And Everything Nice Pt. 9

>"Emmy? Are... Are you alright?"
>You look up from the ground to the pink mare.
>Just a moment ago, she was so chipper, upbeat, and smiley.
>But now, reading your mood, her face seems to have fallen.
>Your mind still swims with all manner of conflicting and clashing thoughts.
>"I... I have something to tell you, Emmy!"
>Your heart twists inside your chest.
>You have a feeling you know what she's going to say.
>Could be wrong, but...
>...Well, you've been asked out and confessed to quite a few times in the past.
>Different world, different rules maybe, but still...
>If she asks...
>You'll have no idea how to answer.
>You can't even keep your own thoughts and emotions straight right now.
>Just moments ago, Fluttershy shook your entire world.
>Your entire time spent here... everything you felt... your goal for being here...
>Completely flipped upside-down.
>"Emmy, I--"
"Pinkie,"
>You finally say, cutting her off.
"I... I can't talk right now..."
>She tilts her head a little, a worried, nervous expression overtaking her face.
>"Oh, um... are you sure? ...I think it's kind of important..."
>You lock eyes with the mare for a moment, then sigh.
>You shake your head.
"I'm not... feeling myself, Pinkie, I'm sorry. Please don't tell me anything."
>You start walking forward again and pass by Pinkie with your head down low.
"We can talk another time, okay?"
>She turns her head with you, silently watching as you step farther away from her.
>"...Oh... okay..." she says solemnly.
>You don't respond.
>She's a silly, eccentric girl. She could take it.
>...Right?
>Your footsteps ricochet an empty, lonely echo as you enter the town.
>She's been so oblivious before... maybe she could be oblivious to this.
>You'll see her later anyway.
>You take a deep breath.
>Are you worried about hurting her feelings?
>Is that a concern for you?
>...WHY is it a concern for you?
>Think.
>...
>You can't pinpoint it.
>You don't know what to think or feel.
>These past few days now feel like one giant lie.
>One elaborate hoax to trick you into feeling something you never thought you could.
>And now that you know of it, you aren't sure if you're capable of NOT feeling this thing you never knew you could.
>...Great, now you're just confusing yourself.
>You stop, then raise your head up.
>Your feet were getting boring to look at anyway.
>The dark of the town obscures some of the buildings, but a few of them boast large signs out front that are readable even with this lighting.
"...One Trick Pony's Watering Hole..."
>...Yeah.
>You could really use a drink to clear your head anyway.

>You are now Rarity.
>And you have been absolutely GIDDY since Pinkie left!
>You used the energy to head straight home and channel it into your work.
>Your schedule for the next three days is now completely clear.
>Wonderful! THAT'S productivity!
>You giggle silently to yourself, then dance on your tiphooves.
>You even used a little spare time to make both Pinkie and Femanon some dresses to commemorate the occasion.
>They'll love them!
>Walking over to where you hung them, you admire your work.
>Femanon has a long, beautiful purple dress accented with light blue and bedazzled with just a few decorative gems. Wearing a light blue belt around her waist would make it perfect!
>Pinkie Pie's is pink, with accents of a deep red along the edges, collar area, and bottom.
>They should wear these dresses together to make their relationship official!
>A squee escapes you
>You can't believe it's finally happening!
>Tearing your eyes from your recently made dresses, you leave your workroom.
>You just CAN'T keep still right now!
>You trot quickly into the kitchen, then pour yourself a glass of water.
>But you practically drop it immediately back down when you hear a knock at the door.
"They're here!"
>Oh, this is fabulous!
>You practically gallop over to the door and swing it open.
>You open your mouth and get ready to spew a plethora of words, but...
>You instantly stop, and finally feel that never-ending motor in your chest start to wind down.
>Before you is not the newly-made couple you were expecting.
>No, it's... just Pinkie Pie.
>Her head is hung rather low, and she scrapes the ground with her hoof before raising her eyes to meet yours.
>"Oh, hiya Rarity," she mumbles, in a manner most unlike herself.
"Darling..."
>You begin, allowing her to walk slowly into your boutique,
"What happened?"
>She sighs, then gives a kind of shrug.
>"Oh, nothing..." she replies, taking a seat on one of your couches.
>A sort of dread begins to overtake you.
>You gallop over to her.
"N-Nothing? Where's Femanon?"
>Pinkie shakes her head.
>"I don't know. She didn't want to talk to me..."
>Your heart pangs.
"B-But... why ever would she not want to?"
>"I don't know... she said she wasn't really 'feeling herself.'"
>She lies down on the couch.
>"I'm not sure she wants to be my Snuggle Buddy anymore, Rarity..."
>Your blood freezes.
"No, no, nonono!"
>You say frantically, jumping over in front of Pinkie excitedly.
"That must be some kind of mistake! Femanon adores you!"
>She shrugs again.
>"That's not the impression I got..."
>Your heart rate rises a little.
>This can't be right...
>Everything is backwards!
>All those talks you had...
>...She can't have given up, right?
>Pinkie was GOING to confess her feelings!
>If that's not the opposite of discouraging, you don't know what is!
