//------------------------------// // Define: Abeyance // Story: TiM: The Truth in Meanings // by Twidashforever //------------------------------// Chapter 16 Define: Abeyance Princess Twilight Sparkle's Castle “I'm so bored; ok maybe bored is the wrong word. There has to be something that is beyond bored. Ugg… Twilight would know this.” Spike paced around the castle yet again. He had already cleaned the floors for the third time that day. Dusted twice, and swept three times for the sake of finding something to do. The truth was that without Twilight here, constantly rearranging and reorganizing everything, there simply was not that much to do. Spike found himself longing for the days when Rainbow Dash would come crashing into their library, knocking entire bookshelves on the floor. Sadly, those days had not been around for quite some time; not since the destruction of the library anyway. Spike paused and considered just calling it an early night, while the sun was not quite down it would be soon; the prospect of facing a new day without Twilight here was not appealing. Therefore, he kept pacing, ‘no need to rush into having to do it all over again'. Spike thought. The knock on the door was a gift from Celestia. Spike dropped his broom and ran to the front door. Pinkie Pie was on the other side. Her demeanor had never been quite right, not after the death of Rainbow anyway. “Hey Pinkie, you know you do not have to knock you're basically family after all.” “I know, I... I just need your help.” The pink mare seemed hesitant; something was bothering her; somepony in town was not smiling. “Spike at your service, milady.” Spike bowed to Pinkie, leaning deep into it with all the gusto he normally reserved for his best friends. “It’s Rarity.” “Oh.” Nopony had seen Rarity in over a week. She had locked herself in the boutique after Twilight left, not wanting to be disturbed. Rarity had put on a brave face for all her friends, but Spike knew it was a lie; Rarity was hurting. Worse yet, she would not talk to anyone, not even her own sister. He sighed; truly, he did not want to talk to Rarity. Rarity broke his heart when she married Rare Gem. Yes he was a changeling, yes Spike had been right. However, Spike could not hold any of that against Rarity. He still loved her after all and she was hurting. Spike knew he would have to talk to her eventually, and now was just as good a time as ever. Spike told Pinkie he would handle it. He made his way to the one building in town that both made his day and broke his heart every time he looked at it; the antithetical nature of it would have been amusing, if he could bring himself to laugh. ………………………………………. Carousel Boutique Rarity was broken; the events over the last few weeks did her in. She put on a brave face for her friends. However, when Rainbow and Twilight left, life had to return to some semblance of normal. The others all went back to their jobs and Rarity fell into her misery. She refused all contact with the outside, not even letting Sweetie Bell come see her. She did not want company, her grief provided more company than she ever needed, ‘at least it will never leave me’. Rarity thought. Rarity did not notice the knock at the door. Even if she had, she did not care. The rest of the world could just buck-off as far as she was concerned. It was not the first pony she ignored at her door, not even the first one that day; however, it was the first one she ignored that had wings, and really wanted to talk to her. Rarity failed to remember that she had left her window open. “Rarity.” That sounded close, not unlike if somepony was in her room. However, that was not possible, nopony had come into her shop for a week, as she would not let anypony in. “Rarity.” There was that voice again, she knew that voice but thinking brought up memories and right now, she did not want to remember. “RARITY.” Ok now she could not ignore it, somepony was in her room. Rarity raised her head off her pillow and looked over to the window. “Spike… You know it’s rude to come into a lady’s bedroom without being invited.” “It’s rude to not answer your door.” Ok, he had her there. “What do you want, darling.” “I want you to come outside. Nopony has seen you in over a week, your friends are worried about you, your family is worried about you, and I'm worried.” “Just leave me be, Spike.” “No.” Rarity shot daggers at him with her eyes; Spike did not even flinch, he had seen Rarity mad before. He needed to ask the right question. “This is about Rare Gem isn’t it?” That was the wrong question to ask. “What do you want to hear, Spike? That you were right? That I'm stupid? That I can’t be trusted to make decisions for myself?” “No.” “Then WHAT?! What do I have to tell you to get you to leave me alone?” “Tell me why you loved him,” “I never loved that changeling.” Spike did not look convinced; they both easily saw that for the lie it was. “Changeling or no, why did you love him?” Rarity sighed; there was no getting out of this then. “Spike, it was never one thing, he wasn’t that smart, or funny, but he was that gorgeous.” “Beyond the physical, Rarity.” Spike was blushing, Rarity giggled inside at his obvious discomfort. “He was... he was loyal, devoted, kind, and so generous, he seemed to always put my needs above his own. Almost as if his whole world revolved around seeing me smile. He never lied to me, he was always so honest.” Tears started falling from her eyes. “Oh Spike, I’ll never find somepony like that again.” She looked back at Spike. The expression on his face gave her pause, she had seen it before, it was Spike's ‘are you serious?’ face. A realization dawned on her; she had seen those qualities before. Only not in somepony, but somedragon, was it possible that she was looking for those qualities because she saw them in Spike? Rarity had an epiphany, of course she had sought out those qualities. She had never known what she wanted in her special somepony. Prince Blueblood was an indication of that. From then on, she had been looking for Spike in pony form! Why did she just not accept the dragon in front of her? Why did she seek out a replacement? Yes he was younger than her but looking at him now you would never be able to tell. He had every bit the size and the fortitude of anypony in town. Based on this one conversation alone he was more than mature enough. Rarity started crying again. “Spike, I don't deserve someone as wonderful as you, I'm a horrible pony. You should go and find someone who is worthy of your affections.” Spike stared at her with an impassive look on his face. Turning around he looked out the window into the twilight of the day. Rarity watched Spike with tears in her eyes. She had spoken the truth, after all this time if she could not see how wonderful the dragon was, she truly did not believe she deserved him. Yet that did not make his impending departure any easier. However, the dragon did not fly out the window. He turned back to the mare lying on the bed and started to walk over to her. “Spike what are-” “Shut up, Rarity.” First and foremost, Rarity was a lady. She never put up with any stallion treating her as anything but; she demanded the proper respect and dignity that any lady was due. However, when Spike said those words she could do nothing but obey. The conviction in his voice offered no room for argument. Spike grabbed Rarity’s hoof and picked her up in his arms. It was then she realized just how strong the dragon had become, she felt every bulge in his muscles as he lifted her. He walked her over to the window and Spike flew them both out into the sky. The night air was exhilarating to Rarity; she had never flown before, at least not since the best young flyers completion all those years ago. Even that was only during the day. Day flying did not hold a candle to night flying. The cool air rushing through her fur and mane was unlike anything else she had experienced before. Before she wanted too they stopped, hovering in the air several hundred hoofs over Ponyville. Night had fallen in earnest. “Rarity look around and tell me what you see.” Rarity did as she was told; the view that night was breathtaking. The lights from Ponyville a stark contrast to the darkness of the night, and the stars, Luna had gone all out that night; they seemed brighter than ever before. The moon was the biggest she had ever seen, it hung in the night like a beacon of hope for all to see. The view quite literally, astounded her. It took her a minute before she realized that Spike was still waiting for her answer. “It’s amazing, Spike. I never imagined it was so beautiful.” It was then she realized that despite the view, Spike had never taken his eyes off her. “That’s how I feel every time I look at you.” “That’s just because of how I look.” For the first time that night, Spike looked angry. Rarity bit her tongue, not wanting to upset the dragon holding her so far above the ground. Rarity never believed that Spike would actually drop her, but the prospect of upsetting the dragon scared her. “Rarity, how long have I known you?” “Over six years.” “How long have I loved you?” “Oh spike, it was just a crush.” “C'mon Rarity, what crush lasts SIX YEARS? Do you truly believe all it was is a crush? If the only thing I like about you is the way you look, I would still be pining after you after six years?” He hugged her close to his breast. “Rarity I've seen you at your worst, I've seen you at your best. I can honestly say I have never seen anyone as gorgeous as you are, inside and out, not in all my life. You bring out the best in me and make me want to prove myself worthy of you for the rest of my life.” “But Spike, even if we get together, you will outlive me, you will have to watch me die knowing there is nothing you can do about it. I cannot put you through that; it would break your heart.” “Better a life spent in mourning of what was, then a life spent in regret at what could have been.” Rarity began crying at that point. How she could have been so blind all this time? All these years of hunting for her prince and he was right here in front of her. She only had to open her eyes and see it. After a few minutes she pulled her head from Spike’s shoulders and looked him in the eye, truly looked at him for the first time in her life. The sight that greeted her was everything she had ever wanted. She leaned forward and kissed him. Not a peck on the cheek, not a sisterly kiss like all those times before, but a kiss given to a long lost lover, between two souls that were always meant to be together and just didn’t know it. Until now that is. A lifetime later they finally broke apart, the two looked into each other’s eyes as if staring into one another’s soul. Spike was the first one to break the silence. “This is officially a perfect night.” “Not quite yet dear, no first date is complete without a dance.” “I'm afraid I'm not dressed for the occasion.” That gave Rarity an idea, after the event of Los Pegasus she had a feeling that she had yet to try out. A subtle change in her magic energy had occurred and this was the perfect chance to test it. She lowered her horn between the two and concentrated. After a flash of white light they were both fully clothed in perfect, form fitting attire. Spike was in a three-piece suit that highlighted his physique in all the right ways, in any event he would have been the center of attention, attracting every eye in the house. That is, if Rarity had not been there. Rarity’s dress was stunning, easily better than anything she had ever designed before. It flowed off her in waves, emphasizing her grace, style, and