One Ticket Extra
Chapter 3 Part 2
Warning: This chapter contains scenes of a violent and disturbing nature. Viewer discretion is advised. It's not much to bump it up to mature, but do be careful.
In the village of Hoofwood, the villagers had retreated to their homes, their work finished for the day as the moon rose over the sleepy village. The villagers were all ready to head off to bed, when a barrage of lights flashed in the forest. Nopony noticed at first, but suddenly took notice when the amount of flash lights grew, the hustle and bustle of ponies in the distance.
The large amount of police force workers grew, talking to one another as police officers searched the forest, bringing sniffer dogs with them. The villagers began to walk to the scene, curious at all the commotion, but were stopped by officers.
The clothes shop clerk looked around and asked, “Goodness, what’s going on here?”
A police officer began backing the villagers up. “Please remain calm, villagers. I assure you that all is well, but I must ask you to return to your homes.”
“But why? Is something wrong?”
“Sir, a convicted criminal has escaped Fairtree Prison, and is roaming the area. We must get everypony back inside so that we can ensure that nopony gets hurt.”
The villagers began backing up and walking back to the village, all talking amongst one another. The clerk turned to the local baker and asked, “My word, an escaped criminal. I never would have expected that, Fairtree is really secure.”
“Somepony must’ve gotten desperate to escape that place. We should probably stay in our homes until it’s safe.”
The clerk nodded and turned to his shop, his mind buzzing with worry and surprise.
Meanwhile, Ms. Dove was just about to head to bed, dressed in a bath robe and dimming the lights in her room as she settled on the bed, reading a romance novel. She laid back on her bed, idly flipping through the book as she began to doze off.
Suddenly, a loud knocking came from the cafe, prompting her to sigh with annoyance as she got up, lighting the cafe. “Hold on, I’m coming.”
She walked to the door and unlocked it, opening it. “Sorry, but we’re closed, could you come back—“
Her voice was cut off by who was waiting at the door for her. She walked backwards in fright, shaking in fear, “G-Gray, is that—“
The colt grinned, his eyes shining at her. “Why yes, it is me.”
Ms. Dove gulped and asked, “What are you d-doing here?”
“Oh, I was just passing by the neighbourhood and I was wondering if I could borrow a few things. I just need a paper bag, and a furnace lighter. I’ll go and get them, while you wait right there.”
The colt walked beside her to the front desk, searching the area. He heard a few hoofsteps behind her, and smiled wickedly. He quickly grabbed the plant vase sitting beside him and threw it at Ms. Dove, crashing into her and showering her in shards of porcelain, blood spraying from her nose and mouth as she fell to the ground. She grabbed her nose as Gray grabbed her, holding her by her mane.
He looked into her eyes and mockingly said, “You are just too easy, my dear. I told you not to move, but did you listen?”
Dove coughed a small amount of blood out as Gray got the items he needed, gently letting go of her and walking towards the door. “Thanks for being a darling, Ms. Dove. I think I might come back for a coffee some point...” He walked off with a low laugh, dashing into the forest.
Dove sat there, crawling towards the door as she felt a few of her teeth on the floor. Flash lights were heading in her direction, a few police officers crowding around the cafe as one knelt to Dove. “Good lord, what happened here?”
She coughed more blood as she mumbled, “Gray came here and took a few items. He ran into the forest behind you...”
She passed out from blood loss and blunt force trauma, prompting medical staff to help her into an ambulance. The officer stood up and turned to his co-workers, teeming with rage. “Okay, search the forest and find Gray, and don’t stop until you find him!”
His assistants ran into the forest, the officer sitting next to Dove as he comforted her.
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At the spa, Edgar sat in his office, along with a few of his friends and workers. They were idly discussing current affairs over a few glasses of red wine. Edgar laughed and said, “So, I heard that your son is going into acting, Newton.”
Newton looked at him and sighed in disgust, “Don’t get me started. I thought he was going to do Vaudeville, but turns out he was going to do burlesque.”
“Well, it’s definitely something different, to say the least. As long as he’s out doing something and earning money.”
