07-10-2015, 01:55 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-10-2015, 01:55 PM by Kaltes-Herzeleid.)
Chapter 6: Rainy Night
-----
Of all the nights it just had to rain? And what's more, I'm out in it! I stood in my rain coat in the middle of the park. At night. The sky was black with thick clouds, pouring fat droplets of rain to the earth below it, the wind was rather harsh, rustling the trees and bushes. My hair was wet, as the hood of my coat was oversized and always ended up obscuring my vision, and my glasses coated with said droplets of water. Despite my coat, I was getting drenched here!
"I must really like her to be out here." I thought, a strong gust of wind blowing through and nearly jarring me from spot on the grass. "Stupid wind," I mumbled to myself. In any other context I would be inside, but I had to see Nightmare Rarity. Besides, I knew that if...no, WHEN (I told myself) she shows up I can't just leave her here in this weather. I hadn't even kept track of long I must have been standing out here, but I was willing to stand and wait for her. She'd been on my mind all day, I'd zoned out at work so many times today to a point where I'd nearly messed things up multiple times; much to the irritation of those around me.
"Off day," I'd told them. Strangely without much of a care in the world. I'd felt happier than I had felt in years. Everything seemed less gloomy now, in fact I felt I had no reason to see it in a such way anymore...
From the trees she emerged, with a less than pleased expression on her face. Nightmare Rarity's mane and tail were soaked and dragged somewhat through the wet grass, and while she most likely wasn't showing it, she was probably cold now too.
"Of all the nights...," she glowered at me.
"I know," I walked over to her so she could hear me better, "we can't stay out here."
"Obviously."
"I think we best head over to my apartment," I said, a strange feeling in my gut as I said it. It sounded like a good idea in my head. Nightmare Rarity turned away somewhat and spoke, "I think it would be best if I leave now."
"Why?"
She looked back at me with a raised eyebrow, then looked up at the sky and then back at me.
"I think that's obvious."
"It doesn't mean we can't see each other. Besides," "I missed you," "I like spending time with you."
It was brief, but I saw her expression soften, I felt a wonderful sensation in my chest at seeing the soft little smile on her lips and a unique look of happiness in her sapphire eyes. But it was gone just as soon as I saw it as she turned fully to face me again.
"Very well."
I quickly turned and made a fast gesture with my arm for her to follow and we both broke into a light run. Thanking my luck that I lived so close. The grass squishing beneath my feet as the single black and now slick road came into view. I trudged on through a puddle, but I think Nightmare Rarity just leapt over it, the sound of hooves meaning concrete reached my ears almost immediately. It continued to be the only sound I focused on as we crossed the road and into the parking lot in what like no time at all, digging in my pocket for my keys and managing to pull them out them just second before reaching my door.
I fumbled with them a bit, briefly glancing back at her to see she wasn't too irritated. Nightmare Rarity was looking back at the street to ensure no one had seen us, or more specifically: No one had seen her.
I finally managed to get the right key is and quickly turned the lock, the noise causing Nightmare Rarity to look back over at me as I opened the door. I felt my heart rate increase as her side brushed against me for only a few seconds, but we'd never really had physical contact up until that point, and the touch of another was a strange thing to me. Water dripped and trickled off of us making me glad the little entryway's floor was made of tile, her mane and tail looking plastered to the floor and she let out a huff of sorts as she examined her sopping wet mane before turning to me.
"Do you have a shower?"
-----
Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence stood outside the door to the new castle of Twilight Sparkle. It seemed so out of place in the humble little town of Ponyville. Its gleaming form towering over all other buildings in sight, dwarfed only by the mountains and peaks that surrounded the town. It was the dead of night in Equestria, the three Princesses had decided to pass the information along personally to their new fellow Princess, lest the potentially panic inducing information somehow slip from a messages. Each of them exchanged a glance, the night seemed eerily silent and deathly still after their secret arrival. Cadence nodded at the white alicorn for her to proceed, Luna appeared dethatched and downtrodden. She had been ever since she'd learned of the possibility that her personal greatest adversary was alive and well, and had been for sometime.
Celestia raised a hoof and pounded it against the doors of Twilight's castle, the banging sounded unusually loud in the silence.
"What will we do? If she has returned?" Luna spoke up suddenly, a dark look on her face. Her eyes had narrowed and the dark blue feathers on her royal wings ruffled slightly. Shock and gloom being steadily replaced by a deep seated anger.
