> A Gem Unwrought
>  by Yinglung
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



“A gem unwrought is a stone unpurposed, a person unlearnt is a mind unreasoned.” – Chinese Proverb



“RA-RI-TY-!”

The ear-piercing scream of Rarity’s little sister rang through the entire Carousel Boutique.

The white mare gasped, and jumped straight up from his bed. He hit the rosy-purple canopy and immediately got entangled.

Flailing his arms in a panic, he managed to get down from the messed-up decors and fall onto his bed again, this time wrapped in torn-up satin like a postmodern fashion model.

“RARITY-! Are you up yet?!”

Sweetie Belle banged on the door repeatedly while loudly yelling Rarity’s name, creating a highly nerve-wrecking atmosphere. The white mare was reminded of those zombie invasion scenes that he read in comic books.

Why in Equestria am I in Rarity’s bedroom? The white mare thought quizzically. Just a moment ago, he was cleaning up the Cutie Map in Twilight’s Castle. 

After the last time Twilight’s friends used it for their adventure, it had been a bit quiet. The crystalline table was collecting dust, so he decided to clean the surface with cloth. He didn’t quite remember what happened afterwards, as there was a strange blank in his memory.

That’s when he noticed that the limbs he put near his muzzle in bemusement were white. 

Very white, like first snow. Those were also not claws of a dragon, but clearly hooves of a pony. A very familiar pony, in fact.

The white mare blinked his eyes and shook his head numbly. A thin strand of purple fell into his eyes, partially obscuring his sight.

Drawing in a breath of inevitability, he ignored the loud yells of Sweetie Belle and the smell of lavender fragrance permeating the room, and pulled himself up to the vanity mirror.

“Oh, Celestia, you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

The white mare muttered in shock, using the now sweet, sing-songy voice of his, or rather, not really his.

The white mare’s teeth clattered. His memories clearly told him that he was not a ‘she’, but rather a ‘he’. Specifically, he should be the ever loyal and helpful dragon assistant to Princess Twilight Sparkle, not the very white mare that he always loved. Why in all Equestria was he now Rarity?

The door suddenly trembled. With a crackling sound, the locked door was busted open in an aura of pure white. 

The lock on the door unceremoniously fell onto the floor. The white mare shakily turned, and saw Sweetie Belle looking him in the eyes with an apologetic grin.

“Oops, sorry Rarity! I must’ve accidentally casted magic on the door handle again, I’m too excited!”

The white mare kept on blinking, still not quite able to process what was going on.

“Rarity? Are you okay?”



Sweetie Belle trotted briskly near her sister, and tugged at the white mare’s disheveled night gown.

She chuckled. “Hehe, Rarity, you look so funny! Why are you wearing the canopy as your cape? Is that one of your new fashion ideas?”

The white mare gulped uneasily. His new curly tail swishing left and right nervously as he quickly ran through his mind for an appropriate response. 

“Uh, no, Sweetie Belle. It’s, um, just a wardrobe accident. Don’t worry, d- d- darling.”

Sweetie Belle eyed the white mare briefly with suspicion, before blooming into a wide smile again. “Alright then! I’m hungry, and I want to have breakfast quickly before today’s outing!”

“O- Outing?”

Sweetie Belle tilted her head sideways and eyed his ‘sister’ strangely. “You promised me, Rarity! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about the Summer Sun Celebration!”

The Summer Sun Celebration? The white mare was even more confused. The last one, which was the very first Summer Sun Celebration after the return of Princess Luna, was held quite some few moons ago. Twilight hadn’t even got her own castle yet at that time!

Sweetie Belle continued. “School is out today because of the Celebration, and you told me that you can spend some time with me before going to the town hall to set up the decorations!”

She jumped up and down giddily. “Princess Celestia will even visit Ponyville tomorrow! I’m so excited! Can you believe it, Rarity? We’re going to see Princess Celestia raise the sun herself on the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration! Let us go around the town and see how other ponies prepare for the celebration!”

“The thousandth c- celebration? Are you sure it’s not the thousand and first? Or the second?”

Sweetie Belle paused for a bit, and then laughed aloud. “Hahaha, Rarity! What a joke! The mayor mare announced it to all town ponies two weeks ago! Surely you must remember, hmm?”

Oh my dear Celestia… I’ve gone back in time… as Rarity?! The white mare thought to himself with utter disbelief.

“Now be quick! We need to eat up and go out early, or you won’t be able to put up the decors in time before those inspectors from Canterlot come!”

Right! Twilight and, uh, I will come to Ponyville soon enough!

The white mare’s hope briefly flared up, but then it was immediately doused. 

This won’t make a lick of sense to Twi, and I won’t be able to convince her! She didn’t even know who Rarity was at this point! Unless I somehow swapped with Rarity, which is even more trouble…! Gah, why is any of these happening?! 

He groaned internally, frustration welling up in his mind. He wanted to get close with Rarity, but not this close.

Looking at the tumult on her sister’s face, Sweetie Belle’s smile faltered, and was quickly replaced by a puppy-dog gaze. 

“Rarity, if you don’t feel well…”

Sweetie Belle’s ears drooped. ”O- or if you don’t want to go out with me, it’s fine… I can just stay home and wait till you finish work.”

Looking at the disappointed look of the white filly, the white mare felt as if his heart was melting. His conscience wouldn’t allow him to hurt the feeling of Sweetie Belle, and he decided to humor her first. 

After all, this was what Rarity would do… and had done, right? He thought to himself.

“O- Of course not! Sweetie Belle, dear, I- I’ll make the breakfast right away.”

The white mare let out a light sigh and apologized. “I’m really sorry, Sweetie Belle. I just had… uh, a rather bad night of sleep, and I’m a bit disoriented.”

Sweetie Belle’s grin returned to her face after hearing her sister’s explanation. “No problem, Rarity! Perhaps you would want to have a hot bath first? It might help you clear up your foggy mind!”

The white mare raised a brow, thinking that it was not that bad an idea. “Hmm… That might do. Thank you for your suggestion… um, dear.”

