//------------------------------// // Rarity's Reveire part four // Story: Ruining Harmony // by Artaelian //------------------------------// Rarity had to trot to keep up with Spike. The castle for the most part had the same décor as the previous room, each room they passed flashed by in the same deep purple colour, with gold and silver streaks. Rarity only noticed Spike had stopped when she almost walked into the throne room door. “Rarity, things have really changed since you’ve been gone,” Spike stated, his green eyes looking into Rarity’s own, “are you sure you want to still see her?” he questioned. “Why, of course Spike. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t come to see her?” Rarity answered. Spike only nodded, pushing open the doors. He held back, and extended one of his arms, letting Rarity go first. She smiled at Spike, and entered the room first. The throne room was the same as all the other rooms, except for the throne at the far end of the room. Rarity rubbed her eyes when she looked at the throne and its occupant. The throne was a dark violet, with gold patterns and crimson pillows, on which sat Twilight, her crown made of the merged crowns of the princesses, and the rest of her decorative wear were similarly merged from what once was worn on either princess. Twilight looked at Rarity, a smile on her face. “I’m sorry Rarity, I didn’t think your portal would make you miss six years. Especially the incident three years ago where we needed you.” Twilight opened the conversation, her words containing a hint of much practice, as though they had been said many thousands of times before. “Nonsense, Twilight. It wasn’t your fault. Besides, you remember what was said, once I know what will corrupt the element of generosity, I can go back and stop this from ever taking place.” Rarity smiled, happy to see Twilight. Quickly, Twilight stood up and walked over to Rarity, her smile remained, but seemed less warm than it had a moment before. “It has been hard these last three years Rarity. I’m sure by now you know how all this came to be, so let me tell you what we all did, while waiting for you to appear,” Twilight examined Rarity, making sure she was ready for the explanation, “once both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were gone, I called on the others to come to Canterlot. Quickly, we were able to keep ponies sane here, at the cost of the rest of the Equestria.” Twilight spoke, reciting the facts for Rarity, each word carrying that rehearsed tone. Twilight led Rarity up to the throne, where she sat and once more looked at Rarity. “Canterlot prospered while Equestria fell all around it, thanks to us. We only regretted one thing, that you weren’t there to help with us. As ponies flocked here, seeking to survive, we lost something that made Equestria what it is. We still had magic, loyalty, laughter, kindness and honesty, but we lost generosity. We never turned anypony away, but we gave more to those that had been here longer, rather than sharing rations equally to all. But even now,” Twilight faltered for a moment, “we only resist the end of Canterlot itself. Rainbow Dash, being loyal to the princesses, begun to hope that they needed to see, that even in a dark time, we could pull together without them in the world, and they would come back. That is why she left Canterlot the most. The other left recently to find her.” Twilight’s voice became soft and gentle, as she went into deep thought. “I met them all, on the way here.” Rarity spoke up. She had listened to what Twilight had to say, but felt she had not been given the chance to speak. “How are they?” Twilight asked. “They,” Rarity paused for a moment, wondering if it was best to tell the truth, “Rainbow Dash I found in Ponyville, she was hurt and weak. I tried to help her, but she passed away just as we got to the edge of the town. I buried her there. Then I found Applejack and Fluttershy in a grove. I learnt from them that Pinkie Pie is gone as well, before I arrived. She purposely starved herself so the other two would have more to eat. And as we spoke, Applejack passed. I buried her by myself, poor Fluttershy was too upset. I left Fluttershy there at her insistence to come here, Twilight, we have to go and bring her back.” Rarity looked hopefully at Twilight, but quickly realised Twilight was no longer looking at her in any way that was kind or glad or even remotely emphatic. The right word for how Twilight now looked at Rarity was disgust. “You let Rainbow Dash and Applejack die, and then left Fluttershy alone out there to die alone?” Every word Twilight now spoke drove into Rarity like a dagger. “I... I couldn’t make her leave Twilight! When she’s made up her mind, there’s no changing it. I promised I’d have her checked on until she is ready to return!” Rarity defended herself. But it was hopeless against Twilight’s anger. “You! You are the bearer of Generosity! You should have brought