Twilight Sparkle has everything, and yet she doesn't have anything.
Twilight Sparkle, a creative inventor, a brilliant scientist. She is the smartest and the wisest woman to ever exist in Equestria history. She has everything a person can dream of, wealth, fame, status. It looks like there is nothing in this world that is out of her reach. But for her, those things are meaningless, because of one simple reason.
She doesn't have happiness.
She used to have someone she loved from the bottom of her heart. Someone who loves her with everything they have. Someone who loves her the way she is. Someone who always supported everything she did. Someone who is always by her side even if the world turns its back against her. Someone who was always by her side when she was still a nameless bookworm. The special someone who helped her reach her height today.
And yet, the cruel fate took that special someone away from her. Leaving her with a heart so shattered that she doesn't think it will be able to heal again.
Returning home from a boring seminar, Twilight quietly entered her small house, which she and her lover bought when they were both just starting their careers. Many people have asked why she doesn't move into a bigger house, she has a lot of money after all. She said that why would she need a bigger one when she lives alone, but the truth is this house is the place where countless memories between her and her special someone were created and stored, which is something she will not and never want to forget.
Silently eating the dinner she had prepared for herself, Twilight looked across the table at the lone chair that always remained in the opposite position and was never being moved a single bit. The chair her lover used to sit in. Since when did Twilight always eat alone, since when she becomes more closed to outsiders than ever after her beloved passed away. Since when the only thing she eats was instant food, if that person saw the way she eats now, she would have to listen to lectures for hours on why it is important to know how to eat healthily, she laughs painfully. She remembers the feeling of eating with her lover. Listen to them talk about the working day of both. Seeing their bright smile. Seeing them panic over a few little things. She missed her beloved so much, and it made her heart hurt.
After cleaning the dishes, Twilight began her "late-night working phase". While walking to her office, Twilight passed her lover's workroom. She looked at the room for a few moments, then continued walking. She walked down the door leading to the basement where she worked the night. Twilight entered the underground laboratory, where there was a project that she put all of her efforts and talents into for 3 years.
Inside the darkroom, tools were scattered all over the place, notes were strewn about, tangled pipes led to a vault in the center of the room. Inside the vault was the woman Twilight Sparkle loved the most, Rarity Bellari.
Rarity, or more accurately her clone, was lying dormant inside the upright vault. Her purple hair floating in the life support liquid that emits green light. Her body relaxed comfortably. Her eyes were closed as if she were sleeping. But she is still beautiful enough to charm anyone.
Rarity Bellari is Twilight Sparkle's only best friend and beloved soulmate, who loved Twilight with all her heart and was loved in return by Twilight from the depths of her soul. No matter how many years have passed, no matter if Rarity is no longer in this world, that will never change. That's why Twilight spent three long years in an endless circle of research and experimentation, just to bring her Rarity back to life. She is willing to sacrifice everything - even her fortune just to hear her beloved Rarity call her "darling" again.
Stroking the glass separating her from Rarity, Twilight whispered. "You're still beautiful like the day I lost you."
Twilight misses this beautiful woman so much. She misses the natural beauty of Rarity, for Twilight, the fashionista is always the most beautiful woman in the world. Even if her hair is messy, her makeup is smeared, she will always be the beautiful goddess of the introvert bookworm. She missed Rarity's warm smile, always able to melt her heart on the worst day of her life. She misses the fashionista's chivalry and kindness, because of that she was able to pull Twilight out of the depths of domestic violence and help her integrate into society. And with Rarity's support, Twilight was able to achieve her childhood dream. A tear gently rolled down from the young scientist's cheek, she not only loved Rarity, but also owed her a lot. But that day, she could only helplessly watch her beloved fashionista slowly pass away in her arms, without letting her have a chance to say goodbye...
"Sorry Twilight, we're late."
A young man's voice interrupted Twilight's train of thought. She replied:
"It's alright Spike, come in."
As she finished speaking, Spike and his wife, Sweetie Belle, entered the room and quickly packed up to prepare for their "night work."
Spike Sparkle is Twilight's younger brother. Like his sister, Spike met Rarity when he was still a child. He sees Rarity as his second big sister. The young fashionista has repeatedly protected him from school bullies. She also helps him overcome the autism that has separated him from the world for many years. And thanks to Rarity, he was able to marry the woman of his life.
Sweetie Bellari, or Sweetie Belle for short, is Rarity's younger sister. Ever since she was a child, she only had Rarity as someone she could call family. Growing up in the loving arms of her sister, she considers Rarity as a shining example to learn and follow. Under Rarity's tutelage, Sweetie has learned to live in harmony with everyone, always trying to help others. Many years later, when she became a famous singer, she always remembered her sister's teaching that she should not sleep in glory but always think for everyone around her. She had donated countless amounts of money for charity, building schools, helping poor children,... So that no one has to suffer the same fate as she and her sisters once did.
It could be said that all three persons in this room owed Rarity a lot. But Spike and Sweetie both agree that the best way to repay her is to help the woman she loves the most. So they both joined Twilight's secret project to bring back Rarity. And after 3 years of continuous research and testing, they succeeded in growing a healthy Rarity clone with all of the memories before her death. Today is the last day of the project, with just a few more checks and exams before they could see Rarity's smile again.
"Sweetie, check her heart rate!"
"Stable."
"What about blood pressure?"
"Completely stable, Twilight."
"Is there any damage to the brain, nerves, or any other vital organs, Spike?"
"Completely normal without any serious damage, Twi. Internal organs are functioning normally."
"What about the memory part?"
"Has full memory about 2 days before death."
"Okay everyone, the moment we've been waiting for three years has come. Get ready to open the vault and take Rarity out."
"Roger!"
