The school day came to a close and all the students were eagerly making their way to their lockers and out the building to enjoy the rest of their time as they desired. Though for Scootaloo the rest of her day was likely to be as uncomfortable as school had been. For one Sweetie Belle was missing for reasons unknown, having called out this morning before classes began. She hadn't seemed sick Saturday night so Scootaloo didn't know what that could mean for her. On top of all that the way the teachers had been acting was downright suspicious. Whispering to each other and gathering together outside of earshot from the student body. Something strange was happening and clearly they were trying to keep it a secret. If that wasn't bad enough, she had her own personal issues to navigate.
"There you are, babe. Barely got to see you today." Rain Catcher said, approaching her and standing by her locker. "Did you have plans later today, thought we might spend some time together?." She froze at the question, feeling an urge to answer him but doing her best to repress that instinct. There was a point she had to get across to him firmly. Closing her locker she passed by Rain Catcher without so much as a glance, heading to the exit. "Babe? What's up?" As she expected he followed after her, but she kept her gaze forward. Unchanging in stride or direction. "Hey, Scootaloo. There something wrong with you? Like, can you hear me? I'm talking right to you." He moved up beside her, Scootaloo glancing his direction to let him know she certainly could hear him but wasn't at all happy to listen. It wasn't until they got outside and away from the school for a distance that his temper began to show. "What's your problem anyway? I'm trying to talk to you and you're acting all weird. Are you mad about something?"
"Am I mad about something!?" Scootaloo snapped back at him, looking him in the eyes now. "Yeah, I'm mad about something. What do you think that could be?"
"I dunno. Are you like... on your period, or...?"
"You're such a jerk!" Scootaloo shouted again, shoving him forward with her hands but only able to actually push him a single step backwards. "Do you not even remember what you did this weekend?"
"Oh, that? Like... it's not a big deal, is it?" Rain Catcher asked, Scootaloo gritting her teeth and holding back tears. "I mean I know I snuck into your party but a lot of other guys did too. Why are you singling me out?"
"Because... those other guys... none of them said I was the one who invited them." Scootaloo admitted, wanting to actually vent her feelings more than hold them in just to frustrate him. "You lied! You lied about me, to my friends. Why would you do that?"
"C'mon, I didn't mean to make you look bad. I got caught and... y'know, I was afraid of getting in more trouble than I was already in." Rain Catcher explained, shrugging his shoulders. "I wasn't trying to make you feel bad, I was just trying to get out of that situation."
"It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't put yourself in the situation in the first place." Scootaloo said. "That hurt me, a lot. How can I trust you if you'll lie like that for yourself?"
"Hey now, I messed up, right?" Rain Catcher asked, getting closer to her and pulling her into a hug. She wanted to fight him but didn't resist it. It was nice to be hugged by someone and she'd grown fond of it happening. "So I should make it up to you somehow. Do you want me to apologize to your friends?"
"If you did, they'd probably take a piece out of you before they accepted it." Scootaloo said, only half joking.
"Still that bad with them, huh?" Rain thought. "Well, I guess it's just you I need to apologize to anyway. How about I take you out for a date?"
"...really?" Scootaloo asked. In all the time she'd been involved with him they hadn't gone on a real date before. "You think we could find the time to do it?"
"Sure thing, you tell me a good night and I can make it happen for you." Rain Catcher said, Scootaloo leaning into him more now. "Am I forgiven?"
"Take me on that date and you will be." Scootaloo said, finally smiling. Rain leaned down to her and she gave him a kiss on the lips, feeling satisfied that she'd stood up to him after he made her upset and he was doing something nice for her like she wanted. Maybe things were turning around? She was feeling so good she let the kiss with him linger for a bit and then broke it off, letting him know she was looking forward to their time together. As they separated and Scootaloo continued on her way she eventually ran into the person she'd been looking for originally. "Hey Apple Bloom!"
"There ya are!" Apple Bloom said, running up to Scootaloo. "Ah thought you'd beat me here, where were you?"
"I uh... was catching up with someone." Scootaloo said, Apple Bloom looking her in the eyes and causing Scootaloo to divert her gaze.
"It was that boy again, ah bet." Apple Bloom said with more than a little disdain dripping off her words. "Can't believe you'd wanna see him again after this weekend."
"He said he was sorry." Scootaloo replied quietly, not enjoying how much she had to defend Rain Catcher to her friends. "The other boys didn't even apologize to us."
