The Good, the Bad and the Unfriendly

Slightly north of the town of Ponyville a large estate and ranch was bought by a wealthy philanthropist for her own personal needs. She needed plenty of land and a large manor with lots of individual rooms for guests and servants. The grounds of the estate were inside a forest with a singular road made to travel through it to the manor. It was a private, secluded, place and it was exactly what Rarity wanted when it came to her dream of helping those in need. Her partners and business associates did a lot of work to help her out and make sure that any woman in trouble could find this place. Rarity welcomed all who needed her help and the estate soon became a refuge in Equestria for battered wives, former prostitutes, and others who just needed to get away from it all. At any given time the rooms of the manor were filled up with temporary guests, allowed to stay here for as long as they needed until they could either get back on their feet or more friendly friends and family could find and help them. Some stayed on as servants or were taught a trade as well so they could more easily make their way in life if they truly had no one else to rely on.

Rarity was proud of her work.

She just wished she had been able to see Sunny Flare’s true nature all that time ago. The former friend had caused her no small share of grief thanks to her exploits and how they were initially tied to Rarity. Governor Mare still didn’t like her, nor had she forgiven her for “getting the Shadowbolt Gang started” in the first place. Even though Rarity couldn’t have known, and had only been doing good things herself, she still partly blamed herself too. It was horrifying what she had heard and ever since Sunny Flare started her reign of terror, Rarity had been doubling her efforts to help in as many ways possible. This included setting up a charity fund for victims of the Shadowbolt Gang in addition to her normal work for aiding women and girls in need.

It still wasn’t enough in her mind. She wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to make up for unleashing that monster on the country. It had damaged her reputation considerably too and who even knows how many that needed her help she wasn’t able to do anything for because she was busy dealing with the fallout from the Shadowbolt affair. For every good deed she did, Sunny Flare was going to continue to hang over her head like a dark cloud until she was finally brought to justice.

Rarity did her best to put that out of her mind and move on from what she couldn’t change or do anything about, instead continuing to focus on her work here. She was doing good work, that’s what she told herself every day. And she was able to see the fruits of her labor every day too. So many of the women living here right now would tell her how grateful they were for her help. How much they relied on her. It’s what Rarity lived for.

She hoped that in the future she’d be able to really expand and do even more. Set up things like shelters and homes for women in trouble in every major city of the country.

That would likely have to wait until the whole Shadowbolt business was over though. Too many people still didn’t trust her. Her efforts to build relations with and garner money and support from others had failed multiple times due to her connection with Sunny Flare and the well publicized fact that Rarity was the one who “started” things. Many nights after these failed endeavors were spent with her passing out with an empty bottle of wine in hand.

There were still a few other things she could find solace in however. Two other great friends of hers, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, worked with her here in the manor. Fluttershy was a nurse and Pinkie Pie… well, the poor dear had been kidnapped from her family’s farm years ago and forced into… some unsavory work. After she had been rescued by Rarity she decided to stay with her, thinking she couldn’t go back to her family after everything that had happened.

The three of them were the cornerstones of this entire estate now. Fluttershy was nothing less than an angel who could comfort anyone and Pinkie Pie, despite her own harrowing experiences, was a bundle of laughter and joy that spread smiles to all of the women in the manor. And Rarity of course handled the business side of things and was the face of the operation. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie both lived with her here now as permanent residents. It was just practical too, a lot of the girls that came to the estate needed a nurse for a variety of reasons and Pinkie Pie did wonders to keep their morale up and help ease the lost souls into their new lives.

Breakdowns happened every now and then. And sometimes battered wives returned to their husbands and the prostitutes fell back into their old life. Because they just couldn’t help it or they didn’t know anything else or didn’t think they could change. Every time it happened it broke Rarity’s heart but she still pushed on because she knew she was doing a good thing.

Once things had settled down and she had proven that her work was a success she would return to the other part of her goal as well: making the roads of Equestria safe to travel for all.

Sunny Flare had temporarily ruined that goal, and the Buffalo Men didn’t make things easy either, but it was something Rarity still planned to do. That was always part of her dream from the beginning. It was why she contacted Sunny Flare and got that whole thing set up in the first place. She wasn’t going to throw it away just because someone had decided to ruin it all the first time.

