Path of Kindness and Blood

by CommanderX5

New Threat - Family

“It is such a strange feeling,” Rarity started as she looked at the moon from behind an opened window, her head perched on her forelegs. “It is like… like a desire to go outside, but not just for a calm stroll under the stars, nor to take your special somepony on a date under the moon.” She looked to the side at her cat that was sitting on the windowsill and licking herself clean. “I would say… it is more like a desire to run or fly, to go wild and face the night, or so to speak.”

“Meow.”

“Oh, I know, Opal. I guess I am still adapting to my new instincts. Fluttershy warned me about them. She said that if I want to keep my daily life, I cannot stay awake at night, no matter how strong the desire.”

“Meow,” the cat responded before nuzzling Rarity’s foreleg.

“I wonder how everything will turn out from now on. With the assassin who tried to hurt Fluttershy on the loose and with Applejack knowing her secret identity, our lives in Ponyville will be anything but peaceful.” She petted Opal’s head and rubbed her neck, who purred in return. “It would have been much safer if she just killed Applejack and allowed the elimination of the Apple family.”

Opal growled and turned around, exposing her back to Rarity, whose ears drooped. “I know that it is very mean of me to wish for somepony’s death, however… the Apple family wishes us the same… Well, for now only Applejack, but if they learned the truth...”

“Mmmeeeooow!”

“Do not look at me like that. I do not set up the rules. I am no longer a unicorn, but a thestral. Monster hunters are my enemies.” She hissed, causing Opal to jump back and hiss in return. “How can Fluttershy be so stupid, choosing a friend over the protection from Lord Fancy Pants. I nearly died because of her!”

Opal showed her claws and hissed again. Rarity kept glaring at her cat in anger for several seconds before gasping. “What I am doing? Oh Opal, I am so sorry.” The cat slowly lowered her defenses and turned around, showing Rarity her back once again.

The thestral looked at the moon with guilt overtaking her. “It was very mean to think of my friend like that, much less to blame her. She did the right thing by sparing the Apple family.” Rarity sighed and added in a sad tone, “I know I should support her, but…but I am scared.” Much to her surprise, she felt the warm fur of her pet once again nuzzling her foreleg. She carefully grabbed the cat into her embrace, pressing her gently against her chest.

“Fancy Pants and Fleur are pureblood thestrals, ruling a clan under the princess’s nose, who would have thought?”

“Five more minutes,” Rarity murmured before yawning, but the poking only became stronger. She rubbed her eyes before opening them as Opal’s face was the first thing she saw. “What is it, Opal? Surely it is too early to open the boutique yet.” Rarity’s ears perked up as a knocking sound reached them. If as a thestral, I should have stronger senses, then my hearing surely has improved very late in the game.

As the distance between her and the door shrunk, Rarity called out, “I am coming.” She slowly opened the door, ready to say that the boutique wasn’t opened yet, only to be tackled to the floor by an overenthusiastic filly. “S-Sweetie Belle?”

“Rarity, I was so worried!” Sweetie Belle shouted before hugging her sister’s neck.

“Please do remind me, how did you convince me to play bowling in the first place?”

The tall white unicorn with brown mustache responded, “Because we’re family and we should spend more time together.” Three hoofballs visible as his cutie mark.

“Your father’s correct, sweetie,” said the pink unicorn mare as she tossed her bowling ball, the loud noise of falling pins followed a moment later. “Six out of ten! Now that’s what I call a score.” She approached Rarity and patted hers back. “Make mommy proud and show those pins who’s the boss.”

Rarity sighed before levitating her bowling ball and prepared to throw it. Ever since that spa incident, my family have been visiting me at least three times a week. She looked at the pins in growing anger as images of her parent's heads appeared on top of them in her mind, all yelling at her to do this and that. Sport activities all day long. Do they not realize that our interests do not intersect? The day I will start being good at physical activities is the day Applejack will start loving dressing up in my fashion projects!

