//------------------------------//
// Chapter Eighteen 
// Story: The Gates of Equestria 
// by SapphireRose87 
//------------------------------//

Sapphire couldn't believe her ears as she sat down at her desk talking to Fancy Mark and Melody. Fancy Mark and Melody had just recently come to her to ask for permission to go to the village for a date. Sapphire's jaw practically hit the table because of her being in shock. She and everyone else had always assumed that Melody would get together with Aether and not get together with Fancy Mark. 

Fancy Mark chuckled, "I understand you're surprised by this Head Guardian Sapphire! I thought for sure Melody was dating Aether but I asked her out and she said yes and here we are!"

Sapphire looked back and forth between Fancy Mark and Melody to figure out if they were sincere or not. While Melody sat there showing no emotion on her face whatsoever, which honestly didn't really surprise Sapphire, Fancy Mark stared at Melody as if he were a lovesick puppy. 

She raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly. "Oh, okay sure it's not a problem at all. You guys will have access to go on your date Saturday at the village."

Fancy Mark perked up and clapped his hooves excitedly. "Excellent!" He turned to Melody. "So I'll see you on Saturday at 6pm!"

He leaned over and kissed Melody on the cheek and left the room hoping up and down while humming a happy tune. 

Once Fancy Mark left Melody wiped her cheek and had a look of disgust on her face. This caused Sapphire to pause. "Melody, do you even like Fancy Mark?"

Melody paused and then sighed, "Well… Um it's a yes and a no answer to that question."

"O…Kay?" Sapphire said, "What do you mean?"

"The yes part of the answer is that I like him as a friend and I've been wanting to get to know him better," Melody said. "So I figured dating him would be the best way to do that. I also think he's cute so that helps. The no part of the answer is that I asked Aether out before I talked to Fancy and he said no. I was torn between Fancy or Aether and Aether helped me make the decision for me."

"I see," said Sapphire. It was a good thing that Melody was blind because Sapphire had a look on her face that said she wasn't buying this story, not one little bit. "Okay then, have fun on your date and I know you're on the rebound from Aether even though you two weren't dating but at least try to look excited about dating Fancy."

Melody nodded. "Yeah I get it. I'll try."

Sapphire went over to Melody and gave her a hug. After the hug Melody left. Sapphire sat down by her desk and thought, I'm not buying this not one little bit! Melody's up to something in regards to Fancy. I would ask but a real friend doesn't stick their snout into places where it doesn't belong! Besides, we just started to become friends and I trust Melody. I just hope whatever plan Melody's got cooked up that she knows what she's doing.


***


As Fancy Dark skipped down the hallway thinking about what to do on his date with Melody he paused when he heard somepony snickering from a nearby mirror. He scowled when he saw Fancy Mark laughing at him. "What is so funny?"

"Oh nothing, except I was watching how Melody reacted when you kissed her on the cheek," Fancy Mark said. 

"Oh? How did she react?" Fancy Dark growled. 

"She had a look of disgust on her face!" Fancy Mark said with a smile. "Gee I wonder how she'll react when you go to kiss her on the mouth? That is if she lets you kiss her on the mouth. Gross!"

"What's so gross about kissing the mare you love?" Dark asked.

"Because I'm not the one that likes her! I've never considered Melody as a love interest!" Mark declared. "She's like a sister to me, not a lover! Nope! No way! And when I gain control over my body again, I'm going to wash my mouth out with soap!"

Dark stomped his hoof in anger on the ground and snarled. "Well too bad because you're not getting control over your body again! Not if I got something to say about it and I have something to say about it obviously!" 

Mark rolled his eyes. "You're a real idiot but please by all means keep living in la la land. Can't wait until your plans fall apart. And as always, I'll be watching you…"

Mark's image faded away from the mirror. Dark stood there seething in rage. I'll show him! I'm going to gloat so bad Mark will have to apologize for ever doubting me!

