//------------------------------// // The Day We Will Never Forget (Rarity) // Story: Aftermath of a Fallen Star // by Rated Ponystar //------------------------------// Aftermath of A Fallen Star By Rated Ponystar Edited by The Unnamed Pawn and Commander X5 Pre-Read by: Magic Man and Chaotic Note The Day We Will Never Forget (Rarity’s POV) *** You want to know about that day, darling? How can I ever forget that day. I don’t believe anypony is going to forget where they were on that day. I remember it all clearly... but... forgive me if I don’t take a moment to have a break here and there to collect myself. It’s been years, but that day is still as fresh as it was when I first heard the news. Anyway, darling, it was a normal morning for me. The only difference was that I was waking up to what sounded like a thunderous boom in the distance. It wasn’t big, like Rainbow’s Sonic Rainboom big, but you could definitely hear it. It was coming from the direction of Canterlot, but that was it. A heard a few ponies outside my window speak of it, but since there didn’t seem to be any fire or smoke billowing from the distance, we assumed nothing wrong and soon went back to our lives. After eating a fine breakfast, I went to do what I always did back then: making outfits. I still do the craft, but only for myself, family, and friends. Sometimes I wish I could go back to being what I was born to do, but I choose this new path of politics for a reason. I didn’t make the decision THAT day mind you, but it did play a part. As I said, everything was going normally that day. The only thing I had to do was pick up Sweetie Belle later from her sleepover with Spike and the Crusaders. None of us knew of the tragedy that had occurred in Canterlot that morning. I was working on a suit for a customer in Canterlot when I heard knocking on the door. Opening it with my magic, I smiled as I saw my good friend Fluttershy waiting for me. “Darling, how nice to see you. Is everything alright?” “Oh, everything is fine, Rarity,” said Fluttershy with a smile and nod. She then nervously pointed at my nearby clock. “Um, I think you may have forgotten, but we were suppose to be doing our usual spa appointment twenty minutes ago.” I gasped as my cheeks began to flush. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten. Normally with something as important as a spa treatment you’d think I’d remember that. “Oh, dear me! I’m so sorry, Fluttershy! I don’t know why I forgot.” I set aside my sewing tools and put the dresses I was working on in a special closet so they would be safe. Grabbing my coin purse and a nice lovely sunhat to wear, I smiled at Fluttershy. “Well, let’s get going. Don’t want to make Lotus and Aloe wait for us any longer than they already have.” Along the way, we talked about how our friends were doing while Ponyville was being...well... Ponyville. Derpy was crashing into walls while delivering mail. That nice colt Featherweight was taking pictures of the town for his school’s newspaper. And the two of us could spot Pinkie Pie rushing everywhere with invitations to whatever special party she was planning for that week. Needless to say, it just seemed like an average... normal day... But I guess there really isn’t any warning when something as disastrous as an assassination happens, huh? No inner feeling that something is terribly wrong thanks to a bond you and five other mares have shared for years. Even Pinkie’s Pinkie Sense didn’t go off with her usual “Doozy” signs. “Did you hear what happened to Rainbow Dash?” asked Fluttershy, which made me moan and roll my eyes. Rainbow Dash then always had a knack for getting in trouble. Don’t get me wrong, I loved her as much as my other friends and she has matured so much since we first met. But back then, her attitude often got her in more situations than it was worth. Remind me to tell you about the time she kicked a dragon to try and get it out of its den. “No, darling. What did she do this time?” I asked. Biting her lip, Fluttershy said, “I think she got in a fight with Twilight.” I looked at her with a  raised eyebrow. “I overheard some other ponies saying she rushed over from Canterlot and started drinking at Berry’s Bar. She said something about ‘Twilight’ and ‘betrayal’ and... a few other mean words..” I sighed. “I suppose we’re going to have to ask Rainbow Dash what’s going on and settle this before something bad happens.” We made it to the Spa, but when we opened the door we were greeting with an unusual site. A changeling was there waiting to be served. Naturally, Fluttershy panicked and ducked behind me. I myself was a little nervous. You have to understand that, while we supported Twilight’s efforts to help the changelings, many of us  were still very nervous around them. We were right there when the invasion happened and it's sort of hard to forget that day. Now a few changelings had decided to move into Ponyville, but they mostly lived outside of