Chapter Two
The Great Exhale
It took every ounce of Rarity’s effort to keep from sobbing at the sight. So many lovely fabrics—none of them cheap—scattered about the floor like the doodles of a grade-school colt. Only a few of them were tattered, and those that were could be salvaged with a well-placed cut or two, but that didn’t make such atrocities against fashion any easier on the soul.
With each dusty piece of Prench silk she levitated into its proper container, she glanced at Rainbow Dash out the corner of her eye. As expected, Rainbow was cleaning up with equal parts quickness and disinterest. Each straightened mannequin was met with a sigh, and each strand of thread swept into a dustpan with her good wing came with a loud groan. Rarity found herself unable to resist smiling at each and every over-the-top display of indignation. Leave it to Rainbow Dash to withstand such savage tortures as ‘cleaning the house’ for the sake of love.
Love. The word still felt weird whenever it ran off Rarity’s tongue, but she was getting used to it. She had to get used to it, because the feelings sure weren’t going to fade anytime soon. If anything, she felt that ‘love’ was too weak of a word nowadays.
After all, Rarity thought as she began to untangle a clump of yarn with her magic, not just any pony would want to spend time with—let alone, go out with—a disfigured freak like...
The yarn fell to the floor. Rarity fell faster.
No, don’t do this! she hissed at herself. Her plea went ignored, and the shivers doubled. Her throat closed, her eyes burned, and she hated it all.
Feeling sorry for herself wasn’t going to change a thing. She knew that. The one thing she had sworn to herself as soon as she’d gotten out of the hospital was that she was going to make it through all this with her chin held high—with as much grace and elegance as always. She reminded herself of that exact promise daily.
And daily, the promise to herself would shatter. Like a bone. Like a dream.
Every muscle in her body shook. She tried to stand up—to save face and blame it on a spasm or a trip. Her legs had different plans; she couldn’t even get her hooves firmly placed on the carpet. It felt like some kind of imp had bored its way into her brain and seized the controls. She caught sight of her right flank, and her throat closed up. It would have made sense. There was no doubt in Rarity’s mind that she was cursed.
A shadow fell over her. She didn’t have to look to know who it was. A pair of forelegs gently fell around her neck, and a familiar warmness pressed against her cheek. Rainbow Dash whispered something, but she couldn’t tell what. It didn’t matter. Just the sound of her voice was enough to quell the tremors.
Eventually, Rarity was able to calm herself enough to breathe. Her face was damp, from brow to chin. Whether from crying or sweating, she couldn’t be sure. Probably both. The idea of the latter appalled her, but the former wasn’t much better.
“I’m... dreadfully sorry, Rainbow,” she managed. “I’ve been a hoofful for you today. I don’t know what’s come over me.”
“Don’t apologize so much. It’s annoying.”
Rarity had to smile at that. You don’t know how much I agree with you, Rainbow. She brushed a few stray locks of hair away from her eye, and pressed her forehooves into the carpet. “Would you mind letting go?” She gave Rainbow her best smile. Hopefully it was convincing enough. Rainbow responded by loosening her forelegs. As Dash stepped back, an actual smile crossed Rarity’s lips. Rarity, my dear, you should be in the movies. A deep breath, and she rose to her hooves, being sure to strike her most regal pose once she was standing straight. I’m ready for my close-up. She giggled and primped her hair, shooting Rainbow Dash a half-lidded gaze and flirtatious smile. Rainbow just rolled her eyes, but Rarity could see that, on the inside, she was smiling back.
“Well,” Rarity proclaimed, “I would say we’ve done quite a fine job of sprucing up the place. What do you say I brew us some tea for a reward?”
Rainbow stuck her tongue out and slumped, like a foal being threatened with brussel sprouts. “Eugh... no thanks. I’d rather chug cough syrup.”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Tsk-tsk. One of these days, I am going to introduce you to the wonders of a fine cup of Earl Grey on a Sunday morning...” Her words drifted off. She could smell it, steeping in her cup, the waking light casting her in a warm glow as the songbirds’ delightful symphony drifted through the open kitchen window. And the feel of silk pajamas. Oh... how she loved her silk pajamas.