her back, brought them all back alive! And look at you, you let them die. You are pathetic.” Twilight spat at Rarity, who was now quivering, her mouth open from the terror she felt. “Twilight, please, you must be taking the news badly, please calm down and think rationally!” Rarity pleaded. Twilight turned away from Rarity, and looked at Spike. “Take her to the dungeon. Return and I’ll decide what you may do with her.” Twilight spoke firm, but it was clear. The power of leading Canterlot had turned Twilight into a tyrant. -- The dungeon, for some reason, had a clock. The hands showed it was now 3pm, which would have been good for finding how long it had been since she arrived, except Rarity had seen no other clock before being put in the dungeon cell. Spike had apologised no end while putting Rarity in the dungeon, and while he had stepped around having to admit his crush on her, a fact she knew and never mentioned, she was thankful he hadn’t given up this youthful feeling. He had since returned back to Twilight, promising Rarity that he would make sure Twilight wouldn’t do her harm. Rarity raised her head as the sound of hoof steps approaching grew louder. Looking out of her cell, her jaw dropped. Walking towards her was Sweetie Belle, with Scootaloo and Applebloom close behind. The trio wore plate armour over their bodies, legs and helmets on their heads. Scootaloo’s wings had extra parts over the wings, which folded with them. The trio stopped outside her cell, and Sweetie Belle stared at Rarity like she had seen a ghost. “Rarity? I-is it really you?” Sweetie Belle asked. “It is Sweetie Belle. What’s going on? Why are you wearing armour?” Rarity asked in return, leaning against the cell bars. Sweetie Belle leaned her own hooves on her sister’s, and began explaining, “after the princesses were gone, Twilight encouraged our families and friends to move to Canterlot. You can’t imagine how bad things really were.” “I think I can, I saw most of Ponyville in ruins, my boutique ransacked.” Rarity stated. “That’s just the outcome. You weren’t there when ponies became crazy, killing each other for food and items. You weren’t there when mom and dad gave their lives to ensure I made it here safe. Even now, you don’t know what we know,” Sweetie Belle took a breath, “every few hours, more bandits, of what little remains, arrive to the castle and attempt to ransack and kill for items.” Rarity said nothing, as she watched Sweetie Belle begin to cry. “It’s got so bad, Twilight has us, US! As guards ponies. We’re still fillies, and we have to fight to protect the city.” Scootaloo added. “I wish I could do something, anything, to change all this.” Rarity said, tears in her eyes. “Ya can’t. Not unless ya can go back in time to three years ago. Sorry Rarity, but we have to attend to duties. C’mon girls.” Applebloom said flatly. Ahead of Applebloom, Scootaloo walked beside Sweetie Belle, a comforting wing over her back. Applebloom however, paused and looked back, checking around her before she spoke again. “Ah won’t tell anypony that there’s someone in the city trying to find you. Ah hope he isn’t trouble.” she informed Rarity, before departing. Rarity sighed, and stared at the clock on the wall opposite her cell. The clock moved. One thing Rarity knew, clocks tended to stay still once placed. She shook her head slightly, and looked back at the clock, making sure she wasn’t going insane. The clocked moved again, this time she saw it, and the clock, having noticed she was looking, didn’t seem to care now, as it simply kept moving. It rose higher and higher into the air, before moving aside and showing the face of Ulysses. “How ungrateful she was! Throwing her only surviving friend into the dungeons.” He said, putting the clock down. “Only surviving friend?” Rarity questioned. “Oh, yes. Um, I’m sorry, but it seems Fluttershy, scared of something, decided to hurry up the unavoidable end. Just past the grove was a waterfall with rocks at the bottom, she dived off it and kept her wings folded up. I’m sorry,” his voice ended on a hushed whisper. Rarity closed her eyes and begun to cry for her friend, “that said, I suspect Twilight Sparkle may have something to do with Fluttershy’s choice. So, here you go, make the most of this, I can only help this once.” Ulysses’ horn glowed, and the iron bars of the cell shifted, and moved out of the way. Watching in wonder, Rarity looked at Ulysses. “Who exactly are you? You say you can control time, but you also seem to be able to do things with objects they can’t otherwise do.” Rarity asked. “Who I am is who I am, and I am,” he took the time to bow, “Ulysses.” His head tilted up to look at Rarity, a big grin on his face. “Thank you Ulysses, I won’t let you down.” Rarity smiled, the tears over Fluttershy still wet on her face as she ran the route she recalled from when Spike brought her down to the dungeon. Ulysses meanwhile returned the bars to normal, laughed, and