Author's Note

This chapter is little... freaky. Just saying.

Simple dinner with My Friend's family (Tempest's POV)

"I still can't believe, that you're already friends for a whole month." Grubber said with mouth full of cupcakes and muffins.

"Yeah, me neither." I responded.

I, Grubber and Rusty were in the Sugar Cube Corner. It was usual meeting with my friends in our usual spot. Everything was going great. Instead of Commander Tempest, I'm now Captain Tempest. Twilight made me a captain of Ponyville's local guard. They all were bunch of greenhorns, but under my command, they became effective and great soldiers.

Rusty's armors are great. Light, comfortable and hard. They're even better, than my previous one. Rusty said, that he used the same alloy, like in my old armor, but he found way, how to harden it better. Instead of normal oil, he used a mixture of water and some herbs and elements. No, it's not tea. He started to get constant deliveries from Zecora, local zebra witch-doctor. He never told me, what herbs he actually used. He only said, that he found it in his father's sketchbook. I can understand professional secrecy. He even let me read this, but most of it is in some kind of code. Rusty broke most of it, but he's still making an investigation about Integral Blade.

I was intrigued about this, either. This mystery has like 5 generations, an nopony in Rusty's family found out about this. He made a prototype, but it wasn't perfect.

Our talk has been broken by mailmare, Derpy Hooves. She usually breaks something, but she has good heart.

"Letter for Mr. Rusty Anvil." Derpy said with letter in mouth. Rusty grabbed it and mare left.

"Hey, she took one of my muffins!" Grubber screamed angry. It's just some flour, eggs and baking powder.

"It's from my mum!" Rusty screamed happily and opened the letter. " 'Dear Rusty. I've heard, that you became royal blacksmith. I'm very proud of you. I've always knew, that you will be as great as your dad. That's why I'm coming to Ponyville to congratulate you personally. I hope to see you on train station, day after you receive this letter. XOXO. Mommy. P.S. I'll come with 'you know who'. Nice, mom is coming to town. Not nice, she's coming with my ex."

Rusty have told me about his ex-fillyfriend. Her name is Pearl Necklace. She's a jeweler's daughter. They met, when Rusty was learning from her father, how to make jewelery. It was teenage love. They were a couple in school, but after it, he broke up with her. His explanation was, that she only liked him, because he was handsome colt. Also, she's little, like he would say, nuts. Year after this, he came to Ponyville, opened the blacksmith store and, after 2 years, met me. I don't see him only as a handsome colt.

Even if they broke up, I still felt, like something's fishy. "Why your mother would come here with your former fillyfriend?" He knows something.

"Well, I broke up with her, but my mom has no idea about it." Are you bucking kidding me? Eh, stallions... Who understands them?

"But, why?" Grubber asked.

"Mom, since we went on our first date, wanted me and Pearl to get married. Then Pearl started to act like... Pinkie Pie after coffee." I've seen many things in my life, but Pinkie after coffee... It's too much. "When I told her, that we're breaking up, she thought, that this is some kind of loyalty test."

"You're kidding, right?" I asked. Please, for the love of Celestia, say, that this is a joke.

"I'm serious, like never." He answered. I looked into his eyes. He wasn't lying.

"Then, what will you do with this?" I hope, he has a plan. I don't want any rivals. Wait, what? Sometimes, I hate my head.

"I'm gonna introduce you to my mom. Both of you. We're gonna pretend, that we're both a couple. I will, of course, explain everything to my mom, before I will tell her. Mom will stop thinking about marriage, Pearl will leave me alone, and we still be friends."

"But, there won't be a problem about 'our' marriage?"

"Well, by everything, I mean 'everything'. Including our plan."

"Pretty nice plan!" Grubber said. "I have a little bigger idea."

"Namely..." I gave Grubber questioning look.

"Well, I started to cook and I'm pretty good. If I say so myself... How about little dinner? It's always the best time for a talk, like this."

