Fluttershy landed at the entrance to the bewitched Everfree Forest. Most never set hoof in there, fearing the mighty beasts and legendary creatures that called this place home. She, however, entered these woods often but only out of necessity. The forest contained exotic herbs that she used as medicine to care for her sick animals and was also home to Zecora, a zebra who knew much about strange and peculiar things. Hopefully, strange and peculiar included ghosts.
As she walked into the forest, she could not help but constantly twitch her head toward every skwak and groan that emitted beyond the surrounding trees. At this point, other ponies would fear being attacked by wild animals, only because they did not know how to treat them right.
Most ponies didn’t realize the real problems about this forest were the apathetic plants that thoughtlessly infect creatures for just touching, and the witches that performed forbidden magics. This is why she twitched her head about.
Thankfully soon, Fluttershy found herself at the edge of the clearing in front of Zecora’s hut. The hut was decorated with ever-changing bottles, which hung from its wide-reaching branches, along with a few of the masks Zecora kept around her home. Zecora hung the bottles so that the potions inside would absorb the little light that peaked through the canopy. The masks were there to protect and bless the hut, although Fluttershy never understood how such creepy masks could do such a thing.
Fluttershy was about to step into the clearing when a movement inside the hut frightened her into hiding in a nearby bush. A strange pony dressed in a jet-black velvet cloak step out of the door, heading toward the thicker part of the forest. On its back hung two seltzer bottles tied together with silky-black ribbon. Both were filled with a light-brown fluid. Flutteshy had seen Pinkie-Pie use those kind of bottles in elaborate pranks to spray ponies, or herself, whenever she wanted to make others smile. This pony, however, probably wasn’t smiling.
Zecora stepped out after the cloaked figure and said, "Despite the fact I help you well, the place you go at night you still not tell." The cloaked pony turned around and whispered something back, something Fluttershy could not hear.
"I know this secret place you want to keep abstruse, I was just curious if you now would share the truth," Zecora responded. With a little scowl, she added, "On that potion you do rely; are ghosts the reason why?"
The disguised pony just turned around, the back of her cloak drifting up just enough for Fluttershy to catch a glimpse of the pony's ivory-white hooves and the tip of a curled purple tail.
"Rarity?" Fluttershy whispered to herself. What was she doing out here in the deep, dark, treacherous forest this late at night? No pony, no matter how strong or skilled they were, came here in dark or day unless they had good reason.
And ghost? Rarity didn't believe in ghosts. Every time Rainbow Dash told a ghost story, Rarity would roll her eyes, saying she couldn't believe what incredulous and far-fetched tails ponies made up. This cloaked pony out here couldn't be Rarity, could she? She had the polished white hooves, and glossy purple tail, and flowing velvet cloak (which she had seen hanging in Rarity’s closet before) that could have only belonged to Rarity, but it didn't make any sense for her to be out here. With almost a magnetic attraction, Fluttershy tailed what probably was her best friend deeper into the forest.
They traveled through some of the thicker parts of the woods, where the only thing guiding them was a faint trail. If Fluttershy had not seen the cloaked mare take it, she would have completely missed it herself. The trail lead out of the forest and wound past thick areas of brush, thinning as it began to turn upwards, making it harder to hide from the occasional glances of the cloaked pony.
Suddenly, the landscape consumed the cloaked pony, with only a rustle of brush as any clue to where she went. Fluttershy quickly ran up to the spot where she last saw her, and carefully lowered her hoof into the brush. Instead of her hoof hitting a sloping uphill, she found it dangling. She stuck her head in and saw a faint light fading into the cramp, clandestine cave. Not wanting to have to venture it in the dark, Fluttershy quelled her fear and quickly went after the glow.
They descended further and further, Fluttershy staying just at the edge of the effulgence. The walls of the narrow cave and deep roots of the tree above brushed against her head, some roots low enough to hit her snout.
Her ears pressed down against her skull, trying to subside the echoed sound of growling and moaning that the cave made. The only thing keeping her from running back was her self-assurance that it was nothing more than water or wind. But these thoughts became more and more false the deeper and deeper they went in.
