Something didn’t feel right. All she could see was darkness and yet it seemed to be swirling around her like the night sky in fast forwards. She tried to blink but found herself unable to and the more she stared into the darkness the more unsettled she seemed to become.
“Octavia…”
A voice in the darkness called for her and yet she couldn’t see anything. Where was it coming from, how did it know her name?
“Octavia…”
She tried to blink again, this time her eyes opening slightly for a moment as she tried. A prick of light was now evident in the darkness and as she watched it began to grow in size, slowly starting to fill her vision. She blinked again, this time the motion occurring properly as the light intensified and shapes began to form.
“Octavia darling, time to wake up…”
Octavia felt her senses returning slowly. A gentle click-clack sound filled her ears. The scents of different ponies filled her nose. Her eyes began to focus, the face of a white unicorn coming into view. She still felt numb, like she was wrapped in a sheet of plastic, staring out at the world from behind an invisible barricade. The unicorn smiled down at her.
“Good morning my dear, I was hoping you’d awake before we arrived, carrying you around is both tiring and most uncoming of a lady like myself.”
“M-morning?” asked Octavia as her head began to ring.
“Yes my dear, I’m not surprised you don’t remember,” continued Rarity, “you did after all have a considerable amount to drink last night and I hear that you don’t take to alcohol very well anyway. You’ve been asleep for about fourteen hours my dear.”
Octavia tried to speak but her throat didn’t like it, a gurgling cough the only sound that left her lips. Rarity acted quickly, levitating a water bottle from her bag over to Octavia and offering it to her. Octavia was slow on the uptake but eventually managed to get a firm hold on the canister and take a few gulps of the liquid. As she did she found herself spluttering slightly which only served to aggravate her headache. This wasn’t helped by the gentle swaying of the train and before Octavia realised she had jumped up, rushed to the nearby window, lowered it and had stuck her head out.
Rarity cringed and looked away as the sound of retching filled the private compartment. Rarity was glad the train was moving and the airflow through the carriage managed to clear away the smell before it had time to linger. Even so Rarity couldn’t help but shudder, so uncouth. Clearing her throat she crossed to the window, Octavia holding onto the edge of the window frame like her life depended on it as she took in deep shuddering breathes of fresh air.
“Are you feeling alright?” inquired Rarity gently, well aware that Octavia probably didn’t.
“I’ve been better,” came a reply after a moment.
Rarity just nodded as she started rummaging around in her saddlebag again.
“I thought something like this may happen,” she said as she continued her search, “So I decided to plan ahead. I’ve brought a few bags of salted hay snacks and some juice. You’ll probably be in need of salt and sugar after…well…after you’re done.”
Octavia could only nod as she continued to cling to the window frame. Just then the train gave a rather sudden lurch and Octavia felt her stomach give a lurch of its own. For a brief moment her face turned slightly green before the sounds of retching once again filled the air. Rarity retreated to the far side of the compartment and sat down. There was nothing she could do for the moment and crowding Octavia would likely only make her worse.
That said it didn’t take long for Octavia’s stomach to calm down and she finally released her grip on the window. Rarity was there to help her back to a seat and together they sat down on the large couch like seat that occupied one side of the compartment. Octavia found herself lying on her back staring up at the ceiling as Rarity sat down next to her. Octavia still felt a little queasy but accepted the bag of hay snacks from Rarity when offered them.
Closing her eyes she gave a long sigh and placed one of the snacks in her mouth. The taste was simply amazing considering what had recently passed through her mouth and she couldn’t wait to swallow and eat another. As she did she felt something touch her mane, the object passing through it with long purposeful strokes. Octavia opened her eyes to find Rarity smiling down at her as she levitated a brush through her tangled mane. The unicorn was humming quietly as she worked, Octavia recognising the tune almost immediately.
“Is…is that Rest My Dear?” she asked quietly.
“Hmm? Oh you mean my humming, I’m sorry if I disturbed you darling. I tend to find myself humming while I work quite a lot and my sister Sweetie Belle likes that one a lot.”
