Sapphires
By NorthCrusader
Thursday
It is September. A year and three months had gone by, and yet the memory remained with Rarity. The wedding dress she made for her cousin was locked away in the closet in her workshop of the Carousel Boutique, never to be worn again by another mare. Rarity would open and stare at it from time to time before closing the door, going about her business. It was a beautiful dress too; a long white gown with colorful sapphires attached to a strip of gold across the waist. Cordia sent letters and phone calls to Rarity from Manehattan in an effort to keep in touch, but they tried to avoid the topic of the wedding whenever they can.
For those who knew Cordia well, the union between herself and Dom Gavenhoof was the biggest news of the year at the time. Rarity had always known her cousin as a hopeless romantic, trying and failing to get the perfect stallion to sweep her off her hooves. Her visits to Ponyville began and ended with tears and doubts about her future. All that changed when Dom Gavenhoof proposed to her months before. It was everything she ever wanted. Everything seemed to fall into place at that time.
Now it was a year and three months after the abandoned marriage between Cordia and her former fiance Dom Gavenhoof. Rarity wondered what her cousin was doing at the moment, and, going against her better judgement, she wondered what Dom was up to. What was he doing right now?
Cordia is coming to visit Ponyville again to get away from the dreariness of Manehattan. It was a perfect time, Rarity thought, being that it was the middle of September. There were no holidays, no special occassions, and the leaves of the trees changed to the most glorious shades of red, gold, orange and brown. She hoped that someday Cordia would consider moving to Ponyville. Visiting her cousin in Manehattan, she always wore that look of weariness on her face, as though all the weight of the world was crushing her. It mostly had to do with her love life. Rarity didn’t know if it was coincidence that on the days of her visit that Cordia experienced another breakup. They seem to happen so often with her. One Hearth’s Warming season, she sent a letter stating that she met a wonderful suitor, a jazz musician who was also an instructor at the Manehattan Music Academy. She wanted Rarity to meet him on their Hearth’s Warming dinner. After arriving in Manehattan Rarity expected to see Cordia with her new stallion, only to find her sobbing on her couch, used tissues crumpled and discarded across the floor.
The spring before that terrible Hearth’s Warming, she visited her cousin again for the weekend, this time surprised to see that they already scheduled a dinner date for the night. Rarity stayed at her apartment while Cordia was out. Later, around midnight, she returned with eyeliner melting from her streams of tears. Cordia unwillingly forced Rarity to go home so she wouldn’t see her this way, the weekend already being ruined for the both of them.
The union between her and Dom Gavenhoof was supposed to be the turning point in her life, and for the better, her chance at gaining the happiness she always desired. And yet she wondered was everything worth in the long run? Did things really had to end the way they did? She didn’t want to find the answer, and knowing Cordia she didn’t want to, either.
On a September midday Rarity waited for Cordia at the train station. She believed it will be a good thing for her to see a familiar face. Hopefully, once the weekend passes, Cordia can leave with some peace of mind.
Rarity elected to sit on a wooden bench on the platform while she waited. There was a tourist brochure stand next to her, and she took one and read it to pass the time. The little folded paper was about Las Pegasus and it contained pictures of nothing but casinos and neon lights. She never been to Las Pegasus before, although she wouldn’t want to risk gambling and lose all her money.
“Excuse ma’am, may I sit here?” a voice said.
Rarity looked up to see an older pony beside her, a stallion of middle age. He was balding at the top.
“Of course,” she said.
The stallion nodded and sat at the far end, looking into the distance at the direction the train was supposed to come, to his right.
“Nice day, isn’t it?” he asked. “A beautiful autumn day.”
“Oh, yes it is,” Rarity said. “I hear there’s supposed to be clear skies all weekend, although with a bit of a chill in the air. I don’t mind the temperature as long as the sun doesn’t disappear.”
“I feel the same way.” He turned to his right once more, in silence before speaking again. “I’m waiting for my daughter. She’s coming from out of town, Manehattan. It’s been ages since I’ve seen her bright face.”
“I’m waiting for my cousin. She’s from Manehattan as well,” said Rarity. “We’re going to spend the weekend together. I’ve been looking forward to it for the longest time.”
She let out a sigh afterward.
“You don’t seem to be very excited.”
“But I am, it’s just… my cousin has had a rather awful time lately. These past few days I have been coming with different ways to make her feel better. I just this weekend to be perfect, so she won’t go home disappointed in herself more than she has been.”
The stallion nodded. “I see.”
“I don’t want to go into full details, but last year she was married. At the time we thought the stallion was a perfect gentleman, but then there was turmoil… and, sadly to say, he suddenly left without a trace. My cousin was very heartbroken over the entire situation.”
“It sounds awful. I’m terribly sorry.”
“I love my cousin very much. We were very close since fillyhood. I never want her to experience anything like this ever again. I hope beyond anything else that she has the strength to move on from this.”
“It’s a good thing your cousin has someone like you,” the stallion said. “I’m a firm believer that family should always stick together, even through tough times. I would never let my daughter get marry to a pony who would hurt her.”
“What is your daughter like?” Rarity asked.
The stallion gleamed. “She’s very smart. Graduated from the University of Manehattan a year ago, has an accounting job. I’m amazed that a plain old stallion like me raised such an incredible filly. Then again she probably got it from her mother, may she rest in peace.”
“Oh dear, did your wife…”
The stallion nodded sadly. “She died a few years ago, I think my daughter was a senior in high school. The day she left for college a void was left in me. She visits me whenever she can, especially during the spring, summer, and winter holidays. I’m planning to moving to Manehattan so I can be there with her, but only time will tell if that will happen.”
They heard a whistle off in the distance, the turning and rumbling of steel engines. The train was coming their way toward the platform. The sounds of the engine grew louder the closer it came. Rarity and the stallion removed themselves from the bench and stood.
“I hope you, sir, have a wonderful weekend with your daughter,” Rarity said.
“I hope you have a great time with your cousin,” the stallion added.
The two smiled and nodded, and the train came to a complete stop at the platform. The ponies were let out, Rarity looking left and right for her cousin. To her right she saw that the stallion was hugging a young mare. Her mane was yellow, her skin tan, and she wore glasses. That must have been his daughter.
“Rarity,” a small voice said.
She turned around, seeing a silver unicorn with dark hair. The unicorn had noticeable bags under her hazel eyes and a tired face. A brown suitcase was strapped around her body. Rarity’s first instinct was to embrace her. “Cordia,” she said with emotion, and they wrapped their arms around each other.
Cordia elected not to talk while Rarity led the way to her family’s home. Rarity didn’t mind, they had all weekend to talk if she was up to it. As they were walking she took a few glances at Cordia, and each time she did she saw that Cordia had her head down. There were differences about her outward appearance, like her dark hair not being straight. It ended with little curls at the bottom, and closely inspected the top of the head, Rarity noticed that it looked as though it hadn’t been combed in a long time, but she kept her mouth shut for Cordia’s sake.
On any other day she would talk throughout the day about anything that came to her mind, mostly about the stallions that rejected her, and they were usually negative things with a voice full of anguish. Although she did like other things like books, clothing, food, favorite vacation spots. Rarity wanted to start a conversation with her, maybe talk about her time in Manehattan or the train ride to Ponyville, but decided against it, seeing it was not a well topic to talk about at the moment. There was silence between them until the two approached Sugarcube Corner.
Rarity looked to Cordia and suggested that they get something to eat. “My treat,” she added. Cordia shrugged, said something under her breath, but she agreed either way. They stood line while the other customers placed their orders. Rarity saw that Mrs. Cake, one-half of the owners of Sugarcube Corner, was working the corner. Her husband, Mr. Cake, must have been in the back, she thought. She was glad they came here. It will give her a chance to introduce Cordia to one of her best friends, Pinkie Pie. No matter how sad you were, she always find ways to a put a smile on your face. They were next in line, and Mrs. Cake and Rarity happily greeted each other. Rarity gestured to the unicorn next to her.
