*Note: Amethyst Shine (my OC) is not the same pony as Amethyst Star a.k.a. Sparkler (background pony) Just wanted to clear up any confusion. ^v^
Amethyst Shine stared at the object in her hooves. Her light blue-violet coat was stained and her purple and sapphire mane was disheveled. Her eyes, normally a vibrant rose color, were now red and puffy. She had another nightmare. Amethyst opened the box in her hooves and stared at its contents. Truly the most amazing piece she had ever crafted, an intricate silver necklace, spotted with tiny pieces of dark amethyst and on the front, three perfectly cut light blue diamonds. The necklace sat in a box lined with purple velvet, Amethyst Shine had spent almost a year on it. Her profession was jewlery making, but she couldn’t have gotten off the ground without her help, it was the reason she moved to Ponyville anyway. Rarity taught her that jewel finding spell, given her advice on how to convince ponies to buy her merchandise, and Rarity had even told her customers at Carousel Boutique about her small little jewelry store! Amethyst adored Rarity’s work and only wanted to match Rarity’s skill for dressmaking with her own skill of jewelry making.
Amethyst Shine just stared at the necklace box. As she thought about her mentor and inspiration, new tears began to form, “I...I thought… How…? Why…?” It had been a week since she had read the papers, Rarity, the same pony who helped her get to where she was, had been a serial killer for fifteen years. Fifteen. Years. She had killed dozens of ponies, and had been given the needle that morning. It crushed Amethyst to hear the news, “Were you going to kill me? Did...did it ever cross your mind? I...I trusted you! I trusted you and now you’re dead! You were a murderer all this time!” Amethyst threw the box across the room.
The necklace stayed intact, unbroken from the many, many times she had thrown it across the room. The dents in her wall proved that. Now Amethyst regretted putting that protection spell on it, she wanted it to shatter, to break into tiny pieces like she did when she found out… But she couldn’t bring herself to remove the spell, that necklace was her greatest work. It had taken her two months to accumulate enough pieces of amethyst and another month to break them into small enough pieces so they would fit perfectly in the intricate, curling silver, which had taken her three months to get right. The diamonds were the hardest. Four months to find, another month to cut perfectly, and three weeks to make them sit perfectly. She was going to give it to Rarity as a thank-you present for all the help, and now…
Amethyst Shine wrapped the necklace in her light blue aura, she pulled it closer and held the box close to her. Another tear fell on the box, “Could I have done something? Could I have helped her?” The diamonds simply shined in the dim light of Amethyst’s bedroom, providing no answer to the questions she had asked. Amethyst sighed and closed the box, gently placing it on the little table next to her bed. She began to pace around her room, muttering to herself, “Night Rose has tried to get me outside for the past two days, she wants to talk to me about what happened.” Amethyst shook her head and stared down at her hooves, ”Oh, Rose. I’m sorry. I took your cousin to visit Rarity, and now she’s dead. I should have done something, I thought they would get along with Morning Bloom being so into fashion back in Canterlot. But when she said Rarity’s dresses were “unremarkable” and “mediocre” … I didn’t think Rarity would kill her! I didn’t know… It’s all my fault! I’m sorry, Night Rose! I’m sorry, Morning Bloom! I’m sorry, Rarity! I’m… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Amethyst collapsed onto her bed. She had spent the last few days crying, panicking, and going through fits of rage, and now more tears were being added. She couldn’t believe that under that kind and generous exterior was a killer, a cold-hearted murderer. Amethyst heard the rumors, some say she murdered a little filly and her mother and then stuffed them and put them in that basement of hers. Ugh… That basement. Amethyst wanted to hurl just thinking about it. She heard enough about it to last a lifetime, blood and knives everywhere, pelts adorning the walls, it was disgusting. Amethyst turned over and screamed into her pillow, “How could you?! I thought you were a good pony!” Amethyst continued to sob into her pillow, “It’s all my fault… I should have noticed something, I should have helped her! If I hadn’t been so stupid, maybe more ponies would still be alive. Maybe Rarity would still be here.”
Amethyst laughed to herself, “She could walk into the shop and be like ‘Oh, hello Amethyst. The shop looks wonderful!’ and I would say ‘Oh, it’s nothing. By the way I got you something.’ and she would try not to take it saying, ‘Oh no, darling. You didn’t need to get me anything.’ and I could pull out the necklace like, ‘It’s just a little something for helping me out.’ and she would find it to be so beautiful and promise to wear it every… e-every… Oh Rarity! Why?! Why did you do it?! Why?!” Amethyst began to sob into her pillow again, “Why, Rarity… Why…”
After she calmed herself down a bit, Amethyst stood up and walked into her kitchen. Tea. That’s what she needed. A nice soothing cup of tea and then she would go to bed and everything would be better in the morning. She placed the kettle on the stove and looked at the picture on her wall. There she stood. Amethyst and Rarity standing in front of the newly opened Diamond Destinies. Night Rose had volunteered to take the picture. Amethyst had such a big smile it looked like her head would split in two, and Rarity looked as refined and elegant as ever, a bright smile plastered onto her face. Amethyst stared at the photo for another moment before turning back to the cupboard. She looked through her collection of tea leaves and blends and settled on a special jasmine tea. It was imported from Neighpon and it was her favorite blend. She held the cup close, taking in it’s aroma and the warmth it provided. Memories came flowing in, memories of a time from before the world knew about Rarity, before Morning Bloom came to town, a time when Amethyst could enjoy a cup of tea with her friend and mentor on a cool spring day. Rarity had actually been the one to give her this tea, she was such a generous mare. She always had been.
