Dreams that Bind

I woke with a yawn that morning, the smell of oatmeal greeted my nose. I forced myself out of bed and made it up. As I brushed my mane, I though about what I was going to have to go through. Surely, it would be the end of the world, but I don't want to hurt  them, and what I'd have to say might. I proceeded to take off my fake eyelashes to put on a fresh set when,

"Ouch!" I cried.

When I was a filly, I use to have real eyelashes. Then when I turned twelve, I woke up  to find that they fell off my face and didn't grow back for some odd reason. I've been wearing fake eyelashes ever since. I just wish my friends hadn't found out on that train ride to Canterlot when we were taking  the "Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness" cake to the National Dessert Competition. I do feel bad that I stole a bite, but for the record, there's not doubt in my mind it would have won. I'm just glad the Cakes weren't mad about us eating the cake before the competition. So long as Rainbow, Fluttershy and I hadn't cost them the competition and we learned to have better self-control, there was no point in punishing us. Still to make it up to them, we had to give a critique of the MMMM, and then they made a smaller version of the original for all of us to enjoy...wow, I got off topic in my own head. Actually, the MMMM did have a nice design, I wonder if a dress could, no No NO, STAY ON TOPIC!  Anyway, fake eyelashes are usually easy to remove, they slide right out. They only reason they would be a hassle to remove now would be... I reached up and felt them with my hoof.

"THEY'RE REAL! I HAVE REAL EYELASHES AGAIN! Oh Opal, isn't it great?"

The cat look at me as if to say, "is that really important?"

"I suppose not. But where did they come from. Maybe it was the Nightmare's magic? Regardless, I need breakfast."

We went downstairs to the kitchen where the rest of my family were.

"Good morning Rarity." Mom said.

"Morning." I replied, and took a seat next to Sweetie Belle. She shoved her spoon in her mouth as soon as I sat down. "It's okay Sweetie, I can finish now." Mother served me my oatmeal and sat down herself. "As I was saying last night, the Nightmare Forces took me to the moon, where  they manipulated my emotions and played of my weaknesses, making me believe that my friends would abandon me. When they assured me I need not fear them neglecting me, I allowed them to corrupt me."

It was silent for a moment when Sweetie spoke up again. "I thought you would know better"

The comment caught my parents off guard because it insightful, but I could answer easily.

"Your right Sweetie, I should have known better. But fear clouded my judgement, my fear or loneliness and neglect. I didn't want to go through life without friends or anypony to be their for you. I suppose that's why I'm so generous, so as to have friends. But when you have friends to give to, you can't help but wonder if they appreciate you as much as you appreciate them, and the fear of being forgotten takes hold."

Sweetie Belle looked thoughtful.

"Alright Sweetie, finish your oatmeal, it's time for school." Mom continued.

Sweetie Belle ate up, as did the rest of us. After breakfast mom asked me to take Sweetie to school. I was nervous to go out in public again. The trip over to my parents house was during the evening and nopony was about, but Ponyville is usually busy in the morning. When we got outside, everything seemed normal, no pitying looks this time either. I dropped of Sweetie Belle and returned to my parents. Part of told me to just go back to my boutique, but I'd only have to face it later. I arrived at the house to find my parents in the living room, serious expressions on their faces.

"Sit down," Mother ordered. I did as much. "We know you are recovering from that incident and we can see you've made some progress. Your father and I also realized this conversation may cause you to take some steps back, so we are going to be straightforward and ask you to do the same, we all need this to be as quick as possible for everypony's sake." I nodded."Why did you distance yourself from us?" Mom asked bluntly.

There is was. I knew it was coming. I had always suspected that my parent would get upset with me slowing inching away from them. I'm not proud for doing it to them, and even less so of my reason why. But they asked me to be direct.

"Because I was ashamed of your fashion sense and mannerisms." I replied. Both their eyes went wide at this, but I continued. "I wanted to pursue a career as a fashion designer, and I couldn't afford anypony know that I had unfashionable parents who acted like bumpkins, that would make it hard for me to taken seriously. But I didn't want too hurt you guys, I still love and respect both of you. Why do you think I live close and come visit every now and again?"

Cookie Crumbles let out a squeal and sobbed into her hooves. Magnum comforted her best he could.

"I'm sorry if I seemed hostile. You have to understand dear, it's just that, as you began to drift away from us, I began to think I had failed as a mother."

"It's okay Mom, I would have felt the same way if my daughter did the same." I replied.

"One question though Rarity." Dad said.

"Shoot."

"Is our fashion sense really that bad?"

"Think of it this way, fashion is what you make of it. Unfortunately, if what you made doesn't agree with the popular opinion, it's not "in". I never agreed with the latter part, but it is what it is."

"Are you sure that's what you want to do if what you say is true?" Mom asked.

I nodded. "It's who I am."