//------------------------------// // 5: The Go-Between [Comedy] // Story: Thirty Days, Thirty Twilights // by Esle Ynopemos //------------------------------// ((Prompt: Rarity and Fluttershy have their first big fight.)) It was a Monday, and Twilight Sparkle was hard at work managing the Golden Oaks Public Library. She was a librarian, after all, and somewhere between all the firebreathing dragons, mad gods and lost civilizations, she had a duty to keep the library running. She was busily re-organizing the card catalog when a chilly breeze from the front door announced the arrival of a visitor. Twilight turned to greet Rarity, who was shaking off the cold as she unwrapped herself from a neatly trimmed wool scarf. “Good morning, Rarity,” she said, waving with her hoof as she continued sorting the cards with her magic. “Are you here for the new issue of Saddle-Straps Monthly?” Rarity shook her head. “Not right now, darling, no.” She paused. “Though I may be back for it later, if you could leave it out for me.” Twilight smiled. “Of course.” She made a mental note to separate the magazine out for easy access later. “What brings you out here today, then?” “I was actually wondering if you have seen Fluttershy,” Rarity said. “She missed our spa outing yesterday, and I haven't been able to catch her at her cottage.” Twilight thought for a moment and shook her head. “She hasn't been by the library.” Her brows furrowed. “I hope she's all right.” “She's fine, I'm sure,” said Rarity, once again donning her scarf. “No doubt she has found something small and furry she needs to rescue from the autumn weather.” She turned and opened the door. “Do let me know if you see her, darling.” “I will,” Twilight called after her. The wind blew the door shut. A few more minutes of card-sorting passed before it opened again. “Fluttershy?” Twilight turned to see her yellow friend gently close the door behind her. “Did you talk to Rarity? She was just here looking for you.” “Rarity?” Fluttershy blinked. “N-no, I haven't seen her. Why?” Twilight shrugged, pushed one drawer of the card catalog shut and started on the next one. “She says you missed your spa date yesterday.” Fluttershy shook her head. “No... our spa date is always on Tuesday. I can't go on Sundays, because that's the day I visit the hedgehogs. Rarity knows that.” “Oh. Okay.” Twilight nodded. “So, what brings you to the library?” Fluttershy opened her saddlebag. “I was just going to return... oh, dear.” Her ears sank. “I think I forgot it at home.” She spread her wings and nudged the window open, rustling the cards in Twilight's catalog with a rush of cold air. “I'll be right back. I'm sorry!” Twilight had scarcely shut the window behind Fluttershy when the front door opened again. “On second thought,” said Rarity, “I'll just check that issue out now while I'm here.” “Rarity, you just missed Fluttershy.” Twilight pointed at the window. “I did?” Rarity tilted her head. “Did she say where she was?” “She said Sunday was her hedgehog day.” Rarity frowned. “I thought the things were down for hibernation.” “Well, if you'd just hang around here for a minute,” Twilight said, “you can talk to her about it.” “Keep her here, darling,” Rarity said, pushing the door open. “I just realized I forgot my library card.” “Rarity, wait!” As the door shut, Twilight heard tapping on the window. Fluttershy hovered outside, a copy of Hummingbird Spotting in her mouth. Twilight pulled the window open. “Rarity was just here, Fluttershy! If you hurry, you can catch her.” “Mff mm mff mf?” Twilight levitated the book out of her friend's mouth. “Thank you,” said Fluttershy. “What did she say?” “About what?” “About hedgehog day.” Fluttershy perched on the windowsill. “Right, that. Rarity thought they were hibernating.” Twilight shivered as cold air flooded into the library. A short, unhappy sigh escaped Fluttershy's lips. “She always does this. Making assumptions. Just because the hedgehogs are sleeping doesn't mean I don't have a reason to visit them.” Twilight made a neutral noise. “Well, she just headed back to her boutique to get her library card. I'm sure you can catch her and explain things.” Fluttershy nodded. “Okay.” She turned and flew off. Twilight heard the door creak open. “Actually, wait! I think that's her right now!” she called out the window, but it was too late. Fluttershy was out of earshot. “Silly me,” Rarity said, waving her library card in the air. “I had it tucked in the other pocket this whole time!” “Fluttershy said she still visits the hedgehogs even when they're hibernating,” Twilight blurted. Rarity's lip pouted out. “Well! I'm not a mind-reader! She needs to speak up about these things! Where is she now?” “Flying to your boutique to catch you,” Twilight said. Her breath misted as all the library's heat escaped out the door and open window both. “I'll go get her,” Rarity said, spinning back out the door. “No, stay,” Twilight shouted. “She'll be back in just a minute!” Door shut. Window open. “I didn't see her at her boutique, Twilight.” “You two have the worst timing ever!” growled a frustrated Twilight. She pulled Fluttershy inside and slammed the window. “Stay,” she commanded. “Rarity said you need to speak up when a spa-date doesn't work for you.” “I did speak up,” Fluttershy said, pouting. “I can't stay, I need to go fix a meal for Angel, but can you tell Rarity that maybe she needs to listen once in a while?” Window open. Door open. “Oh, are we playing that game, now?” Rarity crossed her forelegs. “Twilight, please tell Fluttershy that she should be aware of how little her voice carries against the racket all those critters make.” Twilight buried her face in her forehoof. “We are not doing this.” “Racket?” Fluttershy paused in the window, turning. “Twilight, could you inform Rarity that the beautiful vocalizations of the woodland creatures is never a racket, and if she could learn to appreciate it instead of dismissing it as just... just 'noise,' maybe she would understand what I have to say?” “Celestia, we are doing this.” Twilight slumped to the floor. “Darling, please explain to the dear that we cannot all be so in touch with nature as she purports to be. For some of us, shrieking rodents give us headaches, not a sense of fulfillment.” “Well, tell Rarity that if the noise bothers her so much, maybe she shouldn't bother—” “Enough!” The library shook with Twilight's magic-amplified voice. She glared at her squabbling friends. “Either kiss and make up, or start tearing each other's manes out, or something, I don't care, but whatever you do, shut.” Her magic flared, pulling the the window shut. “The.” The door slammed shut as well. “Door!” She stamped her hoof on the ground. “It's freezing in here!” Rarity and Fluttershy glanced at Twilight, then at each other. At length, Fluttershy coughed into her hoof. “Um, Tuesdays work best for me. Is that okay?” “Tuesdays are just fine, darling,” said Rarity. “I'll see you tomorrow, then.” “Yes, have a good day.” They both departed from the library and went their separate ways.