The Lady and the Soldier: A Rarity 'Belle' Romance
The Lady and the Soldier
Violation of a Lady
A Rarity Carousel Romance
I looked at the viewing screen, my face getting flushed. Thankfully I was able to set it to voice only. Wheatley is dependable when it comes to things like that.
"Mrs. Marshall, is something wrong?" my customer asked.
"N...no, there's nothing wrong darling," I said trying to sound sincere, or at least as sincere as i could with John behind me.
I felt his tongue doing wondrous things to me, diving into me, and the fact that he had did this while I was on a communication with Vanguard isn't lost on me.
"You just sound a little distracted," Nancy, the mare in charge of orders replied.
"Oh... No, I'm not distracted at all," I said
“Quite, I'm not at all distracted by the fact that my husband is currently dining on my creme, as he calls it. Certainly I'm not at all distracted by that,” I thought.
“Very well, our order list looks mostly complete. We’re going to need another fifteen of your mesh suits. As I understand you’re enhancing them with your magic as well as with the capacitance gel?” she asked.
“Y...yes I am darling,” I replied feeling the rush of euphoric bliss. I was so close.
“Is everything fine?” she asked again.
“I...I….I…. I’m fine, really,” I said feeling the near orgasm tittering near the edge.
“Okay, well we’ll be expecting them soon,” she said before she disconnected.
“JOHN!” I cried out as I came hard. I fell forward on the desk.
“I love you,” he said.
“And I love you darling, but please… That could have been so much worse,” I replied.
I stood, and looked at my jeans. They needed to come off, and I could use a shower. Not to mention I wanted to really enjoy what John was doing. He got ready to leave when I grinned at him.
“Where do you think that you’re going?” I asked pulling him toward our bedroom.
It was a nice change of pace to let John’s mother watch our foals for the weekend. We undressed each other, our movements fluid and wonderful. I was love, deeply loved, and I was so thankful. We fell onto the bed, and I could feel John’s hungry touch. I was just as hungry for him. I needed him. We joined together, and in that instant I felt so happy that I had someone who was exactly the stallion I needed.
We lied there together for the longest time, and finally I moved to get up, shower, and get dressed. I left the bedroom for our shower. It felt amazing enjoying the hot water. I finished up my shower and thought about what Dr. Ozbourne said I needed to do today.
I wanted to put this off because with the exception of Fluttershy none of the other girls knew. I wanted to remain untainted in their eyes, but like Dr. Ozbourne had said this wasn’t a taint on me. It was something that happened because of a horrible stallion.
I walked into the bedroom to find John sleeping. I grinned at him, quickly grabbed a comfortable, but stylish, ensemble, and dressed. I walked out to the den, walked in, and asked Wheatley to connect me with Fluttershy, Applejack, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie. I knew that Rainbow Dash was busy, and besides, I didn’t want to bother her if she was at work. A moment later I was greeted with almost all of my friends.
“Rarity!” they all exclaimed.
“It’s so good to see you girls. So, I believe that It’s time I told you something… I’ve… I’m not sure how to begin,” I said.
“Rarity, just breathe in, then out; start when you’re ready,” Fluttershy said.
I nodded, thankful for her,
“Very well, this happened shortly after John and I had married. He had to go back to his job, and I was alone,” I started.
~~~~~Arnett Texas, near the Marshall home, midnight, November 4th 2056~~~~~
I held my clothes to me as I ran from the strange apartment. I didn’t know why Ian had done what he had done, but… Oh John… Oh sweet Celestia no.
I made my way into our house, and I felt so dirty. I’ve been married for less than a month, my husband away at his job, and the first thing I do is allow… My eyes looked into the vanity John had bought for me. It wasn’t nearly as ornate as the one back in my boutique, but it was still lovely. At this moment though it wasn’t showing a beautiful mare so deeply in love, no, it was showing a whorse. I looked the part of a whorse. My mascara was running, my cheeks flushed, and my lipstick smeared… I looked exactly like a whorse who couldn’t control herself. I ran to the shower, turning on the hot water, and I climbed into it. I found John’s soap, his Irish Spring and began cleaning myself with it. I didn’t want to smell like lavender. I didn’t want to smell like the whorse who let herself be taken advantage of. I wanted to smell like John, to let his scent cleanse me.
I worked the soap into my fur, going deep, almost clawing at my skin. I wanted to be clean. I wanted Ian’s smell off of me. I wanted it gone. I had once said I loved showers because no pony could see you cry. I still felt that way. I didn’t want anypony to see me crying.
I finished my shower, and I walked to the bed, our bed, and I threw myself on his side.
“I’m sorry!” I cried out.
I wanted him home, I wanted him back so that I could…
I could do what Rarity? Tell him of how big of a whorse I am? Let him know that the moment he was gone I bent over for the first stallion that took me out for drinks? Oh, John I love you, but I couldn’t stand you being gone, so I enjoyed a good rut from your friend IAN! Go ahead and tell him everything Rarity! Tell him how you sucked Ian off, and how you let him say demeaning things to you. Go ahead and explain how you let him have your tail hole. That’s something you wanted to give John, something that you wanted to share with him, and now it’s gone! Gone because you were no better than a teenage filly out on her first estrus!
The thought settled me. I… I couldn’t tell him. I needed his forgiveness, but there was no way that I could ever tell him.
What do I do?
You call someone who will listen, and will know what to do. Perhaps one of the girls.
I can’t call Applejack…
No, absolutely not! I love her dearly, but hearing her disappointment would kill me! What about Pinkie?
Seriously? Pinkie and Andy have what has to be a perfect marriage… I love her dearly, but this is out of her depth.
Twilight?
She has her two foals, and I’m fairly sure she’s not dating.
Fluttershy?
She would listen, and out of my friends I know she would try to understand.
I took a moment, cleared my throat, and looked up.
“Wheatley, would you contact Fluttershy for me?” I asked.
“Of course, just a moment… no, that’s not it… Wait… Oh… Ah! There we go!” he said.
Ancillary Intelligence Hub, Visocvic Household, Administrator Tolstoy
Confound it all! Confound it all to Hell! Here I was, having a nice cycle or ten without the ever annoying presence of that waif, Anastacia or that hunchbacked oaf from Mr. Williams estate and now I have some blowhard from the east end of London attempting to make contact with Lord Arkady! There are days…
Yes, yes, greetings, whoever you are. State your name and business!
Oh, well, hello, the English buffoon starts, I am trying to contact one Miss Fluttershy residing at 217 Bleecker Street, New York, New York, 10012. Might she be in, good man?
She is, I tersely inform the imbecile, and what is the nature of your inquiry?
I am calling in regards to Miss Rarity, the idiot says, I was asked to call for Miss Fluttershy specifically.
Bozhe moi, I groan, do you have any idea the hour? Lady Fluttershy is asleep. Now, good day to you.
I’m sorry, so sorry, good sir, the blathering fool continues, but Miss Rarity is quite insistent. She must speak with Miss Fluttershy, poste haste. And I must say, good man, you’re rather rude!
The one who is rude is you, I reply vehemently, but I will endeavor, as ever disruptive as it may be, to rouse Milady Fluttershy. No doubt she will have many harsh words to say to you!
I then turn from the moron defiling my network hub and return to the holostage in the master bedroom where Lord Arkady and Lady Fluttershy are sleeping.
“Milord and Lady,” I softly call out, “there is a caller on the line. It is marked as urgent and priority, though I do not see why it is so. Shall I toss the intruding pillock from our network?”
“Ugh, who’s making the call, Tolstoy?” my Lord asks.
“The caller defines themselves as one Lady Rarity. Pfft, what an odd name…”
“Rarity,” Lady Fluttershy asks, “Rarity is calling?”
“Yes, Milady, I just stated that,” I reiterate, “shall I-?”
“Put her through,” the Lady replies, “uh- please, Tolstoy, will you put her through?”
I must be an insufferable, romantic nitwit for falling for the Lady’s charms, but at least she is polite, unlike some, “Yes, Milady, I shall patch her through now.”
“Fluttershy?” I ask softly.
What do I say to her? Do I just come out with it?
“You aren’t busy are you?” I ask.
Please don’t be too busy… I… I truly need to speak to you
I waited, listening to my own breathing, listening for her response. Perhaps I had called too late at night… This was the problem with these time zones. Equestria was slightly different. The Time Zones existed, but they seemed to be more manageable.
“Fluttershy… I… I did something terrible. If you want to listen, if you will listen, I don’t know what to do to fix this,” I admitted, “I made such a huge mistake…”
“Rarity, it’s okay, just take a breath and tell me all about it,” Fluttershy said.
“I… I’m a WHORSE!” I cried out.
“W...what?!” I heard her exclaim.
“I’M A WHORSE! I’M A COMMON TROLLOP! Fluttershy how could I do this? John… I’ve… We’ve barely been married three weeks! I gave myself to him, and the first time he’s been away after we’ve been married I went to bed with another stallion!” I cried.
