Notes:
I am on a stroll now! I hope to continue with this pace with uploads for my stories in general. Anyway, I hooe you enjoy this chapter.
(2 days later, 4:40 PM)
Adorabella had just finished her lunch. She had a salted cashew and lettuce wrap with microwaved cheese inside. The post office staff room had a microwave, which Adorabella had been using a lot. She uses it to cook her favourite wrap. She often has lunch late when at work, because it let's her make use of her hours by delivering more letters.
(Outside)
Adorabella had just left the post office after having something to eat after delivering several full bags of letters to their individual addresses. Even with the bag full making it look like there's a lot, it isn't for a fast pegasus like Adorabella. She can deliver a bag full of letters to their addresses in between 30 seconds and 5 minutes. But she enjoys the job, so she doesn't rush it and takes it slow with her job. But it doesn't matter, as she delivered all her letters today, so she gets to go early.
"Hey," Derpy gently pokes Adorabella.
"Hi," Adorabella responded, smiling, bending her 4 knees up and down as she tilts her body left to right and repeat. She is in a good mood today. This makes Derpy happy too.
"What are your plans later on today?" Derpy asked.
"I'm going to see Ralph... I missed him. I- I couldn't see him on Monday... but I get to see him today though after work," Adorabella smiled while closing her eyes and continuing her left-to-right tilting. Derpy nods and smiles, seeing Adorabella being so happy.
"I'm happy for you," Derpy grinned. She can tell that Adorabella thinks about Ralph all the time. Derpy can tell Adorabella thinks more of Ralph in the mind.
"Well, uh... I'll see you soon!" Adorabella said as she waves to Derpy. Adorabella flaps her wings and lifts herself off the ground, and then shoots off. She is wanting to get to Sugarcube Corner really quick. She is excited to meet Ralph again. Not seeing him on that one day she usually meets up with him felt as if months went by without seeing him, even though it had only really been 3 days.
(Sugarcube Corner)
Adorabella arrives at Sugarcube Corner in less than a second, still in her work uniform. She walks over to the bench and sits on it. It is the same bench that Adorabella and Ralph normally sit on together.
Soon enough, Adorabella sees Ralph. She ecstatically waves at him. Ralph waves back while smiling, making Adorabella smile as well.
"Hewo," Adorabella bubbly said.
"Hey, sorry about Monday. I was really busy that day. I had to fill out one of my mate's roles while doing mine. He was off with a very serious flu-" Ralph is interrupted by Adorabella clinging to her. Ralph looks at her, and Adorabella slowly let's go as she hides her blushing smirking face behind her mane.
"It's good to see you too," Ralph smiled. He can tell Adorabella is definitely happy and pleased to see him. Adorabella shyly steps forward to Ralph, showing only her right eye to him, the rest of her face behind her thick mane. Ralph warmly chuckles and gently stroke his best friend on the head with his left forehoof. Adorabella rubs her head against Ralph's big forehoof like a cat would, and very quietly...
"Meow..."
"Oh my- I'm actually flirting..." It only clicked in Adorabella's head, that she is flirting with Ralph. She didn't even know she was until just now. She didn't even mean to. Ralph is also appearing to be flirting along. Not as if Adorabella mind though, she didn't. If anything, it makes her feel even safer around him. But then to ruin their deepening friendship bonding...
"Hey! Is that you!? I've been looking for you!"
Ralph turns his head left. Adorabella turns her head right, and jumps in complete horror, and feels a shiver go down her spine. She turns her whole body facing right while taking steps back. Ralph steps in front of Adorabella, and gets in a defensive stance.
Ralph is death staring into the eyes of a vibrant purple unicorn mare. Her mane and tail is an icey cyan colour, with thin white stripes. Her mane and tail are neatly tied in plaits. Her eyes are a velvet colour, and her cutie mark looks like wind blowing down a tree while ice is falling.
