Pinkie pie caught a giggle in her mouth, her hoof pressed firmly against her lips as soft laughter came from the open window above her. She swallowed hard, stowing the giggle fit that threatened to break her cover.
This time things are finally going to work out, lady Rarity finally has a stallion she likes. Pinkie’s smile softened and a pang of loneliness came from her heart but she was quick to dismiss it. It wasn't about her she told herself, this night was all about lady Rarity getting what she deserved. The stallion of her dreams.
He was a little pudgy sure but Pinkie had put on a little bit these last few years after her joints started to ache so who was she to judge? Plus he was a business owner like the lady! They would have something in common to talk about and he was apparently pretty successful. He wasn't a minor lord or anything… but the lady had said that didn't matter she was over political marriages anyway and besides he was still a unicorn. Pinkie wasn't sure why the lady had said it that way but Pinkie didn't claim to understand the thoughts of nobility anyway.
He sure seemed dreamy, or so Pinkie was told. She herself never really found stallions interesting in that way. So she went with what the lady Rarity had said which was. “Ruggedly handsome with a strong build and devilishly enchanting smile.” She then giggled behind her hoof like a school filly with a crush.
Now that was a nice memory, the lady Rarity finally smiling. PInkie found herself smiling as well, it was such a nice thing to see the lady truly smiling for once and not giving Pinkie a weak half hearted smile when the maid made a joke. Pinkie snorted, giggling at her own joke. Although she did genuinely smile when Pinkie did that cartwheel when she first started working for the lady… Pinkie wondered if her old bones were still capable of moving the way they did when she had first started working for the Silverbelles.
She looked down at her crumpled uniform, bits of leaves and twigs poking into the fabric randomly. She considered not hiding in the rose bush but it was the only bush directly below the lady’s window and Pinkie wanted to be able to hear everything. Part of her felt a little bad about essentially spying on her employer but she had known Rarity for nearly two decades now and the desire to make sure the lady actually enjoyed herself for once outweighed any feelings of guilt.
Another laugh echoed across the courtyard from the open window above her, startling Pinkie from her inner thoughts. They are still laughing, that's good. A sharp rustling drew Pinkie’s gaze to across the front yard and to the lone apple tree next to the gate. A beaked head poked out of the foliage, only barely visible from the light emanating from the candles in the window above her head.
Pinkie drew her hoof to her lips and shushed the bird. Who in turn cocked it's head before pulling it back into the foliage and vanishing into the night. Pinkie frowned, suddenly very concerned some animal might pop out of nowhere and ruin the lady’s perfect night. Pinkie scanned the yard, noting the flower beds next to the house needed a little pruning, Applejack should be by soon… Pinkie shook her head and kept looking, a six foot high wall clad with a multitude of vines was exactly where it always was. Even the small mostly hidden garden shed nestled between two bushes seemed untouched as usual.
The short bushes next to the wall seemed normal as well though he lawn might need trimming. Stowing those thoughts for when Applejack came around later this week Pinkie nodded resolutely to herself, having dismissed the chance that same crazed animal might leap into the lady’s second story balcony and ruin her evening.
But wait, what about the house?! Pinkie stood back up suddenly, dragging thorns and branches across her uniform. She was pretty sure it didn't rip but that didn't matter. What if some dastardly do badder was trying to break in? Pinkie looked around at the three story tall mansion. Other than the candles Pinkie had left in the window next to the entryway and the lady’s room itself, all other windows were dark. Pinkie crept out of the bush and gave it another look from a better angle.
The lady’s balcony oversaw the garden and front lawn and allowed her to see anypony that came up the long road from ponyville proper to the everfree mansion. Pinkie stood on her hind legs, straining to make sure everything was perfect. No dark shapes scuttled across the white roofs of the mansion and no shadows moved in the darkened rooms. Only the huge trees of the everfree shifting in the background like giants dancing in the wind.
Pinkie shook the silly thought from her head before crouching back down and sneaking back into the bushes. Her apron caught on an exposed thorn and she had to pull the unruly bit of fabric back into her hiding place.
When Pinkie again strained her ear to the sounds of the lady and her guest she heard nothing. Her heart was in her throat and she wanted to get a better view but she waited, panic at the edge of her mind. The soft gentle sound of the lady’s voice slipped out of the window. PInkie let out the breath she was holding, the panic she felt disappearing quickly.
She scolded herself for getting so worked up but Pinkie knew better than most that Rarity’s luck with stallions was historically poor and something about this time stuck out as special and had a strange bit of finality to it. As if this was the last try before she gave up and became the crazy cat lady Rarity always used to joke that she would become. Pinkie rung her hooves together nervously, she wasn't a big fan of cats and that ancient decrepit old cat named Opal that Rarity kept certainly had helped Pinkie’s dislike for the creatures.
Pinkie put her mind back on track, an action only made more difficult as she got older and with her forty eighth birthday coming up it wasn't going to get easier anytime soon. Pinkie looked up at the balcony and noted a slight shift in the shadows, conversation flowing smoothly from the stallions rough masculine voice to the lady’s elegant one. Pinkie smiled, the lady deserved happiness after all these years and the thought that this might be the one gave Pinkie no small amount of joy. But also another strange feeling, one she hadn't experienced in many years… she didn't want to think about it though and thrust it from her mind. The lady deserves this. Pinkie thought with finality, shooing away the selfish thoughts that threatened to ruin things.
What with her parents using her like a pawn in their political games when she was younger and beautiful. Not like she wasn't now -Pinkie thought- she was still as beautiful and radiant as the day they met. But not everypony held Pinkie’s opinion and in the latter years her parents had grown more and more desperate to marry her off to some noble that it had grown depressing having to watch the lady Rarity entertain more and more awful and washed up nobility, half heartedly offering platitudes in the hopes of winning the mare’s heart. Yet still she was nothing if not polite and kind, forever a caring and good pony even when she knew when she was being shopped around like a used couch.
Pinkie wiped the sour look off her face, she had never gotten used to the nobles disdain for love. It just seemed so… wrong to the maid. The heart wasn't something to buy and sell but in the end it wasn't her place to tell the lady how to run her life even if they had shared a home for the last twenty years. A curious sound rocked the pink mare from her inner ramblings. Silence.
Instantly she was on her hooves once more, straining to hear what was happening. She silently cursed herself for not having paid attention, her old wandering mind getting the better of her. Then, an even worse sound met her ears, that of a slamming door. In an instant Pinkie was back at the front door, brushing off the bits of flower and thorns stuck in her uniform before walking inside just in time to see a large shape descend the stairs half hazardly, clearly struggling with something.
The shape was trying to squeeze back into it’s much too small jacket and with one last push the stallion’s gut slipped inside and he descended the last of the stairs in a far more proper manner. Pinkie gasped, this wasn't how it was supposed to happen. Thoughts of the lady finally being happy and having somepony to share her golden years with flew from PInkie's mind. Sure this stallion was… portly, and just ran a large shop in the nearby town of ponyville but Pinkie was sure he had some sort of redeeming quality or the lady wouldn't have bothered to give him the time of day.
“Mister Copper Bit do you need something? Some wine perhaps-” Pinkie’s pleasant smile and helpful tone vanished when the stallion shot her a glare, while still fussing with his cuff links.
“I shan't need much of anything, miss whatever your name is. The lady and I will no longer be seeing each other, good day to you.” He said firmly, his flabby jowls getting in the way of his words.
Pinkie stepped into the stallions path. “Sir, I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding, please allow me to talk to the lady and work this out.”
The stallion snorted angrily. “There is nothing to work out, I will not deal with one of her kind. I am leaving.” The stallion looked past the maid standing in his way before quickly losing patience. “Move.”
Pinkie’s ears flattened against her head and she nervously shifted from hoof to hoof. “Perhaps I can fetch you our finest whiskey while I go talk to-” Noticing the stallion had not stop scowling Pinkie bit her lip nervously. “Or unless there is something else I can get you.” A sultry tone slipping into her voice made the stallion look at her, she stood to the side somewhat displaying her form to the stallion’s gaze.
He stopped eying the hall behind Pinkie and looked the maid up and down, Pinkie tried to smile seductively like how she had seen the lady do to stallions that came to court her but it came off as fake and Copper bit seemed to notice this.
He stopped his appraisal of the posing mare and snorted angrily. “Too old, too fat and your just the help. Now get out of my way.”
The stallion brushed past the stunned Pinkie pie who stood there dumbfounded in his wake. Sure she was getting on in years but she couldn't have been more than a year or two older then the stallion and where she was pleasantly plump he was downright fat. Pinkie spun on her heels and was about to call out -offer him a cake or something- she hadn't thought that far but all she saw was the door.
SLAM. With grim finality the heavy front door slammed shut and with it all trace of the stallion that was there only a moment before.
Just like that it was over, he was gone and any hope the lady had at love and happiness gone with him. She would be stuck here in this empty house with nopony but Pinkie pie to keep her company. Pinkie frowned, maybe that was for the best, that stallion was a brute, surely the lady could do better than that so called gentlecolt.
