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Description
Shattered

It was after breakfast, Aurora and Ruby were washing the dishes.

"You haven't said much." said Aurora.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was thinking about something."
"About a pale orange mare?"
"Y-you saw us?" Ruby said, sounding surprised.
"I saw you two walk into an empty room."

Ruby hands a few dishes to Aurora and grabs a few more to clean.  Aurora dries them and puts the dishes away in the cupboard.

"Yeah, I was thinking about her." Ruby told Aurora
"I'm sure you were."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing."
"I wasn't thinking of her like that.  It was....something she showed me in that room."
"She showed you something?"
"Yeah, a me... I can't say."
"Why not?"
"I don't think it's something she wants others to know about."
"Oh, okay."

Ruby finishes some more dishes.  Aurora levitates over the last plates to the stand and puts away the ones Ruby finished.

"Did you have a good time?" Aurora asked Ruby while levitating the plates.
"I did, and I did meet someone." Ruby said with a bit of a smirk.
"You see, wasn't that better then being home and just painting?"
"I love painting though."
"I know, but you've been hiding in that room for a while now. You need to get out more."
"Ok.  I'm gonna have a bit of a walk around the forest to think about things."
"Okay, I'll finish up here."

Ruby puts down the towel and starts heading to the door.
"Thanks, I'll be back home later." Ruby told Aurora as she walks past.
"Okay."

Ruby walks outside, locking the door behind her and heads to the forest, thinking about the pegasus mare, and the mechanical leg she showed her.  A faint sound of somepony running could be heard.  But Ruby was too deep in her thought to notice.

'I didn't know ponies could have mechanical parts, I wonder how she controls it.' Ruby thinks to herself.

Suddenly, a pony ran past her.  The pony kept running a few meters, then opens its wings to air break.  Ruby then saw it was Gold.  The mechanical leg released some air when Gold turned to Ruby.

"Hi... Ruby wasn't it?" Gold asked Ruby
"Yeah, didn't expect to see you out here, I usually come out here to think."
"Okay, well I haven't run here in a while so I thought I would."
"Funny I should meet you here, I was actually thinking about you.  I didn't know ponies could have mechanical parts."

"Want to walk together?" asked Gold.
"Sure."
Ruby and Gold began to walk on the path together.

"I don't blame you.  Before I became a cyborg I had no idea it was even possible."  said Gold while they walked.
"So, how do you control it?  I was thinking about that, but I couldn't think of anything."
"It's connected to my nervous system with wires.  I just... move it, like you move your legs."
"Oh, okay.  May I ask why you were hiding it at the party?"
"Well... sometimes ponies have been afraid of it, or treated me differently.  So I sometimes hide it."
"Oh...why do they treat you different though?  Are ponies scared of cyborgs?"
"Some are...  They are afraid I would use it as a... w-w...w-weapon."  Gold had hard to say that last word.
"Why would they think you would use it as a weapon?"
"I guess... they are afraid of what they don't understand."
"Well, I'm not afraid." Ruby said to Gold in a friendly tone.
"Thanks." said Gold with a smile.
"Your welcome.  Is it OK if we talk about each other?  I've never met someone that's ... had a similar past to me."
"It's okay. I'm a bit curious myself."
"So, what do you want to know about me?"
"C-can I ask what happened to you?"
"My sister Aurora and I were in the forest one night when we were fillies.  A creature cornered Aurora against a tree and I stood in the way. I took all the blows, so Aurora wouldn't get hurt."
"Oh, how did it go for Aurora?" said Gold, she sounded worried.
"She's fine, the creature never touched her."
"I'm happy to hear that."
"It left me half blind, and with a very bad limp though."
"Oh, well... at least you two made it out."
"Yeah, do you want to talk about your story, or talk about something else?"
"Well... my friend, Nightnova ran into the forest.  I didn't want her to get hurt so when I saw her go I ran to find her. I encountered a... s-stone p-pony in a c-cave." Gold shuddered before she continued.
"It was about to b-bite my head. But I put my f-foreleg in the way."
"Guess we've both seen death then..."

Gold nodded, and looked on the scar Ruby had on her foreleg above her knee.
"L-looks like..." Gold said but didn't finish her sentence.
"1 more centimetre and I would have lost it."
"I'm glad that you didn't.  Losing a limb isn't fun... I thought I never would run again."
"But you can.  Its weird, we both have similar pasts."
"Yeah.  I'm sure you have guessed it by now.  But I love running." said Gold with a smile.
"I love painting, and nature." Ruby said with a smile.
"Okay, I like nature too. But I really like hearing the birds sing."
"Same.  I usually come out to the forest to relax, paint, or think about things like I was doing today."
"Okay."

