Chapter 7: Diamonds, Rubies, and Balloons

"The doctors said she has a minor concussion," Tyr said. He, Luna, and Fluttershy stood just outside of Dash's hospital room. "She's asleep right now, but she should recover."

"What is happening to us…?" Fluttershy slid into a chair. She hung her head. "The six of us… we were so close before… and now everything is falling apart…"

She began to cry. Tyr and Luna stood in silence. It was a long time before either of them spoke. "I need to go speak to my sister," Luna said. "She'll want to hear about this."

She and Tyr shared a kiss. "I'll see you later then?" Tyr asked.

"Of course." She smiled. "Farewell, Fluttershy."

"Okay Luna." Fluttershy sniffed.

She left. Tyr sighed. "I should head home too. Are you going to stay?"

"I'll… stay, I guess. Until she wakes up. She should have a friendly face there when she wakes up."

"You sure you'll be fine?"

"I'm… sure. I can handle it, Tyr."

"Text me if anything changes, alright?"

She nodded. Tyr left the hospital, surprised to find it was still bright out. Well, it was still the middle of the day. Tyr passed by Carousel Boutique and paused. It was closed, obviously. But he thought something had passed in front of the window… Suddenly, the front door opened ever so slightly. "Wait, what? Rarity?"

"Come inside, Tyr," Rarity's voice said. The door slid open a little further. Tyr frowned, but went inside. The lights were off.

"Rarity…? Where are you?"

Rarity came forward into the light. Tyr suppressed a gasp at her appearance. Her hair was straight instead of its usual curls, and she had no makeup on. Despite that, she still was pretty attractive, Tyr figured. But this felt… awkward to him. Rarity was bare in front of him. "Tyr," She said softly. "I need your help with something."

Her voice was low, and carried none of the proper sound to it. "Um… well, whatever it is, I'll do my best to help."

A small smile crept onto Rarity's face. "I figured you'd say that. You're always so helpful, Tyr."

A frown crossed Tyr's face. Where was the usual 'darling' Rarity loved to say so much? "So… what exactly do you need me for?"

"I want you… to sleep with me."

Tyr felt his stomach lurch. "You… you what?"

Rarity came closer to him. "I want you, Tyr, to have sex with me."

"What? Why?"

"I need to know if… if I feel anything."

"Feel anything? Rarity this is ridiculous!" Tyr pushed her out to arm's length. "You know I have Luna, right? That this would be cheating? How the hell would I explain this to her?"

"I… Tyr, please…"

"What's wrong with you, Rarity?" Tyr frowned. "You've been locked up in here for almost three days!"

"I can't work." Rarity's voice was soft. "I haven't had a single creative idea."

"You… what?"

Tears started to fall from Rarity's eyes. "Ever since the banquet, I haven't made a single new dress. I had so many ideas before, but now they're all gone. Ever since…"

"Ever since Pinkie said she didn't want to be your friend anymore…" Tyr was connecting the dots, slowly but surely.

Rarity stiffened up. "There was a saying I heard once. That you don't know what you have until it's gone. I didn't realize how true that was…"

"Rarity…"

"I ruined a friendship I didn't know was so… necessary to me. Without Pinkie, I find myself… lost."

The last piece clicked in Tyr's mind. "You… Rarity, you're in love with Pinkie. That's why you…"

Rarity pulled away from him. "But the scandal!" She cried. "I can see the headlines now, 'Local Seamstress falls in love with female baker'. I would be the talk of everywhere!"

"But… if you had Pinkie back, wouldn't you be happy?"

"Of course I…!" Rarity trailed off, realizing what she was saying. "I… I need Pinkie Pie to be happy?"

"Seems like you need her to function…" Tyr muttered, glancing around.

"So what am I supposed to do?" Rarity asked. "Last I checked, Pinkie wasn't talking to me. So how am I supposed to explain all this to her?"

"We just go see her." Tyr glanced at his cell phone. "…and lucky us, Sherry just texted me that Pinkie is at the bakery."

"She is?"

"So. Come on."

"But my hair… my tail..!" Rarity panicked. "I haven't put on any make up either…"

"Do you want Pinkie to see you for who you really are, or do you want to put on another mask?"

Rarity blinked, Tyr's words had hit her. "You… may have a point there, darling."

"So! Put on some clothes and let's go."

-x-

"You really are good at making pastries, Sherry," Mrs. Cake said, watching the tray of cinnamon rolls Sherry had made selling out.

"Maybe we should get you in here helping Pinkie Pie!" Mr. Cake said with a chuckle. "Your pastries and her cakes would go well together."

Sherry smiled, but it was a bit forced. As much as she loved working at the cake shop, with the way Pinkie was today… The usual pink ball of joy was more reserved and quiet today, although it didn't seem to curb her baking ability. Not to mention her hair… she unconsciously stroked her own hair. Never thought about how she would look with hair that straight… Maybe she would talk to Tyr about it.

