluttershy hesitated slightly, slowly nodding her head. “...um...yes...but it was very close...”
The tan stallion stood up and, putting his hat back on, trotted over to the burdened pegasus. He held a hoof out, smiling genially. “Ya did well.”
Soarin’ quickly lifted a hoof, shook the offered one, and put it back down. He nodded, trying to give a smile back, but having it turn out more like a grimace. “You, too.” With that, he slowly began his trek to the Carousel Boutique, on the other side of town.
“Surely, ‘Tia, this is just a coincidence?”
The princesses were in their study, discussing what could only be described as a matter of utmost importance. It didn’t help that the elder sister was burning with fury. “This is no coincidence! Somepony - someone - is collecting, stealing, the ancient artifacts!”
The princess of the night frowned, watching her sister pace around the room. “Getting furious will not help, ‘Tia.”
The white alicorn sighed, calming down, her mane putting itself out. “...you are correct, Lulu...still, the Millenium Puzzle and the Dreamcatcher have been taken...and you know what will happen if the artifacts are put into the wrong hooves...”
The younger sister nuzzled her elder, a reassuring smile on her face. “There’s no need to worry. We still have one of the artifacts hidden away, and another with a reliable friend. Remember, ‘Tia...” She looked out the window, narrowing her eyes slightly against the sunlight.
“...keep calm...and dubstep on...”
Enigma knocked on Vinyl’s bedroom door, frowning slightly. It had been four days since he’d last seen her, and he was starting to worry. “...Vi? It’s me, Enigma. Can I come in?”
Silence answered him. Groaning, he rested his head against the smooth wood separating them. “...at least tell me what’s wrong...please?”
A few more seconds passed. He sighed, turning to leave, but a click caused him to pause mid-step. He glanced back, seeing a magenta eye peeking out at him.
The eye quickly glanced down at the small brass knob then back. Slowly, a single white rose floated out, wrapping around the door handle. The door then closed in his face.
Blinking in confusion, he turned and went to his own room. He sighed once more, laying down on his cloud bed. “...oh, Vi...” He grabbed his white plushie, holding it close to his chest. “...I wish I could just tell you...” The red pegasus closed his eyes, singing softly to himself.
I’ve got to be honest, I think you know.
We’re covered in lies and that’s okay.
There’s somewhere beyond this, I know,
But I hope I can find the words to say.
Never again, no,
No, never again.
’Cause you’re a god, and I am not,
And I just thought I’d let you know...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the house, Vinyl was laying on her bed. She hiccupped, feeling her tears freely falling onto her pillow. She took a deep breath, trying her best to calm herself down.
She sat up, taking another white, thornless rose from the tiny garden on her windowsill. She held it up to her lips, gently giving the blossom a kiss. “...I remember...when you gave me this, E...” She placed it in her mane and, glancing at herself in the mirror, felt a wave of sadness crash over her. “...and I treated you so horribly...”
What hurts the most
Was being so close,
And having so much to say,
And watching you walk away.
And never knowing
What could have been,
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was tryin’ to do.
In the Everfree Forest, there lived a zebra. She lived a humble life, taking what she needed from nature. When that didn’t suffice, she occasionally made trips into town. Such was what she was doing right now, leaving her hut completely empty.
A cloud of dark blue smoke filtered in through a window. It moved over every inch of the room, stopping right in front of a simple brown chest. Without a word, it enveloped the object and swiftly departed, leaving behind a single, magenta hair.