the town and kept to themselves. I knew Sweetie Belle and her friends were getting friendly to one named Hopper, but I had yet to met him or his family. The changeling must have sensed our fear as she turned around and blushed. Lotus was behind the counter and she didn’t seem to be scared at all. I guess a paying customer is a paying customer for her. “Oh, sorry, we just came over to tell you that we’re canceling our appointment today. One of our friends is in a bit of a mess and we need to go help her out,” I lied. Normally, I wouldn’t dare cancel a spa appointment, but Fluttershy still had an intense fear of changelings back then. She would be too terrified to do the spa treatment. I didn’t know if Lotus or the changeling believed me, but we quickly left afterwards. Neither of us said anything as we left the building until we made for a bench in the middle of town. “I’m sorry,” said Fluttershy as she sat down, lowering her head in shame. “I... I feel bad for that changeling. I didn’t mean too... but I just got so...” I calmly put my hoof on her shoulder. “Fluttershy, it’s okay. Tell you what, we’ll look for her tomorrow and apologize okay? Why don’t we find Rainbow Dash and see what happened between her and Twilight. Okay?” Before Fluttershy could answer, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped as low as I’ve ever seen it. I was about to ask what was wrong when she slowly raised her hoof and pointed to the sky. I turned around and soon I bore a very similar expression. Dozens if not at least a hundred Royal Guards of both the Solar and Lunar divisions were flying into Ponyville armed like they were ready for war. Huge chariots and carriages carrying the non-flying type landed in the streets and ponies leapt out of the way. The guards were spreading everywhere, issuing orders for ponies to head into the nearest homes at once while anypony leaving would be detained for questioning. Both Fluttershy and I looked at each other, still in shock. Five of the guards came to us with the leader bowing before us. “Miss Rarity. Miss Fluttershy. I must ask that you company us to the library. Princess Luna is waiting for you there.” “Is... is something wrong?” asked Fluttershy, shivering with fear at the sight of such cold faces and sharp weapons. “What’s going on? Why Princess Luna and not Princess Twilight?” I asked. Seeing their pained and gritting faces should have been my first clue when I mentioned Twilight’s name. I was distracted, however, when the guard addressing us said, “I’m not at liberty to discuss this in public. Please, just follow us. All will be explained...” Despite having more questions, Fluttershy gripped my hoof and nodded her head. Sighing, I followed the guards with my worries growing more and more with each hoofstep. *** Fluttershy and I arrived at the library where the guards told us to wait while they went back outside. In the time we waited, neither of us said anything but the worry on our faces spoke for us. I looked outside to see the soldiers still sweeping around the place, ordering ponies back into their homes. A hundred possible reasons for this entered into my mind, the worst being that we were going to war. Another thought of mine was that some great evil had come back and we were going to have to deal with it. But if that was the case, where was Twilight? The door opened and I turned around to see Pinkie Pie bouncing in with her usual smile on her face alongside a confused Applejack. “Hiya girls! Did ya know that the guards were throwing us some kind of party?!” “I don’t think this is a party, Pinkie Pie,” said Fluttershy, shaking her head. “Well, what else would it be? Unless it’s the start of another super awesome adventures in the never ending tales of My Little Pinkie!” shouted Pinkie Pie, raising her hooves up in joy. “My Little Pinkie?” asked Applejack, arching a brow. “Oh, just a series of stories I tell the twins when they go to bed based on our adventures,” dismissed Pinkie Pie. “Well, Ah don’t know what it is the Princesses have us gathered around here for, but Ah don’t like the look of it,” said Applejack. A third time the door opened and this time we saw Rainbow Dash enter, looking like she just woke up from a hangover. With a dirty name and bloodshot eyes, Rainbow Dash rubbed her head and muttered something I didn’t quite catch. After a loud yawn, she smacked her lips a bit and asked, “So what’s the big meeting about?” “We don’t know, so we’re playing a guessing game to figure it out!” beamed Pinkie.. “You look horrible, darling,” I pointed out. I tried to get close but the smell of Dash’s oder made me nearly turn green and I backed away. “And you really, really need a shower.” “I would have if I hadn’t been dragged around by a bunch of guards,” muttered Rainbow Dash as she yawned again and made for a chair to sit on. “Can whoever got us together hurry up already? I gotta get something for this headache.” Rainbow Dash received her