“Yes, but his current agenda consist of him doing strip shows.”
Sandra turned to him and said, “Newton, this may sound weird coming from me, but I’d have your son if he was ten years older than he was.”
“Are you attracted to my son?”
“Hey, he’s got a nice ass, what can you do? Maybe that or I’m really drunk.”
Edgar smiled and said, “Sandra does like a bit to drink at this time of night, Newton. If your son wants to go into burlesque, I’d say let him. He’s a grown lad; he can do what he wants. Just as long as he doesn’t pull a ‘Gray’.”
Sandra turned to him and asked, “How was he, by the way?”
“A bit more twisted since I last saw him, but he seems to be coping.”
“So, you’re still glad he’s in prison.”
“Got it in one, Sandra.” He took a sip from his wine glass, sitting back and relaxing.
He looked at the clock and yawned, “Goodness, is it three AM already? We’ve been up for a while.”
The colt next to Newton replied, “Hey, since it’s three, we should pull an all-nighter. We deserve a bit of drink after your recent visit to the prison.”
Edgar laughed and filled up his glass with whiskey, “I suppose you’re right.”
----------------------------------
Outside the spa building, Gray emerged from the trees, holding the tools he needs in his mouth as he slunk through the trees to Edgar’s office. “Dad’s light is still on. This’ll get his attention.”
The colt put the tools down and opened up the bag, noticing the crawling ivy above him. It was too high to set alight by himself, so he grabbed a selection of roses, tulips and lilies at his feet and filled the paper bag. He turned the furnace lighter on and lit the bag on fire. He set the bag down and ran to the main entrance, eager that his plan will work.
Gray opened the doors to the spa and walked quickly to reception, grabbing the attention of the receptionist.
The receptionist glanced at him, putting down a file and said, “Hold on, I’m doing my hooves up.”
She looked at her hooves again, and did a double take at who was in front of him. Before she could even stammer, Gray leant forward and punched the mare in the face, knocking her out. He shook his hoof and said to himself, “No time for the pleasantries, you scatty mare. I just need to take care of business.”
He walked up the stairs and took a turn right, towards his father’s office. He noticed the large sofa facing it and lifted it, placing it at his door. “Dad’s office is a pull to enter affair. This’ll raise a smile.”
Edgar continued talking to his friends, “Well, I talked to Camphor the other day and he said that my father’s pipe was the first pipe he ever made. I’ve known this pipe ever since I was a lad, but I’d never expect it to have such a history.”
Sandra replied, “And a price. How much was it again?”
“Over 1,500 bits. It’s my prized possession, as it’s the only thing I have to remember my father by.”
Edgar sat back and resumed smoking his pipe, when he smelt a foul, dungy smell in the air. He looked around and said, “Has anyone farted around here?”
His friends also noticed the smell as Newton asked, “Not me, unless somepony’s farted dead flowers.”
Edgar looked around for the smell and noticed the smell emanating from the window. He opened it and looked out, noticing the smell of burning flowers. “Oh good lord. I swear, these village’s kids are getting out of hoof!”
“What is it?”
“It’s a bag of what I presume are my prized roses, on fire.” He replied in between sniffs.
Sandra sniffed the air and replied, “Oh no, I can smell it from here.”
Edgar closed the window to keep the smell out as he pointed to the door. “Let’s get out of here and take care of it, come on.”
His friends stood up and Edgar walked to the door, noticing that he can’t open it. “That’s odd, the door won’t open.”
“Do you have to pull?”
“No, it’s a push door, I had it installed that way before safety laws stated that all doors must pull to get out.”
Sandra helped to push, but noticed no movement. “That is odd, who could be doing this to us?”
Edgar stood at the door and shouted, “Whoever is doing this, it is not funny! Now, let us out!”
A laugh could be heard from outside, a voice replying, “Oh, I knew you would hate that, father. That’s why I did it, just to annoy you.”
Edgar backed away from the door, “Gray?”
“Surprised to hear me, father? It’s been a while since I’ve been here, you know. It hasn’t changed much since I last came here. You didn’t even change the door, how sad is that?”
