A Unicorn’s Stages of grief

Chapters

Denial
Buying it back?
Quest’s End

Denial

It had been a week since Alphabittle’s Tearoom was destroyed by those heartless, idiotic, selfish things. All he could do now was mourn his loss, he hardly slept at night from it. He also would not admit it, but a few meals were skipped as a result of this disgusting incident. He had felt hopeless as he got off his bed, he missed the sounds of chatter and the noise of the kettle. He missed the smells and sights he had there, he missed everything about that place. Onyx and Dapple hadn’t really spoken with him often lately, likely suffering from the loss too, that place meant a lot to them. He did not know where they were or what they were up to, none of his business anyway.

As he yawned, he headed out his room hearing some knocking on his front door

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” He groaned, soon opening it his heart stopping as he stared in horror. A chicken that looked like a mascot costume. Much like an antho would walk and stand, rather than a normal chicken.

“You are hired!” She said with a goofy grin. “Please accept or deny within a week! Or consequences may apply!” She said throwing an envelope at him just before he slammed the door on her face. Not giving a care if it hit her or not, because what was a freak like her doing here? One of the kind that made false claims and destroyed his tearoom.

You’d think they would have at least the respect to reuse the tearoom’s building for their stinky, greasy, old yucky- What’s it called? Egg-jerkingtons? Ugh, whatever, he could care less. Disrespecting the woods and everyone in it. Horrid pieces of mold- actually, much worse than mold, broken glass. That’s what they were, painful shards that take up space and hurt everyone around it, he picked up the envelope and slowly opened it. Scanning over it before throwing into the trash.

Just a menu advert along with the words “You are hired!” Written on it. Not even Izzy would wanna recycle something like that. He never agreed to anything… He was offered to open a new one in Zephyr Heights by Haven. But it wasn’t the same…

He went for a walk in the forest, going a different way, not wanting to go even close to where they destroyed his tearoom. He needed to get over this, but his heart ached. Those weren’t simple food-chain people, they were villains. If they wanted to open a store in that spot so badly all they could have done was reuse the building itself. But he was never going to let it go in the first place, that must be why they did this. Also, they could have easily built a store nearby. Just ask for advice, respect the woods and its inhabitants, this cannot be legal.

Onyx sadly stood under a tree, staring at the brick and concrete building that highly contrasted with the rest of the forest. She looked glumly ahead, playing a poem she made in her mind. “How I wish this never happened…” She whispered to herself before snapped out of her thoughts when Dapple trudged along. Wearing a hazmat mask, boots, cloves a thick jacket and a a bag, she had to blink a few times to process what she was seeing. “D-dapple? What are you doing?” She asked.

”Saving the tearoom! What about you, Onyx?” He asked innocently.

“The tearoom is gone, Dapple. You are seven days, three hours, twenty-one minutes and thirty-eight seconds too late.” She said bluntly.

”You’ve been counting?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. Getting no response until he said something else. “That Egg-noggiman- or whatever they call it is so out of place like a sore hoof. We must save the tearoom!” He exclaimed. “There must be still tome before-“

”As I said…” Onyx said bluntly, clearing her throat with a loud coughing noise before she started her poem. In a dramatic quiet voice, not admitting she made this one on the spot.

“Tragedy… It always comes with pain!

Even fighting for the fate of something in the wings of a chicken…

Always has a chance to come with defeat!

Denial can make you not believe what happened had happened!

Even if it’s hard to see, just gotta accept the pain!

Sometimes there’s a mistake, or sometimes it’s gotta rain!

Drowning out and washing away your joys and plans

Sometimes you just gotta accept there’s nothing to be done…

Even if you cannot comprehend why it had happened.”

She finished then looked at where Dapple was, seeing he wasn’t there “D-dapple?” She questioned in confusion before looking ag the store. After her wonderful poem, he still believed he could save the tearoom. Was her poem not good another, did she need to write another? Maybe she needed to mention the destruction of the tearoom and be more clear by ‘chickens’ when she made it. She sighed as she went after him, to see what he was up to.

She walked though the front doors, calling her friend’s name before freezing in place as soon as the door closed. The smell of rotten eggs stung her muzzle. The loud harmony-less music rung her ears, coming from the loud chatter of careless ponies, the crashing of- whatever was happening in the kitchen. The loud music playing from like four different pony’s phones! Three of them not wearing head or ear phones and the other one forgotten to plug his in. The addition of the occasional scratching of the metal chairs against the tiles and the loud eaters eating with their mouths open was not helping her.

This was a huge contrast against the relaxing jazz music in the tearoom. The ‘chairs’ were mostly cushions and the stools up against the bar never made such loud and terrible noise! The smell of tea also beats the smell of rotten eggs. The tearoom was rarely noisy and when it was, it was never too unbearable for long. The layout was more comforting, too, this modern layout looked like it belonged in a loud and bustling city like Zephyr Heights, which she had only been to once or twice. The small tables were spread across the room with small steel stools against them that actually looked a pretty uncomfortable. The desk where you order was in the middle at the back, the kitchen beyond the doorway behind the area behind the counter, and either side on the walls were screens showing the menus.

Onyx couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. Emotions exploding in her mind as she looked around, ears twitching at every scrape on the floor made by a stool. Which was surprising often considering only about twelve ponies were present along with five of those chicken creatures. She also stopped herself from gagging at the smell of a rotten egg or flinch from a sudden crash and scream in the kitchen.