“You’re welcome!”

The white mare was about to turn, but he then paused and looked back. “But wait, how about your breakfast? Can you make a toast by yourself?”

Sweetie Belle looked surprised. “But Rarity, you said I’m no longer allowed in the kitchen after the one time I accidentally set the oven and the cupboard on fire!”

“Huh-?! Uh… Oh, y- yeah, right.”

The white mare inhaled through clenched teeth and muttered. “Just give me a moment, dear. I’d be coming out in a jiff- I mean, soon.”

Sweetie Belle again showed some concern at her sister’s strange behavior. However, she eventually smiled again as she waved to the mare, who walked unsteadily towards the bathroom.
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The white mare looked with a face full of apprehension to the delicately framed bathroom mirror. The mare in the mirror looked back to him with the same disquieted look.

“What can I do? What should I do? I have really become Rarity…! Why is this happening? And the most of important of all, where is the real Rarity?” 

The white mare mouthed off nervously, and then let out a big sigh. “Let’s hope that she’s not freaking out in my body back in Canterlot. If Twilight is in any way delayed, then Nightmare Moon might seize the chance and bring about eternal night!”

Feeling his heart beating fast in his chest, he rapidly shook his head. “Now, now, Spike. You’ve been to worse places; you’ve endured so many misadventures with Twi... You can do this!”

Slowly walking into the bath, the white mare clumsily attempted to remove his purple nightgown. However, hooves were too different compared to the claws he was used to, and he fumbled for a while without success.

He angrily huffed, concentrating all his mind solely on the offending article of fashion. Suddenly, a blue aura formed around his gown and readily took them off his body, like a magician yanking off a tablecloth.

He was slightly surprised, and his gaze turned towards the laundry bin. It was then as if the gown received an order, and it dropped into the bin by itself.

As the blue aura fizzled out, the white mare touched his new horn with amazement. 

“Whoa, how handy! Unicorns really have it easy. At least I can cast this t- teli- teleki… uh, object moving spell easily enough... Weird, it feels almost as natural as my fire breath!”

Gingerly walking into the bathtub, he then looked down into the ornate set-up and shook his head. This was not the time to sit down and have a bubble bath.

He searched high and low, and finally found a white shower head hanging high on the side of the wall. Rarity must have seldom used the shower head, opting for taking a bath every time.

He shrugged, and installed the shower head with the help of his hooves and newfound magic. He drew the curtain and turned the faucet. Soon enough, pre-heated water from the boiler came gushing out and spraying on him, giving him a refreshing sense of zest.

The white fur coat quickly got wet and stuck to his skin. It was a strange and novel feeling. When he was a dragon, taking a shower always felt peppy. The flying beads of water would hit his scales, like a piano player playing staccato. They would then slide off cleanly, and the whole matter was quite simple.

However, the white fur now absorbed the momentum of the stream. It felt so different, as if someone was massaging his using many teeny-tiny appendages. The careless caresses tickled, causing his to snicker involuntarily as he tried to scrub the nerve out of his body.

He washed his hooves, his chest, and also his back with the help of a body scrub. But as he had to inevitably reach for certain areas, he felt hotness rising in his cheeks. 

He tried his very best not to let his mind drift into strange places, but the constant hot stream of water, white steam, as well as the aromatic smell from the soap were all assaulting his sensitive threshold and eroding his guard.

He bit his tongue, but immediately retracted, remembering to avoid hurting his borrowed body. Then he settled for a light pinch on the face, as he closed his eyes tightly and blindly scrubbed. Feeling hotness welling up in his cheeks, he shook his head vigorously, trying his best to ignore the weird and novel sensations of being a mare in the shower. 

Picking up the shower head again, he sighed and continued, this time wetting his mane and tail for shampooing. 

The luscious purple hair felt so velvety and soft upon his touch. Even though there had not been that much bodily contact between his and Rarity back then, he certainly remembered the feeling whenever Rarity’s mane or tail brushed across his face. It was always a nerve-tingling experience.

The same feeling was now felt in his hooves. Rarity’s hooves. It’s a freakish mix of familiarity and oddity. Spike had to question whether this was some really bizarre dream of his, because this was like a situation that might only be conjured up for fun by a certain chaos draconequus who was really bored out of his head.

The white mare widened his eyes in realization.

Hey, right, Discord! If this has to do with anyone in the world, it would be Discord! I knew it, he’s just too much of an imp not to mess with us!

He mumbled with annoyance, but eventually he just rolled up his eyes with defeat. So what if this was really Discord’s doing? At this point of time, he was now just a stone statue in the Royal Garden of Canterlot. Not to mention that this was just a guess of his, and Discord might have nothing to do with this after all.

He shampooed using his hooves, bored and on autopilot. It was a tiring affair, since Rarity’s mane and tail was so long and curly, and he had to apply extra care not to overexert and break his hairs. 

After washing away the remaining bubbles, the white mare almost reached for the bath towel and stepped out, before he remembered that the hair needed conditioning as well.

His left eye twitched, and he bemoaned the price of beauty under his breath. Stepping back into the tub in defeat and eyes rolling up, he poured conditioner on the mane and began slaving away.


--------------------------------------------------------


“Rarity! You’re really quick this time!” 

“Quick?” The white mare was confused. It took him a good half of an hour to wash himself, and it would be even longer if not for his frantic rush.

Sweetie Belle smiled. “Usually it would take at least an hour or two for you to have a bath. I almost thought to eat some biscuits first.”

Pressing his steaming mane with the bath towel, he said. “Oh, Sweetie, I promised to be quick, so I just take a quick shower. It would’ve been quicker if not for this troublesome mane of hair.”

“Troublesome, huh? This is the first time I heard you describe it like that. I mean, you love pampering your mane, don’t you?”

Yeah, I don’t know about Rarity. But having to do this every day is almost as worse as having to reorganize the whole library on Twi’s whim. He thought to himself.

