//------------------------------// // Despair // Story: Rarity's lament // by Sweetiebellema121 //------------------------------// ~9:06 pm~ Rarity giggled as she stepped into her bathroom. She grinned merrily at her reflection for a few seconds before her eyes glanced at an unknown blemish on her magnificent tail. Almost instinctually her hooves latched onto the edge of her tail and pulled it to her face. The red smear at the edge of her tail irritated Rarity immensely as she had been so careful while she worked. Rarity took a wiff expecting to find the aroma of paint or maybe some other sort of drawing utensil but the smell she inhaled was an irony smell she wasn't very familiar with. A more reckless pony like her friends Rainbow dash or Applejack would most likely know the smell quite well but for Rarity the smell of blood wasn't something she was accustomed to. "Damn it all!!!! OF ALL THE WORST THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN...THIS IS...THE. WORST! POSSIBLE!! THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO ME!!!!! Rarity cried Rarity quickly checked herself; She had been so careful, so diligent while she was cleaning the glass. The thought of a cut on her illustrious body almost made her sick to her stomach. After a few minutes of checking every inch of her body, she found that there wasn't a mark on her. Rarity waved her tail upward catching the tip of her tail in her mouth. The smear was at the edge of her tail; but the biggest question was how it had gotten there. The only way it could have gotten there was by rubbing against something, but where and when. Rarity held her tail out in front of the mirror as she slid her hoof across the blood spot; the blood was dry; maybe hours old. She dipped her tail into the sink and began scrubbing it furiously with soap. One question circled through her mind: Where did the blood come from? An image appeared before Rarity's eyes, but she dismissed it as quickly as it had come. Rarity washed herself silently as the joy and ecstasy she had so very much wanted to feel had vanished. --------------------- ~8:48 am the next day~ Rarity's eyes opened slowly, the blood on her tail had kept her from getting the peaceful sleep she had wanted. Rarity stretched herself as she descended from her bed. The brush in front of her make-up mirror floated upward and began combing her scruffy mane back to it's perfect form. After a few minutes of preparing herself; she drowsily walked down her hallway to a set of doors. Rarity nudged the door open with her face as she peered inside. "Sweetie Bel-" She started but yawned half way through. She covered her mouth for a few seconds then tried again. "Swee-Sweetie Belle...it's time to get up." She said in drugged voice. Rarity's half closed eye traveled from one end of the guest room her sister was using to the other; the room was silent. The bed was empty and devoid of life as though no one had occupied it the entire night.The pillow and blanket were still in the same position they had been when Sweetie belle had gotten up the day before. Rarity stood there half confused by what she was seeing, her mind was still too hazy from sleep to comprehend what was wrong. "Sweetie...Belle" Rarity repeated as her hoof began to rub the sleep from her eyes. Before Rarity's mind could understand what was happening a loud knock caught her attention. Rarity drifted down the hall and stairs until she reached the door when her mind finally caught up to her. "Oh Celestia...are we still doing this?" Rarity thought as her hoof slid down her face. Rarity narrowed her eyes as she slowly open the doors with her magic. In her minds eye she could see Twilight and the two fillies standing behind the door. At this point Rarity wanted to punch herself for agreeing to look after Sweetie Belle while their parents were on their second honeymoon; it was causing her nothing but grief. Rarity had a scowl on her face as the door opened; her expression shifted upon seeing that Twilight wasn't with the fillies. This time Apple Bloom's older sister Applejack was standing beside Twilight and standing (almost cowering) beside a tree was the yellow coated and pink maned pegasus Fluttershy. "Hello sugarcube ." Applejack said with a half smile. Fluttershy poked her head out from behind the tree: "oh...yes...um..go-good morning Rarity.." The yellow pegasus said in her almost whisper-like tone. Rarity looked from one friend to next. "I'm guessing that last nights venture....didn't end well." "I'm sorry...me and the girls... we searched all night but we couldn't..." Twilight trailed off. "...I took the fillies home at around one...I-i really didn't mean to keep them up so late but i lost track of..." Twilight started "When i heard what was goin' on i