The landscape swept by as the train moved through the countryside. A landscape of hills, trees, and plants as far as the eye could see. Berry Punch tried not to fidget in her seat. When they had originally planned this, she felt more secure in the decision. Doubts creeped into her brain the moment she couldn’t take her decision back. The train was already headed to Manehattan. The tickets were bought.

She idly wondered if she could jump out the window. Seeing how fast the ground raced by didn’t support that option.

“Hey, I’m back! They didn’t have any tea, so I settled for some hot chocolate.” Roseluck set a cup by Berry Punch before she took a seat across from her. Roseluck. One of the reasons I’m here. Some part of her confidence rested on Roseluck’s presence.

She took a sip from the cup. True to the name, the beverage was hot. Berry Punch painfully swallowed the scalding chocolate, and placed the cup back down. Maybe let that cool first.

Roseluck blew over the surface of her drink while she tested it every once in a while.

“I’ve never been to a coastal city before. What’s it like?”

“What cities have you been to?” Berry Punch figured it would be easier to compare with something similar to build off of.

“Oh, um, Canterlot.” Roseluck rubbed the back of her head. “That’s it really.”

“Okay, well imagine if Canterlot had an ocean on one or more of its edges. And large, noisy dockyards out to sea filled with ships.” Berry Punch circled her right hoof as she brought back more memories. “The breeze near the ocean is salty and cool. If it hasn’t rained, the sand feels nice under the hoof. Soft and malleable. The inner city is not too loud, but definitely noisy during the day. Things quiet down at night through to the early morning.”

Berry Punch looked at the window towards the horizon.

“Especially nights on the beach. It was a nice place to gather my thoughts.”

“It sounds nice.”

Berry Punch started, she had almost forgotten Roseluck was there.

“Lost in thought?” Roseluck asked.

“Yeah, I guess I stirred up some memories thinking about home.”

Roseluck smiled. “Good thoughts hopefully?”

Berry Punch mirrored her smile. “Yes.” It’s nice to get my mind off of meeting them again. She still felt nervous. It was hard to tell how someone felt through words on a page without their expression, and their voice. Everything so far seemed positive, but she couldn’t trust that. Things never go exactly how they were supposed to after all.

She took a sip from the cup. The chocolate was still hot, but no longer lava at least. She savored the taste. I need to thank Roseluck for this. I didn’t even catch the hot chocolate when I got on the train. A thought occurred to her.

“I’ll be right back.”

Roseluck gave her a questioning look.

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

“Oh, okay.” She took a sip of her hot chocolate and hummed to herself.

Berry Punch made her way to the drink stand. A mare stood behind the stand, idly swinging a watch on a chain. The watch slipped out of her grip and hit the ground.

“Darn it! I thought I had it that time.”

“Excuse me,” Berry Punch said.

The mare perked up. “Finally! A customer. I was losing my marbles standing here. Such a slow day today.” She took on a more professional air. “What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if you sold hot chocolate?”

The mare shook her head. “Not yet.” She rolled her eyes. “Still hasn’t been ordered yet. Should be here in a couple weeks, last I heard. Sorry. Although, if you had the materials I could make some anyway.” She winked. “Technically, I’m not supposed to, but eh. I had a mare earlier who had the stuff to make it. So if you have the same I can whip some up.”

“She brought everytime to make it?”

“Yeah! Usually customers don’t have them, but she was prepared when I said no. I was going through my whole spiel when she plonked the materials on the counter. Apparently, her friend’s on a stressful trip home and she wanted to cheer her up.” She smiled. “Whoever they are, they’re lucky.”

She cleared her throat.

“Anyway, enough gabbing from me. Did you want anything else?”

“No, thank you anyway.”

“Not a problem, if you ever have a hankering for anything else here swing by my stand.”

Berry Punch made her way back to her seat.

“Thank you.”

Roseluck looked over in confusion.

