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"Something brash. Perhaps quite fetching..." Those were the first words I heard as I awoke to the sight of Rarity carefully ironing my robe. "Hook and eye... Couldn't you simply die!"

I was going to speak out to her, but the memories of the previous day came rushing back into my mind, sapping a good deal of my vigor away. It was a very unpleasant feeling, being reminded that I had crushed a child's dream and broken the heart of one of my best friends right after waking up.

"Even though it rides high on the flank, Rainbow won't look like a tank... Oh! Good morning, dear!" Rarity spoke cheerfully as she noticed me sitting up in bed.

"Hey..." I replied without much emotion. I had just woken up, and I was already lacking in energy. Depression is a powerful force.

Rarity was quick to notice my state of mind as she trotted over to me. "Darling, what's wrong? You look as if you've seen something terrible."

I replied honestly, "Just the memories... I know you told me that it's unhealthy to dwell on things like that, but... I can't help it. Twilight is hurt and Spike is... I won't even go there."

My lover sighed as she approached me. "I understand. Guilt takes time to leave." She then climbed onto the bed and rested against me. "If you are taking this long to heal, then I shall do all I can to speed up your recovery. As for Twilight, leave her to me. I'll talk to her on your behalf."

I felt a slight boost in my mood at Rarity's words of support. I could not help Twilight feel better, but perhaps a pony who has been her friend for around two years could. "Thanks, Rarity... But please be careful with what you say. She's in a very delicate state right now."

Rarity smiled as she placed a kiss on my cheek, "I will. I know Twilight well. But now that I think about it, don't you start your first day at the spa today?"

I had completely forgotten. "Yeah, I do. Lemme get dressed." I replied as I got out of bed quickly. The time was around 10:30 in the morning, so I did not have very long. I slipped on the t-shirt and shorts I had worn when I had first arrived in Equestria, as they were the only clean clothes I had. As I slid on my shoes and socks, I noticed that Rarity was watching me. "Uh... Did I do something wrong?"

She replied with a warm smile, "No, of course not. It's just... It does my heart good to see you in better spirits. Seeing you depressed is so...well...depressing."

I shook my head, "I don't have time to feel depressed. I have a job to do. I'm still feeling very down, but I'm just hiding it now."

At my words, Rarity sighed, "Well then... When you take your lunch break, shall we dine together? At the café? It will be my treat."

By this point, I was willing to do whatever I could to feel better. If a quiet lunch with my girlfriend would help, I would do it. "That sounds nice... I'll see you there, Rarity."

Before I could stand up, Rarity reared up on her hind legs and placed a tender kiss on my lips. "I love you, darling. Don't ever forget that."

I embraced my lover gently while tenderly stroking her beautiful curled mane. "I love you too... No matter what." I reluctantly left the room afterwards before heading downstairs and out the front door. I could already sense that this was not going to be an easy day.

It was a bright sunny day. A stark contrast to my gloomy mood at the time. I was honestly hoping it would rain to help match my mood. After all, misery loves company.

"Looks like somepony's got a dark cloud hanging over his head." I heard a familiar voice speak up. I also noticed that it seemed a bit...dark around me. I glanced up and found a..... Wait, really? A black thundercloud floating a foot or two above my head? Since when do any clouds get this low to the ground?

"You want me to take care of that for you, James?" Rainbow Dash asked as she poked her head through the cloud to see me.

"Hey, Rainbow..." I muttered as I locked eyes with her.

"Whoa, what happened? I haven't seen you looking this down since the day we first met. Something come up?" I am not surprised Rainbow Dash could tell I was depressed. I was not trying to hide my emotions.

"I'd rather not talk about it, Rainbow... It's personal and you can't help." I replied. It was bad enough that my lover and one of my friends were involved. Things could get worse if I got anymore of them involved with this problem.

Rainbow Dash smirked, "Don't count me out before I try. C'mon, lay it on me! I can probably help clear this mess up." She tapped me on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

Loyal Rainbow Dash... If it was any other problem, I would accept her aid. But this time, I could not risk it. "I'm sorry, Rainbow. I can't accept your help for this one. It's...very personal and the situation is extremely delicate. If I were sure you could help, I would ask you for some assistance. But this is out of your hooves. I'm sorry."

The rainbow mane pegasus mare sighed, "OK, I getcha... Well, is there anything I can do to help lighten your mood?"

I thought her request over for a moment before glancing up at the cloud above me. If it was that dark, it was likely filled to the brim with moisture. "If you could, I would like you to make this cloud rain gently on me. This sunny weather...doesn't help my mood."

Rainbow Dash gave me a strange stare for a brief moment. But she then nodded, "Yeah, I know whatcha mean. Rainy days are better for helping you feel better on a bad day. Where ya headed?"

I replied, "The spa. I start work there today."

My friend nodded as she climbed atop the cloud. "OK, I'll keep it right over you so you get the most of it. Lead on." I think she gently tapped it with her hoof after that. The cloud began to gently sprinkle rain onto me.

"Thanks, Rainbow..." I muttered as I headed into Ponyville. The whole way, Rainbow Dash slowly pushed the cloud so that it stayed directly above me.

As it turned out, I did not have to go very far at all. The distance from Carousel Boutique to the local spa, at my slow shuffling pace, was only a five or so minute trek. I honestly wanted to take longer so I could drown more of my sorrow in the rain. But if one of the spa sisters noticed me loitering outside through one of the arched windows... I would rather not think about the consequences.

I paused in front of the spa's front door before speaking, "Thanks for escorting me, Rainbow. You can stop the rain now."

I think I heard her tap the cloud again as the rainfall suddenly ceased. "Feel any better, James?" She asked while poking her head through the cloud.

"Just a little... It'll take a while for this to pass..." I replied quietly. But as I reached for the doorknob, Rainbow Dash reached out and embraced me gently. "Rainbow...?"

The pegasus whispered, "If you see me and are still feeling down, let me know. I'll give ya a shoulder to cry on."

For the entire week I have known her, I never once thought that Rainbow Dash did not mind seeing a man cry. But it seemed that she had genuinely come to embrace my gentle and sensitive nature. I patted her on the back, "OK... Thanks for being there for me, Rainbow..."

She smiled at me compassionately, "Anytime, James. Now get going. Your bosses are waiting." I nodded, said my goodbyes, and headed inside.

I found Lotus seated at the front desk. Or was it Aloe? Her coat was a shade of blue and her mane and tail a shade of pink... Yes, it was Lotus. She noticed me right away and asked, "Welcome...Oh, hello James. Are you ready for you first day on the job?"

I sighed, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Please show me to my post." She motioned for me to follow her as she entered the main chamber of the spa.

The center of the room had the hot tub in it with the massage tables set across from it. "Do we have any customers yet, Lotus?" I asked, wondering just how early the spa opens.

"Just one. And she is right there." Lotus replied while pointing to the hot tub. Resting at the edge with her head leaning against the side was.....Derpy Hooves.

"OK... I'll wait for her to finish up." I muttered as I took a seat on the counter next to the massage tables. Lotus left me alone as she returned to the front desk at the entrance.

I crossed my arms as I stared at the floor. My thoughts were constantly focused on Twilight Sparkle and Spike. I know I have a bad habit of focusing too much on bad experiences, but these memories would not leave me. And how could they? I had broken the heart of one of my closest friends and crushed the dreams of a child. Could anyone not feel guilt or remorse after that?

