Something told the fashionista today would be a horrible day. She attributed it to being her first day back to work after such an amazing vacation. It would take her a few days to get used to not waking up to the scent of the beach and the lull of the ocean. Of course today would pale in comparison, but when she stopped at her favorite magazine truck after getting a latte, she saw she was horribly mistaken.
Wasting no time, Rarity arrived to her boss’s office in record time to find said mare in a frenzy.
“’Manehattan Actress Plays Streetwalker after the Curtain Closes...’ ‘Chrystal Heart Manehattan’s Darker Daughter with Darker Intentions...’ ‘Jezebel Based On Actress’ Actual Childhood’- ‘Why Cadenza Is The Better Choice All Around?!’ Rarity!" The panic in her boss' voice made her wince.
“I’m sorry, Chrystal… They’re all over the newsstands.” Her wide eyes watched as the darker mare tried to comprehend what she was seeing.
“I can’t believe this is happening- ‘My Night with the Dark Siren of Las Pegasus’- I think I’m going to be sick.” Chrystal moaned.
*-3333-*
Ever since those horrible stories had started popping up, companies were hesitant to offer the actress any roles. It was like all the progress she’d made within the last year was now naught as no pony wanted to give her the time of day.
Five minutes into her latest meeting and she was already being blacklisted.
“In light of the rumors going around, we’re sorry but we can’t have your name associated with our production.” Said the playhouse manager as the director of the venue nodded.
“I can assure you those are just that, rumors.” Chrysalis defended confidently despite the unfairness of her situation.
“Be that as it may, Mrs. Heartily doesn’t do notoriety. I’m sorry, Chrystal, but you’re out.”
The two rose expectantly causing the other to mentally roll her eyes.
“Thank you for your time,” she muttered stalking towards the exit with no further acknowledgements.
*-3333-*
Chrysalis stood outside Blossom Park’s gates as so many emotions swirled around inside of her. She missed Sienna, she felt horrible still about her mother and now all this. She may be selfish and rude sometimes, but she was no one’s dirty secret.
Chrystal Heart had nothing to be ashamed about. If only the ponies here would believe that.
Her friends were doing their best in trying to cheer her up, but they had lives of their own, it wasn’t their job to babysit her.
She wished Shining Armor was back from his case, but it would be a week or two before he came back home. Had he seen or heard any of these things? She wondered. Would he leave her if he did?
She felt so alone.
With a deep sigh, she entered the park and wandered around for a bit as she waited for her sister.
“Chrystal Heart?” Came a female voice.
Chrysalis cautiously turned around to find herself staring at a purple mare with a determined expression on her young face. Who was she?
“Can I help you?” Was her even reply despite the wariness she felt.
“You certainly can.” The mare stated boldly. Chrysalis furrowed her brow in silent question. “Now that the world knows what kind of ‘Jezebel’ you really are, you can stay away from Shining Armor.”
Dark eyes slowly morphed into a fierce glare. “And just who do you think you are? And how do you know Shining Armor?”
“I’m his sister. And as his Little Sister Best Friend Forever, it’s my job to protect him from trash like you!”
Dark features flushed in a terrible mix of anger and embarrassment.
Trash?! Who did this uppity unicorn think she was talking to? Chrysalis mentally seethed. She opened her mouth to tell her off when a horrible idea flashed through her mind. “Pro…tect him?”
“That’s right! By exposing the truth, you’ve lost all credibility!” The smugness of the mare that stared her down in open challenge was enough to make her horn spark in desperate want of violence.
“You did this!” Righteous fury faltered with hurt. “Why?! Do you know what you’ve done?”
“Saved my brother from a leech like you?”
“You stupid girl! You slandered my name and ruined my career because you were upset that Shining Armor was my coltfriend?” She took a faltering step forward.
“It’s not slander if it’s the truth. I know you’re using my brother to boost your career and make the public’s good graces. Rainbow Dash told me everything!”
Before Chrystal knew it, she’d stalked across the distance between them with one thought on her mind. The fuming mare raised a hoof ready to strike her. Indigo eyes widened as Twilight’s bravado shrunk away in the face of violence. Bright eyes shone with white-hot loathing as the older mare’s body shook with ire. Just as Chrysalis was about to shoot rockets to her face another pony intervened. “Don’t Chryssie…. She’s not worth the criminal charge.”
“Odo?” She stuttered.
“It won’t look good for you at this point…”
“And who are you?” Twilight stuttered out feeling relieved.
“Her lawyer. You won’t get away with this Twilight Sparkle. As a matter fact, I’m going to make sure Ms. Heart sues you for everything you’re worth.”
Twilight watched as the older mare drug the younger away. Her indigo eyes followed the duo as a pang of regret hit her head on. She was expecting for the other to be upset and to spit curses, but she wasn’t expecting was the look of pure hurt that flashed on the other mare’s face. She looked genuinely upset.
At first she had felt good about what she’d done. Now she wasn’t so sure.
*-3333-*
Fluttershy sat back and listened as her friend told her what she'd done and how the other had reacted. Twilight Sparkle was one of the nicest ponies she knew, but she was also stubborn to a fault. A fact that her newest mishap had only proved. Spectacularly, at that.