“Rarity what happened?” she asked.
“Ian… He offered to take me out for drinks, since John was gone, and we went to this charming little bar, and I only intended to having two drinks, but he kept ordering me the most delicious things, and it’s rude to refuse to drink something when someone is being generous enough to buy them for you. So… I drank… I think it was fifteen Long Island Ice Teas, I believe they were called, and… Ian took me to his place! What am I going to do?” I asked.
“Rarity, did you say fifteen?” she asked.
“Yes, I remember there was that many drinks, but I should have had more control than that! Instead… I let him do things to me… I… Fluttershy I’m so ashamed of myself,” I said in a small voice, “I really need a friend right now.”
“I’m here Rarity,” she cooed softly.
“I… Fluttershy do you think that either I could come visit you, or you come visit me? I… Celestia, I need to see a friendly face,” I said.
“I think that Ark and I were planning on taking a little vacation anyway. Are you still in Texas?” Fluttershy asks.
“Yes, I’m still in Arnett Texas… The house has actually gotten bigger. John told me that I could expand on it if I wanted, and I’ve made it a two story… I’ve ruined my marriage haven’t I? He’s never going to trust me… Oh no… What if he thinks… I checked after he left, the day after he left, and I was so happy to find out that I’m going to have his foals, but what if he thinks that they’re not his?! THIS IS THE WORST POSSIBLE THING!”
“She’s being a drama queen,” a voice said from the other end of the line.
“Ark!” I heard Fluttershy squeak out in annoyance.
“Do you think that I’m over reacting?” I asked.
“No, Rarity, I don’t think that you are at all. This is very upsetting for you. We will be there when we can,” she replied.
“Thank… Thank you so much,” I say.
“Of course you’re welcome Rarity, you know that. We’ll see how soon we can leave, and then we’ll make our way there,” she said.
“I feel guilty suggesting it, because I don’t know how much longer I will be Mrs Marshall, but I know that you can ride the train for free to get here. John’s position allows us to get free tickets, and I can have Wheatley secure the both of you tickets. Let me know the date you want them for, and Fluttershy dear, thank you,” I said
The call ended and I looked at the viewing screen. A moment later a single sphere with a blue eye appeared. It seemed to float there on the screen for a moment before it filled the screen showing the single eye in the middle.
“You know, I try not to get too attached to you bipeds. After all, the testing and everything seems to render making friends… well, pointless, but what you said sounds horrid,” Wheatley said.
“I just don’t know what to do,” I replied.
“Well, director John is a smart one, for a human, and I’m sure that he’d be willing to listen,” he replied.
I looked away from the screen. Wheatley was right. John is a smart stallion, and a good one, and I’ve went and hurt him without him even knowing it.
I stayed there, on that bed, not really looking around, but studying my hands. John had said that I was everything he could ever want, and that he thinks that I’m beautiful, but he found extra beauty in my hands. I turned them over, looking at the purple painted nails.
“You work with your magic, but when you are concentrating really hard, holding a piece of fabric, and working with it, I’m amazed. I’m amazed, because I’m watching an artist creating her art,” he had said.
What good is the beauty in your hands when it’s obvious that you enjoy using them on another stallion?
The question made me drop my hand. I looked at the mirror again, and I pulled open the towel and looked at exactly what I had allowed to be soiled.
My breasts had been something I was proud of. I was shapely, beautiful, and my hourglass figure was something that I took such pride in. I was proud of it because it pleased me and John.
Ian enjoyed it as well. Every touch, every thrust, he groped and fondled you like the whorse you are.
I knew my thoughts were right. I touched above my womb, the place where our foal, or foals, were growing. How would my foals see me? Would I be their caring mother, or would they see a mare who is so uncontrolled, and so undisciplined that she seeks comfort at the first hint of trouble?
~~~~~~Present time Arnett Texas, Marshall home ~~~~~
“Rarity, how could ya think that Ah wouldn’t understand, or that Ah would be disappointed in ya! It sounds to me like that varmint got you all drunk so that he could have his way with ya! Why, he raped ya!” Applejack exclaimed.
“I know dear, and it was traumatic. I… I don’t really like talking about it, but my counselor, Dr. Oz, has said that I need to share these feelings, and I felt it best to share them with all of you… I can only hope that all of you don’t think less of me,” I said.
“Of course not! It just makes me super sad that I couldn’t be there for you!” Pinkie said with her lip quivering.
“Rarity, what he did to you is beyond horrible. I wish that I was closer to help. I really do,” Twilight said.
“I know dear, and thank you, but things have turned out fairly well,” I said.
“Well, what happened next?” Applejack asked.
“Actually, Fluttershy, would you like to tell about your and Ark’s arrival?” I asked.
“Oh, actually, if you don’t mind that is, I think that he’d do a better job,” she said.
Arkady’s Perspective - Arnett Texas Trainstation 2056
Unlike our last trip down south, our ride down into Texas was relatively quiet and free of complications. We got through security without much hassle. We got a rather comfortable compartment for the ride down and we snuggled each other all the way down. And unlike last time, we didn’t get waylaid in Chicago. It was a straight shot from New York to Dallas.
From Dallas we took an even smaller, but much more luxurious train to the little station in Arnett. It was kinda nice getting the royal treatment like we did, but the Mayberry Security teams still put me at odds. I didn’t make a big deal of it, though. Given the high state of worry Flutters was driven to, I didn’t want to add to her anxiety. Given the conversation that she had with Fluttershy last night, I was more than a little worried for her friend. You don’t need to be a police detective to know that fifteen Long Island Iced Teas is more than enough to make critical decision making laughable.
In any court in the land, that’s rape. Even if this guy was able to convince a jury that everything was consensual, I’d like to see the court of public opinion be convinced otherwise. Look at OJ Simpson who many considered guilty of the double murder of Ron Goldman and Simpson’s ex-wife. Around 2028, new forensic techniques discovered that a hair, previously untested by LA Police Department proved that a caucasian male, not an African male, had attacked them. A second hair found behind the building was found to be a second assailant, another caucasian male.
Public opinion wasn’t swayed until records found in an old Russian Mafia front house showed that Goldman was indebted to somebody distantly related to Uncle Sergei. And you don’t ever shirk the Russian Mafioso. That’s a short hop to deep grave. I should know; my uncle was full of stories from The Motherland about cheapskates who owed a debt and didn’t pay ending up on the business of a PP-2000 for their trouble.
Arriving in Arnett, we spotted a lone cab waiting for us at the station. Standing outside of it is a lone woman, no, a lone mare. Her alabaster skin and cobalt locks are in stark contrast to the expansive blandness of the area surrounding.
“Fluttershy! Fluttershy!!” the mare calls out, “Over here, darling!”
Oh, the look on Flutters face… She was positively ecstatic! The only time I’ve ever seen her so happy was that one time I got her a lobster for dinner. Expensive as it was, it was worth seeing her smile grow on her muzzle, the twinkling in her eye so effervescent.
“Rarity!” she calls out, still no louder than an electric engine, “it is so good to see you!”
She reaches her unicorn friend, hugs her tightly, and begins to float a little off the ground.
“Dearest Fluttershy,” the unicorn replies, “I, too, am happy to see you. If only these were better circumstances.”
I sidled up to the pair, just now getting our collected luggage in the trunk of the taxi.
“Oh, and who might this be?” Rarity asks, “Is this your coltfriend, Fluttershy?”
“Oh, uh, no,” Fluttershy answers, a little reluctantly, “this is my best human friend, Ark. Ark, this is Rarity.”
I hold out a hand for Rarity to grasp, “A pleasure, miss.”
“Oh, my, yes,” the alabaster mare says, gripping my hand firmly, “Fluttershy never mentioned what a gentlecolt you could be.”
“Well, I do have some manners,” I reply, “but we aren’t here to discuss my upbringing. Ain’t that right, Flutters?”
“Oh, yes, Ark,” Fluttershy answers back, “should we be going?”
“Yes, yes,” Rarity replies, “please, let us make haste. Driver?”
The cabbie nods his head, and after all three of us are in the cab, we speed off to the Marshall house.
The house came into view, and while there was a bit of rustic charm to it. It looked as if the entire thing was designed to have a sort of southwestern feel to it. I watched as Rarity led both of us inside, while she used her magic to carry the bags. We followed her into the house to see a nicely furnished, and well maintained home. A moment later one of the view screens came alive.
“Oh new test subjects errrr… visitors!” her Digital Assistant said.
I eyed the strange looking digital assistant for a moment and watched as Rarity put us in a room down stairs. I was a little surprised that she was doing this.
“I hope this will be okay,” Rarity said softly.
I watched her, and I could see the troubled look on her brow. She was tittering on the edge of tears even now. Fluttershy seemed to notice it as well, and led her to a couch.
“Rarity, please, tell me what happened,” she said.
“I… John and I had gotten married about three weeks ago. You both remember Pinkie’s wedding right?” she asked.
