"Can four weeks go by so fast...?" Pinkie Pie thought, staring coldly out of her bedroom window at the town of Ponyville below. The afternoon sun was bearing down harshly upon the poor ponies of Ponyville, the heat rising to such unbearable temperatures. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything the Weather Team could do about this since a large majority of the thawed winter water and the small period of rainy showers experienced in the earlier days of March STILL needed to be dried away. The rainy season was scheduled to begin near the second week of May, and if the water level wasn't reduced by then, Ponyville could face a serious flood! Or...so the Captain of the Weather Team said at least...
Pinkie couldn't care about the weather much anyway, or about all the parties she had planned in the earlier month but never got to throwing, or (shockingly enough) about the beautifully designed wedding invitation laying on her desk. It was a simple, yellow-colored card with a border of red apples lining the edges and a picture of a butterfly in the middle of a heart-shaped Gala Apple. The envelope that it had been slid into was of a similar design, now torn and discarded in the bowels of Pinkie's trash can, pushed alongside all the ruined party invitations and papers lining out new ideas for events and games she wanted to try. She just couldn't care anymore...couldn't be bothered...not when there was only a little time left to enjoy them. Even if she had forced herself to try, not much could alleviate her heart of the throbbing fact that certain doom was coming. It had been a month since the day she met with Doctor Health and received the fatal news that she had been dreading for weeks and weeks. She had become hopeful, at the very least, that maybe the good doctor was wrong, that maybe it was just a small hiccup since death had failed to come for over a week past its pre-determined arrival. With the appointment she had just returned from however...her hope couldn't be any farther from the truth.
Doctor Health was indeed surprised when Pinkie had visited him, looking healthy, vibrant, and happy...but never the less...the diagnosis remained. Though the first hurdle of evading death had been crossed (By some kind of miracle, according to the doctor's words), Doctor Health insisted and was certain that the next hurdle just could not be jumped. This of course brought Pinkie's heightened mood back down to a sickening, record low. She barely left the house now...barely ate...barely slept. She tried to explain this to the Cake's...insisting that she wanted to spend every waking moment awake and aware...so as not to be struck down by disaster in her sleep. The Cake's were devastated when these words left the pink mare's lips, with torrents of tears to accompany the fact that there really was little time left for her. They of course swore themselves to the power of the Pinkie Promise not to tell ANYPONY about what was happening...as Pinkie insisted she did not want to dampen the moods and spirits of the ponies getting ready for Fluttershy and Big Macintosh's wedding.
The Wedding...oh how could she say no to poor Fluttershy!? The invitation had demanded an RSVP, but knowing Pinkie Pie, Rarity had already assumed that there was NO WAY in Equestria that Pinkie would miss one of the biggest parties in the world for anything, and had already added her to the guest list! Pinkie had thought and thought and thought through all manners of the day and night, trying to work up some kind of excuse to miss the wedding. It was a wretched thought, the idea of skipping out on the most important day of your friend's life. It wasn't like she wanted to of course! Under normal circumstances, Pinkie would have already sent Rarity a conformation on her guaranteed attendance before the diva would even have the IDEA of sending an invitation to her. These weren't normal circumstances however...and with such little time left...it would be better to just miss the wedding then to have Fluttershy and the rest of the girls see her like this.
No...she couldn't say no...but she couldn't say yes either. To her, the idea of dissapearing was all too...comforting. She wouldn't have to lie to Fluttershy if she never sent a response...she wouldn't have to tell her why she couldn't make it. She could just, fade away...
....if only it were that easy...if only it were so simple...if only she knew that it was about to get much, much worse.