"Whatever, not like ah expect one comin' from a buncha peepin' toms anyways." Apple Bloom shrugged and sighed. "That ain't important right now, ah heard somethin' big from mah sister and ah need tah share it with ya."
"I saw the adults in school talking to each other in secret about stuff today too, do you think that has anything to do with it?"
"Might be. Listen... ah was told ah ain't supposed to share this, but ah can't not share it with ya. So ya gotta make sure ya keep it tah yerself." Scootaloo didn't know what was so important that they had to keep secrets between each other, but she trusted Applejack so she nodded her head in agreement. "Alright, so... y'know Fluttershy. She got attacked this weekend by a changeling."
"What!?" Scootaloo nearly shouted, Apple Bloom acting fast to get her to lower her voice but the panic was clearly there. "But... how!?"
"Ah guess they just got into her place somehow without her knowin' 'bout it. So y'know... ya gotta be careful right now walkin' around. Especially at night."
"Oh no... wait, is Fluttershy okay!?"
"Ah guess she's recoverin' at the hospital." Apple Bloom shared, Scootaloo calming a little at that. She didn't know Fluttershy really well but she had cared for all three of them when they were younger before. Knowing such a kind soul had been attacked was enough to shake her to her core. "But listen, there's more."
"Oh no, who else!?"
"Well... that's the thing. Ya know how we ain't seen Spike since Saturday night?"
The bird feeders needed to have their seeds poured into them. The dishes outside had to be refilled with both water and kibble for the animals that would come to get their fill. The animals who limped or looked in pain were required to have special medicines given to them and thankfully the list was detailed enough as to which animal was which and what medicines clearly had to be distributed. Not only that there were a variety of small dishes all around the home that needed to be filled with nuts and fruits and seeds for the small critters that came inside to eat safely. Despite having taken the job upon herself it was all far too much for Rainbow Dash to do on her own. Thankfully she wasn't alone in the task.
"Alright, the little fellers outside all got their bowls filled." Applejack said to Rainbow as she came back into Fluttershy's house to meet her. "Ya got all the dishes in here filled up?"
"I think so." Rainbow Dash said, flipping through the papers that Fluttershy had filled out for her at the hospital. "Some of them are kind of hidden around here."
"She's got a knack fer assembling her house like this, ah gotta admit." Applejack said, sitting on Fluttershy's couch. "Lookin' around you'd never know she had all those little houses and food bowls fer these critters."
"Yeah, it's pretty amazing. She even remembered all of the medicines and who to give it to off the top of her head." Rainbow Dash said, sitting down next to Applejack on the couch and letting out a sigh. "Thank you for coming over with me. I think I would have been overwhelmed if I'd tried this on my own."
"Not a problem, Sugar Cube. After all ah'm always willin' tah help out a friend. In this case it's two." Applejack reassured her, Rainbow Dash just sinking into the couch as she was relaxing. Though the tension never really left her body. After a moment Fluttershy's pet rabbit Angel approached the couch and hopped up on to the cushions, finding a comfortable spot in Applejack's lap. "Well howdy little feller. Ah'm guessin' ya must really be missin' Shy right about now." She said, petting the soft fur on Angel's back. To get in on the action as well the little black colored Imp crawled up the legs and arms of the couch, hesitantly looking at Rainbow Dash.
"What? You want something?" She asked, glancing at the beady red eyes of the creature. "I know you can kinda make sense of me but I don't really know what you're asking for. Wasn't the food I gave you okay?"
"Ah think he wants tah sit in yer lap, too." AJ suggested, Rainbow Dash unsure of this but she moved the papers to the coffee table in front of her. With a clear opening now available the Imp crawled into her lap, doing a quick circle and curling into almost a perfect black ball on her legs. "Heh, looks like he finally warmed up to ya."
"Guess so... don't know how." Rainbow Dash said, gently petting the Imp and finding it had fur as well on its shadowy body. It wasn't as soft or gentle as Angel's but not unpleasant either to touch. "Little guy must be really desperate coming to me."
"Or he can sense yer in trouble." Applejack said, earning a confused look from Rainbow. "C'mon Dash, how long have we known each other? Ya think ah can't see how much you've been frettin' the whole time we were here?"
"I... I'm not... okay, fine, you got me. I'm not doing really great right now." Rainbow Dash admitted, thinking it was dumb trying to keep this all to herself.
"Ya'll worried about Spike?"