When Dark finished seething in rage he laughed. He walked down the hallway whistling a carefree tune. He whistled the tune not because he was happy but he whistled it because it was helping him to calm down at least for the moment. 


***


Rapid Chaser had her bags packed and she also packed Little Snack's bags getting ready to leave Phantasia's hideout. She had seen the notice on the billboard outside her office one day and she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw it! The notice read like this:

Attention ALL MARES who work for my army:

The future ruler of Equestria, Phantasia has requested that every mare working except for the higher ups be fired! Phantasia will not stand for mares working for him because he has seen that they aren't fit to have any job in his army! 

Starting next week Phantasia's army is for STALLIONS ONLY! That is all!

As soon as Rapid saw the notice and saw mares lining up at the unemployment office she was pissed. 

I thought Phantasia would change after I had that conversation with him! What in the world is he thinking? Rapid thought. It was then that she packed her bags and grabbed the notice from off the billboard. She ran all the way to Phantasia's office hoping she could reason with him. 


***


When Rapid neared Phantasia's office she heard him shouting, "I don't care that 70% of my army is pissed because they're mares!"

"But what about Rapid Chaser, Sandy Fire and Little Snack?" Somepony else asked, "Are you going to fire them too? You'd better fire them because you don't, that's a bit of a double standard don't you think?" 

"I said, every mare except the higher ups, which is exactly what Rapid, Sandy Fire and Little Snack are, are fired!" Phantasia shouted back. 

It was at that moment Rapid burst into the room, her face red from anger. Normally Phantasia's never afraid of any mare but the only mare he is afraid of is Rapid when she gets pissed. He shrank back and gave a nervous laugh, "Rapid honey, darling! I haven't seen you in the office lately, what's up?"

"Are. You. Kidding me?!" Rapid roared. She slammed the notice on Phantasia's desk and glared daggers at him. If looks could kill Phantasia would've been dead on the spot. However, Phantasia was sweating and sincerely terrified of Rapid at the moment. 

"I thought we talked about this! I thought you were going to change! What happened?" Rapid growled. 

Phantasia sighed, "Sorry Rapid my dear, I can't do it! I can't stomach the fact that mares are working for me when they should-"

"Be at home, having babies, cooking and cleaning and acting like a maid waiting on their husbands or boyfriends hand and foot?" Rapid snarled.

Phantasia nodded. "Yes."

"No Phantasia!" Rapid snarled, "You're wrong! Mares are just as capable of being in the army as stallions are. You're just too bitter about not being chosen as a Guardian to see that. And you wanna know something? Being bitter is not a good excuse to attack a country. That is the most barbaric reasoning ever! You know what? Since you refuse to change and stop being so bitter about crap, I'm gone!"

"Rapid no!" Phantasia shrieked. "Please don't leave me! Just give me one more chance, I can change."

Rapid gave him a pointed look. "Uh-huh, and what are you going to do?"

Phantasia shook his head. "I don't know!"

"You know exactly what to do!" Rapid snapped. "Take back that notice and hire the mares that you fired back!"

Phantasia shook his head again. "Nope I can't do that!"

"Well then, this is it," Rapid said with her heart breaking knowing what she was going to say next. "I'm sorry Phantasia, but we're done! I'm breaking up with you. I'm not your maid and I never will be your maid! And if Sandy Fire's wise enough she'll see that you don't value her working for you. She's done nothing but show she's the strongest fighter you got despite being a mare! She's stronger than any stallion in your army for crying out loud! I'm done with you, Phantasia, this is goodbye."

Rapid didn't let Phantasia say anything else when she turned around and left the room slamming the door behind her.


***


Rapid sat at her desk in her room and sighed. She shed a couple of tears as she pulled out a piece of parchment paper and a pen and she started to write her letter. These were going to be her final words for Phantasia before she would go to Equestria and find the Head Guardian to tell them everything she knew about Phantasia's plans. 

Dear Phantasia,

I sincerely thought you were going to change your ways and respect the mares in your army. A lot of the mares that you fired in your army were twice as strong as any stallion who works for you! I can't believe that because you're so bitter about not being chosen as a Guardian that you would go so far as to fire the mares who work for you. 