Gold looked up in the sky, pegasi ponies had begun to place out rainclouds.

"Oh, was it today it would rain?" asked Gold.
"I think so, we should head home."
"Yeah, but I need to get Shattered first."
"You mentioned Shattered at the party, who is it?"
"She is my daughter."
"Oh, okay, should I come with you?  I don't really have anything to do today."
"Sure."

They walked back to the village.  When they came to Ponyville's school a light yellow unicorn came running towards them.

"Hi, Mummy." said the filly happily.
"Hi my little filly.  Have you missed me?"
The filly hugged Golds leg, "Yes."
"Ruby, meet Shattered.  Shattered this is my friend Ruby."

Shattered looked at Ruby.  Ruby saw that Shattered's eyes were yellow with dark orange pupils.
"Nice to meet you Shattered" Ruby said to Shattered in a friendly tone
"Same." said Shattered and hugged Rubys leg.

Ruby hugs back with her other leg.

"Ruby, would you like to come home with us?" asked Gold.
"Sure, we can talk more that way." Ruby said with a cheerful tone.

As they walked to Golds house. Ruby felt a sting of sorrow for some reason.  But she couldn't understand why.  Ruby didn't really notice where they walked, until she saw that they were on the road she and Aurora lived on.

"Wow, that's creepy." Ruby said to Gold.
"What is?" said Gold.
"I can see my house from here."
"Can you?"
"Yeah, there" "Ruby points to her house, which is a few houses away from them.
"I live here." Said Gold as they walked up to a house with an apricot tree in the front yard.
"Wow, we were living close to each other the whole time?"
Gold opens the door and lets Ruby in, she then walks in herself with Shattered.

"Home." said Shattered happily.
"Nice place" Ruby said to Gold, while looking around.
"I have only lived in Ponyville a few years." said Gold.
"Oh okay.  I've lived here most of my life."
"Excuse me." said Shattered, while she was poking Ruby.
"Yes Shattered?"  Ruby said to Shattered while looking at her
"What does your cutie mark mean?"
"Art, more specifically, painting."
"Nice, Mine is lightning." said Shattered happily.
"You have your cutie mark?"
"Yes."

Shattered pointed at it.  Its a zap apple flower.
"Wow, a cutie mark so young?"
"Shattered got it when she was two." said Gold.
"Wow, at such a young age"
"Mum!"
"I know Shattered, come."
"Yay!"

They walked into the kitchen with Ruby following them.  Gold took a glass of water and put it on the table.  Shattered jumped up on a chair, and looked at the glass.  Shattered's horn started to glow and spark.  The water began to steam without boiling, a little cloud formed above the glass, that then changed into storm cloud that then flew to Shattered, her horn stopped glowing and sparking.

"Woah..."  said Ruby clearly amazed by what she did.
"Mam can I go and play?"
"Sure."
"Thanks." Shattered smiles and runs upstairs with her cloud following her.

Gold turns to Ruby.
"Talented isn't she?" said Gold.
"Yeah, what was that?"
"She made a little cloud.  That cloud is like her pet, it reflect her emotions backwards."
"Ok, thats cool."
"She has tried to learn how to make wings, but without success."
"She wants to fly?"
"Yes."
"Okay.  Thanks for letting me over Gold."
"Its fun to have someone over.  It's usually just me and Shattered here."
"I'm usually just home painting, or in the forest.  I only talk to Aurora and River usually."
"Should we have something to drink, and talk in the lounge?"
"Sure, that'd be nice."

Gold takes a jug with strawberry juice, and three glasses to the lounge, and puts them on the table.  Then she takes a seat, Ruby sits down next to her.

"I hope you like strawberry juice." said Gold.
"I've never tried it."
"Never?"
"Nope."

Gold pours two glasses, and gives Ruby one.

"Try, its really good."