”Dapple?” She called out, her quiet voice being drowned out by the noise. As she ventured further in to look for her friend, she couldn’t help but feel so out of place. It was like she stepped into a portal and ended up on a space craft in some cheesy sci-fi movie Zephyr Heights or Maretine Bay made in the 80’s, 90’s or early 2000’s. Her heart raced as as somepony shot their stool backwards, hitting Onyx who almost fell to the ground. The stallion looked back, face covered in sauce. “Watch it, freak!” He shouted before getting off his stool and heading towards the toilets. He apparently didn’t bother to wipe the suace from his hooves, leaving behind a trail of tomato sauce mixed with egg yolk. She wasn’t used to so much noise at once. It didn't help when more ponies came in, especially not when the stools and tables were high, obstructing her view as they sat up on them. It was like she was in a packed concert, trying to find her seat, or find her way through.

She was moving a lot slower than she thought, too. Maybe it was the overwhelming, painful noises. Or maybe she was just filled with confusion. “Dapple?” She whispered, getting no response. The ponies sitting up on higher stools made her feel like a midget, she just wanted to find Dapple and get out! She couldn’t allow him to make a fool of himself. He needing to come to terms that the tearoom was gone and there was nothing he could do about it. Then suddenly a sweaty jock stallion cried out loudly, in a stool behind her her heart skipped a beat as he shouted, she had no idea he was there.

”Hey! Look at that fool!” He cried loudly, louder than Onyx ever heard a pony shout, her heart was racing as she looked towards where he was pointing. Towards a bench on the left side of the building. He was standing on it with a determined expression. Or what looked like it from what she could see under his gas mask.

“Dapple?” She whispered in shock. Watching as ponies got up from her seats. As she cringed from the painful scratching noises of the stools against the floor, ponies bumped into her rudely as they moved around. “D-Dapple, get down!” She tried to call louder but was drowned out she groaned slightly, he was never this reckless!

“Listen up ponies!” Dapple exclaimed, his heart was racing in his nervous body, holding onto his bongo drums. “This is the place of the Crystal Tearoom! Not Eggi-egg-uh… Whatever-ingtons! This does not belong to them! The Crystal Tearoom was a calm and more Bridlewood-like place! This store has no place here. But if we work together, we can bring it back!” He cried out. All the ponies talking amongst themselves, Onyx putting a hoof on her face and trying to look for a gap. She needed to get him out of here. But she was blacked in by another pony, one dumped into her accidentally as more ponies went in. But at that moment, she saw her opportunity and ducked under a table. “This was a place of poetry! A place of tea! A place of jazz music and relaxation! This was not a crazy, greasy fast-food place from Zephyr Heights! Who’s with me!” He shouted, playing some music on his bongos on an encouraging beat. “Bring back the Crystal Tearoom! Bring it back!” He played.

“Dapple, you idiot…” Onyx sighed to herself as she made her way, crawling under the table, but the second she was halfway out from under the table. A soft drink was split accidentally and split all down onto her head. She shuddered a bit at the unexpected freezing cold drink, some of it tickling down her face. Just as she was about to take a next step, the remains of a half eaten large burger fell down on her heard with a splat. mayonnaise all over her beret and splatters in her mane and face, she wiped it with a hoof just seconds before she realised it was the source of that terrible smell. She shook her head and quickly got up, glancing at the crying, fussy three year old earth pony that knocked it on her before she ducked under the next table. Her heart racing, from Dapple’s dumb idea and the smell. Onyx started to feel sick as the two different suaces oozed and dripped on her fur. She couldn’t stand the smell, texture of this mayonnaise, perhaps it was a different recipe from the one Izzy uses to show the unicorns that it was harmless. But with this one, the smell was getting worse and worse, like rotten eggs left in the sun.

She was starting to lose her cool as she glanced around, looking for a cleaning. It was rare to lose her cool, but the smells, the bad noises, the mess. It was way too much for her, she quickly got up from under the table and looked towards Dapple. He was playing some jazz music on his bongos with the crowd watching. They didn’t seem like they were going to do anything, so perhaps he’d be fine for the time being. She gritted her teeth, unable to keep her cool about this any longer. So she bolted for the toilets the second she had her chance, nearly bumping into a pony, and another shouted at her as she dashed into the rest rooms. Running to the tap, she quickly turned it on! She threw her mayonnaise and egg yolk-tomato sauce covered beret off and started splashing water onto her face and mane, hoping it wasn’t all soaked in now, she couldn’t stand the smell any longer. She quickly put her head under the tap, completely losing her cool as she attempted to rinse out the horrible white stuff. Running her hooves through her mane before putting her beret under, trying to get rid of much as possible. She did not want that disgusting smell around her, in fact, she didn’t know mayonnaise even smelt this bad, it didn’t smell bad when izzy had the unicorns try some, must be some herb or something within it. Or maybe it was off, because as she thought before, it smelt a lot like rotten eggs just left in the sun, mixed with stinky weeds.

then she paused as she looked at the door, now she had to save Dapple from the mob! The smelly sauces and food must have been why he was wearing a jacket, boots and all. He could not stand regular mayoniase, but there was also a chance he could get hurt, so she needed to hurry. She quickly grabbed her soaked beret and rinsed it under the tap with soap a few times till the mess was gone. Once she was satisfied, she wrung it to the point it wasn’t dripping anymore and put it back on before running out the toilets. Being greeted by the crowd booing loudly as Dapple stood on the bench in shock.

”Oh no…” Onyx muttered.

“H-hey! You guys want the tearoom, back, right?” Dapple asked as the crowd crowded him. “Right?” He asked.

”Why would we want that old thing back when we got this new place?” A stallion asked rudely.

