//------------------------------// // Act I: Chapter 6 // Story: Miss Sparkle, Psychopath // by Adda le Blue //------------------------------// Three mares stood in formation, staring up at the door through which the two pegasi had led their unicorn and dragon friends. “What do you think, girls?” asked the pale one. “Do you think she could have?” “No!” Pinkie swore. “Twilight would never do that!” “The Twilight we know certainly wouldn't,” Rarity agreed, “but the Twilight we know has always been high-strung, and she has at times been found on the brink of losing her grip on reality.” “That don't mean it'll ever happen,” Applejack argued. “Come on, Rarity, you saw what happened when she saw Spike!” Pinkie Pie insisted. “She was really scared.” “Because of Spike's condition or because of our reaction?” Rarity asked pointedly. “Think about it. Resorting to magic to make Spike eat his vegetables? You have to admit that it does sound like something Twilight would do if she... well, you know.” “You know, she got used to RD calling her 'Miss Sparkle' awful quick,” AJ said thoughtfully. Rarity's raised eyebrow brought her back down to earth. She shook her head in denial. “No. That don't mean a thing.” “I just don't know...” Rarity shook her head. “Whatever happens, I promise I will not rest until I get to the bottom of this.” “Me too. Once she's feeling better I'm gonna have a little chat with Twilight,” she decided. “Maybe she found out something about that spell but she was too out of it to say it outright.” “Ooh! And I'll see if anypony's seen anything suspicious lately!” Pinkie volunteered. “Everypony knows they can tell good ol' Pinkie Pie anything, even if it sounds silly.” “Please use some tact,” the unicorn said desperately. “We don't want to spread any rumors before we come to a conclusion.” “I'll be extra-super-sneaky about it,” she agreed. “Maybe I should dig out my night-vision goggles.” Rarity shrugged. “Fluttershy is taking care of Spike and she will soon handle Rainbow Dash as well... Then it looks like I have some reading to do. Between Twilight's description and my eye for detail, perhaps I'll be able to find some clues to help us identify the spell!” Rarity said, happy to finally have a plan. “With the four of us working together, we'll be sure to get to the bottom of this.” “Just you wait, Rare,” Applejack said certainly. “We'll find whoever's really to blame.” “Yes, of that I'm quite sure,” Rarity agreed. “Even if it is Twilight Sparkle?” Applejack's expression darkened. “That's not gonna happen.” “But if it does?” she pushed. The farmer fixed the unicorn with a frustrated stare and let out a long breath through her nose. “Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it,” she said finally. A loud bang made the three of them jump. Rainbow Dash glided down into the basement with a foul look on her face. “How's she doing, Rainbow?” Applejack asked. “Like you care,” she snarled as she sped past them toward a stack of buckets of all shapes, sizes and materials. “We do care, Dashie!” Pinkie argued. “She's our friend, no matter what!” “Oh, I wouldn't say 'no matter what',” Rarity mumbled below the edge of hearing. Rainbow Dash buzzed back toward the spigot and began to fill a white plastic tub. “All she's trying to do is help. Can't you see that?” “I see nothing of the sort,” Rarity seethed. “Then you're an idiot,” Rainbow countered. Satisfied, she turned off the spigot and tossed a rag into it from a little cubby on the wall. She flew to the center of the floor with the bucket gripped in her teeth and touched down lightly beside 'Miss Sparkle's' mess without even a wrinkle of her nose. “Look at me. I'm happy!” she exclaimed, gesturing at herself with the sopping cloth before wringing it out. “I have a marefriend that loves me, and I love her more than anything in the world.” She smiled fondly as she worked. “I'd do anything for her, Rarity, and that includes dealing with ponies that want to hurt her.” Rarity's lip peeled back. “Is that a threat, Rainbow Dash?” she asked. “I'm not trying to threaten you,” she said placatingly. “Miss Sparkle told me not to start anything with you guys 'cause we're all friends, right? But that's the thing. You girls are my friends, so I'm just telling you how it's gonna be, okay?” Satisfied, she took the rag and the bucket to the slop sink in the back corner and washed them and her hooves. “Don't hurt her,” she said. “If you're really my friends, and hers too, then just don't hurt her. That's all I ask.” “We don't want to,” Applejack said soothingly. “We're gonna do everything we can to make sure of it.” Pinkie was on the verge of tears. “We'll figure this