Eight legs of fun!by VoltsthevoltvoltsChaptersAct I: The bit before the startAct II, Part 1. Getting all the work!Act II, Part 2. Mixed signals Act II, Part 3. The web that we weave Act II: Part 4. Sociability checkAct II, Part 5. Getting by with help from friendsAct II, Part 6. A hefty price to payAct I: The bit before the start"Alright Miss Venom, that's the last of your 'things' packed." The slate gray moving pony said as he levitated a small clipboard in front of his face to hide his eyes. "But the 'special' carriage is still in Canterlot, they will not arrive in ponyville until tomorrow." The moving pony moved his clipboard and briefly locked eyes with Vanessa, the pony shuddered and quickly ran off. "Jerk!" Vanessa shouted to the pony as he ran faster. "Its ponies like you that are the reason I'm moving!" Vanessa sighed and walked back into her house, she slammed the door loudly and collapsed on the floor in a heap. "Shoulda gone to Canterlot with my family, can't believe I thought this place would change..." Vanessa looked around her dimly lit house, empty glass boxes were placed around the front room, and in behind the closed curtains a small picture of Vanessa 's family sat proudly. Vanessa moved over and opened the curtains and looked at the picture. "Miss you all so much." Vanessa picked up the picture with her hoof and stared at it. In the far right corner a happy beige unicorn was smiling happily, on the other side a pale blue pegasus was grinning. In the center a royal purple pegasus was smiling with her hoof wrapped around a deep brown earth pony. Vanessa placed the photo down in a suitcase and made her way upstairs towards the bathroom, she gently pushed the door open and walked into the pale bathroom and was blinded by the sudden shift in color. "Never get used to that..." Vanessa grumbled as she shook her head and walked towards the mirror. She inspected herself in the mirror, her hair was curled up in a beehive style that was not uncommon in Manehatten and a few pearls lit her dark brown hair up. Her eyes were a deep red and complimented her royal purple fur and her deep red hourglass cutie mark. Vanessa's wings were well preened and all feathers were in order. "Looking good!" Vanessa chuckled as she was satisfied with her current look. "You know, I heard that she eats anypony who 'mates' with her!" A teenage colt said as a group of teen-aged ponies approached the house. "Good things shes leaving, my mum says shes bad for this town. Too out of place." The colt received a punch in the chest from a nearby cyan mare. "Why you have to be so rude, don't you know shes a pony to?" A mare said angrily as she stopped the colt. "Nopony ever gave her a chance, the just shunned her because she likes spiders." The mare sighed and a few of the group laughed. "Aw, I think that somepony has fallen for the Black Widow!" The colt jibbed. "And don't try and hide it, everypony knows you're a filly fooler." "Don't be a jerk, its not fair. You are all idiots that believe urban myths. Glad I don't have to see you after tonight." The mare replied as her anger grew. "Just to prove it I will go visit her before she goes!" The mare happily rushed ahead of the group, towards Vanessa's house. Knock-knock-knock Vanessa got up and walked over to the door, most likely the moving pony had come back because a few spiders had gotten out. "I will be just a minute!" Vanessa sighed as she slowly opened the door. "Oh hello..." Vanessa paused and rubbed her head. "You're Madly Rich right?" "Y-Yes! But call me Maddie, all my friends do." The unicorn at the door replied shakily. "I just wanted to say goodbye to you. I know things have been tough for you here." "Its not so bad I guess. I'm a bit of an antisocial, so I guess the personality fits." Vanessa sighed. "Anything else?" "N-no..." Maddie replied, Vanessa started to shut the door only for it to be blocked by Maddie's hoof. "Wait!" "Hmm?" Vanessa responded. "Something else?" "Y-You look nice..." Maddie said, hiding the faintest of blushes from Vanessa. "Thank you..?" Vanessa responded, unsure how to take the compliment. Vanessa then finished shutting the door and went back to packing the last of her items. Meanwhile, on the other side of the door Maddie leaned against it and sat down, she silently cursed herself fore not being more forward. "If only she was staying another week..." It was late when Vanessa arrived at the train station. The few ponies at the station imminently moved away, save one cyan unicorn. Vanessa made her way over towards a nearby bench and sat down as she awaited for her train to arrive. While her pets would not make it to Ponyville until tomorrow she still could unpack and get everything ready for them, Vanessa became lost in thought about what her life in Ponyville would be like. Maybe it will be calm. The house will be bigger for sure! I hope Dart settles in, he does get restless in new environments. Oh I wish Gillian could be with me now, I feel lonely without his scuttling on my wings... "Oh hey again Vanessa! I didn't expect to see you here." Maddie said, interrupting Vanessa's trail of thought. "So you catching a train to Ponyville then?" "Yep, that's where I am moving. I kinda have to take a train there." Vanessa chuckled happily. "So what brings you here?" "My brother, Filthy Rich lives there. I visit him every so often." Maddie replied. "Maybe we will see each other?" "Maybe, I need time to set up though. It will be a week before I see sunlight once my spiders arrive, I have to make sure everything is perfect or else they will try and escape." Vanessa rushed out quickly. "Well I say spiders, but a few are tarantulas." Vanessa chuckled nervously. Alright brain, what the hay is going on. "Heh, I see. Well at least you don't have to deal with those colts anymore." Maddie quickly said. "I hate foal-sitting them, parents think they buy everything..." The silence permeated over the pair until a train pulled into the station. The conductor emerged and announced the arrival of the train. "Train sixty-three! Going Canterlot-Ponyville, next stop Las Pegasus! All aboard!" "Why is it going to Las Pegasus..?" Vanessa asked curiously as she boarded the train and took a seat. "That's a few miles back a bit." "I don't know, but it gives us time to talk." Maddie said as she took a seat next to Vanessa. "Got your ticket?" "Yep!" Vanessa pulled a ticket out from her hair and placed it down next to her. Vanessa stuck her hoof in her hair and pulled out an apple. "I know its strange, but my hair is bigger on the inside." "Not at all. One of the mares in Ponyville..." Maddie started before she was interrupted my a loud shout. "Vanny!? Is that you!?" A beige stallion shouted as he charged down the isle towards the pair. "Its been so long..." "Hey Dad, it has been a while. And please don't call me Vanny, you know it annoys me to know end." Vanessa said flatly. "I see this is going to be a fun trip!" Maddie chuckled as Vanessa's Dad sat down next to the pair. Author's Note Chapters will be like this, expect the fragments will be longer then what they were here. That word count though. The idea came to me when I somehow thought of Rarity and Fluttershy being merged and obsessed with spiders. Don't ask me how I thought of that. Also I am trying to avoid adding the Mane 6 too much in this story. Also this chapter will be subject to change, I kind of wanted to publish this before going to sleep. Act II, Part 1. Getting all the work!"Job!" Vanessa called out. "Does anypony know where I can get a job?" Vanessa stuck out like a sore hoof, her rather loud hairstyle attracted all kinds of attention, both good and bad. The market place was bustling with ponies that were shopping and searching for things to buy. Vanessa walked over to a nearby stall that was selling flowers. "Excuse me..." The shopkeeper quickly turned and looked Vanessa straight in the eyes, causing her to freeze. "Yes?" The somewhat cream colored pony with red hair replied from the stall. "Can I help you?" Vanessa half froze up from the lack of fear in the ponies voice, back in Manehatten Ponies had avoided talking to her at all costs, however ponies here didn't seem to. "Do you know of any jobs that need to be for-filled? I'm a weeks behind on rent and I only just moved here!" Vanessa sighed. "I don't want to go back to Manehatten, but at this rate..." "Yes... You don't look like you have been here too long. As a pegasus you could always join the weather team. I hear the pay is good." The earth pony replied. "Thanks! Do you know who I need to talk to?" Vanessa happily replied, once again she was happy that ponies were talking to her, but at the same time she was scared in case she messed up. "I would go find a weather pegasus and talk to them, one of them will be able to sign you up easily." The pony said happily. "Can I interest you in some flowers?" The pony picked up a large variety of flowers and showed them to Vanessa. "Sure, I will take a bunch of wild flowers. I have a few bits on me, I hope they cover it." Vanessa took a small purse out of her hair and opened it. she then placed three bits on the counter. The pony placed a small collection of flowers on the counter and Vanessa threw them into her hair. "I'm sure Maddie will appreciate these, she has helped me move in the past few days." Vanessa was lost in thought briefly. "I hope she likes these anyway..." "I'm sure she will..." The flower pony looked over to Vanessa quickly. "Vanessa, please to meet you." Vanessa said happily as she bunched the flowers in her hair. "Yes I know its odd..." "I'm Roseluck, and in comparison to some ponies around here... You seem normal." Roseluck laughed slightly. "I think you will fit in here..." "...I Personally think a pony of your class would be better suit working as an assistant for Rarity." Cloudkicker said to Vanessa as they flew just over the skyline of Ponyville. Cloudkicker didn't really understand why Vanessa wanted to be part of the weather team, however they needed the help to control the random weather that came in from Everfree. "But we do need good flyers, I take it you're qualified?" "Of course, I graduated flight school and weather college at a grade Seven-R, don't let my appearance fool you, I am quite the mare." Vanessa said as she landed elegantly on a nearby cloud. "Rest assure I know what I am doing." Vanessa said, reassuring Cloudkicker. "If you say yes I am living near Sugarcube corner, I can't remember the address but I'm sure you will find it easily." "Yes, I remember seeing a house for sale. To be honest I think I can say yes now. You seem to be an average speed, but a stronger fly in terms endurance. I will talk it over with the captain and we will sort out your time table within the next week or so. Expect early mornings." Cloudkicker said as she landed on the same cloud Vanessa was on. "How do you keep your hair so... Tamed?" "Spider-silk gel. One of the many perks of living with thousands of creepy crawlies." Vanessa joked, Cloudkicker took a step back from Vanessa. "No honestly, they use it in Canterlot. Its really expensive to make. I'm lucky the spiders will do it for me." Cloudkicker chuckled slightly. "Yeah, you can fly off and pretend I never said that if you want. I'm used to it..." "No, I wouldn't do that." Cloudkicker quickly rushed out and moved slightly closer to Vanessa. "I heard from Filthy, who heard from his sister, that you had a hard time in Manehatten. The last thing we want here is to make you feel unwelcome." Cloudkicker smiled warmly at Vanessa, who perked up slightly at the friendly gesture. "And anyway, you clearly haven't met the captain of the weather team. She is a quite the character." "Yes... Ponies keep telling me that a few ponies around here are, somewhat different. I don't really have any opinion until I meet these ponies though." Vanessa pointed out. "Do you know anything about them?" "Well I assume you have been told what I know. Ditzy -or- Derpy is a bit clumsy, so be careful if you see her while you are flying. Rainbow Dash, the captain of the weather team has an ego to boot. You also have Pinkie Pie, who I'm sure you already know..." Cloudkicker stopped and looked at Vanessa for a response. "Yep... She threw every. Single. Spider. A welcome to Ponyville party... I think they are still going on!" Vanessa laughed and Cloudkicker joined in. "Yep..." Vanessa sighed happily and sat down. "Then there is Rarity, she is a strange mix of Ponyville and Canterlot. She owns Carousal Boutique, I assume you will be buying a dress there soon. I can imagine you two would get on well." Cloudkicker said happily. "I wonder how many ponies have told you that today..." "About twelve, I would go and visit her but she seems a bit too upper class for me. I'm all for fancy smancy, but if a pony isn't willing to get her hooves dirty..." Vanessa sighed. "I'l give it time, I am new here after all." Vanessa looked over to Cloudkicker. "So besides this, what do you do for living? Or is it just the weather?" "Well... The pay is good enough to sustain me. But every now and then I run lightweight supplies, a courier service if you will." Cloudkicker kick a portion of the cloud lightly. "Anyway I better be going. I seriously think you should go talk to Rarity, she is right up your ally." "Hey Vanessa!" Maddie called out do Vanessa as she came into landing by Sugarcube corner. "You might want to think twice before going in. I can still hear Pinkie, she is wishing Abilias a great welcome to Ponyville." "Ah, Abilias. Such a lovable rouge." Vanessa chuckled happily as Maddie started walking next to her. The two walked around the town aimlessly. "So can I ask you something?" "Sure go ahead!" Maddie happily responded. "Ask away!" "What do you know about the ponies that live here. I keep being told about certain ones. Names like Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Ditzy and Pinkie keep popping up. Also Ponies aren't freaking out about my spiders! What gives?" Vanessa joked happily. "Maybe I'm not as odd as I remember." "No its not that, everypony is just at the same level of weirdness!" Maddie and Vanessa shared a good laugh. "But back to your first question... I don't think I can help you much there. I know the basics about most ponies who live here. But aside from that I know little about them. However my brother has said you would get along with Rarity... But I think that is more because you come from a high class group in Manehatten. I'm not sure if it would work though..." Maddie said with a serious tone. "Yeah, I had the same thoughts. All these assumptions just because I came from upper Manehatten." Vanessa sighed. "I wish ponies wouldn't assume..." "Yeah, having a name like Madly kind means ponies thing you are insane. School was not fun for me." Maddie Chuckled and then stopped walking. "Vanessa can I ask you something?" "Sure, it only seems fair." Vanessa stopped walking a stood by Maddie. "Ask away my friend." "Could I perhaps... Stay with you for a while? I don't really want to go back to Manehatten yet, and my niece is... Well I will say no more." Maddie sighed. "Yeah sure, I mean were both friends. Why would I have a problem?" Vanessa asked, sounding insulted. "Sorry... I guess its just me then. I can be a bit iffy sometimes." Maddie sighed. "Don't we all?" Vanessa gently patted Maddie on the back. I think I will save those flowers for later... Vanessa though to herself. Author's Note A thus starts Act II(!) Will Vanessa be able to hold a job as a weather pegasus? Will she visit Rarity and become an assistant? Will I keep the mane 6 away from my ~~lovely~~ spider obsessed OC? Will I eventually make Middie's feelings less obscure? Will I stop writing these late at night? (Meaning more errors from a lack of sleep) Heck if I know, but I'm gonna keep writing anyway. Also forgive me if I got Roseluck's color wrong. I am truly sorry. Act II, Part 2. Mixed signals Act II, Part 2. Mixed signals "...And that's the last spider! Phew that was a long chain of parties. I need to go start setting up for the after-parties!" Pinkie exclaimed as she left Vanessa's house, just as she left Vanessa and Maddie arrived from their walk around town. "Oh hey you two! Nice to see a new couple in Ponyville!" Pinkie happily exclaimed as she ran off to Sugarcube corner. "Couple..? Did she think we were dating?" Vanessa puzzled. "Maddie..." "Honestly, I don't know where she got that from. And even if it was true, we would be moving quite fast..." Maddie sighed. "I will straighten things out with her when I next see her." Maddie walked over to the house and opened the door. "I wonder how she got in..." Maddie shook her head and sighed a second time. "Yes... I hope the spiders haven't gotten out. Would not like a banana spider wondering around Ponyville." Vanessa quickly ran into the house and Maddie