“Yeah, that’s old. Glad it’s gone!”

”I think you secretly like Eggingtons!”

”The Crystal Tearoom is disgusting!”

“I like Eggingtons. Finally, one is nearby!” Said the only unicorn so far that agreed with the tearooms destruction.

A few ponies angrily looked at Onyx who barged in. “Dapple, get off the bench!”

He briefly glanced at Onyx, noticing she was a Little damp. How? It wasn’t raining. “What happened to you?”

”No time to explain, Dapple, let’s go.” She said bluntly. “I dislike Eggintons as much as you. But arguing isn’t going to being it back! It’s gone!”

”But-“

”Let’s go!” Onyx exclaimed a little louder.

Dapple sighed as he looked down at his bongos. “One more song? I think this one will change your mind?” He asked, just seconds before a buff stallion suddenly grabbed his bongo drums. “Hey! Give those back!”

“Bongos and your tearoom music have no place here!” He exclaimed, throwing them to a friend as Dapple tried to used his magic to reach for them.

“Yeah! Do your music elsewhere!”

”Dapple!” Onyx shouted just outside the crowd. “Let’s go!” She shouted before seeing the bench rumble and shake just before collapsing under Dapple’s weight. He let out a grunt as he faceplanted the ground, being pulled away just before being plummeted by the angry crowd and their choice of thrown objects. Onyx had pulled him towards her.

”Onyx!” He exclaimed in shock. “What are you doing here?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t notice me.” Onyx bluntly whispered just before a random stallion shouted.

”Onyx!?” An earth pony shouted, recomising her. “Aren’t you the unicorn that makes those trashy poetry things?” She asked. She only seemed a little hurt by the remark, till more happened.

”Yeah, you suck, Onyx!”

“Get you and your anoy9ng mouth out of here!”

”We are sick of you!”

Onyx froze, looking as if she expected it, until the unicorn in the crowd walked forward. “Oh yeah. How long will it take for you to realise no pony likes you? Not even unicorns, havn’t you noticed yet? Unicorns look bored, push you sway from the microphone in events, or ponies in general wanting to get away as quick as possible? It’s because you suck, I hated your nonsense for my whole life!”

“Leave her alone, Maroon!” Dapple shouted, jumping ahead. “She tried her hardest at what she does!”

“I think we know what do do, right mob?” The orange and maroon unciron asked, smirking as the group raised random stiff to throw.

”Run, Dapple!” Onyx shouted, running with him. Narrowly dogging every thrown piece of food. Onyx covered for him, getting splattered in the face by a half-open burger then some tomato sauce splattering over her barrel.

“Onyx!” Dapple cried.

”I’m fine!” She exclaimed as they headed towards the doors. Stopping in their tracks right when an earth pony stallion jumped in front of them, with a large bucket. He smirked as he glanced at them.

”We’re surrounded!” Dapple cried out.

”Bet you unicorns atill can’t stand this!” The stallion exclaimed, what happened next seemed like slow motion as mayonnaise went spilling through the air, a large wave flying towards them. Seemed somepony didn’t get the message that unicorns were not ‘afraid’ of that stuff anymore. But Dapple completely despises it, not for the reasons of it being jinxed, just because he simply wasn’t a fan of it, part of the reason maybe being Izzy accidentally exploding a container all over him somehow. Didn’t help that it was an expired container of mayonnaise which made him gag.

”Dapple!” Cried out Onyx, pushing him out the way of the wave’s path getting the whole hit of it herself. She hit the ground with a loud disgusted groan as he screamed her name as if she had died. The crowd luaghed as he watched on with terror, the only sign Onyx was still alive was a weak groan. His heart was racing as he processed what had happened, he had saved her from the goop, that actually smelt kind of expired, meaning it was even worse than the fresher stuff that landed on her head. She groaned as she shakingly got up, looking towards the door.

“Y-you’re alive!” He cried. Then yelping the second they were both picked up in the magic of Maroon, who angrily shouted as the threw them right out the now open doors, far from the entrance.. “Get out, forever!” She shouted before slamming the doors. Onyx and Dapple both landing in the dirt, much of mayonnaise having flown from the former’s body. “Onyx?” Dapple groaned as he slowly got up, seeing her wipe as much of the mayonnaise off as she could. “Are you-“ He was about the ask before shrieking, seeing his bongos fly through the air and smashing into a nearby tree and into the mud below. He ran over and gasped in horror, his heart dropped as he looked at his damaged bongos. The wood cracked, the tops pierced and the whole thing looking like ponies purposely jumped on top of it to break it. Tears appeared in his eyes. “M-my bongos…” His heart was racing as he tried to process what happened, then his ears went back as he grumbled. They missed with the wrong ponies, he told himself as he clenched his teeth. Not only was her going to avenge his tearoom, he was going to avenge his beautiful bongos.

”See, Dapple? Pretesting isn’t going to bring back the tearoom.” Then her voice cracked. “Nothing will…”

”We could have saved the tearoom…” He whispered, seemingly not listening to her words. “But you had to be pessimistic about it.”

”The tearoom is long gone. You can’t just press a button, or play a song to bring it back. Your plan was never going to work. Even if your stunt managed to close down the Eggintons, the tearoom would still be gone.”

”But jaybe it could have worked!” Dapple suddenly said in an angry tone. “Maybe it would have been worth the shot!” Glaring down at his broken bongos, many emotions swirling in his mind. “Maybe some miracle would happen. But you got in the way!” He exclaimed, stomping his hoof angrily and turning around slowly. “I al,ost had them! But you had to come in ans ruin it for me!”