One of these days Equestria would be a safe place for everyone. It started with this haven but it would become so much more.

Rarity’s eyes snapped open as a thin beam of light came in from between the curtains of her bedroom window, placed perfectly to hit her right in the face. Her head was killing her and she groaned as she rolled over to try and get some more sleep. That certainly wasn’t happening though. She had been woken up and at best she’d be able to lie there with a pillow folded around her head to try and deal with the pain for a little while longer. Unfortunately she was reaping what she had sown with far too much alcohol the previous night.

“Unghhh...” Rarity balled her fists and threw the covers off herself in one clean motion, doing her best to just ignore the throbbing pain in her head. She was used to hangovers anyways.

Her hands came up to her face as her palms rubbed her red eyes and her fingers dug into her forehead. If a slight massage was all it took to deal with hangovers she would be very happy. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. With a heavy sigh she turned and swung her feet out of bed, putting them on the soft carpet of her floor, cold as it was. At least she still had her nightgown on. Rarity paused like that for a moment until the pounding in her head from moving went back to a steady throb and then stood up from her bed.

She made her way to the private master bathroom and the wonderfully spacious shower inside. Indoor plumbing was one of the most important things to her when she was looking to buy this place. It was very, very important to a lady like herself. And truthfully she felt everyone should be able to enjoy their own shower. It did wonders for the abused and downtrodden ladies here to be able to just relax and refresh themselves whenever they needed to.

Now of course the other showers weren’t quite as large and luxurious as hers but Rarity was a generous and helpful soul, no one was getting second-rate accommodations.

And with how her head was feeling she really needed these first-rate accommodations right now. Rarity got to her bathroom and immediately dropped the nightgown to the floor, shivering for a moment thanks to the cool air on her naked body. Unlike most of the showers in the manor, the master one was completely independent of the porcelain bathtub, you walked into it and hung the shower curtain closed behind you. If it was a different situation she’d actually prefer a long soak in the tub. But right now she needed the hot water of the shower pouring down on her head.

When she reached the shower dial she quickly turned it almost all the way over, making sure the water that would come out would be practically scalding soon. She wanted the shower nice and steamy. The extra hot water would even feel good on her skin and distract her from the pain in her head. It still took a second for it to heat up and she spent that time breathing heavily with a single hand plastered to her forehead and her eyes closed. She had had better mornings. Her hair probably looked like a terrible mess too, she didn’t even want to look in the mirror until well after she had finished showering.

Finally the water had gotten hot enough and Rarity stepped into the shower. She spent most of the shower just leaning against the wall, letting the water cascade down her body and drench her head. It felt good, probably the best she would feel all day. With her eyes closed she tried to focus on what she needed to do today and tried not to drift off into daydreaming.

After being sufficiently woken up and having spent enough time in the shower where the hot water was starting to make her numb and wrinkled, Rarity worked on her hair, taking a heavy comb through it while still in the shower to remove the knots. Once that was done she turned off the shower and took a few breaths, getting used to the painful pounding in her head as it redoubled once the hot water was gone. When she stepped out of the shower she quickly toweled herself done and walked to the bathroom sink.

Fighting the urge to vomit she steadied her breathing and grabbed a different brush to style her hair with. She needed to look good despite the pain and stress this was going to cause in her head. Rarity always had to look her best for everyone living here.

It hurt—fighting her hair—but she did managed to make herself look presentable. She was Rarity after all.

All that was left to do was get dressed now. Another event that would make her head pound with every movement but a necessary one nonetheless. She couldn’t go around in the nude. A deep purple dress that matched her hair ended up being her chosen outfit, along with a pair of black stockings and high-heels. She finished up with a pair of long black gloves that went up past her elbows and a golden necklace with a sapphire jewel in the center. Perfect.

She took a few deep breaths in the middle of her bedroom to get used to the feeling of being up and about while the nausea and pain in her head was still roiling about. The good news was that she had to deal with this plenty of times before. It wouldn’t be a good look to so clearly be hungover in front of everyone. Last thing to do before she left her room was to open up the drapes and adjust to the daylight.

Wanting to get it over with as quickly as possible she stood right in front of her largest window and threw the drapes open.

