//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Other Life // by starshine_dash //------------------------------// "A-an opportunity?" "Yes, dear. I can turn back time and change on small gust of wind, or surge of power, and you will not die." "That's great!" "Unfortunately, this means that your friend Claire will be killed instead of you. Her husband will receive the news and kill himself in Germany." "Oh, my no, that won't do. That won't do at all. I... I'll accept my death. Just... tell me, will... will my family be happy, eventually?" Celestia nodded, "Your husband and son will mourn you, for the rest of their days, but your husband will hold true and move on as you wanted. Your son will marry a lovely young lady from France, whom he will meet in the next few weeks. They have many children of their own and name their first daughter after you. Tamara sniffled, trying to hold back the tears, "That's good then, I'm glad for them. I... I guess I'm ready." "For what?" "To... to move on to wherever you're taking me." The solar goddess smiled a little, "And that, my dear, is a truly wondrous place. I am the ruler of a land called Equestria. It is peaceful, there hasn't been a war in a millenium. However, there is something coming, and I am missing a piece of the puzzle. You are the most generous soul I have seen in many long years, and it would be my honor to have you come to my world... and help save it." "I... I can't be that generous. All I do is what I should be doing for my husband and son and the rest of the men out there fighting for our freedom." "You turned down being with your family for another seventy years to save a woman you've barely known for a month. That... is pretty generous. There are other reasons, but to list them all would take more time than we have. So, Tamara, would you like to come to my world?" "Y-yes! It sounds so gorgeous. I'm sure I'll miss my family though..." "That, sadly, won't be a problem. Because of everything you could bring with you from your world to mine, I'm afraid I'm going to have to seal your memories. You won't remember any of this..." "But, how will I still be me!?" She smiled again, "You will, don't worry about it. Now, come, your new life awaits!" the woman said as the world became blinding and she could no longer see. Rarity took a deep breath, "My next memory is accidentally setting my mother's mane on fire when I tried to lift my first pencil," she blushed. The other girls giggled a little at that. "So," Rarity said, straightening in her seat, "What do you say, girls?" Applejack was the first to speak up, "Well, y'all are still the Rarity we all know, so, ah ain't got no problem." Rainbow Dash nodded, "A.J.'s right. You're still my friend, and I stick by my friends!" Pinkie Pie just bounced over and gave Rarity a hug and a cupcake before humming a few bars of a song that Rarity had never heard, but Tamara knew intimately. She gave the party pony a sideways glance before innocently shrugging it off as Pinkie being Pinkie. It was weird, having the two separate memories flowing through her head. However, she could get used to it, "Twilight, Fluttershy?" "Oh, um, I'm fine... You're still... Rarity..." the shy pegasus whispered. "This is all so much to process but, I'm okay with it. I just, I wonder how many other ponies used to be, what did you call them? Humans?" Rarity shrugged, "We may never find out unless Celestia herself wants to tell us. Are you going to tell her that I remember?" "I think I have to. Though I won't if you don't want me to, I can keep the secret." "I believe the worst she'll do is seal the memories away again. She is rather nice, after all. I believe you should tell her, and let her know that I am fine with having two sets of memories now, though Rarity is who I am now, and I don't plan to change!" "I'll make sure to let her know. Hopefully she won't do anything rash!" "Oh, she won't, darling. She doesn't seem the type." "As long as she doesn't banish you to the moon!" Pinkie said with a grin. "I'm sure Princess Luna would come visit." Everypony giggled at that and the night passed on, the girls gradually heading off in their own directions, thinking of Rarity and Tamara and the entire situation. Rarity made herself another cup of tea and began to sing. I don't know why But I'm feelin' so sad I long to try Somethin' I've never had Never had no kissin' Oh, what I've been missin' Lover man Oh, where can you be The night is cold And I'm so all alone I'd give my soul Just to call you my own Got the moon above me But no one to love me Lover man Oh, where can you be