Before she managed to calm her nerves, the round projectile was already on the way. Rarity’s eyes shot open as her throw not only shattered the pins into pieces, but the ball itself left a hole in the wall. She frowned. Oh, so now those stupid powers finally decided to show up. She smiled awkwardly at her impressed parents and the not-so-impressed bowling alley owner.

“That will be thirteen bits, ma’am,” the stallion said as Rarity levitated over the payment, but not before convincing her parents to let her pay for herself.

“Thank you, and next time you will throw a bowling ball, I would like to advise a more gentle push,” the alley owner said before pointing at the hole in the wall. “Pure strength will only get you so far.”

The fashionista apologised again and lowered her head while her father’s voice reached her ears. “That was really something. I had no idea your magic could be that strong.”

“Yeah, you really showed those pins who’s the bowling king… queen… princess,” the filly said enthusiastically. “I hope one day I’ll be as good as you.”

“Thank you, Sweetie, but I do not really think making holes in someone else’s property is something to celebrate,” Rarity responded while rubbing her foreleg nervously.

“Awww... but it’s the best part,” the filly said as she looked at the floor while her ears drooped. Her mood quickly improved as an idea popped into her head. “What if I will get a cutie mark in hole making… demolishing… or repairing what damage I cause? That would be fun.”

“That’s my filly,” Hondo Flanks said with a cheerful smile while rubbing the top of the filly’s head, taking his daughter’s words for a joke.

“Father, I get the strong impression she was not joking,” Rarity murmured before looking at her parents with a serious stare. “May I ask you a question?” Noticing a nod as they turned their heads towards her, she said, “Ever since I opened my own boutique, you have not been visiting me very often. I could even say that your visits were quite rare.” As her mom and dad lowered their heads slightly and rubbed their forelegs in guilt, Rarity asked, “So why have there been all these family reunions and silly games we play together lately?”

With a warm smile, Hondo Flanks placed hoof on her shoulder and said, “Ever since we heard about that spa incident, we were reminded how dear you are to us.” He embraced his daughter in a tight hug as many ponies looked at them, making Rarity blush. “If it wasn’t for Rainbow Dash, we would be visiting you at your grave instead of spending time together as a
family.”

“Father… I am a grown mare, please stop embarrassing me in public,” Rarity responded as she desired to be free from the hug in front the crowd of ponies in the area, but part of her wanted for it to last a little longer. “I… I love you too, Father, Mother, but you cannot watch my every step.”

“We know, darling,” Cookie Crumbles said as she took her into a hug while moving her husband aside. “We just wish to spend more time together. One day we’ll grow too old for any outdoor activity, so we want to make the best of it.”

Sweetie Belle jumped onto Rarity’s neck, following the example of her parents. “And I want to have fun with my older sister! We already thanked Rainbow Dash for saving you, and now we can play together. Yay!”

Rarity closed her eyes, feeling warmness of her family’s love while ignoring her public humiliation. Suddenly, her eyes shot open. Grow too old? She looked at her younger sister. Will… will I outlive Sweetie Belle? Will I stay young while everypony I know will grow old and pass away before my very eyes? One look at her smiling family filled her with gloom. Will I have to live for centuries while grieving over my family? How can I even hide the lack of aging? Making excuses and saying that I used a lot of makeup can only work for so long. Finally released from the embrace, the fashionista turned around, hiding her depressed smile from her family’s sight.

“Hoofball, seriously?” Rarity complained as she was now standing next to her father between two goals with group of fillies and colts in front of them. She looked at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and asked, “How did you even organize a team of this size?”

Scootaloo raised her head and smiled proudly. “After Pinkie put together hoofball teams in an attempt to cheer up Fluttershy, we found it was really fun.” She pointed at the ponies behind her who nodded energetically. “We're, according to Pinkie Pie, the Official Emergency Cheering Up Sports Association.”

Sweetie Belle approached and added cheerfully, “I thought it would be fun, so I asked our parents and Scootaloo if we could have a match.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Forget I ever asked.”