>You exhale.
"Do you know where she went, Pinkie?"
>She shrugs, the uncertainty causing you to bite your lip.
>...Where could she have gone?
>You need to talk with her...
>What exactly happened to shift Femanon's mood like this?
>You look over to Pinkie, far, far less enthusiastic than she usually is, laying on the couch in a deflated manner.
"...Pinkie, dear, just stay here... I'm going to go find Femanon, okay?"
>She nods slowly.
>You force a smile to her.
"Okay... stay here, or see your way out when you're ready... whatever you want to do..."
>"Okie dokie, Rarity..."
>You grit your teeth once you turn away from her.
>Femanon...
>What is happening!?

"Thanks,"
>You say to the bartender once he slides your mug of cider to you.
>With a sigh, you stare into the liquid for a moment...
>...
>Then knock it back for a second, take one or two large gulps, then place it back down.
>Your body hunches over as you sit on the stool, leaning up against the bar.
>The place is nothing fancy.
>Mainly made of wood, rather dark looking, with one bartender manning the area.
>It's mostly empty, save a few other p0nies on the bar with you, and a few groups of friends occupying various booths.
>An old, worn song plays from a jukebox by the door.
>How... perfect...
>You take another solemn breath, and accompany it with another gulp.
>Before you know it, you can see the dry bottom of your mug.
>...
"Barkeep,"
>You say, placing down your mug and tapping the table.
"another over here, please."
>He nods, and a moment later, a second mug comes sliding over to you.
"Thanks."
>You opt for a sip this time, then place it back down to the bar and stare off into space.
>...
>You're a fool, Femanon.
>A damn fool.
>Oddly enough, a sad smile creeps across your face as you think this.
>"Hey..." you hear from behind.
>You raise your eyebrow, then turn around.
>A young stallion stands before you, shaking in his metaphorical boots.
>You take a sip from your cider.
"Yes?"
>He almost winces to your voice.
>"Oh! Um... hey! I, uh..."
>He turns around and looks to one of the booths.
>A few other p0nies raise their drinks and smile at him, some making various motions to continue.
>You press the inside of your cheek with your tongue.
>"So!" he says, turning back around. "You're the new creature in town, right? The, uh... human? I was, um, wondering, if maybe, well... if you'd want to--"
"Look,"
>You interrupt, holding up your hand for emphasis.
>His lips practically implode into his mouth.
>You look for words, but none immediately come to mind, so you start with a laugh and shake of the head.
>"But... but..."
"I'm sorry, but no."
>His face drops.
"I'm in no mood to be hit on. I'm sorry."
>"Oh... well, I wasn't--
>You sigh.
"You were, I know."
>He stops himself.
"This isn't the first time I've had guys try to chat me up in a bar."
>Your mind wanders to back home, when human guys would...
>...
>The realization hits you as you lose focus of the situation for a moment.
>Then... you laugh.
>This entire situation is completely bizarre.
"...We're not even the same species. And you know nothing about me."
>"You're right. I'm sorry, I'll just--"
"I've barely been here a week, and you think you're attracted to me?"
>"Well, I--"
"Have you ever even seen anything like me before?"
>"Miss, sorry, I'll leave if--"
"How could you even think that such little interaction in such a short amount of time could result in any romantic feelings?"
>"..."
"You're a horse! Our species can't mix! I can't believe I--"
>...You catch yourself.
>The poor stallion looks like he's about to cry.
"...Oh."
>You bite your tongue.
"I'm sorry, I was..."
>You slowly turn back around to the front of the bar.
"...Projecting."
>You stare down into your cup.
>"...I-It's okay, I'll just... go..."
>The cup rises to your mouth as you take a sip.
>...You can hear hooves walking away from behind you.
>Your eyes blink, and you can feel the water start to form behind them.
>Another gulp is in order to stop that.
>Placing the mug back down on the bar, you stare off into space again.
>...You haven't even thought of back home much.
>Or how you got here.
>Or how long you'll BE here...
>Pinkie Pie took up all of your focus.
>It's crazy how little you've thought this entire journey through.
>Because of her.
>...That's something, right?
>...Or is it?
>Another sigh, another drink.
>You take in the atmosphere of the bar for a moment.
>...
>You hear the bar door open, but you don't pay it much mind.
>Staring off, you take another sip of your drink.
>Hooves clop closer toward you.
>Directly followed by a cleared throat.
>You give it your attention, but you don't look.
>"...I was hoping I wouldn't find you in here, Femanon."
>...That voice.
>You gulp your drink, then face the mare you know is there.
"Hey... Rarity."
>She gives a meek smile, and the two of you look at each other silently for a moment.
>"...Mind if I sit here?" she asks, motioning to the stool next to you.
>You scooch over in your own stool just a little, as if to make more room.
"Please, go right ahead."
>She nods and smiles again, then hops up next to you.
>You don't say anything, just take another drink.
>Yet again, it's empty.
>...
"Barkeep..."
>"Coming."
>A third cider slides up to you.
>"Anything for your friend?"
>You glance over to Rarity.
