Jazz Hooves discovers a little kindness in hoof care can make all the difference when a strange customer stumbles into Mane Melody.
Mane Melody survived its first few weeks and a visit from Phyllis Cloverleaf, letting Jazz Hooves finally find her place at the newly opened salon. When she is left in charge on a slow day, a strange customer stumbles through her door. As she gets to know the timid mare, Jazz discovers that showing just a little kindness in something as mundane as hoof care can make all the difference in the life of another.
The front doors had chimed, but I didn’t see anypony at the entrance.
“Pipp? Was that you?” I called out, but heard nothing. The younger pegasus princess was usually a boisterous mare, putting it mildly. It wasn’t like her to not maximize an entrance. “Rocky?” I waited, but no answer again.
Maybe it was just the wind off the bay. Mane Melody did face the waterfront, so there was always a chance. Keep it together, Jazz!
It was fine. Totally fine! I was just jumpy. Even if I didn’t know my way around this brand new salon yet, it was nothing I couldn’t manage. Still, I’d probably feel better if I checked the weather for gusting wind. I was pretty sure I left my phone on my—”Ahh!”
“Wa—!” THUNK!
A blue mess groaned in pain and rolled out from under my hooficure table. It was a mare, a bright and dark blue unicorn that I’d never seen before. When had she gotten there? And how? Why? She was rubbing her poor horn after bonking it on my station's study underside.
“Are you alright?” I asked, hoping that she wasn’t up to anything. I’d heard the ponies in Bridlewood were… unique, to put it mildly. They had magic too, so hopefully the suspicious mare wasn’t up to anything actually worth worrying about.
“Oh!” She popped up to her hooves and looked around, somehow more freaked out than I was. “Sorry! I was just…” She grasped for some sort of excuse with a smile straining wider by the second. “I was in the area, and saw the door and thought, ‘Wow, what a pretty door!’ So, I jumped through it!”
“And slid under my table?”
“Y-yeah! And now that I’m here, I see that you’re busy doing… ” The mystery mare’s words stuttered to a stop as she scanned Mane Melody’s empty stage and vacant salon chairs. Seeing all of the nothing I’d been up to, she chuckled and rubbed her neck.
I couldn’t even with this mare. My words failed me. She was lying, obviously, and terribly at that. However, as I watched her stumble for something else, I couldn’t help but notice the sorry state of the hoof behind her head. I looked down to see the rest of her set was in the same, poor condition.
“Your hooves…” I muttered in disbelief.
“My hooves?” She parroted and looked down. “W-what about them?”
I dipped my head to get a better look. They were beyond dirty, and not just from trotting through the plains outside of town. Each one was cracked in its own way, breaking at the wall from constant use and abuse. She’d worn them out like a long-distance galloper, but without any of the care needed to maintain them properly. And that was just what I could see from above. If the front was this bad, I could only imagine the sorry state of her soles and frogs.
“Well, again, you’ve probably got a million things you should be doing,” she stammered as she stepped away from my inspection. “I’ll just get out of your mane and—”
“Wait! What about your hooves?”
“Oh, right. M-my hooves.” She chuckled again and kept inching away from me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just caring for hooves is kind of what I’m all about.” I turned around to show her my hooficure cutie mark and flashed my best Ponygram, starlit smile. “I’m Jazz, by the way. Jazz Hooves.”
“Oh. That’s nice. That’s like one of the music things, right?”
I nodded, hoping that some friendly banter would break the ice. “What’s your name?”
The unicorn blinked. “Why do you want to know my name?”
Her question made my heart sink, not from what she asked, but how she asked it. It wasn’t out of suspicion or spite, but earnest confusion. It was as if nopony had bothered asking her before, and if somepony did, her answer wouldn’t matter anyway. The concept seemed completely foreign to her.
I buried the curiosity begging me to pry, and cleared my throat. “Because I’d like to know.”
After an internal struggle played on her face, she finally answered, “It’s Misty.”
“That’s nice, too. Like that mist stuff in the air, right?” I shot back with a playful smile.
“Uh-huh, but I don’t really like mist.”
“I totally get that. Absolutely a nightmare on my mane,” I said while tossing my reddy-magenta hair from side to side. “It gets so frizzy that sometimes ponies can’t even see my ears!”
“Oh wow! That’s really bad. There’s a lot of mist near where I live.”
“Luckily the mist that blew in through the door didn’t give me a bad mane day.” I threw in a wink, hoping my attempts at humor would be appreciated. To my surprise, she laughed at my terrible pun; probably a little harder than she should’ve. “It doesn’t look like you have a problem either because your mane is absolutely stunning! Who does it?”
“Oh really?” She blushed as her eyes flittered about. “Well, I do it. By myself. I’m glad you like it. It took me a while, but I finally figured it out after… Well, I figured it out eventually.” She chuckled again. “Thanks.”
My smile strained again. Had nopony bothered teaching her how to care for her mane? I knew beauty videos were a thing—I’d been posting my own to Ponygrams since Pipp showed me how—but I wasn’t sure whether to be more impressed or concerned. “Do you also know how to take care of your hooves?”
“Sure!” she said confidently. “Kinda,” she corrected. It dwindled away faster and faster as she looked between the mess at the end of her leg and my hoof. “I mean, I know they’re a little cracked…”
I couldn’t stand sitting by any longer when I knew I could help. I sat down and pushed the guest cushion out from under the table. “Would you mind taking a seat at my station, Misty?”
“W-why?”
“I just want to be sure you’re okay. I promise you’re in capable hooves with me.” I tried to force my smile to relax, but my worry broke through. “Please?”
After staring at the seat across from me for a few hesitant moments, she finally said, “Okay, Jazz.”
Misty slowly tottered to the table, her troubled gaze darting between the cushion and the door behind her. I really hoped she wasn’t about to make a break for it. I couldn’t chase her down mane street trying to force my help on her. The nervous mare finally worked up the courage to sit down, bracing herself as she touched down with a frightened wince. When nothing bad happened, she cracked an eye open to see me giving her my best calm, reassuring smile.
“May I?” I motioned for her to give me a hoof.
She sucked in her lips and nodded. Misty reached across the table, finally letting me see what I was dealing with. I set my artistry aside and went full-on nursing mode trying to spot any dangerous cracks.
Misty looked away in embarrassment. “I know they’re not really pretty like yours…”
I shook my head. “Misty, I’m not worried about how nice they look, I’m worried if they’re hurt.” I leaned over and winced at the damage. “The crack down here on your hind left is really bad. Have you been galloping around town on this?”
Misty’s ears pinned back as she shrank away. “Maybe a little.” Then, she quickly forced the vulnerability away and threw on another smile. “I think I’ve got something back home I could maybe borrow to fix it.”
Borrow? Another red flag to throw onto the quickly growing pile. “Don’t you worry, Misty. I might not be a doctor, but I am the only certified hoof technician in town with a farrier license. I can fix you up right here if it’s not serious.”
“Really? That’d be great!” Misty beamed with excitement, though it was short lived as she looked herself over. “But wait. I-I don’t have anything to give you.”
“Then consider it a gift.”
Misty blinked. “A gift?”
“Yeah, like a ‘Welcome to Maretime Bay, Misty’ care package. Besides, if you like what I do, you can always come back and have me do them when they’re all healed up!” I leaned over and gave her a wicked smirk. “For all you know, maybe this is just some evil ploy of mine to get you to be a regular customer.”
Misty’s emerald gaze pierced through me, connecting pieces in her head as if she was solving some sort of puzzle. “No, I don’t think so.” Her brow furrowed. The mare was giving my stupid joke way more thought than it deserved. “You’re… really nice,” she said, almost in disbelief.
I chuckled nervously under her probing eyes. “Well, I try to be.”
“O-oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“You don’t need to apologize for giving me a compliment,” I assured her gently and began my work. “Just be sure to show off these beauties on ClipTrot once I’m done.”
I was honestly surprised to see her. Well, not see her at all, but see her in the salon. I’d bumped into her a few times since her last visit, but Misty was always on the move. The flighty unicorn seemed to always be hiding in the strangest places. I’d tried to say hi, but she’d always skitter away as fast as she could. I wasn’t sure she even remembered me.
“Welcome back to Mane Melody! I hope your hooves are doing better.”
“Oh, yeah,” she tittered again as her eyes drifted down to her hooves. “They’re okay, I think. Thanks again. For helping me with that.”
“Friend of yours?” Rocky asked me while stepping out of the side room. He smiled after getting a better look at her. “Wait, I know you!”
Misty’s eyes shrank in fear. “You—you do?”
