//------------------------------// // Yet through the hole shines light // Story: Do You Need a Hug? (Cuddle) // by technicscratch //------------------------------// Chapter 2 'On my way to counselor, may not be back till late -Rainspark' Rainspark quickly grabbed his coat and pushed himself through the door before he could make up an excuse to stay home. "*sigh*" It was raining so naturally Rain was in a good mood. "Such beauty in the subtle, dark calmness that the showers bring." He smiles for a second but quickly revokes it as he notices a mare come into vision. Rains eyes find their way to the ground, and for the rest of the cold walk, contemplated, no, strongly considered just making his way to the PUB just 3 blocks away. He notices a small colt playing in the puddle, and an older colt teasing him. His frown deeps and his horn glows. "Who even likes playing in the rain? Weirdo!" "Leave me alone...." "No! why shoul-" The older of the two suddenly trips and starts to rub his face in the mud "What are you doing?...." "I- *muffle muffle*" The bully continues to eat mud, as the younger colt sits back and enjoys the show. Rain was far past that now, a small grin on his face from what he had accomplished. "The old tree library.." He looks up to admire the size and form of the structure. "I bet Sky would love this place..." He pushes Sky out of his thoughts and knocks on the door. "Just a minuet!" Comes a soft, muffled voice. Rain begins to tap his hoof gently on the doormat. Again he knocks however this time he is able to catch view of Ms S. "P-princess...." Rain's jaw almost hits the floor in surprise. "Canterlot..... ruling..... Why????" "Please Mr Spark, call me Ms Sparkle." She giggles lightly and raises a hoof to her mouth "When princess Celestia doesn't need me for anything I still do whatever I can to help the citizens of Equestria whenever I can. So I opened up in the business of counseling!" She flashes a warm smile at Rain, who was still standing with his jaw on the ground. "Now please, come in, lets get acquainted shall we?" Rain nods not knowing what to do, and follows the princess in. "Now, do you need anything? Some hot Coco maybe?" "No thank you Ms Sparkle...." She shrugs and leads him over to a room set up with 2 couches facing each other and a table in between. "Please, sit, get comfortable." She sits on the other side casually and then proceeds to stare directly at Rain. "Hehe....." He tries to avoid eye contact "Well, want to tell me about yourself??" "Well I did send you that letter.." "I mean about your past... Maybe something that is leading to your problems?" Rainspark blushes deeply and looks away shamed "Not a talker hmmmm?" "No, no..... It's just.... My past... it's.. touchy" "I see..." She levitates a pen and clip board in front of her and begins to nibble on the end of it cutely. "Mr Spark... Is something the matter?" "W-what?" "Your just starring... that's all" she smiles and proceeds to write something down. "S-sorry...." Spark returns to avoiding eye contact, but his plan begins to backfire when he begins to notice that Twilight isn't writing anymore... In fact, shes not moving.. *Is she starring at me? I'm not going to look...... Why was I starring at her?? Ugh...* Minuets pass until he decides to look up and, sure enough, she was starring directly at him. "Is something wrong??" "Oh no, no, I was just using my magic to learn more about you... what you think.... what your past was like..." Rain's face explodes with red, and his breathing intensifies. "Mr spark. That was a joke.... I was simply thinking." Rain sighs and now looks at her, still slightly panicked. "What do you want to know?" He sighs again, defeated "Is there anything from your past that might have lead to, what you describe as depression?" The words sting him, and he fights off asking her not to being up the D word. "There are lots of things, not only in my past but in my current. I have countless sad stories to tell, I just don't tell them...." "I see..... Well, if that's all your comfortable with sharing then that's fine." Rainspark turns his head confused "So what... Thats it? I leave now? No solution?" "Well, I was thinking we could do a more "hands on" activity before you go." "What is it?" "Well its sort of a trust test, but its also sort of fun." "Ok...." Twilight gets up, and Rain follows she walks up right next to him so she can speak quietly. "Now. I need you to close your eyes." Rainspark does as she asks "Now I'm just going to put a small spell on you so you can't open them ok?" normally this would have set off numerous alarms in Rainsparks mind but her gentle tone, and the fact that she is a princess allows him to push it aside. "Ok good, now very carefully sit down on the couch again." Rainspark, as if in a trance slowly sits. "Now for the fun part. I want you to tell me what you feel." Rainspark concentrates as something very soft, and warm finds its way around his side and begins to wrap around him. "Its like... A blanket... Only much more soft, and warm.." He smiles allowing the softness to fully grip him. "Now I want you to hold you hoofs out and gently grab a hold of whats in front of you. Cradle it, if you will." Rainspark gently feels out and finds a similar feeling of that which was wrapped around him. He slowly pulls it up to his chest. "Now the spell is nullified, open your eyes." Rainspark opens his eyes slowly, as if awaking from a deep slumber, and nearly falls off the couch when he sees Twilight curled up in his hoofs wrapping her wings around him. "PRINCESS?!!??!" "Shhh" She coo's "Its called cuddling, it may help with your problems." The Alicorn gently snuggles into him deeper "Isn't it nice?" The unicorn calms himself and returns her affection by hugging her more tightly. "Ya... It is.." A smile finds its way onto Rainspark's face. The Alicorn's horn glows gently and she teleports to the other side, leaving Rain curled up by himself. "Do you have somebody you can cuddle Mr Spark?" He frowns, but then his face suddenly lights up. "Yeah... I just might..." "Great!" She jumps to her hooves "Now i'll just have you know I charge 100 bits a minuet and ill see you in two days." "WHAT?!?!?!?" "That was a joke Mr Spark.. I will see you in two days, same place, same time though, right?" "Yes, of course...." He smiles and gets to his hoofs "Thank you."