//------------------------------// // 44. Spinning on the Edge // Story: The Trials of Shmarity: an Ogres and Oubliettes Story // by TheMessenger //------------------------------// 44. Spinning on the Edge Once more, Rarity found herself in Elkraps Thigliwt’s office. The school of evocation’s dean herself sat right across from her, staring at the scroll that was on her desk. Elkraps’s hooves tapped together as she regarded the scroll with a frown. The pearl and feather were out and had been pushed to the side of the desk, next to a pair of matching teacups and a pot, now that the ritual they were a part of had finished. “Well?” Rarity finally interjected into the silence. “Hm? Oh, right.” Elkraps sat up and cleared her throat. “Well, that confirms that. It’s a scroll of teleportation that’s linked to a specific teleportation circle, just like you said, Princess. I can’t pinpoint the exactly location, best I can say is that it is in the direction of Spiketopia, and it certainly feels far enough to be in your country. Are you sure it’s in the fortress of this Squid Wizard?” “Oh yes.” Rarity’s head turned slightly to look down at her saddlebags. “Very sure.” Elkraps raised an eyebrow. “And you said you want to use this to bring yourself right to the Squid Wizard’s fortress, was that right?” Rarity nodded. “In all likelihood, that will be where they are keeping Sp-, I mean, Garbunkle and Captain Wuzz’s bodies. Is activating the scroll’s magic something you can do?” “Well, yes. We can get the scroll to work pretty easily, but, are you sure this is really such a good idea?” Elkraps asked. Her expression was one of concern and worry, the same kind of look Twilight would give Rarity whenever the seamstress had taken a dress order that might have been a tad too much for her to handle. “I understand wanting to revive your friends, and if it weren’t for my responsibilities here, the two of us would already be burning our way through that fortress, but putting yourself right where the Squid Wizard wants you like this is just reckless. His fortress might be where the remains of your friends are, but it’s also likely where the Squid Wizard is most powerful and where a majority of his forces, which, and I shouldn’t have to remind you of all ponies of this, helped him conquer a large portion of a kingdom, are probably gathered. And you want to try to take them all on by yourself?” Elkraps’s frown turned to a grimace as she rubbed the side of her neck. “Are you sure you thought this through?” “Well, for starters, I’m not planning on taking on the Squid Wizard or his lackeys.” Rarity reached into her saddlebags, and after some searching, she pulled out what appeared to be a small, empty vial and placed it on the desk before her. With a gesture, she permitted Elkraps to examine the vacant vial more closely and watched with some satisfaction as the mage blinked and her eyes widened slightly. “Wait, isn’t this a—“ “A potion of invisibility? Yes, yes it is.” Acquiring that particular little vial had not been an easy task. It was a rare brew, and the first few shops Rarity visit, including the store where she had initially learned of the potion and its potent properties, had none in stock. The places that did have such potions for sale were selling them at exorbitant prices that would have left Rarity with precious little gold for anything else. Still she pressed on, running all around town from shop to shop in hopes of finding a better deal, and eventually her persistence paid off. At the very last store Rarity stopped by, she was greeted by one of the young attendants, all who were busy either assisting customers or working on the inventory. Her attendant had been very tall mare, tall enough to make Rarity feel like a filly in comparison, and over her mane and neck she wore a silk headscarf in addition to the green apron that all the store’s employees were wearing. The mare spoke with a slight accent that Rarity had heard somewhere before, and her appearance, from her attire to her stature to her visage and the evident tiredness in her features, felt familiar, but it took a few extra moments before either Rarity or the attendant recognized the other. “You’re—“ “Wait, are you not—“ The mare struggled for a bit before she clapped her hooves together in victory, and her small, salespony smile grew into a genuine one. “It is Madam Rarity, is it not?” “Yes. And if I’m not mistaken, you’re Alharir and Tariq’s daughter, Aibnatu.” Rarity matched the young mare’s grin as the child of her former travel companions nodded. “It’s good to see you again. How have you been?” “Well, I suppose,” Aibnatu had said as she lead the way further inside. The way this particular store had been organized reminded Rarity of a jewelry shop, with neat rows of display cases in the center of the building. Their contents largely consisted of accessories like rings and necklaces and circlets, but Rarity also spotted some folded pieces of clothing among the amulets and brooches, and against one wall there was an entire rack of various bladed weapons. “Ah, have you, by any chance, heard from my mother or father lately?” “I can’t say that I have,” was Rarity’s answer, which brought about a look of disappointment from Aibnatu. “Should I have?