Post War-Chapter 1: Rarity
By Foxgear
It was a bright and sunny day in Ponyville. People were out doing their daily tasks of selling, buying, and general business things. Coming up Main Street in a bright sun dress was Sweetie Belle, now twenty years old and licensed cutie mark consular/singer. Everyone waved to her as she made her away across the street to her sister’s Rarity’s shop, Carousel boutique, the shop was looking as good as new, if not better than the time before a giant dragon fell on top of it. The dragon had been Spike and Rarity had been riding on his back.
Sweetie paused at the door, hesitating like always when she visited her sister; it’s been five years since the Great Pony War. Like always her sister and her friends were called into action, but this time… this time they didn’t walk away unscathed. How could they when all the spirits of Tartarus were set free? All the villains they vanquished and more fell across the land and beyond and more came in from other lands, it seemed had seemed like the end of the world!
Sucking in a breath Sweetie opened the door to her childhood home, her home after their parents were killed after they volunteered. The door creaked, the hinges needed oiling; she’d need to do that for Rarity. Inside was a mess, fabric was thrown everywhere and mannequins were filled with half-finished dresses, so far no Rarity.
“Rarity? Are you home?”
“Oh Sweetie, your early!” Rarity’s chipper voice called from further in the house. The sound was squeaking wheels and labored breathing made Sweetie want to run inside, but she stopped herself, even as Rarity entered the room in her wheelchair. “I hope you didn’t race here just for little old me. I’ve told you before I’m perfectly fine to take care of myself.”
“I know, I know. I just… couldn’t wait to see you.” Sweetie smiled as she walked over to embrace her sister. She had gotten used to having to bend down for hugs, just like she’s gotten used to Rarity’s new sense of style. Since becoming paralyzed Rarity’s fashion has become more conservative. She dressed in mainly light blouses and turtle necks and often wore a shawl around her shoulders. The biggest change was her hair. She no longer curled it like she used it, instead wore it up in a bun with some hair spilling down her shoulders.
“Well then, since you’re here. I will prepare you a cup of tea and I want no fussing from you. I will do it myself. As I have always done since you’ve gone on tour.”
Sweetie smiled. “Of course, would you care if I at least pushed to the kitchen?”
“That would be appreciated.” Rarity replied with her usual ladylike demur.
Taking hold of the handles bars Sweetie push her sister into the kitchen placing her right by the counter and began laying out the materials for tea. Wordlessly Sweetie stepped back and allowed Rarity to work. Hesitantly Rarity reached for the pot with her hand, a soft blue aura covering it and then fading, leaving Rarity looking exhausted as she simply picked up the pot by hand and placed it on the stove.
“Still having trouble with your magic?”
Rarity kept her back turned as she spoke. “Yes, unfortunately, the doctor said the injury in my spine is the cause. Seems magic travels through the nerves of our bodies, almost like a secondary nervous system. When Spike and I… crashed into the house that day the pillar that landed on me had some nails in it and they hit the spots that deal with magic just perfectly. It has gotten better though, I can now use the same about of magic that could use then I was seven or so. I just need to… adjust is all.”
That day Spike and Rarity had been fighting together against a horde of harpies. Spike had grown into a full-fledged dragon and was keeping the harpies away from the town. Rarity rode on top of him to keep the harpies from overwhelming him. They had worked in perfect sync, but another creature from the pits had blinded sided them. The attacked had killed Spike almost instantly, he only held on long enough to steer away from the major parts of town. He ended up crashing in Rarity’s house, Rarity had been dislodged from the claw that had held her and slammed into the wall. She had gotten up once and had been beaten up, but ok, and then creature from before came and blasted the rest of the house. The wall fell right on top her, crushing her from her lower back and down. Rarity never walked again after that day.
“Tea is done.” Rarity sang rolling over to the table and placing the tray on the table. She had gone all out, placing sugar, cream, and a few cookies on the tray for them to eat.
Sweetie took her cup with a smile and added two sugar cubes and a teaspoon full of cream, the same way Rarity took her tea. She held her tea cup up in a toast and they clink their cups together before taking a sip. Sweetie practically swooned over the taste. She loved Rarity’s tea. She tried to get her stage staff to make it, but they never seemed to get it right.
After a few minutes of soft sipping Rarity set her cup down and began her usual line of questioning.