Ruby takes a sip, Gold is waiting to hear what Ruby thinks.
"Wow, this is really nice" Ruby said with a cheerful tone.
Gold smiles, and Ruby can't help to think that she is cute.
"I'm glad that you liked it."
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
Gold takes her glass, "This may come as an odd question. But what was it like to grow up with other pegasi?"
"Okay, I guess. the occasional competition to see who can fly the furtherst, or fastest, races happened, but it was OK.  Why?"
Gold takes a sip before she says, "My dad and I were the only pegasi in the village I come from."
Ruby takes another sip. "So you didn't grow up with other pegasi?"
"No, only unicorns and earth ponies."
"Was it hard?"
"Sometimes, but I had Nightnova."
"I had Aurora and Shadowfire, it was tough growing up with pegasi, especially with my disabilities at the time."
"You mean after..."
"Yeah. I was picked on and bullied because of my scars and eye, and...being a lesbian."
"Are you a lesbian?" said Gold surprised.
"Yeah... I thought I mentioned that at the party."
"Hmm... you said you liked mares, but I didn't think you meant like that."
"Oh, yeah I'm a lesbian.  Aurora wanted me to go to the party to get out from my art room, but she really was just trying to get me to meet a stallion, thinking she can change my mind about it."
"Oh, well... I hope you meet someone someday."
"I hope so, not many people want to be with a scarred pony..."
"Yea, it can be hard.  Before I got my mechanical leg I used peg legs."
"That must've sucked."
"It was better then nothing, but I broke them often when I tried to run."
"Okay, speaking of finding someone, do you have someone?"
"No, I haven't found the right one for me yet."
Ruby's mood suddenly lifted when she said that.
"I'm sure you'll find the one someday."

They heard hoof steps, a moment later Shattered ran into the lounge, and to a window.  She looked out and became excited.

"What's she doing?" Ruby asked Gold.
"Oh, I think there's a storm coming soon." said Gold.
"There is." sad Shattered happily.
"I should head home then" Ruby told Gold.
"Okay, it was nice of you to come over."
"Thanks for asking me over"

Ruby gets up and starts heading to the door.  Shattered runs passed her.

"Storm." said Shattered happily.
"Is it a big one?"
Shattered nods, and her little cloud rumbles

Ruby opens the door and looks outside.  Shattered runs out in the storm.  Its raining heavily, and the sky rumbles like Shattered's cloud had done, but much louder.

"I think I may have to stay tonight Gold." Ruby said to Gold when she walked back inside.
"Is the storm big?"
"Yes, its a big storm.  May I stay here for tonight?"
"Sure, I'll go and get the guest room ready, can you please look after Shattered?"
"Sure."
"You should be able to see her through the kitchen windows."
"Ok, thank you Gold"

Gold goes to get the guest room ready, while Ruby is walking to the kitchen.  She looks out the windows, and sees Shattered run on the open field.  She looks very happy, jumping around in the wet grass, and doesn't seems to mind the storm at all.  More like she enjoys it, a lightning bolt lights up the sky.

"She must really love storms." Ruby says to herself as she watches.

Another lightning bolt lights up the sky, it comes close to hitting the ground.  Shattered is still jumping around, it doesn't look like she is scared at all.

"I wonder why she isn't scared of the lightning?"

A third bolt lights up the sky, and hits Shattered, she falls to the ground.

"SHATTERED!"

Gold comes running she holds a pillow in one of her wings.

"W-what happened?" said Gold with a bit of panic in her tone.
"S-shattered g-got hit by a l-lightning bolt!" Ruby said, shaking
"Oh, I'm sorry Ruby I should have warned you." said Gold relieved.
"W-what? Shattered could be badly hurt!"
"Don't worry, look out the window again."

Ruby looks, once again Shattered is jumping around in the grass like nothing has happened.  While she looks a fourth bolt hits Shattered, but she just looks happier than before.

"W-w-what? h-how?" Ruby said, confused.
"She is Immune against lightning.  Its a side effect from my leg." said Gold calmly.
"Oh...w-wow..."
"I'm sorry it scared you like that, I should have warned you."

Ruby wipes away some tears that were in her eyes.  Gold goes to Ruby and looks her in the eye.

"Are you alright?" said Gold.
"Y-yeah, I just thought she would..."
Gold gives Ruby a hug, while she says, "Sorry."
Ruby hugs back, and feels a bit happier.

"I-its ok." Ruby said to Gold.
Gold backs away. "I'll just put this on the bed then I'm done." She nods against the pillow.
"Ok, Thank you again Gold."
"You're welcome. I'll be right back."

Gold walks out of the kitchen, Ruby looks out on Shattered, she looks very happy.

"Able to take lightning bolt hits... she's a very talented filly." Ruby says to herself.

Gold comes back.

"There, the guest room is ready." said Gold and smiled.
"Thanks."
"Is salad and bread Ok for dinner?"
"Yeah, that'd be nice, Thank you."

Gold made a big bowl of salad, she even put some fruit in it, put some slices of watermelon on a plate, and some pieces of Baguette in a basket next to the salad.  When she had put everything on the table Shattered came in, after she had cleaned herself, they began to eat.  Ruby thought it was delicious, they didn't talk much while they ate.