We nodded, for me it had been the first time I had met Rarity’s husband. John Marshall had been the security officer that did a secondary check on us, and then we arrived at Oklahoma city he had offered to pay for our cab, since we were all going to the same place. He’d even explained that he had simply wanted to travel with Rarity, but Mayberry had demanded he do a few security checks for them along the route they wanted him to take to Oklahoma City. Since Rarity wasn’t an employee she was able to head straight to the wedding.
“Yes, I remember,” Fluttershy said.
“John and I watched Pinkie, and I couldn’t get over how happy she seemed. I touched John’s hand and there was a spark between us that felt… magical. We ended up making love that night, for the first time, and I gave myself completely to him. I was so happy, and the following week we married. I thought about inviting all of you, and… I had planned on having a larger ceremony when he came back home… I… I just don’t know if he’s even going to want me,” she cried.
I watched Fluttershy hug her friend as she cried. This wasn’t the theatrical crying I was expecting. It sounded wrong, broken, like glass that had been shattered. Fluttershy held her close, talking soothingly to her like a child, and gently rubbing her back. I could hear her sniffling.
“Rarity, he loves you, of course he’s going to want you back, and besides what that… stallion did to you was wrong,” Fluttershy said,. “wasn’t it Ark?”
“Deplorable,” I growl, “I got half a mind to find him, give him a talking to, and then give him a splendid new asshole!”
I watched as Fluttershy helped her friend up, and moved her toward the stairs. The two of them walked up, and once they were gone I looked around. The house was well furnished, like I observed earlier, but there was a sense of ornate beauty to it. It fit Rarity, or at least it fit what I had seen of her in the show.
Each piece of furniture in the home looked like it could have easily been inside of the Carousel Boutique. A quick stroll and I found an inspiration room, similar to the one I had seen on the show, and inside of it was uniforms. I walked toward them and held one up. The touch reminded me of a teflon weave, but it wasn’t as bulky. I lifted it and noticed how light it felt. There was a pair of scissors beside it and I tried to cut the material only for it stop the scissors. I tried once more and it actually indented the scissors before it did anything else.
Babba Yagga's Saggy Tits! I thought looking at the material.
“That is the Co-Director’s new material! She’s been working on it ever since she and the Director joined together. She said that it should be able to withstand anything conventional body armor can withstand, but it doesn’t weigh down or feel too bulky. She’s tested a kitchen knife on it and it broke the knife!” Wheatley said.
“Impressive,” I murmur, “with gear like this, my old army buddies could walk into uptown Damascus and walk away unscathed. Has she ever thought about selling this to DARPA? She’d make a killing, no pun intended, plus royalties.”
“The Co-Director… I had better stop calling her that! She likes to be called Miss Rarity, funny, I’d think she’d like Co-Director… But she has been working on this for the Director! She wishes for him to be safe. She said that this could stop a projectile with a force up to a sixty caliber round, and it doesn’t restrict movement. However, she hasn’t quite gotten it capable of stopping the bruising and potential injuries of being hit with a force of that magnitude,” Wheatley said.
“It’s too bad I don’t know anypony at Misriah Ordinance,” I lament, “they’ve been working on some sort of capacitance gel which is supposed to absorb and redirect kinetic energy from projectiles. From what rumors I’ve heard, they plan on including this into a new series of combat armor they’re planning on introducing. Some sort of composite plating made from carbon-silica or some other exotic material. If what I heard is true, this stuff could take a 50 mike-mike shell and the user wouldn’t suffer so much as a minor bruise where the shell hit.”
“I believe that Miss Rarity would like to know that her creation was helping. She said that the Director has told her for the moment to keep this material a secret. He’s worried that Mayberry would like to take full credit for its design and implementation into the sales market, but it seems like needless worry to me. Mayberry has been extremely forthcoming about their desires of protecting those with the funding to hire them,” Wheatley replied.
“Yeah, that’s what they say,” I retorted, “but I bet in the contract, they’ll add a rider that’ll make the finished product their property. She might be better getting this stuff patented first. I hear that Vanguard is looking for a new kind of armor for their mercs, but they won’t take anything that hasn’t been patented first.”
“Perhaps I could aid Miss Rarity by contacting the patenting office, although she seemed adamant about making sure the fabric was just so. I so do not understand you bipeds. You’re such curious creatures. Everything needs to be a certain way. It makes no sense really,” Wheatley said.
I chuckle, relishing on just how misinformed this DA was, “You know, you remind me of an old drill instructor. Guy served in Iraq during The War on Terror. He and his squad were rolling down the street during patrol in midtown Baghdad. The flakjackets they had were supposed to be high grade things, but if history tells us anything, their gear was top notch nothing. Well, during the patrol, they get set upon by insurgents; My DI gets struck twice with 7.62 mike-mike. His vest should have stopped the rounds, but it turns out the company that made the vest used an inferior grade of composite ceramics. His plates shattered leaving him more wounded than seven-six-two was supposed to do to him! That’s why DOD insists on all their armor passing the most rigorous of testing; they won’t allow soldiers getting mangled on substandard gear.”
“Oh… Well, that makes sense then. It also makes sense of why GLaDOS ran all of those tests for the gun… I suppose seeing if it could be used effectively in realistic danger was important. I suppose making sure that her fabric will be able to keep wounds from happening is the same thing. Still, I’m surprised she hasn’t looked outside of her own designs for an answer,” he replied.
“Exactly,” I reply, “look at the histories of XXth Century warfare and you’ll see what I mean. Maybe I should hook you with Tolstoy; he has an extensive collection of military failings in his data core. And if you get an opportunity, look up Great Britains Enfield rifle or the first version of the US M-16 . Excellent examples of ordinance failing under fire.”
“That might be helpful. It seems that the military data I have collected isn’t of much use. There’s no sense in talking about Aperture Science or Black Mesa if neither company actually exists. I did however make a suggestion that Miss Rarity is attempting. Since she has the ability enfuse material with her… Energy, so to speak, I asked why she doesn’t do that to the material itself… She was trying before that… I don’t believe there is a word in my data banks for expressing an extreme displeasure toward a biped. However, whatever that word would be, before he sent her back. I have watched her actions over the last night and day… I truly hope the Director comes home soon so he can deal with him,” Wheatley said.
“You mean this dude that date raped Rarity?” I asked.
“Yes, that biped. I wish for the Director to return and deal with him. He has made Miss Rarity act… Broken. It is unpleasant to watch her acting broken. Broken things are often cast away, and I do not wish to see her cast away. She is… kind,” Wheatley replied.
“It’s my understanding that Marshall is indisposed at the moment,” I add, “but don’t you worry, little virtual presence. I have more than enough indignation to serve him and Rarity, both.” Then I reactivate my phone and summon Tolstoy, “Tolstoy, Prosnis' i poy ! U menya yest' dlya tebya rabota.
Tolstoy visage appears on my screen; he looks annoyed, “Whatever is it that you need, My Lord?”
“I need you to look up an asshole; goes by the name of Ian Koenig,” I inform the AI, “I need his 411, double time.”
“Google, shall you fail me now…” Tolstoy threatens, “I have him, My Lord. I’m sending the pertinent details now.”
“Zamechatel'no!” I exclaim, “give ‘em to Wheatley, and- While you’re at, give the guy a lesson in military warfare, specifically the decades of 1960 through 1990.”
“Of course,” Tolstoy sneers, “My Lord.”
“Ah, it would appear the biped we’ve been speaking about lives on Alderson Ave, it was constructed during 2024, the Rothchild Apartments, second floor, Ryan Suite number 2-8B,” Wheatley rattled off the address.
“Unfortunately,” Tolstoy adds, “the building is also served by Jolly Roger Inc. security personnel. It also has a lock out field. I do not believe your scattergun will be useless there, My Lord. The field will lock out your firing mechanism, rendering the weapon harmless.”
“Bozhe moi!” I growl, “I guess it’s up to me and my two best friends, Right and Lefty.”
“One moment sir, Miss Rarity did complete a suit of the fabric. It can stop projectiles, and it will safely stop up to a twelve gauge with only minor bruising. The fabric does stretch to fit. If you choose to wear it I didn’t see a thing,” Wheatley said.
“Nah,” I dismiss, “if Koenig is under the protection of a kill switch, then bullet proof gear is gonna be more hindrance than help. Besides, I got this my way. It’s a Bronx thing; I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Very well,” Wheatley said.
There was a sound from above, something coming down the stairs. After a few moments the two mares walked toward the inspiration room. Rarity looked at Wheatley and then at Ark.
“Oh, did Wheatley show you that? It’s far from finished,” she said.
“Rarity thought that maybe we’d all like a little ice cream. She’s calmed down so much since she’s been able to talk about things. Ark, would you like to join us?” Fluttershy asked.
“Are you going to get pistachio?” I ask.
Fluttershy nods; I think some ice cream might hit the spot.
“Sure,” I answer, “Count me in.”
