Microgame Melancholy Part 2

Diamond City - Café Gelato

Penny sighed.

It had been a few hours since Ashley slammed the door in her face. Penny was absolutely shocked; of all people, she'd never thought that she would be treated so cold by Ashley.

"Cheer up, Penny. I'm sure she didn't mean it."

Penny looked up to see Mona leaning on the counter, giving her a warm smile. Penny shook her head, now looking at the strawberry milkshake in front of her.

"I don't know, Mona. Ashley sounded really mad … all I wanted to do was help her finish her games." Penny said, feeling a tear run down her cheek. Mona grabbed a napkin, holding it to the girl's face and wiping the tear away.

"Look, Penny … Ashley's had that attitude long before you came into the company." Mona said, giving the girl another smile. "Like I said, I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it. She loves you."

"I guess, but … oh, I can't take it anymore!" Penny shouted quietly, tears falling down her cheeks. "I can't live knowing that Ashley hates me!" Penny's voice started to crack from her silent sobbing. "I love her, Mona … I really do." Mona reached over the counter, hugging the girl. Penny buried her face into Mona's shoulder, her crying now becoming louder.

"Shh … It's gonna be okay, I promise." Mona said, patting Penny on the back. "Ashley will cool off soon, and I bet she'll even apologize." Penny looked up at her, her eyes still filled with tears.

"No she won't! She hates me because I tried to push her too hard!" Penny said, once again crying into Mona's shoulder. Mona sighed, holding the girl while she let her emotions out. "She'll never love me again, all because I had to be such a jerk!" Penny said through heavy breathing.

"Look … I'll call Red, and you two can spend some time together until Ashley calms down. Is that all right?" Mona asked as she reached for a phone connected to the wall. Penny nodded, still sniffling from before.

Diamond City - Ashley's Mansion

Ashley was in her bedroom, staring up at the ceiling. Her bed just wasn't comfortable without Penny next to her. Ashley never thought out loud when she was this angry--that would usually lead to breaking objects and accidentally hurting herself (or Red.)

"Huh? Hello Mona."

Ashley sat up, faintly hearing Red's voice.

"Wow, really? Sure … I'll be there in a few minutes."

Normally, Red didn't receive phone calls. Ashley pondered getting up to find out who that was, but at the moment she was still too angry to care. She had flat out said that she wasn't going to contribute to this game, and Penny kept trying to lead her along like some lost puppy. Ashley sighed, deciding she'd might as well take a nap - Maybe she would feel better after a little sleep.

Just as she closed her eyes, the mansion's door silently closed.

Diamond City - Café Gelato

"I'm here!"

Red looked around as he entered the building, seeing a sobbing Penny sitting at the counter, leaning on her elbows with her hands covering her face. Mona was patting her shoulder, attempting to calm her down.

"Mona, is she okay?" Red asked, walking over. Mona smiled slightly as she saw the devil, but shook her head.

"No, she isn't … she's really torn up over this. How's Ashley doing?" Mona asked. Red shrugged.

"I don't know, she doesn't come to me when she's upset. She's probably taking a nap, it's what she always does when she's angry." Red replied. Penny must've heard this, as her crying became loud enough for Red to hear.

"She's still angry!" Penny exclaimed, her crying becoming a little louder. "She'll never forgive me … ever!"

Red sighed, hopping up onto the stool next to Penny. He patted her arm, giving a warm smile. The girl looked over at him, her eyes bloodshot and still full of tears.

"Wow, she really is unhappy." Red said, looking over at Mona, who nodded.

"I told her that maybe you two could spend some time together. Get both your minds off the little witch, you know?" Mona said quietly to avoid disturbing Penny. Red nodded, jumping to the floor.

"Come on, Penny. Let's go take a walk." Red said. Penny didn't move an inch, her crying becoming faint.

"I don't wanna … I just want my Ashley back!" She said, laying her head on the counter. Red sighed, scratching his cheek.

"What's it gonna take to cheer her up …?" He thought out loud, looking at Mona for help.

"I have an idea." Mona said, both Penny and Red looking up at her. "Why don't you two just sit here for a while, I'll make you some lunch, and you can just have a nice, quiet talk. Ashley will probably be awake by the time you leave." Mona smiled, walking into the kitchen and leaving the two alone.