"I've been looking for you to apol-"
"No no no no no!" Adorabella screamed as she flaps her wings and flies backwards. But she is going backwards too fast, and while panicking, hits the door frame. Adorabella droos to the ground, landing on all 4 hooves, but the velocity ofnthe fall makes her legs give way. But Adorabella quickly gets up, because she needed to. Ralph is panicking, he doesn't know what to do, he's never seen Adorabella freaking out so bad like this. Meanwhile, Adorabella sees the unicorn mare approaching her. Adorabella looks for anything, and finds a broken piece of rock that is light enough.
"Adorabella I want to ap-" The unicorn mare had to dodge a broken piece of rock that Adorabella found and lobbed her way.
"NO!" Adorabella screamed in tears as she opens the door and runs into Sugarcube Corner, slamming the door shut.
"Who the buck are you, and what have you done to make her scared of you?" Ralph stomped his way over and towers over the unicorn mare. He is intimidating to her, and she uses velvet-coloured magic that wraps around Ralph to push him back. But it didn't take much for Ralph to get his right forehoof free and with all his might, breaks out of the aura's hold. The unicorn mare hasn't seen a non-unicorn do that before, which shows how strong of a stallion this pegasus is, and it petrifies her. She takes several steps back while Ralph stomps his way towards her.
"That pony you scared to death happens to be my best friend. You better start explaining, because I don't care if you're a mare, I will thump you for hurting my best friend," Ralph growled as he steps towards the unicorn. The unicorn, intimidated by the massive stallion, steps back.
"J- just don't h- hurt me please!" The mare pleaded with her life.
"I wasn't going to, I wanted to scare you. I wanted you to understand how Adorabella just felt. Scared. Just giving you a bit of karma," Ralph stated as he steps back.
"Now, who are you? Explain yourself."
"W- well... I'm uh... Velvet Ice, and... I used to uh... bully Adorabella. And since growing up... I've been feeling guilty and... and I've been searching for her... every day, just so... just so I can say sorry," The unicorn sighed as she answered.
"Okay..." Ralph can tell that this mare sounds and is genuine. The mare feels genuinely ashamed, and Ralph notices it.
"Well, if you want to apologize to her, you've got work cut out for you," Ralph stated.
"If you're truly genuine, wait here. I'm going to check on her," Ralph instructed.
(Inside)
A minute prior...
Pinkie Pie is standing behind the glass counter. She looks at a small clock that's to the right of her, which Cheese Sandwich gor her.
"Okay, they could be coming any second," Pinkie Pie said to herself aloud. Adorabella and Ralph come to Sugarcube Corner frequently, usually on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays. On Mondays and Thursdays, they normally meet up between 4:30 or 5:30 PM and sit on the bench nearby. Pinkie Pie has seen them getting slightly closer each time they come here.
Pinkie Pie then looks at Gummy, who is resting on the left side of the counter.
"Let's place bets, will they get cashews or cupcakes today?" Pinkie Pie inquired. Gummy blinks once.
"You think they'll get cashews?" Pinkie Pie again inquired. Gummy again blinks once.
Then the front door bursts open, making Pinkie Pie flinch. Adorabella rushes inside, trotting to the counter, but trips up.
"Adorabella! Are you okay!?" Pinkie Pie leeps over the counter and trots to Adorabella to help her up. Adorabella is panting, not exhausted panting, but panting out of panic and fear. But Pinkie Pie can tell something wrong
"Okay okay, go through that door there that's behind the counter," Pinkie Pie softly instructed as she points at the open door behind the counter that's to the left. Adorabella trots around the counter and leaps through the door, pushing them open. Then Ralph walks through the front door, and walks to the counter.
"Is she alright?" Ralph asked. He is very concerned about Adorabella.
"What happened?" Pinkie Pie inquired.
"Well, one of Adorabella's former bullies had been looking for her to say sorry for everything. But Adorabella was having none of it and ran into here before this bully could say sorry. I don't blame Adorabella," Ralph explained.
"Oh boy..." Pinkie Pie sighed. She knows the only way to get Adorabella to calm down, is if Rainbow Dash came. But how would the loyal light blue pegasus react to seeing one of Adorabella's former bullies being present?