disappeared into the air. -- Returning to the throne room was a lot faster than when Spike had led Rarity to the dungeons, and with how each room looked the same as the last, Rarity found it amazing she knew the way back. Twilight had clearly been paying attention when each room was made and decorated the same way, every little detail was in the same place room to room. But despite this care, Rarity’s fashion sense and eye for detail had helped. Here and there were simple, overlooked details, which marked the rooms she had already been in, and thanks to this, she now stood next to the door which led into the throne room. Beyond this, she could hear Spike and Twilight speaking. “Twilight, you have to admit, it was a little harsh to blame her for everything.” Spike stated. “It wasn’t harsh enough, for not being there three years ago when we needed her, I should have killed her on the spot!” Twilight retorted, the room beyond the door echoed with a hoof stomp. “I really think that this power has gone to your head Twilight,” Spike paused, Rarity heard his talons click against the floor as he walked, “you begun this three years ago, with good intentions. Help everypony to survive the day-night. What happened? When did you let the authority get the better of you? They talk you know, around Canterlot, how you are mad with power, how soon there will be no hope.” Rarity knew that Spike had said this, most likely in the hope of shocking Twilight to her senses. The silence in the throne room hung for longer than she had expected. It ended with a sudden impact against the door, and a groan of pain from Spike. “Never. Never say such cruel things again. If the ingrates don’t like it under my rule, they are free to take the risk in the wild. Let’s see how long they last!” Twilight remarked, a fickle tone to her voice. “I can see why the others left. You didn’t tell Rarity the truth did you?” Spike questioned, his voice louder now he was near the door and not the throne. “Tell her the truth? No, I told her what she only needed to know. She disappeared for six years, then expects everything to be fine?” Twilight’s voice had lost its fickle tone, and shook with some self doubt. “Now come on Twilight, you know its not true. Six years ago, she entered the portal, and no one, not even you, knew what she’d face! And the truth is, to understand what she faces, you only need to look in a mirror!” Spike snapped. The door shook violently once again, as Spike was thrown against it. Rarity took a step away from the door, as it kept shaking, Twilight wasn’t stopping this latest attack against him. She froze when she heard Spike roar, the sound of which made her back away from the door as it stopped shaking. Silence fell in the throne room again, and Rarity could hear the deep breaths from Twilight. Her latest attack had clearly tired her out, which Rarity saw as a good thing, she would be unable to harm Spike again. Rarity looked on, as the door opened slightly. “Spike,” Twilight sounded calmer now, “you... you still have feelings...” “Yes, Twilight. And if you harm any more of your friends, then I will forget you are the one who hatched my egg.” Spike threatened, opening the door. His eyes landed on Rarity, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to say something. He glanced back at Twilight, before fully leaving the room, stopping at Rarity’s side. “I will be back. Go talk some sense into her.” he said into her ear, and continued on his way. Slowly, and very nervously, Rarity entered the throne room through the open door. On the throne, still wearing the merged decoratives and crowns of the princesses, sat Twilight. She wasn’t looking towards the door, her head hung, almost as if she felt ashamed of herself. Rarity wasn’t sure what to do, she had been so ready to enter the room and stare down, even shout at Twilight, for becoming a tyrant. But the friend she had come in the room to get angry at wasn’t the one that she had seen before being taken to the dungeon. She was still the same unicorn she recalled from Ponyville, spending as much of her free time reading books in the library as possible. “Twilight,” Rarity spoke aloud, Twilight’s head shot up to face Rarity, her eyes wide, “what is going on? What did Spike mean you hadn’t told me the truth?” she questioned. Rarity watched carefully as Twilight lifted off the mixed crown, and she stared at the mixed gold and blue which had been on the two original crowns she had made it from. Twilight sighed, looking at Rarity again. “The reason things are getting bad is because of me, I guess. What I said at first was true, when the princesses disappeared, leaving us this blasted day-night, we managed to remake some sort of civilisation here in Canterlot. It was good, everypony worked hard to make the most of the dim light and crimson skies, we had plenty of food.” Twilight answered, placing the crown on her head again. “So what did you lie