“This is my cousin, Cordia. She’s visiting for the weekend from Manehattan.”
“Nice to meet you, dear.” She smiled at Cordia.
The unicorn nodded, put on an effort to smile back. Rarity excused her for her shyness and ordered two cups of hot cocoa, cinnamon rolls, and cupcakes with strawberry icing for them. She asked about Pinkie before she and Cordia took a seat by the window. Pinkie was at the park with the twins, she found out. Maybe they’ll catch up with her later, Rarity decided.
Cordia took a spoon and aimlessly swirled the hot cocoa in her cup. Then she took her eyes to the window, gazing at nothing. Rarity studied her while taking small sips from her glass cup.
“How was the ride to Ponyville?” asked Rarity.
“It was long, but I’m finally here,” Cordia answered. She never took her eyes off the window.
“Well, I wanted to let you know how thrilled I am that you’re here. It’s been truly a long time since we’ve seen each other. In fact, I have the entire weekend planned for us.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Right now, since it’s Thursday, you can rest for the rest of the day at home. You can stay in my room like when we were fillies.”
“That’s nice. How is Aunt Pearl and Uncle Magnum?”
“They are doing quite well.”
“And my little Sweetie Belle?”
“Oh, how could I have forgotten? I know for sure she is very excited to see you. You are her favorite cousin, do you know?”
“Yes. I know.”
“She started fourth grade not too long ago. My, oh my, she is growing up right before our eyes. It felt like yesterday when she got her cutie mark.”
A small but noticeable smile crossed Cordia’s lips. Over time Sweetie Belle became her second favorite cousin, and thinking about her eased her spirit, if only momentarily.
“So what do we have planned for the weekend?”
“I wanted you to meet my friends on Friday, but I forgot that most of them have gone some far ways from Ponyville at the moment, but Fluttershy will absolutely love to meet you. I’ve told her a lot about you.”
Cordia stared at Rarity. “Everything? As in… everything?”
“Oh no, not like that,” she said quickly. “Just how we always used to visit each other when we were young, and how we’re really close. Darling, I will never talk about your personal life with anyone else. You can trust me.”
Cordia sighed, drank from her cocoa. “Continue.”
“Then I figure on Saturday you can spend the day with Sweetie Belle. You wouldn’t imagine how busy the Carousel Boutique can get on the weekend.”
Cordia nodded.
“Then I booked us for a day at the spa on Sunday, just you and me. How does that sound?”
“It sounds wonderful.”
“Again, Cordia, I am absolutely pleased that you’re here. I know things haven’t… worked out they way you wanted them to, but I hope it will take things off your mind, at least for now.”
Cordia looked down at her cocoa, lift the glass to her lips and drank only a small amount. She set it down on the table while still having her grasp on it, staring only at the glass mug.
“It’s really hard not to think about it all the time. No matter what I do I can’t seem to move on from it. From what he did, from the things he said. Afterward, everything just felt… empty.”
Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. It was not the time to talk about the failed engagement, or Dom Gavenhoof. Their weekend shouldn’t be filled by such things. She levitated a cinnamon roll to her mouth and took a bite. Cordia gazed at the window, as her attention was focused on a peculiar donkey pulling a wagon full of vegetables.
After their snack break, Rarity and Cordia continued the path to the house. Passersby waved and said hello to Rarity, and she waved back. Cordia looked around, seeing how close-knitted the town of Ponyville was. Everypony seemed to know each other. She only knew a few ponies in Manehattan, namely her close friends from her job and some of the neighbors who lived in her apartment, and although her face didn’t show it, she was surprised to see how well-known Rarity was in Ponyville.
Along the way she could see the Castle of Friendship from the distance. Cordia couldn’t believe her eyes, and had to close them again to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. Rarity had written about it a few times in her letters. It was the first time she was even at a considerable distance near a castle (unlike Rarity she has never been to Canterlot, either). It was shaped like a large tree that stood proud at the edge of town, out of the bark sprang the architecture. Rarity even mentioned that one of her friends became a princess; maybe she was one of them who was away. Princesses are busy, that’s for sure. Cordia wondered if she’ll ever meet her someday.
They entered a neighborhood called Cedar Lake. There were rows of two-story houses scattered across each other, giving themselves excellent space in between. Rarity’s house, along with other houses on their side, had a beautiful view of the giant lake from their backyard. Cordia had forgotten about the lake. She remembered during her filly years how she and Rarity used to spend the summers swimming. During the nights they make a tent in the balcony out of a table and old blankets and gazed at the stars. It was also during that time when Rarity got her cutie mark. She made little dresses for themselves and held their own mini fashion show for laughs.
Rarity and Cordia trotted to the front door. Before Rarity searched for her key the door was already opened by Pearl.
“Cordia, honey, we had no idea you were coming,” she happily said.
“Mother I told everyone she was coming visit this morning,” Rarity said.
“Sure, sure. Come inside and make yourself at home.”
Rarity and Cordia stepped inside, Pearl closing the door behind them. She called Sweetie Belle and informed her of her cousin’s arrival. Little hoofsteps rushed downstairs, a white filly stood at the foot, jumping and giggling.
“Cousin Cordia, you’re here!”
She immediately attached herself to Cordia, smiling as she let her aunt’s silver hoof stroke her hair. Rarity led Cordia to her bedroom while Sweetie Belle talked about her first weeks as a fourth grader. After entering Rarity’s room, Cordia set her suitcase on the side of her bed, then sat down at the edge, inhaling and exhaling as she was feeling the effects of the long trip. Sweetie Belle approached her while she laid on the top of the bed, speaking to her in short sentences.
“Sweetie darling, I think Cordia needs her rest,” Rarity said softly. “Maybe you can talk to her when we have dinner.”
“That’s okay… her voice is soothing,” Cordia said.
Rarity nodded, then stepped out of her room and lightly closed the door. Cordia sat up on one of the pillows of the bed, and Sweetie climbed and joined her.
“So you’re in fourth grade?” Cordia asked.
“Uh-huh. It took me awhile to get used to it. You know, there’s something about the first day of school I find… interesting. On the night before, I was scared of going back. I was afraid that I won’t see any of my friends again, or that some of kids won’t like me. And what if the teacher is mean?”
“The first day of school is often tough for children. But just remember, Sweetie, those kids are just as anxious as you are.”
Sweetie nodded. “Did you see any of your old friends,” Cordia asked again.
“That’s the best part! Two of my best friends are in the same class as me. Once I found that out, I wasn’t so afraid anymore.”
Cordia smiled. “That’s good to know. Rarity told me you got your cutie mark last spring. Tell me about it.”
Sweetie became excited. She explained the events that lead to the marks, from the class election, the filly who always bullied her and her two friends, to helping said filly finding the real meaning of her cutie mark, which led to their own. Cordia paid attention, smiling and nodding, but Sweetie noticed that she didn’t seem very happy. Then she remembered what Rarity had explained to her.
“... Um, Cordia, I know I promised Rarity not to talk to you about it… but I’m sorry about what happened with the whole… you know.”
“There’s no need to be sorry for me. It’s just one of those things you have to take as a life lesson.” Cordia sighed, hung her head. “Sometimes things don’t work out the way you want them to. It’s just the way things are with me.” She turned back to Sweetie Belle and showed a sad smile. “But I don’t want to ruin your day with my sob story.”
“Why do you think that about yourself?”
Cordia said nothing. She gazed at Sweetie affectionately and patted her head. Sweetie took this as her cue to go. Cordia does look tired. With one more hug she exited the room, leaving her cousin alone with her thoughts. Cordia lie on her back and stared at the ceiling.