“It wasn’t disturbing me…in fact my mother used to sing that one to me when I was a little filly. It always helped me relax.”
Rarity just smiled and continued tending to Octavia’s mane. The grey pony herself fell silent for a moment as she looked up at Rarity. She had done so much for her already and she was still there even now, going as far as to brush her mane for her.
“Rarity?”
“Mmmm-hmmm?”
“Can I ask a favour of you?”
“Of course darling, what is it?”
“Would you…would you sing that song for me?”
Octavia could feel a blush crossing her face as she asked. It felt so childish, so beneath her…a grown mare asking for somepony she had only known for a few days to sing her a child’s lullaby. Whilst other may look down on her for such a request or give her funny looks Rarity just smiled. Raising a hoof to her chest she cleared her throat.
“Of course my dear, I may not be the best singer in all of Equestria but I like to think I do a decent enough job.”
Clearing her throat once again Rarity took a deep breath and begun.
“When the day is over and your work is done,
Smile little pony and watch the sun.
Hours of toil have led you here,
Yet now you may finally rest my dear.
Hopes and dreams are waiting for you,
Be not afraid I’m right here too.
By your side I’ll banish your fear,
So now you may finally rest my dear.
Close your eyes and think of morn,
Dream your dreams they shall be born.
Here I’ll be so shed no tear,
So now you may finally rest my dear.”
Rarity was about to embark on singing the forth verse as she heard a faint whistling sound. Looking down she found that Octavia had fallen asleep whilst she had been singing. Her head rested lightly against her side, the earth pony’s face a picture of peace and serenity. Rarity smiled and set her brush aside as she glanced out of the window. Outside she could see the great blue expanse of the eastern ocean as the train ran its course along the coastline. It wouldn’t be long until they arrived in Manehatten but until then she would let Octavia sleep. As she watched the sleeping pony beside her the final verse of the lullaby slipped from between her lips, a light whisper that barely carried on the air.
“When you awake you’ll find me here, day by day and year by year. Always yours I shall be near, so now we may finally rest my dear.”
By the time the train arrived in Manehatten Octavia was fully awake again, although perhaps not quite her usual self thanks to the lingering hangover that still plagued her head. Still Rarity didn’t tease, helping her as needed and taking care of the more mentally suited tasks. Manehatten itself was huge, a sprawling cosmopolitan metropolis that spanned the coastline for many miles. Being home to Equestria’s largest port it was home to creatures of all shapes and sizes not just ponies. Gryphons and zebras were a common sight and even less common species like minotaurs could be found in various places. Truthfully Rarity found it a little daunting. Canterlot was a big city but it had a much different feel to it, Manehatten just felt a little…odd.
Still she wasn’t about to let such feelings stand in the way of her task at hand. Currently this was arranging a cab for transport across the city. Thankfully Octavia had a copy of Frederick’s address but she thought it better to let somepony else do the driving so to speak. It was fast approaching mid-afternoon as they arrived at their destination and, despite the cost, Rarity was quite glad she hadn’t had to walk.
The house, or rather manor, that stood before them was incredibly impressive. It was set in its own private grounds away from the city with a large stone wall encircling it. Through the large iron gated entrance Rarity could make out lavish gardens filled with all manner of trees and plants. The manor itself stood on a slightly raised area of land fronted by large pillars and a sizable oak door. Octavia had already explained all she knew about Frederick, that he was the younger of two brothers born into a rich family. His father owned most of the fishing rights for the surrounding ocean and ran two different companies. How he had managed to get such a position baffled Rarity but she wasn’t about to start analysing the business model now.
Giving a glance at Octavia she raised her hoof and hit the call button on the intercom system mounted next to the gate. They both waited, time ticking by a second at a time until it felt like an eternity had passed.
“Who is it?” asked a voice finally.
“Ah, good day sir,” announced Rarity joyfully as the reply came, “My name is Rarity, my companion and I were hoping to meet with Frederick Horseshoepin.”