Amethyst sipped her tea as she continued to look at the picture on the wall. She eventually sighed and removed the photo from the wall, placing it face down on the table. She didn’t come down here to think about Rar- that mare. She came down here to try and relax so she could go back to bed. She glanced at the clock over the stove, 4:30. Amethyst sighed and began pouring herself another cup of tea when she heard a little bell ring. She had installed a bell that would ring whenever someone opened her mailbox so she would know the the postmare came. It was a little early for the mail to be dropped off, but she decided to check it anyway.
She pulled out two letters from the mailbox and took them inside. She opened the first one and began to read, “Dear Amethyst, how dare you go on like nothing happened. You probably knew about this all along and that’s why you don’t seem to care. You were probably in on the whole thing, how many bodies are in your basement, huh? Blah, blah, et cetera, et cetera.” She threw the letter in the trash. She had gotten about twenty letters accusing her of something simply because Rarity was her mentor in the realm of fashion. She got everything from death threats to ponies claiming to have evidence connecting her to all of Rarity’s murders. Amethyst was hesitant to open the other letter but did so anyway.
Dear Amethyst Shine,
I know you’ve probably been going through a lot. I never knew Rarity as well as you did, but from what I hear she used to be really nice. I know the town is giving you a hard time because of what she did for you, but you shouldn’t feel bad. You didn’t do anything wrong, it was all Rarity’s doing. After all, how were you supposed to know? Since you won’t return my calls I decided to drop this in your mailbox. Amethyst, it’s okay. I know what happened to Morning Bloom wasn’t your fault, you had no idea that would happen. Yes, I am very upset about my little cousin being murdered. No, I am not mad at you in anyway. Please, just come by and talk to me. It won’t do you any good if you never speak to anyone again. Please, Amethyst. I need my best friend back.
Your friend,
Night Rose
Amethyst folded the note and put it on the table. She would have to go see Rose later, after she got some more sleep. Night Rose was right, nothing would bring Rarity back, and nothing would change what she had done. Amethyst would only get worse if she stayed home moping to herself, she wasn’t the only person who lost someone in all of this. Amethyst sat on her couch and continued to think about everything, “I’m sorry for making you worry, but I’m going to get better. I’m going to go see my friends and put this all behind me. I’ll probably go see Sweetie Belle, too. She probably needs a friendly face with everything going on, that sweet innocent filly. I know how much you hate it when I get depressed, so I’m putting the past behind me.” Amethyst picked up the photo one last time and smiled for the first time in a week.
“Goodbye, Rarity.”
Luna must replace Celestia. Really. She sucks. So very much.
As she herself came to admit at last, merely giving Rarity this needle immediately was the single most moronic decision since the ones she made which led to the Nightmare Moon incident a millennium ago.
AT THE VERY LEAST precaution could be taken so that her immature subjects would refrain from harassing anypony who even remotely knew of her. In fact, they shouldn't be tarnishing the fabulous fashionista's image at all! Ponies should know that amongst all the malice Rarity possessed, she was not a bad pony. A bad pony would kill you much more gruesomely. A bad pony would leave you in devastation. A bad pony would crush the world around you.
Rarity was merely a monster— a misguided, cursed, broken, despairing monster.
Celestia, you suck. You fail. You are incompetent. You are an imbecile. Or to be more polite: you failed to properly take care of this situation, I'm afraid.
So the aftermath leaves the entirety of Equestria in loose equilibrium.
From these horrors the ponies will not escape unscathed.
A shattering world of peace and Harmony— when would these reign once more?
History must repeat...this realm will die once more.
Awaiting further releases.
Great chapter.
Morning Bloom should have known better not to criticize Rarity's work, totally deserved what she got.
I'm always happy to read a new chapter from this universe, I hope to see more of them.
3515427
I see the Sun still has loyal followers.
I hope she will prove worthy of you.
EDIT: Noreally. I wish to see a Celestia who doesn't fail to be a benevolent ruler.
3515427 the same luna that knew of rarity crimes and covered them , allowing her to murder even more ponies ? Rarity deserves having her image torn to shreds . she could have stopped everything by confessing , but she valued more her freedom than the lives of others . Any goood she did is overshadowed her crimes
3516263
I think you are a bit too hasty, dear. I therefore ask you the following question: but was it out of free will?