”Wh-what!?!” Onyx exclaimed, surprised by his outburst. She had never seen him do this ever. “D- You got to stop pretending! The tearoom is gone and there’s no bringing it back. That’s final!”

“They sold… Unhealthy stuff! Onyx! The sauce they threw on you was expired! They could be serving that to ponies!” Dapple bitterly responded through gritted teeth.referring to mayonnaise. Making another excuse on why it was bad, if she wasn’t going to listen about the tearoom’s destruction. The anger getting stronger. “We can’t allow that!”

“If they get sick and forced to close, then that’s their fault.” Onyx bluntly responded. “But shutting down the unhealthy food factory isn’t going to bring back the tearoom. It’s not gonna pop out the ground or anything.”

”It was worth a shot and you blew it! Now the only tearoom related thing i had left was destroyed! If I failed, I would still have by bongos and another crack at it! But you ruined it all! Because you enevr cared, did you!?” He accused her, his anger getting out of his controll. “ You just got in the way, Onyx! We are unicorns! We were here first, this is our turf and we will defend it! They are all just chickens and pony shaped chickens. We could have had our stage back! Our tearoom! The place where we’ve been doimg our stuff for years!” He exclaimed. “I am going to get it back, you will see. But I guess you don’t even care! Which is fine, I don’t need you, Onyx, I can do this myself!”

Onyx stepped back as her heart shattered. She had never seen him so angry in his whole entire life. “D-Dap-“

”Get lost, traitor!” He crossed his hooves, sitting on the ground to sulk over his destroyed bongo drums and the ruined tearoom. Onyx deciding to let him be for a while. So she decided to walk home and have a shower. On her way she thought about him and his actions. He had neber been so angry before. He was never angry at her, either. Him shouting at her and blaming her for not caring actually hurt. She had no words as she headed home. Hoping this was just a moment for him and he’d be apologising next time they met. He wasn’t the type to hold grudges for an extended period…

Buying it back?

*The next day*

Dapple sighed as he put two pieces of his bongos back together with glue. Being the most careful he could be, making sure everything was in the correct spot. If he missed up, then he’d either have to start from scratch, or they’d be destroyed permanently. As he worked at it, the events of the day before played though his mind. How he treated his friend when she followed him in. Did she really mean harm? Or was she just concerned about him entering the stinky area and wanted to make sure he’d stay safe? His stomach hurt as he thought about the smelly sauce. That stuff would have been all over him if it weren't for her. Maybe he should have paused before speaking, maybe he was a little too harsh with her yesterday, besides, she was just as important to him as the tearoom or bongos. Sure it was technically her fault the bongos got broken, but if he lost her, he’d lose everything that reminded him of the tearoom, and one of the many reasons on what was special about it. He’d hate to get rid off her because of the tearoom is apparently ‘gone for good’. So after gluing a few pieces together her got up and took a breath and went to the door, thinking on what to say to her about his actions. Besides, he was a little hungry, so maybe they could talk it out with lunch somewhere.

As he headed down a path after looking through half of Bridlewood for her, he finally saw her sitting down of a wooden long near a creek just beyond the run-down park and school. The creek was knowing to be pretty big, and not too far from the large pond where unicorns like to play in during summer.. This creek was a special place for him, It was where they both met as foals. But it took them years to realise they were perfect for eachother, which wasn’t long after they both started doing little performances at the tearoom, they fir well. He noticed she seemed busy looking at something, but was alerted when he called out fro her, immediately turning around. He first noticed she was using her magic on something, but didn’t know what.

“Daps?” She questioned quietly.

“Hey Onni… I uh…” He paused, starting with a nickname and looking at his friend, who could tell he was nervous. “I kind of wanted to apologise for yesterday, when I said some mean things…”

“I know…” She said softly, watching as Dapple sniffed around. Looking confused.

“Uh, do you smell that?” He asked her. “Smells like- He said before noting a small smear of red sauce on her mouth. “What are you eating.”

“Uh. Treat.”

“Okay…” He said, noticing Onyx was acting a bit suspicious, especially when he got a peak of some white paper bag behind her bag. “What are you hiding?” He asked.

“Nothing.”

“C’,mon, we are friends!” He exclaimed, getting a bad feeling about this.

“Just some rubbish I found and picked up to throw out. Naughty litterers…”

“Oh. Okay, that’s fair. Darn litterers!” He exclaimed, walking around her before snatching it right out of hos hooves and looking straight into the bag. “Aha!” He exclaimed before pausing, seeing three strawberry cupcakes and one wrapper in there.

“There, see it, now?” Asked Onyx. “You can have one if you want, but only one, the rest are for-“

“Oh really!?” He asked, perking up before taking one out with his hoof, looking as the swirled pink icing with half a strawberry on top. About to take a bite just seconds before he eyed a familiar name and logo on the paper bag. He yelped as he jumped, the cupcakes being thrown on the ground with the one on his hoof ending up in the air and landing on Onyx’s head, splattering icing on her.

“E-eggingtons!?” He exclaimed, eyeing the bag on the ground and back at Onyx, feeling sick to the stomach at what he was witnessing. “On-“

“I can explain.” She said and paused. “They looked good.”

“You fell for the trap!?” Dapple cried out, anger building up. “I thought you knew better! But no! You had to go there and betray me! Betray our relationship and every single unicorn! You betrayed Bridlewood, you know that!?” He shouted at her loudly.

“The tearoom is gone, so we might as well try to find some enjoyment in it’s replacement… The cupcakes are decent.”

