Drunken Hearted Pt. 12: Transfer Student

>”The water pressure here SUCKS!”
>Minuette calls out to you from the bathroom. She’s brushing her teeth again; once before her shower, and once again after.
Yeah, I know.
>It’s a little hard to forget it.
>You stayed here at the Ponyville Inn for the first couple of months in Equestria.
>It’s not a dingy or dreary inn, just a little small…and of course, the water pressure is low, making showers nearly impossible.
>The rooms are cheap and cozy, and come with a free breakfast.
>Minuette comes out of the tiny bathroom with her toothbrush stuffed in the corner of her mouth with the silent grace of a cat; a great feat for a pony.
>”Did you brumf your teef terday, Ernon?”
>Her muffled words are accompanied by trails of frothy saliva from the side of her mouth.
>You groan jokingly.
Yeah, I did it while you were in there.
>Minuette pokes her clean tongue out at you.
>It’s late; too late for dinner, but too early for breakfast.
>Minuette’s stomach gurgles loudly. She holds it by reflex and blushes.
>”S-sorry…”
>You laugh at her.
It’s okay. I’m really hungry myself.
>Minuette gives a look of relief.
>”Okay. So…what is there to eat this late at night?”
>You mull over the options in your head.
Well there’s...uhh…
>Minuette looks at you wantingly. You can’t find anything in the room to eat.
Nothing really.
>Her ears droop slightly as she rubs her noisy stomach.
>”Hmm…well, it’s almost daytime isn’t it? We can just stay awake until the sun comes up.”
>You look at your watch. It’s 3:30 a.m.
>Is she serious?
>Minuette whispers to her growling abdomen.
>”It’s okay…soon little guy.”
>Well…
Sure. Wanna get under the blankets?
>Minuette nods. The Ponyville Inn isn’t a bad place to stay, but it’s not very well insulated.
>It’s supposed to start snowing here soon, so the cold front is easily penetrating the thin walls of your hotel room.
>Minuette is still dripping from her weak-streamed shower.
>She throws the covers over her small body and shivers up to you.
>”Brrr…”
>You wrap your arm around her. She’s very wet.
Did you dry off at all?
>Minuette fidgets around the question.
>”Err well…there was only one towel left. I didn’t want to use it…”
They’ll bring more…
>Minuette breathes a nervous, airy giggle.
>The two of you lock gazes. She did it on purpose to get closer to you.
>The room is silent, save for a hollow gust that’s barely audible beyond the thin walls of the hotel.
>Her eyes warm your heart. Even though you’ve been in this same position with Minuette before: laying in a strange room with a person who feels all too familiar to you, like you’ve meant to be with her for years.
You know, you could have just laid with me; you didn’t have to-
>”But I wanted to.”
>Her pupils grow bigger and start to encompass her whole eye. You examine her body and her many shades of blue.
>The tree limbs outside start to rasp the side of the hotel, scraping the roof.
>It’ll start snowing soon…or maybe freezing rain; you’d rather it do neither but don’t have a preference.
>Minuette’s wet mane is starting to make a wet spot on her pillow. You run your fingers through the wet strands and untangle them.
Wanna…talk?
>”Hmm…yes.”
>Minuette reaches over you and turns off the light and carefully returns to your side.
>The only light provided in the still room is the moonlight peeking through the window and the reflective face of the alarm clock.
>3:56
>You release a sigh and run your face.
>”Tired?”
Heh…not really. Are you?
>The space next to you moves. Minuette has shrugged even though you couldn’t have seen it.
>The breeze continues outside.
>In the silence Minuette seems to open a little from her usual reclusiveness.
>”Have you been here before?”
>She takes it slow at first.
Yeah…heh…oh yes. This is where I lived for…gosh…many months when I first came here. You ponys are friendly, but not when a scary, upright monster gets transported to your world.
>Minuette runs her hoof on your arm for consolation.
>”I’m sorry. I would have let you stay with me. We could have formed a jazz band…”
>Both of you give a delayed giggle to her words. Maybe it’s because you’re both sad that you didn’t meet earlier. It stings.
>Fleeting memories of the past surge through you. Only one sticks out as something to talk about.
I remember the first time I came into your hotel room. It smelled a lot like flowers.