"How was it?" asked Gold when they had finished eating.
"It was delicious, Thank you." Ruby said to Gold and smiled
"It was yummy." said Shattered with a smile.
"I'm glad that both of you liked it." said Gold.
Ruby yawned, and looked a bit tired.
"Guess it's bed time." said Gold.
"Y-yeah. which rooms the guest room?"
"Shattered, can you wait in your room?" said Gold
"Okay." said Shattered before she ran off.
"Okay, Ruby follow me."

Gold led Ruby to a room on the bottom floor, the door was under the stairs.  The guest room had a big double bed in it, two bookshelves with books, an empty shelf above the bed, a tie ring in the ceiling, and one window with closed curtains, other than that there wasn't anything else in the room.

"I hope it will do." said Gold.
"It will, Thanks."
"I sleep upstairs in the first room on the right."
"Ok, goodnight Gold."
"Goodnight, Ruby."

Gold left the room, and closed the door.  Ruby could hear her walking up the stairs, she heard two doors close, and then it was quiet in the house.

Ruby walks over to the bed and lies down, staring at the ceiling for a few minutes, thinking about the day

"She's been really nice to me, usually ponies just try to avoid me because of my scars.  I'm glad I found someone who isn't scared of my scars." Ruby says to herself.

Ruby got under the sheets, turned on her side, and fell asleep after a while.

Next morning Ruby woke up to the smell of breakfast.

"5 more minutes..." She mumbled to herself and tried to get back to sleep.
Later Gold peeked in.
"Ruby?" said Gold quietly.
"Just a few more minutes..." Ruby mumbled.
"You aren't a morning pony are you?"
"Not really..."
"Okay, I'll let you sleep."

Gold backs out, and closes the door.

30 minutes later Ruby comes out, Gold is sitting in the lounge reading a book when Ruby walks in.

"Morning." Ruby said to Gold.
"Good morning, slept well?" asked Gold.
"Yeah. Sorry about before, I'm a bit lazy in the mornings"
"Its okay, I normally get up when the sunrays shine on to my bed."
Ruby sits down on the lounge and looks at the book Gold is reading, it's a book about steam engines.  Gold puts the book on the table.
"Hungry?" asked Gold.
"A little bit."
"Shattered and I left you some food in the kitchen."
"That wasn't necessary, but Thank you."
"I would feel bad if I didn't offer breakfast"
"Ok, I'll have some then, Thank you."

They walk to the kitchen when there were some omelettes left.  They take a seat in front of the table.

"I hope you like omelettes" said Gold.
"I do." Ruby took some omelettes and started eating, as Ruby is eating she looks at Gold.
Gold sits quiet and lets Ruby eat in peace.

Ruby finishes eating. "Thank you." Ruby said to Gold.
"You're welcome." said Gold and smiled.

Ruby smiled back, thinking that Gold is cute when she smiles.  Gold took of the plates and glasses from the table.  She used her mechanical leg without crushing anything while she put the dish in the sink.

"Do you live by yourself?" asked Gold.
"No, I live with my sister, Aurora."
"I hope I haven't made her worry."
"She knows I'm OK, she'll probably tease me a bit when I get home though."
"Why?"
"Well, you remember me mentioning that I'm a lesbian?"
"Yes."
"Aurora teases me about it sometimes.  I'm betting she'll tease me about it when I say where I was."
"Oh, I hope she don't teases you too much."
"Not much, but it gets annoying sometimes."
"Okay."

Ruby gets up and turns to Gold.
"Thanks for letting me stay over and feeding me, I'd better go now."
Gold gets up too.
"You're welcome.  It was fun having you over, you are welcome to come back anytime."

Ruby heads for the door, with Gold following behind, they say a last goodbye at the door before Ruby walks home, Gold closing the door behind her.

Ruby watches Gold close the door when she realised something, she really cares about Gold, and not just because she's a friend, she realised she loves her.  She stares at the door for a bit before turning around and heading home with a smile on her face.

Ruby arrives back home, and hears Aurora walking down the stairs.
"Hey sis, I'm home" Ruby says to her when she appears.
"Hey, where were you, why didn't you come home last night?"
"Oh, I was at Golds when the storm hit, so I had to stay the night"
"So you spent the night at Gold's?  Your mare friend?" Aurora said with a bit of a smirk
"Yes, but I slept in the guest room, nothing happened between us."
"Ok then."

Aurora notices that Rubys a bit zoned out.
"What is it sis?" asked Aurora.
"...sis....I think im in love with Gold..."
"W-what? You just met her, are you sure?"

Ruby nods, "W-what should I do?  I doubt she feels the same way, and I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"Oh ruby... I think... it's best to treat her as a friend and see where it goes."
"O-ok... Thank you sis." Ruby says as she hugs Aurora.

Ruby heads to her art room, Knowing exactly what to paint next.