followed her. "Its nice that you were at hoof to help me set up. Come in an take a seat Maddie. I will whip some tea up for us." Maddie entered the rather spacious front room. A second doorway lead to the kitchen where Vanessa was making tea. Along the front of the room a large bay window with huge curtains allowed large amounts of light in the room, while allowing the ponies living the house privacy if they needed it. Along the back wall several shelves were lined with glass tanks with various magical devices attached that altered the temperature and humidity of the tank. In each tank various logs and foliage concealed the spiders that lived inside the tanks. "That's quite a collection of spiders Vanessa, how did you get so many?" "Chalk it up to pot luck. I can get some of the nicer ones out if you want. By the way, do you have any milk and/or sugars in your tea?" Vanessa called out from the kitchen as the sound of a boiling kettle filled the rooms with its loud screeching. "I will have two sugars and a teeny tiny bit of milk, if that's alright." Maddie called out to Vanessa. The hissing kettle quietened and the sound of water being poured could be heard from the kitchen. A pleasant smell of tea wafted into the main room. "That smells lovely Vanessa." The sound of cup clanging came from the doorway and Vanessa gingerly walked in balancing a tray with two cups of tea on her back. "Woah Vanessa be careful, let give you a hoof." Maddie picked the two cups with her magic and placed them on a small coffee table. "Lets sit down." Maddie sat down on he sofa by the coffee table and Vanessa took the seat next to her. "So Maddie, can I ask you a hypothetical question?" Vanessa asked cautiously. "Feel free to back away at any point if you don't want me to go on." "Hmm, you have my attention." Maddie said flatly, feigning a lack of interest. "So lets say hypothetically, what Pinkie said was true. You know, us dating. What would your thoughts be on it?" Vanessa slowly said, examining Maddie's face for a change in expression. Oddly enough, Maddie kept a blank expression. Vanessa chuckled nervously. "Of course we are speaking hypothetically, a completely hypothetical scenario." Vanessa chuckled a second time. "Well..." Maddie said blankly and Vanessa's facial expression dropped. "Assuming that we are speaking hypothetically, I would be..." Maddie paused for an agonizingly long time, she watched Vanessa's facial expression change rapidly and often. However she did not resume speaking until Vanessa had slammed her head onto the sofa so that she couldn't see. Maddie silently lowered her head until it was next to Vanessa's ear, she dropped her voice to a whisper. "I love you Vanessa." "W-What!?" Vanessa quickly responded, she threw her head up and jumped off the sofa. "I was being hypothetical! Where did that even come from!? I don't even..." "What do you mean 'where did it come from' you were giving me some pretty clear signals! I thought that you would have upset if I lied and said I felt nothing!" Maddie hastily replied. "I mean come on, your facial expression refused to no be worried!" "That's because I was worried you would think less of me for giving you that idea! I didn't realize that you would come out the closet on me!" Vanessa huffed in an annoyed, but not angry tone. "Hey if you went out when you were back in Manehatten, you would have heard that I was a fillyfooler with the hots for you!" Maddie quickly covered her mouth before she dug herself a grave. "Y-you have always felt this way!? Was this whole friendship, feeling sorry for me and helping me just some elaborate plan to woo me?" Vanessa turned away from Maddie. "Why..? Why..." "Because.. You're you. You're not some strange pony that is obsessed with spiders, your not some heartless fiend who cannibalizes ponies and you're not some odd ball. You are a perfectly brilliant pony Vanessa, you don't just have outer beauty you have inner beauty, heck you have all the beauty. And I just wanted to be the lucky mare who got stuck with you for the rest of her life." Maddie spoke with passion and fire in her voice. "This was a plan to woo you, but only because I need you that much! I spent months trying to get close to you back in Manehatten but you always drifted away. When I heard you were moving I decided I had to do something a bit more forward." Maddie sighed. "I knew it was a long shot, I didn't even know your preference, I didn't know anything about you until I got on that train with you..." Maddie got up and placed her hoof on Vanessa's shoulder. "And when I did get to know you, I knew that somepony had meant for us to be together..." Maddie pulled her hoof away. "But it would seem fate has a cruel sense of humor, this whole time I thought you were giving me little signals and subtle gestures... I'm sorry for putting you through this..." Maddie wiped a tear that was forming in her eyes. She was upset but not because she got rejected, but because she had hurt her friend. "I will return to Manehatten and you never hear from me again unless you request it..." Maddie sighed and headed towards the door, only to be stopped by a hoof on her back. Maddie did not turn around. "Maddie. I don't want to lose you, you are the only pony outside my family to talk to me during my adult life. You are the only one who has ever cared for me, supported me, helped me and finally made me feel loved. But that doesn't mean that what you did didn't hurt me. I know what love is and should have just came out and told me, you didn't have to scheme or plot anything." Maddie turn around and saw Vanessa. She had her red eyes firmly locked on Maddie's eyes. "And you said it yourself, you don't know my preferences. And being honest neither do I. It is not something I have given much thought towards." "Are you saying that you are willing to give it a shot?" Maddie said with renewed hope. "Because I promise, no more schemes!" "Yes, it does mean that I am willing to give us a shot. We should start by taking it slowly though. I don't really know how mare and mare relationships work." "Don't worry, I have had a few experiences in my life. I will be at your side the whole time." Author's Note And then romance happened in the form of Vanessa X Maddie, and rather dramatically I might add. Well dramatic for me anyway. On another note I have awake for over 30 hours so this chapter may have a 'few' mistakes that I didn't notice on the self proof-read. Act II, Part 3. The web that we weave Act II, Part 3. The web that we weave Clack, clunk! Vanessa grumbled as she was awoken by a letter coming through the letter slot in the door. Vanessa reluctantly got up and out of the comfy double bed, the house was cool due to the low temperature outside. Vanessa looked over to her partner who was sleeping soundly. She gently walked over to Maddie's side of the bed and rubbed her mane gently, this gentle action woke Maddie up slightly. "Good morning sleepyhead, how was your sleep? Good I hope." Vanessa calmly said. Maddie opened one of her eyes and smiled weakly. "It was wonderful, you are certainly a very calm sleeper." Maddie stated as she opened her other eye. "You don't snore, turn or sleep talk. It was a pleasant sleep for me . I hope the same applies for you." Vanessa paused and chose her next words carefully. "It was my love, for the first time sharing a bed anyway." Admittedly Vanessa thought she could have chosen better words, but they provoked a tend smile from Maddie. "I think my weather schedule arrived. I'm going to go check it out." Vanessa carefully kissed her marefriend on the forehead and left the bedroom and made her way to the front door. A small envelope was on the floor, the letter was addressed to Vanessa. A quick maneuver with her wings and the letter was in Vanessa's mouth. Vanessa walked into the kitchen and placed the letter on the counter, she tore the top of the letter off and scanned over the information that was inside it. Weeks five through six; timetable for Vanessa Monday - Five Am until six Am, morning run with Cloudkicker. Tuesday - Eight PM until nine PM, West sector on Ponyville, solo clear. Wednesday - Resting day Thursday - Six Am until seven Am, mourning clearing with Rainbow Dash, captain of the weather team Friday - Sunday - Resting days and preparation for next weeks weather. Remember! If it says six AM be at the site at five forty-five! The schedule seemed to have been rushed, the hoofwriting was messy and a few words crossed out. Vanessa chuckled as she placed the schedule on a desk in the hallway. Vanessa then went into the kitchen. "Hey Maddie, its Friday right?" Vanessa shouted out. "Yep its Friday. Want to go to the spa? My treat." Maddie called back. "Come on, it can be kind of a date." "Sure I don't see why not. When do you want to go?" Vanessa Shouted back as she took out two bowls, some milk and a box a hay-flakes. "By the way, I got cereal! Come get it!" "Alright I will be down in a moment. Just hang on a moment." Maddie happily called out. A loud thump followed by some grumbling could be heard. The sound of hooves traveling down the stairs could be heard. Within moments Maddie came into the kitchen. "I was think we could leave after breakfast, then they will do our hair as well. And also Vanessa, your mane is all over the place." Maddie chuckled slightly as she looked at Vanessa's mane, unlike its normal bee-give like style it was a mix of flat and puffy. Vanessa ran her hoof over her mane and flattened the the puffy bits of mane. Vanessa now had long mane that nearly dragged on the ground . "I think I like the bee-hive better, what do you thing Maddie?" Vanessa commented on her mane while Maddie examined it. "I might get my mane cut, I wonder if their is a stylist in Ponyville." "Your lucky to be blessed with such a lovely mane you know, I don't really mind what style you use though." Maddie levitated a bowl full of cereal and milk in front of her. "By the way, even if you said no to spa I already booked it." Maddie laughed slightly. "Just saying." "Hehehehe! I think even if you hadn't I still would go with you. I never went to the spa in Manehatten." Vanessa commented. "Was it really full of bookings?" "No, just two. We will most likely be sharing our session with them because there are only two spa ponies. I hope that doesn't make thing uncomfortable." Maddie informed Vanessa. "It should give you a chance to meet some of the ponies who are a bit more refined though." "Sounds like a plan then, sharing our date with two other ponies!" Vanessa laughed heartily. "This should be fun. Once I have finessed I will do my hair and then we can go!" The spa was empty when Vanessa and Maddie arrived, they were a whole ten minutes early for there session and were asked to wait fore the other two ponies to arrive. "I told you Maddie, we didn't have to leave early. They wouldn't kick us out if we were on time." Vanessa sighed and rolled her eyes. One of the spa ponies came over. "Oh! Your accent, it is upper Manehatten, no?" Ironically the most accent thick pony was talking to Vanessa about accents. Vanessa had always had a rather thick accent, but not many ponies got to hear it. "Yes, I just moved down from Manehatten." Vanessa stated, the spa pony nodded and went back to setting the spa up for them. An unmistakable ringing of a bell was heard and two ponies walked into the spa. "...I know I didn't tell you, but it will be fine darling. They are new in town, I'm sure they are just of scared of meeting you as you are." A white unicorn with a dark purple hairstyle said as she walked into the spa, she was followed by a nervous looking pegasus that was cream colored with pink hair. "Ah!" The white pony pointed over to Vanessa and Maddie. "I expect that they are sat over there." The white pony happily walked over to the pair, the pegasus slowly followed her. "Hello! Pleased to meet you!" Maddie announced as they arrived. "If we had known we would have caused an issue..." "No, no! It quite alright, shes always like this around new ponies." The white pony chuckled and gently stroked the mane of the pink pony. "I take you are the two who booked the spa with us?" "Yes that would be correct. I'm Madly Rich, but everypony calls me Maddie." Maddie smiled happily. "And this is Vanessa..." Maddie paused an rubbed her forehead. "Venom!" "Pleasure to meet you, I am Rarity and this is Fluttershy." Rarity happily responded. "I take it you are related to Filthy Rich?" "Sister, I come down every now and then, but I don't normally stay too long... Have never had a reason... Until now." Maddie slyly grinned at Vanessa, who rolled her eyes. "Awww come on, can't I be loud and proud?" "Maddie, there is a time and a place for loud and proud. This is not it, now I would rather you not make a complete fool of yourself." Vanessa sighed. "As Maddie said, I am Vanessa. Pleased to meet you Rarity and Fluttershy." Vanessa extended her hoof and Rarity gently shook it. "Please, the pleasure is all mine." Rarity must have picked up on Vanessa's heritage because she immediately threw a stronger accent on. "So what brings you down to Ponyville then?" "The city life, I couldn't stand Manehatten anymore. I recently brought a house by Sugarcube corner and I have already got a job with the weather team." Vanessa watched Rarity's expression change to one of shook. "You on the weather team, forgive for asking but why?" Rarity questioned. "I'm a strong flyer, plus I need a large amount of income to support over a hundred spiders." Vanessa replied. "Yes, I collect spiders some are deadlier then others." "Spiders?" Rarity almost shuddered as she spoke. "Why?" "Because they are amazing." Vanessa happily said. "I know most ponies see it as a strange hobby, but its my thing. I take them in if they are hurt and nurse them back to health... Somehow, I don't really understand how I do that... In fact I think they just show up because I feed them... Sneaky little spiders!" Vanessa chuckled. "But you do help them is they are hurt?" Fluttershy quickly covered her mouth and hid behind Rarity after speaking quietly. "Of course. What kind of pony would I be if I was to let an injured spider suffer?" Vanessa replied. "It would see you two have more in common then I first thought." Maddie rejoined. "So tell me Rarity, what do you do here in Ponyville?" "Of course! I run a shop called Carousel Boutique. Maybe you two you come by for a fitting. A nice dress would certainly go well with your hairstyle Vanessa." Rarity happily spoke in her normal voice. While the whole concept of some fancy pony hoarding spiders seemed a bit strange, it was nice to see somepony getting along with Fluttershy so quickly. "I know my hobby is strange..." Vanessa sighed. "It was the reason I left Manehatten. Nopony would even say hello to me, or be around me. Rumors got spread about me and it got so bad I couldn't take it." "Oh you poor thing... The city can be such a harsh place, half the reason I have never considered moving. I don't think I could cope with it." Rarity comforted Vanessa. "Do you think I could ask you two something personal?" "I'm fine if Maddie is fine with it." Vanessa replied. "What do you say Maddie?" "Sure, go ahead and ask." Maddie responded. "How long have you been seeing each other?" Rarity blushed slightly after asking her question. "Well, since yesterday." Vanessa chuckled. "I didn't really think it showed that much, but I guess I was wrong. What gave us away?" "Well when Maddie said she had found a reason to stick around she gave you a look. And gave her a look that said 'very subtle'." Rarity chuckled happily. "I am glad my suspicion was correct. I would have been terribly embarrassed if I was wrong." Just as Rarity finished speaking on of the spa ponies came over and informed the group that they were ready. The group proceeded to have there session at the spa. Author's Note Dammit mane 6, get outa here! Sorry about the sudden ending. Act II: Part 4. Sociability checkMaddie and Vanessa were relaxing in a warm bath while rarity and Fluttershy were having a hooficure. While they were all in the same room Rarity and Fluttershy seemed disconnected from the world around them as they received their treatment. Maddie tilted her head back in warm thermal bath and sighed happily. "I could do this every day. This is so nice." "Yes this is lovely." Vanessa sighed. "I love this... So relaxing, I can feel the years of stress melting away." Vanessa sunk slightly deep in the bath, she then flicked her head causing her mane to come down. Vanessa then dunked her head under the water and pulled back up, her mane was now completely drenched and hiding her face. "I didn't think that would work..." "Yes, I think your mane is too long to be able to do that." Maddie laughed. Maddie then dunked her head underwater and flicked it back up, her mane flew over the back of her and she winked at Vanessa. "I take it that was your intention?" "Pretty much. Still deciding on what to do with my mane though, I might regret cutting it but in its current state I can't do that much with it." Vanessa sighed. "I might ask Rarity, she seems to know about stylized manes." Vanessa sunk back down again. