Bruises and Bitemarks

“And so when I get my cutie mark, my mothers were hoping you’d be at the cute-ceañera!” Auburn chatted away underneath my wing as we approached the door to the Equality Club, my heart pounding away as I felt sweat running down my face. I ducked my head to press against my marefriend’s head, closing my eyes.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I assured her. “Okay, so we’re here.”

“Everything’s going to be alright,” Auburn whispered. “Even if she’s there, you can just talk to Cornflower and Silk Scarf. And I’ll be there the whole time, okay?”

My heart seized up within my chest, Auburn would be there the whole time. For Panphoria to talk to, to hurt, to whisper lies to. I nodded despite my thoughts, pulling my head away from Auburn and using my wing to open the door. As soon as I opened the door, my heart did a flip inside of its chest as I saw Panphoria and Alabaster chatting away with Cornflower and Silk Scarf. I stumbled inside, my chest closing up as I walked into the clubroom. Walking past the four, I stood over the bowl of nacho cheese doritos as I took deep breaths in and out. Auburn joined my side, staring at me with her wide blue eyes.

“We don’t have to stay,” Auburn whispered. “We can go to Sugarcube Corner and hang out there, or my mom’s boutique. Wherever you want to go, Artsy.”

“I’ll stay here,” I decided. “I need to speak with those two anyway. If you could just give me some space till club’s over…”

“Oh, okay,” Auburn’s ears flattened as she turned around and slowly walked away. “Let me know if you need anything.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but felt the words die in my throat. Instead, I turned over and lifted a wingful of doritos into my mouth, licking the cheesy dust off my wing as I turned around and walked over to Cornflower and Silk Scarf, who were now conversing with each other. I noticed that Silk Scarf leaned closer to Cornflower than usual, her hoof resting on their arm as she stared into the President’s eyes. I hesitated briefly, before shaking my head and storming towards them like a bird of prey.

“What the fuck?” I growled at them, puffing myself to appear bigger than I really was. “Did you two not understand what I said? Our clubmates will be in danger with her around!”

“Really?” Cornflower tilted their head, their eyes narrowed as they wrapped their arm around Silk Scarf. “Because when she visited us yesterday, she was nothing but delightful to the two of us.”

“She even brought us brownies,” Silk purred. “When are you going to start bringing food to the club?”

“Don’t change the subject,” I spat. “Just why did she show up out of the blue to visit you both? She knew what you were planning on doing, how dense are you two?”

“She came to thank us for how we handled the situation with you,” Cornflower growled. “And I can see why now. She’s probably scared that you’re going to make her feel unwelcome, and have you forgotten the rules of the club? All of us are to remain civil, and you look like you’re about to rip into us.”

“I’d go back to the other if I were you,” Silk’s ears flickered as her red eyes bore into my soul, her hoof trailing Cornflower’s cheek. “This is your first warning.”

My jaw dropped, and I stepped back as I saw the two in a new light. Their giggles, staring into each other’s eyes, made me feel sick to my stomach as I turned away and froze at what I saw. Panphoria and Auburn, talking to each other.

After Artsy told me she needed space for the rest of the clubtime, I walked away and trotted over to the ponies I usually talked to before I met Artsy. Angel Cake, a pale yellow unicorn mare and Mint Bow, a mint green pegasus that constantly wore bows in her long white mane. The two mares were leaning close, only breaking apart when I’d approached them.

“Auburn!” Angel stepped back from Mint and hugged me. “I thought you’d be with Artsy!”

“So did I,” I sighed. “She’s going through a lot with her ex being here though, but nevermind that. How have you and Mint been?”

“Well,” Angel pulled out of the hug and wrapped her foreleg around Mint, who was wearing a white polka-dot bow that took over half her head. “Mint and I are engaged!”

“Oh my gosh!” I lifted a hoof to my face, before lunging and hugging the two in a tight grip. “Congratulations! When is the wedding?”

“In two weeks at Sweet Apple Acres,” Mint explained. “We don’t need months to plan some big wedding in Las Pegasus, and your Mom will be officiating the wedding!”

I was shocked again, how much has flown over my head since I started dating Artsy Ace. I could only imagine as my Mom babbled on about officiating a wedding, and me just ignoring everything she said as I daydreamed of Artsy taking me to a fancy hotel, laying me down as she peppered me with kisses. Lower and lower, down my chest, my belly, all the way down to my...I shook my head. We hadn’t even reached that topic yet, so why was I jumping to conclusions?

“Um, Auburn?” Angel waved her hoof in front of my face. “Is everything alright?”

“Oh, yes! I’m still worried, that’s all,” I shrugged. “That’s great you two, do you know who your best ponies will be?”

Angel and Mint smirked at each other before looking back at me.

“We were thinking of you and Artsy as mares of honor,” Angel told me. “If you two would like.”

“I’ll have to talk to her, but I’m sure she’d love to,” I felt my heart warming as I stared at my best friends. “As would I.”

“Hey, I don’t think I’ve met you two yet.”

I glanced over and my heart jumped as Panphoria moved past me and held her hoof out to Angel and Mint. The two mares stared at me, and I nodded my head before Panphoria could turn around. Angel smiled as she shook Panphoria’s hoof, and Mint shortly followed. My eyes landed on Panphoria’s flanks, noticing the maroon red book cutie mark decorating said flanks. I tilted my head, staring at them as I wondered just what this unicorn wrote about. Angel and Mint resumed talking to each other as Panphoria turned around and smirked at me, walking towards me.

“Like my cutie mark?” Panphoria’s ears flickered as her shit-eating grin grew. “After...my last relationship ended, I wrote a novel and got this cutie mark right here. I also created several recipes such as raspberry cupcakes, eggplant parmesan, and chili. Didn’t quite get my cutie mark in cooking, but at least the creature that I settle down with will be well-fed.”

“Indeed they will be,” I gulped, my heart racing as Panphoria’s head tilted. She was studying me, and she had to have noticed my blank flanks and rising chest.

“Speaking of food,” Panphoria batted her eyelashes at me, her smirk never wavering as she spoke. “Perhaps you and I can get to know each other better over some fine dining. Artsy would definitely be more at ease if she sees that the two of us can be friends.”

Dinner. If it was just that, then why did my heart feel as though it would burst out of my chest?

“Yeah! Dinner sounds great,” I nodded. “When?”

“Tonight?” Panphoria asked. "There's this soup and salad shack that just opened up, and I've been dying to try their stuff. That sound good to you?"

"Yeah, it does," I grinned. "I should probably let Artsy know-"

"Why?" Panphoria's face scrunched up. "I mean, of course she'll know. But why the urgency? Does she need to know where you are at all times?"

"No!" I blushed from the tips of my ears to my cheeks. "You're right, let's just get going."

"My kind of mare," Panphoria grinned, wrapping a foreleg around my shoulders. "Alabaster will keep your mare company anyhow."

"Oh yeah, isn't your bestie's family part of the Canterlot Elites-"

Before I could finish my question, Panphoria teleported us out of the clubroom.