“YOU DON’T DESERVE HIM!”
Rarity stood in the center of a crowd of unfamiliar ponies. They were all mares, they all looked gorgeous, and all of them had one more thing in common: they all seemed to be staring at her, dagger-eyed.
“You stole him from a mare, took him away from his foals!” a pegasus cried.
“And look how quickly you lifted your tail for him! You turned down a prince’s affections for this?” a unicorn cried.
“How do we know she didn’t turn down his affections? She’ll rut with a common soldier; she’ll rut with anypony!” an earth pony accused.
“No!” Rarity shouted back. “Blueblood is no gentlestallion – he’s nothing compared to my Silver!”
“Your Silver?” another unicorn called out. “I’ll have you know the other night he said something quite different.”
“Of course,” one of the earth ponies commented. “He went with me all night and I satisfied him – not you.”
“He needs a real mare that can give him what he needs,” a pegasus taunted. “Not this empty pageantry that you call love!”
At once the entire crowd broke out into laughter, jibes and taunts, all of them insults at Rarity and her love for him. Discussing how much better of a kisser he was with them. Crowing about how much longer he lasted in lovemaking with them. Boasting of how much more they’d pleasured him than she ever could.
“Stop it!” Rarity screamed, but the cacophony only grew more intense by the second. “Leave me alone! He’s my love, my heart! He’s with me!” she cried, though her voice was drowned out more and more as the voices became an unending, unyielding roar.
“STOP IT!”
Rarity suddenly sat up in bed, gasping for breath and looking at the surroundings – it was her bedroom, not that strange throng of nameless ponies. The sheets were soaked with sweat once again, and she knew she was going to need a shower and to change them before she got what passed for sleep in whatever remained of the night.
“Are you okay?” a voice said beside her, hidden in the dark. That voice she knew and trusted completely…and considering the situation, no surprise that she’d be here.
“I’m fine, Luna,” she said quietly.
“No, you’re not,” the dark alicorn said as she stepped forward slightly, moving into the moonlight streaming in from the window. It illuminated Luna’s features, and Rarity noted that there was a concerned look on the princess’ face. “You’ve been having nightmares for the past couple of nights, Rarity. What’s wrong?”
“Pointless fears, I suppose,” she said softly. “We’ve been together for four months now, and I have no fear that he’d ever go anywhere else. But I can’t control what happens in dreams. Maybe it’s just…subconscious concern that I’m not good enough.”
“You are,” Luna assured her as she stepped towards the bed. “I’ve never seen you so happy, Rarity – it’s clear how you feel about him. Perhaps you just need to believe in yourself,” she shrugged. “Or maybe it was just that odd carrot curry we had for dinner last night – our new chef from Saddle Arabia’s got some interesting ideas for cuisine,” she added with a soft smile.
“Maybe,” Rarity admitted with the hint of a tired smile. “But I never thought things would go this far. I mean, I’ve always had this picture-perfect idea of a relationship in my head, and my life with Silver’s been anything but: we’ve fought, we’ve made up, we’ve teased one another, defended each other, ignored each other’s faults or criticized them and then turned around and talked about what virtues we have that compel us to be together. Maybe it’s the filly in me that’s thinking this life isn’t what I intended.”
“But you wouldn’t give it up for the world,” the moon alicorn noted.
Rarity nodded. “No. I would rather give up everything else than to ever lose him,” she told her sister royal.
“Well, let me help you sleep,” Luna said as she placed her horn on Rarity’s head. There was flicker of light blue, and Rarity’s eyes quickly drew heavy before she fell back on the pillow. As Luna headed back towards the shadows to teleport away, there was a soft, tender smile on her face. “Pleasant dreams, little sister,” she said to the sleeping unicorn. “These troubles shall pass.”
Where the Tartarus is he? Tiger fumed as she knocked on the door of Silver’s apartment. Both worry and anger began to build in the back of her mind: worry that he might have found somepony else, and anger that said somepony would be foolish enough to try to take what was hers. She’d taught that stupid pegasus a lesson she’d never forget, and Tiger had covered her tracks fairly well. But if there was a new mare in the picture, well…she’d have to just change the equation again.
“C’mon, Silver! Open up!” she cried, knocking on the door once more.
“Heya, Tiger.” Tiger turned around and found him standing there. “What’re you doing here?”
As she looked at him, she realized he was just coming home from somewhere – he hadn’t just gone jogging. She also swore she noted the faint whiff of chocolate around him, a sign that he’d been with somepony as of recent. She fought to keep her face on an even keel as she said with a friendly smile, “I’m hurt. You forgot our date yesterday.”
“Date?”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “Remember? You were going to help me go find a birthday present for your sister?”
He suddenly looked crestfallen. “That was yesterday? Oh, geez – sorry! I spent most of the day doing training with my unit, then afterwards went over Rarity’s for dinner and a movie.”
“Rarity?” she said in a teasing tone, though inside she was fuming. “Something I should know about?”
“Oh, yeah, I thought you knew. I’ve been seeing her for a few months now.”
“Um, no, I wasn’t aware of that.” But now I am and Rarity, whoever you are, you’re a dead mare!
“Well, I’ve got the day off today and Goldie’s birthday’s not ‘til Friday, so if you’re still up for it, we can go this afternoon?” He yawned. “Gotta get some sleep first – I was…” He blushed slightly. “…up for a good portion of the night.”
“I didn’t need to know that,” she muttered, fighting even more for control. She needed to know who this Rarity mare was and put her in a pine box, pronto. “Well, that explains the sweetscent….”
His eyes went wide open in shock. “N-no…our relationship isn’t like that! Well, I mean, not yet, anyway, I mean…I….” He lowered his head and sighed, realizing she was teasing about the telltale chocolately aroma “She’s not that kind of mare, and I’m not ready to make that kind of jump in our relationship yet. Since I was over late, I crashed on the couch downstairs. Her couch isn’t the most comfy, so I didn’t sleep well.”
“I figured. You don’t need to tell me what kind of upstanding stallion you are, I already know that.” Inwardly, however, she was doing cartwheels. Good – I’m going to be the one who splits her stifle, not anypony else!
“Sorry,” he yawned again. “You’re welcome to stay for a bit while I crash.”
“No, you get some sleep,” she said, patting him on the withers with a gentle wing. “I’ll be back in the afternoon. I can get some errands done in the meanwhile.” Like find out who she is, then have a few “friends” visit.