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Your mane is lovely but all over the place. I would defiantly ask somepony for advice." Maddie picked herself up and go out of the bath, she levitated two towels over and wrapped one around her mane and head. Vanessa got out the bath and Maddie wrapped the second towel around her mane. Rarity and Fluttershy switched places with Vanessa and Maddie. Soon Vanessa was getting her hooves filed, she sighed happily as she relaxed into the chair. "This is nice Maddie, I could really get used to this." "Yes spas are truly wonderful. I feel the stress just melting away." Maddie chuckled happily. "So, what was life back in Manehatten? I know it was hard for you but you have never really gone into detail about it." "Well I guess I could enlighten you. I mean, it is all behind me now. I guess the best place to start would be at the start..." "You sure you don't want to come Vanny? I'm sure we can make a room free in Canterlot." Vanessa's father sounded slightly disappointed in his daughters decision to stay in Manehatten. "Are you sure you will be alright here?" "Yes Dad, I will be fine." Vanessa rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I will eventually find some friends." "Gosh, my little Vanny... Living in the big city all by herself, its her versus the world now!" Vanessa father laughed happily. "Well if you are sure I guess I will have to leave now..." My Dad was always an oddball, even more-so then me. He would spend hours a day looking for bones for a museum. I guess I thought I would settle in quickly, but we all know how that turned out. I became aware of what Manehatten thought about me while I was shopping in town, a couple of aristocrats were talking about me. I listened in from behind a stall. "From what I have heard she has thousands! And she puts the webbing in her hair!" "If there's one place a spider belongs, it is certainly not home. What if they get out and bite somepony?" "That would be dreadful, and to top it all off she has nerve to talk about it like it is normal! I personally think that she should leave and take all those venomous scuttle-bugs with her!" After that I could here ponies everywhere talking about me. It was like I had opened my eyes for the first time. But everypony has spiders in there house. No place is is free of them, but it seemed I was the only pony who wanted them in my house. The worst part was, is that half the things they were saying weren't even true! "Vanny are you sure your alright, you look so stressed." Vanessa's brother cautiously asked her, he was sleeping over due to work sending him over. "I'm fine, its just this place. Its a dump." "Your house is in good nick though..." "Not my house, this whole city. Everypony talks about me and my spiders. But nopony talks to me... Heck I think they avoid me." Vanessa sighed. "I haven't gone out in weeks..." "Look sis, you need to leave. Get away from this horrible city. Come live with us in Canterlot, it will be fine we can take the extra pony." "No, I don't need to leech off of Mum and Dad. I would rather move to a quiet village or something." "Have you considered Ponyville? I heard that it is quiet over there." "Hmmm..." That was a whole two months before I moved, what happened during those months made me want to leave even more. I borrowed some money from my parents, which I didn't really want to do... And started searching for a property in Ponyville. I was half tempted to inquire about the abandoned library, but the librarians pay would not have covered all my costs. "Maybe that house, its right next a cake shop." Vanessa's mother had decided to visit Vanessa and assist her in choosing. "I know you said you didn't want anything too central, but seems like the only decent sized house on the market." Vanessa was giving her a happy stare, however her true feelings were evidently seeping through. "Vanessa, you need a break from all this. Come to Canterlot with us. Your father misses you so much..." "I will, just after I move. I promise you this." Vanessa sighed. "I promise." I guess that I still need to do that. But I need to get settled first, it could be a meet my parents. "Wait... You want me to meet your family?" Maddie exclaimed. "Don't you think it might be a bit too soon for that?" "I don't think so, if I can be honest I would rather we get it done quickly. I'm pretty sure that there is a bet going on the my house about my sexuality." Vanessa smiled warmly. "Trust me, the last thing they will do is disapprove of it." "You really thing that they will approve of it?" Maddie slowly asked nervously. "Yes, I am sure of it." Vanessa half snapped, Maddie looked shocked at this sudden burst of dominance from Vanessa. "Sorry about that, but I'm sure they will be accepting and even supportive." "If you say so Vanessa, I trust you." Maddie said sounding like a scolded foal. "I am truly sorry for snapping like that. I just get a bit protective over my family. Sure they can say things about me but the moment they start on my family I up the ante." Vanessa sadly sighed. "I am sorry." "Its understandable. I just should have trusted you, I mean what kind of marefriend am I if I don't trust you." Maddie sighed. "Sorry, most of my relationships have been with mares experimenting. Nine times out of ten it ends after I meet the parents, I guess I was just worried I would lose you." Maddie suddenly blushed and lowered her voice. "I forgot we were with company..." "I didn't." Vanessa chuckled. the two spa ponies moved away from the pair. "I guess that's us done." Vanessa looked over to Maddie who nodded and got up. "Guess we should head back home and finish unpacking your stuff then." "Sounds like a plan!" Author's Note Once again not happy with how the chapter ended, I need to work on my ends because they are rather anticlimactic. Act II, Part 5. Getting by with help from friends"Hey Vanessa, how many more spiders do we have to feed?" Maddie asked as she levitated several crickets and locus into the glass containers. "Not that I don't like sending insects to their doom." Vanessa focused for a moment, she finished feeding a spider and then rubbed her forehead as she landed back on the floor. "Only about ten, this feeding is a lot quicker with somepony to help." Vanessa went over to a small plastic tub and picked out more insects, biting down on their back legs she flew back up to the higher containers and dropped the insects into the container. "How are you able to hold those things in your mouth? They're tiny." Maddie asked as she levitated a few crickets into one of the glass containers. "The same way you use your magic to do it. I just got so used to grabbing their tiny legs that it isn't too hard for me now." Vanessa fed a few more spiders and then shut the container which had all the crickets contained. "Thanks for helping Maddie, no need to get any more out for a while these should last them a while." "No problem Vanessa, happy to help." Maddie said happily as she moved over to the sofa and sat down. "Care to join me?" Maddie chuckled as Vanessa joined her on the sofa. "So do we have any plans for today then? Or will we be making it up as we go along?" "Well I need to do a monthly check-up on the spiders. Moving can stress them out a bit and the last thing we want is a highly venomous spider running around biting ponies." Vanessa went over to one of the unpacked boxes and dug into it, she emerged with several clipboards with notes marked on them. "It may take a while and you might need to leave when I check the dangerous ones." "That's alright, I will go and do some shopping. We may have spider food, but not pony food." Maddie laughed happily and Vanessa smiled warmly at her. "Alright then Maddie, see you later!" Vanessa called out as Maddie left the house. Maddie pushed the door open and walked into the clothes shop, while she would normally knock it seemed a bit odd knocking to enter a shop. Rarity was working on a dress and didn't seem to notice the door opening and shutting . Maddie briefly took a moment to regain her composure, a few deep breaths allowed her to calm herself down slightly. "Ahem..." Maddie tried to make herself seen. "Just a moment, I just need to finish this stitching." Rarity said in response to the sound that was made. Maddie sighed and took a seat on one of the chairs. Rarity finished sowing and moved away from the sewing machine. "Oh hello Maddie, how are you? Can I help you with anything?" Rarity polity asked. "Well I don't know really, I just didn't know who to talk to about it. I don't really know anypony besides my brother here..." Maddie sighed and shook her head. "I don't really know how to say it..." "Well... Maybe we should start at the start darling. At least so I can know what 'it' is." Rarity sighed slightly. "Oh of course, sorry I got a ahead of myself!" Maddie hastily replied and laughed for a moment before pausing herself. "Yesterday when we were at the spa, you made a good guess on how I saw Vanessa." "Yes, I do believe I guess you two were dating." Rarity said in a matter-of-fact tone and sighed. "Having trouble in paradise?" "No, not at all. Its just that I get the feeling that she is only going along with it because she doesn't want to be left alone." Maddie admitted. "I guess there is trouble in paradise then..." "What makes you think that? She seemed quite happy when we were at the spa yesterday." Rarity stated as she took a seat next next to Maddie. "Well... I may have planned most of our meet up. She wasn't happy when she found out but she said she would give it a chance. Aside from that we have done nothing." Maddie sighed. "And I mean nothing. The most romantic thing she has done is called me her lover, and that was only once." "Hm, and how long have you been seeing each other?" Rarity asked. "About... Two days." Maddie reluctantly said. "That's your problem, you are rushing things. Just wait a few weeks. If she still hasn't done anything then come back, I might be able to help you then." Rarity chuckled as she placed her hoof on Maddie's shoulder. "If you want any help feel free to ask." "Well I could use a hoof right now really. You see I want to move things... 'Forward' so to speak, but I don't want to make it seem like I'm only after... 'That'." Maddie chuckled and hoped that Rarity got her cryptic message. "Well... How far 'forward' do you want to go?" Rarity jokingly said. "But in all fairness darling, I need to know." Rarity said sternly. "Not too far 'forward'... But I would like to try and speed things up." Maddie said awkwardly. "Maybe just a teeny tiny bit." "Okay Maddie, let me try and get this straight. You want me to help you speed things up, but not speed it up too much." Rarity laughed happily. "What exactly do you want me to do?" Rarity continued. "Well... I don't really know!" Maddie responded. "When I'm normally doing this, the other other half is pretty 'forward'." Maddie chuckled. "Vanessa is the first time I have had to be careful. Normally we just dive in an..." "Ah-bu-bu-bu! That is highly unladylike, please watch what you say." Rarity interrupted Maddie. "As I was saying then... Normally things tend to move quickly." Maddie sighed and spoke flatly. "I just don't get it." Rarity rubbed her chin for a brief moment before an idea formulated in her head. "Have you considered that in your 'other' relationships, you are not their first?" Rarity asked. "Hm, when you put it that way... I guess they moved quicker because they had done it before. But Vanessa hasn't, she has never been in love with another pony as far as I know." Maddie paused for a moment. "Maybe she is worried that she might do something wrong and offend me in some strange way..." "My thoughts exactly!" Rarity concluded. "Now stand up and I will show you what to do!" "Wha..?" A somewhat confused Maddie replied. "Well. You need to do the right thing if you want to show her you love her." Rarity stated as she got up. "Now stand up and I will show you what to do." Maddie slowly got up and Rarity move uncomfortable close. "R-Rarity what are you doing!?" "First, you need to get close to her. Show her that you aren't afraid of her, that your comfortable with being close. Just pretend I am you." Rarity pushed Maddie back slightly, but caught her in her magic before she could fall. "You want to hold her like this, make sure you don't hold to tight or she will be uncomfortable." Rarity briefly sharpened her magical grip to show what it would feel like. "Avoid doing that." "Ow, but message received." Maddie responded as she winced from the sharp pain. "Then you want to lean in really close..." Rarity slowly started to close the gap between her and Maddie. "Look her in her most likely confused eyes, and seal the deal." Rarity pulled away and allowed Maddie to get up. "If you do it like that she should show her feelings, by either returning the favor or running away." "Why do it like that?" Maddie responded. "Vanessa may be a lady, but she is also impulsive. I could tell that from the spa. She will like it, trust me." Rarity said confidently. "And if she screams, pulls away and accuses me of harassing her?" Maddie asked. "At you can say you tried." Rarity sighed and shook her head. "Now go out there and woo that mare!" Rarity ordered. Meanwhile... Vanessa landed on Cloudkicker's cloud, it had taken her a hour to find it but she eventually did. Vanessa walked up to the cloudy door and knocked on it. Vanessa could hear the sounds of a pony falling over followed by a short grumble. The door swung open and a tired looking Cloudkicker was on the other side. Cloudkicker quickly became aware of Vanessa and shook her head to wake herself up. "Sorry about calling on you at this time, had I known..." Vanessa said sorrowfully "Its alright, just having a lazy day off." Cloudkicker replied. "Come in and take a seat, I assume this is about work?" "No, I need advice on a personal matter." Vanessa said as she entered the cloud house and took a seat on one of the clouds in the main room. "A rather personal matter..." Cloudkicker walked into the room and took a seat opposite Vanessa. "How personal?" "It involves a mare I am seeing currently..." Vanessa sighed. "We have only just started seeing each other." Vanessa shook her head and sighed a second time. "She says she has done it before... But this is new to me and I don't really know what to do..." "Wait, Back it up a moment. You're saying a pretty mare like you has never dated somepony?" Cloudkicker shook her head. "That can't be true, I won't believe it!" Vanessa smiled weakly at Cloudkicker. "It is..." Vanessa perked up slightly. "Its really hard to get a date when everypony think you will eat them after you get them in bed." Vanessa laughed heartily. "Oh yeah, forgot about that. Trust me, it you had lived here you would not have had that problem." Cloudkicker reassured Vanessa. "So what seem to be troubling you? I will try and help out the best I can." "As I said, we have only just started dating. I don't really know what I am doing for the most of it. The main thing I worry about is her getting board and moving on." Vanessa explained. "I know I am being silly, we have only been seeing each other for two days." "Caring about the ones you love is not silly Vanessa, and besides I think I can help you!" Cloudkicker announced happily. "You just need a way of expressing yourself!" "How would I go about doing that? I don't really know what I can do." Vanessa stated. "But it is a good idea, I just need some inspiration." "What are you good at currently? We have a lot to choose from."Cloudkicker happily explained. "You could do an aerial display, you could buy her something nice... Wait hold on a moment, tell me who you are dating first." "Her names Madly Rich, but she prefers to be called Maddie. Her brother lives in Ponyville." Vanessa said happily. "I knew Filthy had a sister, but I never knew she was fillyfooler... Only heard the rumors about it." Cloudkicker gently chuckled happily. "There were rumors about it?" Vanessa joined in with a laugh. "In my house there is a bet on which way I swing." Vanessa happily sighed. "Poor Dad, he will lose a lot of bits when I tell them..." "Oh, that's a bit strange..." Cloudkicker paused for a moment. "Then again if I was your age and hadn't decided, I'm pretty sure my family would do the same." "My family is full of oddballs." Vanessa chuckled. "We have no normal ponies living in our family who are alive. Stuff like that is normal... But tell me about these rumors!" Vanessa