//------------------------------// // True Self // Story: Our Blessing // by MysteriousStranger //------------------------------// Shall I tell her directly? No, Rarity admires her. I must be tactful. I should first tell her that she enjoyed the show… no. She must not find out. It should all work out if she recovers within a week. She just caught the flu, it’s nothing serious. Trixie spent the whole journey back to her home thinking on what to do. Beau Monde might be a jerk, but she’s still willing to help Rarity to make more sales. I wonder what kind of favor will I have to do for her. Trixie reached her destination and opened the front door of Carousel Boutique. She carefully put her stuff on the living room and walked to the bedroom without making a sound, yawning. When she reached her bedroom, she was surprised to find Rarity with her eyes open on the bed. “Sweetheart, why aren’t you sleeping? You need to rest!” “I was waiting for you, Trixie-boo. I’m eager to hear the news you brought me. Besides, you know that I can’t sleep without you.” Rarity was surrounded by used tissues on her side of the bed. The trash can was full. “I told you that I would tell you everything in the morning.” “I was anxious, honey, and I’m still am. Please, tell me everything. I won’t sleep until you do.” Trixie sighed in defeat. “Alright, alright. But let me get comfortable first.” Trixie undressed and put the dress back in the wardrobe and her shoes close to it before going to bed, where she covered herself with the sheets before putting her golden bracelet on her night table. Rarity did the same before looking at her, with her elbow on the pillow and her hoof holding her head. “Beau Monde loved your designs and the show. It was a success.” “That’s wonderful! I suppose that you didn’t have any problems leading the models.” “No. They were very helpful and understanding. Their managers were the ones who caused more problems.” “They are rarely polite. You should be fine as long as you stand them.” “Are you sure that you can speak? Why don’t you rest your voice?” “I’m fine. Please, continue.” Trixie smiled and leaned closer to her wife. “I didn’t give up because of you. I kept thinking on you. I kept reminding myself that I was doing it for you and for your career.” She put a hoof on Rarity’s cheek as she spoke. Rarity took hold of it with one of her own hooves. “You’re going to kill me with your sweetness one of these days.” “Trixie still has her charm.” The showmare said with a smile and Rarity tried to giggle, but she coughed instead. “Sweetheart, could you please sleep now?” Trixie worriedly said as she softly patted Rarity’s back. “One last question. Will she meet me when I recover?” The moment Trixie feared had arrived. She had to choose her words carefully and tell Rarity what she wanted to hear instead of the ugly truth. “She’s staying at her hotel for another week. She’s waiting for you to get in contact with her.” “Good, I should be feeling better in a few days. If not, we could always arrange another appointment, right?” Trixie smiled nervously, but luckily it was dark so Rarity didn’t notice. “Right.” The fashionista yawned and embraced Trixie. “Good night, Trixie-boo.” The sick pony said as she snuggled against Trixie. The magician pony kissed Rarity’s forehead and closed her eyes. “Good night, my lady.” I have to make sure that Rarity gets better within a week so she doesn’t finds out about the truth. Trixie thought before hearing that Rarity has already fallen asleep. The blue Unicorn slightly smiled; Rarity sleeping always caused her joy. It didn’t take long for Trixie to join her. *** During the following few days, Trixie took extra care of Rarity. She gave her tea with gingerbread at least twice a day and she prepared her soup every day. She kept the bed clean and she would empty the trash can whenever it became filled. She also made sure that Rarity was always comfortable and that she spent minimal time off the bed; only to go to the bathroom. Thanks to that, she felt a lot better by the fourth day and she was able to contact Beau Monde. She got a reply the following day and they arranged a meeting on the sixth day. Trixie felt a bit better that they could arrange a meeting but she still feared that Beau Monde would be rude with Rarity. “Isn’t it marvelous, my love? I’m finally going to meet Beau Monde! I have been looking forward to this day for months!” Rarity commented as she applied her makeup. She was getting ready for the meeting. Trixie was by the bathroom door, watching her. “I know.” “Tell me, how is she?” Trixie gulped. “She’s… beautiful.” Her mind was blank. “What do you mean by… ‘beautiful’?” “Rarity, her career depends on her look, of course that she’s beautiful.” “Ahá…” Rarity teased. “What else?” “I didn’t speak with her much, actually. She was in a hurry. I barely convinced her to stay a few more days.” “But you spoke with her. Was she nice?” Come on, Rarity, stop asking me about her! Trixie didn’t reply right away. “Y-Yes. She kept complimenting your attires.” “Really? That’s splendid! Oh, I can’t wait to meet her!” Rarity finished arranging herself in that precise moment and walked to Trixie. “Your turn.” After Trixie was done with her makeup, they left to meet Beau Monde. They were both properly dressed. Since the restaurant they had to go was far from Ponyville, they had to take a carriage to get there. When they arrived, Trixie stopped Rarity before she spoke with the employee at the entrance. “Rarity, wait. There’s something I need to tell you.” “Yes, my darling?” Rarity was visibly confused. “Don’t mention that we’re married when we’re speaking