As evening came along Cordia joined the family for dinner. It was asparagus and carrots with peas. Without anypony looking Sweetie tried to feed some of it to their cat, Opal, but a look from Rarity put a stop to it. Cordia tried to eat as much she could, but she didn’t have an appetite, so she used her fork to play with the cooked vegetables while the others gave awkward glances at each other. Pearl tried to start a conversation to break the silence by asking Cordia about her time in Manehattan. Rarity gave her mother a look, reminding her, without saying a word, to avoid the topic of the wedding. Cordia spoke, but only in short sentences. Sometimes she rambled continuously with little emotion. She didn’t try to make eye contact. When she did look up her eyes would look away while she tried to think of something to add, but by then she’d look down at her plate, her head on her hoof.
It was custom for members of the Belle household to go to their own leisures. Magnum stayed in the basement to inspect his ship in a bottle. Pearl gossiped with her friends over the telephone. Rarity retreated to her bedroom, to her work desk, and make sketches of new fashion designs that floated inside her head. Sweetie Belle glued herself to the television for one of those reality singing competitions.
Cordia retreated to the backyard, taking a folding chair and sat by the lake. The crescent moon reflected off the dark surface in a rippling motion. She didn’t think of anything in particular (or she tried not to think at all, but it was very difficult). She gazed at the stars above her head, and at moment one thought crossed her mind: What is Dom Gavenhoof doing right now? Soon she grew tired, and stepped back inside. Before going upstairs she took a peek at Sweetie Belle in the living room, groaning that the judges didn’t choose her favorite contestant as the winner. Cordia walked across the hall and tightly opened the door to Rarity’s room. Shock ran through her when she saw how much of a mess it was. There was paper scattered across the floor, little yellow sticky notes on every corner of the walls. There was a ponnequin by the window, and Rarity rushed back to her desk after measuring a dress with it.
“Oh, Cordia. Is there anything as I can do for you?” Rarity asked.
“... I was thinking about turning in for the night, if that’s alright with you,” she said after an awkward silence.
“Not at all, darling. I can continue this some other time.” Rarity covered her mouth with her hoof as she yawning. “As a matter of fact, I’m rather drowsy as well.”
Cordia climbed under the blankets and laid her head on the pillow. She saw that she was facing the ponnequin, so she turned to her side to face the wall. Rarity turned off the lamp that stood on her nightstand, then stepped out of the room. “Don’t worry, my dear Cordia. We’ll have a splendid time together tomorrow,” she said before closing the door. Cordia continued to stare at the wall in the dark, feeling the presence of the white, faceless ponnequin behind her. She forgot what time it was when she finally went to sleep.
Friday
Cordia hardly dreamed anymore, and when she did she couldn’t recall what she was dreaming about. It was mostly vague images flashing through her brain in a rush. She kept reminding herself to have a notepad and pen on a night stand wherever she slept, but she had a tendency to forget such things. It doesn’t matter, she thought to herself. What was the point of keeping a notebook to write her dreams if she hardly remembered them?
She sat up and stretched, looking around to find herself in a large bed with pink blankets, and almost fell out of the bed when she saw the ponnequin, almost forgetting that she was asleep in Rarity’s bedroom. She looked out the window to see the sun already shining greatly against the blue sky, then realized it was Friday. The weeks just seem to stretch longer than they should for her. Thursdays and Fridays were often the longest days for her; the former being just a day before Friday, and the latter being an exit sign to the weekend that will take some time to reach. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow, all she wanted to do was sleep all day. However, she was reminded of Saturday being her day with Sweetie Belle. Maybe she can stay in bed with her, Cordia thought. It was unlikely that will happen.
As she climbed out of bed there was a knock at the door. “Cordia, are you in here?” a voice asked. It belonged to Rarity. The door open ajar, and she put her white head through it. “Oh good, you’re awake,” she said happily.
“Good morning,” Cordia said.
“I wanted to let you know that I’m downstairs.” She closed the door and called for Sweetie Belle.
Cordia yawned, stretched again, and trotted out of the room, through the hall and into the bathroom to freshen herself. Then she went downstairs to the kitchen. The coffee pot still had some coffee in it, so Cordia poured herself some into a mug from one of the top cabinets. Sitting at the table she eyed a newspaper that laid at the center and began to read. She normally didn’t care for the newspaper, except wanting to be informed about the weather, and maybe the economy, and she often read only a few paragraphs until she was bored of the article she was reading.
She heard voices coming from the living room. Cordia removed herself from her chair to get a closer look, and saw Rarity saying goodbye to Sweetie Belle as she went to school. When she trotted out the door she was accompanied by two other fillies. Cordia didn’t get a closer look at them, but she figured the two fillies were exactly close to her age. She stood next to Rarity as she closed the front door.
“Those two girls are Sweetie’s friends,” Rarity explained. “All three of them received their cutie marks at the same time, together. Can you believe it? That sort of thing rarely happens.”
“It happened to you,” Cordia said.
“How did you know that?”
“Remember? You told me a couple of years ago, when you told me about that… Rainbow pony. Her name escapes me.”
“Of course, I was talking about Rainbow Dash. Pardon me, Cordia. I believe you got your’s later.”
“A year and a half after you did.”
“If only you were there to witness that sonic rainboom,” Rarity said, longing for the past. “There was nothing quite like it.”
Rarity entered the kitchen with Cordia, then poured herself a cup of coffee, and joined her at the table. Cordia continued where she left off on the newspaper, only to realize she couldn’t recall what exactly she was reading.
“Anything good we should know about?” Rarity asked.
Cordia shrugged. “Not really.”
“Well, I have to attend to some duties that need to be accomplished this morning, then afterwards you and I have the entire day to ourselves.”
Cordia knew what business she had to attend to. Images of the white ponnequin entered her thoughts, and she shuddered.
“You won’t mind waiting for me, do you?” Rarity asked.
“I’ll probably sit out back, by the lake. It was always my favorite whenever I came to visit. It’s so nice just to let the breeze touch your skin on clear days like this in front of the water.”
When the mares finished their coffee they went about their own ways. Cordia grabbed a muffin and trotted to the backyard to sit in front of the lake. The sounds of the water relaxed her as she lie back on the long beach recliner. It was almost as soothing as Sweetie Belle’s voice.
Rarity stepped inside her room, greeted the ponnequin she named “Madame Quin,” and began her work. At her desk she drew sketches on a large sheet of paper of dresses, shirts, shoes, accessories. Her horn glowed and other supplies like pencils, ink pens, scissors, floated around her. After finishing one sketch she rushed to Madame Quin and measured her neck. It was for a collar and bow-tie ensemble. She grabbed one of her notebooks that floated above her and opened to a page that wasn’t filled with drawings.
While flipping through the book she stopped. Slowly, she turned back a few pages and found something that interested her.
It was a complete, finished work of a wedding dress. It was white, the midsection painted in yellow, with little colored circles across it. The armbands were also painted yellow, as was the bottom of the dress and the collar. Rarity gazed at it for a long time that she had forgotten about her current sketches. It was Cordia’s wedding dress, for what Rarity personally considered her best work. She remembered the wedding day, and Cordia looked phenomenal.
The wedding invitations were already sent out a month before. It came to a surprise for everyone in Rarity’s family. Even Magnum and Pearl, Rarity’s parents, had to look at the fine printing again and read the invitations multiple times to be sure if there wasn’t a misprint. Cordia? Getting married? To a stallion?
“Who would have thought,” Magnum once said. “She’s finally settling down.”
“Good for her,” Pearl added. “I bet she found herself a keeper. I knew she’d get lucky someday.”
