As the bits flowed in from royalties ranging from his music sales, to the newest innovations based off his mana cell technologies, Drax found himself to suddenly be a rather wealthy pony. While the sources of his new-found income was known only to his closest friends, he took great pains to make sure he did not change. He still acted the same old friendly pony, and still dressed the same as he always had.

The only real show of his new wealth was to build a house for himself and Pinkie to live in. It was a cozy affair, nestled just inside the Everfree forest, not far from Fluttershy’s home. Like the library, it was built into a living tree, and resembled Fluttershy’s cottage, yet with the usual Pinkie Pie flair. A garden of sweet berries and other fruits grew around it, so that the party pony always had something sweet to add to special recipes. The inside was decorated mostly in a perpetual party. Bright colors, and balloons painted on every surface, as well as colorful decorations all around. There was even a small dance floor for guests to enjoy.

The house was close enough for Pinkie to still reach the shop easily, yet afforded enough solitude that Drax could unwind in his natural form without the fear of discovery. He kept a study where he tinkered on new gadgets and recipes, and kept it as the calm center in the riot of color that was Pinkie Pie’s decorating. Only bare wood for the furniture and walls, and he resisted adding any decorations, other than his shelf of books that Twilight had given him. Pinkie ran the house, but this was his sanctuary.

She still worked part-time at the bakery, but Drax himself had given up his job to pursue his own hobbies now. Before leaving he trained a new cook to keep up the shop’s new menu. An old earth pony, with graying mane, and old scars from forgotten battles. He went by the name of Cookie, and his cutie mark was that of a rolling pin and a wooden spoon crossed. Claiming to be a veteran of the war, he often rambled on about old battles, yet nopony could remember any war within the last 1000 years. Despite his odd behavior, he could cook a meal from almost anything, and soon surpassed Drax’s own cooking fame.

Despite all this, the dark alicorn was still troubled by some things. The prophecy had ceased to bother him, as his life drifted into one of quiet days, and rowdy nights with his personal party planner at his side. But still, he was troubled.

As he walked into the dress shop, he was greeted graciously by the unicorn proprietor. “Greetings Drax, darling! It’s been so long since you have graced my shop with your presence.” She whipped her main to show its curls to full effect, fluttering her lashes at him demurely. “What so ever could I do for you?

“Rarity, I’ve been thinking.” He began slowly, still not sure how to approach the subject that had been troubling him the past few months. “We really need to have a talk about something. Something really important. Something private.”

He looked around the shop, now larger than when he had first cam to Ponyville. Dresses were arrayed in racks, as Rarity had progressed from merely a dress maker, to a fashion designer. Her dresses were now made by a team of expert seamstresses, and she designed them for the masses. Success has done her well. No longer making a dress at a time for individual clients, she now designed clothing for all of Equestria.

He finished his inspection, settling on the white unicorn, now blank faced, and professional. Her voice was still full of it’s usual refined charm, however. “Yes dear, I can see something is amiss. Let me just close the shop for lunch, and we can talk privately.”

She made her way over and locked the front door, turning over the sign to indicate she was closed. Returning to the table where she had been sitting before he entered, she motioned the stallion over to join her. “So now, tell me, what could possibly be troubling you?”

Drax sighed. Just like his incident years earlier with Pinkie, he dreaded having do do this, but his instincts told him it needed to be done.

“Rarity, why do you hate me?”

She started, shocked at the unexpected reply. At first she thought it was another one of his twisted jokes that only he seemed to understand. Then she saw him looking her straight in the eye and awaiting a response. “W-what? What on earth gave you the idea that I would hate you? You are my dear friend! I owe so much to you for all you have done for me and my shop. Because of you I now own a dozen shops across Equestria. ‘Carousel Designs, by Rarity™’ is a household name in every city.” She paused for breath, looking rather flushed. “Ever since that silly song of yours was released, everypony in Equestria wants those silly bikinis. And it was me that provided them, thanks to your designs.” She looked at him sternly. “What on earth would make me hate you, after you have done all this for me?”

