Rarity's Gift

by Silver Wit

Chapter 11: All Good Things...

The bitter cold and pitch blackness vanished from Rarity’s senses as a familiar scene laid out before her. She was in her warm home, but something was off. There wasn’t the odd toy lying on the floors and the walls seemed to lack many of the family photos that Rarity had grown accustomed to. But what was most jarring was the sight of dresses hanging on a rack, dresses strewn about the floor and shredded newspaper. This was so familiar to Rarity, as if it had happened only moments ago…

“Well, I can see you’ve certainly enjoyed yourself,” came a familiar voice. Eris stood off to the side and greeted Rarity with a smile and a friendly wave. “I hope your gift was everything you wanted and-“

“NOOOO!!” Rarity screamed as she flung her hooves around the collar of the Princess of Fortune’s cloak, threatening to rip it right from her shoulders. “TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME BACK THIS INSTANT!”

To say Rarity surprised the trickster would be an understatement, as Eris’ face had the looks as if she just encountered a real-life demon. “R-Rarity? What-?”

“LOLITE!” Rarity’s tears streamed down her cheeks, with enough volume to flood the room. “SHE’S STILL OUT IN THAT STORM! SHE’S TERRIFIED! SHE NEEDS ME! SEND ME BACK! PLEASE!”

For all the power that Eris possessed, nothing could give her the courage to look the mare in the eyes. “I’m… I’m sorry Rarity… but your time was up. You had to return here…”

Rarity’s mouth opened and closed repeatedly as she tried to say something. She felt all of her rage and strength dissipate as she sank to the floor and sobbed into her hooves. “No… no, no, no…please… I-I can’t leave her… please… please send me back… please…”

Eris rubbed the back of her head as the broken pony cried at her talons. Her face scrunched and she ran her arm over the other as a tug of war played out in her mind. She knelt down and placed a hand on Rarity’s shoulder. “She’s safe.”

“What?” Rarity looked up from her hooves, eyes still puffy. “What did you say?”

“I said… she’s safe. You’re actions saved Lolite. You on the other hoof, had to be rushed to the hospital, suffering minor frostbite, and proceeding to come down with the worst cold of your life. But… you’re both happy, safe and alive.”

Rarity wiped her tears. “Thank goodness. But how do you know that?”

Eris smiled. “You know how it goes with chaos. Able to rip and bend reality, make the impossible possible, and sometimes see all possibilities. Though, I don’t indulge too much in the latter. After all, where’s the fun in living if you know all the answers?”

Rarity took a deep breath as she did her best to compose herself. “Tell me… was… was that my future? Married to Spike? My foals? Are they all preordained?”

Eris shrugged. “Who can say? Time is a strange thing Rarity. It doesn’t just go in a straight line; it fractures, bends, and splinters like a river. Every choice you make, regardless of how small or insignificant it may seem, will play a part. Maybe that is your future. Or perhaps, since you know of it, your path will change and become something new. But whatever lies in wait, your future is what you make of it. It’s all up to you.”

“Whatever path I take,” Rarity said with conviction. “I know that I want to face it with Spike. I have to find him; I have to apologize and tell him how much I need him in my life.”

Eris grinned. “Well, if you leave now, you should be able to catch up with him before he gets home.”

Rarity tilted her head. “But… but Spike came here and then I was gone for… what time is it now?”

Eris pointed out the window, it was dark with only a few lampposts showing that the snow was falling just as gently as it was when Rarity returned home from Manehattan. “Consider this my second gift to you. It’s only been a few minutes since Spike’s departure. Use this time wisely.”

“I will!” without a moment to spare, Rarity rushed to the door and flung it open. She turned her head. “Thank you Eris… for everything.” Rarity left the shop and ran towards the Castle of Friendship while Eris stood in Carousel Boutique with a satisfied grin and a delightfully warm feeling in her heart. She snapped her fingers and just like that, she was gone.

---

Where are you Spike? Rarity ran through the streets of Ponyville at full gallop, hoping to head off her beloved drake. Eventually she came to a trail of claw prints and a line from somepony, specifically a dragon, dragging their tail. He’s close! He's close, I can feel it!” Rarity kept her pace up and followed the path laid before her.

Soon she saw him, Spike was walking slowly, head hung low and shoulders sagging. Rarity felt a pang in her heart like a pin prick from a voodoo doll, but she’d have plenty of time to berate herself later, right now she had far more important matters to attend to.

“Spike!” Rarity called out. Spike stopped and lifted his head. “Spike, wait!” Spike turned around just as Rarity slid to a halt coming a few inches short of bowling him over.

“Rarity?” Spike asked. “What are you-?”

Rarity held up a hoof as she struggled to catch her breath. “Spike… please… I… I have something to say… and I fear that if I don’t tell you now… I may never have a chance like this again.”

Spike nodded and waited patiently for Rarity to compose herself. After a few more deep breaths, Rarity looked deep into Spike’s eyes. His beautiful, beautiful eyes. It was now or never.

“Spike… I’m sorry. I’m so dreadfully sorry. I never should have taken my frustration out on you. You’re the greatest friend a pony could ask for. I know you didn’t set me up to fail, you were just being the same supportive, caring, and generous dragon you’ve always been. And I was just being a foolish and bitter mare. I understand if you’re angry at me, I would be too if I were in your position. But I hope you can forgive me…

“I know I’ve made mistakes. I’ve made a plethora of them. Among them was never telling you how important you are to me, how much I enjoy and treasure your company, how much I look forward to seeing you every single day… I want to have you by my side Spike, now and always. I can’t imagine what my future would be like without you in it. I don’t even want to entertain the idea of you not being here with me. I want to face the future with you Spike, you and only you.”

