2540/Support Networks of Ponyville

Support Networks of Ponyville
Date of Scene:	28 June 2015
Location:	Equestria <KE>
Synopsis:	Grappling with her nightmares of fighting the Chaos Titan, Yuna finally starts to open up to her friends again, beginning with her neighbors in Ponyville.
Cast of Characters:	43, 136, 385, 411

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Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
Yuna didn't exactly get 'kicked out' of her cottage; Elner was just highly insistent that she needed to get out for a while. And there was a piece of Yuna that realized it, too - or she probably would have balked about going anywhere. She's not in particularly high spirits, though - less spring in her step than usual, not quite as quick to smile or say hello to passing ponies. She's headed over to the cafe, though; it's kind of late for lunch and still too early for supper, but maybe she can find something to tide her over, like Elner suggested.

And maybe she can either get her mind off her nightmares, or find a suitable ear to borrow as a ounding board.

Rarity (136) has posed:
As luck would have it Rarity was out and about as well, having been delivering an assortment of mending jobs she had finished for various townsponies. She was just passing through on her way back to her place, but stops to wave when she spots the familiar popstar-in-pony-form passing along the streets as well. "Hello Yuna! Out enjoying the wonderful equestrian summer weather?"

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"Hm?" Yuna blinks a bit, then waves back to Rarity, mustering a somewhat wan-looking smile for the local fashion expert. "Kinda, yeah. Elner said I needed to stop sleeping the day away," she explains - which is true enough, after a manner of speaking. "You out on deliveries, or buying supplies?"

Rarity (136) has posed:
"I was on the way home from doing such, yes." Rarity replied as she trotted over. Then paused a moment, mane bobbing as she tilted her head to the side. The fashionista's scrutiny was a difficult thing to avoid. "Well it must not be very good sleeping because, no offense dear," unicorn leans closer and holds a hoof up to to the side of her face in that 'telling a secret' manner, "you look like you haven't slept at all. Is something bothering you?"

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
The true answer to that question, of course, is 'yes' - but is Rarity the right person to tell it to? That Yuna's having nightmares because she had to kill a bunch of Chaos cult victims who were -

Yuna flinches a bit, ears lowering and eyes closing against the memory. "Just ... just not sleeping well, that's all ..."

Even to her own ears, the lie seems incredibly obvious to Yuna. Particularly given that left to her own devices, she's an incredibly heavy sleeper. Yuna opens her eyes again, looking sheepishly at Rarity, still wondering what to say by way of an actual answer if the local white unicorn calls her out on the lie.

Rarity (136) has posed:
On one side, it is pretty obvious that Yuna isn't telling the entire story. On the other, she does so in a manner that usually suggests the person isn't ready to bring out the full details for some reason. Trying to pry out an answer could just cause more issues, and right now, we don't really need a friendship problem making a chore of things.

Which is probably why instead Rarity gives her one of her eyerolls. "I told you dahling, get a proper mattress instead of those 'going native' concept. Straw may be a classic but it is terrible for posture." She gives a shake of her head. "Why my parents actually slept on seperate beds until mother convinced dad that his straw bedding was doing more harm than good!"

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"The straw option was cheaper at the time, and it's a little easier to take care of," Yuna responds. "But if you know a good store to get a conventional mattress - or even a futon, if somebody sells those here ..." Not that Yuna is used to sleeping in a futon, either - her own bed, back in her family's house on Fraulein Earth, is a Western-style bed, as was the (more conventionally-sized) one before it, and as far back as she can remember. The hard pillow that goes with a futon wouldn't work all that well in pony form, either, she figures.

"Actually, today's as good a day as any - Elner said part of what they were going to do was change out the straw. So if we find something, I can tell Elner and -" Yuna pauses, turning to look back towards her cottage; there's a faint hint of a shimmer to her horn, the closest she's ever come to 'magic' outside of her transformed state.

Not that it's actually magic, except maybe from Elner's side: just an active use of the telepathic link between Elner and Yuna.

Rainbow Dash (43) has posed:
"Pfft," Comes a voice from somewhere overhead Yuna and Rarity, "Matresses are /so/ overrated." A few strands of rainbow mane drift down over the side of an abnormally low hanging cloud just above them. Some shuffling, and Rainbow Dash hangs her head off the side of the cloud so that she can see the two better. Upside down, of course.

