I'd been crying for god knows how long. It felt like an eternity, but actually thinking about it for a second, it'd probably only been about an hour or so.

She didn't complain.

Not a single time.

While I ranted and raved.

While I wailed and wept.

While I was utterly inconsolable.

She remained quiet.

She listened.

She cared.

Rave held me like I was her very own little foal. I loved her for it. But not like a lover. That's what she'd meant before. That's how I'd been confused.

I had thought I wanted her body. To feel her touch. To touch her. It was exactly what I wanted. But not like a lover.

I snuggled deeper into her chest, wiping the last of the tears from my eyes with a hoof. She was warm. It felt the same as it had all those years ago when Mom would sneak into my room late at night and crawl into my bed. Most of the time, I was too proud to admit I wanted her to show me any affection. The night was when she knew I'd allow it, -- obviously, because there would be no prying eyes -- so that's when she'd come to me.

She'd hug me while humming a lullaby to me until I fell asleep. Sometimes, she would fall asleep, too. That was the only thing missing right now, but only because Rave had stopped. It's not like I'd expected her to sing to me for an hour straight, anyway. She'd already done more than enough.

"Thank you, Rave," I sniffled. My forehead pressed into her chest while she cradled me. I felt awful for putting her in this position, -- weak, in fact -- but I needed it more than I could have ever thought and she was the perfect mare to fill it.

"Of course, Starlight," she said softly, stroking my mane with a hoof. "And thank you... for trusting me."

...

"Guess this means Celestia's gonna know everything about me now, huh?" A broken laugh escaped me. I hadn't kept a single detail from the ivory mare. She knew exactly what'd happened with my family.

"Why would you ever think that?" she continued her ministrations. "I'd never betray your confidence like that, Starlight. Not even if Celestia herself asked me to."

"Then..."

...

That makes no sense.

Celestia had to be the mastermind behind everything that had happened.

Why would someone like Rave show any interest in a pony like me?

There really were no other reasonable conclusions I could come to, other than the unicorn gathering information for her boss.

"Then why, Rave? Why would..." I looked up at her. She kept her gaze off of me. "Why would you care?"

...

"Do you want the truth?" her hoof stopped moving. She still wouldn't look at me.

"Of course I d-" I paused.

...

I wasn't so sure. In fact, I was a little frightened.

This might be enough, regardless of the reason she decided to do it.

But...

If her motivations were anything less than pure, it could ruin everything.

I wasn't so sure I could handle that.

Regardless, I'd learned. I wouldn't run away a second time.

Never again.

"I do, Rave," I lowered my forehead back into her chest. "Please? I just want the truth."

...

"After you'd been brought to Canterlot... or sent by Her Highness, I suppose. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were discussing what should be done with you," she began stroking my head again. "Princess Luna was the one who brought it up." For some reason, she sounded a little saddened by that fact. "She saw everything. When you were having nightmares, obviously."

"But..."

...

...That's not possible.

"She couldn't have," I shook my head in disbelief. "I..."

I'd taken precautions. I'd set up safeguards. Even all those years ago when I was little, I'd known about Luna's ability to walk dreams. She'd frequented my dreamscape several times when I was a foal, but she'd never tried to interact with me.

After I'd run away from home, I knew I'd have to find a way to keep her out of my head. I knew that if she figured out what I'd done, she'd be paying me a visit. So I protected myself with the best spells I knew, most of them coming from my time researching Mom's illness.

"She shouldn't have been able to see," I spoke mostly to myself. "I made sure. They should have stopped her."

"One thing I'm certain you're already becoming very familiar with," she patted my head gently. "is that there is no stopping the princesses. They're far too powerful."

"You're... you're right." There was no point trying to deny it. I'd experienced firsthand just how true it was.

But if she already knew, then why didn't Celestia...

"That's when I first learned about what had happened to you. It wasn't much to go on at the time... but I knew..." she drew me closer, hugging me tightly. "I knew I wanted to hold you then, just like this."

Then it was just...

"Pity?" My heart ached. It was the one thing I didn't want from anyone. The weak were pitied.

I'm not weak.

I couldn't be.

I had been before.

Too many times, and each and every one had cost me something I cared about.