Pinkie laughed nervously to herself in the darkened hallway. Haha yeah the lady can do better than him! This is just a little bump on the road no problem at all. Pinkie looked herself over one last time and picked a stray branch still stuck to her uniform. Now clean she laughed and walked over to the stairs. It couldn't hurt just to listen though, maybe the lady might need Pinkie to make her something or perhaps to chat about how she was happy that rude ball of flab had finally left.
When Pinkie reached the bottom of the stairs what she heard made her nervous laughter die and her face crease with worry. Crying… no wailing would be a better word for it. The lady Rarity was crying hysterically enough that Pinkie could hear it loud and clear from the bottom of the stairs. Pinkie’s mind raced she had to do… something! A sense of urgency overcame the maid and she danced on her hoof tips, looking around and thinking of what to do.
The kitchen was nearby and the faint glint of polished steel caught Pinkie’s eye. Running quickly she retrieved her candles and gripped the handle firmly in her mouth. Swiftly, she dashed into the kitchen and laid the candle holder in the center of the room allowing enough illumination to see most of it easily. Not like Pinkie even needed that, she was pretty sure that working for twenty years in this kitchen meant she could navigate it blind folded without difficulty.
A pan came flying from the cupboard from over Pinkie’s shoulder and landed almost soundlessly on the center island. Pinkie leapt over to the fridge and retrieved an eclair she had made the day before, her Pinkie sense giving her the impression that somepony was gonna need a delicious dessert soon. Though at the time she had believed that it was for the celebration of the lady finding love and not this awful turn of events. It sailed over the pink mare’s shoulder and landed perfectly center of the pan, next came the lid for the pan that clanged securely into place.
Expert hooves opened the oven and shoved the eclair inside, in just five short minutes the enchanted oven would have the eclair heated to perfection. This was far too much time for the pink mare who still heard the distant cries of her employer. Each second spent listening to her cries without being able to do anything was another nervous minute spent shuffling from hoof to hoof and looking around the room nervously. Five seconds into waiting Pinkie threw her hooves up in an exasperated sigh and then set those same hooves to work.
She found the lady’s favorite sprinkles and put them on the counter next to the chocolate sauce she liked, oh and a fork and knife! (The lady thought it was barbaric to just hold the desert in her magic and eat it.) Unfortunately all that took only seconds so Pinkie was left to fidget nervously once more, looking around the room while her mind raced at what more she could do to help her lady. Suddenly the mare shot bolt upright, an idea striking her.
She leapt into action and opened the cupboard to reveal an entire plethora of pots pans and odds and ends in complete disarray. PInkie rolled her eyes and stuck her hoof through the middle of the mess, metal cookware clattering out of the way as her hoof search for it's prize. When the clink of glass touched her hoof, Pinkie’s face lit up and she grabbed onto it and pulled it out. The relative darkness of the three small candles made reading the label difficult but Pinkie didn't have to, she knew the lady always hid her favorite cider in the same place every time. She was perpetually embarrassed that anyone might find out that her favorite was that low brow garden variety sweet drink that high standing individuals like her were discouraged from partaking in.
Pinkie snorted at the memory of the lady’s mother berating her once she found the bottle, not that she was drinking underage or anything, no the lady was probably thirty three when it happened but rather it the unsophisticated nature of the drink that had urged the elder Silverbelle to make a scene. Even with her mother gone for over a decade the lady still hid it in the same spot out of habit. Retrieving a delicate wine glass and placing it on the table PInkie was about to pour the hard cider into the glass when she thought better and tossed the priceless antique glass over her shoulder where it came to rest in the empty space in the cabinet exactly where it had been a moment before.
Thinking better of it Pinkie grabbed a mug and filled it up with the cheap cider and placed it beside chocolate sauce. With only one minute left Pinkie danced from hoof to hoof staring into the oven with wide panicked eyes.
“Come on come on come on hurry you up you stupid desert.” Pinkie muttered angrily at the desert as it warmed up so very very slowly.
Pinkie reshuffled the cutlery around and made sure everything was just so then with one second left on the dial she threw open the oven grabbed the pan and tossed it on the counter. The metal was hot but Pinkie had decades of calluses and use out of these hooves and they wouldn't be stopped by a little heat. The lid was tossed into the sink without a thought followed by the pan the second the eclair landed on the plate she had set aside.
One hoof tossed the sprinkles over the desert while the other drizzled it with fresh chocolate sauce. A little more chocolate sauce then sprinkles, with the sprinkles under the sauce and not over, exactly how the lady liked it. Pinkie cast a curious gaze over the deserts and took a deep sniff. It was perfect! Quickly Pinkie put the utensils on the plate and gripped it tightly in her teeth, a hoof reaching out and grabbing the mug of cider before she realized her fatal error.
Slapping herself on the head with her free hoof Pinkie tossed open the fridge and threw a few ice cubes into the mug. Three, was the exact number of ice cubes Rarity liked and so that was how many she would get. With a nod and one last glance over the desert and mug she smiled despite the plate in her mouth and set off towards the stairs.
The instant she approached the stairs she could hear the mournful cry of her mistress and her hooves moved faster all on their own. Pinkie ran up the stairs with all the haste she could muster without slipping on the cold marble stairs. Thankfully her experience in the house extended to running up the twisting marble staircase and the second she hit the landing she turned and leaped up the next four stairs, her aging joints crying out at her when she landed. Pinkie ignored the cries of her body and shot up the last few stairs.
At the end of the hall she could see the door to the lady’s room, a faint illumination spilling through the cracks in the door. Pinkie skidded to a halt just outside the door and composed herself quickly. Running a hoof down each side of her maid outfit before checking if the headpiece was on straight as well. That fixed she took a deep breath through the porcelain held in her teeth and knocked twice on the heavy oak door.
The sound of crying suddenly stopped, being strangled by a choked gasp. Pinkie could hear a heavy sniff and followed by the blowing of somepony’s nose came from between the crack in the door. A second later with the lady’s bearings now firmly in hoof she cried out in a shaky voice. “Go away Pinkie!”
Pinkie frowned, though she saw it coming it still wasn't nice to hear her mistress dismiss her. Even when the lady’s parents had left her and taken her sister with her Rarity had still allowed her sole maid to come cheer her up though at the time it had mixed success. The memory was a good one despite the circumstances but Pinkie shook it away, it wasn't the time for that.
“I am going to have to insist!” Is what Pinkie said but through a mouthful of plate she could do little to articulate that so with a shove of her one free forehoof she pushed open the door.
Pinkie’s heart fell a little at the sight before her. The lady’s make up was a mess, having run so far down her face that her eyeshadow spilled into her lipstick turning it into a mess of colors running down the other mare’s face. Her elegant white gown was torn and was splotched with droplets of makeup infused tears. Pinkie felt the plate in her teeth slip but she clamped her jaw closed and made her way over to a nearby end table.
The lady seemed to have regained her composure after her maid burst in and stammered a few seconds before finding her tongue. “P-Pinkie I said go away not come in! Honestly darling your hearing must be going along with…” Her eyes strayed across the eclair now only a few feet away and whatever else she was going to say died when a surge of hunger rose in her belly.
“And your favorite cider.” Pinkie placed the cider next to the desert and smiled widely despite the lady’s tear stained face pulling at her heartstrings. “I hope you don't mind me bursting in but I couldn't wait out there when my friend was crying.” Pinkie stood nervously next to the bed, her ears flat and her hoof pawing nervously at the ground.
Rarity sniffed and wiped some snot from her nose with her hoof, a quite unladylike gesture but they had known each other for half their lives by this point so most barriers had come down years ago. “... Is that a vanilla eclair stuffed with strawberry sauce, drizzled with chocolate sauce with cherry sprinkles?”
Pinkie instantly perked up and brought the plate closer to Rarity. “Yup I made it yesterday but don't worry I heated it up just how you like it!” Pinkie’s smile was infectious but not so much that it could puncture the veil of sadness Rarity wore.
Rarity slowly extended a nervous hoof towards the offered desert as if it was about to grow teeth and bite through the limb. “No I shouldn't,” Rarity whispered without conviction.
“Oh darn, if you don't eat it i'm going to have to throw it away cus it will get all crusty.” Pinkie’s exaggerated sigh made Rarity roll her eyes without looking up from the desert.
Pinkie shook the plate and moved it a little closer to the other mare who panicked and grabbed it in her magic. “Eat up mistress, while it's still warm!” Pinkie’s exuberant voice did wonders for the still downtrodden unicorn who didn't look up from the pastry.
With great reluctance she sat on her haunches and placed the plate on her lap. Once secure the lady daintily cut the eclair with a knife and scooped up the small peice and popped it into her mouth. The low moan of pleasure that came from the aged unicorn made Pinkie smile and clap her hooves quietly, not wanting to distract Rarity with her glee.
Slowly the unicorn chewed and swallowed before cutting off a slightly larger peice and eating it as well. Pinkie meanwhile sat there patiently, her small amount of joy at convincing her lady to eat some comfort food bleeding away as she surveyed her mistresses’ clothing. Her eyes lingering on the hole made in the fabric near the back of Rarity’s right flank. The mare gulped and pulled her eyes away, not wanting to make Rarity anymore self conscious then she already was.