Immediately she was assaulted by pain and blinded by the light from outside. Groaning in discomfort she turned away as the throbbing in her head worsened substantially.

“Shit,” Rarity sharply spat out as she blinked a few times before turning back around and looking outside the window. “It’s later in the day than I thought...”

She looked at the grandfather clock on the far side of the room and saw that it was already past ten in the morning. She had missed breakfast and Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were most likely wondering where she was. Well, it was likely they already knew what was going on with her. Rarity had to rub her temples a few more times to get the headache back to its normal level of pain but soon she was ready to head out the door.

“I need a glass of water,” she frowned as she grasped the door handle. She tried not to look so upset, it would lead to wrinkles, but she couldn’t help it completely with the pain she was in. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes slightly narrowed as she left her bedroom and began her walk through the manor in search of her friends.

Her heels clicked against the hardwood floor, echoing through the hallway and making her head pound in response with each tap. As she turned to make it to the stairs she was rewarded with a pleasant sight.

Fluttershy was coming out of a room and her eyes lit up when she saw Rarity. “Oh, you’re awake!”

The voice was still quiet, as Fluttershy always was, but the volume still made Rarity wince. “Yes dear, good morning.”

Fluttershy immediately noticed her discomfort and sadly frowned at Rarity. “You’ve been drinking too much again.”

“Things keep happening in the world that drive me to it, darling,” Rarity put on a cynical smirk as she said that but Fluttershy’s look of disapproval quickly wiped it from her face. “Sorry, dear. It’s just, well, you know how it is.”

A more accepting smile and nod came from Fluttershy as she reached her arms out and gave Rarity a quick hug. “I know.”

“You’re just an angel dear, what would I do without you?” Rarity said as she returned the brief hug.

Fluttershy giggled. “You’d still have Pinkie Pie to lift your spirits.”

“And make every hangover far worse,” Rarity chuckled.

“Well, maybe.”

Rarity suddenly yawned and made a big stretch, despite the heavy throbbing that caused in her head, and brought a palm up to her temple. “Mm, darling I don’t know about you but I truly need a glass of water this morning. Would you care to accompany me to the dining room if you’re not busy?”

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” Fluttershy smiled and the two of them headed for the stairs.

Fluttershy was an almost shockingly tall and beautiful young woman, but still waverly thin and demure enough that she looked like a slight breeze would carry her away. The blue dress she wore went all the way down to her heels and covered up practically everything. She didn’t enjoy showing skin—which was a travesty in Rarity’s eyes but she let it slide. Even then it might have just made her allure more powerful than if she had been showing off. Still, Rarity promised to herself that one day she’d get Fluttershy in something with a low neckline and a slit up the side.

The two of them traipsed down the stairs to the first floor of the manor. Along the way a number of their less permanent guests greeted them, along with some of the servants. Rarity did her best to smile and look normal even as she felt like she had almost no energy in her body. She hoped she didn’t appear too lethargic or pale.

She really wanted to just sit down and hold her head in her hands right now though.

Of course the moment they walked into the dining room, Rarity was assaulted by a pink-haired girl practically jumping on and hugging her. “Wakey wakey, Rarity!”

“Unghhhh...” Rarity groaned as the throbbing in her head increased tenfold. “Pinkie Pie, please!”

“Oh my,” Fluttershy squeaked out. “Um, Pinkie, Rarity isn’t feeling too well at the moment...”

“That’s what the hug is for!” Pinkie Pie said and squeezed Rarity even tighter, starting to shake her around a bit too to “wake” her up even further.

“I think I might be getting sick...” Rarity nauseously said.

“Oops,” Pinkie Pie said as she let Rarity go. “Ohhhh, someone had a little too much wine last night again, didn’t they?” She said as she playfully elbowed Rarity in the ribs.

Rarity didn’t know how Pinkie Pie managed to be so silly and positive after everything that had happened in her life but she was a welcome fixture at their manor. For the most part. At the moment though, Rarity practically wanted to throttle her. Instead she managed to make it to the dining room table and sunk down in one of the seats, gripping her hair with her fingers and pressing on her skull to try and deal with the pain.

“I’ll get you a glass of water, just wait right here, Rarity.” Fluttershy said and lightly tiptoed out of the dining room.