"That's... pretty good idea." I commented. "But, I don't think your ex will believe you left her for a former villain."

"So, what do you suggest?" Rusty asked, rubbing his little beard.

"Leave that to me." I responded with the smile.

In the another day, I walked to Rarity's boutique. I had my own plan also.I will not tolerate any other mare 'that' close to Rusty. Why am I thinking about this? Do I like him this much?

I walked inside. I hate fashion for so... many... reasons. But, I'm doing this for Rusty. "Rarity? Capper? Are you in here?" Capper and Rarity started to live together in her boutique. They even started dating. I still don't know, what she sees in this cat.

"Have you called me, mi amiga?" I heard the voice of that tomcat. He was standing on stairs with stupid smile. "Rarity's out, so I'm in charge, for now." Capper jumped of the stairs and landed in front of me. "So, what brings here the biggest badass in Equestria?"

"Well, I need a... makeover." I still can't believe, that I'm telling this. "My mane has to cover my broken horn and scar. And I need the fanciest dress in my size, what Rarity has."

"You make some trick, am I right?"

"It's your domain, so... yes" I knew, that playing with Capper is bad idea.

"I can fell a little bit of jealousy in your voice, so this is about another mare, what sticked to your new coltfriend." Capper deduced.

"Ru--Rusty is not my coltfriend!" I felt a serious blush on my face. "Anyways, let's get this over with."

I will not tell anything, what happened. It was the most humiliating thing in my entire life. Make-up, hairdressing, dress... When I'm thinking about this, i'm getting dizzy. After this... 'torture'... I looked like a lady from Canterot. If she won't be crushed by this, then I'll have to do this 'the hard way'. I just hope, that nopony will recognize me.

"Thank you, Capper."

"For you, Milady, everything." Your smooth talk doesn't work on me.

I left the boutique, trying not to stumble on this dress. How they can wear stuff, like this? It's good, that Rusty's house is nearby. With slow, but sure step, I walked to Rusty's house. Every step was like walking on the mine field. Also, my right eye was completely covered by my mane, what 20 minutes ago was mohawk. Now, it's something like mix of emo and fru-fru.

I was about to reach Rusty's house, when I heard familiar, malignant laughter. Everypony, but her.

"Is that you, Tempest?" Rainbow Dash asked, trying not to laugh. Sometimes, I want to turn her into stone and throw her down from Celestia's castle's tower. "You have a date with your coltfriend, don't you?" Rainbow said with her stupid smirk.

"It's not your business to know, what I'm doing." I said through the teeth and walked inside Rusty's house. He left them open. Like we established.

For money, what got from Twilight, Rusty bought for himself a separate house to live. His forge is few houses from here. Inside, I could smell Grubber's cooking. Lasagna with spinach... This should be good.

Before I could do anything, inside walked Rusty in company of two mares. First one had deep brown coat with light brown mane and blue eyes. This must be Chocoroll, Rusty's mom. She's a... unicorn. To Rusty was sticking pearl white unicorn mare with aqua hair and green eyes. On her neck was necklace made of pearls. This must be Pearl Necklace...

"Oh, you came earlier." Rusty played surprised. "Mom, sweetie, this is my friend. Fizzlepop Berrytwist." Did he just...

"Nice to meet you." I said with little lighter and calmer tone, than normal. "Rusty told me a lot about you."

"I bet he did." My rival... I mean, Pearl said, still sticking to my friend. She's so dead. "Rusty, dear, where's the bathroom?"

"First door left, after leaving the hall." Pearl kissed him on the cheek and left. 'TRIGGERED' Rusty sighed with relief.

"I hate, when she's doing this." Rusty said with little dose of anger. Trust me. You're not the only one... "I'm sorry, that I didn't tell you earlier, mom."

"Don't worry, Rusty. We can't fix past, but we can..."

"Make better future." I finished. "I see, that Rusty explained everything."