But to Sweetie Belle, he still said cautiously. “Well, I love taking good care of my mane and tail, but it’s also quite some work to deal with them. You’ll understand when you grow a longer mane, dear.”

“I see!”

“Now, now let me cook you some breakfast, Sweetie. What would you like to eat today?”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes lit up. “Wait, I get to choose?”

The white mare raised a brow. Oh, it seems that Rarity didn’t really usually consult the opinion of Sweetie Belle like I did for Twi. Make sense, she’s just a filly. But now that I’ve asked, may as well go along with it.

“Um, of course, Sweetie. It’s a special day after all.”

Sweetie Belle immediately crossed her hooves and thought aloud. “Hmm, definitely no muesli! It tastes so dry and hard. Can I have a baked bean and cheese wrap, with a banana and berry smoothie? They are my favorites!”

Those don’t seem so hard. Twi’s requests can be more complicated.

“Right, let me check if we have enough ingredients. Just you wait, darling.”

The white mare walked into the kitchen. Opening the cupboard and the fridge, he let out a sigh of relief. The Rarity household was well-stocked, with the cooking ingredients all neatly organized. His high opinion of his crush just rose a little bit higher.

Whistling a tune like he always did when cooking, he turned on the stove and began to heat up the flatbread he just put on the pan.

He had not gotten entirely comfortable with using hooves for skilled maneuver, and his telekinesis was still a bit unstable, but it was about enough to cook a simple flat wrap. In any case, he was getting used to being a unicorn pony, for better or for worse. Drawing energy from what appeared to be the magical core of Rarity, he flipped the flatbread with little trouble.

After some hectic shuffling, he finally placed the mixed smoothies on the tray next to the wraps, and briskly trotted out with the two servings, one for Sweetie Belle and one for himself.

“Woohoo! Eh, wait, you’re having the same as mine today?”

The white mare smiled thinly. “I just don’t want to overthink. We still have a lot to do today.”

Sweetie Belle nodded, and took a big gulp of the smoothie. “Yum!”

The white mare also picked up his wrap and bit into it. He tried his best to appear mannered and collected in front of Rarity’s sister, and chewed carefully and slowly.

“Rarity?” Sweetie Belle suddenly asked aloud.

The white mare widened his eyes and almost choked on the beans. He began to cough, earning a gasp and a worried look from Sweetie Belle.

“A- Are you alright, Rarity?” The white filly asked.

“I- *cough* *cough*-! I, ahem, I’m fine, I guess.”

After the fit, the white mare gasped for air and patted his chest repeatedly. “I’m just on my nerve this morning, and I got easily spooked. Not your fault, Sweetie.”

Sweetie Belle chewed down on her wrap and looked down again uncertainly. “If you say so…”

The white mare exhaled and raised his brows. “You were asking me something, right? Do you need anything?”

“N- Nothing, I just… um…”

“Hmm?”

Sweetie Belle walked round the table, leaned close and kissed the white mare’s forehead. 

“W- W- What for, Sweetie Belle?!” 

His cheek ignited again at the white filly’s sudden gesture. Even though to Sweetie Belle, he was simply his big sister Rarity, but to the white mare, he was still at heart a young teenage dragon boy. And a filly just kissed him out of the blue.

“I just want to thank you, big sis!”

“H- Huh?”

Sweetie Belle smiled. “I was a bit surprised that you’d agreed to bring me out on this busy day. And even though you don’t look like you feel well this morning, you haven’t become at all grouchy when I broke the door handle or gave you a scare just now. You’re so gentle and patient to me, and even took the time to make me my favorite meal! You’re the best sister ever!”

The white mare felt rather conflicted at Sweetie Belle’s shower of praise, primarily because the mare he was talking to was not really his big sister, and he felt a bit bad about having to deceive the innocent filly. 

“Haha… you’re welcome, dear. Now let’s finish our breakfast quickly. It’s almost nine.”

He knitted his brows in worried contemplation and muttered to himself. “Oh dear, what do I have to do again apart from setting up the town hall…?”

“Big sis, I don’t think there’s any. You said you wanted to focus on the Summer Sun Celebration, remember? You even told me yesterday that you’ve finished all remaining orders by staying up late for the last few days, before promising me to go out together!”

“Did I?” The white mare secretly let out a sigh of relief for Rarity’s industriousness.

Sweetie Belle again asked. “Are you sure you feel okay enough? You look not quite alright, and I never saw you forget about your work.”

“Umm…”The white mare put up a troubled face. The truth was he never ‘forgot’ about his work, it was just that he never knew.

Sweetie Belle gently embraced the white mare. “It’s okay, big sis! We can stay home instead of going out! It’s going to be way too crowded in the town anyway. We can just chat, snack and play!”

She snuggled the white mare. “It’s been some time since we spend some sisterly time together, right?”

“Sweetie Belle…”

The white mare reflexively laid a hoof on his new ‘sister’, but he still did not know what to do. It was true that he had little mood to wander around, and staying home and talking with Sweetie Belle might fill him in more about the current life of Rarity. However, it felt wrong to give up on his… or Rarity’s promise, and he was a bit scared of the possibility that talking with Sweetie Belle for too long would expose himself.

At the end, his desire for calmer moments and clarity won over, and he said. “Thank you Sweetie. I think it’s indeed better if I can stay home before work. I’m sorry for not being able to bring you out today. I promise I will make up for it when I’m better.”

“I’m holding you to your words, Rarity!” Sweetie Belle grinned.

The white mare chuckled. He then scratched his cheek and said. “Heh, now we should do some more casual chat. Perhaps it would help me calm my nerves as well. How about you telling me what adventures you three fillies are up to again?”

“Huh, what adventures? And who are the other two fillies?”

The white mare covered his mouth. Holy macaroni, they must have not yet to meet each other at this moment of time!

“Oh, I, uh, just mean that you might be able to find some friends with common interests once you start the new school year. A group of three sounds like fun, doesn’t it?”

Sweetie Belle shifted nervously. “Y- Yeah, and I hope so. I don’t know any other colt or filly in Ponyville yet.”