Rarity yawned again as she left and Pinkie Pie took up a seat beside her. A purple eyebrow was raised as Rarity looked over at her friend. “You don’t have any other business, darling?”

“Not today,” Pinkie Pie smiled widely. “If your head’s hurting then the least grandma Pinkie Pie can do is watch over you!”

The loud exclamation caused Rarity to flinch as an all new shooting pain danced along her forehead. “I-I truly appreciate that...” She closed her eyes for a moment before slowly opening them back and dragging her fingers down her face. “Now I just hope that I don’t have any business today either.”

It wasn’t a sentiment that she liked to have but after her other recent failures and the pounding in her skull she just wanted to be able to relax today. She needed it. She deserved it. Tomorrow she could get back to trying to make things work. Send more letters to other philanthropists and investors, mayors and the like. Despite the wealth she possessed thanks to a rather fortunate family situation she was actually spread quite thin now thanks to all the spending she had done. Her personal accounts were running dangerously low and this wasn’t the kind of business that really generated money specifically for her. She needed donations and charity to keep things running into the future.

If it wasn’t for Sunny Flare people would be far more willing to help her…

Rarity sighed and pushed that thought out of her head. She was trying to get over her headache, not make it worse.

It was only a moment longer that Fluttershy came back with the glass of water for her. Rarity graciously thanked the angel for the drink and quickly downed it. After taking a few refreshing breaths of air, with her shoulders rising and falling, she smiled at both Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. “Not the most pleasant of mornings but as long as the two of you are here I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“Thank you, Rarity,” Fluttershy smiled and lightly rubbed her head. She seemed to know how to do it in a way that would ease the pain of her headache rather than make it worse.

“Aww, you don’t need to get all sugary on us! That’s my job!” Pinkie Pie said and wrapped her arm around Rarity’s neck, painfully pulling her in close. “Speaking of—who wants waffles?”

“Pinkie Pie, please...” Rarity groaned in her embrace.

It took some calming from Fluttershy but Rarity’s headache eventually went into a more manageable state. The three girls then enjoyed each other’s company for the remainder of the morning.

“Fluttershy, darling, have you had any word from your brother lately? I know he usually sends you letters and gifts,” Rarity asked her.

She shook her head but still kept a small smile on her face. “No, he’s probably in some trouble again or forgot, but I’m sure he’ll send me something soon. I wish he would visit though. I haven’t seen him in ages.”

Rarity slightly curled her lip at the idea. Fluttershy’s brother was a very… crass individual. Though she wasn’t going to say anything out loud. Still, considering the backgrounds of most of the women here she didn’t exactly want him as a visitor. Pinkie Pie’s family was a different matter. Despite Rarity wanting to meet them, Pinkie vehemently refused to have any letter sent to them. It was the one area the poor dear was completely serious in.

“Um, Lady Rarity?” A voice called from the entrance to the dining room.

The three looked over to see a young light-blue haired girl in a maid’s outfit fidgeting back at them. Miss Coco Pommel, a young and modest thing, her husband had sold her into prostitution to pay off his gambling debts. When she tried to refuse he beat her within an inch of her life.

“Yes, dear?” Rarity asked her. The headache throbbed painfully when she moved her head.

“Umm… there’s a visitor for you at the front door,” Coco stared down at the floor as she talked.

“A visitor? Unannounced? Who is it?” Rarity questioned as she stood up from the table, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie joining her. It was a rather odd event.

Coco just barely managed to look up to her to respond. “It’s… Governor Mare.”

Rarity frowned immediately and even Pinkie Pie looked slightly worried at the unexpected visit from the governor. That couldn’t possibly be good news. And it was made even worse by the fact that now she’d have to meet with her while hungover. That wouldn’t look good.

“I-I see,” Rarity tried to rub her forehead and think. “Would you, would you please take her to the west parlor? Tell her I’ll be with her in just a moment.”

“She brought law officers with her as well...”

Rarity frowned harder. “Ask her if they’d be willing to wait outside then. I don’t want some scary men with guns hanging around inside the manor where our guests might run into them. Some of them are practically on the run from the law themselves...”

“Yes, Lady Rarity,” Coco bowed and left the dining room to go back to the main entrance of the manor.

