//------------------------------// // Love Taken // Story: Blood and Diamonds // by GamerBrony316 //------------------------------// Love Taken Chapter 3 Snow, Twilight, and Spike entered the town hall, the sight surprised Snow. The decorations were like that of the Grand Galloping Gala, the colors were so much like the sun. Many could have mistaken it for the real thing. There where intricately woven banners that showed the Royal Sisters, the rising and setting of the Sun. Snow was so absorbed by the magnificent colors around him; he had not seen Twilight walk up to a white unicorn who had been decorating the room. Hearing Twilight speaking to somepony, Snow turned to see who it was. His heart jumped, and he felt a shock of pain. The unicorn resembled White Velvet so much. His mind was shot to memories he thought he had locked away forever. ***** He remembered back to his old life, when everything was right. When he had been seeing White Velvet for a little over a year now. Snow had never felt this way about anypony in his whole life. When he was with her he felt happy, he didn't notice the dark things in his life. Ever since his parents had passed he had been wary of becoming attached to others, however when he saw White Velvet he knew he could never leave her. What they had was something very special. It was the week before the Gala and Snow had planned something big for her. Snow planned to take her to the Royal Canterlot gardens and propose to her that night. On his way to her house he could only think about how happy they would be together. He knew that this mare was the one. Trotting along happily, he soon came to Velvet’s house. Snow knocked on the door saying, “Honey? It’s me, Snow.” He waited but no response was heard. Snow thought to himself, ‘That’s rather strange.’ He then pushed on the door to see it creek open. Now this was odd, White Velvet always kept her door locked.’ “Honey, are you here?” he asked, cautiously entering the house. The first thing that caught his eye was that books and papers were scattered on the floor. As he ventured further into her dwelling he noticed furniture flipped and various items thrown about the room. “No…” Snow whispered to himself, “No, not again.” He wasn't going to lose someone he loved again, not again! Snow, frantic with worry, darted upstairs to Velvet’s bedroom, the door was slightly open. Snow almost didn't want to open the door, he didn't want to lose another person in his life. Snow had lost his father to war, his mother to a fire, and now… Snow slowly pushed the door open. There on the floor was White Velvet. His heart sank at the next thing he saw. “No!” Snow wailed in a pain that was horribly new to him. “Why, why, why?!” Snow asked as he looked at White Velvet lay on the ground, her pelt stained red with her blood. Her eyes glazed over, the life gone from her gaze. There next to her, lying on the floor was a broken picture of them together. An elegant dress lay torn on the ground next to her. Snow could tell she was getting ready for their date when she was murdered. Snow lay there, holding his dead love for what seemed like hours, weeping over her lifeless body. He had lost so many that he cared about. Why now must he lose the only mare he ever loved? Snow took out the ring he had bought for her, slipping it onto her horn. There he lay clutching his dead love wishing with all his broken heart he could have stopped this. His sorrow mixed with hate. He knew now that happiness was something he could never have, until the ones responsible lay dead and bloody at his hooves. ***** “Darling, what’s the matter?” a very concerned voice asked. Snow looked up, and realized he had been crying. There before him stood the white unicorn. “I… was just, remembering.” Snow said holding back tears. “Oh my dear, whatever were you remembering?” Asked the white unicorn with more concern then he was used to. “I… I, lost somepony very dear to me,” Snow answered trying to avoid her stare. “Twilight is this stallion with you?” Asked the white unicorn. “Yes he is. He is assigned to protect me,” responded Twilight rolling her eyes. “Twilight, why don’t I take him to my home and see if I can help him,” the unicorn suggested with a radiant expression. “Well I have things I need to do, so if you wouldn’t mind,” Twilight trailed off. “It would be my pleasure,” the unicorn answered, with a cheerfully grin. “Thank you, Snow is that alright?” asked Twilight hoping to get rid of Snow. Snow, now consumed by his grief nodded. Twilight and Spike left to learn more about Ponyville and its inhabitants. “Miss, I don’t know your name,” Snow said, a few tears running down his face. It was difficult for him to keep his composer just from looking at her. “Oh, my name is Rarity,” she answered in a soothing tone. “Thank you…Rarity,” Snow told her, feeling the grief subside a little. “It’s no problem at all darling,” she said with that radiant smile of hers. Snow accompanied Rarity to her home, all the time trying not to cry. Snow felt embarrassed for crying in front of her. When he looked at her, Snow couldn't help but see White Velvet. How she trotted was like White Velvet, and the soothing tone of her voice, even her appearance. “Is something on your mind?” Rarity asked him, breaking him from the small trance he had fell into. “I um…” Snow realized Rarity had seen him looking at her. Blushing from the embarrassment he said, “Miss Rarity, you remind me of someone I knew.” “Is that so darling, who is she?” inquired Rarity with curiosity. “She… was somepony very close,” a twang of pain shot across his face at the thought of White Velvet. There was no hiding the pain he was feeling. Rarity could easily see the pain he was in. “Oh, dear if it’s not a nice topic for you to think about, then we shan’t talk of it anymore.” Rarity said concerned. “Perhaps later, Miss Rarity,” Snow said with a frown. “Ah, here we are Snow,” Rarity informed feeling a little tense. Snow saw that the building he now stood in front of was a boutique. A brilliantly