//------------------------------// // ___u___t__a____p_____k_ // Story: Refraction // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// The door to the diner rattled open. As soon as Lone Star stepped in, she gasped and pressed herself against the frame just as two large stallions rushed out the exit, nearly plowing her over. She watched the surly patrons leave, sighed, then shuffled her way nervously into the crowded, rowdy place. She looked left and right, biting her lip. Her ears twitched from the racuous voices and occasional clatter of plates. At last, she found a tiny booth nestled in the corner. Apple Jewel sat against the window, writing notes in an open briefcase that was sitting atop the table. Across from her, Cantershy sat, hugging herself and wincing with each loud noise that echoed throughout the place. "And, at this rate, Apple and Orange Reality will have a hoofhold in the predominating market," Apple Jewel said. "Condos are sprouting all up in Neigh Jersey. The wealthy are moving out into the fringe suburbs, and that's precisely where my Uncle and I are making our move." "That's... uh..." Cantershy gulped, barely touching her plate of food. "That's g-good to hear, Apple Jewel." "Hmmmph. I know you're not sincere, darling, but would it kill you to at least put on a convincing face?" Cantershy merely bowed her head. "I'm sorry..." "Really, girls?" Lone Star muttered as she slid into the spot next to Apple Jewel. "This is the best place we could find for lunch?" "The 'best place?'" Apple Jewel remarked. "No. But certainly an opportune location. It is on the way to the bank, after all." "Right. Funny you should bring up the bank! Because I was thinking of pulling some money out of my savings so that we could—" "Lone Star, what are you doing?" The unicorn blinked at her refined friend. "I'm... sitting here. Next to you." "We've been over this. I would very much wish that you wouldn't." "Please, AJ!" Lone Star chuckled. "What, do I smell all of the sudden—?" "Actually, yes. Like musky old books." Apple Jewel sipped from a mug of coffee. "And don't call me 'AJ.' It's most uncouth." "Hmmm..." Lone Star gritted her teeth. "Very well..." She slid out of her seat and sat on the booth opposite of Apple Jewel, right next to Cantershy. "I swear, Apple Jewel, you're going to choke on your hoof one of these days." She glanced aside. "Hey, Cantershy." "H-hello..." The mare trembled, eyes locked on the tabletop. "Now, darling, I believe you were desperate to relate something to us." "R-right!" Lone Star smiled. "The idea came to me while I was working on a report about diamond dogs earlier—" "Diamond what now?" "Erm... s-sorry. I guess what I was studying isn't important." "I would certainly hope not." Lone Star struggled to talk above the noise of the crowd, making Cantershy wince even more. "I was thinking—I've built up quite a savings these past few years! If I make a withdrawal at the start of this month, then I just might have enough to buy us three dresses!" "Dresses for what?" "The Grand Galloping Gala, of course!" Lone Star beamed, staring at the other two. "How about it, girls?! It's just the weekend after next! My brother could get us in, and I could find us something really nice to wear!" "Uhm..." Cantershy shuddered. "I-I don't know about that..." "Oh please, darling," Apple Jewel droned Cantershy's way. "Just come out with it. You don't want to go to such a glamorous event." Apple Jewel stifled a dainty yawn and continued writing across her document. "And neither would I." "Oh come on!" Lone Star pouted. "Why not?" "I've got better things to do than waste anypony's fortune on frivolous evening parties." "But don't you believe in having fun?! Living a little?! What are we put on this earth for if not to enjoy the benefits of harmony?!" Lone Star gently elbowed Cantershy, making her shudder. "How about it, Cantershy? When was the last time you ever had a good laugh at something?" "Uhm... I d-don't see anything that's worth laughing about," Cantershy whimpered, staring out the window. "I... I-I really don't like it here." She gulped. "It's too noisy." "But... b-but I thought we came here in order to have lunch—" "Face it, Lone Star, she simply isn't an outside pony," Apple Jewel said. "And she never was. If all these years she had just listened to me when I told her what a big waste of time it was to—" "What?!" Lone Star frowned. "Live a little? Go outside and get some fresh air?" She reached over and squeezed Cantershy's shoulders. "You know, if you had spent your foalhood being a little more supportive of our friend here, Apple Jewel, then I wouldn't have to be playing catch-up so bad!" "Please..." Cantershy clenched her teeth. "D-don't fight over me..." "Why are you terribly passionate over the insufferable Gala anyways?" Apple Jewel squinted across the table. "If you want so terribly to go, make your withdrawal and spend all the money on just yourself!" "I'm