Fluttershy shot a worried look to Rarity. “What if she brought the lawmen for-”

“I’m sure she didn’t,” Rarity cut her off. “She wouldn’t do something like that so suddenly. Even with our… not entirely perfect relationship.” Rarity took a deep breath to steady herself. “I just need to take a quick visit to the powder room and then I’ll go talk to her. Pinkie Pie, would you please go help Miss Coco? See if Governor Mare would like anything to drink while she’s waiting.”

“Okey dokey lokey!” The pink-haired girl said and saluted with a smile before buzzing off right out of the dining room.

“I’m still worried, Rarity,” Fluttershy said.

“As am I, dear. I’m sure she’s here to complain about something or threaten me but I still can’t refuse her. Hopefully sensible heads will prevail and I’ll just be able to convince her to just leave us be. Or perhaps if fortune is truly smiling on me I’ll even be able to convince her to send some more money and help our way,” Rarity smiled, shooting Fluttershy a confident look.

Fluttershy giggled. “I’m not so sure about that but I do hope nothing bad happens.”

“If it comes down to it I’ll still do everything I can for you and the others here,” Rarity gave her a quick hug and a friendly peck on the cheek. “Now I need to freshen up a little and try to fight through this headache.”

Rarity entered the parlor to find Governor Mare sitting alone in a red velvet chair at a small table by the window. A second red velvet chair was placed by it and Rarity calmly stepped over to sit down as well. A single glass of tea, still steaming hot and untouched, was placed in front of the older woman. Governor Mare undoubtedly heard Rarity enter but she kept peering out the window into the gardens beyond.

With an even look on her face, Rarity took her seat and greeted the woman. “Governor.”

She looked over at her now through the glasses resting on her face, a frown settled over her features. “Rarity.”

“To what do I owe the… pleasure of this visit?” Rarity asked.

Governor Mare’s eyes narrowed slightly as she folded her arms. “You can drop any such formality, let’s be frank.”

“Fine then,” Rarity dropped any such pretense of hospitality and simply glared at the politician. “Why are you here?”

“A few recent crimes have been committed by Sunny Flare and the rest of the Shadowbolt Gang. Ones worse than what they even normally do,” Governor Mare told her.

“While that is truly terrible and heartbreaking I don’t see how it concerns me or why you would travel out here just to tell me about them. I’m sure I would’ve read about it in the newspaper at some point.”

“It concerns you in the same way it concerns me. Despite doing what I can the inability of me and every sheriff around Equestria to bring them to justice reflects poorly on me. Just as your role in their creation reflects poorly on you.”

Rarity’s fingers dug into the arms of her chair and she icily responded. “I had no role in their creation.”

“That’s not how many see it. Including myself,” the governor just as coldly responded.

“How dare you say that to me when I’ve been doing everything I can already to help victims of those ruffians and make up for-”

“For helping to get them started?”

“-for what they’ve done,” Rarity finished, an angry glare on her face that overpowered the painful headache pounding behind her forehead.

The two of them unflinchingly stared at each other for a minute after that. Both of them daring the other to blink first. Finally Governor Mare finally broke the staredown with a sigh and reached forward to pick up her cup of tea. It had cooled off a little and she took a single small sip of it before setting it back down.

“I suppose we’ll have to agree to disagree. Either way the people of Equestria aren’t happy and I have nothing to placate them with.”

Rarity uncomfortably shifted in her seat, unsure of where things were going but apprehensive as well. “Just why exactly did you come here? You didn’t really answer me.”

Governor Mare clasped her hands together and pointedly stared down at Rarity. “Rarity, the simple truth is that while under normal circumstances I would find what you’re doing admirable and would be happy to help you with what you need—because of Sunny Flare things are different. Do you have any idea all the trouble I’ve had because of this? How much worse things are now?”

“I know full well what things are like, Governor Mare. I hear about it all the time,” Rarity glowered. “It’s impacting my life and my goals quite a bit as well.”

“Not enough.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow at her and leaned back. “Excuse me?”

“I’m saying that if something isn’t done with the Shadowbolt Gang soon, something will have to be done with you instead,” the governor said.

Rarity shot out of her seat with a furious look on her face. “Are you insinuating that you would arrest me in place of Sunny Flare?! Would I be taken to the gallows instead to sate you?!”