“I never said thank you for the hot chocolate,” Berry Punch explained. Or the effort you put in for me.

Roseluck smiled.

“Not a problem. We’re friends after all.” Roseluck went back to gazing out the window.

She looked up at the mare. Her eyes jumped from the various flowers as the fields raced by. Berry Punch could see her mouth out names at the ones she knew. Poppy. Violets. Roses. Berry Punch didn’t know what to think. Roseluck’s thoughtfulness left her with a feeling she couldn’t articulate.

Her thoughts on the matter came to a close when the silhouette of Manehattan came into view. She took a second to calm herself down.

Roseluck noticed the effort and reached over to her hoof. Her smile was comforting.

“It’s alright. Remember, you got this. It’s not as hard as your head wants you to think it is.”

Berry Punch nodded. With one final exhale she got up with Roseluck and left the train.

She was met with the busy hub of activity she remembered. Voices shouted and talked all around her. They were either getting work done or shouting a passing ‘hello’. A rush of ponies busy on various errands and jobs dodging past each other to get things done. Tall skyscrapers and multi-level apartment buildings dominated the skyline, while at ground level shops and restaurants lined the streets. While she certainly preferred the quiet of Ponyville, Manehatten had its own charm not the least being it was home. Berry Punch sighed contentedly.

“Enjoying being home?” Roseluck asked.

“So far, yes.” That and I have some time to kill before I see my parents. “You remember the plan, right?”

Roseluck nodded. “Yep! Ready to show me around? I know your parents won’t be off until later in the evening. We're going to the park first, right?”

“Yes, it's a bit of a walk, but it's worth it.” Berry Punch took the lead. She led Roseluck through the ocean of ponies, her old crowd navigation skills helped her weave them through the dense crowd.

Suddenly the crowd gave way to a more open woodland. Brick paths wound through the trees and deeper into the shaded forest.

Roseluck looked around in surprise.

“You know, when you said park, I didn't expect the Everfree forest.” As the two walked through the woods Berry Punch noticed Roseluck’s expression take on a more somber note.

“Lily would’ve loved this place,” Roseluck whispered, almost to herself. Berry Punch barely managed to hear the words. The unexpected topic tilted Berry Punch into unexplored territory. Maybe I can help too? She was uncertain, but determined.

“We can leave if you want. I know this was part of the plan, but we don’t have to be here if it makes you uncomfortable.” Berry Punch hesitated. “Or… you can talk about it with me.” The words almost dragged as they tumbled out of her mouth. Why can’t I ever ask things normally? Before she could beat herself up about it she spotted a small smile on Roseluck’s face.

“I’m fine. It’s just the small things you remember about ponies when they're no longer around, you know? She always liked exploring new places. Especially new forests.” Roseluck shook her head. “I told you she had a talent for making ponies smile, but I don’t think they noticed it never reached her eyes.”

Roseluck veered off the path and into the forest. Berry Punch turned to follow her. The two walked in silence. She could tell Roseluck was gathering her thoughts, so she didn’t say anything.

“I shouldn’t focus on the negatives, but I can’t help wondering if I did something wrong. If I could have said something or listened better.” Roseluck stopped and exclaimed a lone flower. “She always wanted to travel and explore, but she wanted somepony to go with her. Sure, lots of ponies liked her, but none of them knew her. I think she felt trapped.”

“I could have gone. I wasn’t interested in the same way as her, but I could have gone anyway.” Roseluck sagged. “I think about what I could have done better, but I can’t find the answer. I can’t turn back time either. But…”

Berry Punch had maintained her distance. There was a small space between the two while they were sitting down. Berry Punch leaned closer, interested in what she wanted to say.

“Yes?”

Roseluck turned to Berry Punch.

“I can try to do better next time, so the same thing doesn’t happen again.”

Roseluck unexpectedly booped Berry Punch on the nose. She scrunched up her face in surprise, and Roseluck laughed.

