//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Secret's Out... // Story: Step-Sister // by Grazy Polomare //------------------------------// “Ugh,” Rarity lifted the rotten boot with her horn. “How do you and father live like this?”   The passing of winter had granted two things to Rarity. One being that the ground wouldn't feel like a bed of needles. And two...that she'd be forced into spring cleaning with her parents. Although clearing out their guest bedroom was a lot more suitable than doing anything with Sweetie in the yard.   “Well, honey, you know how Magnum is,” Pearl chuckled. She was flipping through the family albums, marking certain sections with her post-it notes.   “I say,” Rarity pulled out a box of flags from Canterlot, “Is there any place you’ve not taken a snapshot of?”   “Griffonia, and oh, the Crystal Empire!” Pearl pointed at the flags enthusiastically, her purple mane bobbing up and down. “Your father wanted me to give you those last year. Can’t imagine why, though.”   “I can.” Rarity tossed it in a cardboard box marked ‘Essentials’ in red crayon hoofwriting.  “Is Sweetie Belle still out there in the yard?”   Standing over the pile of photographs, Pearl hobbled over to the windowpane. “Yep, still kicking those leaves with your father. Such an energetic little bee, isn’t she?”   “More like a wasp,” Rarity grumbled. The last time Sweetie visited her boutique, she’d been forced to chase Opal all across Ponyville square. Needless to say, the Mayor was less than enthusiastic about her cat.   As she continued to clear the piles of baubles, Rarity noticed a rather large, golden cup in the corner.   “Oh my.” She gasped.   The trophy was in pristine condition, but it wasn’t the glamor that caught her eye. It was the year. 989. “I say Mother, is this the trophy from the Ponyville Knitter’s League?”   “I was wondering where that went!” Her mother exclaimed. “Our little leaguer. You know you could have gone to the championships.”   “Oh please, Mother.” Rarity waved her hoof dismissively. “We all know how that would have ended.”   However, upon looking at the golden cup, she felt a sense of longing. Back then, fashion was easy. It wasn’t working to meet client’s demands. It was knitting with a bunch of mares, gossiping and designing splendid quilts out of cheap, hoof-me-down cotton. “Well…perhaps I can alleviate you of this burden, no?”   “Be my guest, honey!” Pearl continued to scan over the old photographs. “Oh this is our trip to the Fillydelphia. What a nice publishing company they had there. Your father and I won them their company soccer match!”   Rarity attempted to grab it, but felt the cup tug back. Wrapping both hooves around the trophy she tried with all her might. And still, it remained grounded in the corner.   Nevertheless, she tried again. And again.   “Mother…” Rarity was starting to sweat. “Can you give me a hoof or two?”   “Oh my, honey, that thing’s stuck like a tree. Here.” Pearl locked her hooves around Rarity’s chest. “On the count of three…we pull, kay?”   “Alright…one…two…three!” The two mares struggled as they fought in a vicious tug of war with the closest.   “It’s starting to budge!” Pearl pulled back, the trophy slowly coming loose before suddenly soaring off with a pop.   Before she knew it, golf shirts and books began to rain from the ceiling, settling all over the floor.   “Oh dear.” Rarity sighed, “perhaps we pulled a tad too hard?”   Pearl was panting on the floor. “Yeah…maybe just a little.”   “Well no use in letting this mess clean itself.” Rarity began to pick up the golf shirts and faded postcards. There were faded pillow cases and old frames. Worn out plush toys and dusty hoofballs.   “What’s this?” Rarity lifted a heart-shaped card.  It was hoof-crafted, the glitter showered generously over the sides. “An old card you meant to give me?”   Pearl’s eyes widened. “Um, Rarity I think you should hoof that over to—“   “Nonsense.” Rarity opened the card, “A few years late isn’t going to dampen my spirits Mother.“   Her heart stopped. The card wasn’t addressed to her. Instead, scrawled in perfect hoofwriting, was the address of the local orphanage.   “Mother…why did you write to the orphanage?”   “It’s none of your concern,” Pearl attempted to snatch the card, but Rarity levitated it out of her reach, reading over the first line of text.   Hello sweetie, I know it’s a bit of a shocker. I couldn’t bring myself to say these words to you, but— Her mother’s purple aura lifted the card away from Rarity’s prying eyes. “I said it’s none of your business.”   “Is it?” Rarity narrowed her eyes. “That card was dated two months after my birthday! And three months before Sweetie’s! Who is this mystery filly you’ve never told us about?”   Pearl was perspiring now, her eyes making furtive glances towards the door. “Rarity, I don’t—“   “Who. Is. She?” Rarity was now glaring at her mother. What was she hiding?   Seeing that there was no escape, Pearl lowered her head in defeat. “She’s…she’s your stepsister, honey.”   The words sent a shock down her spine. “Step…sister?”   “Well...actually half-sister. But we can get into the proper terminology another time.” “Really?” Now was not the time to get into the argument of whether half-sister or stepsister was the proper terminology. Rather, it was the fact that said sister even existed. “It was a long time ago, okay.” Pearl sat down on the sofa, letting the cardboard box slide to the floor. “I…you know it might be too much for you to bear.”   “Mother,” Rarity laid a reassuring hoof over her mother’s shoulder. “I’m not a filly anymore, please tell me.”   Pearl sighed. “Well…before I met your father, I had met this dashing young entrepreneur in Manehattan. “   Memories of that horrid city flooded Rarity’s mind. How could her mother live in such a place? A place where one kind action only got you a kick in the rear. Still, she could see the allure of the city. It had tempted her like it had tempted all sorts of honest ponies before her.   “We…agreed to move to Ponyville after the pregnancy. I…it…he…” Her mother was practically muttering gibberish now, lost in some time warp.   “It didn’t work out.” Rarity finished.   “Sort of. He went back to the city and I stayed in Ponyville. She was only a few months old. Still as small as that card over there. I was...forced to set her up to adoption. At least I'd like to think of it like that.”   “But Mother, why didn’t you ever tell us?”   “Rarity, you have to understand that I was a different mare back then. Your father was the one who finally got me to change my ways. To go back to that past...I couldn’t bear it..”   Memories of her own experience in the Big Apple flooded Rarity’s mind. How she’d been taken advantage of. How she'd been deceived. How she'd turned into that monster. The city took her soul and morphed it in ways no evil could ever do. And it had only lasted a little less than a few days. Her mother had lived there all her life. Grown into that mentality.   “There were times I wanted to talk to her. Just walk up to her and say hello. But Rarity, honey, it wasn’t easy. That card was the last time I tried.” She pointed at the heart-shaped piece of paper.   “Where is she now?” Rarity asked.   “The last time I saw her was on a train to Manehattan. Probably searching for her father.”   “What’s her name?”   “I’ve put that all behind me I—“   “Nonsense, she’s my sister, or half-sister.” Rarity lifted the card with her horn. “She deserves to know..”   Pearl still seemed tense about the situation. “It’s been so long, and then there’s the issue of Sweetie Belle—“   “Are you kidding?” Rarity giggled. “Sweetie Belle would love a new sister. Mother, this is the chance to redeem yourself after all those years. Your chance. Our chance.”   Pearl wiped a tear from her eye. “Are…are you sure you want to meet her?”   “For my entire fillyhood, you’ve always been there to guide me, treat me, nurture me. You’re a wonderful mother, and she deserves to know that. Denying her a family would be selfish of me.”   “You really are the Element of Generosity.” Pearl grinned, nuzzling her daughter’s cheek.     One week later.   “I’m going to have a new sister! I’m going to get a new sister!” Sweetie Belle jumped up and down the platform of Grand Central Station, kicking up dust and receiving glares from several passengers.   “Sweetie!” Rarity attempted to hide her frustration, “Walk with more poise, yes?”   Sweetie Belle stopped, mocking her sister with several long strides. “Sheesh, sis, I hope my new sister is less pushy.”   “Pushy?” Rarity laughed. “I’d think I’m guiding you to your marehood.”   “But now you’re gonna have a sister to boss you around!” Sweetie pointed back.   “Nonsense.” Rarity waved a hoof dismissively. “Older sisters do not boss themselves around.”   “But if you have an older sister, that sister reserves the right to boss you around!” Sweetie recited with a smug smile. “Proven. Fact.” “Well…perhaps she will need a few favors here and there, but I highly doubt she’ll be much trouble.”   