"If you want /real/ comfort, you get a cloud bed!" Dash grins, as her cloud continues a lazy float around them. "Hey girls!"

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity rubs her chin with a hoof. "I don't know what Sofa and Quills carries. I of course order my beddings directly from Canterlot. But prehaps the clerk could help hook you up with somethi--"

And for once it's not Pinkie Pie interrupting out of nowhere as Rainbow Dash all but literally drops into the conversation. However, for the crack about cloud beds, Rarity has the perfect response.

"Not all of us can just pull up a cloud and sleep on it, Rainbow Dash. Do you -really- want -me- to have wings again?"

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"Eheheh ... yeah, I tried sleeping on a cloud once, I think," Yuna grins ruefully. "Zero support, awful for my back ... and that was if I *hadn't* fallen through it and hit the floor. How're you doing, Dash?"

She rears up to try for a hoof-bump with the weather pegasus as her cloud drifts past.

Rainbow Dash (43) has posed:
Rainbow Dash raspberries at Rarity in response. "Only if you really want to me to have to save you again," She retorts. As she floats over Yuna, Dash rolls to one side, and hangs a hoof down to meet the unicorn's in a bump. "You must've gotten a dud. Cause real cloud beds? Those are /seriously/ sweet. Like sleeping on pure awesome!"

Grinning, Dash folds her forelimbs on the side of her cloud. She lifts her wings and beats them once, making her cloud stop floating. "So what's up?" A pause. "Besides me."

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity just rolls her eyes again, this time at Rainbow Dash. Once the friendly jabs are made the topic is shuffled aside once more. "As I was just saying, I had finished making some deliveries and Yuna was talking about her sleep issues... Though unless you have some weather pony magic to make a cloud stay in a bed frame I don't think the suggestion is really going to help."

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Another pony just happens to be out and about today. Twilight Sparkle! And, she seems to be coming from the previously mentioned Sofas and Quills shop, judging by the bags draped over her back. Spike is riding atop her back as well, and busy checking things of a checklist that once again explains why Twilight goes through so much parchment.

     When Twilight sees a trio of her friends conversing, she smiles happily and calls out to them. "Rainbow Dash! Rarity! Yuna! It is wonderful to see all of you!" The pastel purple pony trots over to them, and Spike looks up from his checklist. "R-rarity!"

     He is immediately at her side, despite the reaction to Staren and Twilight during the comet watching. "Hi Rarity! You look amazing today!"

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
Yuna looks to Rarity, "As it is, I'll take whatever you can suggest. Preferably local," she adds, "so I don't have to shell out for shipping from Canterlot ..." Not to mention that the prices there are probably kind of terrible. Local is cheaper as well as faster, after all.

And speaking of both Canterlot *and* local, another unicorn draws near. "Hey Twilight! How's it going, Spike?" Yuna musters another smile - they're coming more easily now, and more honestly - as she waves to the mage and her dragon companion. The bags draw an interested look from Yuna. "Huh ... getting new sheets for summer or something, or supplies for a new spell?" she guesses.

Rainbow Dash (43) has posed:
"Hey, still doesn't change the fact that clouds are awesome," Rainbow Dash points out. She keeps a hoof dangling off the edge of hers, making it look like she's almost melting off of it. "Not my fault that other ponies can't sleep on them." She stretches out a bit, "Though I've heard some crazy unicorns are trying to make regular beds that feel like clouds. Some sort of cloudtop thing. I'll believe it when I sleep on it."

That dangling hoof is used to wave at Twilight and Spike. "Hey Twi, hey Spike." Dash cants her head to the side, one brow raised, "The hay? You buy them out of quills again or something? Sooner or later that guy's going to just have to be 'Sofas'."

Rarity (136) has posed:
"Hello Twilight, Spike dear." Rarity gives the dragon a little ruffle of his headspines as she typically does in greeting. "You are being a helpful little dragon as always, I see."

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight blinks at the others' reactions to her shopping bags, then looks over her shoulder at them, one forehoof raised slightly to help balance. "Actually," she replies to Yuna, "these are my typical supplies. I buy them at least once a week. You wouldn't believe how fast I go through parchment, ink, and quills." To which Spike of course eye-rolls.