jokingly ordered. "Well they started about a year ago... Madly had been known to spend the odd week down here in Ponyville. However she normally came alone when she did. A year ago though she came down with this unicorn who went by the name of Shadow Lotus. They seemed to be glued to each other and that's whats planted the seeds. It didn't help that Filthy kicked her out because of a 'noise' issue." Cloudkicker laughed. "Oh yes, apparently they were very loud." "I guess I have a lot to live up to then..." Vanessa shakily spoke out. "Nope, apparently Shadow Lotus wanted foals and they were arguing over it. Something to do with the magic involved... I don't really know, being a pegasus and all." Cloudkicker assured Vanessa. "But sure enough, next time she came down she was alone. We asked Filthy what was up, but he said it was 'her own business'. We left it at that and decided not to pry." "How strange... Then what happened?" Vanessa decided to continue asking. "A few visits later she was with another pony this time she is with a mare by the name of Honey Rays. Honey Rays was a nice pegasus, she worked a bit while she stayed. However she was a bit flirtatious and I don't think Madly liked it too much." Cloudkicker continued. "They left together, but once again when Madly returned she was alone. Not once did she ever say that she was dating either of the mares, and neither did her brother when he was asked." "So they tried to cover up the failed relationships? Maddie had said that she had been with a few mares." Vanessa cautiously said. "Well you're the first pony she has admitted it to... But back to what we were talking about!" Cloudkicker said as she pulled to conversation back to its original purpose. "What do you feel works for you?" "Nothing too big, I don't want to announce it to everypony in Equestria. I would rather do something that is just me and her." Vanessa replied. "You could take her out to a restaurant, that always seems to work." Cloudkicker suggested. "But that does seem a bit basic. Maybe you could try singing to her? She might a sucker for a musical number." "Call me old fashion, but I'm partial to the odd bit of singing. It helps calm the spiders down." Vanessa said happily. "So excuse me for being vain, but I think I have a rather good singing." "Oh really? Lets hear it then..." "Maddie darling, that was your que to leave." Rarity sighed as Maddie remained in the clothes shop. "Not that I don't like being in your company." "Sorry Rarity, but I have a problem... I kind of told her that I have been with other mares..." Maddie admitted. "So the rumors were true then..." Rarity sighed. "I don't know why your brother tried so hard to cover it up." "Filthy is a bit... Old fashion, he thinks that it will shame the family... Somehow." Maddie explained. "What if she asks me what went wrong with them? What if she starts acting strangely to avoid upsetting me?" Maddie panicked. "Maddie, calm down. Maybe she will do that, then it will be up to you to set her straight." Rarity tried to calm Maddie down. "Just take a deep breath Maddie." Rarity got up and walked behind Maddie and gently massaged her shoulders. "Just relax Maddie." "S-Sorry Rarity, I'm a bit prone to panic attacks." Maddie explained as she started to relax. "I have just had so many relationships go foal because of tiny little things. Such as Shadow Lotus, everypony thinks that we were arguing over foals but the real reason we broke up was because I didn't want to spend my Sundays worshiping some forgotten god!" Maddie half snapped as she explained. "Beg pardon? A cult? She want you to join a cult?" Rarity said sound surprised. "And you broke up because you didn't want to go?" "No... She broke up with me because I didn't want to go. The joke was on her though, the cult got broken up and several ponies were arrested." Maddie said triumphantly. "Here I'l explain it..." A loud pounding on the door woke me up, it must have been two o clock in the morning seeing as the moon was still in the sky. I grumbled as I got up. "Two o clock in the morning... Who could that be..." Of course I used a few stronger words, but I don't think I will say them here. My house was dark so I had to shine my horn in order to see properly. The loud pounding on the door came again, followed by a desperate cry for help. "Maddie! For Celestia's sake open the door!" I could have sworn that was Shadow Lotus, but we broke up a good few weeks ago. I moved over to the front door and slowly opened it. Much to my dismay, Shadow Lotus was on the other side. "Thank you Maddie!" Shadow Lotus barged past me and slammed the door shut with her magic. I angrily followed her into the main room and watched her as she peeped out the windows. "Shadow, what the hay is going on? Do you have any idea what time it is?" I angrily snapped at the mare. Shadow Lotus turned around and looked at me coldly, while I didn't like the mare she did look rather troubled. "Are you alright Shadow?" "A bunch of foals... We let a group of five in and they went around vandalizing everything, leaving our mark behind. The police started tracking us down, I panicked Maddie I didn't know where to go! The police were at my flat talking to my flatmates! I didn't know where else to go..." For the first time since we broke up, I felt sorry for Shadow Lotus. She genuinely looked worried. "Do you mind if I lay low here for a while?" I easily could have told Shadow Lotus to go face the music rather then hide, but a small part of me missed her. "Sure, I don't mind breaking the law so that an ex who left me for a cult can sleep in my house." I think that hammered my point home, that she had shown up out of the blue demanding something that I wouldn't do for her. "I know its a lot to ask..." Yeah, a heck of a lot. "But it would really mean a lot to me." I honestly could not believe that she was saying, she was trying to pull at my heartstrings. I sighed and rolled my eyes and glared at her. "Look if I get caught I won't tell them at you hid me." I guessed that I just need something to make it worthwhile, or at least something that meant I wouldn't go to jail while Shadow Lotus stayed at my place. So for the next few weeks my ex hid in my house... "That didn't explain much, you just said you let her in your house for a few weeks." Rarity chuckled. "Clearly you must have still felt something if you let her stay in your house." Rarity pointed out, Maddie rubbed her forehead and laughed. "Not as much as you would think, lets just say that a hefty pile of bits was left in my bedroom as 'goodwill' from Shadow." Maddie laughed as Rarity frowned at her. "Really? You charged her for hiding?" Rarity said sound displeased. "Yes, because she was a fugitive hiding from the law. I could easily have been implicated. I'm not going to break the law for anypony for free, especially my ex." Maddie continued to laugh. "Its not like she got caught anyway, she is just slightly less richer then before. Its not like she needed that money. And besides, it paid for her food and the rent." Maddie defended herself from Rarity's judgement. "I suppose... But I don't really see myself doing that to anypony." Rarity stated. "I know what you mean, I have changed since then. But back then... She broke my heart..." Maddie sighed and sat back. "I can't say I understand, I have never been in that situation." Rarity said as she sat back down. "Its not nice, trust me. I wanted to make her sad for leaving me, but at the same time I wanted to be nice because we had something." Maddie explained. "In the end she vanished and I haven't seen her since. I wonder what she it up to?" "It doesn't matter what she is doing now. She has vanished from your life and now you have Vanessa. Focus on her." Rarity half ordered, half suggested. "I should focus on Vanessa, you're right." Maddie admitted. "No point dwelling in the past, not like its going to come back at any point!" Maddie joked happily as she got up. "Well I better go do the shopping I said I was going to do!" Maddie sighed and left the clothes shop, leaving Rarity slightly more educated about her past, whether she wanted to or not. Rarity sighed once Maddie left. "Oh to be young and in love..." Rarity chuckled. "Not worth the hassle at all!" "...What can I do? What can I do? The only one for me is you. What can I do? What can I do? What can I do?" Vanessa finished singing her song, it was a rather short song about somepony being in love with another and trying to get the other to see this. An ironic song choice for Vanessa, but she had little to choose from. "Very good Vanessa, Honestly I didn't expect you to be such a good singer. I mean, I did have expectations but you could easily be mistaken for a singer. How did you get so good?" Cloudkicker asked as Vanessa sat back down after singing. "I have always sung as a hobby, tending spiders may be my destiny but singing is a passion. But other then that I don't really do much else." Vanessa solemnly said. "I guess so, I think it will work personally. The singing will show Maddie how you truly feel about her." "I hope so, if she gets the wrong idea I don't know what I would do." Vanessa sighed and thought for a moment. "Something on your mind Vanessa?" Cloudkicker asked. "Isn't it a bit too much? I mean, I do want to show her that I love her but..." Vanessa shook her head. "I don't know..." "Well its your choice, I won't force you to do anything." Cloudkicker stated. "its your love life, not mine. But it is rather early on in your relationship. Why don't you see how it plays outs and plan from there?" "That's a good plan, thanks Cloudkicker I need a helping hoof." Vanessa happily said. "Now I need to head back home and finish off recording the spider progress." Vanessa opened the door and made her way out the house. "Thanks again Cloudkicker!" Cloudkicker walked out the house and waved goodbye to Vanessa. "No problem Vanessa, good luck!" Author's Note Because secretly Rarity and Cloudkicker are love gurus. Also, sorry about the length of this one. I was on holiday (still am) And I had to write it on Wordpad due to a lack of internet. Wordpad has no word count. (At least not one that I know of. I don't use it at all.) I tried to proofread this the best I can, but I have had a lot of stuff going on. Act II, Part 6. A hefty price to payMaddie opened the door to her and Vanessa's house, the house was bright, warm and welcoming when she entered. The door to the main room was open and she could see Vanessa sat down in the main room. All the spiders were in their cages from what she could tell and Vanessa looked happy. Maddie magically moved the her bags into the kitchen and entered the main room and sat down next her to sofa. Vanessa nudged up to Maddie and wrapped one of her wings around her and pulled her in close. Maddie gently pulled herself in and sighed happily. A silence overtook the two and they were sat in bliss. After what seemed like hours, but was only five minutes Maddie broke the silence. "Vanessa." Maddie waited for Vanessa to turn and face her before she went on. "I know, you know I have had other loves." A nod came from Vanessa and Maddie went on. "Please don't feel pressured to do anything that you wouldn't normally do..." Maddie felt horrible asking Vanessa thing, Maddie felt Vanessa tighten her wing. "I..." Maddie started but was interrupted by Vanessa hushing her. Vanessa didn't speak, she just held Maddie close to her and remained silent. Maddie started to grow worried when Vanessa refused to let her move. It wasn't painful, but uncomfortable for Maddie. As Maddie tried to wriggle free Vanessa sighed. Vanessa loosened her grip and allowed Maddie to break out. "Vanessa what has gotten into you?" Maddie questioned. Vanessa shook her head and sighed. "Maddie, I love you. I truly do. But I need your help. You need to tell me if I am doing anything wrong, or anything that makes you uncomfortable." Vanessa looked out into space and glanced out the window. "Like then. I was dong something wrong but you didn't say anything. You need to tell me when I am doing wrong. I haven't done this before... I need your help! Please Maddie!" "Alright Vanessa, I think I understand what you want." Maddie cuddled back up to Vanessa. "But Vanessa I need to you to do something. You need to trust me on this, and if at any point you want me leave you can tell me." Maddie tried to sound comforting, but a slight tinge of fear was able to seep through. Vanessa looked slightly worried, however she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Alright Maddie. I trust you." Vanessa kept her eyes closed for a few more moments. "What do you want me to do?" Vanessa said as she opened her eyes. "I just need you to stand up for me. I also need you to not do anything." Maddie quickly noted a slightly worried expression on Vanessa. "Don't worry, trust me." Vanessa relaxed and took another deep breath. Maddie moved up to her and gently took a hold of her back and started to pull her backwards. After a few moments Vanessa was tilted backwards and Maddie was leaning over her. "M-Maddie?" Vanessa questioned as Maddie quickly closed the gap and quickly sealed their lips. Maddie sighed happily through her closed lips and Vanessa didn't jerk away instantly, so Maddie's plan was working well. Maddie took in the strange soft texture of Vanessa's lips. Maddie was no stranger to kissing mares, but Vanessa's lips had strange silky texture to them that she had not felt before. After a few moments Maddie pulled the pair of them back up and let go of Vanessa and pulled away from her. Vanessa looked slightly dumbstruck so Maddie had to pick up the slack. "Vanessa? Are you alright?" Maddie didn't really have any idea what to say. However Vanessa remained stubbornly silent with a shocked look. "Vanessa?" Maddie paused for a moment and thought about what she could do. In the end she decided to re lock her lips with Vanessa. After a moment kissing Maddie pulled away from Vanessa again. This time Vanessa seemed to be in reality. "Maddie, you just kissed me. Twice." Vanessa stated the obvious as she tried to figure out what happened. "Maddie..." Vanessa looked away from Maddie for a brief moment, filling Maddie with worry. Maddie decided she would try and fix things before they got out of hand. "Vanessa, I am sorry. I really am, I though you were..." Maddie searched her head, but could not find the right words. Maddie ended up grumbling and then sighing. "If you want me to go, I will." "Yes... I think that would be best. I just need to think about some things." Vanessa sighed as Maddie left the house quietly. Vanessa sat down on the sofa, her house was quiet save her shallow breathing. Vanessa tried to figure out what had happened, why she had gotten upset and why Maddie did what she did. Its because she loves you Vanessa. Why else would she kiss you? You spent this whole day talking to Cloudkicker about what you will do, only to kick her out when she shows clear signs of loving you. Vanessa sighed and shook her head. Maybe I shouldn't of sent Maddie away... This is too much... Maddie arrived outside Rarities, while it was getting late the shop was still open. Maddie slowly pushed the door open and walked into the shop for the second time. Rarity was once again working on a dress and didn't notice Maddie walk in. "Hey Rarity, do you have a moment?" Maddie tried to sound happy, but she was terrible at hiding her true emotions. Rarity caught on and stopped sowing. "Maddie? What are you doing over at this time? Is something on your mind?" Rarity asked as she walked over to Maddie. "Just... Well I can say I tried at least..." Maddie sighed. "Oh Maddie... What happened?" Rarity gave Maddie a comforting hug. "She just... Asked me to leave." Maddie stated. "She was a bit shocked and then she asked me to leave." "Maddie are you alright? You seem to be rather calm about this." Rarity pointed out. "Its not anything that hasn't happened before. I'm used to it..." Maddie sighed and glared at the floor. "I don't cry, but the pain is still there." "I don't know what you could do Maddie... You could try and salvage it, but that might not be such a good idea." Rarity sighed. "You could move on, but that might not be the best of things to do." "I need to go back at some point to get my stuff back. I will see what Vanessa is like then, but I don't know what she will be like." Maddie said in return. "Thanks for being here for me Rarity." "Think nothing of it darling, you are welcome to stay here for a few nights if the need arises." Rarity said happily. "I think I might have to for a few nights Rarity..." Maddie sighed and Rarity nodded and started setting up the sofa for a pony to sleep on. Author's Note And everything came crashing down... Like a huge tree, or something like that. If only I knew how my strange mind worked.