Without thinking the maid asked. “What happened?” Pinkie stuffed a hoof into her mouth then began to spit out an apology only for it to be muddled by her own hoof still in her mouth. She pulled out her hoof quickly and repeated herself. “I’m sorry lady Rarity you don't have to answer that-”
But a weary hoof held before the maid’s face stopped her train of thought. The unicorn still didn't look at her but Pinkie could tell something was wrong as the fork still held aloft in magic teetered before falling to the plate. The unicorn swallowed and opened her hoof towards Pinkie. “I’m parched darling could you pass me my cider?”
Pinkie nodded enthusiastically but couldn't find any words so she just quickly grabbed the cider in both hooves and passed it over to the unicorn’s outstretched hoof. Rarity took the glass in both hooves and moved it up to her lips, hardly caring that her lipstick stained the glass, tilting it back and letting the cool liquid parch her thirst.
The maid’s eyes went wide as the ordinarily dainty unicorn gulped down two, three then four huge mouthfuls of cider. The mug turned back upright and Rarity coughed strangely, it was an odd sputtering cough that indicated a bit of cider might have gone where it shouldn't. Pinkie gave the unicorn a hard slap on the back that seemed to stop the coughing.
“Thank you darling.” Pinkie was about to ask something but the unicorn went right back to her drink, hoisting it back up to her lips and adding another set of lipstick marks on it.
With a swift motion of her hooves more of the sparkling cider flowed into the mare’s mouth only to be greedily swallowed. Again Pinkie had to pick her jaw back up off the ground. She wasn't going to finish the whole thing… was she? In all her years Pinkie hadn't seen the lady act like this. Not when her parents left the manor, not when they took the rest of the staff with them, not when Sweetie Belle left and never came back, not after that disastrous arranged marriage to prince blueblood. Pinkie shook her wandering mind and scolded herself for not paying attention, the lady’s drink was nearly empty and in a quite unladylike display she opened her mouth wide and through one eye looked at the last few drops of cider that refused to leave the mug. With a slight shake she dislodged the last few drops which landed on her outstretched tongue.
This time Pinkie didn't hold back her applause and clapped her hooves loudly. Startling the unicorn from her preoccupation of savoring the last few drops.
Rarity coughed into a hoof to steady herself. “Yes, well then.” Pinkie took the now empty mug from her grasp and placed it on the end table.
“I can go get the bottle if you like mistress…”
Rarity waved a hoof. “No that won't be necessary.” Suddenly her cheeks bulged and an unladylike belch escaped her lips with enough force to leave them flapping in it's wake.
“Pardon me darling.” Rarity’s hoof pressed against her lips as a slight blush covered her face.
Pinkie smiled. “Good one mistress! But I think I can one up you,” The pink mare pulled in a big lungful of air and turned her head to the side.
Rarity’s shame forgotten she frantically pressed a hoof against Pinkie’s lips. “No!”
The little smile that formed behind Rarity’s hoof made her realize she had been had by the clever pink mare and she couldn't stop a giggle from escaping her lips despite the crushing realization of how she must look right now.
Rarity suddenly realized just how poor her appearance must be and she looked around for the mirror she kept close at hoof. Once found she extended her hoof past Pinkie towards the hoof mirror Rarity kept on her night stand. Pinkie gently caught the hoof and guided it back to the lady’s side.
“I don't know if you wanna do that. Just let me get a cloth first, trust me.” Pinkie’s strained but reassuring smile made Rarity rethink simply grabbing the mirror in her magic.
“I suppose that is for the best darling, just be quick please I can't stand looking so ghastly even a moment longer.”
Pinkie shot off the bed and towards the ensuite washroom, recovered a cloth from the it's crystal holder and ran it under the brushed bronze tap and let it sit at the bottom of the marble sink until it was significantly wet. Once done she gave it a squeeze to ensure it wasn't too wet then zipped back to Rarity who was eyeing the mirror while running a hoof through her ruined mane.
“Here you are mistress.” Rarity reached for the cloth but Pinkie pulled it out of reach. “Allow me, you just tell auntie Pinkie what happened while she makes you as right as rain.”
“I can do it darling just... well if you insist.” Rarity fluttered her eyelashes and leaned forward, presenting her face to Pinkie who grinned and got to work.
She cleaned up the mess the lady’s lipstick and other product had become around the lady’s thick kissable lips. Then around her chin to clean up any stray clumps and then her cheeks. Her lips now clean the unicorn cleared her throat and in a hesitant tone began to speak. “That was a lovely eclair by the way, did you make it yourself? Surely you didn't whip that up in those few minutes.”
Pinkie frowned and wiped around the edges of Rarity’s face, cleaning off the foundation and other makeup that had bled into it. “I had it saved in the fridge, don't worry though I made it yesterday so it's still fresh, didn't i mention that? Well whatever, now that's not what auntie Pinkie asked you to talk about. So you best get on with it missy.”
Rarity hesitated, sure she had always considered Pinkie more of a friend then an employee but this was not something she wanted to share with anypony. Then again, what did it matter at this point? That boor of a stallion was the last chance she had at her dream coming true and with that same dream now dead and buried what was the point in hiding it any longer? Especially from her most faithful maid of all ponies.
Pinkie moved her hoof to Rarity’s other eye and gently began to wipe it clean of makeup as well, ignoring the silence that bloomed between them as the unicorn hummed and hawed at what to say. Finally once Rarity’s eyes were clean and make up free Pinkie smiled and absently threw the washcloth into the bathroom and into the sink from her spot sitting on the bed.
A second later the unicorn’s eyes flickered open and she looked up at Pinkie questioningly. “All done?”
Pinkie nodded firmly and brought the hoof mirror around. “Ta da! One clean and gorgeous mare.” She tossed in a wink for good measure making Rarity blush slightly as she inspected herself in the mirror.
Rarity looked at the broken mare in the mirror, she was aged, clearly now that she was free of the makeup. The crow's feet at the corner of her eyes had really started becoming harder to hide over the last year or two. Her cheeks were sullen slightly, as was her eyes, needing more foundation as the years dragged inevitably onward. A frown creased her lips, though she was glad that at least that part of her face had been able to hold off the weight of decades and remained as full and as vibrant as when she was young. Her frown deepened when she took note of the state of her mane, though it held the shape it was supposed to little hairs poked out here and there and where she had ran her hoof through it had let go of it's shape and lay gracelessly across her neck.
Her hair color hadn't fared much better and she could see several grey hairs poking through. A sudden shift behind the mare in the mirror drew Rarity’s eye away from her own face and to Pinkie’s. Her smile faltered somewhat but the second their eyes met Pinkie’s smile redoubled. Oh dear, Rarity thought. I must be worrying the poor thing with all my morbid thoughts.
“Thank you darling, you did an excellent job.” Pinkie smiled at the praise and placed the hoof mirror back on the end table
Happy to be clean of that mess, Rarity’s shoulders slumped as a weight settled off of them. She was a step closer to putting this whole mess behind her though it would be a long time before she would truly forget this most recent bump on the troubled and broken road that was her love life, if she did manage to forget it at all that is.
An awkward silence formed between them and Rarity still wasn't sure how to broach the subject despite her humming and hawing. Pinkie fidgeted on the bed, shifting her weight around and looking at Rarity inquisitively. Until she finally ran out of patience. “Should I go get the the constable?”
Rarity was taken aback, unsure of what to say but when Pinkie’s hoof pointed to the rip in her gown the pieces fell into place and a frown creased the unicorn’s lips. “That was my own fault actually.”
Pinkie raised an eyebrow but otherwise said nothing, making Rarity nervous despite the fact she was telling the truth. “I was hoping spicing things up would you know.” Rarity tapped her hooves together absently, a blush spreading a cross her face. “Get me in the mood.”
Pinkie shared the blush and looked away awkwardly. She coughed into her hoof to dispel the awkwardness and returned her gaze to Rarity. “What all happened?”
The look of concern in Pinkie’s eyes was as it always was, genuine and without restraint or pretext. Which was the main reason Rarity had demanded she stay all those years ago when her parents left along with the staff. She didn't have to hide anything or be somepony else around the maid, she could just be Rarity, not the lady, not a prestigious member of the aristocracy but just a regular pony.
Rarity sighed and decided fessing up was probably for the best, she hadn't even told Pinkie, who was arguably her oldest friend, her deepest secret. Rarity snorted suddenly at the dark humour of it all, her maid was about to know her better than even her own parents. A hint of anger burned in the unicorn’s breast at the thought of her parents but it was drowned by guilt a moment later.
Clearing her throat Rarity discarded her cluttered thoughts and focused on putting one word in front of the other. “Well you see, hmm how do I put this.” Rarity tapped her chin with a thoughtful hoof. “Ah, you remember when I had to go away all those times for treatment?”
“Yes you were gone an awful long time and always came home so tired and sad and you didn't want me to throw anymore welcome home parties.” Pinkie frowned, she opened her mouth as if to say more then thought better of it and closed her mouth.
“That was very nice of you don't get me wrong, I was just really tired and I couldn't bear to see you go through all that trouble only for me to not be able to enjoy it.” Rarity feigned a weak smile.
Rarity ran a hoof through her hair, steadying herself before speaking again. “And you remember when my parents left with the rest of the staff minus you?”