Pearl and Rarity had a habit of talking about Cordia in conversation. Whenever her name was dropped, Pearl would remind her that it takes time to find the perfect pony, and in her own words, “You’ll have to have your heart broken a thousand times before one more comes to put it back together.” Of course, Rarity never agreed with her philosophy. She has seen many times before when it comes to Cordia. It even happened to herself, although she tried to suppress those memories with a bottle of wine late at night. She hated seeing her having her hopes raised, only for that hope to shatter into pieces like glass. A thousand times was just not worth it. But it didn’t matter now she was getting married. Mother might be onto something, Rarity thought.
Another letter came soon after, this time it was a personal letter from Cordia to Rarity. In the letter Cordia explained how very excited she was about the wedding, and how she couldn’t wait to see her again when everyone makes the trip to Manehattan. She sang her praises for Mister Dom Gavenhoof as well, but in two sentences. She promised that everyone will see more of him once the wedding arrives. Finally, she asked if Rarity could make a gown for her, and that she’ll send money in the mail; all Rarity had to do was name the price. Cordia gave every single detail of what she wanted her wedding dress to look like, from top to bottom. She closed the letter by stating what long journey this has been for her, and thanking Rarity for being her favorite cousin. Rarity laughed inwardly. “I’ll do it for free,” she said to herself.
Rarity worked on Cordia’s wedding on her days off from work and on weekends. Sometimes, when she wasn’t tired from her day at the Carousel Boutique, she’d work on it some more during late nights. Her bedroom became her personal workshop. She followed every detail Cordia had given her from the letter. It was so much so that she even sewed the dress in her sleep, although she promised herself to never attempt that again.
During that time Rarity sent a letter to her cousin. In her letter she told Cordia how proud she was that her dear cousin was tying the knot. She paraphrased Cordia’s words of it being a long and difficult journey, as well her mother’s words about having heart broken a thousand times before the right pony fixes it (she still didn’t like that philosophy, and she reminded Cordia of that fact). When the letter reached to a close, Rarity told her that the dress was free of charge. Anything for my favorite cousin, she said in the last line.
Rarity made two versions of the same dress, “drafts” as she called them, displayed on ponnequins. They were all white with gold lines of metallic fabric at the waist, collar, and at the bottom, but each dress was different in noticeable details. The first dress had a small golden emblem at the collar consisting of the sun and moon joining together as one celestial object. The second dress had small multicolored sapphires attached the line of gold at the waist. Unlike the first dress, this one had sleeves. It was the second time she had assistance from Spike to dig up the sapphires from the earth. Luckily there were no Diamond Dogs around, probably because they remembered from the previous time they kidnapped her. While Rarity didn’t like to think about it, she felt as though she was taking advantage of him. She knew how much he liked her, and how she didn’t like to get her hooves dirty. Afterward she took him out to lunch as a way to say thank you.
She studied the two ponnequins wearing the dress. She stretched measuring paper over the two at each angle and side. Her mind created images of Cordia wearing them. Rarity stroked her chin with her hoof, deciding which dress was the most superior. She heard voices inside the house, a mare and a filly. Hooves were rushing up the stairs and into the hallway. Someone knocked on the door, then pushed it ajar.
“Hi Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said. She saw the white dresses, then let herself in her sister’s room. Rarity was deep in thought, her white hoof stroking her chin. “What’s going on?”
“I was making these wedding dresses for Cordia,” she answered.
“Is she going to wear them both?”
“Oh no, darling, I made two versions of them. Now I’m deciding which one looks the best.” Rarity was silent. She glanced at her young sister, and an ideal came to mind. “Sweetie, can you do something for me?”
“Sure.”
“I want you to choose. If you were Cordia, which dress would you like to wear?”
Sweetie gazed at the two dresses. They both looked nice. The first dress looked like something she’d see Princess Celestia wear. And then there’s the second dress, the one with the sapphires. They were a very nice touch. Who wouldn’t want to have sapphires on their dress? She looked at Rarity, then her focus shifted to the two dresses.
“I like the second one,” she finally said.
“The one with the sapphires?”
“Yeah. I think it looks cool. Cordia will love it.”
“Then sapphires it is. Thank you Sweetie Belle.”
“What are you going to do with the other one?”
Rarity thought for a moment. “I guess I’ll place it in a spot at the Carousel Boutique. I’m sure somepony might want this, although I am going to make a few alterations to it. There’s no use wasting a perfectly fine wedding dress.”
Sweetie giggled, and trotted out of Rarity’s room. She took another look at the dress with the sapphires. She imagined Cordia wearing the dress again, and she smiled. Anything for my favorite cousin, she told herself.
Rarity put the notebook down, and stared at the ponnequin. Then she remembered that the wedding dress was still locked in her shop, somewhere in the back. She could still see how the sapphires shimmered on Cordia’s dress whenever she closed her eyes. She only wore it once, when Rarity helped her fit in it. Everyone was going to see her wear it, but that time never came to pass.
The notebook remained on the page with the dress, so Rarity closed it. She looked around, seeing that there was still much work to be done, but she began to think. She noticed unfinished sketch she was working on while she looking through the notebook. Rarity removed herself from her desk and took off her glasses.
“Madame Quin, I’m going to be out for awhile,” she said. “I have an important… a very important engagement I must attend to. But I will return later this evening.” She opened her door, glanced at Madame Quin and blew her a kiss, then shut the door.
She found Cordia in the backyard, lying in the recliner by the lake. Stepping forward to get a closer look she realized that her eyes were closed. Rarity gently tapped her on her arm. “Cordia… Cordia, darling.” She stroked her arm with her hoof, then Cordia opened her eyes. “I see that you were having yourself a little nap.”
“It’s the reason why this has always been my favorite spot,” Cordia said.
Rarity gazed at the direction where Cordia was looking. She never realized it has been a long time since she has been out here. The lake was like a glowing mirror, clear as glass, cool and fresh. No wonder Cordia fell asleep out here. Just looking at the lake made Rarity want to lie on the ground and rest, but this was not the time to lounge.
The mares grabbed their purses and headed out the door. As they headed into town Cordia saw the Castle of Friendship from where they were walking. Rarity had mentioned that the princess was away, probably some royal duty, she thought. Cordia imagined how amazing it would have been if she ever had a chance to meet the princess who lived there.
“Rarity, you told me that one of your friends is a princess,” Cordia said.
“Oh yes, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
“I was wondering… what is she like?”
“Princess Twilight is the most wonderful mare in the world, and she’s a very good friend. She will always do anything she can to help others. Do you know that not too long ago she was just an ordinary unicorn? Years before she was just a young student of Princess Celestia.”
“I had no idea.”
“Although I don’t remember how it all started, almost two years ago there was a little mishap with our cutie marks. Luckily, Twilight was there to repair everything. I have no idea what we’ll ever do without her. She must have done quite an exquisite job, because all of sudden she wrote something in Starswirl the Bearded’s spellbook, and she disappeared in a flash!”
“And then what happened?”
“She didn’t come back for quite sometime, but when she did… she had the most gorgeous wings I ever saw. Oh how I wish you could have been there to see it.”
“It sounds pretty amazing,” Cordia sighed.
Rarity continued to explain to Cordia what her other friends were like; from the athletic Rainbow Dash, to the energetic and eccentric Pinkie Pie, to the hardworking Applejack, and the timid Fluttershy, all in great detail. As she was listening, there was something that caught Cordia’s attention. In the middle of town there was a giant tree stump that it as though it had been destroyed.
“What happened here?”
“... That used to be the library… and it was also where Twilight used to live. Do you remember Tirek?”
Cordia shuddered. “Who could ever forget someone like him? He was worse than Dom Gavenhoof.”