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me at such short notice,” Shining Armor said to the two older stallions at the table.
“It is my duty to serve, my prince,” Old Soldier, the aged pegasus that had been Shining’s predecessor as captain of the guard said, his grin partially obscured by his mustache.
“As Old Soldier said, we serve the realm, your highness,” added Silver Hammer, Soldier’s predecessor. The earth pony leaned back against the booth seat, getting comfortable.
“Okay, guys, that’s enough of that,” Shining Armor told the older stallions.
“Son, if there’s one thing you’ve got to learn as captain of the guard, it’s a sense of humor,” Soldier said with a wide grin. “When I took over for Silver Hammer here, he actually had me looking for a sodapop dragon incursion for a week,” he said laughing. “Don’t worry, when you retire and some young buck takes over for you, you’ll be doing the same thing.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“So, Shining, what do you want? Our time’s yours since you’re buying lunch, but I’m sure you didn’t call together retired captains just because you wanted our opinion on how to decorate your office,” Hammer stated.
“Well, I was cleaning out the office – mainly tossing out old files that don’t look like they’ve been touched in ages – and I came across some binders marked ‘Adept’, ‘Monolith’ and ‘Redsprite’. Curiously enough, they’re spell-encrypted. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about them, would you?”
Soldier and Hammer looked at each other, then back at Shining. “Shining, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll put those back in the drawer and forget they ever existed,” Hammer advised. “There are some things best untouched, and those three programs are one of them.”
Shining sighed. “Okay, enough of the jokes – seriously, what are they?”
“We’re not joking, Shining,” Soldier responded. “Those are Princess-level protocols, and stuff everyday ponies like us don’t get mixed up in.”
“I’m married to a princess, in case you forgot.”
“You’re not married to the right princess, if you get my drift. Let it go, Shining,” Hammer insisted. “This isn’t time to go on one of your goody-two-hooves cleanup crusades. Some stuff stays in the dark because it’s only meant to come out in the light when there’s nothing left. This is one of them.”
“Well, I guess I’ll be talking to her majesty,” he sighed.
“Don’t say we didn’t warn you,” Soldier commented, with no trace of irony whatsoever. If anything, Shining noticed, there was an air of worry about him.
“Caramel, thank you for taking the time to come to Canterlot to give me the report on the arrest,” Rarity said as she sat in her office with the stallion. Granted, law enforcement wasn’t her detail – the courts were under the jurisdiction of the Legal Ministry, which she had no control over, but as a Knight, she had the right to be informed of the situation.
“Hey, Windy wanted to do some shopping here in Canterlot, so I can’t begrudge my wife that,” he said with a nod.
Rarity looked at the report in her hooves once more. “I still can’t believe it all came down to that – Derpy was beat up by a thug because a rival inventor wanted to steal her plans.”
“Yeah, well, when Dragonkick copped a confession to Johnny Law – he’s the sheriff in Baltimare – the answer was a little too pat. Turned out at first he tried to blame the mare that he was arrested while trying to assault her. Since nopony believed that story, the BSO dug a little deeper and found that Dragonkick has ties to Boilerplate, who has a history of issues with Derpy, mostly stuff she invented first. BSO did some further investigating and found potentially incriminating evidence. Boilerplate swears he’s innocent, but he doesn’t have an alibi. I’m pretty sure we can wrap this case up.”
Rarity frowned. “And what does she think?”
“Derpy doesn’t think he had anything to do with it, but you know her: she’s a little too trusting of ponies, if you ask me. In any case, I spoke to Sparkler and she said they’d gotten a couple of nasty letters from Boilerplate in the past, which also bolsters the chance that he’s guilty.”
“May I make a recommendation?”
“Sure, I’m all ears.”
“Have Applejack speak to him. There’s something about all this that seems a little too…predetermined, shall we say, as if we were meant to automatically assume he’s guilty.”
The stallion was taken aback. “So you think he was framed?”
“It is within the realm of possibility, darling. But as Honesty, Applejack will be able to tell instantly if he’s telling the truth or not.”
“That may be all well and good, but it’s not going to be admissible in court, regardless of whatever magic abilities your Elements give you.”
“I understand that, but…I can’t help but feel that there’s something wrong about all this.” Setting down the report, she looked at the stallion and said, “But Applejack will be able to tell for sure, and if it is true, you have a basis with which to continue the investigation, correct? At the very least, you’ll be preventing somepony else from being unfairly victimized.”
Caramel sighed. “Well, better to be safe than sorry. I’m thinking that he’s guilty, but if Applejack’s willing to make the trip to Baltimare, then, sure, what have we got to lose?”
“Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to see me, your majesty.” The two were on the balcony of Celestia’s private office, watching the birds as they returned to Canterlot from their winter travels.
“Anything for the captain of my guard. What can I do for you, Shining?”
The prince wasn’t sure how to approach the subject, but he knew her well enough to know he could be straightforward with her. “Well, your majesty….”
She nickered slightly. “Shining, we’re family. You should know you can dispense with formality in private.”
“Old habits die hard.” He nodded slightly and said, “Fine. Care to tell me what Adept, Monolith and Redsprite are, Celestia? I had lunch with my predecessors and they say it’s your personal protocol that’s spell encrypted those binders.”
To his surprise, the ageless alicorn froze, then fixed a hard stare at him, lilac eyes boring through his soul. “I wish you hadn’t found those.”
“That doesn’t sound very encouraging. What are they?”
“Failures – the last dying gasp of the old dynasty, the final atrocities that King Jasper was willing to commit in his war against Discord before Luna and I began to reclaim my mother’s throne,” she told him. “The three programs were to create Thoroughbreds to use against the Avatar of Chaos.”
“‘Thoroughbred’?” The unfamiliar word sat on Shining’s tongue.
“It’s a corruption of a Draconian word that means completed blood – basically, a Thoroughbred is supposed to be an unparalleled and unrivaled master of war, unable to be stopped and capable of victory against any odds. A living, breathing war machine with virtually limitless capability for destruction,” she said in a sad, reserved tone.
“What? Why haven’t I heard about this before? Cadance never mentioned it.”
“Because she is as much in the dark as you were.” The sun alicorn raised a hoof to allay further questions from him. “What I am about to tell you, you must keep between us. Luna knows, but Cadance must not. Do you understand?” He instead looked at her with a confused glance, and she understood what his unspoken query was. “It’s not that I don’t trust her, but rather that I don’t want word to get to Blueblood. If it gets to him, it may get to the other lesser royals and it could cause a scandal for the Crown.”