I am not certain how much time passed before I felt someone tap my leg. I raised my head and found Derpy looking up at me with her yellow eyes. For some reason, they appeared to be normal instead of their usual 'derped' state. "Are you the new masseuse, James?"

I nodded halfheartedly at her question. "Yeah... You want me to massage you now?"

Derpy nodded, "Sure. You want me to leave my towel off?" She had her body wrapped in a white towel.

"The massage will be more effective if there's nothing in the way. You should remove it." I explained quietly.

Derpy smiled as she gripped the towel with her teeth and yanked it off. She then bounded up onto a massage table and spread herself out on it. "OK, ready."

I cracked my knuckles to help loosen my fingers up before climbing onto the massage table. "Just relax, Derpy..." She replied with an 'mmhm' before going lax.

I started with the base of Derpy's neck, kneading her flesh gently. Perhaps too gently. I was not putting much effort into my work at all due to my depression. Despite this, I heard Derpy sigh contentedly at my touch. Perhaps pegasi have less muscle mass than earth ponies and unicorns and therefore do not require as much pressure to massage effectively. I asked, "Am I doing OK?"

Derpy nodded as she pulled a pillow down to her head before smiling while turning her head sideways on it, "That feels nice..."

I did not offer a reply as I continued to massage the relaxing pegasus. And...I know this may sound strange. But I think I noticed the faint smell of... I think it was cardboard and...muffins? The scent was in her coat, possibly due to her love of muffins and working with cardboard boxes in her profession as a mailmare.

After three minutes, I moved my hands up to Derpy's cheeks. "Don't talk until I finish this part." I muttered. Derpy nodded briefly before I started to massage her jaw joints.

Since she could not speak while I massaged her face, I could not engage in conversation with Derpy during this part of the massage. Nor did I really want to. But once I finished massaging her cheeks, Derpy asked, "Are you OK? Or are you just really focused right now?"

I replied while starting on her shoulders, "It's personal, Derpy. I don't want to get anyone involved."

Derpy seemed oblivious to my touch as she asked, "Ya know, you're not the really friendly human guy I normally see. I can tell something's wrong. Could you at least let me lend an ear?"

I was mildly surprised that someone I hardly know was willing to hear out my problems. I thought this was a joke and asked, "Why are you willing to do that?"

Derpy replied with a grin, "What's wrong with listening to a friend's worries?"

Friend. This goofy pegasus referred to me as a friend. I hardly knew her at the time and yet... Are all ponies from Ponyville really this hospitable? I mumbled, "Have you.....ever had someone confess to you that they love you when you were with someone else at the time?"

Derpy replied, "Um... Sorry, can't say I have. Is that what's bothering you?"

I sighed as my hands went down to her knees. "Yeah... I won't use names, but... One of my closest friends confessed to me yesterday at a picnic she threw for the two of us... But I had become lovers with another one of my friends the previous night... I broke her heart and it hurts knowing I did it."

At my explanation, Derpy sighed. "Dang... That IS depressing... I hope things improve for you soon."

I said nothing as I continued to massage Derpy's legs. Once I had finished with her shoulders, knees, and ankles, I moved down to her vertebrae. But while I massaged each joint, Derpy asked, "Is this your first day on the job?"

I nodded, "Yeah..."

Derpy then smiled, "You're doing a great job. Did somepony recommend you to try this job out?"

I muttered, "Rarity and Fluttershy. They wanted to see how my fingers would do in a massage. I couldn't refuse."

The mailmare smiled, "I see why the spa sisters hired you. Those soft fingers really do the trick." All I could do was sigh. I could clearly tell Derpy was trying to lighten the mood, but my depression quite simply would not let go of me.

Derpy said little for the remainder of the massage of her back. But when I climbed down from the massage table so I could turn around to massage her flanks, I remembered that Derpy Hooves is a pegasus. I should not neglect massaging her wings. "Could you extend your right wing, please?"

She replied, "My wing? Uh...OK." She did as I requested and spread her right wing out.

I felt through the feathers for the two joints. "Don't move it until I say so." I muttered as I began to tenderly knead one of her wing joints.

I think I felt Derpy shudder at my touch. "Whoa... I don't think it's possible for ponies to massage wings like that. Keep it up."

I did as Derpy requested, constantly massaging each of her wing joints for exactly three minutes each. Once I had finished, I walked to the other side of the table. "Left wing, please." Derpy responded by folding her right wing while extending her left. I massaged each joint for three minutes each before gently folding it myself at the end. All the while, Derpy did not say a word.

When I climbed back onto the massage table while facing her backside, I forgot to ask Derpy if her cutie marks were sensitive in any way. My fingers dug into her flanks, massaging them gently. But after a moment of my fingers pushing into her cutie marks, I heard a sudden pop.

"What was that?" Derpy asked, clearly baffled by where the sound had come from. I too was rather startled. I have never been able to tolerate sudden loud sounds.

I glanced around, wondering if a balloon had been popped. "Doesn't look lke anything really happened..." I muttered. I then placed my hands on her flanks and continued to massage her. At least until another sudden pop rang out.

"There it is again! What is it?!" Derpy asked while looking over her shoulder at me. As both popping sounds had occurred while I was massaging her flanks, I decided to test it. I once again began to massage her flanks. After a brief moment, I heard another pop. I stopped my hands where they were the instant I heard it. It seemed that the sound had occurred as I...pressed the bubbles that made up Derpy's cutie mark.

"Popping sounds... Coming from...bubble wrap?" I muttered. It was then that I understood what Derpy's cutie mark represents. The bubbles stand not for being an airhead or for having a talent of blowing bubbles. It represents her skill in delivering packages as bubble wrap is commonly used to add cushioning to the insides of packages. "Heh. Suits you perfectly, Derpy."

The mailmare asked, "Did you find where that sound came from?"

I nodded, "Yeah. And it's not a problem. Just relax and I'll finish up your massage." I continued to massage her flanks, her cutie marks popping all the way. And no, the bubbles that serve as her cutie mark did not actually burst. But just how could a cutie mark make sounds upon being touched? Best not to think about that too hard.

Once I had finished with her flanks, hind knees, and ankles, I got down from the table so Derpy could stand up. She stood up and flexed her body and wings thoroughly. "Wow, that really loosened me up! Now I can probably get my deliveries done in half the time!"

I nodded halfheartedly, "Glad to hear, Derpy... I'm here Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays if you want to see me again."

Derpy grinned at me and nodded, "I just might come by every day you're here! But I better get going now. I need to start on my lunch before getting back to work. See ya!" She hopped down from the table and left through the doorway that led out into the lobby.

I took a seat on the counter that was behind the massage tables as I was now alone. While the odd experience with massaging Derpy Hooves' cutie marks was indeed something one would discuss around a water fountain, it was not nearly enough to lift my spirits in the slightest. I crossed my arms and bowed my head, unable to stop thinking about Twilight Sparkle and Spike. When I last saw them, they were utterly miserable. I could even vividly recall hearing Spike tell me that he wished I had never come to Equestria. And at that moment, I wished I had never arrived too. It hurt to know that I was the source of so much pain for some of my friends.

I did not move from that spot for a while. But after...I am not sure. Twenty minutes? Regardless, I saw a white hoof rest on my knee with a familiar gold and silver bracelet just above the ankle. "Darling... Are you feeling any better?"