designed building with what looked like carousel ponies on top. Rarity opened the door and beckoned Snow to enter. He walked into a shop and noticed instantly it was filled wall to wall with outfits. “I think I’ve figured out what you do for a living Miss Rarity,” Snow said feeling the painful memory slowly fade. “Oh you have, have you?” Rarity asked with a laugh. “I must say, these outfits look like the outfits I see in Canterlot, Velvet would have liked them,” Snow trailed off not realizing what he was saying. “I’m sorry dear, who is Velvet?” asked Rarity confused. “She… she, was…” Snow struggled to speak, the painful memories came flooding back again. Taking a deep breath Snow said, “She was my very special somepony.” “Was?” Rarity asked with concern. Snow was suddenly filled with the same hate and anger he had felt after he found Velvet on the ground and couldn’t help but yell, “She was taken from me! Murdered the night I was going to propose!” Snow realized he had yelled and tried to take a breath, but what came was a sob. His anger soon subsided but was replaced with sadness. Rarity shocked and not quite knowing what to do, wrapped her hooves around Snow in an attempt to comfort him. “Snow I… I’m so sorry,” Rarity said with a soothing tone. To her surprise Snow wrapped his hooves around her, hugging her close to his body. Rarity could feel his tears trickle down onto her shoulders. Suddenly Snow came to his senses and quickly let go of Rarity and backed away. “I’m s-sorry Miss Rarity,” Snow stammered, “I d-don’t know what c-came over me.” Rarity, trying to suppress the blush overtaking her cheeks. “Darling it’s quite alright, I want to help you.” Snow could feel his face get warm like the time he first laid eyes on White Velvet, “I um…” Cutting Snow off before he could say anything, Rarity said, “Snow its quite late you may stay here for the night if you wish. I have a room ready for guests.” “I must find Twilight Sparkle,” Snow answered remembering he was there for a job. Shining Armor would skin him alive if he knew what he had done. “I wouldn't feel right if something happened to you tonight Snow, would you at least stay until you feel alright?” pleaded Rarity. Then what seemed like fire entered the room. The fire transformed into a scroll and dropped in front of Snow, hitting his hooves. He retrieved the message and found that it was from Twilight telling him that she was safe and staying at the town’s library, and further on to meet her at a place called Sugercube Corner the next day. Snow turned to Rarity and said, “I will stay here tonight Miss Rarity,” a small smile showing on his once sad face. “Wonderful darling,” Rarity said happily. “I’ll just go get everything ready for you.” Snow watched as Rarity hurried off to a different room. He stood there in the shop alone, felt a feeling he hadn't felt since he had met White Velvet. Everypony he had ever loved or cared for had been taken away from him; he couldn't bear to have another taken from him. Snow unstrapped his armor and let the heavy material fall to the floor with a clang. He stretched his wings and legs out. Snow felt stiff from being in his armor all day. Every night he gratefully took it off, it was like a cage that reminded him of all the terrible things he had done in the name of justice. He thought back to the night he took that young filly’s mother from her. His armor was a scar he could never be rid of. “Darling I have everything ready for you...” Rarity trailed off as she saw Snow for the first time without his armor on. Rarity couldn't help but notice Snow's muscular body. Rarity's face turned red for a moment as she entered the room. Snow looked up at her a smile on his face. “Thank you Miss Rarity.” “Oh it’s no problem at all, and call me Rarity.” she said cheerfully. “As you wish, Rarity.” Snow responded feeling a warmth in his chest. “Now let me show you to your room,” Rarity said as she led Snow down a hallway. As they walked down the hallway Snow heard a voice yell to Rarity. “Rarity, can you tuck me in?” a young voice called from a room. Rarity entered the room that Snow had heard the voice from. He followed Rarity to see a young unicorn with a white and pink mane. Snow thought of the young unicorn that he had seen after he killed her mother. A tear in his eye as he watched Rarity tuck the young unicorn into her bed. Rarity leaned over and kissed the filly on the head saying, “Good night Sweetie Belle, I love you and I’ll see you in the morning.” Rarity walked back into the hallway to join Snow. “I’m sorry Snow that was my sister, Sweetie Belle. Do you have any siblings?” inquired Rarity. “No I don’t have any siblings.” Snow said sadly, “I don’t really have anypony.” “Now Snow what do you mean by that? You have Twilight and I’m sure you have some friends back in Canterlot. If you would like I would love to be considered your friend,” Rarity smiled at Snow. “I really only have one person in Canterlot I would consider my friend, and I would be happy to have you as my friend Rarity,” Snow said with a small smile on his face. “Well then, shall I show you to your room now?” Rarity asked cheerfully. “That would be nice,” Snow responded a little cheerful. Rarity led Snow to the guest room she had prepared for him. His room was at the end of the hallway they had been walking down. Snow walked in to see a brilliantly decorated room with bright vibrant colors, done up in intricate patterns along the walls with a large bed in the center of the room. Snow stood there stunned, mouth open. “Yes, it is rather fabulous isn’t it,” Rarity smiled smugly as she watched Snow’s reaction. Snow realizing his mouth was open, feeling slightly embarrassed. “It is very nice Rarity.” His cheeks turning red. Smiling at Snow Rarity said, "My room is right across the hall if you need anything.” “Thank you, goodnight Rarity,” Snow smiled, face still feeling hot from embarrassment. “Goodnight Snow, I’ll see you in the morning.” Rarity smiled back as she left the room to retire for the night.