“You’re Photoblued, right?”
She blinked and tilted her head. “Photoblued?”
“You mean you don’t know? You’re only the latest trend on Ponygram! Pretty much photobombed every Bay tourist’s timeline at least once.”
Before Rocky’s thickheadedness could chase the poor girl off, I quickly grabbed my phone from my desk and ran up next to her. “It’s just a stupid hooftag. Don’t worry about it.” Flipping open to Ponygram, I tapped the #photoblued page and scrolled through the pics. “There’s a lot of ponies visiting us since magic came back, and you kept popping up in pictures.”
“There’s… a lot,” she mumbled under her breath.
I thought about putting my phone away, but she kept swiping through the album. A smear of blue here, a misplaced curl of mane there. She finally stopped at a promo post for Mane Melody with Pipp, Rocky, and I posing outside of the salon.
“You got me too,” I admitted with a titter. “Right there behind that bush planter.” Her eyes drifted to the end of her tail poking out onto the sidewalk.
“Am I famous?” A conflicting kaleidoscope played out on her face as she tried to wrap her head around what she was seeing.
“It’s fine!” I snapped my phone shut before she could freak herself out more. “Stuff on Canternet flies by in a flash, you know! You’ll be old news before the end of the week.”
“But wait! This is good, I think. If I’m trending, then that means I can…” her thoughts drifted into her head until they exploded out in a wide smile. “I need your help, Jazz!”
Excitement. Wasn’t expecting that. “What do you need?”
“Could you make me beautiful? Like, really quickly?”
“That’s what we do here,” Rocky answered with a wink. “But how quick is ‘quick?’”
“Umm… as fast as possible?”
I’d heard ponies wanting to get in-and-out of the chair, but the short turnaround time wasn’t sitting right with me. “Why does it need to be so fast? If you’re in a rush, you can always come back later.”
Misty shook her head and her ears fell flat. “I-I can’t do that! It’ll be too late then! Please! It doesn’t have to be a lot, just anything you can. I’ve even got bits this time!” She dug through a small pouch on her side, frantically searching for coins.
“Woah, calm down, Misty!” I backed away to give her space to relax. “You don’t have to beg for help. We’ll figure out something that’ll get you in and out in a flash, alright?”
Misty stopped right as she was about to dump her bag out on the floor. “You will?” She sighed in relief and tied the end back up by hoof. “Oh, Thank you! And umm… sorry about that.”
Crisis averted! I relaxed and unfolded my phone again to check the day’s schedule. “Our first appointments don’t arrive for another ten minutes. I think I can squeeze you in for a speedy hooficure, but I’m not sure we can do anything more without keeping you longer. Maybe a quick herbal coat wash?”
“No!” Misty quickly said while turning her body away from me. But as fast as she’d ducked away, she went rigid again and forced a smile. “I-I mean, no thank you. A coat wash would definitely take too long.” She laughed, her eyes darting back and forth between me and her hindquarters. “Just the hooves are fine, Jazz.”
Not wanting to question her further, I simply nodded my misgivings away. “One Jazzy hooficure coming right up!”
Rocky went back to preparing for our early bird appointments while I guided Misty to the hoof station. I tried my best to keep her calm, but no matter what I did, it was like she was trotting two steps away from panic. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why. If it was a bunch of unicorn jinxie stuff, she was too scared to tell me. I’d have to remember to ask Izzy about it the next time I saw her and hope to hoofness that I understood what she said.
I sat Misty down in the seat and she finally began to relax. After shimmying on the cushion, she dutifully placed her forehooves on the tabletop as I joined her. I couldn’t help but smile seeing the healthy hoof walls facing me; a dramatic improvement from the last time she’d come to Mane Melody. There was nothing serious. A little expected wear and tear, probably from galloping around at full clip like she’d been in those Ponygram pictures.
“May I?” I asked, putting my hooves out for hers to grab.
“Oh, sure,” she replied and met mine in the middle.
“Let’s see what we’ve got here.” I rolled the hoof up, down, and all around trying to spot any problems. “No sole cracks or fissures, clean frogs…” I sighed in relief. My work had held up with her active lifestyle. “You’ve been using the repair cream, I see.”
Misty puffed out her chest and nodded proudly. “Yep! It was a little hard to get it on my hind hooves while holding the little brush, but I got it eventually.”
“Really? I’m sorry. I thought applying it would be a breeze with your unicorn magic.”
“O-oh, well, I—” Misty froze and her eyes searched for an excuse again. “I’m not very good at magic.” She frowned, slumping lower. “Like, at all.”
“Wait, are you saying that you can’t do any magic?”
The poor unicorn sucked in her lips and nodded.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry, Misty!” I reached over the table and wrapped her in a supportive hug. “I wish you would’ve told me. I would’ve given you a longer brush. You must’ve been bending yourself into a pretzel trying to get everything.”
After a few moments, she started stammering over herself. I slowly pulled back to see Misty had locked up tight and was buffering like a livecast with no signal. I gently pushed her back down to her seat while tapping the side of her hoof, trying to get her to restart. Eventually, the mare began working again and fell back onto her haunches.
“Are you okay, Misty?”
She shook the last of her shock away and sat back up. “Yeah. I-I’m fine. Sorry again.”
“I’m the one who should apologize, hugging you out of the blue like that. I just wanted to be supportive, but I should’ve guessed you wouldn’t appreciate it.”
“What?” She gasped and covered her mouth. “No-no-no! I did! I promise!”
“You don’t need to lie to make me feel better, Misty. It’s okay not to like hugs.”
“But I did! I… I think I did. I think?” Again, she chuckled nervously and tried to put on a brave face. “I just wasn’t expecting it. That’s all.”
While I seriously doubted she was telling the truth, I decided to let it slide. She was trying so hard not to upset me that I was actually getting upset. “Alright, but either way, I should respect your personal space. Working with Pipp must’ve messed with how I see friendly boundaries more than I thought.”
Misty’s eyes stared directly at me in utter shock. “We’re friends?”
“Yes? At least I thought so,” I said weakly. “Too soon?”
“No. It’s just…” Her head tilted down as her eyes bounced around, trying to work through what I’d just said. Finally, she looked back up at me with the trace of a glimmer in her eyes. “I’ve never had a friend before.”
What? No, impossible. Not how she was saying it. So honestly. So earnestly. So desperately. Everypony had friends at least once. I’d already made friends before I’d even learned the word. Lost a few over time, maybe. Grown apart as we grew into different ponies. But, never? It was foalish on its face. Misty might’ve been a little eccentric—okay, a lot eccentric—but there was no way, not somepony as sweet and sensitive as her, could ever go through life without making one single friend.
So then why did I believe her?
“Do—would you like to be my friend, Misty?” I offered gently.
She tapped her hooves on the table nervously. “What do I have to do? Is it hard? Like getting a cutie mark?”
The pure, innocent questions were still breaking my already shattered heart the longer they went on. I swallowed the dryness in my throat and took her by the hoof. “N-no, we just say we’re friends, and then we’re friends! Simple as that.”
Misty’s mouth fell open. “That’s it? Really?” Her eyes widened as she grew evermore excited by the idea. Eagerness worked its way into her hooves drumming on the table. “Then, let’s be friends!”
Her infectious wonder found its way into my heart and pulled my mouth into an equally large smile. “Friends it is!” I exclaimed. The adorable mare was making me feel like a filly again, not that I was complaining. “Now, before we get too friendly, let’s get your hooves looking as beautiful as you are on the inside.”
“Oh! Oh.” Misty sank back down in her seat. “R-right. I’ve gotta…” She clamped up before saying anything else and put her hooves back on the table.
“Is something wrong, Misty?”
“Not really. It’s just that I almost forgot something important. Again. I can’t fail—I’ve got things I need to do before it’s too late.”
I nodded apprehensively, seeing the nerve-wracked Misty return with avengeance. She’d been so joyful a few seconds ago. Alarms were blaring in my head, but I didn’t want to risk crashing her mood even further. I took a calming breath and pinned my customer service smile back on as best I could. “So, what look are we doing with your hooves today?”
Misty looked down at her hooves and pursed her lips. “Can you do whatever’s popular online right now?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the request I’d heard a thousand times since Canternet came to the Bay. “Probably, but you’re going to need to be a little more specific than that.”
“Oh,” she chuckled while tapping her hooves together and forcing a smile. “Well, maybe something like The Filly Four?”
My ears perked at the door chime. We’d only opened five minutes ago, so I figured it was pretty safe to say, “Good morning, Misty!”
