//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: The Tale of Two Pegasi 
// by PvtFlutters 
//------------------------------//

	Rarity had read book after book on portals ever since she had volunteered to cast the second one. Immediately after she left Twilight's, with several of Twilight's books, she started studying. She had expected portals to be a tough spell but... this was a whole new ball game. She read about the dangers of casting portals. A long time ago, there was a unicorn who tried to assassinate princess Celestia. He failed, of course... but not because he was caught. He actually never was. He was on the top floor of a skyscraper in Hoofington. The royal guard had surrounded him and were slowly making the ascent up the stairs to him. Out of ideas, the unicorn attempted to summon a portal and escape into another dimension. He nearly had it completed but he couldn't end it... just like Twilight. Unfortunately for him, he didn't have friends to save him from the portal. It exploded, taking him with it. When the guards reached him, all they found was a charred floor with ash falling like snow, and the horn of the unicorn assassin. 
The story chilled Rarity to the bone. She was so afraid of it that she jumped when she heard Sweetie Belle enter.
"Sorry sis," Sweetie said. "I thought that with all the studying you're doing, you may have gotten hungry,"  she continued, and sat a tray of food on Rarity's desk. 
"Thank you very much Sweetie. I'm famished," Rarity said with a smile. Sweetie smiled back and left the room. Rarity frowned at the sandwich and water Sweetie had brought her, but not because she was upset with Sweetie. No, Sweetie Belle was the best of sisters. It was because of the haunting fact that there was a great chance that this would be the last time she'd ever taste this food...or see her sister.
She quickly brushed that thought out of her mind then turned to the digital clock... 1:00 PM. She had loads of time left and she was determined to not waste a second of it. She wolfed down the sandwich and water in about 30 seconds, all while still studying. She wouldn't fail, she couldn't! Everypony was depending on her. She studied until every book she had was finished. She closed the final book and looked at the clock again: 10:00 PM.
Her eyes widened. Had she really been studying for that long? It didn't feel like it. She felt like there was more she could learn... but there wasn't. She was as ready as she would ever be for tomorrow. She opened up the first book and began to read again... but didn't get far. All the studying had taken its toll on her and she fell asleep, as if somepony had wanted her to stop, knowing that she would need her energy. 
The next day, the situation seemed all too familiar. Rarity stood in the same spot as Twilight. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie stood behind her. Rarity looked at her friends. Would this be the last time she saw them? Applejack smiled to the white unicorn, and Rainbow followed suit.
"You can do it, Rarity!" Pinkie screamed. Rarity gave a smile back to them and swallowed hard. This was it.
She positioned herself just as Twilight did. She closed her eyes and her horn began to glow a bright blue. A flicker of light appeared just in front of Rarity. Sparks appeared from Rarity's horn. The small flicker grew into a mini portal about a foot in diameter. She focused harder then ever before in her life. Her hooves dug into the ground. Her three friends watched in anticipation.
Rarity had surprised herself. She didn't expect to make it this far into the spell. The portal grew again. It was around two feet in diameter now, but the spell was taking its toll on her. Sparks flew from her horn as the portal grew even bigger. She was doing perfect but she was losing energy... and fast. She knew she had to end this as fast as she could. She gritted her teeth and lifted her front hooves off the ground. Her horn became surrounded by lightning. She slammed her front hooves down and the lightning shot from her horn straight into the portal. The portal grew again. It was now complete. All she had to do was end it.
Rarity blocked everything out. She had to focus. She didn't care that this was the hard part. She didn't care that even Twilight couldn't do this. She only cared about the portal's completion. Rarity's horn lit up with a blinding light.
"If this doesn't work..." she thought, but quickly hushed that thought. It must work! She stepped closer to the portal.
"Come on, Rarity!" Pinkie cheered. Rarity stepped closer again. It took all of her strength for each step. It was like the portal didn't want to be completed. Rarity took another step forward. Her legs were shaking. She couldn't move forward any more. She was struggling to even stay on the ground. The portal was pushing her back with its magic. Rarity wasn't going to finish it. She began to step back slowly.
"Rarity, No!" Applejack yelled.
"I can't!" Rarity screamed.
"Yes you can!" the three ponies yelled to her. Rarity was surprised again. They really believed in her. Maybe she could do it! Maybe the key was just believing in herself. She bit down and stepped forward. As if insulted by this newfound strength, the portal pushed back harder then ever. Rarity closed her eyes.
"I can do this," he said to herself. She stepped forward more. She was inches away from the portal. If she could touch it with her horn it would be finished. She inched forward. She was so close. With one last thrust she connected her horn and the portal. There was a loud bang, as if it was thundering. Rarity was thrown back and slid into Twilight's house. The three ponies ran to her aid.
"Ya did it Rarity!" Applejack yelled. Rarity lay still on the ground. She turned her head to the portal and opened her eyes. There it was. She let off a slight smile. It was all she could do. The three others helped her up. Pinkie lent her a shoulder so she could stand.
"Don't... you have... somewhere to... be?" Rarity asked in a weak voice. Applejack nodded and walked to the portal.
"Hey wait!" Rainbow said. She ran up to Applejack.
"I thought we already decided this Rainbow," Applejack stated.
"I know, but... what if we both went?" Rainbow asked.
"I don't want to lose any more ponies to this portal thing. Stay here where it's safe."
"Neither do I," Rainbow replied. "Good luck." Applejack smiled. "Oh, um AJ, one more thing," Rainbow said.
"What is it, sugarcube?" Applejack asked.
"I'm... sorry," Rainbow said. AJ gave her a strange look. Then AJ knew, but it was too late. Rainbow quickly delivered a right hoof into Applejack's stomach. Applejack collapsed on the ground. Not wasting any time, Rainbow delved face first into the portal. She was gone. Applejack stood up. She should be mad at Rainbow... but she wasn't. Rainbow represented loyalty, and she upheld it. She couldn't help but respect that. Rainbow was willin' to dive into... wherever she was to save her best friend. Maybe she was the right choice. Rainbow must have known this all along.
"You better know what you're doin', Rainbow," Applejack said with a smile.