“ “Oh no, no. It is nothing, really. I just, well.” Her smile wavered and nearly turned to a frown. “You no doubt know as well as I do that the journey through the Anauhock Desert can be a perilous one, and it would do me a good deal of relief to know that my parents made it out safely. Of course, I do admit expecting them to contact me so soon is pretty unrealistic.” She chuckled lightly. “After spending so much time here at the schools, I sometimes forget just how inconvenient not having access to magic so readily can be.” “Couldn’t you reach out to them?” Rarity had asked, thinking of the Fine Copper Company. “Well certainly, if I could afford to.” Aibnatu sighed. “As a simple apprentice, I do not get much of a stipend. I normally keep in touch with my family through a relatively inexpensive monthly service, but I have spent the use for this month already. That is why I have taken this job, to raise the funds needed to pay for a sending. And speaking of work.” She shook her head and stopped, and Rarity saw that Aibnatu had put the forced smile back on. “My apologies, Madam. You are our customer, and I have done nothing but ail you with my own personal problems. Please, how can I of the Third Electrum Emporium be of assistance?” Rarity, caught up in their brief conversation, had needed a short second to remind herself of her purpose for being here. “Does this store happen to sell potions?” “We do,” Abinatu said with a nod. “While we are primarily a store for magical equipment, we do have a large and varied selection of potions. If you would follow me this way, please.” As they made their way around some of the displays, Rarity saw more examples of the shop’s wares, including a number of small golden rings, the kind that were traditionally exchanged in weddings involving unicorns. “Did you make any of these?” she asked, pointing at the little circles as she recalled the light producing one that Aibnatu had shown her some days ago. The taller, younger mare stifled a laugh and did her best to hide her blush. “I am afraid I have a long way to go before I can make anything that would be worth selling here or anywhere really. It certainly would be nice if there was someone out there willing to buy my current projects.” Aibnatu let out another sigh. “Heavens know I could use the extra gold.” “Hm. Well actually, I do know of a place that will buy used magic items, and I believe the shopkeeper had mentioned something about being supplied by apprentices. Perhaps you might want to try there.” Rarity gave a description of the pawn shop she had first gone to that day along with some directions as the store had no name and couldn’t be found easily on any of the town maps. “I’ll admit that it is a little out of the way, and it might not be the most, accredited establishment, and there will be an appraisal fee, but if you’re looking to sell, it might still be worth checking out.” Rarity watched as Aibnatu’s eyes brightened at the suggestion, but the younger mare cleared her throat and quickly returned herself to a more professional, less excited level. “That sounds, I mean, I will have to go and see this store for myself when I get the chance, but for now, let us focus on our current business.” They came to a stop before a set of cabinets, and through the glass panel several little bottles of different shapes, sizes, and with varying colored content could be spotted upon the shelves. A good number were of the same red shade as the healing potions Rarity had grown familiar with, though some were in larger containers and had an addition luster, and she noticed a few vials of watery liquid that had a small piece of a creature’s claw swimming inside like the strength enhancer she had currently. Everything else was a mystery, and with all the swirling and bubbling and bits of undissolved material, Rarity had to wonder just how much of this cabinet was truly safe for consumption. “Is there anything specific you are looking for?” asked Aibnatu. “Yes, actually.” Rarity’s eyes continued to scan the shelves behind the glass, searching for any glassware that appeared empty. “Do you have any potions that would turn me invisible?” “Ah, a potion of invisibility.” Aibnatu had reached into her apron’s pocket, and from it she produced a key. She unlocked the glass barrier and removed a single vial from the cabinet. “Here you are,” she had said before depositing the seemingly empty vial in Rarity’s hoof