Author's Note

This isn't required reading, but I included for closure's sake. It lacks clop of anykind, but hopefully it introduced a sweet enough ending for both of these characters. I did originally intend for this chapter to be longer, however I felt it was unnecessary, as long as they were happy opening up anything else or introducing too much. I did enjoy writing an ending to this, sacrificing its viability as a one-shot in the process but I think it was worth it.
I hope you enjoyed this, and I hope have (or had) a good day.

...But the finest parts of pure love.

A month had passed since Berry’s dalliance with Velvet, and every day he found his thoughts drawn to that moment. The passion, the pleasure, her. She occupied his every thought, was in every dream, a name he founded he wanted to say but the pony who he wanted to say it to. Berry tried to find her again at the brothel, but she apparently had not been seen there for weeks, apparently her reputation soured due to some event none of the mares would share with him. He thought he had seen her wander the city every now again. Getting over excited when he saw a mare with a reddish coat in his peripheries, only to be let down immensely when he saw it was a stranger. Admittedly his knowledge of the mare didn’t go beyond her name, but it did nothing to lessen his infatuation with her. He didn't wish for any other companion than her.

“Berry!” A voice called to him, breaking him out his reverie.

“What?” He exclaimed wide-eyed, remembering where he was. The colt surveyed his surroundings, the grand white marble walls and fear inducing height of the ceiling was all too clear a reminder of his locale. “Oh, I’m just at school.”

“The heck is wrong you, Berry?” The colt adjacent to him asked, his voice a shout compared to the general volume of everyone speaking in the dining hall. His friend wasn’t spectacular in looks, with a off-white coat, and a peach coloured mane. However his posh sounding accent still made him stand out amongst the school crowd, nevermind the fact his father had five Manehatten skyscrapers in his name, and he was wealthy, even by Canterlot standards.

“Nothing.” Berry sounded dismissive, looking down at his already empty plate. It had skipped his mind that he had already ate, or maybe he hadn’t picked up any food at all.

“This is about your parents isn’t it?” He attempted to console, but in all honesty Berry wanted that to remain buried. His parents had filed for a divorce last two weeks ago. It was civil, but it still tore and ravaged his insides. “At least it’s lacking in chaos. My mother caught my father in the ‘act’. In their own wedding bed no less. You’re different, my friend.”

“How?” Berry asked, leaning on the table with his elbows. He stared with an exasperated expression, something he found was common in his presence.

“Your mother and father are acting civilised. They declared their lack of love for each other and have chosen to be cordial in the matter. They aren’t tugging at each side of your body and demanding to keep you for themselves. And from what you told me, the house is quieter.” He explained the situation to Berry, leaning forward when he finished the sentence, delivering the next part in a frank manner. “By Celestia, you’re lucky. My mom and dad held screaming matches from dawn to dusk while they were together.”

For a moment, the heavy burdensome stress on his back seemed to be alleviated… That was until he remembered what he saw those many weeks ago. Velvet’s name, father’s bits, and an appointment date. The three things that lead to both the best night of his life, and the worst day of his life. He didn’t know what was worse, knowing his father lusted after other mares, or that he went through with it, with… her. He sighed sadly at the idea, and was startled by a hoof slamming on the table.

“Hey, Berry!” He demanded his full attention, his hoof shooting back and forth between the two of their eyes. “Are you looking at me?”

“Yeah, yeah.” He swiped the hoof away, looking exasperated, an expression he wore all too often around him.

“Next month: Me, a train, and a crap ton of bits are going to Manehatten for end of term break, and I’m not gonna look back until break is over, because I’m sure as heck not gonna get bored before then. What’dya say. Want to come with?” He proposed, an idea Berry wasn’t too turned off at the prospect of. He was sure his friend would shack the both of them up in his father’s hotel, gorging themselves in expensive food, exploring the prosperous city. Fun was a certainty, but still, he could only scratch the back of his head, an answer not coming forth from his mouth. “Ok, I’m gonna be honest. You’re kind of bumming me out right now. However a tried and true method of alleviating sadness is to bloomin get ouf of here. And I suggest you accompany me, my friend.”

“You want us to flunk?” Berry asked with disbelief, still looking irritated by his friend.

“There’s only an hour left after lunch.” He replied curtly, an explanation that Berry didn’t see the sense of.

“But we’re gonna miss, Mrs.Median’s class.” Berry reasoned, causing his friend to scoff.

“Who cares. You’ve been getting straight As ever since you got that mark on your ass.”

“Because I don’t miss class!” He replied, clear annoyance in his voice.

“Come on, Berry. If not for me, then I’m sure constantly worrying about Mrs.Median riding your flank after the weekend will help keep your mind preoccupied.” His friend argued, and Berry grumbled. He was persistent in getting his own way, but his intentions were pure, at least Berry thought.

“Fine...” Berry mumbled, his friend smacking his hooves together triumphantly.