“You look cute like that.” A sincere smile crossed her face. “Thanks for listening. It meant a lot.” Roseluck looked around the forest. “We’re going to the beach next, right?”

Berry Punch shook herself out of her stupor.

“Um, yes.” She nodded her head. “Yes, I’ll lead the way.”

Berry Punch made her way through the crowds, and made sure Roseluck didn’t get lost in ponies jostling to get around. The crowds gave way as Berry Punch navigated to a lesser used part of the beach. Roseluck’s pace slowed as she took in the vastness of the body of water before her. Berry Punch watched the awe on her face with a smile. Exactly the effect I wanted.

She felt a little proud she could give something back to Roseluck after everything the mare had done for her. Watching her brought back that strange feeling again. The once she couldn’t pin down, but it made her feel nice. She cherished the way it made her feel. So much so she decided to show Roseluck something spur of the moment.

“Hey, I want to show you something.” Berry Punch pushed away her safe guards in her mind. She could trust Roseluck. She led her down beach to what looked like a rocky cliff. Berry Punch found the entrance almost immediately. A gap in the rocks hidden by a large boulder.

Roseluck looked after questioningly, but Berry Punch only gestured at her to follow.

The two entered a small cove. The sand gave way to smooth, round, glass rocks. The sun shone down into the hidden space and reflected off of the stones in multicolored hues.

Roseluck looked around the small cove in fascination.

“This is what you wanted to show me?”

“Kind of. It was a spur of the moment thing. I used to come down her for inspiration or use it as a quiet place to unwind.” Berry Punch picked up one of the rose colored rocks. “I still try to recreate this place in my head when things get too stressful”

“I’m glad you shared this with me. It’s beautiful.”

The two mares looked over the horizon with only the noises of the lapping waves as ambience. The quiet was comfortable. Berry Punch didn’t feel the need to break it. Just being here with her was enough.

She thought about how much things had changed. She didn’t think she would ever have made her without either Roseluck or Minuette. Without them, her parents' letter might have been another forgotten piece of paper, thrown away along with the rest. She would still be stuck in her room. Alive but not living, not experiencing.

Despite the positive sentiment, doubt still stalked the back of her mind. Telling her parents, and also Roseluck, what had happened was going to be hard. She might not get everything out at first. To be truthful she didn’t want to delve back into the depths of those memories. It hurt too much. Maybe it would be best to leave before she hurt them too.

The thought left her wondering. What would Roseluck think if I left now? And my parents? Telling them I was on the way only to never arrive? Would I be any better running from the problem? The swirl of questions made her head hurt, but brought with it clarity. She could leave or go forwards. Either option had no turn back signs planted in front of them. She took a deep breath.

“Roseluck, I think it’s time I see my parents.”

The early evening sun shined down from the sky as the two made their way to her parents’ shop. The rush of ponies had only increased and Berry Punch had difficulty leading herself and Roseluck through the crowds. She had managed to pull Roseluck out of a particularly busy area, and onto the front of a quaint corner store. ‘Berry & Cake’s Confections & Wine’, the sign was stylized text over an image of a cake with a bottle of wine sitting off to the side.

Berry Punch hesitated at the entrance. Should I really be doing this? It’d be easier to just not. Berry Punch looked over at Roseluck who smiled encouragingly at her. I can’t disappoint her. Reluctant, but determined, she pushed open the door and entered the shop. A bell rung above them and a voice rang out from somewhere behind the counter.

“Be with you in a moment!” A mare called out to them, not looking their way. Her coloration was similar to Berry Punch’s, but lighter. Her mane parted and wrapped around both her ears before coming down into a ponytail at the back.

A combination of sweet and bitter smells entered Berry Punch’s nose. The shop itself had only a few customers picking up completed orders for the day. Berry Punch anxiously waited in line until she and Roseluck arrived at the counter.