It was Rarity. She was looking up at me with a truly worried expression. "Hi, Rarity..." I muttered quietly.

Rarity responded by rearing up on her hind legs and embracing me tightly. As I was seated at the time, our faces were parallel with each other. "I came sooner than I planned because I couldn't stop worrying about you..."

In her embrace, I felt some of my sorrow fade away. It was as if only Rarity, the pony I love, could bring me happiness at this point. I wrapped my arms around her while gently stroking her beautifully curled indigo mane. "I'll live, honey..."

"That's not what I'm worried about. I just don't want this depression to tear you apart." Rarity replied as she looked at me. "Don't worry. Once we finish with lunch, I'll have a talk with Twilight so we can get this whole mess settled. She's a wise girl, so we'll surely come to an agreement. Trust me."

It seems that Rarity does know Twilight Sparkle well. She seemed very confident in herself. Those eyes had no doubt in them. I sighed with a slight smile, "OK... I hope you succeed. Now, is there anything I can help you with?"

Rarity smiled, "I'm not getting much today. Just a soak in the hot tub and a massage. I save 'the usual' for my weekly get-togethers with Fluttershy." I watched as she headed up the steps to the top of the hot tub before slowly submerging herself in the bubbling water after removing her bracelet. She then came over to the side of the tub that was closest to me and looked at me with those dazzling azure eyes. "Would it be fine with you if we engaged in friendly chitchat?"

I gently leaned on the side of tub while looking at her, "Sounds good to me. It'll help keep my mind off the bad." I then asked, "For starters..... What are the rulers of Equestria like? I only know their names."

Rarity replied, "They are very wise and kind rulers. The eldest of the two is beautiful Celestia. She brings the sun out every morning and makes it set in the evening. She is wise, caring, compassionate... Well, I could just go on and on about her good sides, so I will leave it at that. Then you have the princess of the night, elegant Luna. She raises and lowers the moon with every evening and morning. She made quite a stir on Nightmare Night last when she arrived in person. She certainly can be direct. But she has especially made enormous progress since being changed back to normal two years ago."

I asked, "Back to normal... You mean Nightmare Moon?" I had done some research during my first week in Ponyville, including reading the fable of the 'Mare in the Moon'. And...I know I may sound like a bleeding-heart sympathizer, but I honestly felt pity for Nightmare Moon. Even though Equestria reviled her for rebelling against Celestia, it was not without reason. She had never been appreciated. Or rather, I do not think she had ever known that her beautiful night was appreciated.

"Yes. Such a vile and power mad witch. Princess Luna is far more likeable than Nightmare Moon ever was." Rarity replied with a hint of revulsion in her voice. While I am fairly certain Rarity may have seen Nightmare Moon in person, I still could not help but feel pity for her. I had seen illustrations of her that seemed very recent. And they did not depict her as a monster. Far from it. When I saw those pictures of Nightmare Moon, I saw an elegant pony with a beautiful black coat and majestic blue mane and tail. Surely she was more than what my lover was telling me..... Right?

"Do you think that...maybe...all she wanted was to be appreciated? That she simply didn't know that others loved her beautiful night?" I asked Rarity as she looked at me.

My question seemed to leave her speechless for a moment. "Wanting to be appreciated? I certainly see nothing wrong with that....." She then sighed, "Oh dear, now I feel awful... And she was so beautiful with that billowing star-filled mane... I should've made a special dress for her to replace that unattractive armor when we went to her! She would've surely felt more appreciated after that! We may not have had to use the Elements of Harmony on her if I did so..."

I nodded silently, rather impressed by how quickly Rarity's opinion changed after I explained how Nightmare Moon surely felt. But wait... She went to face Nightmare Moon directly? Which means... "Rarity, did you use the Elements of Harmony yourself?"

The beautiful unicorn replied with a giggle, "Oh, I only have access to one. The Element that I represent is the Element of Generosity. Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy used the other five."

My depression was completely suppressed for a moment as I realized that my girlfriend, as well as my five closest friends, were in fact national heroes who defeated a powerful villain. "Good lord... Why didn't you tell me you and the other girls are heroes?" I asked, still trying to take this information in.

Rarity giggled, "Oh, it's certainly not that big of a deal. We may have helped save Equestria on more than one occasion, but we're still ordinary citizens of Ponyville. But now that I think about it..." She then smiled warmly, "I think you represent the Element of Generosity too. If you were a pony, you could probably use it."

I may have blushed at that compliment. As for being generous... I am not certain. But I did pay for that elaborate and expensive bracelet for Rarity without minding the price, so... Perhaps I am generous. I then asked, "Well, if the Element of Generosity is yours, which of our friends uses which of the other Elements?"

Rarity replied, "Well, Pinkie Pie represents the Element of Laughter. Applejack is in tune with the Element of Honesty. Rainbow Dash represents the Element of Loyalty. Fluttershy, unsurprisingly, represents the Element of Kindness. And Twilight Sparkle represents the Element of Magic. They don't do much on their own, but work their magic best when together." I was tempted to ask just what exactly the Elements of Harmony do, but I strongly doubt most ponies could accurately explain the inner workings of a legendary set of powerful elements.

"All five of them have access to each of the other Elements? I guess I should be flattered that I'm friends with all six of you." I muttered with a chuckle.

My girlfriend smiled, "Well, it's all true. I may not be the bearer of the Element of Honesty, but I would not lie about such a grand event. Now then, is there anything else you wish to discuss with me? I know of plenty of topics I can tell you about."

"One more question and I'll get to work on your massage. As for topics..... How many times have you ever used the Elements of Harmony?" I asked, wondering if Nightmare Moon was the only major threat Equestria had ever seen.

Rarity replied, "In all, twice. Once to defeat Nightmare Moon and another to seal away Discord."

I paused for a moment as I processed the word 'Discord'. "Um... Discord? There's actually someone called that?" For some reason, hearing that word gave me a very sinister vibe. Discord is the exact opposite of harmony.

My girlfriend nodded, "Yes, he is indeed named 'Discord'. He is a draconequus, a creature whose body is composed of parts from many other creatures. The arms of a lion and griffon, the head of a goat, wings of a bat and bird, the list goes on and on."

I replied with a raised eyebrow, "Draconequus? Sounds more like a chimera to me."

Rarity replied, "And what, pray tell, is a chimera?"

I explained, "From where I come from, that's what you call a creature that matches Discord's description. Only they've never actually been seen. They only appear in myth."

Rarity muttered, "Well, I hope they are better behaved than Discord ever was."

I then asked, "And...what exactly did Discord try to do? I never saw any mention of him in any of the books I've read since arriving in Ponyville."

Rarity stared at me with a clearly unhappy glare. "He turned the clouds into cotton candy, he made me fall in love with a boulder, and in general he turned the lives of everyone in Ponyville upside-down. Truly, that was one of the worst days of my entire life. And I pray we never have to go through that ordeal again."

Fall in love with a boulder? Seriously? What kind of crackpot is this Discord weirdo? "Um... I don't want to bring up unpleasant memories, but just how did that day become the worst day of your life?" I asked, fearful that I would strike a nerve.

Rarity let out a sigh before replying, "Long story short, he came within inches of destroying our friendship. Twilight was only narrowly able to restore us to our true selves." She then looked at me with a pleading gaze, "But you must promise me that we did not speak of this. I told my friends that we would never speak of Tom again."

