Far From the Light

by Midnight Sonare

The Pain brings us Together

“Howdy, Rarity! How's it goin'?” Applejack said as she walked through the apple trees. She had finished the morning gathering and was heading back to the farm carrying a basket full of apples.

“Good morning, Applejack.” Rarity approached and the two began to walk together. “I've been better.” Applejack knew that Rarity was looking for somepony to talk to.

The two walked to the farm without saying another word, just walking next to each other enjoying a companionable silence. The pair soon emerged from the orchard and trotted toward the barn. Applejack set the basket on the ground and sat down next to it with her back leaning against the barn.

Rarity wanted to sit down with her friend, but she couldn't find the way to do it without getting dirty. With a dainty hoof she attempted to clear away as much dirt as she could, but she still didn't seem to like the idea of sitting on the ground. Finally she pulled a cloth from her bag, placed it on the ground close to Applejack, and sat on it.

Applejack rolled her eyes and laughed at the fact that Rarity never changes, no matter what happens. After a few seconds she asked more seriously, “How is Sweetie Belle?”

“She is doing better, today she finally went back to school.” She paused for a moment, looked up at the sky and stared for several seconds. Then she continued in a sad tone, “But she is still very unstable emotionally, and I fear that she can't take it anymore and she…”

“I feel really bad for 'um...” Applejack looked down at the floor and placed her hat on her forelegs. “It's gotta be really hard, what they're goin' through.”

“And how is Applebloom? She is getting better? Twilight told me that the worst has passed.” Although Rarity knew that Applebloom was feeling better, seems like she couldn't shake the worry from her voice.

“She's better now, but she still spends most of the day sleepin'. Twilight reckons that's normal considerin' what happened...” Applejack stopped and a few tears began to emerge in her eyes, for a moment it looks like she was going to cry, but she did her best to avoid it. “Twilight said she didn't know what kind of magic Sweetie Belle used, but... she broke Applebloom's mind.”

“I… I'm sorry.” Rarity couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

Applejack couldn't take it anymore and let out several tears. She tried to look to one side and cover her face with a foreleg to prevent Rarity from seeing her that way.

“It's ok, I know it's a difficult time.” Rarity used her hoof to lower the leg that Applejack was using to hide her tears and gently turned her head so she could face her. “That's why you don't have to act strong in front of me. You can cry if you want.”

Applejack broke down. She let out all her sorrow and frustration as tears streamed down her face. She had been strong in front of her friends and family, bottling up all of her pain. But this time Rarity was here to support her, she didn't have to suffer in silence because Rarity was here for her.

Rarity scooted closer and offered a hug, which Applejack didn't hesitate to accept. Applejack leaned her head on Rarity's shoulder and poured out all the tears that she had been holding since the incident.

“Thanks, sugarcube. I needed that.” she calmed down a bit but didn't want to separate from Rarity. She wanted to hold on to her as long as possible.

Rarity said nothing, she simply hugged her tighter. She didn't want to break their embrace either. Even though she wanted Applejack to feel better, inside she needed it too.

The two remained together for a long time without uttering a word; just enjoying each other's company. Applejack ended up sitting on the cloth and leaning on Rarity's shoulder.

Applejack was the first to say something but kept still, without leaving Rarity's shoulder. “I don't blame Sweetie Belle for doin'– for what happened... I know her. And I know how good of a friend she is. I don't think for one apple-pickin' second that she did it by herself. Somethin' has gotta be wrong for her to be actin' like that.”

“Yes, I know, but I...” She stopped to think for a moment, to think about everything that had happened, trying to find something that would explain what had happened to Sweetie Belle. But nothing came to mind. “Twilight is giving her best to look for a cause, but... I... can't help feeling that I've failed Sweetie Belle. That I can't do anything to protect her, except wait. I feel so useless.”

“Yer not useless. I know it's hard, and I feel the same way, but we still have important responsibilities. We need'ta be by our sisters' sides now more than ever.”

