War, war never changes.
-ooo000=+=000ooo-
"The City of Steel..." Sweetie Belle muttered, looking down at her empty plate as a few ponies started to clear the table of the empty dishes. "A massive city, bigger then anything we've ever seen..."
Twilight was furiously writing down ever detail to this story, she was so intrigued by it all, and wished to hear more. It was pretty obvious to anyone who looked at her, she was excited about the prospect of learning about this city. Shame she didn't know, all of tis dark and sordid details.
"The City of Steel?" Luna questioned quietly, humming softly in thought. "Prey tell, what is this city?"
Apple Bloom sighed, leaning back in her chair as she thought of the massive city. Images of the burning hell-scape that was the city flashed through her mind, along with the screams of people being killed. "The city... its... its a hell," she said quietly, crossing her arms as Scootaloo fluttered her wings, making a small almost metallic fluttering noise. "Filled with scum and criminals, a lot of bad people that make some of Equestria's filth look clean in comparison."
Everyone was quiet as she spoke, the elements had different emotions regarding what was said, horror, disgust, and interest.
"We had to live there... for six years." Sweetie frowned deeply, straightening out her now sparkly mane as her green eyes looked up at the ceiling. "And no matter what you say, that city... will forever be a hell."
Rarity stared at her sister for sometime, looking at the young mare now, and comparing her to the young filly from six years ago. She could see so much had changed in her, her eyes, along with the other two, held something in them that was... different, cold yet fiery, distant and precise.
"I couldn't help but notice you talking about coils and electromagnets," Twilight mused, looking over at Sweetie, "where did you learn that from?"
Sweetie gave the princess a look. "I remember reading it from one of your books during one of our magic sessions." She explained, flicking her ears forward as Apple Bloom coughed into her hoof. "It was some kind of theory a scientist came up with for making a more effective assault weapon for Equestrian Naval Airships."
Something sparked in Twilight's eyes, interest, more then before. "You understand the Gauss Theory?" She wondered, and her excitment only grew when Sweetie nodded. "This is fantastic! Do you think you could tell me all about it!?"
A nervous look, then Sweetie replied, "As much as I would... uh, love to tell you... I'm kinda tired," She stretched out her arms, titling her head to one side as the other two did something similar. "We've been talking for a while now."
"Yeah, Ah'm beat." Apple Bloom informed the others as Scootaloo yawned her agreement. "Mind if we take a nap before we keep up with our story telling?" She wondered, she was tired, there were bags under her eyes, and the other CMC as well. While she wasn't against spending much needed time with her sister and her friends, she needed to sleep.
Celestia nodded her head, and in a regal tone stated, "Let us rest for now, and we can resume the story in the morning." Everyone readily agreed, the others getting up and yawning, stretching their tired aching limbs and looking forward to a good sleep. Especially the CMC, who were looking forward to taking a long sleep in a warm bed, without having to keep one eye open for once. Everyone steadily got up, stretching aching limbs, popping stiff joints and heading off.
Twilight and her friends all decided to head off to theor own rooms, Celestia and Luna followed Twilight as the servents proceeded to clean up the table with gusto, wiping and picking up plates and depositing them onto the push trays before leaving single file. The CMC were still in the room, slowly making their way towards where they last remembered there were rooms. Rarity had stayed behind as well, deciding to guide them to their rooms seeing how it had been a while since they were last here.
However, once Scootaloo and Apple Bloom started forward, Sweetie was held up by her sister. "Um, Sweetie, do you think... we could... speak?" She asked, looking at her younger sister who returned her look with a small smile.
"Sure, Rarity." Sweetie nodded, waving off a curious Scootaloo and Apple Bloom who left, trotting off towards the rooms. Sweetie, now that Rarity was closer, could tell just how different the little mare was. She was a bit shorter then Rarity by a small margin, with a fine coat of well taken care of fure, a silky smooth mane with beautiful curls that grew out longer, and a horn that was a tad bit longer then usual unicorn horns. Rarity noted her little sister's eyes seemed to have a certain brightness to them...
However...
"Tell me, how did you... I mean..." Rarity looked flustered, sitting down on her haunches as she rubbed at her fetlock. "Oh I am ever so... flustered, my deepest apologies." She sighed, "Its... just been so long since I've seen you last... I'm... I'm sure you understand?"
Sweetie nodded, sitting down in front of her, all the while keeping her smile. "Of course Rarity, I... i get that." The mare nodded her understanding, chuckling as Rarity returned her smile. That was another thing Rarity noted, her smile, right down to her laugh and her voice, they were...
"I must say darling, your voice is so beautiful~" Rarity cooed, tittering to herself as Sweetie gigged. "You have grown so much... mother and father..." She suddenly looked down, any mirth she had suddenly gone. I never told her...
Sweetie seemed to pick up on Rarity's downtrodden tone, her eyes took on a concerned appearance as she scooted closer to her sister. Wondering what was wrong, she asked, "What's wrong?"
The older mare sighed heavily to herself, trying to steel her nerves for what was about to come out of her mouth next. It had been so long since it happened, and she never had the chance to tell Sweetie Belle... mostly because she thought the young filly was long dead, having given up after so long. But now that her sister was back, she could finally inform her of what had happened...
"Several... months, after you disappeared, Sweetie Belle, Mother and Father..." Rarity sighed sadly, running a hoof through her mane. "They've... passed..."
All was silent after she had said those words, there was nothing in the air. Rarity looked up at Sweetie Belle, prepared to console the young mare if she broke down, Rarity had still cried even after they passed years ago, and she had no doubt Sweeite would be the same... however, when she locked eyes with Sweetie, she did not see sadness... she did not see sorrow...
She only saw her flat look... her once shiny eyes, filled with a childish innocence, was gone, replaced with a sort of... blankness...
"They're dead?" Sweetie asked, bluntly, to the point. It was the kind of tone you used for a question when you were mostly curious, like about someone's dinner plans for tomorrow.
Rarity didn't know what to feel at that moment, but she managed to answer. "Y-yes they... they died, five years ago..." Rarity explained, shaking her head slowly as she tried to regain her composure. "T-they were t-trying to find ponies to go into the Everfree to look for you, experienced explorers and rescue teams." Rarrity recalled that stressful month, and the resulting days that followed after their death... it had almost been too much for Rarity, having lost her baby sister and her parents... "But... after they found a team of ponies willing to go in... they followed, insisting on helping, but they... they ran into a Manticore nest, they didn't stand a chance, having no way of defending themselves they... they parished." Rarity finished, sighing as she felt a few tears leave her eyes.
Sweetie Belle just sat there, looking as if she was absorbing what all she was told. Then she nodded slowly, before turning and walking away. "I'm sorry... Rarity..." She told her older sister, vanishing up the stairs, with little emotion showing on her face.
The alabaster unicorn just started cry, left alone at the bottom of the stairs wondering what had happened... to her precious little sister...