“Hello, Jazz.”
My initial glee was short-lived. Something had happened again, I just knew it from the gloom dripping off her words. I leaned my head over from the hoof station seat and nearly tumbled out of my chair. The poor girl trudged through the doors, her head hanging so low that her mane dragged the floor.
“Oh my hoofness!” I scrambled out of my seat. “Misty! What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I-I know I just got a hooficure, but could I get another one, please?”
“Another one? Didn’t you just have one a couple days ago? Why would you—”
My eyes wandered down, and I forgot how to breathe. Her hooves, her precious hooves. They were hurt. Torn up. Ruined. Scratches ran from top to bottom, with only the odd, colorful stripes of hoof polish left behind.
“I’m sorry about all your hard work,” she mumbled from the floor.
Focus, Jazz! Stop staring and help her! I bit the inside of my cheek to unfreeze myself and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Just please tell me you’re okay!”
“I’m—I’m okay,” she repeated back to me.
“That’s not…” I shrank back, kicking myself for my wording. “Come inside. Let’s take a look at those hooves.” I led her gently to my station and sat her down before hunting down every topical medicine that I could find.
“Umm… Aren’t we supposed to start over there?” Misty asked, pointing to the magic mirrors.
“Sorry. Nothing cute today. I need to make sure they're alright.”
Her ears pinned back, crestfallen, but she nodded. Misty placed her forehooves on the cushion and she sank her disappointed frown behind her fetlocks. Over the past couple of months—wow, it really had been that long—she’d become somewhat of a regular around Mane Melody. Conditions had to be perfect for her to show up though: early morning on a day that I opened with no other ponies waiting outside for an appointment. The timid mare didn’t seem like she was one for crowds when she could help it.
Outside of Sunny’s and Pipp’s group of friends, I really only saw her here at Mane Melody for regular hooficures. And she only wanted me to do them. I’d always chalked it up to Misty being “misty-fying,” but the more I got to know her—or at least tried to—the more suspicious I became. She was so sweet and cute, but she never talked about herself, always dodging questions or making excuses.
That was going to stop today; right here, right now.
I sat back down, carefully laying all of the medicine that I had and then motioned to give me her hooves. She shakily offered one, and I immediately began pouring over the damage. Something had scraped over her hooves, harshly, ripping polish off and aggravating the hoof wall underneath. There were microfractures and small tears everywhere, but it wasn't anything too serious. The inflammation would make trotting around uncomfortable. Still, that was little comfort seeing the exact same streaking pattern on each hoof.
“Misty?” I asked pointedly. “Who did this to you?”
“W-what?”
“Look at your forehooves. The polish is smeared the same on each hoof, like literally the exact same here—” I leaned down and pointed to her hind ones. “—and down here.” Returning back to the top of the table, I leveled a stern frown at her and tried to keep my cool. “It’s got to be some sort of magic, right?”
“Well, about that.” Misty smiled nervously and chuckled. “I-I was chasi—playing with Sparky! And I got burnt by dragon fire—”
“Stop lying, Misty!”
She flinched in fear at my shrieking voice. Like I’d ordered, she stopped talking immediately, not saying another word. I could feel the tremble of her hoof in mine. Honestly, I was too, barely keeping a lid on my anger.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry, okay?” Great job, Jazz. Such a way with words. I took another breath trying to steady myself. I cupped her hoof in my forehooves, keeping a firm and careful grip on it. “I’ve seen that baby dragon’s fire do some crazy things, but this is different. Somepony did this to you, Misty, and I don’t even know where to start with that because I don’t know anything about you!”
Misty shook her head vigorously. “N-no. It’s okay. Really. You don’t have to do anything.”
“But I want to! I want to help you! You’re one of the sweetest, kindest, most earnest ponies I know. I can’t imagine who in Equestria would want to do something like this to you.” I leaned forward, pulling her hoof towards my chest.
“I’m not really any of those…” Her lips hung loose as she tried to continue, but something held her back. Misty slumped in her seat, trying to utter something, anything to what I said.
“Is it somepony you can’t get away from in Bridlewood? You can stay with me at my place. It’s not big, but I’ve got an old guest bed. Just tell me what is going on, please!”
There was a sparkle in Misty’s eyes. A quiet yearning, for what I didn’t know. Maybe there really was somepony behind that ever-present fear of hers. Maybe she wanted to tell me everything. Her mouth quivered, almost forming a smile. But as soon as the kindling had started, it flared out, crashing and burning any hope away. I almost pressed further, but then, she started to laugh.
Misty always chuckled when her nerves were getting to her. A giggle, a snicker, a titter, but never a laugh. I watched it spread wider and louder on her face as her gaze grew more distant with sheer panic. Her wild laughter only served to fill the silence with something, anything less oppressive than nothing at all. She gasped for air under her choking glee with tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.
“Misty?”
“I don’t—” she gasped for air as her lungs forced another laugh. “I can’t—” Her chest puffed in and out rapidly trying to breathe through a barrage of hyperventilating giggles.
I clamped my mouth shut with my hooves before I could audibly gasp. Was she having a panic attack? Was it my fault? I-I just wanted to help! Oh-my-gosh, what was I supposed to do? She’d wrapped herself up in her legs, trying to stop herself, and her eyes were cinched shut. I couldn’t just sit here. I needed to do something!
I leapt up and ran to her side. I enveloped her in a hug, hoping it’d do something, anything to calm her down. So many words ran through my head, screaming at me to say them, but I was scared. I was just too scared. I held on tight, hoping to wring the fear out, hoping it’d be enough. It was all I could do.
I’m so sorry, Misty. I’m a coward.
“Jazz?”
Air rushed back into my lungs again at the raspy sound of my name. I loosened my iron grip and backed away from Misty. She was breathing normally. Good. That was good.
She leaned forward with concern. “Are you okay, Jazz?”
“M-me?” Why was she asking me that? I coughed under my ragged breath. It was hard to stand, my legs were shaking so bad. Everything was wobbly. Why was I like this? Then, I caught myself in the mirror. Eyeliner ran down the side of puffy, red eyes. I sniffled my runny nose, finally realizing I’d been the one crying. I was an absolute mess. Misty, on the other hoof, was fine, besides the roughed up hooves, of course.
I tried my best to dab my face dry with a tissue. “Thank hoofness, you’re alright.”
“But Jazz—”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” I blew my nose and sat back down at the station. “I’m—” A hiccup cut me off and I dabbed my eyes again. Oh, ponyfeathers. That was the same tissue. Gross! But, whatever. That didn’t matter. Misty did. I shook it away, trying to steady myself, but the tears wouldn’t stop. Stupid emotions trying to make this about me! I almost motioned for her to give me her hooves, but I’d been holding snot-coated tissues with them. This sucked.
Misty looked away. “I’m sorry I scared you, Jazz.”
Another apology. It stabbed my heart, wracking me with another wave of guilt. She must’ve noticed as she pulled further away from me. I felt so ugly. All of this fear, anger, sadness, guilt, and loathing was on me, yet I was still too shaken to do anything about it. I rinsed and dried my hooves in the basin and waved her closer to put her hooves back on the table. It was the least I could do. It was the only thing I could do.
She smiled nervously as her eyes drifted to the clock. “Actually, I think I should probably leave so you can get ready for your appointments. I’ll just—”
No! I couldn’t let her run away! Not like this! I sprinted for the front doors and locked them while flipping the welcome sign to “Closed.” It was selfish, it was stupid, I’d probably get a few angry calls, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t let Misty go.
“Umm… Jazz? What are you doing?”
If I tried to answer, I’d scream. I’d just scare her more on top of everything else. So, I walked back to the seat as best I could, uselessly blinked all the tears I could away, and sniffed all the yuck back through my nose. It was so gross. I was so gross. So disgusting. But, I couldn’t let her go. Not yet. I motioned for her hooves again.
Without a word, she gave them to me again. Her poor, hurt hooves. I wanted to find the pony responsible and give them a head-to-hoof lesson in proper hoof maintenance. But, Misty wasn’t going to tell me anytime soon at this rate. Not with me freaking her out. So, I’d do the only thing I could to help right now: heal her hooves.
I got to work, applying salves, gels, and creams to each hoof. Back and forth, up and down, careful strokes and massages; the rhythm helped calm me down a little. I was still a blubbery, sniffling mess of a mare trying her best. The stinging in my eyes didn’t help either, but it didn’t matter. I just wanted to help Misty.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked carefully.
I hummed a yes, still too afraid that I’d lose my temper if I opened my lips. Anger was reeling around inside me, wanting to escape in a tirade.