>For some reason Minuette sniffs the room.
>”Really? Hmm…this room smells like…nothing.”
>You take a whiff. All you can smell if Minuette’s minty breath and the damp smell of hay; clean pony smell.
>You turn over onto your side and curl up to the tiny unicorn beside you.
I think it has a smell.
>Time to delve deeper than scents…
So…how come you’re with your fiancé when you don’t even like him?
>Minuette’s voice turns a little gruff. She’s not offended, just irritated.
>”I never said I didn’t like him.”
I guess not…sorry…
>She nudges your chest.
>”Don’t be sorry.”
>Minuette traces her hoof along your side.
>”We just don’t have anything in common anymore, y’know? People change in relationships; they grow up. I guess he didn’t know that. He still treats me like a filly like when we met. Did you know I used to want to be an actor?”
>Minuette…an actor?
Wow, really? The best part of being an actor is becoming washed up and being forced to do whiskey advertisements.
>She snorts at your joke.
>”Oh, Anon. Anyways…I, obviously, didn’t pursue that career path. I guess it was just something that I thought I could do in my head but not in reality. So here I am: a barely employed young mare in bed with someone I barely know in a place I’ve never been.”
>Huh…that sounds a lot like Rarity to you.
>You grin at your remark in the darkness. If only she were here to hear it herself.
Why don’t you just tell him that it’s over then?
>Minuette rubs her eyes in distress.
>”I don’t know. He wants kids.”
>That’s a bit of a shock. For some reason you always thought that it was normal for girls to want kids. The only reason you and Rarity never talked about it was…well, you get it. But Minuette not wanting to have fillies comes as a little shock to you.
You don’t like kids?
>Minuette groans.
>”Ugh…I can’t stand them…”
>Strange. She seems so friendly otherwise. Maybe it’s just her introverted nature or she doesn’t like the way they scream.
I got along with Rarity’s little sister pretty easily.
>”That’s not what I mean. Having another living being inside of you and having to take care of it when you can’t even run your own life is a big deal. I’ll screw it up big time, and then it will be screwed up and that’d all be on me.”
>Minuette sighs and pounds the bed gently and yawns.
>”Can we just eat? I really want a doughnut.”
>You look at the clock; 4:03.
In an hour. Let’s try to sleep a little first.
>But Minuette is way ahead of you. Her sleeping breaths are deep and slow.
>You simply pat her side and shut your eyes and drift off to sleep yourself.
>A short while later, the rising sun peeks through the window at the foot of your bed.
>Not a morning person, you decide to do your stretches and head to the bathroom.
>You turn on the shower and release the weak stream of steamy water.
>A few splashes on your skin and you get out. Minuette’s oral supplies are on the counter.
Might as well…
>You squirt some toothpaste on your brush and start scrubbing your teeth.
>Like a dog whistle, Minuette comes into the bathroom in a groggy stumble…drawn to the faint sound of the brush scrubbing your enamel.
>”Ah! Brushing finally?”
>She yawns; the enthusiasm in her words seems to have drained her.
Uh, yeah…like always, heh…
>Minuette nuzzles your leg.
>”Wait! It’s morning now, right?”
>You check your watch. You only slept for a little while but you feel surprisingly rejuvenated.
Yeah, it’s morning now. Wanna get something to ea-
>”Yes, I’m starving! Here’s your coat, let’s go.”
>You look behind you to see that Minuette has already slipped her scarf on.
>You spit the pasty foam out and head out the door.
>The unicorn next to you is a little less than enthused at the absence of snow.
>”Well this was a rip off.”
Rip off? You hate the snow.
>Minuette huffs.
>”Yeah, but it was so windy last night I was expecting something at least.”
>She’s a strange one alright.
>Minuette follows closely as you walk to the bakery.
>”I really need to go to the bathroom…”
What? We were just in a bathroom.
>Minuette sticks her tongue out but quickly retracts it from the stinging cold.
>Once inside the bakery, the overwhelming scent of yeast, frosting, and sugar rapidly attack your nostrils.
>Another deep breath in.
>Minuette pushes past you to the bathroom while you make your way to the counter.
>What kind does she like? Round? Long? Filled? Powdered? Frosted?
>”Oh, just a bag of holes, please, Pinkie.”