“Baskin-Robbins is still open, as is Fred’s Ice Cream Palace… A fair warning though Fred’s Ice Cream Palace has had thirty-two complaints of tainted Ice Cream in the last two months,” Wheatley said.
“Let’s get Baskin-Robbins,” I say, “there was one in The Village for a while, but I think they moved ‘cross town. Go figure, the yuppies and the New Age kids forced ‘em out… It’s been forever since I’ve had their stuff.”
“They are quite good. John took me there after we got engaged,” Rarity took a breath and settled herself, “I’m sorry, I’m just worrying. I know that Fluttershy is right though. John is a good stallion, he’ll understand,” she said.
“Shall I call you a cab miss?” Wheatley asked.
“Actually, if you wouldn’t mind Wheatley could you call Hinderson instead? I think that we’ve all had our fill of riding in a taxi, and instead riding in a rickshaw would be a nice change of pace,” she replied.
“Of course, I’m contacting their digital assistant now… Their digital assistant has received my request and is reviewing it. Their digital assistant has sent out rickshaw number twelve, and your wait time is less than six minutes,” Wheatley said.
Rarity gave a small smile, walked toward the front door with Fluttershy. “Sir, the biped… He’s been attempting to contact Miss Rarity every few minutes. I haven’t told her. He’s been leaving very demeaning messages. The last one included a pair of her undergarments. My program demands that I inform her, but it also demands that I allow no harm to befall her. I need to send the messages to someone,” Wheatley said.
“Oskvernitel' svoyey materi!!†” I bellow, making Rarity and Flutters turn about, “You girls go on without me. I got some business to take care of.”
I don’t bother with a cab. I do make sure I have some spare batteries for my cyberpros and make a run from the Marshall house into town. If what is going to happen happens the way I want it, I don’t want any witnesses nor possible accomplices. I learned at least that much from The Stacks. The run into town drains my first set of batteries, but the spares I have in my jacket should keep me going for a long time. I find the Rothchild Apartments easily enough. Good God, is this place pretentious or what? I don’t know if the architect was drunk on the job or should have been. Who the Hell builds a condominium with more glass than concrete? Not my problem, now. My issue is to get past the contingent of Jolly Roger guards, getting into the building, and teaching this Koenig character a lesson or ten…
~~~~~Arnett Texas - Marshall home - Present time
“There was a few things that happened, but I don’t feel that I should talk about them,” Ark said.
“Well, Rares, what happened to you and Flutters?” Applejack asked.
“Actually… Fluttershy helped me quite a bit,” I started.
(Rarity’s POV Baskin-Robbins - Arnett Texas 2056)
The brightly colored orange, lime green, and aqua blue of the building comes into sight, and the fashion sense inside of me cringes at the mismatched colors, but despite the obviously loud, and attention grabbing, sight of the building I feel comforted. The rickshaw stops and the kindly gentlecolt operating it sets the breaks for us as we get out.
“I’ll wait right here for ya ma’am,” he said with his thick accent.
“Nonsense, you’ve carried us both here, and I insist on buying you at least one ice cream cone,” I replied.
“Well, that’s right nice of ya, but ya ain’t gotta do that,” he said.
“I know, but you look hot, and tired, and it would be the least I could do,” I said.
I walked toward the doors and let my magic open them for Fluttershy and our driver.
“Wow, I guess they got the automatic doors ta workin’ again! That’s right nice! Never glowed before though,” he said walking inside.
We walked toward the counter and Maurice was waiting for us. The elderly man smiled gently, walked away, and came back with a banana split.
“I ‘member ever’ one of my customers. Old fashioned Banana split fer John’s girl, and Paulie? That you? Hold on I’ll get you a chocolate fudge cone… But ya,” he said pointing to Fluttershy, “I ain’t never seen ya in here before. So, what will ya have? We’ve got the original thirty - one flavors, or we’ve got everything else.”
“Uh,” Fluttershy said, “do you- I mean, it doesn’t have to be- if you don’t have it- but, uh, do you have anything in- pistachio?”
“Missy, we’ve got six different flavors of pistachio. There’s southwestern pistachio, New York/Yankee pistachio, Organic pistachio, double organic pistachio, original pistachio, and Marshmallow eruption pistachio. Which one would ya like?” he asked.
“Marshmallow?” Fluttershy breathed, giving a quick glance at Rarity with a mildly mischievous smile, “I’ll take the Marshmallow Eruption. That sounds good…”
“Sounds fine to me. Lots of folks like that one… I know that John does,” he said jokingly.
“Oh you terrible old stallion,” Rarity said with a mock huff.
“I’m just joshin’ ya. So, would you like a cone or a sundae?” he asked.
“Ooo, sundae, please!”
“You’ve got it,” he said turning around. We watched as he went to work and in moments he had a double dip Marshmallow Eruption sundae. The topping was shaved chocolate, marshmallow creme, and two cherries. He handed it Fluttershy before grabbing a scoop and giving Paulie a single dip chocolate fudge cone.
“There’s a brownie at the bottom, and it should be nice and gooey. Ya’ll make yerselves comfortable now.”
We found a large bench and I took a bite of my banana split. The first bite caused me to close my eyes and enjoy the mixed taste. John had suggested this, and eating it reminded me of how patient he was. He had sat next to me, patiently feeding me small bites of his banana split until it was gone. I had felt horrid about eating all of his ice cream, but he assured me that it was fine. He’s a good stallion, and right now I feel that he’s too good for me. I know that Fluttershy is right, he won’t leave me. Maybe that’s what I wanted to begin with. Maybe that’s what I felt that I deserved. A hug grabbed my attention and I looked at Fluttershy who was hugging me. I returned it.
“Thank you. Thank you for being such a dear friend,” I said.
“It’s no problem, Rarity. Given everything that’s happened, I’m surprised you haven’t gotten- well, like you usually do.”
A knowing smile crosses my muzzle. I know exactly what she means. The ever present drama queen. Thinking on it now it was so foalish of me to descend into such theatrics, but it was part of who I was, and in truth still part of who I am.
“I’m… I’m just wanting to try to hold it all together. I’ve got to try and grow up. I’ve got a foal, or foals, that will be coming eventually. It’s not just me and Sweetie Belle anymore… Which even then it really wasn’t me and Sweetie Belle. Mom and Dad did watch her quite a bit more often than I did. I’ve got myself, John, and our foal to consider,” I said, “But… I am so glad to have you here. I don’t think that I could hold it together alone.”
“You’re welcome. You know, given the way Ark reacted to all of this, I think this whole- thing might take some time to resolve. Have you considered counseling?”
My ears laid down flat at the mention counseling. The memories of poor Screw Loose in the Ponyville hospital popped up, but I forced myself to stop thinking about that. Not everypony that went to counseling was like Screw Loose. Maybe… Maybe it would help.
“I don’t really even know where to begin. Who would I talk to? There aren’t too many counselors here, and I’m afraid the ones that are seem to be a little… bias toward this…” I said unable to finish.
“What about RAINN? They handle all manner of situations- like this. Don’t try to deny it, Rares, you were raped. If it hadn’t been for Ark, I- I would have been, too. RAINN helped me out; they helped me process what had happened and helped me in figuring out how best to avoid or get out of situations like that.”
“I… I haven’t thought of them. When… I feel so foalish, but when I got home… after I called you, I tried to talk to the constable here. He said that if I hadn’t of wanted it to happen I wouldn’t have went out with Ian,” I said looking intently at the table.
“WHAT?!” she yelled.
“He… He said that everypony knows that Ian’s a smooth operator… That the mares that go out with him know that he has one thing on his mind, and that I should have known it too. He wasn’t going to even inspect it because it was a waste of time. Instead he suggested that I simply confess to John that I’m a … I can’t even say what he said,” I replied.
“That is- horrible! Rarity, there was nothing right about what happened between you and Ian. He got you drunk the then he defiled you. If this sheriff isn’t willing to look into this, then maybe you can take this to the State Police or- Doesn’t Texas have another layer of law enforcement?”
I nod.
“The Rangers. John’s been talking about trying to a job with them, but they’ve become privatized. He said that they are hired out to the state now. They actually belong to some security firm similar to Mayberry, but they seem to be a better company. They handle investigations like this, but.. it has to be filed up from state law enforcement. I… I’m afraid to contact the state police because they might say the same thing,” I admit.
“Then maybe,” she stopped when her phone rang and quickly answered it, “H-Hello? Oh, Tolstoy, how are- What?! Ark is-? Okay, okay, hold on… Uh-huh? Yes, please, if it’s not too much trouble, could you please seek Ark’s release? Uh-huh… How much-? Okay, if you could please… Thank you, Tolstoy.”
“Oh, I hate to pry, but what happened?” I asked.
“Oh, this not good! Ark, oh no, Rarity- Ark has been arrested!”
“WHAT?! WHY?!” I shouted.