“I see,” was all he said in reply.
“I’ll take that as a yes, then. The truth is…your sister is a Thoroughbred – your whole family is. The Adepts, or what are better known as the Legacy families – the Clovers, Star Swirls, Lulamoons, Kimonos and Wisterias – are the unicorn branch of Jasper’s whole program; in fact, they were the basis for it all. What Jasper wanted were juggernauts that could be called up at a whim, everyday stallions and mares with a trigger in their mind, and just like flicking a switch, they’d become unstoppable monsters.
“So he began a breeding program: voluntary in many cases, involuntary in many others. These were atrocities committed against ponies, breeding, counterbreeding and crossbreeding – even, in one or two cases, linebreeding. I don’t think I need to spell out what that means.” From the sudden settling of his jaw, she knew he understood. “Jasper’s aim was to complement the Adepts by creating Monoliths – hyperstrong earth ponies who could shatter mountains at a single touch; and Redsprites – pegasi who had complete and utter control of weather phenomenon at the wave of a wing.” She paused slightly, as if recalling an unsavory memory before saying in a soft tone, “By the time we entered the scene, Jasper had been successful in breeding two families of Monoliths.”
“He did? Who are they, and should I be concerned?”
“You already know them. The Mithril family is one. The Apples are the other.” The look on his face was one of disbelief, but she clarified: “Silver Hammer and his sons, Diamondplate and Silversteel – aren’t they far stronger and bulkier than the typical earth pony? And as for the Apples, Applejack’s brother Macintosh has been verified towing in excess of twenty tons, far above what would be the strength of any normal earth pony…and I’ve been told their father, Nittany, was even stronger than his son. Think about what kind of destruction that would be in battle.”
“Neither the Mithrils nor the Apples are hotblood warmongers!” Shining said, feeling the need to defend his friends.
“Thankfully, you’re quite correct in that assessment. Furthermore, those are the only two confirmed families of Monolith blood, and both manifest rarely, so it’s not an issue as far as I’m concerned – more so, considering that I know Applejack’s integrity.”
“What about the Redsprites?”
“Jasper was never able to complete that lineage. Over the years, there have been a few pegasi families that were suspected of being Redsprites: the Seitenwinds, the Triumphs, the Pansys, and most recently the Prism family, but each of their strongest flyers have only been able to create one particular phenomenon and nothing else, though each of their particular skills are unparalleled. I believe that is as close as it will ever come.”
“I see.” Rising from his seat, he said, “Thank you for your candor, Celestia. I think I’ll be burying those in the deepest part of my safe again.”
She nodded. “I want you to know I would never put any of those plans into action – never. Our family aside, my little ponies are individuals, not tools to be used in war. What Jasper did was understandable, given the war, but nonetheless inexcusable, and….” She paused in silence. “It was one of those ‘you had to be there moments’. Ponies abused just to see if they manifested the traits, mares barely out of their fillyhood – we wouldn’t even consider them remotely adults in this day and age – impregnated in the hopes that they would give birth to such types of ponies. It was a horror on the scale of madness and even if we didn’t do away with it in order to unite Equestria against Discord, I would have done so regardless.” Her eyes began to well with tears.
“Are you okay?” he asked, full of concern.
She nodded. “I just need some time alone right now, if you don’t mind.”
“I understand,” he said softly, leaving her to her regrets and horrific memories, something she would remain privy to and not tell another soul.
“Do we have a deal? Here’s where that cob lives. Break her like a twig, and you get the rest when it’s done – plus maybe a little more if I’m suitably impressed by what you do. But it damn well better be done, or I swear I’m coming after you.”
The gryphon balanced the satchel of bits in his claw while eyeing his prospective client. “Word on the street is that you broke Dragonkick. You gonna try to do the same thing to me?”
“Dragonkick bucked up hard, Gutslasher. Stallion was too stupid to do the job right and got himself caught, then wanted me to bail him out of it.”
“Yeah, sounds like him. Okay, you got yourself a deal. You know the rules: we didn’t meet, this never happened and when you read what happened to her in the papers in a few days, don’t forget to make a ‘friendly’ donation to the Saddle Arabian bank account I mentioned.”
“Don’t worry, Galahad. You’ll either get yours,” Tiger Lily said, “or I’ll make sure you get yours.”
“Whatever. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do.” As the gryphon lifted off into the air, Tiger watched him disappear before she took off herself. It was going to be a long flight back to Cloudsdale, and then a long, hot shower to wash off the disguise paint she was currently wearing.
Rarity, you’d better hope Gutslasher finishes you off, because at least he’ll be merciful. If I get my hooves on you, she thought, as a brutal leer crossed her face, we’ll find out if you die from the fall or the sudden landing!
“How does this look?”
Rarity eyed the dress carefully. “The inner stitch is off…is this is a blanket stitch?”
“Yes. I thought it would work for that part of the skirt.”
The former fashionista shook her head. “A normal chain stitch would work better here, dear. Blanket stitches are for the well-worn areas that see frequent rubbing and movement. Something free-floating as a skirt hem can use the normal chain stitch. Using a heavier one would only weigh down the dress and add to potential places where it could tear.” Floating the garment back onto the manuluquin, she flashed her student a smile. “Otherwise? It’s very good for a first work, Diamond. You should be proud of yourself.”
“YES!” Diamond Tiara squealed. “Now all I have to do is just adjust it and it’ll be ready!”
“Adjust it?” Rarity asked her apprentice. “But I thought this was for portfolio purposes, dear.”
“Um…no, it’s not.” The earth pony nervously shuffled her forehooves, looking at Rarity with shy embarrassment. “I…um…I made it for you, Miss Rarity. Sweetie suggested it would be good for your next date with Mister Silver.”
“You did?” Diamond Tiara nodded slightly. Rarity looked at the sundress once more this time from her own personal perspective. Sweetie suggested this to Diamond and she decided to do it. I almost wonder if I was safer off back when they were bitter enemies. The color, a seafoam-green that almost matched the color of Lyra Heartstrings’ coat, was complemented by a neon-pink sash so loud that Pinkie would have considered it a bit over the top. For a student’s first project, it was a…commendable…effort. For somepony that Rarity was training as a fashion designer and potential future fashionista, it was a trainwreck.