Celestia looked reassuringly down at her sister.
"I do not know, sister. We will deal with the matter accordingly," it was a vague response. She was willing to see how Nightmare reacted should they appear...after all it had been two years since their last confrontation. If she was alive all this time with perfect opportunity to attack...then why hadn't she?
The Sun Princess was jarred from her thoughts as the doors to Twilight's castle parted, the purple alicorn looking rather bleary from the fact she'd just been woken up. Her purple mane was disheveled and her feathers were a bit ruffled.
"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked, rubbing the sleep out one of her eyes. "What's going on?" She noticed the severe look on each of their faces. Celestia opened her mouth to speak, but Luna stepped forward after forcing herself to quite the storm of anger that had been building within her.
"Forgive us for the unexpected arrival, Princess Twilight Sparkle," Luna said formally, although it still a bit odd for her, referring to Twilight as "Princess" now. But she quickly cast that thought out of her brain and proceeded. "May we please come inside? We have an urgent matter to discuss."
-----
My apartment wasn't anything lavish, given my limited budget, but that didn't really bother me. It met a pleasant standard of living for me. I sat in my living room, on my plain black leather couch, my bedroom down the hallway to my right. Behind me was a small kitchen/dining room area, to my left was the single bathroom of which Nightmare Rarity was now using. I'd dried my hair off via a towel, but sadly she'd caught the brunt of the rain without any sort of protection from it. I occasionally glanced over at the bathroom door, the sound of running water being the only noise I registered at the moment. The glimmer of light shining from the small open space just beneath said door.
I sighed and shifted my gaze towards the vacant black screen of my TV that sat opposite the couch. Honestly I'd felt a bit relieved that she hadn't scoffed at my home, not that there was much to scoff at anyway. Most of my personal favorite stuff was in the bedroom. I'd been so lost in thought I'd only just now registered the bathroom door being opened, causing me to crane my head back in anticipation of seeing her, but immediately looked forward and back at the inactive TV so as not to appear overly eager. However I did allow myself to glance over at her when she walked it, my eyes widening slightly at the sight of her.
Nightmare Rarity sat it the big leather chair to the right of my couch, tucking her back legs close to her while comfortably resting her upper body on the right arm of it, neatly crossing her hooves over each other. Her mane was a bit damp, it hung down and seemed impossibly long. Her long horn glowed with a blue aura and levitated my brush to the damp locks and began running it through. While it was subtle, she seemed to be enjoying herself, and I felt like the possibility of swooning was probable.
Her eyes shifted over towards me, half lidded, causing me to look away abruptly and scold myself for getting caught staring at her. I heard Nightmare Rarity give a quiet chuckle, adding to my embarrassment.
"Does she know?" I asked myself. "Well if I keep behaving like this she will!"
-----
Nightmare Rarity continued brushing her long, beautiful mane, surprisingly content and occasionally glancing over at Michael.
"He's adorable when he squirms," she thought to herself, noticing how shy he became under her gaze. How he looked at her. "It's so obvious. Yet why do I encourage it?" She thought seriously. Nightmare Rarity gently continued running the brush through her mane, suddenly troubled and trying to deny something she knew in her heart.
"So...," Michael spoke up first, his low voice breaking the silence that was steadily becoming awkward, "what do you think?" He gave a quick gesture with his hand at their surroundings. Nightmare Rarity looked carefully all around, taking in every little detail. The walls were painted a dark blue in color and had black curtains covering the windows, not allowing a speck of light to enter. Her horn glowed as he delicately laid the hair brush on the small table in between the couch and TV, then looked at him.
"It's very pleasant," she complimented, to her own surprise she found her words were genuine, "however it seems rather impersonal." She stated, not in a cruel manner, but as a simple observation. It was true, Michael knew this, there was very little here that gave much indication someone inhabited the apartment, possibly due to the lack of photos on the wall. Almost everyone had an image of sorts of something, anything, on their walls. She found it comment worthy that he didn't.
"Most of the stuff that's really important to me is in my bedroom, and I basically never have visitors." He answered honestly. It was true Michael never really got visits from anyone, not that it really bothered him, for the most part he enjoyed his solitary living. Even if it seemed sad to others. Nightmare Rarity wasn't surprised, she was quite skilled at figuring things out about another that might not seem obvious just by talking to them, watching their behavior. Michael had struck her as the solitary type, although to what extent she didn't realize until now.
