In a shocking turn of events, the famously silent lone survivor of the Ponyville Massacre has chosen to break that silence and give an interview. When asked why, she merely responded that she "wanted to set the record straight."
"Thank you for having me. I know I've been pretty quiet these past ten years about what happened in the woods there, but it was, as I'm sure you can guess, a very traumatic experience. I wished to keep my privacy on the matter, and didn't want to re-live the memories of seeing my best friends brutally slaughtered in front of me. But ever since I saw the news stories that Rarity is now considered a national hero because she helped free Princess Luna, I felt I needed to set the record straight.
That mare is no hero. I find it shameful that she's managed to fool so many ponies, especially those other five mares, who I think are absolutely heroes. They deserve better than to believe that Rarity is on their side. A mare like her cannot be a hero.
As you all know, I attended Ponyville Elementary with Rarity when we were fillies. I am ashamed to admit that my friends and I weren't as kind to her as we could have been, and I am truly sorry for that. She might tell you that we spent all day torturing her, and that is absolutely untrue. My friends and I largely left her alone, save for a few snide remarks now and again. Nothing unusual of schoolfoals. Could we be a little mean? Yes, and like I said I regret that every day. But we didn't say anything too hurtful.
I guess she didn't really see it that way. I think that she has some kind of mental problem that makes her fixate on small, harmless things. When my friends and I snarked at her, I think she fixated on that until, in her mind, it became a bigger deal than it actually was. At some point she must have snapped, I guess.
On that day, I don't think my friends and I had even looked at Rarity. We went through school like we normally did with no real conflicts from her. Still, school was pretty boring, so we decided to go exploring in the woods when it was over. We found this really beautiful creek, and I think we were about to start looking for frogs when we saw her there. She had this... look in her eyes. I've never seen it before. It looked almost inequine. I've never seen a smile like that before or since. She didn't say anything, though. She just stared at us. My friends Dug and Kicker moved in front of me in case she tried anything. They always were pretty protective of me. Dug asked her what she wanted while Kicker said that I should run in case Rarity became dangerous. I didn't want to, they were my friends and I wanted to make sure they were okay, but Kicker insisted that I should go get an adult if Rarity did anything.
As you know, she did do something. Dug didn't see that she had a rock with her, and when he tried to ask her what she wanted again, she... she hit him with the rock. Right on the head. Then just kept hitting him, even though he was already down. Kicker went to go fight her, telling me to run. She stopped hitting Dug, and the two of them began fighting. I think Kicker knew that he probably couldn't win, but he had to try. Anything to make sure I could get away. I... I was a coward. I ran, just like he told me to. I didn't make it more than a few hooves into the trees before I heard her hitting him with the rock too. I think it's a miracle that she didn't find me. I know she would have killed me too if she had. I made it into town and got the attention of the nearest adults. They called the police, and they locked her up.
I'm... I'm sorry if I seem a little emotional. It's hard to think about, you know? And she's gotten no better! Every year I go to Ponyville where... where it happened, and I lay down white roses for my friends. Last year, I found her in the creek. She was snapping them, and tearing the petals out. She looked really pleased with herself. I wanted to confront her, but I think if I had... I don't think I'd be able to give this interview. She'd have jumped at the opportunity to finish the job.
A mare like that is no hero. She's a sick, twisted mare who will kill again, I'm sure of it. If she hasn't already, that is. She'd be a lot more careful if she did. I urge Princess Celestia to look into that. If she does, she might prevent more ponies from dying horribly at the hooves of that evil, evil mare. So she put on a necklace with a few other mares. So what? Does she think that excuses what she did, and what she might still be doing? If I have one message for you all today it's this: don't trust her. She's a wolf in sheep's clothing, and she will do something to reveal that. We have to be vigilant to ensure that when that day does come, she doesn't spill any more blood. Were we as nice to Rarity as we could have been? No, and I will forever regret that. But no matter what we said or did, my friends didn't deserve to die like that.
Rarity put the paper down and quietly sighed. She looked up at her five friends, all of whom gave her looks of worry.
"It's all lies," Rarity said through gritted teeth. "She lays down the roses? I went into that creek to hunt them?!" Rarity crumpled up the paper and tossed it onto the floor of her boutique. "I can't believe she thought she could say these things."