out, Dashie” she said certainly. “We always do.” Rainbow gave Rarity a glance. “You too?” she asked. “I promise to do whatever I can to stop whomever is behind this,” Rarity said, “no matter what.” The pegasus glared at her. “And I'll protect her, no matter what.” Rarity nodded. “Don't you have an ill unicorn to attend to?” she asked primly. “Please, don't let me keep you.” Rainbow didn't spare her another glance. She sped up the stairs; her blowback might have been angled toward the unicorn intentionally, but maybe it was an accident. Rarity blinked in the wind. The pegasus threw open the door and had to stop short before she collided with the squeaking yellow pony on the other side. “Not now, Fluttershy,” she said angrily as she buzzed past in a huff. “Okay,” Fluttershy whispered around the scroll in her mouth. “I wasn't ready anyway.” She took the stairs one at a time, not meeting the eyes of the mares at the bottom. “What happened, Fluttershy?” Rarity asked. “Is that the letter to the Princess? Why did you bring it to us?” She dropped the scroll to the floor and fell heavily after it, resting her head on her cannons. “Spike couldn't send it,” she mumbled. “Why not?” asked Pinkie Pie. “His stomach started to hurt very badly every time he tried,” she said sadly. “Since Spike is... under the weather,” she said with a frown, “we're not going to be able to ask the Princess for help.” “It seems to me that whoever did this knew us very well, Applejack,” Rarity muttered, frustration evident on her features. “They knew we'd try to contact the Princess and they did this to prevent it.” “Yeah?” Applejack said, unimpressed. “Well, they didn't know us that well, did they?” “What do you mean?” “We don't need Spike,” she said with a determined sneer. “I mean, we can always mail the dang letter.” “We don't have that much time,” Rarity argued. Applejack shrugged. “Then we can just go to the castle and tell her ourselves!” “I'll take the next train to Canterlot,” Pinkie offered. “Just you wait, I'll be back with the Princess in no time!” “I'm glad that you want to help, Pinkie Pie, but that will take hours!” Rarity complained. “We need her as soon as possible!” “Then why wait?” she said brightly, snatching the letter from the floor with her teeth. “See you tonight!” She sped up the stairs. Fluttershy climbed to her hooves. “Will you be okay on your own, Pinkie?” she asked meekly, far too quietly for the other pony to hear. Her voice echoed faintly down the stairway. “Tell the Cakes I'm not coming back to work today!” she yelled. Applejack smiled proudly. “Look at that,” she said. “We'll have this sorted out in no time.” Rarity let out a sigh like a last breath. “I do hope so.” She leaned heavily on Fluttershy's proffered shoulder. “Goodness. When I woke up this morning, I thought the worst thing I'd have to put up with today would be Sweetie Belle's schoolyard gossip,” she laughed mirthlessly. “Don't worry, Rarity,” Fluttershy said. “It's going to be okay.” “Of course it will,” Applejack smiled. “But if we want to get this figured out, we'd best get cracking. Fluttershy, have you figured out if Spike's story is anything like Rainbow's?” “It is,” she replied. “He says Twilight wanted him to act more professionally when he's working in the library, and stop fighting her so much when she tries to make him do something that's good for him. She started the process during her last night in Canterlot and was finished by the time she had to catch the train.” “That's pretty fast compared to Rainbow's,” she mused. “Are you sure?” “Yes, I think I am,” Fluttershy nodded. “He said she was very proud of her progress and was so very excited to...” She whined through her nose. “To try it again.” “Then we have no time to lose!” Rarity pranced toward the stairs. “If she really is going to strike again, we must stop her before it's too late.” “And if she isn't,” Applejack said forcefully, “then we gotta hurry anyway.” She followed the unicorn with heavy hoofsteps. “Twilight was right. They got RD and Spike. We don't know which of us is gonna be next.” “I'll speak with Spike again when I've finished with Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said. “If Twilight really did this, maybe she'd have told him who her next, um, target would be...” She glanced up at Applejack, who was quite noticeably fighting the urge to glare at her. “Not that she would do that,” she amended. “I'm just making sure.” “Don't let Applejack's hesitation stop you, Fluttershy,” Rarity said from the head of their line. “That is a wise decision.” Together the trio emerged from the basement for the first time in what felt like forever, but the fond memories