“Mark my words, Sweetie. You will find new friends in school very quickly, and you will have a lot of fun adventures with them.”

The white mare smiled to his sister for now, who looked back quizzically at his remark. He gave it no heed, and as he looked up and his gaze swept through the room, he noticed something on the shelf which would really be useful for spending time with the filly.

He grinned and magicked the marbles from the shelves. “Sweetie, let’s finish our breakfasts. We can chat over sweet tea and then play some fun games!”

Sweetie Belle looked delighted. “That sounds great!”
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The white mare gulped difficultly.

The time with Sweetie Belle had passed without much trouble otherwise. His marble tricks and games greatly impressed her. He even learnt more of Rarity’s recent life and personal preferences from the mouth of the white filly. He was quite proud of his oratory and wit.

However, oratory was not going to save him now.

Looking at the rolls of purple and white velvet, floral wreaths of different colors and sizes, and assorted decors, he felt dread rising from within him. He was supposed to use these materials to transform the drab interior of the town hall into some sort of impromptu palace fit for the sun princess.

He tried to search his mind to remember how had his Rarity done it. Nothing, because he had barely paid attention to the décor. After all, it was the very first time he met the mare of his dream. There was no chance in Tartarus that he would take his eyes off Rarity and study some drapes.

The white mare inhaled deeply and sighed aloud. Fortunately there was only him in the whole town hall, so if he messed up, no one would be there to see. But still he could not mess up and besmirch the good name of Rarity as a first-class designer and seamstress.

He experimentally picked up the large scissors with his magic, like Rarity always did. The small tool required much more finesse than the gown, but he somehow managed to manipulate it to cut into the cloth.

He grinned a large grin when he successfully produced a near-perfect square cloth. But he immediately shook his head and frowned. That was far from enough to prop up the town hall in any measure of grandeur.

The white mare sat down in defeat. He could not possibly call in any help, for this was supposed to be Rarity’s task alone. Not that he could even think of anypony that could help anyway.

Venting frustration, he magically yanked a roll of cloth up. Without particular direction or thought, he played around the cloth as if he was doodling on paper. Tying a knot randomly here and folding there, he eventually closed his eyes and prepared to accept the inevitable.

Well, it’s not like Nightmare Moon would particularly appreciate the drapery whether it’s pretty or not, isn’t it. She would just shoot the Tartarus through the drapes and burn the wreaths, so why bother?

He threw down the drape and stopped the telekinesis. He then leaned on a column and sat on the floor, not particularly concerned with looking ladylike.

Rarity would not like me sitting like this, and with his beautiful white coat on the floor… But I can’t give two bucks anymore. Why is this happening again? He thought glumly, eyes closed in utter tiredness.

After a while, he dusted himself off and stood up. 

Sorry, Rarity, I can’t do this. He shook his head sadly, as he prepared to just pack up the materials and apologize to the Mayor Mare for not being able to do his job.

His eyes swept through the rolls of velvet, including the one he just threw down. He trembled in shock.

The drape he just casually played with was not a simple drape anymore. With strategic folding and tying, it now resembled a piece of dragon scales made out of soft velvet. It was a bit misshapen, but both the outline and pattern were there. 

He gasped with pleasant surprise. How could he make that just by messing around the cloth? He had simply thought of one of his doodles that featured him using his hard scales to withstand a hard blow from an evil enemy, and then proceeded to jump high in the air and deliver the knock-out blow to the villain, who kidnapped his beloved Rarity.

Perhaps when I vividly picture something in my head, my magic will automatically arrange things accordingly? If so…!

With renewed passion, he elevated a number of pins from his saddlebag and used them to hold the curved creases firmly. And then he used the scissors to cut the remaining drapes into thin sharp-edged ribbons, and taped them tidily to the creases.

Immediately and truly, the non-descript drape looked like a grandiose and royal-looking piece of scaly artwork. Spike then quickly wrapped it around a column, and the column suddenly resembled the tail of a large, dignified purple dragon. He looked at his very first work of fashion and giddily grinned in satisfaction.

Not bad, not bad at all! Perhaps I have some talents in fashion as well? If only Rarity and I noticed it before!

He then kept decorating the town hall in similar fashion, hanging up drapes, wreaths, bells and assorted decoration with his newfound flow of creativity. He even became a bit indulged, adding a flourish here and there, while humming a cheery tune at a job well-done.

“Good afternoon, you’re Rarity, aren’t you?”

The white mare let out a loud gasp and almost jumped mile high. He sharply turned and found Twilight and… the other Spike, in his true dragon form, standing right behind her. The purple mare’s look was one of mild annoyance, and his mane was a complete mess, echoing what he remembered about their first day in Ponyville.

As for the dragon…

Look at this… He is clearly not Rarity, but rather the bona-fide me. Dang, this would make finding the real Rarity much more difficult. But hmm… I certainly look like a love-struck idiot, don’t I? Look at that tongue out with saliva hanging on the corner of the mouth. If that’s not a mare-winning look of charm, I don’t know what is. 

The white mare thought sarcastically. It was an entirely new experience for him to look at someone being all honeyed up and obsessed about him. It was not a bad experience at all.

Twilight let out a slight ‘ahem’, and the white mare was brought back to attention. He scratched his cheeks and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, Twilight, Spike, I just zoomed out a little in thought.”

“Wait, you know who I am?” Twilight was visibly shocked.

The dragon was even more surprised, and then his dreamy grin became even wider. “And me too? Wow, you’re more wonderful than I thought…”

The white mare almost groaned aloud, he had answered reflexively instead of using care again. “I, uh, have relations in Canterlot, who… uh, who told me about you two.”

He coughed quietly. That was certainly not true, as Twilight was the first Canterlot pony Rarity met. He hated lying to Twilight’s face, but he must not raise any suspicion from her, for it might mess up the right steps towards the defeat of Nightmare Moon.

Speaking of which, what exactly happened inside the Everfree back then? Ugh, I wish I wasn’t that much of a sleepyhead. If I saw what Rarity did, I can now act out what he did to make the Elements work later on… right?