"Is that how you view it?" Rave squeezed a little tighter.

"What else could it be?" I bit my lip. I didn't want to cry anymore.

"That I care about you," she replied without hesitation. I went rigid. "That I heard the story of a little filly who'd lost everything, and I knew I wanted to help the mare she became." She kissed me atop my mane. "I really do care, Starlight. I want you to be happy."

...

I didn't believe her. It was simply unbelievable. There was no reason behind what she'd said. She heard a story about a pathetic little filly, and somehow she just... cared?

"I don't believe you," I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut tighter. Admitting it was painful, but she had the right to know. "I'm... I'm sorry, Rave."

"Oh, Starlight..." she let out a gentle sigh. "You don't have to be sorry. You don't even have to believe me." I drew away slightly, looking up at her in awe. She was smiling. "All that matters to me is that you're happy and that you know I care."

My lower lip trembled as I threw myself into her again. She giggled, embracing me.

"H-how!?" I did my best not to start outright crying, but tears came anyway. "How Rave!? How can you...?" I sniffled, wiping my eyes on her chest.

"I look up to the best examples one could ask for, Starlight," she replied jovially. "They care more than you could ever know. They love you... and so do I."

The sobbing started again.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Thanks, Rave." My head was leaning on her shoulder.

"Like I said before, thank you," Her head was on mine. "for trusting me."

"Just don't betray me, okay? Something bad might happen to you if you do," I joked, trying to bring a lighter mood to the hotel room.

"I wouldn't dream of it," she laughed.

It was going on two hours now, -- our time in the room was almost up -- but the time spent had been worth it.

For me, at least.

I felt a little bad. Once I'd realized she'd brought us here so I could exorcise some of my demons in private, I felt pretty dumb. She never had any intention of taking advantage of me or letting me take advantage of her, for that matter. I had to do something to pay her back.

"Hey, Rave?" I kept my gaze locked on the carpet.

"Yes, Starlight?"

"You asked me 'why' before, back at the restaurant..." It was the least I could do. "Could you be a little more specific?"

...

"Are you sure?" she nuzzled into my head.

...

"Yeah."

...

She took a deep breath.

"Why'd you run away, Starlight? The princesses would have done something to help you, I'm sure of it. They wouldn't have cast you aside."

It was exactly what I'd thought she'd meant. I didn't want to tell her why, but she'd done too much for me not to give her the answer.

"Isn't it obvious?" I gently rubbed her thigh with a hoof before jumping off the bed. She looked at me expectantly. I kept my eyes directed towards the floor. "It's because I'm a coward, Rave. Whenever really important things come to a head and I end up inevitably failing, I get scared," I chuckled bitterly. "Then I make excuses after the fact because it makes me feel better about myself." I looked at her, bearing a fake smile. "Like I said, a coward. Through and through."

...

I didn't know what to do with myself. I felt completely exposed. My heart was thumping. My hooves were itchy. I'd never admitted that to anyone before, but Rave was different. Still, I was petrified with worry at how she'd react.

She was watching me silently. Judging me. And I wanted nothing more than her approval. I needed it. I needed her.

...

"Y'know, Starlight..." she got off the bed as well, floating her things over to herself with a spell and putting them back on in a brilliant flash of magic.

So beautiful...

But now... it was more like she resembled... her.

"I don't think that's true at all." Her kind tone soothed me a bit, but I still resisted. A quaint smile lifted her lips as she continued. "I heard about what you did back in the Crystal Empire."

"What? Lose?" I scoffed bitterly.

"No. Not that," she shook her head as she trotted over to me. "You really need to listen to your friends more often." She laid a hoof on my withers.

"What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"I know Sunset Shimmer well, Starlight," she explained. "Considering she's Princess Celestia's protégé, I'm required to. I know what type of pony she is, and I know that you'd be the first pony she told."

...Told?

"Told what?" I tilted my head.

"Don't be so modest," she tapped my nose with her hoof as she continued towards the exit. "You're one of the main reasons Equestria came out on top in the battle with Chrysalis. I'd call that a hero." Her laughter lingered as she left the room, leaving the door open behind herself.

Darn you, Sun!