A wave of giggles yanked her from her reverie. She opened her eyes to find that, at some point, she had sat down and wrapped her forelegs around herself—in a very compromising position too. Clearing her throat and hoping in vain that the blush on her face was somehow invisible to Rainbow Dash, Rarity unwrapped her forelegs and stood up, trying to use her usual poise to save face. In another situation, that would work. Not with Rainbow Dash, though. The giggles just transformed into bellylaughs.
“Hmph.” Rarity stuck her nose up and shook her head. Some ponies simply did not understand the magic of silk. “Laugh all you want, Rainbow, but one of these days you will give tea a try, and you will berate yourself for ever even thinking about gagging over it.”
“When Applejack becomes the ‘Queen of Dragons,’ maybe.” Defying all odds, Rainbow Dash actually managed to laugh harder. For a second, Rarity worried for the safety of her windows and wine glasses. Calm yourself, Rainbow, dear. Crystal champagne flutes do not come cheap, you know. Luckily for Rarity’s china, Rainbow’s lungs got the better of her, and she fell back onto her haunches, clutching her chest and wheezing, grin as wide as ever. “S-sorry, Rares. It’s just... heehee, you shoulda seen yourself...” Rainbow giggled a few more times before letting loose a drawn-out sigh. “Thanks, I needed that laugh.”
“You’re welcome?” Rarity cocked an eyebrow. Was there something in her teeth? Eyes wide, she whipped her head around to the nearest mirror. Nope, nothing in her teeth. And her hair was fine. No running make-up either, because...
Her pupils shrunk. You forgot to put on make-up this morning, you dolt! If she could just curl up and fade away at that moment, it probably would have been for the best—at least, for her.
“Rare! Yo, ground control to Rare! Anypony home?” Rainbow called out, tapping a hoof on the carpet hard enough that Rarity swore she’d knock a hole right through the floor. Needless to say, it got Rarity’s attention.
“Sorry, Rainbow Dash. Just... things.” She gave a toothy grin, which Rainbow countered with another roll of her eyes. Giving Rarity one more blink-and-you’ll-miss-it smirk (Rarity, of course, didn’t blink), she made her way toward the kitchen.
“Hey, you still got some of those little carrot cake square thingies in the fridge?”
“I think so.” Now that Rainbow mentioned it, Rarity supposed a tiny bite of cake to go with her tea couldn’t hurt. Licking her lips, the smell of a nice cup of Jasmine tea drifting through her mind, she started toward the kitchen...
Only to stumble and nearly faceplant right on her favorite sewing machine. With her luck, she considered it a miracle that she didn’t separate both her shoulders when she caught herself. Gasping for breath, Rarity lowered her forelegs from the table one-by-one. It wasn’t until she was sure that the floor was not about about to collapse under her weight that her heart stopped feeling like it was about to explode.
“You okay, Rare?” Rainbow peered around the doorframe, half of a carrot cake square still in her mouth.
Rarity sighed. “Yes, I’m fine.” Once Rainbow disappeared back into the kitchen, she looked over her right shoulder, at her cutie mark, and then a bit lower. Her chest felt hollow; her throat, dry. Her words couldn’t have been further from the truth.
* * *
To a passing pony, Rainbow Dash would have looked like she was sleeping: her forelegs crossed atop the counter, face buried into her coat, wing fluttering on occasions—maybe even a quick breath or two to go along with the gentle ones. In a way, she was 'sleeping.' There was nothing she wanted more than to get a little shuteye.
However, Rainbow neither slept, nor rested. Her mind was moving at thousands of miles per hour, all thoughts related to the pony she could hear making her way around the kitchen.
Rarity passed before her, three familiar hoofsteps and one she couldn't ignore tapping across the linoleum. Just the sound told Rainbow Dash that Rarity had her 'upper-class' gait going—or the best she could do at the moment. As Rarity passed back by her, the smell of tea suddenly thick in the air, the foreign hoof rang out louder. It rattled Dash's brain and twisted her stomach.