Strange. Someone in Ponyville had a name that sounded like it was meant for a human? "And who's Tom?" I asked, wondering if I was the only human in Equestria.

Rarity grumbled, "That boulder..." I struggled to not snicker; finding the idea of falling head over heels for a simple boulder was utterly ridiculous. Rarity then pleaded, "You mustn't tell anypony of this. You must. You MUST."

I somehow managed to keep a straight face as I nodded, "I promise, honey. But should I start your massage now?"

Rarity gasped, "Oh, but of course! My hooves will be positively pruney if I stay in here much longer." She stepped out of the hot tub and rubbed herself off with a towel using her magic. She was about to put her bracelet back on, but set it back down where it was. "I wouldn't want that to get in the way of your magic fingers."

I watched as the beautiful unicorn trotted over to the massage tables and hopped up onto one. "Ready when you are, darling."

I flexed my fingers to prepare myself. Speaking with my lover had truly lifted my spirits. But I was still fearful of how Twilight would react to Rarity's attempt to reach a compromise with her. And I dreaded her response to me bringing up Spike's feelings for her. But I have faith in Rarity. She is a woman with a strong will and is certainly dependable. I will believe in her to resolve this situation.

"OK then, same starting point as last time?" I asked as I helped Rarity stretch out her body.

"I'll leave that up to you, dear. Every massage from you feels simply divine." Rarity replied with her beautiful smile.

I nodded in agreement as I straddled her on the massage table while placing a pillow under her chin. Like with all the times I had massaged a pony before, I started on the base of her neck. Like before, I found her muscles to be firm. They seemed to be firmer than the muscles of Derpy Hooves, leading me to believe that pegasi have less muscle mass than the other two types of ponies. That makes sense, as muscle is heavier than fat and too much muscle would make them too heavy to fly.

"Mmm... Just like that, dear." Rarity sighed as she closed her eyes at my touch.

We did not speak for the next nine minutes as I massaged her neck, jaws, and shoulders. But when I started on her knees, Rarity turned her head to look at me as I leaned forward to reach them better. Her eyes were half-closed, staring at me with an amorous gaze. I was slightly unnerved by that expression. "Um... Rarity?"

She replied with a quiet voice, "I don't know who brought you to Equestria, but I am very grateful."

I too was grateful for being brought to Equestria. While recent events have been bittersweet, far more good has come out of my time here than bad. Seeing Rarity, the pony I love, giving such a tender and loving gaze melted my heart. "M'lady... Permission to kiss you?"

Rarity responded with a giggle, "Permission is not needed, my prince. Kiss me if that is what you desire." I nodded as I closed my eyes and sealed lips with my beloved.

That kiss... So uplifting. I felt nearly all of my fears and worries fade away as our tongues touched. Rarity's presence for me has been so reassuring. And kissing as lovers is..... It is simply not easy to describe. You have to experience such a kiss to understand how it feels in both mind and body.

Once we ceased the kiss, Rarity smiled warmly, "I love you."

I replied quietly, "I love you too."

Rarity laid her head on the pillows again, "Let's save anymore intimacies for this evening. It would be rather awkward if somepony ended up walking in on us." I nodded silently as I continued to massage her knees.

Once I had finished massaging Rarity's knees and ankles and had begun to massage her back, Rarity asked, "When you finish with me, would you like us to do lunch?"

I smiled wholeheartedly, "That sounds lovely, honey."

Rarity smiled, "I'll ask Lotus or Aloe if you may accompany me when we finish here. Until then, work your magic however you wish."

I think Rarity fell asleep for a while as I massaged her vertebrae. She did not speak and seemed to be breathing deeply. But once I turned around to massage her flanks, I paused. If memory serves, her cutie marks are very sensitive. Sensitive enough to function as pleasure points. But since she was asleep...

I gently poked one of the diamonds that made up Rarity's cutie marks. She remained silent, clearly a sign that she was asleep. I decided to take full advantage of this and began to thoroughly massage Rarity's flanks. Including her cutie marks.

Three minutes passed and Rarity still did not wake up. Another six minutes passed as I massaged the knees and ankles on her hind legs. But as I massaged her, I noticed a...faint scent. It smelled like... Actually, it is a difficult smell to describe. All I can say it is that odor you often smell when you walk into a tailor. It was more than likely caused by the fact that Rarity frequently works with fabric and sewing machines. However, this relatively unpleasant odor was almost completely overwhelmed by the pleasant lingering aroma of various perfumes. It was almost as if these two scents had been absorbed by Rarity's body to become her own natural scent. The scent of a dedicated worker meeting the scent of a woman of class and sophistication. This only made me wonder if my other friends had unique scents as well.

I climbed down from the massage table as carefully as I could without waking my lover. I then retrieved her bracelet and placed it back on her right foreleg just above the hoof. I am still amazed by just how extravagant it is. However, this little act seemed to be enough to awaken Rarity as she stirred before letting out a yawn. She then gasped, "Oh dear... Did I pass out?"

"Looks that way. I just finished massaging you. How'd I do?" I asked while holding Rarity's hoof.

Rarity stood up and stretched for a moment. "Mm! Just as refreshing as the last time! I never get tired of this, darling. Thank you." She then placed a sweet kiss on my cheek. I chuckled in response.

"Now then, wait right here while I have a word with the spa sisters." Rarity spoke as she hopped down from the massage table and headed out to the lobby. I waited for no more than a minute before my lover came trotting back over to me. "They say you're free to take your lunch break at any time. Shall we be going?"

I nodded with a smile, "By all means. Lead on, m'lady." I then followed Rarity into the lobby and outside.

As we headed towards the café, Rarity and I engaged in friendly conversation. "Come to think of it, doesn't today mark the end of your first full week in Ponyville?" Rarity asked while looking up at me.

"Now that you mention it..... Yeah." I replied, having all but forgotten just how long I have been here.

Rarity smiled, "Well, it certainly won't do for it to go unnoticed. I should have a word with Pinkie Pie to see if we can set up a party to celebrate. Now where is she?"

As if to answer that question, Pinkie Pie poked her head out from under a cart full of hay. And on her head was a.....umbrella hat? Really? Wait... "Oh crap..." I looked up just in time to see a frog fall on my face.

"Oh dear... Are you all right, James?" I heard Fluttershy ask from somewhere above me. The frog climbed on top of my head and croaked once. Once the frog was off my face, I looked up to see Fluttershy...pulling a wooden cart filled with green frogs. How she managed to hover in the air without it falling from her is beyond me.

"You taking those frogs over to Froggy Bottom Bog again, Fluttershy?!" Pinkie Pie called up at Fluttershy while removing her umbrella hat.

The timid pegasus replied, "Yes, it's around that time of year again. The pond always gets so overcrowded at this time, so I'm taking as many frogs as I can over to the bog since there's plenty of room there. But are you OK, James?"

I replied while feeling the frog perching on my head, "Yeah, I'm good. I've heard of raining cats and dogs back home, but never knew it rains bats and frogs in Equestria." Rarity and Pinkie Pie burst into laughter at the alteration I made to that age-old saying.

"Allow me to put this little fellow back up there with his friends." Rarity said once she stopped laughing. Her horn was engulfed in a familiar billowing aura as she levitated the frog on my head back up to the cart that trailed behind Fluttershy. "There you go. Take care of the little ones, Fluttershy! And be sure to get away from the bog as soon as you finish with your business there! You don't want to encounter that hydra again!"