"Oh, hello Tyr," Mrs. Cake said as the front door opened. "…Rarity? Is that you?"

"Hello, Mrs. Cake," Rarity said quietly. She seemed a bit nervous, clad in only a pair of whitewash jeans, a blouse, and a jacket. It had none of the elegant flair she normally had. Not to mention she had no makeup, her hair was straight… Sherry was seriously considering the straight hair look now. "Is… Is Pinkie Pie here?"

"She's…" Mr. Cake started to say, but Pinkie pushed past him to face Rarity.

"Why are you here?" She asked harshly. Rarity flinched.

"I… I um…" She stammered, words failing her. She hung her head.

"…Then if you have nothing to say, please leave."

"I do! I do have something I want to say." Rarity said quickly. "Pinkie… I… I can't do this."

"Can't do what, exactly?"

"I can't not be your friend, darling," Rarity said. She pulled her coat tight around her. "I haven't done any work at all these past two days. All my thoughts are of… you."

"You've been… thinking about me?" Pinkie looked surprised. "Why?"

"Because I need you, Pinkie. Knowing that you don't want to see me, don't want to speak to me… I can't deal with that."

A bit of puff returned to Pinkie's hair. "You… you actually want me around?"

"Pinkie… you are probably the most creative person I know, barring myself. You are like the sun in the middle of summer, bright and always shining. Before I even realized it I… I was…"

"…What?"

Rarity glanced over at Tyr. He nodded. She let out a deep sigh. "Despite all my rationalizations, my attempts to change my mind or figure otherwise… I love you, Pinkie Pie. You are the spark that lets my creative juices flow. Without you I'm in the dark."

"You… you really need me?" Pinkie blinked. "You're… you're not just saying that, are you?"

"Pinkie. I walked here without makeup, without doing anything to my hair or tail, and I'm on the verge of crying in front of all these people here." She sniffed. "If you make me tell you I need you again, I really will cry."

Pinkie stared at her for a long moment. "Then say it again."

Rarity really did start to cry. "I really, really need you, Pinkie. Please…"

Pinkie's hair suddenly exploded, returning to its puffy style and scattering confetti everywhere. With a huge grin, she wrapped her arms around Rarity and pulled her into an embrace. "You don't have to hide who you are, silly. I'll always love you no matter what."

"Then… If you love me back…?"

"I wanted you to cry on my shoulder," Pinkie said, holding her tightly. She pulled her out to arm's length. "And… this."

She pressed her lips to Rarity's. The fashionista resisted only a moment before leaning into the gesture, wrapping her arms around Pinkie's neck. They kept kissing until Mr. Cake cleared his throat loudly. "Um… girls? We still have customers, y'know."

"Oops," Pinkie said, breaking away from Rarity and sticking out her tongue. "Sorry!"

"Go back to work, dear," Rarity said with a soft smile. "I think I'll have a couple of those cinnamon buns while I wait for you."

"Oh no, I gotta make more!" Sherry said, running into the kitchen.

"I'll help!" Pinkie bounced into the kitchen after her.

Rarity let out a contented sigh as she sat down at a nearby table. She motioned for Tyr to join her. "Tyr, I have you to thank for my clarity of mind I now have."

Tyr shook his head. "I just brought you here. I didn't do anything too special."

"You have given me a bit of happiness I would have missed otherwise. For that, I must thank you." Rarity reached out and rested her hand on top of his. "Thank you."

"It's no big deal, seriously."

"If you say so…"

"You are too honest, darling."

The two of them sat for a bit, making small talk. Rarity was almost like a different person now, and had a gentle smile that didn't go away. She spent most of her time watching Pinkie work. To her credit, the pink party girl was keeping herself from running over to her new girlfriend. But she had a smile that went from ear to ear the rest of the work day. Tyr watched as Pinkie and Sherry worked back to back, just two pink blurs working wildly in the kitchen.

When the shift finally ended, Pinkie and Sherry came over to them. "You look tired," Tyr said, looking over his adoptive daughter. Her response was to sit roughly in his lap and lay back against his chest. He smiled and gently stroked her hair.

"She worked super-duper hard!" Pinkie said, sitting beside Rarity. "I did too!"

"I saw, dear," Rarity said, kissing Pinkie's cheek.

"Well, I should get my little one here home," Tyr said, seeing that Sherry was starting to fall asleep in his lap. "Luna's probably waiting on me too."

"Oh, dear! You shouldn't keep her waiting!"

"Yeah!" Pinkie agreed. "She might get super grumpy if you're late!"

Tyr stood, lifting Sherry onto his back. "You guys are okay, right?"

"Of course, darling."

"Yeah!"