Rarity smiled at the little joke, but then she returned to her serious tone. “At the time, there was battle here, between him and Princess Twilight. It was a victory, but the library was destroyed in the process.”
“How sad.”
“The mayor wants to build another library. She and Princess Twilight share a great love for books. Did you know that Princess Twilight is a great advocate for literacy? Just last summer she invited all the children in Ponyville to the castle to read to them.”
Rarity saw the smile that grew on Cordia’s face while she shared her experiences with Twilight Sparkle. It was one of the rare genuine smiles she has seen on her. Cordia hadn’t smiled like that since what had been her failed engagement. Unfortunately, she found herself thinking about Dom Gavenhoof, and growing more frustrated at him, cursing his name under her breath.
They crossed a bridge over a stream and walked the path that lead to Fluttershy’s home. It was like a large tree with a door and windows, with large amounts of green over and under, bright flowers decorating the front of the yard.
“She must really be in touch with nature,” Cordia said.
“You should see her backyard,” added Rarity.
“You don’t think I’ll do anything to make her… nervous, do you?”
“I wouldn’t worry about, I’m quite sure she has gotten over it over the years, although some of her shyness is still there. Again, I wouldn’t worry about it too much.”
Rarity knocked on the door, and they heard a small voice from the other side. It was answered by a yellow pegasus with a long pink mane which almost looked similar to Rarity’s.
“Hello Rarity,” said Fluttershy, then her attention was turned to the silver unicorn next to her. “Oh, um, hello miss…”
“Fluttershy, this is my cousin, Cordia. She’s visiting from Manehattan. You don’t mind if we stop by for a visit, do you?”
“Not at all. Please, come in.”
Fluttershy allowed the two unicorns inside, then hovered to a couch to quietly shoo away a group of kittens into the backyard. A black kitten refused to move, so she had to pick it up and release it into the backyard with the others. She called for someone named “Angel,” which Cordia realized the name belonged to a white rabbit, and Fluttershy asked it to watch the kittens.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said. “I normally let the kittens play wherever they want when I’m not expecting company. The couch is their favorite spot.”
“Um, that’s fine,” Cordia said. “I like kittens.”
Fluttershy figured Rarity and Cordia would like some tea. She grabbed a tea kettle and two cups and poured some tea she made when the morning began, then placed them in a serving plate. She informed that there isn’t any sugar and apologized.
“So… what are you and Cordia doing today?”
“She’s staying in Ponyville for the weekend and I’m showing her around, reminding her of the wonderful times we used to have.”
“That’s nice. I never met anyone from Manehattan before. Well, actually, I’ve been to Manehattan, but I never tried to talked to anypony there.”
“That’s okay,” said Cordia. “The city can be a very intimidating place. I believe for those who lived there long enough, they learn to navigate it and make their surroundings their own. That’s just one of my crazy theories about it.”
“So what brings you to Ponyville?”
“Oh… just to get away, to clear my mind of certain things. This summer has been… exhausting, to say the least.”
“What happened to you?”
Cordia paused. “I rather not say - not in full detail.”
“I’m sorry; you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
Through that late-morning Cordia and Fluttershy engaged in awkward small-talk, mostly about the approaching autumn season. Rarity kept a vigilant eye on her cousin, making sure she doesn’t get off track and accidently ramble about her miserable love life and her quest for suitors. Fluttershy then took her to her backyard to see the animals that occupied her home. Cordia saw several birdhouses hung on wires, a giant pond with fish of all sizes swimming, and other creatures big and small. It was enough to warrant a private petting zoo, she thought. She was momentarily distracted by kittens lying on the grass, and went over to watch them at a considerable distance so she wouldn’t frighten them. Fluttershy and Rarity remained at the door while watching Cordia explore the backyard.
“Is she okay?” Fluttershy asked. “She seems kind of sad.”
Rarity was silent, then released a sigh. “If I tell you, will you promise not to say anything about it to her?”
“Of course. I never break promises.”
“The year before, Cordia was engaged and married to a stallion. We were all excited for her. She had been heartbroken many times before, and after so many years she found the one who was the key to her happiness. I personally made a special wedding dress for her after she asked me to. It was dream come true for her, and for me as well.”
“What happened?”
“The marriage fell apart. I don’t know the full extent of how it happened, and we try not to talk about it, but she didn’t get the happy ending she wanted. Then last summer he left her.”
Fluttershy returned her gaze back to Cordia. Now she understood why she had been feeling distant. Fluttershy couldn’t imagine the pain and turmoil this poor mare has been through. It made her think if something like that could happen to herself, or Rarity, or any of her friends. She hoped not. Cordia turned around and trotted to them.
“You have a very lovely home,” she said to Fluttershy. “It’s amazing how you can have all these animals here. It’s like the Garden of Eden.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I’ve always loved being around nature since I was a filly. I may be pegasus, but I feel much closer to the earth than the sky.” She saw the sad smile on Cordia’s face. Fluttershy wish there was something she could do to help her. At least Rarity is with her, she thought.
“Do you know where Pinkie Pie is?” Rarity asked Fluttershy. “I wanted to see her yesterday, but she was with the Cakes’ children.”
“I think she’s visiting her visiting her family for the weekend. She said it’s some kind of tradition involving rocks.”
They both shrugged. Rarity and Cordia bid Fluttershy farewell. As they advanced toward the door Fluttershy caught a last glimpse at Cordia. The way she had her head down most of the time, from how she slowly paced as she walked, how her voice was low; it made Fluttershy ill from the inside. “That poor mare,” she said to herself.
Cordia sat alone on her couch under the dim lights. She used her magic to hold a glass wine, taking sips every few moments while looking at the clock on the bookshelf to her side. It was eleven o’clock p.m; 11:15 to be precise. She put the glass of wine to her lips again. The food was still there on the table, untouched, cold, the small flames had already melted the candles.
She turned her head to the window, gazing at the city lights. With each passing hour the city kept moving, like a live creature that never slept. Cordia had a view of an apartment from her window. Most of the were turned off, or were about to be turned off. Farther down there was window in a master bedroom. She spotted silhouettes of two ponies in a passionate embrace, then the light vanished, leaving only darkness. Cordia placed the glass to her lips.
The doorknob shook and twist; a key was unlocking it. A stallion with a hat and overcoat entered the room. He placed his hat and coat on the rack attached to the wall, and looking ahead spotted an angry mare glaring back at him.
“I made you dinner,” Cordia said.
“I didn’t know,” Dom answered. He made his way through the hall until Cordia stepped in his way. He shook his head.
“You didn’t know?” she sardonically repeated. “I told you earlier this week I wanted us to have a special dinner together!”
“Well, I forgot, okay? We’ll have dinner some other time. I’m very tired.”
“You made a promise to me that this night will be ours!”
“I had a rough day at the office and I had to work late! Things like this happens, Cordia!”
“I spent all day making this for you!”
“I’m sorry! Please stop yelling, it’s nearly midnight!”
“I can yell however I want, because of the simple fact that you obviously don’t care about your own wife!”
Their annual shouting match began, right in the middle of the hallway, just inches away from the dinner table. Dom tried to tell her that she was overreacting and acting childish, which caused Cordia to yell louder. He then reminded her that they live in an apartment and that their arguing will disrupt other ponies, but his voice wouldn’t overpower Cordia. They yelled vicious insults and pointed hooves, and before things became ugly he entered the bedroom and shut the door tight.
Cordia placed her hooves on the sides of her head, shaking it in distress, and let out an anguish groan that turned into shriek. She sat back at the table and continued her glass of wine. Soon she poured herself another and another until she drank herself to sleep.
Saturday
Cordia had one of those nights again; the kind of nights when she’d lay on the bed and close her eyes, not remembering how or when she went to sleep, in addition to not remembering any of her dreams from the night. Waking up, turning to her side, the ponnequin was the first object that greeted her sight.