"Well, yeah, of course. He's out there by himself doing who knows what. And then Twilight just up and vanished on us, literally. With Fluttershy still in the hospital. Even after all that we haven't gotten word from her at all.
"Well... it's only been a day."
"Still we're like... the Elements or whatever. Shouldn't we be kept in the loop?" Rainbow Dash sighed. "I don't like people thinking things aren't important to share with me. Cause then I'll just think the wrong thing."
"Ya'll "dash ahead" without thinkin' it through?" Applejack asked and RD nodded in return to her. "Heh, well that's one of yer charms too. But since yer aware of it then that means ya can avoid it in the future."
"Sometimes one mistake is all it takes." Rainbow Dash said solemnly. "I did some things already... things that hurt my friends."
"Now what are ya talkin' 'bout? Ah hadn't heard anything 'bout that." Applejack tried to reassure her but Rainbow's rose colored eyes peered back at her sadly before returning to the little creature on her lap. Petting it still.
"That night Fluttershy ended up in the hospital. I accused Rarity of leaving her behind to get attacked." Rainbow Dash confessed, Applejack looking at her in confusion.
"Rarity? But... why would she be here?"
"She wouldn't. I mean... we all know now why she showed up in that dress, right? The whole crazy thing with her and Spike. Like... I couldn't have gotten it more wrong. Looking back I was actually amazingly stupid. Because I thought she was coming here to see Fluttershy. Cause I thought… they were a couple."
"Rares and Shy? A couple? I mean... I know they're close friends and all but-"
"I know I know, they're not!" Rainbow Dash cut her off in frustration. "I saw them at the capital the last time we were there. Sharing a bed together so... I guess I just assumed a lot of things without talking to anyone about it at all."
"Ya 'dashed ahead' tah the conclusion again?"
"Right, and, y'know, whatever about all that. That's just me being stupid, but then I blamed Rarity for it and then I found out the whole reason she got attacked in the first place is my fault because she was actually waiting for me and if I'd just shown up that night like she asked me to on time instead of avoiding it all day then... then maybe she'd... maybe she'd...!"
"Whoa whoa whoa, hold yer horses there." Applejack said, scooting closer to Rainbow on the couch and putting an arm around her shoulders. At the comforting touch she leaned into it, tears already escaping her eyes. "What do ya mean by that? Saying ya were supposed to be here?"
"I thought... I'm so stupid." Rainbow Dash said, wiping her eyes with her free hand, her other staying on the little creature in her lap to comfort herself. "I thought they were asking me over to tell me because I found out about a secret. Something they were hiding." Rainbow confessed. "It's all so dumb! Why would they hide it if they were dating? No one would care. But somehow I thought that was the reason so I was avoiding it until eventually I felt like I had to go and then when I arrived, it had already happened."
"Dang." Applejack said, absorbing all of this information. A strong arm keeping a grip on her friend while she talked. It was all so crazy but at the same time a few things made more sense to her from the past. All except one. "Wait, so why was Fluttershy inviting you over that night?"
"She... she wanted to tell me that... she liked me. Not just liked me but… 'liked' liked me." Rainbow Dash confessed quietly.
"What?" Applejack asked in astonishment. "Ya mean... Fluttershy has a crush on ya?"
"I didn't even notice." Rainbow Dash said, leaning on Applejack's body for support. "If you had told me it I wouldn't have believed you. Like... I'm the worst. I can't take care of animals or make sense of things that are right in front of me or even save someone I care about when they need me. So why in the world would she ever be interested in me? I'm awful."
"Now now, just hold on there. No reason tah cut yerself down like that." Applejack said, using her free arm to pet Rainbow's hair not unlike how she had been with Angel. Dash would have considered it a little demeaning but it felt too nice to pull away from. "So Fluttershy has a crush on ya, is that such a bad thing?"
"I don't like her back." Rainbow Dash said quietly.
"Oh."
"I mean... I like her. I love her, she's one of my oldest friends. I'd do so much for her. But I just... I don't feel that way about her like she feels about me."
"Huh. That's... that's a pickle." Applejack thought. "Is it just ya not really in tah girls or-?"
"Never really thought about that." Rainbow Dash confessed. "That doesn't feel like the problem. She's really pretty and nice and anyone at all would be lucky to have someone as smart and sweet as her but I just... don't feel the same way when I think of her like that."