She looked up at the sky as sweat started to form on her forehead. Out of reflex, she raised her foreleg to protect her face from the rays of the blazing sun and grit her teeth. This was going to be a long day.

“Over here!” Sweetie Belle shouted to her father, who kept the soccer ball in the air with his rear hoof. A few fillies tried to jump high enough and kick it or headbutt it, only for the ball to bounce out of their reach. With a solid push, the ball went towards Sweetie Belle, who started to bounce it on her head, careful not to pierce it with her horn as she ran towards the goal. Noticing two colts charging at her, she pushed the ball upward and kicked with her hind legs. “Mom, catch!”

Rarity, after tripping over three times while failing to kick the ball in correct direction, was appointed as the goalkeeper instead of being on the offensive. Her mane was a mess and a small blush was present on her face since she failed to stop the ball with her chest. She had to admit, her father could try his luck working at Sweet Apple Acres with this kind of strength.

As Rarity was observing her family trying to outsmart at least ten fillies and colts, her vision became blurry. The sun was blinding her. Rarity raised her foreleg defensively while feeling as if she was part of a vegetable soup, her legs barely keeping her stable.

“Is this… is this how Fluttershy felt…? No wonder she disliked coming outside so often, and why Dash kept the sky clouded during our strolls through Ponyville…” Rarity said to herself as she wiped sweat from her head. “Not to mention her fear that a monster hunter will attack her from every shadow.”

“Rarity, watch out!” A warning reached her ears as she looked towards the source and noticed several clouds of dust forming behind the charging fillies. In an instant, Rarity lit her horn and caught the soccer ball a meter before it could reach the goal.

That was close. Good thing that magic and wings are allowed for a goalkeeper, or else they would not be able compete with strength of earth ponies… now that I think about it- “Ouch,” Rarity yelped as she was tackled to the ground. As she opened her eyes, a young white colt with brown spots named Pipsqueak was on top of her chest. The ball now free from her magic rolled next to her head.

“Goal!” Scootaloo yelled before jumping onto Rarity and hoof-bumping her classmate.

“Excuse me, would you both be ever so kind and let me stand?” Once there was nothing weighting on her belly anymore, the fashionista stood up onto her hooves and wiped the dust from her fur.

“Cheaters!” shouted Sweetie Belle as she ran over and pointed at her sister. “What was that?”

Pipsqueak blinked in confusion. “What do you mean? She had the ball in her magic, so I tackled her.”

“You don’t tackle the goalkeeper, that’s against the rules!” Sweetie responded with a stomp.

“Wait, you don’t? I thought you were supposed to tackle whoever has the ball,” Pipsqueak responded, confusion clear on his face.

Sweetie Belle facehooved. “Wrong game.” She sighed before explaining calmly while pointing at the ball, “This is a soccer ball. In this version of the game, we try to score goals without tackling each other, especially the goalkeepers.”

Pipsqueak shrugged. “Not my fault both games are called hoofball.”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “It should’ve been obvious after Miss Cheerilee and Pinkie Pie explained the rules.”

Both Pipsqueak and Scootaloo rubbed back of their neck and blushed in embarrassment. The orange pegasus spoke first, “Yeah, about that. We kind of slept through that part. In our defense, it was kind of boring.”

Pipsqueak added, “I memorised some rules from both games… my bad.”

Sweetie Belle facehooved again, this time with both of her hooves. "Ugh... this is worse than telling you about what you slept through in that health class…” Upon noticing the nervous smiles on their faces, she pressed her head against the ground and groaned.

Rarity watched the arguing foals with a weak smile, when suddenly dizziness overtook her. She pressed her shoulder against a goal post and laid a forehoof against her head. The world was spinning before her eyes.

“Are you feeling alright?" Sweetie asked in concern as she poked her sister’s foreleg.

