//------------------------------//
// A Time to Rebuild 
// Story: The Bakery is Closed... 
// by RarityFigma 
//------------------------------//

	The town returned to normal as towns often do. Few ponies knew what happened and those who did refused to speak of it. Life continued like nothing ever had changed. There was only one difference some ponies noticed. Some days Rarity vanished. Not for too long, but for long enough for ponies to notice. Still no pony ever asked. 

A few weeks later the mare in question stood at her new home away from home, a cemetery where all of her friends now slept. She had seen to it that each received a proper burial. However without them her inspiration too had died. Now with nothing, but time on her hooves until death also claimed her, Rarity choose to wait in the cemetery with her friends. 
Rarity heard a noise. She turned to see Princess Celestia with a half-hearted smile on her face. “Rarity right? It’s good to see you again.”

“Oh…hello princess,” Rarity whimpered. The white unicorn looked down in a mix of shame and despair. “Pardon me I’m just not myself anymore.”

Princess Celestia walked over to Rarity. “I’ve been busy these last couple weeks you know. Trying my best to solve this mess.”

Rarity looked up. “What’s there to solve?” She said. Pinkamina destroyed everything! This story is over.” 

The alicorn smiled. “Rarity the story doesn’t have to end yet.”

The white unicorn looked up in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Celestia walked over to Twilight’s grave and looked down longingly. “I’ve been… perusing the oldest spells let’s just say.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “I don’t think there’s a magic that can help us right now Princess.”

Celestia turned to Rarity and smiled. “Now please don’t be so naïve.” Celestia’s horn grew a bright white and shone over all the graves. A bright flash blinded Rarity as the valley became coated in light. 

When the unicorn opened her eyes she couldn’t believe what she saw. Each of her friends was sleeping, no longer in their graves, but on top of them. Their bodies were clean with not a speck of blood or a single wound. Rarity ran to Celestia’s side. “How did you-”

Celestia hushed her. “Allow me to explain.” The larger pony began to pace. “I can’t revive the dead, but I can repair their bodies. Your friends are now empty shells. They live, but their souls have departed to the afterlife.”

Rarity dropped to her knees. “So…can they…can they do anything?”

Celestia looked over at the sleeping ponies. “That depends on you dear.”

“Me?” Rarity asked.

“A soul can’t be recovered, but it can be created,” Celestia said. “If you show them the love that fate stole away, then maybe a new soul will grow.

Tears fell from Rarity’s face. She ran over to her slumbering friends one by one. Everyone was alive even Pinkie. She held her pink friend’s body and turned to Celestia.

The alicorn nodded. “I don’t know what happened to corrupt her, but I do know that every creature here is an empty slate. Their memories can be repaired though, through magic and of course a loving heart.” Rarity wiped away her tears. Now was not a time for despair. It was a time to rebuild.