not doing that! I wish to be generous to you girls!" "Please, Lone Star, let it rest." "Well, maybe I won't let it rest!" She said firmly. "Maybe... j-just maybe I want a little more out of our lives!" "You expect too much—" "Maybe I'm tired of all this miserable shuffling around and doing nothing!" Lone Star stood up, leaning forward with a frown. "Maybe I want something sweeter and happier out of our friendship!" "I... I-I wanna go..." Cantershy squeaked. Lone Star gave her a double-take. "H-huh?!" "Please..." Cantershy sniffled and fidgeted, pushing against Lone Star. "I-I've had enough of this place. I want to g-go home." "But... b-but...!" Lone Star stumbled out of the booth, reluctantly making room for the fumbling mare. "Cantershy...!" "Now you've gone and done it, darling," Apple Jewel muttered. "What do you mean I've gone and done it?!" "I'm sorry..." Cantershy fought a sob, teeth clattering. "I tried! I-I really did!" She galloped off, nearly tripping a waitress who snapped angrily at her as she rushed by. "S-so sorry!" "But... but..." Lone Star blinked awkwardly at the mare's exit. "I... I just wanted us to do something fun for a change." "You should know very well that Cantershy can't very well handle fun," Apple Jewel said in a dull tone. "She can't handle much of anything." "Oh yeah?!" Lone Star turned and snarled at the elegant pony. "The least we can do is try to give her some support! You know just as well as I do how sensitive she is!" "I'm not about to lie to anypony, dear, much less a mare as far-gone as Cante—" "Stop hiding behind your brutal honesty!" Lone Star growled. "Take a page out of Cantershy's book! Be kind!" "Oh, please..." Apple Jewel chuckled airily. "Lone Star, there comes a time when even the most prudent mare's generosity wanes thin." "We're supposed to help each other out, Apple Jewel!" Lone Star exclaimed. "We're supposed to be loyal to each other! That's the crux of friendship!" Apple Jewel's emerald eyes glinted at her. "You would lecture me on friendship? You of all ponies." "I..." Lone Star suddenly grimaced. "I—" "You?" Apple Jewel slowly stood up, eyes icy cold. "A pony who's only mark in the social circles is the one day at age seven when she accidentally spilled purple ink across her older brother's Canterlot Guard uniform?" "But... that was j-just—" "You seem to lecture an awful lot about 'friendship,' Lone Star, but you hardly have any grasp on the matter. If there's nothing I detest more in life, it's a pony who makes bold claims about others without knowing a single thing about herself." She slapped her briefcase shut and gathered her belongings. "And need I remind you, it was your idea that we engage in these regular luncheons. So the next time you consider lashing out at somepony for dragging Cantershy to places she can't handle, try giving a long monologue to the mirror. I promise you it'll listen better." Lone Star bit her lip, gazing into the distance while Apple Jewel trotted past her. "You can handle the tip on your own," the mare muttered as she exited the diner. "You certainly have enough money to throw at things lately." And she was gone. Slowly, Lone Star slumped back to her seat. She sighed into her hooves, seeking solace from the words still ringing in her skull. The loud clatter of the diner didn't make things any easier. She considered ordering something to eat... or perhaps to drink. Instead, all she did was a whole lot of sitting in place, gazing out the window as the sun set over the outer fringes of Ponyville. Hours passed. When, at last, the outside world had become so dark that she was starting to see nothing but her own sad reflection, she gave in. Tossing a few bits onto the empty table, Lone Star stood up and trotted out on stiff legs. Her stroll home was a lonesome, labored thing. Even the stars felt closer to her than the buildings—much less the flickering hint of lights therein. She coughed a few times, but there was no echo. If she didn't look up every now and then to see the sidewalks on either side of her, she would have guessed she was trotting down the heart of a deep abyss. Nevertheless, in due time, she arrived at her library. When she shut the door behind her, she clenched her teeth, shutting her eyes tight. All she could see was Apple Jewel's angry face. Beyond even that—like a fluttering moth in the deep corner of her subconscious—Cantershy was shivering, and the image forced a whimpering breath from the mare's lungs. "Twilight Sparkle." Lone Star's eyes opened, like fiery embers. The figure stood in the shadows, wings stretched. Something snarled out of Lone Star's muzzle, powered by all of the burning frustrations of the day. "Who are you...?" "Are you happy now?" The figure's glowing eyeslits narrowed. "Twilight Sparkle?" Lone Star was already galloping towards her. "I said... who are you?!" she screamed. A flash of light enveloped the library, burning everything, burning her.