“How did you escape?!”
“Oh, it was simply marvellous, my escape. One of my inmates decided to help me break out when he broke a guard’s neck, slung him into a bag, and used the corpse as bait as we made our escape. When we were cornered, my friend slung me out the window, and I got out scot free. It was so amazing; it should have been filmed, it was genius!”
Edgar sneered and replied with concern, “While clever, I would have expected you to get out of prison, because revenge was always your number one priority through your life.”
“If you expected me to get out, why didn’t you do anything about that? Add in some more security, lock the doors once in a while... fix the door so it opens inwards instead of out?”
“Don’t mess with me, boy.” Edgar’s voice dropped in tone, his voice becoming grizzled.
Gray let out a short laugh, “My father’s angry, is he? You haven’t been the same since mother died... Shame, really, you used to be so nice to everypony.”
“Your mother’s death broke me, and there wasn’t anything I could do about that.”
“Besides grow a pair and suck it up?”
Edgar growled and banged on the door, “You listen here; you do not speak like that about my wife!”
“Oh, this kitty has claws. Meow.” Gray replied in a falsetto tone, almost mockingly.
Edgar growled and backed up from the door, Gray leaning by the wall and saying, “Still, with you in your office, I can go and do my business.”
Newton asked, “What, you’re going to find a plant pot to shit in?”
“You’re glad I don’t piss down your throat, you piece of shit.”
Newton backed off in fear as Gray then said, “No, I had a hunch I would come back here, and since Rarity’s visiting, I knew just where she would be...”
Edgar gasped and banged the door again, “If you lay a single hoof on Rarity, I’ll rip your goddamn spine out!”
“Hello, earth to father? You are trapped in a room with a door that has no obligations towards safety laws, and I am out here. What can you do to stop me?”
Edgar said nothing, prompting Gray to lean up against the wall and say, “Nothing to add? No ‘He doesn’t know where she is’ because I have the guest book downstairs? I’d know where she is anyway, because if Rarity was visiting, where else would she stay? You’re clever, father. Really clever, but you ain’t got shit on me. Ta ta.”
Gray pushed off the wall and ran towards the stairs, almost tumbling down in anticipation as staff and guests all looked on in panic as a loose convict roamed the spa, scared to do anything. Some ponies headed out to get help, but Gray didn’t notice and got to the main desk.
He stepped over the unconscious body of the clerk and said, “Whoop, ‘scuse me, ma’am. Didn’t see you there.” He flipped through the book, looking through the pages to find Rarity’s name.
He looked up when a loud bang emitted, a local gardener approaching him with a pitchfork. Gray smiled with a mental gleefulness as the gardener approached him, hell bent on sorting him out. He eventually found Rarity’s name, pointed out the room number, closed the book and picked up the nearest plant pot, lobbing it at the gardener’s face.
The gardener stumbled, dropping the pitchfork as Gray leapt over the desk, grabbing the pitchfork and jamming it into the gardener’s leg, blood gushing from the wound as he yelled in agony. Gray stood over him and punched him in the face, knocking a few teeth out. “Bit slow on the draw, buddy.”
He smiled and ran upstairs, his eyes now filled with lust and rage as a wicked smile crossed his face, the staff now attending the injured gardener than to stop the raging colt. Gray dashed through the corridors and barged past ponies in the way, nothing stopping him finding the mare he desired.
Upstairs, Rarity and Spike were in their room, the dragon idly watching the television. He flicked through the limited channels as Rarity sat by the windowsill, looking out into the night. Spike turned to her and said, “How’re you holding up?”
Rarity yawned in thought and replied, “Getting better.”
“Good. I thought Gray being more threatening than I ever thought would scare you off. Apparently, you’re much tougher than I ever thought, and after the Diamond Dogs, I thought you were pretty tough.”
“Thank you, Spike. A lady always keeps a tough demeanour through any situation, but always drops in times of leisure for a more friendly approach.”
“Amen to that. Still, it must be scary that somepony that mental would do that to you, and still hold it against you after all these years. I’m surprised you kept quiet about it for a long time.”