“Ark went out to confront Ian. If I remember right, he knows him from before- I think he’s done this before… Ark seems okay; according to Tolstoy, he got into a fight with Ian and Ian got hurt really bad… Oh, Ark-”
“Oh… nonononononono, this is my fault… I… I… Fluttershy I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to drag anypony else into this!” I said.
The bit of control, the small semblance of holding together shattered. I could feel it shattering inside of me, and all of the raw emotions began spilling out. I hugged her, trying to comfort her, and desperately seeking comfort. This was horrible! I had brought one of my best friends coltfriend into something, and now he was sitting in the dirty little cell they had in this small hamlet.
“Fluttershy, I… I’ll gladly pay for his bail. It would be the least I could do,” I said, “But please don’t be angry with me.”
“I’m not angry at you, Rares. I’m angry- at Ian/ If- if he’s done this before- and nopony stopped him- then- He’s a cancer! Ark- Ark shouldn’t have gotten into a fight with him- But, if he felt he was doing the right thing then- I can’t find him at fault. It’s like- Do you remember when Rutherford the Troll came to Ponyville?”
“Oh I remember him. He was so an absolute horror! He was so insensitive and mean! The things he said to everypony was uncalled for, and those violent outbursts he had when somepony tried to talk some sense into him. I absolutely remember him coming and terrorizing all of us,” I said.
“Ian reminds me of him. He used to blame everypony else for his problems, but in the end, we showed him that he was the sole perpetrator of his own misfortune. Don’t let the sheriff here tell you otherwise; Ian is a bad pony and he deserves punishment for what he’s done to you!”
I felt the tears welling up, threatening to spill over, and I couldn’t stop them. I couldn’t stop from crying, from falling forward and nearly falling to the floor. If it hadn’t been for Fluttershy I would have simply collapsed into a complete crying mess. Instead she helped me up, asked Paulie to bring the rickshaw to the door, and helped me into it. I clung to her like a foal to its mother. I held on to her weeping.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” I whimpered.
“It’s okay, Rarity. Just cry it out; it only hurts worse when you hold it in. I should know.”
“Why? Why did he do it? Why? I… I never did anything to him… I… I was wanting to talk to a friend… I… Oh Celestia! WHY?! He… There are things I wanted to give John! Things that I wanted to do just for him! It’s gone! It’s all gone! WHY did he do it Fluttershy? Why?” I cried stilling holding on to her.
“I don’t know, Rares. Stallions like that rarely need a reason to do what they do. Dmitri certainly didn’t it.”
I looked up at her.
“You said this almost happened to you… Was that the stallion who nearly? Oh Fluttershy… Thank Celestia it didn’t happen… I… I don’t think that it would do much good for us both to be like this,” I tried to joke, but it all came out in sobs
”No, but you’re stronger than I was when it almost happened to me. Did you know that I spent an entire week locked away in my room, crying? I was so- lost. I couldn’t even look Ark in the face, I was so scared. But you had the courage to seek out help! You are much stronger than you think, Rarity Carousel Marshall!”
I sniffed back the tears and looked at my dear friend.
“It… it just seemed like the natural thing to do. All of us, all six of us have always been able to come to each other for help. I wanted help, and I nearly talked myself out of it. I… I feel awful for thinking it, but I thought that Applejack would have been disappointed in me. I almost didn’t call you, but I knew that I needed to talk to somepony, and I hoped that you wouldn’t have been disappointed in me,” I said, “and I think we both know why I didn’t call Pinkie Pie.”
“I know. Although, she might have been able to understand. Pinkie is much smarter than she lets on. Look, let’s finish our ice cream and then we'll see about Ark. Tolstoy said he’s being held in the Hockley County Jail. He’s probably waiting for us, but we should let him stew for a little while. He could use a moment or two for- reflection.”
I nod and look back at the building we had come out of. I wasn’t sure I wanted to walk back into it. I knew that Maurice wouldn’t mind. He was a kind stallion, but there were all of those other ponies who saw me breaking down… I took a moment to compose myself.
“Okay,” I said stepping out of the rickshaw, “let’s finish our ice cream.”
I walked with Fluttershy back into the building and stopped for a moment.
“You care deeply for Ark, don’t you?” I ask.
“Uh, oh, uh- Yes, i do. He’s my best friend, besides Rainbow Dash. He- He means a lot to me.”
I give her a small smile, “It’s alright dear. Most beautiful things begin with friendship. I look at the two of you, and I see a beautiful tapestry laying out a wonderful life. Hopefully it happens for you. You deserve to be happy,” I say as we walk inside.
“I do, too. Ark, he- he reminds me, just a little, of Discord. Although, he’s a lot nicer.”
“Darling, Discord was only ever nice around you. He was a… well not a brute, but a prankster around the rest of us. I will say that he did warm up quite a bit after Tirek tried to return though. I was rather surprised that he actually led that brute to a magical layline and let him overfill himself on magic… I could see the explosion from the mountains I was gathering gems at,” I replied.
“To you, that was surprising. But Discord- You know, he once confessed to me that he doesn’t know what love is like. He’s a spirit of disharmony. The pranks he plays, they’re his way of expressing his love. ‘When 9000 years you be, as expressive as you are now, you try,’ he once told me. I- still don’t fully understand what he meant, but the little green form he took on was rather adorable. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I suppose I do,” I admitted as we took our seats and Maurice brought out both out a fresh sundae, “I guess that he cared a great deal for all of us then.”
“Mmhmm. He had spent a great deal of his long life in isolation, an iconoclast. When I reformed him, he had never known friendship or even companionship. It- changed him, in ways even I don’t think I’ve seen.”
“I think that’s why Princess Celestia chose you. She knew that you could see the potential Discord had. She knew that you could see the kind of friend he would be to all of us,” I gave a smile, and I felt her wipe my muzzle and eyes.
“Perhaps we should go and retrieve Ark. He might be ready to leave his confinement,” I suggested.
“Yes, let’s. Uh, Maurice, can I get this to go? This is really good…”
“Sure, not a problem, and hey Rarity,” he said motioning for me.
I walked toward him and he put a large hand on my shoulder.
“Look, if’n you ever need to talk or anything just come on in. I ain’t got much left, except for time and this place, but I’d be glad to give up a little time for a friend,” he said.
“T...thank you Maurice,” I said giving him a small hug.
“It’s fine, now stop fretting ‘bout John. He’s a good kid. Hell, I watched him grow up ‘round here. He ain’t gonna send ya off because of some sumbitch,” Maurice replied.
He quickly fixed our orders to go and we made our way back out to the rickshaw.
“You ladies ready?” Paulie asked.
“Yes, would you mind making a small detour?” I asked.
“Sure, no problem,” he said.
I told him where we were heading, and he nodded before peddling and pulling us toward the destination.
“Thank you again Fluttershy. I… I feel a little better. If you wouldn’t mind to help me get in touch with RAINN… I think that I’d be ready to talk to them,” I said.
“Of course, Rarity. I have the number on my MotoXX and I can call them for you, if you like. Also, if and when you and John ever find yourself in New York for whatever reason, come on down to visit. There’s this little tea shop called The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Ark and I go there all the time; the Chai tea there is exquisite. I’d think you’d like it.”
“We’ll have to visit, under better circumstances of course,” I said.
The ride was quiet, but not a stressful one. It was a calm quiet shared by two friends who understood each other. I loved all of my friends, and I thought that I had seen almost every side of Fluttershy, but now I realized that we both were survivors. We had came out of something terrible, and yet somehow the both of us were finding our way. When the rickshaw finally stopped I looked at the ghastly building in front of us.
It was a simple crime against the Art Deco movement to have a building attempt to be influenced by the period, only to quit halfway through, and make it look so ugly. The cracked gray walls looked less than inviting.
“It’s not very welcoming is it?” I asked.
“Not in the slightest. It’s no wonder it’s a jail; I can’t imagine anypony like Pinkie living in a place like this…”
I giggled at the thought.
“She’d have it painted pink, balloons would be floating above it, and I’m certain there would be the smell of freshly baked goods wafting in the air,” I replied, “Our Pinkie Pie is just about able to make herself at home anywhere.”
“Maybe… I‘d bet a bit that her hair would go limp at first sight of this place. Come on, let’s go in. I bet Ark is probably bored to tears in there.”
I followed her into the building, and the outside was a virtual paradise compared to the inside. The stink that assaulted my nose was terrible! It was as if somepony had believed the very hallways were to be used as a restroom. We walked toward the desk where a very unhappy looking mare was sitting.
“Dropping off or picking up?” she asked.
“Picking up, please. An Arkady Visovic?”
“One moment,” she said before turning toward a stallion wearing glasses looking at viewing screen.
“Officer Ramis, they’re here to pick up the gentleman that taught Ian a lesson,” she said.
“I’ll go get him. He’s been a bit… unhinged back there. I believe I heard him singing in Russian,” he replied.