“You are a traitor!” He raised and hoof in anger and slammed it down, not realising what he was doing until Onyx cried out.

“Ow!”

He then paused, opening his eyes as he glanced at Onyx, seeing what he did before freezing. What she did felt like betrayal, felt like their friendship was coming to an end.

“Ony-“

“J-just go.” She said, rubbing her cheek. “It’s clear you’ve got issues. Like your anger…”

He didn’t know what to say or do and only ran. Mixed emotions in his head, the rift tearing their friendship apart! Must be the destruction of the tearoom causing it, without the tearoom their friendship is nonexistent, it is the place that sparked it after all.

”Guess Onyx is not on my side after all?” Dapple grumbled to himself as he jumped onto his bed. “But she’ll see, maybe it is gone, but we can bring it back, I just know it!” He grumbled, “I’ve been there for as long as I remember! So it’s up to me to get it back, even if Onyx doesn’t understand.” He responded, his heart ached as her remembered Onyx and how he treated her, But also how she betrayed him. He never shouted at her before or said those things, so it’d be unlikely she’d want to talk to him again. But if she was going to get in the away and lie about the tearoom not being able to return, then he didn’t want her. The tearoom was a big part of her life too and she didn’t want to do anything to bring it back. So it was all on him. He really thought she’d help.

He grumbled as he eyed a shelf in his room, on it was an aged plush toy of a bear and a photo frame showing a photo of Onyx with a bucket on her head, it was taken not long after magic returned, unicorns were still getting used to their magic. The day it was taken, Onyx was trying to levitate a whole bucket of soapy water, but made a mistake which caused her magic to stop and drop it all over her. Dapple remembered he was laughing hard and saw this as a good photo opportunity with a camera he had at the time which he never used. It felt good to finally laugh after so long of being all droopy, tired and magic-less. He smiled slightly as he levitated both of them towards him in the bed, soon looking sad as he gazed at the photo, sitting up a bit as he remembered the moment it was taken. Which was in the tearoom, which was now gone…

With the tearoom gone, did that mean this moment was invalid? The photo was nothing but rubbish now? Then he looked at the teddy bear, he had actually won this in a bet with Alphabittle many years go, just moments before he and Onyx preformed on the stage in the tearoom for the first time. When their friendship was made, even if they didn’t feel it yet. But this plush meant a lot to him too, but with the tearoom gone, did that mean the plush had to go too? If the plush and the picture have to ho, perhaps so did his friendship with Onyx. He already lost his bongos that he almost always used in the tearoom.

He sadly gazed at a nearby bin and at the two objects before letting out a sigh, he couldn’t do it, he couldn’t throw them out! He had to save his friendship! He had to save the tearoom so he and Onyx could still be together! He was going to do it tomorrow! Their friendship cannot be destroyed like his bongos was, he wasn’t going to let anything else be destroyed because of Eggingtons.

The next day…

He grumbled to himself as he exited his home with a bag over him. As he walked along, he bumped into Alphabittle, who was looking a little better. “Oh Dapple! You off to make some beats with your bongos, right?” He asked, intentionally pouring salt into the wound, “Well. I was thinking of opening anew tearoom in a new location. How you like the sound of that?”

Dapple looked pretty unimpressed at this remark, he muttered to himself and looked back at him. “I’m not working with Onyx at the moment.” He bluntly responded, “She doesn’t care about our lives being stripped away from us!”

“Wh-what? But- You two had like a thing going on!“

”I’d rather not talk about it.” He grumbled, walking away, leaving Alphabittle to scratch his head in confusion, wondering what had happened. He had never seen him look so upset.

He arrived to the restaurant, wearing a fake mustache, a brown hat to hide his horn and a coat that covered his cutiemark, he held hos tongue as he slowly opened the door. Hoping not to be exposed to the forbidden sauce. But this was his only chance of getting the forbidden sauce out of Bridlewood and getting the tearoom back. If he brought the restaurant, then he’d be able to replace it with the tearoom! It’d be just like the days where he and Onyx were on stage! Onyx would finally see how right he is, and how ridiculous she is.

Thankfully it wasn’t so busy this morning, so he made his way to the counter with ease. It wasn’t like the ones in the tearoom, so he had to pull a stool up himself and sit down. He put his hooves on the counter and then took out an old phone he had, but rarely used. But now was part of his plan, he went to a boring web Page about the history of money and gazed at it, scrolling slowly. Trying to appear smart, serious and important. Also yo try and appear rich, too. Unicorns weren’t the richest race, but weren’t ‘poor’ either. They thrived the way they were just fine.

“Welcome to Eggingtons, what may I do, sir?” A mascot looking chicken asked him as she stood at the counter.

He cleared is throat and tried his best at a fancy voice. “M’lady. I don’t want any greasy food from this joint. This is a beautiful place to start a business, I know just the thing that will make it bloom! But in order to do that, madam, I’d have to buy the whole building so it can happen. You must be able to share my visions and spare one buildings, for moi?”

The chicken gave him a blank stare and paused. “No.”

”No-no. I’m terribly sorry for the misunderstanding!” Dapple said in his fancy voice. He knew it was awful, but he had to disguise himself, to be believable. “I wanted to ask your manager, not you!”

“Ugh… I’ll get him…” The chicken said before heading to the kitchen.

Out came a familiar rooster and stood in front of Dapple, towering him. He had to stop himself from going ‘you!’ But he paused and gulped. “O-oh yes! Nice to meet you, Mr. Roller Roost. I must ask you to spare this building. I know the perfect store for it.”