She hadn't slept soundly in over a month.
Like you deserve an ounce of sleep.
Rainbow shuddered. A voice in the back of her head was the exact opposite of what she needed, much less an insulting one. It had been going off-and-on ever since she had been told the news, when everything had broken. Back then, the voice had called her "slow" and "a failure." Now, they simply weighed her down with guilt.
And it was working. Celestia, how it was working.
A chair bounced across the floor, moving closer by the second. Rainbow bit her lip. I’m asleep. I’m asleep. The chair was right across from her. It was followed by the clink of china, a short, yet dignified, squeak, and creaking wood. A few more creaks and huffs, then silence. Rainbow held her breath.
“Rainbow?” Rarity’s voice was like icy water over Rainbow’s already frigid ears. “Dear, are you awake?”
Rainbow’s good wing fidgeted on instinct. Traitor.
Another squeak sounded—like a gasp, only with a little more timbre. Rainbow hated it when Rarity squeaked. It hurt her, poked her right in the gut. Letting out a throaty groan, Rainbow lifted her head, nearly slamming it back down when the blinding light hit her eyes. Why’d Rarity have to make every room so damn bright? Eyes squinted and head throbbing, Rainbow Dash cursed everything that caught her gaze: screw you, trash bin! Up yours, sink!
“What’s the matter, darling?” Rarity asked. If Rainbow hadn’t already been flinching from the ungodly glare of the sun on white, reflective everything, the last word would have probably warped her face into a permanent cringe. Rarity had played the ‘darling’ card. She only used that word when she was genuinely concerned—or, in some cases, amorous—but judging from her gleaming eyes, it was clear that the bed was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment.
Grunting and stretching out her forelegs, Rainbow pondered ways to get out of this mess. Rarity, look, the oven’s on fire! No, that wouldn’t work. Oh man, Rares. I completely forgot, I left Tank at the spa. Nope. The spa had a clearly stated ‘No pets. No exceptions’ policy. How about a game of chess? Wait... she’d broken the chess set after she couldn’t figure out how to line up the pieces, so that was out of the question.
There was nothing to do but face the music. “I’m just... really tired,” Rainbow mumbled. It was but a half-truth, but that was enough. Rainbow couldn’t lie to Rarity, but beating around the bush was about as difficult as flying a simple loop.
Rarity frowned, leaning forward on the table. “Is it me?” Straight to the point. Rainbow sighed. You read me far too well, Rares.
“No... not really. Not completely,” Rainbow Dash said, reaching out for the safety blanket that was carrot cake squares. Unfortunately, the plate was just a bunch of crumbs. Perfect. She massaged her temples with her hooves a few times before continuing. “Weather work’s been beating me up, recently. Can’t do things myself, so I’ve got to make sure the others do it right, and... do you know how long it took Airheart to move a thunderhead from Sweet Apple Acres over to the library?”
Rarity took a sip of her tea. “Can’t say I do.”
“Three hours! Three. Hours! I coulda had that done in three minutes!”
“Well, you don’t have to supervise her the whole time, right?”
Rainbow ran a hoof through her mane. “She barely knew how to avoid the lightning. Now you see why I only usually put her on cirrus duty.” She started to run her hoof through her mane again, but an aura of blue surrounded it, stopping it in its tracks.
“You’re getting leaves on the table,” Rarity stated, then recoiled. “Are those apple seeds? How in the world did you get apple seeds in your hair?”
“Applejack is the worst alarm clock,” muttered Dash. She watched as Rarity’s magic surrounded both the trash bin and broom at the same time, and levitated them over. Without taking a pause from sipping her tea, Rarity swept the leaves and Celestia knows what else into the bin. It always surprised Rainbow, how skilled Rarity was at telekinetic spells. She could probably give Twi a run for her money.
Once the broom was back in its usual resting place against the refrigerator, Rarity lowered her cup and spoke again. “Have you thought about taking a leave from the weather patrol?”