     The little dragon also snickers at Rainbow Dash's comment, and Twilight takes a turn at eye-rolling. "That makes no sense, Rainbow Dash. If I buy enough that he is at risk of becoming merely 'sofas' then he would have more than adequate profits to replace the supplies I purchased, thereby rendering your hypothesis inaccurate." the bookpony says in a scientific tone.

     Spike would have eyerolled again, but he was too busy enjoying rufflings from Rarity. "Of course I am!" the little dragon says happily. "Do you need help with anything?" Spike looks around for bags or boxes he could carry for Rarity.

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"So they sell writing quills as well as feather beds and pillows?" Yuna asks, a little sheepishly. "Never actually looked into that ... not that I write much when I'm here. What I *do* is usually electronic ..."

She trails off, partially to stifle a giggle at Twilight riposteing Dash's joke about 'buying them out of quills' with a mix of literal-mindedness and good-natured counter-jibing. At least that's what Yuna figures it is. "So what sort of mattress do you have at the library, Twilight?" the idol asks once she's managed her mirth sufficiently.

Rarity (136) has posed:
"... I think that was the point of Rainbow Dash's joke, dear. That this is -normal- for you." Though even Rarity snickers softly when Twilight uses her intellect to debunk the joke spectacularly. Then returns her attention to Spike with a whistful sigh. "Alas, I only just finished delivering some mending projects, so no dahling, I do not at the moment."

Give her a moment, she'll probably think of something anyways.

Rainbow Dash (43) has posed:
Rainbow Dash makes a raspberry sound. "Ugh, way to totally ruin the joke, Twilight." She rolls her eyes, and then pulls her forehoof back to push against the side of the cloud. Except instead of sliding back onto it, she starts to slide off of the cloud. Just when it looks like she might topple right off, she flares her wings out and turns her topple off into a controlled roll, that ends with a hind leg kicking out to buck the cloud away into nothing but cloud motes.

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight giggles softly at Rainbow Dash, then smiles to Yuna. "At the library I have an inner spring mattress with a plush cushion layer for extra support and softness on both my bed and my guest beds. A good night's sleep is important if one wishes to maintain optimal brain activity and maximize the effectiveness of one's studies!" Twilight says happily. She blinks, then headtilts. "Are you looking for a nice bed? You are of course welcome to spend a few nights with me if you wish. I do enjoy a good sleepover."

     Spike looks a bit disappointed as Rarity says she has nothing he can help her with, but he perks up quickly enough just from being near her. "Or, you could try a basket bed. I have one, and it's the most comfy thing ever! Especially when you are snuggled in beneath a blue blanket."

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"On the plus side, Dash," Yuna offers with a grin, "she couldn't have dismantled that joke if you hadn't *made* it, so she was springboarding off of your sense of humor. Couldn't have done it without you, right?"

Twilight's description of her mattress(es) almost makes Yuna go swirly-eyed with all the near-technobabble. "A sleepover sounds nice, but ..."

She trails off, her gaze flicking amongst the other ponies (and Spike). "Well. I've, uh ... kinda been having nightmares lately ... I don't want to disturb the rest of you if I wake up screaming or something ..."

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity smiles a little at Spike. "I don't think she'll fit in the basket that goes along with that blanket." Then reachs over to pat Yuna on the shoulder. "It's okay dahling, bad bedding arrangements and stress can cause those." Followed by a low hmmm. "I wonder if Luna visits the dreams of offworlders staying in Equestria."

Rainbow Dash (43) has posed:
Rainbow Dash stares blankly at Yuna for a moment. "That sounds way too much like she actually made it funnier, aaand I'm pretty sure that can't happen." But she grins in spite of herself, which fades a bit when Yuna mentions the nightmares.

"Whoa, seriously? Sounds like you need to kick your dreams into shape!" She kicks out a hind hoof in example, as if she were kicking out a nightmare. "Hi-yah! Show them who's the real one dreaming them!"