“You again,” she grumbled, receiving silence as her answer. Does Rarity have to keep that thing around? she thought to herself. Cordia turned over on her side again, this time facing the wall. She wondered if the ponnequin was really staring at her, and she quickly discarded the idea before her imagination could make it worse.
The room was silent, as was the house apparently, or so she thought when she heard someone trotting across the hall. There was a knock, the voice sounding young and girlish.
“Cordia, it’s me, Sweetie Belle,” she said. Sweetie inched her head through the ajar opening of the door. “Are you awake?”
“I am now,” yawned Cordia. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready for school?”
“... It’s Saturday.”
Cordia took a moment to think, and realized that Sweetie is correct, that today is Saturday. It also meant that the two of them will spend the day together while Rarity is working at the Carousel Boutique. “Rarity left early this morning,” said Sweetie, “but I made you breakfast.” She entered the room carrying a breakfast tray on her back - a glass of orange juice, a bowl of oatmeal, a smaller bowl of fruit, and toast. The magic from Cordia’s horn caught the tray from Sweetie’s back and placed it on her lap.
“Thank you, Sweetie.”
“You’re welcome. Anything for my favorite cousin.” Sweetie climbed on the bed and sat next to her. “I tried making breakfast for Rarity a couple of times, but they didn’t go so well.”
“But this looks pretty good.”
“Actually, mom helped me make it.” She smiled awkwardly.
“Either way, everything is delicious.”
“Thanks.”
“I know Rarity wanted me to spend the day with you while she’s at work. What do want to do today?”
Sweetie shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe we could stay here all day.”
“Are you sure? It’s a nice day outside. I don’t mind if we go to the park or something.”
“That’s okay - I mean, we don’t have to do anything super or spectacular. Sometimes it’s good to just relax and sit at home with your favorite ponies.”
“... You know, I think that’s a great idea. Are you sure your friends won’t mind? It is Saturday.”
“I can see them anytime I want… but I hardly get to see you at all.”
Cordia smiled at Sweetie, both of them agreeing in silence. She finished her breakfast while Sweetie thought about what to do on a lazy Saturday. At that point Cordia almost forgot that the faceless ponnequin was still in the room.
“Why does Rarity keep that thing in here?” Cordia asked. Sweetie shrugged.
Rarity stretched and wrapped measuring tape around a filly in her office. The filly was yellow with long tan hair; her mother was with her. The young pony was being fitted for her dress for her upcoming birthday party.
She reminded Rarity of Sweetie Belle. Then she remembered it was Saturday and she and Cordia were spending the day together. Good for them, she thought. During the week Sweetie couldn’t stop talking about seeing her favorite cousin. She wondered what they were doing at the moment. Rarity took a quick glance at the young filly; she looked a bit nervous, her eyes were to the floor.
“So darling, how are you on this fine morning?” Rarity asked.
“... Um, okay,” the filly answered. Her yellow cheeks burned bright red when Rarity smiled at her. She couldn’t help but think of Fluttershy.
“Your mother says that you wanted a dress for your birthday. I believe that is a fabulous idea. Tell me, what’s your favorite color?”
“Um… blue.”
“Fantastic choice, dear.” She levitated a sketchbook and opened it to an empty page, along with a pencil. “Is there anything you would for me to customize? Anything you want on your dress?”
“No, not really. I just like a regular dress.”
Rarity began to draw a sketch of a filly wearing a blue dress, going along with what was being described to her. Then a small brush dipped in blue paint hovered over the sketch and filled it with color. She presented to the filly, whom for the most part was satisfied, but Rarity detected that something was bothering her.
“What is the matter? Aren’t you excited for your birthday?”
“I am… it’s just… well, I don’t know.”
“Oh? Why is that, dear?”
The filly was silent, her eyes to the ground yet again. She looked to her mother, asking to leave with pleading eyes. Her mother nodded and the filly exited Rarity’s office, although she said thank you before leaving. There was no reason to be rude. The filly’s mother came to Rarity with sad eyes.
“Her father hasn’t been around lately,” she said. “He missed her last birthday, her sixth. There were many other times in her life where he wasn’t there - her school play, her ballet recital. Her father works a lot and he takes trips… but he’s become very distant.”
“I understand. Your daughter is very sweet.”
The mother searched her purse and took out some bits, then gave them to Rarity. “Thank you for doing this. I just want her to feel special on her birthday.”
“And she will; because even if her father is not present, she will know that you, her friends, and the rest of her family will be.”
The mother smiled, bid her goodbye and left the Carousel Boutique with her daughter. She looked on, wondering if she’ll go through the same turmoil that had destroyed the marriage of Cordia and Dom Gavehenhoof. Her thoughts shifted from the adult couple to the filly. How will she be affected if her parents separated? she wondered. Rarity sighed and returned to her office, searching for blue fabric for the filly’s dress in addition to keeping up with her schedule.
Suddenly she heard the door open, and she stepped out of her office to attend to the next pony. The pony wore a long tan overcoat with a hat covering most of the top half of the head, looking around and admiring the clothes. “May I help you, sir?” Rarity asked. The pony stopped, noticing that Rarity spoke to him. He slowly walked toward her.
“I’m looking for someone named Cordia,” he said, clearing his throat.
The pleasant air surrounding Rarity vanished. She stared at the stallion, but she couldn’t get a better look at his eyes as they were distorted by his hat. The stallion waited for an answer, then explained again that he was looking for a mare named Cordia, causing Rarity to became suspicious of his motives.
“Excuse me, but who are you?” she asked cautiously.
The stallion took off his hat to revealing his neatly combed yellow hair. He had a porcelain face with blue eyes. Rarity was utterly disgusted from the sight of him; although he had no horn and his hair wasn’t long, he almost a spitting image of Prince Blueblood.
“What do you want?” Rarity asked again, this time in a harsher tone.
“I came to see Cordia.”
“How could you possibly know that she’s here? And how did you know to come here?”
“I’ve tried contacting her, but she wasn’t in the city. I visited her apartment and she wasn’t there, so I figured that she’s probably in Ponyville. It’s only logical since she likes you so much.”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Even if she was here, what makes you think she wants anything to do with you?”
“You may not believe me, but I want to make things right again.”
“It’s too late for that, Dom. You had every chance to do that and you failed. I will never forgive for what you did to Cordia, and neither will she. She deserves someone better than yourself. Now kindly leave and go back to your mistress.”
“I can’t… she left me,” he said.
Rarity stared at him, then delivered a mocking smile. “Now you know how it feels,” she smirked, “to have someone you love crush you.”
“I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“Empty words from a cold-hearted pony! If you really meant what you have said, you would have never decided to leave my dear cousin!”
“I know I’ve done wrong. I’m willing to face up to everything I did. Yes, I do know the whole family probably hates my guts, but the one thing I ask is that I see Cordia. Please. For pity sake we were supposed to have a foal together.”
“Who would want to have a foal with the likes of you?” she retorted.
Dom sighed, lowered his head and put his hat back on. He turned his back on Rarity and made his way out of her workshop. He opened the door, then paused before he stepped out. “I’m staying at the Riverside Motel - second floor, room 30. I want to see Cordia just once, whenever you can. Please? Can you do that for me?”
There was no response from Rarity. Dom tipped his hat and closed the door, leaving Rarity to shake her head in disgust, cursing his name under her breath.
Sweetie Belle never thought she’d spend nearly the whole day eating an entire tube of ice cream with her favorite cousin while they lie on Rarity’s bed. She was so sure she wouldn’t like them doing that. They were watching one of those old, black and white movies from the golden age of the Applewood film industry; a famous one called Casalanca, an award-winner of that time, and often regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. Rarity had a collection of golden age films nopony inside the house had known about (or wouldn’t have cared), and her curiosity led to the two ponies to view them.