“Hello, please tell me your order number—” the mare stopped as she looked at Berry Punch. “Is that you, Berry Punch?” Berry Punch did her best not to look at the floor.

“Yes. Hi, Mom.” A wide smile crossed the mare’s face.

“Well, I was expecting you a little later. Your letter said late evening. This a pleasant surprise.” She turned to the back of the store. “Foster Cake! Our daughter’s out here.” She turned back to face Berry Punch. “How have things been, sweetie?”

“Good, more or less,” Berry Punch replied. Not entirely a lie.

“Oh, and who is this?” The mare turned to Roseluck.

“I’m Roseluck.” Roseluck nudged Berry Punch. “She asked me to come along.”

“Nice to meet you, Roseluck, I’m Juniper Berry.”

“And I’m Foster Cake.” A dull purple stallion appeared from the back area, he had specks of icing on his face and mane. His mane and tail resembled Berry Punch’s except in color, his being a light silver. “Hi there, Berry Punch. Were you waiting in line? You know you could’ve called at any time.”

“I just wanted to wait for the last orders to be picked up.”

“Oh, you’d be fine. Nothing big happening today.” Foster Cake took a handkerchief and wiped the icing off his face. “In fact, we’re wrapping up early today just for you. Turns out you came in earlier than expected though.” He chuckled. “Not at all a bad thing, very much the opposite.”

“You ready to head home, dear?” Juniper Berry asked.

“All good to go.” Foster Cake’s stomach growled. “On second thought, if you don’t mind we could make a stop for some food. ‘Sides, I’m sure these two are hungry too.”

Juniper Berry nodded.

“Eating out for dinner sounds nice.” Juniper Berry put a hoof to her chin as she thought. “How about that salad place a couple of blocks over. It’s new, we both haven’t been there. Might as well try it out.”

The group left the shop and headed out into the streets.

The restaurant was a few blocks down the street, decorated in a fancy style. With gold etching on the glass displaying the restaurant’s name. They were greeted as they entered and were led over to a booth.

Everypony settled into the booth, and gave their orders. The atmosphere was jazzy and upbeat with a live band playing in the corner of the room. Light greens and blues accented the walls, and painted murals of crop fields and other scenes of nature were centered on the walls. Rounded crystal lights centered above each table, providing a warm orange glow. The booth they were given had a window with a view of the street.

“So, did you meet Roseluck in college?”

“No.”

The suddenness of the reply took her mother by surprise, and she looked over at Berry Punch in concern. The tension at the table increased as Berry Punch was lost in thought.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that.” Berry Punch shook herself out of her memories. “Just nothing about college please? For now at least I’ll explain more at your house.” Both her parents nodded wordlessly, but their expressions betrayed their worry. “Anyway, it would be more fair to say Roseluck met me. I don’t really get out much.”

“I thought you liked walks?” Foster Cake raised an eyebrow. “You were always scampering around somewhere in the city. Looking for new places to draw.”

“I have a… difficult time walking around town.”

Roseluck eyed her curiously.

“I walk we you sometimes. You seemed to enjoy those.”

“Well, not our walks,” Berry Punch corrected. “Just walks by myself. I do like our walks.” She sheepishly rubbed the back of her head.

“Really?” Juniper Berry had a knowing look in her eye. “That’s an interesting response. You know, I haven’t seen you like this since that time back in high school. What was that mare’s name?” Foster Cake seemed ready to offer a name, but Berry Punch reached across the table a put a hoof over his muzzle.

“She—I mean. That was different!” Berry Punch was blushing fiercely. This is not how I thought this would go. I don’t need Roseluck hearing about any of that. “Can we change the subject? How have you guys been?” Berry Punch leaned back into her seat, staring at her father as if daring him to talk. He only smiled innocently back at her.

“Business is steady, not much to say, except—” Foster Cake clicked his tongue. “There was that rude pony. Rude beyond belief. Some rich big shot from Canterlot.” He rolled his eyes. “Self important puffed up balloon is what he was. Anyway.”

