I held the door for Rarity as we made our way into my house since she was carrying the bags of food from Discords.

"I really can't thank you enough for letting me stay the night darling." Rarity beamed and started unpacking the food on my living room table as I locked the door. "I really do want to try  and spend as little time as possible at home as possible for the next month or so." she sighed.

"Why's that? Did you and Sweetie get into another fight?" I asked, walking over and sitting next to her, picking up my chips and taking a bite of one. "Mmm... fresh out of the fryer."

"Oh no darling... nothing of the sort, my parents are just visiting from Vegas." I heard her sigh as I fumbled for the remote with my free hand, there was a short pause before the tv hummed to life where I could hear her eating her chips. "Don't get me wrong dear, I still love them, at least I think I do... but they have no business in this world, or any other, raising a child, I do wish I could have gotten some information from Twilight about the version of me in her world, how her relationship with her parents and sister is, they might be a healthier family unit."

I held up a finger as I chewed to shush her before swallowing and breathing in a little deeper than normally. "What exactly do your parents do that makes you not want to spend time with them?" I set down my half empty chips and picked up my burger, talking a bite out of it. I couldn't help but notice how violently Rarity rolled her eyes.

"If only it was just what they did darling, it's what they don't do too!" she seethed. "But to answer your question, they left for Vegas as soon as I turned sixteen and was old enough to look after Sweetie and myself competently, they constantly beg me for money to feed their damned gambling addiction, the only reason they're happy about Sweetie's natural talent for singing is so they can make her into a celebrity and mooch off her even more, the only reason they visit is when I ignore their stupid letters and emails asking for money, and I have their numbers blocked on my phone." She sighed heavily. "And the worst part is, they want to have more kids, until they have a son they can groom into a sports prodigy, my dad always said 'it's easier to trick a meatheaded boy into supporting you than an artsy fartsy girl like you and your sister.' "

I kept chewing as she took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"At least I've managed to help Sweetie somewhat. I set up a bank account for her so that when she does start her singing career, she can keep all her money, none of it goes toward mom and dad." she smiled weakly.

"So what happens if they do have another kid?" I asked before taking another bite from my burger.

She sighed. "I really hope they don't, but if they do I'd have to wait another two years before I could do anything to help them at all."

I was just about to say something when Rarity's phone rang, she took one look at the screen and looked at me. I just took another bite from my burger and looked back. She smiled at me and pressed the accept button, moving the phone to her ear.

"Hello Sweetie. Yes yes dear I'm fine, you sound quite the opposite though."

I slowly tuned her out as she spoke, not wanting to eavesdrop and focused my attention on the tv, there was a breaking story about a local street gang being taken down by police after an ex member ratted the location of their hideout.

As usual, the media was being handled by a Captain of the force. This time the one in charge of the raid, Captain Shining Armor.

I'd seen him on tv before, mostly due to how fast he rose through the ranks. I guess that's the advantages of having your dad be the mayor's aide and your mom a famous author rubbing elbows with A.K. Yearling.

The Chief of Police swears up and down it's because of how natural his leadership abilities are, but as to how much of that is true, I really don't know. i don't know anyone in the police force, nor do I know anyone who does.

I had just slipped the last of my burger into my mouth when I heard Rarity sigh and quickly chewed it up and swallowed it.

"Something wrong?"

"Oh no darling... nothings wrong... except my parents." She sighed again. "I'm terribly sorry to ask... but would you mind if Sweetie and I stayed with you for a month?"

I blinked. "Not at all. Why?"

"Mom got a lucky break on a slot machine in town, so she pulled Sweetie out of Canterlot high and enrolled her in Crystal prep, they had an argument and Sweetie doesn't want to stay in the house with mom and dad." She sighed and smiled thankfully at me. "Thank you darling... thank the stars that it's a weekend tomorrow. I can call Applejack and have her help me and Sweetie bring our things over."

I nodded and picked up my chips, giving them a quick shake to spread the salt around a bit. "So what... do your parents think they can blackmail Sweetie into giving them money with the whole 'we put you in a good school and this is how you repay us?' routine?" I asked as I popped a couple in my mouth.

"Oh if only darling." She shook her head. "I'll have to find out more from Sweetie and mom." she groaned. "It's times like these I'm envious of that world you come from. You said you were twenty four when you stepped through the mirror?"

"About that... yeah." I nodded. "I only got a glimpse of the equestrian you, but she looked about that old."

She sighed rather loudly. "Tell me darling, is this the type of situation that would suit the phrase 'I need a freaking drink?' "

I just nodded. "Yeah, pretty much. Celestia knows I used to say that nearly every week back in Equestria." I sat up. "I'm not exaggerating either. She literally knows. I said it in front of her so often I wouldn't be surprised if she started keeping track of the things that made me say it."

"Did you ever actually drink dear?"

"Hmm.. not really. Only during celebrations, and even then only light stuff." I shrugged.

From there our conversation pretty much turned to her quizzing me about life in Equestria before we turned in for the night.

It helped take her mind off things, and it felt good to have someone be curious about my life before  coming to this world.

I slept well that night, no nightmares, no dreams, just deep restful sleep. Next Chapter: Prologue pt 6: Moving day. Estimated time remaining: 11 Minutes