“Well, I have told the story to Twilight, but you were the first pony that actively supported me through my moments of need. Twilight was helpful and gave me comfort, but never actively helped me through my fear.”
“Thanks. I just wish I was quite tough, I’ve never been a ‘knight in shining armour’ type dragon, you know.”
Rarity walked from the windowsill and sat beside Spike on the bed, patting his head, “Oh, I don’t think you’re not tough. How many ponies can say they’ve survived accidental base jumping and saved a baby phoenix egg from three rampaging dragons? I think you’re my ‘knight in shining armour’.”
“I suppose you have a point. Thanks again, Rarity.”
“Not a problem, Spikey.”
She gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead, making him blush as they cuddled. But their peace was disturbed when the door suddenly flew open, the familiar figure of Gray Hoofington stepping through the frame. He grinned at them and said, “Rarity, it’s nice to meet you again.”
The couple screamed in terror, leaping off the bed and standing before him. Rarity watched as Gray locked the door behind him, breaking off the handle as she said, “Gray, you escaped?!”
“Yes, I did. And it was all thanks to a psychotic inmate who threw me out of an open window. Pure class.”
Spike stood in front of Rarity and angrily said, “What do you want from us?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I just want a few short moments with your girlfriend, nothing more. All I ask is that you hand her over, nice and easy.”
Spike hissed at him through clenched teeth, smoke blowing from his nose as his pupils thinned. Gray looked at him coldly and replied, “Fair enough, if that’s the way you want it.”
He lowered himself and pounced into the dragon, knocking them over to the side of the room. Rarity watched on in horror as she backed up against the door, afraid that she’s trapped in a room with a psychotic rapist. Gray sat on the dragon, pounding his hooves into his face as Spike pushed them away, scratching at him and blowing fire into his face.
A lot of ponies heard the ruckus coming from Rarity’s room, and crowded round to help, but the locked door meant that nopony could get in or out. Spike gained an upper hand and dug his claws into Gray’s forearms, making him pull back in pain as he pounced on him, scratching at him with great force as his nose and mouth bled. The dragon was kicked into a wall by Gray, who dashed at him and punched him in the face, the young dragon’s face and body now becoming battered.
Rarity looked on and tried to help Spike by charging at Gray, but was overpowered and tossed away as Spike grabbed onto his back, clawing at his throat. The colt fell to the ground as Spike clawed at his face, leaving a large, deep gash into his left eye. Blood dripped from his face as he paused to inspect the damage.
Spike smiled with courage as he thought he had overpowered him, but Gray growled at him and shouted, “I’ve had enough of you, you little shit!”
He then grabbed his arm and snapped the bone, tossing him at the wall like a ragdoll, colliding into the bedside lamp. Rarity looked on in fright as she ran to the dragon, “Spike!!”
Gray stood up and pushed Rarity aside, picking up the beaten dragon as he looked at him. The colt smiled as he choked the dragon, Rarity trying to fight back, but was kicked in the chest and winded, leaving Gray with a window of opportunity to finish him off. He smiled with great evil as he growled, “Farewell, Spike. You’ve lived a formidable life.”
He then tossed him out of the two story window, falling to the ground with a loud thud as glass shards rained on him. Rarity ran to the window, screaming the dragon’s name. “Spike! SPIKE!!”
Meanwhile, Edgar looked out from the window, noticing Spike fly out the window as Rarity’s screams for help rang throughout the gardens. He turned to his co-workers and began panicking, “Get that door open, Gray’s found Rarity!”
His co-workers barged at the door, hoping to unblock it through brute force, but to no avail. Edgar took the predicament they were in and decided that the only way out was through more brute force. “Move out of the way.”
The two ponies trying to get the door open moved out of the way, as Edgar steadied himself, and with a few short breaths, charged at the door. The door shattered on impact, allowing Edgar and his co-workers to break out and exit the room. Gray shook his head, slightly dazed as he smiled confusedly, “Well, that’s the last time I’m going to ignore safety laws.”