>That voice…
>”And extra frosting!”
>”Sweetie Bell, please! It’s bad enough that I’m in here…I’m probably going to gain weight by just looking at these things…”
>Rarity. Right in front of you…nearly 10 feet away.
>This…this can’t be happening…not now.
>Before you can think any further, Rarity turns around as Pinkie calls out your name.
>Rarity’s coiled locks bounce as her head jolts back at the sight of you.
>Sweetie Bell on the other hand runs right up to you and grasps your leg in a hug.
>”Oh, Anon! Where were you last night? Rarity came and stayed at my house with mom and dad…I waited up all night for you so we could all watch tv together but you never came.”
>Sweetie Bell looks up at you with the most heart-wrenching look on her face.
>All you can do is look at Rarity in silence and disgust. She really didn’t explain it to her little sister, who cares for you so deeply?
>Then again, you never thought this chance meeting would happen.
>Rarity is blushing like a transfer student in a new school; afraid, exposed, and scared.
>Every blink you flash at Rarity, you are reminded of the images of her cheating, her loving you, and her lies.
>Minuette arrives out of the bathroom to see you and Rarity locked in an uncomfortable stare, with Sweetie Bell grasping your leg. You also notice Pinkie Pie heavily sampling her wares.
>Reality has come to an awkward, screeching halt.
>You and Rarity continue to stare at each other.
>”Sweetie Bell, why don’t you go take a seat over there with Anon’s…err…
Friend. Good friend…
>Rarity’s eyes sharpen.
Very good friend…
>”Yes. Anon’s friend.”
>You look over to Minuette. She seems a little tense.
>Sweetie Bell happily walks over to Minuette as she leads them to a table in the bakery.
>And so, you and Rarity stand there…motionless.
>”Well…shall we take a seat as well?”
>You nod to her.
>You pull out a chair at the table farthest away from Minuette and Sweetie Bell.
>It takes Rarity a few seconds to sit down. She must still be used to you pulling her chair out for her.
>As soon as she pulls up to you, you unleash.
So. You’ve been seeing this guy behind my back for a while then, huh?
>She gulps hard and averts her eyes from you.
>”Well I…”
Speaking of which, why did you even come back here? I thought you were staying in Manehattan?
>Rarity clears her throat.
>”Well see…I wanted to get my stuff. I planned on getting my stuff and moving out there for good.”
>You rub your forehead.
>”Anon please, you must understand...I didn’t mean to follow you here. I wanted this to be as smooth as possible so no one would have to get their feelings hurt.”
>That statement. All you can do is laugh and look around to see if anyone had heard that correctly.
>”I…I just can’t find work here…that’s all.”
>At least that sounds honest and true.
So…you just wanted to leave and not tell anyone?
>Rarity rubs the back of her neck.
>”Well…”
>You peer passed her to glance at Minuette and Sweetie Bell.
>Sweetie is playing with her doughnuts as Minuette nervously plays with her. She’s shaking and blushing nervously like Sweetie Bell’s a randomly timed bomb.
>She must have a real problem with kids…
>”Anyways Anon, I’m sorry that I-“
Rarity.
>She looks at you while you stare at Minuette.
>You turn to face your ex.
You were going to just leave? And not tell anyone?
>Rarity cocks her eyebrow and slowly nods.
>”Why…?”
>You scoff.
That’s your sister over there, and as far as she knows, me and you are still in love and together. Now, I don’t know if that’s what I want to be true or not anymore but the fact is she’s a child. Me and you, our relationship, that was stability to her. Us being together made her happy. If you take that away from her, or if she ever finds out about what you did to me…
>Rarity’s eyes widen as she realizes what you’re saying.
>In that moment, all the animosity between you dissolves for the safety and well being of Rarity’s little sister.
So…just tell her that I’m sick or something, I don’t know…you’re good at making things up.
>Burn.
She can’t know what happened.
>Rarity simply nods at your ultimatum. She has no choice.
>You get up from the chair and wave Minuette over. She seems to give you a look of relief.
>You hear Sweetie Bell call out in the bakery.
>”Oh! See you again real soon, Ms. Minuette!”
>Minuette tries to release the grasping filly on her back leg.
>”Heh…y-yeah, goodbye deary.”
