She liked to keep the room dark- and cold, despite his insistence it be otherwise. No warmth would be enough to sate him, nor would it be welcome to her skin when sleep was what she craved. After what had felt like months of arguing over stupid numbers on a thermostat, Cadance had finally managed to convince her husband that a colder room with heavy blankets would be more beneficial for a deep sleep. It had taken Shining Armor ages to finally acquiesce and not depart for the living room, not just toss and turn in the night or awaken to the slightest noise. Now, he seemed to doze peacefully, or as close to it as his mind would allow him. There would be times she’d awaken and find him huddled in the corner of the bed, hands wrapped tight around the little stick he kept on the nightstand, but the days were becoming less and less often. She might even awake in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and actually find him sleeping when she returned, now. How much progress he’d made. It was the closest he’d been to whole in years.

She awoke to, of all things, a phone call. Mind tricked to despise a ringtone, and instant in its effectiveness. Roused from peaceful slumber, hand slammed across device and grabbed in the ungainly fashion of one who had not quite the control of her senses quite yet; a bleary look at the screen with eyes unhappy at being opened found the familiar name of Twilight emblazoned in cold lettering.

“Ohcomeon,” Cadance mumbled, displeasure quick to arise even if she cherished the soul on the other end of the line. It was too early for this sort of nonsense, especially when it was going to be a social call! Why was Twilight trying to reach out now? “Hullo?”

“Cadance, hi!” Twilight’s voice was cheery- for only a moment, the bereaved tone with which she’d been greeted enough to clue in even her inept senses. “Oh no, did I wake you? I thought it was late enough that you’d be at the airport by now.”

“Mmf, really?” Cadance pulled away from the device so that she could see the screen illuminate, a start coming when she found the time to be a quarter past nine. “Goodness, it’s later than I thought.”

“Sorry if I woke you up! I really didn’t mean to, I swear.”

“It’s alright. Probably time to get up anyway,” Cadance replied. Coverings were tossed aside and bare skin was promptly bitten by the cold air of the darkened room. Goosebumps all the way up her thigh, try as she might to will them otherwise! “Did you need anything?”

“No, I was… just seeing how y’all were doing today so far. I’m keeping track of your flight, so I’ll be there waiting for you.”

“Alright. Thanks for being our wake-up call, I guess. See you soon.”

“OK. Bye, sorry again!”

Cadance’s disgruntled mood didn’t last long when made to face with Twilight’s amiable nature- and the fact that she’d overslept. How had they both overslept, especially with Shining of all people an early riser? They hadn’t had that much to drink last night; a little more than usual, yeah, but not bad. Just what had gone wrong?

“Who was that?” The wheezing croak of her husband’s voice came to her ears, Shining rolling from his side of the bed to look upon where his wife lay. One eye half-open, the other looking like it didn’t want to be open at all.

“Twi. And a good thing, too, I set my alarm wrong,” Cadance announced. Goodness, if they’d been late for their flight after all this time spent planning! It had been so long since they’d both been back in town. “You ready?”

“Yeah, packed last night,” Shining grumbled. “I’ll try to be quick in the bathroom.”

“OK.”

Another groan, one of pain this time as the once-formidable warrior raised himself from his spot upon the bed and rolled out from beneath the heavy sheets to take residence in the wheelchair just nearby. Time spent getting ready was a little lengthier than it had once been.

It had only taken a moment for his world to come crashing down to the ground. The mine beneath his vehicle had detonated and sent them rolling, off the path and down such a vicious hill that it was a miracle any of them had survived at all. His gunner hadn’t, nor his two dismounts; somehow, the one who had sworn he would keep his soldiers safe had survived alongside the green-as-grass Private that was his driver who’d never seen an ounce of combat in his life. A quick, brutal detonation that had sent shrapnel rocketing through his legs, piercing pain as dozens of metallic shards cut through flesh and severed nerves in an instant. He hadn’t known until he’d been brought to the hospital that they’d actually managed to burn away his legs to little more than a mottled mound of warped flesh; an eruption of the fuel line had seen to that- and to his driver, damage far worse.

