'Who would've guessed that running through a forest would be so relaxing?' Rarity thought. She was sweating like crazy: ducking and dodging foliage while evading the silhouetted figures behind her. She had to avoid being caught this time.
She ducked a branch quickly, only to have a spider web stretched across her face. She squealed in a shrill voice as she wiped the repulsive substance off, alerting her pursuers to her position.
"Over here!" Came a call from behind her. "I see her!"
At the sound of the voice, Rarity turned in time to see a blur of white approaching her. She spun on her heels and darted farther into the wood, remembering how her tails couldn't make sharp turns well at this speed.
She ran around a large oak, and hid behind it as the blurs darted past her. She then heard a cry of "D'oh, come on!" as she ran back to the east.
Sweat dripped from Rarity's brow as she jumped over a rotten log, only to have the shapes glide over it with seamless ease: they seemed to be more experienced at this than she was. She was too busy admiring their skill to notice a larger shape running beside her before he gained ground, turned, and lunged at her from the side.
She felt a rough form ram against her own, and next thing she knew she was pinned to the ground.
"I got her!" Phoenix yelled, grinning as Seamist and Grain jumped out of the shrubbery on their left.
"Aw, man," Grain chuckled. "I wanted to catch her this time!"
"We definitely took longer to catch up with her this time, and that means she's improving along with you two." Phoenix chuckled. "Am I right, Ra--... Rarity?"
Rarity's eyes were glazed over, and the corner of her mouth had curved into a small, satisfied smile. Her eyes blinked slowly as the scent of Phoenix's sweat went into her nostrils like perfume, and she felt her face heat up again.
"Rarity, are you zoning out again?"
She snapped herself into reality, and desperately tried to hide her red face as he helped to stand her up. "Y-yes, I'm so sorry, Phoenix, it--... I just--"
"I understand, Rarity." Phoenix sighed. "It's hard to watch your friends die, while you live on."
Rarity was about to correct him, but she stopped as two realizations crossed her mind: if she told him now, there would be no room for the dramatic reveal she had planned since she was six. And the thought that she had hardly given thought to the deaths of the other refugees made her feel guilty. If Phoenix knew about that, he might regret saving her life! What interest could he have in her, if she was as heartless as a Dotsy?
But then, they had only been in the woods for two months, and the children seemed to recover quickly. But then again, both had had some pretty dramatic previous experience with death. Seamist had seen her mother literally torn asunder by an angry mob, then seemed pretty perky within a month's time.
Fighting the urge to tell Phoenix everything, Rarity smiled weakly at him. "Y-yes, it's a little..." She trailed off as she looked around the wood.
"Where's our camp?"
"Back this way, Rare!" Grain called, turning to run back into the woods. Seamist gave an excited nod, and ran after him, giggling.
"Should they run off like that, while we're still in hiding?" Rarity inquired turning to-- oh my, how his coat seemed to shine in her eyes, when the sun hits it just like that...
"I'd answer that, but I don't want to jinx it." Phoenix sighed, walking beside her.
Rarity nodded in understanding, and walked along beside him in quiet content.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
She looked off the deck of the airship Roquefort, as Equestria disappeared into the distance. She sighed heavily, and hung her head over the rails. Oh, how tempting it was to greet the Barraki-infested waters below as they got closer to Germareny, all it would take is a simple jump. But, she decided against it. She promised Octavia that she would see this damned war through to the end, so she would do her best, in order to try and do just that.
Hitter wasn't making it any easier for her, though, despite his best efforts. He tried to make sure she was comfortable, but that only served to make her less so. What does it mean about her when a beast such as him took genuine interest in her, when all the true nobles back in Canterlot only ever referred to her as 'Charmingly rustic'?
Rarity shoved such thoughts out of her head, this was not the time to give in to depression. A desperate plan had begun to form in her mind, a plan that just might be crazy enough to work. She’d just need a tool…
"Enjoying Impress view, Miss Rarity?"
She turned to find a familiar filly staring up at her. This little squirt was somehow promoted to be Hitter's personal assistant, even though she was barely as old as Sweetie Belle! She was also rather gangly for her size, and hovered on her wings with an ongoing buzz. Rarity remembered this foreigner and her father from a concert about six years ago, despite how much she'd changed since.
"Zippowill," Rarity questioned calmly, "why ever did you choose to work with Hitter?"
Zippo looked at her as if the answer should be obvious, and chuckled to herself on a high-pitched hum of a laugh.
"Because if I wasn't Hitter's Assistant, Rarity, I wouldn't be able to give to you this very well!" She chirped, handing over a small parcel.
Rarity took it curiously with her magic, and held it up. It was rather awkwardly shaped, and was wrapped completely in a cloth tied with a thin black twine. Rarity was about to ask what it was, when she felt some of her magic drain into it.
Rarity cringed at the familiar sensation, and looked up to the filly. "What is this?"
"A tiny tool, Rarity," Zippowill whispered as she leaned down, and placed a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "Don't unwrap until you're in own quarters."
With that, she was gone. Rarity looked confusedly at the small… thing in her hooves. She placed it in her pocket, and resumed her gazing. She had discovered another ally, from yet another unexpected place. She just hoped this one lives through the war…
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The Camp was a humble sight: a mere gathering of logs, twigs, leaves, mud, and moss, designed to blend in with the hilly forest scape. Rarity crested the hill just as Grainwood opened their largest home's door, and went inside with Seamist.
"Do you think we should give them some privacy?" Phoenix joked, gaining a punch in the shoulder from a giggling Rarity.
"Darling, they're ten." She chuckled.
"So... that's a yes?"
She smacked him again, chuckling at his antics. He was always making her laugh lately: and she couldn't tell if it was out of his good humor, or if he was trying to cheer her up. Of course, she knew she might just be laughing because that odd fluttering sensation she got in her chest whenever she was alone with him tickled her insides like a feather, but she preferred to think that it was the joke itself.
It was a rather clever joke, and she admired how he could make light of any situation he needed to. Oh, how amazing she found that in her eyes, he knew precisely when to be serious, and when to joke. He was clever like that, and witty, and calming… and comforting… and certainly not bad to look at…
Rarity shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind of the pesky fog, and stopping herself from getting lost in his eyes… again.
Unfortunately for her, he seemed to take notice.
“Are you sure you’re alright, dear?”
Time stopped, her blood burned, and her body froze. She felt like her face had been dropped into a vat of boiling tar, and her tail instantly frazzled with a loud--
*POMF*
Oh, how she hoped she wasn’t mishearing what he just said. Then again, it could be that she was reading too far into it. After all, she had called him pet names like that in the past, and meant nothing by it...