~~~
"Ah, Doctor Whooves! How glad of you to make it!" Rarity shouted in glee, giving the brown coated colt with a whipped back brown mane a gentle hug, careful not to let her white and blue saddlebags slide off her back. His cutie-mark of an hourglass shone brightly in the beams of the sun that shone brilliantly through the stained glass windows of the Temple of Celestia downtown, making him practically glow with a radiance that Rarity argued came from the Doctor himself. The Doctor gave a light chuckle, stepping back out of the mare's hold and giving her a warm smile. The temple itself was what one could call 'artistic beauty', with every surface adorned with carvings and designs of Equestria and the blazing sun. The tapestries resembled those of Celestia's which hung in her castle, depicting some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets ever recorded in Equestrian history.
"So!" He exclaimed, looking around the empty hall of the temple, taking in its elaborate decorations dedicated to Princess Celestia and the sun "This is where it is being held I suppose?"
Rarity nodded, walking with him as they moved up the aisle slowly and speaking in a bright tone "I figured it would give it a more...traditional setting. The time of the wedding should catch the sun directly upon the stage through the windows, giving Fluttershy her own natural spotlight."
The Doctor nodded, obviously impressed as he studied the stage and the area surrounding it. He had heard of course about the wedding between Fluttershy and Big Macintosh, as the town was absolutely abuzz with joy and excitement. Princess Celestia herself even granted the couple full permission to use the temple for their very special day, insisting that the Element of Kindness be given the best for her courageous and kind deeds of the past. "Fascinating" The Doctor began, running his hoof along a column of stone that they happened to pass by. The sun like patterns that crossed its surface seemed to twinkle and dance as the sun's light gleamed through the windows "The Temple of Celestia is one of the oldest buildings in Ponyville, being a sort of beacon or lighthouse of hope in the early days of the town's founding. Farmers from all around would come and pray to Celestia for bright warm skies, and her blessing for a good harvest that year. Shame that it's more of a tourist extraction now then anything else...there's such beautiful history to be had in these great columns!" He smiled with glee as he turned his head towards Rarity, noticing that she to was smiling, but in more of a polite way then genuine. He let out a slight snicker as he held out a hoof "My apologies Miss Geminavi, I tend to get into the spirit of things more often then I should. On to business then, as you did request my presence here for a...urgent matter, according to your letter."
"Oh yes!" Rarity said, looking over towards the stage as she spoke "Dear Fluttershy is down at the spa getting her hair and make-up done for the wedding. They're trying on a variety of styles to see which one she would like to wear on her big day!" The Doctor nodded slightly and followed her movements with his eyes as she trotted towards the entrance doors to the temple. "I am going to need your hour glass for a little...time experiment."
At this, The Doctor's eyes seemed to gleam with a knowing twinkle as he whispered with excitement, his voice being carried by the walls of the temple "A...time experiment? Ooh you have me excited already Miss Geminavi! Do tell, what is it you hope to find out?"
Rarity stopped at the entrance to the temple, turning to face The Doctor as she spoke "I need to run through a small rehearsal of the time-table I hope to have in place for the wedding, which will include the seating, the ceremony, the vows, and the reception. With the information I get from this, I'll be putting Twilight to work with writing up a formal schedule of events that I can put into a pamphlet for the wedding!" She smiled at her brilliantly thought out plan, swelling with pride. Her smile faded however as she looked towards The Doctor's raised eyebrow, a small frown on his face. "Doctor?" Rarity muttered, tilting her head to the side "Is everything alright?"
As if snapping out of a trance, The Doctor quickly shook his head and smiled wide once more, exclaiming "Oh do not worry Miss Geminavi! I'm afraid I got a little too excited at the notion of a...time experiment. Little bit of a stretched idea in my own mind."
Rarity giggled and waved a hoof dismissively as she said "Oh it's quite all right...what...were you expecting though?"
"Oh..." The Doctor began, putting a hoof to his chin as he looked up to the ceiling and wearing a face that a naughty school-filly might have "Perhaps something a little...bigger, concerning time. Not to worry though!". He stomped his hoof down, flashing Rarity a pearly smile and speaking with a confident tone in his rich voice "You won't even need my hourglass, as I'm a perfect sort of hourglass myself! Whenever you need me to start and stop the time Miss Geminavi, I shall do so! Just...task away!" He giggled after he said this, as if he were laughing at his own inside joke.