curves in all the right ways. This new magic, it would change everything for Rarity, she could design any outfit she thought of instantly. Rarity was now only limited by the power of her considerable imagination. It was a true game changer. However, at that moment, she did not give it another thought. The dragon in her hoofs was all she cared about. Despite the dress, the suit, or the sudden use of new magic, Spike and Rarity’s eyes never left each other. They both stared into the others soul as if nothing else existed at that moment. For them, that might as well be the case, for, as of that moment, the world could have ended and the two would not have cared less. Standing on Spike's feet, Rarity let the dragon lead her in a waltz through the night sky. Rarity softly whispered into Spike’s ear. “Now the night is perfect.” ………………………………………… Fluttershy’s Cottage Applejack was mad at herself. She had made a vow that she would start helping ponies, and somehow she had overlooked one of her closest friends, Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus would never say anything; Fluttershy hated the spotlight, or any attention in general. However, it had never been this bad before. Nopony had seen her for a week. Still, it was inexcusable to Applejack, Fluttershy was her friend and she should have come first. It had taken a visit from Pinkie to remind her, she had seen the pink party pony in better times, no one had found the missing ponies after the incident, Mr. Cake, Filthy Rich, and the real Rare Gem were gone. However, Pinkie being Pinkie, she pressed forward, doing what she could for Miss. Cake and the twins. Applejack wondered just how this town would survive without the pink pony around. She doubted it would last for long; that mare seemed to carry the weight of the town on her shoulders and she did it with a smile. Applejack’s reminiscing quickly came to a halt. She had arrived at Fluttershy’s Cottage. Knocking on the door, Applejack was momentarily surprised that Angel did not answer, the little bunny had always been quick to help Fluttershy, then she remembered that Angel was no longer with her, he had died. Sighing, Applejack knocked again, still no answer. “Fluttershy, it’s me” There was no reply. Applejack checked the door and found it unlocked. Walking in she expected a mess. There was nothing, no animals, no food, the entire cottage looked deserted. After inspecting each room in turn, she found that was the case. Nopony or critter lived here anymore. Applejack sighed and walked out. Pinkie had told her she could find Fluttershy here, Pinkie was never wrong about things like this. ‘Dagnabbit girl, where you at?’ Applejack asked herself the sixty-four million bit question. After completing her third lap around the cottage, Applejack heard something on the wind, it sounded like, crying. She quickly followed it to it source. There, up on a cloud, was Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus could make being covered in mud look good, however, her friends could always tell when she was not taking care of herself. Even Applejack could tell she had been depressed for a while. “Fluttershy, hey Fluttershy!” There was no reply. “C'mon girl I need to talk to you, come down.” “…” “What was that?” “No." Fluttershy said softly. “What?” “I said, no.” Applejack had enough. She could not go up to Fluttershy, so Fluttershy would have to come down one way or another. Reaching into her pack she pulled out her trusty rope, whispering a quick apology she expertly spun it and lassoed the yellow pony, cloud and all. Fluttershy did not even struggle. She knew AJ was stronger than she was; Fluttershy lowered her head and allowed her impromptu bed to be pulled to the ground. “What the hey girl, why wouldn’t you come talk to me?” “I can’t.” “You can’t what?” I can’t be around others.” “Why not?” “Because.” “Because what?” Fluttershy did not want to answer; she wanted out of this conversation, she did not want her friends to worry either. She decided to go with an excuse. “Because of what I did.” That was strange... she wanted to say an excuse, but for some reason she had told the truth instead. “Look Fluttershy, I’m not leaving until I help you, so we can do this back and forth all day if you want, or you can just tell me.” The truth started pouring from her like a fountain; she could no more stop it then trying to stop a waterfall. Tears where falling from her eyes while she spoke. “I killed them ok, the changelings were the ones poisoning the water supply. I... I needed help. I was the one that made the dragon attack them. I was so mad, I wanted them to suffer, I… I wanted to hurt them for what happened… for Angel.” She broke down at that. Not able to look at her friend anymore. Applejack sit down, she let her friend cry without interruption. AJ suspected the story Fluttershy told was not the full truth, she had not exactly lied about what occurred. Although a lie of omission is still a lie. She had said nothing at the time. “Fluttershy, I can’t imagine what that took from you. However, moving out of your house? Ignoring your friends, this isn’t healthy girl.” “If it keeps me from hurting you girls.” “That’s just it sunshine, it doesn’t, we're all friends. If you hurt yourself like this, it hurts all of us. If you’re hurting, let us help.” Fluttershy thought about this for a while, she decided that maybe AJ had a point. She stood up and nodded to the farmer. “Atta girl, tell you what, you gonna stay with me for a while. Now let’s go find the others, we been apart for far too long.” Fluttershy nodded at that, she couldn’t agree more. The two made their way to find their friends, not knowing what the future would bring, but safe in the knowledge that they would not have to face it alone. They had their friends with them.