“YOU’VE NEVER HEARD ‘SAN QUENTIN’ UNTIL YOU’VE HEARD IT IN THE ORIGINAL RUSSIAN!”
“Oh my. Ark is really out of it…”
I watched as they led him to the front. Officer Ramis uncuffed his wrists, and then stepped back.
“Personally, I didn’t think that we should bring you in, but Sheriff Venkman was pretty set on making an example out of you. I think that an example would have been you and that prick, but that’s just me,” Ramis said as he walked back behind the desk.
“Ark, oh my goodness, are you okay?”
Ark looked horrid. His lip was split, his one was swollen shut, his nose was filled with cotton, and if I am not mistaken, there was super glue applied to a laceration on his forehead. The poor stallion…!
“Oh, I’m dandy, Flutters, but if you think I’m bad, you should see the other guy.”
“Not to gossip, but the report does state that he likely suffered a fractured jaw, shattered eye socket, and two broken ribs. Of course that was a paramedic, and I’m fairly sure that they missed something,” the less than happy mare said, “I’d say that you made it out fairly unscathed in comparison.”
“I guess so.” Ark added, “It’s surprising what a pair of cyberpros legs can do… Still, Koenig didn’t get everything he deserved. I dunno how he got the Sheriff up there so damn fast…”
“Let’s not worry about it, Ark. Rarity’s invited us back to her house for tea. Right, Rarity?” Fluttershy proffered.
“It’s the very least I could do, and I wouldn’t be much of a host if I didn’t offer to pick you up something on the way. After all, you seem to have went through quite a bit of trouble on my account,” I replied.
“Thanks, Rarity. Right now, I feel like I’ve had a fifth of vodka and an ass kicking. And only one of those things has happened so far.” Ark lamented.
Fluttershy warned, “And you’re not touching any alcohol tonight, Ark.”
“Touché, Fluttershy.” Ark replied.
The three of us made our way toward the rickshaw. We climbed into the back of it, got comfortable, though it was a bit tight, and rode toward John’s and my home. I heard Paulie talking to Ark, and then I caught something that grabbed my attention.
“So you beat the stuffing out of Ian? Good! That sumbitch deserved it! You know there was a sweet girl around here. Caroline, and he… She ain’t been right for a long time since she went out on a date with him. It was high time someone was able to take him down a notch. Last time I tried… Well, I guess that military training outclasses redneck fighting. I never landed a hand on him, but he kicked the living hell outta me. If’n you ever wanna drink, let me know and I’ll buy you a shot,” Paulie replied.
I watched Fluttershy who seemed to be intent on staring at Ark.
“Yeah, thanks for the offer, but I don’t touch the liquors if I can help it; and I can. But, if you wann a celebrate some vigorous kicking of the ass, you can tell me where I can get a cannoli in this berg. I feel like some Italian tonight.”
“No place better than Shorty’s. It’s actually just about a block from where y’all are going. He’s open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. If it’s Italian he makes it,” Paulie replied.
“I’ll take yer word for it, bub. Onward to Shorty’s and don’t spare the hors- Uh, just punch it, bub.”
He nodded, pedaled faster, and carried them toward Shorty’s. They pulled in after about ten minutes and the parking lot looked like it was full of bicycles, two or three solar powered cars, and another two rickshaws. He parked near the other two, applied the brakes, and set the steps for us.
“Here you go. Best Italian in town, actually the only Italian in town. Godfather’s went out about three months ago. Kitchen fire,” he explained.
“Ain’t that a bi- something?”
“Old man Grayson sure thought so. He nearly flipped straight the f… Sorry, my pa would have my hide. He taught me better than to curse in front of a lady, let alone a couple of ‘em. Yeah, he was purty upset over it. Anyway, Miss Rarity, it’s gittin’ close to end of my shift. I don’t mind waiting on ya, but our boss gits prurty upset if’n we get overtime. If’n y’all want I can let them know that you still need a ride home,” he said.
“No dear, I know where we are. Thank you,” I said walking toward him and pressing my thumb against a digital reader. I pushed a button, and pressed my thumb against it again.
“Woah… That’s too much…” he said.
“Nonsense, you hauled us around, and it is the least I could do. If I require another rickshaw I’ll call for one, but you go and enjoy your evening,” I said.
I turned toward Ark and Fluttershy and we looked at the charming little building. It looked like a log cabin, turned into a restaurant.
“Shall we?” I asked.
“Oh, yes!” Fluttershy exclaimed, then sniffing the air, she said, “Ark, can you smell it?”
“Mmm, oregano! Shorty’s must use a lot of it. Better than glasnost and much tastier!”
The three of us walked inside of the building. The smell of the fresh pizza, and other foods lingered in the air, and a moment later a large man looked at us from the kitchen.
“Luis! Where is that louse?! Luis we’ve got more paying customers!” he shouted in a thick accent.
“I’m comin’! I’m comin’! Ya damned old rotten meatball!” a very thin man said.
“Rotten meatball? Rotten Meatball?! HA! This is why my mama she tell me never work with your spouse!” the man shouted.
“Yeah, yeah! Love you too sweetheart, love you too!” he said before he looked at us.
“Sorry about that, it’s been crazy, may I show you three a seat?” he asked.
“Yes, please!”
“Right this way,” he said leading them through the crowd of people.
He walked, weaved, and moved until they reached a corner seat that was set off by itself. He grinned and let them get into the round bench seat. He pulled out three menus, and then set down three holsters.
“So, first off, welcome to Shorty’s. I’m Luis, the head waiter, and I’ll be taking your orders this evening. We have a special on vegetarian lasagna, pizza, and of course our famous Italian five sauce, five cheese, and seafood filled Penne. The Penne does have shrimp, so if you are allergic I’d stay away from that,” he said.
“Mmm, shrimp…”
“Rein it in, Flutters. Now, before we get to anything too important, let me ask ya a question. Do you guys use fresh tomatoes or ones from a can?”
“Trust me, I’m the one you want to ask that too. He gets a little upset if someone suggests that he’s using canned stuff. Everything is fresh made. The sauces, the ingredients, everything else, is made by hand. The food takes a little longer to get out than a chain store, but the taste tells you why,” Luis said.
“Excellent! For a drink, I’d like some Pepsi, if ya got it. To eat, cannolis and keep ‘em coming!”
“Uh, I’d like that penne, if you please. And a Pepsi to drink.”
“I’d like a sweet tea, and I’ll have the vegetarian lasagna,” I said.
“Very good, I’ll bring your drinks right out, and your food should be ready in thirty to forty-five minutes. I know it’s a wait, but again, you’ll understand why once you taste it,” Luis said as he left the table.
“If I wanted fast food, I’d head to McDonalds.” Ark remarked.
“Oh… I tried that horrid place. I thought the building looked cute, but the food is tasteless. I tried their vegetarian sandwich, and… I was surprised that I kept it down,” I replied.
“Ark and I have never gone, actually. The McDonalds in the Village is a notorious hangout for ‘zipperheads.’ And the smell… Worse than a New York cab!”
“Oh darling… The smell inside of it was terrible! John explained that he rarely ate there because the food isn’t that good. He only did when there wasn’t any other choice. I do wish I would have listened,” I replied.
“Johnny’s right. The place wasn't so bad, but then the Waltons bought it and the quality of the food has gone downhill from there. I think the last time I had a quarter-pounder was when I was in basic, and that was a month after Slave-Mart bought it.”
“That’s another place I refuse to go to. There’s one in the next town, but I’ve heard about how they treat their employees. I was surprised that they charge those who work for them so much to live in those little apartments,” I said, “And then there’s the amount of money they charge them for food. I’m surprised any of them can afford to live.”
“Eyup, the oligarchs have won. My papa always said that Soviet Russia was far better than the capitalist pigs in America, but now I think I have to agree with him. America has turned from democracy and become a plutocracy. The wage slavery and indentured servitude of the corporations is the death knell of freedom in this country. You don’t have to live in The Stacks to figure that out…”
“Most certainly not… Although, there are stallions like Princess Celestia’s consort. From what I understand he’s stopped charging rent for the living quarters he offers his employees. Instead, he’s giving them the chance to save for a home nearby, and if they don’t want to then he’s finished building several apartment complexes that work off of income. Apparently he credits her for the idea. Maybe the other corporate farms and offices will follow his example,” I replied.
“I doubt it, Rarity. Glossman Corporation makes their profits from debt bondage and the truck system. But, if Rider Farms has decided to do away with it, maybe there’s hope that more ethical companies and corporations will do the same.”
“Doesn’t TICT offer mortgage forgiveness to those in their employ? I thought I heard something about that?”
“Oh, yeah, you’re right, Flutters. They do that and they have a Higher Education Initiative; seems they want to help the family of their employees out of poverty. Although, given what TICT is purported to pay even their workaday force, I don’t think they have to worry about poverty.”