THE END

Description
Shattered

It was after breakfast, Aurora and Ruby were washing the dishes.

"You haven't said much." said Aurora.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was thinking about something."
"About a pale orange mare?"
"Y-you saw us?" Ruby said, sounding surprised.
"I saw you two walk into an empty room."

Ruby hands a few dishes to Aurora and grabs a few more to clean.  Aurora dries them and puts the dishes away in the cupboard.

"Yeah, I was thinking about her." Ruby told Aurora
"I'm sure you were."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing."
"I wasn't thinking of her like that.  It was....something she showed me in that room."
"She showed you something?"
"Yeah, a me... I can't say."
"Why not?"
"I don't think it's something she wants others to know about."
"Oh, okay."

Ruby finishes some more dishes.  Aurora levitates over the last plates to the stand and puts away the ones Ruby finished.

"Did you have a good time?" Aurora asked Ruby while levitating the plates.
"I did, and I did meet someone." Ruby said with a bit of a smirk.
"You see, wasn't that better then being home and just painting?"
"I love painting though."
"I know, but you've been hiding in that room for a while now. You need to get out more."
"Ok.  I'm gonna have a bit of a walk around the forest to think about things."
"Okay, I'll finish up here."

Ruby puts down the towel and starts heading to the door.
"Thanks, I'll be back home later." Ruby told Aurora as she walks past.
"Okay."

Ruby walks outside, locking the door behind her and heads to the forest, thinking about the pegasus mare, and the mechanical leg she showed her.  A faint sound of somepony running could be heard.  But Ruby was too deep in her thought to notice.

'I didn't know ponies could have mechanical parts, I wonder how she controls it.' Ruby thinks to herself.

Suddenly, a pony ran past her.  The pony kept running a few meters, then opens its wings to air break.  Ruby then saw it was Gold.  The mechanical leg released some air when Gold turned to Ruby.

"Hi... Ruby wasn't it?" Gold asked Ruby
"Yeah, didn't expect to see you out here, I usually come out here to think."
"Okay, well I haven't run here in a while so I thought I would."
"Funny I should meet you here, I was actually thinking about you.  I didn't know ponies could have mechanical parts."

"Want to walk together?" asked Gold.
"Sure."
Ruby and Gold began to walk on the path together.

"I don't blame you.  Before I became a cyborg I had no idea it was even possible."  said Gold while they walked.
"So, how do you control it?  I was thinking about that, but I couldn't think of anything."
"It's connected to my nervous system with wires.  I just... move it, like you move your legs."
"Oh, okay.  May I ask why you were hiding it at the party?"
"Well... sometimes ponies have been afraid of it, or treated me differently.  So I sometimes hide it."
"Oh...why do they treat you different though?  Are ponies scared of cyborgs?"
"Some are...  They are afraid I would use it as a... w-w...w-weapon."  Gold had hard to say that last word.
"Why would they think you would use it as a weapon?"
"I guess... they are afraid of what they don't understand."
"Well, I'm not afraid." Ruby said to Gold in a friendly tone.
"Thanks." said Gold with a smile.
"Your welcome.  Is it OK if we talk about each other?  I've never met someone that's ... had a similar past to me."
"It's okay. I'm a bit curious myself."
"So, what do you want to know about me?"
"C-can I ask what happened to you?"
"My sister Aurora and I were in the forest one night when we were fillies.  A creature cornered Aurora against a tree and I stood in the way. I took all the blows, so Aurora wouldn't get hurt."
"Oh, how did it go for Aurora?" said Gold, she sounded worried.
"She's fine, the creature never touched her."
"I'm happy to hear that."
"It left me half blind, and with a very bad limp though."
"Oh, well... at least you two made it out."
"Yeah, do you want to talk about your story, or talk about something else?"
"Well... my friend, Nightnova ran into the forest.  I didn't want her to get hurt so when I saw her go I ran to find her. I encountered a... s-stone p-pony in a c-cave." Gold shuddered before she continued.
"It was about to b-bite my head. But I put my f-foreleg in the way."
"Guess we've both seen death then..."

Gold nodded, and looked on the scar Ruby had on her foreleg above her knee.
"L-looks like..." Gold said but didn't finish her sentence.
"1 more centimetre and I would have lost it."
"I'm glad that you didn't.  Losing a limb isn't fun... I thought I never would run again."
"But you can.  Its weird, we both have similar pasts."
"Yeah.  I'm sure you have guessed it by now.  But I love running." said Gold with a smile.
"I love painting, and nature." Ruby said with a smile.
"Okay, I like nature too. But I really like hearing the birds sing."
"Same.  I usually come out to the forest to relax, paint, or think about things like I was doing today."
"Okay."