Rainbow rolled her eyes. You don’t know much, do ya? “Trust me, Rares, if I could, I would. But those fools wouldn’t know up from down if I weren’t standing there yelling at ‘em to fly higher. I need to keep things going, even if it’s only through swearing and directions even a newborn should know.”
Another sigh. “Very well, if you insist. Still, I hate seeing you so worn-out.” Rarity frowned as she refilled her cup. “Maybe we should tone down the, ah... nightly activities. You certainly need as much rest as you can get.”
“Are you kidding? It’s the only thing keeping me from passing out every hour!” This did nothing to flip Rarity’s frown. Rainbow buried her face in her hooves and sighed. Being upfront was the only solution now. “I’m worried about you, okay? That’s what’s keeping me up.”
No words came out of Rarity’s mouth, but from the look on her face, Rainbow could tell that they were flying. She stared into her teacup, chewing on her lip, occasionally glancing at the window or at the wall behind Rainbow. The silence dragged on, and Rainbow watched as the steam billowing from the cup faded from view. It was too much. The quiet was wrapping itself around Rainbow’s chest and squeezing. She had to say something. Anything.
“How’s it?” she blurted, immediately wishing the words back. The one thing she knew neither of them wanted to talk about, and she went straight to it.
Rarity sighed. Rainbow heard her rhythmically tapping on it, a foreign din filling the room—and coursing through Rainbow’s veins. Even at moments like these, Rarity somehow managed to maintain a sense of composure. She could only imagine what was going on in her mind. It tore Rainbow up; she didn’t want to know how bad it was for Rarity. “Still strange, to be honest. Still wrong.”
Rainbow frowned. What Rarity had said was exactly what she had predicted the answer to be. It still hurt her to the core though. “Got any feeling yet?”
Another sigh. Each one was like a sledgehammer to Rainbow’s skull. “No, I’m afraid not, save for spurts of pain. Far too frequent, if I might add,” Rarity said, voice wobbling around the edges. “I’m surprised I’m even able to move around on it.”
“Body works in mysterious ways.” Rainbow had to chuckle at that. Anything to lighten the mood. “Cripes, I sound like Twilight.” A small giggle graced her ears, and she sighed inwardly, smile growing just a bit on her lips. She hated seeing Rarity upset; the fact that she was able to giggle at such a terrible joke lifted her spirits tenfold.
“So, you still going to PT?” Rainbow asked, drumming on the table.
“Mhmm. I have an appointment this Saturday, actually.”
“Canterlot?”
“Yes. Star Swirl Memorial. As always.”
Rainbow scoffed. “Jeez, might as well just name the hospital after you with all the time you’ve spent over there.” She slammed her hooves against the table and gritted her teeth. Idiot! “Rare... I’m so sorry. Shoot, that was... horrible. Man, I’m sorry.”
Rarity silenced her by placing a hoof over hers. “It’s perfectly alright, Rainbow. You were only trying to make light. Really, I thank you for that. The only thing that would make me upset would be if you didn’t make jokes like that. I’d miss them.”
You’re too good for me, Rares. Rainbow nodded and leaned back in her chair, forelegs falling to her sides. The world spun around her. She needed some sleep. Sputtering, she rubbed her eyes. Her hooves felt like lead weights. With a grunt, she leaned forward on the table once more, chin nearly touching the cake crumbs. “You want me to come along?”
Rarity levitated the tea kettle over to her, and refilled her cup. “Don’t you have weather work?” she asked as she grasped a teaspoon in her magic and began to stir.
“Maybe,” Rainbow responded with a shrug. “But didn’t you just say that I should take a break?”
A deep exhale escaped Rarity as she placed her teacup back on the table. She stared at it for a few moments, brow furrowed, as if she had been asked what the meaning of life was. “Well, I did, but... you seemed so adamant about not taking time off of work, that I supposed—”
“Eh, I doubt the town would get destroyed if I took a day off. Saturday’s supposed to be a clear day, anyways.”