“Calm down, Rarity. I’m not suggesting such a thing,” Governor Mare said as she took another sip of tea. “What I am suggesting is… compensation.”

Rarity still glared down at her while her head throbbed and her anger threatened to boil over. She was almost on the verge of outright throwing the governor out of the manor and telling her to never come back. But she managed to control herself and sat back down. “Meaning what?” She asked through gritted teeth.

“Meaning that you will be paying for the costs of everything the Shadowbolt Gang has done and everything they’ve stolen and needs rebuilding.”

“But I’m already doing that,” Rarity sniped. “I’ve set up numerous charities, started fundraisers, paid out of my own pocket, and done all I can to help those who have lost money or loved ones thanks to Sunny Flare.”

“Like I said, not enough,” Governor Mare coldly said right back.

A pit formed in Rarity’s stomach as the angry visage on her face gave way to a more fearful one. “What are you asking me to give?”

“Everything. Your assets will be seized, your accounts drained, your bonds and investments sold off. This manor and estate? Bought and sold off. And then I will very publicly announce that all the money gained from your personal wealth is going directly to rebuilding burned down homes, medical funds, replacement of property, and just general welfare of all those effected by the Shadowbolt Gang. The people will at the same time see you punished and see an influx of money used to help Equestria. It’s a win for everyone.”

Rarity shuddered in her seat as her nails dug claw marks into the chair. “You can’t do this.”

“I can and I will if nothing else is done about Sunny Flare and the rest. The people need a victory, even if it comes at your cost.”

“Do you have any idea how many others you’d be hurting? Do you even care? So many of the girls here would become homeless, abandoned, without my support! I’m already doing so much good for those hurt by Sunny Flare too! And I could do so much more with time!”

“Perhaps. In the long run perhaps you could do more good than this one time fix I’m planning would do. But we don’t have that much time, Rarity. The people are fed up with the way things are and they’re fed up with seeing a wealthy woman like yourself still being able to lead such a safe and carefree life.”

“Carefree? Carefree?! How dare you!” Rarity thundered at the governor.

Governor Mare still kept her cool. “You have to admit that the people, especially in the frontier, are not going to tolerate this for much longer without some sort of placating gesture.”

Rarity was about to shout at her again when she paused and a wicked thought went through her head. “You’re up for reelection next year.” She practically whispered out.

To her credit, the charge didn’t seem to phase Governor Mare at all. “You’re too cynical, Rarity. I’m doing this because it’s in the best interest for everyone.”

“I want you out. I want you to leave this instant. You can not come here and threaten me like this,” Rarity said with tears practically spilling from her eyes. She was only able to hold them back because she needed to appear strong. She was furiously angry and upset right now, the hangover was forgotten and she didn’t even care with how terrifying or unkempt she might look. “You are no longer welcome here, Governor Mare. You can either come here next time to throw me out or not come back at all.”

“I had no plans to do anything with you or your wealth today. Like I said, this is only what will happen if nothing else changes,” Governor Mare sighed and stood up from her chair. “Good day, Miss Rarity.”

Rarity said nothing else to her, merely glared at the older woman as she left the parlor.

When the door was shut, Rarity’s dam broke and she collapsed onto the small table, crying.

She had fallen asleep at some point after that. Neither Fluttershy nor Pinkie Pie wanted to wake her up. Though they didn’t know exactly what had happened between her and Governor Mare it was obvious that it hadn’t been anything good. When Rarity did finally wake up it was later in the afternoon and she allowed herself to recline in the chair, staring up at the ceiling.

A gentle knock on the door came and Coco Pommel entered the parlor. Though Rarity wasn’t paying attention enough to notice, Coco was even more flustered and nervous than she had been this morning when she announced the arrival of Governor Mare.

“Um… Lady Rarity?” Coco called out to her benefactor.

Rarity blinked and slowly turned her head to look at the shy young lady. Her response was sluggish and despondent but she managed to sit up a little straighter in her chair. “Yes, Coco dear? What is it?”

“We have a little problem out front… someone else has come by. A man. He says he knows his wife is here and he’s demanding to see her.”

The headache returned as Rarity lifted a hand up to her forehead. Why is all of this happening right now? This wasn’t the first time an angry husband had come in search of the wife who had left him but did it really have to happen the same day as Governor Mare’s visit. She didn’t need this kind of stress right now. These “guests” usually never left happy either.

