//------------------------------//
// Shock, Grief and Revelations 
// Story: Rainbow Of Fate 
// by Lord Drayvon22 
//------------------------------//



Five minutes earlier, Ponyvile Schoolhouse


With Applejack gone and thier sisters missing, as well as the surrounding area completely swarmed by Shadows, the Cutie Mark Crusaders have abandoned any attempt to escape and cling to each other in the darkest corner of the school. Ominously, they haven't heard of seen any or thier classmates at all on the way here and the building is completely abandoned. They've been taught that, if anything should happen in Ponyvile and they can't get somewhere safe by themselves, they are to meet at the school where they will be taken to safety by Miss Cheerilee but even she is nowhere to be found.

As her friends look to her for encouragement, Scootaloo just feels completely numb inside. Rainbow Dash, why are you doing this? You're my big sister, I love you and look at what you've done. Her face hardens as she comes to a fateful decision.  Don't worry, I'll stick to your example and do what you would have done for me in a heartbeat. I'll be with you soon enough. Stepping away from her friends, Scootaloo takes a deep breath as she steels herself for what she is about to say. "Girls, when they find us, I'll keep them busy whilst you run as fast as you can."

Sweetie Belle looks at Scootaloo in horror. "No way. Scoots. We're Crusaders and we stick together no matter what. What happens to you happens to all of us. We're not leaving you to face down Nightmare Moon alone." Apple Bloom nods in firm agreement.

Scootaloo looks at them sadly. "Sweetie, Applejack was told to get you and Apple Bloom to safety no matter what and that responsibility now falls to me as the oldest." As the other Crusaders look on resolutely, Scootaloo sighs as she prepares herself to reveal a secret she has kept for a long time. One she has never told anypony, not even her aunts, since being sappy is the uncoolest thing ever. Since this will be the last time they ever meet though, what has she got left to lose?

"There's another reason, guys. You're not just my friends; you're the sisters I never had. With Rainbow Dash gone, I have to protect you. We're not just Crusaders, we're family and family protects each other."

The other Crusaders look at her sweetly. "Oh, Scoots." Before they can hug, they all jump at a bloodcurdling scream coming from nearby. "W-was that Twilight?!" Scootaloo is too shocked to respond.

Sweetie Belle begins to freak out. "But if they've managed to get Twilight, what if they've gotten to the others? What about Rarity?! I-I couldn't live without her. If anything happened to her, I-I don't know what I'd do." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo say nothing as they give her a hug. 

Before anything more can be said, the windows are smashed in as three Nightmare Shadows make an entrance. "Found some!" 

As the Crusaders back away towards the entrance, it's opened by a fourth and familiar looking Shadow. "You idiots, they're the ones the Queen wants to deal with personally."

At that, the Crusaders bolt straight into the street. "We'll head for your house, Sweetie." She sees the Crusader turn her head to protest but Scootaloo shakes her head. "We don't stand a chance by ourselves, especially if Flare is after us herself. Sweet Apple Acres is on the other side of Ponyvile. We can't risk encountering those things again. Let's just hope that your parents are still okay." 

As they race past other Shadows, Apple Bloom turns to her older friend with a frightened look. "Why would Flare want tah deal with us herself? We're notta threat tah her." 

Scootaloo looks back equally worried but focuses on running which allows them to quickly reach the familiar house. When they enter though, they hear a familiar laugh coming from the living room. "Oh mother, you can be so vulgar!" 

Sweetie Belle perks up at the sound of her sister's familiar voice but Scootaloo stops her from running in joyfully. Something's not right here. Why would they just be sitting and talking pleasantly like it's any other day? We're in the middle of the apocalypse. Why aren't they trying to escape or at the very least stay quiet and hide? Slowly motioning her friends forward, they creep up to the open door and peer in. They have to hold in screams of terror at what they see.

Sitting directly opposite the doorway is Rarity or at least something that resembles Rarity. She has the same mane and tail as Rarity and even the same eye colour but her coat is jet black, her eyes are slitted and they appear to glow in the dim light cast by the Moon. Fortunately, she is too busy laughing with Hondo to have noticed them yet although they aren't as lucky with Cookie. "Good evening, girls. Please, won't you sit down?" Despite the very warm and welcoming tone, they shiver at her bio-luminescent eyes.

Slipping behind the door for a moment, the three exchange looks of horror. "Wh-what in the sweet name of Celestia are those things?! They look like Rarity and mom and dad but they can't be. Let's get the hay out of here." Just as they prepare to bolt, they hear what sounds like scales being dragged across wooden flooring. "What was that?"

