"She didn't say anything when I talked to her."
"Darling, this is Fluttershy we're talking about. The poor dear would sooner ignore what she's feeling than inconvenience someone. Still, it is rather odd that she didn't say anything about it. Probably wanted it to surprise you with it when you spent the week with her."
Twilight thought about the conversation she had with the pegasus in question. Fluttershy did seem to have a bigger smile than usual and when she mentioned she might not be able to join her for the week her disposition changed instantly. She thought for sure it was just a natural response to slightly bad news and that Fluttershy, being how she is, just took it harder than usual. She never really gave it a second thought as to it having some other meaning.
"Oh no... I have to go talk to her." Twilight sprang from the mud bath and shook the mud clinging to her off. It hit Rarity as she finished getting the last of it off.
Twilight started to run towards the door only to be enveloped in a gentle blue light. She turned back to see Rarity wiping herself clean. She hung in the air as the prim and proper unicorn finished and took her to a rest area in the spa. Rarity took a seat and held Twilight in her magic in front of her.
"What were you going to do Twilight?"
"I need to go talk to Fluttershy. I can still fix this, maybe if I get her to talk about what she's feeling then I can smooth things over."
Rarity sighed. "Twilight, I know you mean well but you have to understand that these types of things aren't problems you can just "fix" whenever you feel the need. This isn't some kind of homework or test for you to study. This is real life and real life takes time and effort for anything to change."
"But..."
"Twilight, did you think the same way when you were with A.J?"
"I... Maybe... I'm not sure."
"Twilight, I know you have the best of intentions when it comes to any of us but the fact of the matter is that somewhere deep down you regard this as more of an assignment than anything."
"That's not true! You girls are my friends and I'm just trying to be the best friend I can be!"
"By ignoring our opinions and disregarding what we say?" Rarity levitated the purple mare down.
Twilight stood still trying to figure out whether or not somewhere in the back of her mind she did just regard them as just a means to complete an assignment or actual friends. It never occurred to her that she had actually thought that way considering her choice to stay in Ponyville with them. It couldn't have been just to satisfy the Princess with her mastery of the power of friendship. She turned down the invitation to return to Canterlot because she wanted to be with her friends and she wanted to believe that was the only reason.
"I'm sorry Rarity. I just don't know what to do anymore, this is a lot more complicated than I thought."
"Twilight, darling, if friendship was easy then there would be no fighting all across Equestria. Now, let's continue with our spa day and later today we can both go check on Fluttershy."
"Thank you, Rarity."
"Think nothing of it dear. Now, hurry before we miss our slots for the massage part."
It was mid-afternoon by the time they reached the cottage that housed their pegasus friend. The sight of the area was vastly different than how Twilight had left it. The animals were no longer around and the silence seemed deadly. Both of the unicorns could feel eyes on them despite nothing else within view. The window shutters were closed except for the one upstairs that would be in the bedroom. They knocked on the door and waited for a response; meanwhile, the silence that had been gripping the atmosphere become worse. The only things both of them could hear was the slight breeze and their own breathing.
The door opened slightly with no pony behind it. They tried to look inside only for it to close and Twilight looked down as something hit her leg. It was the small bunny that Fluttershy kept as her personal pet.
"Oh my, Angel what's wrong?" Rarity asked seeing the white fur ball with a scowl on his face.
He made motions with his hands and pointed towards Twilight at the end. Rarity didn't know exactly what to say and Angel, knowing he was getting nowhere, went inside for a brief second. He came out once more with a pad and pencil writing down something and handing it to Rarity.
"Twilight, I think we should leave for now. Fluttershy doesn't want to see anypony right now. We'll come back another day."
"What? Why? Does the note say something about it?" She tried to peek at it only for Rarity to crumple and burn it in her magic.
"I'll tell you later. Let's just go back to the boutique for today. We can stop by the market and get some things for dinner along the way."
Twilight stared at the ashes as they were swept by the breeze and watched Angel go back inside. The feeling of many eyes never left the two of them as both Rarity and herself left for the market. The walk and shopping were done in relative silence with only a few questions as to what to eat. Once they reached the road leading towards the boutique; Rarity caught sight of something moving around the front door. As they got closer she realized who it was prowling around outside her shop and home.
"Sweetie Belle! What are you doing here? I thought that you weren't going to be here for at least another week or so, what happened?"
The small purple and pink maned unicorn with fur much like Rarity's turned to meet them. She rushed forward and tackled Rarity in a hug.
"Rarity! I'm here early because Mom and Dad are going on an extended vacation. Aren't you happy to see me?! Wait... who are you?" the filly asked once she noticed Twilight.
Rarity levitated her sister off and dusted herself off. "Sweetie Belle, this is Twilight Sparkle a new friend I've recently made. She'll be spending the week with me so we can get to know each other better. Twilight, this is my younger sister Sweetie Belle." she said floating the filly towards Twilight.
"Hello there, Miss Twilight." Sweetie Belle said while floating and extending her hoof.
"Just Twilight is fine. Nice to meet you, Sweetie Belle."
They shook hooves and Twilight followed the sisters into the house. Rarity let Sweetie down and they continued to the kitchen where Rarity began to make dinner. In the meantime, Twilight decided to get to know the filly better.
"So, Sweetie Belle, why didn't you go with your parents? I'm sure they wouldn't have minded taking you with them right?"
"Yea... Well, I know how much they wanted to have some time alone so I asked if I could come here early. Besides, I wanted to get to know my way around a lot better before I start school next week."
"Why here though? if you don't mind me asking."
"Well, whenever I visit Rarity it's always when she gets swamped with work. We barely get to spend any time together and I'm usually left to do things on my own. I'm not really allowed to go out since I don't know the place so I just sit around the house most of the time."
"You're not allowed outside?"
"Yea, Rarity thinks I might get lost unless I know my way around better. She was supposed to be the one to show me around but she never does because of work. Sometimes I think she cares more about her job than she does about me."
The look on Sweetie's face went from having a seemingly boundless energy to a solemn sad look. The disappointment she had experienced due to Rarity's passion for fashion seemed to weigh heavily on the young girl. Whether by choice or accident the fashionista had sacrificed time with her sister to focus on her job.
"Sweetie Belle, I'm sure that it's just a case of bad luck. Rarity would never think that way about you. Tell you what, how about you and I go for a walk around Ponyville tomorrow? I still need to get to know the place better myself and I need to visit a friend of mine and Rarity."
"Really?!" The suggestion alone seemed enough to excite Sweetie Belle out her sullen state. "Of course, I'll go with you! I can't wait!"
"Can't wait for what?" Rarity asked as she set the table for dinner.
"Twilight said she'll take me around Ponyville tomorrow! I can go with her right Rarity?"
"I figured, since I need to know the place better myself, I might as well take her along since she also wants to look around."
"That sounds delightful dear, but what about getting to know each other better? Not to mention you only just met each other."
"I think it's a bit moot since your sister will be with us as well. I don't mind, though, I'm sure it'll all work out somehow."
"Please Rarity? Can I go with her?"
Rarity finished setting the food down and took her seat before looking at Twilight and her sister. "I suppose it's fine."
"Yay!"
"Only..."
Twilight and Sweetie looked at Rarity at the possible denial.
"Twilight. I want you to come back here before you meet with Fluttershy. We'll go together in order to sort things out. Promise me that and I have no problem."
"I promise Rarity. I'll come back for you before heading to Fluttershy's house."
"Good. Now, let's eat."