about?” Rarity pressed. “As time got on, crops begun to wither and die, we barely had any food, and had to ration what we could. But, as I said, without you, the bearer of generosity, we gave more to those that had been here the longest.” Twilight shifted. “The longest being?” Rarity took a single step forward. “Us. Me, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Only, I didn’t tell them we were getting more than every other pony. They found out however, about two years ago, and they didn’t take the revelation well. They left. Doubtless, had Rainbow Dash lasted longer when you met her, you’d have found why she was looking for ponies to send here,” Twilight stood up and walked behind the throne, “she was sending ponies here, in the hopes that an overflow of ponies would allow the food to be shared equally. The others, I managed to separate them from Rainbow, because they realised I was just killing the overflow they sent here, and they were going to return and put a stop to my tyranny.” Rarity couldn’t believe what she was hearing, was it really the truth, or was Twilight lying again? Her voice however, had sounded different from her first ‘truthful explanation’, it was more sincere. What’s more, the facts seemed to fit more. While Twilight hadn’t explained why the others were gone from Canterlot, all the facts of what had just been said fit Twilight’s new personality, why Rainbow Dash was so far away from Applejack and Fluttershy, and why none of them had been in Canterlot when she had come across them. Rarity walked to the side of the throne, and stared in confusion. Twilight stood beside a door she hadn’t seen before, and it had a ghostly appearance. “What is that door?” Rarity asked. “This door appeared when the princesses left. Or rather, got pulled in. I was there when it appeared,” Twilight hung her head, “the memory still haunts me, watching this door as it pulled Princess Luna and then Princess Celestia into it. I grabbed Celestia, held her hooves as both of us were dragged to the door. And she said one thing that made me let go. She told me ‘We will meet again in three years.’ and then she was gone.” The door shimmered as Twilight spoke Princess Celestia’s last words, as if it were shivering from the promise the words had held. Rarity looked at the door, a rainbow of colours were mixing like liquid. “So what now, Twilight?” Rarity asked. “I had hoped that on your return, we would all stand here, and use the elements and retrieve the princesses from whatever this thing is. But, Rainbow Dash is dead, Pinkie Pie is dead, Applejack, Fluttershy. We’re the only two left. We can’t use the elements of harmony when only two of us still live.” Twilight stated, turning her back to the ghostly door. Rarity thought for a moment, that she saw the faces of her friends and the princesses on the ghostly door, and together, all of them seemed to have shouted her name. “Twilight, we could still try, we must. If we fail, then no one can blame us.” Rarity said hopefully. “No Rarity. Since your return, I have been thinking.” Twilight was walking in circles around Rarity. “Earlier, I said to Spike you were to blame. He was right though, it was beyond your control. The only thing to do however, is to get you back. Return you to six years ago and stop this from ever taking place.” Rarity still focused on the ghostly door, blinking whenever she thought she had seen the face of one of her friends on it. Just what was this door? “Please Twilight, the right thing I can do is help you use all the elements of harmony to fix this. Won’t you at least try?” Rarity pleaded, watching as the face of Fluttershy now appeared firmly in the door, mouthing words to Rarity that she couldn’t hear. Twilight stopped walking, standing in front of the door, but looking at Rarity. “No. You have a choice. Be generous and make me split the use of the elements to try and undo this, or attack me and end my reign of tyranny.” Twilight shouted. Twilight begun charging magic, as Rarity stared in shock. Looking past Twilight, the faces of Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were now visible on door, all yelling the same thing soundlessly. As she watched, what they were saying was clear, ‘run!’, and Rarity wasted no time. She ran behind the throne as Twilight released the spell, the white ball shattered the throne, forcing Rarity to run away from it too. As she ran, Twilight begun charging a new spell, not noticing as Rarity had when glancing back, that the decorations and crown were growing cracks. Twilight released the second spell, the crown loudly cracked as she did so. It missed Rarity, but set the banner on fire. Turning to focus on Rarity again, Twilight charged a third spell, the neck piece finally broke and fell to the floor where it shattered into hundreds of gold and blue pieces. The third spell shattered a stained glass window, which had been covered with dust to the point what it pictured