Sabie Cottonball

I entered Cafe Nervosa with a modest gait, four weeks late for my lunch date with Mina. She’d hardly blamed me, and I was grateful for that, as I spent one dealing with the funeral, and the other three to settle in my new house. Today signaled the end of my labors, and the chance to take up Mina’s offer.

“Sabie, here!” called my companion, a bright smile set against her mud-colored beak. I nodded and trotted over to a round table, over which hung a nice, vintage lamp.

“Hi Mina,” I greeted with a hollow politeness. The griffon stood up and crushed me with a hug, patting my back as I leaned into her embrace.

“I’m sooo glad you came,” she cheered.

“Yeah… I’m so sorry. Things have been hectic as of late,” I offered timidly.

“It’s alright, Sabie, there’s no need to apologize,” she returned. “I’m just glad that you finally made it.” She then mellowed down, diffusing an aura of care and concern. “I know things have been hard, but… I’m here for you, ok?”

“R-really?” I hesitated, afraid of that thought. I mean, how could anypony really help me?

Instead of speaking, Mina chose to prolong the hug as her final answer. I could do nothing but allow my aching heart to be soothed by her remedial comforts, unashamed as the cafe was devoid of souls, save for us and the staff.

“You must be hungry,” she augured as we parted and sat down. Right on cue, my stomach issued a loud cry.

“Eh, y-yeah, looks like it,” I admitted with something of a bashful tone. “To be honest, I did have some oats this morning…”

“Not enough, isn’t it?” provoked Mina, a coy smile on her beak. “Why don’t you order something first? And don’t worry about the prices – I promised to treat you, after all.”

Giving a hesitant side-eye, I scrutinized the menu, finding completely alien titles like “Breaded fish with Seaquestrian cucumber” or “Rising Sun salad” – or perhaps I was the alien? I wasn’t a big fan of outside food, simply because I believed my cooking was superior.

But I wondered if that mattered anymore nowadays. After all, what’s the point of cooking at home if your significant other wasn’t there to enjoy it with you?

Pushing unpleasant thoughts aside, I settled for a bowl of egg-drop noodle soup. Mina chose a croissant stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, and a carnivorous amount of ham.

“Yes, carnivorous, Sabie. I eat meat, remember?” chuckled Sabie. I winced, surprised, then frowned.

“Did… I say that out loud?”

She smirked. “Yes, very rude of you.”

I rolled my eyes with a pout. “You eat like a timberwolf. How rude is that?”

At this, Mina’s face performed a kaleidoscope of faux surprise, hurt, then anger, before bursting into a fit of subdued giggles. “Good one, Sabie. Good one.”

“I can roast, you know,” I remarked darkly.

“I’m now roasted chicken, thank you very much.”

Despite myself, I broke into a soft and reticent chuckle. Her efforts to cheer me up were certainly making their way into my fragile heart and mind.

“Hey, thanks…” I dragged, attempting a smile of my own.

“Anything for a friend,” she declared with a soft smile, squeezing my hoof with her claw. “If you ever, ever need anything… I’ll always be around, ok?”

A warm, comforting solace caressed me, just as a tall, lanky waiter arrived with our food in tow.

***

The elevator chimed, and a velvety alto voice announced: “Fifth floor.”

With a full belly and a bag of groceries, I exited the cramped steel box, pausing a little to exhale a tired sigh. Lunch was good, and Mina’s company better, but a good rest really was the best right now. I’d sort out my apples and sugar, take a good shower, and then plop onto the bed until dinner…

“Hey there, Sabie!” greeted a cheery voice. I snapped from my musings to meet a grinning bulky stallion currently operating a hardy mop.

“Soap Wash, hello there,” I returned, a little lazily. “Sorry if I sound like this, I’m quite tired.”

“Ah, it’s ok, I understand,” he offered with an unabashed smile. “Had your lunch?”

“Yeah. And you?” I stood up and picked up my apples and sugar.

“Yeah, I’ve eaten, thanks.” He stuffed his mop into a pail and folded up a wet-floor sign. As I began to move, he grabbed a fresh tissue roll and offered it to me with a cryptic gaze.

“Take care, Sabie. The janitor is on the lookout for trash and dirt, yeah?”

I halted mid-way, immediately getting his intended message. Anxiety began to simmer inside me, but I decided to push it away and put some confidence in Soap Wash – or, rather, Officer Marble Domes. “Thank you very much, Soap,” I whispered, taking the tissue.

He grinned again, and retreated back to his cleaning wagon while I made my way through the wide corridor.

I stopped at a door labeled A-5-8. Fishing out a keycard from my purse, I swiped it against the digital lock and entered my house. Following my earlier plans, I put the apples into the kitchen fridge and the sugar into a cupboard, then marched into the bathroom for a nice, warm shower…

Oh, the tissue had just run out. Great timing, I have one given to me by the janitor in disguise. I removed the finished roll and slotted the new one in.

But I still needed a few more . Eh, it wouldn’t hurt to go ask for a few more.

I exited the house and made for the lobby. “Soap? Soap Wash?” I called.

Nopony answered. Nevermind, I’ll just have to find him and get a few more rolls of soft, two-ply paper… fit for a princess’ rump.

Snickering at my own musings, I entered the lobby, expecting to meet him and his cleaning wagon.

All I met was a lifeless stallion lying in a pool of blood. A knife sheathed into his bare back. Wagon and tools scattered all over the floor.

It happened in a flash. A grunt, a punch, then pain erupted all over my head. My vision darkened, eyes shutting. I couldn’t scream. Something went really wrong.

I caught three words before sinking into an unconscious abyss:

“We got her.”