You lay in bed, staring up to the ceiling. The bathrobe you wore was soft, the little kink in your back was worked out by Rarity’s dexterous hooves and the scent of lilac filled the air.
When an irresistible force such as you... meets an old immovable object like me... you can bet as sure as you live... something’s gotta give, something’s gotta give, something’s gotta give.
Still, your stomach found a way to work itself into knots. Rarity had been quiet the entire time she worried over you and only gave short answers when you asked her anything. “Yes.” “No.” “Don’t worry, darling.” “I’m fine.”
You still found yourself worrying and roll over to see Rarity’s sleeping form. You asked her to join you in bed and stop worrying over you for just a minute and rest. Within a few minutes she was out and snoring lightly. You watched her side rise and fall in rhythmic motion.
“You’re so beautiful...” You murmur under your breath, letting your eyes wander up and down her back.
You couldn’t help but worry about what was going through her mind. What she thought. What she could be hiding.
You weren’t getting worked up into a fit, you were past that by now. You knew it would only make things worse and you used that.
So instead, you took a deep breath and got a little bit closer to Rarity, wrapping a hoof around her and taking her into your embrace. Laying there, spooning her and resting your head on her shoulder, you breathed in her scent and perfume. It made you feel just a little bit better.
We’ll get through this, you think as you get yourself comfortable. We’ll get through this...
**********************************************
Night came and went. No dreams, no nightmares. You wake up slowly, eyes blearily blinking into the morning sun streaming through the windows. That’s when you feel something missing.
Looking around, there’s a specific lack of Rarity in the bed and alarm bells slowly start ringing in your head. A lone note with the words ‘Read Me’ was propped against the lamp on the end table.
Feeling a knot start to form in the pit of your gut, you scramble for the note, only to go head over hooves over the hooves and bang your head on the floor.
“Zum Donnerwetter!”
[Translation: Equivalent to damnit]
With a pained groan, you pick yourself up off the floor and grab the note off the end-table. Every part of you expects the worst.
“Honey, are you okay? I heard a crash. Are-”
You look up to the door of the hotel room, note still in hoof and panicked expression on your face.
Taking a deep breath, Rarity closes the door behind her after levitating in a number of shopping bags. A glance at the note leaves you feeling like an idiot.
Went to get breakfast, be back soon. Take care. XoXo
“Oh.” You say flatly.
“I take it you just woke up?” Rarity asks as she starts to unpack her haul.
You nod slowly. “Yeah... I saw the note and you weren’t there and I just panicked and...”
“Darling, this isn’t the first time you’ve ‘just panicked’ when I left and you didn’t immediately know where I was,” she says as she takes out a styrofoam container. Opening it up, she holds it out to you and are immediately hit by the smell of apples. Pancakes, apple slices, and a couple crepes. Apple raisin flavored.
Picking yourself up off the floor, you climb back onto the bed and take the container.
“We’re going to have a talk today. Not a long one, just up until lunch. There’s some things we really need to talk about. But eat first, you didn’t eat anything last night.”
Not that talk. Stop thinking that way, just calm down.
You eat in silence, munching away at your apple loaded breakfast. Even the pancakes seemed to have an apple spice blended into them.
“How is it? The apples certainly have a different flair than Ponyville’s.” Rarity idly asks as she picks at her own breakfast.
“Very good,” you say, nodding with each bite. “Where did you get it?”
“A little place down on the corner at the end of the street. And you would not believe it! The pony running the shop? I swear, give her a stetson and a ponytail and you have Applejack. My word, I had to do a double-take.”
You let out a little chuckle and swallow. “Though her speaking Mecklesh might have swayed that thought.”
“No, no, no! That’s the thing! When we started talking, I thought it was my imagination but she dropped my change and she spoke clear as day and said ‘consarnit’. And it was like I was back in Ponyville.”
You blink a few times before letting out a guffaw and shaking your head. “Oh my gosh... Well, it’s more than possible that Applejack has family out here. We should ask her if she does.”
“Ohhh imagine if she says she doesn’t!” Rarity giggles. “Now that would be a twist!”
You laugh with her and smile from ear to ear. I missed this, you think with a snort after Rarity’s impersonation attempt. I really missed this.
**********************************************
The laughs and smiles had to stop at some point, so after breakfast, you laid on the bed, forehooves resting on your chest and Rarity sitting in a nearby chair with a pad of paper and a pen.