“Are you sure? You look… really mad.”
I nodded. “Myself.”
“You’re mad at yourself?” She asked in alarm. “But why?”
I kept blinking my heavy eyes, fanning them with my hooves to dry them. The stinging in my throat wasn’t helping either. “I-I want you to feel safe”—I choked back another sob—“here. With me. And I…” The words wrapped around my throat, forcing another bout of coughs and crying. “And I scared you. And then I got scared and then—I’m making this all about me. And you’re hurt! I’m so sorry, Misty!”
For her part, she just stared back at me, unsure of what to say. The fanning and blinking weren’t doing anything, so I grabbed her hoof again and got back to work. Focusing on making her hoof beautiful again was the only thing keeping me together. I couldn’t even meet her eyes. I was too ashamed.
“Please don’t feel bad,” I sputtered quickly. “It was my fault. You don’t need to tell me, even if I really can’t stand the thought of somepony being so cruel to hurt you.” I scowled at the marred remains of my work. “I can’t even risk cleaning the polish off when the surrounding skin is so swollen. So frustrating!”
Misty licked her lips as she tried to think of something to say. I still had a lot of work to do, so I was in no rush. Of course, it was then that my phone decided to start ringing to remind me I should’ve been. Instead, I flipped the stupid thing open and put it on silent. Whoever it was on the other end wouldn’t give up, so I switched it to “Do Not Disturb” mode. I folded it back and threw it in my bag to ignore it for the next however long it’d take.
After another internal fight played out on her face, the smallest smile turned up at the corner of Misty’s lips. “Thank you.”
“Good evening! Welcome to Mane Melody!” I repeated for the however-many-eth time today. “Be with you in a second,” I added, hoping I actually would be. Posey’s indecision over hooficure designs had reached minute twelve, and I was starting to lose it.
“Well this is a surprise,” Rocky said as he went to check in our latecomer. “Good evening, Misty!”
“Hey, Rocky.”
Misty was here? A smile split my face at the joyous news. She’d been coming to Mane Melody less and less. I couldn’t find her anywhere at Bridlewoodstock, let alone Bridlewood itself. If only Posey would make up her hay-filled mind between bright white and eggshell!
“Hello, Jazz,” Misty said as she approached us from behind. “Are you busy?”
“A little, but we should be done soon,” I replied with my best smile before turning to the indecisive mare next to me. “Right?”
Posey’s ear flicked and she glanced out of the corner of her eye at me. “Something bothering you, Jazz?”
Let’s see. One of my best friends in the whole wide world had just shown up out of the blue after weeks of being gone, but instead of greeting her with a huge hug and a smile at the door, I’m stuck here watching the blandest back and forth shuffle between the most basic colors imaginable for a hooficure that’d take all of two minutes if the pony in question would just make up their stupid mind!
“Nope!”
Posey turned to look at me and my customer serviceable grin and the timid unicorn watching us in the mirror. “You know what? I think I’ll skip the hooficure today.”
“Great!” I said quickly before she could change her mind. “Rocky, will check you out Posey? Thanks!” I helped her along to the front as politely as possible, though she didn’t seem to appreciate the helpful bump at the end.
With that distraction out of the way, I opened up and offered Misty a hug. “It’s so good to see you!”
With only a slight hesitation, she took a few steps forward and met me halfway. Even if she hadn’t seen me lately, I’d heard from Pipp that Misty had been warming up to everypony. Being close to her was just so refreshing after working all day, especially when it’d been so long since we’d seen each other. It felt so good to just love on her.
She giggled a good giggle and squeezed back. “It’s good to see you too, Jazz.”
Misty broke the hug and took a few paces back. I was so tempted to pull her back in. I’d missed getting my Misty fix a lot more than I thought I did the past few weeks. Still, I was a professional, and we were still open for another half an hour despite it being almost dusk. I straightened up and trotted over to the mirror.
“So, what hoof-look are we going for tonight?” I asked while motioning her closer to me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you come by this late.”
Her smile and ears fell with melancholy. “Well, actually… I was sort of just coming by to say goodbye.”
My heart nearly dropped out of my chest and shattered on the ground.
“Only for a little while!” she quickly added. “Maybe. I hope.”
I blinked past my stupor to get my brain function back. “What? But why? Where are you going?”
“Just away, for a while. There’s”—Misty’s eyes drifted down to her hooves. “There’s something I’ve got to do, even if I’m not sure I want to do it or not.”
“I see. Well, do you maybe know when you’ll be back?”
She didn’t look up; only shaking her head.
Misty was leaving? I guess I was glad that she thought to come here, but I didn’t want her to go. She was just starting to open up to me, too.
The unicorn was already a far cry from the timid mare that had tumbled through the doors. Every time she came to Mane Melody was precious, a special treat to jump-start the morning. She’d tell me about all the things she’d gotten up to with Pipp and the others at the Brighthouse, making me just a little jealous.
Sunny had always been just a bundle of positivity, despite how we all treated her before she and her friends brought magic back. It was no wonder a good mare like her would be able to help Misty out of her shell. As for me, I liked to have fun too, but there was just a little too much baggage there for me to feel completely at ease around Sunny Starscout. Even if she didn’t care, I still did. Now though, I really wished I’d worked on that more when I wasn’t working. There was always time later, I thought. Just me being too scared. Again.
“I’m really sorry, Jazz.”
“No-no! Thank you so much for stopping in before you head out. I’d be more worried if you just vanished.” I slapped on my bravest face, but looking at her, I couldn’t help but get misty-eyed myself. “But I’m going to miss you so much.”
Her eyes widened, almost in shock. I really hoped it wasn’t. We were so much closer than that, or at least I thought we were. “I’ll miss you too, Jazz.”
I took a deep, calming breath. You are not going to send her off a big, blubbering mess, Jazz Hooves! I stamped my gloom into the ground and buried it under a smile. “Before you go, do you mind if we do one more hooficure for the road? My treat.”
Misty lifted her hoof and looked at it with apprehension. “Well, actually, I went to a thing in Zephyr Heights recently and Pipp gave me one on the way there. You said I shouldn’t get them so often, right?”
“Right. Your walls need time to breathe,” I reluctantly admitted. Stupid farrier training! “Well, what about something else? I can do more than hooves, you know.”
She tilted her head. “Like what?”
“Like…”
Oh, hayseeds! Like what? There wasn’t a lot of time left, and I didn’t want to keep Rocky waiting after closing. We’d already packed up the spa services for the day. A facial or dyeing job was out of the question. Cutting as much mane and tail as she was running around with would take a long time to clean up too.
Well, there was one thing we could do, but I wasn’t exactly confident. “Would you mind if I tried my hooves at styling your mane? Rocky knows a lot more about working with textured hair, but ever since you’ve been coming in, I’ve been trying to learn how to do it better.”
“You have?”
“Y-yeah! We don’t have many manes like yours around here, so I don’t have a lot of practice. But I’ve been watching a lot of ClipTrots and Ponygrams about styling it. I was hoping to give you one when I was better at—”
“I’d really like that!” Misty bounced on her hooves in excitement.
Despite my nerves, I couldn’t help but match her beaming smile with my own. “Then step over to the backwashing station, and let’s get started!”
I took her hoof in mine and led her to the lounger. I guided her down into the recesses, making sure she was comfortable, and started setting her curly mane into the rising bowl. Misty kept smiling all the while, just enjoying the new experience. I was too. This was the first time she’d let me do anything other than her hooves, and I planned on savoring every second of it.
I started rinsing, carefully working the parts of her overflowing mane with shampoo. Even if I was working as fast as I could, there was still a lot of hair to prep. Izzy had one of the longest manes I’d ever seen, but as I kept going, I started wondering if Misty’s was even longer. Her bouncy curls seemed heavier than Izzy’s flowing waves. I wished I could take more time and care, but there was just too much hair to manage in what little we had left.
Running my hooves through her mane was its own kind of magic. There were so many beautiful blue hues and different kinds of hair in her mane. Some of it wove into spirals, others zig-zagged, and some was so tightly wound that it looked like fuzz from a distance. The blues only grew more vibrant as I worked my hooves through it, cleaning the dirt and oil out.
“This is wonderful,” Misty sighed in content. “I never knew having somepony else wash your hair could feel so amazing.”
“There are just so many firsts I get to do with you.” I giggled and grabbed the conditioner. “I’m glad you like it.” I wanted to say more, like how I’d do it again in a heartbeat, or I’d be able to do a better job the next time she came in, but I didn’t want to spoil the mood. This was supposed to be fun.