"That so?" Applejack asked. "Is there anyone you do feel it for?" She asked, noting just how comfortable Rainbow Dash had been making herself as they were cuddling together on the couch.
"I dunno, I guess I haven't thought about it." She asked, feeling a light blush on her cheeks. "Is there anyone... you feel 'it' for?"
"Me? Nah, not right now. Ah was chattin' up one of them guards that was bringin' in monsters from the capital and he seemed nice an all but... guess ah just didn't really feel 'it' for 'em either. Ah've been too long outta the saddle tah just up and date someone again like that."
"Yeah... I guess." Rainbow Dash said, feeling oddly calmer in her chest hearing her share that. She looked down to note that Angel and the Imp had come together on the spot where their laps were meeting to cuddle in the collected body heat between them. "What should I do about Fluttershy though?"
"Ah mean... ah think ya know what ah'm gonna suggest, right?"
"Be honest?"
"Ya got it, first try." Applejack said with a smile. "That ain't easy ah know but... shoot, Dash. Ya know how fragile she can be. Stringin' her along ain't a good idea."
"I know! I just... I don't want to hurt her. She's already been hurt so much. She doesn't deserve more pain." Her eyes landed on the stain in the carpet that still hadn't gone away. They might need to replace it completely for her, Rainbow not wanting her to see that kind of a reminder of what happened when she finally made it back home.
"Ah get ya. Just... promise me ya'll address it as soon as it seems safe to, alright?"
"Okay." Rainbow agreed reluctantly, not at all eager to jump into this situation. So she back peddled to the previous topic of those guards to try and get out of this conversation. "I guess it was those guys last day here too with the monsters?"
"Them guards? It's a shame Fluttershy didn't get tah see the monsters off like she wanted. But ah guess it's better tah get it done sooner than later."
"Luckily Zecora was there to direct things for us. I offered to help but she said she could handle it by herself."
"Ah believe it. That woman is strong in a lotta ways."
"Just hope she didn't mind being the only one there with those two guys. She's usually dressed in like... I dunno, a couple of pieces of cloth on a warm day. Doesn't leave a lot to the imagination."
"Nah, they seemed nice. Ah bet they're treating her just fine."
Within the Everfree Forest, along a twisting trail and away from the area where the monsters had been released into the woods to begin their new lives, a small hut hidden away amongst the trees had a small trail of smoke rising from within it. The light from hanging oil filled lamps provided a warm glow for the people inside who were doing their best to accommodate to the heat that the flames gave off. Zecora tending to her guests that had acted as her escorts through the forest back to her home. "I must thank you for providing me with this company. You must be so very busy after releasing the monsters from your custody."
"Well, we couldn't leave a woman alone in the woods by herself." Iron Guard said, eyes locking with those of Zecora's who had a knowing smile on her lips. Kneeling before them both, completely naked. All of them having left their clothes on the floor of the hut when Zecora invited them to do so earlier during their polite visit.
"It was a true act of chivalry. Anyone I'm sure will agree." Zecora replied, taking his cock into her mouth and sucking at it gently. Her other hand stroking Spearhead with her soft fingers, stopping to remove her lips from the first guard and taking the second one's cock into her mouth. While the tension in Spearhead had been obvious when they all started their fun together it was giving away quickly to the sight of her figure and the feeling of her body against his own. Letting her tongue trail along the length of his cock she pulled her lips away and stroked them eagerly with her hands. "Before you both are completely spent, shall we move to the main event?"
"Main event?' Spearhead asked cautiously, prompting Zecora to guide him down to the floor of her hut. It was nothing more than cleared out dirt that had been trampled down from the repeated foot steps of the woman but still it made a comfortable enough place to lay as Zecora mounted over him, spreading her pussy lips open with her fingers and slipping down over his cock. "Oh my, that is quite a lot of space you fill. Just as good, I don't plan to let a drop spill." Zecora said eagerly, leaning forward on to his chest and reaching behind herself to spread her ass apart. "Now that I've filled myself with the head of the Spear, Iron Guard will need you to protect me from the rear."
"You've got a really strange way of asking for things, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it." Iron Guard answered, moving behind Zecora and carefully slipping himself into her ass. The pressure was greater than it had been for his partner beneath her but the lubricant of her saliva and her relaxing muscles allowed him to carefully slip inside. Talking was far away from her mind now as her two lovers began to slowly pump in and out of her, Zecora shivering with the pleasure and then moaning loudly when she felt them begin to move in unison. Bracing herself with her arms she was pressed down by the soldier behind her, supporting himself holding her back and with his legs while the man beneath her drove up into her pussy.