“He doesn’t have anything in his diary.”
“Ah yes, well we won’t be expected but if you could convey a message to him we would be most grateful.”
“Very well, what was the name again?”
“My name is Rarity and my companion is Octavia.”
“Please wait.”
The intercom went silent and yet again the two ponies were left waiting for a response. Again seconds dragged by and quickly became minutes. By the time a voice sounded from the intercom again Rarity was almost thinking that they had been forgotten.
“He says he has no interest in meeting you and he’s asked me to ask you to leave.”
Octavia surged forwards, pushing Rarity aside as she spoke, “Sir please, wait a moment. It’s very important that I speak with him. Can’t you ask him again if he will see me? Please?”
There was a pause but Rarity was sure she heard a sigh drift from the intercom, “Very well I shall ask again, please wait.”
Again the waiting but this time Octavia found herself dreading the reply even more. Did she actually want him to change his mind? Would it just be best to call the whole thing off and leave? With each moment that passed she found herself feeling more and more on edge, her ears twitching back and forth rapidly. When the intercom sparked into life again the response filled her with dread.
“Master Horseshoepin has decided he will see you briefly. Follow the path and please don’t touch anything. I will meet you at the front door.”
With that the comm went silent and the large gates started to swing open on their own. Rarity could sense the tingle of magic in the air as she watched the gates open, an animation spell. It was yet another reminder that the ponies that lived here were not only powerful but extremely wealthy. Together they set off up the driveway. On either side flowerbeds bulged with colour and young trees provided a dappled shade from the sun above. As they neared the manor itself Rarity couldn’t help but admire the architecture. It was an old building but well maintained, the weathered stone spotless. Above them pony shaped gargoyles sat on a lip around the building and the high arched windows were topped with small stain glass sections.
Climbing the stairs in front of the manor they found the front door already open, an aged looking pony standing waiting for them. He wore a suit over his brown coat and his white mane did little to brighten his tired looking face. He bowed his head slightly as they approached.
“Greetings and welcome to Horseshoe Manor,” he said in a voice that showed he had said this many times before, “My name is Silver Service, if you’ll follow me I’ll take you to Master Horseshoepin.”
“But of course,” replied Rarity so as not to be rude.
Again the pony gave a small bow of his head and opened the door a little more so they could enter. They stepped through into the hallway, Rarity having to control her urges to freak out as she looked around at the décor. Tapestries and paintings stretching back hundreds of years adorned the walls Rarity recognising genuine work from both Ponycasso and Ponet amongst other great figures in Equestrian arts. She could have spent a week simply admiring them but Silver Service seemed keen to deliver them to his master as he ushered them forwards into the manor.
He led them down a few corridors and then turned sharply as he arrived at the end of one of the corridors. A large door stood here, Silver Service knocking and then pushing the door open. The pony stepped forwards into the room a little before speaking.
“Master Horseshoepin, here are the ponies I mentioned earlier,” he said slowly, “Miss Rarity and Miss Oct…”
“I know who they are Silver, now kindly show them in and then leave until I call for you,” came a sharp and very abrupt reply.
Octavia could feel herself shrink, it was Frederick’s voice and it didn’t sound happy.
“As you wish sir,” replied Silver, the pony’s voice holding no hint of being hurt by the sharp reply.
He stepped back, opening the doorway for them to walk in. Tentatively Octavia stepped forwards, Rarity following her inside as Silver closed the door behind them. They were in a large library, one that Twilight would have spent weeks cataloging and searching if she got the chance. Books extended from floor to ceiling, only interrupted by the occasional painting or window. To one side of the room sat a reading area, a large roaring fire flicking back and forth behind the grate and several large leather armchairs surrounding it. In one of these chairs sat Frederick, his expression could only be described as a glare.
“Octavia,” he stated, his words strong with venom, “To what do I owe this reunion?”
“Frederick…I…” stammered Octavia, the fear evident in her voice, “I know you said you never wanted to see me again but…I’ve come to ask you something.”
“Ask me something? What do you want?”