With some quick thinking, he decided to dazzle Twilight with praise to stave off further questioning. “I’ve heard about you, Twilight Sparkle, the incredibly smart student of magic under Princess Celestia! She’s so impressed with your strong magical potential that she made you her personal student. You have a very bright future ahead, Twilight.”

Twilight looked flustered. She muttered back with red cheeks, forgetting even about her disheveled mane. “I- I- T- thank you, Rarity. I’m just a run-of-the-mill student of magic, you’ve flattered me too much.”

The white mare smiled. “And you’re way too humble. You’re definitely going to achieve great things. Don’t underestimate yourself, my friend.”

“What about me? Rarity, what do you know about me?” The dragon asked excitedly, eager to know what his dream mare knew and thought about her.

Oh boy… If anything, I know way too much about you. The white mare thought wryly.

Still, he humored his alternate self by graciously smiling. “Spike, you’re the best example of how dragons can live in peace with ponies. I’ve… heard very good things about how you help Twilight with her studies, I certainly appreciate helpfulness in ponies and dragons alike.”

The dragon’s eyes were glazed with almost drunken joy. “Oh–! If you need anything from me, Lady Rarity, I’d be so glad to help!”

“Not now. Even if you want to help me, you should ask permission from Twilight first, Spikey-wikey.”

The white mare tentatively uttered the magical word that Rarity always used to sugar him up. He lightly shook his head, still absorbing the absurdity that he’s now the one who said it. 

As expected, the dragon almost immediately swooned. It gave him a bizarre feeling of satisfaction to see how overjoyed the dragon was in reaction to his slightest gesture. It almost tasted like the sweetness of power. 

On the other hand, Twilight had recovered from his lavish praise, and now eyed him a bit suspiciously over how he made her dragon dance around his hooves. The white mare noticed her gaze and returned a slightly apologetic look.

“I’m sorry, Twilight. I’m just… a bit glad that I finally see you two after hearing so much from words of mouth. You come to check on the decoration here, I believe?”

Twilight let out a small yelp, and shyly grinned. “Ah, yes, I almost got entirely caught up with… um, the unexpected name recognition. I’ve been sent from Canterlot to check on the decoration. And it seems to be going quite nicely!”

The white mare was delighted. “Y- You think so?”

The dragon interjected with a big smile. “Of course, my beautiful lady. Everything you touch upon becomes absolute gem!”

The white mare could not help but laugh at the dragon’s clumsy attempt to butter him up. “Oh, you smooth-tongued dragon. I myself am not too confident of this work because, um, I didn’t really get a good rest the night before.”

Twilight nodded. “Well, it looks quite regal, so don’t worry. You said you have Canterlot relations, didn’t you? This certainly reminds me of the interior of the royal castle.”

The white mare chuckled. He guessed he did unintentionally use some elements from one of the most familiar living environment in his first work of design. The purple mare certainly did not know that he also added styles from her Castle of Friendship into the mix.

“Well, I guess that’s it then. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rarity.”

“Eh? We’re leaving already?”

The dragon showed obvious disappointment at having to leave the white mare so quickly. “But I want to…”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you two as well, Twilight, Spike. But, Twilight, you can’t just leave like that.”

The dragon was delighted, and the purple mare raised a brow. “Hmm, what? Did I miss anything? Spike?”

The dragon shook his head. “I don’t-”

“No, no. You’re free to check on Fluttershy’s bird choir next.”

The white mare said casually, again to the duo’s silent surprise. “I just want to borrow Twilight for a short period of time.”

“What for?” Twilight asked quizzically.

The white mare grinned. “Your coiffure, I’m sorry to say, is a travesty to fashion and decency, dear. I can’t possibly let you walk around like that in Ponyville.”

Twilight let out a sigh. “No, thank you, Rarity, I’ll do fine without-”

Determined to be in character and stick to the script, the white mare insisted. “No, darling, you must come by and let me take care of your mane and tail. At least let me comb it over and, um, stabilize it. You’re a royal representative, Princess Celestia’s stand-in, and you definitely can’t look too shabby to the town ponies.”

Twilight widened her eyes. “I… didn’t think of that.”

“Is that a yes? If so, follow me and let me treat you to a quick mane care session!”

Twilight reluctantly nodded, but the dragon immediately asked. “I- I can follow even though I don’t have hair, right?”

“Haha, why, of course!”

The white mare laughed again. It felt weird to laugh at his alternate self’s awkwardness, but he would be damned to not feel amused by someone else fawning over him for a change. Being a Rarity with a Spike nearby was not at all a bad experience.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



“How is it, Twilight?” The white mare grinned.

“Whoa, how do you know I like my mane combed this way?”

“Um, just a hunch of mine, dear.”

“That’s pretty good hunch then. For a moment I even thought Spike was combing it!”

“… Haha.” The white mare drily chuckled, but secretly gulped.

Twilight did not notice the sweat-dropping look on the white mare’s face. Instead, she jokingly commented. “Seeing how this is a boutique filled with so many clothes and dresses, I totally expect to be shoved around and dressed in different clothes like a doll.”

The white mare briefly recalled how Twilight was indeed subjected to that treatment the first time around, and decided to tease her a little bit. Channeling Rarity’s proneness to drama, he leaned back and sighed loudly. “Oh my, do I look like a pony who would ignore my friend’s protest if she’s uncomfortable with me dressing her around? Woe is me! I’m seen as a manic seamstress who just treat any passing pony as mannequins. I must be a terrible host and a terrible pony!”

Twilight gasped, and the dragon eyed her with dissatisfaction for seemingly badmouthing Rarity. The purple unicorn hurriedly shook her head and hooves like a rattle drum. “N- no, no! I don’t mean that! I- I- I mean, uh- you, uh-”

“Haha, darling, relax! I’m just teasing you for a bit.”

The white mare chuckled, which was joined in by a hearty laughter from the dragon.

“R- Rarity!” Twilight blushed and protested.