Rarity nodded, smiling herself as she held up a hoof and said "Alright, we shall begin with the walking of the aisle first! It would be best to go from most important of the events to the least. Doctor, you may start...about....now!"
The Doctor instantly started his mental counter, the seconds ticking away with such excitement in his mind as he watched Rarity walk with an over-the-top, formal grace. She played the part of a bride well, to The Doctor at least, watching her careful hoofsteps, her delicate posture, and the peaceful yet focused expression on her face. His eyes followed her all the way to the stage, where she took small, yet graceful steps upwards onto the raised surface. She came to a full stop, turning with her eyes closed to the right and standing in what she perceived to be the EXACT spot where Fluttershy would be when she turned to look at her future Husband. "TIME!" She shouted, The Doctor making a joke-able clicking sound with his tongue and cheek to resemble that of a stopwatch stopping.
"One minute and forty two seconds!" The Doctor exclaimed, reciting the numbers that flashed through his head. He smiled as he watched her face light up with satisfaction, but felt the corner of his mouth twitch when he realized what number he had-
"Perfect!" Rarity shouted, breaking The Doctor's train of thought as she lept from the stage and trotted towards his position in the middle of the temple's central aisle "Just around the normal time for a bride to make it to the stage, given the proportions of the aisle's length. Although I will have to deduct at least a good twenty seconds from that time as Fluttershy will more then likely be more nervous then Twilight was at the Apple-licious Square Dance party when Trixie invited her out onto stage in front of everypony, causing her to move at a much faster pace out of nervousness..."
The Doctor blinked in amazement as Rarity spilled this out in one breath, his own voice one of wonder "Blimey Miss Geminavi, you have such an amazing perspective when it comes to things like this! Can you really tell the exact time deduction that will be required just by a pony's personality?"
Rarity nodded, a proud look in her eye as she walked with The Doctor towards the entrance. They pushed through the doors and out into the heat of the afternoon as she spoke "I may be a mare of crafting, my dear Doctor, but I am also a mare of detail. It is my job to know the tiny tidbits."
"Fascinating" The Doctor whispered, smiling as they approached the fork in the road that split off towards the Northern and Southern portions of Ponyville. "Well then, this appears to be my stop!" The Doctor smiled, turning to face Rarity "I'm glad I could be of assistance to you today Miss Geminavi, it was truly a wonderful experience to work with you!"
Rarity giggled, waving a hoof at him once in flattery and whispering "Oh you are too kind Doctor! Don't forget that you are more then welcome to attend the wedding!"
"Of course!" The Doctor exclaimed, nodding at the mare's words "You can count on me being there. When IS the wedding, by the way?"
Rarity smiled, reaching into her saddlebags and producing a yellow-colored card with red apples bordering the edges. She handed it to The Doctor as she spoke "In around a week and a half, the very first week of May!"
The Doctor let out a gasp, staring at Rarity in disbelief "Do excuse my language Miss Geminavi but Bloody Hell! To plan and host such an event in such a short time! Are you sure that this is possible?!"
Rarity sighed, nodding as she closed the flap on her saddlebags "I'm afraid it will have to be Doctor, for the rainy season is to begin in the second week of May, and the Apple Season just shortly after. Macintosh will be far too busy with Sweet Apple Acres during that time. The season ends in Winter which is NOT the season to hold weddings, and what's worse is Zap-Apple season coming just after in the following spring. There will just be no room for a wedding in that time, and by then the two will already want to be settled down."
The Doctor let out a whistle as the diva finished, his eyes wide in wonder "Blimey...you will certainly have your work cut out for you on this one Miss Geminavi! I wish you the best of luck regardless, and look forward to sitting exactly in the third seat from the center aisle, four rows back from the stage for the wedding."
Rarity blinked, muttering slightly as she spoke "How do you know where you're going to be si-" She stopped, shrugging slightly as she smiled "...never mind...I look forward to seeing you there then!"