… Or… did she?
Thinking back, she couldn’t help but focus on how she was acting around him. Lately, it had escalated, of course. But before that, she always seemed to be protecting him and their-- his sister, as if they were her own family. She never cared for anypony like this before, aside from her own family. It was strange to feel like this around ponies she’d only known for around a year, rather than her- or their –whole life.
She slowly allowed herself to relax, and gazed out to their little encampment. Grain and Seamist were now playing tag in the dirt in between the huts, and making royal messes of each other: laughing and giggling all the way. They played so joyfully and innocently, without a single care in the world. It made her heart yearn for the times spent with Sweetie Belle back in Equestria, but also kept her satisfied with the time she was spending with them.
She then turned to Phoenix: he was always so calm, collected, and concerned for her well-being. The very sight of him once again made her smile as her face heated up, but she didn’t mind it this time, she was lost in his sapphire eyes once again. He had shown his courage, chivalry, and nervousness. He was strong, yet vulnerable, and that made him glow all the more in her eyes.
Yes, yes, this was her family. Not like Sweetie, or mother, or father. But… more like her own family: something she was able to build from the ground up, and earned through trials she had never seen before.
She had fought for this family, she had defended and protected this family.
She was prepared- and willing -to die for this family, if the worst came to pass…
She was the mother of this family, and Phoenix would be the father. Together, they would raise Misty and Grain, not as their own: but as if they were an elder youth, looking after their younger siblings.
“You’re starting to worry me, Rarity.”
She snapped out of her trance, and realized the sun was setting over the horizon: and the foals had already set up a fire. Sweet Celestia, she must have zoned out for over a half hour! No wonder the poor boy was concerned, while she stared into his eyes for so long.
She could see a reddish tint to his cheeks, and he looked her in the eye in worry. She cleared her throat, and her face burned hotter than ever before:
“Y-y-yes, well, I’m fine… I just… need to tell you something…”
His eyebrow raised, displaying his interest, and prompting Rarity to continue.
This was it. This was the moment to do it. She felt even more blood rushing to her face as she slowly scooted closer to him, closing the distance between the two of them. She laid a hoof on his shoulder, and looked him deep in the eyes, begging for this moment to never end.
Oh, how easily she was lost in those diamonds: they shone with gentle firmness, and hard beauty. The eyes really are the gateway to the soul, for in her mind, everything great about him was reflected in his eyes. Everything from the warming glow of his compassionate heart, to the resilient strength behind the indestructible nature of his courage, to the subtle twinkle of immense intelligence that went into every action he performed.
“Phoenix, I... I lo--”
“When you two lovebirds are done staring into each other’s eyes, could you come over for supper?” Grain called from the camp. “You bugged us last night about putting out the fire before the smoke builds too much, after all.”
Phoenix glared at the colt for the untimely interruption, but Rarity was merely heartbroken: she couldn’t face another interruption like this, she needed to act, and now was proven to be yet another bad time. She clenched her eyes and jaw as she stood, and ran to the largest of the huts. Her tears and sobs streaming a trail behind her.
She heard Phoenix utter a call for her to wait, yet she refused to heed it as she slammed the hidden door behind her, letting her limp mane fall over her eyes as anguish wracked her. How long must she bear this alone?
She shouldn’t have to hold this in, so she wouldn’t.
She. Was. Done.
She was done with these interruptions, with the badly-timed tries, with her pathetic sulking like a caged animal. Out here, she was free. Despite having to constantly watch her back, she felt freer out here than she ever did at home… probably because out here, she had to work for her independence.
She felt fresh tears tickle her cheek as she choked out sob after sob, mental eye focusing back on the stallion that had plagued both her mind and heart for months now.
No, she had to tell him… she will tell him. Tonight! No matter what she had to do, he would know tonight…
She looked up, and walked over to the suitcases that Phoenix had managed to salvage from the wreckage of the Estate, during one of the few times they dared to return. She walked over to the large red one she knew was hers, and opened it as she shifted her gaze to a large object, covered with a sheet she had made out of moss.
Fortunately for her: this time, she was prepared…
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Phoenix and the children stayed outside for a while to eat their supper, since Rarity had refused on the grounds that she ‘wasn’t hungry’. She knew he didn’t believe her one bit, but he obviously knew better than to try and force a lady to eat when she refused. Another tip from their mother, undoubtedly.
She sighed, as the article was a tighter fit than she remembered, but she considered that the tautness might just suit her purposes all the more. Just when she had barely finished preparations, there came a blunt knocking on the hidden door:
“Rarity, may I come in?”
“Yes, do come in!” She chirped, flushing at the high pitch that flew from her throat. Not exactly the tone she was used to, certainly. She hoped he either didn’t notice, or didn’t find it odd. Third option being he dismissed it as her having killed another spider, and washing it off her hooves.
'Oh, how I hope he doesn’t think I'm washing off spider gore in the drinking water again...' she chuckled to herself. 'That was only one time...'
Phoenix opened the door, and seemed to have prepared himself for anything...
Uh…
Make that almost anything, apparently…
His jaw dropped from what he saw, making her giggle delightfully. Rarity was dressed in a black, silken dress with a white shirt collar peeking out around her neck. She was laying on her right side, with her left knee slightly crossed over her hindleg as her left hoof rested on her hip. Her right hoof dangled lazily over the side of her famous ‘fainting couch’ -which had somehow survived the fire- and her lips were curved into a loving smirk, painted just slightly in a pink, yet rosy color.
Her mane was combed back into its normal style, for the first time in far over a year. So, to him, it helped her look up to her namesake: a true rarity among mares. And in it rested a black rose that supported a small, thin veil which barely covered her right eye. A small fur was draped over her shoulder, and her eyes shone in the torchlight, as did the pink on her cheeks.
She smiled wider as Phoenix’s face flooded with color, and he seemed to find himself at a loss for words. His tongue moved, but the sound stuck in his throat, as his heart skipped.
Neither made any noise, but the atmosphere spoke volumes: Rarity was calm, collected, and prepared, having planned this moment precisely since she was a child. Phoenix was nervous, frozen, and completely lost as to what was going on. His heart raced, but his mind was stopped by the flawless magnificence of the mare before him.
He had definitely heard of her fashionista ways before, as she remembered telling him how she preferred to be prim and proper. But, unbeknownst to her, he never truly expected to see such radiance from any being on Equus. For a moment he thought he had passed into the shores of Everpeace, far beyond death’s door, and was looking into the presence of an angelic being from the world’s end. He knew this was Rarity: for her eyes still shone like sapphires. But… this was indeed the Rarity he knew, only more so. More radiant, more calmed, and more pure.
