//------------------------------//
// Follow You Down  
// Story: Clarity 
// by AmpUpHeart 
//------------------------------//

Sharp, erratic notes filled the air from the crystal horn.

"Please remind me why we let Pinkie play the horn again," Rarity whispered. 

The citizens of the empire soon came swarming to the castle balcony where the mane six, Push Play, Cadance, Shining Armor, and Clarity stood.

"Attention everyone," Cadance called out, "There is no way to describe the emotions you, I, or anyone else might be feeling. As many of you know, Princess Clarity has been found by Push Play and brought home."

Clarity cautiously made her way to the front of the balcony. A round of cheering rose up from the crowd.

"But there are other matters to be brought to mind," Cadance said, cutting the applause short, "Clarity, no one knows this like you do. Could you please explain?"

Clarity gulped. She wasn't sure where to start. It was like cutting a brilliant cut out of a diamond.

She then thought back to when she was learning how to cut gems.
'You always start from the beginning,' Ruby Gold had told her, 'Assess the gem's weak spots, and use caution when cutting them.'

'Start from the beginning,' Clarity thought, 'Use caution on the weak spots.' Her weak spot had always been Raven's gradual corruption. She felt that there was something else she could have done to stop him from becoming so diabolical. If only she had told Mirar. If only he had opened up to her...

'Stop!' She thought to herself, 'Wallowing in the past is not going to change anything! Raven is coming, as King Sombra, and there's nothing you can do about it if you just blame yourself.

'Blame, that's what Raven has been blinded by. He blames you for all the things he never got, and he let it take control of him. Now, I have to stop him. For this empire. For my friends. For Equestria. I'll go down fighting. 

'Calm yourself. This isn't about war. It's about peace. For we all have to show him the light. Show him that after all this time, after all I've been through, I still consider him my brother, and I won't let anything change that!'

A huge cheer erupted from the crowd.

"That was an amazing speech!" Twilight said.

"Wait, what?" Clarity muttered, before mentally slapping herself. She had spoken every word.

"Don't worry," Cadance said quietly, "You got their hopes up. That's all that matters."

Clarity eyed some pitch black clouds gathering in the south. The moment of truth was nearing.

'I'm sick of running,' she thought, 'I've always wanted what's best for this empire. And I'll go down fighting with my weapon of choice: peace.'