Then, Velvet Ice walks inside, nervously. She looks at Pinkie Pie, who is looking back at her. Pinkie Pie can tell just by the eyes that she was genuinely sorry. Meanwhile, coming back through the door behind the counter, Adorabella walks out, but remains behind the counter, indirectly looking at one of her former tormentors. The former bully direftly looks back at the white pegasus, with immense guilt. Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie and Ralph mediates the situation, so the 2 others don't duke it out.
"Adorabella..." Velvet Ice spoke clearly. Adorabella looks at her more directly.
"I am... so... so sorry... I- I mean it... after you were reported missing... I've grown more guilty, and even when you were assumed dead... I never gave up searching for you, whether I found you dead or alive... I... I wanted to say sorry..." Back when they were fillies, like all the other bullies, she was all-powerful, and Adorabella couldn't fight back against them. But this bully, she sounds very remorse full.
"I was moved to a different school over time and... I was bullied there... and I deserved every minute of it... because each time I was bullied... it made me think of you... how you must've felt... and it only strengthened my resolve to find you..."
"I... I don't expect to be forgiven... do what you want to me... but... at least acknowledge this... I am trully sorry..." The unicorn mare had finished her long, and sincere apology. Whatever Adorabella wanted to do to her, she will allow Adorabella to do. She expected merciless revenge from Adorabella, and if that's what Adorabella wanted to bring upon her, so be it.
"I... I- I..." Adorabella stammered. She had forgiven Discord, but he wasn't the main issue. Velvet Ice, when she was a filly like Adorabella was, she bullied her, she tormented her. Adorabella thinks carefully about what to say.
"I... I- I... forgive you...". Adorabella almost feels like collapsing saying that. But she regains her footing.
"Y- y - you were the only bully, who went out your way... f- for a decade, t- to find me... just to say sorry to me..." Adorabella looks directly at the former bully, and walks to her, but still keeps a big distance from her. Adorabella takes in a deep breath, and releases it.
Pinkie Pie and Ralph meanwhile sigh with relief. They have really dodged a bullet there. This is by far the best outcome.
"Y- you forgive me... even after all I- I- I've done t- to you?" Velvet Ice was not expecting to recieve forgiveness. But Adorabella seems serious about it.
"I found for myself... that the best way to move on... is to try and forgive those who've hurt you..." Adorabella explained why she chose forgiveness.
"But... it d- d doesn't mean I tr- trust y- you y- y- y- yet..." Adorabella is skeptical whether Velvet Ice was being genuine, or this is all a ploy. Adorabella has very good reason to not trust her.
"I... I'm not asking for trust... I just wanted forgiveness," Velvet Ice responded in a slightly broken tone.
"A- a- and I f- forgive y- y- you," Adorabella stuttered.
"I just need to get outside..." Adorabella murmured as she walks out the front door, and does wave to Pinkie Pie on the way out. Adorabella just cannot handle being anywhere near one of her foalhood bullies. Yes, Velvet Ice was deeply sorry, but Adorabella just can't deal with being in the same place as her. Ralph then walks out as well, following Adorabella.
"If you wanna hang out another time, I don't mind," Said Ralph. Unintentionally or intentionally, Velvet Ice had threw Adorabella's head space upside down.
"B- but... I... I like hanging out with y- you," Adorabella is able to show Ralph a feeble smile.
"Adorabella, I've never seen you freak out like that. Let's call off our meet up today. I want to put your safety first, alright," Ralph responded thoughtfully. He just wants Adorabella to be safe. He's also greatly concerned that Adorabella picked up something and lobbed it in panic, and the object thrown had enough weight and density to cause damage. Luckily nopony was around to witness that.
Adorabella sighs in disappointment, because she was looking forward to hanging out with Ralph, and she was enjoying that little flirtatious moment with Ralph.
"Hey, how about we fly back to Rainbow's, together?" Ralph offered. Adorabella meekly smiles, as she at least can talk with Ralph. Both pegasuses flap their wings and take off. Ralph is flying at a somewhat fast pace, while Adorabella is flying slowly on purpose. This makes Ralph slow down as well.