As I finished up the last bit of mane, my eyes wandered back to her face, eyes shut and resting comfortably, simply enjoying the gentle pleasures of it all. I wondered off-hoof if I should wash her tail too while I was at it, only to spot nothing on her flank.
I gasped in shock before leaning down to her ear. “I don’t want to alarm you, but your cutie mark is gone!”
Her eyes shot open and she tensed up. “Oh, right.” She forced a chuckle behind her nervous grin. “It was just a fake. I just painted it on every day before I left.”
“What happened to it?”
“Funny story. I’ve, umm… never actually had a cutie mark?” After letting the reveal hang between us for a moment, her face fell downcast. “Okay, maybe it wasn’t so funny.”
As I observed the blank spot, the dots began connecting in my head. “You mean, the reason you never wanted me to do your coat was…”
She nodded. “I just wanted to blend in. If you washed it off, then everypony would notice. Being the center of attention was the last thing I wanted.”
“I guess that’s why you’ve always been a little…” Choose your words carefully, Jazz. “A little reserved around others.”
Her gaze drifted away from me. “Kinda.”
“Don’t worry,” I said as I stroked her mane. “Your secret’s safe with me. I know you don’t really like crowds.”
“Actually, Zipp found out, and so I already told the others.”
Knowing that pegasus princess, she probably cornered Misty like she did before about that rainbow lantern. I gave that nosy mare a piece of my mind. “And were you the center of attention after that?”
“For a little bit, but it was mostly about telling me that I didn’t have to hide myself. Zipp even said it was cool to be different.”
“And she’s totally right.” For once. “You’re lovely just the way you are, Misty. I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”
Misty blushed and giggled a little. That glee of hers was too pure for Equestria. “Thanks, Jazz.” And so the smile waned as quickly as it had waxed. “But still, I really want a cutie mark. More than anything.”
“Is that why you’re leaving?”
“Something like that,” she admitted before chewing her lip.
“If you think it’s what you need to do for a cutie mark, then I’m glad you’re going to find yourself.” If anything, it’d hopefully get Misty out from under whoever was always lurking just behind her happiness, reining her back from unbridled joy. “Just promise me you’ll send me an invite to the Cutie Blossom Bash when you do.”
“Oh! Yeah! I’ll be sure to do that first thing,” she swore with a nervous chuckle.
Despite Misty’s best efforts, her underlying complete bewilderment at the tradition was unmistakable to me. “How about I tell you all about what mine was like while I dry your mane?”
Her hesitation shifted to a sweet giggle at the soft suggestion. “Okay.”
This was taking longer than I’d hoped it would. Rocky had already closed up and was waiting on me to finish on a hair design I’d only practiced a few times on a ponnequin head. Having to restart the fourth flat twist twice and check the Ponygram tutorial again wasn’t exactly helping my confidence either. Luckily, Misty was a patient mare, letting me work up to something presentable as she kept her eyes closed. If it wasn’t for the content resting on her face, I’d be worried she was too scared to open them.
“Almost done, Jazz?” Rocky asked from the seat next to Misty’s.
“I already said you could leave if you wanted.” He’d been watching me struggle the entire time and refuse his help each time. This was my going away present to Misty. He’d have to get his own.
Rocky yawned and looked out the window at the half-past dark o’ clock outside. “You know, I think I might do that now that you’ve gotten through all the twists. Just be sure to lock up before you head out this time.”
If my hooves weren’t full of mane, I’d smack my face. “It was one time, Rocky!”
“And that one time ended up with a Sneaksy mural on the wall.”
“And Pipp loved it! I don’t see the problem.”
He rolled his eyes and shrugged it off. “Just text me when you’re all finished up here, please.”
I nodded and waved him off. Another stupid, pointless, yet satisfying victory for Jazz Hooves! Now I just needed to seal the deal and tie up the loose ends of this manestyle. I grabbed a heavy-duty hair band to keep her mass of mane under control and tied it up at the top. Inspecting my work, I saw a few minor mistakes that hopefully wouldn’t upset her too much. Stupid time crunch. I fluffed the mane a bit more for good measure as I waited for a little privacy.
“Are you done?” Misty asked.
“Wait…” My ear flicked at the familiar door chime. “Okay, now I am.” I spun her chair in front of the mirror. “Viola!”
Misty peeked an eye open, but then her gaze shot out as she saw her reflection. It was a bit messy for Mane Melody standards, but it didn’t seem to matter. Her eyes sparkled at the mere sight of herself. Four flat twists wound up and over her head, leading to a large puffy ponytail bursting out the top and flowing down her neck. I’m glad Rocky suggested going with it over the lower version from the video, even if the last-minute change did mess me up.
“So, what do you think?” I asked.
“It’s so beautiful…”
“You’re so beautiful, Misty. It didn’t turn out exactly like I wanted, but—”
“No! I love it!” she shouted over me, not wanting to hear any of my misgivings. “I love it so much! I tried to do things like this before, but I was never allowed to…” She sniffled and buried her head into my chest, pushing her puff right into my muzzle. “Thank you, Jazz! Thank you!”
Any second thoughts I had were drowned out in an intoxicating sea of coconut and lavender. I reached my hooves around her neck and held her close to my heart. It was a small gesture, a simple parting gift for somepony I loved so dearly, but I could tell it meant the world to her as she rested comfortably in my embrace.
Wait, I loved her?
Misty backed away and rose from the salon chair, beaming that precious smile I’d grown to adore. A smile I might not see again for a long time, if ever. I didn’t want her to go. I wanted her to stay. I wanted to get to know her more. I wanted to help her misting beauty glisten like dewdrops everywhere she went.
But more than anything, I wanted to tell her I loved her, and hope that she felt the same way.
“Thank you, Jazz. I… I’m not sure I really want to go—”
Then don’t.
“—but I know if I don’t, I might never have this chance again.”
Why? Can’t you find your mark here? I’d help any way I could.
Misty trotted towards the door. I followed her, forcing the gentlest smile I could manage without breaking.
She chewed her lip and turned back to me while putting on a cloak she’d hung by the door. Her ears pinned against her braids and her mouth worked, trying to find something to say. Misty started a few sentences, but ultimately gave up on saying anything at all.
“Misty? I promise, hoof to heart, that I will always be on your side. I know your cutie mark will be just as beautiful and wonderful as the mare who wears it.”
For some reason, her eyes shrank away in fear. She threw her hood up and whispered something that I didn’t hear as she ran off into the night. I didn’t regret saying goodbye, or not confessing my feelings, but the dread I felt as she disappeared lingered in my heart, telling me I shouldn’t have let her go.
All I’d wanted to know was what Pipp’s “sudden emergency” was about when she’d called in last Tuesday.
I had expected something bad when Hitch came by looking for Sparky, but not some ancient, evil alicorn plotting to take over Equestria! Even if Pipp was stretching the truth a little, Opaline sounded freaking terrifying! I was just glad everypony had come back safe and sound.
And one of them had even gotten her cutie mark.
“It feels weird being back here so soon,” Misty remarked as she looked around Mane Melody.
After how heavily that night had ended, yeah, it kind of was. Like finding yourself trotting back home next to somepony you just said goodbye to for the evening. It was much better than her not being here, though. I was glad she’d stuck around after everypony else had left to put Sparky to bed. It was thankfully a slow day like every Thursday was, so we could just hang out. It would’ve been nicer if Pipp had left too so I’d have Misty all to myself, but it was her salon after all.
“Honestly, Misty?” I said, looking back to her. “I’m just glad you're okay after all of that.”
“You mean you’re not mad either?” She looked absolutely floored. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
“Why would I be? It was like Zipp said, you did the right thing in the end, right Pipp?”
“Totally,” the pegasus agreed. She fluttered back to the stage to start cleaning up donut remains from Izzy’s creative addition to the retelling of the tale. “And besides being total besties, we just love having you around Mane Melody! You really know how to make somepony feel appreciated.”
“But I did so many bad things! I tried so many times to take the lantern and Sparky, and did a whole bunch of bad things around town. I lied to everypony, about everything, all the time.” She turned to me, her eyes glistening with regret. “I-I lied to you!”
Putting my work down, I strode up to Misty and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Listen, Misty. We both know you did bad things. What I’m saying is that it doesn’t matter because we forgive you. We both do.”
“We all do, Misty! The way I see it, it was all that nasty Opaline’s fault, anyway,” the pegasus dismissed with a wave of her hoof. “Seriously, Jazz, that evil lair of hers was like something out of a movie. Total villain vibe. Only thing missing was organ music to seal the deal. Wasn’t a total loss though. It did give me a few new spooktacular ideas for next Nightmare Night.”
