Life's Left Hook

You see Octavia tearing up as well, and you take a deep breath to ease the tension on your gut.

Through heart-wrenching sobs, Trixie manages to choke out some sentences.

"I... I tried... I wanted you back... I couldn't... I just..."

You see your waiter coming.

In a moment, you slide out of your seat and address him.

You tell him your table would like some privacy, and you take the food from him.

After he leaves, you move the glasses out of the way and set the large platter down on the table.

You decide to keep quiet and let Octavia comfort Trixie.

Octavia talks in a low voice, patting Trixie on the back.

"I'm so sorry, Trixie, I... I just had to make a decision, and I..."

Trixie's head snaps up.

A decision?! I, I gave you ever-*sniff*-everything you'd ever wanted! I, I showed you! I showed you how much I loved you! I, I even—"

Trixie shoves Octavia out of the way and stands up out of the seat.

"I even gave you my hat and cape! I—I wanted you to... I wanted you to think of me... I wanted you to remember..."

"D-Do you? D-Do you even care anymore?! Or are you just so caught up with Anonymous that all of your worries melt away like butter?!"

It was Octavia's turn to bawl, it seems, and she covered her eyes with her hoof.

"Y-You're not the only one on this planet, Octavia.... Y-You've... You've hurt me... You've destroyed me!"

After another gasp of agony and tears from Trixie, she starts to walk out the door.

"I'll... I'll watch your performance tomorrow afternoon, Miss Lulamoon..."

The three of you stand there with low jaws as she marches out the door, a line of tears trailing her steps.

Trixie trots out the door, her sobbing and sniffling audible until the doors close behind her.

The three of you all stare at the doors in disbelief and in shock.

After a moment, Octavia starts trotting towards the door.

"...I-I have to go after her. E-... Excuse me," she says, taking her leave.

After the doors close behind Octavia, you and Cadance turn to each other, jaws still hinged.

"We should just... Leave them be," she says, sniffling a bit herself.

Understandably; it was painful to watch, even though you hate what that mare tried to do to you.

"Y-Yeah," you mutter, a lump in your throat. "Best not drag attention to ourselves..."

"As if all the sobbing hasn't brought enough..."

You sigh.

"I know, just... Let's just let them solve the issue themselves. I have a feeling that me being around won't help that much."

"Jealousy is one hell of a bitch..."

Cadance gulps.

And, just now, you realize what you said.

"Y-Yeah, I... I know..."

You both look down at the table, hanging your heads.

You yourself look down at your pizza, still warm and steaming.

Slowly, you reach forward to grab a slice.

The pizza was an inch-and-a-half thick, covered in sauce, and with plenty of sausages on top.

It looked delicious.

And Cadance looked a little repulsed.

Reluctantly, you lift the slice to your mouth, taking a bite.

Fresh, hot tomatoes, with gooey cheeze and crispy meat.

It smells and tastes better than any pizza you've ever had, no doubt.

And it's damned hot, too.

Even though it burns your tongue, you don't care; it tastes too good to let go.

You gulp it down and-

*PLOP*

A giant glob of tomato juice just fell out of your pizza onto your plate.

And it splattered all over.

You see Cadance flinch as some sauce lands on her snout and in her mane.

You got some on your clothes, as well.

"Damnit, Anonymous."

You set your slice down.

"Sorry, Candy. Stuff is messy."

You reach forward with one finger to wipe the sauce off of her nose.

She scrunches at you in irritation as you wipe it off and lick your finger.

Even though the mood was gloomy, you can't help but chuckle at her face as you suck on your finger.

She just shakes her head at you as she grabs a napkin to wipe out your mane.

"I can dress you up, but I can't take you anywhere, can I?" she says jokingly.

"You might have a point, -mom-."

She chuckles a little bit and shakes her head, trying hard to get all of the notorious tomato juice out of her mane.

"Please. With my influence on you, the last thing I am is a mother."

"Even though I'd like to be one, eventually."

She tends to her hair, and it looks like she's thinking.

Well, thankfully, due to biology, you two weren't going to be having any abominations together.

But, that brings just as much harm as it does good, you suppose.

You just decide to grab a fork and eat your pizza with that, rather than risking more of a mess.

Cadance keeps to herself as you eat, and the mood seems to shift.

You think about what happened just a minute ago.

Did she call Octavia 'Miss Lulamoon?'

Oh, boy, that's going to be one hell of an explanation later...

And Trixie...

You have a feeling this isn't going to end very well.

Not with Cadance, anyway.

She may be royalty, and she may be ancient,

But she's so... Naive, and immature at points.

It's surprising.

Then again, you were in for more than a few surprises when you signed up for this ride.

Two mares? All to yourself?

Hell, you had trouble getting one before.

You know what?

Fuck Trixie.

Fuck drama.

You're going to be happy, damn it.

You have more than you could ever want.

Right now, it's just going to be tough.

"...Erm, Anonymous? What are you staring at?"

And, you realize, just now, that as you were thinking, you were staring off into space.

'Into space' just happened to be Cadance's round plot.

You gulp.

"Oh, uh, I was just... Thinkin'."

Cadance tilts her head forward and looks at you.

