//------------------------------//
// Rarity II 
// Story: All Silent In Manor Archambeau 
// by Woodchirpper 
//------------------------------//

The white unicorn’s eyes slowly opened, she gave a yawn as she sat herself, blinking several times before her eyes had adjusted. She looked over to the left of her, Opale wasn’t there, a putrid stench wafted in the air, punching her nose with an odorous fist.

“Goodness gracious!” She shouted with no one around to hear.

“”when was the last time your litter box was clean?”

Rarity threw the covers off and began to descend from her bed. As her hooves left the bed and leaped onto the floor, a squish like sound came from underneath her and the smell got worse, she lifted her right hind hoof and gave a sigh as a sticky liquid dripped off back down to the puddle of urine below. She hopped on her good hooves over to the bathroom, grabbed another towel from the pile and with her horn, levitated the shampoo bottle from the table by the tub, she turned the knob and let the water flow for a few minutes as she meticulously washed her hoof, once finished she levitated the shampoo to the built in shelf, along with the bubble bath that had still sat on the table.

Rarity then went over to the integrated sink and pulled out cleaning supplies from the cabinets below, a brown cleaning brush, a sponge, a bucket, and cleaning solution. She gathered everything in the bucket and lifted it with mouth grasping the handle. She walked back over to the bedroom and began to clean the urine next to her bed. While cleaning, Rarity took a gander under the bed, seeing a cubed shape, she took a more melancholic attitude as she finished up and used her horn to bring out the cubed object, an old crumpled brown box, of which the brown lid of it failed to contain. She gave the lid a little flick with her hooves and stared blankly into it, still keeping a look of melancholy.

In the box was a bunch of letters scattered about, all addressed to one Mrs. Archambeau, Rarity never actually burned any letters, but these were the few she kept in the boutique. She rummaged around, not even knowing what she was searching for, until it stuck out through all the letter that were piled in, she yanked it out using her horn and stared at, a warm smile growing on her face as she looked at Sweetie Belle’s birth certificate and the baby picture attached to it. She was proud at what a mare she grew up to be, glad that she hadn’t stayed there, glad to have kept him away for as long as she could, with the last thought, her face grew a bit sour, she sloppily shoved the box back under, but kept Sweetie Belle’s birth certificate until she went down to the kitchen and made herself a fruit salad.

She placed the birth certificate on the table as she used her horn to open the many cabinets the strung about the kitchen, grabbing a bowl, a knife, a spoon, and a random assortment of fruit, she began with cutting the fruit up, then tossed them into the bowl, brought the bowl to the table and sat down to enjoy her low effort meal the sun blared through the window in the front of the house, lighting the kitchen with its brightness, it was the afternoon, and Rarity had gotten a little too much sleep, but nopony could blame her, several days with no rest, she was surprised to get up at all.

She quickly finished eating and dashed back up the stairs to finish getting ready for the rave later, sure raves weren’t really her style but she would do anything for a fresh mind and fresh air. She hurried to the bathroom and grabbed a wide array of makeup and started to apply them. When she was done, the mare marveled at herself, her pink highlighted cheeks severely glowing, her lips hot pink, and her eyelids shined purple with glitter fluttering with every stroke of light. She made way to the changing section of her room and tried on numerous dresses. After a while, she settled on a rose pink dress, nothing too flashy but shockingly enough, she didn’t mind one bit.

She ventured back to her room and grabbed the letter she had written to the client, made her way downstairs and went out the front door as she made her way down to the Ponyville Post Office, not cleaning up after herself. The pale unicorn trotted into town after a few minutes, the sun beating down on her. She looked to the sky, no clouds had been placed by the pegasi, that got her wondering about Rainbow Dash, which transitioned to her thinking about all her friends, it had been some time now since she had last seen them that the prospects of seeing at least ONE of them had perked her up even more. She passed by a multitude of buildings, some houses, some shops, all holding the same color scheme, light tan walls with a light brown foundation that held its entirety, and green straw roofs, some only a story high while some were two stories, some even reaching three. Most of the buildings shared the same shape to one another, cubed with windows fleshed out, while others seemed like the construction workers were trying to play a game of Jenga, double stacking roofs on top of each other.

She continued walking about, a variety of colts, mares, fillies, and foals all either walking in crowds or off lounging to the side, intentionally loitering on business property. Some sat down at the many strenuous outdoor cafes, and why wouldn’t they? On a sunny day like this, most ponies would want to stretch their legs out or be with friends, if given the opportunity. Making her way through a large crowd, that had huddled around one of the many lamp polls that had lined the dirt roads, staring and murmuring to one another about the poster that was plastered on it, an ad, promoting DJ Pon3’s Night Night Rave, happening tonight at ten o’clock PM and ending “when nopony could dance their flank off anymore. It had the DJ’s cutie mark, a black slanted beamed eighth note, flanged around and colliding with two records, smashed and inverted on opposite sides to each other.

“The pony had a knack for music, but not so much in graphic design,” Rarity noted to herself as she began to move through the crowd of technicolored equines, finally ending at the front of the Ponyville Post Office.