I suppressed a shudder and put on a brave face. “Then I’m very glad that you were the ones on the adventure. I would’ve been completely useless in a creepy castle against a super powerful fire alicorn.” I turned back to Misty, my smile returning just seeing her face. “It’d probably be hard to say no to somepony like that. You shouldn’t blame yourself for doing what you needed to survive.”
“But it wasn’t like that,” Misty pressed as she quivered under the pressure. “I was the one that wanted a cutie mark. I was the one that wanted to have magic like everypony else. I-I just wanted Opaline to…”
“Wanted her to what?”
Misty’s mouth worked uselessly as it fought to put her thoughts into words. “Opaline was… she was all I’ve ever had, so…”
“Oh, Misty.”
“I know she’s evil and everything, but just once, just once, I wanted her to…”
I gently shushed her before she forced herself to speak anymore. Her outpouring of grief rattled my heart more than I could take. All I could do was reach my hooves out and pull her into a deep hug.
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. Anypony would want those things, and she was the only one you had for the longest time. I’m so sorry that happened to you. It’s not your fault.”
Misty gripped my fur and cried. More than that, she wept. All of the ugliness, all of the pain, she poured it on my shoulder as I held her close. Her guttural sobs wracked her body, choking and heaving out the untold gallons of poison that had settled at the bottom of her heart.
“It was hard,” she wheezed between gasping breaths. “It was so hard. She was always so mean. No matter what I did. I just thought if… if I did something right, maybe she’d change.” She shook her head and squeezed tighter. “But I was never good enough. Never!”
“No, Misty. You always were. You’re better than her. So much better.”
As Misty poured herself out on my shoulder, Pipp wilted. I could tell she wanted to say something, but she just kept looking between me and Misty, unsure of what exactly. Finally, she darted to the front door and locked it, quietly switching the sign to closed before dropping off a tissue box. She mouthed “I’ll be in the back” before making herself scarce. I’d never been so grateful to have Pipp as a friend.
“The worst was when I failed. She always got so angry.” Misty sniffled and took a few more mouthy breaths to calm down. “And, when I finally got her the dragon fire, when I thought I did something right, she said it wasn’t enough. And then she saw the hooficure. And she got so mad… and so s-she scraped…”
“Please, Misty. It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about her anymore.” I could feel my throat tightening and my voice growing more hoarse by the moment.
“I’m sorry, Jazz!” Her sorrow cracked through, renewing her tears as she sank back into despair.
“No, Misty, no.” I stroked her beautiful mane, still tied up in the ponytail I’d given her. “You’re worth so much more than some silly hoof polish.”
My eyes stung with hot tears of my own, but for an entirely different reason. Right now, I needed to be here for Misty and was doing my best to hold it in, but I was furious. Livid. Enraged. I didn’t care how powerful this immortal evil was. If I ever met Opaline, I was going to give her face a makeover she wouldn’t forget. All I could do now, though, was hold onto Misty and shower her with as much love as I could. She deserved so much more than she’d ever received.
“You’re a good pony, Misty,” I assured her, softly in her ear. “You may not feel like it, but I know you are. You’re so kind and sensitive and beautiful. Just seeing you makes my day brighter.” I love you so much, I can’t stand it. “I’m… just so glad you’re safe and sound.”
Misty was wracked with another bout of cries as more sludge worked its way up. I held on. Holding was all I could do. I wanted to tell her more, so much more, but I couldn’t. Opaline might’ve been scary, but telling Misty how I felt was downright terrifying. I wanted to hold her until the tears stopped. And when they did, I wanted to keep holding her. I never wanted her to leave my side again. If she was here, then I wouldn’t worry if she was cared for or loved like she should be.
“You don’t know how brave you are, Misty,” I whispered and wiped an errant tear from my eye. “You’re so much more than me. More than I could ever be.”
Hopefully someday, if I keep you in my hooves for long enough, some of your bravery will rub off on me. Then maybe, just maybe, I can be courageous like you and finally tell you just how much I love you, Misty.
Wow. I knew us earth ponies had this new, special plant magic, but seriously? All we did was sing a song from nowhere and that little sapling Misty got was just a full-grown tree now. I didn’t even know our cutie marks could do that! It felt amazing, reinvigorating, harmonizing; like I’d gotten my cutie mark all over again. I knew what made me unique and who I was supposed to be with all of my heart. It took everything I had in me not to prance around like a little filly.
I was so glad to be in Zephyr Heights for the Cutie Blossom Bash. Misty had gotten hers just in time for the first spring after ponykind’s reunification. Sure, we’d had a little issue with her participating, but this private one Zipp and Pipp had suggested was absolutely perfect. I was so proud of Misty. The only thing dragging me down from my Elysian high was what happened afterwards; namely Misty’s double-agent plan.
It was an utterly stupid, boneheaded idea. Misty had just freed herself from that abusive alicorn, and now she was going to go back to her? Why? What was the point? We already knew what she wanted: power. Where did she want it from? Equestria. She’d attack eventually; we just had to be ready for it. But that was why Misty wanted to go. She could warn us exactly where Opaline was going to strike first, just as long as she wasn’t caught.
But what if she was? That monster had already hurt her so much when Misty was her faithful pawn. If Opaline found out… I didn’t want to think about it.
So now here I was, sulking under Misty’s tree on her big Cutie Blossom Bash day, trying my best to get over myself. She wanted to do this, and I wished I could support her. I wished for a lot of things these days that I couldn’t do. Misty was so incredible and driven. She knew what Opaline was capable of more than anypony. It was so brave of her, and so… not me.
“Jazz?”
I didn’t look up from my hooves. I’d gone full petulant filly mode. Misty was just going to have to deal.
“Do you mind if I join you?”
I shuffled to the side slightly, giving her room to her wedge herself next to me in the little nook I found between the roots. Without saying a word, she sat down, our flanks and shoulders rubbing together as she tried to find a comfortable spot.
I stole a glance out of the corner of my eye. Pipp’s bold new dye job really did suit her. Instead of still waters, Misty’s mane gradated into a glowing coral orange tip, bright as the dawn that she’d added to her name. It was as valiant as it was elegant, perfectly matching the unicorn ascending to who she truly was meant to be. The only problem was that I hadn’t thought of it.
“Are you feeling better?” Misty finally asked.
Yes, because you’re next to me now. Otherwise no.
She drooped a little at my silence. “I guess not.”
“Sorry,” I groused. “It’s hard to be happy knowing you’re putting yourself in danger, again.”
“I know. I’m not looking forward to going back either, but I know I can help if I do.”
It took every ounce of willpower that I had to force a nod. I pulled in on myself tighter and leaned away.
Was it pettiness? Sorrow? Guilt? I wasn't sure, and it didn’t matter. The result was the same. Our little soldier was leaving for the betterment of Equestria, and here I was, the unrequited lover standing on the hilltop, waiting for the war to end. All I needed to complete the movie scene was a token of my affection. Maybe my mane brush for her dazzling locks?
“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said. About me being braver than I thought—”
Great. So I was the inspiration behind this.
“—and, well… I don’t know if it’s true.”
I slowly lifted my head from the trunk and turned to Misty, dumbfounded.
“I-I mean it! Honestly, I’m really scared to go back. I know I have Sunny, Izzy, Pipp, Zipp, and Hitch supporting me, but—”
“But you don’t have me,” I cut in, finishing the thought for her.
“R-right.”
I sighed and leaned back against the wood. A greedy, little thought wormed its way into my head: Maybe she wouldn’t go if I didn’t say anything.
But if I did that, and she did stay behind, there’d always be a rift between us. I’d be heartbroken, but at least Misty would be safe, or as safe as we all were from Opaline, which we weren’t. Why did things have to be so stupid and complicated?
“Jazz?”
Hearing my name, I sniffled and rubbed my eyes. I was on the verge of crying again. Just gotta serve guilt on top of guilt, don’t you, Jazz? This was the worst. I was the worst.
“Is it so bad that I don’t want you to go?” Wonderful, my voice was cracking and raspy, and I hadn’t even started to cry yet. “I don’t care if I’m being selfish!” I thunked my head against the trunk in resignation and closed my eyes. “Whatever, just go!”
I waited for the rustle of grass and the muffled clop of hooves to fade away, but instead, I felt a tender hoof touch mine. “I don’t think it’s selfish. I wouldn’t want you to go either. I wouldn’t want anypony to go to her.”