Rarity smiled softly. “I love it,” she told Diamond sincerely.
“So, are you going to wear it on your date today?”
Rarity gave the earth pony a bemused look. “And since when did you become concerned about my social life, Diamond?”
“Um…your cousin Sky said that Mr. Silver was over and that you—”
“SKY!” Rarity bellowed, heading towards the steps. “What have you been telling the girls?”
“Toldja she’d like it,” a voice said behind Diamond suddenly. The earth pony, caught off-guard, yelped and jumped in the air.
“Sweetie Belle! Don’t freak me out like that!” Diamond seethed. “And where did you come from?”
The look on the unicorn’s face was nonchalant. “Learned teleportation in class today – Twilight was today’s lecturer, and we picked it up pretty fast. She’s a great teacher and I hope I’ll get to be her apprentice when we’re up for them next year.”
The earth pony looked at her former rival and enemy, now…well, they weren’t quite friends, but Diamond realized that if she was going to be Rarity’s apprentice, she had to come to an agreement with the former “Cutie Mark Crusaders”. Besides, their bedrooms were right next to each other, so they had little choice but to get along. “Do you really think she likes it?”
Sweetie shook her head. “Not a chance, Diamond – it’s ugly and you know it. But Rarity appreciates the thought and knowing my sister, it’s the thought that counts more than the actual gift.” The smile was clear on the younger unicorn’s face. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“What, can’t take a compliment from me?”
Diamond scrunched her muzzle up in contemplation. “Well,” she admitted a second later, “coming from you? It does take some getting used to.”
Galahad Gutslasher was, by any sense of the phrase, not a very nice gryphon. He’d started his life in a brutal fashion. He never knew his father, and his mother was a gryphoness of the night in Eyrie City. He’d spent most of his youth on the mean streets and learned how to survive on them. He’d done time, a couple of years in the Royal Griphonican Prison System and if the point of Equestriani prisons were rehabilitation, Griphonican ones were about punishment, pure, plain and simple. He’d managed to survive there, too.
All of this made Gutslasher a brute and he’d be the first to admit it. He had a list of crimes longer than his wingspan and there were very few things in this world he feared. Over the years, he’d built a network of muscles-for-hire and thugs from all species, all of them willing to do the job if the price was right. Dragonkick had been one of his until the motherbucker thought he’d make more bits on his own. Well, the plothole was sitting pretty in prison and now Gutslasher was going to make good on that contract of his.
Or at least, that was the plan.
That mare’s gotta be short some freakin’ pinfeathers! The information, Gutslasher noted, was spotty: there were thirty-seven ponies by the name of “Rarity” in Equestria. Out of those, the grand majority of them were fillies, which meant that they’d been named after one of the adult mares. Based on Tiger’s complaint – that the harridelle had been messing with her stallion – that meant the mare in question was likely of prime age, somewhere between twenty to sixty years old. That wrote off Rarity Rainbow, an elderly painter in Seaddle; and Rarity Umbrielle, an umbrella-maker in Colton. Out of the rest, Rarity Diamante was a filly-fooler, which meant she wouldn’t be an issue; and Hollybell Rarity was a Celestine oracle and they weren’t allowed to have relationships, so she could be safely written off.
Reasonably writing off the ones who lived in the Crystal Empire, Saddle Arabia, Gallopagos Islands and Hoofalulu – too far to reasonably be a problem for what Tiger Lily was describing and that boiled it down to four Raritys remaining. Further investigation showed that Rare Raspberry (or “Rarity”, as her friends called her) was married and pregnant, so she was out. That left three. One in Ponyville, which could potentially be the pony in question, but apparently she was a dressmaker, so she was probably too busy for relationships. One, Rare Earth – another known as “Rarity” – was a schoolteacher in Tacksworn, an earth pony, and she was potentially an issue as well.
That left the last Rarity on the list, the one most likely to be the culprit.
“Yo, Rex! Get your featherin’ tail in here!” Gutslasher shouted.
A diamond dog poked his head in, heavily scarred and looking even nastier than Gutslasher. “You call, boss?”
“Yeah. Round up the team – the whole team. We got a mission, and we’re going to need every claw on it, got that?” Gutslasher wasn’t going to take any chances on this one. Dealing with an earth pony schoolteacher wasn’t a problem. Dealing with a unicorn dressmaker wasn’t a problem, either.
Dealing with one of Equestria’s elite Knights Elemental? He was going to have his claws full.
“Sir?” The corporal at the door poked his head into Silver’s office. “You have a visitor.”
“By all means, let them on in.” The guardspony stepped away, letting in a particular beautiful sight. Unfortunately, they were in his office, and…. He sighed. Rules are rules. Rising to his feet, he stood at attention and saluted. “My Lady Knight? What brings you here?”
Rarity looked at him oddly. “Silver, darling, is there something the matter?”
“Well,” he said stiffly, “when a superior officer comes into my office – and there are few in this country who outranks a Knight – it is my duty to be utmost professional, because I have a duty to show proper decorum in front of my troops, regardless of my personal affiliations with said superior officer.”
Rarity’s smile fell; it was hard enough to manage the sticky realm of being a noblemare – she’d never considered the military dimensions of her status as a Bearer. “I’m sorry, Silver,” she said, feeling slightly guilty. “My intent wasn’t to come here and embarrass you.”
“Permission to speak freely, ma’am,” he responded crisply.
“I…uh….” Her ears drooped slightly. This wasn’t what she had in mind.
A whisper from behind the door sounded out: “The answer is ‘granted,’ ma’am.”
“Ah, I see. Well, granted then, I suppose,” she said, realizing she was going to have to talk to Shining about military protocol – another thing she’d never thought she have to learn.
“Corporal, please shut the door and let anypony who wants to know I’m in a meeting,” Silver said.
“Yes, sir, will not tell them you are flirting with your fillyfriend, sir!” the corporal wisecracked as he closed the door.
Silver facehoofed. “Remind me to give that colt extra liberty just to get him to shut up,” he muttered. Turning to Rarity, he gave her a smile and said, “I’m guessing you don’t have anypony in your family who’s military – your birth family, that is.”
“If I do, that was generations ago,” she replied. “Silver, I apologize – if I had known, I would’ve sent a courier instead, but I wanted to see you.”