>Minuette passes you and whispers.
>”…Let’s get the heck out of here…”
>You simply giggle at her trauma.
>You shoot Rarity one last look before heading back to the hotel room.
>The rest of the evening is rather uneventful. You show Minuette around Ponyville; Sweet Apple Acres and the library mostly. It’s nice to be back in familiar territory for once.
>Around 10 p.m. you and Minuette finally become tired.
>This time zone and location are very good for your sleep cycle; it’s nice to get tired at a more human hour.
>As you flip the light off and get snuggled in, Minuette speaks to you in the darkness.
>”So…thanks for dumping that brat on me today.”
>She’s being sarcastic.
Oh please, you didn’t hate it as much as you thought you would…admit it.
>She just nudges your side and rubs her nose on your arm.
>”I know…”
>It’s silent for a moment.
>”You’ve really changed me, Anon. Maybe I’ll have foals someday…I’m not sure yet.”
>That actually touches you inside. Inadvertently convincing someone to want to have kids is strange, but you get a nice fuzzy feeling from it anyways.
Well glad I could help.
>Before you know it Minuette leans over and gently presses her lips against yours. They’re warm and minty from her brushing.
>”I’m glad you could help too, Anon. Goodnight.”
>With that, you each return to your respective sides of the bed and fall asleep.
>Hours later there’s a knock on the door.
>The clock beside you reads 1:42.
Wha…?
>You rise from the bed and drape your jacket over your bare torso.
>You slowly pry the door open.
>You’re surprised at who you see standing before you in the light snow outisde.
>Rarity.
R-Rarity…? It’s late…what are you doing here…?
>A stern look rises on her face.
>”You  listen to me, Anon.”
>Whoa. Her voice is really stern and angry. Is she scolding you?
>”You stay out of my affairs and my family life, do you understand me? We are through.”
>What?
>You rub your greasy face. The cold gust from outside sends snowflakes swirling around you.
Rarity, what are you even talking about?
>Her face grows angry as you grow more confused.
>”I don’t need you around me messing things up. So…you keep your distance from me and especially my family. If you don’t, I’ll…”
>Rarity’s mad panicked ranting has hit a stand still. She’s run out of steam. Meanwhile, you just stand there listening to her while you slowly shiver to death.
What’s gotten into you? You’re being really rude, ruder than usual. Look, I already broke up with you…you can go back home now. Goodnight.
>You go to close the door before Rarity interjects.
>”I’ll just have to take matters into my own hooves.”
>You pause. The snowflakes land on your skin and sting it in the tiniest pricks like a needle.
Rarity I have no idea what you’re talking about, or why you’re even here right now. I’m going back to bed.
>You slowly open the door again to see Rarity’s stern look and try to decipher her mood and motive.
>As the door creaks, Rarity forces her face in.
>”That girl you’re with? She’s trouble. She’ll just hurt you….even worse than I did.”
>At least she can admit it that much. Humoring Rarity, you glance over to the sleeping unicorn.
>A slight snore, an open mouth…she seems harmless. This is all just another Rarity lie to you.
Yeah, whatever. Goodni-
>”Anon, please…you have to trust me.”
>Trust her? The last time you did that you wasted a couple years of your life.
>She seems to be just making stuff up and grabbing any little scrap that she can to try and continue to have control over her.
>But not this time.
>You speak to her in a calm voice, not even your chattering teeth interrupt you.
You’re wrong, okay?  Just leave us alone! I’m leaving you alone and it’s no problem at all.
>A slight maniacal grin rises in the corner of her mouth.
>This mare is unreal.
>”Fine. You’ll see though.”
>She slowly backs away into the night, her hoofprints crunching the snow down the path as she returns home.
>You stand at the open doorway for a few minutes. Your toes are numb.
>After finally closing the door you stare at it in the moonlit room, you rub your face.
>Why would Rarity come here? Mind games most likely.
>Is this a dream?
>All you want to do is scream and rip your skin off though; you don’t want her to be getting to you.
>Minuette snores near you. She’s pulled the blankets over her head, hopefully because she was cold and not because she noticed Rarity.
>You’ll sort this all out tomorrow, if here’s even anything to sort out.
>You go to the bathroom and brush your teeth before falling asleep.