More…
“Breathtaking…”
That was exactly what she was hoping to hear, though actually hearing it roll off his tongue made her little cup of joy overflow. Smiling, Rarity slowly shifted herself to an upright position, and patted the seat next to her.
“I believe it’s time we had a little talk, Phoenix Pyre…” she cooed. She grinned even broader as beads of sweat formed on his brow.
He slowly approached, and sat down next to her. His face had turned from brown to dark red within minutes, and he had no idea what was happening.
Rarity took a deep breath, smiled warmly, and skootched closer to him. Forcing him to make eye contact, and letting her get lost in those gorgeous sapphires once more.
“What do you want to talk about?” Phoenix said nervously, looking out a concealed window.
It was then that Rarity realized, this was hardly the time: they were on the run, others had died to save them barely two months ago, they were being hunted as they speak, they had finally found a good spot, things were going well, she had finally gathered enough courage, and good god how she wanted to just kiss him and get it over with.
She snapped herself out of her trance long enough to realize that her eyelids were sinking shut, and she was slowly leaning towards him. Both their faces burned in realization at what was going on, but neither made a solitary move to stop it.
A thousand worries ran through Rarity’s head: is this the proper place to start off? What if he doesn’t love her back? What if he didn’t enjoy their kiss? What if she didn’t enjoy it?
What if he hates her for even considering them anything more than friends? What if this destroys their friendship? Why was she suddenly so bold, after three weeks of nervous shyness?
She calmed herself, and felt her brow grow sweaty as these few split seconds turned into an eternity: She was fed up with hiding this, with being alone, with being unloved. She was fed up with being so close to him, while also feeling completely isolated.
She let her eyes shut after a half-second, and pushed forward even faster: these inches were too close to miles for her liking. Crossing them took decades, and she felt even more alone and fearful the closer she got.
Then, the unexpected happened.
Phoenix, despite his previous shyness, met her halfway.
The force behind their meeting pushed her head back several inches, making her eyes shoot open, and causing her to look at him in surprise. She felt goosebumps spike up all over her, and her blush became all any could see of her face. Slowly, she slid her eyes shut once more, and pushed forward: lifting a hoof around his neck.
His lips were soft, and tasted of that evening’s elderberry dinner. And her nose tickled at his rugged, deep breaths. She could smell his scent even stronger: and it held her in place.
He met her halfway.
The burst of emotion that came out in that solitary moment was enough to warm their hearts of all wounds. Phoenix and Rarity no longer cared for anything: the war didn’t exist, the cold didn’t exist, and the Dotsies didn’t exist. Even Hitter himself didn’t exist in their minds. For in that moment: there were only two ponies in Germareny.
Rarity was in bliss at their lips’ steady contact, despite how awkward it was. Neither of them cared, they both knew what this was.
This was love.
And for the first time in forever, they both felt soothed, and protected. They both felt the warmth of the other against them, and it gave them courage.
They were no longer split, they were finally one. And nothing would ever get in between them again.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Outside, two foals excitedly giggled as the scene unfolded: watching every inch of it. Until soon enough, they became embarrassed by the spectacle, and stepped down from their perch to give the pair some much-needed privacy.
Seamist smirked, and held out her hoof towards Grain, nodding towards it with her head.
He grumbled, and handed over the five marks he had kept on his person: “I could’ve sworn it would take her a couple months…”
Seamist chuckled, and shook her head. “Nope: three weeks!” She practically sang.
Grain smiled warmly at her. “I like it when you speak, your voice is pretty.”
Seamist lowered her head in a blush. But soon she shivered, looked up into the black sky, then back to her hut.
Grain followed her actions, and looked to his own adjacent hut: “Yeah, we should probably get to bed…” he agreed.
They both said goodbye, walked to their huts. And all had called it a night.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Rarity opened the door: fighting the unwanted memories out of her head. Such a storm of unneeded nostalgia made her sick, and she didn’t feel like hurling her lunch again.
She slowly sulked over to her bed, and took out the small wrapping that Zippowill had given her. She slowly undid the twine, and watched as the single cloth flap fell off of the peculiar object: revealing it entirely.
It was a small locket: wrought in great detail by the most talented silversmith, and a single white jewel shone in its center. Its metal was curved and bent gracefully to resemble a heart, and several decorative gears filled its innermost core around the gemstone.
Rarity was confused by it, until she noticed small writing on the cloth:
3, 3, 2, 1.
Activate when needed.
“Well, that’s a fat lot of use now, isn’t it?” She grunted, tossing it carelessly onto the nightstand.
With a sigh: Rarity plopped herself down onto her bed, and felt warm tears force themselves towards the front of her eyes. She hid the parcel in her desk drawer, saving it for later: whatever it was, she could only hope it was a way to get her out of here.
She slowly rolled onto her back, and stared at the ceiling above her. She could pick out the individual niches and cracks, but what she saw instead were hills and rivers: a perfect map of their dear forest.
She traced along the ‘rivers’ with her eyes, remembering all the times they’d all take a dip on a particularly hot day: the children laughing, splashing in the water. Phoenix and her watching them play, snuggled up to each other. Sneaking a smooch every once in a while, as they grew together.
Those times were the best of her life, and now, all that remained of them were haunting memories. She wished she could reach out, and touch them: but those days were gone.
The tears returned, as she found herself slowly drifting off to sleep as she sobbed.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
“Can I call you mama?”
Rarity bolted upright from her relaxed position, under the shade of a great oak, and turned to the little filly: who was looking at her hopefully. Phoenix stirred from his nap at her head’s sudden absence from his stomach, and rubbed his eyes sleepily.
“I’m… not sure if that’s wise.” She said gently, picking up Seamist with her horn: “I wouldn’t want to replace your mother. Plus, with me courting your brother and all…”
“But, you’re a lot like her.” Seamist pleaded, grabbing a lock of Rarity’s mane. Rarity went silent, until she heard Phoenix speak up:
“Indeed, you resemble her a lot… I don’t know why I never really noticed it before…”
“How do I resemble her?” Rarity asked unsurely. “Is it my hair, or my coloring?”
“Your heart,” Seamist sighed, snuggling up to the shocked mare.
“My… what?”
“Your heart, Rarity,” Phoenix chuckled: “now I know what the resemblance is: I remember feeling its glow when I first saw you straightening your sign, and you practically shone with warmth. It’s that that drew me to you, when I was looking for a safe place to hide: just the sight of you was reassuring, and I knew you were the perfect pony to go to for help.”