"So… long… I've wanted someone to fuck." Zecora groaned out, reveling in the feeling of hands crawling up her thighs and hips, another squeezing her breast as she was filled from both sides of her hips. "Such strong, handsome men, I can't believe… my luck!" She yelled, completing her rhyming speech as she felt the man under her cum inside. Shuddering as his hot liquid released into her dripping pussy. Her back arched and Iron Guard took that as an invitation, grabbing hold of her hips and pushing that much harder into her ass. No words could leave her mouth around the repeated gasps of air and the cry of passion she let out feeling him release inside her as well. His load spilled within her, Iron Guard finally pulled out, Zecora letting out a surprised but pleased moan as his seed dripped down her skin and between her legs. It was everything she had been hoping for tonight.
After a quick distribution of towels and rags to clean oneself with and a sharing of drinks between them, Zecora stood at the door of her hut waving off her two very pleased guests as they returned home through the woods and eventually out of town back to the capital. While the guards focus was on the path before them and their thoughts of the reward they received for today's work, another figure was walking the opposite way from Zecora's hut. A female shape whose skin was as black as the night aside from her green hair that matched her emerald eyes. Quietly she snuck through the branches, looking to escape unnoticed after trespassing on this territory. A place she knew was dangerous but tonight it was just too irresistible to be near.
That was until the metal tip of a spear flew past her ear, stopping only inches before her face. Freezing in place, she could see the weapon wasn't just a spear tip but there was a large, curved blade hooking back her direction that was attached to the pointed metal end. As if to allow one to stab forward and then reel back in by the flesh of their prey. The wooden length of the spear rotated, pulling the curved blade back towards her neck and she closed her eyes, certain her head was coming off with this rapid movement. However it stopped just before touching her skin. The voice of the weapon's owner speaking from behind her where it was being wielded. "No fast movements, or they shall lead to your doom." Zecora warned. "By your appearance, you are Damselfly I presume?"
"So, the secret's out, is it?" The changeling girl asked, keeping perfectly still and giving up on being quiet now that she'd been spotted. "How'd you know my name? Or even that I was spying on you?"
"It isn't obvious to you that I set a trap? Once you wandered in for nourishment, it closed with a snap." Zecora answered her.
"That's awfully cruel, don't you think?" Damselfly proposed. "The whole reason I'm this hungry in the first place is because I'm avoiding that town with everything that happened in it." She sighed. "So, did that girl Fluttershy survive after I sucked out that venom?"
"Her chances for recovery were very little, but she arrived in time at the hospital." Zecora answered, Damselfly nodding to herself.
"Least all that effort to save her didn't go to waste." Damselfly muttered. "So… now what? Are you going to kill me and put me in that big cooking pot of yours or what?"
"There are a number of potions the parts of a changeling could contribute to as an ingredient." Zecora said, Damselfly not detecting a hint of a lie in that. "But that messy business can be avoided if you're honest and obedient."
"In what way exactly?"
"There is a simple answer that will halt my strike. Where is it you've hidden Spike?"
"Hidden spike? What do you mean hidden spike?" Damselfly asked, feeling the blade near her neck stir slightly. "Calm down would you!? Try asking a question without having to make a rhyme and riddle out of it! Do you mean the Dragonblooded kid, Spike?"
"My apologies that my way of speech is such a bother. But as for who, I could mean no other."
"Bit of a stretch on that one." Damselfly mocked at her rhyme. "Anyway, I got no idea what that guy's up to. Why, what happened to him?" Damselfly asked, noting the silence in the person keeping her captive. "Did you guys really lose him? You know he's a walking bomb of emotions and bad decisions waiting to go off, right?"
"To speak lightly of a situation this grim, who are you to act as if you know him?"
"Well if you know my name, I think you know exactly who I am." Damselfly said, turning around to face Zecora now. Though not daring to touch the hooked spear that was resting on her shoulder as it threatened to decapitate her. Zecora's arm was probably getting tired holding it up all that time. "Not to mention I think you know exactly what that horny little jerk has been up to. Kid thought he could fuck everyone around him and no one would ever find out. Like it was some big happy harem he had going on. Except none of the other girls knew about each other, so here we are in this situation he created for us. Fun, isn't it?" Damselfly finished, Zecora watching her eyes carefully and then slowly lifting the spear up and off her shoulder so it wasn't at her neck any longer.