“I know, I know...” Rarity looked up at the sky again, waiting for the solution to all their problems to come down from the clouds. But she knew it wouldn't be so easy. “It's just that I wish I could do more for her. I wish that I could look into her eyes and tell her that she didn't need to worry, that nothing bad will happen. But I can't... I can't be sure that nothing bad will happen, that the worst has passed.”

“You... I...” Applejack couldn't find a way to answer. She knew that she needed to comfort her sister, but she couldn't help feeling the same way Rarity did. “Look, I know how ya feel. Right now I'm scared as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs, but all we can do is be there for 'um until Twilight finds an answer. 'Til then all we can do is wait.”

Rarity took a deep breath and leaned her head on Applejack. “I guess you're right...”

For a moment the two wished to stay like this forever, enjoying the other's friendly presence. But that wasn't possible now, both had work to do and couldn't stay any longer. Although it was tempting to stay there and forget everything else, they couldn't.

---

After saying goodbye and thanking Applejack, Rarity went back to Ponyville. On the way to the boutique she stopped and took a small detour. I think I'll stop by the school and see how Sweetie Belle is doing, she thought.

Rarity went through the crowded market, where customers were already lining up at the newly opened stalls. She thought of buying something for Sweetie Belle but then realized that Cheerilee probably wouldn't let students eat in the classroom. She stopped to greet some ponies and then continued to Sweetie Belle's school.

Rarity paused as she approached the schoolhouse door. She decided to peek through the window to make sure she wouldn't interrupt an important lesson. Rarity looked through the window and observed each one of the little ponies in search of her sister, but after scanning the room several times still couldn't find her. She panicked and hurried to the door.

Rarity stood in the doorway and looked again for Sweetie Belle, but still couldn't find her. After a few seconds Cheerilee realized that Rarity was there and approached her. “Good morning, Rarity. How is Sweetie Belle now?”

“Good morning, Cheerilee– Wait! You haven't seen Sweetie Belle?!” Realize that her sister never made it to school terrified her. “She left the boutique this morning and came here!”

“What?! But she never came, I thought that she had stayed home today.”

Rarity's concern became despair at the thought that something bad may have happened to her little sister on the way to school. She began to imagine the worst possible scenarios. “I should never have left her alone!”

“Calm down, Rarity. Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe she was just afraid. Maybe she changed her mind and didn't want to come to school.”

At first Rarity continued to panic, but then she remembered her visit to Sweet Apple Acres. “Right, I need to calm down and not jump to conclusions. I stepped out for a while, maybe Sweetie Belle returned.”

“I'm sure she's fine. Sweetie Belle is a smart filly.”

Rarity nodded and was about to return to the boutique when a shout for help caught her attention. She heard the shout again, recognizing Rainbow Dash's voice and looked skyward.

“Help! They're hurt!” Rainbow Dash dropped down from the sky with another pegasus, Cloud Kicker. The two were carrying two colts and they didn't look to be in good condition. They landed near Rarity and Cheerilee placing the two unconscious colts carefully on the floor.

“Oh my–” Cheerilee was terrified seeing the two colts. “What happened?!”

“Calm down, Cheerilee,” said Cloud Kicker, “It may look bad but they aren't going to die. The one who worries me is the unicorn...”

Of the two, the earth pony colt was the least injured. He only had a few bruises, nothing serious. The unicorn was a different story. He had bruises as well, but the real terror was his horn. It looked like it had been brutally ripped from his head. All that remained was a uneven stump dripping with blood.

“What happened, Rainbow?!” Rarity asked. She was desperate to know if Sweetie Belle was involved and if she was hurt.

“I don't know. We were working the clouds when Cloud Kicker saw the two foals unconscious on the ground.” Rainbow Dash's voice quivered with fear and concern.

“You saw Sweetie Belle there?”

“She never came to school,” added Cheerilee while she checked the two colts.

“I haven't seen her.” Rainbow rose a few feet in the air. “But if whatever did this is still around, then we have to find her!”

“Rainbow is right,” Cloud Kicker added, “we can't leave her alone with some unknown danger lurking in town.”

“Thanks, Rainbow and Cloud Kicker, thank you both.” Rarity was relieved to know that she could count on them now especially since two pegasi could help search from the sky.

“No need to thank me, protecting others is what I do best.” Cloud Kicker prepared to take flight.