Pinkie nodded gravely, a deep sadness in her eyes and not for the first time Rarity felt a little bad that she wasn't able to talk her parents into letting more of the staff stay. Or at least buying the contract of the other maid Pinkie got along with so well… A thought occurred to the unicorn.
“Do you and White Frill still?” Rarity’s voice died in her throat when she saw the look of sadness on her maid’s face.
“No. She said mistress Cookie caught her sending letters so we couldn't anymore, she still manages to sneak some from time to time but the last time I heard from her was a year ago.” Pinkie kicked her legs back and forth as the hung over the side of the bed.
“I’m terribly sorry darling, I wish I could have done something.” Rarity placed a hoof on the other mare’s shoulder.
“It's okay, you did all you could…” Pinkie replied halfheartedly.
“Ahem, well anyway. You know that Sweetie isn't allowed to visit anymore yes?”
Pinkie nodded grimly. “She was such a sweet girl…”
Rarity felt her heart break a little and she had to look away from those sad blue eyes. “And you know of all those stallions that used to come by and the times my mother tried to marry me off?”
Pinkie nodded weakly, not looking up from the floor. Rarity steeled herself for what she was leading up to, still not quite sure if she should admit to such a thing at all. Part of herself wanting desperately to never mention it again and take this secret with her to the grave. Another part of her, a small but insistent part of her hoped against hope and screamed to tell the one pony left in her life her most closely guarded secret.
She felt a hoof settle onto her shoulder and before she knew it Pinkie had pulled her into a tight hug. Her muzzle thrust against the other girl’s shoulder she suddenly felt tears in her eyes and before she became a blubbering mess she spoke with all the strength she could muster.
“I only like mares, I'm a failure, I can't carry on my family name. Nopony will ever love me.” The damn fell and Rarity cried, her tears landing unnoticed on the other girl’s uniform and fur.
“Your not a failure, Sweetie belle can still have kids and I'm sure somepony will.” Pinkie whispered back, a small part of her twisting around inside her, unsure she had said the right thing.
Pinkie squeezed tightly, holding the unicorn close as she let it all out. She pet the other girl’s back with a hoof, slow long strokes eased her worries while a soft voice hummed. Rarity was reminded of the times when she was very young, before she had to ever worry about being married off or even boys in general when she would get hurt and her mother would hold her like Pinkie was.
Memories of long before any of the complicated facts of adulthood had reared their ugly heads came rushing back. The time she sewed her first dress and pricked her hoof so badly it had bled all over the carpet. The soft quiet words her mother whispered her as she stroked her back. Tentative hooves slowly wrapped around the maid and squeezed back, unsure if it was proper and uncaring if it wasn't.
There they stayed for a long time, the earth pony holding the trembling unicorn and gently whispering until the other girl had let it all out. By then Pinkie’s shoulder had become soaked with Rarity’s tears but she didn't care. She finally understood the big mystery that had plagued this house for years and it all made sense now.
The lady’s parents would never allow her to be anything other a peice of property to be used and sold to the appropriate family in order to elevate their standing. Pinkie steadied her hoof and tried not to squeeze too hard, her anger getting the best of her. The memories would not stop and all the times Rarity cried alone in her room over the years suddenly made sense, Pinkie had always known her excuses were garbage and she had pressed a few times but she never pried too hard, it wasn't her place she reasoned. Pinkie’s hoof stopped as a flood of memories suddenly rushing to the forefront of her mind.
It was only a few days since Pinkie Pie had gotten the job at the everfree mansion and though she was still grieving she was happy to have a place to sleep and hopefully a whole house full of new friends. She looked about the kitchen, looking for a the nutmeg mistress Cookie Crumble had specifically requested to be used in the cookies she wanted.
Pinkie tossed open cupboard after cupboard, drawer after drawer until she finally fell to her bottom on the cold hard floor. It was no use, this kitchen was bigger than most of the houses she had lived in, even when Dash… She shook her long straight mane violently, discarding the thoughts as she focused at the task at hoof. The rest of the staff was busy right now and the chef only worked until after supper was served, it was her job to serve dessert and by golly she was not going to fail at a job before she even got a week in!
She looked across the kitchen one last time, a sudden feeling of vertigo overcoming her she fell back to her bottom. It was useless, she had looked everywhere! Behind every pot every pan everything! For a split second a horrible thought entered Pinkie’s mind. They are going to fire you. She leaped to her hooves, nearly knocking her lace headpiece off and skewing her uniform once more. She ignored her disheveled state and whispered to the empty room. “I can't lose this job, I promised Dashy I could do it.”
The pink mare took a deep breath and puffed out her chest dramatically before letting the air flood out of her once more. Now tall and filled with confidence she realized she would just have to buck up and ask miss Cookie Crumble or what was the stallion's name again? Oh this was bad. She never forgot a name and now she forgot one of her bosses names. Pinkie scratched her head with a hoof. She will figure it out and if not it didn't matter as she was supposed to stop calling them by their names and refer to them as sir and madam, or mistress Cookie and Master…. whatever.
Pinkie shook her head and made for the stairs. By the time she reached the landing she heard the faint sound of talking, her ears perked up at the sound. Aha! With bold confident steps Pinkie bounded up the last half of the stairs. Once cresting the last step she wiggled her ear. Faintly at the end of the hall behind a closed door she could hear more talking, it sounded like both heads of the house as well! Pinkie smiled to herself, now she just had to wait outside the door and think about how she would phrase her words politely.
The talking slowly died down making Pinkie step sneakily up to the door for fear of disturbing them. She wasn't sure if interrupting would be more rude than just standing outside, ultimately she decided inaction was the best course of action so she plunked down next to the door and stared straight ahead, waiting for somepony to leave so she might ask her question.
Unfortunately for her Pinkie’s sense of hearing had yet to be damaged by the travel of time by then and she heard everything through the door, someone obviously not remembering to cast the usual silence charm. So when somepony (Pinkie assumed mister whatever his name was) yelled angrily at somepony else Pinkie heard every word.
“HOW COULD YOU! WE WERE PREPARING YOUR BETROTHAL TO HIM SINCE THE DAY YOU WERE BORN!”
Pinkie’s hair stood on end at the scream of rage, she quickly ran a hoof through her mane in order to straighten it back out to it's usual position, missing whatever somepony said in response to the yell. Whatever that pony said it evidently didn't help the stallion’s anger issue as his voice continued to boom past the feeble wooden door.
“MY DAUGHTER IS NOT ONE OF THEM!” He spat the last word with such venom Pinkie could almost imagine the amount of spit that must have flown from his mouth. She shrunk back, her butt hitting the wall as she attempted to escape the source of such rage.
A smaller feminine voice called out next, this one much quieter but with the same amount of venom. “Rarity you are grounded and you will stay in this room until we find a way to salvage this situation.” Somepony’s choked sobs could be heard through the door and a moment later she heard the sound of somepony getting out of a chair and making for the door. “Come on darling, lets leave her to think about what she's done.”
This time the stallion literally spit, Pinkie could almost feel the rage through the door as the stallion hawked and spat. The maid suddenly really didn't want to be here anymore and only a cold fear kept her in place. Images of her own childhood flooding through her fear stricken mind. The door to the room flew open and Cookie crumble stepped out into the hall, as she turned to look at Pinkie time slowed and in an instant Pinkie recalled her promise to Dashy.
I promise Dashy, I will find a way, I won't give up. Not now, not ever!
With the memory of her late beloved fresh in her mind Pinkie stood up, puffed out her chest and put on a politely restrained smile. By the time Cookie turned to look at the mare Pinkie was the perfect picture of a maid. Pinkie opened her mouth to speak but the other mare kept walking, her lip turned up slightly into a small snarl.
After her came the master of the house who looked like he was about to blow his top. This time Pinkie didn't even both opening her mouth and instead merely looked down submissively. The stallion stopped and seemed to calm down, his stomping hooves softening as he approached the mare.
“How much did you hear?”
Pinkie refused the urge to gulp and spoke plainly and quickly, but not too quickly. “I just got hear sir, I heard Mistress Cookie’s voice say something. I was hoping to find out where-”
The stallion snorted angrily, cutting her off. “Good, now forget you heard even that. Also Rarity is not allowed to request any services from the staff until I or my wife say otherwise, understood?”
Pinkie nodded without looking up. The stallion seemed appeased and stomped off down the hall after his wife. Once out of earshot Pinkie gulped audibly, now who would she ask? Lady Rarity was still in her room but judging from the choked gasps coming from beyond the door she was still crying. Pinkie fidgeted nervously, unsure of what to do.
Again her promise to her late marefriend echoed in her mind, and like that she made up her mind. She would ask her now than, when the cookies were done she would sneak a few up to the distraught mare and cheer her up! She nodded firmly to herself and walked up to the door, however the second she reached her destination her knees felt weak. What if. Pinkie shook her head hard sending her straight hair flying. This wasn't the time to spend all day second guessing herself. She drew herself back up and pushed open the still slightly ajar door and peeked her head inside.
The lady Rarity lay in a ball on her bed across the room, the moonlight gently spilling into the room through a crack in a curtain, barely illuminating anything more than unicorn and the bed around her. Pinkie felt her confidence fade once more so before it could slip away completely she coughed into her hoof.