got the others and we've been searchin' ever since." Applejack continued. Fluttershy nodded in approval. "We came by an hour ago but got no answer." The light orange mare said with tip of her stetson hat. "Figured you were already lookin' for her..." Applejack eyes scanned Rarity up and down "...I guess you..just got up..." "Um..yes..I.."Rarity choked out. Fluttershy stepped out from behind the tree. "...Um...I...don't mean to interrupt but there's a-a...terrible storm scheduled for...this afternoon...we...can't..what..I-I..mean to say is..." "Fluttershys right we can't just stand here talking." Twilight said with more vigor then before. "Yeah so come on Rarity; I told the fillies we'd meet up with'em at around 9 so..." Applejack said as she walked past and was followed closely behind by the other two mares. "I-I'm...afraid i can't..." The three mares froze. "Beg your pardon?" Applejack asked slowly. Applejack, Twilight and Fluttershy turned to face their friend; Rarity sighed. " I'm afraid I can't go with you." "I-I...don't unde-." Twilight muttered as she galloped back to the boutique. ""There's been a slight mishap in my boutique...and until this mess is taken care of i'm afraid I can't leave..." Rarity face dropped down as she spoke. "We're not lookin' for some stranger here..." Applejack paused as her tone grew more serious. "..Your sister...shes been missin' for an entire day...she could be stuck somewhere or...even hurt." Fluttershy shuttered at Applejacks words; trying her hardest to suppress the tears that were forming at the sides of her eyes. "I-I'm sorry.." Rarity said as her eyes darted away from her friends. "And what the hay is that suspose to mean!" Rarity's eyes shifted back only to be met by the glare of a cyan rainbow maned mare. Rarity jumped back in surprise; almost tripping over her own hind legs. "Rain-Rainbow Dash.." Rarity huffed The cyan Pegasus was floating upside down with her mane hanging loosely above Rarity's door step. "We've been busting our tails all morning!" Rainbow Dash snarled "How can you say your not going to help...she's your sister afterall!!" "Come on Dashie! You don't have to be such a grumpy-pants just because you didn't get any sleep." A chipper voice called out as a pink cotton candy maned pony's head popped out beside Rainbow Dash. "Pinkie Pie how are you...?" Twilight asked from below but the pink mare didn't seem to be listening. "Poor Sweetie Belle must be so scared but..." Pinkie giggled to herself. " I know just the cure!" Rainbow Dash blinked as she stared her at pink friend. "..Uh..Pinkie." "Oh we'll throw Sweetie Belle the biggest most bestest party ever." "...Pinkie." "I can't wait!!" "..Pinkie." "Maybe I shouldn't wait!!" "Pinkie." "I should go home and get ready!" "PInk..ie!" "Oh but we haven't found her yet...then I should wait!" Pinkie said as she put a hoof to her chin. "Pinkie!" " But then what if we find her super fast and the party isn't ready." "Pinkie!!!" "Oh nononono I should go and start preparing for the party." "PINKIE PIE!!!!!!!" Rainbow shouted. "Yes Dashie?" The bubbly mare asked with a grin. The two stared at each other for a few second before gravity finally took effect. Pinkie Pie fell downward but managed to twist herself around so she landed on her bottom. Sadly Twilight wasn't so lucky as the pink mare landed ontop of her head. "Oh sorry about that Twi."Pinkie said with a giggle "Phats ok Minkie , but doh ou bind retting of ee." Twilight muttered as her face was pressed into the floor. Pinkie Pie nodded "Okie dokie lokie." She said with a smile. Pinkie hopped off Twilight's head and began skipping over to Fluttershy and Applejack. Rainbow Dash flipped herself around; landed on the doorstep and proceeded to help Twilight to her hooves. Twilight gave a small nod and smile to Rainbow then turned back to Rarity. "Please understand...I-I have..so much work..I..." Rarity said slowly Twilight grimaced. "I don't...I don't fully understand what your trying to say...but we don't have time to stand around and argue with you. We have to keep searching." Twilight turned her head ."Come on girls lets go." Twilight walked slowly to the others followed closely behind by Rainbow dash. Rainbow gave Rarity a quick glance; the white unicorn's actions puzzled her. If it were Rainbow whose sibling was missing she'd search to the end of Equestria till he/she was found. Rainbow wanted to press the issue further, but she had to agree with Twilight . With the storm closing in and all the ground they had to cover they didn't have a moment to spare. "Fine, fine, fine! Lets just go already!!" Rainbow sighed then rolled her eyes "Don't worry Rarity we'll find her dea-" A hoof shot into her mouth. "Maybe we shouldn't be a sayin' such...um delicate things in