"Not that it bothers me or anything," he added quickly, "I find I have little in common with anybody else as is."
"And why is that?"
"Differing interests, personalities...existences in general," he trailed off, perhaps out of uncertainty as to how he could properly describe it, "sometimes I feel like I just don't belong here in general."
"'Here?'"
"This world," Michael suddenly felt the words leave him, "I feel like I just don't fit in, that I'm so out of place." Nightmare Rarity detected no anguish or arrogance in his voice, just him speaking what he felt was the truth. She opened her mouth to give a response, but he spoke up again.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that...not really cheery material for discussion."
"Well...I'm not what you'd call a...cheery mare," she replied vaguely. He looked over at her, their eyes locking with one another deeply, the boom of thunder going unnoticed as they looked at each other. Nightmare felt peaceful when she looked at him, there was just something about him that pulled her in. Nor did she object to the feeling this time. She felt her lips slowly forming a small smile, her smile causing him to blush visibly as he shifted in his seat and looked away with obvious hesitation.
"Michael?"
That feeling returned in his chest when she spoke his name.
"Yes?"
"Perhaps tomorrow I could show you my castle?"
He looked at her in wonderment, however she could see the gleam of happiness and excitement in his dark brown eyes.
"Really?"
Nightmare Rarity gave a nod in reply, unable to keep from smiling wider herself. "Stop smiling! You're acting like a giddy little filly!" But she just couldn't help herself, it gave her a previously unfelt sense of joy to see she had made him so happy.
"Yes," he answered, now unable to keep from showing his happiness.
-----
Twilight Sparkle felt numb with worry and shock as she paced the great throne room of her castle. She finally stopped and looked up at Celestia, who bore a calm expression, as she always did in times of stress.
"Y-you mean she's still alive?"
Celestia nodded, "That is what we suspect, gather your friends soon, we must investigate as soon as possible. But keep this secret, we do not want to start a mass panic."
Twilight nodded in agreement, looking over at Princess Cadence, who gave a small smile and nod at her sister in law; then the Princess Of Friendship looked over at Luna, who had been silent of the most part. Her eyes seemed far away, lost in thought, and the purple alicorn knew not how to address Luna at the moment. She couldn't even begin to imagine how she must be feeling.
She just hoped that this situation wouldn't end as badly as she was fearing it would...
-----
Of all the nights it just had to rain? And what's more, I'm out in it! I stood in my rain coat in the middle of the park. At night. The sky was black with thick clouds, pouring fat droplets of rain to the earth below it, the wind was rather harsh, rustling the trees and bushes. My hair was wet, as the hood of my coat was oversized and always ended up obscuring my vision, and my glasses coated with said droplets of water. Despite my coat, I was getting drenched here!
"I must really like her to be out here." I thought, a strong gust of wind blowing through and nearly jarring me from spot on the grass. "Stupid wind," I mumbled to myself. In any other context I would be inside, but I had to see Nightmare Rarity. Besides, I knew that if...no, WHEN (I told myself) she shows up I can't just leave her here in this weather. I hadn't even kept track of long I must have been standing out here, but I was willing to stand and wait for her. She'd been on my mind all day, I'd zoned out at work so many times today to a point where I'd nearly messed things up multiple times; much to the irritation of those around me.
"Off day," I'd told them. Strangely without much of a care in the world. I'd felt happier than I had felt in years. Everything seemed less gloomy now, in fact I felt I had no reason to see it in a such way anymore...
From the trees she emerged, with a less than pleased expression on her face. Nightmare Rarity's mane and tail were soaked and dragged somewhat through the wet grass, and while she most likely wasn't showing it, she was probably cold now too.
"Of all the nights...," she glowered at me.
"I know," I walked over to her so she could hear me better, "we can't stay out here."
"Obviously."
"I think we best head over to my apartment," I said, a strange feeling in my gut as I said it. It sounded like a good idea in my head. Nightmare Rarity turned away somewhat and spoke, "I think it would be best if I leave now."
"Why?"
She looked back at me with a raised eyebrow, then looked up at the sky and then back at me.
"I think that's obvious."
"It doesn't mean we can't see each other. Besides," "I missed you," "I like spending time with you."
It was brief, but I saw her expression soften, I felt a wonderful sensation in my chest at seeing the soft little smile on her lips and a unique look of happiness in her sapphire eyes. But it was gone just as soon as I saw it as she turned fully to face me again.
"Very well."