Tear filled eyes suddenly peered at her through the darkness. The face sniffed and gently called out through the dark room. “Wh-who’s there?”
Pinkie stepped fully into the room. “Pinkie, ma'am. Umm.. Do you know where the nutmeg is?”
The maid tapped her hooves together suddenly feeling very out of place asking such a silly question after something so serious just happened. Out of all her expectations the one she didn't see coming was a faint giggle. Pinkie looked up to find the mare, still tears in her eyes, laughing into her hoof. Pinkie cocked her head silently.
“Sorry darling mother does this to every new hire, she hides it everytime to see how new ponies react to failure.” The lady sniffed and wiped a snotty nose with her hoof. “She usually hides it on top of the fridge at the very back.”
Pinkie was confused but she didn't sense that the other girl was being dishonest so Pinkie decided to trust her. Nodding her thanks she made for the door then thought better of it and looked over her shoulder at the still teary eyed mare.
“Hey uh, what's your favorite dessert?”
“Eclairs.” Rarity tapped a hoof to her chin once then added. “Vanilla, stuffed with strawberries and covered in chocolate sauce and cherry sprinkles.” Pinkie’s face lit up and before Rarity could say anything the maid was gone in a flash.
Later that night she managed to sneak the eclair back to lady Rarity and without getting caught. Her good mood was marred somewhat by Pinkie getting a strip torn off her the next day by Cookie, despite the fact she found the nutmeg.
“You must have had to have stood on a chair or the counter to get back there and your dirty hooves do not belong on either of those things!” Though Pinkie had managed to acquire the spice without doing either she thought better of speaking up and let the mistress speak her peice.
Pinkie’s mind whirled as the pieces continued to fall into place and it took all her willpower not squeeze the poor crying girl still held in her hooves. Her mind flew back into her memories, this time not quite as far back but to an equally disturbing memory.
Pinkie hummed softly to herself, her hooves busily working away at the mountain of dishes she had yet to wash. Normally the sight would have annoyed her but time and experience meant this job wouldn't take long. Nevermind the fact that the mid afternoon sun was shining through the window directly in front of her allowing her a nice view of the driveway and garden, rendering the usually boring chore not nearly as bad. Pinkie could hear the birds in the trees and all the other sounds of summer creatures going about their business in the manor’s expansive garden.
Her tune shifted wistfully, no structure or purpose to her adhoc song other than to add something beautiful to the already beautiful day. A rare smile graced the maid’s lips and she had to fight the urge to break out in song. The years had not been kind to her but she had learned how to stand up for herself and though the two eldest occupants of the house were as unpleasant as ever Pinkie couldn't help but feel an endless well of appreciation for the youngest two occupants. Rarity and Sweetie belle were wonderful and the epitome of kindness and generosity which only confused Pinkie as they certainly had not gained that from their parents.
Pinkie mused to herself quietly while scrubbing a plate, where had they gotten that? They had spent a lot of time with their aunt when they were young and they both spent a lot of their formative years in the company of various maids and nannies. Maybe Feather Fall knew, she was one of the oldest maids still employed by the family. Pinkie’s thoughts changed the moment she heard the old iron gate open up and from the corner of her eye a coach slowly came down the last few feet of driveway. Two strong and young earth pony stallions pulled the cart, dressed to the nines as fitting of a driver of nobility.
If they are sticking around maybe I should bake them something… nah, the sun is awful hot. Lemonade would be perfect! Pinkie began scrubbing harder and faster, determined to catch the stallions before they left without getting refreshments.
“Sweetie belle do you have your hat box dear?” Pinkie looked over her shoulder, through the open door Rarity walked behind her sister, a plethora of bags held aloft in her magic. “Are you sure you got everything?” Rarity’s words were as kind as ever but weren't quite as they usually were… there was a sadness and hesitation that was not usually present.
“Yes Rarity, I have every single thing I own now will you please tell me what is going on?” The sound of hooves stopped, and Sweetie’s voice could be heard through the open door.
Pinkie gently put down the cup she was washing and extended an ear to the conversation, curious as to what was going on. “It’s not my place to say darling, now do as mother asks and-”
The stomp of a small hoof against marble floor drew a sigh from what Pinkie assumed was Rarity.
In a hushed and angry tone Sweetie shot back. “Rarity please, suddenly we are leaving the house and taking all the staff but Pinkie Pie, why?”
That was news to Pinkie who would have dropped the cup she was washing had she not placed it down earlier. The others must have packed while Pinkie was trimming the hedges and only been told about it last second because they hadn't mentioned leaving last night during their weekly card game. Images of her newfound friends who worked with her flooded through her mind and she very nearly broke down right then and there.
“You know why Sweetie, mother and father have found a great place to live and I don't want to move my business it's as simple as that.” Rarity’s slightly heavier hooves began moving down the hall but stopped after it was clear her sister wasn't following.
Noisily the smaller mare stomped up to her sister. “You know thats bullshit! So just tell-”
“Sweetie, language! If mother caught you saying that-”
“Mother this mother that, she isn't here so tell me the real reason why you are staying behind.”
Knowing Rarity she was probably biting her lip nervously and looking away, unsure of herself. “A young impressionable girl shouldn't be around a lady as debauched as I am.” Even with Pinkie’s exceptional hearing she was barely able to understand the whispered confession.
Sweetie gasped and took a step toward her sister. “What are you talking about?”
Pinkie took a step closer to the door, her chores forgotten as her curiosity got the better of her. The awkward shuffling meant Rarity was probably biting her hoof nervously and avoiding Sweetie’s puppy dog eyes right about now and the thought would have brought a smile to Pinkie’s face any other day.
“Well you see-”
“SWEETIE BELLE WE ARE LEAVING, HURRY UP YOUNG LADY.” Yelled their father’s voice from outside.
Pinkie could almost feel the despair radiating from the hall, Rarity’s head no doubt hanging in defeat. Rarity’s slightly heavier hoof falls echoed down the silent hall until she reached the door. “Go on Sweetie, everypony is waiting.”
The doors suddenly slammed shut after a brief sound of magic. Sweetie’s voice insistent and desperate. “Please Rarity, tell me whats going on, I’m your sister!”
Rarity hesitated just long enough for her father to wrench open the door and allow her mother entry. She hissed angrily at the pair of unicorns and wrenched the bags from Rarity’s magic into her own. Pinkie could tell as they all floated outside and into the already overburdened carriage waiting outside.
“Come on Sweetie.” Every word was short and punctuated with a short breath and covered with a thin veil of rage. Cookie’s countenance beginning to crumble as her patience waned.
“Go on Sweetie, be a good girl now. I love you.” Rarity’s voice was so pained Pinkie could feel tears brimming in her own eyes just hearing them.
Sweetie Belle was old enough to be an adult and wasn't prone to fits anymore but something told Pinkie the angry stomping was the beginning of one. Some angry gaze or whispered threat must have passed between them as it died down quickly, the only sound before the door closed was Sweetie’s voice.
“I love you too sis.”
Then with a slam the door was closed and the others gone, the carriage leaving mere moments later as soon as the last two passengers were on board. Stifled crying could be heard from the entryway and Pinkie knew then and there she had to do something to comfort the other mare, despite the sudden loss of her own friends. She wiped the tears from her own eyes and breathed hard a few times, steadying herself. When the quiet steps of a forlorn unicorn began to approach the stairs Pinkie popped out of the kitchen.
“Do you need something my lady?” Pinkie poured every ounce of cheerfulness she had into her question which made Rarity stop.
She just kept walking, head down and her tears falling to the floor as she walked. “No thank you Pinkie, take the evening off.”
Pinkie gulped, unsure of what to do. She ran after the unicorn, catching up quickly and walking beside her. “Should I fetch you some wine, or perhaps cider?”
Rarity stopped, her hoof hesitating over the first stair. “Cider… would be nice.”
Pinkie’s ears shot up and her smile regained a hint of genuine joy. “I will meet you in your room in just a moment my lady.” Pinkie turned to go back to the kitchen but felt her tail held tight in the grip of somepony’s magic, drawing her attention back to the unicorn.
“No.” Rarity whispered. “Why don't we share a glass in your room?”
Pinkie cocked an eyebrow at that. “In the servant’s quarters?”
“Yes well after today all of the servant’s rooms are yours so it's more like the Pinkie quarters now.” Rarity smiled weakly at her bit of humour.
“You got it boss!” Pinkie bounced off into the kitchen leaving the distraught mare behind, angrily yelling behind her.
“And don't call me boss! I’m neither old nor a stallion!”
Now dizzy from the assault of memories Pinkie placed a weary hoof against her head. The other still wrapped around the crying mare. The unicorn didn't seem to notice a difference in her confidant and continued to cry into the earth pony’s shoulder. Pinkie blinked hard several times trying to refocus her mind on the here and now but the same illness her granny Pie had seemed to run in the family and her memory wandered away with her senses one last time.
Pinkie waited anxiously by the door, dancing from hoof to hoof nervously as she awaited the sound of hoofsteps up the driveway. She sighed and cast a gloomy eye about the hall. She had a small plate with two perfectly sliced cucumber sandwiches - with extra mayo of course -. A small glass of cider that used to have several ice cubes in it and last but not least a bottle of cherry brandy the lady had recently taken a liking to hidden beneath the cart in case the ride back to ponyville from canterlot wasn't very nice. The lady was prone to bad moods whenever she had to travel and Pinkie was ready for anything!