"Alright then. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Tyr headed for the door when suddenly Rarity stopped him.

"Darling, wait. I know you said it was not a big deal but…" She came over to him and took hold of one of his hands. He felt something pressed into it. "Please. Just keep it for me."

Tyr sighed. "If you insist. I'll see you guys."

It was quiet on the way home. Sherry was sleeping peacefully on his back, her soft breath tickling his ear. "I don't wanna eat any more muffins…" She mumbled softly. Tyr couldn't help but chuckle. As he got closer to the house, he saw the unmistakable figure of Celestia leaving his house. She noticed him right before she got into her car, which was being driven by a well-built Equestrian male in a black suit. She gave him a small smile, got into her car, and drove off. Tyr was thoroughly confused but went inside. He found Luna seated at the dinner table, finishing off a cup of tea. She looked up as he came in.

"Oh, Tyr. Welcome home."

"Hey Luna. What was Celestia doing here?"

"She wanted to ask a few question about… our relationship." She blushed.

"…I see. Let me put Sherry in bed."

Luna smiled. "Of course."

Tyr quickly put his daughter in bed, sure to tuck her in before he went back downstairs to rejoin his girlfriend. "So what did Celestia say?"

"She said…" Luna bit her bottom lip. "She was wondering if she should be expecting a niece or nephew anytime soon."

Tyr processed that for a moment. Then his eyes went wide. "Oh… shoot. We haven't…"

"Used protection," She finished. A blush crept into her cheeks. "We were caught in the moment…"

"Yeah, true. So I guess I have to go to the convenience store…"

"I will go with you."

"What? Why?"

"I am curious."

"…You get curious about the weirdest things…"

"I want to know as much as I can… What is that in your hand?"

Tyr glanced down. In his hand was a necklace, a silver one with a diamond shaped emblem attached to it. "Rarity gave me this. As… thanks."

"Thanks?"

"I'll tell you later. We should get to the store before it closes."

"Mm."

They bundled up and went out to the convenience store. As they entered it, the clerk from oh so long ago looked up from his comic book. He glanced at Luna, a small smile crossing his face, and then seeing Tyr. His face fell. "Welcome," He said half-heartedly.

Tyr grunted a reply before moving down one aisle. Luna followed him. It wasn't long before they came across what they were looking for. "There are so many types," Luna murmured.

Tyr didn't say anything. Buying condoms with his girlfriend was last on his list for the day. He picked out a random brand that seems alright and led Luna to the counter. He put the box on the counter and fixed the clerk with a stare. The man looked from Tyr to the box, then back up to Tyr and then over to Luna. "Lucky," He muttered, running the box under the scanner.

Tyr ignored him, paid, and led Luna out, making sure to put her in front of him. "Are you in a hurry?" She asked, looking back at him.

"Not particularly," Tyr muttered. "It's just not very comfortable buying these."

"I see."

They got home quickly. As Tyr locked up, Luna was examining the box of condoms. "Eager to use them?"

Luna blushed. "I suppose… Are these supposed to go on your…"

"Yes."

"Oh! …Oh my." Her blush grew deeper. "Um… you might be tired after today. What about tomorrow?"

Tyr sighed, a little disappointed at Luna's sudden apprehension. He was tired, however, "Fine then. I'll see you in bed?"

"Yes, of course."

A dream wasn't too unusual for Tyr. He had a decently vivid imagination, so having dreams was a welcome part of his sleep time. But this was something he had never seen before. He stood atop a tall, regal tower facing its twin above a sprawling castle and city below. The sun was beginning to lower, giving way to the night. A golden glow burst from the far tower, and the sun began to set. Almost simultaneously, Tyr felt a power behind him cause his skin to prickle. He turned to see, and felt his jaw threaten to drop at the sight. A regal looking pony of midnight blue stood on the tower, long blue and black mane and tail that resembled the night sky trailing in the light breeze. A unicorn horn sat atop their head, and they had a pair of wings outstretched as a midnight blue glow enveloped their horn. As Tyr watched, the moon began to rise. After a long minute, the glow receded and the moon was bright in the sky. As Tyr looked over the pony, he noticed the moon shaped mark on their flank. That's when it hit him.

"Luna?"

The Pony looked over at the sound of her name. Her eyes widened as they fell upon him. "Tyr? …What are you doing here?"

It was then Tyr was convinced this was the strangest dream he had ever had.

As the chapters were a bit shorter this time around, I double posted. Also, because of how quickly i go through these sections, I believe I will continue to double post. I'm getting much closer to the 'meat' of my story (not saying these parts are irrelevant, heavens no) so expect chapter length to start going back up around Chapter 9 or so. As always, rate/review/follow as is thine preference, and a BIG shoutout to my co-writer/proofreader/first fangirl/girlfriend. It's great when you've got people to push you to do what you love. :D