Gold looked up in the sky, pegasi ponies had begun to place out rainclouds.

"Oh, was it today it would rain?" asked Gold.
"I think so, we should head home."
"Yeah, but I need to get Shattered first."
"You mentioned Shattered at the party, who is it?"
"She is my daughter."
"Oh, okay, should I come with you?  I don't really have anything to do today."
"Sure."

They walked back to the village.  When they came to Ponyville's school a light yellow unicorn came running towards them.

"Hi, Mummy." said the filly happily.
"Hi my little filly.  Have you missed me?"
The filly hugged Golds leg, "Yes."
"Ruby, meet Shattered.  Shattered this is my friend Ruby."

Shattered looked at Ruby.  Ruby saw that Shattered's eyes were yellow with dark orange pupils.
"Nice to meet you Shattered" Ruby said to Shattered in a friendly tone
"Same." said Shattered and hugged Rubys leg.

Ruby hugs back with her other leg.

"Ruby, would you like to come home with us?" asked Gold.
"Sure, we can talk more that way." Ruby said with a cheerful tone.

As they walked to Golds house. Ruby felt a sting of sorrow for some reason.  But she couldn't understand why.  Ruby didn't really notice where they walked, until she saw that they were on the road she and Aurora lived on.

"Wow, that's creepy." Ruby said to Gold.
"What is?" said Gold.
"I can see my house from here."
"Can you?"
"Yeah, there" "Ruby points to her house, which is a few houses away from them.
"I live here." Said Gold as they walked up to a house with an apricot tree in the front yard.
"Wow, we were living close to each other the whole time?"
Gold opens the door and lets Ruby in, she then walks in herself with Shattered.

"Home." said Shattered happily.
"Nice place" Ruby said to Gold, while looking around.
"I have only lived in Ponyville a few years." said Gold.
"Oh okay.  I've lived here most of my life."
"Excuse me." said Shattered, while she was poking Ruby.
"Yes Shattered?"  Ruby said to Shattered while looking at her
"What does your cutie mark mean?"
"Art, more specifically, painting."
"Nice, Mine is lightning." said Shattered happily.
"You have your cutie mark?"
"Yes."

Shattered pointed at it.  Its a zap apple flower.
"Wow, a cutie mark so young?"
"Shattered got it when she was two." said Gold.
"Wow, at such a young age"
"Mum!"
"I know Shattered, come."
"Yay!"

They walked into the kitchen with Ruby following them.  Gold took a glass of water and put it on the table.  Shattered jumped up on a chair, and looked at the glass.  Shattered's horn started to glow and spark.  The water began to steam without boiling, a little cloud formed above the glass, that then changed into storm cloud that then flew to Shattered, her horn stopped glowing and sparking.

"Woah..."  said Ruby clearly amazed by what she did.
"Mam can I go and play?"
"Sure."
"Thanks." Shattered smiles and runs upstairs with her cloud following her.

Gold turns to Ruby.
"Talented isn't she?" said Gold.
"Yeah, what was that?"
"She made a little cloud.  That cloud is like her pet, it reflect her emotions backwards."
"Ok, thats cool."
"She has tried to learn how to make wings, but without success."
"She wants to fly?"
"Yes."
"Okay.  Thanks for letting me over Gold."
"Its fun to have someone over.  It's usually just me and Shattered here."
"I'm usually just home painting, or in the forest.  I only talk to Aurora and River usually."
"Should we have something to drink, and talk in the lounge?"
"Sure, that'd be nice."

Gold takes a jug with strawberry juice, and three glasses to the lounge, and puts them on the table.  Then she takes a seat, Ruby sits down next to her.

"I hope you like strawberry juice." said Gold.
"I've never tried it."
"Never?"
"Nope."

Gold pours two glasses, and gives Ruby one.

"Try, its really good."