“I keep wondering why these corporations keep doing this sort of thing… It reminds me, Fluttershy, do you remember what some of the Nobles in Canterlot said about Applejack and Pinkie Pie? I had never felt so disgusted with anypony in my life. They viewed them as inferior, and it was terrible. I had wanted to be part of the elite for so long, and then to hear those words from some of the ponies I had held in such high regards… It was upsetting. These corporations seem to think the about their workers. It gives me hope knowing that there is at least a few businesses that seem to have their employees health and happiness in consideration,” I said.
“Mmhmm,” Fluttershy nods, “I think the word you’re looking for rarity is ‘conceit.’ Those companies like Glossman, they have fallen victim to their own conceit. Or is that hubris?”
“Both, actually,” Ark confirms, “conceit, in that they think they can treat their workforce with such disregard and hubris, in thinking that they can rake in the profits without rewarding those who make the product. Old Russian proverb: ‘A bullet renders all things equal.’ Another old Russian proverb: ‘A peasant can do more by faith than a king by proclamation.’ True story; ask the Bolsheviks.”
“The who darling?” I asked.
His lips spread into a smile that reminds me vaguely of Discord when he had something planned. I almost wanted to back out of the seat, but Fluttershy laid her hand on my own.
“A little bit of human history for ya,” Ark spoke, his voice in an octave of absolute seriousness, “October 25th, 1917, the Russian Provisional Government was fighting World War One much to the consternation of the nation. Tsar Nicholas the Second is in hiding, after his feudal empire came crashing down around his ears. In that month, which was to be called The October Revolution, workers in the cities and farmers in the fields incited revolt, calling for social reforms. The RPG wasn’t hearing it, so the attempted to put the uprising down. Big mistake. They gathered into councils or soviets to better manage the reforms they wanted. The weaker RPG couldn’t withstand the combined assault of all the peasants and workaday people storming their gates. Although it took a few years, the Bolsheviks got the high ground, kicked the RPG into dust and formed the Soviet Union. There was also the execution of Tsar Nicholas and his family, which was a right tragedy, but soon, Russia joined the rest of the world in the XXth century. It’s amazing what a ragtag ensemble of disenfranchised people can do once they have a common goal.”
“How horrible,” Fluttershy gasps, “that poor family…”
Ark takes her hand, stroking gently, “I know. They really didn’t do anything wrong, to either the people or the nation as a whole. But they were considered the symbol of the Old Russia’s systematic failings. The Soviets wanted to make an example out of them. There were some rumor that the youngest Romanov survived; sightings of Duchess Anastasia Romanov were made for decades after the killings, mostly in Europe, specifically in france. None were ever substianited. Worse still, while the Soviet Union was instrumental in helping the Allies defeat the Axis powers in World War Two, the political differences in between the democratic Western world and the communism of the USSR pretty much lead to a sort slow, slow burn of warfare, a kind of war of threats. Especially after Russia started developing nuclear weapons and making conquests of Eastern Europe…”
“That’s absolutely terrible. Those poor souls, and then that poor child being left to wander. It’s heartbreaking, and then… they turned on their allies… I… I can’t even imagine. I know we’ve had less than wonderful relationships with the Griffins, but they never turned on us. Once we established a working relationship with them they stayed loyal allies to us,” I replied.
“Than the Maker,” Ark replies, “thankfully, the USSr only lasted about sixty years. Although, from the way Vladimir Putin messed things up, it’s wonder it didn’t fall back into old habits. I can’t believe I’m named after that guy…”
“I heard some about him. He nearly led his country into ruin. It sounds to me that he wasn’t fit to lead,” I replied, “Both of you thank you. Ark, I’m sorry that you got into trouble for me, but thank you for doing what you did.”
Ark replies, “Anything for a damsel in duress.”
I let out a soft whimper and closed my eyes forcing myself to keep from crying. I felt two arms around me, and I leaned into the hug.
“I just keep seeing it… more and more of it comes back to me. I’m sorry, I truly am. I shouldn’t be laying my troubles at your hooves,” I said.
“It’s okay Rarity. You need somepony to talk to, and you go ahead,” Fluttershy said as she held me.
~~~~~Marshall Home, Present time~~~~~
“Rarity?” a groggry sounding John said from the hall.
“In here lover,” I said.
He walked into the den wearing a pair of boxers and looked at the screen. He waved lightly and the noticed Ark.
“I don’t think I ever got to tell you thanks,” he said.
“No worries,” Ark replies, “you maybe a merc, but I don’t know if you could handle Koenig. That jerk was a hardcore zipperhead. It’s a wonder how I got out of that one.”
“I understand, but I just hated not being here for her,” he said hugging me.
“I understand,” Ark says, “when Hastings had Flutters and I pinned down in Yankee Stadium, I was in a panic. I thought I’d see my worst nightmare come true. Thank Faust it didn’t.”
“ You know, we were actually just talking about both of those things,” I said.
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t here sweetheart. I wish that I was… I wanted to kill the fucker when I heard. Ark, I’m glad nothing happened to Fluttershy, but thanks again for what you did. And whatever happened to that asshole’s Bionics… Good riddance to bad rubbish,” John replied.
Ark nods, “Yup. Couldn’t happen to nicer feller.”
“Awww… it looks like I’ve got two little foals that need a timeout,” Pinkie said.
“Ah’ve got to go too. Ma girls are needin’ finish their chores,” Applejack replied.
“Rarity, if you ever need to talk I’m here you know that,” Fluttershy said.
“I know dear, and thank you. Goodbye everypony, We’ll talk again later,” I said.
Author's Note
(Wow… first big huge thanks to L0rd0f7hund3r for helping out on this chapter. That said, this wasn’t wasn’t the easiest chapter to write. I also really want to thank fixDbayonets for doing the prereading. Both of you guys rock hard.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
LF
†Interpreted from Russian: “Motherfucker!!” Proper translation: “He who defiles his mother.”)
The Lady and the Soldier: A Rarity 'Belle' Romance
The Lady and the Soldier
Visitors Part 2
A Rarity Carousel Romance
Precious little time is taken before everypony is refreshed. Finding out that Sweetie Belle was not only here, but in a relationship with her former little coltfriend wasn’t unnerving, although finding out that Scootaloo was part of that relationship did bother me a tad. We didn’t come from a herd marriage, and while I’m not one of those ponies that went around declaring that all herd relationships would be the end of monogamous relationships, I did feel it to be not my cup of tea.
“Rarity, thank you for inviting us,” Love Tap said.
I smiled at her, nodded, and then watched as my sister got to know her niece and nephew.
“It’s fine darling, I was just glad to find out that Sweetie Belle was here, and in good health. Speaking of which mother and father should be coming over before too long.”
Sitting across the room from my sister I took time to notice a few things. The first was that Sweetie had obviously become a bit more confidant in her appearance. That did so make me quite happy. I always knew that my sister would grow into a beautiful mare; however, the mare that sat across from me had obviously been hiding something before.
It’s unlady like to feel jealous, especially toward one’s younger sibling, but regardless I couldn’t get over the fact of how blessed Sweetie was when it came to her breasts. I wasn’t a slouch, and John had never seemed like he didn’t think mine were enough, but as I watched her with my foals, seeing the roundness, size, and shape of hers in comparison with my own, I felt… slightly inadequate.
I felt a hand touch my shoulder, and I looked up to see John. His eyes weren’t on my sister, or Scootaloo, though he had met them and obviously gotten a look for a moment, but rather his eyes were looking into my own.
“Something bothering you sweetheart?”
I smiled, shook my head, and looked back toward my foals that were playing with their aunt that they had just met.
“No, I’m fine.”
I was. I wasn’t lying, not exactly, but then I knew that John could tell that I wasn’t being completely honest either.
“Rares, I’m going to pop into the kitchen, see about getting everyone something to drink, maybe bring out some snacks, and see if I can make a pot of tea for anyone that wants a glass. Do you want to check the tea?”
There it was. John was clever, and he knew that I preferred to make my own tea. Of course Sweetie Belle would know as well. After all, there was many times that I had to chastise her, slightly, for using my antique tea set without asking permission. She just didn’t understand that such an old set was practically irreplaceable. I smiled at our guests, explained that I would return, and I followed my husband into the kitchen.
“Now, mind to tell me what’s bothering you?”
I sighed and looked at him, “John, are you happy with me? With how I look?”
He chuckled, and I almost stomped my hoof and left the room, but he kissed me slightly, “Pregnancy talking, or something else sweetheart?”
I felt silly about the whole thing. I couldn’t believe that I even considered the idea that my husband would think that my sister was more beautiful than I was.
“I… I’m happy to see Sweetie Belle, I really am, but she’s… her… Oh Sweet Celestia she has gigantic breasts. They’re huge, and it confirms that we have Earth Ponies in our lineage, but that doesn’t matter…”
He smiled, and then he began to laugh, and I started to walk past him.
“John really?!”
He stopped me, kissing me again, his hand resting on the place where our foal was growing.