A soldier’s life had been all he’d dreamed of since he was a boy. To be robbed of his dream in so violent a manner and rendered unrecoverable had taken more time than he was proud to admit. Heaven alone knew what would have been if Cadance hadn’t been there to keep his world from completely crashing down. Keeping his spirits up, not letting himself be guilt-ridden for surviving, to actually try living again. The meetings at the VA had helped to prevent any isolation as well as dealing with the medical fallout; a connected world with friends who knew the same miserable sensations of shame for being alive was something he hadn’t known he would ever need.

He worked as an advocate for his fellows, often volunteering to help test whatever new prosthetics the government wanted to try. Combined with Cadance’s work as Dean at the local university, a strange sort of peaceful business was enough to keep the gloom away. Perhaps it was not the life he’d wanted to have, but it was not so terrible as he’d once dreaded.

On most days, the strange amalgamation of plastic and metal that were bound to the stubs his legs had been reduced to. Comfortable enough to walk about with for hours on end and give him a semblance of normality that his mind craved. But when in a hurry, pride was not something he wanted to slow them down; a wheelchair in a busy airport was going to be far more expedient than waiting for him to try and catch up.

“It’ll be weird to be back home again,” Cadance said- and laughter came as she realized just what had crossed her lips. “Home! I still call it that, even though we’ve been gone for ages. You’d think I’d know better by now.”

“You never really call it anything else, I guess,” Shining admitted. He’d been caught doing the exact same himself; it was the place where they’d both grown, both met, fallen in love and married… even if they didn’t live there just right now, they knew their hearts would see them come back eventually. “It’ll be good to visit Twily this time. She usually visits us instead.”

“I think she needs the vacation spot, truth be told,” Cadance said. “Ginger Island isn’t exactly a spot crawling with people. It’s good for her big brain to get some downtime.”

“Yeah…”

Shining tried not to admit it, but his disability did offer a few benefits every now and then: easy access through security, first onto the plane, a comfortable spot… it wasn’t a great trade by any means, but it sure didn’t hurt. Even after their late start, they’d managed to arrive on time and with plenty more to spare. Now all that would come next was a few hours of flight time and they would be back.

At first, neither of them gave much heed to the soul that had come to take the seat across the opposite side of the aisle, more concerned with getting themselves settled and speaking about the many possibilities that awaited them on their miniaturized vacation. But a glimmer of red-and-gold hair caught Cadance’s eye and she had to take notice: a woman a few years younger than them, poring over an assortment of pictures on her phone in a half-attentive scroll. Pale eyes in color, a darkness upon her skin that was surely a tan from plentiful time spent beneath the sun, and a warmth of good cheer upon her face. Something about her was familiar, but she couldn’t quite say what.

Her ponderings were not to be ignored forever. Perhaps feeling the eyes of another upon her, the woman looked over and took note of Cadance’s staring, a cocked eye at the strangeness- but then a shift to the shrewd as she too gave sign of recognition.

“Do- are you a friend of Twilight’s?” Cadance asked, her words alerting Shining that something was amiss. “You look really familiar…”

“Yeah. Yeah, I am!” the red-haired woman answered. “Umm, I… I’m sorry, I can’t say where I remember you from. You look really familiar, too, but-”

“Oh, that’s OK! I’m her sister-in-law, Cadance. This is Shining-”

“That’s it! Oh my gosh, hi! I’m Sunset,” the bright woman proclaimed. Hands came to the center of the aisle to meet and shook, comfort of mild familiarity and unified affection for another binding them. “What a weird coincidence, I’m on my way back into town myself! Are you all visiting, or… something?”

“Yes, Twilight invited us a while back to swing by. It’s been ages since we actually visited her, so we thought- you know, time is right and all.”

“Well that’s great to hear! I was going to reach out and say hey myself, we only get to talk every now and then since she’s always so busy.”