"Of course." The Doctor smiled "In the meantime...what is your next move I wonder?"
"Well..." Rarity giggled, a mischievous grin on her face "I'm going to have to employ the services of a certain pony for the Wedding Reception...or as a certain favorite author of mine likes to call them...'After-parties'. It will be a blast if placed in the care of the right hooves..."
At this, The Doctor smiled as well, sharing her naughty grin and whispering "The right hooves being...pink ones...correct?"
"Oh Doctor....you ARE good..."
~~~
"Oh that just looks wonderful shnookums! Perfect touch on the icing!" Mr.Cake exclaimed, smiling as he watched Mrs.Cake squeeze the tube of red-colored icing in her mouth, decorating the borders of a four layer cake she was making for a business party being held in Town Hall in just a few days. It was the last order to be done before they set upon one of the greatest tasks ever bestowed upon them in the history of their catering business: The Wedding Cake for Fluttershy and Big Macintosh's wedding. It was by pure luck only that Rarity had come by in the earlier week to place the order while Pinkie Pie was...'out and about' as the Cakes said.
Mrs.Cake gently placed the tube of icing down on the table and took a few steps back to examine her hoof work. She nodded, satisfied with the end result and muttering with a tired sigh "I supposed it'll have to do. Those fancy schmancy ponies demand so much nowadays it's hard to get anything just right!" Her husband nodded, leaning over and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. The pink maned cake-mare giggled as the front door to the shop opened, the wood hitting the bell dangling above and letting forth a chorus of light jingling.
Mr.Cake looked over with a bright a vibrant smile on his face as he recited perfectly "Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner! How can we help you t- oh...dear." Well...almost perfectly. Rarity stood in the doorway of the entrance, a happy smile on her face as she exclaimed "Mister and Misses Cake! How are you both on this warm spring day?". Mrs.Cake gulped and let out a nervous chuckle, her eyes involuntarily flicking upwards towards the ceiling.
When she spoke, it was with a loud, over-the-top voice...much too loud for a regular indoor setting "Oh, Rarity!!! What brings you by here today Rarity!? Checking up on the Wedding Cake!? We've already got the design drawn out if you'd like to look at it Rarity!!". Mr.Cake looked towards his wife with the same stunned expression that was plastered on Rarity's face, wondering if he was the only one that noticed she has used the diva's name maybe one to many times in that statement.
"Um..." Rarity began, raising an eyebrow as she spoke out her words carefully, as if walking on eggshells "That would be...lovely? I'm actually here to talk to Pinkie Pie about her throwing a party for the recep-"
"Oh I think she's still in bed dear, might be sick, best not to disturb her!" Mrs.Cake shouted, a wide, but nervous smiled etched on her face.
"-tion..." Rarity finished, her face a mix between fear and utter confusion.
Mr.Cake looked at his wife with an expression similar to hers until he caught the warning glare out of the corner of his wife's eyes, seeing the motions of her eyes that pointed....upwards. He quickly turned to Rarity and added his own voice to the chaos, though his was more frantic "Oh yes! How could I have forgotten!? I believe Pinkie is sick indeed!!!".
Normally, any mare would have backed down by this point. Most would either be too creeped out to push the issue or too bothered to even try to get answers where none could obviously found. Rarity Geminavi, of course, was not just any normal mare. She was a mare of class, of grace, of fashion...but also, of detail. She was nearly fooled into the 'Creeped Out' approach, but the small glare given by Mrs.Cake to her husband sealed the deal. NOPONY could fool Rarity with a challenge of detail and hope to get away with it, not by a long shot!
"Oh..." Rarity started, a polite, tender smile creeping onto her face "I won't disturb her for long. I understand if Pinkie is ill that she may need her rest...but oh it would be such a shame not to at least TALK to her first! It does concern the wedding after all...and I'd hate for plans to be postponed or held off unless I knew for sure that Pinkie wasn't up to it!". She smiled as the Cake's stared at her in horror, the two of them watching her trotting towards the staircase that led up to Pinkie's room. "Just this way?" Rarity asked, an innocent tone laced into her victorious voice.