"You know Sweetie, it's rude to ignore your mother when she asks you a question." They jump at the deep voice before spinning around and cowering. Coiled up in front of the front door is what at first glance appears to be an absolutely enormous snake. As thier eyes adjust to the very dim light though, they recognise the familiar purple and green scales as well as the familiar green spines that suddenly look much sharper and more threatening.

"Sp-Sp-Spike?!" The dragon shoots them his trademark grin although his new appearance makes it unintentionally menacing. Less of a smile and more of an “I’m gonna eat you in a second” taunt. Before he can speak, Rarity emerges from the living room and the Crusaders back themselves flat against Spike to get as far away from her as possible.

Rarity shoots the Crusaders a relieved smile. "Thank Princess Celestia that you're safe. We've been so worried about you three. Please, come join us for some tea." The Crusaders exchange a look of terror but realise that they don't have a choice. There aren't any windows except those behind Rarity and Spike is blocking the only exit. Exchanging worried looks, they walk calmly into the sitting room.



Outside the dome


Princess Luna watches sadly as she sees Princess Celestia pour all of her efforts into locating any weak-points in the dome. Although she was giving it everything before, now there is a cold deliberateness to her actions not seen since Sombra a thousand years ago. A cold, calculated demeanour synonymous with combating a powerful enemy who took something very important away from you. To anypony not very intimately familiar with the Princess, she merely appears to be hyper-focused on her task and as calm as ever but Luna knows better. When this is all over, I need to have a long, hard talk with her. This isn't healthy.

Celestia looks up at Commander Light Brigade who snaps to attention. "Are your men ready, Commander?" He nods. "Excellent, inform them to be prepared for literally anything. If Nightmare Moon can take down the Element Bearers with little effort, we don't know what her and her army are capable of." Light Brigade snaps a salute and marches away as Celestia turns her attention back to the war-table.

"Princess Celestia." She turns with a joyless smile to see a nervous but determined looking Shining Armour. "I request to be assigned to the forward defences. They'll need all the help that they can get." The look of horror on Cadance's face makes him wince though he maintains his serious expression.

Celestia's expression doesn't change as she responds in a firm but sympathetic voice. "Your request is denied." His look of shock gives her pause. "We need you here in the event of an attack and you're the strongest that we have besides myself, Luna and Cadance. We're the last line of defence between Nightmare Moon and Equestria if the Royal Guard can't hold the line." She shakes her head sadly. "I know that you want to avenge Twilight and the others but, if she were here, she'd be scolding you for taking such unnecessary risks." 

She sees the hurt in his eyes and looks at him apologetically. "I know how hard it is to have lost your sister, I felt the same for over a thousand years, but we can't allow that to cloud our judgement. There will be time to grieve when this is over but we can't allow Nightmare Moon to have her way with Equestria. We can't let our feelings jeporadise Equestria. No matter how much it hurts." 

Though the last part is muttered, Shining's eyes widen slightly as he hears the first vulnerability from his Princess though he soon returns to his stoic expression. "Understood, Princess." He then snaps a salute before walking away with Cadance.

Luna chuckles emptily. "He never will learn to call us by name, will he sister?" 

Celestia doesn't respond for a moment as she watches her student's brother. "No Luna, he probably never will." Despite the attempt at a witty response, her voice is hollow and her small smile doesn’t reach her eyes as she gets back to work whilst Luna watches sadly.



Meanwhile, Cookie Crumbles and Hondo Flanks' living room


The Crusaders sit a sofa facing Rarity and her parents with Spike blocking any chance of escape. Although all four have warm and friendly smiles, all that the Crusaders see are cats that just cornered some mice. 

After five minutes of silence, Rarity politely clears her throat. "Now, we need to go over something before Rainbow Dash arrives." She pauses as the Crusaders cling to each other at the mention of the Pegasus. "Sweetie, please. What are you all so afraid of?" 

Rarity tries not to take it personally when her sister just looks up at her with a look of terror. Okay, that was a very stupid question. "W-what are you going to d-do with us?!" 

Rarity reaches out to pull her into a comforting hug but Sweetie Belle recoils as if her hoof is an angry Cockatrice. "Sweetie, please let me explain. Nothing is going to hurt you or your friends ever again." The only response is a shiver from her sibling.

"It's okay, Sweetie Belle." Sweetie instinctively perks up at the familiar sound of Cookie's voice though her shivering continues. "Everything will be okay. This has all just been a big miscommunication and you'll soon understand. Please, calm down." 