A heavy silence fell as Spike stood there slack jawed. Was she too late? Has her mistake cost her a future with Spike? Rarity hung her head and shut her eyes as shame started to creep into her heart and soul. The cold began to set in as her adrenaline faded, Rarity shivered, regretting not bringing something warm to wear. There was a sound of paper being torn and then Rarity felt something wrap around her neck. Her body felt an all to familiar warmth that spread from her head to her hooves. Rarity opened her eyes. She was wearing a blue scarf.

Spike scratched his cheek as a growing blush covered his face. “This… was supposed to be your Hearths Warming present… but it got so cold out, I thought I’d give it to you a little early.”

Rarity was in awe as she ran a hoof along the soft wool. The same gentle caress she felt from her other scarf. The one from…

“I know it’s nothing fancy,” Spike continued. “But I made it myself; uh, I mean, Twilight lent a hoof, but I knitted it myself. Took me awhile to get the hang of it, but I think it came out well. Um… do… do you like it?”

Rarity held one of the ends to her face, it smelled like a burning fireplace. The wonderful scent that harkened to her time as a wife and mother. Feeding Cobalt, walking through town with Lolite and the time spent with Spike, her wonderful husband, and the father of her foals. The life she never knew she wanted. No, it was her deepest desire. A life with the one she loved more than anycreature and a family to share with him. Rarity began to tear up, she let out a soft sob. She sniffled and gazed at Spike with unbridled joy in her eyes and a loving smile.

“I love it.”

Author's Note:

And so this story comes to a close. Which is a big deal, since this is the first story I completed (no I don't count One Last Lesson because that's a one-shot and those, by definition are the easiest to complete) and I've been on pins and needles waiting to post this. My proof reader and editor loved this chapter and I hope you do as well, just my way of saying Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hearths Warming and I'll see you all in the New Year.

Let me know what you guys think of this chapter (and the story as a whole), I love reading the comments.

As always, thanks for reading. See you next time

Silver Wit

Comments

[Snivypony]

Great job on completing your 1st big story! Wonderful ending!!!

[Hillbe]

Merry Christmas
What a gift
She like the scarf?
It got me laid!
"..."
Several times
TMI Rarity TMI
Dragon Babies!
Discord! Get back here! Now!
A package deal

[Spade_McTrowel]

It's still very much Christmas Day here in the US,
Happy Holidays :)

As for the story, this was a lovely chapter - if a bit short for a wrap up.

Still, it did end the story on a heartwarming note, though I'll need to give the story another read through now that every chapter is published to see if it works as a novel as well as a serial. As a single piece, I think the nadir might not be long enough after the apex.

There are two VERY different emotions you conjured with the ends of the last two chapters, and as a single piece, I don't think that there's time for either emotion to register fully - they are too close together. As a serial, there's a few weeks wait for emotions to fester and speculation to take effect. As a single story, by the time you are concerned for Rares and Lolite, everything's fixed.

Spike's gift, though... So cute!

Looking forward to what you do next.
I do hope you choose to revisit these two some day... maybe a semi-epilogue or a Spike perspective one-shot around Hearts-n-Hooves day?
Just a few suggestions, but I do so love how you handle Rarity's and Spike's voices.

Thanks for writing this.

--Spade

[Silver Wit]

11096059
Dang, thanks for the analysis. I’ll do my best to keep this in mind going forward. Gives me a lot to think about

[Ninjadeadbeard]

A fitting, and cute, ending.

[Silver Wit]

11096184
I'm glad you like it

[jw278]

Great way to finish it, worth the agonising few days wait I really enjoyed this one thank you for the heard work & loved what you did with the scarf. Now with that said I'm going to be like every reader that enjoys a good story(please don't kill me lol)

I know what was said in this chapter about the future & stuff but I would of loved a time skip to see them all together again. Like you said in the story Maybe that is your future. Or perhaps, since you know of it, your path will change and become something new But i like to think that was her future. So my question(although a silly one I think lol) is if you did an epilogue or something like that, would that be the future you give her or would you change it?

All in all a great read thank you & Merry Christmas

[TasermonsPartner]

Not many stories here even mention Eris, since she was only in one arc of the comics, much less put a quasi-positive spin on her. It's appropriate you finished the story on Christmas, as the end evokes tones of the tale of Scrooge after being visited by the spirits and changing his behavior afterwards.

[Silver Wit]

11096559
Huh. That insight never even occurred to me. I like it!

[Silver Wit]

11096344
Funny you say that, I was asked about the idea of an epilogue of some kind. It sounds like it could be fun, but I have to give it a bit more thought. Though I don't think I'd go too far in the future, certainly before their foals and before their wedding. I want to keep that part of Rarity's life a bit more ambiguous.

[jw278]

11097991
Well that sounds interesting I must say. You can be sure that if/when you do get around to writing it I'll be sure to read it lol Now that I've read your comment I won't lie the idea of seeing how their relationship starts out(think thats the right word here lol) does seem interesting. I mean you have them go on there first date, see how everyone else reacts to the news & so on, I won't lie the more I think about it the more excited I am to see what you come up with Thanks again for the story