He waved it off, favoring her with a smile that warmed her heart. “Rarity, every civvie who dates a guardspony has to learn the lifestyle sooner or later. It’s just one of those cultural things. I’m sure Cadance had just as much of a hard time – probably even more, given her royal duties – trying to learn being a guardspony’s wife. So what brings you here?”
“A couple of friends of mine, Wheat and Flax, have invited us to their bed and breakfast for the weekend. I know we haven’t had time to get away from it all as of late, so I thought it would be a wonderful place to ‘get lost’, as Rainbow so colorfully puts it.”
“Wheat and Flax – for some reason they sound familiar.”
“They run a hippie commune outside of Compost Flats,” she said. “I once helped them get their business of the ground – they sell hoof-crafted organic cosmetics made on-site – and they just spent a lot of bits to remodel their place.”
“Oh, wait!” He went over to the door. “Corporal, please come in here for a second.” The corporal came in, and Rarity looked at the earth pony. “Corporal, didn’t you say your sister lived on a hippie commune?”
“Yeah,” the corporal said, his tones flat. “Hey, my sister’s a grown mare and while Mom and Pop don’t exactly approve, they do love her. Her husband, however? He’s a total space case.”
“You’re Wheat Grass’ brother?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “Corporal Wheatstalk, at your service,” he said, delivering a sharp salute. “Is something wrong with my sister?” he asked Silver.
“No, just one of those ‘it’s a small world’ things, Corporal. Don’t worry about it.”
“I see. Well,” he said to Rarity, “if you see her, let her know I said hi, she needs to write me more often and if her husband calls me a ‘Heavy-hooved Government Bronco’ again, I’m going to buck his teeth in.”
“Um…sure,” Rarity replied. As Wheatstalk closed the door again, she said, “While Flax admittedly isn’t the most lucid of individuals, they are still wonderful ponies and it’d be a great way to spend a nice, quiet, isolated weekend together.” She sidled up to him, batting her eyelashes at him. “So, would that be amenable to you?”
“The trip? Sure,” he replied. “Anything else on your mind, though…um…PDA, Rarity. Sorry, no can do while on-duty.”
She moved even closer to him. “Don’t you want to kiss me?”
“Rules are rules, Rarity. Not while I’m in uniform. Don’t blame me; even Shining can’t get away with it.”
She pouted, and he found that look to be cute on her, just another thing about her that made him fall for her. “Could I make it a direct order?”
“Cadance tried that on Shining once. He told me we can’t even do it on those occasions.”
She sighed. “I guess I’ll have to petition Celestia to make a few changes in the regulations, then, won’t I?”
He gave her the barest hint of a grin. “It couldn’t hurt. Let me talk to my XO and let her know that I’ll be out this weekend, and we can head out first thing in the morning. Will that work?”
She squealed with delight, throwing her forehooves around him as she cooed, “I promise, you won’t regret it, Silver!”
“Rarity, we’re not suppo—” He was suddenly cut off as she kissed him deeply, not caring about the rules. Sure, she understood restrictions as much as the next pony. But she was a mare in love – that had to give her some exceptions, right?
“Thanks for the help with the homework, Miss Earth!” the pegasus colt said.
Seated at her desk, Rare Earth – Rarity, to her friends – smiled. It was a grueling life on the frontier, no doubt about that, and being the lone elementary schoolteacher in town didn’t help, either. But she found her calling in her students and she loved each and every one of them as if they’d been her own foals.
She sighed, though; surely she’d find somepony that would woo her, right? She was a single earth pony mare, and as she brought up a mirror, she gazed at her beige coat and midnight-blue mane, both of which enhanced her brown eyes. Granted she was no “Rarity” – the luck that she shared a name, even if just a nickname in her case, with the most beautiful of the Knights Elemental was kinda cool – but she’d hoped that somepony would take notice of her!
“Uh, Miss Earth?” She looked up from her desk and saw an adult standing there, by the front door.
“Oh, hello, Tumbleweed!” she said to the pegasus as he came in. She thought he was a nice stallion, raising his little sister Dusty Mesa. She never knew the reason why, but she thought it was awfully sweet of him to do so. Plus, as the mailstallion in town, she got to see him often. “Your sister went off with Chaparral and Desert Rose.”
He nodded. “I know, ran into them as they were headed off to go try to get their cutie marks.”
“So what can I do for you?”
“Well, Miss Earth—”
“Tumbleweed, we’re the same age,” she pointed out. “You can just call me Rarity.” It then dawned on her that she and he were the same age…and he was single…and he wasn’t here for his sister, so…was it possible that he…? Oh, Holy Celestia on Her Throne, please grant me my wish, she prayed silently.
He gulped. “Well then, Rarity…. You know about the barn dance that Cherokee Apple’s holding this weekend, right?” He took in a deep breath, and then asked, “I was wondering…well…would you like to go to the dance with me?”
She smiled softly, though in her heart of hearts she was doing backflips. Yes! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes! “I would like that very much, Tumbleweed.” She felt her cheeks flush, but she didn’t care.
Apparently she wasn’t the only one, either. His cheeks reddening and standing out against his off-white coat, he said, “Great! So, I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at eight?”
“I’ll see you then!” she said, happy as a lark. He bounded out of the classroom and just in time too, or else he would have heard her cheer “THANK YOU CELESTIA!” at the top of her lungs. But as soon as the excitement died down, she had to make plans: what would she wear? It had to be something simple to dance in, but at the same time, something to catch and keep Tumbleweed’s attention.
“I wonder if Denim and Corduroy can come up with something for me,” she thought aloud. The town’s twin seamstresses were her friends and were always supportive of her – she was sure that they’d come up with something special!
“There you are,” a voice said behind her. It was dark and guttural, and nowhere near familiar. She turned and faced a hulking minotaur, scarred and covered in tattoos and brands.
“C-can I help you?” she squeaked.
“Sorry, this isn’t bovinal, just business,” he said as he reached out for her. She barely had enough time to scream before everything went black.
To say Sweetcream Scoops was depressed was an understatement. She’d nursed a love for her entire life, and now she was on the verge of losing it all. Ever since the day she’d met him, back when they were foals attending Miss Wintermint’s class, all she could do was to dream about the day she’d be his. And even though their lives had led them in slightly different directions, she always held a hope in her heart that he’d finally see her as the way she wanted him to.