As they descended, the noises became less frequent, which would have been a comfort, had they not became more distorted. Fluttershy pressed her hooves firmly to the ground and kept her wings tightly against her sides so she wouldn't end up jumping whenever an erratic noise decided to sound. She bit her lower lip to keep any of her own sounds from escaping. Then everything grew bright and warm.
The tight, coal-black cave changed into a glittering onyx palace. A stream of brilliant, white diamonds stretched across the cavern floor, each and every one of them reflecting the light from a lava fissure that lay in the middle of the stream. The diamonds were sporadically laid along a stream and, even though their placement seemed random, there was a pattern in them, almost as if some mighty magician had deigned this one spot in all of Equestria to be of perfect beauty.
They called to her, and for the first time in her life Fluttershy wanted a jewel, just to touch it, to hold it, to have a part of the perfect beauty Rarity had hid away. She took a step in, but the sharp sounds of a mining spell broke the reverie, keeping her in the dark of the cave that lead in. The noise startled Fluttershy away from the bejeweled cave, but she soon stuck her head out at the same time Rarity stopped mining.
Rarity had taken off her hood, and placed a bejeweled eyepiece in her eye. Aside of her laid a small pile of diamonds, which she began inspecting each one carefully, checking for qualities that only she knew. This was strange; usually Rarity came back at least a small cartload of gems, saying she would have to sort them out later for the good ones. When she got around to sorting the gems, she used blindingly bright light and a magnifying glass as big as Fluttershy's folded wing to do so, not the dim light of lava and a small loupe.
Rarity's eyes lit and a staccato "Ah-ha" came from her mouth. She pulled one particular gem with a circular shape. "This one will make for a perfect rose-cut broach," she declared to herself, pocketed it in her cloak, and continued inspecting the other jewels.
This was her big secret? One of her many jewel caves, half of which she had shown to all of her friends? It was kind of a disappointment to say the least, but Fluttershy was glad that her secret wasn't anything serious, like black magic, poison making, hexing, or anything like that.
In fact, now it seemed silly to follow Rarity down here, especially after knowing she wanted to keep this place a secret. Maybe Rarity was just going to surprise everypony with a fantastic new cave she found, and maybe Fluttershy would build up enough courage to see come along with them.
"Evening ma'am," said a soft voice from one end of the cave. Both Rarity and Fluttershy turned their heads to see where the sound came from. There stood a mare who was beryl-colored throughout, with a long, messy mane and matching tail. Fluttershy coward back in the cave. This was why Rarity wanted to keep the cave a secret; this cave was resident to a ghost!
"Or if it is evening at all," the ghost continued. "I've been here so long that I have forgotten all time of day, I don't even have the luxury of getting tired to hint at how long I have been here. I've missed the sight of the sun, the trees, the skies, the warmth that-"
"Then why do you not simply leave the cave? The exit's right there," Rarity interrupted, pointing toward Fluttershy's direction.
The ghost's head shot up, surprised at the apathetic reaction. Nevertheless, it continued. "Because I'm trapped, trapped here by some unnatural, unkindly force that forces me to stay in these dark depths," the mare said with a hoof on her forehead. "I must be trapped down here for the evils I've done in the past, for abandoning my friends for these opulent diamonds, that I do curse. These glowing, luscious, precious diamonds. These diamonds sparkle so beautifully when you hold them up to the sunlight, and make you a sight no stallion can..." The mare stopped herself, shook her head, and said, "I hadn't a friend in the world to talk to, nor the feel of fresh wind or air. Please, will you help me out of here?"
"So these diamonds are fettering you here, are they?" Rarity quickly pulled out three gems from the pile and hovered them around in a circle. The ghosts eyes seemed drawn by the gems, and her mouth creaked open, almost spilling out her tongue.
After shaking her head to clear the expression, the ghost said, "Yes, those cursed things that do keep me from enjoying other things of the world. If I can find a way out, then I can finally have rest, but I need you agree to help me, then I... can..." The ghost's voice trailed off as Rarity slowly sunk one of the diamonds into the pool of lava. The jewel cracked and sparked as the hot earth ate away at it.
"Well then I guess the only answer is to get rid of these wretched carbuncles, even though they would have made a fabulous brooch, or ring, or necklace," Rarity said as the next jewel plopped into the lava. "Or earrings, or tiara, or bracelet." The source of such natural beauty finished consuming its own creation “Which would look absolutely marvelous on any wedding dress, or an old-style houppelande, or an exotic sari.” The ghost dumbly stared at the red-hot pit that ate the jewel.
