Drunken Hearted Pt. 11: Touch

>Sunday morning.
>You are still incredibly drained from your late night of impromptu partying.
>The pillow on your face slides onto the floor and lands with a pomf.
>There’s a cluttering in the bathroom near you. Minuette is doing her morning rituals.
>You try your hardest to press your eyes shut to induce sleep again, but the noise is too great.
>She comes out of the bathroom with a toothbrush in her mouth. The frothy paste is all over her lips.
>”Oh, you’re up.”
>You stretch your weak muscles and rub your face.
Yeah…
>A surprised look sweeps across her face.
>”OH! Did I wake you? I’m so sorry, Anon…please, go back to sleep.”
>Not that you haven’t already tried.
No, that’s okay…I’m awake now.
>You sit up and walk to the bathroom.
>On the counter there’s Minuette’s assortment of brushes, pastes, washes, and other assorted tools that defend her mouth from bad breath and other oral enemies.
You uh…like spending two hours in the morning on your teeth?
>Minuette laughs.
>”I’ve only got one mouth, Anon. By the way, did you brush your teeth today?”
>A roll of your eyes.
I’ll do it after my shower.
>”No, do it in there; we have to hurry up or we’ll be late!”
>You turn the faucet on.
Late for what?
>Now you remember.
>”It’s Sunday. The train back to Ponyville leaves in a couple of hours.”
>Minuette slaps her cutie mark with force and speaks in a firm voice that fills the small bathroom.
>”I’ve never been late to anything, and I don’t plan on making this thing the first.”
>Minuette’s fake drill sergeant attitude brings a smile to your face.
>You make a whip crack sound with your mouth.
Yes, your highness.
>A quick kneel into the tub to wash your hair and face and a quick swish of mouthwash. No time for a shave according to her.
>You slip on your jacket and help Minuette with her scarf and bags.
>There’s only 2. If you had to choose a mate based purely on their packing ability, Minuette would be a top candidate.
>She’s efficient; much more so than Rarity ever was.
>Well…Rarity never packed her bags anyways…that was something you did.
So, we’re going to Ponyville?
>Minuette slides her head through the strap of her messenger bag.
>”Mhm.”
And…you’re going to pay for my ticket…?
>She simply nods at you.
>That’s really generous of her.
Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, I can pay you back soon, but-
>”Anon, seriously it’s fine! My fiancé is very well off…I can manage an extra ticket, no problem.”
>Does he know she’s spending his money on another guy? Does he even care?
>He did let the two of you hang out together so…
>You begrudgingly accept.
Alright, if you insist. I really appreciate this.
>There she goes being selfless again. It’s almost not enough to envy it; you want to emulate it as well.
>You wheel your luggage to the elevator, and then to the lobby and walk up to the front desk with Minuette.
>The secretary at the front desk is chatting in pony French to someone on the other end of the telephone.
>She finishes in a few moments.
>”Hello sir, how may I help you today?”
Hello, we’re checking out.
>”Very good; do you have your room key?”
>Minuette floats the plastic keycard to your grasp while you fish your billfold from your pants.
Here. And here’s mine from room 808.
>There’s a surprised look on the mare’s face as you slide her your card from your wallet.
>She peeks up from her computer monitor.
>”Oh, I’m sorry, sir... but it seems Ms. Rarity checked out late last night already.”
Oh, okay.
>A brief awkward silence; it lasts no more than a few moments.
>”Did you enjoy your stay? Was everything satisfactory?”
>You think about it seriously for a moment.
>You hated it here in the hotel and in the city. You hated everything that happened between you and Rarity and being isolated from affection for the duration of your trip.
>”Ahem.”
>You look over to Minuette who’s tapping her hoof on the marbled floor and giving you a wide stare.
>If it wasn’t for this trip though, you never would have met such a wonderful pony like her.
>Life is strange like that you suppose, with its steady flow of new relationships.
>Minuette is a unique pony, and you’re glad you met her.
Yes, everything was great, thanks. Have a nice day.
>Minuette then proceeds to practically shoves you outside and into a cab.
>”Gah, I hope we aren’t late!”
>Minuette looks up at the sun to gauge the time, you simply look at you watch.
It’s only eleven…
>”Yeah! It leaves in a half hour!”
>Yeah. Maybe you are cutting it close.
>You stare out the window and the fleeting city streets.
>Everyone is going about their day; kicking through the streets in the thin layer of snow.
>The concrete doesn’t look any more lively covered with the white powder. It’s still lifeless and hollow to you.
>Some fillies on the streets don’t seem to think so though, a few of them are making snowponys. It’s a lot more complex than a snowman.