There was a noticeable weight there that was far more than just the glass itself, and when Rarity gave the vial a small shake, she felt a redistribution of that weight. Still, despite having the potion’s properties, both functional and aesthetic, explained to her multiple times today already, Rarity continued to struggled with the suspicion that she was being played for a fool, though Aibnatu’s presence had alleviated some of that worry. “And the effect of this potion will last for one full hour, yes?” “That is correct, provided that you do not make any actions that are too sudden. Oh, and I do have to warn you that the schools have very strict rules against turning invisible while on campus outside designated areas.” Rarity nodded. “And how much is it?” Aibnatu had started to speak, but she suddenly stopped to frown and tap at her chin. “Could you give me one moment, please?” she eventually requested after a few seconds of thought. “Of course.” Not being in any of a real hurry, Rarity returned the potion and watched Aibnatu walk over to speak to one of the other attendants. Their conversation was hushed but animated, and the two went back and forth for several moments until finally Aibnatu’s coworker sighed and nodded her head. Aibnatu nodded back, and as she made her way back to Rarity, her smile grew larger with each step in her approach. “So the price for a potion of this rarity would normally be around three hundred gold,” she explained, “but I spoke with my manager, and if you make a purchase of over one hundred gold, I am able to sell the potion to you for just two hundred. Just, ah, the one hundred must be for anything in our standard inventory.” Aibnatu waved to the accessory carrying displays that cover much of the store’s floor space. “Apologies, but additional potions will not count.” “Then I may see what daggers you have for sale?” Rarity asked, turning her head toward the rack of weapons on the wall. And that was how Rarity left with the magic potion currently being held by Elkraps and the surprisingly light yet still perfectly balanced dagger in her pocket, its straight blade more similar in style to the one she had practiced with Sir Gustford back in Baldursgait, at a bargain and with gold to spare. As thanks, Rarity even used some of her leftover money to purchase one of Aibnatu’s glowing rings. “So, this isn’t an assault,” Elkraps said slowly as she placed the bottle back down. The pieces were quickly connecting together. “This is an infiltration.” Rarity nodded. “Oh, I understand quite well how abysmal my chances are of defeating the Squid Wizard and his army by myself, but with this potion and that spell scroll, I can at least get in and retrieve Garbunkle and Captain Wuzz’s bodies.” “Hm, that’s definitely one of the more morbid heists that have ever been proposed to me,” Elkraps said with a light chuckle before she turned serious and her features hardened and became stern. “You make this all seem so very simple. Yes, this does sound far more doable than a direct offensive, but let’s say you do manage to get to their bodies. What then? You’ll still be in a fortress full of hostile guards. You’ve got a way in, but do you have a plan for how you’ll be getting out of there?” “It’s, well, not exactly anything set in stone,” Rarity admitted, “but once I’ve revived my friends, I’m sure we’ll figure out the rest of all the little details.” Truth be told, her plan went no further than bringing Spike and Discord back to life, but if that much got her access to the chaos spirit’s nigh infinite reality bending powers, then did the steps that followed really matter? Of course, Rarity couldn’t exactly explain to scrutinizing mare seated before her that her entire strategy hinged upon a draconequus making all her problems go away with a snap of his digits, not without first explaining who Discord was and his abilities and possibly sounding as though she had utterly lost her mind, and so Rarity could only try and convince Elkraps through the expressing of her own confidence in the matter. That clearly was not working, as evident by the look Elkraps gave her in response to the largest, most assuring smile Rarity could muster. She continued to frown, and her eyes slowly narrowed before she leaned back in her chair and sighed. “You know, I could just say no to this request of yours,” Elkraps said with a tired shake of her head. “Just straight up refuse to teleport you right into enemy territory, and really, I think I really should. For your sake.” Rarity opened her mouth to argue, but Elkraps shut her argument down with a stare. “Look, we haven’t known each other very long, but, I do enjoy your company. My studies keep me busy, keep me from making many friends, and now that Garbunkle is gone, I don’t want to lose you as well. And if something horrible were to happen, and it