“I’ve been trying to put things right ever since you left and…well a few days ago I met Rarity here and she’s given me a chance to try and fix everything. I…I want to get the ensemble back together…I want things to go back to the way they were…but I’m going to need everyone’s help. Will…will you help?”
For a moment silence filled the room. Octavia looked ready to bolt as Frederick stared back at her, he hadn’t even looked at Rarity yet. Then it happened, Frederick started laughing. Not a joyous laugh you may share with a friend but a malicious laugh, a laugh a crazy pony might use. Octavia and Rarity just stared at him as he tried to speak through his chuckle.
“You want to put things right? You want to fix everything? Oh dear sweet naive little Octavia, you really don’t understand do you. You don’t have a clue! You think it’s just that easy? That we would all come skipping back to you when you decided to fix things?”
“Frederick…I…”
“Shut up! I don’t know what I ever saw in you, snivelling little cowardly worm that you are!”
“Sir I must…” cut in Rarity as she saw Octavia collapsing faster than a balloon with a hole in it.
“And you!” interrupted Frederick as his head whipped round in her direction, “I don’t know what you’ve said to her or what you’ve promised to do for her but this worthless excuse of a pony isn’t even worth the air she breathes! And do you want to know why? Let me tell you a little story. Once upon a time there was a young brother to a powerful family. He would never carry on his father legacy; this would always fall to the older brother so he tried his best at what he could. Then he found out that his brother couldn’t sire a foal and as such if he got married he could take his place by his father’s side. But he was happy where he was and he didn’t have a wife yet either. But he did have a special somepony that he looked up to and admired for her own talents. She was perfect but he could never pluck up the courage to tell her how he felt. Then one day he learns a shocking truth, one that not only brings his entire world crashing down around his ears but also saps every last drop of love from his heart in one go.”
He paused in his story to glance back at Octavia. Her face was frozen in horrified realisation at what was about to come.
“Do you want to know what that truth was? Hmm? The pony he admired and adored, the one he thought would make his entire life complete…was a dirty self-degrading filly fooler!”
He spat his last words with such hate that Rarity felt a shiver run through her whole body. Octavia was completely frozen in place, not even her tears being able to break the death grip that Frederick had over her in that moment.
“I loved you Octavia! I loved you more than you can ever realise! And in that one moment when the truth came out, you not only destroyed our reputation, our livelihood and our future…but you destroyed my heart as well!”
“I…” the word caught in Octavia’s throat like an apple in a hosepipe.
She didn’t know what to say, what to think, anything. She had always thought that Frederick had hated her because she had caused the ensemble to break apart. She had never for one moment considered this possibility. They had worked together for years and he had never said anything, never shown any emotions of the kind.
“You what?!” spat Frederick, “You didn’t know? You didn’t mean for this to happen? Well now you do know. And let me give you an answer to your earlier request. On the day that I help you the fiery pits of Tartarus will freeze over and the sun and moon will rise and fall on their own. In truth Octavia I don’t care what happens to you, you could very well roll over and die right now and I wouldn’t care…but then that would be too easy! Get out of here Octavia, go and live a long life knowing what you’ve done…and if I ever see you again it will be too soon. SILVER!”
It seemed that Silver had been waiting on the other side of the door, the pony opening it only a moment after he was called.
“You called s…”
“Get this worthless lump of festering meat out of my sight before it leaves a stain on the carpet.”
Octavia didn’t even need to be ushered this time. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard from a pony that she once considered a friend. Her mind wouldn’t accept it, it couldn’t be true…and yet it was. Tears streamed down her face like a pair of waterfalls as she backed away a few steps. Her vision was still locked on Frederick but as he looked away her mind cried out and she bolted, galloping from the room as new tears joined the old ones. Rarity had been so stunned during the whole exchange that it was only when Octavia bolted that she finally came back to her senses. Part of her wanted to leap at Frederick and smack him so hard his face came off. How could he say those things? How could he act so cold and hateful?