Rarity looked down at her younger sister while ignoring the fact that her vision was fooling her as she saw two fillies instead of one. She faked a smile and said, “I am… fine… just a little tired.” Rarity placed foreleg on her mother’s shoulder for support as she was escorted towards the closest tree, receiving a cold drink from Sweetie Belle a moment later. She sat under its shadow and took a sip from the cold drink between her forehooves. Noticing several pair of eyes staring at her in worry, especially Pipsqueak who rubbed his foreleg in guilt, Rarity spoke, “Please do not worry about me, I am just a little tired, nothing to be concerned about.”

After everypony went back to playing their game, Rarity sighed, her forelegs trembling as she tried to drink the water from the cup. Feeling relief as if she jumped into a pool of water after hours spent in the desert, she thought, So this is how my life will be like from now on. The desire to drink blood, strength and magic surges at the worst moments and feeling weakness under sunlight. Rarity closed her eyes. Worst of all, how will I handle near immortality… Fluttershy delayed this topic long enough. The next time I face her, I will not take ‘no’ for an answer.

“Rarity!”

“Huh?” The fashionista opened her eyes as her blurry vision slowly sharpened. She looked around and next at the faces of her worried family. “Where did everypony go?” she asked, surprised that the playing field was now abandoned. Her eyes opened widely as the sky was orange while the sun was very low on the horizon. “How long was I asleep?”

“Two hours,” said Hondo Flanks between his breaths.

“Two… two hours!” Rarity responded with panic as she got back to her hooves as if a crab nipped her in the flank, noticing the dirt and dust covering her fur. “Yuh…” she yelped, wiping the dust away while her face filled with disgust. “I slept under a tree, in the dirt… for two hours?”

“Eeyup,” Apple Bloom said as she sat next to Sweetie Belle. She asked cheerfully, “Ah don’t think even mah sister naps outside that long. Ya must really like earth and fresh air.”

Rarity stopped dusting off her fur and gave her father a pleading look. “Can we please go back to the boutique, please?”

“Actually,” Hondo responded, “we’ve gotta go home earlier than we’d like to today, but Sweetie Belle asked if she can stay with you for a night.”

Rarity took a step back and laughed awkwardly as she was about to refuse, but her sister's puppydog stare left her speechless. I swear, that sort of puppydog stare needs to be outlawed. “Alright,” Rarity said as she pressed her forehead against the tree.

”I knew we could count on you. See you soon, Sweetie.”

Her parents then left her with the two fillies, while Apple Bloom wanted to hang out with Sweetie Belle. Rarity rubbed her chin in thought. Wait a moment, maybe I can hit two birds with one stone. She looked at both fillies from the corner from her eye and asked innocently, “Would you both like to play with some cute little animals?”

A mysterious hooded figure galloped into the dark alley before a black aura surrounded it. Slowly, a black substance spread across the earth while the creature vanished as if it were ice melting into water. After several seconds, nothing but the hood remained.

A multi-colored pegasus flew into the alley, looking around while her ears were straightened. With her guard up, she slowly approached the hood that was left on the ground and with flap of her wings, she pushed it to the side. “You can run and hide all you want, but I’ll get you sooner or later, just you wait!” Rainbow Dash shouted with a stomp, her voice filled with rage and determination. “I’ll make you pay for what you tried to do to Fluttershy, I swear!” With another flap of her wings, she dashed deeper into the alley.

Half a minute passed before a black liquid emerged from the earth and reformed itself into the hood, returning to its full size. “Stupid pegasus,” he said while gritting his teeth. “Ah fear that Ah’ll need to go against my master’s wishes and add another target to my list.”

So be it.

“Master?” He looked around for the source of voice before smirking and closing his eyes. Greetin’s mah lord. Mah deepest apologies for failin’ to fulfil mah duty as mah mission is bein’ compromised by a very quick and perceptive pegasus.

A mere pegasus getting in the way of assassin of your qualities? Intriguing. The weak deserve to die, but strong deserve to serve. Spare her life and continue with your assignment. You have my blessing to strike your top target from the shadows of the night, the cold voice said in his head.