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight's ears splay as she hears about Yuna's nightmares, but then Rarity brings up an interesting point. "Hmm. I don't see why she wouldn't, but...she might have trouble with non-ponies. I'm not sure." Twilight considers a moment more. "There is also Mortimer. His Shuppet is apparently able to draw nightmares from someone. She actually feeds on them. I'm not sure if it would cure the nightmares, but it would at least give you an opportunity to enjoy a full night of rest."

     Rainbow Dash actually makes a valid point, and Twilight smiles. "Yes. Whatever is troubling you, you must face it and come to terms with it." she agrees.

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
Well, stress is DEFINITELY a factor, Yuna can attest to that much. "I kind of hope she isn't," she admits to Rarity. "This isn't a nightmare I'd wish on anyone else ... ever. It's not even the kind of nightmare that belongs on Equestria; I swore to try and keep anything like it from ever coming here ..."

Rainbow Dash's suggestion brings a wry grin to Yuna's face. "I wonder. This -" The grin vanishes abruptly as Yuna flinches a bit. "It's from a fight I won ... kind of." Then Twilight adds her suggestion, and Yuna considers for a moment. Mortimer's a hardcore mercenary and a veteran; the memories at the core of this nightmare probably wouldn't even shake him, and that's if he'd ever hear anything from the Shuppet about the content of that nightmare. "He settled down in Ponyville too, right? I'll see about visiting him to ask," she says.

But like Twilight said, that would only be a stopgap; Elner told Yuna to find someone she could talk to, someone who could help her deal with this. Maybe the local ponies aren't the best people to talk to; she doesn't want them to get nightmares from hearing about her own or anything like that. Mortimer or Karian ... they could handle it, but how much could they help Yuna herself? It's hard to guess.

Fortunately (perhaps), Yuna's stomach picks this moment to grumble loudly about how long it's been since she ate anything, and the idol is reminded of Elner's primary instruction. "Let's drop by the cafe first?" Yuna suggests. "Or we can drop Twilight's stuff by the library first, then all go get a snack or something. If Sofa and Quills isn't too far, I can pop over to see what their mattresses are like after that."

Rarity (136) has posed:
"Or Spike could take the bags home for Twilight and then come back to join us." Rarity adds a bit of eyelash flutter at the end of the suggestion, aimed specifically at the dragon in question in doing so. "And maybe get a bowl of the bejeweled ice cream he likes when he does for being such a helpful widdle dragon-wagon." Fortunately she only uses the cutsy babytalk tone for the last few words.

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Rarity has barely finished the sentence when Spike dashes over and picks the saddlebags up from Twilight's back, then hops down. "No problem! A little paper and a few quills can't stop me!" he says...then proceeds to struggle with dragging the heavy bags full of no doubt 50 or more pounds of paper, ink, and quills toward the library.

     Twilight tries to stop him, but he waves her off. This is a mission from Rarity! Twilight sighs softly, then smiles. "Well, thank you Spike. You really are my number one assistant."

     With Spike heading back to the library, Twilight leads the way to the cafe. "What do you feel like today, Yuna? I suggest the tomato soup if you are feeling stressed, followed by some apple ice cream."

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"Soup for a start, anyway," Yuna agrees as she falls into step with Twilight. "Might save the apple ice cream for after my real supper." Rarity's mention of 'bejeweled ice cream' draws a slightly incredulous look. Not that Spike wouldn't eat it - he's a dragon, and she HAS learned that yes, he actually eats jewels and precious stones when they're offered to him ... and with Rarity's jewel-finding talent, it makes more sense than that. But the fact that ice cream with jewels in it is a thing?

Particularly when Spike may be the only resident of Ponyville who would eat it?

Seems like a lot of trouble to go to for a presumably-limited audience.

Rarity (136) has posed:
"A wonderful suggestion," Rarity responds as she follows. "Or any soup for that matter. Something comforting and familiar." At the looks from Yuna the unicorn just shrugs her shoulders a little, as she can guess why she's getting the looks. "It's okay dahling, most of the establishments here have made adjustments to accomidate Spike's presence. Wouldn't want to upset the assistance of Celestia's greatest student, after all."

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight actually blushes a bit at being called the greatest student. "C-come on, Rarity. I am really nothing special." she says, her natural inclination to avoid attention kicking in. She selects a nice outdoor table at the cafe, then takes a seat on one of the haypiles. "It is quite kind of the shop owners to go out of their way to accomidate Spike. I am not sure I would say they all have menu items just for him, but they do keep bits and pieces of gems about just for him in many cases. The Cakes especially like to bake for him. I suspect they enjoy the change from baking only pony goods."