>She leans over into the bar area a little more to get a view of the bartender.
>"I'll take a chardonnay... if you have any."
>The barkeep nods, reaching into the back for a wine glass.
>He walks slowly over to Rarity, places the glass down, rummages under the bar for a bit, and comes back up top with a bottle, pouring her a glass.
>"Thank you."
>You take a gulp of your drink, then set it down.
>Rarity levitates her glass to her lips and takes a small sip.
>It taps back down against the wooden bar with a small clink.
"...So. Why were you hoping not to find me here?"
>You ask, turning toward her.
"Half expecting I WOULD be here?"
>She looks absentmindedly to her glass in front of her, then nods.
>"Yes, I, um... Pinkie Pie told me about your encounter together."
>You nod slowly, taking another drink.
>"...What happened, Femanon?"
>You lean back a little bit, stretching out your back, then sigh.
>"You were so worried that she didn't feel the same way... so determined to be with her... why the change of heart?"
>The cider in your glass swishes back and forth as you rotate it.
>"That can't be it, right...? You still feel the same way about her?"
>One last sigh.
>"Right?"
>You place the glass back down.
"I... I don't know, Rarity. I really don't."
>She inhales sharply.
>You look to her, and put on an awkward smile.
"I'm... just a human, Rarity. And you're all p0nies. We're not the same."
>She looks at you with a sad expression.
"And... hell, I'm straight... for all I know."
>"But the entire time you've been here, you--"
"I know, I know..."
>She slowly turns back to her wine, levitating the glass and taking another drink.
>"...Why the change of heart?"
>You ponder the question in your head.
>You know why.
>You know WHO.
>But... doesn't she? If Rarity knew about your bra...
"...You knew the whole time, didn't you?"
>"About what, Femanon?"
"Fluttershy."
>Rarity gasps softly at the mention of her name and tenses up.
>You gauge her reaction, and let out a breathy laugh.
"Don't worry, it's fine. At this point, I don't care."
>Rarity loosens up a little bit and opens her mouth, as if to say something.
>But no words come out.
>You take another drink.
"I just wish you could have told me her actions beforehand. Maybe this whole mental trainwreck I'm feeling wouldn't be happening."
>Rarity tilts her head a bit.
>"How do you mean?"
>You look to her.
"...This entire ordeal. The whole reason I feel so messed up about Pinkie Pie. This is all because of Fluttershy."
>She stares at you quizzically.
"I thought you knew what Fluttershy did?"
>She looks to the ground.
>"I... I knew she had done some... things to you the night you were drunk, but... how did that affect anything with Pinkie?"
>You raise your eyebrow at her.
>Maybe she doesn't know the full extent of it...
>...But then again... how would she?
>You take another big gulp from your cider.
>Gotta get ready to tell THIS story.
>Your wooden mug clanks against the bar as you slam it down.
"Okay... so I spent the night at Pinkie Pie's my second night here, right?"
>Rarity nods slowly.
"The entire reason I thought I had a thing for her was because I woke up wet after a dream about her."
>"Oh!" she exclaims, her cheeks turning a tinge pink.
"Yeah, well... turns out the only reason I WAS wet was because Fluttershy snuck in that night and fooled around with me in my sleep."
>"What!?"
"She let it slip this afternoon."
>Rarity's mouth begins to gape.
>"Oh my... my word! But... your feelings for Pinkie were... they were all based on...?"
"Exactly."
>You say nothing more, simply finishing off your drink.
>Rarity stares at you for a moment more, then turns back towards the bar and stares ahead.
>It's silent for a moment.
>You can hear glasses and mugs shift and clank throughout the bar, while other p0nies begin to turn in for the night.
>The terrible jukebox music drones on.
>It's... depressing.
>"...Pinkie Pie truly has feeling for you though."
>You nod slowly.
"And we found that out a tad too late."
>"Are you... are you going to stop what you have with her then?"
>You push your mug away from you and lean back.
"I... don't know. I really don't."
>Rarity takes a deep breath.
>"I think this is something you should talk out with Pinkie..."
>You nod slowly.
"Yeah... I agree... but..."
>You look over toward the door.
"I don't know whether to do that first, or to work out whatever the hell happened with Fluttershy first. Like..."
>You can feel the tears coming back.
>With strength, you try to muscle them back, but some come through.
"Like what do I do?"
>Rarity pats you on the back.
>"Both things need to be done, just... whatever is done FIRST, well... that's up to you, darling."
>She looks over to the exit too.
>"...I'll leave you to that, then."
>She takes out some bits and places them on the bar.
>Plenty more than her own drink cost.
>You smile, looking down at the bar.
"Thanks Rarity..."
>You say with a small sniff.
>"Stay strong, Femanon."
>You hear her hooves echo further and further away, until she leaves the bar.
>You sit alone for a moment, simply with your thoughts.
>They race.
>...
>Okay.
>You wipe your eyes, then stand up to your feet and slowly walk toward the exit.
>Pinkie Pie? Or Fluttershy?
>The cold night air breezes against your skin as you walk out of the establishment.
>Who to talk to first?

>End of Part 9