“Alright,” she says with a deep breath. “Now, let’s take a step back and go over what happened this morning and how I found you. I’d like you to tell me everything you did, felt and thought after you woke up.”
Steadying yourself, you start to wax on about your morning.
“Well... I woke up and the first thing I noticed was that you weren’t there. I felt myself start to panic just a little and then I saw the note and...”
“Well, there’s more to it than just ‘panic’ I’d assume,” Rarity says with a low hum. “You’re outside the age range for Separation Anxiety Disorder, but considering the trauma and how I’ve been your ‘rock’, so to speak, let’s not rule anything out.”
She’s definitely done a lot of homework, you think with a small nod. “Well... This is going to go from psych to a heart to heart here,” you say with a nervous laugh. Rarity just stares at you expectantly, so swallowing the lump in your throat, you begin.
“I... I keep feeling like this? All this... stuff that’s been happening? I keep feeling that you don’t deserve it. Going through all this. You deserve so much more and I just want to give you the perfect life I know you’ve earned. But...” You take another breath and blink past the tears. “I feel like one morning? Maybe? I’m going to wake up. You’re going to say you want to talk. That this isn’t working. That we should spend some time apart. That you’re not going to be there and all of this will be in a little note, telling me how it’s not my fault but I’ll know.” Burying your face in your hooves, you let out another sob. “I’m afraid of losing you, but at the same time? I feel like I’m not doing enough. And I keep expecting it to happen.”
The entire time you talked, Rarity’s pen scratched against the paper. But the more and more you got into your confession, her writings slowed down until she stopped and was just looking at you with wide eyes.
“No, no, no... Darling, please don’t...” She coos as she joins your side. “You were the one who told me that there’s no such thing as perfect. This relationship? It’s not perfect and I knew it wouldn’t be going into it. We fight over silly things, we both have foods we don’t like but the other loves and we drive each other crazy sometimes and not in the good way. And you know what? I wouldn’t change a thing.”
You feel a little smile creep across your face at those words and it only spurs Rarity on further.
“And if I had a problem dear? We’d be discussing how we’re going to work through it, not leaving you high and dry.” Reaching out, she grabs your hoof with hers and squeezes yours. “You’re the one, after all.”
You furrow your brow at those cryptic words, but it suddenly comes back to you in a flash. After the dancing, after the time of her life.
You’re him.
You alternate between sobbing and laughing, bringing her wrist up to your lips and peppering her with kisses. “Dummkopf...”
Rarity blinks in confusion. “Beg pardon?”
“Me. Dummkopf.” You say with a small smile. “I’ve been such an idiot. My sweet, generous little treasure who’s been doing everything she can... And I still let those little thoughts find a way to take root.”
Rarity smiles and runs a hoof through your mane. “This is what we need. Those kind of thoughts, they’re the ones causing your stress and making everything worse. Things are going to get better, we just need to work through all those stressful thoughts and feelings.”
You nod in agreement. “Alright. Well, if I find myself getting panicky? I’ll remember this conversation.”
“Good. Now, the next bit of our conversation today... We’re going to focus on how you feel about other ponies and what they might be thinking.”
You purse your lips and try to suppress a sigh.
“Oh don’t give me that,” she chastises. “A lot of your anxiety and a full blown attack came when you thought ponies were talking about you.”
“Not thought. I knew they were talking about me. I’m not used to being in the limelight! What’s worse, I was in the limelight for something that has left ponies pointing, talking and pitying me! I hate it!”
Rarity remains silent during your outburst, instead writing down more notes. “And what angers you the most?”
“Out of what? The talking? Pointing? Pitying?’
She nods.
“Pitying,” you huff aloud, falling back into the couch. “I hate the fact they can’t see it. Here I am, thinking I’m getting better. That I’m working through things and all these ponies come along, look at me and think I’m a nutbar. What’s all the work for if they can’t see it?”
“Darling, not to be blunt, but why do you think what they think impacts how you’re progressing?”
You roll your shoulders. “The stress, I guess. Knowing they’re whispering? It stresses me. The anxiety does a number on me and that feeds... itself and I’m left worse off.” With a heavy sigh and a groan, you press your hooves against your face. “What’s worse, I know it’s stupid to worry, but I can’t help it!”
“Why can’t you?”