The white mare collected herself and said. “I noticed that you look a bit skittish, Twilight. You should unwind a bit, things would work out just fine.”

Twilight just knitted her brows. She seemed to want to say something, but eventually she decided against it.

The white mare briefly considered whether to discuss the matter of Nightmare Moon’s return with Twilight right now. But he eventually decided that it might be better for the purple mare to meet Fluttershy and Pinkie first without a different frame of mindset.

Still, he set up the stages for later discussion. “You don’t look convinced, Twilight. Is your worry related to the legends surrounding the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration?”

“H- How did you know?” Twilight, and even her little dragon, were stunned.

Of course this is because I’m from the fu-ture. He was almost tempted to say with a dramatic flair. Instead, he made up an excuse to go with it. “I’m a unicorn after all, I know something about magic as well as local legends.”

He threw his curly mane backwards with a flourish. “But now, you should finish your official assignment, and I should give a final touch-up to the town hall. We can meet later tonight at the library to discuss further. Don’t worry too much, darling, it’s not like the world’s going to end.”

Twilight briefly rolled her eyes, but she nodded with a thin smile. “Finally! Somepony in this town who can be relied on. Perhaps Princess Celestia’s order for me to make friends is not that… out there, huh?”

The white mare smiled with satisfaction, and then turned his gaze to the dragon. The expectant look in the dragon’s eyes was so innocent and young.

Ah, so many things have happened since I moved to Ponyville. I’m in my full power to give this Spike a happier head-start, so why not? Perhaps things would then turn out better for both of us? Before I can eventually find a way back, it would be great to see more happy faces. He thought pensively.

Reaching into a jar on the shelf, he took up a few gemstones to the astonishment of both the purple mare and the dragon.

“E- Eh? What are those gems for, Rarity?” Twilight asked in surprise.

The white mare simply waved down the purple unicorn’s query and said to the dragon. “Spike, I’m sorry I can’t give you a mane comb-over as well.”

The dragon shifted a bit. “N- Nah, you don’t have to be. You’re such a gracious host, and I’m happy enough to just be here with you.”

“No, Spikey-wikey, this just won’t do.”

Juggling the gems with his magic, the white mare continued. “I must have used up most of my stock to fulfill all my orders, and I didn’t expect that a dragon would visit, so I didn’t restock my gems. Luckily, I still have some emeralds and rubies by my side. They are not exactly ripened fire rubies, but it should be good enough as a parting gift. I think three to four gems are quite the right serving size as an afternoon tea for a dragon, no?”

Twilight immediately said with a gasp. “We can’t possibly accept your gift, it’s too precious!”

The dragon swallowed at the sight of the tasty gems, but eventually his sense won over. “Y- Yeah, I didn’t really do anything for you yet, Rarity, I don’t deserve such valuable presents!”

“Nonsense. If you two do consider me as your friend, then just accept my small sign of appreciation.”

He paused for a bit and attempted to explain his willful showering of gifts, using what Rarity would likely have said. “Friendship is not a game of tally, there isn’t an amount of favor that you have to do before I can give you gifts. When I give, I don’t look at the price tags and overthink. Generosity for friends should always feel as if it costs me nothing.”

“Whoa.” The dragon could not even think of a response, only absorbing the words of wisdom from his mare, who seemed to have a sharp mind in addition to pretty look as well.

Twilight blinked, and indeed blanked for a while. She then shook her head and hurriedly took out her friendship journal and scribbled something on it. The white mare looked on with some surprise, but he then nodded happily.

“Good!” The white mare placed the gems into a little sack, which she then placed into the grateful claws of his alternate self.

Twilight scratched her cheek. “I guess I’ll be going then.”

“Bon voyage, dear.” The white mare uttered, and only then he was surprised that he was already getting entirely used to Rarity’s repertoire of speech, even using phrases that he as a dragon would almost never use.

Just when Twilight was about to step out of the boutique, she suddenly turned and asked aloud. “Wait, how do you know so much about a dragon’s diet preference?”

The white mare was briefly taken aback, but he soon said. “Patience, darling. We can talk about all the questions in your mind tonight.”

“A- Alright.” Twilight blushed slightly.

“See you later as well, Spikey-wikey.”

“S- See you, Rarity.” Spike gazed back longingly.

Twilight rolled her eyes and put Spike on her back with her telekinesis. “We have to get going, Don Juan.”

Waving to the departing duo, the white mare silently nodded. This might be a strange situation, but it was not completely devoid of fun, was it?

--------------------------------------------------------


“Twilight, why don’t you stay downstairs longer for Pinkie’s party? And where’s Spike?”

“Um, he’s still playing around downstairs. Ugh, he forgot all about duties when there are parties. I’m not that big into parties anyway.”

“Come now, dear. Spike needs some off-time with all his shelving and being a faithful research assistant. And Pinkie must’ve prepared it for a whole day as well since she met you on the main street.”

Twilight was briefly unnerved by the uncanny pieces of knowledge the white unicorn possessed, and she suspiciously glanced the white mare. But she reluctantly discounted it as educated guesses. She then asked back. “Well, why are you upstairs then?”

The white mare paused. He just wandered up while reminiscing about his erstwhile library home. But he could not tell Twilight that, so he instead said. “Nothing really, I just want to catch a breath because it’s a bit late. Sorry anyway, I shouldn’t waltz up here, being a guest and all.”

“Oh, that’s fine. It’s my first time around here as well.”

Twilight politely smiled. “Anyway, I know, right? All the ponies in this town are a bit loco. You seem to be only one who know what time it is.”

The white mare could not help but frown a bit. He might have cajoled her a bit too much. If Twilight somehow subscribed to the idea that he was the only reliable one among the lot, then it would hurt her friend-making. Even if they could still make the Elements work, he would be mortified to cause Twilight to become less open to connect with the rest of the Element-bearers. 

“That’s a bit harsh, darling. The other ponies simply want to give you a proper welcome. Besides, it’s tradition that ponies stay up to see Princess Celestia raise the sun, and we all get a day-off tomorrow to make up for it. Just give tonight a pass, dear.”