"Yes. It's nice to meet you, Tempest. I must say, that 'Fizzlepop Berrytwist' is the best nickname, what I've heard." I saw, that Rusty winked at me. You sneaky bastard...

"Okay, I'll pretend, that I'm daughter of wine manufacturer. I've met Rusty, when I was doing business with my dad here. He showed me town and we ended as good friends. I'm often visiting him from Canterlot and spend time with him. Then, Rusty will realize, that I am his true love, not Pearl. She will leave, I'll throw away my clothes and everything will be great."

"Do we have to do this?" Rusty's mom asked.

"It's the only way. I told you. By 'breaking up', she means 'loyalty test'." Rusty explained.

"That will never work." Oh buck... We looked at the hall entrance. Pearl was standing there. "I knew, that 'friend' was something more. But, you'll never be Rusty's true love. I am his true love. And you will not take him from me."

I couldn't resist anymore. I ripped my dress with magic and fixed my mohawk. Much better. She'll pay for humiliating me and sticking to Rusty, without his permission. "Wanna bet?" I saw fear in her eyes. She started to slowly trotting back. "What, afraid of some scars?"

"You. You poisoned my Rusty's mind. You convinced him, that he don't love me, but loves you. You'll pay for this." Pearl became more confident. She grabbed with magic one of swords, hanging on the wall. I was prepared for something like that. In my tail, I had one of my petrifying orbs. I threw it up and half-turn kicked it in Pearl's direction. It hit her and turned into shining statue. I smirked, but... something was wrong. Statue started to crack. This is impossible. Pearl freed herself from it and rushed at me. I was to confused to dodge and she hit me with sword in my right foreleg. I fell on the ground. Before she hit me again, Rusty grabbed her.

"Don't touch her, you psycho!" He screamed, still holding her.

"I'm doing this for us, Rusty. She manipulates you." In her eyes was no more love. It was obsession. Boiling, insane obsession. "No other mare or stallion will love you. I'm the only one who loves you and I'm the only one, who you love!" It. Is. ON!

I jumped up and hit her with left foreleg in her jaw, sending her up, then I kicked her trice in her belly. The third kick sent her outside, breaking the door. Pearl was lying on the ground, shivering from pain. Good girl.

"I hope, this will teach you a lesson." I said to her, walking to her. I saw some of my guards. "Come here!" I ordered them. As always, they came obediently to me. "Take this mare to the hospital, mental hospital."

"Yes, ma'am." They responded and took this mare.

"You'll pay for this, Tempest Shadow. Rusty will be mine. MINE!" She started to laugh, maniacally. I almost feel sorry about her. Almost. I returned to Rusty and his mom. My right leg was hurt, but it was nothing. "Everypony okay?" I asked.

"I knew she was crazy but... this is too much." Rusty said with fright. "I'm sorry, that I caught you up in my family problems."

"Buy me a cider, and we'll be fine." I said with smile.

"After this I lost appetite." Chocoroll said. "I wonder, what will I tell to her father... It was good so see you again, Rusty." She said, hugging Rusty.

"The felling's mutual, mom."

We both escorted Rusty's mom to the train station and said 'goodbye' to each other. She's raised a great son.

"Thank you, Rusty." I said with little smile.

"For what?" Rusty asked curious and surprised.

"For introducing me to your mother, saving me from psycho and letting me to kick your ex's flank." At the last thing, Rusty snickered.

"You're welcome, Tempest. And don't worry. I didn't have any other marefriends."

"Good to know. Now, let's go back. I'm starving and Grubber made lasagna."

"Then, why we're still here? It won't eat by itself."

We both giggled, returned to Rusty's house and ate nice dinner together. It's little sad, that I couldn't know his mother better but she had enough emotions for at least week. I'm happy, that Rusty is free from his psycho ex. I hope, she won't leave mental hospital fast. There's only one thing, what was burned. My cover. I will not wear any other dress in my whole life. Well, maybe twice...