was because I gave you the go-ahead on this half-baked planned?” The unicorn shook her head again. “Listen, maybe you should go at this the way we had originally discussed. I’ll arrange for you and those Candelkeep scholars to be teleported to New Tesaddledale where your ship back to Spiketopia will be waiting. Then, once you’ve built up your own army, you can try attacking the Squid Wizard and maybe even use that as a distraction for you to sneak and get the bodies.” She picked up the scroll of teleportation. “I’ll even connect you to a mage who would be both powerful enough to activate this when you’re ready and willing to travel that far for an appropriate price.” “Just the voyage back to Baldursgait alone will take me three whole weeks!” Rarity exclaimed, her voice suddenly raised. “And do you know how long it might take me to amass a large enough force to lay siege? Because I don’t! And is that even the right term? Is that what I want to do, to lay siege?” Her voice became shrill with hysterics as she ran her hooves through her mane. “I don’t know! The only thing I do know is that I’ve been away from my home for far, far, far too long. From my friends, my family, my business that I’ve work so hard for and now might no longer exist due to my absence. Oh dear sweet Celestia, how I miss my house and bedroom and my own bed, my cat, and only having to deal with a single form of currency, and creatures referring to me by my actual real name, I’ve even become sick of being called ‘princess’ all this time, and then there’s all those fashion seasons I’m now so behind on. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to catch up with the curve after missing a single trend? And with heavens knows how many I’ve missed, I might never be relevant in the world of fashion ever again!” The outburst left Rarity breathless, and as she struggled to slow down and keep herself from hyperventilating, Elkraps poured out some fresh tea into one of the cups and set it in front of Rarity. After a few more deep, calming breaths, Rarity did what she could to straighten out the mess she had made of her mane and sat back down. She picked up the offered cup and took a sip, shuddering as the warm, lightly bitter drink washed down her throat. “Thank you,” Rarity said, her cheeks turning rosy pink. “And I’m sorry for, er, you having to see, um, that. I didn’t mean, I wasn’t.” She took another sip. “Don’t worry. It’s fine,” Elkraps said with small smile. Her expression was no longer stern and disapproving but instead showed understanding and even some sympathy. “I understand that you’re going through a lot right now, and stress can get to the best of us.” She waited for Rarity to finish her tea before continuing. “Look, It’ll take me a few days to secure permission to teleport from the schools. Use that time to really give your next steps some thought. Sleep on it, go over all your options, maybe talk to those Candelkeep scholars, and if you’re still so set on being teleported straight to the Squid Wizard’s fortress, then that’s what we’ll do.” “We, we will?” Rarity said, her incredulity apparent by the surprise in her voice. Elkraps nodded slowly. “I can give you all the advice I’m able to, but you know your strengths and capabilities better than anyone, and in the end, it’s your decision to make. All I ask, as a...” There was a long second of hesitation. “...friend, is that you think this through completely before committing to anything. Can you promise me that?” Rarity forced her sigh down. Try as she might, there was no squashing the burning frustration she continued to feel, not completely, but still she managed to successfully return Elkraps’s smile and nod. “After everything you’ve done for me, Dean Thigliwt, yes, I believe I can promise you that much at the very least.” She quickly finished her tea. “Well, I’ve taken enough of your time. I should leave you to your work.” “Yes, I suppose this break has gone on long enough.” Elkraps sighed and waited for Rarity to finish putting everything back into her saddlebags before she stood up and led Rarity to the office door. “Keep that sending stone on you. I’ll let you know once everything is set up and we’re ready to teleport.” Again, Rarity nodded, and after saying her goodbyes, she made her way through the main campus’s halls and out onto the crowded, noisy plaza outside. Her wandering eventually brought her back to the Hag’s Haven, and with nothing else prepared for the rest of her day, Rarity returned to her room where she could consider her meeting with Elkraps in private. As much as it riled Rarity to concede, Elkraps’s suggestion was clearly the smarter, safer choice. It was a slower approach, sure, but that delay was time that could be put to good use, time to prepare, and each preparation made meant a better chance for success. Going the long