Twilight looked like a filly who just got told about her tantrum. “Not you too, Rarity?! I thought you’re the only dependable pony in this town!”

He shook his head and said somewhat pleadingly. “Twilight, that’s not true! Each of the every other four ponies you met today is dependable in their own ways. Applejack cares for her friends and family with a deep sense of duty, Rainbow Dash is loyal and steadfast even though she’s a bit of a prankster. Fluttershy might be shy, but she’s the sweetest and kindest pony around. Pinkie… she might look a bit whimsical, but she would always try her best to make ponies happy about what they are and what they have now. They’re all prime ponies to make friends with.”

“But you’re the one who’s making this big meaningful speech to me now. You sound like a big sis to all of them.”

“Ah, well… I, uh, just stayed in Ponyville long enough to know about them.”

Twilight slowly nodded. A flash of unease and wariness flashed across her face, but she immediately replaced it with a questioning gaze. 

“So, you told me you can talk with me about what you know about legends related to Summer Sun Celebration. Can we talk about it right now? I’ve wasted enough time that I could have used to study about the Elements of Harmony.”

Gee whiz, it’s the time of reckoning. I can’t let my foreknowledge go to waste despite the risks. I might use them to patch up the fact that I’m not quite Rarity, the Element-bearer of Generosity. But let’s hope Twilight doesn’t freak out this time.

“Twilight… Nightmare Moon is not an old pony’s tale, she’s very, very real.”

“…?!”

“And she will come crash our celebration tonight, and eternal night will befall Equestria if she succeeds.”

Twilight gasped. “H- How do you know?”

Sheesh, I heard you talk about it yourself. But I can’t say that now, can I?

“I, um, did some research like you did. If you’ve heard about the story of the two sisters, you should know that Princess Celestia banished her little sister Princess Luna to the moon. This was because Luna fell to her own jealousy and became the dreaded Nightmare Moon.”

The white mare continued with a snort. “You know what they say, what goes up must go down eventually. And tonight, precisely after a thousand years, the stars would align just right to provide a route of escape for Nightmare Moon back to Equestria.”

“I- If so, how can you be so blasé? There will be eternal night for all Equestria, a- and Nightmare Moon is going to do all kinds of nasty things to ponies who don’t obey her! Why don’t you bring this up sooner, but right before she came back?!”

“Blasé? I’m not- Now, Twilight, I just want to ease your nerves, because we just need a simple step further and we can make things right again!”

“Make things right…?!”

Twilight gasped and interrupted him loudly, while trotting a step behind in fear. “I have always been suspecting it since we met earlier! Now I know it! You’re actually a spy for the Nightmare herself!”

A cricket outside chirped at an almost comedic timing, but the white mare was in no mood to laugh at all.

“… What?”

“How else would you know so much about her and everything else?! You’re just a seamstress, you should not be so prescient about things… unless, of course, you dabble in dark magic and beckon the return of Nightmare Moon!”

“D- Dark magic?!” 

The white mare was too aghast to properly retort. It made little sense to him, since it implied that the only way to know about Nightmare Moon for anypony that was not Twilight was through evil means. But he then just mentally sighed at the purple pony’s proneness to make the worst assumption when she was panicking.

Twilight held her hooves to her muzzle and exclaimed. “Hmph! I have fallen foul to your false niceties, but no more! You must be encouraging me to do all these ridiculous friend-making in order to distract me from finding a way to stop your mistress!”

The white mare extended his hoof, attempting to pat the purple unicorn’s shoulder to calm her down from the ridiculous paranoia. “W- Wait, Twi, you’ve mistake-”

“Get off me!”

Twilight swatted off his hoof rudely and entered a battle stance. “And don’t call me ‘Twi’! Only my friends and loved ones can call me that!”

“Ouch!” The white mare let out a painful yelp, and massaged his hoof ruefully. He felt as if his heart was hammered and broken into a thousand tiny pieces. His Twilight not only misunderstood him, but also leapt straight to a most incriminating conclusion. He did not know what he did wrong, but it hurt his body as well as his heart.

“P- Please, Twi… light, I only want to help you to stop Nightmare Moon! I’m not colluding with her in any way!”

Twilight did not seem to hear his defense, and proceeded to cast a binding spell on the white mare. He was pinned towards the wall and whimpered sadly, chafing under the magical pressure.

Why does it come to this? What have I done wrong? Now that Rarity’s not here and I’m all alone, I just want to make things better! Why, why? Am I wrong to make use of what I know? Is the world punishing me by trying to pretend to be Rarity?

He finally could not bear it and teared up. “Please, Twilight, I swear I have nothing to do with Nightmare Moon…”

Twilight became a bit hesitant when she saw tears started flowing, but she still narrowed her eyes and said. “I might be a student of magic under Princess Celestia, but it is definitely farfetched for somepony like you to know of any of my exploits. Not to mention you know about Spike and how he helps me out all the time as well! The fact that I have a dragon with me is not exactly a secret, but we were living inside the Ivory Tower with quite a low profile. There are literally hundreds, even thousands of Canterlot ponies more important than me. Why do you know so much about me and Spike then? Is that because we started to investigate the legends of Nightmare Moon, and you caught wind of it, huh?!”

The white mare was flabbergasted. Now he saw where the doubt began. He wanted to argue, but burdened with such enormous physical and emotional pressure, he could not find an appropriate retort at the heat of the moment. He could only swallow back another sniffle and looked at Twilight with the most innocent look he could muster.

The purple unicorn, however, glared at him even more fiercely. “Also, you bring up the issue of ancient legends related to the Celebration all of a sudden. Why would anypony mention those kinds of things unprompted? I bet you’re aware of my research, but want to use my eagerness to know more to lead me on the wrong trail!”

The white mare could not believe it. He had been nothing but kind, accommodating and incredibly generous to her since they met, so why the unreasonable doubt and antagonism? Did he somehow offend her? Insult her? Displease her?

“W- What are you doing to Rarity, Twilight?!”