The question catches you off guard and makes you blanche. “Why?” You ask firmly. “It’s because I’m supposed to help ponies with mental problems, not be the one with them and it eats at me! It’s like a dog catcher allergic to dogs, a carrot farmer who hates carrots, a claustrophobic miner! The mind is my profession and I thought I...” You trail off and sigh heavily. “I seriously thought I was going to be... or already was institutionalized.”
Rarity bites at her lip for a moment before setting down her pad of paper. “I think I know where these feelings are coming from,” she says as she runs a hoof through your mane. “First and foremost, you must remember that you are getting better. Don’t ever doubt yourself, no matter what anypony else thinks. If you think you’re not getting better, then you’re not. A self fulfilling prophecy, if you will.”
You nod slowly and Rarity continues.
“As for how you’re feeling about this situation, about being a ‘claustrophobic miner’? It relates back to your state. You’re getting better. If you think you’re claustrophobic, you will be. If you think you’re not well... You get what I’m saying. You’re smart. You’re good at your job and what’s happening to you has nothing to do with it. Am I wrong?”
“Well...” You start to protest, but stop with a sigh. “No, you’re not.”
Rarity smiles from ear to ear. “Good.” Sitting up in bed, she brings her pad of paper back. “And onto our last topic, I’ve had an idea of sorts,” she says. “You said before that you had an incident at dinner, a moment of panic before the poisoning.”
Just being reminded makes you flinch. “Yeah.”
“Now, now! I told you before I don’t care,” Rarity scolds. “Now, we can assume that something before that event is plaguing your mind, namely your subconcious.”
The way she says subconscious just makes you chuckle. “You’re starting to sound like Golden Siggie.”
Rarity gives you a look before putting on a thick Mecklesh accent. “A Golden Slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.” A pause. “I mean another.”
You’ve heard the joke a million times in college, but it still makes you crack up and it coming from Rarity just makes it all the better. You both share a hearty laugh and after coming down from the giggles, Rarity puts her analysis back on.
“Pinkie told me that one,” she says briefly. “Yes, anyway. Golden does make some good points about the unconscious mind. Our feelings, our motives, every decision we make is influenced by our past experiences and store in the unconscious. It’s the most important part of the mind, yet we hardly see any of it, just the tip like-”
“An iceberg,” you finish for her. “I liked that chapter.”
Rarity nods. “Yes. So, here’s my idea. Something in the past has influenced you and has made your unconscious mind rebel against the idea of getting married. Before the events of Careheart, it was simply a small episode. The poison amplified those feelings and the anxiety that came with it made you confront other thoughts and feelings along the way. So, we just have to figure out where this past event is and we can start down the road of recovery.”
All you can do is just beam at Rarity, smiling from ear to ear and feeling just so happy. “Smart, beautiful, caring and multi-talented. I lucked out.”
“Yes, you did.” She says firmly. “And so did I. Now, are you ready to start the day in earnest or would you rather continue?”
Getting up and stretching, you nod quickly. “Oh yeah, I’m more than ready. Württburg’s our next destination and we’ll take Romantic Road, stopping in Mecklich for the tail end of Octoberfest for the dance and be in Reign by the end of the day. I hope you’re looking forward to that dance,” you say, nipping at her ear.
Rarity titters on the spot. “Hehe, well, yes of course... Though, I do feel like we’re doing a lot of things I like,” she says with a sigh. “And I know my position before, but I’m going to change it slightly.”
That gets you to perk up. “Oh?”
“I’d like to sample some of the local brew, as it were... We are not getting ‘wasted’ as your father so eloquently put it,” she says with a grimace. “But I don’t see how a couple drinks can affect our evening.”
You smile from ear to ear and kiss Rarity on the cheek, making her blush. “Libe dich,” you say with a goofy grin. “Let’s not waste anymore time. Shower?”
“Ohh yes please,” she says with a giddy grin. “I’ve got knots in my back that you wouldn’t believe!”
**********************************************
So much can change in a small amount of time, that much you were certain of. After a nice hot shower, a change of clothes and getting outside was really bringing out the best of you.
“Slow down for a moment darling, I know you’re excited but a lady can only move so fast!”
Slowing down the pace, you look back to see Rarity catching up to you. “Oh thank you... As much as I love the weather, the sun is just beating down on us today,” she says as she offers you a spot under her parasol. “And I’d actually hoped to take the first few steps onto Romantic Road together.”
You blush bashfully and let out a little laugh. “Ah, yes... Sorry, I got ahead of myself-”
“-and me.”