The story continued even as the food arrived.

“He thought the wine was ‘below his standards for consumption’ or something like that. Well, Juniper here took offense to that since she followed all his instructions to the letter.” Juniper Berry cut in.

“You're right I did, but you put it too kindly. I told him where he could find wine to his standards well enough, just as politely as he had been to me.” Foster Cake laughed.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen your mother that mad at somepony before. Some of the words she used would’ve made a sailor blush. He made a whole blustering speech at how we were going to get shut down, and his family was going to personally ensure it would happen. Blah, blah, blah. He left in a huff, and we’ve heard not heads or tail of him since.”

By the time the story wrapped up the food was gone and the group cleaned up and headed out of the restaurant. The early evening sun cast shadows on the grounds as they headed to her parents’ home.

“Roseluck, what do you do for a living?” Juniper Berry asked.

“I sell flowers of all types, or at least as many as I can cultivate,” Roseluck explained. “My parents maintain the shop the majority of the time. I help out any day I can. I also grow some exotic plants in my own garden.”

“Foster here tried to grow some flowers.” Juniper Berry laughed. “No matter how hard we tried, they kept dying.”

“We gave it a shot at least, that’s something.” Foster Cake pecked his wife on the cheek. “’Sides, flowers grew on their own didn’t they?”

“Weeds more like, but at least they don’t look bad.” Juniper Berry smiled. “Here we are.”

Juniper Berry led them up to the front of a small building resting wall to wall with other similar buildings. The only differences were in the color of paint and decorations. Her parent’s house was colored a light blue with painted flowers and other fauna at the base of the house. I nearly forgot I painted those. I remember asking them to clean it off a couple times during high school, but they never relented. Berry Punch smiled. Glad they didn’t now.

They entered the house and settled in the living room.

“The last letter you sent was about, hmm…” Foster Cake tapped his hoof while he thought back, “Ah, four or so years ago, I think? I’ve been worried about you, but your mother assured me you just needed time. Well, here I am proven wrong and pleased as punch to see you.” Her dad winked. Berry Punch pretended to look annoyed, but smiled after a moment.

“I worried too, dear,” Juniper Berry said, “but I knew our daughter could find her own path.” Her mother smiled warmly. “How has the painting been? I know you’ve only gotten better over the years.”

I knew this question was coming. Take a breath. And I know where it’s going to go. She shoved her doubts off a cliff and spoke.

“I haven’t painted anything in a while.” The admission brought surprise to both her parents faces. She expected the next words out of their mouths.

“Why? You won an award during your last year of high school. You still have it don’t you?”

“Um… somewhere I think,” Berry Punch said. I threw it away, just seemed like a paperweight. Berry Punch suddenly remembered the other reason why she decided to visit. She dug through her saddlebags and took out a damaged wooden sculpture. Please don’t be mad. “Can you fix this?” Berry Punch hesitantly placed the object on the table.

Foster Cake slid the sculpture over and examined it, “With some glue I could, but I have a better idea. One that’ll be a surprise for when you leave.” Foster Cake smiled to himself as he slipped the sculpture into his saddlebags.

Berry Punch wondered what he meant, but by the look on his face he wouldn’t tell her. She decided to tuck away her curiosity for the moment since her mother seemed keen on returning to the subject of her not painting.

“Is there a reason you stopped?” The concern in her mother’s eyes said it all. Painting used to be her favorite past time.

“Yes. I met somepony. I thought they were a good pony at first. They gave a lot of advice and tips to improve my painting.” Berry Punch bit her lip. This is it. No turning back. “I guess I should start at the beginning.”

“College was going well at first. I was having trouble adjusting to the workload though. Then…” Berry Punch held herself back. A vice clamped down on her voice box. Mentioning her by name was hard enough mentally, much less out loud. With effort she dredged up Her name and spat it out. “Then I met Paint Spots. At first she helped me organize my schedule and find my way through some of the more difficult classes. It might’ve stayed that way too, but I was struggling to pay the rent on an apartment. I mentioned it to her and she suggested moving in with her.”