He regained focus, and turned to his co-workers. “Okay, I want you two to get the guests out of the spa and outside. Phone the police, and get them here as soon as possible.”
Sandra panicked and said, “What about you, sir?”
“Me? It’s time I showed Edgar what happens when he disrespects his elders.” He growled with fury, and charged down the corridor, the co-workers now running down the corridors, as they pulled fire alarms, urging ponies to leave.
Back in Rarity’s room, Gray laughed wickedly as he grabbed the mare by her throat, leaning her against the bed as she screamed in horror and pain. The colt smiled with glee as he spread her legs apart, revealing her vagina. “Well, there’s something that I’ve missed in a long time. Ready to meet your old friend?”
Rarity screamed more, hoping to attract attention as the door banged, a crowd of ponies wanting to get in as Gray took the mare and pushed a cabinet against the door, effectively blocking it. He took the mare to the bathroom and opened up the medicine cabinet, pulling out a bottle of chloroform.
He grinned wickedly as he pulled out a handkerchief from the cabinet, taking the mare back to the bed as he began to dab the cloth onto the chloroform, dampening it with the liquid. He then looked at the bottle and said, “Ah, to hell with it.”
He then placed the cloth over her mouth as he took the safety cap off and poured it onto her, water boarding her with the liquid. Rarity screamed again, her struggles to stay conscious now fading. She tried to use her magic, but no good was coming from it. She was almost beaten, her struggles fading as she felt some penetrate her from her crotch area, making out that it was Gray’s rather large cock.
Her mind trailed to her predicament, fading by the second as the liquid overpowered her senses. She thought of her family and friends, and hoped that this was all a nightmare. Judging by how much pain she felt and the fact that she was being raped viciously meant that this wasn’t a dream. She had lost hope, and was soon to die.
However, before she blacked out, she heard a voice call out to her, that of her mother’s;
“Rarity, I know that someday, you will go out into the world, and you are destined for great things. You are a lady at heart, I can see that, but you should never ever let any sort of negativity get to you. Be smart, be kind, be friendly, and generous. That is you goal in life, Rarity. Never give it up.”
Then she heard the voice of Twilight and herself call to her; “Well, I learnt something today, Rarity.”
“Oh, and what’s that?”
“Just because somepony is a lady doesn’t mean she’s weak.”
It all added up. She is destined for great things, and nothing will ever break the mare. She was stronger than this, she always had been. The incident with the Diamond Dogs, the teenage dragons, the Changeling Invasion, she just needed her wits and the courage to bring her from the depths of depression and hopelessness and turn her into the mare she is today.
Her mind began to pipe up, saying to her, “I know I’m a lady, and I know that I’m not for getting into scraps. But this ends now, I shall show that a lady can fight for herself, I will prove my loved ones how tough I am, and I will not let this brute take that away from me!!”
She then opened her eyes, used her magic to lift up the television, as Gray turned to see a large wooden box fly towards him and collide into his face, knocking him into the bedside table. He stumbled with a moan as blood sprayed on impact, and slumped onto the floor, losing consciousness.
Rarity stood up, her legs weak from being raped as blood trailed from her nose, the chloroform and Gray’s roughness taking a toll on her. She turned to the door as it broke down, a large mass of ponies barging through. They stopped at Rarity, noticing Gray on the floor, blood leaking from his face.
Edgar barged through the group, panting after a dash upstairs. “Rarity, thank goodness you’re alright!”
He hugged the unicorn as she tried to gather her bearings, “Yes, I’m fine.”
The sound of police sirens gathered outside, the hustle and bustle of police officers now rising as panicked guests flooded out the doors. Rarity looked around, and then realised the whereabouts of Spike. “Oh god, Spike!!”
She barged past the crowd, running through the corridors, downstairs, through the foyer and outside. She pushed past a massive crowd of guests, confused and scared about why they were woken up so early, the sound of fire bells ringing throughout the spa.
She saw the dragon, lying on the grass in a pile of broken glass and blood as she grabbed the dragon, her eyes streaming with tears. “Spike, speak to me! Spike!!”