The silent and empty house sat motionless as always, seemingly mocking Pinkie’s enthusiasm with it's indifference. Pinkie pouted, what was keeping the lady? She had never been back this late from her appointments before. Speaking of those appointments… what were they about anyway? The lady had mentioned it was for her chronic weakness but Pinkie had personally seen her stay up all night and sew an entire pageants worth of dresses in a night. After hearing the pleading of a distressed local teacher who had her last dressmaker cancel out of the blue. Even that trying night spent frantically making more dresses than Pinkie had ever owned hardly seemed to slow the unicorn, indeed it even seemed to embolden her for a few days after the fact.
She had dashed about the house like a mare possessed, scribbling new ideas and traveling to ponyville proper in order to acquire new fabric. It wasn't until a week later when she attended one of her ‘appointments’ did the frantic mood seemed to die. And die it did, Pinkie’s pout turned to a frown. She remembered those days when she got back, she became harsh and distant for nearly a month after the last one…
Shaking her head violently Pinkie stirred from her reverie. Rarity was counting on her this time! She would cheer her up for sure! She even had Rarity’s very favorite cake stashed up stairs in case she came back in a super duper bad mood. With a smile now back on the maid’s face she stood stock still, staring at the door and contemplating whether or not she should open it and take a peek down the long driveway, despite the fact it was late evening and she wouldn't be able to see anything anyhow.
Maybe she should get a candle, or one of those new fangled enchanted ones the lady had purchased in case of emergancy… Her thoughts were jarred from her mind the moment she heard steps approach the door rapidly only for a weight to suddenly settle against the door and faint panting heard through the mahogany.
Pinkie cocked her head slightly as she listened, for some reason not the least bit on guard. The steps hadn't sounded like the lady, but the panting seemed to be from a mare at least. Pinkie’s gut told her it was the lady but her mind wasn't sure, ultimately she trusted the thing that had gotten her out of more jams then the other one and went with her gut.
“My lady?” Pinkie pulled open the door a crack, not bothering with the chain lock.
A harsh sniff and a deep breath came from the other side of the other double door. A second later Rarity cleared her throat. “Yes darling, now would you please let me in? My hooves are killing me.”
With a light pull, the well oiled doors both opened to reveal a very haggard Rarity clad only a traveling cloak and lightly worn hiking boots. Her mane was a mess, looking as if someone purposefully messed it up or the wind took a liking to it. Her makeup she refused to go anywhere without was curiously absent and what was most striking to Pinkie was the fact that she didn't see a carriage or any of Rarity’s bags.
The entire thing rubbed Pinkie the wrong way and she was pretty darn sure something had gone terribly wrong, but what? The maid gulped and moved out of the way of the door and allowing Rarity entrance to the house. The unicorn crossed the threshold and took a deep sigh of relief, clearly enjoying the fact she was home. However as she moved to toss aside her boots Pinkie was finally able to get a clear glimpse under the traveling cloak and what she saw made her bite her lip nervously. Thankfully her hair was already straight from all the worrying she had been doing or else Rarity would have known something was wrong.
Rarity tugged weakly at one of her boots with her magic, revealing a leg lined in light bruises. Pinkie felt like she should help but she couldn't move. Finally removing the annoyingly clingy boot, she began tugging at another, revealing another leg marred with bruises. Pinkie gulped and shook her head, forcing some sense back in the worry filled mind of hers.
“Do you need help mistress Rarity?”
“Please.” Rarity replied curtly.
Pinkie nodded and moved to pull the offending boot off. With one hard pull it came off and nearly sent Pinkie rolling down the hall. Thankfully the last two came off easier meaning the mares didn't have to wrestle anymore footwear.
Rarity turned and slowly began to walk to the stairs without a word. Pinkie gathered her wits and grabbed the cup and plate.
“Would you like a sandwich? It's got extra mayo!” Pinkie tried to throw as much enthusiasm into her voice as she could, however it hardly seemed to budge the other mare from her deep reverie.
“No thank you dear.”
“I also got you some ice cold ciderrrr!” Pinkie waved the cup in front of Rarity’s face dramatically.
Though her nostrils flared, indicating she had at least taken a sniff, she didn't seem to notice. “No.”
Pinkie was taken aback she wasn't sure the last time Rarity had talked to her like that, she was always so kind! Momentarily struck by the realization, Pinkie stood and watched as Rarity began walking up the stairs, each movement seemingly drawing another wince of pain.
Thinking quickly, Pinkie dashed off to the kitchen and stowed the sandwich and cider in the fridge before dashing back out into the hall and up the stairs. Where Rarity had finally crested the last step and began to walk towards her room at the end of the hall overlooking the courtyard.
This called for the big guns! Pinkie dashed off to the room next to Rarity’s that used to be Sweetie belle’s there next to the door Pinkie had placed a small fridge with all the lady’s favorites just in case of emergency, which this definitely was!
Grabbing the eclair Pinkie dashed out into the hallway just in time to see the lady toss her cloak aside and reveal a body as bruised as her legs. Panic crossed Pinkie’s mind and she was pretty sure her legs had suddenly been turned into jello. The clatter of cutlery made Rarity’s ears shoot up on her head but she didn't even slow her slow trudge towards her bed or look to the source of the clatter. Pinkie hardly noticed either, the eclair and plate slipping from her shocked grip. The plate was in a million pieces but thankfully the eclair seemed to have stayed on the largest peice and didn't touch the ground.
In a panic Pinkie pushed all the glass towards the wall and picked up the eclair on it's now much smaller plate. Looking around nervously, Pinkie wondered what exactly she was supposed to do now. The lady was hurt, her surprise almost ruined, should she get medical attention? Call the sheriff? Ask the lady?
She dashed back and forth, panic overriding her better judgement. Somewhere along the lines she stepped on the glass she had specifically moved out of the way so just such a thing wouldn't happen, but this she hardly noticed as there was worse things going on then just a little scratch.
Making up her mind Pinke dashed down the stairs and found a new plate, setting the eclair beside a fresh pair of utensils Pinkie ran up the stairs and placed it on a nearby end table then dashed off to the servant’s bathroom. She found the first aid box quickly and tucked it under one leg, running as best as she could back to Rarity on the other three.
Rarity’s door was open just a crack, a fact Pinkie was immensely glad for as that meant she was allowed to walk in without permission. She was going to walk in anyway but she would hate to have to disobey the lady. She glanced around briefly before setting hoof inside, a sense of something being off crawling up her spine. She looked over her shoulder to see the path she took downstairs painted out in drops of blood going down and up the stairs, originating from the broken glass plate. Pinkie would have face hooved but she had no time, the lady needed her more than Pinkie needed a little blood.
Quickly, she grabbed a dish towel she had forgotten about over her shoulder and wrapped it around her hoof and tied it in a tight knot. Once secure in the knowledge that she wouldn't bleed all over at least one part of the house Pinkie pushed open the door. Rarity lay face down in bed, her limbs splayed in all directions, her mane and tail in an equal state of disarray.
Pinkie’s frown deepened when the lady didn't address her coming in, unsure if she was welcome or not. Straightening her jaw Pinkie placed the plate near the bed on an end table, clearly the lady wasn't up to eating right now, or much of anything for that matter. Tossing the hair from her eyes Pinkie quickly walked over to Rarity and in a timid voice asked.
“Mistress Rarity? Are you alright? I made your favorite eclair. Would you like some brandy or hard cider?”
Utter silence, other than the sound of Rarity’s faint breathing through the pillow she had smooshed against her face. Pinkie fidgeted nervously, her ears pinning themselves to the back of her head. “R-rarity?” Pinkie was hardly aware of the fact that tears brimmed at the edge of her vision, her eyes firmly set on the dejected unicorn.
“Close the drapes.” Said Rarity muffled as it was by the pillow.
Pinkie nodded and quickly ran about, closing all the drapes and firmly latching all the windows. Once done she returned to the lady’s side and stared intently at the back of her head.
“What happened?” Pinkie reached out her good forehoof and was about to prod the unicorn when she spoke.
“Please tuck me into bed.”
Pinkie obeyed instantly, casting the blanket aside and pulling Rarity off the other half of the covers. Once on her side Rarity slid like dead weight until Pinkie tucked a pillow under her head and threw the blanket over her bruised body. Rarity tossed a pillow over her face, clearly not wanting to be seen in such a state.
The maid waited, and waited, and waited. Hoping that Rarity would say something, anything at all but still she lay there. “Please lady Rarity, tell me what happened.”
The lady didn't move, she just lay there, breathing slowly. “Please talk to me.” Still nothing.
“Sh-should I get the sherif?”
Rarity snorted, as if the suggestion amused her. “Don't bother, I brought this on myself.”
“Don't say that Mistress, you don't deserve any of this your the most generous pony I know!”
Rarity mumbled something into her pillow before tossing it aside with a sigh. “They had to try something drastic for my illness. My weakness was becoming too strong and I needed to try anything.” Rarity sighed again, this time deeper, and filled with regret. “Even then it still failed.”