was no longer visible. The coloured glass pieces fell to the floor, and the decorative shoe pieces shattered as the glass did. Rarity came to a stop when a snap echoed around the room. Twilight dropped the new spell she was charging, and both unicorns watched as the banner fell from where it had hung, setting the carpet near it on fire. “So what will it be Rarity? Shall we keep fighting until we burn dead?” Twilight asked, the fire spreading rapidly. “Who puts highly flammable carpet in a throne room?” Rarity questioned, shaking her head. As Twilight begun charging another spell, Rarity saw two things occur. The first was the crown on Twilight’s head finally shattered, the gold and blue pieces flew through the air. The second was the ghostly door. It slowly opened, revealing that there was nothing behind it other than the purest black possible. Rarity charged at Twilight, the spell flew over Rarity as she drew near. Rarity’s head met Twilight’s chest, and she kept running. Twilight tried to resist as much as she could, but in vain. The pair were soon near the door, and Rarity came to a stop. Twilight continued on and hung for a moment in the black beyond it. Her eyes begun to glaze over, as she looked down at Rarity. “I’m sorry.” Twilight cried, tears appearing in her eyes. A second later, Twilight vanished into the darkness, and the ghostly door closed. Rarity laid on the floor, and begun crying, as around her, the fire begun to crackle louder and louder, continuing its rapid spread through the throne room. She was only slightly aware of Ulysses, as he walked through the flames to her left. She didn’t stand up as he arrived, and didn’t resist as he lifted her up to his back with magic. He then used another spell, and teleported them both out of the throne room. They were just outside Ponyville now. The cold air of the day-night cooled Rarity down after the heat of the flames. Her eyes fell straight ahead to Canterlot Castle, its throne room flames just starting to venture outside. She could only feel sad, as she watched the fire growing out of the throne room. It was bad news for the ponies, they had no one to lead them anymore, even if tyrannical, and they would soon be dead. She sat on the short bridge over a dried creek she found herself on and watched as the flames spread. “Don’t feel bad for them, Rarity. When you return back, you can prevent this.” Ulysses encouraged. “But how?” Rarity wondered, almost not loud enough for him to hear, “I don’t even know what caused that door to appear, or what it even was.” “Twilight became corrupted, magic itself corrupted,” Ulysses explained, “if all the elements of harmony corrupt, the events may not go like this, but it will not be good.” They turned around towards Ponyville, just a short trot from Carousel Boutique. He quickly led her to her shop, and led her back upstairs. “Now here, your way back to the present awaits. You just need step through it to leave these horrors behind.” Ulysses smiled, using his magic again to disappear before Rarity had a chance to say anything. The portal was now where Rarity had first arrived to the future, and it hung silently. She almost hated what it had done, leading her to a future where she had seen her friends die, even pushing Twilight through the ghostly door. She had worked it out on the way back to the shop, the ghostly door was some sort of way to where souls went when they no longer had bodies. Why it had taken the princesses alive, or even accepted Twilight, she would never know. As the portal hung in the air, Rarity begun to laugh, while crying at the same time. It had brought her to a future where she saw her friends die, and the world at its end, but the same portal she now faced offered something better. A chance to go back and make sure the events she had been a part of never took place. This side of it, she was alone, her friends were gone, and she didn’t dare to think nor find out what had become of Sweetie Belle now Canterlot was on fire. But to get them all back, all she had to do was walk through the portal. Past it, they were all alive, most likely waiting for her to return. With no one to watch her, she ran through the portal as fast as she could. -- ‘The Element of Generosity is now corrupted. Your end shall be soon.’ the voice boomed through the library. It had scared Fluttershy, which wasn’t hard to do anyway, and Twilight bit her lower lip in worry. The portal with the picture of Rarity shimmered, a second later, Rarity appeared from it, looking rather messy, but fine. Rarity smiled as she saw her friends, all perfectly fine. “Rarity,” Twilight narrowed one eye, “what happened?” she asked. Rarity laid on the ground, smiling and closing her eyes. “It was simply horrible. I was sent forward in time six years, and the world was at its end, because I wasn’t there when you needed me the most. It... it was horrible,” Rarity blurted out, looking at Twilight with partially open