Shining Armor gave a laugh; a rare sound from his darkened throat, low yet brimming with a delight that only deepened understanding could offer. “She has always tried to keep herself that way,” he said, “no matter what anyone else tells her. I’ve got stories to tell you…”

The journey they had once thought would be a chance to catch up on sleep instead became a place for the birth of comfortable friendship. They’d never met save for a spare few instances where paths had somehow crossed; once at graduation, another during Twilight’s years at college. But never one-on-one, a solitary soul meeting with the unified pair and coming to know one another. Sunset was amiable and kind, seeming to be genuinely eager to know more of Shining and Cadance’s life at the edge of the waves. And what they came to know of her was just as illuminating, though perhaps not marred by grief as theirs had been: a traveling musician, playing for bands on tour here and there as a fill-in, and a warm-up act if she was given the opportunity. Though little place of permanence was afforded to her, it was a life of freedom and happiness despite what shabbiness may mark her world. There was enough income to keep herself safe, and chances to perform were here and there if she tried hard enough.

“So what brought you back to town?” Cadance asked.

“I still live here. Sort of, when I’m not getting asked to be elsewhere,” Sunset answered. “I’ve got a few places lined up for me to play this week, and a couple of bands on tour in the area asked if I was available. So it felt as good a time as any.”

“And you don’t mind the constant travel?”

The beautiful woman shook her head. “It gets tiring, but it’s never bad,” she said. “You get to see a lot of new places, new people… the rhythm of being away feels more normal than just sitting at home after a while. I kinda like it, since I’ve got nothing to keep me tied down.”

Shining nodded, but Cadance’s senses were not so easygoing as to not notice the darkening of those pale eyes. A lack of light, a failing of her features as though a weight held them down and lifted the veil that was her placid smile. But for only a moment, for Sunset perhaps took note of the excess examination and allowed the mask to return.

“You know, I’m surprised Twilight didn’t try to ask you out when you were in high school,” the beautiful bride remarked lightly. “She certainly talked to us about you a lot.”

Sunset chuckled. “Not a chance. Twilight doesn’t have an ounce of interest in dating at all,” she said- much to Shining’s assent. “Trust me, the whole nerd act she had going? If she’d ever bothered to notice how much attention it got, she’d have never been left alone.”

“Oh, so you… you never-?”

“No. She was a good friend, but I think we were too alike for it to have worked,” Sunset said. “I don’t feel bad for being single. It’s nice, I get to live the way I like, but I do kinda miss looking out for everyone. You sometimes feel a bit selfish when you’re the only person you have to worry about.”

Cadance decided from that moment on that Sunset was indeed very nice and would be part of her friend circle for good. Such a person needed to be given affection and rejuvenated, even if it was only of a friendly nature; anyone who yearned to look after another soul deserved to be cared for, too.

The flight went by swiftly, seemingly little time passing before they found themselves back on the ground and departing out into the crowd of travelers. Though she initially wished to see herself off and onwards without much fuss, the married pair insisted that Sunset join them for a little while longer, especially when an old friend would be just as happy to see her as she would to see them. Any worries about interrupting a family vacation not allowed the slightest chance at being given any leg to stand on.

“I don’t- I promise I’m not trying to avoid her,” Sunset said, particularly when curious eyes refused to leave her in peace. “I just don’t want to intrude. I know it probably means a lot to you for you all to be in one place-”

“Like Twilight will mind seeing you again,” Shining said brusquely, the smile on his face a contrast to his words. “Come on, scaredy-cat, you’ll be welcome. I’ll pay Twilight a few bucks to drop you off wherever you need to go.”

Sunset smiled and looked away, muttering something about how it wasn’t necessary even as she accepted the offer.

They worked through the crowd and out of the terminal, a trio amongst many souls who came and went through their own lives without a thought for what transpired in those of others. Who were they, really, in the grand scheme of things? Not much, little value when placed against the greatness and heroics of days gone- but when those dark eyes held behind glasses caught sight of them, any cares that the human soul might have of worldly value were put aside. Twilight rushed up to them all in a delighted rush, ecstatic at the sight of family and friend alike that had not been held in her arms in years. Comfortable, friendly warmth when she beheld sister-in-law and brother- but the delightful shock at the sight of one of her oldest, dearest friends! It couldn’t have been a better surprise, and Twilight insisted right alongside her kin that Sunset be made settled wherever she needed to be by their own goodwill.