“Who?” Rarity asked.

“Daffodil.”

Rarity frowned, her jaw clenching as a dark expression clouded her face. She knew Daffodil. She remembered when the dear had arrived here in the dead of night after traveling who knew how far just to escape her husband. The stories she had told were… unsettling.

“Take him to the west parlor and tell him I’ll be in to see him in a moment,” Rarity said to Coco.

“Um… he’s being very belligerent. I’m not sure he’ll listen and he’s scaring some of the others,” Coco fidgeted.

“Then just try to hold him at the front door, I need to get my special purse and then I’ll be right there,” Rarity said as she stood up from her chair and went to leave the room.

She had to walk at a brisk pace with her heels clicking along the hardwood floor of the manor, as she walked down one hallway she could hear the disturbance from the manor’s entryway. It wouldn’t be good for that ruffian, whatever his name might be, to make a scene for much longer. Even if it wasn’t Daffodil many of the women here were scarred from similar experiences. Rarity hoped Coco would be able to persuade him to at least calm down for the moment and go into the parlor on the opposite side of the manor. First she needed to grab something before she met with him. Just in case she needed it.

Briskly making it back to her room she went over to her vanity table and opened up the drawer in the middle of it. Inside, shoved to the back, was a purple velvet purse without any strings. Rather inconspicuous all in all, but she grabbed it in a hurry and left the room in a huff. Her mood was rather negative even before she knew she’d have to confront an angry husband. Rarity knew her face would look far more unpleasant than she tried to keep it for the ladies of the manor. Things had just gotten worse and worse as the day went by and it had started on a bad enough note already with her hangover.

Her lips were pursed in a thin line as she marched back downstairs. Things had gotten a little quieter and she saw Coco, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie all waiting for her at the first floor landing.

“Did you get him to calm down and go to the parlor?” Rarity asked Coco.

She nodded swiftly. “Yes, but he’s still very mad.”

Rarity sighed. “Of course he is, I’ll go and talk to him now.”

“Um, Rarity? Do you really want to do that?” Fluttershy asked. “Especially alone, let me and Pinkie Pie come with you.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah!” Pinkie Pie strongly nodded along to Fluttershy’s words. “That guy is bad news, I got a sense for that, and you’ve done enough today. Let Pinks and Flutters take care of this for you.”

“I appreciate your concern and your offers to help darlings but no. This is my business and I’m the one who needs to deal with visitors such as these,” Rarity said, putting up a hand to stop any further protests.

She took a deep breath and steadily walked down the hallway to the west parlor. Despite their quiet acquiescence, the three others were following along behind her and would probably wait right outside the door if not just leaning straight up against it. Rarity didn’t mind that. In fact she had to fight to keep a smile off her face, knowing her friends were going to be supporting her like that. Right now wasn’t the time for smiles though, she had to keep a serious veneer up for this person she was about to deal with. Although if Daffodil’s stories were even half-true “person” was being rather generous.

Rarity pulled open the door to the west parlor and stepped inside. It was practically a mirror of the one on the eastern side of the house. Her guest wasn’t sitting by the window like Governor Mare had been though but was instead on one of the two couches placed around a coffee table in the middle of the room. He was agitatedly tapping his arm while his dirty boots rested on the coffee table. She had half a mind to snap at him just for that but she managed to control herself. Instead she strutted over to the couch opposite him and took a seat while placing her purse in her lap. It almost felt like a joke that she had to redo the same kind of horrendous meeting she had had earlier.

He had been watching her the moment she had come in, his eyes were bloodshot and the stubble of a day showed itself on his chin. He was rather burly as well, Rarity wouldn’t be surprised if he could just toss Daffodil around. It looked like he was holding back from immediately yelling at her when she came in but he had to bite his tongue for it. Rarity didn’t think they would get more than one or two sentences in before he was violently shouting and threatening her. However, as the Lady of this estate and an esteemed socialite and philanthropist, she would be as polite as she possibly could be to start with.

“Hello, Mr.-?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Moonshine,” he gruffly responded and narrowed his eyes at her. “So you’re that Rarity lady? I’ve heard about you and what all this is.” He gestured flippantly up to the ceiling. “Now where’s my wife? Where’s Daffodil? You bring her to me right now.”