“Wait Cloud!” Rainbow Dash stopped her before she raised off the ground. “I know you want to help find Sweetie Belle, but it's better for you to stay and help Cheerilee with the two injured foals.”

“It is true. I appreciate your help but you should stay, I don't think Cheerilee can take care of the two colts alone.” Although Rarity knew it would be faster searching with two pegasi, they couldn't leave Cheerilee alone.

Rarity secretly was happy that Cloud Kicker was staying behind. Not that she didn't want her help, but she wanted as few ponies as possible to know the truth. Although she didn't want to admit it, she knew deep down that Sweetie Belle was somehow responsible.

“Yes... I guess it's better if I stay.” Cloud Kicker approached Cheerilee and the two foals. “I hope your sister is alright, Rarity.”

“Thanks for the help, Cloud,” said Cherrilee, “We must hurry and take them to hospital. You should also hurry and find Sweetie Belle, I don't want anything bad to happen to her.” Cheerilee carefully lifted the unicorn and placed him on her back. Cloud Kicker followed her and did the same with the other colt.

“What are we waiting for?! Let's go, Rarity!” Rainbow Dash rolled several times in the air and then went to find Sweetie Belle. Rarity nodded and started looking too.

While Rainbow Dash flew over Ponyville in search of Sweetie Belle, Rarity first went to the Carousel Boutique. She still hoped that Sweetie Belle had returned and that all this worry was in vain.

After several minutes galloping while she looked everywhere in search of Sweetie Belle, Rarity finally reached the boutique. She came in and quickly shouted for her little sister, but without getting an answer. She tore through the boutique, but every room she checked was empty. Her bedroom, the kitchen, the laundry room, her design room, all empty. Sweetie Belle certainly wasn't here.

Rarity looked in every room of the boutique one more time before going outside. She began to despair but she forced herself to stay calm. She needed to figure out where Sweetie Belle would have gone, and losing her composure wouldn't help.

When Rarity left the boutique, Rainbow Dash was returning from searching from the sky over Ponyville. It seems she didn't have any luck in finding Sweetie Belle either.

“Rainbow! Did you find her?!” Rarity asked while Rainbow Dash landed next to her.

“I haven't found her yet. But don't worry, I'll keep looking until I find her!” Rainbow Dash wouldn't accept that she could not find her. She can be lazy and uninterested sometimes, but when it came to helping a friend, she always gives more than one hundred percent.

“Can't you think of a place where Sweetie Belle might have gone?” Rainbow Dash added.

“I'm not sure... Wait! I think there's one place that we haven't looked.” There was one place Rarity thought she could be. Although, after all that has happened she wasn't entirely sure.

Rarity galloped off quickly and Rainbow Dash followed closely from the sky. Even with their destination in mind, they still kept their eyes open just in case.

After a few minutes they came to Sweet Apple Acres.

“You think we ought to tell Applejack?” Rainbow Dash asked as they passed near the farm.

“I don't think we should. She has been working hard and taking care of Applebloom,” said Rarity. She knew that Applejack would be more than willing to help look for Sweetie Belle, but Rarity didn't want to cause her more trouble.

“Oh right, Applebloom is sick,” said Rainbow Dash and the two continued their way through Sweet Apple Acres.

Rainbow Dash didn't know the truth of what had happened to Applebloom, but after all the concern and loyalty she had shown, Rarity knew that she deserved to know the truth.

After walking through the apple trees they finally arrived at the Cutiemark Crusaders's clubhouse. Rarity stood near the tree house and shouted, “Sweetie Belle! Are you there?!” but she got no response.

After a few seconds Scootaloo leaned out from a window. “Rarity? Rainbow? What are you doing here?”

“Oh, hey kid. You haven't seen Sweetie Belle?” Rainbow Dash asked as she flew close to the window.

“I haven't seen her since... well you know.” Scootaloo left the tree house, down the stairs and went to Rarity. “Something happen?”

For a moment Rarity felt bad for Scootaloo. She forgot that without Applebloom and Sweetie Belle she must be alone and depressed.