“So Sweetie any stallions in your snare yet, I love that your career has taken off, but I can’t help but feel you letting your love life pass you by. I know you get tired of my prodding… but I just don’t want you to make the same mistake I did. I took a long time to realize my feelings for Spike, always putting him of for my dreams thinking there was plenty of time and now sitting here I realize that time was too short. I have my fame like I always wanted, but…”
It was true. Rarity was famous as were her friends, but being remembered as war hero was far from Rarity’s vision when she first set out to become a world famous dress maker. Her sister gave up a lot for her dream. She turned down many stallions (and Spike) that could have made her happy in her now later life, but at the time gaining fame and success had been more important than stallions. She followed all the top fashion ponies and tenders to stay ahead of the curve. Her sister wasn’t fool. Rarity knew none of her relationship with any stallion of any statue would go anywhere romantically, they were just business, but they were business that would have been turned off had she not been single.
“No one yet, but I keep an eye out.” Sweetie replied, “How about you? Anything new in the fashion world?”
Rarity scoffed, “Oh it’s just dreadful now. I can barely stand it! Really what are mares thinking these days? There is no class, no elegance! Everything is just… strings basically! Why just the other day I saw this one model, thin as a fiddle like some under fed teenage boy, strutting around in a tube top and a throng! Can you believe they think people would want to wear that? Who in their right mind would wear such a thing? I’ll tell you who, a whore!”
This was a good time not to mention that someone had tried to get her to wear such attire for her next concert. Many would probably call Rarity’s sense of style old fashioned, but Sweetie would argue at least she has a sense of fashion. Really it’s one of the reason she wear Rarity’s clothes on stage; one because she was covered up decently, and two she loved her sister’s clothes.
“Couldn’t agree more,” Sweetie replied taking a sip of tea. “Also I saw your new line, it looks great!” She was expecting to see a smile, but instead she got a frown from her sister. “Did I say something wrong?”
Rarity shook her head, “No, no, nothing like that dear… it’s just… I haven’t made any new lines in… well years. Coco and Sassy take care of everything now. Carousel boutique is basically on autopilot. Sure I send a few dress designs for them every once in a while, but really everything is basically Coco’s design. I actually gave her permission a year ago to start doing her own original design. The theme and style is all up to her now.”
Sweetie dropped her tea cup, the contents spilling everywhere as Sweetie’s jaw dropped. “You’re not making clothes! But… but… it’s your dream! Your talent! How can you just stop?”
“It’s not like I wanted to,” Rarity replied, her tone just a bit irate as she looked the stain on the table cloth. “I had to.”
“What do you mean?”
Rarity held up her hands for Sweetie to see. Sweetie leaned in closer, but found nothing wrong that she could see, but then noticed a trembling in Rarity’s right thumb.
“I had to have surgery. Too much wear and tear from years of stitching and sewing, throw in fighting in the war and getting my hand injured Celestia knows how many times… well I can’t move my right thumb anymore. I’ve been getting used to using my left hand more, but it’s hard. The day to day stuff isn’t bad as it was, but sewing… it’s impossible. My eyes aren’t the best, not that they ever have been. I’ve been needing my glasses more and more lately and without my magic to aid me… I just can’t do what I used to Sweetie.”
Sweetie stood up, knocking her chair over has she grabbed the arm rests of Rarity’s wheel chair. “Why didn’t you tell me! Why… I could have…”
“Done nothing, because my dear little sister there is nothing that could be done, now please sit back down and finish your tea.”
At Rarity’s stern words Sweetie did just that. Her mind wondering just how her sister could be so strong after everything she’s lost. She’s lost her legs, her fiance, and now her dreams. She stayed there for several more hours, making small talk, most of it forgotten shortly after it was spoken. Around five Rarity escorted her to the door.
“Now you be safe now Sweetie and be sure to bring a boyfriend next time. He needs my approval after all.” Rarity waved cheerfully as Sweetie exited the building. She sat there watching her little sister’s retreating back; only shutting the door she couldn’t see her anymore.
The door shut Rarity rolled to the center of the room and looked up at a picture of her and Spike, next to it was one of her and all her friends, followed by Sweetie and her friends. She looked long fully at the person she used to be. How they all used to be.
She bowed her head and cried.