“I was listening to your EP just the other day, actually,” Twilight remarked. Settled in the car on the long trip from the airport, she and her longtime companion happily gabbling away as though high school were only the other day. “I was wondering how you’d been doing, I should have called.”

“I probably wouldn’t have been able to say much, I’ve been really busy,” Sunset admitted, though smiling all the same. “I got asked to play backup with Coonhound over at the Keystone Festival and took a while to recover, the whole thing was a mess.”

“Too much work?”

“And bad weather, too. The whole festival was horrible. When I got asked to come play here, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to say yes.”

“When do you play next?” Cadance inquired from the backseat.

“T- tonight, actually,” Sunset answered. “Local place, River City Brewing. It won’t be big, just an acoustic show, but I figured it’d be a nice way to get myself back into the swing of things.”

“Can we come?” Twilight asked. “You wouldn’t mind, right?”

“What? No, that sounds great,” Sunset replied. “Please, feel free! I was actually hoping I could convince Shy to drop by for a little bit, and-”

“Ooh, so you still have her number!” Twilight sang, and upon her face was an expression that could only arise when given strength by juvenile delights. Especially when bolstered by the possible life of juicy gossip that was her once-closest friend’s love life. “Has she visited with you? I was always just thinking you’d ask her to marry you and then you’d just travel together-”

“Wait, Sunset has a girlfriend? And she was a friend of yours?”

If it was somehow possible, the beautiful musician found a shade of color upon her skin that was even deeper than her hair.

It was just an apartment, but not an uncomfortable one; simplicity was all that Twilight asked of her living quarters when so much of her time was spent away from it. Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the city so that the sounds of life passing by could not reach her tired mind when she needed seclusion, the young scientist was glad to welcome her family to her home- and extremely thankful her third-floor apartment was reachable by elevator. Taking to the couch for a few days while her married kin visited, it was a pleasant liveliness to her world in a small space.

“Why don’t we go see Sunset play tonight?” Cadance asked her sister-in-law, sliding back against the couch having been settled in at last. “I bet she’d appreciate the camaraderie. And it sounds like a few of your old friends will be there.”

“You’d be OK with that?” Twilight sat at the kitchen table, having been poring over some notes of hers while she’d waited for her guests to get settled. “I mean, we haven’t seen each other in ages, I don’t want you to feel like you have to oblige or-”

“It’d be fine! I think it’d be a good time,” the sweet woman said. “Besides, I think Sunset would like to have you girls around. I think she’s lonely.”

“She seemed happy enough today,” Twilight remarked. “What makes you say that?”

“A few things.” Cadance pondered her next words for a moment. “Were she and Fluttershy close?”

“Really close. They never really dated, but Rarity was absolutely certain they’d slept together a bunch of times and just didn’t say anything about it. I don’t think they wanted to shake the group up by openly dating.”

“And… when college came, did-”

“Nothing happened. ‘Shy went to Vandy, Sunset stayed here and just worked. She- no family or anything, you know. So no money to go, and didn’t want to take out student loans.”

Cadance knew people; a teacher at one point in her life, a dean in the next, spending time with more vulnerable and open minds had given her a better glimpse into the working emotions of people than she would have originally guessed. A few words with Sunset and some illuminating comments from Twilight made her suspect the musically-inclined woman was intensely lonely. She might have even come back to town with the hopes of rekindling childhood relationships. “Do you keep up with anyone from when you were in high school?”

“To be honest?” Twilight replied. “Not really. I was better about it when I went to college, but when I got done with my Master’s, well… PHD’s take a lot of effort, and I was moving fast. It just got difficult, especially when I started working.” Normally a placid creature when it came to social activity, a glum expression clouded her. “I probably should have tried to keep up with her. Sunset was a really good friend of mine.”

Cadance smiled. “Well, now you’ve got your chance. You drink?”

The scientist laughed. “Like a fish, on every day that ends in ‘Z.’”