"I...um...uh" Mr.Cake stuttered, trying to speak but failing miserably.
"I thought so..." Rarity hissed through a forced smile, quickly moving up the stairs. She wasn't going to be stopped, not today! Not when Fluttershy's Afterparty was at risk! She knew that only Pinkie Pie would be capable of party with as great of a magnitude as this. Why all of the parties Pinkie threw were outstanding, always leaving ponies begging for more! Her last party was testament enough to this, as it was...was....
Rarity stopped dead in her tracks in the middle of the second floor's hall. The realization of it all crashed over her as she quickly started to piece together a puzzle that she wasn't sure she wanted to solve. When...was the last time Pinkie had thrown a party? More concerning...was the question of when was the last time she even SAW Pinkie? She was shocked and somewhat ashamed that she didn't really have the answers to these questions. Then again, she never was the one to go venturing after Pinkie Pie out of the blue. She had a fashion business to look after, and a little sister to take care of. Besides that, it was usually Pinkie seeking HER out for help or advice concerning decoration styles and what she think could help spruce up a party's 'look'.
It was this thought that brought a sad throb to Rarity's heart, her hooves finally finding the will to move again as she slowly walked down the hall towards the overly decorated and crowded pink door that led to Pinkie's room. "How awful of me..." Rarity muttered to herself "Barely spending any time with the dear...and then just showing up out of the blue and dropping such a large request on her." She slowed yet again, turning her head towards the stairs and whispering "Perhaps I SHOULD leave...". She thought it over in her head and quickly frowned, shaking her head rapidly and whispering angrily to herself "No! There was definitely something odd about how the Cake's tried to prevent me from seeing Pinkie! There might be something wrong or she might need help! I have GOT to see her!"
She quickly made her way to the door, stopping in front of it and raising a hoof. Just as she was about to knock, however, the sounds of crying and sniffling quickly reached her ears. Rarity put her hoof down instantly, pressing the side of her head up against the door and listening. She could tell it was Pinkie by the sound of her crying, as she had heard once before when the random party pony smashed one of her vases by accident and bawled her eyes out like a child, begging her for forgiveness. She listened closely as Pinkie sniffed, muttering to herself "Wh...what am I going to do Gummy? How am I...how am I going to tell them about this? How can I tell Fluttershy that I can't make it to the wedding?"
Rarity's heart skipped a beat, a cold wave of ice racing through her as she threw her hoof up to her mouth quickly. It was just a second too late however, as the beginning's of an audible gasp escaped the Diva's lips just before her hoof smashed them shut. "Wh...who's there!?" Pinkie suddenly shouted from within, the scrambling of hooves audible from the other side of the door.
"P...Pinkie dear? It's me, Rarity!" The white unicorn shouted through the door, her concern clearly audible in her voice "What do...you mean when you say you can't make it to the wedding?!"
Rarity listened as the sound of a door opening reached her ears, along with Pinkie's voice "I mean I can't make it when I say I can't make it! Something's...come up!"
At this, the diva let out a heavy huff and shouted "Now Pinkie that's simply nonsense! Are you ok dear?! The Cake's were acting quite strange when i mentioned -"
She was suddenly cut off by the harsh shouts of the pink mare within "What did they tell you!? WHAT DID THEY SAY!?"
Rarity was taken aback at the sudden force of her voice, blinking in surprise and shouting back "They...they didn't tell me anything! All I did was mention that I wanted to see you and they tried to feed me an excuse as to why I couldn't!" She narrowed her eyes as she went on, her voice growing angrier "And with that kind of response Pinkie Pie I know for sure that there's something wrong! Open this door right now young lady!"
"Go away!!!!" Pinkie screamed, the sound of a door slamming echoing through the room and hall.