A smile crossed Rarity’s lips, and Rainbow could almost feel its warmth. “Well, I’d be lying if I said this news didn’t please me,” she said. “I could use some of that good old ‘Rainbow Dash’ support, if I do say so myself.”
“Don’t know ‘bout that, Rares.” Rainbow smirked. “Not exactly quiet when I’m providing ‘support.’”
Rarity just shook her head, giggling, smile not leaving her lips. The very sight of such an honest smile—such joy—sent a heatwave through Rainbow’s chest. Both up to her face, and down towards her...
She cleared her throat. “So, it’s settled then. I’ll go with you on Saturday.” She tapped her chin. “While I’m at it, I could probably get the doctor to look at my wing. Maybe it’s hea...” The words drifted off. Using the word “healed” just seemed wrong in front of Rarity. “Who knows? Could be in flying shape.”
“I must admit, I’ve been dying to see you in the sky again,” Rarity said. Though she smiled, there was something in her eyes. Rainbow was terrible at reading emotions, but she could certainly tell that whatever hung in Rarity’s eyes was not a positive one. Rainbow’s heart sank: she’d upset Rarity. Again.
When Dash scooted back, her chair nearly clattered to the floor. “Um, bathroom,” she managed to squeak out as she rushed out of the kitchen, and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
* * *
There was no way of telling exactly when Rainbow Dash had fled for the washroom, but Rarity was certain how long she had been in there. Too long. She rapped on the door, knocks straddling the line between dainty and brutish. The only response she received was a shuffling of hooves and flutter of feathers.
“Rainbow?” Another muffled sound halfway between a grunt and a whine, followed by a splashing of water—not enough to be the bathtub, but still a decent amount. Rarity groaned. She’d better not be getting any dirty water on the tiles. I just mopped them a day ago. “Rainbow Dash?” she asked again. “Are you all right in there?”
“Yeah,” Rarity was able to make out amongst the mutters. She sighed, tapping her hoof. It would simply have to do. There was no way she was just going to barge in on Rainbow. She may be her marefriend, but that did not give her permission to quit using proper manners. She would just have to sit back and wait. Impatiently.
What has gotten into her? Rarity wondered as she strolled back into the kitchen. She grabbed the tea kettle in her magic and levitated it before her, opening the lid to peer inside. Enough for half a cup. To make some more, or to not make some more: that was the question. An answer escaped her. While she had to admit a few more cups sounded absolutely heavenly, a glance out the window told her it was getting a bit late for tea.
Oh, who am I kidding? she giggled to herself. There is no such thing as “too late for tea.” Though, I must say... a nice glass of wine would go well with dinner. She sighed as she poured what tea was left into her cup, then placed the empty kettle in the sink. I don’t want to impair my taste buds. That chardonnay is too fine a vintage to mix with leftover tea. The very thought of the taste made her blood run cold. With a shiver, she sat down and sipped her tea once more
It was as Rarity was downing the last few drops that a door opened. She glanced to her side, not lowering the cup from her lips, expecting to see Rainbow Dash wearily exiting the washroom. However, the door remained closed. Brow furrowed, Rarity left the comforts of her chair. The kitchen floor felt just as cold as the rest of her. She wasn’t one to believe in ghosts, but she wasn’t one to not believe in them either. Had the boutique been built on some old graveyard? She did seem to recall ponies mentioning that the property had been a difficult sell. Maybe that was why.
Rarity was so lost in her thoughts that she almost missed the small white blur moving at the edge of her vision. Cautiously, she turned her head, and...
“Sweetie Belle?”
Sure enough, her little sister was making her way up the stairs. She flinched at her voice, but didn’t turn around. Rarity rushed forward, losing her balance and having to grab onto the bottom stair post for support.
“Sweetie Belle!” she called out again. “I didn’t expect you to be here... are you staying the evening?”
“A week,” Sweetie Belle mumbled, not slowing or turning around.