answer soon as the door opened a third time. This time we all stood in attention and bowed as Princess Luna, her face cold as stone, appeared before us. Shutting the door, she soon touched the walls with her magic as a wave of blue energy filled every corner of the interior and flashed for a second before disappearing. From what I knew of magic-mostly thanks to being friends with Twilight-that was a silence barrier. Basically, nopony would be able to hear what was being said in the library. Princess Luna’s stone cold face turned the one into sympathy almost immediately when it was just the six of us alone. “Are you alright? Has anything happened to you in the last few days? Anything strange?!” The five of us turned towards each other and shrugged. My fears were beginning to grow stronger and I’m sure everypony else's was too. Even Rainbow Dash was starting to lose her attitude upon sensing the seriousness behind Princess Luna’s voice. We all answered the same thing: no. This only made her bite her lips and gently close her eyes. Her ears folded back behind her head while a sorrowful sigh escaped her lips. All of us were now looking at each other, unsure of what to do. Even Pinkie Pie stopped smiling upon seeing this. Applejack decided to be the one to break the ice. “Princess? What’s goin’ on? Why are ya here? Where is Twilight and Princess Celestia?” “And what’s with all the guards? We expecting another invasion?” asked Rainbow Dash. Princess Luna didn’t answer for few minutes before she took a deep breath and said, “Something happened this morning... my sister... my sister is unable to deal with things, so I am in charge.” “What about Twilight?” I asked, while also wondering why she wasn’t here with Luna. Looking up at each of us, we saw a single tear drip down Luna’s eyes... Oh stars, please I need a moment... … ... ... Okay. Sorry. It’s just... she said something that would change our lives forever. Something we all remember to this day and it haunts us even now. Whenever I think about Twilight I just hear those five words. Those horrible five words. We were more than just friends. We were sisters. We had been bonded through fate itself by the magical rainboom and the Elements of Harmony. We had been through so many adventures, hardships, lessons, and joys in life together. The very idea of living in a world without even one of us was unthinkable. We had planned to do everything together. We were going to be friends forever and even into the next life. And then five words ruined something so special that to this day it has never felt the same. “Princess Twilight Sparkle is dead.” It took only one second for us to hear this in our ears. Three more seconds after that to have our expressions change to shock. Another three for disbelief. And one second later for sorrow. I felt my heart sink into a pit. My lungs clogged up and made it harder for me to breath. I lost control of my lower limbs and fell onto my haunches in shock. My mouth was covered by my hoof as tears began to cascade down my cheeks. My mind was screaming in denial, that this was just a prank or even a terrible nightmare. But those words... the cold edge of authenticity they carried with them when spoken... the look in Luna’s eyes. I thought, ‘Dear Faust, this is real.’ Fluttershy had already started wailing and fell into a heap on the floor. Seeing the teary-eyed broken image of her, lying there, hooves covering her face as her wails echoed in my ears. It was hearing something of Fluttershy’s slowly dying. I wanted to go hug her, but I was too frozen in shock. Too taken with sorrow to move even a single inch of my body. “N-no... yer lyin... yer lying she’s...” Applejack fell also her rump and stared at Luna with her hooves shaking and her face filled with fear and disbelief. Her pupils had shrunken and eyes were misting. I have only once ever seen Applejack cry. The last time was at her parents funeral when we were fillies. It was like seeing the small filly who lost the most important ponies in her life all over again. Broken, and terrified. “What the hay?!” shouted Rainbow Dash as she slammed into Princess Luna, forcing her against the wall. “Rainbow!” we all cried except for Pinkie who was silent. “She can’t be dead! I just saw her yesterday?!” shouted Rainbow Dash, although eyes were already starting to fill up with tears. “What the hay happened?!” “... she was murdered,” whispered Princess Luna, making all of us gasp in horror. “She was... assassinated in her sleep...” The sound of somepony hitting the ground made me turn around as Pinkie Pie lay on the floor, her eyes closed and hair all flat and covering her face. “Pinkie Pie!” shouted Fluttershy as she rushed over and held her. She shook her to wake up, but Pinkie Pie just lay there in unconsciousness. “M-murdered...” Applejack whispered holding her her hoof against her heart. “Tw-wilight’s... been...” “No... no, but I said!” shouted Rainbow Dash, her grip on Luna