Act I: The bit before the start"Alright Miss Venom, that's the last of your 'things' packed." The slate gray moving pony said as he levitated a small clipboard in front of his face to hide his eyes. "But the 'special' carriage is still in Canterlot, they will not arrive in ponyville until tomorrow." The moving pony moved his clipboard and briefly locked eyes with Vanessa, the pony shuddered and quickly ran off. "Jerk!" Vanessa shouted to the pony as he ran faster. "Its ponies like you that are the reason I'm moving!" Vanessa sighed and walked back into her house, she slammed the door loudly and collapsed on the floor in a heap. "Shoulda gone to Canterlot with my family, can't believe I thought this place would change..." Vanessa looked around her dimly lit house, empty glass boxes were placed around the front room, and in behind the closed curtains a small picture of Vanessa 's family sat proudly. Vanessa moved over and opened the curtains and looked at the picture. "Miss you all so much." Vanessa picked up the picture with her hoof and stared at it. In the far right corner a happy beige unicorn was smiling happily, on the other side a pale blue pegasus was grinning. In the center a royal purple pegasus was smiling with her hoof wrapped around a deep brown earth pony. Vanessa placed the photo down in a suitcase and made her way upstairs towards the bathroom, she gently pushed the door open and walked into the pale bathroom and was blinded by the sudden shift in color. "Never get used to that..." Vanessa grumbled as she shook her head and walked towards the mirror. She inspected herself in the mirror, her hair was curled up in a beehive style that was not uncommon in Manehatten and a few pearls lit her dark brown hair up. Her eyes were a deep red and complimented her royal purple fur and her deep red hourglass cutie mark. Vanessa's wings were well preened and all feathers were in order. "Looking good!" Vanessa chuckled as she was satisfied with her current look. "You know, I heard that she eats anypony who 'mates' with her!" A teenage colt said as a group of teen-aged ponies approached the house. "Good things shes leaving, my mum says shes bad for this town. Too out of place." The colt received a punch in the chest from a nearby cyan mare. "Why you have to be so rude, don't you know shes a pony to?" A mare said angrily as she stopped the colt. "Nopony ever gave her a chance, the just shunned her because she likes spiders." The mare sighed and a few of the group laughed. "Aw, I think that somepony has fallen for the Black Widow!" The colt jibbed. "And don't try and hide it, everypony knows you're a filly fooler." "Don't be a jerk, its not fair. You are all idiots that believe urban myths. Glad I don't have to see you after tonight." The mare replied as her anger grew. "Just to prove it I will go visit her before she goes!" The mare happily rushed ahead of the group, towards Vanessa's house. Knock-knock-knock Vanessa got up and walked over to the door, most likely the moving pony had come back because a few spiders had gotten out. "I will be just a minute!" Vanessa sighed as she slowly opened the door. "Oh hello..." Vanessa paused and rubbed her head. "You're Madly Rich right?" "Y-Yes! But call me Maddie, all my friends do." The unicorn at the door replied shakily. "I just wanted to say goodbye to you. I know things have been tough for you here." "Its not so bad I guess. I'm a bit of an antisocial, so I guess the personality fits." Vanessa sighed. "Anything else?" "N-no..." Maddie replied, Vanessa started to shut the door only for it to be blocked by Maddie's hoof. "Wait!" "Hmm?" Vanessa responded. "Something else?" "Y-You look nice..." Maddie said, hiding the faintest of blushes from Vanessa. "Thank you..?" Vanessa responded, unsure how to take the compliment. Vanessa then finished shutting the door and went back to packing the last of her items. Meanwhile, on the other side of the door Maddie leaned against it and sat down, she silently cursed herself fore not being more forward. "If only she was staying another week..." It was late when Vanessa arrived at the train station. The few ponies at the station imminently moved away, save one cyan unicorn. Vanessa made her way over towards a nearby bench and sat down as she awaited for her train to arrive. While her pets would not make it to Ponyville until tomorrow she still could unpack and get everything ready for them, Vanessa became lost in thought about what her life in Ponyville would be like. Maybe it will be calm. The house will be bigger for sure! I hope Dart settles in, he does get restless in new environments. Oh I wish Gillian could be with me now, I feel lonely without his scuttling on my wings... "Oh hey again Vanessa! I didn't expect to see you here." Maddie said, interrupting Vanessa's trail of thought. "So you catching a train to Ponyville then?" "Yep, that's where I am moving. I kinda have to take a train there." Vanessa chuckled happily. "So what brings you here?" "My brother, Filthy Rich lives there. I visit him every so often." Maddie replied. "Maybe we will see each other?" "Maybe, I need time to set up though. It will be a week before I see sunlight once my spiders arrive, I have to make sure everything is perfect or else they will try and escape." Vanessa rushed out quickly. "Well I say spiders, but a few are tarantulas." Vanessa chuckled nervously. Alright brain, what the hay is going on. "Heh, I see. Well at least you don't have to deal with those colts anymore." Maddie quickly said. "I hate foal-sitting them, parents think they buy everything..." The silence permeated over the pair until a train pulled into the station. The conductor emerged and announced the arrival of the train. "Train sixty-three! Going Canterlot-Ponyville, next stop Las Pegasus! All aboard!" "Why is it going to Las Pegasus..?" Vanessa asked curiously as she boarded the train and took a seat. "That's a few miles back a bit." "I don't know, but it gives us time to talk." Maddie said as she took a seat next to Vanessa. "Got your ticket?" "Yep!" Vanessa pulled a ticket out from her hair and placed it down next to her. Vanessa stuck her hoof in her hair and pulled out an apple. "I know its strange, but my hair is bigger on the inside." "Not at all. One of the mares in Ponyville..." Maddie started before she was interrupted my a loud shout. "Vanny!? Is that you!?" A beige stallion shouted as he charged down the isle towards the pair. "Its been so long..." "Hey Dad, it has been a while. And please don't call me Vanny, you know it annoys me to know end." Vanessa said flatly. "I see this is going to be a fun trip!" Maddie chuckled as Vanessa's Dad sat down next to the pair. Author's Note Chapters will be like this, expect the fragments will be longer then what they were here. That word count though. The idea came to me when I somehow thought of Rarity and Fluttershy being merged and obsessed with spiders. Don't ask me how I thought of that. Also I am trying to avoid adding the Mane 6 too much in this story. Also this chapter will be subject to change, I kind of wanted to publish this before going to sleep.
Act II, Part 1. Getting all the work!"Job!" Vanessa called out. "Does anypony know where I can get a job?" Vanessa stuck out like a sore hoof, her rather loud hairstyle attracted all kinds of attention, both good and bad. The market place was bustling with ponies that were shopping and searching for things to buy. Vanessa walked over to a nearby stall that was selling flowers. "Excuse me..." The shopkeeper quickly turned and looked Vanessa straight in the eyes, causing her to freeze. "Yes?" The somewhat cream colored pony with red hair replied from the stall. "Can I help you?" Vanessa half froze up from the lack of fear in the ponies voice, back in Manehatten Ponies had avoided talking to her at all costs, however ponies here didn't seem to. "Do you know of any jobs that need to be for-filled? I'm a weeks behind on rent and I only just moved here!" Vanessa sighed. "I don't want to go back to Manehatten, but at this rate..." "Yes... You don't look like you have been here too long. As a pegasus you could always join the weather team. I hear the pay is good." The earth pony replied. "Thanks! Do you know who I need to talk to?" Vanessa happily replied, once again she was happy that ponies were talking to her, but at the same time she was scared in case she messed up. "I would go find a weather pegasus and talk to them, one of them will be able to sign you up easily." The pony said happily. "Can I interest you in some flowers?" The pony picked up a large variety of flowers and showed them to Vanessa. "Sure, I will take a bunch of wild flowers. I have a few bits on me, I hope they cover it." Vanessa took a small purse out of her hair and opened it. she then placed three bits on the counter. The pony placed a small collection of flowers on the counter and Vanessa threw them into her hair. "I'm sure Maddie will appreciate these, she has helped me move in the past few days." Vanessa was lost in thought briefly. "I hope she likes these anyway..." "I'm sure she will..." The flower pony looked over to Vanessa quickly. "Vanessa, please to meet you." Vanessa said happily as she bunched the flowers in her hair. "Yes I know its odd..." "I'm Roseluck, and in comparison to some ponies around here... You seem normal." Roseluck laughed slightly. "I think you will fit in here..." "...I Personally think a pony of your class would be better suit working as an assistant for Rarity." Cloudkicker said to Vanessa as they flew just over the skyline of Ponyville. Cloudkicker didn't really understand why Vanessa wanted to be part of the weather team, however they needed the help to control the random weather that came in from Everfree. "But we do need good flyers, I take it you're qualified?" "Of course, I graduated flight school and weather college at a grade Seven-R, don't let my appearance fool you, I am quite the mare." Vanessa said as she landed elegantly on a nearby cloud. "Rest assure I know what I am doing." Vanessa said, reassuring Cloudkicker. "If you say yes I am living near Sugarcube corner, I can't remember the address but I'm sure you will find it easily." "Yes, I remember seeing a house for sale. To be honest I think I can say yes now. You seem to be an average speed, but a stronger fly in terms endurance. I will talk it over with the captain and we will sort out your time table within the next week or so. Expect early mornings." Cloudkicker said as she landed on the same cloud Vanessa was on. "How do you keep your hair so... Tamed?" "Spider-silk gel. One of the many perks of living with thousands of creepy crawlies." Vanessa joked, Cloudkicker took a step back from Vanessa. "No honestly, they use it in Canterlot. Its really expensive to make. I'm lucky the spiders will do it for me." Cloudkicker chuckled slightly. "Yeah, you can fly off and pretend I never said that if you want. I'm used to it..." "No, I wouldn't do that." Cloudkicker quickly rushed out and moved slightly closer to Vanessa. "I heard from Filthy, who heard from his sister, that you had a hard time in Manehatten. The last thing we want here is to make you feel unwelcome." Cloudkicker smiled warmly at Vanessa, who perked up slightly at the friendly gesture. "And anyway, you clearly haven't met the captain of the weather team. She is a quite the character." "Yes... Ponies keep telling me that a few ponies around here are, somewhat different. I don't really have any opinion until I meet these ponies though." Vanessa pointed out. "Do you know anything about them?" "Well I assume you have been told what I know. Ditzy -or- Derpy is a bit clumsy, so be careful if you see her while you are flying. Rainbow Dash, the captain of the weather team has an ego to boot. You also have Pinkie Pie, who I'm sure you already know..." Cloudkicker stopped and looked at Vanessa for a response. "Yep... She threw every. Single. Spider. A welcome to Ponyville party... I think they are still going on!" Vanessa laughed and Cloudkicker joined in. "Yep..." Vanessa sighed happily and sat down. "Then there is Rarity, she is a strange mix of Ponyville and Canterlot. She owns Carousal Boutique, I assume you will be buying a dress there soon. I can imagine you two would get on well." Cloudkicker said happily. "I wonder how many ponies have told you that today..." "About twelve, I would go and visit her but she seems a bit too upper class for me. I'm all for fancy smancy, but if a pony isn't willing to get her hooves dirty..." Vanessa sighed. "I'l give it time, I am new here after all." Vanessa looked over to Cloudkicker. "So besides this, what do you do for living? Or is it just the weather?" "Well... The pay is good enough to sustain me. But every now and then I run lightweight supplies, a courier service if you will." Cloudkicker kick a portion of the cloud lightly. "Anyway I better be going. I seriously think you should go talk to Rarity, she is right up your ally." "Hey Vanessa!" Maddie called out do Vanessa as she came into landing by Sugarcube corner. "You might want to think twice before going in. I can still hear Pinkie, she is wishing Abilias a great welcome to Ponyville." "Ah, Abilias. Such a lovable rouge." Vanessa chuckled happily as Maddie started walking next to her. The two walked around the town aimlessly. "So can I ask you something?" "Sure go ahead!" Maddie happily responded. "Ask away!" "What do you know about the ponies that live here. I keep being told about certain ones. Names like Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Ditzy and Pinkie keep popping up. Also Ponies aren't freaking out about my spiders! What gives?" Vanessa joked happily. "Maybe I'm not as odd as I remember." "No its not that, everypony is just at the same level of weirdness!" Maddie and Vanessa shared a good laugh. "But back to your first question... I don't think I can help you much there. I know the basics about most ponies who live here. But aside from that I know little about them. However my brother has said you would get along with Rarity... But I think that is more because you come from a high class group in Manehatten. I'm not sure if it would work though..." Maddie said with a serious tone. "Yeah, I had the same thoughts. All these assumptions just because I came from upper Manehatten." Vanessa sighed. "I wish ponies wouldn't assume..." "Yeah, having a name like Madly kind means ponies thing you are insane. School was not fun for me." Maddie Chuckled and then stopped walking. "Vanessa can I ask you something?" "Sure, it only seems fair." Vanessa stopped walking a stood by Maddie. "Ask away my friend." "Could I perhaps... Stay with you for a while? I don't really want to go back to Manehatten yet, and my niece is... Well I will say no more." Maddie sighed. "Yeah sure, I mean were both friends. Why would I have a problem?" Vanessa asked, sounding insulted. "Sorry... I guess its just me then. I can be a bit iffy sometimes." Maddie sighed. "Don't we all?" Vanessa gently patted Maddie on the back. I think I will save those flowers for later... Vanessa though to herself. Author's Note A thus starts Act II(!) Will Vanessa be able to hold a job as a weather pegasus? Will she visit Rarity and become an assistant? Will I keep the mane 6 away from my ~~lovely~~ spider obsessed OC? Will I eventually make Middie's feelings less obscure? Will I stop writing these late at night? (Meaning more errors from a lack of sleep) Heck if I know, but I'm gonna keep writing anyway. Also forgive me if I got Roseluck's color wrong. I am truly sorry.