“-and you,” you say with another chuckle. “I just haven’t walked this road in a long time.”
“Oh really? Have you walked it with another pony before?” Rarity asks with a coy smile. “Maaaybe a past lov-”
“It was a childhood sweetheart,” you admit. “I was 12, she was 13. I asked her if she wanted to walk the road to look at all the sweet shoppes and was hoping to ask her if she wanted to maybe do something like go to the movies or dinner afterwards...”
You let out a long sigh as the memories come flooding back.
“I chickened out. We had our fun, she went home and I saw her at school the next day. That was about it. I’m not torn up about it.”
Rarity blinks in surprise. “My, you’re quite open about this... I was not expecting that. Do you know what happened to her?”
You shrug. “Last I heard she was looking to open a shop somewhere in Canterlot. She always had a knack for fixing things. Besides, it would never have worked out.”
“Oh come now, don’t be so down on yourself. You’re a fine stallion-”
“That was the problem, dear. Around highschool, she came out and dated a few mares.”
“...Oh. Well then. Still, what prompted you to share all this?” She asks.
“You’re a gossip bug, Schatzi. I saw it in your eyes the minute I mentioned walking down this road.”
With a loud ‘harrumph’, Rarity turns her nose up and away from you. “I am not a gossip-bug! I just... enjoy the odd juicy story now and again.”
You let out a snicker and nuzzle up against her neck, getting the mare to melt and smile. “I think you’re going to like this walk,” you say. “Romantic Road, as you pointed out before, is supposed to bring good luck to the couples who walk it. But it’s also home to a number of other attractions.”
“Oh?” She asks. “Like what?”
“Well, there’s a new statue of Princess Cadence since her ascension to the title of ‘Princess of Love’... Bürgerspital is along the way and was founded close to 300 years ago as a refuge for the less fortunate by the wealthy elite.” Clicking your teeth, something comes back to you. “Mecklenorden Schloss!”
“Excuse me?” Rarity asks. “Mecklen Order... Manor? Is that right?”
“Kind of, but it’d be more like ‘Mecklen Order Castle’. It served as a base of operations for the Mecklish Knights.”
That got Rarity’s attention.
“Oh my! And what did these knights do that earned them a castle?” She asked with a titter. “Did they rescue a Princess?”
“Actually, the Mecklish Knights regularly made pilgrimages across Equestria to help establish hospitals. Though... Hospitals were a bit different during the time of knights.”
Rarity looks at you with rapt attention and silently begs you to continue.
“Hospitals were a place of worship as much as a place of healing and care. Around that time, there were some groups dedicated to worshipping Celestia and the Mecklish Knights were among them,” you say. “They’d go from place to place, start a hospital, spread the worship of Princess Celestia, heal the sick and help the poor and when the hospital flourished, they celebrated by going on another pilgrimage to start anew.”
“My word... When we talk about knights today, we more or less picture some pony clad in armor fighting a dragon, rescuing a princess or defending ponies from evil. I’ve never heard of these ponies until now.”
You let out a long sigh and rub the back of your neck. “Yeah... To be honest, Celestia wasn’t too keen on being worshipped. The Mecklish Knights apparently sometime referred to her as a God. When she found this out, she started stomping out any such notions. It kind of broke the Mecklish Knights and while they kept up their work, it was never in as much force. About a year after that, they retired back to Mecklenburg and just sort of... disappeared.”
“Oh my... That actually sounds rather sad.” Rarity says with a sigh.
You let out one of your own and nod. “It is a bit sad, I gotta-”
“Why the long face?!?”
The sudden scream and flash of red in your face catches you off guard and you jump back a few feet.
“Mr. Punch, he’s a pony. They all have long faces!”
It takes a few moments for it to click and you find yourself laughing as you stare at the two diamond dog puppets in front of you and the banner above their stage.
‘Punch & Judy - Fun for All and All for Fun’
“This one has a longer face.”
“Mr. Punch, you’re being rude now!”
“Was not!”
“Were too!”
A chorus of giggles behind you makes you turn around and the group of kids and adults sitting and watching just makes you smile.
“Hey, let’s get off our hooves for a spell and watch the show.”
“Really? A puppet show?” Rarity asks with a raised eyebrow. “I mean, out of all the places we could go today, why a puppet show?”