Ruby takes a sip, Gold is waiting to hear what Ruby thinks.
"Wow, this is really nice" Ruby said with a cheerful tone.
Gold smiles, and Ruby can't help to think that she is cute.
"I'm glad that you liked it."
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
Gold takes her glass, "This may come as an odd question. But what was it like to grow up with other pegasi?"
"Okay, I guess. the occasional competition to see who can fly the furtherst, or fastest, races happened, but it was OK.  Why?"
Gold takes a sip before she says, "My dad and I were the only pegasi in the village I come from."
Ruby takes another sip. "So you didn't grow up with other pegasi?"
"No, only unicorns and earth ponies."
"Was it hard?"
"Sometimes, but I had Nightnova."
"I had Aurora and Shadowfire, it was tough growing up with pegasi, especially with my disabilities at the time."
"You mean after..."
"Yeah. I was picked on and bullied because of my scars and eye, and...being a lesbian."
"Are you a lesbian?" said Gold surprised.
"Yeah... I thought I mentioned that at the party."
"Hmm... you said you liked mares, but I didn't think you meant like that."
"Oh, yeah I'm a lesbian.  Aurora wanted me to go to the party to get out from my art room, but she really was just trying to get me to meet a stallion, thinking she can change my mind about it."
"Oh, well... I hope you meet someone someday."
"I hope so, not many people want to be with a scarred pony..."
"Yea, it can be hard.  Before I got my mechanical leg I used peg legs."
"That must've sucked."
"It was better then nothing, but I broke them often when I tried to run."
"Okay, speaking of finding someone, do you have someone?"
"No, I haven't found the right one for me yet."
Ruby's mood suddenly lifted when she said that.
"I'm sure you'll find the one someday."

They heard hoof steps, a moment later Shattered ran into the lounge, and to a window.  She looked out and became excited.

"What's she doing?" Ruby asked Gold.
"Oh, I think there's a storm coming soon." said Gold.
"There is." sad Shattered happily.
"I should head home then" Ruby told Gold.
"Okay, it was nice of you to come over."
"Thanks for asking me over"

Ruby gets up and starts heading to the door.  Shattered runs passed her.

"Storm." said Shattered happily.
"Is it a big one?"
Shattered nods, and her little cloud rumbles

Ruby opens the door and looks outside.  Shattered runs out in the storm.  Its raining heavily, and the sky rumbles like Shattered's cloud had done, but much louder.

"I think I may have to stay tonight Gold." Ruby said to Gold when she walked back inside.
"Is the storm big?"
"Yes, its a big storm.  May I stay here for tonight?"
"Sure, I'll go and get the guest room ready, can you please look after Shattered?"
"Sure."
"You should be able to see her through the kitchen windows."
"Ok, thank you Gold"

Gold goes to get the guest room ready, while Ruby is walking to the kitchen.  She looks out the windows, and sees Shattered run on the open field.  She looks very happy, jumping around in the wet grass, and doesn't seems to mind the storm at all.  More like she enjoys it, a lightning bolt lights up the sky.

"She must really love storms." Ruby says to herself as she watches.

Another lightning bolt lights up the sky, it comes close to hitting the ground.  Shattered is still jumping around, it doesn't look like she is scared at all.

"I wonder why she isn't scared of the lightning?"

A third bolt lights up the sky, and hits Shattered, she falls to the ground.

"SHATTERED!"

Gold comes running she holds a pillow in one of her wings.

"W-what happened?" said Gold with a bit of panic in her tone.
"S-shattered g-got hit by a l-lightning bolt!" Ruby said, shaking
"Oh, I'm sorry Ruby I should have warned you." said Gold relieved.
"W-what? Shattered could be badly hurt!"
"Don't worry, look out the window again."

Ruby looks, once again Shattered is jumping around in the grass like nothing has happened.  While she looks a fourth bolt hits Shattered, but she just looks happier than before.

"W-w-what? h-how?" Ruby said, confused.
"She is Immune against lightning.  Its a side effect from my leg." said Gold calmly.
"Oh...w-wow..."
"I'm sorry it scared you like that, I should have warned you."

Ruby wipes away some tears that were in her eyes.  Gold goes to Ruby and looks her in the eye.

"Are you alright?" said Gold.
"Y-yeah, I just thought she would..."
Gold gives Ruby a hug, while she says, "Sorry."
Ruby hugs back, and feels a bit happier.

"I-its ok." Ruby said to Gold.
Gold backs away. "I'll just put this on the bed then I'm done." She nods against the pillow.
"Ok, Thank you again Gold."
"You're welcome. I'll be right back."

Gold walks out of the kitchen, Ruby looks out on Shattered, she looks very happy.

"Able to take lightning bolt hits... she's a very talented filly." Ruby says to herself.

Gold comes back.

"There, the guest room is ready." said Gold and smiled.
"Thanks."
"Is salad and bread Ok for dinner?"
"Yeah, that'd be nice, Thank you."

Gold made a big bowl of salad, she even put some fruit in it, put some slices of watermelon on a plate, and some pieces of Baguette in a basket next to the salad.  When she had put everything on the table Shattered came in, after she had cleaned herself, they began to eat.  Ruby thought it was delicious, they didn't talk much while they ate.