“Rainbow, Scootaloo, I... I'll tell you what's going on.”

---

It was getting late and the sun began to set over the horizon. Sweetie Bell was wandering aimlessly through the forest. Tears streamed down her face. When she realized what she had done, she bolted off without looking back. Now she was lost in a forest that seemed to grow thicker the longer she walked.

“I... I am really... a monster.” Sweetie Belle sobbed as she walked. She didn't care at this point where she was walking, she just wanted to get away as far as she can, to never hurt anypony again. She didn't realize that she had walked into the Everfree Forest.

“They were right... I hurt Applebloom and now... I–” She didn't notice the root that was protruding from the ground. She stumbled and fell onto the ground. Sweetie Belle didn't try to get up after falling, preferring to stay on the ground. I can't go back to Ponyville, not after everything I did.

She stayed on the ground and her mind went back to earlier that day. She remembered what she had done, how she had hurt those colts. They must really hate me now, she thought. Sweetie Belle never wanted anyone to hate her. She has always tried to be good and the other ponies had always loved her. She was terrified of the idea that others hated her.

After a few minutes, Sweetie Belle decided to get up and walk.

The sun had set completely and the moon was beginning to appear. It was becoming difficult to see where to walk because of the thickness of the forest and the low light.

Sweetie Belle stopped, looked around and finally realized where she was. She began to worry since every tree seems to look at her. The sound of the forest creatures could be heard through the trees and the fear threatened to tear her heart from her chest. This wasn't a good place to be... much less alone... much less at night.

She heard scratching in the trees close to her, followed by a branch breaking. Sweetie Belle jumped and launched herself through the forest as quickly as she could. She tried to dodge the trees she could see, but it was difficult with so much darkness. While dodging a tree, she didn't see where she stepped and fell down a hill.

“Ouch!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed after rolling down the hill, fortunately it wasn't a very big hill. She stood on all four legs carefully, but when she put her left foreleg on the floor, she felt a sharp pain in her ankle and almost fell to the ground again. A tear fell down her cheek as she tried to start walking again because she was afraid of staying there for too long.

Limping with an injured leg, Sweetie Belle managed to walk to a place where there weren't many trees and she could see the moon in the starry sky. “It hurts, I need to stop,” she told herself as she searched for a place to lie down.

After searching around, Sweetie Belle found a flat rock where she could lie down. She walked slowly to the rock and sat carefully trying to avoid putting weight on her wounded leg. “Sis... Help me...” Sweetie Belle began to cry in despair. She was scared, cold, and alone. The only thing she wanted at the moment was to have her sister by her side.

Suddenly, a cold breeze blew from between the trees and a blue light appeared a few meters in front of her. The brightness blinded her for a few seconds and then, as the light fades, she began to see the silhouette of a pony.

“Rarity?” Sweetie Belle asked trying to see the silhouette.

“Good night, Sweetie Belle. I came here for you.” The pony took a few steps towards Sweetie Belle revealing Princess Luna.

“Prii-princess?! What are– You came for me?” Sweetie Belle gasped in surprise. Of all ponies, she never expected that Princess Luna would come for her.

Sweetie Belle quickly tried to stand to respectfully greet the princess, but she forgot her injured leg and tumbled to the floor, causing the pain to come back.

“Carefully, my child. I do not want you to get hurt,” said princess Luna. She went to Sweetie Belle and stood beside her. “Do not be afraid, stay still.”

Luna lowered her head and she placed her horn near Sweetie Belle's wounded leg. Gently Luna's horn began to emit a blue glow and it spread to Sweetie Belle's leg.

“What are you doing... Oh.” Sweetie Belle began to feel a cold but pleasant sensation in her wounded leg. Slowly the pain began to disappear leaving only the cold from Luna's magic.

“I hope you feel better now,” said Luna.

Sweetie Belle shook her leg and touched it gently with her other leg. She stood up and was surprised that the pain was completely gone, as if it had never been. “Wow, what did you do? It was incredible!” Sweetie Belle said as she ran and jumped testing her now healed leg.