Berry Punch paused.

“She said she had an extra space I could use, since her previous roommate moved out.” So gullible. Just latched on to the first pony you could, huh? What’s to say Roseluck isn’t the same? She looked over at the mare in question. Roseluck’s eyes held nothing but support and a twinge of concern. She shook her thoughts away. “So I moved in. She slowly changed—no, she slowly showed who she was to me. It wasn’t pleasant, but I excused it. I thought she—I thought…” She looked down at the floor. I thought she cared. “I thought we were… friends.”

She felt a comforting hoof on her withers. A glance revealed Roseluck’s supportive smile. She nodded in thanks before she took a breath. Here goes the hard part. Then she continued.

“She would be nice than mean. Then apologize only to do it again. I wasn’t allowed to talk to her friends. It was isolating. I started to wonder if she meant what she said.” She opened her mouth to speak, but an echo of a voice dredged from her memories stopped her.

‘I know better for you. You know it, and so do I. Where would you be without me? What would you be?’

‘I-I don’t know.’

‘Exactly. I do this because I love you. Don’t you know that?’

She pushed down the memory.

“I didn’t feel in control. I knew next to nothing about her, but she knew so much about me. I couldn’t understand how somepony could talk so much, but give so little. I finally met my breaking point when she…” Goddess dammit Berry Punch just say it! Why is it so hard? Her head was spiraling back to the worst day of her life. She didn’t want to relive it. She didn’t want to retell it. She wanted no memory at all. Her brain stubbornly dragged her back and forced her to watch it all again.

“She hurt me.” The words felt both cathartic and regretful the moment they left her control. Despite the vagueness of the statement, the reaction from the other ponies in the room was immediate.

She felt herself wrapped in a triple hug from the three. She didn’t know how to respond to the sudden gesture of love and comfort. Berry Punch mentally pulled back her restraint and let herself cry. She let herself be held by those who did care for her and she cried.

After a moment she managed to pull herself together and breathe again.

“Thank you. All of you. Thank you.”

“Always, sweetie, I hope you never have to feel like that again.” Her dad held her gaze. “If you do, please reach out. Don’t shut us out like last time, okay? Promise?” Her mother echoed the same sentiment.

Berry Punch nodded.

“I promise.”

“Remember, I’m always next door,” Roseluck affirmed. “If you ever need to talk, I’m there. Minuette too, I’m sure.”

She embraced the three as best as she could. There was nothing she could say to express how comforted she felt. After a beat the hug broke apart. She knew this conversation wasn’t over yet, but she felt drained. The day had been long and she needed sleep. She could tell by her mother’s look she wanted to know more. This wasn’t over, just a temporary pause while she recuperated.

“I think I need to go to bed.”

Her mother looked at the clock. The time read ten seventeen.

“You’re right on that. We can continue this tomorrow.” Her mother smiled warmly. “We have some extra cots in your old room.” Before Berry Punch could ask what happened to her bed her mother continued, “Your bed was taken apart and stored away. We needed the space in there to store all your stuff. Otherwise your room is mostly untouched.”

Her parents led the way to her room and helped set everything up. Two cots with spare blankets and pillows. With everything set up, her parents retired to their own room.

Berry Punch settled into her cot as best as she could. Sleep was elusive, something was bugging her.

“Hey, Berry Punch?” She guessed Roseluck felt the same.

She turned in the general direction of Roseluck. She could see her general outline in the moonlight on the other cot.

“Yes?”

“Out there you said she hurt you. I…” Roseluck paused, “I was wondering how exactly? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Berry Punch bit her lip. Her worry and paranoia stirred up to full force. This was the question she had stressed about since she said those words. Clarifying made the event feel more real. The same emotions stirred up. She was trapped again. Alone again with Her. Until the moon lit Roseluck’s gentle green eyes. She could see trepidation, and concern mixed in them.