the present company." Applejack said as she motioned her head to the left . Rainbow dash tilted herself only to see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo coming down the path. Rarity glared at the two fillies; luckily for her none of her friends had noticed. The five mares started down the path meeting up with the fillies in the middle. Fluttershy sighed lightly as she gave Rarity a final look.The yellow pegasus' glassy eyes held a suffocating sorrow that slowly began to press down on Rarity's soul. The disappointment that filled her eyes cut deeply into Rarity's heart more sharply then any blade ever could. Rarity had to turn away; she couldn't bare to stare into her friend's eyes any longer. It was causing her too much pain. Fluttershy shook her head slowly than turned so she could catch up with the others. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~9:07 am~ Rarity moved slowly into her home; closing the door lightly behind herself. Her balance slipped but she managed to catch the wall with a hoof. "Curse them!" She thought " Curse those three for involving my friends in this farce!!" Rarity stabilized herself before pushing away from the wall. She dragged herself to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, and to put her mind at ease. She cooked and baked but her attention was elsewhere. Try as she might the disappointed faces of her friends circled through her mind. Rarity lowered her eyes at the plate in front of her. she shifted the food around with her hoof; As much as she wanted to; she didn't have the strength to eat. Rarity's eyes drifted upward; her hoof flew to her face as tears began to slide down her cheeks. A second plate of food was setup at the seat beside her. " Oh...Celestia...am..I really this weak." Rarity buried her head in her hooves as the tears began to fall freely from the unicorn's eyes to her checks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ~5:25 pm~ Rarity's eye opened slowly as a low pounding noise pulled her away from her dreams. She turned her head slightly to the window above the table only to realized how dark it was outside. The light pounding intensified; slightly drumming through Rarity's ears. Rarity sluggishly lifted her head off the kitchen table as the light rapping at the door was getting more and more annoying. Rarity barely had any energy but she managed to crawl off her chair as she lazily made her way out of the room. Rarity's horn sparked a little as she attempted to open the door with her magic. The door creaked slowly but a strong gust blew the door forward as the wind's howled echoed through the room. Rarity shielded her eyes as a bright light flashed across the desolate sky. Rarity's eyes refocused to find a waterlogged Twilight, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo at the base of her doorstep. Rarity hesitated for a seconds before allowing the three into her home. The fillies immediately began to shake the water from their bodies while Twilight simply pushed the hair away from her face. The torrent of rain began to spill into the room so Rarity closed the door as quickly as she could. "The storm hit harder then we thought it would." Twilight said in a stern voice. Rarity turned to reply but she was meet with the annoyed face of her friend. Twilight's eyes were a combination of anger and confusion. Rarity opened her mouth but was quickly cut off by Twilight. "The others went back to their homes to wait out the storm...but I doubt we'll be able to do anymore today." Twilight's voice was sharper then usual. Rarity bit her lip "Then i'm guessing..." "Can I ask you a question?" Twilight quipped Rarity grimaced "Of course..." "Whats going on with you?" Twilight began. "We've all been out there looking and you...you don't seem to be concerned in the least?"Why is that?" Twilight asked with a frown. Rarity opened her mouth to reply but was quickly interrupited. "Shes been actin' real funny since yesterday." Apple Bloom chirped Rarity glared at the filly but said nothing as the orange Pegasus took a step foward to add her own two cents. "We went to her for help first...and it looked like she was gonna." Scootaloo paused. "But then she got really cocky with us...like she was mad at us or something." Twilight looked from one filly to the next then to Rarity. "Is this true?" She asked slowly Rarity's eyes narrowed as her anger began bubble in her chest. "Thats It!" Rarity growled through gritted teeth. Twilight and the fillies jumped back in surprise. "I've had it! This foolish game ends here and now!! Where is she?!!"Rarity snarled as her anger exploded "Where is Sweetie Belle?!!!" The two fillies cowered backwards to escape the creature that was bearing down on them. Rarity moved in closer; her body