“That was nothing,” Luna said as she let out a small laugh when she saw the little filly running around. She extended her right foreleg, stopped Sweetie Belle as she ran in front of her and asked more seriously, “But what I want to know is what a young filly like yourself is doing alone in the Everfree Forest?”

“Oh, that...” The momentary happiness that Sweetie Belle had faded when she remembered why she was here. “It's a long and complicated story.”

“The night is still young,” said Luna. She walked to the rock and sat on her haunches to get comfortable. “Come here, my child. I have time to listen to it.”

Sweetie Belle walked slowly towards Luna. She was going to sit but she hesitated a bit, she was a little intimidated by being with Princess Luna, and it seems that Luna noticed.

“Do not be afraid, my child,” said Luna as she smiled towards Sweetie Belle, “by my side you'll be safe.”

With a little more confidence, Sweetie Belle sat next to Luna. She took a few minutes to feel more comfortable when sitting next to one of the princesses and Luna, who apparently could feel her insecurity, waited patiently for Sweetie Belle to feel comfortable.

“Good. You mind telling me the story now?”

Sweetie Belle nodded and proceeded to tell her what happened. “It started a week ago...”

At first Sweetie Belle hesitated to tell her the whole story. She was afraid that Luna would judge her when she knew what she had done, but after seeing how Luna was careful listening to her, she continued telling the story with more confidence. The way that Luna watched her as she spoke, was like she could understand her, more than any other pony with which she had spoken.

“I never wanted to hurt anypony...” Sweetie Belle said after she finished her tale. A small tear fell from her cheek when she remembered all the suffering she has caused. “I... I'm a monster.”

“You are not a monster, my child,” Luna said trying to remove that idea from ​​Sweetie Belle's head.

“Yes! I am! I hurt so many ponies and... that colt...” Sweetie Belle almost began to cry at the thought of what she did. She lowered her head and tried to cover her ears with her hooves. “I can still hear his screams... how he begged me to stop... but I didn't stop, not until I had already done enough harm.”

“Maybe you haven't done the right things,” said Luna, “but you are not a monster. You just have to learn to control your darkness.”

“My darkness?” Sweetie Belle asked. She didn't understand what Luna meant by this.

“In this world there are three types of energy,” Luna explained, “light, dark and a third neutral energy. Normally the ponies and nearly all living creatures in Equestria are born in the neutral, unaware of the other two. But on very rare occasions a pony is born into the light or the dark.”

Luna paused for a moment and looked to see if Sweetie Belle was following her. Then she finished, “Sweetie Belle, you're one of the very few ponies graced with this distinction.”

Sweetie Belle remained silent for a few seconds, trying to understand what Luna had said. “Why... why me?”

“Life is unpredictable. Sometimes we do things and don't know why. What matters is that this is what you are, your destiny.”

“But... this means that I'm evil?” Sweetie Belle said uncertainly. Fear grew inside her at the thought that she would be bound to hurt and she couldn't do anything to avoid it. “I don't wanna have this destiny.”

Luna gently placed her hoof on Sweetie Belle's shoulder. “I know how you feel. But I assure you, you do not have to worry. Darkness can be something overwhelming, but you are not going to be evil. All depends on what you choose. Will you control the darkness or will it control you?”

“But...” Sweetie Belle was still unsure of what to think.

“Let me tell you a story, my child,” Luna looked up at the dark sky, to the moon. She smiled and continued.

“A long time ago a young pony, like you, was born in the dark. She had a beautiful and kind big sister who loved her a lot, who unlike her, was born in the light. For a long time both sisters lived together happily looking after each other. The young pony admired her big sister, always wanting to be like her.

“But eventually things changed. The elder sister got the admiration of all the ponies, everyone wanted to be with her. So great was her glory that she cast a long shadow over her little sister.

“The young pony began to envy her sister and wish that it was she whom everypony admired. With the passing years the envy within the younger sister grew up. Fed by her inner darkness, envy turned to hate, a hatred against all that did not admire her.

“With hatred in her heart the young pony tried to do awful things, she tried to harm all the ponies in Equestria. But she was stopped by her own sister. With time and with a little help the younger pony realized that what she had done was wrong and decided to change. She told herself that she would never allow that to happen again and that she would do well for all ponies, even those who did not admire her.”