"She's not gonna get away with this," Applejack said, fury in her voice. "This here is libel, and that's illegal!"
"But who will believe that?" Rarity muttered. "I'm the only other pony who knows what truly happened that day. I mean, yes, I've given the story to other ponies, of course, but her and I are the only ones who went through it. Lies or not, the citizens of Equestria will trust her word."
"Well then what do you need us to do, Rarity?" Rainbow Dash asked. "You just say the word and we'll give this mare a piece of our mind!"
"Kind of you to offer, Rainbow, but you're not dealing with a well pony." Rarity laid her head on the table she sat at and closed her eyes. "I don't know what her game is. I don't know if she's trying to force my hoof, or if she truly believes what she's saying. She can't cope with what really happened, so she's created a version in her own mind where I'm absolute evil and she just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"So what do you want to do about this, Rarity?" Twilight asked. "I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't think that you can just let this be. Like you said: she's the only other pony who was there. A lot of ponies are going to believe her, and that can make life very difficult for you."
"I know," Rarity mumbled. "I don't want to have to do anything, but if she was trying to force my hoof in something, she might have succeeded."
"I can talk to Princess Celestia about this," Twilight said. "I know she'd never censor the news, but her word would mean just as much as yours. You did tell me that she spoke in your defense when... all of it happened."
"True, but..." Rarity opened her eyes and raised her head. "I can't have Princess Celestia fighting my battles for me. Not all of the time. If she can help in some way, then I will gladly accept that help, but I can't hide behind her every time something like this happens. If this is truly going to end, if Equestria is truly going to move on from this, I have to be the one to lead that."
"So what do you want to do?" Fluttershy asked.
* * * *
"Thank you for your help, Princess Celestia. I hope today goes well."
Celestia smiled fondly at Rarity and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Of course, Rarity. It's the least I can do after everything that has transpired. Should you require anything else, do not hesitate to let me know."
"You're too kind, Princess Celestia, but I have my friends here." Rarity turned her head back and smiled the five ponies around her. "After that, what else do I need?"
"I think that is a wise perspective, Rarity," Celestia said with a nod. "For now, they are waiting for you."
"Thank you, Princess Celestia. I think it's best if I make this quick."
"If you think that is best," Celestia replied.
"I do. I don't want to answer any questions. I merely want to say it how it happened."
"Good." A slight grimace crossed Princess Celestia's face. "And Annie. What she said was libel, and therefore illegal. What do you wish done about that?"
Rarity stared a Celestia for a few moments, trying her best to ignore the piercing gazes of her friends. After a moment, she sighed and shook her head.
"Nothing. I don't want to pursue any legal action or press any charges against that sad, scared mare. I will not validate her, nor will I rise to any bait. She's made her choices, and I've made mine. She's not worth it."
"As you wish."
"It is." Rarity took a deep breath and turned to the large door that led to the courtyard of Canterlot Castle. She gave her friends a warm smile before opening the doors and stepping out. A wave of flashbulbs temporarily blinded her, and she could even hear reporters shouting different questions. She had no interest in any of them. She heard Twilight's horn ignite, and after a moment, the bright flashbulbs didn't seem so overwhelming. She shot Twilight a grateful look before continuing on to the podium that Celestia set up for her. She raised her hoof, signaling to the crowd before her that she wished to begin. The questions died down, leaving the courtyard silent, save for a few random murmurs.
"Thank you, mares and gentlecolts. I know it must be exciting for ponies of your profession that I've broken my silence on the matter of what happened all those years ago, just as the only other witness did, but I will say now that I am not here to answer questions. I am not here to humor anything in that mare's story. I am merely here to tell you the truth. Nothing more, and nothing less." Rarity took a breath to steady herself before continuing on.
"I imagine that the details are well-known to most of you. When I was eight years old, I killed two of my classmates by attacking them with a rock. Many ponies say that I did so because they bullied me, and that is partially true. They subjected me to torment the likes of which I never thought possible at that age. I'd never been bullied before, so to suddenly come across three ponies who only seemed to take joy in my misery was something I did not know how to handle. When it first happened, I became quite distraught. My teacher sent me to a creek not far from the school where I could relax and calm down. It became my safe place. My sanctuary. My parents both worked full-time jobs, so I was a latchkey foal. I spent what time I could in the creek, just recovering from the verbal or sometimes even physical abuse those foals subjected me to.