The ghost shook her head again, and responded weakly, "Y-yeah, I guess that would make-"
Then Rarity shoved the last of the three poor gems in. "You know, legend has it that the gems on Princess Celestia's necklace and crown came from this very stream because of how perfect each and every gem naturally were. The stonecutter, Bead Sparks, who's eye for gems is still unmatched today, refused to cut any diamond from this stream. When asked why, he said because he had never seen any jewels so perfectly edged before in his life.”
Rarity took the rose-cut diamond out of her cloak. "And I guess this will have to go as well," she said, then she floated it above the laces of her cloak. "It would have made a most excellent accessory to any gown. I was going to have this set in a golden, burnish setting, with flowing wires surrounding this magnificent rock. Oh, it would have looked so beautiful as the centerpiece of a shawl, the crown jewel of any ball gown, but since it's keeping you here." The ghost face now turned to horror as she saw the precious stone precariously hovering over the all-consuming pit.
"No, wait!" the ghost instinctively cried.
Rarity just smugly looked upon the spirit, letting an airy snort as she slowly shook her head from side to side. She carelessly tossed the gem into the lava. "Tell me, what's your favorite drink?" she asked.
"What?" the ghost responded, rather confused.
"Mine is root beer," Rarity continued while taking one of the seltzer bottles slowly off her back, allowing the other to land softly on the floor. "It has such a unique taste that I simply admire. It is not like all the other soda, which merely copy flavors that are already perfect in their original form. Cherry, strawberry, orange, they all try to be like their real counterpart, which deprives them of that je ne se qua that root beer has." She cradled the bottle in her foreleg, compassionate passing her cheek over the glass surface.
"I s-suppose," the ghost said, stepping away from Rarity.
Rarity fixed her eyes on the ghost. "You know what I like most about root beer?"
The ghost, too frightened to answer, gave a stiff shake of her head.
"This." All at once, Rarity lifted her cheek, tossed the bottle in the air, and caught the trigger on her hoof. The bottle hissed, letting a thin stream of soda flow out, followed by a tormented scream. Flutterhshy turned away from the dreadful scene, keeping one curious eye squinted at the horrific sight. Every point the soda touched turned its green essence into a pus-yellow ectoplasm, which quickly evaporated into steam. Fluttershy closed the other eye.
After a few seconds of what seemed like an eternity of screaming, Fluttershy finally dared look at the result. Both spirit and soda had evaporated into the air, leaving no trace of the unfortunate being. Rarity was replacing the bottle back on her back and didn't seem at all phased by what she just did. Flutteshy, however, stared in disbelief. Did she just see what she thought she saw? Rarity killing a ghost? How was that even possible? How could someone so kindhearted and self-less as Rarity do such a thing? She never even gave the unfortunate specter a chance to explain herself. How could Rarity be so cruel?
Just then, Rarity shouted, "Who goes there?!" Fluttershy broke from her trance and bolted for the exit. A light and the sound of galloping hoof steps soon chased her as she dodged past the rocks and roots that cluttered the cavern. The voice of Rarity yelled, "Get back here you good-for-nothing sneak!" several times during the chase, but Fluttershy heeded none of these words. Soon, the pegasis burst out of the cave entrance. She extended her wings and got a foot off the ground before crashing into the brush below. Hard. Being in too much of a state of panic, she couldn't focus enough to get more air than that.
Glancing back, she saw a light coming from underneath the bushes. She scrambled to her hooves just as Rarity emerged from the cave. Picking up a hoof-ful of dirt, Fluttershy flung it behind. Rarity gave off a gasp of pain, telling that the dirt had hit its mark.
Fluttershy ran two times faster, her legs carrying her at an unnatural speed. She took shelter behind a tree, and heard Rarity shout, "You think you're clever with your dirt trick do you, you dastard? You think by getting me a little dirty I'll give up? Well, I'll have you know I have a few tricks of my own."
Peaking out enough just to see the tree line, Fluttershy caught a glimpse of a blinding searchlight hovering over the forest. Rarity had always been good with luminescent spells.