She could feel tears of her own flooding her eyes and a moment later she took off after Octavia, screaming her name over and over as she chased her down the corridor back towards the front door. Silver just stood to the side, sighing slightly to himself as he shut the library door leaving Frederick alone once more.
Octavia couldn’t bring herself to stop. She tore through the house, throwing herself against the front door as she charged out into the sunshine. She kept running, the gardens of the manor passing by as she fled through the open gate and out into the road beyond. Still she didn’t stop, Octavia running past a couple of confused looking ponies as she went. She didn’t notice the scenery or the details of the buildings she passed. All she wanted to do was run; run until her legs collapsed beneath her and her lungs gave out, run until the very world faded from view and only the darkness remained. She was a monster, a sick twisted monster that didn’t deserve friends or praise.
She would have run forever had it not been for a small rock that caught her hoof. In that moment she was sent tumbling head over hooves, rolling down a bank and landing with a solid thud at the bottom. Her body hurt all over and yet she didn’t even seem to notice. She looked up briefly seeing that she had fallen down a small embankment and landed in a ditch at the bottom. A small stream ran along the ditch and Octavia could feel the cold water washing past her. She didn’t care though, maybe this was for the best? Maybe she should just curl up and die right there like Frederick had said.
“Octavia!”
The voice rung out like a klaxon call, splitting through Octavia’s thoughts like an axe through a log. She was looking for her and yet she couldn’t bring herself to call out. She curled up in a ball, shivering and shuddering as she lay in the cold water, one set of words filling her mind.
“When you awake you’ll find me here, day by day and year by year. Always yours I shall be near, so now we may finally rest my dear…”
“Octavia! Darling! Octavia speak to me!”
Rarity had launched herself down the embankment, skidding to a halt in the stream below. She reached out with her hooves, shaking the grey mare hard. Octavia gasped loudly but otherwise just continued to sob. Rarity quickly looked her over, the panic evident on her face.
“Octavia darling, are you alright? Oh my, that’s definitely a broken ankle. Multiple cut and abrasions…we have to get you to a hospital darling and quick.”
Octavia made no sign of moving. She was lost in her own little world of pain and not even the words of Rarity could reach her.
“Stay with me now Octavia! You hear me, stay with me!” she said as she looked back up the embankment, “Somepony! Anypony! Help!”
--------------------------------------
Darkness loomed on every side, flickering shadows swirling past like phantoms. She couldn’t move, frozen in fear and terror. There was no light, no escape…only the crushing feeling of dread that filled every part of her body. Voices whispered in the dark, taunting her with foul lies. She curled up and shut her eyes, trying to block out the nightmare that was surrounding her. And yet even her own eyes betrayed her, the shadows plaguing her mind.
“I didn’t mean it! I’m sorry!”
The shadows and whispers continued, ignoring her pleas and moving closer.
“Stay back! Please, don’t come any closer!”
Still they approached. She drew herself tighter into a ball, trying desperately to shut it all out. She wished for the nightmare to end, to wake up and find out that everything had just been a terrible dream, a figment of her imagination…anything.
“Stay back!”
She looked up briefly, opening her eyes just enough to see a shapeless limb reaching out towards her. She froze, rendered immobile by fear. She could do nothing as the shapeless nightmare drew ever closer.
“No…..NO!”
Octavia jerked awake with a start, gasping loudly as she did. The world around her spun like a cartwheel and she could hear every last noise down to the almost silent dripping of a tap across the room from her. Her breathing was heavy and fast almost to the point of hyperventilating. Cold sweat clung to her coat causing her to shiver as she tried to focus her eyes. She looked around, the room slowly coming into focus as she did. She was lying in a bed, sterile white sheets covering her body that matched the curtains hanging on either side of the bed itself. The green wall ahead of her held a number of posters but she found herself unable to focus on any of them.
“Octavia!”
She looked to her side, a white unicorn standing against the side of her bed. As she watched the unicorns eyes began to water before she quickly wrapped her hooves around her.
