Nopony had time to look out for others in Canterlot.

This was the unspoken truth, the crushing reality of Equestria's capitol city where one was only worth the other's attention if they were part of the nobility Rarity had become well acquainted with for the past weeks.

Oh, they'd been so wonderful, but now…

Who would have thought Rarity would find herself wishing she was back on the side of those who were unknown, uncared for, and whose mistakes were allowed to be forgotten, rather than highlighted for all to see.

Rarity was sitting in the middle of the Canterlot train station, two cups of tea floating besides her, an unmoving entity amidst the bustling ponies rushing about to catch their daily commute. A savvy player in the game of facades and pretense, Rarity had always been able to hide her every emotion under a mask, even if more often than not she preferred to display them in an overly exaggerated manner. It was more fun, she would say.

Her dramatics, in some ways, were also a much more effective mask, but this time, she settled for the silent suffering, the mask fit for one such as her who'd made a mistake so…

"Rarity!"

Rarity turned around and found Fancy Pants trotting towards her. For a brief moment, before she'd realized who he was, a hopeful smile had broken the mask. Now, the smile, though still there, was no longer hopeful, but sad.

Resigned.

"Ah, Fancy Pants!" she exclaimed, the mask once more in place, a cup of tea lifting itself to her lips and soaking the throat that had been dry for what felt forever. "How good to see you, darling! Going somewhere?" she asked, looking at the trains in the distance.

"Indeed! I have business in Manehattan tomorrow morning," he explained. "I take it you're going home to Ponyville?"

Rarity smiled. "Yes, I am. Home to Ponyville..."

Home.

She winced inwardly at the word and what was associated with it — not just Ponyville no, and not just her friends, but also… her. Funny, wasn't it, how life worked, how the wheels turned, how destiny laid out the plans for everypony to choose, fight against, but ultimately obey.

Two teas floated next to her, perhaps for the last time. A honeybush hazelnut for the mare who had left Canterlot to call Ponyville home, and an earl grey lavender for the mare who would now perhaps leave Ponyville to call Canterlot home.

And yet… home would always be where… she...

"Are you expecting company, Rarity?" he asked upon noticing the two cups, rousing her from reveries and yet inciting others.

Company? Yes, she was expecting company.

Company she'd had for weeks now, and who even now, despite their ghastly fight, still stirred emotions Rarity had just recently discovered but was now constantly plagued with. She let her mind wander to that one night at the marketplace and that… that kiss that now felt like both a blessing and a curse, that both warmed her heart and burned it, that confused her and yet made everything so painfully clear.

"Rarity?" he asked again, once more waking her from her thoughts.

"I… don't know, actually," she admitted, her ears lowering as did the tone of her voice. "I suppose I'm waiting to find out. Waiting for the last call before I board. I..." She faltered. "I do hope she's coming."

The stallion frowned, giving her an odd look. Fancy was just as adept as her at reading ponies, but was he as tactful as she was? "Well, as they say, hope dies last, does it not?" he exclaimed with a bright smile. "And I certainly hope your friend does arrive. It would be dreadful for that delicious smelling tea to go to waste!"

"It won't," she replied.

His answer never came, interrupted by the conductor.

"Last call to Ponyville!" he yelled, and Rarity smiled a thin smile. "Last call!"

"Fancy Pants, darling, care for some tea?" Rarity asked, levitating the honeybush hazelnut tea towards him. "It seems I won't be having company anymore."

Next Chapter: ~ Chapter One ~ Estimated time remaining: 39 Minutes