Standing in front of the vault containing the clones of the woman she loves, Twilight anxiously awaits the outcome of the project she has been pursuing for three years. Eagerly waiting to see if her sacrifice was worth it. Both Spike and Sweetie also had worried expressions on their faces. It feels like time ceases to exist in this room.
And then the life-supporting liquid of the cloned Rarity was slowly drained, and the glass separating her from the outside world was also withdrawn, revealing the body of a beautiful woman slowly falling into Twilight's arms. Holding the woman she loved, Twilight calmly waited. After what seemed like an eternity, a pair of sapphire eyes slowly open, a sweet voice uttered from the owner of those beautiful blue eyes.
"Twilight?"
Unable to contain her joy, Twilight hugged Rarity tightly and happily shouted. "I DID IT! I DID IT! I HAVE SUCCESS!!!"
Tears kept rolling down the young scientist's cheeks, many achievements she had achieved before were not equal to a fraction of the success she has right now, bringing the woman she loved back from the dead. Spike and Sweetie also hugged each other in joy. So many failed experiments, so many nights of working, so many nights just trying again and again, now all of their hard work has paid off.
Continuing to hold Rarity tightly, Twilight cried even louder. Countless nights she'd cried alone since Rarity passed away, sleeping alone in the bed they used to share, eating alone at some unknown restaurant in the city, not a single day passed without her mind being filled with the images of Rarity. And now the beautiful fashionista had returned to her arms, she had sworn to never lose her beloved ever again.
Watching their two dear sisters happy with each other, the couple was about to step outside to give their sisters some private time, until Spike glanced at the computer screen and spotted a problem.
"What the? No! It can't be..."
"Is there anything wrong, honey?" Sweetie asked softly after seeing her husband's worried expression.
"Sweetie, you have to look at this." Spike showed his wife what he had discovered.
"What? Huh? No... Impossible... How could that be?"
"I can't believe it either... Rarity..."
Spike and Sweetie glanced back at their two sisters, still embracing each other. The faces of the couple who a few minutes ago were still happy for Twilight's and Rarity's reunion, now filled with bitterness, grief, and pain for the two women in front of them. Their hearts broke when they heard Twilight's sobs.
"I miss you so much Rarity! There isn't a single day passed that I didn't think about you."
"What's wrong my love? Why do you say that? I'm always by your side."
"I'll explain to you later, right now I just want to hug you!"
"Alright darling, I'd love to hug you too."
Continuing to embrace her Twilight for a few more minutes, Rarity realized something was wrong with her body. She quickly covered her body with her hands.
"Twilight! Why am I naked? Where are my clothes!!!???"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Here, take this towel, the changing room and the clothes are on the other side!"
After taking the towel from Twilight's hand, Rarity quickly cover her body and ran to the changing room without forgetting to say hello to Spike and Sweetie, but both of them could only reply with an awkward smile. Twilight smiled as she watched her beloved leave.
"Oh Rarity, you're always freaking out for such little things. And I love you so much. Hey, why do you two look so miserable?"
Knowing that Twilight had noticed his unusual expression, Spike had no choice but to reveal the truth.
"Twilight, we have something to tell you. It's an unpleasant truth to hear, do you want to hear it?"
"Just say it, Spike, there isn't any truth that is uncomfortable for me!"
"It's this Rarity... can only... live for 30 hours..."
"What? Hey Spike, that's not funny."
"I wish I was joking, but this Rarity has lived in the life support vault for so long that she can't survive in the outside environment. The maximum time she can survive in the outside world is only 30 hours. We just found out about that after Rarity was released."
"NO! I don't believe it! Rarity is changing clothes in the next room and she is still fine!"
"I'm sorry Twilight... But... But there's nothing we can do!"
"But... but we... can try... try it again, right? We... We... have... failed many.... times already..."
"But those attempts all stopped at the stage of unformed cells. This time it's an adult clone with all of her memories... Besides, the project has consumed a lot of our money. Not to mention the law."
"I DON'T CARE! MONEY IS NOT MY PROBLEM! KEEP TRYING AGAIN AND AGAIN! NO MATTER THE COST, I WANT MY RARITY BACK!!!"
"ENOUGH TWILIGHT!!!" Sweetie Belle shouted.
Which effectively stopped Twilight from screaming. With no intention to stop, the young singer turns to face the denial scientist and continues.
"How many more times do you want to see my sister die, Twilight? How many more times does Rarity have to die to please you? Why are you so selfish, Twilight?"
"I... I..."
"When Rarity died, I was in grief just like you. It was as if my entire world vanished that day. And I can't imagine having to see her die again."
"But... but..."
"Please, Twilight, we help you because we also want Rarity back, not to kill her again. Please let her go."
"Sweetie right, Twi, we're helping you because we believe we'll bring Rarity back, but if it includes seeing her die over and over again... we can't do it. Rarity is a kind and generous woman, she has done nothing wrong to anyone to suffer such a fate. And if you still intend to continue this project, we have no choice but to report you to the law. Sorry Twilight, we all know how much Rarity means to you, but everything has its limits. Do you want to see someone you love so much die every day?"
Twilight can't seem to accept this grim reality. She fell to her knees and began to cry. She can't accept that, she can't accept the fact that she will lose Rarity again, even after everything she had sacrificed, even after all of her efforts are worthless...
"I just.... just... want... to see Rarity's smile... to sleep in her arms... to have dinner with her... to grow old with her... I want... to be by her side... I just want... want Rarity to return..."
"Why... why... Rarity.... why... your fate has... to be so cruel? Rarity... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I... failed you... again... I'm nothing... but a failure..."
While Spike and Sweetie were comforting the young scientist whose heart was broken once more, outside the room stood a woman quietly leaning against the wall, her face devoid of any emotion.
Rarity had heard everything they said.
30 hours left...