I quickly turned and made a fast gesture with my arm for her to follow and we both broke into a light run. Thanking my luck that I lived so close. The grass squishing beneath my feet as the single black and now slick road came into view. I trudged on through a puddle, but I think Nightmare Rarity just leapt over it, the sound of hooves meaning concrete reached my ears almost immediately. It continued to be the only sound I focused on as we crossed the road and into the parking lot in what like no time at all, digging in my pocket for my keys and managing to pull them out them just second before reaching my door.
I fumbled with them a bit, briefly glancing back at her to see she wasn't too irritated. Nightmare Rarity was looking back at the street to ensure no one had seen us, or more specifically: No one had seen her.
I finally managed to get the right key is and quickly turned the lock, the noise causing Nightmare Rarity to look back over at me as I opened the door. I felt my heart rate increase as her side brushed against me for only a few seconds, but we'd never really had physical contact up until that point, and the touch of another was a strange thing to me. Water dripped and trickled off of us making me glad the little entryway's floor was made of tile, her mane and tail looking plastered to the floor and she let out a huff of sorts as she examined her sopping wet mane before turning to me.
"Do you have a shower?"
-----
Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence stood outside the door to the new castle of Twilight Sparkle. It seemed so out of place in the humble little town of Ponyville. Its gleaming form towering over all other buildings in sight, dwarfed only by the mountains and peaks that surrounded the town. It was the dead of night in Equestria, the three Princesses had decided to pass the information along personally to their new fellow Princess, lest the potentially panic inducing information somehow slip from a messages. Each of them exchanged a glance, the night seemed eerily silent and deathly still after their secret arrival. Cadence nodded at the white alicorn for her to proceed, Luna appeared dethatched and downtrodden. She had been ever since she'd learned of the possibility that her personal greatest adversary was alive and well, and had been for sometime.
Celestia raised a hoof and pounded it against the doors of Twilight's castle, the banging sounded unusually loud in the silence.
"What will we do? If she has returned?" Luna spoke up suddenly, a dark look on her face. Her eyes had narrowed and the dark blue feathers on her royal wings ruffled slightly. Shock and gloom being steadily replaced by a deep seated anger.
Celestia looked reassuringly down at her sister.
"I do not know, sister. We will deal with the matter accordingly," it was a vague response. She was willing to see how Nightmare reacted should they appear...after all it had been two years since their last confrontation. If she was alive all this time with perfect opportunity to attack...then why hadn't she?
The Sun Princess was jarred from her thoughts as the doors to Twilight's castle parted, the purple alicorn looking rather bleary from the fact she'd just been woken up. Her purple mane was disheveled and her feathers were a bit ruffled.
"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked, rubbing the sleep out one of her eyes. "What's going on?" She noticed the severe look on each of their faces. Celestia opened her mouth to speak, but Luna stepped forward after forcing herself to quite the storm of anger that had been building within her.
"Forgive us for the unexpected arrival, Princess Twilight Sparkle," Luna said formally, although it still a bit odd for her, referring to Twilight as "Princess" now. But she quickly cast that thought out of her brain and proceeded. "May we please come inside? We have an urgent matter to discuss."
-----
My apartment wasn't anything lavish, given my limited budget, but that didn't really bother me. It met a pleasant standard of living for me. I sat in my living room, on my plain black leather couch, my bedroom down the hallway to my right. Behind me was a small kitchen/dining room area, to my left was the single bathroom of which Nightmare Rarity was now using. I'd dried my hair off via a towel, but sadly she'd caught the brunt of the rain without any sort of protection from it. I occasionally glanced over at the bathroom door, the sound of running water being the only noise I registered at the moment. The glimmer of light shining from the small open space just beneath said door.
I sighed and shifted my gaze towards the vacant black screen of my TV that sat opposite the couch. Honestly I'd felt a bit relieved that she hadn't scoffed at my home, not that there was much to scoff at anyway. Most of my personal favorite stuff was in the bedroom. I'd been so lost in thought I'd only just now registered the bathroom door being opened, causing me to crane my head back in anticipation of seeing her, but immediately looked forward and back at the inactive TV so as not to appear overly eager. However I did allow myself to glance over at her when she walked it, my eyes widening slightly at the sight of her.