As ya wish, mah lord, he responded, resisting the urge to kneel as there was no physical presence he could show respect to.

Before I will leave you to your task, is there anything you wish to report me? Any useful information you gathered on your target’s progress? the voice asked curiously.

The mysterious figure chuckled in his mind. Oh yes, Ah have. The meetin’ between purebloods turned into a disaster. Mah target ain’t only defeated the huntress, but also put her own reputation on the line to protect the huntress's family. Jus’ like her parents, she let her kindness lead her to her own downfall. Without the influence of Fancy Pants, only one pegasus stands in the way of mah mission.

As I had hoped for, the dark voice responded, causing his servant to blink in confusion.

Well, what happened next was somethin’ Ah didn’t expect. Sharp Eye, Fancy Pants’ best assassin and spy tried to eliminate both of mah targets, only to die because of his overconfidence. After not receiving any reply for several seconds, he asked, Is somethin’ the matter, mah lord?

Sharp Eye was strong, merciless and intelligent, a great thestral who could have found a place in the world I am creating… Even if he had sided against me, I would’ve spared him. However, he lacked two important virtues. Respect and humility. Let it be a lesson to you, my slave. Never underestimate your opponent as overconfidence was the downfall of many powerful and great beings, the dark voice lectured.

Ah’ll take it to mah heart.

Good. Anything else?

The thestral responded in his mind, At first, mah target was broken. Ah expected Ah’ll need to disregard mah assessment of her as trash and eliminate her with ease alongside that pesky pegasus, but she ain’t just recovered, she’s even made an alliance with the huntress who tried to kill her.

Very good. Maybe she may earn her right to live. One’s strength relies not only on their own power, cunning and skills, but allies as well. A cold laugh followed. Go forth and test her resolve. Let her prove her worth. It will determine if she deserves to live as a proud pureblood, or die unworthy like her parents.

The mysterious figure looked at the brown sky and said with pride and respect, “As ya command, so it shall be.”

“Of course you two can play with my animal friends, I’m sure they would love it just as much, isn’t that right?” Fluttershy asked as she looked at her little critters who cheered in response. Fluttershy knelt to both fillies and said warmly, “Just be careful. Many of my friends are very tiny, some even frail, so please, be gentle.”

“Will do,” Apple Bloom said with a smile on her own; Sweetie Belle nodded.

As both fillies ran outside with a few critters following them, Fluttershy turned to Rarity who stared at her with a mix between seriousness and anger. “Umm… is something wrong?”

“Is something wrong? Of course there is something wrong!”

Fluttershy took a step back, sensing the increased heart rate, heavy breathing, strong blood pressure and hostility in her friend’s voice. It wasn’t the first time she sensed it within her friend. Fluttershy noticed that Rarity had been very tense and stressed ever since Sharp Eye’s death, not that she could blame her as it was a very stressful night.

Despite all the efforts Pinkie Pie and others put into cheering her up, even after Applejack’s apology… Fluttershy still felt as if another part of her died that day. It made sense that Rarity would bottle her stress and anger inside of herself.

“You have been delaying it for long enough, but no longer. I am not leaving this spot until we talk about it, no more excuses,” Rarity stated with a stomp of her hoof as the floor cracked under it. The fashionista frowned at her increased strength.

“I… I don’t understand…”

“I want to know how can I handle immortality!”

Fluttershy flinched as her ears drooped, she looked to the side and said quietly, “Are you sure… it’s a very difficult topic, and–”

“I said no excuses. It has bothered me for days,” Rarity stated, her voice even more determined than before as she resisted to stomp again, afraid to cause even more damage.

The pureblood sighed before walking towards the table. “I wish it could wait a bit longer… at least until you’ve adapted to your new life, but if you feel you’re ready… alright.”

“No, no, I won’t leave unt–” Rarity paused, her eyes blinking in confusion. “Wait… you agree with me, just like that?” Noticing a firm nod, she approached and asked, “No change of topic? No refusing or hiding? You will just talk with me openly and without distractions?”