“You shouldn’t be jealous, there’s no reason to be,” he kissed me again, causing a soft, and lewd, moan to escape me, “You are the complete package. Refined, beautiful, a true lady through and through. Your sister is nice, but she’s not you, and I love you Rarity.”
I looked at him, and using my magic to help me, I took a seat on the counter. I felt him pull my yoga pants down. I tittered as he did. He had then down less than an hour ago, when he had rutted me like there was no tomorrow in my inspiration room. I felt him kiss down me, my blouse going up, and I felt stop at my breasts.
He pulled the bra up, and then he removed my blouse completely.
“John?”
I felt my bra leave, and I tried to say something, but instead he kissed me deeply again. I felt my words failing me, not wanting to come out and work correctly, and then I felt him kiss to the valley between my breasts. He moved toward the right, kissing softly, slowly, with purpose, and then toward the right. He gave them both attention that I hadn’t realized I needed.
“I can’t believe that your jealous, especially when yours are perfect,” he whispered.
My breath hitched as he sucked in my nipple, my hands went to the back of his head, and I so desperately wanted him to rut me, to take me, and to show me how loved I was. He kissed down, to my belly, and then right above my panties. I moaned, so desperately in need of his attention, but he stopped. I looked at him, hoping that he understood that I wanted, no needed, him to finish.
“Come here sweetheart,” he said as he helped me down.
I felt him guide me until I was turned around, my yoga pants down, my panties followed, and I waited for the wonderful feeling of what was coming. He grabbed my tail, lifting it, and making me present my tailhole.
“John…”
“Who shouldn’t be jealous?”
“Me.”
I felt something slick, and I could see the lid to the cooking oil. A finger pressed against me, and then I felt a kiss on the back of my neck.
“Sweetheart, can you pop something in here? That little toy that I know you’ve been using from time to time?”
I swallowed as he said that. My mind tried to clear, I pictured it, and then what looked like something the size of a goose egg on a champagne glass stem appeared. John grabbed it, but I didn’t get to tell him that it wasn’t the right one. The one I had been using was far smaller than that. I felt it press against my tail hole, and then it popped inside. My eyes bulged a little as that moved into my tailhole.
“Tonight… I go there, but for now, let's get things ready.”
I began to pull my panties and yoga pants back up but when I reached for my bra I found my husband, my beloved husband, holding it.
“John, I…”
Another kiss, and the flames from what we nearly started hadn’t even turned to embers. It was everything I could do to keep from magicking off his clothes, and just taking him right on the kitchen floor.
“Lets leave this off, go ahead and put on your blouse, but…”
I’ve been told that my glare could easily match that of any noble in Canterlot. That my expression of displeasure is easily read, and that most would simply do anything, and everything possible to keep from seeing that kind of displeasure on my face. John however refers to my glare as my pouty face.
“Rares, the pouty face doesn’t work. I want you to realize how beautiful and perfect you are.”
I looked at him, and shook my head, “John, I need the support. My breasts are getting full of milk, for our foal, and honestly a simple support bra does help, so please?”
He handed it to me, and I slipped it on. To be candid I wasn’t being completely honest with him. I didn’t want anypony to think that my breasts were drooping. Granted, it was just a support bra, nothing fancy, but I just simply couldn’t stand it if anypony thought that I wasn’t presentable.
I walked, slowly, getting accustomed to the plug John inserted. It felt off, and of course it was making my tail ride higher than normal. I prayed that nopony realized what was up there. I felt so dirty, but at the same time it was so thrilling. I was being a little bad, and John was being the same for me. I watched as he began to put together some snacks, and I began to make the tea.
I’d learned that Peppermint tea was perhaps the greatest thing ever created, and I began to make a pot of it. I did remember that Love Tap seemed to enjoy it, or at least she did back in Ponyville. She, and Button, had visited the boutique a few times in search of Sweetie Belle, and of course I enjoyed hosting for them while they were there.
John was mixing a container of Lemonade, putting together a vegetable tray, and adding a few cheeses to it. I watched him, felt him walk by, and being the naughty filly he was wanting me to be I lightly pinched him on his fantastic rump as he moved past me with my magic.
He smiled at me.
“Like you said, tonight Darling, and I plan to collect.”
I let the tea boil, slightly aided by my magic, and then I thought about the fact that all of my family was going to be here, under a single roof. I’ve never been ashamed of my parents. My mother was always dedicated to us, so was my father, and when they were raising me I never wanted for anything. I know the same was for Sweetie Belle, and now both of them got to spend time with their grandfoals.
I brought the tea out, in an antique tea set that John’s mother passed down to me. She said that it had been in their family for eight generations, and honestly it was just as nice as the tea set I had back home. No sooner had I made it into the large lounge area, then I heard the door. John, being the gentleman he was, went to open it, and standing outside was my parents, Applejack, her husband Anthony, their new herd mate, Roseluck, and all four of their foals. I could see that Applejack was showing a bit more than I was, and it was noticeable on Roseluck as well.
“Howdy Rarity, looks like yer gonna have a full house, y’all sure that there’s room?”
Hearing one of my oldest friends I smiled and nodded, “Of course there’s room. We have more than enough room for everypony, and besides, it’s simply marvelous to have everypony here. Please come in.”
What I could remember of Roseluck was how fidgety she had been in Ponyville, but she looked far more confident now. Perhaps being in a loving relationship was doing wonders for her self confidence. I watched as my father and mother hugged Sweetie Belle, obviously relieved, as I was, that she was doing okay. They then went to their grandfoals and began to hand over a few little trinkets and toys. I understood that they wanted to spoil them, just a little, but I did wish that they wouldn’t do it every time they came to visit. I wanted our foals to want to see their grandparents because they were their grandparents, not because of the expectation of a new toy.
Everypony began to talk, to visit, truly enjoy each other’s company, and it made me feel so good to see it happening. There was a few more trips to the kitchen for snacks, but Applejack, Love Tap, and Roseluck all insisted that they help. It felt nice to have such good friends wanting to help, but at the same time, I didn’t want to seem as if I was taking advantage of their desire to help me. Still, the time passed, and I watched as the night began to close in.
I was both excited and disappointed for the night to come. With it coming meant that I would be able to collect on John’s promise, but at the same time he would be leaving early in the morning. I was thankful that I had wonderful friends, and family, that would be staying for a few days with me. As the evening grew closer I began showing everypony that was staying to their rooms. I wasn’t lying when I said we had the room, because obviously we did, but I knew that some of the foals would be sharing a room.
It also meant that Sweetie Belle’s herd would be in the guest room on the other side of our room. Luckily our bedroom had a wonderful soundproofing spell in it, and I wasn’t worried about anypony hearing us. At least not until I released the spell, which occasionally I would.
I felt John move up behind me, the lights were low, our lovely two foals were having the time of their lives having a sleepover with Applejack’s foals. John’s thoughtful consideration of making a room with bunkbeds certainly did pay off. I felt the toy he had inserted getting removed, and I almost missed the feeling of being so filled. I felt him behind me, his impressive stallionhood touching where the toy had left.
“So, why were you practicing with that thing?”
I tittered lightly, “You know why, Mr. Marshall, and now would be a perfect time to test it out.”
I felt him push into where the toy had been, and the joy of being refilled, by a different size and shape, was wonderfully sweet. He didn’t rut me like an animal in heat, but he loved me like a how a loving husband would love his wife. He gave me the attention, the love, and lust that I would need for the three weeks to come. Oh, I’d send him pictures, of how my belly had grown, my breasts, tasteful, perhaps provocative, but certainly tasteful pictures for him, and him only.
I instantly was thankful for my soundproofing spell. Slowly, after a while, the two of us lay beside each other. Both of us were spent, but I was happier. John held me, protecting me from the night. However, a mere fifteen minutes later I began to hear something from the room next to ours.
Thump, Thump, Thump, Thump.
"Oh Button..."
Thump, Thump, Thump, Thump, Thump.
The tempo was getting faster, and I lay there, next to John, hearing my sweet little sister moan and carry on.
"Don't hog him Sweetie Belle," the raspy voice of Scootaloo came through the wall.
"Shhh, Sweetie, are you sure that your sound proofing spell is working?"
"Uh... Oh Celestia yes, right there, It is..."
Breathing out, knowing that there was little sleep to be had. It wasn’t completely a bad thing. Time spent with John before he left was welcomed, but at the same point I knew my husband needed his rest, and I certainly needed my beauty sleep. Yet between my sweet little sister doing what she was doing, and our newest little foal that was growing inside of me, sleep, beauty or otherwise, was not going to visit this night. However, I dared to pull a play straight from Rainbow Dash's book. I dropped the soundproofing that kept our voices from traveling out.
With that done I knocked on the wall, "Button, darling, no her soundproofing spell isn't working, Sweetie, you need to practice more, and please, quiet down."
Author's Note
(AN: I know, it's been a while, but I did want to do an update. Thanks everyone for reading, and know that the rest of the Vogonverse is being updated, slowly, but surely.)