"I know you're in there; there's no use in hiding," Rarity growled as she cast her light about. "I'll find you, and when I do, I’ll chop off your snout for sticking it where it shouldn’t be."
Fluttershy pressed tightly against the tree. Rarity was right; she shouldn't have been sneaking around, and she shouldn't have thrown dirt in Rarity's eyes. She was her friend for crying out loud!
The light ran over the edge of the forest, its end coming closer and closer to where Fluttershy hid. Maybe she should just give herself up, apologize for following her into the forest, and throwing dirt in her eyes. Maybe Rarity would forgive her. But then again, Rarity wouldn't have taken dirt to the eyes lightly, nor would she take trespassing or secret breaking.
The pegasis pressed tighter against the tree, her whole spine in contact with its bark. And what about killing that ghost? If Rarity could callously do that to a desperate spirit, then there is no telling what she might do to her if she caught her. Worse, Fluttershy feared what she might have to Rarity.
The light split in two as it passed her by. Thankful the light didn't catch her, she heaved a sigh of relief, soon followed by a gasp and hoof covering her mouth. "There you are!" shouted Rarity, sending Fluttershy deeper into the woods before the light could touch her.
She ran harder and faster than she ever did before. She could feel her legs get stiff, and it was becoming harder and harder to breath. She couldn't run forever. She needed a place to hide. Zecora's hut would be the best. She usually stayed up late at night and would be willing to help her. Anyplace else in the forest wouldn't be safe. Rarity had a keen ear and would be able to hear her heavy breathing.
After dodging trees and bounding over many shrubs and rocks, Fluttershy soon arrived at Zecora's house. She leapt for the door and without hesitation banged on it, yelling, "Zecora! Open up, please, open up!"
"What is the matter-" Zecora answered but was interrupted when Fluttershy burst in. "-Justifying this clatter?" The zebra finished, then stilled her swaying earring as she closed the door.
"You have to help me. Rarity's chasing me," was the only answer Fluttershy gave. Zecora cocked an eyebrow until another knock sounded from her door. The neck-ringed zebra opened it and found none other than the pony in question.
"Evening Zecora," Rarity said between her huffing and puffing. "I was wondering if you noticed any pony pass by your..." Rarity stopped when she saw Fluttershy inside the hut. Immediately, Fluttershy curtailed her heavy breathing, trying to take deep, inconspicuous breaths. "Evening Fluttershy. Might I inquire what you are doing here so late?" Rarity ask.
"I...I," Fluttershy stuttered.
Quickly, Zecora picked up the conversation. "One of her animals got sick, so she came to me to help its pains lick." Rarity turned her head toward the pegasis with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah. T-that's it. One of my squirrels ate a bad seed, and I'm all out of any stomach medicine," she said, careful to keep her head up and eyes fixated on Rarity to make the lie more believable. The unicorn's brow went down to form a scowl, with both eyes narrowed.
"Yes, a terrible tummy ach, which would make any lesser quake," Zecora added, then turned to Rarity. "If you don't mind my query, what would make you so weary?"
Rarity took a second to gain her composure. This, however, was impossible, seeing that her entire ensemble had been ruined by the chase, the worst of it all being the dirt that had ruined her eyelashes and shadow. She answered, "A thief. He came into my home and tried to steal some of my jewels. Luckily he was clumsy and woke me up in the process. When he saw me he left the majority of the gems and ran, but had some of the better ones stuffed in his shroud. I was trying to see if I could catch him."
"In your pursuit I will give assist, to find the culprit and have him desist," Zecora offered. With a quick jerk of her head, she indicated that Fluttershy should do the same.
"I guess I could help too," Fluttershy said.
"No, no, that's quite alright,” Rarity replied. “The thief is probably too far gone by now. Besides, I can make due without a few gems.” She was about to say something else, but Zecora piped up before she could.
"If you will let my thoughts be ample, why do you wear that strange mantle?" These words sounded more like a prying remark than a question.
"I thought that I would be able to sneak up on the thief easier if I wore something darker than my fur," Rarity responded. "While white is beautiful and radiant, it does have its drawbacks."
"And those bottles that do bauble?"