of their friendship were left behind. “Yeah? Well, why don't you stop worrying about her 'targets' and think about her for a change?” Applejack said with a scornful grimace. “I am worried about her, Applejack,” Rarity said coldly. “She is a dear friend, and if she has truly become somepony who would do such a thing, then I am determined to stop her before she destroys every good thing she and the rest of us have achieved together.” A hoof grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around. “Then why all the fighting?” she exclaimed. “Why can't you just give her a chance?” “Because I'm worried about the rest of us too!” Rarity cried. “Have you already forgotten about Spike? Who else would have had time to enchant him?” “I don't know!” the stubborn farmer shouted back. “He didn't come in with Twilight. Maybe somepony nabbed him outside!” “Oh, come now, Applejack,” Rarity scoffed. “The process took days in Rainbow's case and at least a night in Spike's. We were only inside for an hour!” “An hour's plenty of time,” Applejack said uncertainly. “Not for a spell like this,” she insisted. “This would require hours of preparation and its effect would likely need some time to mature.” Applejack shook her head. “I don't care what kind of fancy logic you try to pull. I ain't gonna give up on her, Rare. She needs us now more than ever! I ain't gonna throw her to the dogs just 'cause it'd be easier than helping her.” “Nor am I!” the unicorn argued. “Fluttershy and I are simply...” She looked past her opponent to see that the mare in question had disappeared. “Fluttershy?” The pegasus squeaked as she crouched lower on the stairway to the second floor. “Yes, Rarity?” Upon seeing their meek companion's state, Applejack and Rarity shared a solemn glance. “I'm standing here telling you to stop being so darn mean, and here I am shouting at you,” the farmer muttered. She extended a hoof toward the unicorn. “Want to just agree to disagree and call it a day?” Rarity looked up the stairs. “I think that would be best,” she sighed, offering her own in turn. AJ nodded. “Good enough,” she said as they bumped hooves. The unicorn turned back to her friend on the stairway. “I believe I'll accompany you to Twilight's room,” she decided. “Coming, Applejack?” Applejack trotted off toward the sofa. “Nah,” she said with a wave of her hoof. “I've got some thinking to do. Just let me know if she's awake.” While Fluttershy assured her that she would, Rarity bit back a relieved sigh. If there was one thing she didn't need, it was Applejack and Rainbow Dash teaming up against her. On their own they were stubborn as mules, but when they got together... The two mares reached the top of the staircase. Twilight's bedroom was quite familiar to them all, and not a single object looked out of place. Her books were either organized neatly on their shelves, strewn about wherever the absent-minded unicorn had left them when interrupted or, in the case of a certain adventure novel, held tenderly in the hoof of the pegasus on the bed. A half-empty glass of water stood on the nightstand in easy reach of her hooves, as did another blanket in case Rainbow decided her charge was getting chilly. Twilight was tucked beneath her wing, nose to tail and shivering faintly. Her cheeks were damp but she made not a sound. Occasionally her cutie mark would twitch as her hindleg twitched and kicked. She looked more the victim than the abuser. “Has she woken up at all yet?” Fluttershy asked as she glided swiftly to her friends' side. “Not really,” Rainbow whispered. “She started moving around a while ago, but I gave her some water and then she passed out again.” Rarity found herself frozen to the landing. The demure pegasus placed her head on the mattress beside Twilight's. “Oh, I hope she'll be okay,” she mumbled. “She will,” Rainbow replied. “Miss Sparkle's got a lot of guts. She'll be fine.” “Please don't call her that,” Fluttershy whined. “I don't want to believe she'd do such a terrible thing.” The unicorn took a step forward. “Nopony wants it to be true,” she whispered. “You could've fooled me,” Rainbow jabbed. “Everypony else keeps arguing with me, but you believe every word I've said. I think you want it to be true so you can convince everypony how bad she is!” “I don't want her to be like this!” Rarity exclaimed quietly. “I'm as heartbroken as anypony else. Is it so wrong of me to consider the possibilities?” “Maybe it is.” Rainbow's wing stretched further over her friend's back. “I don't care what you think. It's good enough for me and Spike and Twilight. What do you care?” “I want all of my friends to be safe and happy and... and not... broken!” “We're