Hey, Minuette?
>She looks over to you.
>”Yes?”
>There’s been something on your mind for a long time. Now that you’re departing Manehattan, it seems a little late to ask it.
>You decide to anyways.
How come everyone speaks French here?
>There’s a confused look on her face.
>”French? What’s that?”
>The look transfers to your face.
You know, like…
>You try your hardest to speak a couple of words that you can barely remember from some old movies.
>Either your pronunciation was terrible, or you called Minuette a cheese omelet. Even the cab driver started cracking up.
>You slowly sink into your seat and stare out the window in embarrassment.
>”Oh Anon, I don’t know what French is. I think you mean Griffon. Manehattan is just west of where the griffon homeland is. The city has lots of immigrants from all over Equestria, and so the cultures from all over have just blended together there.”
>You nod.
>That makes sense. It’s a little like home in that way.
>Within a few minutes, you pull up to the train station. It looks lonely and cold just the way you left it a week ago.
>”Anon, hurry!”
>Minuette has stepped out of the cab already while you were staring outside.
Oh, right.
>You hop out of the cab and help the unicorn with the bags.
>”Come on! Move it, slowpoke!”
>Jeeze. She really doesn’t want to be late.
>Minuette purchases the tickets and waits for you at the turnstiles.
Im coming!
>It’s difficult to maneuver with the extra baggage.
>Finally, you and Minuette take a seat in the train station. There’s only a few minutes before your train arrives.
When do you thi-
>You look around. Minuette is nowhere to be found.
>A small controllable panic.
>Soon you look to your right and get an eyeful of blue unicorn.
>”Here. Drink up. It’s a day and a half journey.”
>Minuette floats a cup of coffee to your face.
>You sip the warm bitter liquid. Just a day? It’ll be nice to get back into your timezone.
>The train arrives early. Minuette gives you a sly look.
>”Told you to hurry up.”
And I told you we’d make it.
>She giggles as she sticks her tongue out at you.
>The two of you make it to the train without any problems.
>Before boarding, you stand still and take one more visual farewell to the soaring buildings covered with snow and the Manehattan citizens flooding the streets.
>The other passengers board. A few filly pegasi, unicorn couples, earth pony families, a white unicorn.
>Wait…was that…?
>”Anon! Let’s go!”
>You snap back to reality; it probably wasn’t.
Right; coming.
>You board the train and stuff the luggage in the overhead compartment with a little effort and take your seat next across from Minuette.
>In a few moments the train starts and you depart Manehattan. Good riddance.
>You watch the scenery pass by you in the reverse order to which you arrived.
>It hasn’t snowed as much on the outside of the city. Or maybe it’s just melted already.
>The car you’re in isn’t as nice as the one you’re accustomed to in your travels with Rarity.
>This one is open; there aren’t individual rooms.
>The outside world zooms past you in blurs. Your hatred for the cold warms as you escape to another city.
>Eventually…you fall to sleep, dreaming of the city as you leave it behind.
>Several hours later you awake from a feverish nightmare.
>For a few moments you frantically look around at your surroundings for something familiar, but it’s all different to you.
>It’s not your suite. You breathe a sigh; you don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.
>Outside it’s much darker now; you estimate ten at night or so.
>Minuette still stares out the window at the beaming moon and the swirling landscape dotted with trees and sparkling stars around you.
>It doesn’t look like she’s moved an inch at all; she’s enthralled in a deep thought as usual.
>You lean forward and rest your hand on her leg.
Hey…are you okay?
>She talks to the passing scenery.
>”Yeah. I’m just thinking.”
>She closes her eyes.
>”I don’t want to be too much of a burden on you with my problems, Anon.”
>What?
But you aren’t at all. I’m the one who shacked up with you without an invite and had you pay for my ticket home because I was too pathetic to work things out with my girlfriend.
>Wow. That sounds really pathetic.
>Minuette looks at you with a dry stare.
>”Yeah, I guess so. But you aren’t the one who ran halfway across the country for a few days and had an affair with your fiancé with a complete stranger and then brought him back to his house when said fiancé knew about the majority of the events.”
>Woah. She’s got you there.
>For a second you search for something to say.
Well…uh…
>”Yeah. So be quiet.”
>Minuette resumes her staring out the window while coiling her legs close small body.
Are you cold?
>You sit in the seat with the unicorn without waiting to hear a response.
>You remove your blazer and wrap it around the pony.
Here you go.
>She is still as she stares.
>”Thanks.”
>A few strokes of her mane and a gentle peck to the back of her head.
Everything will be okay. Just take things as they come…that’s all we can do.
>”I guess you’re right.”