She shook the dragon, hoping to get a response. Suddenly, through some miracle, the young dragon coughed, blood and bits of teeth spewing out. She helped him sit up, helping him clear his mouth. He looked at the mare and weakly chimed, “Rarity, you’re alright!”
Rarity cried happily as he hugged the dragon, her panic now fading into pure, unfiltered joy and relief. “Spike, thank goodness you’re alright! I was just so worried about you, when you flew out that window, I was sure it killed you, and... and...”
Spike placed a finger to her lips, shushing her as he replied, “What happened to Gray?”
She smiled back and responded, “Don’t worry... he’s not going to be bugging us anymore.”
The dragon smiled and hugged the mare, Edgar eventually finding them safe and sound. “Spike, what on earth happened to you?”
“I’ve been thrown out of a window, beaten to a pulp and my left arm is broken. Apart from that, I’m doing okay, I guess.”
“Thank heavens you’re alive. Shall I let the ambulance people know you’re okay?”
“Please...”
Edgar ran to the police squad behind them, leaving the couple to hug their worries away, Gray finally taken care off. Spike chuckled and said, “Now you won’t have to worry about Gray. Rarity.”
“Yes, and thank heavens for that.”
They continued hugging, ponies now streaming out of the spa in vast numbers.
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About twenty minutes had passed, and police had retrieved the unconscious body of Gray and hauled him into a police ambulance, the doors closing as the carriage dashed off into the distance. Many ponies were being questioned and/or comforted about why they were suddenly startled by fire alarms, but the police urged them that the situation had been handled, and there was nothing to worry about.
Spike sat in a parked ambulance, his broken arm in a cast, waiting to be taken to the hospital. A doctor walked to him and said, “Sorry about the wait, it’s just that we’ve got to make a few checks here and there, but you aren’t seriously injured, are you?”
The dragon checked his arm cast, smiling. “My arm is alright for the moment. Apart from that, no other major injuries to report.”
“Good, we’ve given it a few painkillers and slung it in a cast, so it should be alright for now. Are you waiting for anyone at the moment?”
“Well, Rarity was writing a letter to my guardian, Twilight to come check on me, so I should wait for her first.”
“Okay, I’ll give you another ten minutes.”
The doctor walked to the police, giving them idle chat as Rarity walked out of the spa and to the ambulance, looking at Spike. “Okay, Twilight should be arriving very shortly, she’s teleporting in.”
“Okay. It’s nice of her to see me at three in the morning.”
“Well, she cares about you, Spike. She’ll be awfully shaken up when she arrives, so keep a smile on your face.”
“Don’t worry. Twilight always makes me smile, no matter what the situation.”
A bright flash appeared at the entrance to the spa, Twilight emerging from the light as she looked around. She walked to a police officer and asked, “Excuse me, I’m looking for Spike, have you seen him?”
The officer pointed to the ambulance, “Yeah, he’s in the ambulance.”
She saw the dragon sitting in the ambulance as he hopped out and into Twilight’s arms, tears streaming down her face. “Oh Spike, I was so worried about you! Rarity told me everything that happened and how you were injured, and I literally teleported in an instant.”
“Twilight, relax. I’m alright. A bit shaken up, beaten and bruised, but I’m alright.”
“I’m just so glad you’re okay...”
Rarity giggled and walked to her, her own injuries bandaged up as she said, “We’re sorry to drag you out a hundred miles from Ponyville, but Spike did bring up the idea for you to come with him to the hospital.”
Twilight turned to her and replied, “Speaking of you, you must’ve been shaken up with Gray doing those... ghastly things to you.”
“I’m very weak at the knees at the moment, but you shouldn’t worry about me. Spikey just had his arm broken and was beaten up, and that’s getting just as much attention as the escaped convict who came here and raped me.”
Spike added, “Well, maybe it’s because I’m young.”
Twilight hugged him and replied, “Maybe so.”
The doctor returned, a policeman standing next to him. He cleared his throat and said, “Okay, we’ve made some last minute checks, is there anything else that needs doing before you and Rarity head to the hospital?”