Luna glanced again at the moon and with a smile looked to Sweetie Belle. “The young pony did not let the darkness control her anymore. She decided to take control and shape her own destiny.”

Sweetie Belle remained silent as she listened the story. She didn't understand why Luna was telling this or why Luna was so interested in it. After a few seconds she realized something. “That young pony... is you, right?”

“You are right, my child,” Luna answered, “I am, like you, a creature of darkness. That is why I can understand what you are going through.”

For a while Sweetie Belle felt happy to meet someone like her, but there was still something bothering her. “But... what will happen if I can't do it. What if the same thing happens to me.”

“You have got the future on your side, you are going to be fine now,” Luna said trying to make her feel better, “you have a family and great friends, and now you have me. Trust me when I tell you, that is not going to happen.

Sweetie Belle was about to say something when she felt something around her. She was surprised to see that Luna was hugging her, and not a simple hug. She was embracing her in a way that made ​​her feel safe and calm. Sweetie Belle didn't say anything; she just let Luna hug her.

“I'm not going to let that happen,” Luna said and embraced her tighter.

---

It was nearly midnight when Rarity returned to the Carousel Boutique. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were with her, because they couldn't leave her alone after having heard all that had happened.

“You think Sweetie Belle's okay?” Scootaloo asked worriedly. “We should have kept looking.”

“Don't worry Scoot, we'll get the others and keep looking in the morning. I'm sure Twilight can use her magic to find her. Or Pinkie Pie can do whatever it is that she does,” said Rainbow Dash.

Rarity was quiet, she was too worried to speak right now. Though she wanted to keep looking too, she knew Rainbow Dash was right.

“But we can't let her spend the night alone, we don't know what monsters can be outside.”

“I'm sure Sweetie Belle can stand on her own. She wasn't the scared filly after all.” Rainbow Dash let out a small laugh. It seems that she can't avoid making a little joke.

“Yes I know, but... Hey!”

Suddenly someone knocked on the door. “Sweetie Belle!” Rarity exclaimed as she slipped to the door. She reached the door and opened it. “Sweetie, are you– Oh.”

To her surprise Princess Luna was standing at the doorway. “Good Night, Rarity. Can we come in?”

“Sis...” said Sweetie Belle slightly hidden between Luna's legs.

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity cried when she saw her little sister. All her worries finally disappeared along with the fear of having lost her.

Sweetie Belle quickly left Luna's legs and ran to her sister and the two embraced tightly.

“Oh, Sweetie Belle, don't do that to me, I was very worried. I thought I would lose you,” Rarity said, trying not to cry.

“Sorry! I'm sorry.” Sweetie Belle was sobbing, partly because she was happily back with her sister and partly because she was guilty for making her worry.

Luna stepped inside the boutique. “Good night, Rainbow Dash and you too Scootaloo.”

“Hey, princess!” Rainbow Dash greeting.

“Princess Luna!” Scootaloo leaped over to Luna, tiny wings buzzing excitedly, and cheered, “You saved Sweetie Belle?”

“Thank you, Princess Luna,” Rarity said as she hugged Sweetie Belle. “Thanks for bringing back my little sister.”

“You do not have to thank me. It was something that I needed to do. Now if you will excuse me, I must guard the night.” Luna looked at Sweetie Belle who still clung to her sister. “I will see you tomorrow, Sweetie Belle. Do not forget what I have told you.”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “I won't.”

Luna took a few steps and left the boutique. She kept walking until she vanished into the darkness of the night.

Rarity separated from Sweetie Belle and walked toward Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash. “It is late, why don't you stay here tonight?”

“Sure, why not?” said Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, of course. Sleepover with Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo said as she jumped and fluttered her wings.

“Sorry, Scoot, I'm very tired. Maybe tomorrow,” Sweetie Belle said as she yawned. She has had an exhausting day and all she wanted now was to sleep.

Comments

[um why not]

Aww yeah!! Enter Luna this is going to get good

[Bootsy Slickmane]

Okay, perhaps it isn't Nightmare Forces. This looks like something different. This looks like something more original.