"It was there it happened, as you know. One day after school, they hunted me down and cornered me there. They intended to beat me up, and made those intentions quite plain to me. Not knowing what to do, I hit one in the head with a rock just as he began charging me. I didn't intend to hit him in the head, and I certainly didn't intend to kill him, but... that's what happened."
Rarity felt her eyes begin to water, so she took another deep, steadying breath.
"It was an accident, I promise, but... they looked scared of me. After months of having to fear them, they were suddenly scared of me. To my eternal shame, it... it felt rather nice. I felt powerful. But I know now it wasn't real power. Merely a sickly, shallow imitation of it. I let that feeling overtake me, and I turned the rock onto my second classmate.
"I could argue that my attack on the first was self-defense. I still believe so, even given what happened as a result. But the second classmate... that was murder. Nothing I have done since, or will ever do, will change that. I will never feel that what I did was justified. I will never feel that taking his life was my right after what he had done to me. Nopony deserves what I did to happen to them."
The crowd began murmuring, and she even saw one or two nearby reporters raise their hooves for a question, but she pointedly ignored them.
"I spent six years in a mental institution as a result of my crimes. I wouldn't call it atonement. Nothing I can do will ever atone for my deed. The best I can hope for is to move on with my life and try to be happy. To help ponies, and to be the best friend, daughter, and sister that I can possibly be. I'm not angry at Annie for her words about what happened that day. I think we've had enough anger and resentment come from that day. I don't know if she can ever forgive me, and I know we can never be friends, but I can only wish that she'd find peace. I haven't fully found it myself either, but I strive for that every day. I hope you understand that I never meant for any of this to happen, but it did, and now I have to find a way to keep moving on." Rarity inclined her head at the audience. "Thank you."
As soon as she stepped off of the podium, the cascade of questions began again, but she ignored all of it, choosing instead to focus on her smiling friends. Without a word, the six of them stepped back into Canterlot Castle.
And just like that. The bully's whole sob story is torn to shreds. Good job being the bigger mare Rarity and NOT murdering her in her sleep... with a pillow.... and a knife.
I wonder what the bully shall do now that rarity was the bigger mare then her?
Wow, this got put out fast. Bravo.
Annie's 'interview'. I had to keep leaving it and come back to read it, it just pissed me off. She's trying to make herself out to be a victim? That what she and her friends did was 'basic foal' things? No. No, it was NOT. It never was, never will be, and the fact that she had the audacity to put that out and try and reopen old wounds in some sick attempt to make herself feel better disgusts me to no end. And while it's clear that she doesn't know anything about the Elements or how they work, the fact that she said such things pisses me off even more.
Bravo to Rarity for how she handled the situation, though. No questions allowed, setting the record straight and even openly acknowledging that what she did was wrong and that while she could be forgiven for the first one with 'self-defense' she actively went after the second one before snapping out of it. Massive props to her for that.
Classy as f**k, Rarity. Classy as f**k.
6723842
Or Tom.
Or possibly hang with a noose made of rose stems.
But yes, truly the better mare.
She doesn't have to go after her legally, but she should have at least admitted that Celestia herself believes her over Annie. And was the one to suggest going after her legally.
6723869 Damn straight.
Nice and to the point. No talking about how cruel the bullying was, no attacks on Annie for what she said about Rarity, not even refuting the whole thing about the flowers and the graves. Just setting the record straight. I'm really, really impressed. Not many people could be strong enough to keep a cool head like that in the face of so much seething hate and resentment, even if it is coming from a broken and traumatized mare.
It's so sad, really. I'm starting to wonder if Annie doesn't really have any friends she can trust. Rarity came this far and attained this much strength by leaning on her friends, her family, and the kind souls who believe her story and think she deserves a second chance. But Annie? If she didn't have that kind of support structure growing up, then the trauma from seeing her friends killed right in front of her will have only festered and gotten worse. I really hope she can find a friend to help her through all this... if it's not already too late.
Keep your friends close to your heart, Rarity.
6723869 I can not think of a better way for her to have done that.
Go Rarity!
To quote Happy Noodle Boy: FFUCK YOU, LITTLE FUCKER-FUCKY!
...Hey, annie, I think you forgot who this article is discussing.