way back to Baldursgait also meant reuniting with Sir Gustford, and the addition of allies, especially those with the expertise and connections that the former knight had, was something that did greatly appeal to Rarity. She herself might not be all that knowledgeable in the raising and leading of armies, and from what Rarity could glean from her borrowed memories, neither did Princess Shmarity, but the experienced Gustford might know just what was needed for an adequate distraction. Hm, no, that didn’t feel right, to be relegating a hard and difficult battle to a mere distraction. Was that potential sacrifice really something Rarity was willing to follow through if it meant saving Spike and Discord and getting a way back to Equestria? Putting her own safety and life on the line was one thing, but the very idea of endangering others, even if they were complete strangers to her, like this left a heavy weight in the pits of her stomach. Of course, Rarity’s other plan was one that placed every risk on her, and while it wouldn’t add any extra guilt to her already loaded conscience, that wasn’t exactly what she’d call ideal either. There was nothing that Elkraps had said about her plan that Rarity could dispute. It was indeed brash, reckless, the sort of bullheaded approach that Rainbow Dash would have endorsed if a direct assault wasn’t permitted, and above all, desperate, for Rarity was indeed a desperate mare. She was desperate to return home, to get back to her life, to regain all that she had lamented for in Elkraps’s office and more. Desperation rarely resulted in smart decisions, but could Rarity really afford to spend anymore time? Maybe a new perspective might help her figure something else or at least give her time to calm down and straighten out her thoughts. Rarity reached into her bags and took out the skull, the glow in its eyes brightening as Rarity stared into them. “Lady Selune?” “I am here,” Selune said, her ghostly form appearing out from the skull. “I see that you seek my counsel regarding the recent conversation with your acquaintance.” “If you wouldn’t mind giving it. My own thoughts on the matter are a jumbled mess, and right now I just need to hear from someone other than myself.” The alicorn frowned. “I believe I have already made my assessment of your foolhardy scheme known, and much of what the mage said has been a reiteration of my own points. As for the alternative course of action she provided to you, I find that is a more than adequate replacement that will have a significantly greater chance in accomplishing the same goals you are aiming for and at a reduced risk to yourself.” The alicorn’s answer had been expected, but it was still disappointing to hear, and at Selune’s words, Rarity’s ears dropped. “Then, you think I should take the longer way.” “I do,” Selune said. She shut her eyes and brought a hoof to the bridge of her snout and let out a sigh. “However, I also agree with the mage in that this is your decision to make, not hers nor mine. Should you choose to go forward in your initial infiltration plan, I will do all that is within my powers to support you.” The alicorn‘s hoof left from her face and went to Rarity’s shoulder. Though there was no physical touch, the spot where Selune would have pressed against felt pleasantly cool. “Patience is a virtue few mortals appreciate, but this urgency of yours, it is different. It screams out to me like a wounded animal. I cannot claim to understand what drives this need for swift action but neither can I deny its presence.” The hoof was removed, and the alicorn lowered her forehead against Rarity’s. “Rest now. Things will become clearer once you have calmed and your thoughts are no longer clouded with emotion. We can discuss this further then, but for now, sleep.” “Don’t you think it’s a little early for a nap?” Rarity said, laughing to hide her yawn. Selune’s form disappeared when Rarity placed the skull holding the deity’s spirit on the nightstand. She rubbed at her eyes and shook off her sudden weariness. “I should talk to Bluestockings, see what she has to think of all this. Perhaps it’s time to let her know who I really am.” Or, at least, Rarity silently added, who I’m pretending to be. “There will be time for talk later,” the voice of Selune continued. “The mage gave you a few days. Right now, the way your are, your discussion with your subject will achieve very little. Rest first. Give yourself time for your emotions to settle down, and then you will be able to focus.” “I’m really not all that tired,” Rarity insisted. “I can help with that, if you will permit me to.” Maybe Selune was right. Rarity felt just as confused as she had been stepping out of Elkraps’s office, and her thoughts were as muddled as ever. Who knew if anything Bluestockings had to say would stick right now. Maybe some sleep