Twilight raised her hoof and said, “Can I come with Spike?”
“Certainly, just sit next to him there.” The doctor pointed toward the front of the ambulance, where she got into and shuffled up.
The doctor nodded as he closed the door, climbing up the front as the carriage rode off, leaving the spa behind. Rarity looked out the window, her behind bandaged. Spike looked at her and said, “I guess he got you fairly rough, didn’t he?”
She looked at the dragon and said, “Yes, he most certainly did. It might be a while before I sit comfortably again, but I can walk it off.”
“You can talk. Look at me, I look like garbage.” He showed off his bandages and arm cast, a weak smile on his face.
Twilight wrapped a hoof around him and said, “Well, I am surprised that you’re taking this rather well.”
“As long as I’m with my friends, I can live through anything.”
Rarity smiled at him and said, “Twilight, I have to say that your advice saved my life.”
The purple unicorn looked at her and asked, “Advice?”
“Just because she’s a lady doesn’t mean she weak.”
“Oh, that. How did it help, exactly?”
“Throughout the holiday, I was a complete shambles of how I normally am, and when I thought my time was up, I remembered what you said. I should’ve been more confident with this, like I started off, but then I remembered him...”
Spike looked up at her and replied, “That really wasn’t your fault. You didn’t say why you wanted to come back here, other than you still had a good time, regardless of what happened those few years back. I assume you just wanted to re-visit there because you liked it there.”
“That’s pretty much the gist of it, Spike. But I really should’ve put more forethought into this. If I chose somewhere else, none of this would have happened. I feel like this has all been my fault.”
Twilight smiled and responded, “Now, Rarity. I understand fully that you feel like you’ve made a mistake, but it really shouldn’t get past you. If Gray didn’t get out, you would have been fine, so you shouldn’t place yourself as the main cause of this.”
Spike then added, “Yeah, if anything, it was Edgar’s fault mostly, for telling Gray that you were here. I’m sure he understands that, but it’s not your fault.”
“Exactly. I think what you should do is just put the past behind you and look to the future. Nothing like this is ever going to happen again, as long as you keep it that way. Don’t blame yourself for things you can’t control, you’re better than that.”
“If anything, you should ask Edgar for an apology.”
Rarity thought about what they had said for a short moment before turning to them and smiling, tears forming in her eyes. “You know, I think you two are right, I shouldn’t let this get me down, because I overcame my fears, and stopped a catastrophe from happening. I should be proud with what I’ve accomplished, and I should look into the future with dry eyes and a big smile.”
She sighed contently, before looking at Spike. “But first, I want to apologize to Spike.”
He looked at her in confusion, “What for?”
“For making you endure this nightmare, and not being able to help you. I feel that you deserve better than this, Spike.”
“Don’t worry yourself. Nopony saw this coming, and I tried to help.”
Twilight looked at him and asked, “So, was Spike thrown out of the window initially, I haven’t got the full story here.”
Rarity smiled and said, “Twilight, Spike was my hero tonight. He stood by my side and helped me throughout this whole holiday. He calmed me down when I was upset, and when Gray broke in, he fought him off while I tried to escape. If anything, Spike should be the hero here, not me.”
Spike blushed as he was praised, prompting Twilight to hug him. The dragon felt Rarity hug him as well, as the mares nuzzled his cheeks. The dragon giggled and pushed them away, “Girls, stop it!...”
He looked at them as they smiled at him, the dragon giving in to their warm expressions. He shrugged and held his arms open, “Ah, go on then.”
The mares hugged him again, nuzzling him like before as the ambulance drove into the distance towards the hospital.
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Some time later, the sun began to rise over Fairtree. Twilight walked down the corridor of the hospitals, heading towards the wards. She walked towards two large double doors as she saw Spike and Rarity in neighbouring beds, quietly chatting away. With a smile, she walked to them and said, “Hey, guys. How are you doing?”
Spike looked at her and greeted, “Hi, Twi. We’re fine at the moment, the doctors fixed my arm into a better cast, and we’re just busy talking.”
Rarity smiled and turned to her, “Heard any news about Edgar?”