‘Judy’ lets out a scoff. “Out of all the faces you could choose today, why the homely one?”
Rarity’s jaw drops and you did all you could to suppress your laughter, but it comes out as a snicker, earning you a glare.
“I am not homely!”
“She’s not homely.” Mr. Punch. “Now you’re being mean.”
“Mr. Punch, put in your contacts!”
“Oh, right...There, I-AAAH! What’s Chrysalis doing here?”
By now, Rarity is fuming and you guide her to the curb where you two sit.
“Oh that little...” She grumbles.
“Rarity dear, what’s the subtitle of this show?” You ask as you pull a can of fruit juice from your bag.
“Fun for all and all for fun...”
“And what’s the word for taking pleasure in another’s misfortune?” Holding out the can, you see her face slowly relax before you see her realize what you were getting at. Every child was laughing and giggling still.
“Schadenfreude,” she says with a small smile.
“Gesundheit!” Mr. Punch yells.
**********************************************
“Give me the slapstick!”
“No.”
“Give me the stick! ...I can’t believe I just said that. Oooof!”
“That’s the way to do it!”
Rarity lets out an unrefined giggle as you both hear the puppetshow out of earshot.
“Alright, I’ll admit, that was funny,” she says with a smile. “What’s next on the agenda, darling? I’m so enjoying our little stroll.”
You open your mouth to say something, but it’s cut short when you hear the sound of cheering and clapping of hooves. Both you and Rarity turn to the direction and you watch a newlywed couple leaving a hall they must have rented for the occasion.
Rice is thrown, ponies clap and and you feel your throat tighten.
Rarity watches on and looks like she’s ready to leave, right up until the log comes out and the frame to hold it up.
“What are they doing?” She asks nopony in particular. You know the question isn’t directed at you, but you answer anyway.
“Baumstamm Sägen,” you say rather flatly. Rarity turns your way. “It means log or tree trunk sawing. It’s meant to represent the first obstacle to overcome together in the marriage.”
“The first obstacle?”
You nod sharply.
“Yeah.” The words leave your mouth bitterly. You watch as both mare and stallion grab an end of the saw and start to get to work and unsurprisingly to you, it’s starting to go quickly. “Lots of ponies just go ahead and use a small, dry log and just get over it. It’s meant to teach teamwork. Doesn’t teach anything about communication. That’s what I think every marriage should end with. A lesson in that.”
You can feel Rarity staring at you, but the words are already leaving your mouth and you feel like venting.
“Do you know how many married ponies I met? Ponies in what I thought were healthy relationships? Each one of them didn’t just tell the other what was wrong. I almost saw decades old marriages crumble because they kept secrets. You know what the statistics say? 40% of all marriages in Equestria end in divorce, but I say more.”
“D-Darling, when did you get so cynical?”
“Cause I got to see Ponyville as a case study!” You’re positively boiling by now. You’ve held this in for far too long. “79 couples! 158 ponies! Ponies who said they loved each other but every last one of them were such bloody dummkopfs that they didn’t think for one moment that there’s an easy way to work through your problems and didn’t require a ficken head shrink! It’s simple! Ask them wha-”
“What’s wrong?”
“YES! Exactly! Ask them what’s wrong! Ask them to be honest and open up and tell you why you’re acting the way you are!” You feel yourself shaking right now. “Ask them for an honest answer why they’re sleeping on the couch, why they close their eyes when you’re having sex, why yOU THREW YOURSELF DOWN THE BUCKING ST-”
“Sie das Gespräch abbrechen!”
[Translation: End this conversation!]
You whip your head to see Rarity standing there, her eyes glaring into you and her face flush with embarrassment. A glance back towards the wedding and you see why she’s acting the way she is. Every pony there stood slack jawed and stared. By the look in their faces, they heard every word you said. Biting your tongue, you hang your head. Rarity keeps the look on her face, but starts walking further down the road and you walk after.
As you pass the wedding and feel every eye on you, you swallow the lump in your throat and speak up.
“Entschuldigung.”
[Translation: Excuse me.]
**********************************************
The walk along the Romantic Road didn’t go as planned. Rarity was rather quiet the entire time.
The trip to the manor was more tourist-y than you’d like but you still saw her eyes light up when she saw the armor and artwork depicting the knight’s great deeds.
When the walk ended and you found yourself in Mecklich, your hooves were tired.
“I think it’s time we got a hotel room... We need to have another talk, anyway.”
