//------------------------------// // Tough Decisions // Story: A Change of Scenery // by Silent Sir 224 //------------------------------// “Are you sure you want to do this, Rarity?” the butter yellow pegasus asked, struggling to keep up with her friend. “For the fourth time, yes I’m sure I want to do this Fluttershy! And I am doing this! Right now!” The unicorn snapped, showing no sign of slowing her pace. “Could you please slow down and think about what you are doing?” Fluttershy requested in a slightly sharper tone. Rarity stopped and sharply turned in place. “What I am doing, is saving a friend. A friend, might I add, who has actually helped make life safer for everyone here. And what did he get in return? Abandoned by the one who promised to give him a chance.” “You know the Princess can’t get involved in this,” the pegasus retorted. “What good is a leader if they cannot keep their word?” The unicorn turned and began walking again before her companion could give a response. “Rarity, stop.” The soft-spoken mare demanded. To hear such a tone from her was unbelieveable. “Why?” the hot-headed mare asked, not missing a step. There was a fire in her that would not be extinguished. “Because getting yourself killed won’t help him!” Fluttershy rushed in front of her friend, forcing her to stop. “You have too many ponies here that care about you to just risk your life like this! For all you know he could be-—” “Don’t say it.” Rarity cut the pegasus off. “I’m going, and you can’t stop me. I appreciate your concern but I am not helpless.” “No one is saying you are,” she placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “But please think about this. How do you think Sweetie Belle would feel if she had to grow up without you? What about your parents? The rest of our friends? Me?” “I will be careful, Fluttershy,” she pushed past her friend. She couldn’t stop now, not until he was home. “And if I tell everyone what you are doing?” she questioned. “Then…” she gave a heavy sigh. “Then I won’t be able to forgive you,” the alabaster mare spoke coldly. She couldn’t let anyone stop her. “I can’t just let you do this!” She pulled her friend’s purple tail. “Let go of me, Fluttershy.” Rarity scolded, she was getting annoyed at her friends newfound assertiveness. “No!” The pegasus cursed through the tail. Biting down even harder. “If I’m not back in five days,” she started. “Then you can tell the others. But not a minute before.” “...Fine.” Fluttershy sighed, releasing her teeth begrudgingly. “And I will bring him back, I promise.” She started walking again. “Just make sure you come back, too!” the pegasus called. “Of course, darling. Just make sure the others don’t try finding me yet.” With that Rarity disappeared down the path. She couldn’t help grinning at her own ingenious planning. Using the changeling to take her place while she slipped out of town, taking her newest fabric creation with her to get into the city, and now with Fluttershy helping keep her cover she had nearly all of the things she needed to do it. Now all she had to do is get through the Everfree Forest, cross a desert, infiltrate the city and drag him out of prison and escape without anyone discovering them. Simple. With luck, she could make it to Zecora’s before nightfall and pick up the trail in the morning. The zebra might have a strange sense of style and a strange home, but she had adapted to life in the forest and a good friend none the less. The path led straight to her house, and thankfully, nothing tried to jump her on the path... The unicorn rapped her hoof on the door. It swung open a few seconds later, revealing the black and white striped Zecora. “Ah Miss Rarity, what a surprise! What brings you before my eyes?” she asked in sight shock. “I need your help. We need to go right away!” the fashionista replied quickly, fighting the urge to drag her friend out of the house. “With what is it that you need? Is it Spike again with his greed?” she asked in her usual rhythmic fashion. “No, he’s been very good about that after last time, thankfully,” Rarity sighed. “What can you tell me about the Everfree?” “I’m afraid there is little to tell, it came from the effects of an ancient spell.” “I know that much, but I need to know the best way to get through it!” she exclaimed. Fluttershy had used up most of her patience. Zecora blinked, processing what she had just heard.”I do not quite understand, just what is it that you have planned?” “There’s a… there’s somepony I need to meet just passed the forest,” the unicorn lied, hoping that her hostess wouldn’t pry. “Hmm… just who is this there that you must meet, and why can’t you simply meet them down the street?” she questioned, crushing the hope that Rarity held. “A very special client outside of the town,” she made up quickly. Her facade was crumbling, it was obvious. “...Do you take me for a fool? Or do you see me as merely a tool?” the zebra asked, slightly upset at the blatant attempt to lie to her face. “No no no! Zecora I would never take advantage of you like that!” Rarity waved her hooves defensively. “Believe me, I learned my lesson when we first met!” “Then why must you lie to my face, when I had invited into my place?” her tone shifted from anger to sadness. “Because if you knew the real reason why I need to go... you wouldn’t even entertain the idea of giving me assistance,” she sighed heavily. She’s never going to help me now, how am I suppose to get past the forest in my timeline without her? “You won’t know unless you try, but I know there is more here than meets the eye.” The zebra saw the sadness in her friends eyes. “There’s a desert on the other side of the forest,” she began, clearing her throat nervously. “From there…” she hesitated. “I need to get to the…” she trailed off in a series of mumbles. “Hmm…?” “I need to get to… the changeling capital city...” “You wish to go to the city of changelings!? To the very heart of those wicked things!?” Shock took hold of her. “The thought of going is quite insane, if you desire my help you will explain!” She stomped the ground insistently. “Zecora listen, I wouldn’t be going there if I didn’t have a very good reason,” the fashionista explained. Trying to formulate her thoughts for stating her plans. “That remains to be seen, I would be lying if I said I was very keen.” She sipped her cup of tea, calming herself. “I have a… friend who’s been captured and imprisoned there.” Rarity finally admitted, she was waiting for the claims of insanity, the attempts to persuade her, the outright stating how she wasn’t strong enough to do this. “So you wish to save a friend,” Zecora stated calmly. “How do you know you won’t meet your end?” “I’m not as helpless as everyone thinks I am,” she stated, sipping her own cup of tea. “I can handle myself in ‘sticky’ situations.” “This isn’t an attack on your strength or skill,” she defended. “More so a look at your very will.” “Are you saying that I don’t have enough reason to go?” the unicorn accused. “You say you that with an accusatory tone, but I wonder ‘why are you doing this alone’?” she asked. “No one else wants to help him. Everypony else thinks he’s a lost cause.” Rarity finished her cup and poured herself more. “What else aren’t you telling me? How important to you is he?” Zecora questioned, she was trying to get more out of the unicorn. She wasn’t trying to hide it anymore. “What else is there to tell? I can’t just let him die, he’s too good to just have that happen. So can I rely on your support?” she asked hopefully. This was her make or break moment. “Hmm… I think I will help. No sense in letting you continue to yelp.” The zebra grinned at her light teasing. “Ooh…” Rarity’s face turned slightly red as she nearly tackled her in a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” The two began laughing lightly, Rarity more so than her hostess. “Now let us get some rest, tomorrow you should be at your best.” Zecora advised, slowly prying herself out of the unicorn’s grip and stifling her laughter. “Oh yes of course. Er, where would you like me to sleep?” She glanced around to see there wasn’t anything in terms of furniture other than the table and chairs they used when she was served tea and a small bed built into the side of the wall, only large enough for one pony or zebra. “Well, I have a possible solution. But it doesn’t the most cushion.” She warned, reaching under her bed and pulling out a small sleeping bag. “I will take whatever you can offer, Zecora.” She took the bag and laid it out on the floor. After climbing into the bag, she watched the lights go out and fell asleep. Hoping that she wouldn’t be too late.