Her little sister dashed up the sidewalk, her eyes glued to the towering skyscrapers. “Wow...they make the Ponyville Bell Tower look like a lemonade stand.” Rarity averted her eyes from the buildings, instead keeping her focus on the pedestrians shoving past her. This was a city that had once tried to steal her heart. Not again, Rarity. We're stronger now, and I've learned more. I will not allow myself to be...influenced. The last word made her cringe. Was there truly merit in those words? Could be avoid being influenced? Only time would tell. “Over here!” A voice shouted from the crowd. Turning around, Rarity saw Coco Pommel holding a large white sign with her name scrawled in red marker. “Ah, there’s our ride. Come Sweetie.” “...And so my parents are making the necessary preparations when me and Sweetie take her home.” Coco sat back, looking out the yellow taxi. “Wow...and to think you may have passed her in the street.” “She could be anypony for all I know.” Looking out into the crowded streets, Rarity found herself studying each of the passing faces. Which one was her sister? Was she a buisnesspony? Was she shy? Was she bold? Would she be excited or frightened? “What’s her name?” Coco asked. Rarity recalled the moment her mother had told her. It was such an interesting name, one that strangely went well with hers. “Surreal.” “Surreal…like dreamy?” “Precisely, darling.” “What if she’s a fashion designer like you?” “I wouldn’t be surprised.” Rarity giggled. “Mother’s genes are a prevailing factor in her offspring.” “Still, I mean...how do you expect to find her?” “Mother has an old friend in the Manehattan Times who placed a special ad out for her.” Rarity wondered how long it would take? A week? Two weeks? What if she moved? It would be like searching for a needle in a couple dozen haystacks. The carriage stopped at the granite gateway to Manehattan Times. Stepping out, the trio was greeted by a heavy stallion with a stubby beard. “You must be Rarity.” He bowed. “I haven’t heard from Pearl since she left for Ponyville. Got to admit, you look just like her when she stepped in my office. Albeit you’re of a lighter pigment, I can still see the resemblance.” “I must really thank you Mr...” “Oh where are my manners?” He held out his hoof. “Column Bust at your service, milady.” Rarity shook the sweaty hoof. “Mr. Bust, it’s an honor. But um, have we found any results?” Column nodded, a devious smirk on his face. “One mare. Says she hasn’t heard that name since she left Ponyville.” Everything just seems to work out, doesn’t it? Rarity grinned. “Lead the way, please!” “Just follow me!” He ushered them through the doors and into the elevator. Sweetie Belle was shaking now, her eyes watching the light skip from number to number. Rarity didn’t blame her, for she could feel her hooves grow weak as well. It felt like she was back in the emergency room, waiting for her mother to come out. And when she was led inside, she saw a beautiful...baby filly. The same filly who was now by her side. I wonder what she’s like. What will she do when she sees us? Oh, I do hope we make a good impression. The ding of the elevator signaled the end of their ascent. Walking briskly past the hallway of journalists and typewriters, Column pointed towards one of the wooden doors. “She’s right in there.” There were butterflies in her stomach. She was leaning on to Coco for support. This was it. The moment of truth. “Are you ready?” Column twisted the golden knob. Rarity took a deep breath. She was going to be fine.  “Yes.” “Then let me be the first to introduce you to your new sister...Surreal Polomare!” Rarity didn’t know what came first. She’d had some sort of vision of what to expect. A mare, probably with a similar coat as her own. Maybe with green eyes like Sweetie Belle or dazzling blue eyes like her mother. Instead...she found the dark...seething hazel eyes of...of...her. Whatever vision of her sister had gone up in flames, replaced by this infamous pink thief. The butterflies were gone, reduced to cinders that fell in the pit of her stomach, churning up layers and layers of bile in her throat. Suri Polomare just sat there, smiling brightly. In fact, save for Sweetie Belle, she was the only other pony in the room who was smiling. "Oh it's so...so...good to finally meet my loving, sweet sisters..." And the shock rang through her synapses like a bullet. The realization that she wasn't dreaming. “Uh…” Column smiled sheepishly. “Surprise?” Rarity did what all fashionistas would do in a similar situation. She fainted.