Rarity teared up, and looked between the two: should she? Shouldn’t she? She saw no reason why not. She looked eagerly to Phoenix, and he nodded. Rarity cooed, and held Seamist as close as she could: sobbing.
“I…” she choked: “I would be honored… for you to call me mama…”
Seamist started to cry as well, and they remained in the embrace for quite some time. Phoenix only smiled to himself: deep in thought.
“You’d make a fantastic mother.”
Rarity sobbed for a few more moments, before slowly turning her head: “What?”
Obviously, he didn’t intend to say that out loud. She could tell by the change of his façade: instantaneous from calm and thoughtful to nervous and jumpy in the blink of an eye.
Rarity smiled coyly, and shooed a cheerful Seamist back to playing in the creek. She slowly turned back to Phoenix with a smug smile, and a cocked brow:
“I’d make a fantastic mother, hmm?” She giggled: she loved the deep pink shade that flushed into his face as soon as the words slid off her tongue.
She decided to play with him a little, and see just how red his face could get.
“You know, darling, that’s not a bad idea…”
Silence. Utter silence prevailed as he reached scarlet.
“… certainly, a child would be something we could both enjoy…”
He fell straight into cardinal.
“… I’ve heard a child is a load of fun, even the very conception of it…”
Carmine, by then: he looked like a sweaty, overripe tomato. One more…
“… and it might be an interesting thing to try…”
She leaned in close for the kill:
“… Soon.”
Ladies and Gentlecolts, we’ve reached rosewood. Repeat: we have reached rosewood. He was sweating profusely by now, and his face was so red that he would’ve blended in with a brick wall. He was lying on his back, and had slowly been scooching back with every advance she made.
She set a hoof over his side, and gave him the most alluring, irresistible smile she could: the shape remaining somewhat smug, with half-lidded eyes added in for effect. Her eyebrow was arched as she gave him a knowing look. Her hot breath tickled the fur on his muzzle, and he crunched his nose a bit as the sensation. She planted a firm kiss on his lips, and slowly lifted her head regally.
“Of course, there’s nopony around to marry us, so we’ll have to wait until we find a trustworthy town.” She said flatly as she rolled onto her back. She took note of how his expression morphed in the corner of her eye: two parts relieved, and one part disappointed. She chuckled to herself, taking pride in her work, she even impressed herself there!
But, all joking aside, she wondered if she would indeed make a good mother… or wife…
She was starting to regret that last jibe: she felt like she hit a low mark when she voiced how alone they were in a country that was turned against the--
“I might know a town…” Phoenix pondered, tapping his chin: “it’s all Earth-pony, and it’s isolated. I doubt that the Dotsies haven’t found it yet, but it’s reclusive enough to be worth a try.”
Rarity froze, yet instantly knew what to do:
“We need to let the children have their say in this.”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
“Yes!”
Little Seamist’s cry echoed in their hut, as she bounced up and down excitedly. Grain kept a thoughtful expression, but remained quiet.
“Misty, we want you to understand something.” Phoenix cautioned. “Here, we’re safe: we’re lost from all prying eyes. If we go back into civilization, there’s a chance we will be caught, and placed into the Ghettos, or even killed. We’ll only go if the vote’s unanimous: meaning you’re all willing to take such a risk.”
Seamist stopped her bouncing at the word ‘Ghetto’, and the heartbroken look in her eyes made Rarity regret even bringing this up.
“It’s worth it to me.”
All eyes turned to Grain, who was still looking morosely at the floor. He looked up slightly, and managed a brave grin:
“I was raised on stories of ponies who were willing to die for things most thought trivial, and now that I’m living in those same times: it’s time for us to test our resolve. Would we be willing to risk death, for two ponies more in love than I’ve ever seen to get married? I’m scared of death, but…”
He looked up to them, and held his head high: “I’m willing. I think it would be a great way to show that there is still hope: no matter how much that demon in the trench coat tries to destroy it.”
Phoenix’s jaw hung loose, and Seamist’s eyes were the size of dinner platters. Rarity was moved, as they all were, but she was less surprised by his phrasing. She teared up at his courage, and opened her forearms for an embrace: an offer which he gladly accepted.
“Where on Equus did you learn to talk like that?” Phoenix said: mouth still agape.
Rarity looked over her shoulder at him, and smiled. “Surely, you didn’t think I’d keep those books you salvaged to myself, did you?”
Phoenix remained shocked, but Seamist seemed satisfied, as she ran over: and planted a little, innocent kiss on Grain’s cheek. Rarity chuckled at the display of thanks, while Grain merely smiled.
Rarity turned to Phoenix: “How far is this town?” She asked.
“It’s… about two weeks’ hike east from here, across some pretty rough country…” He stated, opening the eastern ‘window’- which was little more than a well-camouflaged flap in the hut’s wall –and gazing out to the horizon: trying to recover from what he just witnessed. “…which should be an advantage to us: thanks to our daily drills.”
“Perfect, we’ll need to whip up some packs for supplies…” Rarity nodded, bouncing her hoof in midair as she counted things off: “Sticks, grass, and a little bark should make decent enough packs. Worse comes to worse, we could always eat them. We should only bring the necessities: furs, food, water, and the like. We can send someone for the books and furniture after…”
She stopped, and looked over to Phoenix curiously. “What’s the name of this town, anyways?”
Phoenix smiled a bit, at the memory of his last visit there.
“Brookhaven, Rarity.”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
After three days of preparation, the group finally set out for the isolated down of Brookhaven: in hopes of finding it unnoticed.
“What are the odds that the Dotsies haven’t found this ‘Brookhaven’, yet?” Rarity inquired, after an hour’s hike.
“Based on my math: Fifty-fifty.” Phoenix admitted.
Rarity smiled gently as she looked back to the foals: “Well, considering how every other town was already found, or burned: I’d say the odds are in our favor.” She chuckled, prompting a small smile from the tense stallion.
While looking back, she noticed Seamist take a rather nasty stumble in the snow. She stopped as Grain helped her back up, and took note of her shivering. She slowly fell back, and levitated both filly and colt with her magic: placing them in a couple of large, snug pouches she had made care to fasten onto her own pack.
Phoenix smiled as the foals looked around in confusion: “So that’s what those are for, eh?”
Rarity smirked. “Surely, you didn’t think I’d doom these poor children to hiking in the snow for hours by themselves, did you?”
“How very generous of you,”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Rarity woke with a start, when there was a rapid knocking on her door. She slowly lifted her head, and looked over to the clock: 3:42.