Fluttershy nodded, "You don't have to remind me. I won't stay any longer than I must." I then noticed that she was also carrying a basket on her foreleg before gripping the handle in her mouth. "Bye-bye!" Fluttershy spoke in a muffled voice as she flew west. Judging by the direction she was flying, Froggy Bottom Bog is likely located in the Everfree Forest.

"You sure you wanna take that off? We only got the frogs just now. The bats should be coming at any minute." I asked when I turned to Pinkie Pie, eyeing the umbrella hat she had just removed from her head.

Pinkie Pie replied with a giggle, "Don't be silly! I took it off because my tail stopped twitching! Clear skies from here on in, as far as I can tell!" She then trotted away merrily while humming a merry tune.

"From cats and dogs to bats and frogs. You certainly caught me by surprise with that little quip, James." Rarity said with a chuckle as she began to walk. I hurried after her while walking right beside her.

"I was just trying to add some humor to the situation. I really need that stuff right now." I replied while looking down at her. I had finally beaten my depression back and I wanted to do everything I could to keep my spirits up.

Rarity nodded, "I can understand why. But don't worry too much. I'll have a word with Twilight as soon as I see her."

The café was not particularly busy by the time we arrived. Two couples were the only other customers from what I could see. I recognized one as Derpy Hooves enjoying her lunch with.....Big Macintosh? It seemed that Derpy was doing all the talking, as Big Macintosh's mouth would only open to say a single word. But then again, that is just like him. At least he seemed to be listening. I doubt they are involved in a relationship, so I am certain Derpy asked if she could dine with Big Macintosh so she could chat with somepony. The other couple seemed to be Octavia, the cello player I saw at the café the previous night, and...wow.

Sitting across from her was a unicorn mare with a white coat and a tail and mane that were a stunning combination of blue and cyan. The style of her mane was rather wild, giving me the impression that this girl has some wild flair in her personality. Her cutie mark is a double quaver, a type of music note, although I think it might be backwards. She was wearing a pair of large sunglasses that had some pretty funky purple lenses. She took them off for a moment, revealing her bright red eyes. That color went very well with the rest of her body's hues. Since her cutie mark shows a double quaver while Octavia's cutie mark shows a treble clef, I suspect that they may be friends as they are both professionals in music.

Once we took a seat at a table, I asked while pointing towards the unicorn. "Rarity, who's that over there? Octavia's dining partner."

Rarity glanced in their direction and replied, "That happens to be Vinyl Scratch. She's better known as DJ-PON3, a title she refers to herself as while on the job. She's a disk jockey."

I looked back over at Vinyl Scratch and smiled, "A pony DJ, huh? Those go with classical music players like oil and water. They make an odd couple." Rarity let out a giggle at my words.

We sat at opposite sides of the table, the café itself being behind me with the rest of Ponyville behind Rarity. I could see many ponies going about their business. But I felt a chill go down my spine when I saw her in the distance just behind Rarity. Twilight Sparkle.

I was filled with a terrible sense of dread as I suddenly remembered the events from the previous day. But at the same time, this was the opportunity that Rarity had been waiting for. She could surely work this whole mess out with her. All I had to do was let Rarity know that Twilight was nearby so she could speak to her.

"Rarity?" I asked while my lover browsed her menu.

"Yes, dear?" She asked while looking up from it. But as she did so, Twilight looked in our direction. After only a second, she suddenly broke into a run and ran out of sight. Why did she do that? Did she see me? Did she only see Rarity? Why run from us?

As Twilight was no longer in sight, I changed tactics. "I just...um...wanted to tell you how...uh...lovely your mane looks today."

Rarity bought my lie and smiled, "Why, thank you. I tried out a new conditioner today after you left for the spa. I see that the results were as good as expected?" She gently bumped the curled locks of indigo hair that hung off to her side from below once she finished speaking.

"I'd say it did..." I replied. Although I tried to put on a happy face in front of her, I was beginning to wonder just why Twilight ran off as soon as she saw me. Or did she only see Rarity, whose body may have obstructed her view of me? The possibilities were eating away at me. But more than anything, it made me wonder about the connections between the six Elements of Harmony.

"May I help you?" A familiar classy voice asked. I looked to my left and found the same waiter as before standing at our table.

Rarity smiled, "Oh, yes. I shall start with a house salad and would like assorted sautéed vegetables for the main course and a glass of Bourgeoisie. James?"

I responded to Rarity's call, "I'll just have spaghetti and meatballs and some cold water." With the return of my anxiety, I had lost most of my appetite. The waiter nodded and took our menus before going back inside the café.

"Just an entrée and water? You should have more imagination with your meals, dear." Rarity spoke up, probably having noticed just how little I had ordered.

"I'm on a diet..." I replied with little emotion.

I was hoping she would believe me, but Rarity's gaze was clearly showing that she knew something was not right. "James, you were just fine when we got here. Now you're back to your old gloomy self. Did something happen?"

I could not bring myself to tell Rarity that one of her closest friends had run off upon seeing us. So I tried to change the subject. "Just have some thing on my mind about the Elements of Harmony?"

My claim worked. And it was not really a lie either. Rarity nodded, "And what is it you want to know?"

I asked, "Well... The Elements of Harmony. The bearers are all friends with each other, right? What would happen to the Elements if their bearers were no longer friends?" From what I had deduced, the Elements of Harmony seem to be founded on the virtues of friendship and bonding. And if those foundations were severed.....

Rarity sighed, "What you assume has already occurred. When Discord was freed, he created a rift between the six of us. With our friendship severed, the Elements of Harmony lost their connection with each other. In short, they could not be used against Discord. I'm just thankful that everything went back to normal in the end."

This confirmed my fears. "So if your friendship with one of your friends was shattered... And a crisis came up that only the Elements of Harmony could resolve..."

Rarity finished my sentence, "They would not be able to restore harmony, yes." But she followed up that stark confirmation with a smile, "But such a thing won't ever happen again, will it? Our friendship survived that trial thanks to Twilight's quick thinking. So we have nothing to worry about!"

My lover's words of reassurance did nothing to lighten my mood. If anything, I was feeling even worse now. The Elements of Harmony, from what I had gathered, has been Equestria's saving grace on more than one occasion. How much longer until other grave crisis springs up? And with Twilight appearing to be hiding from Rarity... I only hope I am imagining things.

The waiter returned shortly with our drinks and meals. Rarity used her magic to levitate her morsels and drink glass. I swear, unicorns have it so easy with that magic. But I digress.

I said little as I slowly consumed my pasta. I took light sips of my water as my mind pondered Twilight's actions just a short while ago. I could not stop thinking about why she ran away. The possibilities made me sick with anxiety. I had to focus on eating without thinking about such unpleasant thoughts out of fear that I might end up vomiting.

The two of us finished our meals without saying much. I suspect Rarity could tell I was not in the mood for conversation and chose to leave me be while I ate. As she promised, Rarity handled the payment as she left a handful of bits on the table. "Shall I go with you back to the spa?" She asked while looking up at me.

"Actually... We still have a little time to spare. Do you feel like going to see Twilight at home now?" I was hoping that Twilight would be more comfortable speaking to Rarity in her own house.