I think you need to sit down and get over your arrogance because you're not a hero for wanting to take over Equestria for your own selfish reasons. You know what, I used to get extremely upset when other ponies would talk bad about you because at that time I loved you so much that it hurt. It hurts me to say goodbye but I told you I'm not going to be a maid and just stay home and give you children all the time. I want to be out in the world free to do whatever I want regardless if I'm dating somepony or not. 

The thing that irritates me the most is your double standards for mares and stallions. Why is it okay for stallions to get away with bad behavior and mares have to show respect for them no matter what? I think that's something you need to think about. 

I think from here on out if any mare wants to be with you, they're only with you not because they love you but because they want power. You'll never find another mare who truly loves you the way I did. 

So I'm sorry but this is my final goodbye and I'm not coming back any time soon. 

Sincerely,

The mare who loved you, Rapid Chaser.

As soon as she finished writing the letter, she folded the paper and placed it on her desk. She looked around her now bare room, that had a bed that she made recently and her empty closet to make sure she packed everything. She also checked Little Snack's room to make sure everything was packed and ready to go. Once she made sure everything was ready, she walked down the hallway and after she exited the hideout she got into a carriage where Little Snack was sitting. She paid the driver to take her to a place in Equestria that she knew very well. The place was her childhood home where her parents lived. She went there because she knew Phantasia wouldn't go after her. 

When she rang the doorbell her mother greeted her, "Rapid darling! It's been so long I haven't seen you in ages! Come in, come in!"

Rapid nodded. "Yes mother, I have a friend with me, is it okay if we stay here for a couple of days?"

"Oh sure! You're my daughter and you're always welcome here! Even your boyfriend Phantasia is welcome here!" Rapid's Mother said. 

"About that, it's not Phantasia who needs a place to stay for a bit," Rapid said. She opened the reveal Little Snack standing behind her staring off into a daze because of being under dark magic. "Little Snack, this is my mother Mrs. Chaser, please say hi."

Little Snack nodded and said in zombie-like fashion, "Hi Mrs. Chaser… It's nice to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you too darling!" Mrs. Chaser said. 

Mrs. Chaser let Rapid and Little Snack in. Once they entered the house Rapid pulled Mrs. Chaser off to the side. "Um, mom there's something you should know about Little Snack."

"Yes? What is it?" Mrs. Chaser asked. 

Rapid sighed, "Little Snacks under some type of dark magic and I don't know how to break it."

Mrs. Chaser gasped, "Oh my! Who did it to her?"

Rapid looked down and then cried, "It was Phantasia! That's one of the many reasons that I broke up with him!"

Mrs. Chaser gasped again, "Why that little- I take it back, if Phantasia steps one hoof on this property I'm calling the police!"

Rapid wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffed. "Thanks mom, but do you know of anypony who can break the dark magic?"

Mrs. Chaser smiled and nodded. "Why yes dear I do! She lives in the village where the former Guardians and their families live."

"Who is it?" Rapid asked.

Mrs. Chaser's smile turned into a grin. "It's your Grandmother!"

Rapid gasped, "If Grandmother lives at the village where the former Guardians live, then why don't you live there?"

"It's because the invitation to live there doesn't extend to grandchildren once they become of age," Mrs. Chaser responded. "So your father and I left once you and your sisters became of age."  

"I see," said Rapid. "So where can I meet her?"

"Well we can't meet her inside the village of course," said Mrs. Chaser. "Those that leave the village can't find it anymore after they've left. So I'll send a letter to her current address and see if we can meet up somewhere in town. I'll do it tomorrow so we can meet up as soon as possible. Until then, you and Little Snack can stay here as long as you need to. I'll go get the guest room ready for you two!" 

While Mrs. Chaser went to get the guest room ready for Little Snack and Rapid to stay in, Rapid felt a sense of relief that the dark magic that was placed on Little Snack would be broken soon.