“Frau Rarity, Master Hitter requires your presence.” A familiar voice called from outside.
Rarity groaned: “At four in the morning, Zip?”
There was a long pause as Rarity stood up, and put on one of her new dresses.
“It’s… the afternoon…” Zip replied. “How much sleep did you miss on that ship?”
Rarity opened the door: casting light on her baggy eyes, and loose mane.
“Ugh… all of it…” She mumbled, yawning widely. She slowly sulked out of the doorway, and gladly accepted Zip’s offered shoulder: she doubted she would’ve been able to walk that far. Zippowill foundered under Rarity’s weight for a second, before gladly supporting the tired mare. Rarity made an effort to thank her for her generosity, and she merely smiled in return.
After getting help walking to Hitter’s meeting room, memories started flashing into her head:
A single, filly, alone in the snow…
A once-heavenly palace set ablaze…
A mighty dragon reducing a threatening hoard to ash…
… And another one woken angrily from his hiding…
It all came back to her: she remembered that hike through the woods as the seasons shifted, and arriving at the old town…
“What are you thinking about?” Zip inquired, using her wings to help her support the exhausted mare. Rarity looked at her with a small smile.
“My family, dear,” she answered plainly. “My family, our adventures, and their darling little stories…”
Zip nodded understandingly, and smiled supportively: “I heard about that battle, big one, a giant duel there: ended in retreat, many uncaptured. Your family: still alive, yes?”
Rarity’s smile drooped, as did her entire head. Zip immediately cursed herself, just before she heard a faint mumble escape her charge’s lips.
“I... hope so. But... I..."
Rarity let her head fall limply over her chest.
"I doubt it...”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The howling blizzard beat ferociously against Rarity’s face as she desperately tried to keep the fire alive: rubbing the sticks together like mad. Phoenix shuddered in the abyssal chill as he struggled to put up the last log, in hopes to shield them from the wind. Seamist and Grain were huddled against Rarity to gain warmth, and the fire finally kicked up.
Phoenix slowly sulked back: shivering as his sweat practically froze in the cold: “I g-g-got the w-wall up-p, Rare.” He quivered, collapsing from exhaustion near the fire.
Rarity choked back tears as she took one of the blankets from her back, and floated a blanket to him: “Will you accept this now?”
Phoenix could only manage a small nod, as his eyes looked to the stacking snow around them. Rarity could tell he was weak from the cold, but he had insisted she needed to be warm, after he caught her shivering out of the corner of his eye. She cursed her sheltered life, and made a mental note: in exile, one packs warm.
“All my years of knowing these woods: and I’ve never even heard of a blizzard this strong…” Phoenix mumbled, inching closer to the fire.
“Do you suppose the Pegasi around here are hostile to us?” Rarity inquired, securing the foals in a thick blanket as she walked around the fire to her love.
Phoenix gave her a small smirk: “Doubtless, but that has n-nothing to do with the weather, my dear. Here in the woods, we are at the mercy of nature: not the other way around.”
Rarity nestled in next to him under the blanket, and wrapped a forearm over him to keep them together. “So… it’s like--”
“--it’s like the Everfree Forest of your lands, yes. But that is just what most woods are like out here.” He interjected.
Rarity nodded, and looked into the sky: which was constantly obscured by the white streaks of the falling snow.
“The only time I remember hearing of a storm like this, was when mother would tell us the tale of Eisdrache Beflammung …”
Rarity lowered her head in time to see a single, silver tear trickle down Phoenix’s cheek, as he smiled in his fond nostalgia. She felt a tear come into her own eye as she nuzzled his chin: “Do you remember it?”
“Like it was my own life…”
“Then tell me,”
Phoenix returned the embrace: settling his chin on her forehead, just below her horn as she breathed his scent. He started to whisper the tale as the children fell to sleep:
“Mother’s grandmother told her of the spirit in the mountain: an immense shapeshifting Lindworm by name of Eisdrache Beflammung, or Cold-drake the Flaming in the Common. She was named such for her mighty power over ice, wind and fire.
“Legend has it that she was the protector over the lands of the mountain of Seelensplitter, and her great blizzards drove many sentient beings close out. Not until a Unicorn by the name of Fire Thought pleaded to her for land and protection, in return for food, companionship, and praise.
“Being a drake of ice, she was at first appalled by the notion of having several mortal creatures dragging themselves all over her land. But, he amused her: so she agreed, on the condition that all of his promises were to be met.”
Rarity listened intently to the story, and felt both herself and Phoenix growing warmer. Howls in the distance kept her wary, but she felt herself drifting.
“She would often disguise herself as a white falcon, and observe the ponies from the rooftops. She was impressed by their diligence, and intrigued by their companionship and teamwork. She admired the way each looked out for the other, and how love bloomed between them over time. For Lindworms, the males were lucky if a female ever let them into their territory, let alone into the den. And the males more often than not killed their mates as soon as their eggs were laid, and took off with her horde. She longed for the love of another, rather than the lust common of drakes. Slowly, a plan for the next day formed in her mind.
“On the morrow, she sat smiling from the perch outside her cave as Fire Thought came up the mountain to deliver her monthly treat: ten well-cut rubies. For her, it was scarcely a second of chewing, but she was strangely generous for a dragon, and didn’t want the poor ponies to exert themselves on something she could do at half the effort.
“When Thought reached the top of the path, he knelt before her: and presented the gemstones. She thanked him, and took them into her den. When she came back out, he was already headed down the path…”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
”Fire Thought!”
The great white worm smiled cunningly as her voice echoed across the mountainside: stunning the pony five yards from her. Her scales shone with cyan when the light hit them, helping her appear as the ice she welded in her throat. The scarlet Unicorn slowly turned his head in worry at her new tone, plainly worried of what he did to upset her so.
His golden mane blew in the air as he galloped back to her, and she admired each hair of it.
“What did I do, oh great Eisdrache?” He begged, kneeling before her.
“It has been three years since you came to me, pleading for a home, am I not right?” Eisdrache boomed, flaring out her vast wings from her wrists. She drank in the terror of the cowering noble, yet regretted that decision immediately after.
“Y-y-you are correct, mighty guardian.” He called in a quailing tone.
“Then why haven’t all your promises been fulfilled?”
He looked up at her in worried forgetfulness: “Pardon me for questioning your memory, for I am doing so for my own, but what accord haven’t we met? We’ve provided you with food, praise, and companion… ship…”
She smiled at his hesitant tone. “Indeed, you worship me as a demigod: yet you deny me the third aspect of our contract?”