"Yes, I really must discuss this issue with her. Let's be on our way." Rarity replied with a nod. I stayed by her side as we walked through Ponyville's streets.

It did not take long for us to reach the local library. Rarity looked up at me and spoke, "Leave this to me, James." I nodded as we approached the front door.

Rarity knocked on the door with her hoof a few times. Twenty seconds passed without anyone answering. Rarity knocked again, this time a little harder. When there was still no answer, she sighed, "I suppose she must be out and about right now. I'll see if I can find her today. Shall we head on back to the spa?"

I nodded, "Sure. Lead on." But as we passed by the window, I felt a need to peek inside. I waited for Rarity to move on ahead before looking through the glass. The library was deserted. Twilight was nowhere to be seen. No one was there. No one but...Spike?

My eyes trailed to the round table in the center of the room. Spike was huddled against the leg of the table while tightly clutching what seemed to be a large red bowtie. Wait, that was not really a table. It was a wooden stump rising out of the floor wth a circular rim of shelves attached to it. Regardless, I noticed that the bowtie was covered in numerous small gemstones of many colors. I immediately assumed that Rarity had made that for him, as she spares no expense for any clothing for her friends. Even gemstones are fair game.

Spike held out the bowtie before him as if to get a good look at it. After no more than five seconds, he seemed to break down in tears while holding it tightly against his chest. I could not hear him through the window, but it was painfully obvious that Spike was crying his heart out. For Rarity.

I placed a hand against Twilight's house for support. I could still vividly remember Spike's angry and sorrowful words from yesterday. And now that I had seen firsthand his grief from losing Rarity to me, I could not contain my guilt. The sheer level of disgust I was feeling towards myself at that moment I simply cannot put into words. I had crushed Spike's dreams. What could be a worse thing to do to a child?!

"James! It's impolite to keep a lady waiting!" I heard Rarity call out to me. I glanced around and saw her standing a short distance away.

Doing everything I could to keep my emotions concealed, I hurried over to her and continued walking beside her. "Sorry, was just looking through the window to see if Twilight just didn't hear the knocking. It looks like she's really not home."

On our way back to the spa, we bumped into Applejack. The farm pony was hauling a cart of apples behind her. "Howdy, Rarity! James! Ya'll spendin' some quality time together?"

I said nothing while Rarity smiled, "Indeed, we were. We just happen to be on our way back to the spa after having lunch together. James started working there today as a masseuse. And he does a splendid job on the joints. I really must recommend him next time you're in."

Applejack chuckled, "The joints, eh? I reckon I'll stop on by sometime this week. Weeks of applebuckin' really does a number on yer back."

I merely listened while my lover and friend chatted. But I was quick to notice that Applejack was not wearing her trademark hat. Rarity also noticed at that instant and asked, "Applejack, whatever happened to your hat? I almost never see you without it."

The farm girl replied with a grin, "Funny ya mention that. James told me yesterday that I look better without it. So I took it off before I came into town. And I've been getting' some looks along the way too." She jerked her head to one side, swinging her blond ponytail through the air.

"Well, he certainly knew what he meant. You do look rather lovely with your mane visible for all to see." Rarity said with a smile.

After a moment more, I think Applejack noticed my unhappy expression as she suddenly asked, "Somethin' eatin' ya, James? Ya don't look any better than when I found ya in the clubhouse yesterday."

Rarity also asked, "Yes, you do seem to be looking rather down. You seemed just fine up until we reached the café today. What's wrong?"

I could not possibly tell Rarity about Spike's suffering. As we were now a couple, it would only make matters worse. So I was forced to tell a lie. "I'm just...a bit tired. Still getting used to my new job."

Applejack seemed to believe my words, but that worried expression on Rarity's face clearly said that she was not entirely convinced. But she still nodded, albeit with a sigh. She then asked, "Well, while we're here, would you kindly run me a small errand?" When I nodded, she pointed over to a small shop nearby. "That store sells spools of thread. Could you fetch me three bits worth of white thread?"

I nodded, "OK... I'll be right out." I walked inside the shop, leaving my lover with Applejack.

Like Rarity claimed, the shop specialized in knitting and sewing supplies. Yarn, fabric, thread, this shop had it all. I found the spools of thread near a window that looked outside. As I took three in hand, I noticed that Rarity and Applejack were just outside the window. But I froze as I saw Twilight Sparkle once again come into view as she emerged from an alley nearby.

She was not as far away this time, so I got a good look at her face. She was directly to Rarity's right and Applejack's left. The instant Twilight looked in Rarity's direction, her expression became one of what might have been fear as she was clearly unnerved by the sight of her. As ponies have a wide field of vision due to their eyes being placed slightly to the sides of their heads, Rarity was going to detect her at any second. Twilight would not be able to run away without getting Rarity's attention. Surely now the two unicorns would be able to reach a compromise.

What Twilight did next surprised me. She squinted her eyes shut while her horn was engulfed in a brilliant white glow. In a matter of three seconds, Twilight vanished in a bright flash. Rarity had begun to turn her head to face Twilight and was clearly certain that she had seen her out of the corner of her eye just as Twilight was about to cast the spell.

It was then that I understood what was wrong. Twilight was not staying away from me. She was avoiding Rarity. She never once looked directly at me, so it was clearly Rarity she reacted to. She knew she would not be able to get out of sight fast enough on foot, so she used a teleportation spell to escape in an instant. I had no idea where she ended up, but this action confirmed my fears. Twilight was avoiding Rarity, probably out of envy. Their friendship was now deteriorating. And I am the cause.

It was bad enough knowing that I had crushed a child's dream. But knowing that I was now a threat to Rarity and Twilight's friendship? How can I possibly describe that kind of emotional hell?! I honestly wanted to take a gun and blow my brains out right there. I felt horrible. I felt sick. And of course, there were the Elements of Harmony. If Twilight and Rarity's friendship fell apart, the connection between the Elements of Generosity and Magic would be severed and they would no longer work together. It was only a matter of time before the Elements of Harmony would need to be used again. And soon, they would be useless.

I fell against the wall while holding back tears. I... God, how can I even describe the feelings going through my mind? I never should have come to Ponyville in the first place. I have become a threat to my friends and even to Equestria itself. How could I even live with myself knowing that?

By some miracle, nopony in the shop saw me when I collapsed against the wall. I did not want to keep Rarity waiting, so I paid for the thread she wanted me to get and left as quickly as possible.

Rarity and Applejack were still engaged in conversation when I went outside. Rarity smiled at me, "Thank you, darling. Just place them in my saddlebag here." She used her magic to open the flap on one of the saddlebags that hung off her sides. I said nothing as I dropped them in.

"Well, I better get over to market. Got some more apples to haul to town once those are all sold. I'll see ya'll later." Applejack said with a smile as she hauled her apple cart away. Rarity waved goodbye, but I did nothing as I stared at the ground.

It took me a moment to notice that Rarity was looking up at me with an extremely worried gaze. "Darling... You look even worse than you did when you entered the shop. Can you please tell me what's wrong?"

What would her reaction have been if I told her that Twilight Sparkle was outright avoiding her? I could not force that pain onto her. This time, I replied honestly. "I really.....really don't wanna talk about it..."

Rarity sighed, "Well...I understand. I won't force you." She then began to walk in the direction of the spa again. I stayed by her side, never saying a word throughout the entire walk.