"About what?"

No sense in telling a lie.

"Us."

That was a totally honest answer, but it sounded very, very bad.

"Really, now? Anonymous, in all honesty. Now is not the time."

Her serious tone hurts a bit.

"Not in public. Not after... That."

"Just save it for later."

You shrug.

"Uh, I didn't really have -that- on my mind, Candy."

But you were sure as hell going to take her up on that offer.

She raises an eyebrow.

"...Oh."

"Don't jump to conclusions."

She shrugs.

"Well, it's you Anonymous. It was a fair assumption.

"And you know what they say about assumptions."

She shakes her head and chuckles a little.

"Well, then what were you thinking about?"

"The whole situation we're in. How lucky we are, but how unlucky we are at the same time..."

She sighs. "...Yeah, I... I know..."

There's a short pause, and you take another bite of your pizza.

"Anonymous?"

You raise an eyebrow, warm pizza still in your mouth.

"I have a question, if you don't mind me asking."

You nod, gulping down your pizza.

"Go right ahead."

She looks down at the sofa, away from you.

"With Shining gone, I... It's not going to be easy. The castle is going to be lonely when I go back."

"I was wondering if you would be willing to stay with me. Octavia would be more than welcome to come with, as well, if she so desires."

Well, it certainly wasn't unexpected, but this was still a surprise.

You think a moment.

"I might. I'd have to talk to Tavi first and see what she thinks, though."

"I understand."

You both nod, and after a brief pause, you ask a question.

"What -is- going to happen to Shining, though?"

She doesn't bother to look up, and a devious look immediately slides back on her face.

"He'll be kicked out of the castle, sent back to Canterlot with whoever it is he's with now. ...Well, that's if he gets out of what I have planned for him."

You raise an eyebrow.

You were concerned for Shining, and what Cadance might due with her jealousy issues...

But you couldn't help but be curious, and even a little excited at the thought of what could be.

"Oh? And what do you have planned?"

She lets out a low chuckle.

"You'll see..."

Just as Cadance finishes talking, the doors swing open, revealing a sobbing Trixie and a grey pony comforting her.

The two make their way to the table, and they look at you.

"Anonymous, Cadance," Tavi says, glancing at you both, "it's likely for the best that we get going.

You raise an eyebrow at the two.

"Neither of you have eaten anything, though."

"We've lost our appetite. Apologies."

Trixie is still sobbing lightly, rubbing her eyes and sniffling here and there.

Cadance slides out her her seat and stands up.

So do you.

You take all of the pizzas, stack them on top of each other, and wave over a waiter asking for some boxes.

"There have been a couple of complaints, as well," Octavia continues. "That, and I don't like looking like this in public. Nor does Trixie."

You nod.

"All right, all right, I got it. So, what's the deal, then?"

"Trixie is going to go back to her hotel room, and we will go back to ours."

"Fair enough," Cadance says, nodding. "Are you two... Better?"

Octavia bites her lip.

"I'd rather not speak much of it, for now."

Cadance nods in understanding, and trots towards the door.

The waiter brings your box back, and you pack up your pizzas.

Octavia escorts Trixie out the door, and you follow close behind.

Cadance is a few paces ahead, separating herself from the rest of you for obvious reasons.

After you make it out the door and walk down a couple of blocks, Octavia gives Trixie one last pat on the back, and they part ways.

You follow Octavia, while Trixie heads south, down the street.

After you cross the street, you look down at where Trixie is.

She sticks out easily; her coat's colour is rather unique.

And, just as she passes an old pawn shop, the takes a left, trotting right into the alleyway.

Wait, wasn't she supposed to go back to her hotel room?

Now if what you saw earlier wasn't depressing, that sure as hell was.

You turn to follow Octavia, sighing.

She can't even afford a hotel room, meanwhile you're living the luxury life.

You're hit by guilt, even if this mare was a total bitch.

You had never felt what she did before, but you could about imagine how much it hurt, seeing someone pick others over you.

Especially in matters of the heart.

Finally, after another half of a block, you don't think you can stand it.

You poke Octavia on the shoulder, and she turns to face you.

"Y-Yes, Anon?" she says, still trotting.

You walk with her.

"Uh, Octy, I forgot my wallet back at the pizza place. I'm gonna run and grab it, okay?"

She gasps a little. "That isn't good. Want me to come with?"

You shake your head.

"No... Just go catch up with Cadance and calm her down; she needs to. Tell her I'll be at the hotel room soon."

Reluctantly, she nods, and keeps trotting.

"Erm... O-Okay, Anonymous. Stay safe. I don't really know what I would do without you."

A moment later, she's lost in the hustle of the morning crowd.

You sigh and turn around, making your way back to where you saw Trixie vanish in the alleyways.

As crazy and ridiculous as it seems, you keep going.

Yes, you know this mare tried to kill you and blackmail you.

Yes, you also know how pompous and ridiculous she is.

But you weren't about to let this happen, knowing you were to blame.

Had it not been for you, she would still be on her four hooves.

She might have still had a nice house.

She'd have someone to love, too.

The guilt, as misplaced as it may be, is heavy, and pushes you as you walk down the streets.