Aaaaaand Rarity was the bigger mare. BOOSH!
Hugs for Rarity
6724038
Nope. Guess again. Not even close.
6723858 probably try to stir up more trouble.
6724059 I'm not denying that. I won't ever deny that. And I'll admit that I probably came off harsher than I needed to, I tend to do that. For that alone, I'm willing to apologize. However, if you read the next chapter you'll see just how much of a bitch she comes off in her 'interview'.
But back to the review and things I said for this, Chapter 14. Sadly, while a lot of people would react the same way towards somebody who murdered their closest friends, Annie's reaction is understandable and relateable. But here's the thing. She's ignorant of what Rarity went through, and refuses to even entertain the thought that Rarity feels regret for what she did back then, let alone sorry for it. She just sees that a murderer is now seen as a hero, and takes it as a personal slight to the point that she drags Rarity back into the spotlight. Again, more on that in the next chapter.
But see, this isn't the first time Annie has done this shit to Rarity. Remember back when Rarity takes Sweetie Belle to visit the graves of her victims? What Annie did? That was on purpose. She wants to hurt Rarity on an emotional level, have her family turn against her. It's not right, and I understand that a surviving victim wants to hurt the one who took something from her, but to do that and drag an innocent child into this whole debacle? That's despicable.
Annie is entitle to her feelings and opinions, she's justified there. Sadly, any pity that she may have garnered from me for what she went through is thoroughly crushed to nothing in Chapter 15.
6724040 So she does get a tragedy ending? I can't say I didn't expect that.
6724134 Guess again.
6724139 Oh so you're doing a good ending for once? Or is it gonna be bittersweet?
x.x Gah. instant idiot. She doesn't hide behind Celestia all the time. She hasn't even seen her since she was a child. This could easily be cleared up by having celestia explain the truth. She read Sweetie Belle's mind (with permission - I think it was Sweetie anyway) in another Killer Rarity-verse story. So it'd be a very simple "We know for a fact how this went. And Annie is full of shit" backing up. I mean this is a life altering issue - someone making something so extreme up - and a fairly easy way to deal with it all things considered is right there presented to her.
Oh. I guess Celestia already believes that then.
I think I understand Rarity's plan. instead of pulling the petty girl against girl mentality between Annie and herself Rarity is trying to diffuse it without drama. That's... actually fittingly generous considering the concrete backup she had available. I can respect that.
So.Annie is going to escalate things somehow I feel. Maybe even attempt murder herself - I dunno. She's dead set on ruining Rarity even if it means going out of her way or making things up. I don't see her dropping it at all.
6724126 Yeah I agree. she lost my sympathy pretty early in the article.
Bravo. Simply brazo. Its been hammered home what happened in this chapter and I can see where this is going. I've kept up with this arc ever sonce I came across it some time ago. In every story in this arc there is a tragic end, for all involved. The teagic tag exists for a reason afterall, its supposed to end in a dark if not buttersweet note. And all ends have, un my opinion, been crafted masterfully. Most saddened me but that was the intent. But here I can already Rarity rising above and getting her happy ending, the same for Sweetie Belle.
I shall read on and hope for the best.
Yes! Yes! Moar! Moar! I love this fic!
Huh, I was thinking about this series this week, and what do you know, I find a new variant in the features.
Coincidence? I think not. Time to buckle up my feels.
Here is what I foresee. Either Annie becoming a killer to frame Rarity or Annie will be the one to kill Rarity and/or Sweetie Belle. Thats my guess........
6724397 please no.
6724499 To be honest, I hope for a happy ending that involves Rarity and Annie actually becoming friends. Would be an interesting twist
I'm willing to bet that Annie will eventually come back along and kill Rarity in her sleep, and then makin the situation look as if she had taken her own life.
If she holds that big a grudge against her, and is willing to fuck everything up, I doubt that she wouldn't take the opportunity to put down Generosity.
And I doubt everything.
Wow, Rarity was right as a child, Annie really is filth. And I have exactly one thing to say to her:
6724112 true true petty is as petty done that girl stuck in her ways.
6724505 that would be nice
Rarity's story is more believable, but there's still a he-said she-said situation here, and people are predisposed against Rarity. Some people will believe her, some won't, and some will try to form a different story by mixing Annie's lies with Rarity's truth. Rarity also didn't address the flowers, so that could be an issue. I think this should help, but her situation is probably going to be similar to Sweetie's in "The Public Life of Sweetie Belle," but a little better.