Realization flashed across his features, and he looked up at her with great apologies written across his face: “Great Lady of the Mount, I cannot believe I have forgotten such an important promise! I take full responsibility for this treachery upon myself, for my ponies made no such oath.”
She smiled, and exhaled a warm breath onto him: “A simple mistake to mend, if we merely agree on a solution.”
“Whatever you suggest, Mighty Guardian,”
Eisdrache scratched her chin with a claw, before bending down to the pony, and displaying her toothy maw with a grin.
“You ponies are to hold a festival tonight, if I’m not mistaken.”
Fire nodded curiously. “Indeed, do you wish to be present?”
Eisdrache’s smile broadened. “As I thought, you are on the same train of thought as I. But, I would be rather frightening in this form, and the falcon is too conspicuous nowadays.”
Fire quirked a brow: “You were the falcon?”
“Yes, but there will be a time to address that later. For now, I must try something…”
She focused on Fire’s form, as a golden glow slowly resonated from her own: and vibrations shook the outcrop. Fire Thought shielded his eyes from her radiance with a forearm, and slowly turned once she had finished. What greeted his eyes took the breath from his throat:
Before him stood a beautiful Unicorn, with a coat as blue as a beautiful autumn sky, and a flowing mane that sparkled like the winter icicles in a moonlit cavern. Her ruby eyes shone in fiery contrast, yet remarkably complimented her cool coloration rather well. A luminescent, cerulean dress decorated with icy patterns adorned her slim form: as is slowly faded into translucence on her back legs. She stepped forward delicate forearms, hesitantly.
“H-how do I look?” She asked, giving off a nervous smile.
Fire’s words couldn’t escape his tongue as he beheld what stood before him: a creature with the might of a dragon, turning out to be as delicate as… as an…
“Edelweiss…”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Phoenix smiled as he felt Rarity’s breaths even out, as she slowly welcomed the dream world before her eyes.
“Needless to say, she went to the festival, and enjoyed the newfound bond between her and her charges. She became an even greater guardian, and was known no more as Eisdrache. Now, she was known as Edelweiss: the gentle, winter flower.”
He scrunched his nose in thought: “Some variations of the legend go on to say that she became Fire’s bride, but I’m not sure if that was in the original tale or not. Regardless, Brookhaven became a sacred city: and a stronghold for the Earth Pony tribe. Other tribes are welcome, and tradition always has a Unicorn as the mayor, but it remains mostly Earthen in population.”
He felt his fiancé doze softly, and he kissed her on the forehead.
“Sleep well, my Edelweiss.”
When he closed his eyes, he was too late to notice a small, peaceful, blushing smile form on her face.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Rarity opened the office door, weary from the short walk from her suite. The smiling face of the figure behind the large desk made her sick to her stomach.
Hitter was sitting up behind his large desk: His mustache had grown little, but his hair was slicker than she remembered and very well-combed. He smiled at her as if she were an old friend, and that made her insides churn.
To make it worse, he was wearing the coat. Her coat. One designed with intense, fond care: the admiration of the wearer made clear with each stitch and sow. And now, her hard work and tender, loving care was reduced to nothing less than the symbol of one Stallion’s hatred for another: and the ultimate sign of his unwavering loathing for an entire tribe.
That clinched it. A moment before, she thought she couldn’t feel any sicker. Now, seeing him proudly displaying the biggest mistake she ever made- as if it was a gift from the gods –made her feel even worse. She felt her insides churning with the force of an imploding star, before her lightheadedness took control.
Right then, right there: she lost her lunch on the bastard’s carpet.
Hitter’s smile vanished, but not because of the new blemish on his runner. He briskly walked over to her, and offered a forearm supportively.
“Are you alright?”
She couldn’t tell if she should admire his chivalry, or be disgusted by his unflinching attention to her. She always thought of him as a monster, yet here he was: fretting over her health like an old friend. The fact that a pony who condoned the cull of an entire tribe was still equine enough to care for another created a paradox in her mind: how could this be?
Regardless, she accepted his help, and he signaled for Zippowill to get a mop. Rarity let him escort her to a lounger to the side of his desk, where he sat her down with care: and used his magic to lift over some tea. She greedily accepted it, but paused to glare at him: stopping the cup just before it reached her lips.
Much to her shock, and confusion, there was an immediate look of pain in his eyes: as if that glare alone managed to hurt him more than any bullet would.
“It’s not poisoned, Rarity.” He said softly. When she carefully took a sip, but continued to shoot daggers at him with her eyes, he backed away: and went back to working the papers at his desk.
She eyed his movements carefully. Before, she remembered each of his movements being calculated, as if he had planned out everything that went by. Now, however, he showed some nervousness: his hoof shook slightly as he grappled the next document, before he read it over, and signed it hurriedly with a quill. He seemed to feel… exposed?
He glanced at her from his peripheral, and sighed:
“Why?”
Rarity stopped in the middle of a drink: and lifter her head to get a better look at him.
“Beg pardon?”
“Why do you constantly examine me, looking for a weakness, as if I’m a dragon that needs to be slain?”
The sound in his voice was not one she had anticipated: the sound of genuine sorrow at her rejections constantly threw her off, and bothered her to no end. She felt guilty for not being more sensitive to him, but she always ended up reminding herself that this pony was more monster than equine.
She contorted her face as he looked over to her: obviously injured by her silence.
Why was he so hurt by her? This stallion could sway an entire nation with the sound of his voice, and signal a million troops to march with the raise of a forearm. He could also keep his blood-hungry horde at bay with a single, cold look. He was insensitive enough to watch his enemies hang before him, like a vulture waiting to strike…
And yet, here he was: a little, pathetic shine in his eyes after hearing nothing but silence from her. He rested his head in his forehooves: and gave out a long sigh.
“Can you not see? All I seek is the good of my ponies, and for the world they’ve built to thrive…”
“With you at the helm, I don’t doubt.”
He looked up, while Rarity leered at him in disgust.
“You say you want the good of all, does that only come when you’re seated on top of the world?”
“Of course, you silly bitch!”
Hitter stood suddenly from his chair: forehooves on the desk, while small strands of his mane came undone. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, and his eyes were dark, and brooding.
“The world works itself into a frenzy to let the weak and useless live, while the fit are cast into the streets to fend for themselves. In order to purify our world, we need to be rid of the useless… no matter how much they’re loved…”
He choked on that last part, and a tear showed in his eye. What was it about him that created this swirl of unsorted emotion in her mind? She hated him, yet pitied him as well: knowing there must be more to this conquest than he’d let on. There was a familiar look in his eyes, one she’d seen once before: the pain of choosing duty over family.
