I held Eve as she cried, soothing her as her tears flowed- Rarity just stared, mouth open in shock.
"Did you need anything?" I asked, turning to her.
"N-no...I just came to check on Twilight and the others..."
"I took them all home- Twilight's asleep upstairs"
"I'll just be a minute then"
I nodded as she trotted up the stairs, after she did, I looked down to Eve.
"Wh-why do you do this, Creator?" she asked shakily.
"Do what?" I asked, confused.
"Why do you show such...affection? A-after what I did?"
I thought for a moment, then sat down with her.
"Did you have a good reason for what you did?"
"I-I- just wanted to see my mommy..."
"You know what I told you?"
"Yes..."
"And why I said no?"
"Yes" her voice cracked.
"Yet you still tried anyway?"
"Y-yes"
I pulled her into a tight hug.
"Then I forgive you..."
"Bu-but why?" she cried in shock.
"Because it's the right thing to do, and I never believe in destroying another life, even if they did something worse"
"I practically destroyed everything!"
"Yes...and I'd like to think you weren't in your right mind, it was about 50/50- and I'll make you a deal"
"Wh-what?" she whimpered in fear.
"You help with the clean-up, no magic, and I'll take you to see Cheerilee"
Eve sat flabbergasted in my arms, her mood settling on poorly hidden surprise.
"Wh-what? Why?"
"I believe in second chances"
She grew quiet, then floated into the air.
"Thank you, Creator...I'll think about it..."
She disappeared from the library, and I sat there, contemplating what to do next. The decision was made for me, however, as Rarity trotted down the stairs.
"How is she?" I asked.
"Still a bit tired, she should be fine, Spike as well" the white unicorn replied.
"Good to hear"
"Yes...might I ask who that was?"
"You all saw what happened in the world I had created, correct?"
"Yes"
"She...she caused it..."
I clamped my hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming.
"Rarity, before you say anything, yes, I know, and- I trust her"
"Trust her?! She made a mess of everything! And you actually trust her?!"
"Yes"
"Why?!"
"I'll tell you the same thing I told her...because I believe in second chances"
"A second chance?! For her?"
"If you were in the same position, and had done the same thing as her...wouldn't you want to be forgiven?"
"Well...I suppose I would..." she relented "But that shouldn't give her any reason to do something...like that!"
"I agree, and I believe I handled the situation"
Rarity nodded as I stood up, being careful not to tip over.
'Note to self: change back to human form'
"Well darling, shall we go and check up on the others?"
"I think that'd be a good idea" I said, following her out of the library.
X X X X X X X
Silver Bells slowly came to, darkness still clouded her vision as she groaned to herself, trying to sit up.
"Try not to move around too much, dearie" a mare's voice called, gently holding her with a large hoof.
"Wh-who are you? Where am I?"
"Just a friend, dear- I need you to hold still for a little longer"
She was about to ask why, when a loud drilling sound made itself known, the smell of oil and something burning filling the air. The noise stopped, and heard something being set down.
"Alright dear, try to stand" the mare's voice said, holding her hoof.
She planted her forehooves, and wobbled as she stood up, her legs shaking as she attempted to walk. She fell forward, and felt the mare catch her.
"Here dear, drink this, it's my special blend" she said, holding a teacup to her lips.
Silver felt the liquid run down her throat, a delicious mixture of honey and...something...
"There we are..."
"Where am I?" she asked again.
Silver's vision cleared, and she found herself being inspected by a pair of glowing red eyes, a large brown earth pony attached to them. She held stock still as the large pony went about, testing her reflexes.
"Why is my hoof covered in metal?" she asked.
"Your hoof isn't covered in metal dear, it's made out of metal" the mare replied.
"Wh-why?!"
"You suffered an accident" she replied simply "Come"
Silver's mind went into overdrive, trying to figure out what was going on, when she felt herself being hugged very tightly.
"My darling little Bell..."
She felt wetness dripping into her mane as she was hugged.
"M-mommy?" the filly asked.
Heartswirl and Swift Steel wept as they held their daughter, tears of joy spilling as they refused to release their grip.
Clockwork smiled weakly as she left the room, her metal legs clanking against the floor as she went.
X X X X X X X
The Mane-iac was having the time of her life as she leapt across the buildings of Mare-tropolis, the police hot on her tail as they gave chase from below.
"Simpletons..." she spat, leaping across a gap in the buildings.
The sirens of police cars wailed as they followed in the streets, still vigilant to catch their prey.
She crawled into an alley, and took the time to inspect her prize.
'Pitiful diamonds...is this what I have to do to catch their attention?'
She was snapped out of her thoughts as headlights shone into the alley. Five figures hopped out of the truck, each brandishing a weapon.
"What have we got here?" a brooklyn-accented voice called "Anotha robbery?"
"Duh, looks like it boss" a fat weasel in a beanie asked.
"Yep"
"Fools! You can't catch me!" she stated, ascending the alley with her mane.
"Grab 'er, boys!"
She heard a psychotic laugh as a razor nearly missed taking a chunk out of her.
"Nice shot" she commented, dodging the bullets being fired at her "Bad aim"
"You're the one that's bad, ya crazy mare!"
"I'm NOT CRAZY! I'm derranged"
"Whateva..."
"And besides...I'm not bad...I'm just drawn that way..."
Her mane shot out, forcing the five weasels into unconciousness, then ran off into the night, the city in a panic behind her.