Once we were right outside the spa, Rarity stood by me without a word. "I'll see you this evening, Rarity." I muttered quietly as I stooped down low to reach for the doorknob. But when I grasped it, I froze as Rarity placed her hoof on my hand.

"Darling..." Rarity muttered while gazing at me. When we locked eyes, she asked, "Is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?"

It pained me to see her worrying so much over me when we really should not even be lovers. I replied blandly, "All I really want is for you to be happy. Even if it means being happy without me."

Rarity frowned as she replied, "What a wretched thing to say. Happy without you? Impossible. My life would never be the same if I lost you." She then rested her head against my chest. "I love you. And I always will love. OK?"

"OK... I love you too." I muttered softly as I placed my hand on the back of her head.

We remained in that position for a moment, not really caring that others were nearby and may be watching. Once we separated, Rarity spoke while appearing to be holding back tears. "I'll be waiting for you at home, darling. I'll do everything I can to lighten your mood. It's.....depressing to see you like this."

I nodded while stroking Rarity's beautiful mane, "OK... See you later, honey." I had no right to call her that, but I could not help it. Rarity turned and walked away. But before I opened the door to the spa, I turned my head and saw her looking back at me. Such beauty and grace. She... Rarity, please forgive me for what I am going to do tonight.

I staggered into the spa, feeling disoriented and nauseated from the sheer level of emotional turmoil I was in. Aloe, who was seated at the front desk, seemed to notice my predicament and asked, "James? Are you...feeling all right?"

I gagged for a moment as I tried to catch my breath. I did not want to vomit. "I...feel sick..."

What Aloe said next gave me some relief. "Oh dear... If you're really feeling that ill, you should go home and get some rest. Don't worry about the customers. Lotus and I can handle the massages today."

I looked up at my beautiful employer, "Really? You don't mind?"

She nodded, "Yes, please go rest up. We'll be seeing you on Thursday, correct?"

I nodded with a sigh, "Yeah... Thursday... I guess I'll see you then. Hold onto my pay until then." I then said my goodbyes and headed on out the door.

Once I was outside, I found myself caught in a gentle downpour. But the strange thing was that the sky over Ponyville had hardly a cloud in it. When I looked up, I found a small thundercloud just a few feet above me. "Thanks, Rainbow... I really needed this."

A familiar face poked through the cloud and replied, "Anytime, James. I saw how down you looked a minute ago, so I prepared some more rain for ya." It was indeed Rainbow Dash.

The rain did help suit my mood. Rainbow Dash then asked, "Ya know, I could always lend an ear. Wanna tell me what's wrong?"

In all honesty... The truth of the matter was that I had become a threat to Twilight and Rarity's friendship. And that in turn is a threat to the balance between the Elements of Harmony. The only way to rectify the situation would be for the threat to be removed. Even so, knowing how loyal Rainbow Dash is to her friends, she would more than likely try to stop me if she caught wind of my plan. "No thanks... This is my problem."

The boisterous pegasus mare fell through the cloud and landed next to me. "C'mon, you can tell me. Friends help each other out. Is there anything I can do to help?"

I could not tell her what was wrong. But I did ask, "I... I could use a hug..."

Rainbow Dash hovered up to me and smiled, "You got it." She then threw her forelegs around me and held me in a firm embrace.

I did nothing for a few seconds before embracing my friend as well. But after a brief moment, I broke down and buried my face in her rainbow-striped mane. God, I was going to miss her. Whenever I was down or hurt, Rainbow Dash had always been there to lend a hoof. I did not want to leave, but if Rarity and Twilight's friendship was to be preserved, I would have to.....disappear.

I felt Rainbow Dash's grip on me tighten as I began to cry. I tried to keep my voice from breaking as I whispered, "Rainbow... Thanks for always being there for me."

She nodded, "And thanks for always being such a sweet guy. I'm sorry for any crap I put you through."

I then muttered, "I'll...never forget you, Rainbow..."

These words seemed to unnerve her as she replied, "Don't say things like that. We'll be friends forever, right?"

I nodded, "Yeah..." How I wish it would last forever.

"Feel better?" Rainbow Dash asked after a moment longer.

"I think so..." I muttered in reply. I was far from OK, but I had at least stopped crying.

Rainbow Dash patted me on the back as she hovered next to me. "If you ever need to get something off your chest, you just give me a ring. I can always lend an ear."

Right as she said that, I think the cloud above us ran out of rain. Or maybe it needed a good kick from a pegasus to start pouring again. "Oops. Want me to get that going again?" Rainbow Dash asked.

I sighed, "No thanks. I got all I needed outta it."

As she began to push the cloud to a higher elevation, Rainbow Dash waved at me. "I've got some more cloud cover to handle, so I'll see ya around!" I waved goodbye before looking around Ponyville for a specific type of shop. I had preparations to make.

After an hour or so, I picked up a pair of saddlebags to be worn from my hips, a sturdy survival knife, and a large sleeping bag that was somehow long enough for me to fit inside. If you have not figured out why I needed those supplies, you will soon if you keep reading.

I shuffled home slowly, not paying any mind to my surroundings. I was also mentally preparing myself for what I had to do. I had no desire to leave my precious new home. But I had to. This would be my last day in Ponyville.

I snuck around to the back of Carousel Boutique to not alert Rarity, as the back door does not have a bell hanging over it. If she saw the supplies I was carrying, she would probably get curious and demand that I explain myself. If she caught wind of what I was plotting, my plan would go up in smoke and the situation would only get worse until things came to a boil. I could not allow that to happen.

I could hear Rarity speaking to whom I believe was a customer in the main workroom at the front of her home. Taking advantage of the situation, I hurried into the room I had previously used as a bedroom and hid my supplies behind the sofa. It was unlikely Rarity would ever look there.

I waited until Rarity's client left before leaving the room. Judging by the voice, it was a stallion who I did not recognize. Probably a fancy fellow from Canterlot who came to Ponyville to place a custom order. When I emerged from the hallway, I found Rarity closing the door after hanging what seemed to be a sign of sorts in the window. When she turned around, she jumped slightly as she was clearly not expecting to see me. "Darling?! When did you get here?!"

I decided to tell her a half lie. "I saw you were busy with that gentleman, so I came in through the back to not interrupt."

Before Rarity said another word, she trotted over to me and embraced me as tightly as she could. "I've been worrying about you ever since I got home. And why are you home so early? Did something happen?"

I replied honestly, "I started feeling sick right after I got back to the spa. My bosses decided to give me the evening off."

My response seemed to shock my lover, as she gasped, "You feel under the weather? Then say no more! You get comfortable in the lounge and I will be right there with something to help soothe your weary body." She pulled me over to the lounge, where I had just hidden my supplies, before trotting into the kitchen nearby.

Before relaxing on the sofa, I concealed my supplies by covering them with the quilt I had always used as a blanket while sleeping. I then reclined on the sofa and kicked off my shoes. I stared at the ceiling, my mind still swimming with thoughts that raised my stress level to great heights. But my stress began to decrease as I detected a delightful aroma wafting into the room.

"That smells awesome..." I muttered as I inhaled the aroma. Rarity was cooking up something delicious. If it smelled that good, I could hardly wait to taste it. I waited for around twenty minutes or so before Rarity came into the room while levitating a bowl that was giving off steam. "I hope you worked up an appetite after lunch. This is a little recipe I picked up from Fluttershy." She then set the bowl down on the table next to the sofa. The broth was a shade of red, clearly a tomato based soup.