“Great! Hey, you’ll thank me for this later. I just know it.” The other colt swung off his seat, and Berry followed, albeit with less enthusiasm.

The duo walked side by side, Berry looking shifty and paranoid, and his friend acting like he belonged. The two navigated the school’s many winding and complex hallways, the intricacy of which was barely remembered by either of them, as they had become so accustomed to them they were no more complicated than a maze on the back of a cereal box. When both of them reached the school’s entrance, which would be their exit, it was unattended, the high expectations of the students making the precaution unnecessary - Something which didn’t help ease Berry’s guilt, but at least his friend wasn’t wrong, he was already panicking about this.

“Feel that, Berry?” His friend asked as they left the school building, the cloudless sky casting a warm heat on the both of them.

“No.”

“That’s the feeling of a great burden being lifted from your haunches,” He ignored Berry, a relieved sigh coming from his mouth. “And soon enough, my friend, you’ll be enjoying that extra hour to its fullest extent. I was thinking first we...”

Berry zoned out, his friend’s words distorting into white noise, looking sideways at the flower gardens that lined the path to the gates. The campus looked nice when bathed in Celestia’s sun, unfiltered by cloud, it made every colourful flower ‘pop’ out. His admiration of the garden faltered as he gave a pursed lip smile towards his friend, continuing his facade of listening. As his eyes swayed back, his neck turning along with them, he did a double take straight ahead at the gate, noticing something that hadn’t been there moments ago.

They weren’t far from the gate, the pony that stood leaning against the brick archway caused both of them to stop in place, although for entirely different reasons. His friend had a crooked smile, released a shrill whistle, and nudged Berry’s side.

“Get a load of her. I wouldn’t even be mad if she grabbed me by the ear and dragged me back inside.” His friend spoke in a hushed tone of voice, although humor was his intent, Berry wasn’t laughing.

It seemed insane. Of all the places, after all this time, it seems crazy that she’d appear here. It must have been some trick of the light. The parts of her coat not obscured by her dress looked that colour from the shade of the arch, her near perfect mane wasn’t unusual for mares of Canterlot, and amber irises weren’t all that uncommon. Despite every inch of his body telling him to doubt what he was seeing, he couldn’t control the smile that appeared on his face.

“Velvet.” He muttered under his breath, a gleeful squeal halted in his throat.

“Wh- Hey, where are you going?”

Berry galloped ahead, a reckless sprint, his friend’s voice reduced to a peep. As he got closer, her features becoming clearer, a small smile on her lips, he became more certain of her identity. His smile grew in size, and his heart threatened to beat out of his chest, and a joy grew in his stomach that threatened to come out as a howling guffaw.

“Hello, Ber -oof!” Velvet was cut off by the smaller pony tackling her in the chest, wrapping his hooves around her neck and nuzzling into her chest. The colt’s giddiness and warmth prompted her to return the embrace, her hooves folding over his neck. “Nice to see you too.”

“I can’t believe it’s you.” Berry spoke into her chest, his eyes clenched shut, fearing if he opened them she’d disappear. He knew it was absurd, but if it were possible she’d be here, then anything was.

“Believe it.” She spoke tenderly, her hoof stroking the back of his mane as he tried to bury himself into her chest. “It took me a while to find you.”

“That doesn’t matter.” He replied, close to a sob, his arms coiling tighter around the older mare. “Just that you’re here.”

“Are you going to cry?” She asked softly, her voice sounding concerned,

“No.” Berry lied with a mutter, his head turning downward, a moisture building at the corners of his eyes.

“Hey, hey,” She cooed, placing a hoof under his chin and directing it up, looking down into his blue eyes. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here now.”

“I know.”

Velvet wiped away his tears with her hoof and brought him back into her chest, planting a tender kiss on his forehead, holding him close. The two remained together for quite some time, Berry’s friend wandering off thinking the mare some member of family. As they left the school proper, Velvet detailed her departure from the brothel. Her verbal assault of one of the clients earned her the boot, although she wouldn’t mention the stallion by name, Berry was suspect... They couldn’t be seen kissing, nor sharing an intimate hug as they walked the streets of Canterlot, settling for pressing their sides against one another and enjoying each other’s warmth just as they had done that night. They conversed, occasionally they would walk in silence, merely finding solace in each other’s presence.

“You know we can’t call ourselves a couple, right.”

“Yes.”

“And your parents can’t know about me.”

“Yes.”

“And if we get caught, it’s my flank on the line."

Berry didn’t reply to the last one, looking toward the cobbled floor with a sad expression. Velvet rolled her eyes, nudging him in the side.

“I was just kidding, Berry,” Velvet reassured, momentarily bringing a hoof around his neck and bringing him close, “Besides, we won’t get caught.” She smirked, and Berry pressed into her, eyes closed, and a loving smile on his lips.