>A few moments later, you and Minuette fall asleep on each other as you catch up on your insomnia.
>You awake hours later as the passengers stir around you, packing up their luggage to depart to Ponyville.
>Minuette’s head is propped on your shoulder with a fairly large puddle of drool on your jacket.
>She looks so peaceful and cute; it’s a shame you have to wake her.
>You gently nudge her.
Hey…we’re here.
>In a groggy voice she replies.
>”Wha…? Already?”
>She rubs her eyes as the early morning sun enters the train car.
>The car slows to a stop with a grinding squeal and a rush of steam.
>You stand up and stretch your cramped muscles and try to wake your tingling arm up.
>Minuette’s head is heavy…
>You fetch the overhead luggage and soon you and Minuette depart the train.
>The air is breezy and cool. It’s less stuffy and arid than the city. This feels much more like home to you.
>As soon as you step off the car, you hear a familiar voice call out.
>”Anon! Is that you?”
>As some steam clears you can see the pony.
>It’s Applejack, with a couple of fillies trailing behind her.
Oh, hi! Yeah…wasn’t expecting to see you here. What’s up?
>Applejack shoos away your words.
>”Ah, nothing’ at all. Applebloom was in Manehattan visiting her aunt and uncle Orange. Ah heard they just started a new chain of coffee shops. Sounds like somethin’ fancy that you and Rarity’d be interested in. Did y’all see any while you were there?”
>You look at the two small fillies peeking in the passenger car windows for Applebloom. It’s Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell.
>Rarity’s little sister. She was always around when you and Rarity first started to see each other.
>You recall the time you first met Rarity’s parents.
>It was a nice dinner; very lavish with multiple utensils and courses, topped with flaming desserts and vintage wines.
>It was after you were leaving, after you finally calmed down when Rarity insisted that her parents loved you, that Sweetie Bell chased down the road after you.
>She brought you your jacket. It was nice of her, even though she drug it through the dirt.
>Her words still echo in your head…
>”I’m really glad you’re with Rarity. She likes you a whole lot and maybe someday we can all be a big happy family.”
>It would be a shame to inform her of you and Rarity’s dissolvement, so you try to keep your distance.
Oh, yeah. They were really top notch.
>”Ah figured as much. Anyways, where’s Rarity? Sweetie Bell’s itchin’ to see her big sis.”
>You clear your throat and take Applejack aside.
Me and Rarity are…kinda not seeing each other anymore.
>Applejack looks a little less than surprised.
>”Well…ah’ll make sure it stays between the both of us then.”
>Applejack is discreet.
>”We can discuss it another time.”
>You nod and look back at Minuette.
>Applejack’s a real friend, even though you two aren’t that well acquainted. If Rarity is the one to cry wolf and make things up, and she is, you may need all the friends you can get.
Okay. Well, I guess we should head back to the house then.
>Minuette nods back.
>As you wheel the luggage away, you see Sweetie Bell happily chatting to her sister.
>Rarity is wrapped in her blanket that you gave her.
>Even to her own family, she has an air of smugness about her.
>You try to swallow your disgust and head to your home. You just want to grab your things and leave.
>You wave goodbye to Applejack and in a few minutes you insert your key to Rarity’s front door.
>The small house is dark and lonely.
>It’s been uninhabited for a month now while you and Rarity were on the road.
>You lay your suitcase on your bed and pack some new clothes into it.
>The smiling pictures of you and Rarity mock you in your bedroom.
>You try to not stare at them as you finish packing.
>You join Minuette in the living room.
Hey, sorry. I’m ready to go now.
>”It’s okay. Hey, you’ve got some messages.”
>Minuette motions to your telephone. The answering machine blinks with a “13” displayed.
Oh, thanks.
>You press the button and listen to some messages as you scan the rooms for anything else you might have missed.
>They’re nothing important, mostly for Rarity about bookings and complaints on order shortages.
>Then as you pack a pair of slippers, you hear a familiar voice…a male voice.
>”Hey, it’s me. I’ve got the tickets to Manehattan next week like you asked me to. It’ll be really great to spend some time with you again, just the two of us. Okay…we’ll just give me a call back. I love you, bye.”
>Minuette looks concerned.
>”Who was that.”
>You zip the bag up and smile.
Nobody. Let’s get out of here.
>You step outside and lock the door behind you.
>You’re lost again…lost in familiar territory.
>Minuette interjects your train of thought.
>”Sooo…where are we staying?”
>You look up at the sky, and then back to your unicorn friend.
Well…I’m feeling a little nostalgic. How about a hotel?
>Minuette’s eyes shut as she smiles warmly at you.
>”Sure. That sounds great."