"I had no time to take them off," Rarity immediately replied. "Now I hate to leave so soon after I just arrived, but it is late, and a lady does need her beauty sleep. Good-bye Zecora. Good-bye Fluttershy; I hope your animal friend gets better." After Zecora and Fluttershy gave their adieus, Rarity left the small hut, putting her cowl back over her head.
Zecora shut the door and then faced Fluttershy. "Now tell me what plight truly brings you out tonight."
"I...I" Fluttershy said her eyes contracting and hooves shaking.
"What, my dear? Please be clear."
Fluttershy took a second, then said, "I was helping one of Mr. Oriole get to bed, when after brushing my teeth a ghost appeared, and then he chased me and asked for my help, and hugged me. I didn't know what to do so I came here but found Rarity going to a cave, and there was a stream of diamonds, and another ghost and she... she... Then Rarity chased me all the way here and now I'm not sure what to do or where to go or-"
A comforting hoof found the hysteric mare's shoulder, ending the babbling. "Breath in and out, dear child; do this so your thoughts will mild." Following her advice, Fluttershy took a few deep breath while Zecora pulled out a small throw-pillow she kept for guests. "Now that you're calm, sit and rest; all of these problems we will address." Fluttershy took a seat, but found it hard to think that she could find rest.
Zecora sat right next to her, putting a fore leg around her shoulders. "Let us take things one at a time; what first thing caused this night begrimed?"
Fluttershy took another breath, then began. "Well, a ghost came to me and asked for my help. When I agreed, he hugged me. I think he might have been trying to possess me, or he could have just been glad that he finally had somepony to talk to. I didn't know how to tell, so I thought you might know something. Then I saw Rarity out here and followed her to a cave where... where..." Fluttershy stopped at that. She herself couldn't believe it or understand it, but she would have to say it in order for Zecora to help her.
"Where I saw Rarity kill a ghost."
Zecora leaned back a little at this. "How a ghost she could kill? Is this not against nature's will?"
Fluttershy nodded. "I never thought that was possible either, but she sprayed it with one of her bottles, and it screamed an awful scream and turned into vapor. I just don't understand why she would do it. All the ghost need was for somepony to help her. I mean, even though she is a ghost, she doesn't deserve to be treated like that. No pony, no matter how different should be treated like that."
Fluttershy look to Zecora. "I just don't know why she would do it. Rarity's not heartless, or ruthless, or merciless, or cruel, or anything. Or at least, I never thought she was cruel."
"There could be quite a few reasons why she did what she did, even though this justification from us is hid," Zecora said. "Now about your ghost, what is your plan? What will you do with this spirit that all things began?"
Fluttershy hung her head. “I don't know. He says he needs my help, but I don't know that for sure. And I don't want to hurt him, but I don't want him to hurt me."
Zecora placed a hoof on her chin and gazed at the ceiling for an answer. Zecora always did this whenever Fluttershy came to her with a difficult question and before she gave the right answer. Hopefully, she knew something about ghost that would help her fix this whole mess. She did know a lot of things that other ponies wouldn't think you could know about, and hopefully ghosts were no exception.
Zecora turned back to Fluttershy. "Go to Rarity for the help you seek; she will know what to do with this situation bleak."
"What?"
"If my thoughts are right, this encounter is not her first fight. She probably knows more about spooks, and any of my knowledge could she rebuke." Zecora put her foreleg around her shoulder again. "Go to her and of her knowledge query, she will make the situation less blurry."
"But what about Ion?" Fluttershy asked.
Zecora furrowed her eyebrows. "The ghost? The one your house is host?" Fluttershy nodded. "If I know this mare, than good judgment she bears. She will know how this problem to mend, and whether or not this ghost to end."
End. That was a better word then "kill." Maybe the potion didn't kill the ghost but sent it to the underworld. But that was a fate worse than death. Nevertheless, Fluttershy needed to do what was best for her if it came down to it, and only Rarity would know how to do it.
"O-Okay." Fluttershy stood up. Slowly she went over to the door. Looking back, she said, "Are you sure you can't help me?"
"Experience of ghost I have not, and my advice may be as bad as rot. I've only heard what Rarity has seen, and my information may be unclean. Go, and give her your ear, as you would a princess or emir."
"Alright," Flutershy said.
Zecora went to the door to open it for her. "I wish you well in enduring this assay and hope that you will have peace remade."