"What do you mean go away!? Pinkie what's wrong!? This isn't normal!!!" Rarity screamed back, lighting the door handle up with magic and giving it a slight jiggle. Locked...as she expected it to be.
"Just leave me alone Rarity, I'm fine!" Pinkie cried out, the sounds of shuffling coming from within. Rarity of course, wasn't buying it at all.
"What can't you tell us pinkie? You were asking Gummy how were you supposed to tell us something, but what is it!? What's wrong!!!" She shouted, trying her best to throw as much concern and care into her voice as she could muster.
She waited for a response, and grew increasingly worried when silence answered her. "Pinkie?!" She shouted, jiggling the door handle a bit more "Pinkie are you there?!" She took a step back, panting slightly as she started to lose her nerve. "Calm down Rarity..." she whispered to herself "Just...calm...down." She slowly started to regain her senses, and even took a deep breath....before shoving her weight against the door in attempts to bust it down. She had to be honest with herself...she didn't really know what was getting into her at this point. She banged on the door three more times before she shoved herself against the door again and screamed "Pinkie please answer me!!!! PLEASE! You're worrying me darling please open the door!"
She continued to shove herself against the door as Pinkie's voice finally called out to her "I'm fine Rarity! Just...just go away!"
"NO!" Rarity bellowed, stamping her front hooves on the ground as she tried to regain her stamina from the attempted door-busting. "I will not leave a friend that I KNOW is in need! You are going to open this door up right NOW Pinkie Pie and you are going to tell me what is w-"
She stopped as she heard the sounds of Pinkie's balcony door opening and closing quickly, the air growing silent and calm. Rarity knew Pinkie had run off, probably leaping from the second story onto the ground below. It wouldn't be too hard...for a random pony like Pinkie to pull that sort of stunt off without injury or effort.
The frustrated, and not to mention worried, diva turned and started for the stairs. She was nearly half way down the hall when Mr.Cake appeared at the top of the stairs and shouted "Everything ok up here?! I heard shou- OH SWEET CELESTIA!!!" He was cut off by a storming, charging Rarity racing right towards him, a look of fury in her eyes. He yelped and quickly turned, flying down the stairs with intense speed. Speed wasn't going to be enough to escape Rarity Geminavi however, the diva quickly appearing on the bottom floor in front of the panicked colt with a loud 'CRACKLE' of teleportation magic. It was a wonder for Rarity that she had actually managed to pull that off...since Twilight was the only one known to be able to do that without a problem.
She paid little attention to this though, her focus set on Mr.Cake and now on Mrs.Cake who had come rushing out of the kitchen nearby to see what all the fuss was about. The diva growled lowly, whispering in a menacing tone "No more lies, no more deceit! You two are going to tell me what is going on with Pinkie Pie right this instant, do you understand me?!"
Mr.Cake gulped and shook with fright as Mrs.Cake stuttered, faltering under the piercing gaze of the unicorn "W...we can't tell you Rarity! Pinkie Pie made us both swear by the Pinkie Promise!"
"Um...y..yeah that's right!" Mr.Cake added, a fearful look in his eyes as Rarity shifted her glare towards him "Y..you can't break a Pinkie P...Promise!"
The couple yelped and held each other in fright however as Rarity stamped her hooves on the ground, shouting "I don't give a Celestial DAMN about any Pinkie Promise right now! You're going to come clean, NOW!"
Mrs.Cake looked to her husband for an answer, whispering up to him as she shook "Well...what do we do?"
Mr.Cake looked down at his wife with an equally frightened look and whispered "I...I don't know! We can't break a Pinkie Promise...we swore not to tell..." Rarity was just about ready to start another torrent of screaming when Mr.Cake went on
"But....I think I may know somepony who HASN'T sworn to such an oath. I think I know somepony who CAN tell you."
(Whew...long chapter is long! Hope you're enjoying the suspense so far, cause I sure as hell am! Hue hue hue hue...)
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