Nightmare Rarity sat it the big leather chair to the right of my couch, tucking her back legs close to her while comfortably resting her upper body on the right arm of it, neatly crossing her hooves over each other. Her mane was a bit damp, it hung down and seemed impossibly long. Her long horn glowed with a blue aura and levitated my brush to the damp locks and began running it through. While it was subtle, she seemed to be enjoying herself, and I felt like the possibility of swooning was probable.
Her eyes shifted over towards me, half lidded, causing me to look away abruptly and scold myself for getting caught staring at her. I heard Nightmare Rarity give a quiet chuckle, adding to my embarrassment.
"Does she know?" I asked myself. "Well if I keep behaving like this she will!"
-----
Nightmare Rarity continued brushing her long, beautiful mane, surprisingly content and occasionally glancing over at Michael.
"He's adorable when he squirms," she thought to herself, noticing how shy he became under her gaze. How he looked at her. "It's so obvious. Yet why do I encourage it?" She thought seriously. Nightmare Rarity gently continued running the brush through her mane, suddenly troubled and trying to deny something she knew in her heart.
"So...," Michael spoke up first, his low voice breaking the silence that was steadily becoming awkward, "what do you think?" He gave a quick gesture with his hand at their surroundings. Nightmare Rarity looked carefully all around, taking in every little detail. The walls were painted a dark blue in color and had black curtains covering the windows, not allowing a speck of light to enter. Her horn glowed as he delicately laid the hair brush on the small table in between the couch and TV, then looked at him.
"It's very pleasant," she complimented, to her own surprise she found her words were genuine, "however it seems rather impersonal." She stated, not in a cruel manner, but as a simple observation. It was true, Michael knew this, there was very little here that gave much indication someone inhabited the apartment, possibly due to the lack of photos on the wall. Almost everyone had an image of sorts of something, anything, on their walls. She found it comment worthy that he didn't.
"Most of the stuff that's really important to me is in my bedroom, and I basically never have visitors." He answered honestly. It was true Michael never really got visits from anyone, not that it really bothered him, for the most part he enjoyed his solitary living. Even if it seemed sad to others. Nightmare Rarity wasn't surprised, she was quite skilled at figuring things out about another that might not seem obvious just by talking to them, watching their behavior. Michael had struck her as the solitary type, although to what extent she didn't realize until now.
"Not that it bothers me or anything," he added quickly, "I find I have little in common with anybody else as is."
"And why is that?"
"Differing interests, personalities...existences in general," he trailed off, perhaps out of uncertainty as to how he could properly describe it, "sometimes I feel like I just don't belong here in general."
"'Here?'"
"This world," Michael suddenly felt the words leave him, "I feel like I just don't fit in, that I'm so out of place." Nightmare Rarity detected no anguish or arrogance in his voice, just him speaking what he felt was the truth. She opened her mouth to give a response, but he spoke up again.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that...not really cheery material for discussion."
"Well...I'm not what you'd call a...cheery mare," she replied vaguely. He looked over at her, their eyes locking with one another deeply, the boom of thunder going unnoticed as they looked at each other. Nightmare felt peaceful when she looked at him, there was just something about him that pulled her in. Nor did she object to the feeling this time. She felt her lips slowly forming a small smile, her smile causing him to blush visibly as he shifted in his seat and looked away with obvious hesitation.
"Michael?"
That feeling returned in his chest when she spoke his name.
"Yes?"
"Perhaps tomorrow I could show you my castle?"
He looked at her in wonderment, however she could see the gleam of happiness and excitement in his dark brown eyes.
"Really?"
Nightmare Rarity gave a nod in reply, unable to keep from smiling wider herself. "Stop smiling! You're acting like a giddy little filly!" But she just couldn't help herself, it gave her a previously unfelt sense of joy to see she had made him so happy.
"Yes," he answered, now unable to keep from showing his happiness.
-----
Twilight Sparkle felt numb with worry and shock as she paced the great throne room of her castle. She finally stopped and looked up at Celestia, who bore a calm expression, as she always did in times of stress.
"Y-you mean she's still alive?"
Celestia nodded, "That is what we suspect, gather your friends soon, we must investigate as soon as possible. But keep this secret, we do not want to start a mass panic."
Twilight nodded in agreement, looking over at Princess Cadence, who gave a small smile and nod at her sister in law; then the Princess Of Friendship looked over at Luna, who had been silent of the most part. Her eyes seemed far away, lost in thought, and the purple alicorn knew not how to address Luna at the moment. She couldn't even begin to imagine how she must be feeling.
She just hoped that this situation wouldn't end as badly as she was fearing it would...