was just what she needed at the moment. “Very well then,” Rarity said. She took off her clothes, put away the rest of her things, and got in bed. “But just a quick nap, an hour, possibly two at the very most.” “I understand,” Selune said. The alicorn’s figure had reappeared at Rarity’s bedside, and as she raised her horn and a soft melodic hum filled the room, the lids of Rarity’s eyes grew heavy. She shut them for a brief second, and when they reopened, her inn room had disappeared completely. All the furniture was gone, and walls that had surrounded her all been replaced with vast skies largely empty save for a small scattering of pink colored cloud. Rarity was no longer lying in bed, readying herself for sleep, but instead she stood upon a soft, squishy, pink surface that stuck to her legs whenever she attempted to move them. “Welcome back.” The voice seemed to come from every which direction, and no matter where Rarity turned her head, she couldn’t spot the speaker. A brisk breeze blew past her without warning and caused her to shiver as it carried the gentle chimes of laughter. The ground at her feet suddenly started to roll and shift, and Rarity, her balance lost, would have fallen forward onto her face had she not been caught by a wing of massive white feathers. She looked up at her savior and found herself staring up at the mismatched features of the Queen of Fey. The mysterious being smiled as they withdrew their wing and held up the polka dotted parasol they had leaned against their shoulder, each dot a different color upon a backdrop of orange. Rarity saw that there was a small light brown cloud right above the parasol’s canopy, raining down a shower of green and red soap bubbles, but before Rarity could pondering it or the rain further, the Queen of Fey banished the cloud with a wave of her lion’s paw. The being then set the open parasol upside down next to Rarity and gestured her forward. “It’s been awhile now since we’ve last seen each other, hasn’t it? Come, we’ve got a lot to discuss.” The Queen of Fey motioned Rarity again toward the umbrella. “After you.” Baffled but seeing no other path, Rarity pulled herself out of the fluff and cautiously stepped into the upside down umbrella. The moment the Queen of Fey joined her, the umbrella hopped off the pink, sticky platform and floated through the skies. “So,” the Queen of Fey said after some time had passed, “you’ve got a way to save your friends.” Her smile widened as they regarded Rarity with those still closed eyes. “I knew you could do it. And look, you even found a way right into the Squidzard’s lair. Looks like your little adventure’ll be coming to a close soon. How are you feeling? Excited? Nervous?” “A little of both, I suppose.” Rarity looked to the endless horizon ahead of her and frowned. “Mostly confused, really.” “Mortals usually are when they’re brought to my realm,” the Queen of Fey said with a chuckle. “Or, is this about something else? Perhaps something about what comes next? About what your next move will be?” For the next few seconds that followed, Rarity was silent. “I know what the smart path is. I know which way is safer. The right decision seems so obvious when I think about it.” She shuddered and tucked in her forelimbs tightly against her chest. “I know all this and yet, it’s not the choice I what I want make.” “What makes you so sure that the way everyone else seems so set on is the right one?” the Queen of Fey questioned. “Because, it makes the most sense?” The being scoffed. “Sense? Ha! Which one? Your sense of smell, perhaps?” They flicked at talon at the tip of Rarity’s snout, inciting a indignant yelp from Rarity as she grabbed at her nose. “Or maybe taste. Or smell? Or, sight?” The Queen of Fey’s eyes slowly cracked open, and in the brief glimpse of what laid behind those lids, Rarity’s world became a messy splash of colors, blending and bleeding together into something that Rarity with all her words could never hope to describe. The colors danced and swirled and burst like the distorted reflection of fireworks on a lake’s murky surface until slowly they faded, leaving behind the image of a newborn filly, her coat as white as Rarity’s own and with similarly shaded mane as well. Half a second later, Rarity was back in the parasol boat drifting in the skies, as suddenly as she had been taken out of it. As she struggled to regain her breath, she turned to the Queen of Fey whose eyes were now once again closed completely. “What, what was—“ “Sense can only tell you so much, especially when you lack the full picture,” continued the Queen without missing a beat. “That mage friend of yours and even the goddess you’ve recruited, what makes sense to them only does so because they don’t know what you and I do.” The parasol came to a halt, and the Queen of Fey stretched their arms up over their