Act II, Part 2. Mixed signals Act II, Part 2. Mixed signals "...And that's the last spider! Phew that was a long chain of parties. I need to go start setting up for the after-parties!" Pinkie exclaimed as she left Vanessa's house, just as she left Vanessa and Maddie arrived from their walk around town. "Oh hey you two! Nice to see a new couple in Ponyville!" Pinkie happily exclaimed as she ran off to Sugarcube corner. "Couple..? Did she think we were dating?" Vanessa puzzled. "Maddie..." "Honestly, I don't know where she got that from. And even if it was true, we would be moving quite fast..." Maddie sighed. "I will straighten things out with her when I next see her." Maddie walked over to the house and opened the door. "I wonder how she got in..." Maddie shook her head and sighed a second time. "Yes... I hope the spiders haven't gotten out. Would not like a banana spider wondering around Ponyville." Vanessa quickly ran into the house and Maddie followed her. "Its nice that you were at hoof to help me set up. Come in an take a seat Maddie. I will whip some tea up for us." Maddie entered the rather spacious front room. A second doorway lead to the kitchen where Vanessa was making tea. Along the front of the room a large bay window with huge curtains allowed large amounts of light in the room, while allowing the ponies living the house privacy if they needed it. Along the back wall several shelves were lined with glass tanks with various magical devices attached that altered the temperature and humidity of the tank. In each tank various logs and foliage concealed the spiders that lived inside the tanks. "That's quite a collection of spiders Vanessa, how did you get so many?" "Chalk it up to pot luck. I can get some of the nicer ones out if you want. By the way, do you have any milk and/or sugars in your tea?" Vanessa called out from the kitchen as the sound of a boiling kettle filled the rooms with its loud screeching. "I will have two sugars and a teeny tiny bit of milk, if that's alright." Maddie called out to Vanessa. The hissing kettle quietened and the sound of water being poured could be heard from the kitchen. A pleasant smell of tea wafted into the main room. "That smells lovely Vanessa." The sound of cup clanging came from the doorway and Vanessa gingerly walked in balancing a tray with two cups of tea on her back. "Woah Vanessa be careful, let give you a hoof." Maddie picked the two cups with her magic and placed them on a small coffee table. "Lets sit down." Maddie sat down on he sofa by the coffee table and Vanessa took the seat next to her. "So Maddie, can I ask you a hypothetical question?" Vanessa asked cautiously. "Feel free to back away at any point if you don't want me to go on." "Hmm, you have my attention." Maddie said flatly, feigning a lack of interest. "So lets say hypothetically, what Pinkie said was true. You know, us dating. What would your thoughts be on it?" Vanessa slowly said, examining Maddie's face for a change in expression. Oddly enough, Maddie kept a blank expression. Vanessa chuckled nervously. "Of course we are speaking hypothetically, a completely hypothetical scenario." Vanessa chuckled a second time. "Well..." Maddie said blankly and Vanessa's facial expression dropped. "Assuming that we are speaking hypothetically, I would be..." Maddie paused for an agonizingly long time, she watched Vanessa's facial expression change rapidly and often. However she did not resume speaking until Vanessa had slammed her head onto the sofa so that she couldn't see. Maddie silently lowered her head until it was next to Vanessa's ear, she dropped her voice to a whisper. "I love you Vanessa." "W-What!?" Vanessa quickly responded, she threw her head up and jumped off the sofa. "I was being hypothetical! Where did that even come from!? I don't even..." "What do you mean 'where did it come from' you were giving me some pretty clear signals! I thought that you would have upset if I lied and said I felt nothing!" Maddie hastily replied. "I mean come on, your facial expression refused to no be worried!" "That's because I was worried you would think less of me for giving you that idea! I didn't realize that you would come out the closet on me!" Vanessa huffed in an annoyed, but not angry tone. "Hey if you went out when you were back in Manehatten, you would have heard that I was a fillyfooler with the hots for you!" Maddie quickly covered her mouth before she dug herself a grave. "Y-you have always felt this way!? Was this whole friendship, feeling sorry for me and helping me just some elaborate plan to woo me?" Vanessa turned away from Maddie. "Why..? Why..." "Because.. You're you. You're not some strange pony that is obsessed with spiders, your not some heartless fiend who cannibalizes ponies and you're not some odd ball. You are a perfectly brilliant pony Vanessa, you don't just have outer beauty you have inner beauty, heck you have all the beauty. And I just wanted to be the lucky mare who got stuck with you for the rest of her life." Maddie spoke with passion and fire in her voice. "This was a plan to woo you, but only because I need you that much! I spent months trying to get close to you back in Manehatten but you always drifted away. When I heard you were moving I decided I had to do something a bit more forward." Maddie sighed. "I knew it was a long shot, I didn't even know your preference, I didn't know anything about you until I got on that train with you..." Maddie got up and placed her hoof on Vanessa's shoulder. "And when I did get to know you, I knew that somepony had meant for us to be together..." Maddie pulled her hoof away. "But it would seem fate has a cruel sense of humor, this whole time I thought you were giving me little signals and subtle gestures... I'm sorry for putting you through this..." Maddie wiped a tear that was forming in her eyes. She was upset but not because she got rejected, but because she had hurt her friend. "I will return to Manehatten and you never hear from me again unless you request it..." Maddie sighed and headed towards the door, only to be stopped by a hoof on her back. Maddie did not turn around. "Maddie. I don't want to lose you, you are the only pony outside my family to talk to me during my adult life. You are the only one who has ever cared for me, supported me, helped me and finally made me feel loved. But that doesn't mean that what you did didn't hurt me. I know what love is and should have just came out and told me, you didn't have to scheme or plot anything." Maddie turn around and saw Vanessa. She had her red eyes firmly locked on Maddie's eyes. "And you said it yourself, you don't know my preferences. And being honest neither do I. It is not something I have given much thought towards." "Are you saying that you are willing to give it a shot?" Maddie said with renewed hope. "Because I promise, no more schemes!" "Yes, it does mean that I am willing to give us a shot. We should start by taking it slowly though. I don't really know how mare and mare relationships work." "Don't worry, I have had a few experiences in my life. I will be at your side the whole time." Author's Note And then romance happened in the form of Vanessa X Maddie, and rather dramatically I might add. Well dramatic for me anyway. On another note I have awake for over 30 hours so this chapter may have a 'few' mistakes that I didn't notice on the self proof-read.
Act II, Part 3. The web that we weave Act II, Part 3. The web that we weave Clack, clunk! Vanessa grumbled as she was awoken by a letter coming through the letter slot in the door. Vanessa reluctantly got up and out of the comfy double bed, the house was cool due to the low temperature outside. Vanessa looked over to her partner who was sleeping soundly. She gently walked over to Maddie's side of the bed and rubbed her mane gently, this gentle action woke Maddie up slightly. "Good morning sleepyhead, how was your sleep? Good I hope." Vanessa calmly said. Maddie opened one of her eyes and smiled weakly. "It was wonderful, you are certainly a very calm sleeper." Maddie stated as she opened her other eye. "You don't snore, turn or sleep talk. It was a pleasant sleep for me . I hope the same applies for you." Vanessa paused and chose her next words carefully. "It was my love, for the first time sharing a bed anyway." Admittedly Vanessa thought she could have chosen better words, but they provoked a tend smile from Maddie. "I think my weather schedule arrived. I'm going to go check it out." Vanessa carefully kissed her marefriend on the forehead and left the bedroom and made her way to the front door. A small envelope was on the floor, the letter was addressed to Vanessa. A quick maneuver with her wings and the letter was in Vanessa's mouth. Vanessa walked into the kitchen and placed the letter on the counter, she tore the top of the letter off and scanned over the information that was inside it. Weeks five through six; timetable for Vanessa Monday - Five Am until six Am, morning run with Cloudkicker. Tuesday - Eight PM until nine PM, West sector on Ponyville, solo clear. Wednesday - Resting day Thursday - Six Am until seven Am, mourning clearing with Rainbow Dash, captain of the weather team Friday - Sunday - Resting days and preparation for next weeks weather. Remember! If it says six AM be at the site at five forty-five! The schedule seemed to have been rushed, the hoofwriting was messy and a few words crossed out. Vanessa chuckled as she placed the schedule on a desk in the hallway. Vanessa then went into the kitchen. "Hey Maddie, its Friday right?" Vanessa shouted out. "Yep its Friday. Want to go to the spa? My treat." Maddie called back. "Come on, it can be kind of a date." "Sure I don't see why not. When do you want to go?" Vanessa Shouted back as she took out two bowls, some milk and a box a hay-flakes. "By the way, I got cereal! Come get it!" "Alright I will be down in a moment. Just hang on a moment." Maddie happily called out. A loud thump followed by some grumbling could be heard. The sound of hooves traveling down the stairs could be heard. Within moments Maddie came into the kitchen. "I was think we could leave after breakfast, then they will do our hair as well. And also Vanessa, your mane is all over the place." Maddie chuckled slightly as she looked at Vanessa's mane, unlike its normal bee-give like style it was a mix of flat and puffy. Vanessa ran her hoof over her mane and flattened the the puffy bits of mane. Vanessa now had long mane that nearly dragged on the ground . "I think I like the bee-hive better, what do you thing Maddie?" Vanessa commented on her mane while Maddie examined it. "I might get my mane cut, I wonder if their is a stylist in Ponyville." "Your lucky to be blessed with such a lovely mane you know, I don't really mind what style you use though." Maddie levitated a bowl full of cereal and milk in front of her. "By the way, even if you said no to spa I already booked it." Maddie laughed slightly. "Just saying." "Hehehehe! I think even if you hadn't I still would go with you. I never went to the spa in Manehatten." Vanessa commented. "Was it really full of bookings?" "No, just two. We will most likely be sharing our session with them because there are only two spa ponies. I hope that doesn't make thing uncomfortable." Maddie informed Vanessa. "It should give you a chance to meet some of the ponies who are a bit more refined though." "Sounds like a plan then, sharing our date with two other ponies!" Vanessa laughed heartily. "This should be fun. Once I have finessed I will do my hair and then we can go!" The spa was empty when Vanessa and Maddie arrived, they were a whole ten minutes early for there session and were asked to wait fore the other two ponies to arrive. "I told you Maddie, we didn't have to leave early. They wouldn't kick us out if we were on time." Vanessa sighed and rolled her eyes. One of the spa ponies came over. "Oh! Your accent, it is upper Manehatten, no?" Ironically the most accent thick pony was talking to Vanessa about accents. Vanessa had always had a rather thick accent, but not many ponies got to hear it. "Yes, I just moved down from Manehatten." Vanessa stated, the spa pony nodded and went back to setting the spa up for them. An unmistakable ringing of a bell was heard and two ponies walked into the spa. "...I know I didn't tell you, but it will be fine darling. They are new in town, I'm sure they are just of scared of meeting you as you are." A white unicorn with a dark purple hairstyle said as she walked into the spa, she was followed by a nervous looking pegasus that was cream colored with pink hair. "Ah!" The white pony pointed over to Vanessa and Maddie. "I expect that they are sat over there." The white pony happily walked over to the pair, the pegasus slowly followed her. "Hello! Pleased to meet you!" Maddie announced as they arrived. "If we had known we would have caused an issue..." "No, no! It quite alright, shes always like this around new ponies." The white pony chuckled and gently stroked the mane of the pink pony. "I take you are the two who booked the spa with us?" "Yes that would be correct. I'm Madly Rich, but everypony calls me Maddie." Maddie smiled happily. "And this is Vanessa..." Maddie paused an rubbed her forehead. "Venom!" "Pleasure to meet you, I am Rarity and this is Fluttershy." Rarity happily responded. "I take it you are related to Filthy Rich?" "Sister, I come down every now and then, but I don't normally stay too long... Have never had a reason... Until now." Maddie slyly grinned at Vanessa, who rolled her eyes. "Awww come on, can't I be loud and proud?" "Maddie, there is a time and a place for loud and proud. This is not it, now I would rather you not make a complete fool of yourself." Vanessa sighed. "As Maddie said, I am Vanessa. Pleased to meet you Rarity and Fluttershy." Vanessa extended her hoof and Rarity gently shook it. "Please, the pleasure is all mine." Rarity must have picked up on Vanessa's heritage because she immediately threw a stronger accent on. "So what brings you down to Ponyville then?" "The city life, I couldn't stand Manehatten anymore. I recently brought a house by Sugarcube corner and I have already got a job with the weather team." Vanessa watched Rarity's expression change to one of shook. "You on the weather team, forgive for asking but why?" Rarity questioned. "I'm a strong flyer, plus I need a large amount of income to support over a hundred spiders." Vanessa replied. "Yes, I collect spiders some are deadlier then others." "Spiders?" Rarity almost shuddered as she spoke. "Why?" "Because they are amazing." Vanessa happily said. "I know most ponies see it as a strange hobby, but its my thing. I take them in if they are hurt and nurse them back to health... Somehow, I don't really understand how I do that... In fact I think they just show up because I feed them... Sneaky little spiders!" Vanessa chuckled. "But you do help them is they are hurt?" Fluttershy quickly covered her mouth and hid behind Rarity after speaking quietly. "Of course. What kind of pony would I be if I was to let an injured spider suffer?" Vanessa replied. "It would see you two have more in common then I first thought." Maddie rejoined. "So tell me Rarity, what do you do here in Ponyville?" "Of course! I run a shop called Carousel Boutique. Maybe you two you come by for a fitting. A nice dress would certainly go well with your hairstyle Vanessa." Rarity happily spoke in her normal voice. While the whole concept of some fancy pony hoarding spiders seemed a bit strange, it was nice to see somepony getting along with Fluttershy so quickly. "I know my hobby is strange..." Vanessa sighed. "It was the reason I left Manehatten. Nopony would even say hello to me, or be around me. Rumors got spread about me and it got so bad I couldn't take it." "Oh you poor thing... The city can be such a harsh place, half the reason I have never considered moving. I don't think I could cope with it." Rarity comforted Vanessa. "Do you think I could ask you two something personal?" "I'm fine if Maddie is fine with it." Vanessa replied. "What do you say Maddie?" "Sure, go ahead and ask." Maddie responded. "How long have you been seeing each other?" Rarity blushed slightly after asking her question. "Well, since yesterday." Vanessa chuckled. "I didn't really think it showed that much, but I guess I was wrong. What gave us away?" "Well when Maddie said she had found a reason to stick around she gave you a look. And gave her a look that said 'very subtle'." Rarity chuckled happily. "I am glad my suspicion was correct. I would have been terribly embarrassed if I was wrong." Just as Rarity finished speaking on of the spa ponies came over and informed the group that they were ready. The group proceeded to have there session at the spa. Author's Note Dammit mane 6, get outa here! Sorry about the sudden ending.