Rarity had said that as soon as you entered town and now you were having deja-vu. Laying on the bed, you stared up at the ceiling as Rarity sat beside you with a pen and some paper, going over previous notes.
“It’s beginning to become clearer,” she says quietly. “You had your first panic attack when the subject of your own marriage was brought up and passed out when reminded of a nightmare you had the previous night that revolved around marriage.”
You watch her jot down a few notes and you swallow dryly. “Yeah.”
“Now... I had been thinking about this all day and how to approach this gently.” Rarity says. “But I don’t think I can do it gently. Not after what I saw today. So I’m just going to come out and ask: What are your honest opinions on marriage right now?”
You let out a tired sigh. “It’s complicated. It’s hard, it can ruin lives and shatter everything,” you say flatly. “I remember a comedian once saying that those vows? ‘Until death do us part’? Those stop being vows and start being goals. It stops becoming about spending time with someone you love and more about spending the rest of your life with someone who likes you and is stuck with you.”
Rarity’s quiet for the longest time.
“And if you imagined yourself getting married now?” She finally asks above a whisper. “How does that make you feel?”
Your mind immediately starts racing and after a few seconds of worst case scenarios, you bury your face in your hooves and moan. That’s all the answer she needed.
“Alright, alright, alright... I think I’m beginning to see what’s going on here. You saw some bad marriages during your time as a counselor and-”
You snap up and glare daggers at Rarity. “‘Some bad’ doesn’t even cut it.”
“...Darling, I’m having a hard time believing that every single marriage was a horror to behold,” she says firmly.
Looking around the room, you take a deep breath. “Whatever is said in this room, stays in this room. I’m not going to name names.”
Rarity opens her mouth to protest, but you cut her off.
“A mare threw herself down a flight of stairs and ended up in hospice because her husband wasn’t spending enough time with her and thought it was the best way to get him to pay attention,” you spit out. “He worked 12 hour days, 6 days a week. She refused to get a job, which is what he confided in me. He said that he worked all that time just to support themselves. And that this was the first she had ever said about being neglected.”
Rarity’s jaw hits the floor. “...In Ponyville?” She asks breathlessly. “That’s... My word.”
“That’s not even the worst one. 16 different cases of domestic abuse. Both ways. Gaslighting. Blackmail. Affair after affair after affair...” You moan into your hooves. “I even had to call the police a few times for what I heard. I remember having nightmares right after the first batch of clients.”
“...About what?” Rarity asked, her whole body tensing up. “You never mentioned anything about nightmares.”
“I know, I know... I didn’t think it was anything at the time. I mean, what was I supposed to do? Tell you how I had nightmares about the things my clients are doing?” You ask with a tired laugh. “You know the first thing you’d ask for is specifics because you’d want to know what was so bad that I was having nightmares. I’m only confiding in you now because it’s important, I know that now.”
With a dry swallow, you let out a strangled laugh. “Thinking back to all those times I hid stuff from you, didn’t talk to you when I should... Communication. I feel like a complete hypocrite after my outburst.”
You honestly felt like crying. Your eyes water and your face scrunches up. “I am a hypocrite.”
“Shhh... It’s alright, it’s alright...” Rarity coos, running a hoof through your mane. “It all makes sense now. I understand completely.”
“Well... What do you think, doc?” You offer up a dry laugh, but it isn’t returned.
Taking a deep breath, Rarity closes her notebook. “You were exposed to every last horror of marriage and relationships as ponies flocked to you to help them. Somewhere along the line, the innocence of marriage disappeared. You began to look at it negatively. And well... I was the trigger for your anxiety.”
You nod slowly. “Yeah... You mentioned something about us getting married. And I guess I lost it.”
“You don’t want to lose what we have,” Rarity says, taking your hoof in hers. “You value our relationship, don’t you?”
The words come in an instant. “More than anything in this whole wide world.”
“And that’s why you panic, why you get scared, why you’re fretting so much. You think that the two of us getting married would mean the end of what you treasure the most because you think all marriages are like that.”
You nod in agreement. “Makes sense. Hard to think of something supposed to be sacred when it’s been dragged through the mud. When all its skeletons are out of the closet.”
“So, I think I know what we should do.”
That gets you to perk up. Your mouth opens and you want to ask what, but Rarity’s already crawling into bed with you.