with her.” “Huh? Why not?” Trixie didn’t want to keep the truth to herself anymore. She hated keeping secrets from her wife. “I have a bad feeling about her, trust me on this one.” “But you told me that she’s nice.” “I lied.” Rarity gasped. “You lied…?” Trixie nodded. “I didn’t want to tell you, but I’m not capable of keeping secrets from you, not anymore. Choose your words carefully, sweetheart. Stay professional. You need her as a client.” The fashionista looked down. “Alright. You wouldn’t make up something like that to me.” “I have no reason to.” Trixie said before looking at the restaurant. “We shouldn’t keep her waiting much longer, let’s go.” She said before heading to the restaurant’s entrance, but Rarity remained on her spot a few moments, still with her head down. She wasn’t so excited on meeting this successful fashionista anymore. “Rarity!” The fancy Unicorn blinked several times before looking at the mare who called her. “Come on, she’s not very patient.” “I’m coming.” Rarity followed her wife inside. A stallion stopped them before they could get into the saloon. “I’m sorry, everything’s booked. Do you have a reservation?” “I’m Trixie Lulamoon. Beau Monde is expecting me.” “Let me see… oh, yes! I apologize, miss. Lulamoon. Miss. Monde is right over there, by the window.” “Thank you.” Trixie and Rarity were delighted by the moment they stepped on the saloon. The decoration was beautiful and the atmosphere was idyllic. The ponies weren’t talking too loud and the illumination was perfect. The wood used for the floor was perfectly done, offering the hooves comfort by each step. However, they couldn’t enjoy the restaurant at the moment. Beau Monde saw them. They walked to where the earth pony was sitting as their short moments of joy faded. “Rarity Lulamoon, finally the mare I was looking forward to meet. Or would you prefer if I use both of your last names?” Beau Monde was faking a smile. Trixie realized it right away, but Rarity could hardly tell. “Just Lulamoon is fine, thank you.” The Fancy Unicorn said as she and Trixie sat on the opposite side of the professional fashionista. “I apologize for not being able to run the Fashion Show. I was…” “Sick, I know, your sister here told me.” Despite speaking warmly, Rarity was still offended for being cut short. Trixie was getting more and more furious each second she spent with the despicable pony. If she kept offending Rarity, it wouldn’t be long before she exploded. “Thank you for agreeing on meeting me despite being so busy.” Rarity continued. “If you don’t mind, I want to start talking about business.” “Of course.” Beau Monde looked at Trixie, noticing her anger. “But I was hoping to have more privacy. I have no business with your sister.” “She’s not…” Trixie could guess what Rarity was about to say, so she interrupted her. “Going anywhere. I didn’t come all the way here just to wait outside. You can speak freely.” Trixie worked hard to keep a serious look, despite her blood was boiling and her left eye was itching. “Excuse me, but, do you know anything about fashion? Just because you ran a show, it doesn’t mean that you’re an expert.” “That wasn’t my only experience. I have been helping Rarity for years.” Anger was slowly appearing on Trixie’s face. “Bravo.” Beau Monde was sarcastic. “Wait outside.” “Who do you think you are to give her commands!” Rarity said as she stood up, with her forelegs on the table. “Who do you think you’re speaking to?!” Beau Monde did the same as Rarity. “If you don’t behave, I’ll make sure your business goes bankrupt!” “How dare you to threaten my wife?!” Trixie couldn’t hold herself anymore. Her left eye was burning. She had to keep it closed. “W-Wife…?” Beau Monde was disgusted by this. “Yes. Don’t you raise your voice at her or I won’t be responsible for my actions!” The blue Unicorn spoke between her teeth. “You can be sure that you will not work with me!” “As if I wanted to work with such a ruffian!” Rarity said as she walked away to prevent Beau Monde from seeing her tears. Trixie followed her wife just as Beau Monde spoke again. “Enjoy this day. It might be the last time you sleep on a bed.” The showmare glared at her one last time before following Rarity again, who burst in tears once they were outside. “We should have left after you told me the truth…” Rarity managed to say before sobbing. “No, we showed her that we never miss an appointment. It would have been easier for her to speak bad of you.” Trixie said as she hugged her wife. “Tr-Trixie… did you see her face? When you said that we are married…” “I did. I had the feeling that she wouldn’t like that…” Rarity cried more against Trixie’s chest. Trixie held the fashionista tighter, managing to open her left eye since she was more sad than angry. “We don’t deserve this. We’re good ponies! We aren’t doing anything wrong. Why did this happen?” “I wish I knew…” Rarity sobbed more. “Let’s get out of here.” Trixie used a hoof to call a nearby carriage. She helped Rarity to get inside first before she did. “It is such a shame that we won’t be able to return to that place…” Rarity said. She wasn’t crying as much as before. “Bad memories will remain.” Beau Monde’s last words were still inside Trixie’s head. Our last night sleeping on a bed? Is she capable of doing such thing as writing a bad review to ruin somepony’s life? How can she be so respected when she’s a monster? She certainly didn’t care to hide her true identity from me. Her thoughts were interrupted when Rarity rested her head on Trixie’s wither. She looked at her and put a foreleg around her, pulling her closer. Her eyes were closed. How am I supposed to tell her?