weakening as she slowly backed away. Her eyes widened with far. “I told her... I said... she’s... oh buck.. no no no no!” Rainbow Dash screamed. She screamed as if her wings themselves had been ripped out from her back. Falling to her haunches, she slammed her hooves on the ground in fury and continued to scream. Her tears became a waterfall, as she continued her screaming. “Oh Faust! Twilight I’m sorry! I’m sorry! PLEASE COME BACK!” I couldn’t handle it anymore. I rested near a wall and just cried my eyes out. I didn’t care what anypony else was doing. I just wanted to sob for the friend who was the bright star of our lives and brought us together. She was our leader, our head, our princess and friend. And now we lost her. Lost her in the worst way possible. Every memory I had of Twilight began to flow through my head like a long movie that slowed down during the most important moments for the iconic scenes of its display. Our first meeting in the town hall on the Summer Sun Celebration. Her first sleepover. Our fights against Nightmare Moon, Discord, Sombra and the Changelings. All the dresses I made for her, especially the one for her birthday. Her coordination and the vow we would all still be friends no matter what. All of those memories. Those wonderful happy moments... are now forever ruined by this one day. “Uhhh,” I heard Pinkie moan as she slowly got up, Fluttershy helping her back to her hooves. However, the moment she was back on all fours, PInkie Pie rushed to nearby trash can and began to vomit. Fluttershy, despite her own teary-eyed face, continued to comfort Pinkie by rubbing her back as the latter continued to weep and vomit. I looked at my friends. My shattered and heartbroken friends who lay in tears, broken hearts, and even their own barf. What was going to happen to us? What were we going to do? Who... who would want to murder our Twilight? Just as I thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse, the door opened again and a new voice cried out. “What happened to my mother?!” We all stopped crying as we slowly turned our heads to Spike who was looking at everypony with the more terrified look in his eyes. And at that moment all our tears and sorrow were replaced with one thing: fear. The fear of the truth that he was going to learn in a few minutes. For as hard as we could try, this was something we could not protect him from. Twilight had been Spike’s caretaker since she hatched him. She raised him, nurtured him, taught him everything she knew. She loved him day and night. In many ways, they were each other's first true friends. She would go to Tartarus itself to protect him, and he for her. We always saw them as mother and son even though they they were not official as such. It wasn’t until Twilight did her first action as a princess that we saw how much she truly loved him. I will never forget that day. The day she proudly showed him official adoption papers that made her the adopted mother of one Spike Sparkle. That day he rushed into her embrace and cried tears of joy for over an hour while saying how much he loved her. It was also the first time they ever called each other mother and son. Somepony asked me if I would ever forgive Prince Blueblood and his group if they were still alive. I tell you the same thing I told that reporter. When you see the eyes of a child who will soon learn his mother and caretaker all his life is dead... when you see the despair that follows suit and hear him crying... then you will find no forgiveness in your heart for those that did this to him. “Spike...” whispered Luna as she tried to wrap a wing around him, but he pushed it away. “What happened to her?!” shouted Spike again, pushing it away as he glared at Luna. His claws were clenched so hard I thought he would cut himself. “They’re saying... they’re saying...” He lowered his head, his body shaking. “Tell me it’s not true!” I wanted to tell him no. I think we all did. Those passing few seconds of his innocence were the longest seconds we ever had. And in a single moment... it was all over. “I’m sorry, Spike...” whispered Luna, tears now freely running down her face. “Twilight... is gone.” “.... no...” whispered Spike, who shivered with rage until he leaned his head back and let out a ferocious roar combined with flames that hit the fireproof ceiling. “Noooooooooooooo!” He fell to his knees with Luna barely catching him as she hugged him despite his screams. “No! Mom! Mooooom! Noooo! Mooooooom! Come back! Mooooooom!” I ran to them and embraced them. He cried. I cried. The rest of us hugged him. We all cried together. We cried for the one pony who we all loved so much. Spike continued to scream and yell until he collapsed into our embrace. He sobbed the hardest out of all of us. And only muttered one word. “... mommy.... mommy....mommy....” *** On that day, a nation mourned A princess fell into despair A group of friends forever changed And a son was now an orphan