Naturally an empathetic and compassionate pony, no one batted an eye when Fluttershy had taken up psychiatry as a profession. It made absolute sense as the shy and timid mare was one of the best listeners around. She understood ponies in a way that didn’t require words. A feat that was constantly proved by her uncanny ability of taking care of woodland creatures. Again, no surprise as everyone knew her true passion was the happiness and well-being of animals. So with that being stated, none of her friends were surprised when the pegasus pursued her license as a veterinarian. Now officially recognized as both a shrink and a vet, Fluttershy gladly divided her time in the city as a mental health provider and the other half back in her hometown as the local expert on woodland creatures.
Normally the peace loving mare was the epitome of neutrality, but today was a bit of a struggle. Before she could respond, her door burst open to reveal a steaming Rainbow Dash and a solemn looking Rarity.
"You just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you?" The Rainbow haired pegasus exploded as she stomped forward.
Twilight’s eyes shot wide open, as her hooves flew up in a placatory manner. "Dash I-"
"Save it! Not only was it jacked up what you did, but do you not care that I could lose my job for this little stunt you pulled?" Rainbow Dash stared daggers at the mare she considered her friend.
"She's right Twilight." Rarity nodded with a serious expression on her face as she flanked the former circuit racer. "Chrystal was devastated."
"I was trying to protect my brother!" Twilight defended.
"Your brother's a grown ass stallion! He does not need your protecting. If Chrystal was shit I'd be the first to tell you. You know this, so what I don't understand is why you'd take it to papers of all places? This goes beyond 'protecting,' what you did was fucked up... "
Twilight winced as her friends came down on her. "I'm sorry..." Her ears flattened against her skull as she dropped her head. "I-"
Fluttershy took pity on her friend despite the rotten thing she'd done. "Twilight is obviously sorry about what she's done. Berating her like this isn't going to fix anything."
Rainbow Dash grunted as she folded her arms across her chest. "You're an idiot Twilight. You're still one of my best friends but I'm too upset to talk to you without ‘berating’ you so I'm leaving."
"Me too." Rarity sighed. "The leaving part, anyway. I'm going to check on Chrystal."
"Aren't you going to leave too?" Twilight sniffled as the other two left as quickly as they came.
"No, Twilight. I know you've seen the error of your ways. The question now is how can you make it right? Besides, this is my house."
"I don't know how,” Twilight admitted pathetically. “I didn't tell them to write all that stuff Fluttershy. I never called her a streetwalker or any of those things that they said in the paper. I just told them what Dash told me and that she was a manipulator."
"The media likes to exaggerate.” Fluttery shrugged with a comforting smile on her face. “You know that. Today she's Jezebel next week she'll be Mother Theresa. You'll figure it out Twilight, you always do."
The youngest Sparkle sighed as she realized she had her work cut out for her. “I guess I should go.” She said trudging towards the door.
“Goodnight Twilight,” Was Fluttershy’s soft farewell. “You’ll make this right, I’m sure of it.”
The unicorn managed a timid smile of her own as she turned to properly say goodbye as well. “Thanks.”
After Twilight had left her friend’s home, she wandered around the city until her hooves took her to where she remembered Cadance Mi Amore lived.
Figuring what the heck, she knocked on the mare's door and waited to be received.
The solid oak door opened to reveal the beautiful mare.
"Twilight?"
"Cadance."
"What're you doing here?"
"I'm not really sure... Uh... can I come in?"
"Of course. Of course." The two went inside to take seats in Cadance’s parlor.
"I messed up, Cadance. I messed up bad."
The cerise colored mare listened carefully to the story only interrupting once or twice for clarification. "What're you going to do?" She asked after her friend had finished.
"I don't know if there's anything I can do..."
"I thought those stories were a bit odd." She looked thoughtful. "No such thing as bad publicity, but I have a couple of interviews coming up and I could always drop some positive input about Chrystal. I don't know how much it'll help though."
Twilight smiled at her friend appreciative of her efforts. "Thanks Cadance." Cadance beamed in return making the other ask her something that she'd been burning to ask. "How come you never picked things back up with my brother?"
"Twilight," the mare sighed. "It's complicated."
"Cadance..."
"Okay so not really... but... Promise not to laugh?"
Twilight nodded genuinely wanting to know. "Being with your brother was wonderful when I was younger... but it was also very safe... and, forgive me, but boring. I want more than that. Life is too short. I want passion and whirlwind adventure. I don't want to be coddled or kept in some gilded cage. I want rendezvouses in Prance, weekend getaways to Germaney and so much more. I never want to know what's going to happen next- Does that make any sense to you?"
"You want to have an affair?!"
"No, Twilight." Laughed the mare. "I want excitement. Your brother likes to be needed and I'm over that. I don't need the stability he seems so intent on me having. But! Other mares do..." She gave a mysterious smile. "He really is a great catch. Just not for me."
Twilight nodded, somewhat understanding her old babysitter’s side of things.
“Speaking of excitement,” Cadance chattered, “I hear ‘Frivolously Pink’ will be doing a show here in a couple days.”
“Yea Pinkie Pie is just as crazy as you remember.” Was Twilight’s absent reply.
Cadance giggled, “Maybe but her interviews are always the beezneez! She’s so funny-”
And that was when Twilight’s brain hatched an idea.