//------------------------------// // Chapter 20: Between Friends // Story: Proxy // by Thithle Candytufth //------------------------------// “You two won’t believe the day I had,” Lavender said. Solar Flare passed her a mug of tea and she acknowledged him with a thankful nod. “What happened?” Bay Breeze asked. “So, I’m just futzing around in the kitchen thinking of something to do to waste away the day when who comes at my door but Shining Armor and Princess Cadance! That solved that problem, I suppose. The four of us had a lovely lunch. It was surreal, having a meal with royalty. But they were like any local you’d meet here!” “Wow,” Solar Flare sat down, “what were they doing here of all places, let alone at your doorstep?” “That’s the thing, I was so confused, but as it turns out, they didn’t come to visit me, but Twilight.” “I suppose that’d make more sense, being a Canterlot native,” Bay Breeze said, “but why her in particular? I thought she said she had no royal ties, didn’t she?” “Well, I guess that wasn’t entirely true…” Solar Flare turned to Bay Breeze knowingly. Lavender cocked her head “What?” “Well, I was expecting this conversation sooner or later,” Bay said. “What do you mean?” Lavender said. “The two of us have been having some reservations about Twilight,” Bay said. “What is up between you two?” Lavender’s tone shifted from calm concern to annoyance. Bay Breeze opened her mouth, but Solar Flare spoke up before she could say anything. “We’re worried, is all.” “About what?” “Well, Twilight seems to be avoiding answering us whenever we try to find anything about her. She doesn’t want to share anything about herself. She’s, well, lying to you.” Solar Flare’s voice trailed off. “She probably just hiding this one thing because it would give her unwanted attention, is what I was trying to say.” “Well, that’s all fine and good, but does she not seem strangely dodgy to you?” Bay Breeze asked. “Maybe a little, but I don’t see the point of this…” Lavender took a sip of her tea. Bay Breeze sighed. “Lavender, I feel like I need to be the one to tell you this, since I care about you and don’t want to see you get hurt. I had a bad feeling about Twilight as soon as I met her. I discussed with this one about my suspicions, but he assured me I was being overprotective, but—” Lavender slammed the mug on the table. “So you had been talking about this behind my back?” Lavender tilted her head back, furrowing her brow. “Hey, now,” Solar Flare said, leaning between Lavender and Bay Breeze, “there is no need to get confrontational here. We’re concerned for your well-being. You’re offering room and board and a significant portion of your time to her and she seems to be hiding quite a lot from you.” “Regardless, keeping secrets from me about how you feel about my friend’s privacy is not the way to go about it. You’re doing exactly what you’re accusing her of.” “At least we’re being up-front about it now, which is more than we could say for her behavior,” Bay said. “What, other than this one thing, could she be hiding?” Lavender put her hooves on the table. “I don’t know, Lavender,” Bay Breeze said, “we wouldn’t have to have this conversation if we knew.” “She’s my friend. I should give her the benefit of the doubt, just as you should, as my friends.” “Lavender, please, it’s like you want this to come between us,” Bay Breeze said, “I was just looking out for you. I don’t like all this secret-keeping.” “Neither do I!” Lavender said, shaking her head, “I am more than a bit bothered that you’d be making judgments on my new friend behind my back. Don’t you think you’re making flash judgments? So she doesn’t open up as readily as we do. We should allow her to have her space, and then she would open up in due time.” “I wish I could be as trusting as you, Lav, I really do,” Bay Breeze said, relaxing in her seat. “Both of you,” Solar Flare said, “don’t you think it’s a bit unfair to be having this conversation if Twilight has no way to speak up for herself?” “That’s a good point,” Bay Breeze said, “whether or not she’d be telling the truth, though, well, that’s only for her to know.” Lavender took a deep breath. “I can see where the problem lies with this and I will try to be a bit more pressing with her, and give her a chance to speak for herself,” Lavender said, “I don’t want something like this happening again, so please, give me the respect of telling me when you feel this way. I don’t want to have to be suspicious of any of my friends. Promise me you’ll tell me next time you feel this way?” “Sure,” Solar Flare said. Bay Breeze nodded hesitantly. “I apologize for continuing this, but, has Twilight really acted like a friend to you, Lav?” She asked. “What kind of question is that? Of course she has.” “Alright, then. What is it that friends do?” “Well, obviously, they are kind to one another, they give expecting nothing in return, enjoy themselves together, and are loyal to and honest with one another.” “Do you feel like Twilight fits that bill?” “Bay Breeze, you’re being unfair,” Solar Flare said. “No, she isn’t, Flare.” Lavender said, “I see where you are coming from, and I understand your gripes with her behavior.” “Answer me, then. Has Twilight acted like a friend to you?” Bay Breeze’s wings flapped expectantly. “Bay! Stop pressing her!” “No, she has not.” Lavender said, lowering her head and sighing. Bay Breeze put a hoof on Lavender’s shoulder. “I apologize, Lavender, that’s just the problem I’m identifying here. I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re pouring your soul into this new friendship but I don’t think Twilight feels the same way. Really, it’s unfair to her as well.” “I accept your apology,” Lavender said, shifting away from Bay Breeze, “but I don’t agree with you. I think what is fair to her, and to us, is to give her a chance to stand up for herself as to why she is behaving this way, and to give her the chance to return the friendship I have offered her.” “I hope she understands how important something like friendship really is,” Bay Breeze said, “because if she takes what you offer her lightly, I can only see both of you getting hurt.” “Bay, why do you need to be so negative about all of this?” Solar Flare said, “I’m worried, too, but let’s give Twilight a chance. We barely know her.” “Well, yes, but that’s of her choosing,” Bay Breeze said. “Stop that,” Solar Flare said. “Let’s just sleep on it,” Lavender said, “I apologize for raising tensions the way I did, but it’s important to get this stuff out on the table.” “Of course,” Bay Breeze said, “what are friends for?”