Still staring at the pale pony, he never so much as twitched a muscle during her rant. Finally he spoke up, in the same tired voice. “Rarity, you can’s fool a fool. I know people, and I know ponies. I can read them like Twilight reads a book. And right now I can read you. Right now you are being as polite to me as you would to any annoying customer that dared to tell you how to do your job. There is no love in it. There is no happiness or welcome. Just a carefully modulated voice covering a loathing that you cannot afford to let show.” He leaned back. “You really should have been a actress instead, Rarity.”

The Unicorn just stared at him, a look of shock plain on her face.

“So I am going to ask you again, and I hope that you have the decency to give me an honest answer. So far every filly that’s crossed my path has fawned over me, despite my best attempts to steer them away. Even Fluttershy, who is too scared to approach me, is obviously infatuated with me. She cant even talk and look at me at the same time. But you? Every time I talk to you, you either become a professional robot, or a total ice queen. I want to know why. Right now I would like to still consider you my friend, but that can easily change.” He gave her a solemn look that brooked no argument.

Suddenly the shock faded, to be replaced by a grim determination. “You want the truth, dear Draxy? Do you REALLY want the truth?” She threw her hooves up. “FINE! But on one condition.” She pointed at him with a dainty hoof. “I know how you value your honesty, so I know you will not lie to me. Now swear, swear to me that what I tell you will never leave this room! What I have to say concerns dear friends of mine, and I will not see them hurt because of your bullheaded insistence on the truth.”

Drax merely nodded, replying, “I swear.”

Rarity sat back, composing herself, and staring back at the dark alicorn before her. He waited passively for her response, and it was quick in coming.

“The truth is, I don't hate you Drax. At least I don't hate who you are. But what you are is a different matter. You are a creature that does not belong in Equestria. Every day I see you I must fight down the urge to rail at your very existence. And what’s more, I hate what you do. What you and Pinkie have done has made a mockery of love. It is an ABOMINATION!” She slammed her hooves on the table, anger rising in her voice. “You come into the lives of my friends, and you turn the magic of friendship into a disgusting mockery of debauchery and evil. Pony is meant to be with Pony, and you have destroyed that simple truth with your relationship with my friends! I see them fawning over you. I see you and Pinkie Pie together, and it makes me want to VOMIT! You don't deserve her, and you are polluting her life by being here. THAT is why I hate what you are.”

Drax sat back again, pondering the now panting mare in front of him. Her face was red, and her eyes were practically bulging. This was obviously a long time in coming. He merely chuckled, and then it turned into a laugh.

This took the mare back, not expecting laughter at her confession. She tried to regain some of her poise, and professionalism.”What in Celestia’s name is so funny?”

Drax stopped laughing almost as suddenly as he started. “You are Rarity, you are.” he pointed at her and chuckled again. “I mean, I have seen some real cliche things in my time since coming to Equestria, but this one really takes the cake. “

Now confused even more, she shook her head and fixed him with a stare. “What are you talking about? What is cliche?

“The white pony is a bigot.” and he burst into laughter again.

Enraged, the unicorn leaped to her feet, and growled between her gritted teeth. “That is a filthy and DISGUSTING word. Take it back!”

Suddenly swinging back to sober and serious again, Drax shot back. “It’s supposed to be a filthy and disgusting word, Miss Rarity. I only call things as I see them, and right now I see a bigot, telling me that because I am not a pony, I am not worthy of her friends, or the mare I love. Well I have news for you Miss Rarity,” the name spat from his mouth like a curse. “Your opinion is duely noted. I accept your honesty, and am much relieved to know how you really feel. But in the interest of our friends, I will forget what you have said here today.” He held up a hoof, pointing it at her. “Don't get me wrong. I will never forgive you, but I will for now forget. But don't you ever let it interfere with my other friends, or with Pinkie and me.

He turned to walk out of the shop, not even looking back at the unicorn when she shouted back at him, but pausing at the door to listen.

“Well let me tell YOU something Drax. Pinkie Pie was MY friend long before she met you. She is still my friend, despite what you have done to her. And if you EVER hurt her, I will DESTROY YOU!”

Before leaving the shop, Drax stopped to reply, “Poor, poor lonely Rarity. You really have no idea how love works? If I were to ever hurt Pinkie Pie, I would destroy myself first...”