Her heart rate calmed. She took her breaths easier. This wasn’t Paint Spots. I’m safe here. I’m safe with her. There was a long pause as she pulled out the letters to spell out clearly what happened.

“She hit me.”

Roseluck sat up.

“She…?” Roseluck’s expression of shock was only matched by her anger. “I… could you sit up?”

The question took her by surprise. Berry Punch slowly got up only to be met with a sudden hug. This felt different from the group hug out in the living room. More intimate and personal.

Berry Punch returned the gesture. The two sat quietly like this for a while. Roseluck being a shoulder Berry Punch could lean on while she quietly cried.

“I don’t know how I’m going to tell them.”

“I’ll be there for you. Take your time. Find your words. I’ll be there.”

She hugged her tighter.

“What would I do without you?” The words slipped out unintentionally. Her lack of control over herself surprised her. Why did I say that? Her anxiety surged. I shouldn’t have said that. I should—

“You’d find a way. You’re stronger than you think. Don’t let your brain tell you otherwise.”

Berry Punch took the words and wrapped them around her heart. They meant the world to her. Even if Roseluck couldn’t see it. Once the separated Berry Punch could sleep easier, even if a funny feeling wormed around her chest as she slipped into happy dreams.

Berry Punch pushed herself off the cot. She couldn’t sleep, something was bugging her. Roseluck was soundly asleep on the other cot, with a bit of drool coming out of her mouth. Berry Punch couldn’t help but smile at the scene. It was a strange feeling, but she couldn’t let herself indulge in it. Or maybe she could. Her thoughts were confused. Between her conversation with her parents and Roseluck she needed a drink. Maybe that would clear everything up.

As she entered the living room she spotted her mother with a cup of coffee on the couch.

“Going out?”

Berry Punch nodded. “I saw a cafe on the way here, and I wanted to try it out this morning.” She hoped her mother didn’t see through the lie. “I’ll be back soon, could you tell Roseluck where I went?”

Juniper nodded. “Of course, could you tell me which one? There’s quite a few.”

Berry Punch relayed the name of the cafe and the basic instructions of how to get there. A question struck her after she was done.

“Where’s Dad?”

Juniper smiled. “He’s working on something for you. It’s a secret.”

Berry Punch could tell her mother wouldn’t budge on giving an answer, so she said her goodbyes with another affirmation about coming back soon.

Quietly she exited the house and headed down the street in the early morning light. She decided on the bar across from the cafe she and Roseluck passed yesterday.

She pushed into the sleepy establishment. The mare behind the bar looked up in surprise.

“This early, huh?”

“Just something light, please.” Better then starting with the heavier stuff.

The mare shook her head and went to work. Soon Berry Punch had a small glass of alcohol. While she idly sipped she mulled over the events of yesterday. Things had gone well. Better than she expected. A part of her chastised the lack of awareness on her part, but she pushed it away. I don’t need to suspect everypony I meet. The thought was a comfort ripped away by the sound of somepony sitting right next to her.

“Just water.”

Berry Punch froze. She knew that voice anywhere. She could almost feel Her gaze on her.

“Hey, Berry Punch.” The mare placed a hoof on Berry Punch’s withers while the other moved her head up. The smile on Paint Spots’ face was the same as she remembered, and just as non-genuine. “There you are.” She moved her hoof away from Berry Punch’s chin. “Long time no see. How’s it been?”

Author's Note

Okay, took forever to write this chapter. The last parts of it were written in the hospital since appendicitis decided to make itself a problem. Still recovering, but I hope this chapter meets expectations. There may be more grammar mistakes than usual due to the unideal circumstances I'm writing in, i.e., a hospital bed. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Leave any thoughts and/or corrections down in the comments.