Red looked at Penny, trying to think of a way to start conversation. He knew that she really liked Ashley, and yes, maybe even loved her, but this much? It surprised him.

"So … How long have you been here?" Red asked, trying to add a hint of cheerfulness in his voice. Penny shrugged, remaining silent. "Um … Let's see … oh! I hear Wario's making a TV commercial for the new game. Cool, huh?" Again, Penny didn't utter a word. Red sighed. "Look, I know you're upset, but that doesn't mean you have to give me the cold shoulder. I get that enough at home."

"I'm sorry." Penny mumbled, glancing at him. "I'm just really unhappy right now, Red. It's nothing against you." She reached over, patting the devil's head. "You're being a really good friend right now, and I appreciate it." Red smiled at her words, nodding.

"You know I like seeing you two happy." Red said.

Penny sighed, sipping from the straw in front of her. The milkshake looked like it was halfway melted, but it didn't look like Penny really cared.

"You know, strawberry is Ashley's favorite flavor, too." Red said. Penny sat up, looking at him with interest.

"It is?" She asked. Red smiled, nodding. He lied--Ashley actually liked vanilla, but if this made Penny happy, he figured it wasn't that big of a problem.

"Yup, it … it sure is." He said, nodding.

"Here you go guys!" Mona appeared with two plates full of food, setting them in front of Penny and Red, who nodded with appreciation. "You're welcome." Mona said with a smile. "You two eat up, and please, feel better." Mona looked at Penny, giving her a wink. Penny smiled slightly and nodded in reply.

Diamond City - Ashley's Mansion

"It's all her fault! Why does she have to be so cute?"

Ashley was yelling in anger as she stomped through her room, knocking things off shelves and breaking a lot of magical glass objects from the top of her dresser. A nap didn't help; all she could think about was Penny's face as the door was slammed. Rage wasn't usually an issue with Ashley outside of getting angry with Red, but in this case she was quite angry. Angry at herself.

"If I didn't have to love her so much, I wouldn't even have this problem!" She yelled, swinging her arm and knocking over a (thankfully unlit) candle. "It's all her fault!" Just as she took one more step forward, she heard a very loud sound: glass breaking. For some reason, this particular sound stopped her.

She sat on the floor, reaching for what she damaged: it was a photo of Penny and herself at the company picnic. The picture itself was intact, but the glass was split right down the middle, as if it were cutting the pair in half. Ashley sighed, looking at Penny in the photo.

"Why do I have to love you so much …?"

Diamond City - Diamond Kindergarten

"Goodbye, Sensei!"

"We'll see you tomorrow!"

Kat and Ana ran from the building, heading down a dirt path on their way home. Eventually, their run slowed to a walk, as Ana wanted to admire every flower on the way home.

"So yeah, we should really practice that tonight; it's a hard move to pull off." Ana said, discussing with her sister over the new moves they'd learned in class. Kat nodded.

"Yeah, I suppose … wait, do you hear that?" Kat put a hand to her ear, looking around. "It sounds like someone's crying."

"Yeah, I hear it too, I hope everything's all right." Ana replied, nodding. "Should we go check it out?"

"We might as well." Kat answered, the two ninja children running off.

Diamond City - Diamond City Streets

"Come on Penny, I'm sure Ashley's over it by now."

Red patted Penny's arm as the two walked down a sidewalk. Penny had started crying again when Mona reminded the two about a company meeting coming up that weekend; she only started crying because she used to sit next to Ashley every time and now didn't know if that would be possible again.

"Probably not … she probably still hates me. I'm so stupid!" Penny mumbled, sighing.

"You're not stupid, Penny. You're the smartest girl we know."

Penny and Red turned around to see Kat and Ana following them.

"Like I said, you're not stupid." Kat said, smiling. "We heard you crying, what's the matter?" Penny wiped her eyes, facing both girls.

"Well …"

Diamond City - Ashley's Mansion

"I'm such an idiot! I had to drive you away!"

Ashley was walking through the mansion, knocking things off the walls, the picture in her hand.

"I just had to yell at you! Why do you make me so angry?" She yelled, kicking over a plant that was sitting on the floor, shattering the pot. "It's not fair! I love you, and how do you treat me? You get sensitive and care too much!"