“I will.”

Both mares entered the cottage and sat across the table, staring at each other in silence with glasses of blood in front of them. Meanwhile, Angel oversaw the fillies, keeping them out of trouble… though one could replace ‘keeping them out of trouble’ with ‘trying to keep out of trouble’ as Sweetie and Apple Bloom, during their attempts to fly on eagle and falcon, ended up in tree sap after crashing into a tree.

Rarity took a sip of blood and asked, “How do you handle it? Aging far slower than ponies around you, seeing how your friends and family pass away?”

“I don’t.”

“Excuse me?” Rarity asked in confusion. “What do you mean you don’t?”

"What I mean is that while I have had to sever connections to some I've cared about by faking my funeral… something every turned thestral and pureblood need to do at one point, I haven't had to deal with anyone I care about dying from old age… yet."

Fluttershy let out a heavy sigh. "The only deaths of loved ones I've had to contend with were violent ones... this affected what I have done ever since. For the past few years, I lived in fear of my secret being exposed, or of a hunter attacking me at any moment. I resist my desires to explore a pleasant night in order to stay awake during a day. This past week was filled with pain and regrets because I spared the Apple family and things aren’t going to get any better in the next few years.”

Rarity felt a surge of guilt and desire to embrace her friend to cheer her up. This whole time she was complaining about her own problems, but they were nothing compared to what Fluttershy had to endure.

After taking a few deep breaths, Fluttershy continued, “But I have to keep pressing forward. No matter the pain and sadness I feel or what regret I have, I can’t stop, I just can’t!”

“You cannot stop?” Rarity asked, feeling pity for her friend, but her curiosity took over. “But why, what kept you together, what helped you past all the hardship you encountered?” She stood to her rear hooves and pressed forehooves against the table, her head tilted towards Fluttershy. “Tell me, please, please, pleaaassseee.”

The silence lasted for several seconds as the fashionista’s heart was beating restlessly, her breath leveled but loud. Fluttershy looked back at Rarity and said calmly as another tear formed in her eye. “Back in Cloudsdale, the same day Rainbow Dash and I moved to Ponyville, I was unsure where should I go and what my goal was. Without my parents’ guidance I felt lost, but then Ditzy told me something that gave me purpose.”

“Purpose?” Rarity asked before retreating back to her sitting position.

“She reminded me how I saved Rainbow Dash, and how happy her parents were because of that. If my powers allowed me to make at least one family happy, maybe it was worth it to keep going. Maybe there is another pony I can help.” She pointed towards Rarity. “After the earthquake, I saved your life. When Pinkie brought homeless animals to me, I gave them shelter. When Applejack brought her dog to me, I wouldn’t have been able to save her if not for my ability to manipulate blood and separate it from the poison.”

She lowered her head. “If I died in Cloudsdale, I would make Dash sad. If I give up now, the Apple family will be executed." She sighed. "This is what pushes me forward. If I can be of any use, that is good enough for me.”

Rarity rubbed her neck. Should she tell her friend the truth behind the spa incident or not? If kept as secret, it would only put Fluttershy at risk, but it may tear apart another part of her poor soul. “About the spa incident…”

“Yes?” Fluttershy asked as her ears straightened upward.

The very look of the curious smile of her friend made Rarity hesitate a bit longer, but she steeled her mind and spoke as calmly as she could, “It was not an accident, darling. It was an attempted assassination.”

“W-what?”

Rarity gulped. She was so going to regret her next words. “Your friend Rainbow Dash told me that according to her investigation, the earthquake was not a natural phenomenon, but caused by dark magic. She did not tell me how she obtained such information, but…” She paused for a short moment, sensing as if Fluttershy’s heart stopped beating for a second or two. The very look in her friend terrified eyes confirmed her worry. “Please, do not blame yourself. I know what you are thinking, but it was not your fault I was caught in the crossfire. I forgave you, so please, don’t be sad.”