After a few minutes, and more than desperate to change the subject, for fear that she might come to sympathize with the monster, Rarity asked a question that had her bothered:
“Why did you request my presence?”
Rarity asked it more bluntly than she had thought, letting her smile to herself. She, herself, was growing weary of the silence.
Hitter took notice, and seemed to let a small smirk creep onto his lips at the sound of her calm voice.
“I have some appointments, later today, Rarity.” He stated simply, retaking his seat. “In all honesty, I wished you to sit there, as one of my displays.”
Rarity was hardly shocked by this: the common culture of the area was that mares in politics were seen more than heard. She didn’t mind that, though: what power would she have anyways?
She was, however, slightly put off by his forwardness: ‘one of his displays’, indeed! Fortunately enough, she had a reason to be patient with his insensitive rantings…
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
“Is this Brookhaven?” Rarity asked breathlessly: looking at the incredible rusticity of the design.
The town of Brookhaven was a marvelous sight to behold: the majority of the architecture was log-based, with every doorway, wall, window, roof, and door having obviously been meticulously carved from the surrounding forest. Each individual log was carved with painstaking details, so as to fit in like pieces of a puzzle, and an odd lettering of runes were burned into the doorways. A large mansion of identical grandeur overlooked the village, as it sat upon an outcrop of the mountains above.
“Velcome to ze sacred village of Brookhaven, travelers!”
Rarity jumped to the side as a deep-voiced, white Pegasus with a thick accent greeted them. She had not seen him, as he blended in with the snow quite well: his white coloring giving a slight sheen to his coat, and a light-light-blue mane that shone like ice. He was garbed in a white cloak: with mystical blue trimmings, and a collar that’s spikes stood up like stalactites. A long horn emerged from his brow, and if she looked closely: Rarity could see transparent blue patterns on it, resembling the winter wind.
The most striking attribute to this pony was the fact that he seemed to not have any pupils in his eyes: they were entirely white. Yet, somehow, he seemed to be able to make them out just fine.
“Who might ve have ze pleasure of accommodating?” He asked with a deep bow.
“My name is Phoenix Pyre,” Phoenix spoke up, stepping between the off-putting stallion and Rarity. “I’ve traveled hear with my sister, her friend, and my Fiancé, Rarity.”
“Are you sure you mean Rarity?” the stallion asked. “Or perhaps you refer to Lilac Duchess, my friend?”
Before they could react, he had already lifted a hoof to his mouth, and let out a low, three-part whistle: alerting the surrounding houses.
It was at that point that Rarity lost all hope: they were suddenly surrounded by ponies, in the middle of winter, with a creepy Unicorn stallion staring them down. There was a ruckus from behind them as something large approached. Rarity turned, and froze:
From behind them, a great dragon approached: with a wool-covered pony riding on its back. His purple scales shone in the winter snow, and his green spines jutted from his back like mountains. His rippling muscles showed through his hard scales, and quivered as he strutted forth on all fours, and bent to allow his rider to dismount. He was easily twice as big as any pony: making him six times as big as when she last saw him, years ago.
“S-Spike,” Rarity shrieked, her jaw hanging limply from her skull: “I-is that you?”
The beast smiled smugly at her inquiry, and fanned out its great wings proudly: “It’s nice to know that I’m still recognized.” He chuckled in a far deeper tone than what she remembered. He slowly stood to a bipedal position, and extended a huge claw out to her: “How have you been, Rare?”
She just stared at his claw: wide-eyed at how much he had grown over a few short years. Eventually, she lifted a hoof to meet him, and was surprised by just how gently he shook it. She couldn’t help but look him up and down as they shook: eyeing the differences between this beast, and the child she knew back in Equestria.
“Rarity,” Phoenix cut in, eyeing the dragon cautiously: “who’s this beast?”
Rarity slapped a hoof onto her face when she realized she’d forgotten to tell Phoenix about Spike, and turned to face her stallion: nervously wondering where this meeting would go.
“This, dear, is-- err… was, I should say… dear little Spike: the baby dragon from back home.” She iterated. “I believed I have mentioned him before?”
A look of recognition shone in Phoenix’s eyes for a split second, as he remembered stories of the kindest of dragons. He looked up at Spike, and smiled with great enthusiasm:
“So you’re the baby dragon I’ve heard so much about?” He chuckled. “Rarity didn’t exaggerate, you’re a small one.”
Rarity, Spike, and his rider- Who was most likely Twilight -all turned to face Phoenix: each wondering if they should laugh at the irony, or be concerned about Germareny’s dragons.
“He’s… small?!” The rider called, opening the scarf around her face: ultimately revealing, sure enough, two amethyst eyes, and a purple colored coat and horn. “He’s one of the biggest dragons I’ve ever seen, aside from the Dragon Lord! How could he be small?”
Phoenix was about to answer when Rarity ran up to Twilight, and embraced her: “There will be a time for that later, Twilight! Oh, dear, it’s been far too long since I’ve seen a familiar face!”
Twilight smiled fondly, and returned the hug. The mysterious Count, who had stood aside for all this, walked up to them: and whispered in Twilight’s ear. She nodded: clearing her throat, and releasing Rarity from the embrace.
“The Count wishes us to all go to the palace. He’s had a fire set up for your arrival, and he’s hoping you four will be our guests.” Twilight said, gesturing to the peculiar leader.
The group of four, too travel-weary to think about anything, instantly agreed to stay: since the town was allied. And they were soon escorted through the town by the Twilight, Spike, and the mysterious Count.
Rarity couldn’t help but notice that there was something off about their host: why didn’t he have pupils, how could he see? She was too overjoyed by the sight of a friendly face to be too concerned, but she put the worries in the back of her mind, for resurrection later.
But… how did he know they were coming?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Hitter shuffled papers around before his eyes, slowly establishing a rhythm as the world seemed to speed up before Rarity’s eyes: Officers, Lawyers, and Dignitaries for Germareny and allying countries walked in and out of the office, each entering with a hoof held high in their march.
Rarity could only sit back and watch in bored apathy as the droning beat of the day went on…
Stomp-romp-a-romp, stomp-romp-a-romp, shuffle-shuffle…
Stomp-romp-a-romp, stomp-romp-a-romp, shuffle-shuffle…
Stomp-romp-a-romp, stomp-romp-a-romp, shuffle-shuffle…
Occasionally, she was granted a kiss on the hoof from important allies, or a sidelong smile from important officers. But mostly, she just sat there, looked pretty, and did as she was told: never offering up a word.
