"COME ON, COME ON, COME ON!!!" Pinkie chanted as she bounced through Ponyville on her way to Sugarcube Corner.
"I'm right behind you." Rarity assured, the high spirited earth pony was always, well... The only way ponies have described her is 'just being Pinkie' but today she was being especially 'Pinkie'. "You never told me what I was needed for..."
"I need to introduce you to someone. Well, actually, I think you two already know eachother." Pinkie let out a giggle which soon erupted into a laugh of excitement. Rarity just smiled and continued to follow. After knowing Pinkie as long as she has, you learn that sometimes it's better to let it be a suprise than risk going for a ride on the runaway train that is Pinkie Pie's mind.
"If I knew I was being waited on I wouldn't have taken so long getting ready."
"No, it's okay! He's super patient! He could wait for, like, a bazillion years! Could you imagine waiting for somepony for a bazillion years?! When they finally arrived they'd owe you a bazillion birthday parties! And a bazillion presents! But I guess you'd be kind of old and wouldn't be into parties as much... Unless you're me, of course! I'm gonna be partying 'till I'm a bazillion and one!"
"I have no doubt you will." Rarity said as she walked through the entrance to Sugarcube Corner.
"Okay, he's in here." Pinkie whispered, pointing into the other room. Rarity tried to peek through the door that was open ajar but Pinkie stepped in the way. "Look, he doesn't talk much. So, if you ask him something and he doesn't respond just change the subject. I don't think he likes it when people pry into his personal life."
"My word, Pinkie. I've never seen you so..." Rarity stopped to figure out what she was trying to say. It was unusual for Pinkie to act so normal but to say she has never seen Pinkie so normal is... Mean.
"I know!" Pinkie said, seemingly returning to her normal self before leading the way into the room. "Hey, sweetie! I brought Rarity to see you. Do you remember her?" it sounded like she was talking to a child, or someone who was sick. "Rarity. Come on in! Come meet my very special somepony!"
Rarity slowly opened the door and peered through. At first, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her so she moved closer, but her eyes were telling the truth. Pinkie nuzzled up to her 'special somepony'.
"You remember Tom, right?"
"Uhm... Why, of course!" Rarity played along despite her shock. Right infront of her lay this boulder and one of her closest friends cuddling it. Was this what she looked like when under Discord's influence? Creepy...
"You can sit with us, Rares." Rarity complied and pulled a chair a safe distance from the two lovers. Wait, no. These aren't lovers! One of them is made of rock! It is not sentient, it cannot feel love! "Oh, Tom! I was thinking once everyone knows about us we could throw a party to celebrate our new found love for eachother!"
Tom sat expressionless.
"I'll let you think about it. Rarity, aren't you gonna ask anything? Don't you two have some catching up to do?"
"Erm... Very well... Ahem. Tom... How have you been?" Rarity asked awkwardly.
Tom didn't respond.
"Well, you look great." a limp laugh escaped Rarity as she looked around the room.
"So,Tommy! I was thinking Rarity could stay for dinner tonight. I know you don't eat a lot but it'd be nice for us all to have a meal."
Tom was speechless.
"I guess you're right. It might be kind of awkward." Pinkie's ears drooped and she rested her head on Tom.
"So... When did you two become a couple?" Rarity asked, this was beyond strange but she didn't want to hurt her friends feelings.
"Oh, now that's a good story! Do you wanna tell it or can I?"
Tom allowed Pinkie to continue.
"Alright, so, it was obviously after the incident with Discord and you threw Tom about of the Boutique... When we all became friends again I saw Spike trying to lug him out of the street. So, I offered my assistance and somehow it ended up being just me and Tom. So, we got to talking and started to meet up in secret and go on dates. I loved the secrecy but I think now it's time people knew. I love Tom and I can't hide it any longer."
"Well, I think that's just... Wonderful." Pinkie let out a sigh.
"Rarity, can I talk to you?"
"Of course, dear."
"In private?" her voice had developed a sharp tone to it causing worry to stir up inside Rarity. She was led back into the kitchen. "I'll be right back, okay honey?"
Tom waited patiently.
"What did you want to talk about?" Rarity asked,
"Are you my friend?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Are. You. My. Friend?" Pinkie's hair began to deflate,
"Of course I am, Pinkie." she laid a hoof on her friends shoulder. Pinkie looked at the floor.
"So, if I asked you a question... You'd tell me the honest truth?"
"Yes."
"No matter what?"
"No matter what."
"You Pinkie promise?"
"What is this about?"
"You Pinkie promise..?" Rarity looked at her friend who was still looking down.
"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye-- OW!" that last part had always been something only Pinkie could do. Rarity often wished a Pinkie promise hadn't involved poking yourself in the eye.
"...About Tom."
"What of him?"
"Do you... Still have feelings for him?" Rarity stepped back,
"I-- what?!"
"I've noticed the way you look at us. And I've seen the way you look around the room to avoid conversation."
"Pinkie, this is absurd, I--"
"Do you still love Tom?"
"I never loved Tom!"
"Okay, so answer this... Do you think me and him will work out?"
"I don't think I understand..."
"Do you think me and Tom will be together forever?"
"Erm... Pinkie..."
"I thought so... You do have feelings for him..."
"You're being silly--"
"I think you should go."
"What?"
"Just go! I thought you'd understand, Rarity, but you just don't! Now please... Go." tears now ran down both of the ponies faces. Rarity left Sugarcube Corner and returned home.
Rarity spent most of that evening just sitting in the dark, thinking. It had been a funny sort of day. In the course of about one hour she had found out her friend was having a relationship with an inanimate object and then accused of having feelings for said inanimate object. Maybe this was some crazy phase Pinkie is going through and it'll be over by tomorrow. Realising how late it was getting, Rarity headed up to bed.
"Good night, Opal." she mumbled and she removed her make up. As she rested her head on the plump pillow, she noticed a piece of paper on the sheets. She unfolded it and revealed a note. A note with the most familiar handwriting in the world to her. The note read:
'Sorry about today. Things got a bit crazy back there. I shouldn't have let you go. But luckily, she doesn't suspect a thing. Soon, you and I can pack our bags and get out of here.
Signed, your special somepony,
Tom.'