“Oh Octavia darling!” continued Rarity as she embraced the grey mare tightly, “I was so worried about you.”
Octavia didn’t reply but instead returned the embrace, clinging to Rarity like a child to its mother. For a moment neither moved, both content to just remain in that moment, before Rarity finally pulled back.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“I…I’m not sure,” whimpered Octavia in response.
“The doctors say you had a lucky fall so to speak. Your ankle was only twisted and the cuts you suffered aren’t deep.”
Octavia took a moment to look down at herself. There was hardly a part of her that wasn’t covered in a bandage or plaster. Her right hind leg was wrapped up tightly in a temporary splint, no doubt meaning to immobilise it to allow the sprain to heal. For a moment her memory eluded her, the mare being unable to remember why she may be like this. Then it flooded back to her, everything from the fictional nightmare that she had awoken from to the real nightmare that she was living right now. Her breathing began to shudder, her eyes watering once again as her jaw began to quiver at the resurfacing memories. As the first tear trickled from her eye Rarity leaned in once again, cradling the mare in her hooves.
“Let it out my dear, I’m here for you.”
It was all that Rarity needed to say. Octavia broke down, flinging herself at Rarity and wailing into her chest. Tears flowed freely, cascading down her face and soaking both her and Rarity in the process. Her hooves frantically scrambled for something to hold onto, each one finding part of Rarity’s coat and clinging to it like caramel on an apple. She pulled Rarity closer, nearly toppling her over as she pressed herself further into the loving embrace of the unicorn.
“I’m so sorry Octavia,” whispered Rarity after a moment, “I can’t help but feel responsible for all this. If I hadn’t pushed you into this idea then you wouldn’t have had to go through all this heartache. I’m beginning to wonder if you would have been better off if I had not met you…”
“No you’re wrong,” stammered Octavia between her sobs, “You may have shown me the full extent of my reality…but you never once left my side.”
The pair fell silent, Rarity content to be able to comfort the distraught mare and Octavia glad to have somepony to be with. For a time they remained still, minutes ticking by one by one until a light cough interrupted their embrace. Rarity looked round to find one of the hospital nurses stood at the end of the bed.
“I really am sorry to interrupt but I’m afraid visiting time ended nearly fifteen minutes ago,” she said softly, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave so our patients can get some rest.”
Rarity sighed and gave an understanding nod as she slowly pried the still sobbing Octavia from her body. The pair looked at each other for a moment, neither of them wanting to part ways and both knowing the other was thinking the same thing.
“Please don’t go…” murmured Octavia after a moment.
“Don’t worry darling,” replied Octavia as she ran a hoof through Octavia’s mane, “The doctors told me they just want to keep you in overnight for observation and that you’ll be free to leave in the morning. I’ll be here as soon as they open the door in the morning and…well…”
Rarity paused for a moment, Octavia looking at her intently.
“I was just thinking, you’ve been through so much these last few days and the fashion show I’m hosting isn’t for a few days yet. Do you remember what I said that evening at Brass’ house in Vanhoofer? About coming back to Ponyville with me for a while. After everything that’s happened I know you could use a break and a rest. What do you say?”
“I…I would like that…” replied Octavia quietly.
Rarity gave a small smile, “Wonderful darling, I’m so glad to hear that. Now I best go before the nursing staff throw me out…but I’m sure if you need anything you can call on them at any time.”
The nurse at the foot of the bed gave a nod in response before turning away and heading off down the ward. Octavia gave a small smile.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
What happened next surprised her. Without warning Rarity quickly leaned over her and planted a small kiss on her forehead. As the unicorn withdrew Octavia could see the faint blush that had formed on her cheeks.
“Think nothing of it darling, now you get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Octavia gave a small nod and the two shared a final smile before Rarity turned and headed off down the ward herself. Octavia meanwhile pulled the sheets up over her body and snuggled into them. For some reason she didn’t feel sad anymore and as she closed her eyes a shining white light vanquished the shadows that had been plaguing her dreams. Before long Octavia was sound asleep.