“But you want to, right? Because you can do stuff from the inside.”
“I want everypony to be safe.” Misty’s hoof wrapped around mine, squeezing tightly. “But what I really want is for you to be safe, Jazz. Like how you always do for me.”
How did she know how to make my heart sing so well? It was already skipping beats at her touch alone. I couldn’t help but smile, even if it was a sad one. I rolled my head over to hers. Whatever little half-grin I could scrounge together melted in the warmth of her precious smile. Hers was a work of art I could never hope to accent with meager cosmetics. It was gentle as it was powerful, with emerald eyes glistening brighter than the bay waters at daybreak.
If only I had a fraction of her courage, then maybe I could be honest and say—
“I love you, Jazz.”
What? “What?”
“I-I love you,” Misty repeated, her lips quivering with every word. “I know I don’t know a lot about this sort of stuff—it’s really scary saying it out loud—but what I do know is that you mean so much to me, Jazz. You make me feel so safe and loved everytime I see you. Just being with you makes me so happy, and… and I don’t want to let Opaline take it away. She’s already taken so much from me. I never want to lose you.”
The dam burst, tears flowing freely from my eyes as I laughed. “It is scary, isn’t it?” I slumped over, fell into her side, and squeezed her hoof. “But, you know what? When the pony you love more than anything says that she loves you, suddenly it’s not so scary anymore.”
I lifted my head to gaze up at the most beautiful pony in the world. “I love you too, Misty.”
Her mouth fell open in surprise, but it slowly shifted to a nervously hopeful smile. “Y-you do? Really?”
I giggled. “Really, really. More than anything.” I nestled back down, letting my ear rest against her body so I could hear her heartbeat as excitedly as mine. “I only wish I’d been able to tell you first.”
“Oh.” I could feel her fidget while trying to think of something to say. “I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t help but laugh just a little. I shook my head, savoring the rise and fall of her chest. “It was your turn to take one of my firsts anyway. Thank you, Misty.”
“You’re welcome.” I felt a chaste little peck at the back of my mane, followed by the familiar sound of an excited giggle. “I’m really glad you love me too, Jazz.”
She was just too cute. It took everything I had not to turn around and shower her with kisses right then and there. But such an outpouring of affection wouldn’t feel right. Misty was precious. She felt safe with me, just like I felt completely safe in her embrace. This was more than enough for now. We nestled in our little nook of the tree, hidden away from the prying eyes of the palace, Equestria, and the problems of the world, laying together and simply enjoying the magic of the moment.
Our new relationship status wasn’t a secret for very long, though that was mostly my fault. Not wanting to intimidate her with intimate kisses, I suggested we trot along with our tails tied together. Of course, she had no idea what I was talking about at first, but the moment I’d swung my tail to wrap around hers and leaned against her, it clicked.
At first, I was worried about the attention our public display attracted, but I think she was too distracted by her own excitement to notice. We were practically inseparable, trotting through our own lovely world. And seeing the thrill of it all play out on her face? Right when I thought I couldn’t possibly adore her more, that innocent smile as she said, “Wow, this is really nice,” was just…
If I had wings, I’d soar up the tallest tower and scream for joy. Misty was just too cute!
Her friends—our friends agreed. Some far more than others. Pipp wanted to take way too many pictures, Izzy wanted to make “Traditional Unicorn Pair-up Pendants”—whatever those were—and I guess everypony else was there too. But between all the calmer well-wishes and friendly zaniness, the one that mattered the most to me was Sunny.
She was just so happy for us. So genuinely happy. The wall I’d placed between us? Shattered. In a single flap of her alicorn wings as she embraced the both of us. She hadn’t even known I’d built one in the first place. Classic Sunny Starscout.
The Elysian bliss couldn’t last though. We touched back down in the Bay and the two of us split from the rest of the group for just a little more innocent pleasure before the day ended. Browsing boutiques, sharing a couple’s sundae, taking a long walk on the beach; it was all so cliché to me, yet so perfect for us. Every old rom-com trope was a brand new experience to Misty and her infectious wonder made every moment a dream. I wished with all my heart we could just stay asleep.
But the day drew to a close, and we sat together on a bench to watch the sunset over the water, holding hooves. Misty leaned her head on my shoulder, her warmth blanketing the melancholy in my heart.
“Thanks for an amazing day, Jazz.” She sighed with content.
I tightened my grip as I leaned against her mane. “Anything for you, Misty. I just wish it wasn’t already over.”
“Yeah, me too. I can’t wait to do something like this again. I didn’t even know Maretime Bay had so many neat places.”
Next time. I was looking forward to it so much. Next time would be filled with love and joy, just like this time. Next time would mean Misty would be by my side, far outside of Opaline’s grasp.
“I’m sorry, Misty. About yelling at you earlier. I-I didn’t—”
Misty squeezed my hoof tighter and lightly shook her head. “It’s okay, Jazz, I promise. I know you’re scared. I am, too. Please, don’t cry again.”
I kissed her glowing mane. “I’ll do my best not to.”
“Okay. Okay. So, umm…” Misty tapped her free hoof in thought as she tried to think of something to say. I waited, doing my best not to giggle at her wracking her brain.
“Don’t get so flustered that you miss the sunset.”
“But I’m trying to think of something to brighten the mood.”
I tilted my head away and puzzled over the question. “How about we think of what to do next time you’re in town?”
“That’s a great idea!” Misty exclaimed. Forgetting our tender touch, she whipped her head around to face me and whapped me with her mane. “What do you want to do?”
“Maybe trying a different protective mane style,” I joked as I brushed some misty mane away from my muzzle. Her sincere smile tightened into an embarrassed grin as I laughed it off. “Or maybe we could do that thing Izzy suggested.”
Misty’s grin caved to her nerves. “S-swap hooficures?”
“You don’t want to?” I asked in slight concern.
“It’s not that I don’t want to. You’re just so good at them, Jazz. I don’t want to mess up your hooves.”
“Misty, you know that I’d absolutely love to have my hooves done by you.” I wrapped a foreleg around and reeled her back in for a quick kiss on her forehead. “If you’re that worried about it, I’ll gladly teach you everything I know. It’ll be worth it to get my very own, one-of-a-kind, Misty design.”
“That does sound nice.” She slumped a little lower on the bench. “I wish I would’ve paid attention to those tutorials Opaline was always watching on your Ponygram. Maybe I’ll try to watch some when she’s not plotting the downfall of Equestria.”
I froze on the spot and slowly turned to Misty. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“Oh! Sorry!” Misty’s ears drooped as she chuckled nervously. “I didn’t mean to bring her back up again.”
“Forget that. Did you say she watches me on Ponygram?”
Her hooves shot to her mouth as she tried to look anywhere but at me. “Well, you know those amazing hooficure lessons you make during downtime at Mane Melody? I caught Opaline a couple of times, watching and following you along.”
The more she talked about it, the more troublingly familiar it all sounded. I pulled out my phone and started scrolling my notifications. My hoof stopped over a conspicuous name: Opal4Evervescent. She’d left a few hooftaps and even commented a couple of times. Oh ponyfeathers, she was a follower! Equestria’s greatest threat was getting beauty tips from me!
“‘A truly glorious tutorial. I will follow it to the letter once I'm at full power so that I may trample my foes into the ground with terrifying beauty upon my return!’” I quoted from my phone. “I thought it was just a weird roleplaying account…” My hooves were shaking as I looked up at Misty. “Should I block her? I should block her, right?”
Misty blinked. “You’re asking me?”
“You’re the one who knows her! Can she cast curses on me through my phone or something if I do?” My hoof hovered over the block button, but then I glanced over the rest of her self-indulgent feed. “Or maybe… maybe I should follow her back in case she lets something slip. Ponies say stupid things all the time online. Would that help you when you go back?”
“I-I don’t know! I barely do anything on social media!”
I stared at my phone, trying to think of an answer. She hadn’t taken any pictures of herself, just the occasional hooftap and ominous comment. Nothing else was here. So, I let my heart decide. My stupid, petty heart.
“I banish you to the depths of the Canternet, Opaline!” I proclaimed to the heavens before stamping the block button under my mighty, perfectly polished hoof. “You will languish in fashion obscurity!”
Misty giggled and looked over my shoulder as my hooves danced over the touchscreen. “What are you doing now?”
“Just messaging a few of my beauty community mutuals to block her, too. If she’s going to attack Equestria, she doesn’t get to look good doing it.” I tagged a few friends and asked them to forward it along. I held my phone in front of Misty. “Will you do the honors?”
She nodded eagerly and lightly tapped the screen. “And sent!”