When the comforting words do little to alleviate the tension, Rarity sighs and exchanges a look with her parents before shimmering for a second. The Crusaders watch in disbelief as Rarity reverts back to her normal self but the slitted eyes give away that little has actually changed. "Is that better?" The Crusaders stop shivering as much but the nerves remain. "Now, I know that you all have some questions so we'll try and answer them as best we can."

The Crusaders exchange a worried look before Apple Bloom clears her throat. "Why do yah look like Rarity an' her parents?"

Rarity looks at them hopefully. "Sweetie, please believe me when I say that we are your family. I know we look a little different than before but we're still ourselves in the ways that matter."

Scootaloo looks defiantly at the fashionista as Sweetie Belle gulps. "Prove it."

Rarity takes a deep breath. "Remember when you desperately wanted me to go to the Sisterhooves Social but I refused because I would get dirty? You denounced me as your sister and declared Applejack as your new sister." She sighs at the memory. "We only mended fences when I posed as Applejack and competed in her place. It took me almost two days to get all the mud out" 

Sweetie Belle is stunned for a moment but then looks over at Spike suspiciously and shakes her head. "Spike knows everything that happened; he sent our Friendship Report. He could just have told you that."

Rarity holds back a frustrated groan. "How about the time that you tried to retrieve a ribbon but ended up destroying my entire bedroom?"

Sweetie Belle looks conflicted. Only the two of them, thier parents and the other Crusaders know about the Ribbon Incident. Rarity gives a comforting smile. "I'm still your sister, they're still our parents and we still love you as much as we always have." 

Sweetie Belle looks into Rarity's eyes, looking to an answer. Seemingly finding what she's looking for, she turns to Hondo and Cookie whose fur has gradually gotten darker during the conversation. "If you're my parents, why did you name me Sweetie?"

Scootaloo gives Sweetie Belle a confused look. "I thought it was because they called you a 'little sweetie' and the name stuck." 

Sweetie shakes her head sadly as Cookie shifts nervously. "That was only part of the whole truth. After the Changeling attack, we decided this would be our safety question should we think that any of us were... compromised." She takes a moment to compose herself. "Rarity and Sweetie Belle weren't our only children. Sweetie had an identical twin sister." 

Looks of horror cross Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's faces as Sweetie Belle looks down. Seeing his wife and daughters’ grief, Hondo Flanks takes over. "Sweetie Belle and her twin were born six months premature. Her twin came first but died within minutes." He swallows a lump in his throat. "We later found out that her lungs hadn't had time to develop properly and gave out from the strain." Hondo looks at his daughter with sad pride. "Sweetie came an hour later and her lungs were better developed so she survived."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are both in severe danger of swallowing flies. After all, how are you supposed to react to learning that one of your closest friends in the world was that close to dying at birth? After a moment passes, Rarity speaks up. "I was fifteen at the time and was the one to ultimately name Sweetie. Mother was going to call her Little Miracle but I convinced them to name her Sweetie Belle after she first opened her eyes and looked like the sweetest little foal we've ever seen. We called her 'mother's little sweetheart' since she went through a lot to get to us and look how she turned out." 

Sweetie blushes in embarrassment as Rarity looks at her sister sadly. "Unfortunately, Sweetie's premature birth led to some other long term issues. Fortunately, there weren't any physical defects but you've probably noticed Sweetie's biggest... shortcoming." 

The other Crusaders look confused for a moment before Apple Bloom's eyes go wide. "Then na reason that yah can't do magic propaly is..." 

Sweetie nods with tears in her eyes. "Yeah, my magic has been stunted ever since I was born. The doctors say that it didn't have time to correctly develop so I'll most likely never be able to use my magic properly. Even if I can sometimes, it takes a lot of effort and I just don’t have the power to do it consistently." She doesn't get the chance to cry as her friends pull her into a hug. 

After the embrace ends, Sweetie runs over to Rarity and embraces her as she begins to break down. "I-It's so good to know that you're all safe. I-I was so worried. Now we're together, we can all get out of here." 

After a few moments, she trots back over to the other Crusaders with a slight spring in her step. "It's nice to see four sisters so supportive of each other." 

Three heads snap to look at Cookie Crumble so fast that there's an audible crack and her heart sinks as she sees the pained expression on her daughter's face. "Mom, how did you know about that?" 

Cookie laughs it off. "I meant that you are so close that you are almost like sisters. You remind me a lot of how Rarity and you are together."

There is an uneasy silence for a few moments before the door opens. The Crusaders recoil at the familiarly colourful pony looming in the doorway with a welcoming smile on her face. "Good evening, everypony."