not broken,” Rainbow said sternly; “we're fixed.” She looked away from the unicorn and stroked Twilight's mane. “You know what? Maybe I'll ask her to fix you next.” The books atop Twilight's desk chair toppled noisily to the floor as Rarity lifted it into the air. Fluttershy squealed and darted toward the balcony. “Try it!” she snarled. A faint groan silenced them both. Twilight's head rolled to the side and one of her eyes slowly opened, revealing the violet within. “Is everypony okay?” she asked muzzily. “We're fine,” Rainbow said, pinning Rarity into place with a glare. “You can go back to sleep.” Twilight shook her head weakly and lifted it. The other eye opened. “Fluttershy, what are you doing the whole way over there?” she asked. “I promise I won't hurt you–” A click made her look toward the stairs. “Rarity, what are you doing?” She let the glow around her horn dissipate. “Rainbow Dash wants me to be your next victim,” she spat. The unicorn stared at her pegasus, who grinned nervously back. “I wasn't threatening her,” Rainbow assured her. “I didn't think she'd try to come after me with a dang chair.” “Rainbow, that is not acceptable,” Twilight said firmly. “First, I am not the one behind this, so I don't have any power over who the next victim would be. Secondly... You know what?” she said, letting her head sink back down to the mattress. “There's so much wrong with that idea that I don't think even I can get to it all.” Instead she turned her attention to the other mares in the room. “What do you two want?” “I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” Fluttershy said quickly. She inched along the wall. “I see you're in very capable hooves, so I'll just be going now. I'll be downstairs when Rainbow Dash is ready to talk!” Without a wave or a backward glance she cantered the rest of the way to the stairs and glided down to the main floor. ...which left Rarity alone with the 'couple'. “I also was concerned about you,” she began. “How so? Were you concerned that I was going to do something while you weren't looking?” Twilight growled. “Were you concerned that I was going to bend Rainbow Dash even further to my will?” “No!” she cried hastily. “No, I really was worried about you!” “Yeah, you looked pretty worried when you were gonna throw that chair at me,” Rainbow snickered. “I wasn't going to throw it at you! That was just in case you started something.” “Girls, stop fighting.” Rainbow immediately tucked her wings and settled against Twilight's flank. “I won't have it. Rarity, tell me what I have to do to regain your trust.” The unicorn stared at her in disbelief. “You think you can just... just like that?” “I'll try my best,” Twilight said confidently. Rarity shook her head. “Then give me one single shred of evidence proving that you didn't hurt Spike or Rainbow Dash.” “You know I don't have it.” “Tell me how it could have been anypony else!” “You know I don't know that.” Rarity's eyes were tearing up. “Then tell me why!” she cried. “Why should I believe you? I know you're a good mare, Twilight, one of the best I've ever met, but you have always been fragile and you constantly express your frustration when Rainbow or Spike or... or any of us do something you disagree with!” She rubbed a hoof against her shin. “I don't know, Twilight. You could have been corrupted by dark magic, or maybe you just... cracked, or something. I hope it isn't true, by the Princess's mane I do, but I cannot see one reason why I should believe it to be anything else.” Twilight stared at her, the only hint of emotion a certain moisture in her eyes. “I have a reason for you,” she said gruffly. “You know me better than that.” “I wish I did, Twilight,” her friend whimpered. “I wish I did.” Twilight turned away and burrowed her muzzle beneath Rainbow's shoulder. “Then leave, Rarity,” she said harshly. “Just go home. Lock your doors and board up your windows if you want. I don't care.” Her loud and shuddering breath was muffled in the pegasus's hide. “Just promise me you'll be safe.” Rarity took a step back, but something about the tableau before her kept her from turning away. Rainbow held Twilight tenderly, eyes closed and pinched and wings stretched over her... It was like a memory long forgotten. Whatever they were, or whatever they thought they were, there was no mistaking the bond of friendship. “If you'll come with me,” her mouth said suddenly. Rainbow's eyes snapped open. “I mean it,” Rarity continued. “If you really want to prove to me that you're not the one behind this, then stay with me at the Boutique.” Twilight lifted her head from the pegasus's side. “Aren't you worried that I'll attack you if we're