The sound of heavy footfalls came to meet the women’s ears and they turned to the hallway; Shining Armor appeared, no longer slouched and bound to a wheelchair but instead tall and moving forward comfortable on powerful limbs designed with him in mind. Brother looked down at sister and smiled, the bond shared between them more than flesh and blood but also gift and gratitude. What work she had done helped him maneuver and be free more like his days of old, a treasure he had once thought lost to him. It was not quite the strength of built muscle, nor as quick to respond like mind to form, but was better than what wheels or outdated technology could give him- and it was a gift he would never forget.

“How’s the gel layer?” Twilight asked.

“Still good. I got it updated just last year,” Shining answered, walking over to the couch so as to plop down beside his wife, gifting her a kiss on the cheek as he did so. “I don’t wear them all the time when I’m at home, but if I’m going out and about, I use them instead.”

“Good. Hope they last you until I get done with my next one.”

The one-time warrior glanced at her. “They’ve got you working on another prosthetic?”

Twilight smiled, shaking her head and not quite able to rid her form of the tremble that came to life. “No. Something else entirely. Better.”

“Better than a prosthetic..?” Cadance murmured. “What- what would be better than that?”

She had to hesitate on this one. Trade secrets were one thing, but speaking in haste about something so potentially dangerous could be reckless if lips were loose. How much should she say- if anything at all? But she had designed Project Valiant with her bother in mind- had designated its codename in honor of her hero sibling. Would it be so terrible if she gave a few simple tidbits to excite him?

Shining knew his sister and the way her mind worked; one simple look at her face and he could see the gears whirring, practically hear them. She had never been one to repeat her craft, and the prosthetic leg he now wore was the best ever designed. “Just what’s better than a prosthetic limb?” He inquired.

Twilight couldn’t keep the grin quite fully from her face. “You’re not gonna believe me.”

It had only been meant to be a one-time thing.

The air of the room felt cold to her skin, so much of her above the bedsheets from where she had fallen come the end of the night’s frolic. It had felt wonderful then; movement had turned the air warm, body heat driven to excess and spurring her to take residence on the edge of the bed rather than her usual space in-between. Goodness, these summer days had been warm, she had every right to seek out a cool place! But now, after hours of quiet within the bedroom and no more activity than the rising and falling of a chest, the running air conditioner had found the strength to give her skin bite.

And a bit too early for my tastes, too. Rarity’s tussled head rose slowly from her resting place and looked about the darkened room with bleary eyes, a poor cycle of rest making her yearn for further slumber than what her body would seem to allow. The night had been long- longer than she’d intended and yet not long enough for her to have come away satisfied. To awaken to a world where she would have to depart from one of the few places she could feel comfortable wasn’t much to her fancy, but it wasn’t as though much choice was offered to her; her presence would cause more harm than help if she went along with them.

Had her movement, miniscule as it were, enough to rouse a mind on the edge of slumber? Sheets rustling were in her ears and Rarity turned to see the figure of Luna emerging from beneath the covers, more awake and less weary than her younger companion. “What time is it?” she mumbled.

“Haven’t the foggiest,” Rarity answered. Her phone had been left in the living room and had not traveled with her, how was she to know the hour without a clock? “But probably time to get up.”

Luna grimaced and checked the clock on her phone. “Ten past eight. Dammit, we’ll need to start getting ready.”” she muttered, and from beneath the sheets did she crawl, a powerful body that retained its strength from livelier days revealed in its nakedness. Turning to the other side of the bed, she poked at the form that still lay slumbering beneath the sheets and seeing it roused to life. “Cellie, get up. Come on, we’ve got to get ready.”

“Mm? What’sthematter?” Celestia woke most comfortably of the three, least exerted from the night and most relaxed after. A dim smile on her features as she took in the sight of her companions, memory of last night still fresh. “Morning. Is it time to get up?”

“Unfortunately,” Luna grumbled. “Come on, make sure everything’s packed. I’m using the shower first.”

“I’ll get the coffee going,” Rarity said. The robe that hung from the bedroom door was there to clothe her naked form and off she went, through hallway and down stairs to where the kitchen awaited her efforts. It was not much, would never amount to much, nor would it equal the dreams she’d once had- but for these two, it was the least she could do. Heaven knew where she’d be without them!