Apparently, Ashley had changed the blame from Penny to herself. She hadn't let go of the cracked picture since she found it. She meant to find some glue to repair it, but her thoughts quickly changed from that to hating herself for unintentionally kicking Penny out of the mansion.

"Now I'll never get you back … Oh, I am gonna kill Red when he gets home, just because … because …"

Ashley sighed, sitting on the wooden floor and looking at the picture yet again. She had no reason to hurt Red; he didn't do anything. Not today, anyway. She was just mad and wanted an outlet. Hurting Red wouldn't help matters. Ashley sighed once more, placing the picture on a nearby table.

"I have to go fix this."

Diamond City - Penny's Laboratory

"Why don't you just invent something to make her forgive you?"

Kat and Ana were looking around Penny's lab, thinking up ways to help Penny with her problem. They were both shocked that Ashley treated her that way, but both knew that Ashley would snap out of it eventually.

"Tried it, she ended up being so cheery it was sickening." Penny replied. "I can't cry anymore, it hurts. I don't know what to do." She sighed, sitting in a chair. "I'm just scared, guys."

"Scared?" Ana asked, walking over to Penny, who nodded.

"I'm scared that she really will hate me. I'm in love, and I can't stand to think of my heart getting broken." Penny said, sighing. "I just hope Red doesn't get hurt." Red had decided to go check on Ashley, and said he would call back when he got home--it had been over an hour.

"You need to march over, look her straight in the eye, and tell her like it is! If you keep pouting, you'll just break down every time you two have a disagreement." Kat said, nodding.

"Kat's right. You get over there, and we'll play with all this neat stuff-I mean, we'll be rooting for you." Ana said, smiling. Penny nodded, standing.

"You girls are right. I'm gonna go over there and give her a piece of my mind!" Penny said, leaving the building. Kat sighed as she watched the door close.

"She is so done for …" Kat muttered while Ana had picked up something that resembled a drill.

Diamond City - Ashley's Mansion

Penny stood at the front door, staring at the doorknob. She wanted to follow Kat's advice, and tell Ashley exactly what she thought! … Who was she kidding? She didn't want to do that at all.

She wanted to go inside, burst into tears, and hear Ashley tell her that all is forgiven--but what if Ashley didn't think that? Penny took a deep breath, slowly turning the doorknob. She peeked inside, looking around the room. Seeing no one, she quickly scurried inside.

"You'd better make her love me again!"

Penny paused, hearing Ashley's yell ring throughout the mansion.

"I can't make someone do something, but I'm sure she misses you!" A high-pitched, terrified-sounding voice replied.

Ashley must be yelling at Red, as far as Penny could figure out. It sounded like Ashley was pretty unhappy, though. Penny took another deep breath, making her way upstairs.

"Ashley …? Are you up here?" Penny mumbled, looking down the hallway to see Ashley sitting against the wall, holding a picture frame in her hands. Penny quietly made her way over, sitting next to the witch. Ashley looked over, startled that Penny had got there so quietly.

"Penny … What are you doing here?" Ashley asked, looking away. "I thought you would hate me by now." Penny leaned in, kissing the girl's cheek.

"I love you, Ashley. You're my one and only, and nothing will ever change that. You're my everything, and I've been so terrified that you hate me after what I did. I'll never push you to do anything again, I promise." Penny said, looking away and wiping a tear from her cheek - She was extremely nervous. Would Ashley forgive her?

"Penny … It's my fault. I was so cold to you, and you don't deserve that." Ashley said, looking into Penny's eyes. "I love you. Would you please forgive me?" She asked, giving Penny a small smile.

"Ashley, of course I'll forgive you. It was just as much my fault, so let's just put this all behind us." Penny said, wiping away another tear - This time, a tear of joy.

Ashley grabbed her, holding her close. Penny smiled, sighing in content. This felt like absolute heaven, knowing that she was back in Ashley's arms and never had to leave. She looked at Ashley, who stared back, both girls silent. Without a word, Ashley pulled Penny closer, pressing her lips to the girl's, holding her in a sweet embrace. Penny blushed, knowing that she was back where she belonged - In the arms of her love.