//------------------------------// // Rarity // Story: The Encounter // by Winter_Solstice //------------------------------// Rarity watched the tall alien as he and Luna had a seemingly one-sided conversation. His understanding of Equestrian was still limited, but at least his clothes fit well. She looked at his hooves. No, they weren’t called “hooves,” were they? No matter, as days ago she'd taken his measurements and relayed them to Ponyville’s one and only cobbler. It should prove to be quite the challenge. Now Fluttershy’s brother was speaking up. Despite the lack of resemblance, he seemed to share her ability to communicate with non-Equestrians, as he helped in translating. But what could the alien, the “hue-mun,” do to help Fluttershy? He looked about as lost as everypony. Her thoughts drifted back to the evening before, when she was alone waiting for word. It had been the longest night of her life. Not to know if her dearest friend would survive until morning and if she did, in what condition would she be? She’d paced the floors for almost an hour until finally, the same doctor had made another appearance. She approached him and put on her best pleading face. “Oh doctor, can’t I please see her?” He considered. “As long as you don’t disturb her, I suppose it will be alright. Where did your other friends go?” “One went to get her family, while the others are trying to find out as much as they can from that alien.” The doctor scowled. “I’m not so sure having that alien in town is a good idea. Who knows the trouble it can cause, just being here.” Now it was Rarity’s turn to consider. “I don’t choose to be in his company, but I’ve met him, doctor, and despite what everypony thinks he seems to be very friendly.” “Didn’t it…excuse me, he have something to do with your friend’s injuries?” “We still don’t know, but I don’t believe he did. He simply does not seem the type.” The doctor snorted but otherwise kept his opinion to himself. “Alright. You can go in and see her now, but again, please don’t try to wake her.” “Thank you, doctor!” He turned and led the way as she followed. He stopped at Fluttershy’s door. “Now brace yourself. This will be disturbing.” She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.” He nodded, and then opened the door. It was all she could do not to gasp in horror as she got her first sight of her friend. She slowly walked forward and stopped at the side of the bed. Fluttershy lay on her stomach, wrapped in bandages from head to hoof. Some of them would soon need to be changed, as blood had seeped through. Both her wings were spread out in casts and in traction, while her eyes were sunken and dark. Her breathing was labored behind her mask, though it was steady. But worst of all, her head had been shaved. All that lovely mane, which she’d secretly envied, was gone. Gone. “Are you going to be okay?” asked the doctor. Rarity could only nod. “I’ll leave you two for now. Don’t stay too long.” He quietly left. Rarity closed her eyes and began to weep. It just wasn’t fair. With all the adventures they’d had, and all the dangers they’d faced together, it was inevitable somepony would eventually get hurt, but why Fluttershy? She literally would not hurt an insect! Rarity took another deep breath to calm herself, and tried to force the anger away, but failed. Then resolve hardened within her. Whomever did this would regret the day they were born, she’d see to it! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ She sat still and quiet, just watching and listening to her friend breathe. Finally, she leaned forward and planted a delicate kiss on her cheek. “Get well, dear.” As she turned away she heard a faint sound. “Rar...Rarity?” She spun around. “Fluttershy?!” “Are…are you…?” she whispered. “Shh, dearest. Don’t try to talk,” said Rarity. “I’m…sorry. Sorry…to see me…like…this.” Rarity’s heart shattered. “Don’t you dare apologize! It’s not your fault!” “Sorry…” She fell back under. Rarity broke into fresh tears and ran from the room. That is how Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Spike and the alien found her, bitterly sobbing alone in the waiting room. It was some time before they could get any word from her, so they stopped trying while Pinkie quietly held her and let her cry herself to sleep. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ That had all been many hours before. Rarity brought herself back to the present as she watched the alien and the Princess interact. This didn’t appear to be something in which she could help, so she thought hard to find something in which she could. There had to be a task she could do to help poor Fluttershy! For the first time in her life, she found herself regretting she had not studied magic further. Her magic was well suited to her profession, but most other forms had eluded her, and she’d been content. But if a pony as well versed as Twilight couldn’t come up with a solution magically, Rarity doubted she could, even if she’d been better prepared. Still, she had to try. She cast about inside herself, accessing her talents. Her sense of fashion was of no use here. She could manipulate many objects at once, but what good could that do? Finally, she settled on her gem finding spell. She could sense and locate various gems from great distances, and that was powerful in and of itself. But how could it help? Then it came to her. “Twilight, you spoke of two other aliens that must have hurt Fluttershy, correct?” “Yes, Char-Elles told me about them.” “It seems to me we need to find them before it’s too late.” She took a deep breath. “I know this may be a lot to ask of you, but can you help me modify my gem-finding spell to instead find them?” Twilight took a moment, then her eyes brightened. “That’s a great idea, Rarity! But we have to know what we’re scanning for. Let me think.” Twilight closed her eyes and concentrated. Her eyes flew open. “I’ve got it! We know where they were last; there has to be some residue of their presence in Char-Elles’ room! We have to hurry.” She quickly excused herself to Luna and told her Rarity’s idea, while the rest looked on. Luna turned to Rarity. “Such a spell may permanently alter your own, Rarity Belle. Are you willing to make such a sacrifice?” “I am. Anything to help my friend.” Luna nodded. “So be it. You have my blessing, and may you succeed in your endeavor.” Rarity bowed, and then Twilight ported them both away. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ They reappeared in the alien’s room. Twilight cast a sweeping arc of her magic that encompassed the entire space. Nothing. She tried again, making the spell stronger. Just as she was about to start over again, she caught the tiniest wisp of something out of the ordinary. But it was not enough. She turned to Rarity in frustration. “I found something, but it’s faint.” “Can we use it?” “I’m not sure. It appears they didn’t interact with anything in here. The portion I detected may be from them making contact with the floor, but it would be better if they’d touched something in here. It doesn’t look like they did.” “Let’s work with what we have, Twilight.” They both ran to the library where they began searching the books for a way to modify Rarity’s spell. “I know the type of spell we need, so we need a tome on…got it! Here we are: Spells and Spell Modification.” She opened it to the glossary and read down. “This is it.” She turned to the chapter and began reading as Rarity paced nervously. “Okay,” said Twilight as she turned away from the book and looked at Rarity. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to reverse this, but this technique should work! Hold still.” She closed her eyes and concentrated again, as magic flowed from herself to Rarity. After a few moments, Twilight stopped. “Try your spell now.” Rarity, in turn, closed her eyes and swept out with her magic. The familiar feeling of finding precious stones was gone, replaced by a very, very faint…presence. She opened her eyes. “I think I can feel what you found in the room, Twilight, but like you said it’s very faint. Too faint…” Then Twilight knocked herself on the head. “I’m an idiot! We know what they touched! Or rather who they touched, and he’s back in the hospital! Let’s go!” She ported them both away. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ When they returned to the hospital, Luna was speaking with the ponies while the alien was backed up in a corner, keeping his hands upon his own stomach, as far from Luna as he could get. That is odd, Rarity thought to herself. Is he hungry? Luna turned to Twilight. “Did you find that which you sought, Twilight Sparkle?” “Yes, but we need more residue. I believe we can find it on Char-Elles, if I can examine him.” Luna looked at him. “I am loathe to enter his dreams again without his consent, and he is adamant about my keeping my distance. Yet he will not explain why. He trusts you more than I, perhaps your method will be met with greater success.” Rarity and the others watched as Twilight drew near and quietly spoke to the alien. He nodded, and then bent down on one knee as she directly applied her magic to him for the first time. Her beam visibly scanned his neck, but then she passed it below his neck to the rest of his body, looking for residue. The alien's eyes widened as he saw where the beam was going. He started to get to his feet, but it was too late. “What’s that?” she asked, as her beam crossed over his stomach. “Rarity, I think you’d better…” she began, before an arc of what looked like lightning shot from the alien’s stomach and enveloped them both. Twilight and the alien screamed, and she fell to her knees. “Twilight Sparkle!” cried Luna, as she tried to pull her away with her own magic. The lightning shot from Twilight and encompassed Luna, as she cried out as well. Then there was a flash, and all three were gone.