If Annie holds on to this grudge, I think that we'll see her try to take justice into her own hooves like so many other commenters are predicting. However, simply because so many people are predicting it, I think that Annie will actually let it go. Maybe she'll be just about to kill Rarity and finds that she can't do it, or she see's something that changes her mind about the idea that Rarity could have changed.
I also noticed that they overlooked a witness. Nightmare Moon, Luna, looked into Rarity's mind and saw it all herself. She may have also shown Rainbow. That's either a plot hole or it's going to be important later.
6725620 I don't think Luna can recall what Nightmare Moon saw. Also, she didn't really see the incident, she just sensed Rarity's latent ability to kill.
6726208 If she didn't see the incident, how did she show it to Rarity and Rainbow Dash? There's also the fact that she did show at least part of it to Rainbow, even if she doesn't remember it herself. Most likely, Luna figured that a testimony from the newly reformed Nightmare Moon would do more harm than good for Rarity. After all, until just recently Equestria was sure she ate foals.
6726602 Little shorter than that, but the right idea.
6726208
Actually, I believe nightmares exact statement was that she pulled the image from Rarities head.
I think that's suppose to be Dug instead of Kicker.
http://objection.mrdictionary.net/go.php?n=8122028
6727232 The link doesn't work for me.
I should probably actually say that I am enjoying reading this, and though one can say your writing kills foals among other races, age, and species.
Please, do continue writing, darling.
6727260 Let me explain... No there is too much. Let me sum up.
cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/315483/file-567176249-jpg/objection.jpg?t=1449749082117
Just pointing out a small inconsistency that really probably doesn't matter. (But they would in a Phoenix Wright game.)
6725647 By this point the story has already continued so we already know that.
Really gave Annie too much credit was way worse than I could ever had feared, but to be fair to her apart from the stuff about the flowers.. that really could be how she remembers it.
Memory, human anyway don't know how pony memories work is really really bad at not changing.
Like alot.
Moving on however...
Yes, yes they did and you do too.
Just not being buried alive, far too much suffering there but kudos on trying your best to deserve being buried alive.
Not even close yet, but keep trying and eventually I'm sure since you seem to want to deserve it so much and doing so much to deserve it you'll get there one day.
Now now Rarity, why did you have to go and say a silly thing like that?
Should probly mention the elaborate and deliberate plan they concocted and executed in order to corner you too.. or send the press into Celestia's memories of not just the event, she went in to all of Rarity's mind/memories as I recall.
Actually how about just using Starswirls spell and then there'd be no biases, bring cameras?
Zecoras past potion is also an option, man criminal investigations if they happen at all in canon equestria basically solv themselves come to think about it.
Well... sure sure but it did serve to make the world a better place soooo there's that.
i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/681/116/5c3.gif And it actually was a relatively quick and painless way to go and they indeed did deserve it for their deliberate and planned acts, just like say the bullies in Elfen Lied even though they actually deserved way way etc worse than what they ended up getting.
Buried alive remains way, way too awful and disproportionate in any case.
Now now, no need to go quite so far.. there is always killing Anniederpicdn.net/img/view/2013/10/8/444227__safe_solo_pinkie+pie_animated_smile_sweet+and+elite_nod_nodding.gif indeed.
Anyway, kudos BronyWriter for these stories.
Some of the best sad etc stories on here I've ever read and can't thank you enough.
Before Rarity gave her speech, I kind of predicted her doing something like this. I was shocked that my thinking was in logic of this story.
Also, I think I caught on where you're playing at with the ending to the story.
If we do get to the part where Annie deserves to be buried alive. Lets bury her with hot coals. That should increase the suffering
I have so much respect for this version of Rarity, going out there giving her story and unlike Annie she doesn't omit the parts that could villainize herself to the townsfolk. That's just pathetic how Annie just flat out lies to try to make herself and her friends look like the good guys. Still despite here action I do hope Annie will at least find the strength to move on and no longer allow that horrific day to overtake the rest of her life like Rarity did. I don't expect her to forgive Rarity, just, let go of the past, what's done is done.
Way to go Rarity!!! Marvelously done!!!