//------------------------------// // The beginning // Story: Dear Rarity // by Alyssa Hartwick //------------------------------// Rarity had just finished closing her boutique for the day. “It had been quite a slow one though.” Rarity thought as she turned the “OPEN” Sign to “CLOSED”. She began walking through the main floor of the boutique, Luna’s pale moon shone brightly through the many windows as she had already turned out the lights. Rarity began humming a sweet tune to herself. She was almost to the stair’s, “Finally I can take a- “ Rarity froze. Her thoughts interrupted by an unsettling noise. She heard a pitter-patter of hooves behind her. She quickly spun around to confront the hooligan only to realize no pony was there. She sighed before turning around one more. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow scurry in the darkness. Her eyes pin pricks as she felt her chest tighten as she turned toward where the shadow had run. She felt as a chilling fear gripped her hear The undressed mannequins stood only partially glowing in the moon’s light while the rest was engulfed within an inky black shadow. Rarity felt as she slowly walked toward the looming figures. She didn’t want to, their featureless faces almost taunting her, mocking her. Rarity gulped. Ignited her horn and its light only illuminated some of the darkness. As she weaved through the many unused mannequins a sense of dread started to tie a knot in her stomach. As she felt herself nearing the back wall she felt as the hairs on the back of her neck began to prick up as she felt her skin tingle and heart quicken as her adrenaline started to build in her system. As she moved ever closer to the wall a small amount of light from her horn illuminated part of the wall. But something quickly skittered out of her view. It was white. As she neared the back wall she saw something glint. Eye’s. She Starred into eyes that reflected a yellow glow within the darkness. With a shaky voice Rarity spoke out into the thick darkness. “Hello? Is Someone there?” Her words hung as the air began felt suddenly heavy. Rarity screamed. Opal darted out of the corner hissing at her owner. Rarity let out a relived sigh. She Turned back toward the stair way that lead up to her room. She didn’t notice a black figure in the corner. She didn’t hear it giggle either. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Rarity walked down the hall into her living room. After entering She picked up a magazine in her magic whilst she sat down in one of her comfortably fashionable chairs. After scanning the pages for a half an hour she quickly grew board. She gently set the magazine on the table beside her. She accidentally switched off the light. In front of the door way where the light shone through the hall she saw an indistinguishable figure. She quickly switched the light back one only to realize there was no pony there. Of course there wasn’t anypony there. Sweetie Belle was sleeping over at Apple Jacks with Scootalo and Apple bloom. Rarity breathed. She hadn’t realized that she had been holding her breath for the past minute. She stood up. She was bored and she wanted to read. She began walking into her room. As she trotted past sweeties room she saw something that caught her eye. Her eyes widened. Sweetie Bell’s Diary. It had been what? A month since she gave it to her? Rarity looked at the book longingly. She looked left and right looking for anypony who would notice this act she was about to perform. Not that someone would. She gingerly walked in to the room. Her aura surrounded the book as she lifted it off the night stand and into her waiting hooves. She starred at its pink cover. She bit her hoof in as she argued the morality of reading her little sisters diary. “What if she has a crush!” she asked herself. She opened up the book with no hesitation. To say that the first two pages were boring would be an understatement. Until she read something about a filly named Angel feather. She pondered a moment “Where have I heard that name?” She asked herself out load. After skimming the next three pages her face drained of all its color. Au/17/16 Dear Diary Rarity said yes! I introduced Angel to rarity today, Rarity acted quite odd while meeting her. They didn’t even speak or even make eye contact! Angel didn’t say anything so I asked for her. Rarity said yes and that Angel Feather was welcome to stay as long as she’d like! I have a pretty big closet and I never use it so I decided that Angel could live there! She looked at it and nodded in approval so I brought her some pillows and a blanket from one of the guest rooms. I also bought her a night light in case she got scarred. It was my old red one that when turned on shone a pretty red light. She thanked me before going to her new room and making it her own. It’s Getting pretty late. Goodnight! She remembered that. Rarity was sitting in her favorite arm chair reading The Hoofington post browsing through the gossip section. “Rarity!” Rarity jumped at the sudden yell. Putting the article down she starred down at sweetie who had an exited look plastered on her face. “Yes Sweetie?” she asked slightly annoyed to be interrupted from her reading, and she was getting to a juicy part to. “I Made a new friend!” sweetie shouted excitedly, “That’s wonderful sweetie!” she said genuinely excited for her. “So Meet Angel feather!” sweetie nearly yelled as she pointed… to nothing. Rarity’s eye twitched. “OH Great! Another imaginary friend!” Rarity thought bitterly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you “Angel feather” Darling” Rarity spoke through Clenched teeth. “you see she’s homeless and she has nowhere to go…” Sweetie bell began. “So I was wondering…” Rarity bitterly thought” Here it comes!”. “Can she live with us?” Sweetie bell asked exited. “Of course sweetie bell!” Rarity said in an overly sweet voice. She looked to where this “Angel feather” was standing. Rarity thought that Sweetie had finally got over this imaginary friend thing. Rarity nodded idly as sweetie “Introduced” her “New friend” as she looked in “Her” general direction. Rarity began scanning the pages faster as all the pieces fell into place in her mind. Her mind racking her brain for an explanation. A Changeling? A Windigo? A Ghost? What had Sweetie bell befriended? A Question that burned through her mind. She suddenly had a problem. The page was stuck. She used her magic to pry it open. What she saw made her heart stop. The page had splotches of dried blood. She read the still legible writing. Her magic extinguished as her mind couldn't fathom what she was reading. She turned the page once more to be met by more blood. The word “Look” was written in fresh dried blood. The putrid smell stinging her nose. She wanted to scream, cry, shout. She wanted this nightmare to end. But she sat there turning the next page. The word “behind” was written in crimson. With a shaking hoof she turned the page one last time. The word “YOU” was scrawled across the page. Rarity slowly craned her neck. There was a shadow in the doorway.