Pinkie flopped onto the bed, shuffling closer to Rarity she saw reluctance in the other mare’s eyes but she soldiered on, a big smile on her face. Noticing her advances hadn't been shut down Pinkie reached out an injured hoof, intent on drawing the lady into a comforting hug. The faint reluctance seen in the other mare’s eyes suddenly turned into a grimace of disgust and she slapped the hoof away from her.
The maid recoiled in horror and pain, accidently falling off the side of the bed and scrambling to stand back up right. Startled and confused Pinkie looked over at the other mare who had already stuffed her face back into the pillow, unwilling to look the maid in the eye.
“Whats wrong, I can go put a bandage on if that would help.”
Muffled crying could be heard from under the pillows, “Just go, I’m disgusting.”
Pinkie cringed but reached out to the mare. “Of course you aren't my lady, now why don't we-”
“Leave me alone!” The force of the shout knocked Pinkie back,her hoof re oiling.
“Fine then! I was just trying to be nice.” Oh stars above why did she say that? Pinkie’s mind reeled at the words that came out of her mouth and in a panic she ran for the door and slammed it shut behind her.
Once on the other side she slumped to the ground, tears falling from her eyes. On the other side of the door, still lying in bed, Rarity pulled herself into a tight ball and wept openly. Tears falling down her face as her body curled tighter. Holding herself with both hooves as if any second she might fall apart at the seams.
A pair of hooves clapped in front of Pinkie’s unresponsive face. A second later the pink mare seemed to wake up from whatever daze she was in and looked over at the owner of the pair of hooves that had woken her.
“Oh sorry about that Rarity, what were you saying? Something about… a thing?” Pinkie grinned sheepishly and looked away.
Rarity just rolled her eyes at the distracted mare. “I was trying to apologize about all my complaining before you seemed to drift off.”
The pink maned maid scratched her head awkwardly. “Sorry about that my lady, absentmindedness-”
“-runs in the family. Yes darling i've heard that a million times already you need to stop apologizing about that. I find that particular quirk of yours rather cute.” A faint blush briefly touched the lady’s lips before disappearing, which only made Pinkie’s smile widen.
“Anyway darling what I was trying to say was I’m sorry about the nature of my complaining I know you umm. Well you know.” This time it was Rarity’s turn to look away awkwardly, unsure of what to say.
Pinkie just cocked her head quizzically. “I'm not sure I know what your talking about, unless your talking about making more eclairs, because I could go for like seven right about now.”
Rarity was pretty sure if she rolled her eyes anymore they would fall out of her head. “No Pinkie, I was being serious I feel dreadful.”
The maid just cocked her head and looked confused. Rarity quickly moved to take Pinkie’s forehoof in both of hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I feel terrible complaining about all these things, I know about you and Rainbow Dash and I want you to know i'm sorry about complaining about all this. I know it must be a sensitive topic for you.”
Something seemed to break for a moment within Pinkie and her hair fell straight, her eyes distant and in distant tone she said. “She wanted to be a wonderbolt.”
Rarity’s heart broke a little and she quickly pulled the other mare against her, holding her head against her own shoulder and gently running a hoof down her back. To which Pinkie offered no resistance.
“I'm sorry darling, I didn't mean to bring her up like that I just wanted you to know what I was… Oh stars above damn my bumbling mouth.” Rarity decided that she should just shut up already and do what she could to comfort one of the few true friends she had.
Pinkie was gone, lost in another haze of memories as they sprang back up suddenly due to the mention of her deceased wife. Images of the brief but best years of Pinkie Pie’s life flashed before her eyes. Living in Ponyville with her wife, then in Canterlot then finally at her hospital bed. Then finally a thankfully brief image of her grave and then nothing. When the haze of memories lifted and she blinked the tears from her eyes she was startled to hear Rarity crying as well.
Quickly, Pinkie reached out and hugged the crying mare and took a turn rubbing somepony’s back and patiently waiting for the moment to pass. Suddenly Rarity realized she was making a scene and stifled her tears.
“I-I’m so sorry darling I didn't mean to cry like that but seeing you so… I just couldn't.” A gentle hoof pushed Pinkie far enough away to look the other mare in the eyes.
Pinkie just smiled gently and reached up and wiped away the last of Rarity’s tears. “It's okay my lady. I've had a long time to deal with it. How long did you know though? You never said anything…”
Rarity sniffed and grabbed a handkerchief with her magic, cleaning away her tears and snot as daintily as possible. “Oh i've always known darling I just didn't think it was my place to mention it. I admit I felt a little ashamed for digging as hard as I did but mother and father refused to tell me why they weren't going to hire you and I had to know.”
Disbelief, confusion and elation passed through Pinkie’s facial features so quickly Rarity wasn't quite sure what to do or what to say. Pinkie however had moved right on from elation to appreciation. “So it was you who got me hired! I always wondered how managed to get this job despite those old fuddy duddys disliking me.”
Rarity couldn't help but giggle at referencing her parents in such an undignified manner but quickly caught herself. “Oh that's not very nice.”
Pinkie just snorted dismissively. “Well it's true, they are a bunch of meanie heads.”
The lady was much quicker in catching her giggle this time. Though she wanted to disagree with Pinkie she had to reluctantly admit that she was right on both accounts. “That may be darling but it's not how you should put it. Say something like.” Rarity tapped her chin in thought before her eyes lit up. “You should say they are. Reserved, or morose, or serious individuals.”
“Or a meanie pants, fuddy duddy ruder mc ruderson.” Pinkie crossed her forehooves and blew a raspberry.
“Or that I suppose. There is a nice way of saying everything my dear Pinkie, even rude things.”
“Really? How would you call someone ugly to their face?” Pinkie grinned, eager to see Rarity squirm.
Rarity just smirked. “You could say their sense of style was quite eclectic. Or if it's a she say something like. You have your father’s eyes.”
Pinkie scrunched her muzzle up. “Oh that is rude.”
The elegant lady who would never say such rude things in a million years simply shrugged. “Anyway, before we get off topic again. I just want to say thank you Pinkie, for everything you do around here.”
Pinkie wasn't quite sure what she was being thanked over but she grinned from ear to ear anyway. Though Rarity rarely dispensed compliments she never skimped and always put her heart into every kind word she said. There was no half hearted thanks from Pinkie’s magnanimous employer. However something itched at the back of Pinkie’s mind, something was left unsaid in Rarity’s words and Pinkie couldn't help but want to figure it out.
“What exactly do you mean Rarity? Cooking and cleaning for just you isn't exactly hard ya know. You hardly eat enough as is.” Pinkie pouted and poked the unicorn in the belly.
“Hey! I have a figure to watch you know.”
“And if you don't eat more it's gonna be a stick figure.” Pinkie replied quickly.
A snort and a giggle broke Rarity’s facade of annoyance she had put on and she couldn't help but laugh at the joke. Her maid always had a way to turn everything into a joke. Pinkie herself just grinned, happy to have made Rarity smile.
Smothering the last of her laugh with a hoof Rarity quickly composed herself. “When I say everything you do I mean all of it. After Sweetie and my parents left.” Rarity’s voice quivered but she pushed Pinkie’s hooves away before they drew her into yet another hug. “You have been the best maid, no. Friend. That i've ever had and I want us to be way less formal.”
Pinkie cocked her head in the other direction. “But we are already super not formal if we got any less formal I’m not sure if there would be anything to do around here.”
Rarity smiled gently. “Well first you should ditch the uniform.” Pinkie quickly clutched the fabric and pushed herself back on the bed a few hooves. “That is if you want to of course.” Rarity added.
“I don't know Rarity, it's just… I've been wearing it everyday for like almost 20 years, it would feel weird.” Pinkie pawed nervously at her uniform.
“Well you don't have to if you don't want to dear I just thought you might-”
“Woohoo naked time!” Pinkie Pie yelled as she suddenly threw off her uniform, hat and all in one motion.
Rarity’s hoof she had reached out with to comfort her maid with fell and she quickly pushed herself back from the now naked maid, a blush quickly spreading across her face. Suddenly quite aware of how close they had been the moment before Pinkie decided to throw off her uniform. “Pi-pinkie pie! Why did you-” Rarity had to stop herself and giggle. Of course she would have done something like that. “Nevermind. Now unless out in public please just call me Rarity.”
Pinkie saluted enthusiastically. “Okay dokey lokey!”
“Not lokey, Rarity. Oh.” Rarity giggled.
Pinkie’s enthusiasm was infectious and Rarity couldn't help herself but to laugh again. She clasped the maid-no, friend. Around the shoulder and pulled her a little closer. They shared a smile however Pinkie’s lips quivered slightly and although Rarity was tempted to roll her eyes again she could tell that Pinkie wanted to ask something.
“Go on dear, I want us to speak freely from now on.” Rarity’s gentle and kind smile did wonders to make Pinkie’s mind become more at ease and after a moment she let out a breath of air and sighed.
Pinkie gently punched Rarity’s shoulder. “Hey thats not nice to read my thoughts like that. Are you using your unicorn powers on my brain?” Pinkie’s eyes narrowed to slits but her huge smile remained plastered to her face making Rarity chuckle.