Even though my stress and depression had robbed me of my appetite, a great deal of it had returned upon smelling that amazing aroma. "Thank you, Rarity." I muttered quietly. I took the spoon that Rarity had provided and took a sip. The soup was quite hot and even burned my mouth. But compared to the emotional pain I was feeling at the time, this was just a case of pins and needles to my tongue.

"Darling, I only just took that off the stove. Aren't you going to at least blow on it a little to cool it off?" Rarity asked, clearly finding my consumption of the boiling hot soup without showing signs of pain to be odd.

"No. It's OK. I don't mind the pain." I replied nonchalantly. "But this soup does taste great."

Rarity smiled at my praise, "I'm glad you think so. This is only the first time I made it, so I was a little nervous about how I did." I do not understand why she was so worried. From what I could tell, Rarity is a skilled culinary artist in her own right. However, she then asked, "Wait... You don't mind the pain? How can you not mind the pain?! I don't know a single pony who can eat boiling hot soup without yelping! You're hardly flinching!"

I replied, "I'm too hungry to mind."

Rarity stared at me for a moment without saying a word. Once I finished my bowl, she placed her right hoof on my knee. The bracelet I gave her was still right above her hoof. "Darling... I am utterly scared for you now. What is wrong? Why are you so...distant right now?"

I could not even look her in the eye. All I could do was mutter while holding back tears, "I can't tell you..."

My lover looked my directly in the eye and asked, "You can't even tell me? The mare who will be your bride someday?"

My bride. Those words were like daggers to my heart. I wanted to marry her, but I was not meant to be hers. Spike was. I knew that they had been in a relationship of sorts for some time, even before I arrived. And I could still remember hearing Spike's heartfelt confession of his feelings for Rarity. What was I supposed to tell her? That I ruined her future with Spike? That I was unwittingly sabotaging her friendship with Twilight Sparkle? That I was planning on removing myself from Ponyville to make things right?

I brought a hand to my face to hide my tears. But it was not enough as Rarity climbed onto the sofa and embraced me. "Don't cry, darling. Please don't cry... It pains me to see you cry..."

Rarity's touch and voice were like morphine to my pain. I felt a good chunk of my pain recede as if she had pushed it into a closet and barred the door. I wiped my tears away and looked at her in the eyes. "OK... I'm done crying."

The beautiful unicorn mare kissed me on the cheek as her big azure eyes pleaded to me. "James, I love you and I always will. You are my prince. But please, stop feeling this way. It hurts to see you like this."

I stroked Rarity's face as I drank in her words. "OK... I'll...try to let it go." We leaned against each other like lovers for a few minutes, merely enjoying each others company.

The following hours were calm and pleasant, but I am unwilling to describe just what happened during that time. It is too painful to me right now to write down every detail of our activity together. The memories sting whenever I think of them.

We bathed together one last time. As I promised, I left my unhappy feelings out for the entire evening and enjoyed my lover's company the best I could. We fell asleep together in bed as a crescent moon hug high in the sky. Or rather, Rarity fell asleep. I could not allow myself to fall asleep just yet. I had one last duty to fulfill as a friend.

As silently as I could, I climbed out of bed and got dressed in the clean clothes Rarity made for me. I then took a pencil and a blank scroll and sat myself down in the bathroom. The least I could do was explain why I had to do what I was about to.

I began to write. "Rarity. By the time you are reading this, I am already gone. It has come to my attention that my presence has become a threat to your friendship. I never wanted to tell you this...but I can't stay in Ponyville any longer. You and the other five have become the most important parts of my life in the short time we've been together. But it is said that if you truly love something, you must let it go. Before you become angry, please listen. I saw Twilight today. I discovered than that she was avoiding you, Rarity. Your friendship with her is in danger of collapsing. And I know I am the cause. And if your friendship with her is fractured, it will weaken the Elements of Harmony like you claimed. I can't let myself doom Equestria. But there is one other reason. I... I never knew about the bond between you and Spike. I can't blame him for trying to kill me yesterday. You and him have been together for far longer. It was wrong for me to get between you two. Please, stay with the real man you love. The one who has been with you for the longest. And please tell him I am sorry for crushing his dreams. It is up to you to restore them. I love you, Rarity. But he has loved you longer. My presence has brought my friends great pain, and to that end, I have decided to remove myself from Ponyville. I do not know what the future holds for me, but it is better than being nothing but a source of pain for my friends. Please do not come looking for me. Even I do not know where I am going. Goodbye." It was not necessary to include my name. Rarity would know who wrote it just by reading the contents. But I failed to notice that some of my tears had fallen onto the scroll, causing some of the ink to spread out. Hopefully it would not be a problem.

I rolled up the scroll and went back into the bedroom. Rarity was still sound asleep. It was a mental struggle to leave her, but it had to be done. But...why was it so hard? I wanted to stay. Really, I did! Rarity means everything to me! But...

I placed my hand on her hoof and looked down at her sleeping face. So beautiful, even in sleep. I felt like the luckiest man in Equestria to have won her heart. And I hated myself all the more for destroying her relationship with Spike. I know he will never forgive me. If anything, he will be glad to find out I am gone. But Rarity... I know she will be hurt. We have become so close in just the seven days I have been in Ponyville. Some part of me was telling me to stay. That more harm than good would come out of my actions. But these problems would never have risen if I had never come here. I muttered, "I never should've come to Equestria in the first place..."

In her sleep, Rarity seemed to be.....rather unhappy. Her face was not neutral. It was showing a frown. Before I could leave, I placed one last kiss on her cheek. When I pulled my face away, I froze as I saw a lone tear trickle down her face. I then whispered, "I'm sorry... It's for the best."

I left the scroll wrapped around Rarity's horn. There is no way she would overlook a scroll curled around her horn upon waking up. I then went down to the lounge and retrieved my gear. I then left the Carousel Boutique through the back door to avoid ringing the bell that hung over the front door. Before heading into Ponyville, I took one last look at my home. Do I even have to describe how I felt at the time? It felt like my heart was being crushed as I tore myself away from the woman I love.

Ponyville was like a ghost town at night. The lampposts were generating a soft glow that lit up the streets. As it was the middle of the night, it seemed that everypony was sleeping. I did not come across a single soul as I wandered through town. At least, it seemed that no one was awake. "Who?"

I paused as I heard a familiar voice. Perched atop a lamppost was Owlowiscious. We locked eyes for a moment without saying a word. The little barn owl almost seemed to be observing me. I was not in the mood for conversation, so I pressed on without saying a word.

Owlowiscious followed me every step of the way. I began to suspect that he was deliberately keeping tabs on me. But I was not worried. It is not like he could actually verbally tell the others where he saw me go..... Could he?

I went to the western edge of Ponyville. The lack of people around me in town was rather refreshing, as I did not want to see anyone at the time. My destination is the Everfree Forest. I have heard nothing but bad things about that place, so I do not have to worry about anyone following me. Nopony would dare enter that particular forest. But before I could enter it, I looked back at Ponyville one last time. This was going to be the last time I ever laid eyes on this wonderful town. And then...the memories came flooding back. Those wonderful memories of my dearest friends...

I'm sorry... I can't keep writing... Can't stop crying...