"Why did you help Fluttershy? It would have been easier to let her die."
"I don't have to explain myself to you or anyone else when I want to help someone. Besides, Spike was begging me for help. Figured after he gave me a couple meals I could return the favor." She crossed her arms, frowning that the questioning was still going on even after she wasn't held hostage any longer.
"That was a dangerous thing for a changeling to do. The one that may have died that night could have been you."
"I would have been fine." Damselfly groaned. "You were just threatening to chop me up and now you're worried?"
"I suppose you seem to not be a threat. For saving Fluttershy… I am in your debt." Zecora said, almost hesitantly. As if she was making a deal with a devil. Though Damselfly felt she was the one in more danger out of the two of them.
"Hey, I have a question too." Damselfly said, stopping Zecora from retreating. "Spike is really missing? As in, no one knows where he is? Not even that girl that's like his sister?"
"The woman you are referring to is named Twilight Sparkle. In her grief she has sought out her teacher matriarchal."
"What do you mean by 'teacher matriarchal'... wait, the princesses!?"
"Here I thought you already knew so much. Perhaps it is you that is out of touch?" Zecora said almost jokingly, turning back to her hut. Damselfly noticing that she was still very much naked from her little party with the two guards.
"Hold up, I have one more question. Did you really fuck two guys just to lure me out of hiding?" Damselfly asked, Zecora stopping and turning her head to face her with a sly smile.
"For my trap to work only one would suffice, but I had two and it was admittedly very nice."
"And they say I'm the succubus in this forest." Damselfly scoffed, taking to her wings to depart deeper into the woods while the two women were left with the same question after their meeting: where exactly had Spike disappeared to?
Elsewhere, away from wild and untamed places like the Everfree Forest and long after the sun had set there were two teenagers sitting on top of a park picnic table. One looking up at the night sky and at the moon with a mild fascination, lost in thought while the other was taking up the full length of the table top as he laid down. Stretching out his lanky body while the girl sat next to him, pressed against the side of his stomach with her behind. It was a quiet night, even between the two of them as they occupied that space together silently. While there was comfort in it they both knew it couldn't last and she was the one to break it before it went on too long. "Snails?"
"Yeah, Ruby?" He responded in return.
"I've been… thinking about some things."
"Yeah?" He responded, unable to hold back the sigh of regret. There was a weight between them and he'd expected it to break through them both at some point. She came out to this park a lot in the middle of the night. Sometimes with him, sometimes with other boys. Everyone knew, nobody ever really talked about it though. But while Snails managed to be a "sometimes" distraction for her at night he figured eventually she'd tell him to get lost for a better one. That didn't mean he was going to be the one to rush to the bad ending if he could help it.
"Do you think I'm not good? As a person? Am I a bad person to you?" She asked cautiously of him. The question was not what he expected but he took his time answering it.
"Nah, you're just fine." Snails replied.
"That's not true…" Ruby replied sadly. "I'm a mess."
"So?" Snails asked, sitting up on the table now. "What's it matter? Just cause things are messy doesn't mean you're not a good person."
"I'm more than just a little messy. More messy than all the other girls at school. So's my mother. Everyone knows it, that we're both walking disasters to be left behind. Someone you can fuck and leave without regret."
"Whoa, hold on a second. What's this all about?" Snails asked, even if he knew a little about what she was saying. Ruby and her mother had a reputation earned through their bad habits of promiscuous activity and alcohol but he'd never heard her think about it like this. At least not out loud.
"I'm just tired of it all. Tired of everyone calling me a slut and looking down on me like I'm garbage. I hear the shit people say about me to each other. They don't even try to hide it anymore. Calling me names or saying things about my mom or acting like… I dunno, just being around me is going to make them as shitty as I am."
"Am I shitty too?" Snails asked her, Ruby not making eye contact with him.
"It's different. You're a guy."
"Is that actually any different?" Snails asked.
"According to everyone else it is." Ruby answered bitterly. "Besides, the only person you're fucking is me. That's already different."
"As far as you know, anyway." Snails said and he earned a surprising glare from Ruby that seemed to be from legitimate anger. "Whoa, hold on, that was just a joke. It really is only you I'm ever with."
