White hooves dashed against the dust of the road, advancing towards the filly.
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity screamed again at the distant lump. Her wild heartbeat aided her and choked her at the same time. The dust dried her mouth and she couldn’t call again.
Three hooves away from her sister she stopped. She knew that pegasus.
“You didn’t think I’d leave her unattended, did you?” the stallion said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me in the least.” Rarity spat and knelt next to the shivering filly.
“We have to get her somewhere you know.”
“We have to get her water and shade first!” A wing, larger than that of a normal pegasus, stretched over the filly to shade her.
“I’m assuming you have water.” he flatly stated.
“I lost my saddlebag when I ran.” Rarity snapped as she stood.
“I’ll stay here... you can trust me.” the stallion sneered.
“If you lay so much as one feather one her...”
“Are you going to get your sister water or are you just going to threaten me?”
Rarity turned abruptly and cantered towards the bags, retrieving the water bottle as quickly as possible and leaving the bag behind. Ignoring his bored smirk, Rarity knelt next to her sister and lifted her head carefully.
“Sweetie Belle, you have to drink this carefully...”
“But, hooves... hours...”
“Here it comes...” Rarity said, her voice trembling, as she tipped the water into her sister’s barely moving muzzle. Sweetie Belle grimaced and tried to push the water away. “No, Sweetie Belle, you have to drink. I know you don’t want to because it probably tastes horrid right now, but you need to drink this...”
“I wanna sleep, Rarity...it’s cold...how many hoofs are in a minute?”
“I’m sorry, Sweetie Belle, but you are going to drink this!” Rarity commanded more forcefully and pried her sister’s jaw open to fit the mouth of the bottle in. The filly choked as the water gushed in but after a few weak shoves against Rarity from her hooves she gave in and drank until the canteen was empty. Rarity eased the empty container from her mouth and wrapped her shaking sister in her forelegs, rocking her gently.
Sweetie Belle stunk, was slick with sweat and grime, and heavy in Rarity’s hold... but she was found and, more importantly, she was alive. Rarity held her tightly and continued to rock her gently in the shade of the pegasus’ wing. She could never have expected one conversation would lead to this.
“She’s ready to be moved.”
“Haven’t you done enough?”
“And how do you propose removing that bomb from her ear, Miss Rarity?”
“You knew there was a chance she would open that cabinet before me.”
“It was a risk.”
“Is that all you can say?” she snarled, looking up into electric yellow eyes.
“I don’t get personal. No matter who gets involved.”
“I might dare to believe that... except Sweetie Belle still lies here with a bomb lodged in her head! No, Mr. Strike, this is very personal. Even if not for you... it has become so for me.”
“I’m terrified, I assure you.” he droned and pulled his wing in.
“How far are we from wherever it was you were planning to take her?” Rarity demanded, lifting the limp body of her sister onto her back.
“One mile. She she couldn’t even walk that.”
“And you... blame her...” Rarity strained, weakened under the weight of her sister.
"What? No saddle bag?" After his jeer, the bag was slammed onto his back forcefully by Rarity's magic.
"Thanks... for the... offer. You're such a... gentlecolt..."
“Just keep your mouth shut and follow me.” Rarity was ready with another retort but decided against it as Sweetie Belle shivered again and mumbled a few indecipherable syllables. For Sweetie Belle she would be quiet, but only as long as necessary.
From Sweetie Belle's ear, Rarity could still hear a voice speaking.