Act II: Part 4. Sociability checkMaddie and Vanessa were relaxing in a warm bath while rarity and Fluttershy were having a hooficure. While they were all in the same room Rarity and Fluttershy seemed disconnected from the world around them as they received their treatment. Maddie tilted her head back in warm thermal bath and sighed happily. "I could do this every day. This is so nice." "Yes this is lovely." Vanessa sighed. "I love this... So relaxing, I can feel the years of stress melting away." Vanessa sunk slightly deep in the bath, she then flicked her head causing her mane to come down. Vanessa then dunked her head under the water and pulled back up, her mane was now completely drenched and hiding her face. "I didn't think that would work..." "Yes, I think your mane is too long to be able to do that." Maddie laughed. Maddie then dunked her head underwater and flicked it back up, her mane flew over the back of her and she winked at Vanessa. "I take it that was your intention?" "Pretty much. Still deciding on what to do with my mane though, I might regret cutting it but in its current state I can't do that much with it." Vanessa sighed. "I might ask Rarity, she seems to know about stylized manes." Vanessa sunk back down again. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Your mane is lovely but all over the place. I would defiantly ask somepony for advice." Maddie picked herself up and go out of the bath, she levitated two towels over and wrapped one around her mane and head. Vanessa got out the bath and Maddie wrapped the second towel around her mane. Rarity and Fluttershy switched places with Vanessa and Maddie. Soon Vanessa was getting her hooves filed, she sighed happily as she relaxed into the chair. "This is nice Maddie, I could really get used to this." "Yes spas are truly wonderful. I feel the stress just melting away." Maddie chuckled happily. "So, what was life back in Manehatten? I know it was hard for you but you have never really gone into detail about it." "Well I guess I could enlighten you. I mean, it is all behind me now. I guess the best place to start would be at the start..." "You sure you don't want to come Vanny? I'm sure we can make a room free in Canterlot." Vanessa's father sounded slightly disappointed in his daughters decision to stay in Manehatten. "Are you sure you will be alright here?" "Yes Dad, I will be fine." Vanessa rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I will eventually find some friends." "Gosh, my little Vanny... Living in the big city all by herself, its her versus the world now!" Vanessa father laughed happily. "Well if you are sure I guess I will have to leave now..." My Dad was always an oddball, even more-so then me. He would spend hours a day looking for bones for a museum. I guess I thought I would settle in quickly, but we all know how that turned out. I became aware of what Manehatten thought about me while I was shopping in town, a couple of aristocrats were talking about me. I listened in from behind a stall. "From what I have heard she has thousands! And she puts the webbing in her hair!" "If there's one place a spider belongs, it is certainly not home. What if they get out and bite somepony?" "That would be dreadful, and to top it all off she has nerve to talk about it like it is normal! I personally think that she should leave and take all those venomous scuttle-bugs with her!" After that I could here ponies everywhere talking about me. It was like I had opened my eyes for the first time. But everypony has spiders in there house. No place is is free of them, but it seemed I was the only pony who wanted them in my house. The worst part was, is that half the things they were saying weren't even true! "Vanny are you sure your alright, you look so stressed." Vanessa's brother cautiously asked her, he was sleeping over due to work sending him over. "I'm fine, its just this place. Its a dump." "Your house is in good nick though..." "Not my house, this whole city. Everypony talks about me and my spiders. But nopony talks to me... Heck I think they avoid me." Vanessa sighed. "I haven't gone out in weeks..." "Look sis, you need to leave. Get away from this horrible city. Come live with us in Canterlot, it will be fine we can take the extra pony." "No, I don't need to leech off of Mum and Dad. I would rather move to a quiet village or something." "Have you considered Ponyville? I heard that it is quiet over there." "Hmmm..." That was a whole two months before I moved, what happened during those months made me want to leave even more. I borrowed some money from my parents, which I didn't really want to do... And started searching for a property in Ponyville. I was half tempted to inquire about the abandoned library, but the librarians pay would not have covered all my costs. "Maybe that house, its right next a cake shop." Vanessa's mother had decided to visit Vanessa and assist her in choosing. "I know you said you didn't want anything too central, but seems like the only decent sized house on the market." Vanessa was giving her a happy stare, however her true feelings were evidently seeping through. "Vanessa, you need a break from all this. Come to Canterlot with us. Your father misses you so much..." "I will, just after I move. I promise you this." Vanessa sighed. "I promise." I guess that I still need to do that. But I need to get settled first, it could be a meet my parents. "Wait... You want me to meet your family?" Maddie exclaimed. "Don't you think it might be a bit too soon for that?" "I don't think so, if I can be honest I would rather we get it done quickly. I'm pretty sure that there is a bet going on the my house about my sexuality." Vanessa smiled warmly. "Trust me, the last thing they will do is disapprove of it." "You really thing that they will approve of it?" Maddie slowly asked nervously. "Yes, I am sure of it." Vanessa half snapped, Maddie looked shocked at this sudden burst of dominance from Vanessa. "Sorry about that, but I'm sure they will be accepting and even supportive." "If you say so Vanessa, I trust you." Maddie said sounding like a scolded foal. "I am truly sorry for snapping like that. I just get a bit protective over my family. Sure they can say things about me but the moment they start on my family I up the ante." Vanessa sadly sighed. "I am sorry." "Its understandable. I just should have trusted you, I mean what kind of marefriend am I if I don't trust you." Maddie sighed. "Sorry, most of my relationships have been with mares experimenting. Nine times out of ten it ends after I meet the parents, I guess I was just worried I would lose you." Maddie suddenly blushed and lowered her voice. "I forgot we were with company..." "I didn't." Vanessa chuckled. the two spa ponies moved away from the pair. "I guess that's us done." Vanessa looked over to Maddie who nodded and got up. "Guess we should head back home and finish unpacking your stuff then." "Sounds like a plan!" Author's Note Once again not happy with how the chapter ended, I need to work on my ends because they are rather anticlimactic.
Act II, Part 5. Getting by with help from friends"Hey Vanessa, how many more spiders do we have to feed?" Maddie asked as she levitated several crickets and locus into the glass containers. "Not that I don't like sending insects to their doom." Vanessa focused for a moment, she finished feeding a spider and then rubbed her forehead as she landed back on the floor. "Only about ten, this feeding is a lot quicker with somepony to help." Vanessa went over to a small plastic tub and picked out more insects, biting down on their back legs she flew back up to the higher containers and dropped the insects into the container. "How are you able to hold those things in your mouth? They're tiny." Maddie asked as she levitated a few crickets into one of the glass containers. "The same way you use your magic to do it. I just got so used to grabbing their tiny legs that it isn't too hard for me now." Vanessa fed a few more spiders and then shut the container which had all the crickets contained. "Thanks for helping Maddie, no need to get any more out for a while these should last them a while." "No problem Vanessa, happy to help." Maddie said happily as she moved over to the sofa and sat down. "Care to join me?" Maddie chuckled as Vanessa joined her on the sofa. "So do we have any plans for today then? Or will we be making it up as we go along?" "Well I need to do a monthly check-up on the spiders. Moving can stress them out a bit and the last thing we want is a highly venomous spider running around biting ponies." Vanessa went over to one of the unpacked boxes and dug into it, she emerged with several clipboards with notes marked on them. "It may take a while and you might need to leave when I check the dangerous ones." "That's alright, I will go and do some shopping. We may have spider food, but not pony food." Maddie laughed happily and Vanessa smiled warmly at her. "Alright then Maddie, see you later!" Vanessa called out as Maddie left the house. Maddie pushed the door open and walked into the clothes shop, while she would normally knock it seemed a bit odd knocking to enter a shop. Rarity was working on a dress and didn't seem to notice the door opening and shutting . Maddie briefly took a moment to regain her composure, a few deep breaths allowed her to calm herself down slightly. "Ahem..." Maddie tried to make herself seen. "Just a moment, I just need to finish this stitching." Rarity said in response to the sound that was made. Maddie sighed and took a seat on one of the chairs. Rarity finished sowing and moved away from the sewing machine. "Oh hello Maddie, how are you? Can I help you with anything?" Rarity polity asked. "Well I don't know really, I just didn't know who to talk to about it. I don't really know anypony besides my brother here..." Maddie sighed and shook her head. "I don't really know how to say it..." "Well... Maybe we should start at the start darling. At least so I can know what 'it' is." Rarity sighed slightly. "Oh of course, sorry I got a ahead of myself!" Maddie hastily replied and laughed for a moment before pausing herself. "Yesterday when we were at the spa, you made a good guess on how I saw Vanessa." "Yes, I do believe I guess you two were dating." Rarity said in a matter-of-fact tone and sighed. "Having trouble in paradise?" "No, not at all. Its just that I get the feeling that she is only going along with it because she doesn't want to be left alone." Maddie admitted. "I guess there is trouble in paradise then..." "What makes you think that? She seemed quite happy when we were at the spa yesterday." Rarity stated as she took a seat next next to Maddie. "Well... I may have planned most of our meet up. She wasn't happy when she found out but she said she would give it a chance. Aside from that we have done nothing." Maddie sighed. "And I mean nothing. The most romantic thing she has done is called me her lover, and that was only once." "Hm, and how long have you been seeing each other?" Rarity asked. "About... Two days." Maddie reluctantly said. "That's your problem, you are rushing things. Just wait a few weeks. If she still hasn't done anything then come back, I might be able to help you then." Rarity chuckled as she placed her hoof on Maddie's shoulder. "If you want any help feel free to ask." "Well I could use a hoof right now really. You see I want to move things... 'Forward' so to speak, but I don't want to make it seem like I'm only after... 'That'." Maddie chuckled and hoped that Rarity got her cryptic message. "Well... How far 'forward' do you want to go?" Rarity jokingly said. "But in all fairness darling, I need to know." Rarity said sternly. "Not too far 'forward'... But I would like to try and speed things up." Maddie said awkwardly. "Maybe just a teeny tiny bit." "Okay Maddie, let me try and get this straight. You want me to help you speed things up, but not speed it up too much." Rarity laughed happily. "What exactly do you want me to do?" Rarity continued. "Well... I don't really know!" Maddie responded. "When I'm normally doing this, the other other half is pretty 'forward'." Maddie chuckled. "Vanessa is the first time I have had to be careful. Normally we just dive in an..." "Ah-bu-bu-bu! That is highly unladylike, please watch what you say." Rarity interrupted Maddie. "As I was saying then... Normally things tend to move quickly." Maddie sighed and spoke flatly. "I just don't get it." Rarity rubbed her chin for a brief moment before an idea formulated in her head. "Have you considered that in your 'other' relationships, you are not their first?" Rarity asked. "Hm, when you put it that way... I guess they moved quicker because they had done it before. But Vanessa hasn't, she has never been in love with another pony as far as I know." Maddie paused for a moment. "Maybe she is worried that she might do something wrong and offend me in some strange way..." "My thoughts exactly!" Rarity concluded. "Now stand up and I will show you what to do!" "Wha..?" A somewhat confused Maddie replied. "Well. You need to do the right thing if you want to show her you love her." Rarity stated as she got up. "Now stand up and I will show you what to do." Maddie slowly got up and Rarity move uncomfortable close. "R-Rarity what are you doing!?" "First, you need to get close to her. Show her that you aren't afraid of her, that your comfortable with being close. Just pretend I am you." Rarity pushed Maddie back slightly, but caught her in her magic before she could fall. "You want to hold her like this, make sure you don't hold to tight or she will be uncomfortable." Rarity briefly sharpened her magical grip to show what it would feel like. "Avoid doing that." "Ow, but message received." Maddie responded as she winced from the sharp pain. "Then you want to lean in really close..." Rarity slowly started to close the gap between her and Maddie. "Look her in her most likely confused eyes, and seal the deal." Rarity pulled away and allowed Maddie to get up. "If you do it like that she should show her feelings, by either returning the favor or running away." "Why do it like that?" Maddie responded. "Vanessa may be a lady, but she is also impulsive. I could tell that from the spa. She will like it, trust me." Rarity said confidently. "And if she screams, pulls away and accuses me of harassing her?" Maddie asked. "At you can say you tried." Rarity sighed and shook her head. "Now go out there and woo that mare!" Rarity ordered. Meanwhile... Vanessa landed on Cloudkicker's cloud, it had taken her a hour to find it but she eventually did. Vanessa walked up to the cloudy door and knocked on it. Vanessa could hear the sounds of a pony falling over followed by a short grumble. The door swung open and a tired looking Cloudkicker was on the other side. Cloudkicker quickly became aware of Vanessa and shook her head to wake herself up. "Sorry about calling on you at this time, had I known..." Vanessa said sorrowfully "Its alright, just having a lazy day off." Cloudkicker replied. "Come in and take a seat, I assume this is about work?" "No, I need advice on a personal matter." Vanessa said as she entered the cloud house and took a seat on one of the clouds in the main room. "A rather personal matter..." Cloudkicker walked into the room and took a seat opposite Vanessa. "How personal?" "It involves a mare I am seeing currently..." Vanessa sighed. "We have only just started seeing each other." Vanessa shook her head and sighed a second time. "She says she has done it before... But this is new to me and I don't really know what to do..." "Wait, Back it up a moment. You're saying a pretty mare like you has never dated somepony?" Cloudkicker shook her head. "That can't be true, I won't believe it!" Vanessa smiled weakly at Cloudkicker. "It is..." Vanessa perked up slightly. "Its really hard to get a date when everypony think you will eat them after you get them in bed." Vanessa laughed heartily. "Oh yeah, forgot about that. Trust me, it you had lived here you would not have had that problem." Cloudkicker reassured Vanessa. "So what seem to be troubling you? I will try and help out the best I can." "As I said, we have only just started dating. I don't really know what I am doing for the most of it. The main thing I worry about is her getting board and moving on." Vanessa explained. "I know I am being silly, we have only been seeing each other for two days." "Caring about the ones you love is not silly Vanessa, and besides I think I can help you!" Cloudkicker announced happily. "You just need a way of expressing yourself!" "How would I go about doing that? I don't really know what I can do." Vanessa stated. "But it is a good idea, I just need some inspiration." "What are you good at currently? We have a lot to choose from."Cloudkicker happily explained. "You could do an aerial display, you could buy her something nice... Wait hold on a moment, tell me who you are dating first." "Her names Madly Rich, but she prefers to be called Maddie. Her brother lives in Ponyville." Vanessa said happily. "I knew Filthy had a sister, but I never knew she was fillyfooler... Only heard the rumors about it." Cloudkicker gently chuckled happily. "There were rumors about it?" Vanessa joined in with a laugh. "In my