She sighed. Why did this have to be so hard? She’d loved Big Mac since day one, and now he was seeing Fluttershy, who was a friend of hers. If Fluttershy had been dating anypony else, she’d be happy for the soft-spoken pegasus; and if Big Mac had only seen how much she’d carried a torch for him all these years, he would understand. But now the unicorn was confused and hurt.
I have to try to win his heart. I’m sorry, Fluttershy, but I was here first! She felt sick to her stomach. Flutters had always been a good friend, even as recent as last week when Scoops’ pet dog Sherbert was ill – Fluttershy had been sure to nurse him back to health. And now here Scoops was, about to repay her friend’s kindness with betrayal.
“Rarity? Are you home?” Scoops called out as she walked into the Carousel Boutique. She had a sure-fire plan, one she knew would work. A few months ago, she and Waterfalls were talking and the earth pony had admitted that she’d had a sexy little saddle and socks number done up for her so she could entice the stallion of her desire with it. While Rarity had been somewhat embarrassed to make the clothing, she’d done so and Waterfalls had admitted it had definitely gotten the attention of her beau, as evidenced by the wedding bracelet and the just-starting-to-show foal bump.
Scoops had to do it. Her heart would settle for no less.
“Rarity?” the unicorn called out. Everything was here, save for the fashionista. Why wasn’t she here? Right when sh…. Oh, that’s right – she moved. Stupid, stupid, stupid…way to think this through, Scoops! she chided herself. She remembered that Aloe and Lotus mentioned that Rarity had moved a few months ago to Canterlot as part of her new duties; with their best customer gone, the business wasn’t doing as well as it used to. It seemed as though everyone missed Rarity.
But that left Scoops with a new problem: should she risk going to Canterlot and commissioning Rarity? Or maybe purchasing one from a tailor there? Well, I suppose I can see if Rickrack can make me one. The only tailor in town now that Rarity was gone, Rickrack was a capable fashion creator, but he didn’t have the verve that his female counterpart did – Rarity often did double-to-triple the business the earth pony stallion did. Not to mention that having a stallion make such clothing for her would be mortifying, especially since she’d have to put it on in front of him eventually to make sure it fit correctly….
She sighed. The things I’ll do for love, she mused, as she decided to head over to Rickrack’s.
There was a sudden rattle from the backroom, and a smile came onto Scoops’ face. Maybe Rarity was here still, even just visiting her old home, and Rarity never turned down a mare in need. I just need to make sure that I don’t mention why I need it. Heading into what was Rarity’s workspace, she found a bunch of rolls of cloth torn into shreds and the room completely ransacked, as if the place had been robbed.
This isn’t good. I think I’d better tell Caramel, she thought, as she picked up a torn bit of measuring tape in her hoof.
“Heh, heh, heh…I knew you’d show up sooner or later.” Scoops turned and saw a donkey standing there. Unlike most donkeys, who tended towards thin and frail body types, this one was muscular and could almost be confused with an earth pony in build. He had a look on his face, a look that made Scoops very, very afraid. “Boss said I could play with you if I caught you. I think it’s going to be worth it.”
“Ex-excuse me?” she asked, taking a step back.
“You know what?” he said, taking a step forward. “It’s been a while since I’ve been with a female, not since I got out of the joint. And now I get you. This is icing on the cake – if I’d known the bossman was going to give me this opportunity, I’d done it for free.”
Her eyes widened as she suddenly realized what he meant. She turned to run, but he moved far too fast.
Nopony heard her scream.
Johnny Law was a believer in the physical realm. Sure, he knew magic was a part of life, but as an earth pony, magic just didn’t count for much in his world. He dealt with facts and evidence, things that could be tangibly and physically proven and present – more so because that’s what Equestria’s justice system required. Magic could easily tip the balance of scales for or against, so magic was often dismissed when it came to legal proceedings, and when it was allowed, there had to be at least three different supports for its use, and one of those had to be physical as well. He didn’t have a problem with magic, per se, it’s just that it wasn’t a part of his everyday exposure.
So the Baltimare sheriff was having a problem with the earth pony in front of him, wearing a golden gorget upon which was a glowing citrine gem in the shape of an apple. Despite her earthy appearance – she looked like a farmpony, with that Stetson of hers – there was something regal about her, a quality that most ponies didn’t possess; not a surprise, given who she was. That much he could deal with. No, his problem stemmed from her words.
“Boilerplate’s innocent,” Applejack told the sheriff. “Had jest a five minute chat with him, an’ even without th’ Element o’ Honesty, Ah could tell he’s tellin’ th’ truth.”
“So you’re telling me that he was framed?” That didn’t bode well. If Boilerplate was set up, the whole investigation fell apart like a house of cards. Worse, it would mean that whoever did the deed was still out there, and that pegasus in Ponyville was still in danger.
“Sure looks like it, Ah reckon,” she replied.
“I’m sorry, but I have to have more evidence than just your say-so, Miss Applejack. I realize who you are, but even still, the law is the law.”
“Figgered y’d say that, so Ah talked t’ him a little more. He does have an alibi; he just didn’ want t’ admit it, because it’s embarrassin’ fer him.” Applejack hoofed over a sheet of paper and said, “If’n y’ get a hold of this gal here, she should clear him.”
He noted the address, that of Boilerplate’s next door neighbor. “And she’ll vouch for him?”
“He admitted that he an’ his neighbor’s wife are havin’ an affair – he wuz with her at th’ time, an’ her husband wuz on a business trip t’ Detrot,” Applejack said, her mouth in a tight line. “Ah hate cheatin’ varmints like him, but…it clears him from suspicion in hurtin’ Derpy.”
“I’ll have one of my deputies talk to her as soon as possible. If we can get her to document it, we can release him as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this means that the real culprit is still out there, and your friend’s in danger.”
“Dontcha worry yerself none, sheriff,” Applejack promised. “Derpy’s a friend o’ mine – heck, she’s a friend of all of the Knights – an’ we protect our own. She got hurt once,” the farmmare said, and her next words chilled Johnny to his core as she said, “It won’ happen again.”
“Um…okay. Well, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule, Miss Applejack. I’ll be sure to inform you of what happens next.”
She nodded. “Ah ‘preciate that, Sheriff.”
As Applejack left the BSO headquarters, she headed towards the chariot that had brought her here and the two pegasi that had been assigned to transport her. “Sorry fer makin’ ya wait so long, boys,” she told them.
