After that, she didn't say anything... Cotton stared at Aqua. Did I say something wrong? The filly was sitting in the same corner she usually took up. Maybe it was her brother? Though, the filly had her back to the corner, directly touching both walls. Is that comforting to her? Cotton shook her head lightly. Did he do something to her..?
The filly's front right hoof was jittering back and forth. Up and down. Otherwise, she was only moving her mouth. The filly was talking to herself. Cotton glanced at a clock for a second. Been mumbling for nearly an hour... She wasn't close enough to hear everything the filly was saying, but she could catch a few phrases.
"... pick Aqua..?" Aqua sniffled.
Cotton frowned.
"Why did..?" Aqua's hoof stopped moving.
Something about us trying to help her?
"Did I..?" Aqua rubbed her eyes with a hoof.
Is she okay..?
Aqua shook her head suddenly and spoke up. "I can't be thinking like that." The filly looked up in Cotton's direction. "Hey Cotton?"
The pegasus's eyes widened. "Yes, Aqua?"
The filly rubbed one leg with the other. "S-sorry about earlier today... I... kinda forcefully stopped the conversation and was kind of an asshole about it."
Cotton opened her mouth to comment on her choice of language but didn't say anything. Not the time.
"I wanted to apologize for that as well as..." The filly hung her head.
"With my brother... The last time I saw him, he was doing pretty good. Though, I don't know how long it's been since then, so I... I don't know..."
Cotton slowly nodded." Aqua... I forgive you, but... Your brother. Did he do..?" Cotton caught herself. "Did you like your brother?"
Aqua nodded. "Yeah. A lot. Though, sometimes I feel like I wasn't really a good... sibling... Anyway, yeah."
"Do you... Do you want to talk about him?"
Aqua started to nod before she stopped herself. "I... No. I... want to avoid thinking about that for a while... There's some... Nevermind. I can't tell you."
Cotton's head tilted. "You can't say?"
"It's not that you're not trustworthy or anything stupid like that, just... I... I'm sorry. I just can't. Not yet, at least." The filly slowly shook her head.
The mare's eyebrows drooped. "Okay... Just... When you think you're ready to talk-"
Aqua jolted forwards. "Cotton!" Quickly shaking her head, she looked at the pegasus, "Cotton, sorry to cut you off again. I just want to make sure you know for sure before it can get worse. I wasn't abused. I know it sounds like it, what with how I'm avoiding giving details and how some of this sounds..." The filly groaned and lightly tugged on her mane. "Look. I know I wasn't, or at least, not intentionally, nor badly... I wasn't, so please don't think that I was..."
Cotton reached a hoof out, but it didn't go anywhere. "I-..."
"Look. I know not thinking about it-... This whole thing I mean. Not thinking about it or talking about it isn't healthy. I know... Just..." The filly hung her head and fully laid down. "Not yet..."
Cotton leaned back, her eyes wide. How did she..?
The filly spoke up and sat up again. "I just... I don't want to cause confusion or annoyances down the line... And... Trust me. You're the- When I- You'll be the first I talk to..." Aqua nodded firmly as she put a hoof to her chest. "I promise."
Cotton opened her mouth.
The filly slowly faced the floor and nodded weakly."I promise..."
Cotton closed her mouth. What..?
The filly nearly whispered to herself as sparkling water dripped onto the floor. "I promise..."
Cotton pulled the filly into a hug. Oh, Celestia... What do I do?
11685168
This is very much true.
Poor Aqua... Also poor Cotton, she has a lot to do and hold for Aqua's sake.
Least she realized how sketchy things sounded and headed it off at the pass.
Things are coming to a head, but atleast Aqua is trying to stay upfront with Cotton on what's happening. It also sounds like she is promising to herself more than she is to Cotton.
Hope you enjoy the movie with your friends!
now she is talking to herself, practicing for what Cotton would say, and counting it?
Things starting to fractal into infinite pathways?
sparkling water?, no more purple tears?
I only now realized I can put multiple replies in one comment. I will be doing this from now on as I want to avoid clogging up the comments with my own responses so I don't come off as trying to pad the number.
11685229
Aqua is definitely not being an easy pony to take care of for Cotton. That's for certain.
11685237
It's tricky, though. Often those who have been abused either do not know it, or actively deny it in attempts to fit in. If she really was abused, it fits in line with what she's saying. If she wasn't abused, it also does... Cotton's got her work set out for her.
11685265
For some, making a promise is very hard. In my opinion, a character's intentions are shown through their ability to see through with promises...
And thanks.
11685276
Aqua definitely is under stress, so who can really know?
The purple tears have been shown to sparkle before in descriptions.
Is... Is that a Stupendium quote?
11685287
Ah okay, I may have glossed over that detail
not a direct one, but I was thinking about it
I wonder if her brother is around somewhere in this world?
Sheesh Aqua is a mess. This means that there's only up from here on out ( maybe ).
11685301
The only reason I even connected the dots was the fact that I like that song. While it isn't my favourite song, I have a decent amount of the lines memorized.
11685818
From what Aqua has been saying, it might be a possibility, though she might not even know.
11685896
Y-yeah... When you're at your lowest, it can only go up, right? Right?
11686286
Well, that makes sense. If someone is crippled, their other senses get better to compensate, so I imagine the longer one is blinded, they would get even better at hearing and the option for echolocation to be learnt becomes more and more feasible. The way you write it makes it seem like children who Had sight before losing it have a higher chance of echolocation than those who were born blind at birth. I don't know if that's what you were trying to mean, but that's what I got.
11686466
Shh! Don't let the others know that I'm not omnipotent.
And true, you're right. I fixed it.
11686814
With the year, it's probably able to be figured out through context clues.
This spoiler shows what C.B. stands for.
C.B. stands for Canterlot's Blessing.
I can also write out the in-world meaning of that name if you want, though it might be a very minor spoiler.