resonated an aura of anger and hate that swirled around her. "Your going to tell me and your going to tell me now!!!!!" Rarity demanded "WHERE IS SWEETIE BELLE!!!!!" Rarity hissed before either filly could utter a word. "Rarity!!" Twilight shouted as she jumped in between Rarity and the fillies. "Don't defend them Twilight!" Rarity barked Twilight stared at her friend in horror. Never in all her time in Ponyville had she seen the look that Rarity had in her eyes; it terrified her. "Wha-whats gotten into you." Twilight whimpered timidly "I Said move!!" Rarity glared at Twilight.Twilight grimaced but stood her ground. "Get the hell out of my way!!" Rarity hissed Rarity raised her hoof up to strike. Twilight eyes lit up in fear, it wasn't some stranger trying to hurt her. It was a friend and one of her best; that was going to cause her pain. Twilight turned her head sharply readying herself for the blow, but her body reacted on it's own as her horn began to glow. Rarity shuffled backwards as a force engulfed her body, and before she could react she was thrown backward across the hall until her back collided with the steps. Rarity let out a small yelp of pain as she rolled down several steps; before landing on her side with a thud. Twilight let out a few heavy breaths before finally catching her breath. "Rarity...I-I'm so sorry.."Twilight said in a shaky voice. "...Yo-you were really scaring me there...I thought you were going to hur-" "I wasn't going to hurt anypony." Rarity said dryly " I just don't have time for these games." Twilight narrowed her eyes as Rarity struggled to get back to her hooves. "What do you mean games?" Twilight Asked slowly. Twilight's eyes lit up; then she gave her friend a stern look. " You think this is somesort of joke or prank their playing on you.Don't you?" Rarity glared at the purple unicorn as she took another step forward. Twilight's eye softened. "Before this goes any further." She said calmly."Take a good look at the mirror and tell me what you see." Rarity twisted her head to the small hanging mirror on the wall. Rarity face fell as she stared deeply into her own reflection. She could barely recognize herself; The murderous eyes that stared back at her made her sick to her stomach. Her mane and coat were ruffled and disheveled. Rarity's eyes darted downward ashamed of herself for what she had become. "I don't know where you got it through your head that these two are trying to pull something on you." Twilight said in an almost motherly scolding voice " But look at them." Rarity's eyes darted away from the mirror; Her heart sank at the image she saw. Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were balled up and shaking with wide frightened eyes. "I...I..." " So you thought this was somesort of prank."Twilight said with a confused face "I...I thought it was too convenient...but...I..." Rarity said slowly Twilight cocked her eye at Rarity "What do yo-" She shook her head. " That doesn't matter right now." Twilight moved a few steps to the left then pointed at the two shaking fillies "There foals Rarity! Do you honestly think they would come up with such a cruel prank like this."She started " Right now your sister is out there somewhere scared or hurt and you-you haven't done a....." Twilight grimaced at herself for what she was going to say. "..Damn thing about it." Twilight lowered her eyes at herself as she didn't like to swear. Rarity's face went pale "Oh Celestia....what have i done..." Twilight's face softened "I'm sorry...I was so abrupt..." "No no...that's fine..." Rarity said lightly "Where have you searched...so far.." Twilight nodded quickly "So far...we've done most of Ponyville and Sweet Apple...we were going to ask Zecora to help us with the Everfree Forest...but shes away. I think she said somethin-" Rarity's eyes widened; she had told her sister several times to stay away from the forest. So if Sweetie Belle had gone anywhere to hide it was there. "...so once the storm breaks we're going check the Everfree Forest." Twilight continued "No!" Rarity said quickly Twilight blinked "Wha-" "No no no...it'll be...too late by then." Rarity shook her head rapidly Rarity rushed foward plowing through Twilight as she reached for the door. Twilight flipped over from the impact landing on her side. Her head shot out as she watched her friend opened the door. "Rarity!! Wait!! The storm.. it's too dangerous....you can't go to the Everfree...." Rarity shook her head "No... no I-I have to go..." Rarity pulled the door foward as a streak of lightning cut across the sky. Rarity took a deep breath then sped outside shielding herself as the rain pelted her body. Twilight pulled herself up slowly but weakly fell back to the ground. Her body was exausted from the overuse of