"Rave, Sun was just- RAVE!?" I chased after the retreating unicorn as fast as I could.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Well, that was... interesting," Rave giggled as we walked up to the main entrance of the castle. She stopped and turned to face me. We were just out of earshot of the guards posted at the doors. "Sorry we didn't get to the other stuff I had planned."

"Come on, Rave," I playfully slugged her on the shoulder. "You did more for me tonight than almost anyone else has in my entire life." She looked down at the ground, a light blush coming to her face. "You don't have to apologize for anything."

"I'm glad, Starlight," she scratched her cheek gently with a hoof. "I just... I hope this isn't it?" she didn't lift her head.

I had an idea what she was asking, but I wanted to be sure.

"What do you mean, Rave?" I dropped my head too so that I could look her in the eyes. She looked away. "Are you asking if I'm just gonna kick you to the curb after tonight?"

"Kind of?" she sighed. "I'm just a little... I just want to be your-"

I threw my forelegs around her, hugging her tightly.

I'd be a real monster if I treated her like anything less than a friend after today.

I nuzzled into her mane. It felt like home. She felt like home.

"I love you, Rave," I rubbed her withers with a hoof. "I'd be honored to be your friend... and I hope you'll be mine."

"Of course, Starlight!" she embraced me back. "I love you, too!"

"I'm glad," I backed away after a final squeeze.

I really was.

"Anyway," I started towards the doors once again. "What else did you have planned for tonight? Maybe we can do it some other time."

"Oh, I think you'd like it!" she trotted up next to me, her smile vibrant. "I wanted to take you out dancing!"

"Dancing, huh?" I lifted an eyebrow. "That sounds-"

"Good evening, ladies."

I froze.

Rave spun around, her smile growing wider.

"Your Highness!?" she bowed low. "It is a pleasure to see you! Do you have any need of me?"

"Not at the moment," the ivory alicorn smiled down at her aide before looking at me. "Starlight," she dipped her head slightly.

"Your Highness," I did the same as the diarch, bobbing my head.

"By the way, you look positively stunning tonight, Raven," the white alicorn returned her attention to her subordinate.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" the unicorn lifted her head. The recognition from her boss raised her spirits even further. "Coming from you, that is truly high praise!"

"As always, I appreciate your high regard," the princess giggled. "I trust you girls had a good night then?"

Rave and I looked at one another, grinning awkwardly.

"Something like that," I commented before we both chuckled. I turned my gaze back to the Sun Princess. "If you're not here for Rave, then I'll assume you've come for me."

"Rave?" Celestia's head tilted for a moment before she shook it vigorously. "Yes. That is correct, Starlight." She regarded her aide once again. "May I take her off of your hooves, Rave?" she asked with a playful smirk.

"I don't mind, Your Highness," Rave pushed a shoulder into mine. "Stay out of trouble, okay?" she whispered to me, still phrasing it as if it was a question.

To be honest, I'd have agreed if she had told me to do so.

"I'll try," I returned her smile. "Thanks for tonight, Rave." We exchanged a quick embrace before she moved to enter the castle.

"It was my pleasure, Starlight. Your Highness," she bobbed her head as she left us to our own devices.

...

"Thank you, Starlight," Celestia finally spoke once the unicorn was completely out of sight.

"For?" I turned back to face her.

"Raven does so much for us, for me," she looked solemn all of a sudden. "It would not be a stretch to say she works just as, if not harder than, I do." She smiled, still staring at the doors to the castle. "I've not seen her this happy in quite a while," she looked down at me. "So... thank you."

"Honestly..." I glanced over my shoulder, looking towards the doors too. "If anyone deserves your gratitude, it's your aide."

"Oh?" she raised a brow.

"She's a blessing," I faced the princess. "You're lucky to have her."

"You don't know how right you are," she powered her horn. "Do you mind?"

"It depends," my body tensed almost instinctually. "What are you doing?"

She smiled reassuringly.

"I just want to take us to a more... private place."

...

"...Okay." I took a step towards her, lifting my hoof.

"That's okay, Starlight," she casted her spell. In a flash of sunlight, we were both teleported.

Author's Note

Happy New Year all!