"You okay?" Ralph asked.
"I'm sorry- I was just- so stupid-" Adorabella wept. She felt embarrassed she freaked out the way she did earlier.
"No you're not stupid. She used to bully you. I don't condone throwing that rock, but I still understand why you freaked out," Ralph gently reassured.
"D- do I have to be friends with her?" Adorabella sighed.
"I cannot make that decision for you. It is something yourself will have to figure out," Ralph replied.
A few minutes of slow-paced flying, Adorabella and Ralph arrive at the Cloudominium. Adorabella and Ralph land in front of the doors. Ralph knocks on the door. The door is answered by Rainbow Dash, who is very surprised.
"Uh... you two are back really quick," Said Rainbow Dash. Adorabella briefly hugs Ralph and walks in doors. Rainbow Dash is a little bit concerned. Maybe something happened and Ralph escorted Adorabella back here.
"Uh, what happened? You two are like pals and hang out a lot," Rainbow Dash inquired.
"Well, something happened, and I just told her to come back to you. I felt that her coming back here would be for her own good," Ralph replied.
"Right," Rainbow Dash nodded. She wants to get to the bottom of this..
"I'll see you around, yeah?" Ralph said as he walks off.
"Yeah, cya around," Rainbow Dash nodded. Ralph waves as he flies off while Rainbow Dash closes the door, and walks to the living room where Adorabella probably is. But, there is only her work uniform, and while they are on the sofa, they aren't neatly folded, and Adorabella normally folds them neatly, so she can wash them later on.
"Oh boy I missed something didn't I?" Rainbow Dash sighed. Something happened and it completely rocked Adorabella, that's for sure.
(Bedroom)
Adorabella is laying on her stomach and blankly staring off into space. But on the inside, she is still completely thrown off by Velvet Ice. Adorabella doesn't know how to feel happy, angry, whether she couod befriend them, or never interact with her.
"Hey, Adorabella, I'm assuming something happened. I'm open if you wanna talk," Rainbow Dash said as she opens the door and walks into her bedroom.
"You left your uniform in a mess- that isn't like you. Do you wanna tell me what's wrong?" Rainbow Dash asked as she jumps onto the bed and sits next to Adorabella.
"I... I saw one of my former bullies... and, and when they approached me I... I got scared and lobbed a rock at them- I was scared!" Adorabella said aloud, still shaken by the experience.
"Oh... now it makes sense why you're in this state- come here," Rainbow Dash lifts Adorabella off her stomach so she's sitting. Rainbow Dash pulls Adorabella towards her with her right forehoof.
"Sure you could've not thrown the rock, but I still don't blame you, alright," Rainbow Dash reassured.
"But... but after that, I found th- they wanted to apologize f- for what they've done to me... I of course accepted their apology... but now... I just d- don't know how to feel," Adorabella explained her feelings to Rainbow Dash.
"Well it's not as if you have to be friends with them. After all, why would you wanna befriend somepony who bullied you? But if that's how you heal, that's fine. But you don't have to befriend them," Rainbow Dash stated.
"I will give that bully credit where it's due though. At least they come to you and said sorry... I suppose," Rainbow Dash added. Adorabella feebly nods.
"I guess you can forget about them now-"
"I can't, my memory won't allow that," Adorabella interrupted, meakly snorting.
"Do you want some time alone?" Rainbow Dash asked. Adorabella nods.
"Okay, I'll let you calm down for a bit," Rainbow Dash gently said as she let's go of Adorabella and gets off the bed and walks out, to leave Adorabella to have alone time.
(A few minutes later)
Rainbow Dash had just folded Adorabella's work uniform for her. She then sees Adorabella walking downstairs.
"C- can I help w- with making dinner t- today?" Adorabella requested.
"Yeah, of course. I was gonna see if you'd like some meat- I usually have meat when I visit Griffonstone though. But recently I've been dying for some steak, I don't know why," Said Rainbow Dash.
