"No! No! Let me out! Let me out you... you bastard!"
Shhh... Quiet. You'll just make him mad.
"W-who was that? Am I not alone?" Rarity whipped her head around, inspecting every possible corner of the dark dungeon of a room.
Play along. You'll be less likely to be hurt that way.
"Show yourself! Stop playing such silly games." Again she peered around.
Stop yelling, you'll attract attention.
The voice started to sound impatient. "And why should I? You have no control over me." The unicorn turned her head, nose in the air. Silently to herself, she muttered, "I must be going crazy from being locked up."
No, you're not crazy. Rarity sat straight up. The voice paused. What if I told you I'm not real?
This sobered Rarity. "W-what? What do you mean not real?" Hoofbeats began to fill the air.
He's coming back! Quick, when he gets in here, agree to his proposition.
Rarity opened her mouth, but the voice shushed her.
No arguing. Just say you'll go on a date with him.
The iron door creaked open. "My dear sweet Rarity, have you decided to be more... agreeable?"
The unicorn decided her best bet was to follow the advice of the voice. She nodded. "Yes, Blueblood, I have. I shall go on your date with you."
"This is fabulous news! I'll have to go prepare everything." He kissed her cheek. "Oh, and one thing..." A key was suspended through the air with blue magic, used to unlock the chains that bound her. "I must let you free so you can get ready, correct? So, go get dolled up for our date. I'll pick you up in... three hours?" Again he kissed her cheek, and turned to leave. "I can't wait to see you, my darling. Ta ta!"
When he exited the room, Rarity smiled. Thank you.
Your welcome. I'll see you soon, Rarity.
As the voice faded away, the pony recalled a voice that sounded very familiar to this one. Who did it belong too? the name was just on the tip of her tongue...
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Out of her bonds, Rarity hurried to the bathroom Fancy Pants had let her use during her occupation. After using the toilet, the dress-maker looked in the large mirror above the sink. At her looks, she began to feel faint. Her mascara was smeared from crying, the purple curls were dirty and nonexistent. Tears tracks were prominent through the blush, showing her true color.
Trying not to make a scene and alert Blueblood, the unicorn looked for something to help her looks. On the counter, she found a stash of makeup and beauty products in the bathroom, along with a hoof mirror. A note attached to the hairbrush read, Thought you might need these. Blueblood. Rarity snorted at his fake chivalry. Using the brush, she counted off one hundred strokes through her luscious plum locks.
1... 2... 3...
This is unbelievable, being forced to go on a date with such an imbecile. Really. I mean, why act so courteous now? Why, he displayed his true self at the gala!
37... 38... 39...
Ugh. I had to make myself a new dress after that incident. Cake stains are horrible to get our. Especially ones with those colors. All he was wearing was his stupid little bowtie and... and... collar. Next to nothing! He could have just had his maid wash those in a moment.
74... 75... 76...
But noooo, he had to ruin my hunk of fabric, that took my friends a day to produce! Ruined all their hard work. He's just a... a...
100...
Tears pitter-patted on the floor. A small puddle began to produce in the cracks of the concrete.
Why does he want me here?
______________________________________________________________________________________
"Why howdy there, Twi! What brings ya to Sweet Apple Acres?"
"Oh, um, hello, Applejack. I'm just here to see Big Mac." Twilight looked around sheepishly.
"Again? Why, Ah'm staring to feel underdameciated!"
The purple pony heaved a sigh. "It's underappreciated."
"Whatever."
"Look, can I just see Big Mac? It's about Rarity."
"Hey, Ah'm Rarity's friend too. Ah think Ah should know, too." Applejack glared full on at Twilight.
"Fine. Come along."
Both of them walked through the farm to where Big Mac was bucking apples. Seeing the two arrive, he set his hindlegs back on the earth, and trotted toward them.
"Howdy Miss Sparkle. Any new news?" His poker face was in place, but a glimmer of hope and sadness was in his apple green eyes.
"No, I'm sorry. In fact, I came to see if you heard from her." Twilight stared pleadingly upwards.
"Nah. No letters, no nothing." Twilight corrected his grammar under her breath.
"Are you sure-" Applejack cut her off.
"Now, what's goin' on here? Ah have no idea what you two are talkin' 'bout, and Ah wannna know! This is Rarity we're discussin', and she's mah friend." She peered over at her older brother. "Big Mac?" He looked away. "Twi?" she did the same.
Now, this ticked her off. "Somepony tell me the truth!"
Twilight seemed to weaken first. Eyes looking at the ground, she replied to the farmpony. "I really didn't want to tell you of this. Any of our friends, really." She gulped. "Applejack... Rarity is missing."
A loud gasp was heard. "Missin'? Big bro, you knew?"