"How was it?" asked Gold when they had finished eating.
"It was delicious, Thank you." Ruby said to Gold and smiled
"It was yummy." said Shattered with a smile.
"I'm glad that both of you liked it." said Gold.
Ruby yawned, and looked a bit tired.
"Guess it's bed time." said Gold.
"Y-yeah. which rooms the guest room?"
"Shattered, can you wait in your room?" said Gold
"Okay." said Shattered before she ran off.
"Okay, Ruby follow me."

Gold led Ruby to a room on the bottom floor, the door was under the stairs.  The guest room had a big double bed in it, two bookshelves with books, an empty shelf above the bed, a tie ring in the ceiling, and one window with closed curtains, other than that there wasn't anything else in the room.

"I hope it will do." said Gold.
"It will, Thanks."
"I sleep upstairs in the first room on the right."
"Ok, goodnight Gold."
"Goodnight, Ruby."

Gold left the room, and closed the door.  Ruby could hear her walking up the stairs, she heard two doors close, and then it was quiet in the house.

Ruby walks over to the bed and lies down, staring at the ceiling for a few minutes, thinking about the day

"She's been really nice to me, usually ponies just try to avoid me because of my scars.  I'm glad I found someone who isn't scared of my scars." Ruby says to herself.

Ruby got under the sheets, turned on her side, and fell asleep after a while.

Next morning Ruby woke up to the smell of breakfast.

"5 more minutes..." She mumbled to herself and tried to get back to sleep.
Later Gold peeked in.
"Ruby?" said Gold quietly.
"Just a few more minutes..." Ruby mumbled.
"You aren't a morning pony are you?"
"Not really..."
"Okay, I'll let you sleep."

Gold backs out, and closes the door.

30 minutes later Ruby comes out, Gold is sitting in the lounge reading a book when Ruby walks in.

"Morning." Ruby said to Gold.
"Good morning, slept well?" asked Gold.
"Yeah. Sorry about before, I'm a bit lazy in the mornings"
"Its okay, I normally get up when the sunrays shine on to my bed."
Ruby sits down on the lounge and looks at the book Gold is reading, it's a book about steam engines.  Gold puts the book on the table.
"Hungry?" asked Gold.
"A little bit."
"Shattered and I left you some food in the kitchen."
"That wasn't necessary, but Thank you."
"I would feel bad if I didn't offer breakfast"
"Ok, I'll have some then, Thank you."

They walk to the kitchen when there were some omelettes left.  They take a seat in front of the table.

"I hope you like omelettes" said Gold.
"I do." Ruby took some omelettes and started eating, as Ruby is eating she looks at Gold.
Gold sits quiet and lets Ruby eat in peace.

Ruby finishes eating. "Thank you." Ruby said to Gold.
"You're welcome." said Gold and smiled.

Ruby smiled back, thinking that Gold is cute when she smiles.  Gold took of the plates and glasses from the table.  She used her mechanical leg without crushing anything while she put the dish in the sink.

"Do you live by yourself?" asked Gold.
"No, I live with my sister, Aurora."
"I hope I haven't made her worry."
"She knows I'm OK, she'll probably tease me a bit when I get home though."
"Why?"
"Well, you remember me mentioning that I'm a lesbian?"
"Yes."
"Aurora teases me about it sometimes.  I'm betting she'll tease me about it when I say where I was."
"Oh, I hope she don't teases you too much."
"Not much, but it gets annoying sometimes."
"Okay."

Ruby gets up and turns to Gold.
"Thanks for letting me stay over and feeding me, I'd better go now."
Gold gets up too.
"You're welcome.  It was fun having you over, you are welcome to come back anytime."

Ruby heads for the door, with Gold following behind, they say a last goodbye at the door before Ruby walks home, Gold closing the door behind her.

Ruby watches Gold close the door when she realised something, she really cares about Gold, and not just because she's a friend, she realised she loves her.  She stares at the door for a bit before turning around and heading home with a smile on her face.

Ruby arrives back home, and hears Aurora walking down the stairs.
"Hey sis, I'm home" Ruby says to her when she appears.
"Hey, where were you, why didn't you come home last night?"
"Oh, I was at Golds when the storm hit, so I had to stay the night"
"So you spent the night at Gold's?  Your mare friend?" Aurora said with a bit of a smirk
"Yes, but I slept in the guest room, nothing happened between us."
"Ok then."

Aurora notices that Rubys a bit zoned out.
"What is it sis?" asked Aurora.
"...sis....I think im in love with Gold..."
"W-what? You just met her, are you sure?"

Ruby nods, "W-what should I do?  I doubt she feels the same way, and I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"Oh ruby... I think... it's best to treat her as a friend and see where it goes."
"O-ok... Thank you sis." Ruby says as she hugs Aurora.

Ruby heads to her art room, Knowing exactly what to paint next.

THE END