magic. She'd been using it for most of the day and was actually feeling light headed. Twililght had actually gotten lucky when she had accidentally used her magic on Rarity, but now she had nothing left in her to stop her friend. ------------------------------------------------------- ~Somewhere between 6:00 and 6:45~ "SWEETIE BELLE!!!!!!!!" Rarity screamed with all her might so as not to be drowned out by the constant falling of rain. Rarity's heart raced as the storm raged around her. She sped as fast as she could through the bleak forest; her only source of light was the flashes of lightning that illuminated the sky.The grass and branches cut across her fragile body and limbs but she pressed on; ignoring the pain. She had only one thing on her mind; nothing else even came close. All that mattered to her now was her sister. "Sweeti-" The boom of thunder rang out across the sky. Rarity's head spun as she turned for a new direction. The volume of the rain increased as the wind picked up. The ferocity of the storm was much worse then before. In Rarity's mind she knew the reason. While the weather in Ponyville was controlled; the weather in the Everfree forest was not. If there was a terrible storm in Ponyville it was worse in the Everfree forest. The wind howled and shook the trees that Rarity past. Her hoof was out infront of her face to shield her eyes from her own wind tousled mane. The sound of a loud creak drew Rarity's attention. One of the trees to the far left began to give way. The tree fell downward landing with an earth shattering thud that threw Rarity off balance for a few seconds. Rarity was simply glad she had been nowhere near it and in her mind hoped her sister hadn't been as well. "Sweetie Belle!!! Sweetie Belle please answer me!!!!! Rarity cried. Rarity's eyes shifted "Sweetie Belle...I-I'm....I'm sor-" A crash of thunder bellowed; once again muffling Rarity's voice. Rarity's eyes lowered as her head dropped down. "....Please..." Rarity blindly rushed foward; screaming her sisters name, but no reply was heard. ---------------------------------------- ~????~ The howl of the wind had subsided as the storm was slowly dying down. The rain drenched white unicorn stood at her door step. Her eyes were blank as she stared at the ground. How had she gotten home? What time was it? These were question she asked herself but had no answer to either of them. There was one thing she knew; (her eyes drifted upward) she was alone. The physically and mentally exhausted mare didn't even have the strength to use her magic to open her door. After a few seconds she simply pushed the door forward with a hoof. In her minds eye she could see her sister jumping out from behind the door with an ear to ear grin. Laughing wholeheartedly at the joke she and her friends had played, but this didn't happen; as there was no one to greet her. Twilight and the fillies were nowhere to be found. Rarity felt more alone then she had ever felt in her life. Rarity's heavy hoofsteps echoed through the dark room. It was the only sound that could be heard in the empty house. That was until something crunched under her hoof. Rarity lowered her head slowly to the object under her hoof. She picked her hoof up only to find a facedown picture; the one that had fallen the day before. Rarity sighed to herself for not having picked it up earlier. She nudged the picture with her nose carefully; making sure not cut herself on the glass. Rarity flipped the picture trying to move it closer to the wall. Her heart stopped when her eyes met the image on the picture. It was a picture of herself and Sweetie Belle. The two were younger with bright smiles on their faces as though they had had been laughing. Rarity lowered her eyes as the memories came back to her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A young Sweetie Belle hopped around the room. She could barely contain herself as she began climbed all over Rarity; laughing the entire time. "ok you two." The pairs mother said calmly. "Sweetie Belle." The younger Rarity chuckled "You have to stay still or mom can't take the picture." The little foal giggled and squeaked when she felt her sister's hooves grab her sides. Sweetie Belle jumped forward latching onto her sister's neck as she climbed up to Rarity's head. Their mother smiled gently "ok girls now say...CHEESE!!!" "CHEESE!!!" Rarity giggled "RARITY!!!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rarity's eyes closed slowly as a tear slipped out. Her hoof flew to her face as more tears began to poor down to the floor. Her body began to sway as she slowly lost control of her emotions. Her mouth opened and in a low voice only audible to the picture; Rarity said the only words her body would allow. "I'm sorry....So....sorry....."