Fluttershy’s eye twitched as she took the glass of blood between her trembling hooves and slowly moved it towards her face, but before the pleasant liquid could reach her teeth, the glass slipped onto the floor, shattering into pieces covered in red liquid.

She hid her face behind her mane and spoke, “The Apple family… they’re in danger only because I was in the forest when Applejack attacked, and you, you would still live a carefree life… if I wasn’t with you in the spa.” She turned around and added while sobbing, “I’ve caused only trouble and suffering for those around me… Maybe I should’ve never moved to Ponyville in the first place.”

“Stop it this instant!” Rarity interrupted as she rounded the table and hugged her friend. “It was not your fault. Being in the wrong places and at the wrong time does not make you guilty.”

“Aren’t you... mad at me?” Fluttershy asked as she pushed herself from the hug, her face still wet from tears.

“I was angry at you, I won’t deny it,” Rarity responded, causing her friend’s wings to drop and eyes to close, “but I realised that it was foolish of me. You could not have predicted that some sort of assassin would try to hurt you, or that other ponies may get hurt in the process. However... you knew that if you did not turn me into a thestral, I would have died, leaving my family to grieve.” Noticing that Fluttershy opened her eyes, Rarity wiped the tears away gently and added, “Do not grieve over something you cannot change and be proud of what you accomplished. Please, promise me that you will not let guilt consume you.”

Fluttershy nodded hesitantly. “I… I need to find this pony who tried to hurt me and stop him… or her… I can’t let my friends risk their lives for me.”

"I understand your resolve, but making decisions while under stress is not the best course of action." Rarity smiled as she pointed at the exit. “How about we take a stroll outside to clear our minds. Fresh air, a cool breeze and beautiful view of the stars are just what you need.”

Fluttershy asked hesitantly, “But what about our talk about talk about immortality…?” She raised her hoof in a lecturing gesture and spoke, “While we aren’t really immortal, especially turned thestrals, we’re still long living. I’m too weak to cast an age altering spell, but I can still cast an illusion that can help you look like somepony else, or make you look older… however you’ll need some acting skills to seem enough like an old lady to fool anypony. It will also be necessary to fake your death and start life from the beginning as a different pony every once in a while to avoid suspicions. Some thestrals sometimes take their own lives by asking others to pierce their hearts with silver when they are put asleep to not feel any pain and…”

“That’s quite enough,” Rarity said as she placed her forehoof on Fluttershy’s mouth. “Forgive me for my lack of manners, but you already answered to my question how I can handle outliving those dear to me.”

“Really?”

Rarity nodded energetically and smiled warmly. “Yes. If I cannot handle living for myself, I just need to live for others. You showed me that I will experience grief, regret and other kinds of suffering, but if you can push yourself forward, I will too, or at least try.”

Fluttershy smiled and nodded. She felt relaxed in understanding that Rarity wasn’t really angry at her. The fashionista then put her hoof across her friend and asked, “I only ask one thing of you, Fluttershy.”

“What is it?”

“I... I don’t think I will live past Sweetie Belle. She is so important to me and I need her in my life. These past few days have shown me that. I do not know if I will change my mind in the future, but when my sister finally passes away.... I wish to join her. That is when I wish to die.”

“Rarity.... y-you can’t ask me to...” whispered Fluttershy, horrified.

“Oh, no. I will not ask you to end my life. I know you do not have it in you, but I will find somepony to do it. And I may change my mind as well, just... well, plan my funeral to be very good is all I ask,” said Rarity.

“I... I will...”

“Good, anyway...” Rarity leaned back and smiled. “Since we are in such morbid conversations these days, how about you tell me how you faked your death the first time?”

“Oh, well, it's kind of embarrassing really,” said Fluttershy as she rose from her seat and went towards the back door, Rarity joining at her side. Their past worries temporarily forgotten as the two began to relax during their peaceful stroll.