The purple unicorn moved out of the way as the gruff spa owner walked in, clearing his throat. He stood beside Twilight and said, “Looks like I owe you an apology.”
“What, for telling Gray that I came to the spa?”
“Yes, I am so sorry for revealing such private information to the police, and they too send their regards for not censoring it. I feel that my lack of forethought is what put this whole week into calamity.”
Rarity gave him a warm smile and replied, “Well, I forgive you. What about you, Spike?”
The dragon nodded, adding, “Yeah, I forgive you.”
Edgar smiled and said, “That’s just fantastic. Now, I understand that you might want to head back to the spa after your trip here, but the police have closed it off due to investigations, and none of the guests are allowed to come back. Tell me, what time does your holiday end?”
Rarity replied, “On Sunday.”
“The investigation doesn’t end until next Tuesday. I’m afraid I’ll have to send you home, it isn’t safe to return just yet.”
“I see. Thank you for taking care of us, and I should visit again sometime in the future.”
“Oh, no problem. I have been offering refunds to our patrons, so expect yours at your Boutique in the next few days.”
“Thank you, Edgar. I wasn’t expecting you to do such a thing.”
“Well, I only want what’s best for my guests. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must see Mrs Dove. She was involved in an attack with Gray, so I must dash.” With that, he walked out the room, waving farewell. “Farewell, Rarity, Spike and Twilight. I hope to see you again soon. And by the way, your bags are outside the ward.”
They waved him off as he left the room, Rarity thinking of something. “Twilight, this may sound awfully strange, but I want to share a lesson about friendship with Celestia.”
The purple unicorn shrugged, “Sure. Just let me...” She used her magic to materialise a quill, some ink and a scroll as Rarity took the objects with her own magic. She read aloud her findings;
“Dear Princess Celestia,
This week has definitely been the most eventful week of my life. I won’t bore you with the details, but I feel like something must be addressed. Friendship is a very fickle thing. Some friendships can last somepony their whole lives, while some just come and go. Yesterday, I found that friendships and memories can be treasured forever.
Sometimes, to see what needs doing in this world, you just need to step back and remember the marvellous things friendship has taught you, what your family has taught you, what life itself has taught you. I found that any obstacle you find, you can overcome it, whether it be personality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, whatever. Anything you set your mind to, you can overcome your fears, and any obstacles you find.
I’ve managed to overcome my biggest fear; dealing with a tragic past. Through determination, memories, courage and friendship, I have now put what once was wrong, right. I can look to the future with my head held high, dry eyes, and a big smile. Life has a way of working out, and I know that my life has been eased once more, through the power of friendship.
Your faithful subject,
Rarity.”
She rolled up the scroll and passed it to Spike, who walked to the window and blew the scroll out the window, disappearing in a cloud of fire and smoke. He walked back to Rarity as she got out of bed, helping her out as her hooves touched the ground. The doctor from the ambulance walked in and said, “Ah, I’m glad you’re out of bed. I just wanted to tell you that you and Spike are free to leave. You seem in good condition even with your injuries, so go in your own time.”
The white unicorn nodded, “Thank you, doctor.”
He nodded and left as the three walked out of the ward, picking up their bags as they trotted through the foyer, leading outside the hospital. Rarity looked at the rising sun and said, “It’s a lovely day...”
Twilight nodded gently and replied, “It sure is...” She looked around and said, “So, we need to head to the train station, do we?”
Spike thought of an idea and said, “Wait, why don’t we show Twilight the town? I mean, we haven’t got any train tickets at the moment, so we could spend a bit of time here before we leave.”
Rarity smiled and said, “Spike, that’s a grand idea. Twilight, there is a bakery I implore you to go in and try their fudge, it is heavenly.”
The purple unicorn giggled and replied, “Alright, lead the way!”
The three walked down the pathway and towards the town, memories of the week flooding their minds. They had been through a lot in this few days, and now that peace once again wins the day, they can easily rest.
For Rarity, it had been an intense week, but now, she can finally rest, a large smile on her face as she was ready to face the new day.
The End