“Yeah! Take that, Opaline!”
After sharing another laugh, I sighed with satisfaction at our little victory. It might’ve made me miss the sun sinking below the horizon, but I had my priorities. With the day finally over, so was our date, unfortunately.
Misty leaned over and gave me another hug. “Thanks for everything today, Jazz. Today was the best day I’ve ever had.”
I kissed her forehead. “Everyday is the best when I’m with you, Misty.”
She giggled and pawed at my chest, lingering for a few moments longer. Neither of us wanted to get up, but one of us had to start.
“I’ll walk you to the edge of town,” I said while getting off the bench. I turned around and offered her my hoof.
“Okay.” Misty took it and reluctantly stood up. “Can we do the tail wrapping thing again, please? I liked it a lot.”
Joy spread across my face. “I was just about to ask.”
We leaned against each other, tails entwined as we walked side-by-side in silence. We didn’t need any words, feeling our hearts beat together. I loved her, and she loved me. That’s all that mattered. All that was left was to soldier on and wait for my Misty to return.
Finally, it was over. It was finally all over. I took another sip of coffee as I watched the moonrise. It wasn’t like I was going to get any sleep tonight anyway.
I was a coward. I knew that now more than ever. Misty warned me about how strong Opaline’s magic was. I thought I’d mentally prepared myself, but I still ran away, screaming at the top of my lungs when she attacked. Magic lasers and flying strikes were one thing, but stealing cutie marks? Controlling full-grown dragons? It was everything that I’d been taught to fear about other pony tribes and more. No wonder Misty was fearless during Nightmare Night. Every day of her life had been a nightmare.
I took another jittery sip from my cup. I wasn’t shaking nearly as bad as before, but the caffeine still hadn’t overtaken my fear. Knowing everything was okay now wasn’t helping. I’d magically gotten my cutie mark back. Good. Pipp Ponygrammed a group selfie with everypony safe and sound in front of some random, enormous tree. Also good. But, until everypony was back in Maretime Bay, I wasn’t good.
I checked my phone again. Maybe there was an update. They probably all headed somewhere to celebrate. Refresh-refresh-refresh. Scroll past the ads. The Dreamlands’ reunion tour was back on, Rocky was still out celebrating with friends, and the rest I’d already seen. I flopped back in my chair. Why wasn’t Pipp posting? I figured that mare would’ve been live-streaming the whole trip back. That mare wasn’t supposed to be subtle about anything!
Knock, knock!
My ears perked up and I turned my head towards my front door. Without skipping a beat, I shot to my hooves and broke into a gallop. I turned the knob, ready to give Pipp a piece of my mind for keeping me in the dark. But, as I threw open the door, the only one there on the other side was Misty.
Misty grinned. “Hel—woah!”
I didn’t even give her a chance to say anything before I pulled her into an embrace. She was safe. I already knew that, but it didn’t feel real. Not until now. Not until she was back. Not until I could hold her in my hooves again. Misty was safe.
“Sorry for coming by so late, Jazz. Everypony wanted to have a big party at the Brighthouse, but I didn’t really feel like it, so I asked Pipp where your house was and—”
“Is she gone?” I asked, not wanting her to waste another word on excuses.
Misty’s breath hitched. It took her a second, but she pulled me closer and nodded into my shoulder.
“How do you feel? Are you okay?”
Her hooves tugged on my fur as she sank deeper into my side. “No.”
I just nodded and shifted to the side, letting her lean on me while I led her inside. My place was a modest, little hoof-me-down house from my grandparents after they’d passed. I was slowly updating and renovating, but at least there was a corner that was unmistakably me. Misty gasped when she recognized it: a little hooficure station in my home.
It wasn’t much, just a low table with drawers and a few amenities: hoof polish rack, warming lamp, cozy cushions. I hadn’t gotten much use out of it outside of doing my own hooves and the occasional friend’s. I sometimes regretted getting it at all instead of buying a better couch. Tonight was going to change all of that though. I laid a cushion down and gently sat Misty in it like I had done so many times in the past before taking my own seat across from her.
“Thanks, but you really don’t need to give me a hooficure this late,” Misty assured.
I shook my head as I began prepping my tools. “It’s for me too. I need to calm down. So much happened so fast today.”
“Oh, okay.” She put her hooves between us on the table, tapping them along to a song only she could hear. “By the way, I really like your place. It’s cozy.”
“Thanks. Been in the Hooves’ hooves for years. I’ve been renovating and changing the furniture as it breaks, but as you can see—” I motioned to the surrounding salon space. “—I have my priorities.”
Misty nodded along as her eyes wandered around the room. Pretty much everything around us was older than me, and it showed. Creaky, scuffed floorboards ran from wall to wall, dotted with furniture ranging from ancient to brand new. I’d tried to scrub the yellowing wallpaper, but it was impossible to clean its age away.
“I like to say the house has character.” I pointed to the doorway leading to the kitchen. “For instance, see those notches cut into the wallpaper there?”
“The ones with crayon colors?”
“That’s the family height chart. Red’s my mom, the blue and orange are my uncles, and green is me.”
“Really? That’s so cute!” Misty exclaimed as she looked at the various colored cuts and numbers. “Does everypony in Maretime Bay do that?”
“Not really, I don’t think. It’s kind of old fashioned these days, but this is an old house.”
Her excitement picked up as she looked around more, giving me time to get everything ready for doing Misty’s hooves. The eye-catching shelf next to the staircase quickly grabbed her attention. “What is that?”
“That, my dear Misty, is Knick Knack Cubby Cove,” I stated proudly. “Every cubby houses a tiny toy that’s older than dirt. I used to play with them all the time when I visited. I’ll eventually replace every run-down table and chair in this place, but Cubby Cove will never come down for as long as I live here.”
Misty’s eyes sparkled. “There’s so much cool stuff here. Nothing like Opaline’s old castle.”
“Seriously? It’s a castle. Places like that don’t just pop up out of nowhere.”
“Well, yeah, but I didn’t know any stories behind anything there.” She sighed and slumped down. “And, I guess I never will now that she’s gone.”
There were a few words at the tip of my tongue, mostly good riddance stuff and some other, more colorful phrases to add to Misty’s sheltered vocabulary list, but she didn’t look like she was in the mood for it. I reached over and held her hoof in mine, waiting for her to be ready to talk about it. Her ears flopped down, but her smile pulled through as she looked into my eyes.
“I tried to talk to her,” Misty explained. “Deep down, I knew she wouldn’t listen to me, but I needed to try. Even after everything she’d done, I still cared about her. I actually felt sorry for her.” Misty bit her lip as she processed her emotions. I bit mine to hold them back. “I don’t exactly know what happened to Opaline. Sunny said she didn’t make it out of the castle before her tree destroyed it. All I know for sure is that she’s gone. She was completely alone in the end.”
I nodded along and held Misty’s hoof. Anything else she’d want to hear would be a lie. I was glad Opaline was gone. There was not a shred of sympathy for her after everything she’d put us through. But I knew that it was more complicated for Misty. She sniffled a little and teared up, but I squeezed a little tighter every time, catching her before she fell into sadness. That evil alicorn deserved no tears. Not on my watch.
The solemn silence lingered on for a while longer, but Misty pulled through, wearing that precious smile that I loved so much. “Thanks for hearing me out, Jazz. I know you probably think it’s stupid to feel this way.”
“I might,” I grumbled, which was putting it mildly, “but your sensitivity is one of the things I love most about you, Misty. I could spend a lifetime painting your hooves, but I’d never match the beauty that’s in your heart.”
The cheese might’ve been dripping from my words, but I couldn’t help how I felt. If that’s what would make Misty blush with that wondrous joy of hers, I’d gladly find a good wine to pair with it. I reached for the polish primer and started looking over what colors my more limited selection had available.
“Now, let’s see about that hooficure.” I looked back up to Misty. “What do you feel like doing tonight?”
Without uttering a word, Misty raised herself up out of her seat and leaned over the table. I almost asked what she was doing, but she answered with her lips.
Mist filled my vision and I melted into the unexpected kiss. Her flavor, her fear, her scent, and her love filled me, heart and soul, cresting over me and flowing down my neck and withers. The steam coalesced into a passionate sea, dragging us into its current as we crashed against the waves. We would drown together, sinking lower and lower into pure bliss, but Misty broke away, letting me gasp for air.
I returned to shore and the hooficure table to find Misty’s face burning bright red with a nervous, earnest smile. She placed her hooves dutifully between us on the table for her hooficure and cleared her throat to give me her answer.