He punctuated his demand by kicking his feet off the coffee table and roughly tapping a finger down on it.

She frowned. “Daffodil has told us that she doesn’t want to see you. She told us that on the first day she arrived here that she never wanted to see you again. And even if she hadn’t I wouldn’t listen to your request.”

“You don’t have any right to say that to me! She’s my wife! Now get her out here!” He shouted, standing up from the couch and pointing his finger at her.

He blew his stack faster than even Rarity had expected. She managed to stay calm though and didn’t show any fear as she glared right back up at him. “Sit down, Mr. Moonshine. Or I will simply ask you to leave this place. Whether you like it or not, Daffodil has no desire to see you and even less of a desire to return home with you. She is under my care now. You do not have the right to demand anything involving her. Do you understand?”

“Bitch! Don’t fuck around with me! I came all the way from Vanhoover to get her back and I’m not leaving until you bring out Daffodil from wherever the cunt’s hiding and hand her over, you got that?!” Moonshine kicked over the coffee table so it almost smacked into Rarity’s legs.

“Mr. Moonshine-” Rarity calmly answered. “In a very brief amount of time you have you proven yourself to be quite unreasonable and unlikable. I don’t care if Daffodil is your wife. I don’t care if you are still legally married. This place exists to help women in need, and that is what I do. The answer is no.”

Unfortunately he wasn’t about to give up so easily. Moonshine reached into his pocket and pulled out a switchblade, flicking the blade up and holding it out to the still seated Rarity. “Where’s. My. Wife?”

But Rarity was undaunted. “Put your knife away and leave. This is your last warning. I will not let you harm anyone here. Leave now and don’t come back.”

“I’ll do even worse to you than what I’ve done to her if you don’t get up and go bring her to me!” Moonshine shouted.

That was the last straw, Rarity unclasped the opening to her special purse and reached inside, pulling out a small pocket pistol and leveling it at him. She was done with being nice. Today was not a day for nice. “Drop the knife and leave or I’ll shoot you here and now.”

Moonshine backed away from her, accidentally falling back onto the couch when the back of his knees hit the cushions since he had nowhere else to go. He dropped the switchblade and held up his hands in surrender, a look of fear passing over his face. “P-Please, don’t shoot!”

“I’m sure Daffodil said “please” to you many time, didn’t she? “Please! Don’t hit me!”, “Please, I’m sorry!”. Did you ever listen to her?” Rarity’s stare was like ice, matching her voice.

“L-Look, I-”

“I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to see you again. I have half a mind to just shoot you right now to make sure you don’t come back and bother Daffodil or anyone else here,” Rarity said. “But I am not scum like you and I don’t wish to kill anyone either. But I will.” Rarity stood up and pointed the gun right at his face. “Do you hear me? Do you understand that I will do anything to protect the girls here? Anything. So you had best not come back here, I will be notifying the local authorities about you as well, I’m quite friendly with some of them. If you’re seen anywhere even close to my home again you’ll be looking forward to a jail cell. Now get out of my sight.”

Moonshine quickly nodded, keeping his hands up as he got up off the couch and made for the door. Rarity kept her gun on him until he left the parlor, when she put it away and walked over to watch him leave down the hallway to the front door. As she had suspected, Coco, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie had been right outside the parlor and Coco followed Moonshine to make sure he left for real. Leaving a frowning Rarity alone with her two friends.

“Weeelll, at least he’s gone?” Pinkie Pie shrugged.

“I could hear his shouting...” Fluttershy wrung a seam in her dress.

“It’s fine now, I don’t think he’ll be bothering us or Daffodil again,” Rarity said. “I only wish he didn’t come by in the first place at all.”

“I’m sorry, Rarity,” Fluttershy said, putting her arms round her shoulders. “It’s been a rough day.”

“But that’s what friends are for!” Pinkie Pie smiled and joined in on the hug.

“Thank you, both of you, if I didn’t have you to support me I don’t know what I would do.” Rarity smiled back, letting the warm hug from her friends calm her down. “There’s so much to be done and we’re really in a lot of trouble now but… I have a feeling things will work out, somehow. They just have to.”