"W- when I was still living in. The Everfree Forest... there was a few times I had t- to eat pieces off of carcasses. So... I've had meat before," Adorabella stated.
"That makes sense. You gotta have what you can get when living if you're a hermit," Rainbow Dash nodded.
"Oh- I didn't mean to say that- it just slipped-"
"It's okay... and you're not wrong. I was, by definition, a hermit," Adorabella interrupted while lightly giggling.
"Also uh... I forgot to tell you this. Me and the others are gonna go camping on Friday, and we won't be back until late on Sunday. It is just gonna be me and the other five as well as Spike, Starlight... and they're taking a friend each, and I was gonna try tag you along as well. Do you wanna come camping?" Rainbow Dash offered.
"N- no thanks... because the day after I r- ran from home... we were meant to go camping," Adorabella declined. Rainbow Dash nods, understanding why Adorabella isn't keen on the idea of camping. Plus, there's other ponies going that Adorabella doesn't know. It would also be far too big of a crowd for Adorabella to manage
"Alright, but I'm not gonna be here by the time you finish work tomorrow. I'll already be out camping," Rainbow Dash stated. Adorabella nods.
"So... what will you be doing while I'm gone?" Rainbow Dash inquired.
"I- I don't know... c- can we see Pinkie? I wanna ask her something. It'll help me decide about the decision to go or not go camping," Adorabella requested.
"Uh, okay, yeah sure," Rainbow Dash nodded.
(A few minutes later, at Sugarcube Corner)
It is getting slightly late. In a few hours, Celestia will lower the sun and Luna will raise the moon. Pinkie Pie is preparing to shut Sugarcube Corner. It will be closed for Friday and the whole weekend. With this break, it will give Mr and Mrs Cake a chance to have a break and go off somewhere for the weekend too.
"Now I've just got to ask Adorabella..." Pinkie Pie puts a basket made of hard straws on her back as she walks out the front door. Her pinkie sense is telling her that Rainbow Dash and Adorabella are coming any second now.
A second later, she sees Rainbow Dash and Adorabella flying in her direction. Pinkie Pie's pinkie sense never fails her. The 2 pegasuses land a few feet from Pinkie Pie.
"Hey Pinkie, I just brought Adorabella back here, because... she wants to ask you something," Rainbow Dash stated.
"Funnily enough, I was gonna ask Adorabella something too," Pinkie Pie responded while snorting, but very quickly regains her composure.
"Marble was feeling rather down when you left on Monday. She likes you and feels comfortable around you, and wants to meet up with you again. So I've shut Sugarcube Corner for tomorrow, and the weekend, so you two can have Sugarcube Corner to yourselves so both of you can sleepover there while me and the others go camping. Mr and Mrs Cake have also been dying for a break," Pinkie Pie explained.
"So... are you free, Adorabella?"
"I- I was gonna ask a similar thing... if Marble would want to meet up... this is perfect," Adorabella smiled. She liked hanging out with Marble, somepony who finds comfort in her.
"Huh, they really are quickly becoming pals," Rainbow Dash said while looking at Pinkie Pie.
"I've just not seen Marble be so... expressive... not since we were fillies. It is so heartwarming to see Marble finding comfort in somepony that she relates to," Pinkie Pie said with strong pleased emotions.
"Wh- what time is she coming down?" Adorabella asked.
"Marble will be here around twelve, so around lunch time. Oh and don't worry, I'm even more prepared than you think. I spoke to your boss and he's allowing you to finish at twelve," Pinkie Pie smiled. Adorabella lunges and drops as she puts both forehooves around Pinkie Pie.
"Thank you," Adorabella said as she quickly let's go of Pinkie Pie.
"Don't worry, I have it all planned in my head," Pinkie Pie reassured, briefly tilting her head and tapping it with her left forehoof.
"Also, um... Velvet, she wanted me to give you this," Pinkie Pie stated she twists her head round and grabs the basket handle with her mouth, takes it off her back, and drops it in front of Adorabella. The white pegasus nervously looks into the basket amd sees 8 packs of salted cashews, covered up by a sheet of paper. Adorabella grabs the paper and notices it's a note. Rainbow Dash reads it with her.