She’d been with Luna first- much to Celestia’s chagrin, Rarity had eventually come to discover. A drunken fling that had ignited from a lonely Valentine’s Day night at a local nightclub, the darkened woman despising her consistent solitude and Rarity still in the throes of a horrid breakup. Bemoaning their miseries, the dreams of better things that had gone unfulfilled were swapped between them- Luna’s military aspirations erased by bad vision, Rarity’s fashion career having never taken off despite the time and money she’d invested. Throughout the night they’d come closer, and closer- until bare flesh was pressed together in a lonely, unhappy harmony.

It had only been meant to be a one-night stand. But they’d kept in contact, kept hooking up here and there. Enough to make an older sister jealous, and an overly aroused Rarity had been perfectly willing to comply. She’d tried to be discreet, but what sort of sisters were Luna and Celestia if they didn’t know each other’s secrets? The fight could have been legendary if the younger woman hadn’t intervened and been willing to keep up with both of them. Too drunk on the feel of being wanted, too lonely from having exiled herself from familial presence, Rarity was unwilling to let either one slip from her grasp. And so now here she was, in two relationships at once and unable to be open about it with anyone. If having to foreclose on her boutique had been enough to make her too ashamed to ever see her family again, what would this do? This relationship with Cellie and Luna was more or less all she had. She tried to repay their loving kindness, emulate a good housewife, but…

Well, it was never going to be quite equal to the dream that had died. “If only I could have both worlds,” she murmured so quietly. Never unable to fully relinquish her grief over a life turned sour, yet never able to fully enjoy the strange romance she had now. And it wasn’t as if she could ask anyone on what to do! What of her old friends hadn’t succeeded in their dreams and made it a life? Sunset enjoyed her life of travel and music, Fluttershy was joyously content working at a local animal shelter, from what she saw of them –truth be told, it wasn’t much- Pinkie and Applejack enjoyed their married life on the farm. And Twilight? Whatever held Twilight’s attentions must be something momentous because she’d all but disappeared into her work years ago. Rarity only had Celestia and Luna to cherish, but never was she able to do so freely. And with the two sisters set to depart for an out of town funeral, Rarity would be left to languish at home. Unable to go and be of comfort to her grieving loves that would have to endure the loss of a longtime friend alone.

How she hated it.

“Who was she, again?” Rarity hated herself for having to ask, but what information she’d been told had arrived during their wine night. Memory of such things was difficult to come by. “You said her name was Amari…”

“A friend of our parents,” Luna answered, taking the offered coffee from her young girlfriend’s hand. “When our parents split up, we’d stay over with her while they… she was more our mother than our mother was.”

“She was a safe haven for when things were wrong,” Celestia said, upon her lips the form of a bittersweet smile. Childhood pain still rang true in her, the source of the salve that had tried to heal it now lost to infinity. “We kept up with her for years after we left home, and she would occasionally drop in here to visit with us. So.”

“Of course you should go, then,” Rarity murmured. “Someone so wonderful, I’m so sorry.”

“It was inevitable. Time always wins,” the elder sister remarked. “And she’d had cancer for years now, so whenever it came back… you can’t win forever.”

Rarity felt her heart twist. How dearly she wished she could be there and help provide some measure of comfort. Even if it was little more than presence that she could offer, it would have been better than nothing. But- well, but nothing. They’d be flying out in a couple of hours and that would be that. The failed seamstress would simply have to wait until her lovers returned.

“We shouldn’t be too long,” Luna said. Looking up from her plate of bacon and eggs had let her take note of the young woman’s downcast expression, wisdom giving her the ability to guess why. “You won’t be lonely for long, love.”

“I don’t really think my loneliness is what I’m worried about here,” Rarity chuckled, the sound bitter in her ears. “Are you sure you will be alright, darling?”

“As much as we can be.”

“But we’ll be glad to see you when you get back,” Celestia added warmly. A hand reached out and gave the young woman’s own a gentle squeeze, assurance given that words could not say. “Take the time to take care of yourself, not worry about us. I’m sure you’ll have something that’ll dazzle the world by the time we get back.”