eyes, “I tried to help you Rainbow Dash, but you still died of exhaustion and malnutrition, Pinkie was already gone, having starved herself dead to give Applejack and Fluttershy more time to live. Applejack died as we talked, with Fluttershy tricking me to leave before her end came.” Rarity stopped, now out of breath. “I really don’t like these portal things, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash spoke up, she had almost curled up, “so far, when you went to see if it was Pinkie’s portal, I died, and now I died in Rarity’s? Somepony really has it out for me.” Rainbow’s voice had begun loudly, but over the sentence had dropped to be almost as quiet as Fluttershy. “There was more.” Rarity added. “Oh great.” Rainbow Dash groaned. “I arrived to Canterlot, where anypony still alive was, and you,” her eyes landed on Twilight, having previously been looking at Rainbow Dash, “had become a tyrant. Drunk with power, you made them all leave, which resulted in their deaths. Then, when you saw a way out with me to help, you attacked me, even though you clearly wanted to make things right. I had to force you through this ghostly door, sending you to... I think it was the afterlife. That’s when I was able to come back.” Rarity didn’t break eye contact, or move, as she spoke to Twilight. Twilight looked distraught, and begun to cry. Gently, Rarity placed a hoof on Twilight. “Is there any way we can stop this future taking place?” Twilight asked through her sobbing. “Simply don’t make me go back through the portal.” Rarity stated. Twilight slowly got to her hooves, looking at her friends in turn. She smiled weakly, looking at her portal. “I’ll need some time to get over what Rarity saw, before I go through.” Twilight said, sitting down. “Wait a darn second! Ain’t it odd that to stop her future, Rarity only need not go back through the portal?” Applejack questioned, looking at Twilight. “Now you mention it,” Twilight begun to think, taking what Rarity had said, and applying the logic just stated by Applejack to it, “it seems like whoever is controlling these events is using them to taunt us.” Twilight stomped a hoof. “Taunt us? But why?” Rarity questioned. “It’s simple. They thought you were useless, so they gave you the easy one. That future may not be what will happen, but some elements of it are what they have planned, so it showed you certain things, to tell to us. The reason being, we now know, but it feels we will be powerless to prevent it.” Twilight replied. “Yeah right,” Rainbow Dash stood up, “whoever this voice belongs to, the only way we’ll be powerless to stop it is if we die!” her wings raised, and she smiled. “Exactly. Now come on, let’s go back upstairs, Twilight said she isn’t ready yet to enter her portal.” Rarity said, leading the way back to the main floor of the library. -- Nurse Redheart looked at the orange pegasus, laying peacefully on the bed. He had been rushed in, and she had been amazed at how little Applejack and Twilight Sparkle knew of him, how he had even been alive when he came in confused her and the doctor on duty. The doctor who had examined him had seen some internal bleeding during an operation to a very nasty wound that had been hidden by one of his wings, that would have otherwise cost the young pegasus his life. The bell rung from the desk, and she turned away, giving once last glance and smile at the sleeping pegasus. Waiting at the desk was a dark blue unicorn, a black cloak over him, he seemed to be straining his neck to look in the room she had left. “Yes?” she asked. “Ah, you must be the nurse,” the unicorn looked her up and down, “of course you are, white hat, in a hospital, I’d have to have a very bad head injury to decide you held a job other than nurse. Anyway, I am looking for a pegasus by the name ‘Sunshine Blaze’. Is he here?” Nurse Redheart felt uneasy before the unicorn, he seemed jittery, and kept turning his head around, watching his surroundings rather than looking directly at her. “And what is your relation to him?” she asked. “Oh, I’m a relative of his. Distant. Is he here?” the unicorn pressed. “I’m afraid so. How he is even alive, we don’t know. I don’t think he’ll survive the night.” Nurse Redheart answered. If the unicorn had made her feel uneasy before, his reaction and body language at her last statement made any feelings against the unicorn clear and well founded. He looked upset at the news, but his body language showed relief and joy. “If that is the case, I won’t see him, instead, I’ll go tell his parents, they’d want to know,” the unicorn turned to leave, but stopped, “by the way, he’s only fourteen years old. You wrote fifteen. I’d correct that if I were you.” the unicorn said, walking away. In the room, Sunshine Blaze slowly opened his eyes. He grunted at the sight of a clean wall in front of him, and fell back to sleep, unaware of how close the unicorn had been. Outside the hospital, the unicorn grinned.