The beat of the day went on, until the day’s end: when Hitter bade her goodnight, and thanked her for her cooperation. As she plodded back to her room, the haunting rhythm never left her ears…
She flopped on the bed, looked up, and lifted her voice to deaf ears as she sobbed:
“Whatever he says, I just follow it
It’s not like I have choice either way
It all counts forward
To my own Destiny…
She lifted her forward half, and supported her shoulders on one forehoof as the other was pressed against her aching forehead.
I can see there’s not much hope left
It seems so close, yet it’s so far…
I see my heart broken as it should be,
Oh, I just know there’s nothing for me out there!
She leapt of the bed, ran tiredly to the window, and flung open the shutters as her passion rang out into the night:
I want to glow, and stand strongly
I want be more than a tyrant’s trophy!
I can’t soar, wind is howling
It’s dragging me down like a river slowly!
Soon, a realization crossed her mind. She turned back to a large, authoritative portrait of Hitter on the opposing wall, and remembered when she first met him: as well as his earlier display of emotion that very day. She slowly walked over to it…
Every gesture, every move that he makes,
Makes me feel like never before:
Why do I feel,
Like he’s as Equine as I am?
She ran a hoof across the portrait’s face, as a tear slid down her own cheek, and she found herself wondering if he was truly beyond hope.
Ooh, these emotions I never knew,
Of something more possible than I thought…
He is more than the beast I saw,
I need to help him, if I only knew how!
She smiled, whipped around, and bore her newfound optimism through her melodies:
I want to glow, and stand strongly
I want help the tyrant whom enslaved me!
Show me more, so I can see
How to help another Equine, like me.
I want him to come see the world,
All the places there’s purity
Can he feel the things I feel…
Right now, could he?
She slowly walked back to the doorway, eyes focused on the star: whose light had faded from bonfires in the city. Regardless of their origin, she felt hope for the creature behind all this.
Take my hoof,
There’s a truth he needs to know~!
Then, she ran to the window, leapt onto her balcony, and gave her soul to her voice:
I want to glow, and stand strongly
I want be more than a tyrant’s trophy!
Show me more, so I can see
How to help another Equine, like me.
He needs to know…”
She slumped on the railing of the balcony with a tired smile, and slowly accepted the blackness that encompassed her.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The inside of the great mansion was warm, welcoming, and cozy. The interior had the same design as the exterior: with log pillars, wooden furniture, and even beautifully intricate chandeliers that hung from the ceiling like lichen.
Rarity had to stop, and admire exactly how much work and passion had gone into the design of each and every plank and nail: no two pieces were ever exactly the same, yet they seemed to fit together flawlessly, as if they were a flat-sided jigsaw puzzle.
Twilight and the ‘Count’ led them into a grand living hall, with several tables along the inside. There was a massive fireplace at one end: easily the size of their former hut, with a blazing bonfire on the inside of it. This was undoubtedly the core of heating for the palace.
As the Count walked over to a clear spot, he lifted his hoof so that the bottom was just before his chin. He blew a small gust of air across his frog, and a sudden jet of flames leapt from his hoof, and sailed into the furnace.
Rarity stared at him in awe: again, his sight proved to be unaffected by his strange eyes. In fact, his aim seemed to be incredibly impeccable: as the demonstration of his pyromancy hit exactly where the fire had started to slacken, rekindling it to its former warmth and might.
Twilight was also aghast at the display:
“How did you do that?! Pyromancy is an advanced spell that only Alicorns and Dragon Mages are able to master, and you didn’t even light your horn!” Twilight spat, obviously fighting the urge to break down.
The Count Smiled wickedly, and held up a corner of his cape with a forehoof: “A true master of the arts never reveals his secrets, unless to their student!”
With that, he overdramatically flung his cape over his head: resulting in the cloak spiraling into itself, until he disappeared without a trace. Stunning most present.
Phoenix, on the other hoof, raised a brow at the display, and smiled: “Count Scorch Frost, I thought I recognized you.”
The Count walked up from behind Phoenix, and put a hoof over his shoulder with a smile: “Indeed? Even though you were scarcely as tall as a willow weed when we last met, Phoenix Pyre?” He chuckled. “Then again, even at that age, it must be hard to forget a face like mine.”
“How do you know this… ‘Count Frost’?” Rarity inquired curiously, glancing over to her stallion as the peculiar pony headed to Twilight.
“Our mother used to bring us here once every two years, and the last time wasn’t long before we stopped getting letters from her parents. She wanted us to experience what it was like to live in a city that was as close to perfection as we could get outside Equestria.” Phoenix explained.
“…” Rarity opened her mouth to inquire as to how he knew the count, but quickly shut it again. Obviously, as a frequent visitor, he would have a familiarity with the charge. Instead, she turned to Twilight:
“That begs another question, Twilight: why are you here?” She asked quietly, hoping not to offend their host.
“In order to win this war, Equestria needed a foothold in Germareny. Since this place is largely Earth in population, and we could get here unnoticed, it seemed like a perfect candidate.” Twilight explained.
Count Frost was twirling a large snowflake in the air before him, and punctuated her sentence without missing a beat: “Plus, when we heard of Hitter’s plans being realized, our people were only too eager to set up fortifications for a Princess and her Dragon: Having not seen Lady Edelweiss for around a century, we needed another guardian. But, if you’ll forgive my forwardness, Lilac, that then begs the answer for why you four came hither.”
Rarity smiled nervously, and looked to Phoenix, who opted to answer the question for her.
“We’re here to be married, as this was our last hope of achieving such a goal.”
Silence.
Indeed, the statement seemed to freeze the world around them, as Rarity felt the air thicken with tension: even to the point where you could cut it with a butter knife. She could see the spines on Spike’s back bristle slightly, and his jaw clenched barely enough to be seen: to her it spoke of both jealousy, and pride. Twilight’s façade was one of unsureness, and excitement. Scorch Frost seemed to be the only one that remained unmoving, and observed his surroundings with disinterested neutralism.
“Rarity… That’s wonderful!” Twilight beamed, flaring her wings with a broad smile. “I always knew you’d find somepony who’d suit you, and that it happened this year- of all years –is even more encouraging! Would you like me to perform the ceremonies?”
Spike, who had remained eerily silent, stretched a wing in front of the Princess: so as to block her from tackling them to the ground in her excitement.
“They’ve come a long way, in the middle of winter, Twi.” He growled: keeping calm, while giving off enough sternness to calm Twilight as well. “They’ll need their rest in order to make… wise decisions.”
He folded his wings, and looked to the setting sun. “I have a feeling we’ll all need our rest…”