The monster was created the day those foals found her secret hiding spot. By cornering her like a wild animal and causing her despair she, understandably, lashed out to defend herself. Realizing that she actually hurt the object of her despair she got drunk off this intense euphoria of power which she never had felt before. And that was when Rarity was no longer a being of Harmony.
As she progressed through her life she thought herself above all other ponies. Her mind was set on the fact that all ponies, save her parents, her little sister and the princesses were terrible creatures which at some point would lash out and should be purged.
But she was not willing to let small foals suffer, for she knew how terrible it would be if her own Sweetie Belle were to face such torment. She promised herself she would never again hurt a foal or her mother.
At last, she realized the importance of friendship. She started rethinking her approach, and decided to stop killing for the purpose of it, rather choosing to end the lives of ponies who 'attacked' her friends in some way. It was rather simple, less would die this way, and her urge would be satiated.
Yet she found that she had to continue killing. She found more and more ponies who was willing to hurt her friends.
"Look at that mare! She stared at Twilight! She must have evil intentions!"
"That stallion dared charge two bits more than the previous day! How dare he be so rude towards Pinkie?!"
No one can be trusted. Her friends are in danger at every step! She had to kill them!!
The psychologist was right. She wasn't killing because she wanted to save her friends. She was killing to maintain her sanity. She was killing because she knew nothing else. Only blood, elegance, pain, generosity, torment, kindness, killing, friendship, death, killing, friendship, killing, killing, killing, killing, k-kindness, murder....
By the end of the story....that wasn't Rarity.
You weren't paying attention. Rarity was not the only pony who paid for her crimes. Sweetie Belle, an innocent bystander locked between her love for her sister and her despair to find that Rarity was like this was forced to simply accept it...and the result is that all ponies who lost somepony dear lashed out in unjust ire and selfishly turned to drag her down into despair with them.
"TL; DR:" Rarity was broken a long time ago and Sweetie suffered because of Rarity's ruined reputation, as clearly shown in this chapter.
3516263
On the matter of Luna; this was a simple mistake which could have happened to anypony who decided to try the peaceful route.
Luna knows better than anypony how falling into despair is. Therefore, she attempted to cure this despair based upon this logic.
This was similar to the approach Celestia took in "Keep Calm and Flutter On"( which shows that canon Celestia is much better.)
In Equestria of all places, would this be so unheard of?
I cannot stress this enough. Nightmare Moon was not simply a separate entity which took control over Luna. Nightmare Moon wasn't Luna being sulky and evil and assuming a role as villain. Nightmare Moon was an entity manifested from Luna's very own hatred, jealousy and despair. At least, this is a possibility hinted at by the story.
Rarity did not kill for any particular amusement other than the detached sense of creativity much like that of the stylist she was. Nor did she kill out of malice unless she felt they were terrible ponies. At first she killed because it was "justice". Then it was out of habit.
Do you know what a drug is? It is a type of medicine, commonly used to alleviate pain. But then people grow addicted to it and use it for recreational purpose. And then they cannnot cease taking it! They try, but their bodies want it! It needs it! They must have more!
Absolutely the same case.
3516263
Note that I understand your ire, but I feel that you are somewhat quick to judge in this matter. Still, if you suspect I am mistaken then please feel free to present arguments to prove it.
EDIT: I am sincere in my apologies if I offended.
3516824
That too I suppose, but you once again failed to see my point.
Rarity wasn't cruel. She was detached.
Rarity wasn't enraged at somepony. She was angry.
Rarity wasn't able to feel remorse towards the regular victims because she had no grounds or reason for it.
Partially due to her gradual destruction, partially due to her powerlust she would find herself not sympathizing very often.
Why did she kill? She thought she killed to cleanse the world, but surely it was to protect her friends and their friends?
After she returned to killing since the attempt to cleanse her of the despair, the lust for death came back twice as powerful. If Rarity somehow managed to avoid ending lives she would lose her mind.
Rarity was broken.
(You don't really need to read this chapter to have an idea of what I intend here.)
It was namely because she was mentally unstable that I feel things should have gone differently.
In addition to this, the story went further into tragedy simply because Celestia was too quick. She could have investigated. She could have granted Sweetie protection. She could have informed the ponies.
Such things.
3516824
I have a suspicion that people aren't reading my comments after yours to compare our arguments, but nonetheless; well said.
Wait, they have telephones?
3518452
Torture person = Bad
There is no argument, besides the insanity plea, which could not be used because she was not insane, she was just hateful. Also, I do not belive there is a legal clause allowing people who are "Broken"(which will henceforth be used according to your definition which is "Someone who is detached and angry") to have a lighter sentence.
p.s. sorry to respond to such an old comment.
I hate that innocent ponies are being blamed for things Rarity and Rarity alone did.
5866799 Me too. I want to say that would never happen on Earth, but I don't believe in humanity enough. I do feel it' s a little rough for ponies to be doing this much.
3515427
Yea no, serial killers are pure evil