They were fully immersed in the film, which was surprising considering Sweetie Belle has found herself bored watching movies like Casalanca. Thinking about it, it was probably the film’s theme song that drew her in. “Play it again, Sam,” instantly became one of Sweetie’s favorite moments from the film.
“That was a great movie!” Sweetie said as “THE END” appeared on the screen. “I can see why Rarity loves it so much.”
“It’s a very well-regarded piece of cinema,” said Cordia. She ran her spoon through the carton in an attempt to scoop the remains. “I think we ran out of ice cream.”
“I think there’s more in the freezer.”
“Don’t worry about it. I think we had enough ice cream for today.”
“That’s silly, you can never have too much ice cream,” Sweetie joked.
Cordia and Sweetie Belle threw away the empty cartons of ice cream, and it was then they decided to get more, and make popcorn if they were up to it. Cordia thought back to the film they were watching. Funnily enough, from all the characters in Casalanca, she felt connected to the male lead. During the end of the first act, it was realized that he had his heart shattered when the mare he loved left him when the war in Prance began. He never had the chance to say a proper goodbye to her. However, it wasn’t likely that she was going to see Dom anytime soon, to share a dance with their favorite song, to let each other how much the other meant to them. Real life, after all, is not an Applewood production.
“Sweetie, I just wanted to let you know this has been a great day.”
“I told you it’d be better if we stay home. We don’t always have to go out and do stuff.”
“Which reminds me, Rarity is taking me to the spa tomorrow. Do you think you’d like to come with us?”
“No thanks, Rarity took me to the spa before… I didn’t like it.”
“What should we watch next?” Cordia asked.
Sweetie Belle searched the film collection, scanning and reading the titles that sounded interesting. “What about this one? A Night at the Opera?”
“That sounds familiar. Is it by the Glarx Brothers?”
“I’m not sure.” Cordia helped put the film reel on the projector. The film started and they lie back on the bed. Cordia instantly recognized Groucho Glarx’s famous mustache and cigar, although she forgot he was accompanied by his brothers in their comedies. As with Casalanca, Sweetie surprised herself of how she was drawn to the film. She had no idea how hilarious a black and white movie from eighty years ago can be. It was such a great experience that she didn’t noticed Rarity had entered the room.
“Enjoying yourselves I see,” she said. Rarity saw the surprised look on Sweetie’s face, as well as finding the film projector and the window curtains closed. “I also noticed you two found my film collection,” she added.
“It’s not her fault,” Cordia said. “We were looking around the house and we stumbled upon them, and it was my idea to watch them.”
“Really? I was going to say that A Night at the Opera is one my favorite movies.” Rarity smiled, leading to Sweetie and Corida chuckling. The smile on her face slowly waned, and she placed her hoof softly on her sister. “Excuse me darling, I have to speak to Cordia about something. Would you mind if you give us some privacy?”
Sweetie glanced at Cordia, realizing from the expression she made on her face that she didn’t know what Rarity wanted to talk to her about. However, she obeyed and politely left the room. After the door closed behind them, Rarity gazed at Cordia with troubled eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Cordia asked.
“You will not believe who I saw today.”
“Who?” Cordia asked anxiously.
Not a word came from Rarity; she looked the other way and put her hoof to her mouth. A moment later she looked back at Cordia. “Dom Gavenhoof came to the Carousel Boutique.”
A long silence hung over them. Cordia, feeling sick and uneasy, sat down on the side of the bed. She put her hoof to her head, trying to make sense of everything, then she placed it over her mouth, like trying to keep her breath from leaving her.
“How did he know where to find me?” she finally asked.
“He just knew.”
“... Did he say what he wanted?” she asked with a tremor in her voice.
“All he wanted was to see you.”
Rarity sat next to her and watched as Cordia placed both of her hooves together as in a prayer. “You don’t have to do it,” she said, wrapping her arms around her. “You do not owe him anything, do you understand?”
“This doesn’t make sense. From all that time after he left, why does he want to see me now?”
“I don’t know, but I do know for certain that you need to keep away from him.”
“Did he say anything else? Did he mention…”
Rarity nodded before Cordia finished her question. “He did not give me the full details, but all that he said was that she left him.”
Cordia covered her face with her hooves, only revealing her face a minute later. She gazed blankly at a wall as countless thoughts crossed through her mind. “Did he say where he was staying?”
“The Riverside Motel. I don’t know how long he will be staying, just the fact that he wanted to see you again.”
Cordia continued to think. She turned to Rarity, unblinking and stern.
“I have to see him.”
“Cordia, you can’t be serious. After everything he has done to you…”
“I need closure. I must see him. Who knows if I’ll ever get this chance again.”
“Cordia, I don’t seeing Dom again is a great idea. What if he tries to hurt you like he did before? What’s to stop him from persuading you to come back to him?”
“I don’t know what will happen. I don’t even know what I’m going to say to him.”
“Then don’t go to him,” Rarity said in a harsh tone. “You have nothing to do with him, nor is he worth any of your time!”
“... I have to,” Cordia sighed. “Please Rarity, this what I want to do. I must tell him how I feel about everything. I want to know if he has changed.”
“Don’t do this. You know he has not changed. I don’t believe for a moment that there is the tiniest bit of remorse in his veins!”
They stayed silent, Cordia looking around the room before returning her gaze at Rarity. The contest of wills ended with Rarity giving in. “When do you want to see him?” she sighed.
“Do you know where the Riverside Motel is?”
“Yes, it located in Creber Mills Parkway, near main street.”
“Tonight,” Cordia answered.
Rarity removed herself from her bed and made her way out of the room. When she opened the door she found Sweetie Belle standing in front of her. She figured she was going to eavesdrop. It was difficult to keep any secrets from her. Rarity gave her young sister a passing glance before going elsewhere.
This time, Cordia knew everything. She stood outside her apartment, waiting for the taxi that carried Dom and his lover. Emotions intensified inside her, and any moment she’d explode like a dynamite. She didn’t care if she was going to make a scene. Cordia had abandoned all reasoning. She wanted the whole world to know what kind of stallion Dom Gavenhoof was.
All those “working late nights” excuses were beginning to make perfect sense. She was starting to wonder why Dom never took her out anymore. Whenever he came home in the middle of the night he was always quick to defend himself. During the days when she wasn’t working she went into an investigation by searching his clothes and belongings. On a particular day she noticed that a few of his dress shirts had the smell of perfume and faded pink marks on the collar. Inside one of his jackets was a folded piece of paper, with a street address and restaurant.
There was also a name: Diamond Ritz
There was never a time Cordia cried so much in one single day, except when any of the stallions in her life abandoned her. Dom Gavenhoof will be one of them soon enough. On that morning Dom had said he will be coming home late again. This time she was ready for whatever happens.
That night she watched carts and wagons drive through the street. Many of them stopped in front of her building, but they didn’t carry the ponies she was looking for. On the other side of the street there was a taxi that let out a couple. Cordia was about to cross until she got a good look at them. The stallion was tan with dark-brown hair. More carts came and went, but she didn’t care; Cordia could wait on the sidewalk until Princess Celestia raised the sun if she had to.
Another taxi cart strolled by, stopping just a yard away from her apartment. Ponies came out, but the street lamp didn’t provide enough light to reveal their features. Cordia trotted closer, and saw a stallion and a mare. They were speaking in low voices, the mare giggling to what the stallion said. He waited for them to come underneath the light of the street lamp. The mare was saying something to her companion. Cordia couldn’t understand what she was saying, but she understood one of the words she uttered.
Dom.