alone tonight?” Rarity shivered at the touch of her cold glare. “I'll lock my door,” she said. “Yours too.” “No way!” Rainbow snarled. “You can't keep locking us away. Miss Sparkle can do what she wants, when she wants.” “I'll do it,” Twilight said firmly. Rainbow's head fell into her hooves. “If that's what it takes to convince you of my innocence, then I'll do it.” Taken aback, she could do nothing but blink. “Alright,” she said finally. “Alright then. Just pack your things. I'll... I'll be expecting you within the next two hours.” “We'll be there,” Rainbow assured her. “We?” Rarity asked. “We?” repeated Twilight. Rainbow nodded. “We're in this together, Miss Sparkle,” she said proudly. “I'm with you every step of the way.” Twilight beamed brightly. “Oh, alright then,” Rarity acquiesced. “Just a few necessities, mind you! Aside from that I want you to come right over after your conversations with Fluttershy and Applejack.” “Applejack wants to see Rainbow as well?” Twilight asked. “No, Twilight, she wanted to see you.” The unicorn and pegasus blinked at each other. “Don't worry, Twilight,” Rarity said, “she only wants to ask you some questions about what you experienced while delving Rainbow Dash. She is set on proving your innocence.” Twilight finally managed an honest smile. “I knew she would be,” she said happily. She nuzzled Rainbow's chest with her cheek. “Then I'll send her up.” Rarity said, leaving them to it. “Remember, two hours at the latest!” Emotions darted across her features as she approached the main floor: guilt and suspicion, sadness and determination... Every conversation with Twilight Sparkle shed new light on the situation, but was it the light of truth or simply a pretty distraction? She still hadn't decided by the time she reached the landing. “They ready?” Applejack asked. Rarity nodded, and the farmer stood and trotted toward the stairs the unicorn had vacated. “May as well get this over with, right, Fluttershy?” The pegasus followed uncertainly. “Good luck, girls,” she said as she left them to their business. “You too, Rarity,” Fluttershy replied. Applejack grunted. Rarity tuned them out and went spelunking among the library's many shelves. After so many afternoons spent in Twilight Sparkle's company, she knew her way around the library like the back of her hoof; only a few minutes later she emerged with a staggering pile of hardcover books floating at her shoulder. “Spike?” she said carefully to the dragon at the desk. He looked very professional, for a change. He'd even put on the famous bedazzled bow tie Rarity had made for him over a year ago; Rarity couldn't help but smile at the sight. “I hear you've become quite the little librarian. Is this true?” “Of course, Rarity,” he said. “How may I help you?” It was a strange sight, watching Spike behave like that, strange and rather off-putting. Discomfited though she may have been, she tried not to let any of it show. “Be a dear and sign these out for me,” she said pleasantly. “It seems I have some studying to do.” Soon she was on her way home, leaving the library's shelves nearly empty of books on magical theory... and criminal psychology. Two ponies watched her saunter down the path. “Be honest with me,” the unicorn at the window asked the pegasus on the bed. “Do you think I should have said no?” “I don't like it,” Rainbow admitted. “We're not going to be able to do anything without her breathing down our necks.” “I know, but she has to learn to trust me again,” Twilight muttered. “She's supposed to be my friend, Rainbow Dash. How can we be friends if we lose our ability to trust one another?” She sighed and chewed her lip as the white unicorn disappeared down the main streets of Ponyville. “Go ahead, Rainbow. Fluttershy is waiting.” Trust... Never had the word meant so much to her. When Nightmare Moon had reared her head two summers before, she had asked five ponies to believe in her and together they saved the lost Princess Luna from the curse of Nightmare Moon. Even the days before her brother's wedding, when she had suspected and eventually confirmed the sinister intent of Shining Armor's bride-to-be, were foal's play compared to this. Her friends had turned against her, but at least nopony at the wedding had wanted her locked up except for Queen Chrysalis, the mastermind behind the day's events. This time it wasn't as simple as her friends not believing her. The bonds of trust had been shattered. She knew, though, that it wouldn't last. Her friends always saw the light eventually. No matter what happened, her friends couldn't hate her forever. Everything was going to be okay. But first, she had a certain farmer to attend to.