”Not for sale…”

”Are you sure you don’t want this opportunity? For the first week after the opening, you’ll get half of the earned money from the customers…”

“Month.”

”Fine.”

“Deal. Buying this store will cost you 1,500,500 dollars and we get half of what your place will earn in the first month.”

”1,500,500?” Dapple questioned, flabbergasted.

”Indeed.”

”D-deal! I’ll have it in a week, sir!” Dapple gulped, shaking his wing in agreement, not noticing the nasty smirk. “Thank you for your time.” Dapple said before walking out the restaurant and dumping the hat and coat in his bag and carrying them away. “1,500,000!?” He cried. “How am I supposed to get my hooves on that!?” He them slapped both his hooves to his face then paused after a long groan. The tree! He ran through the forest as fast as his legs could carry him until he finally reached the giant tree in the clearing. The wishing tree, he grinned slightly as he approached it. Putting his hoof down on the bark, he looked up at the branches. “Wishing tree? Breezies? I wish for as much money and everything I need to bring the tearoom back! I need the money!” He asked with a mischievous grin. “I want the money on my couch when I wake up in the morning!” He asked, hoping for his wish to come true, but suddenly there was a loud noise as leave flew through the air and slapped him in the face. He then looked around, confused. “Tree?” He said before the strong wind blew at him harder. This only happened when a unicorn had bad intentions and wanted something out of greed. If a unicorn wished for a plate of cookies for somone’s birthday, then the breezies would come out the tree and give it to them in secret. But if you asked for something bad, the tree would pretty much say no, in its own way, some rumour it’s the breezies controlling the tree. So basically, the breezies might have given him a big “no!”

In fact, one of them even came out the tree herself and slapped him with a rubber stick

”That’s a no?” He asked and sighed. “Guess I have to do it myself…” He grumbled, walking home. “But how’d I get that much?” He wondered. Muttering to himself as he headed inside his home, not noticing the owl nearby his window, hooting loudly in the daytime. He simpy went to his bedroom and brainstormed a plan to get the money. Maybe he could busk! Nah, he wouldn’t get enough in time, he only had a week! Donations would take too long, too.

Then he gasped as an idea snapped in his mind. “The bank!” He gasped with an idea. “They have lots of money, right?” Surely Zephyr Heights wouldn’t mind him borrowing some. Besides, a trashy place that originated in that city did destroy part of Bridlewood. So it’d be fair. Sure, the currency between the two were a little different, it wouldn’t matter. It was never a problem anyway. He just needed to get the money to save the tearoom. He started planning out loud to himself as he went to some paper to write or draw it down. Ignoring the hooting owl wearing a guard helmet outside of his window, not noticing it was wearing such thing, which probably wouldn’t confuse him to be fair, but this owl was not cosplaying.

Quest’s End

*The next day*

The Zephyr Heights Bank was huge and futuristic looking. There were plenty of ATM machines and desks around. The tiles were neatly polished, not a scruff to be seen. The shiny walls gave the “rich” look and the pillars made the place look even more wealthy. He gulped a bit as he walked ahead, past a group was queuing at an ATM. He kept moving, trying to not get distracted as he moved to a desk, a very serious looking stallion was behind it. He quickly glanced up from his computer, looking at Dapple beyond the glass screen. “What may a do for you, sir?”

He paused a bit. Never being called that in his life. He didn’t mind, he just assumed it was a title for certain ponies. ”I’d like to borrow money…”

”Money? How much?”

”1,500,500 dollars?”

The was a pause as the stallion glanced at him, making him a little more nervous. “Are you aware that you’ll have a time limit on paying us back?” He asked, Dapple being a little puzzled as he hadn’t thought about that. He wasn’t familiar with banks. “If you don’t pay us back before then you can and will be taken to court, and stuff will likely be taken from your home to make up for the unpaid amount of money.”

He had froze, but he had to do this if he were to get the tearoom back. Everything will be back to normal! The unicorns needed the tearoom, it was a special place in Bridelwood. If he wanted to get it back, he had to make some payments… So he was going to take one for the team. With the tearoom back, being in debt with another city would be worth it! Besides, nothing about this felt dangerous.”How long will I have?” He asked softly.

”I’ll give you five years.”

”Five? Alright then!”

“Now sign this paperwork.” The stallion bluntly shoved a sheet ob a clipboard on the desk. Sliding it from under the gap under the screen.

“Sure.” Dapple responded, grabbing the clipboard and sitting down in a chair nearby. He wasn’t sure why they needed so much info, but if this was how he was saving the tearoom- or bringing it back. He was going to take it. “Fur colour?” He paused then looked down at his coat. “Brownish green… I think?” He responded to himself, wondering what colour his fur would be considered. But he wrote that down anyway then the next one was “Address” he knew what an address was, was where your home was!… But there was a problem. There wasn’t much room for him to write it down, he’d need at a line or two more than he was given. So he’d have to use more place and write in the gaps on either side of the lines themselves.

‘Start at the ‘Welcome to Bridlewood’ sign and walk forward till you go past the school. Turn left and walk fifty steps and turn 50 degrees and gallop till you get to the old playground that’s overgrown. Then walk east until you nearly hit a prickly blackberry bush. Then take a job towards the direction of the tearoom and you will see it!” He wrote then came to a realisation. Realising that could have been a lot shorter of he said. ‘Walk to the tearoom and walk south-west until you see a strange shaped rock and the walk west.’ He checked his writing and noticed it was the last question. He got up and walked to the desk.