"Adorabella, I bought these cashews as I was told you really like them. I just want to show that I'm truly, truly sorry for everything. If you want to, we can organize a day to meet up, and talk things out, because maybe not as much as you do, but I also want to put this behind us. Every time I come to Ponyville, it's normally at one or two in the afternoon. If you don't want to meet up to talk, that is also fine, and I don't blame you if you don't want to. I'm not necessarily asking you to be friends with me, I doubt you want to be anyway, but I want us two to at least be on civil terms. I believe us two talking it out will be the easiest way to achieve that. I will leave that decision to you, Adorabella. From Velvet Ice."
Adorabella's mind pauses in it's tracks. She does want to put the past behind her, like Velvet Ice does. But she, of course, is concerned about this being a trap. But talking with the former bully may be a required step to the many steps in moving on.
"Adorabella, you don't have to meet them if you don't want to," Rainbow Dash stated.
"I will... just not this weekend," Adorabella slowly spoke. She doesn't want a difficult week. She just wants a nice, calm, relaxed weekend. She will also get to spend time with Marble. Adorabella doesn't need anything to ruin the weekend.
"I will come with you, if you like... when you choose to meet her," Rainbow Dash offered.
"No... if we are to talk... it must be between me and her only," Adorabella requested.
"Y- you can come... but me and Velvet will talk alone," Adorabella added.
"Alright," Rainbow Dash nodded.
"So uh... anything else to add?" Adorabella wondered.
"I think that's it, unless Pinkie has something else to say," Rainbow Dash shrugged.
"Nope," Pinkie Pie responded, shaking her head.
"Well, I guess we'll be off then. Thanks Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said as she as well as Adorabella flap their wings, and take to the skies. Pinkie Pie waves bye to them.
(An few minutes later)
Rainbow Dash and Adorabella are back at the Cloudominium. They had some steak for dinner, they had it medium rare. Then, for the next few hours, with nothing else to do, played chess, sat on the floor opposite each other at the glass tae in the middle of the room. Adorabella won 4 times, Rainbow Dash won 2 times, and both drew one game. Then they played another more game...
"Checkmate," Adorabella said as she finishes a 'ladder mate' against Rainbow Dash. For extra sass, Adorabella brought Rainbow Dash's king to her side of the board, then brought the king back to Rainbow Dash's side of the board, and then checkmated her. Rainbow Dash chuckled and was enjoying seeing some sass from Adorabella, and decided to not resign.
"Well... we should probably get to sleep soon," Rainbow Dash stated. Both pegasuses start putting their pieces away, into the box next to the board.
"C- can we sleep t- together tonight? I still feel a- a bit shaken," Adorabella requested.
"Yeah of course we can Adorabella," Rainbow Dash nodded as she and Adorabella start walking to the stairs.
"Wanna race upstairs, on hoof?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Sure... but you'd... very easily beat me in a race on hoof," Adorabella chuckled. She knew she would lose in a hoof race against Rainbow Dash, but is still up to it. Both pegasuses start trotting up the stairs, Rainbow Dash leaving Adorabella far behind.
(A mimute later)
Rainbow Dash is now in her bedroom. She is under her blankets. A few minutes go by, and Adorabella still hasn't come. But then, the door opens, and Adorabella slowly flies in.
"My hooves and legs are shattered. Told you that you'd easily win," Adorabella lightly chuckled. She hovers above the bed, and Rainbow Dash moves the blanket, so Adorabella and lay next to her, left side. Once Adorabella lands on the bed and her hooves give way, Rainbow Dash covers Adorabella with the blanket. Adorabella closes her eyes and moves closer and puts her head under Rainbow Dash's jaw.
"I hope you have fun camping..." Adorabella yawned.
"I hope you have a good time with Marble..." Rainbow Dash also yawned. Both pegasuses being snuggled up, start to fall asleep. Adorabella feels completely safe from any nightmares that may happen, because her sister-like friend will protect her.