“No, you just have a terrible poker face daring. Now out with it. I want us to be friends.” A flash of indecision passed through Rarity’s mind and for a second she panicked and added. “If you want to of course.”
Pinkie just rolled her eyes. “Of course I wanna act like your friend silly! It's just gonna take some getting used to is all. As for my brain thoughts you were reading, I was just curious why you have not, ya know. Got a girlfriend or maybe even married some mare that caught your eye.” Pinkie threw her an exaggerated wink to accentuate her point.
“I… well you see darling I just. Well the thing is.” Rarity pushed Pinkie back in order to properly look her in the eye. “It's not proper darling.” She said without an ounce of meaning behind it.
Pinkie continued undeterred. “Nopony would even have to know! I can keep a secret and other then Applejack nopony even comes around the mansion anymore.”
Rarity was about to say some lame half hearted excuse but before she could give it voice Pinkie gasped and grabbed Rarity by the shoulders. “Then you can finally go to the grand galloping gala with the pony of your dreams just like you always wanted to!”
This time it was Rarity’s turn to gasp dramatically. “How did you know about that?”
“Pfft, you have been talking about going to that silly dance for like a forever Rarity. I have ears ya know.” Pinkie wiggled said ears for emphasis.
“I… can't Pinkie. Please understand, my parents would be there and I don't know if I could face them.”
Pinkie’s face hardened and she grabbed Rarity by the shoulders and forced their eyes to meet. “Is that really why you don't want to go to that silly frou frou dance?”
“I well. No, but you see darling I-”
“No butts!” The sudden intensity from the pink mare startled Rarity and she shut her mouth firmly. “Tell your friend Pinkie the real reason why.”
For a second Rarity considered giving another excuse but she wouldn't want to disappoint her friend right? With a sigh Rarity began her tale. “As you know it's always been my dream to go to the gala but one cannot go to such a lavish event alone.” Pinkie didn't seem to agree but she stayed silent. “The scandal of showing up alone would be… well.” Rarity cleared her throat, Pinkie’s intense gaze stopping her from making any more excuses. “I always dreamt of going there with some dashing stallion.”
“So just go with a dashing mare. Girls make good dance partners too ya know.” Pinkie added a wink and a nudge just to make sure Rarity got her double meaning.
“Yes well. I suppose that's one part of the dream I should get over isnt it? The more important part was in that dream I was always young and beautiful. Now I am an old hag living alone with nopony for company but my dear friend Pinkie.” Though the addition of calling her a friend made Pinkie smile it was a pained, wistful one.
“But your still beautiful Rarity.” A pink hoof slowly moved a stray strand of hair from Rarity’s face. “Your the most beautiful mare I know.”
Both mare’s blushed and a tiny voice in Rarity’s head told her to kiss Pinkie. Which only made her blush harder and panic. “No you can't have a raise.”
“I didn't mean… Oooooh! Good one Rares!” Pinkie giggled and let Rarity go. Allowing Rarity to wipe the blush from her face without Pinkie noticing. Rarity silently glad that little voice disappeared the moment she moved farther away from the bouncy maid.
“I was being serious you know. You are beautiful and kind and you should totally take some mare to that gala thing with you.” Pinkie grinned, hoping her confidence would be as contagious as her giggles.
Rarity however just sighed and stood up. Now with her hooves on the cold floor she walked over to the window and looked out at the faintly illuminated yard and the darkness beyond. “It's not that simple Pinkie. I had gotten over never seeing my parents again, or-” She placed a hoof against her chest to slow her beating heart. “Sister again. But I had hope the treatments would work and I could finally live out at least some of my dream. But that doesn't matter anymore.” She looked down at the impeccably clean window sill. “I am an old mare now Pinkie. No mare would want to go to the gala and risk the embarrassment that those nobles would bring on them. I am not even sure I am strong enough to do that.”
Pinkie hopped off the bed and trotted over beside Rarity and joined her in looking out the window. “It's a beautiful night isn't it?”
“Yes I suppose it is.”
They stood shoulder to shoulder looking out the window for several more tense seconds before a brilliant idea bloomed in Pinkie’s mind. “So what your saying is; if you found somepony that would go to the gala with you and you looked younger you would go?”
“Well theoretically yes-”
“Perfect!”
Before Rarity knew what was going on she found herself nearly muzzle to muzzle with a positively vibrating Pinkie Pie. “Then all we gotta do is find you a date, magic you young and boom dream fulfilled!”
“Now wait just a- waa” Rarity suddenly found herself standing on her back hooves, Pinkie holding her upright and supporting her waist perfectly.
“Ooooh I can hardly wait! There is gonna be cake and dancing and music and so many ponies but that won't matter because i'm gonna find you the best date around so you can live your dream Rarity!” Pinkie’s bubbling enthusiasm could hardly be contained and Rarity suddenly found herself waltzing with the pink mare.
“Well hold on now darling it can't just be anypony. She has to be around my age.”
Forty seven year old Pinkie grinned and spun the forty eight year old Rarity in a circle before catching her perfectly. “Around our age, got it.”
“And she has to like me for me, I don't want some gold digger like that last jerk.”
Pinkie tightened her grip on Rarity’s hip and grinned almost literally from ear to ear. “No jerk faces, got it. Anything else, oh generous and benevolent lady Rarity?”
“Oh stop it you charmer you.” Rarity giggled and placed a hoof on Pinkie’s chest.
Both mare’s hearts were sent aflutter at that comment and Pinkie very nearly dropped Rarity. Tightening her grip Pinkie continued her dance, leading Rarity into a small spin that led them both to falling back onto the bed giggling.
Rarity recovered from their giggling first and put her hoof over Pinkie’s. “That's all i’ve wanted out of a… partner.” Evidently still not quite comfortable with herself but she shook that nervousness and uncertainty away and looked into Pinkie’s eyes. She had realized that she had pretty much described Pinkie to a T without trying when she was drawing up her list of what she wanted and now that the idea was in her head she had to admit it did sounds pretty good. Pinkie was honest, loyal, fun, not a gold digger, liked her for her and oh my she was blushing wasn't she?
Pinkie’s grin grew and grew as the blush on Rarity’s face became more and more intense. The perceptive mare was more then able to figure out the subtext as to what was going on though an unusual bout of indecision stopped her from saying what her heart wanted her to say. She did like Rarity and she wanted to ask her, and clearly at least part of Rarity wanted that as well but what if that ruined their friendship? Or…. No. Pinkie shook her head adamantly. No regrets. She thought grimly.
With a deep breath Pinkie’s smile fell away and she looked back into Rarity’s curious eyes with resolve, which melted pretty much all of the determination she had. Her eyes were so beautiful, and despite her age they were still so innocent. “I umm, well oh geeze.” Pinkie stopped herself and put a hoof to her chest and breathed deeply, Rarity cocked her head but said nothing, waiting for Pinkie. “Would you want to go to the gala with me?” She spat out, before her confidence wavered again.
Time seemed to stretch on infinitely as Pinkie waited for Rarity’s response, all the grim possible scenarios ran through her mind at a breakneck pace. Then all at once time became normal and the indecision Pinkie had seen on Rarity’s face vanished, replaced by a huge smile.
“Yes, yes, yes a million times, yes!” Rarity answered with jubilation, pulling Pinkie into a bone crushing hug. Suddenly Rarity stopped trying to squeeze Pinkie’s organs out and faced her again, this time with a hint of nervousness on her face. “But there is so much we have to plan, the gala is in only two weeks!”
Rarity got up and started pacing, listing off things that needed to get done all the while her voice was becoming more and more crazed. “We need to tell the gardener, and find someone to take care of Opal, and I need to make dresses for both of us and hire a coach and and-”
Pinkie jumped off the bed and wrapped a hoof around Rarity’s shoulders. “Woow there silly filly, let's chill out. We can make a list and stuff but we can't start on anything tonight it's already late o clock.”
Pinkie giggled at her own little joke but Rarity didn't seem to notice as she was busy chewing on her hoof. “Oh but Pinkie my dear we absolutely have to start tonight or there won't be enough time!”
Pinkie found herself suddenly leaning on nothing as Rarity had vanished from beside her and was running to the door. “Bwah, wait hold on there Rarity.”
“No time darling I absolutely must start on the dresses tonight!” Rarity stopped at the door and looked back at Pinkie, a crazed look on her face. Then just like that she was gone, her hooves echoing down the hall towards her sewing room.
The maid looked from the door to where Rarity had stood only a moment before then back to the door. “What just happened?”
With a shrug Pinkie walked back over to the bedside and tossed the last of Rarity’s eclair into her mouth and moved to follow after Rarity, an idea suddenly occurring to her. I don't like dresses. Picking up the pace Pinkie broke into a trot, yelling after Rarity. “I don't like dresses! Make me a suit!”
The door to the bedroom swung closed after the maid left, leaving the room empty but for once in a long time the house no longer felt empty. It may not be the start of the story book romance Rarity had dreamed of, or the passionate tale Pinkie wanted but both had to admit that the sudden change of events felt, perfect.
Author's Note
Why does it say the story is complete? Well because this is sort of over. If the story is well liked i will write the sequel that will contain the gala and some other fun drama and romance but only if this story gains some traction.