The stallion was very unamused as he glanced. “I need you to redo your address.”

“My address? It’s right there?” He said, confused, wanting to point but the screen was in the way. He could not understand what the screen was for? Maybe it was some sort of protection.

“I mean, street and house number, not how to get there?”

”Street? House number?” Dapple cocked his head in confusion before he realised what he meant. “Oh! Bridlewood doesn’t really have house numbers or streets. We do name paths and landmarks. But we don’t have house numbers in Bridlewood.”

The stallion glanced at him. Pausing as he glared sternly, squinting a bit. “Bridlewood?”

”y-yeah? That’s where I live!”

”This is the Zephyr Heights bank. We deal with the Zephyr Heights currency and occasionally, Maretine Bay money since it works the same. But that money always gets sent there and traded for this city’s currency.”

”Okay…” He paused. “You can lend me Zephyr Heights money.”

”We don’t lend money to ponies that don’t live in Zephyr Heights. You’d need to visit your bank.”

”We don’t have a bank. Well, not like this, anyway.”

“Too bad!”

”But I need the money to save the tearoom!”

The stallion felt that bank thing was strange but ignored it. “Too bad. Next!” He called, a pegasus mare pushing Dapple out the way and rushed forward. He grumbled as he walked towards the exit. The bank was no help… He sighed to himself as soon as he stepped outside, looking around the city. Onyx would hate this city, well, maybe not hate- just not like it as much. He felt Bridlewood was better than Zephyr Heights, too. Comfier, more natural and sometimes quieter. He preferred animal noises over the sound of devices, machines and chatter. But Zephyr Heights was cool in its own way. He walked down the street and looked back at the bank.

”Time for plan two.”

It was late in the night. Dapple sneaked up the street, wearing a black batman mask and a panther onsie. To try and hide himself in the dark night better. Ponies were still up, but not as many as daytime. He slowly went over to the bank and looked up at the tall buildings. From what he saw in the movies, perhaps the front doors were not a good idea. He needed to get in while not getting any attention. Just as he saw an open window in an alleyway to the side of the bank, gasped with glee. Not even thinking that it was a little suspicious that a place with a lot of money had an open window in the night. Presumably unprotected. Maybe it was someone wanting him to get the money. So he opened the window a bit more, as quiet as he could. Cringing at the small squeak it made as he did so. He gulped as his heart started to race as he looked into the dark building. He took a breath as he thought about his actions.

Stealing was a bad thing to do, but he was going it for a good thing. Everything else he tried failed, so this was a last resort to save the tearoom. If he failed, he was going to be jinxed. He;d be seen as an outcast, but he was willing go take that risk for the unicorns. But there was a pain in his gut. Was this really the right thing to do? It had to be, they wouldn’t let him borrow the money, so he needed to take it. After a deep breath he climbed through the open window. Only to end up faceplanting the floor of the bank with a loud “thump.” He groaned a bit as he got up, looking around the dark area. Not wanting to use his horn for light just yet, in case it got someone’s attention. He slowly stepped forward, careful for any traps.

”Stick your hooves up in the air!” A voice shouted. Dapple nearly jumped out of his skin as he froze in place. His heart skipped a beat as he winced. Slowly turning around to see two royal guards, one holding a torch and shining it right at him. He had to squint a little from the brightness. There was seemingly two of them. One blue, one green. He was familiar with them, but had forgotten their names. “Drop your weapons,” The blue one shouted.

”Uh, Zoom. He doesn’t have a weapon?” The green one responded. Dapple remembered their names now, Thunder and Zoom. The queen’s favourite guards. They had somehow caught him and he was in big trouble. Which he deserved, so he wasn’t going to fight back. It would possibly be jinxie or something to escalate this crime any further. So he obeyed by putting his forelegs in the air as he sat down with a guilty look on his face as he thought if what he had done… But maybe they would listen to him.

“I-It’s not what-“

”You are coming with us, you criminal!” Zoom cried out, growling as she headed towards him. Slapping a tennis ball on his horn, which simply confused him. Sticking things on unicorn horns didn’t stop magic or anything? Maybe it was simply just protection from his sharp horn, what Zoom did next was rip his mask off and hoof-cuff his hooves.

“I’m… Sorry…”

“You have the right to remain silence!” Zoom screamed into his ear and dragged him away.

The next thing he knew, he was in the throne room with the guards on either side of her. On the throne was the queen. “We caught the criminal, your majesty!”

“Good job you two.” Haven thanked and then glanced at him. “I think you know we are very disappointed in you.”

”We?” He asked before gasping. Seeing Alphabittle, Onyx, Jasper, Zipp, Pipp, Sunny and Izzy walk onto the throne room, past him and stopping in front of him with stern expressions on their faces.

“Honestly. What were you expecting?” Zipp asked, stomping her hoof.

”You’d never do something like this…” Onyx bluntly responded. “Guess I was wrong.” She looked away from him. Seeing his best friend so betrayed in his actions hurt him.

“You and- You always weird me out in a way.” Zipp added. Wanting to say ‘you and Onyx’ but stopping herself. Knowing she had nothing to do with this.

”I never thought you’d become a thief!” Shouted Izzy. “You are even crazier than I realised!”

“Not cool…” Jasper sadly said the paused. “I have no idea why I’m even here… You already have ponies to shout at you.”

Alphabittle looked at the guilty unicorn who was just sitting there. “Dappled Grey Hoofbeats! What had gotten into you?” He asked in a stern but concerned voice, using his full name like a parent would do to their child that did something really wrong. But a snicker did escape from somepony’s laugh at his full name, which was ironic because he wasn’t dappled or grey. “You never struck me as the type to do this kind of thing?”