Of course they encouraged her to keep working on her designs. The first boutique may have failed, but that didn’t mean that an online shop couldn’t continue. They still raved about her work, declared it to be unrivaled- if only someone else agreed! Rarity was more than glad to make something for those she loved, but who on earth else would bother with paying attention to her craft? Her own parents hadn’t even bothered. The would-be fashionista tried to smile along with her paramour, but the sight of it was likely strained.

There was little to do after breakfast. Bags had already been packed, preparations made ready; Rarity could only stand by and watch her lovers leave her behind, off to a sorrow that would surely be misery to endure. When the Uber arrived to take them to the airport, the beautiful girl wondered who was going to feel worse when all this was through- and if the thought was something of a selfish one.

“I miss you already,” Luna said, taking the smaller woman in a tight embrace that was not minded in the slightest. At least she cared, even if the force of the darkened woman’s feelings were potent; Rarity tried her best to return the gesture in equal feeling, adding a swift kiss for good measure.

“Call me when you make it to your hotel,” Rarity said. “I won’t rest until you do.”

“We will. I promise.” Celestia’s kiss was welcome to her lips, one last gift of softness before they separated. A few waves goodbye, some softly-spoken words, and then they were gone.

She stood at the door and watched their car take them away, eyes tracking the vehicle as it turned the corner and went out of sight- even beyond that. Perhaps if she strained hard enough she would still be able to see them, feel them. Anything better than the loneliness of now that fell upon her shoulders the moment they were away. Rarity minded not the housewife role for these lovely women, but to say she enjoyed spending it alone would be… at least when it came to work she knew they would come back.

Dishes put away, cleaning done; what she needed to do to entertain herself was done, even if it wasn’t much. They were such a tidy trio that there was usually little upkeep required. It was only noon when Rarity found that there were no chores for her to do that would not require an extra set of hands, leaving her schedule empty and mind eager to focus upon the morose.

There were a multitude of things she could to do escalate the pity party. A bottle of wine and some ice cream were available, the bedroom’s blackout blinds helped keep their sanctuary dark for times of slumber- or misery. Anything that could make her feel worse were appealing, though Rarity tried to counsel herself into something more sensible. Celestia and Luna encouraged her so sweetly; maybe she could have something nice awaiting them upon their return. Luna needed a new pair of jeans, or at least the back pocket sewn back on. Celestia’s work blazer absolutely needed replacing. But could she achieve both in just a few days time? Perhaps something simple this time around, she wondered. A bit of lace, perhaps? Some lingerie. But two people will take just as much time- ooh, perhaps for yourself. Something they can unwrap.

The idea had merit, even enough to seemingly energize the young woman. She could start again and see her craft made ready once more- were it not for the entry into the quiet office that had been lovingly converted into her workshop, a cavalcade of unfinished designs and failed offers that had gone nowhere. Sensibility told her to ignore it, but the old sketchbook filled with unwanted ideas drew her in like moths to a flame; in no time, that dulled ache in her heart was reignited and made strong. She’d first thought up that satin gown so many years ago- her first design from high school, in fact. But never had she had the chance to make it for someone other than herself. So she’d never made it, just like the sundress that came after it- or the mermaid gown right after…

It was so quiet in that spacious house of theirs. It was impossible for her not to feel alone when she could only hear the empty, sorrowed sound of her own breathing. In a house that wasn’t hers, in a life that had deemed her services unnecessary, and away from the two people in the world that loved her at all.

The sound of a cell jingle! Rarity’s watery world left its cloudiness behind as she reached for the device by instinct; surely Cellie and Luna weren’t already there, they had hours to go! And it wasn’t as if anyone else routinely reached out to her that was a name she could think of-

Proven untrue in an instant. Fluttershy had texted her, of all people. And as for the contents… Sunset’s music career still going well, I see. So she’d been invited to come and cheer on an old friend. But the questions that would inevitably come; the last time they’d all been together, she’d been so excited to open up her boutique and begin her design career for real. What on earth was she going to say when they asked how she was doing?

What if they already know about me?

Author's Note

Perhaps not moving the plot forward, but necessary to build the world up. I think this might carry on for a little bit.

Keep reading, I guess.