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"Hospitality DOES seem to be a major stock in trade for a lot of Ponyville businesses," Yuna notes with a smile as she sits on another haypile. She does occasionally wonder how they would adapt to non-herbivorous visitors, or at least, those who insist on wanting some kind of meat. It's a question Yuna is happy to not see answered, though; she respects Equestrian customs way too much to even poke at what could be sensitive issues.

"Tomato soup, you said?" she asks Twilight, checking the menu briefly - just to see if anything else strikes her fancy more. Maybe a half-sandwich to go along with the soup ...

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity as well occupies a third haypile seat. "If you want a sandwhich with that, prehaps the BLT." Fortunately before Yuna has to ask what the 'B' stands for since bacon would be unlikely, Rarity continues. "Barley Lettuce and Tomato. Or a nice salad." She opens a menu with her magic, hmming as it floats in front of her. "Prehaps a salad sounds like a fine idea. They get all their stock from local farms and gardeners to maintain freshness, you know."

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight smiles happily and nods at Yuna's observation. "Ponyville was founded by a collaboration between the three pony races, so hospitality is practically ingrained into everyone here, I think." Twilight says as she inspects the menu. "Yes. The tomato soup is quite nutritious, and tastes rather good in my opinion. Oh! The BLT is quite tasty as well! I myself usually get the daisy and daffodil sandwich with hay fries."

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"Barley, lettuce, and tomato?" Yuna repeats. Well, that's two votes in favor, and Yuna has nothing against barley when it's been baked or cooked. If the local ponies can eat it in whatever form comes on the sandwich, then Yuna's unicorn form should do all right by it too. (Which is one of several reasons why she doesn't resist turning into a pony if she's coming back to Equestria from somewhere else.) She glances over the salad options, filing an idea or two away to go with supper if she comes back to the cafe to eat.

"So ... lot of mending work, you said, Rarity?" she wonders. "I really do need to get my thoughts together to commission a new idol stage dress ... and," she admits, "I keep meaning to plan a proper concert here in Ponyville."

Rarity (136) has posed:
"All in due time dahling, all in due time." Rarity orders a garden salad for herself between comments, and a bowl of gem studded ice cream to be brought out when Spike returns. "You do so much for others and no one is complaining, but you rarely take time for yourself. And enjoy all the things you have put your time into protecting."

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight orders her own sandwich, then smiles to the others. "Yes. You must take some time for yourself every now and then. Friends are wonderful, but even the best of friends could become tired of one another if they never take time for themselves." she says.

     Spike finally returns about this time, and he looks pretty tired. He waddles up to Rarity, then flumps face first against her haystack. "...m-...made it...geeze...Twilight..." he says, panting. "...think you...got enough...writing supplies...?"

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"Feels like I already take more time for myself than I should," Yuna says with a sigh. "And Heaven knows the bad guys don't--"

Another flicker of memory: the Chaos Titan launching its assault, and that assault finally being halted; it's all Yuna can do to wrestle the memory away again, the mental equivalent of sweeping it under the carpet. "-- don't give us enough downtime to enjoy it," she finishes, hoping she didn't skip too much of a beat.

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity gets her salad. And the bowl of ice cream with several gems stuck in it that she pushes over to Spike. "While we certainly cannot neglect our duties, sometimes we need to simply make some of that time for ourselves when we can."

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight's ears pin back sheepishly as Spike speaks up about her supplies, and Spike goes about happily but tiredly eating his ice cream. The crunch when he gets a gem is very audible. "That is why we good guys work together. When one of us is too worn out to carry on, we have friends we can trust to handle our duties for us for a little while." she says, smiling gently.

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
"There's things I've fought I wouldn't wish on anyone," Yuna admits ... without one of those mental hiccups this time. There are plenty of other examples to pick from, anyway.

But her soup's going to get cold if she keeps talking, and she still has a little trouble with fine manipulation using her hooves, so she turns her attention to her soup. "Mmm. This really *is* good soup - thanks for the suggestion, Rarity," she smiles.