It didn’t share space with the other buildings, in fact, it was a little out of the way of town. It shared the same light tan walls that other complexes around it had and the same wooden foundation, the roof had turquoise, largo teal, and navy teal tiles dispersed randomly throughout it with a roof hip to match, held up by the same wood that made up the foundation. An large envelope, pale green with red highlights that led to a red seal that held the head of a pony that faced the left, was held on top of the roof hip, held in place by wooden rods, painted black, the back of it was stretched out, undoubtedly to keep packages stored before sending them out.

If the giant envelope wasn’t enough, the line of ponies with various packages standing about was a clear indication that she was in front of the post office. She stood in line, horn holding the letter in a magic embrace, after an hour of waiting, and the line moving slightly, she sighed with a copious amount of irritation building up.

“Excuse me darling, but could you allow me to move ahead of you?” She began to ask,tapping the purple coated colt ahead of her.

“I have to meet up with a friend as soon as possible and I really need to have this message delivered,” Rarity waved it in his face in hopes that he would comply.

The sun was starting to set, and she was growing antsy by the second.

“If it’s a letter, why didn’t you just drop it off in one of the many post boxes around town?” The colt questioned, coming off a bit rude and tired, no doubt from standing for quite some time.

Rarity had blinked twice at the response, realizing she must’ve still been out of sorts, she turned around and ran back towards town, wondering what else she may have forgotten in the wake of her both clouded and absent mind that had been running amuck as of late. She slowed her pace as she entered back into town, taking in the scenery again, this time with the street lamps lit with fewer ponies in the surrounding area, and post boxes on most corners that she hadn’t noticed at first. A blue arched rectangular shape with the same pony head on either, only this time white instead of red. Rarity walked over and tossed in the nuck, located near the top and then started up her trek to intercept Pinkie Pie at Sugar Cube Corner, like she had planned from the beginning.

She made it just in time, Pinkie was standing next to the candy cane like poles on the pink stepway of the confectionery palace, fiddling around with the locks. She vaguely resembled the pink earth pony she once knew, she was a little more rounded, her cotton candy mane was tied into a bun but you could still easily see the frigid mess that was on top of her head. She carried around the same amount of bags under her eyes and stress developed on her face, but she still kept that same old Pinkie Pie smile, suggesting the adaptation that had taken place, molded by years of parenthood. Must’ve been hard years, especially with her children being miniature versions of her, not to mention her husband.

Rarity had thought this but with the life she had lived thus far, she couldn’t judge her, at least she seemed happy. Rarity wasn’t happy, sure Sweetie Belle had been a gift from a horrid bygone past but the pain never truly left, it’s why she drowns herself in work. Always working, if it wasn’t work, it was with her friends dealing with world ending phenomenons, but that had calmed down over the years, she only had her work, it’s what really kept her sane. Either the work or the pills, which it had been years, before a few days ago, that she had taken any, she is slipping.

She reassured herself that this is precisely what she needed, besides, she already dolled herself up, even if it wasn’t with her usual flash, she wasn’t just going to turn around now. The pale mare coughed, attempting to gain the pink mare’s attention. She jumped, looking like she was floating for a moment, her eyes then met Rarity’s and they beamed with excitement as she let out an excitable gasp. Smiling from ear to ear, she ran over, reaching speeds akin to Rainbow Dash’s, and grasped her tightly, hugging and spinning Rarity until dizziness took over for just a bit.

“Hey hey hey Rarity,” Pinkie Pie began, now setting the pale unicorn down, putting a hoof around her as she ushered them both towards the raving that would be happening any moment.

“How have you been you been well I hope I was hoping for us to get together at some point but with the child it’s like time just slips through your hooves and this is- I’m rambling, sorry, force of habit.”

“Tis quite alright Pinkie,” Rarity said, her ears finally catching up to the words of the pink pony.

“I will say that I could be better, a lot of things had come up recently and I figured it was time for some fresh air. I'm glad I was able to accompany you to this, um, rave.”

“Honestly didn’t think you would come,” Pinkie replied, taking a calmer than usual demenner.

“I know this type isn’t usually your type of thing, but I thought it would be one of the only chances we would get to see each, what exactly made you want to come? I know it isn’t just for fresh air.” 

Pinkie eyes her from head to hoof, taking note of how thin Rarity had gotten, to her it was obvious how she was trying to hide whatever was going on in her head.

“A lot,” Rarity answered, her face tensed in seriousness.

“I would rather not get into it, it’s a long story, and I’d rather unwind then go through it.”

“I think I understand, well I’m always here to talk, even when I’m not, you can always send a letter!” Pinkie Pie said, a caring and comforting expression painted her face.

“Have you heard from the others?” Rarity asked, curious on how they were.

“The only one I’ve interacted with for the past year or so was Applejack, her and you of course.”

“I’ve heard from them alright,” Pinkie responded.

“Fluttershy has been busy with her cottage, her and Discord started an animal clinic and I’ve been bringing Gummy there whenever he gets sick or if he needs a check up. Rainbow Dash has been busy with the Wonderbolts, being the new captain and all.”

That had taken Rarity by surprise, it wasn’t that she didn’t believe Rainbow would be able to do it, it’s that this is the first she has heard of it, then again she barely leaves out unless it’s for business these days.

“You already know what Applejack has been up to, and Twilight has been doing her best as new ruler, she still is struggling with Luna’s job, just now understanding the dream aspect, not yet being able to do much.”

They continued walking, music growing louder with each step as they finally made it to the rave, just as it started