The sergeant in charge of the pair shook his head. “It’s our job, your grace. We serve at the behest of the Crown, and you are a part of the Royal family, milady duchess, so we aim to please.”
“Besides, if we weren’t assigned chariot duty today, we’d have combat training,” the second pegasus said, “and I’m not in the mood to get my flank kicked again.”
“You just don’t like Sergeant Lily’s effectiveness in her job,” the sergeant said. Turning to Applejack, he explained. “Sergeant Tiger Lily from Star Song squadron occasionally heads the combat training. She’s rather, uh, ‘enthusiastic’ when it comes to her training and usually somepony ends up getting a wingsprain or something. Granted, she does it because we need to get the job done and she’s damn good at what she does, it’s just…well, she can get a little too ‘eager’ at times, if you catch my drift, your grace.”
Applejack merely nodded; she’d been there whenever her friends had gone overboard; she’d also admit that the others had been there during the times when she herself had flown the coop. But then again, maybe as a military mare, her job was supposed to go overboard in order to save other ponies’ lives in the long run. That didn’t quite jibe with what Applejack thought, but then again, she didn’t have to make the same choices, as, say, Shining Armor.
“Well, since Ah’m makin’ y’ play hooky from trainin’ an’ all,” she said with a wink, “in fer a cent, in fer a bit. Know any place ‘round here where we c’n get some vittles? Lunch’s on me.”
“Wheat! Flax! It’s so wonderful to see you! And I love what you’ve done with the place!”
“Rarity! It’s so good to see you!” Wheat went over and embraced her friend. “And I see you brought your heart of hearts?” Wheat went over and looked critically at Silver. “Your chakra is restrained, my friend, but here at our commune, we’ll see what we can do to realign your aura for you.”
“Thanks…I think.”
Flax looked at the stallion, eyeing him even more critically. “Are you, like, one of those Heavy-hooved Government Broncos?” He raised a hoof in defiance. “Down with the system, pony! Free love and peace for everypony!”
Wheat facehoofed. “Sorry – he’s been reading works from the Weather Underground lately. Those pegasi claim to be hippies like us, but they’re very controversial. I hope they don’t run into a position where the authorities have to deal with them.”
“I’m sure it will be fine, Wheat, darling,” Rarity assured her. “So,” the unicorn said, looking around. “I love what you’ve done with the place.” And she meant it. That week she’d spent here helping them turn a disaster of a failing farm into a thriving business had earned her both friends and connections and while Rarity and Wheat had vastly different ideas of beauty, both agreed that it was those differences that made them better mares. That had been a couple of years ago, when the commune was on the verge of becoming a future location for a Barnyard Bargains store.
Now, she noted, the commune was doubled in size. The left half of it seemed to be a vastly improved version of the original farms and fields, still done organically and by hoof, but with a lot more employees and members of the commune. To the right, however, was a series of bungalows and a new barn, complementing the old one.
“We rebuilt the barn you stayed in the last time and use that now for our main preparation area,” Wheat explained. “The new one over there is a hotel for those who want the stay and experience the commune lifestyle for a week. We also have our own bungalows, so we can start raising our own families and a couple for special guests – we have you staying in one of them.”
“That’s wonderful, dear,” Rarity said with appreciation. Though that week had been unique, she was more than willing to assist her friends again. Plus, it would give her time to walk around the grounds with Silver and just have time for themselves. “Plus, I’ve noticed that the commune has grown quite a bit.”
“There’s been a few changes. Tempeh and Paisley eloped and moved to Los Pegasas so he could work on his music career. Tofu’s still here, and he and Yin-Yang have settled down; she’s due any day now. Riverpine and Black Diamond went to go start another commune in Idahorse, and Sweet Smile moved back to Manehattan to go back to college. But we’ve got some new ponies here: I think you’ll like Tie-Dye, Patchouli and Peppermint Incense and the others.”
“Like, they’re really groovy, pony,” Flax said, agreeing. “They totally know what it’s all about, y’ dig?”
“Well, I’ll have Bee’s Knees take your bags to your bungalow,” Wheat said. “Would you like to take the tour?”
“That’d be wonderful, dear,” Rarity said, looking at Silver. “What do you think?”
Silver, however, noted the way that some of the ponies out in the field were acting. For starters, some of them weren’t ponies – he noticed at least one diamond dog, two polar bears, a zebra and a gryphon working as part of the field. They also didn’t look like the rest of the hippies here, or the kind of individuals who would be working at a commune. “What about the ones in the robes?”
“Oh them!” she said with a wide smile. “They’re from the International Holding Hooves Commune over in Minos,” the hippie mare replied. “They wanted to see how communes were in Equestria, so they volunteered to work with us for a week! And when I told them all about how Rarity helped us fix everything, they begged us to invite her – which I was more than happy to do!” She waved to the big, burly gryphon. “I should introduce you to their group speaker.” She smiled as the gryphon flew over. “Rarity, Silver, this is Brother Galahad, the chief representative from their commune. Galahad, this is Rarity, the mare I told you about that helped us save the commune.”
“Ah, benevolent day to you, Miss Rarity,” the sizable creature said. “Sister Wheat and Brother Flax told me all about your ingenuity in rescuing their business and I had to meet the mare who did it. I would hope that you would be able to travel to our commune in Minos and apply the same talents.”
“My schedule is quite filled at the moment, Brother Galahad, but I’m sure if I spoke with her majesty, we could arrange something of the sort.”
The gryphon clapped his claws together. “Wonderful! I’ll let the others know. I understand you’re busy at the moment, but if you’d please, would you mind if we discussed this over breakfast in the morning?”
“That would be delightful,” Rarity said, pleased to be able to offer assistance once more.
“Well, I shall let you get back to your tour,” the gryphon said, “and I must get back to the honeycombs – honey doesn’t extract itself, unfortunately. Until the morrow, Miss Rarity.” With that, he departed, flying back towards the apiary area.
“What a gentlegryphon,” Rarity said. “Sadly, I’ve met too many gryphons who aren’t as gentle.” She then saw the look on Silver’s face and said, “Silver…is something the matter?”
“Something about him….” he said. “Combat trained, if I read his stance correctly. Plus the rest of his commune – a couple of them move like folks trained for battle.”
“There are hippies around the world who used to be former guardsponies or soldiers for their nations,” Wheat explained. “One of our own pegasi, Sunshine Saffron, used to be a member of Starcaller squadron before he gave up his ways for the commune life.”