“First and foremost, I’ll make a promise here and now: I won’t speak a word about marriage and us in the same sentence. That is a discussion that we will have at a later point. But not now. Second? I think you should make some house calls when we get back to Ponyville.”
“...House calls?” You squeak out. “What do you mean? For what?”
“Well, let me ask you: did every pony walk out of your office with issues left unresolved?”
“No, I did what I could. I gave them all the advice and information they could need and told them to contact me if things don’t turn around,” you say firmly. “I-”
It starts to hit you.
“It’s risky. Those ponies out there could be still caught in the rut they came into you with. Or worse. But if they aren’t? If they’re doing better? It might be just what you need.” She says warmly. “Some proof that marriage, just like any relationship, is a series of bumps.”
You feel a small smile start to tug at your cheeks. “Where would I be without you?”
Rarity gives you a nuzzle. “I ask myself the same thing.”
Right at the end of my nose, you think with a sigh. As Bones would have put it... ‘If it was a snake, it would have bit me.’
The idea of seeing your past relationship counselees doesn’t leave the best taste in your mouth, but you push the thought away. Now wasn’t the time for that. Now was the time to let your love know how much you cherished her.
Wrapping your hooves around Rarity, you bring her into your embrace and hold her tight. You let your hooves wander up and down her back and just relish the feeling. With a relaxed sigh, you let out a whisper.
“Vielen Dank für alles.”
[Translation: Thank you for everything.]
“Gern geschehen.”
[Translation: My pleasure.]
After a while, both you and Rarity relinquish the grasp on each other.
“Now dear, I don’t know if you’d be up for it, but we still have time to sample the local drink and attend the dance.” She whispers in your ear.
You were smiling earlier, but it just got a little wider. “Oktoberfest.”
Getting to your hooves, you feel like a child about to head to the fair. Just as you were about to take off, you stop.
“Before we make a dash for the shower, I need to say something.” Getting on your knees, you get close to Rarity’s face. “You are the most wonderful pony in the world. You’ve stuck with me for this long and you’ve helped me in ways that I just can’t put into words. And I’m sorry if I don’t say it every day, but I want you to know it now. I love you and am thankful every day to have you in my life. Thank you.”
Rarity’s eyes flutter and she’s left staring at you with a deep blush. “Darling, you just know how to pour on the charm.” She says with an embarrassed smile. “You’re the only one pony in this world who knows how to make me blush like a schoolfilly.”
Getting to her hooves, Rarity starts towards the bathroom and flashes you a toothy grin. “Come on. We’ve got a dance to get to~”
**********************************************
Dressing for Oktoberfest had been a chore on your 18th birthday. This time around, Rarity was dressing you and went for something simple, rather than the layers of clothing your mother chose.
A checkered blue button shirt, a good pair of Lederhosen, your old Tirolerhüte you dug out of the attic and you were good to go. Rarity on the other hoof? She knew how to turn heads.
You could feel the stares every other pony go from her to you and you can’t help but smile.
Her Dirndl was the same shade of blue as yours and originally had her matching apron tied with a bow right in the center. When she showed it off, you snickered like a madpony until she was left fuming and wondering what was so funny.
“How was I supposed to know tying the bow in the center was a sign that you were a virgin?” She grumbles when you let out another snicker. “At least I have it in the right spot now...”
“And you look fantastic, Schatzi.” You punctuate the sentence with a kiss on her cheek. “Now, let me show you what true beer is!”
“Remember, we’re not going to over-do.” Rarity chides. “And it’s not going to be too bitter, is it? I’m more of a Rosé girl, afterall.”
All you can do is smile as you and her step up to one of the bars.
“Weihenstephaner!” You cry out.
The pony behind the bar nods and with the flick of a hoof, he pulls a bottle from under the bar and sends it speeding towards you.
‘Neighenstephaner Festbier’ it read. With the flick of a wrist, you twist the top off and down a mouthful.
“Oh sweet sisters above I needed this,” you say with a sigh. “Here, try it!”
Thrusting the bottle out to Rarity, she gives it and you a look before gingerly taking it. “What’s so special about it?”
All you can do is smile like your 18 year-old self all those years ago. “Taste it. Trust me, you’ll like it.”
With a small shrug, Rarity takes a small sip and her eyes go wide. “My word,” she says after swallowing. “That is good. A bit stronger than I’m used to, but good.”
Smiling from ear to ear, you grab Rarity by the hoof. “And the night is still young.”