head. “Listen here, you know that any further delays would be a waste of time. After all, you already have everything you need to succeed in this,” they said as they stepped out of the umbrella. The thin air they appeared to stand upon rippled like water with each step they took. “A quick and easy way into the Squidzard’s fortress, means to bring your friends back from the dead, a remnant of the old pantheon that has a layout of said fortress, a magic horn.” “Yes, about that.” Rarity’s lips pursed together in a light, irritated scowl. “I remember quite specifically asking you where my magic horn was.” “Like I said,” the Queen said, smirking, “you‘ve got everything you need. And remember, you also still have this.” The draconequus leaned over and hooked Rarity’s necklace with a talon. The silver snowflake dangled in front of Rarity’s eyes, swaying back and forth like the pendulum of a clock as it began to shine. “Now there might only be enough of my magic left in here for one last huzzah, but this one’s all you’ll be needing. You’ll make it count, I know you will.” They let the chain drop and extended the claw toward Rarity, motioning her toward them. Rarity moved toward the edge of the vessel but hesitated as any sane creature would’ve when she peeked down at the endless drop through the heavens below. “How can I be sure that this will be enough?” she asked, bring her gaze back up to her enigmatic benefactor. The Queen of Fey shook their head and sighed. “This humbleness is quite unbecoming of one such as yourself. Why, you might even say that such a display is a bit of a, rarity.” The being winked and chuckled, and before Rarity could comment, they went on to say, “Have a little more confidence in yourself. You’ve made it this far on far less, and lest we forget, you are of mine after all, destined for far more.” They broke into a sly little grin as they waved Rarity over to them. “Come, child. We still have work to do. My plan for you and this world have only just begun.” Rarity stared at the offered claw for a few seconds longer before she took in a deep breath, reached out, and placed a hoof into the claw. As the Queen of Fey helped her rise and climb out of the upside down parasol, her free, flailing limbs struggled to find the invisible platform that the Queen was standing on. Rarity tried to retreat back to the safety of the umbrella, but the Queen held firm and yanked her toward them. Rarity soon found herself dangling by her leg that was still in the Queen of Fey’s grasp, and as she was hoisted up to the Queen’s eye level, the being’s smile grew, exposing a single discolored, familiarly lopsided fang on the side of their mouth. “You're not alone, you know. What you were, and what you are to become, will always be with you.” “I’m sorry, what are you—“ “In any case, I'll be watching. And if you're very lucky, I'll drop by to say hello from time to time. Well, until then, arrivederci.” The Queen of Fey released Rarity’s hoof, and just as Rarity felt the pull of gravity take hold of her, her eyes fluttered open. The skies, the pink clouds, the draconequus, they had all vanished, and Rarity was back in the room from the Hag’s Haven, her head once more against the provided bed’s tolerably soft cushion. Slowly, she sat up and felt something bounce against her chest. Rarity looked down and saw that it was the symbol the Queen of Fey, the warmth and glow coming from the silver pendant already fading even as she came to notice them. “You are awake,” Rarity heard Selune say, the sudden statement from the skull to her side startling her out of her musings. “It has been a little over an hour. How are you feeling?” “Much better, actually.” Rarity removed herself from the covers and got out of bed. Her body felt lighter and no longer painfully stiff, her frustration from earlier was gone and in its place was a sense of peace, and that confusion she had been fighting since the conclusion of her talk with Elkraps was no longer causing a headache now that conflicting thoughts clashing in her head had been silenced. Everything just seemed so much clearer now. It was surprising just how vast an improvement that nap had done for her, though considering her fantastic encounter whilst unconscious, it might have been a great deal more than a simple short rest. “Did, um, anything happen while I was sleeping?” Rarity inquired. “Anything peculiar or strange?” “Nothing that would have required my concern,” Selune answered. “Why do you ask? Were you expecting something to occur?” “No, it’s, well, it’s nothing.” Rarity walked to the window and peered through, looking over the town outside. She picked up the silver symbol around her neck and brought up to her gaze. Her reflection stared back as it held up its own pendant. “Alright then,” she whispered to the mare in the glass. “Let’s do it your way.”