"...you'd be better off if you were with someone else." Ruby said sadly. "I can't believe I even asked you to meet me here tonight of all places. This is where I meet other guys to fuck and here I am talking about how I hate that but I did it again anyway and even asked you to come here. I'm completely broken in the head or something."
"Hey, Ruby." Snails said, the girl slowly turning her head to look at the lanky boy next to her. "This is the most you've ever talked about yourself to me in all of the time we've been hanging out together."
"Sorry, I'll stop it."
"No, that's not what I mean. I like it." He said with a smile. "You don't usually say what you're thinking about so I never really know if you're happy or sad or upset or anything. Just… I like that you're saying these things to me now."
"Are you going to still like it if we don't have sex tonight?" She asked, looking his body over for any clues to his feelings. Frustratingly for her he barely ever gave off a single outward emotion through his movements. Always so careful and thoughtful with every action.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." He said after a moment. "Not like we gotta do it just cause we're here." He replied, shivering with surprise ever so slightly when he felt her lean against his body.
"Made you jump." Ruby said, sounding proud of herself. "So, tell me about yourself then too."
"Me?"
"Yeah, what's going on with you? Are you happy about anything? Or sad?"
"Nothings ever going on with me." Snails said almost in reaction as a default response. Though deeper reflection led him to something genuine in his mind. "Actually, I am getting kind of annoyed with Snips lately."
"Ugh, Snips." Ruby said. "Sorry! I know he's like your best friend but he can be so cringy to be around. He's hyperactive and kinda desperate for attention."
"Yeah well, he's not around as much now ever since we had that party at Spike's place."
"Oh yeah, I remember that. Didn't Spike do something with that girl Sweetie Belle at the party?"
"I dunno, something is going on with the two of them though. He wouldn't say what when I asked him."
"Does he know we fucked in his bed?" Ruby asked, laughing to herself.
"Yeah." Snails answered, Ruby's laughter stopping short.
"No way! You told him!?" Getting off his shoulder she gave Snails a shove out of anger. "I can't believe you went around bragging about it!"
"I didn't, he had evidence on us. You left your underwear in his bed and he was the one that found it."
"Oh... Dammit, I thought I was more careful than that." She grumbled. "Whatever, guess he didn't blab it to everyone so it doesn't matter. What's all this have to do with Snips anyway?"
"Ever since that party he's been spending a lot of time trying to talk to Diamond Tiara."
"The Rich girl? Why's he talking with her?"
"I dunno, something happened between them at that party and it's like he's got an 'in' with her now. So he's been chatting her up every chance he gets. Sometimes he'll just blow me off for her instead."
"Aww, your boyfriend is ditching you for a prettier girl." Ruby said, putting an arm around Snips to give him comfort despite the light teasing. Even if they had been intimate together in the past several times, this kind of closeness was new to them both and he eagerly accepted her light hug by leaning back against her. "Well if it's Tiara I can't imagine it's gonna last. She's a real bitch."
"Maybe... seems like she's being nicer lately with all of the other girls."
"Some of the other girls, not all." Ruby corrected.
"Maybe she's jealous of another precious gem?" Snails offered her in his best attempt at flirting and it earned a smile from Ruby.
"Rubies aren't as valuable as diamonds."
"Diamonds are overrated. Rubies are unique."
"Who knew you could talk sweet when you wanted to, you dork." Ruby responded, leaning in to give him a kiss on the lips. "Say... do you want to come over to my house for dinner some time?"
"Really?" Snails asked in complete shock. "Uh... yeah! Yeah, I would like to. Your mom would be okay with that?"
"She already gave me permission... kind of." Ruby said, thinking back to that weird night that started at this very spot. "It's hard to explain but I think... I think my mom would like it if you came over."
"As a friend or...?"
"What, you want to be the girlfriend of the school bicycle?" Ruby Pinch asked, trying to joke but it was hard to keep the smile as she said it.
"I'd like to be your boyfriend... you know, that is if uh... if you want one?"
"Maybe we should see how dinner goes then?" Ruby offered, Snails letting the question rest there. Something she was thankful for as approaching the subject was still a sore spot for her. She wanted to change herself, not just her habits but her image. Was that possible for her? If so she was thankful someone seemed to want to help her make it there. Luna or whoever it might be watching out for her. Looking back up at the moon in the sky she wanted to give thanks to her favorite princess. That desire made her all the more surprised when there was the frame of a woman silhouetted against the moon. Wings outstretched from her back as she floated above them. "...Princess Luna?"
