Roseluck knocked on the door. She hadn't said a word on the way there. Berry Punch had a feeling she wasn't looking forward to the conversation either.

Minuette pulled open the door.

"Oh, hey! You're back. How'd it go?"

"Can we talk about something?" Roseluck's tone was neutral.

"Um, sure." Minuette, more than a little confused, led them to the living room.

They must have interrupted one of Minuette's projects since wooden parts were scattered all over the center table with a half-assembled clock in the middle of the mess.

"Sorry, here let me clear this off." The parts flew through the air towards a workbench in the corner of the room. With the table clear, Roseluck and and Berry Punch sat on one couch while Minuette sat across from them.

Berry Punch waited for Roseluck to start the conversation. She knows her better than I do. Roseluck seemed to be thinking about how to approach the situation. Minuette started to tap one of her hooves.

"Roseluck, what's this about?"

"Do you know who Paint Spots is?" The question cut right to the heart of the matter.

Minuette started.

"Yes... we're pen-pals. How did you know--?"

"We met her in Manehattan." Roseluck's voice betrayed some anger, but she kept a level head. "She said you told her a lot of things about me. About Lily."

Now Minuette looked worried.

"She wasn't supposed to tell anypony about that. It was a secret."

"So you knew?"

"I did, but Roseluck listen. Let me explain, please!"

Roseluck took a deep breath and sat back.

"Go ahead."

"It started after I met Berry Punch. I didn't think too much about it. It seemed like an honest mistake, misaddressing a letter. I sent it back with a response, then she sent another back to me. After that we started to exchange letters regularly. She was polite, and interested in my projects so we kept talking."

Minuette deflated.

"She seemed so nice. She'd slip these questions in between praise and other innocuous statements. At first it seemed strange, but they weren't that personal. At first. Then some really personal ones came in another letter. I didn't answer at first, but she kept asking them. Eventually I gave what I thought was a non-answer. I guess she got more from it then I expected. I'm sorry she brought up Lily. I would never hurt you like that."

Berry Punch digested the answer. Things made a lot more sense now. She manipulated Minuette just like Roseluck back in Manehattan. Only this time it was for longer.

"It wasn't just that." Berry Punch spoke up. "You told her about where we were going."

By the look on Minuette's face she didn't understand the implication. Berry Punch gathered herself and retold her side of the story. Leaving out only a few details. Minuette's face fell with every word. By the end of it she was crying.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know she hurt you like that. I'll stop talking to her, okay? And you can have the letters she sent me, if you want." Minuette floated a stack of letters over to Berry Punch. Berry Punch looked over the stack. The thought of reading her words made her feel sick. She didn't want to see how she manipulated her friend. She'd seen her do it enough herself.

"Just burn them. I don't want to read them."

Minuette nodded. Without hesitation she took the stack and deposited it into the fireplace. With one match the letters slowly burned to ash.

Minuette had guilt in her expression. Berry Punch didn't like that. She doesn't deserve to feel bad about what Paint Spots used her for.

"Do you have any hot chocolate we can make?"

Minuette perked up.

"Yes. Anything to make it up to you." Minuette turned to Roseluck with more uncertainty. "Do you want some too?"

Roseluck sighed.

"Yes, but one more thing."

Minuette nodded.

"Don't tell anypony else you don't know about Lily. I trusted you with that. Please don't break that trust again."

"I understand Roseluck. Again, I'm sorry."

Roseluck nodded.

"I'm still a little mad, but I think things will be better after a cup of hot chocolate." Roseluck smiled.

Minuette returned the smile.

"I'll go get some ready then."

As the trio talked in the living room Berry Punch's mind lingered on what was pulled loose from her mind. Things were fine now while she was around her friends. It was when she was alone where she doubted things would be okay.

Author's Note

Yep! Double chapter update! This one's small, but I felt it deserved it's own chapter. I'm still in recovery, but the good thing about that is I have a lot more time on my hands to write. So, hopefully the next chapter doesn't take as long as the first fall chapter.
As usual leave your corrections and thoughts in the comments.