“Like yeah, pony – peace, joy and free love!” Flax stuck his hoof forward, using the hoofspace to make the traditional hippie greeting. “That’s what it’s all about, pony, a world without war.”
“Sorry, old habits die hard,” Silver said.
“Dear,” Rarity commented, “do try to relax.” Slipping her forelegs around his neck, she kissed him softly and said, “For this weekend, it’s just you and I – no regulations, no titles or rank, just a mare and her stallion.”
He smiled. “You know how to make me go weak in the knees, you know that?”
“Oh,” she said impishly, “there are other things I could do as well.” His response was simply a wide grin. As she sighed while leaning against him, Silver wondered exactly what his fillyfriend had in mind. But for some reason, he just couldn’t get his mind off “Brother Galahad” and his followers. Something seemed very wrong, and while it was too early to be sure that something was amiss, he didn’t quite feel the need to let down his guard yet.
“So, here’s the plan,” Gutslasher told his folks, in the dark of the night. “Sneg Nozhom will lead the attack on that stallion. I also want Stone Cold and Rockbreaker on him.”
“Hah, it will be child’s play,” the polar bear said, his accent thick. He looked at the minotaur and earth pony that would accompany him and they nodded in grim agreement. “Sending anything else would be overkill.”
“Well, don’t forget that your job is to keep him busy, not actually injure him – our client wants him alive and unharmed,” the gryphon reminded them.
Sneg nodded. “Then why do you need the rest of our forces? As I said, it will only require myself, Stone and Rocky on him.”
“Oh, boyo, these aren’t fer you, laddie,” a pegasus with an eyepatch replied. “The rest of us have the hard job – dealing with her. You sure this is that one, Gutslasher?”
“Max Damage said that mare in Tacksworn crunched easily, so she couldn’t be the Element; and Ramblejack said he liked the fact that his target ‘played with him’ a little bit before he finished with her, so I’m guessing that sick motherbucker didn’t run into an Element either. That leaves just this Rarity, and while she doesn’t seem like she’s anything, I get the feeling this is going to be one of those situations where we’re going to earn our pay in spades.” He looked to the zebra. “Have we got the flower foals taken care of?”
“Was easy as pie, Gutslasher,” a zebra mare looked at him haughtily. “The incense I used will not let them stir. They’ll be asleep for at least a day, and by then we’ll be far away.”
“Okay, holding you to that,” he said. “Okay, you all have your assignments. Let’s get this done!”
Silver stared, his mouth agape. He couldn’t breathe, and his heart raced. He’d seen beauty before in life, sure. But there were no words to describe what appeared before him.
“Well….” Rarity purred, “Does this meet with your approval?” She stretched slightly, letting the curves of her lacy socks and saddle say everything for her. His mouth was still agape, so she approached him, her mane tied back with a long, ivory ribbon. “Is there something wrong, darling? Opal have your tongue?”
“I….” he managed to get out, just before she playfully kissed him.
“Well, I think we should go to bed, dear,” she cooed. “Tiring day – and if you aren’t, I can correct that.” She reached out with her tail, wrapping it gently around his leg, and as she reached up with the end of her tail…she froze. She then retracted the tail, the look on her face one of shock. “I….” she said, suddenly, blushing furiously. “I-I’m sorry, Silver. I…I just can’t go through with this.”
“Um….” he said, feeling a little bit out of sorts at the moment. He hadn’t expected what just occurred, but….
“I just can’t do it.” She sat down on the sofa, and he sat down beside her. “I…. I wanted this to be so perfect for you – for us,” she started. “But the moment I…well, I knew I had you ready, I realized you’ve had a whole life and loves before me….”
“And…?”
She blushed shyly. “I’m still pure, Silver. I have no experience, no knowledge of which other than tawdry novels and a maiden’s dreams. I don’t have the …‘practice’…that Derpy or any before her have given you. And I cannot make our first night perfect.” Her eyes started welling. “I wanted this to be for you, my heart…but now I know I can never be as perfect as I want to be for you.”
Silver smiled. “Rarity…I don’t care about that. Maybe other stallions do, but I don’t. I’m here with you,” he said, reaching up to caress her face; she leaned in and nuzzled. “It’s about sharing love and the ultimate expression of that love. Yes, I’ve been with other mares – but that’s in the past. I’m here and now with you, Rarity – the mare I love.”
She suddenly looked as though she’d been cut to her core. “You’ve never said that before, Silver.”
He smiled, leaning in for a kiss. “Then it’s far overdue that I did say that to the mare that holds my heart.” Instinctively, she leaned in as well, her heart beating at a furious pace, her body warming in a way it had never done before as their muzzles grew closer and closer….
The side of the building exploded as three shadows hit Silver hard and sent Rarity flying back. The trio of shapes slammed him through the adjacent wall, turning the bungalow into a tunnel as they departed. Debris and dust filled the air, temporarily smoking the room as the magical lights briefly failed before flickering back on, dimly.
Rarity shook her head. What…what happened?
“Hey, boys, lookit this!” a guttural voice announced. Rarity looked up and saw five figures, all different species, standing there, wearing armor and all with dour and determined looks on their faces, save for the gryphon in front, who said, “She’s all wrapped up nice and neat. I get first shot, the rest of you’ll have to wait your turn.”
She recognized Gutslasher in a heartbeat. And she realized that Silver’s hesitancy from earlier in the day had been correct: she’d never seen it before because she’d never had to be combat ready.
“How DARE YOU.” Rarity moved to her feet. “Do you realize what you just did?”
“Yeah. I’m going to put you out of somegryphon else’s misery,” Gutslasher taunted. “And the fun me and the boys are gonna have…is just icing on the cake,” he leered.
Rarity understood that threat immediately. She decided it was time to turn the tables. Her horn blazed with blue spellfire. “Gentlebeings, let me be perfectly clear: you…” The flames began to surround her, burning away her socks, saddle and docktail, as her hair fell free. “…have just made the biggest…” A star erupted on her chest, a blinding blue ball of luminescence which transformed into an amethyst embedded in a golden gorget which sat on her neck. “…mistake you will ever make!”
“Get her NOW!” Gutslasher shouted, and he and his forces moved forward.
“FEEL THE WRATH OF A MARE DENIED!” Rarity roared as the world exploded in azure.
