“So I take it that you really like Bon Bon’s shop, then?” Derpy asked.

“That’s an understatement.” Rarity laughed.

“Heh. Well, I think we’ve got time for one more place before Rush gets home… where d’ya want to go?”

“Why don’t we sit down and get out the snacks YOU brought along?” Rarity asked.

“Huh? What snacks?” Derpy asked, confused.

“Those snacks, silly.” Rarity giggled, pointing to the basket Derpy had been carrying all this time.

“Hu- oh. Oh yeah! So, um, where should we go? Just to the park, maybe?”

“What better place for a picnic?” Rarity asked, smiling a little bit.

“Yeah… well, it is just over here.” Derpy said, pointing to the park. “Should be… maybe five minutes away?”

“Then let’s get going!”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So we’ve got… daisy sandwiches, banana nut muffins, and… nothing to drink. Hmmm.” Derpy said with a frown.

“Hm…” Rarity started, after a moment she reached into her purse, “Why don’t you go get us something to drink and I’ll get everything else set up out here?”

“Sure! Don’t worry about your bits, though, I’ll just fly home really quickly and get the tea!” Derpy said excitedly.

“That sounds even better.” Rarity smiled. “Hurry back!”

“Alright, Rarity! See ya soon!” Derpy shouted as she took off.

“...well, I suppose I should do something to pass the time… but what to do?” Rarity mused.

“Oh! Rarity!” An incredibly familiar voice said.

“Hmm? Who could tha- oh! Why, hello, Emerald Circlet! Are you doing well?” Rarity asked.

“Ah, I’m doing perfectly fine! Just enjoying a nice picnic in the park, the usual. And yourself?” Rarity asked.

“Just going out for a light jog.” Emerald said.

“Well, why not stop and chat, hmm? It’s always nice to talk with a friend, however briefly.”

“Yes, it is.” Emerald nodded as she sat down beside Rarity. “Oooh… Look at all of this, I didn’t know you had such a sweet tooth.”

“Heh, well, when you’ve got such amazing muffins, you can’t just eat one, you know?” Rarity tittered.

“Oh I know, my weakness was always sweet things.” Emerald nodded, “I can never have just one, not even two will satisfy me!”

“Would you like a few?”

“Oh, no I’m on a diet, I really need to avoid junk foods… sorry.”

“It’s just one muffin, surely it wouldn’t hurt your diet that much?” Rarity said, holding a muffin out.

“Oh… Fine, just one.” Emerald sighed as she took the muffin and took a bite. “Mmm… these are so good!”

“I know! They’re so delicious, it’s hard to believe… mmm. Well, how have you been lately, darling?” Rarity asked.

“Great, everything’s been going so well recently I don’t think it can get any better!” Emerald said. She paused for a moment, “So, who are you out here with?”

Taking another bite of muffin, Rarity sat there for a moment, enjoying it’s taste. Swallowing, she started to speak before she saw Derpy come to a landing a few meters behind Emerald. She smiled and said, “Well, turn around and see her for yourself!”

“Oh? Well, I finally get to me- Derpy?!” Emerald shouted, dropping her muffin in the process.

“Oh. Hello, Emerald.” Derpy said as she eyed the mare cautiously.

“What’re you doing here?” Emerald asked, her face taking a look of disgust upon itself.

“We’re having a picnic.” Rarity said.

“I’d ask the same about what you’re doing here.” Derpy said as she walked over to Rarity, sitting down beside her.

“Did… I miss something important?” Rarity asked as she looked between the two of them, a slight look of confusion on her face.

“‘I’d ask the same about what you’re doing here.’” Emerald mocked.

“Mmm, you’re really showing off your maturity.” Derpy said with a sigh.

“Emerald, what’s gotten into you?” Rarity questioned.

“What’s gotten into you, Rarity, to have you hanging out with the likes of… of her.” She said.

“And what is that supposed to mean? Derpy’s my FRIEND, is it so wrong now to want to spend time with any of my friends?” Rarity snapped, glaring at Emerald.

“Yes there is, especially if it’s HER!” Emerald shouted, her nostrils flaring.

“Then please, tell me what’s wrong with Derpy.” Rarity said angrily.

“She’s terrible at her job, has a little bastard foal, can’t even see right because of her fucked-up eyes, barely makes a living, and, to top it all of, is dating-not to mention mating with- one of those dirty, no-good, disgusting zebras!” Emerald ranted, growing more and more hateful with every word.

Rarity’s eye twitched slightly, “Emerald…” She said slowly, standing up. “I… will NOT. Take ANYONE talking about ANY of my friends like that! And least of all one of my closest friends.” She said as her horn flashed, a loud smack sounding near instantly as she slapped Emerald back, sending her to the ground. “I never want to see you inside my store again, nor do I ever want to see YOU again.” She fumed. “Now GO! I’m not going to hold myself back ANYMORE if you stay, and a simple slap will be the least of your concerns!”

Holding a hand to her face, Emerald scowled, her own horn flashing as the mark on her face vanished, standing up as she began to walk away, sputtering out, “W-w-well… well fine! I don’t need you… and-and you can just stay here in this dirt town, with it’s fucking mud ponies and those feathered fucks, and you can just fucking ROT!” Finally finishing her tirade, her horn lit up brighter than before and she vanished in a flash of light.

Derpy said nothing, just wrapping her wings around herself and sniffling.

Rarity sat down right beside her and gently pulled her into a hug. “It’s alright…” She said in a soft and caring tone.

Burying her head further in her own arms and wings, Derpy started to actually cry, the loud sobs seeming to echo throughout the small area. “N-no, it’s n-n-not! How-How could she s-say those… those h-horrible things?” She asked.

“Some ponies are just so ignorant… and so hateful… It’s so... wrong that anypony could behave like that… it’s just childish.” Rarity said quietly, sniffling a little bit. “I know I shouldn’t say it but… those kind of ponies are going to be alone forever if they don’t grow up…”

“I-I’m not even ang-angry that she said those things about m-me… but… but when she s-said that about D-Dinky… and-and Rush… I just w-wanted to… to d-deck her…” Derpy said, her feathers bristling.

“You and I both…” Rarity laughed quietly. “I wanted to do so much more then just slap her… but we need to be better than her. The second she started say all those things… I just…” She trailed off, simply squeezing Derpy a little more.

“R-Rarity?”

“Y… yes Darling?”

“You d-don’t think my e-eyes are that bad, d-do you?” Derpy asked, pulling her head up to look at Rarity.

“Derpy… I’m going to be absolutely honest with you.” Rarity said, “Everything about you is absolutely wonderful, you shouldn’t ever take an insult seriously… They’re just jealous that they aren’t you. You’re more than beautiful in every way, and you need to keep that in mind.”

“I-I…” Derpy trailed off. She unwrapped her wings from around herself, instead glomping onto Rarity. Heavily blushing, more tears leaked out of her eyes, but they weren’t tears of sadness. These were tears of happiness.

Rarity remained silent as she nuzzled Derpy and held her just a little closer. After a few more moments of silence, Rarity spoke up, saying, “How about I take you home?”

“C-could you?” Derpy asked, holding her a bit tighter.

“Of course, darling.” Rarity replied, standing up. Holding Derpy bridal style, she picked up the rest of the picnic equipment in her magic, carefully walking back to Derpy’s house.

Author's Notes:

Woah, a new chapter? Wut.

Please dun hate me. That bit with Emerald was... not hard to write, but hard to read.
Much thanks to Patric12345, the amazing man.
Toodles!
~TOOWC