house there is a bet on which way I swing." Vanessa happily sighed. "Poor Dad, he will lose a lot of bits when I tell them..." "Oh, that's a bit strange..." Cloudkicker paused for a moment. "Then again if I was your age and hadn't decided, I'm pretty sure my family would do the same." "My family is full of oddballs." Vanessa chuckled. "We have no normal ponies living in our family who are alive. Stuff like that is normal... But tell me about these rumors!" Vanessa jokingly ordered. "Well they started about a year ago... Madly had been known to spend the odd week down here in Ponyville. However she normally came alone when she did. A year ago though she came down with this unicorn who went by the name of Shadow Lotus. They seemed to be glued to each other and that's whats planted the seeds. It didn't help that Filthy kicked her out because of a 'noise' issue." Cloudkicker laughed. "Oh yes, apparently they were very loud." "I guess I have a lot to live up to then..." Vanessa shakily spoke out. "Nope, apparently Shadow Lotus wanted foals and they were arguing over it. Something to do with the magic involved... I don't really know, being a pegasus and all." Cloudkicker assured Vanessa. "But sure enough, next time she came down she was alone. We asked Filthy what was up, but he said it was 'her own business'. We left it at that and decided not to pry." "How strange... Then what happened?" Vanessa decided to continue asking. "A few visits later she was with another pony this time she is with a mare by the name of Honey Rays. Honey Rays was a nice pegasus, she worked a bit while she stayed. However she was a bit flirtatious and I don't think Madly liked it too much." Cloudkicker continued. "They left together, but once again when Madly returned she was alone. Not once did she ever say that she was dating either of the mares, and neither did her brother when he was asked." "So they tried to cover up the failed relationships? Maddie had said that she had been with a few mares." Vanessa cautiously said. "Well you're the first pony she has admitted it to... But back to what we were talking about!" Cloudkicker said as she pulled to conversation back to its original purpose. "What do you feel works for you?" "Nothing too big, I don't want to announce it to everypony in Equestria. I would rather do something that is just me and her." Vanessa replied. "You could take her out to a restaurant, that always seems to work." Cloudkicker suggested. "But that does seem a bit basic. Maybe you could try singing to her? She might a sucker for a musical number." "Call me old fashion, but I'm partial to the odd bit of singing. It helps calm the spiders down." Vanessa said happily. "So excuse me for being vain, but I think I have a rather good singing." "Oh really? Lets hear it then..." "Maddie darling, that was your que to leave." Rarity sighed as Maddie remained in the clothes shop. "Not that I don't like being in your company." "Sorry Rarity, but I have a problem... I kind of told her that I have been with other mares..." Maddie admitted. "So the rumors were true then..." Rarity sighed. "I don't know why your brother tried so hard to cover it up." "Filthy is a bit... Old fashion, he thinks that it will shame the family... Somehow." Maddie explained. "What if she asks me what went wrong with them? What if she starts acting strangely to avoid upsetting me?" Maddie panicked. "Maddie, calm down. Maybe she will do that, then it will be up to you to set her straight." Rarity tried to calm Maddie down. "Just take a deep breath Maddie." Rarity got up and walked behind Maddie and gently massaged her shoulders. "Just relax Maddie." "S-Sorry Rarity, I'm a bit prone to panic attacks." Maddie explained as she started to relax. "I have just had so many relationships go foal because of tiny little things. Such as Shadow Lotus, everypony thinks that we were arguing over foals but the real reason we broke up was because I didn't want to spend my Sundays worshiping some forgotten god!" Maddie half snapped as she explained. "Beg pardon? A cult? She want you to join a cult?" Rarity said sound surprised. "And you broke up because you didn't want to go?" "No... She broke up with me because I didn't want to go. The joke was on her though, the cult got broken up and several ponies were arrested." Maddie said triumphantly. "Here I'l explain it..." A loud pounding on the door woke me up, it must have been two o clock in the morning seeing as the moon was still in the sky. I grumbled as I got up. "Two o clock in the morning... Who could that be..." Of course I used a few stronger words, but I don't think I will say them here. My house was dark so I had to shine my horn in order to see properly. The loud pounding on the door came again, followed by a desperate cry for help. "Maddie! For Celestia's sake open the door!" I could have sworn that was Shadow Lotus, but we broke up a good few weeks ago. I moved over to the front door and slowly opened it. Much to my dismay, Shadow Lotus was on the other side. "Thank you Maddie!" Shadow Lotus barged past me and slammed the door shut with her magic. I angrily followed her into the main room and watched her as she peeped out the windows. "Shadow, what the hay is going on? Do you have any idea what time it is?" I angrily snapped at the mare. Shadow Lotus turned around and looked at me coldly, while I didn't like the mare she did look rather troubled. "Are you alright Shadow?" "A bunch of foals... We let a group of five in and they went around vandalizing everything, leaving our mark behind. The police started tracking us down, I panicked Maddie I didn't know where to go! The police were at my flat talking to my flatmates! I didn't know where else to go..." For the first time since we broke up, I felt sorry for Shadow Lotus. She genuinely looked worried. "Do you mind if I lay low here for a while?" I easily could have told Shadow Lotus to go face the music rather then hide, but a small part of me missed her. "Sure, I don't mind breaking the law so that an ex who left me for a cult can sleep in my house." I think that hammered my point home, that she had shown up out of the blue demanding something that I wouldn't do for her. "I know its a lot to ask..." Yeah, a heck of a lot. "But it would really mean a lot to me." I honestly could not believe that she was saying, she was trying to pull at my heartstrings. I sighed and rolled my eyes and glared at her. "Look if I get caught I won't tell them at you hid me." I guessed that I just need something to make it worthwhile, or at least something that meant I wouldn't go to jail while Shadow Lotus stayed at my place. So for the next few weeks my ex hid in my house... "That didn't explain much, you just said you let her in your house for a few weeks." Rarity chuckled. "Clearly you must have still felt something if you let her stay in your house." Rarity pointed out, Maddie rubbed her forehead and laughed. "Not as much as you would think, lets just say that a hefty pile of bits was left in my bedroom as 'goodwill' from Shadow." Maddie laughed as Rarity frowned at her. "Really? You charged her for hiding?" Rarity said sound displeased. "Yes, because she was a fugitive hiding from the law. I could easily have been implicated. I'm not going to break the law for anypony for free, especially my ex." Maddie continued to laugh. "Its not like she got caught anyway, she is just slightly less richer then before. Its not like she needed that money. And besides, it paid for her food and the rent." Maddie defended herself from Rarity's judgement. "I suppose... But I don't really see myself doing that to anypony." Rarity stated. "I know what you mean, I have changed since then. But back then... She broke my heart..." Maddie sighed and sat back. "I can't say I understand, I have never been in that situation." Rarity said as she sat back down. "Its not nice, trust me. I wanted to make her sad for leaving me, but at the same time I wanted to be nice because we had something." Maddie explained. "In the end she vanished and I haven't seen her since. I wonder what she it up to?" "It doesn't matter what she is doing now. She has vanished from your life and now you have Vanessa. Focus on her." Rarity half ordered, half suggested. "I should focus on Vanessa, you're right." Maddie admitted. "No point dwelling in the past, not like its going to come back at any point!" Maddie joked happily as she got up. "Well I better go do the shopping I said I was going to do!" Maddie sighed and left the clothes shop, leaving Rarity slightly more educated about her past, whether she wanted to or not. Rarity sighed once Maddie left. "Oh to be young and in love..." Rarity chuckled. "Not worth the hassle at all!" "...What can I do? What can I do? The only one for me is you. What can I do? What can I do? What can I do?" Vanessa finished singing her song, it was a rather short song about somepony being in love with another and trying to get the other to see this. An ironic song choice for Vanessa, but she had little to choose from. "Very good Vanessa, Honestly I didn't expect you to be such a good singer. I mean, I did have expectations but you could easily be mistaken for a singer. How did you get so good?" Cloudkicker asked as Vanessa sat back down after singing. "I have always sung as a hobby, tending spiders may be my destiny but singing is a passion. But other then that I don't really do much else." Vanessa solemnly said. "I guess so, I think it will work personally. The singing will show Maddie how you truly feel about her." "I hope so, if she gets the wrong idea I don't know what I would do." Vanessa sighed and thought for a moment. "Something on your mind Vanessa?" Cloudkicker asked. "Isn't it a bit too much? I mean, I do want to show her that I love her but..." Vanessa shook her head. "I don't know..." "Well its your choice, I won't force you to do anything." Cloudkicker stated. "its your love life, not mine. But it is rather early on in your relationship. Why don't you see how it plays outs and plan from there?" "That's a good plan, thanks Cloudkicker I need a helping hoof." Vanessa happily said. "Now I need to head back home and finish off recording the spider progress." Vanessa opened the door and made her way out the house. "Thanks again Cloudkicker!" Cloudkicker walked out the house and waved goodbye to Vanessa. "No problem Vanessa, good luck!" Author's Note Because secretly Rarity and Cloudkicker are love gurus. Also, sorry about the length of this one. I was on holiday (still am) And I had to write it on Wordpad due to a lack of internet. Wordpad has no word count. (At least not one that I know of. I don't use it at all.) I tried to proofread this the best I can, but I have had a lot of stuff going on.
Act II, Part 6. A hefty price to payMaddie opened the door to her and Vanessa's house, the house was bright, warm and welcoming when she entered. The door to the main room was open and she could see Vanessa sat down in the main room. All the spiders were in their cages from what she could tell and Vanessa looked happy. Maddie magically moved the her bags into the kitchen and entered the main room and sat down next her to sofa. Vanessa nudged up to Maddie and wrapped one of her wings around her and pulled her in close. Maddie gently pulled herself in and sighed happily. A silence overtook the two and they were sat in bliss. After what seemed like hours, but was only five minutes Maddie broke the silence. "Vanessa." Maddie waited for Vanessa to turn and face her before she went on. "I know, you know I have had other loves." A nod came from Vanessa and Maddie went on. "Please don't feel pressured to do anything that you wouldn't normally do..." Maddie felt horrible asking Vanessa thing, Maddie felt Vanessa tighten her wing. "I..." Maddie started but was interrupted by Vanessa hushing her. Vanessa didn't speak, she just held Maddie close to her and remained silent. Maddie started to grow worried when Vanessa refused to let her move. It wasn't painful, but uncomfortable for Maddie. As Maddie tried to wriggle free Vanessa sighed. Vanessa loosened her grip and allowed Maddie to break out. "Vanessa what has gotten into you?" Maddie questioned. Vanessa shook her head and sighed. "Maddie, I love you. I truly do. But I need your help. You need to tell me if I am doing anything wrong, or anything that makes you uncomfortable." Vanessa looked out into space and glanced out the window. "Like then. I was dong something wrong but you didn't say anything. You need to tell me when I am doing wrong. I haven't done this before... I need your help! Please Maddie!" "Alright Vanessa, I think I understand what you want." Maddie cuddled back up to Vanessa. "But Vanessa I need to you to do something. You need to trust me on this, and if at any point you want me leave you can tell me." Maddie tried to sound comforting, but a slight tinge of fear was able to seep through. Vanessa looked slightly worried, however she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Alright Maddie. I trust you." Vanessa kept her eyes closed for a few more moments. "What do you want me to do?" Vanessa said as she opened her eyes. "I just need you to stand up for me. I also need you to not do anything." Maddie quickly noted a slightly worried expression on Vanessa. "Don't worry, trust me." Vanessa relaxed and took another deep breath. Maddie moved up to her and gently took a hold of her back and started to pull her backwards. After a few moments Vanessa was tilted backwards and Maddie was leaning over her. "M-Maddie?" Vanessa questioned as Maddie quickly closed the gap and quickly sealed their lips. Maddie sighed happily through her closed lips and Vanessa didn't jerk away instantly, so Maddie's plan was working well. Maddie took in the strange soft texture of Vanessa's lips. Maddie was no stranger to kissing mares, but Vanessa's lips had strange silky texture to them that she had not felt before. After a few moments Maddie pulled the pair of them back up and let go of Vanessa and pulled away from her. Vanessa looked slightly dumbstruck so Maddie had to pick up the slack. "Vanessa? Are you alright?" Maddie didn't really have any idea what to say. However Vanessa remained stubbornly silent with a shocked look. "Vanessa?" Maddie paused for a moment and thought about what she could do. In the end she decided to re lock her lips with Vanessa. After a moment kissing Maddie pulled away from Vanessa again. This time Vanessa seemed to be in reality. "Maddie, you just kissed me. Twice." Vanessa stated the obvious as she tried to figure out what happened. "Maddie..." Vanessa looked away from Maddie for a brief moment, filling Maddie with worry. Maddie decided she would try and fix things before they got out of hand. "Vanessa, I am sorry. I really am, I though you were..." Maddie searched her head, but could not find the right words. Maddie ended up grumbling and then sighing. "If you want me to go, I will." "Yes... I think that would be best. I just need to think about some things." Vanessa sighed as Maddie left the house quietly. Vanessa sat down on the sofa, her house was quiet save her shallow breathing. Vanessa tried to figure out what had happened, why she had gotten upset and why Maddie did what she did. Its because she loves you Vanessa. Why else would she kiss you? You spent this whole day talking to Cloudkicker about what you will do, only to kick her out when she shows clear signs of loving you. Vanessa sighed and shook her head. Maybe I shouldn't of sent Maddie away... This is too much... Maddie arrived outside Rarities, while it was getting late the shop was still open. Maddie slowly pushed the door open and walked into the shop for the second time. Rarity was once again working on a dress and didn't notice Maddie walk in. "Hey Rarity, do you have a moment?" Maddie tried to sound happy, but she was terrible at hiding her true emotions. Rarity caught on and stopped sowing. "Maddie? What are you doing over at this time? Is something on your mind?" Rarity asked as she walked over to Maddie. "Just... Well I can say I tried at least..." Maddie sighed. "Oh Maddie... What happened?" Rarity gave Maddie a comforting hug. "She just... Asked me to leave." Maddie stated. "She was a bit shocked and then she asked me to leave." "Maddie are you alright? You seem to be rather calm about this." Rarity pointed out. "Its not anything that hasn't happened before. I'm used to it..." Maddie sighed and glared at the floor. "I don't cry, but the pain is still there." "I don't know what you could do Maddie... You could try and salvage it, but that might not be such a good idea." Rarity sighed. "You could move on, but that might not be the best of things to do." "I need to go back at some point to get my stuff back. I will see what Vanessa is like then, but I don't know what she will be like." Maddie said in return. "Thanks for being here for me Rarity." "Think nothing of it darling, you are welcome to stay here for a few nights if the need arises." Rarity said happily. "I think I might have to for a few nights Rarity..." Maddie sighed and Rarity nodded and started setting up the sofa for a pony to sleep on. Author's Note And everything came crashing down... Like a huge tree, or something like that. If only I knew how my strange mind worked.