The couple stepped into the street light, and sure enough it was Cordia’s husband with his mistress. Her blood boiled, and she rushed toward them. Dom saw her coming his way, his breath was taken from him, and he knew at that moment he was in a world of trouble.
“Working late, aren’t you!” she yelled. “Filling those quotas, huh!”
Dom tried to calm her down, but she continued to yell and scream. Cordia shoved at him, demanding that he answer her questions, then Dom held her hoof as she tried to hit him. Cordia pointed to the mare, calling her awful names such as “slut,” “whore,” frightening and upsetting her. Dom told his mare to leave while she still can, but that didn’t stop Cordia from yelling even more obscenities at her.
“Why were you with her?” she yelled. “Answer me!”
“Will you calm down?” Dom yelled back.
“Who is she?”
“None of your business!”
“It is my business! If my husband is seeing somepony, then it’s darn well my business!”
Their voices were loud enough for the residents in other apartments to hear. Some of them peek through their curtains or viewed from their balconies. Cordia grabbed his suit jacket while he swiped her hooves off of him. Dom slipped away from her and rushed inside the lobby of their apartment, Cordia following, and stopped in front of the elevator. Cordia raised her voice, spitting out harsh words at her husband. Dom couldn’t take it anymore. He raised his hoof, and the next thing he knew he saw Cordia on the ground, her hoof on her cheek.
He stood there, the two of them stunned at what he just done. All the sound in the building seemed to be sucked in a vacuum, and they felt as though they were trapped in an air-locked vessel. Dom couldn’t look at Cordia in the eye. He ran past his wife, rushing outside into the night, leaving her on the cold floor, staring at the elevator door. An elderly mare found her and helped her get to her room. For the rest of the night Cordia locked herself in her bedroom with misery as her companion.
Rarity and Cordia started on the path to the Riverside Motel during evening. It was located near the train station, at Creber Mills Parkway just as Rarity said. It seem strange to Cordia that walking was the only other method of transportation in Ponyville, besides flying and the occasional bicycle or wagon. Any place ponies needed to go was always walking distance from where they are. While they walked, Cordia thought about what to do when she meets Dom. She prepared a script for herself, mentally editing parts that sounded too well-rehearsed.
With each step that brought them closer to the motel, there were moments when Cordia wanted to turn back. She began to ask herself why should she see the stallion who broke her heart only a year into their marriage. What sense would that make? Why should she need closure? The hoof that struck her emerged from the depths of her mind where she thought it was buried. Suddenly she stopped, looked at the ground, seemingly out of breath.
“Cordia dear, are you alright?” Rarity asked.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m fine… I’m just anxious.”
“You don’t have to do this. We can go home and forget about him.”
“No. This needs to happen.”
They walked in silence under the street lights of Ponyville. Most of the shops and businesses were already closed for the day, while others like the grocery store and the pharmacy remained opened until later hours. Rarity made quick glances at her cousin, trying to see what her face looked like. Cordia had her head down most of the time, and other times she looked ahead to see where she was going. Finally they arrived at the train station. East of the station was a plaza, and a two-story building structure with a line of doors and windows.
“Is this the place?” Cordia asked.
Rarity nodded. They arrived under the light of the motel. Rarity told her that Dom was staying on the second floor, room 30. They climbed the stairs, crossed the hall, and stopped at a red door with the number 30 plastered in silver.
“Do you need me to come with you?” Rarity said.
“No. I have to do this alone.”
“Are you sure?”
Cordia hadn’t told anyone that Dom slapped her. She knew how Rarity will react if what happened to her was revealed. She held her white hoof with a gentle grip, then let go. “I’ll be waiting outside,” Rarity said. She stepped aside so she can be out of sight when Dom opened the door. Cordia gazed at the door, reached out her hoof to knock, but it stayed in place. Once again she considered going home, but she already made it this far. To turn back will make her efforts worthless. After a moment’s hesitation, her hoof made contact with the door. She waited, then the doorknob clicked, then Rarity took further steps back to avoid being seen.
The door opened and Dom stood before her. There were no feeling or emotion in their eyes, neither of them uttered a word. Cordia felt the urge to slap him as he did her, but she forced her hoof down.
“Cordia,” Dom finally said.
“Dom.”
He stepped aside to allow Cordia in. Dom occupied a one-room space that had two beds, a bathroom, a closet, a television set that was turned off. Cordia was a chair and table by the window and sat down, Dom sat on the side of the bed nearest him. They didn’t make eye contact for some time.
“I didn’t think we’d see each other again,” Dom said, after a long silence.
Cordia looked at him. “Is that all you have to say?”
“Look, this is weird for me as it is for you. I didn’t think you’ll be coming to see me.”
“Rarity told me that you came here, although I’m not sure why.”
“... Because I want to make things right between us, Cordia.”
Cordia sent a hard stare at him. “You had every chance in the world to make things right between us, and you blew it on several occasions.”
“Those were mistakes on my part. I’m ready to make a change.”
“Oh really? Tell me, Dom, why are you here? What could you possibly want from me?”
“I want your forgiveness,” he sighed.
“There’s more to it than that.”
“There’s nothing more.”
“... What happened to that mare of yours?”
Silence entered the space between them. Cordia kept her watchful eye on him, then Dom sighed heavy heartedly.
“Nothing happened. Nothing did happen.”
“You still sound like you love her.”
“No I don’t. Like I said before, it was a mistake.”
“How long have you been seeing her behind my back?”
“You have to understand, Cordia. I was frustrated, I had a moment of weakness; I had to find someone who would appreciate me.”
“And your own wife wasn’t enough?” she asked angrily.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I’ve done my darndest to make a happy life for us, but you were so selfish and blind that you couldn’t see it!”
“That’s why I want to fix things now! I know I was selfish! I’m ready for us to move forward!”
“... Did you go to Prance with her?”
Dom did not want to answer, and pleaded with his eyes. Once again Cordia would not take her scornful eyes off of him. Dom looked down, then back at his wife, then sighed deeply.
“... Yes, we did.”
“We were supposed to go to Prance.”
“I know. I’m sorry. For everything.” He sat up from his bed and stared hard into Cordia’s eyes. “Please, I’m telling you I’m truly sorry. I didn’t meant for any of this to happen. I swear things will be different. We will go to Prance, and we will have a foal like you always wanted. Please Cordia… I love you.”
Cordia put her hoof on the cheek he slapped. She closed her eyes and felt the force and impact from that night. She was almost certain Dom will slap her again.
“... I loved you too. Now that love is gone.”
Dom’s face contorted. He sat on top of the mattress, lowered his head and held it on his hoof. She pushed the chair away and let herself out. Without saying another word she opened the door and stepped out, then she looked at Dom again.
“It was your choice to hurt me and it was your choice to leave me behind. You broke my heart when you did that. Now it’s my choice to never take you back. I hope you have a wonderful life,” she said sardonically, then she shut the door their marriage forever.
She climbed the steps to the ground level of the motel. There was no sadness, no remorse that could be felt, just emptiness for the things she endured. Cordia found Rarity at the motel lobby, which was a small room with someone working at the counter. She was reading one of those travel brochures when she noticed Cordia.
“How did it go?” Rarity asked.
Cordia shook her head. “Let’s go home.”
On the road home the two were silent. It was only when they were inside Rarity’s house that she reminded her of their spa date on the next day. She smiled on the reason that a trip to the spa will make Cordia forget about all her troubles.
“Thank you for coming with me,” Cordia said to Rarity. “I just want you to know that I can count on you for anything.”
“Of course. I will always be here to support you, remember that.”
Cordia nodded, then found herself yawning. Most of the lights of the house were turned off, so she figured it was time for her to turn in as well. They bid each other a goodnight. “Anything for my favorite cousin,” Rarity said to herself as she watched Cordia go upstairs.