"Ruby!" Snails shouted suddenly, her eyes dropping down to see there wasn't just that woman in the sky but other figures surrounding them in the dark. They jumped off the picnic table and stood at attention, though there wasn't much of anywhere they could run. No weapons for them to grab hold of and what little magical skill Snails had it wasn't enough to fend off multiple attackers. "Ruby, run away!"
"I'm not running away and leaving you behind."
"I'll keep them busy, just go!" Snails insisted but the idea he'd sacrifice himself for her didn't just upset her, she was furious at it.
"Fuck that!" Running over to the nearby trash can Ruby picked up a glass bottle from the ground and broke the end of it over the rim of the metal can. "You assholes want some, I'll carve out my initials in your forehead first!"
"Whoa." Snails said, at a loss for words and slightly love struck. Though things thankfully didn't escalate further after that as the figure in the sky lowered in front of them.
"There's no need for violence, young ones." As she dropped down to the ground Ruby Pinch could see that she wasn't actually Luna like her shadow against the moon made her seem. But something about her certainly felt reminiscent of the princess. She was covered in a uniform that was black and blue, with the crescent moon design of the Luna plainly visible on her person. The magical wings at her back disappearing like dust into the air. "We didn't mean to scare you kids, we're simply out for a patrol and were surprised to see someone out this late." Looking around herself she waved the others into the moonlight so they'd be easily visible. Snails and Ruby now able to tell they were all dressed in the same uniform as the woman directing them. "I'm Nightshade, here on behalf of Princess Luna to... keep an eye out for kids like you."
"For Princess Luna?" Ruby asked, almost star struck at the thought. As though her previous prayers were being answered tonight.
"Keep an eye out? What for?" Snails asked cautiously, the soldiers looking between themselves and all eventually landing their gaze on Nightshade. It wasn't often the teens had seen soldiers in their town but the few times they had rarely did they feel this imposing or mysterious.
"Any old thing that might seem out of place." Nightshade's emerald green eyes landed on Ruby, the gaze nearly piercing and it shook her inside. That fear must have shown on her face because the woman approached her shortly after. "What about you, darling? Did you happen to see anything... unusual?"
"...nope." Ruby answered her. "Nothing at all."
"Is that so?" Nightshade asked, her smile leaving her face as she continued to watch her closely. Ruby's eyes locked with Nightshade's emerald gleaming gaze and the girl using all her will power not to give in to the odd intimidation she was imposing with that look. "Well then, if there's nothing to report then please be off to your homes now. It's not good for such young minds to be up so late."
"Right away, ma'am!" Snails gave an exaggerated salute and led Ruby through the group of guards that had surrounded them. Ruby looked back to Nightshade while they left, the whole time feeling a sense of unease in her heart. As if the woman had been trying to search her mind for some sort of secret Ruby wasn't aware of herself. Once they had traveled far enough down the street to escape their sight Snails let out a gasp. "Geez, those are Luna's guards? Why the heck are they sneaking around in the middle of the night?"
"I don't know. But I don't like that Nightshade woman. Something about the way she talked made me feel like I couldn't trust her."
"Something about her 'everything' made me feel like I shouldn't mess with her." Snails said, catching his breath. That sparked a memory in Ruby who gave him a push. "Hey! What's that for?"
"You told me to run away and leave you behind!" Ruby Pinch said angrily. "What were you thinking!?"
"I... I dunno, I guess I wasn't?" Snails offered.
"Idiot." She grumbled, hugging him tight. "You shouldn't do things like that for me."
"Yeah... well... sorry, I'd do it again for you." He said, hugging her back. "By the way, that was awesome the way you broke that bottle and threatened to stab a bunch of people."
"Heh, did you like that? I saw someone else do it before and it looked pretty tough." She said, letting go of the hug and shrugging. "So... Saturday night? For dinner?"
"Huh? Oh! Right, dinner, before all the crazy stuff happened." Snails said. "Sure, I'd be glad too if I can."
"Gonna hold you to that promise." Ruby said, the couple separating as she headed home and Snails headed back to his own. Her mind was full of thoughts, wondering if this idea to have a friend over would work out with her mother. If she could somehow behave herself and not mess things up before the week ended maybe everything would come together for her. Most of all though she was haunted by the sight of that woman Nightshade. Not just the threatening way she had appeared but why she'd be in their town in the first place, and why she reminded her of someone she couldn't place.