Though a Wednesday afternoon, Carousel Boutique sat closed. Inside the deserted shop, dresses from the fall fashion line hung on racks waiting to be sold and numerous accessories filled the shelves. Throughout the storefront, a thin layer of undisturbed dust coated everything. Upstairs in the inspiration room, bolts of fabric littered the floor and half-finished gowns lay strewn about haphazardly, while naked dress forms stood silent sentinel.
The back parlor was quiet and dark, the drawn curtains creating a dim twilight, one that reflected the somber mood of its solitary occupant. Rarity lay on the couch, an empty tub of death-by-chocolate ice cream and several boxes of tissues by her side. She longingly gazed at the photo album... there they were at the Sisterhooves Social... there she was as a darling flowerfilly at Cadence and Shining’s wedding... together at the Grand Galloping Gala looking their best in beautiful gowns... partying with friends at her cute-ceañera... the two of them with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo on a surprise trip to Manehattan... and a photo of them enjoying a large ice cream sundae at the diner.
Reaching the end of the album, she cast the book aside onto the coffee table and stretched out on the couch, surrounded by deathly silence. Several months had passed since Sweetie Belle’s funeral. Several terrible, agonizing months. Ponies say that time heals all wounds. But they are wrong. Some wounds never heal, but remain painful and raw forever.
Rarity had hardly stepped outside for months, becoming a recluse in her hometown. Her friends and family had tried their best to help her through this difficult time, doing everything they could to provide comfort and ease the heartache. Just the day before, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie had come by to coax her out of her self-imposed isolation, but to no avail.
Her businesses had struggled over the past few months, the shortfall in inventory being made up for with items from guest designers, her colleagues in the industry. Rarity knew that she needed to return to her workroom, to begin designing and sewing again, to meet customers and manage her business. But every time she tried to work, the pain and sorrow just swelled within her. It was her fashion career that had taken her away from Ponyville. If only she didn’t have stores in Canterlot and Manehattan, maybe she could have spent more time with her little sister. Maybe she could have prevented the terrible accident that had caused the filly’s death. Maybe she could have been at the hospital bedside during the last few hours of Sweetie Belle’s life....
Rarity lay on the couch for a long time, the pain unbearable. Days had become weeks, weeks had become months. She couldn’t take it anymore. She needed to do something to distract her mind, to provide a temporary relief from her sorrow. She didn’t feel like interacting with other ponies socially. But Twilight had mentioned that a new Shadow Spade book was coming out. Those books always captured her attention and swept her away to a world of danger, intrigue, and mystery. Maybe it would help, if only for a few hundred pages?
Rarity rolled off the couch. She knew she looked terrible, but lacked any motivation to clean up. Instead, she headed to the closet and found a black cloak, one that had once concealed her horrid mane. Now again it would shield her from unwanted attention. She donned the cloak and pulled the hood over her head.
Opening the door flooded the parlor with afternoon sunshine. Rarity winced under the bright light. Nevertheless, she pressed onwards to the Castle of Friendship, home to Ponyville’s library since Tirek’s attack the year before. She took a winding route, skirting the town to avoid the main square and the market, hoping to make it to her destination without having to talk to anypony. She approached the glittering, crystal castle, one that stood as a symbol of hope for Equestria. Twilight had lost something as well and had managed. But losing a home is not the same as losing a sibling. How would Twilight handle Shining Armor’s death? Well, being an immortal alicorn, the question should be: “How will Twilight handle Shining Armor’s death?”
Rarity climbed the stairs and let herself into the grand entrance hall. She continued until reaching the library. Finding a dozen patrons in the room reading, she hesitated momentarily, but decided she had come too far. Stepping inside, Rarity admired the grand library. Thousands of volumes lined the shelves, covering every topic under Celestia’s sun. It really was too big for a town the size of Ponyville, but then again, it also served the resident princess.
A tall stack of books walked towards her. “Spike?” she asked.
“Rarity!” came a faceless voice, a mixture of surprise and happiness.
Rarity levitated the top twelve books in a light blue aura until she could see clearly see the dragon. “Are you running the library all by yourself?”
“For a week. Twilight and Starlight had to go to Canterlot on business.” He paused, unsure. “How are you doing?”
“The past few months have been... difficult. I miss Sweetie Belle terribly. But I’m trying to move past my grief.”
“If you need any help,” he offered.
“Thank you Spike. I’m actually here to check out the new Shadow Spade book. Do you know where it is?”
“I will go get it for you.”
“Thank you, but if you point me in the right direction, I can get it.”
“Use the map over there,” said Spike, indicating with a nod towards the circulation desk. “Twilight magically enchanted it. It will lead you to whatever book you’re looking for.”
“Thank you Spike,” responded Rarity.
“Anything for you, Rarity.”
Rarity gently returned the books to Spike, and he headed on his way. She walked over to the central desk, one frequently occupied by her dear friend Twilight. Just where Spike had indicated, she found a blank piece of parchment. Picking it up, black ink magically appeared and formed into an arrow pointing behind her. Strange, Rarity could have sworn the mystery section lay on the other side of the library. Nevertheless she turned and headed over. Rarity walked back and forth along the shelving, but found only history books. Looking down at the map, she noticed the arrow pointed askew. Walking along, the arrow gradually shifted until it pointed right at the wall. Rarity glanced up, but found herself looking at the door through which she had entered the library. Perhaps the book had been left in another room of the castle?
Leaving the library, the arrow turned left. Rarity followed it until she reached the main doors of the castle. Really? The book must have been checked out by somepony else. She thought about returning to the library to find another book, but decided to press on. Maybe she could find out who borrowed it and they could lend it to her once finished?
~~~
When Rarity woke up in the morning, she never thought she’d end up walking through the Everfree Forest. But then again, she never thought she’d venture outside in the first place. The only pony she knew who lived in the forest was Zecora, but Rarity had passed the turnoff that led to the zebra’s tree cottage some time before. Who lived this deep in the forest?
After what must have been well over two hours of walking, the forest suddenly stopped and Rarity stood at the edge of a deep canyon, spanned only by an old rope-bridge. On the other side towered the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. Could Twilight have been studying there and left the book by accident?
Rarity thought about turning around and going home, but she had come so far and had nothing to show for it. And besides, what would she return to but an empty shop that only reminded her of the pain and guilt? Rarity carefully and cautiously crossed the rickety old bridge until she was on the other side. Apprehensively she approached the castle, remembering the time she had run for her life from the Pony of Shadows. Though it turned out to just be Pinkie Pie, she still felt unease by the old decaying walls surrounding her.
The map led her deep into the castle until she reached the library. Slowly Rarity passed the shelves, watching the arrow on the map gradually rotate until it pointed directly at the wall. Stopping before a large bookcase, she examined all the books, but found only volumes on magic. She raised the map to her face and angrily yelled, “This is not what I’m looking for!”
The arrow on the map rotated upwards. Rarity levitated up the shelving until it pointed to the right. She slid the map to the right along the shelf until the arrow disappeared for a brief moment before reappearing and pointing to the left. The map must be leading her to the large red book with a broken binding. She attempted to pull it down, but it was stuck. She tried again and again until finally giving a hard yank. But instead of coming down, a large groan startled her and then the next bookcase over creaked open.
Rarity stepped into the alcove and examined its contents, secreted away for who knew how long. She blew away the ancient dust and read the title: The Book of Forbidden Knowledge. Opening the book, Rarity scanned the table of contents. Suddenly her heart stopped: “Chapter 13: Necromancy.”