The was a pause as he looked up at his fellow unicorns as his ears drooped. He looked down and sighed. “I just wanted to save the tearoom…”

”I told you, the-“ Onyx was about to say before being interrupted.

”But why on earth would you try and rob a bank in a different city?” He asked.

“To try and buy the place back. So I could save and bring the tearoom back!”

”Daps! The tearoom-“

”Onyx, would you please allow me to speak?” He asked her, who sighed as her ears went flat. “But it’s been destroyed. There’s no bringing it back! I miss it too, but it’s not possible!”

”I-I-“ Dapple spoke then paused. “I just really miss it, I really thought I could! But everything I tried failed. It was where Onyx and I started our friendship as foals after we met at the creek! It was where we preformed for years! So many memories and I-“ He spoke as his voice cracked. “I-I really thought it would last forever! B-but our friendship and memories have been destroyed with it. I just want it back!”

Onyx glared in concern as she watched her friend burst into tears. Tears ran down his face as he talked about how much he missed the tearoom. She had only seen him cry on a rare occasion, so it made her heart ache to see him so low. Even if they both were pretty joyless before magic returned, but pretty much almost every unicorn was.

“You-“ Onyx was about to say before being interrupted. “Ugh.”

“I think you had enough.” Zoom glanced. “This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t kept going om.”

“B-“ Dapple shivered.

“You a-“ Onyx was about to say before being interrupted again.

“I liked it too, but that was kinda crazy to try and steal.” Izzy noted.

“Yeah! But!” Dapple cried. “Me and Onyx might not be able yo be friends anymore! I don’t want to leave her!”

“Dapple-“

“Onyx, let us speak!”

“Y-you think a building is the only thing keeping your friendship valid?” Izzy questioned

Onyx cleared her throat loudly. “Daps.” She said softly as she moved to towards him. “Sure the place that sparked our friendship is gone. But that doesn’t mean our friendship has to go away, too! We shouldn’t let such a major loss tear us apart-“ She said before being interrupted, her ears going flat, wanting to talk to him without being interrupted.

”Yeah! If you let Eggingtons tear you apart and make you quit being who you are. Don’t you think they will see this as a victory and make them stronger?” Suggested Thunder.

”I-I guess if you put it that way…” Dapple said, wiping his eyes with his hoof. He missed it so much, the stage, the ornaments, the decorations, the signs, the tables. Even the shape of the whole building! He heard himself sniffle as he sta there. “I guess I will just have to go on…” He said, sadly getting up, ears droopy. “Thanks for stopping me, I guess…” He said in a soft, sad voice, ready to leave, but he was stopped.

Onyx finally spoke, “The destruction of the tearoom does not make anything from it invalid, including memories. I still cherish the time I heard you first laugh, when I dropped a bucket of soapy water on my head when trying to use my magic. I don’t want you thinking times like that are invalid and turn them into bad memories instead of good ones just because the location is gone.” She explained, she didn’t find the situation as funny as he did. “Or any of our other great memories, I think it’d be better to let the memories of the tearoom live on and keep what reminds us of it as good things. Not throw everything related to it away. It’s what the tearoom would have wanted if it were alive.”

Dapple looked at her, a smile slowly forming. He didn’t know what to say, but he knew what she meant, he was going to let the tearoom live on in his memories and pictures. “Alright…”

”Don’t think you are getting away this easily.” Zoom exclaimed, ruining the moment. Tossing an orange vest, trash bags and bag of certain tools in his hooves. “What you did is still a serious crime! You better consider yourself lucky with a light punishment of one month worth of community service in the city, every day!”

”Every day? I live all the way in B-“

”That’s right!” Zoom exclaimed. “You must take that four hour hike twice everyday!”

He let out a groan as he heard the words. Then he considered that from how dangerous, stupid and jinxie his actions were, he did deserve this, after all.

“Actually, I think he can stay in a hotel here!” The queen perked up, not wanting him to do that every day in case something would happen.

”I think I’ll be fine, thanks for the offer…” He said before sighing. “One month of community service it is…”

“Alright, but if you ever change your mind, say so.” She said, a little concerned for him.

Dapple was about to say something but then paused. “But, may I ask how you knew what i was doing?”

Zoom smirked slightly as everypony else looked at her, wondering the same thing, except for the Queen who assumed she had gotten a message somehow. Maybe from a unicorn in Bridlewood who overheard his plan. But she didn’t confirm or deny it. “I’ll just say a little bird told me.”

Dapple rolled his eyes. Not understanding the ‘a little bird told me’ saying but rolled with it. “Alright.” He sadly looked back at the crowd, wanting to cry again, there was no way to bring the tearoom back. He had lost so much along with the tearoom, he lost friends, he lost his collection of jars and models and he’ll have to live without those things. He hated this way, but he had to deal with it.

Author's Note

Yep. This is how it ends. No new tearoom, Eggingtons does not go bankrupt and Dapple will have to work on moving on. (But he can still be friends with Onyx, I guess)

Just like the harsh cruelty of real life. I didn’t want the story to have a closure with everyone happy with the tearoom rebuilt and the eggingtons closed, because that is not what happened with the situation this is based on. Just Dapple and Onyx’s reactions and the former being stopped before he did something stupid while having to learn how to cope healthily and learning that just because a place got destroyed does not mean you have to get read of everything that relates to it.

If the food chain ‘Eggingtons’ is based on goes bankrupt, then I may write a sequel, but who knows