He nodded. "Ah told Miss Sparkle here."
"And not me?! Ah'm her friend too!"
"Yes, but Ah knew she wouldn't overreact." The red colt shot a glare at his sister.
"Ok, Ah guess Ah can understand. But what're we doin' here? We have ta go ta Canterlot!"
A purple hoof was draped reassuringly her orange shoulders. "Applejack... That's the problem. We have no proof she's late coming home for malicious reasons. It could just be business."
"Well, do ya have ponies, guards, Celestia, out lookin' for her?" Twilight shook her head. "Can... can we at least tell out friends?" Again, purple hair was shaken. "Well why not? Ah am the element of Honesty!"
"Well... Maybe you're right. Even if my brother is looking out for her, we may need to help. Let's go tell out friends. But, please, try not to get them too worked up," the unicorn pleaded.
"Fine. Now excuse me, Ah have news ta break." Trotting away, she was halfway to her side of the orchard, and Fluttershy's house, before she came galloping back. "Wait, how many days has she been late?"
"Five, sis." Applejack's eyes turned wide.
"If she's been kidnapped, it's not likely she'll be coming back without our help."
______________________________________________________________________________________
Having stopped crying long ago, Rarity finished applying her makeup. Stepping out of the bathroom looking better then an hour before, she sat down.
Blue eyeshadow covered her lids, like normal, along with false eyelashes adorned with extra mascara. A light pink sheen covered her lips, and the previous curls were brushed back into her hair. The unicorn couldn't say she liked the outdated hair, but she wasn't provided a curling iron. It would simply have to do.
Now, done with her primping, Rarity curled up on the floor, finally comfortable for once. Sitting and pondering how her life had got like this, mixed with discontent for Blueblood and having to wait for their... 'date', her eyes began to droop. Trying her best to keep them open, as to not ruin her perfectly applied makeup, was a task. When her eyes almost seemed to roll back into her head, she finally shut them, falling asleep with rhythmic breaths.
______________________________________________________________________________________
"W-where am I? This isn't familiar."
Rarity found herself in a landscape filled with trees, and mysterious plants. Walking along what seemed to be a path, many familiar sights passed.
"Is that the Poison Joke patch? And... was that the river where I gave my tail to that serpent?" A realization dawned on her. "This is the way to the castle where we defeated Nightmare Moon..."
Noticing more new landmarks where the brave deeds of herself and her friends had happened, she arrived quicker then should seem possible.
"It's... new." Shock and surprise was present in her voice.
That was true. Instead of being worn down and decaying, the castle was now a regal place, with flags floating in the turrets above. At first cautious, she now trotted inside, eager to explore. Tapestries hung on the walls, woken with rich blue and red threads, along with the carpets.
Halfway down the first hall, she arrived to a fork. sitting and contemplating which way to go, left, or right, the gently voice startled her again.
"Hello Rarity. I told you we'd meet again." The voice was almost amused.
"Who are you? I think I deserve to know. It's not fun taking orders from a faceless figure."
"Oh, Rarity, we have a meeting together. But hurry, you don't have much time. Meet me where you defeated Nightmare Moon." The voice was starting to fade.
"Wait!" Rarity rushed to the stairs behind her, galloping all the way to the top. Her little helper was waiting just at the top, her identity waiting to be revealed. "Please... Wait for me!"
Gasping, she arrived at the top of the stone steps. Flopping down on the floor, she chuckled, knowing she looked a fright.
"So you made it."
Rarity lifted her head up high. "Yes, I did. Now, show yourself!"
The voice laughed at the cliche. "In a minute. I have to tell you something."
The tall, dark figure of a cloaked pony materialized, and soon began to circle around the holder of the elements in the middle of the room. It paused, and then stopped in front of her element, the Element of Generosity. "The elements... They give you power when you are together, correct?" Rarity nodded in agreement. "Being dead has taught me a lot."
The white unicorn stiffened. "D-dead?"
"Yes, dead. See, everyone has a part of an element inside of them. It gives them power. This power? It's what you know as hope. The feeling that helps you live on, that lets you see there may be something better." Blue eyes stared into blue eyes. "You have been given full power. Harness this hope, and it in turn will help you live through this. The elements are powerful on their own." The figure started to walk away, leaving the purple-maned mare to think.
When the other pony was almost gone, just a tip of her cloak barely visible, Rarity called out after her. "Wait! you told me you'd tell me who you were."
"I did, didn't I?" Retracting back into view, the hood was thrown off of a slender, elegant white face, revealing a long unicorn's horn at the same time, along with a striped pink mane.
"Shocked, huh, Rarity? Well, i tried to help you once before, and I swore I'd do it until I died," she giggled. Rarity just sat, gaping in shock.
"F-fleur?"