“A we—what?!” Rarity bounced a few inches off the ground. She considered chasing after Sweetie, but thought better of it. Down the stairs? Well, if all else failed, she could simply slide her way down them. Up the stairs? No, that would probably only lead to trouble.
Sweetie Belle stopped at the top of the stairs. “Mom and dad are going to some ceremony—something about a ‘hoofball hall of fame.’ They’ll be gone a week.”
“And why wasn’t I informed?”
The pause was heavy enough to snap mountains. “I didn’t tell you,” Sweetie Belle finally said, voice no more than a whisper.
“You didn’t tell me? Why on earth wouldn’t you... Sweetie Belle!” Her voice either went unheard or ignored, because the only response Rarity received was the closing of a bedroom door. She waited. One minute. Two minutes. But still the door remained shut; the boutique, silent. With a heavy sigh, Rarity made her way back into the kitchen and slumped down in her chair, slouching like some prude. She didn’t even have it in her to think at the moment, let alone straighten her posture.
Time seemed to stand still. It wasn’t until another opening door graced Rarity’s ears that she was even able to blink. She glanced toward the washroom again, and this time found Rainbow Dash standing there, head cocked to the side.
“I heard ya talking to someone,” she said. “What’s up?”
“Sweetie Belle’s staying over,” said Rarity, voice seeming to belong to another pony entirely.
“Woah, really?” Rainbow glanced at the stairs, then back at Rarity, inching forward. “You didn’t say anything about that.”
“Neither did she, apparently.” Rarity huffed and straightened herself. To her horror, she realized that her mouth had been hanging agape. She closed it quickly, praying that she hadn’t drooled on herself. A glance at her chest vanquished her fears. Looking back up, Rarity found that Rainbow Dash had taken a seat on the other side of the table, leaning forward with her forelegs crossed in front of her.
“She didn’t tell you?” Rainbow brushed her mane back with a hoof. “How long’s she staying?”
“According to her, a week.”
Rainbow’s eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. “Sheesh! That long and she didn’t even tell you?!”
Rarity shook her head. “It appears to be that way. She’s lucky I keep her room clean and ready year-round, or she’d be dealing with all manner of boxes and scraps.” She sighed, lifting her teacup to her lips only to find it empty. I need a drink, she groaned inwardly. “I just don’t know what’s gotten into her lately. It’s like she wants nothing to do with me! Am I that much of a freak?”
Suddenly, she felt a hoof cover one of hers. “You’re not a freak, Rares,” Rainbow said. “She’s probably just got a lot on her mind. Have you even tried talking to her since you got out of the hospital?”
“No. She’s been avoiding me like the plague.”
Rainbow frowned. “And what about when you were in the hospital?”
“She ‘didn’t want to see me.’” Rarity shrugged.
“Well, maybe you should have made her see you, then.” Before the words had stopped echoing, Rainbow stood up, pushing her chair in and making her way for the door. Rarity scurried after her.
“Dash, where are you going?”
“I have to make sure Dewdrop lines the rain clouds up right for the showers downtown tonight,” Rainbow said, slowing to a halt. “Didn’t I tell you?”
“No, you did not.”
“Huh. Must've slipped my mind.” Rainbow leaned forward and gave Rarity a quick kiss on the lips. “I’ll be back before dinner. Make something good for once, okay?”
Rarity rolled her eyes, but shot Rainbow a small smile nonetheless. “I assure you, it will be better than whatever frozen pizza and leftovers you’ve been stuffing your face with lately.”
“Hey! Grilled daisy sandwiches are even better the day after you make ‘em. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.” With one last smile—and a peck on Rarity’s nose—Rainbow walked out the door, strolling toward downtown. Rarity leaned against the doorframe, smirking as she took in the sway of her marefriend’s hips, the rippling of the muscles in her finely-toned legs.
You’re a lucky mare, Rarity, she thought to herself as she slowly closed the door, Rainbow vanishing amidst a rush of ponies. She caught her reflection in the hallway mirror. She froze, glancing down at her right flank. Perhaps not the luckiest... She let the thought drift away. Incomplete.