The two mares sharply turned to the direction of the stairs, and saw a stupefied-looking dragon looked at the scene with disbelief. He threw down his comical lampshade hat and ran between the two mares.

“Twilight, you’re hurting her! Stop that at once!”

“Spike, she’s a spy for Nightmare Moon, Spike! I’m just interrogating her!”

The dragon looked on with speechlessness, as the white mare cried out desperately.

“Please, I’m not a spy! I just want to tell Twilight how to use the Elements to defeat Nightmare Moon!”

“Oh yeah? Do tell! Let me see how far your lies can go!”

“I’m saying the truth! I even pulled out the book from downstairs already, it’s on the table!”

Twilight and the dragon both looked to the table. To their surprise, there was indeed a reference book called ‘The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide’ lying on the table.

With some suspicion, Twilight picked it up and have a quick glance. She widened her eyes when she really discovered useful information about the Elements inside.

The white mare sniffled and said. “I just want to forewarn you about Nightmare Moon before she shows up tonight during the ceremony.”

“Wait, so the legend about Nightmare Moon is real?” The dragon gasped.

“I swear it is!”

Twilight pressed on. “But how would you know precisely that she would attack the town hall and not any other place?”

The white mare almost let out a yelp of desperation. It was as if Twilight was picking apart the smallest bit of his speech to find out even the tiniest thing to suspect about. He was running out of excuses to give, and he would consider saying the plain truth if not for the fact that Twilight of this state would not believe an ounce of it.

With a mournful sob, he reluctantly said. “I- It’s just an educated guess… If she’s to make a point to all ponies how she’s going to take revenge on Princess Celestia who banished her to the moon, the venue where the Celebration would take place will be her best choice.”

Twilight was slightly stumped by how reasoned the white mare’s response was, and she found herself briefly unable to place more doubt on her story.

The white mare looked despondent, but he continued quietly. “There’s no way we can stop her in a head-to-head fight. She’s an Alicorn bolstered by dark magical power. We must go inside the Everfree forest, retrieve and activate the Elements in order to keep her threat at bay! If we succeed to do so, we can even cleanse Princess Luna from her evil influences and bring Princess Celestia’s beloved sister back to her. Isn’t that the best outcome that we all want?”

Twilight was briefly wordless, but she then still said willfully. “E- Even if that’s true, I still don’t trust you! I’d rather go with the rest of the girls, or even myself alone!”

The dragon finally interjected angrily. “Twi, what’s wrong with you? Since when do you begin to just assault ponies with no reason? And not just anypony, but Rarity! She so kindly invited us over to her house, comb your messy mane and tail, and give me gems as presents! How can you make baseless accusation like that and even attack her? You even make her cry!”

Twilight gritted her teeth. The dragon’s words seemed to make her briefly subdued anger rise again. “S- She-!”

“She what?!”

Twilight finally decided to throw away the slightest of pretense and growled. “Grr… She’s trying to pry you away from me! Don’t you see that? When she noticed how giddy you were about her, she immediately latched onto you and began to lay it on the thick! She must be trying to turn you against me t- to further her plan, whatever it is!”

The white mare’s jaw hung open even wider. Now he finally knew the biggest reason why Twilight was acting like that – plain old jealousy. She thought his attempts to make his alternate-self happy, compounded with her natural skepticism, were seen as some nefarious attempts to steal her faithful dragon away. 

Considering how much Twilight cared for the dragon, and how naïve the purple unicorn was towards romance in general, it must be a wholly bewildering and disconcerting sight for her to witness his blatant attempt to draw her dragon near emotionally. The fact that the dragon immediately came to his defense certainly made her even more suspicious.

“You’re just jealous that you-”

“No! Stop, Spike, don’t!” The white mare yelped in time to stop the dragon from further upsetting Twilight.

“H- Huh?” The dragon turned with surprise.

“If there is anypony in the wrong. It is me. Spike, don’t ever say anything bad about Twilight. She hatched you, she cared for you, she’s like a mother to you. I- I’m just a pony you met half a day ago. It would be wrong if you two argue because of me.”

Twilight was a bit taken aback by how the white mare remained steadfastly on her side even with this kind of treatment.

Spike looked distraught. “R- Rarity…”

She then turned towards Twilight, who unconsciously stepped back. “Twilight, I see that you misunderstood why I was like that in the boutique. I’d admit, my intention was not pure. As much as I would like to devote to the principle of generosity, I’m not just going to grab ponies from the street to give them mane do-overs and give out expensive gems all the time.”

Twilight immediately pointed at the white mare and said. “See, Spike! She admits it!”

The white mare’s ears drooped, and then he looked up with both pleading and resoluteness. “Twilight, you’re supposed to be the centerpiece of the Elements.”

“… Huh?”

“I fear that it might literally take away the magic if I actually lay them out all in the open.”

Sadly smiling, she continued. “But now that you distrust me like this, I might as well tell you, in my own… research, I’ve come to know a lot about the Elements, even down to who exactly would be the rightful Element-bearers in the inevitable fight against Nightmare Moon.”

“Wait, what?”

“I know that Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and… well, me, we’re supposed to reflect each of the five Elements, Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Laughter and, of course, Generosity. Only if and when the five Elements come together in unity, the sixth will be created. The Element of Magic – and you, Twilight Sparkle, the most talented magical unicorn in Equestria, will be its one true bearer.”

Twilight widened her eyes speechless, while the white mare let out a deeply regretful sigh and continued. “I know about all these, but I never know what exactly to do to ensure it comes to pass. I want everything to go the way I wish it would go, with every one of us becoming good friends at the end of this, setting the stage for many future adventures. I don’t know that my intervention would mess things up far more than if I just sit at the side and watch.”

“Rarity…” Twilight muttered. She began to feel some regret at roughing up the white mare.

“Twilight, you’re a very bright unicorn. It was due to some… very strange personal events that I come to know about you, but ever since I did, I admire you a lot for your intelligence and hard work. You’re risen above the fray and become the Princess’s student, somepony whom every unicorn… no, every magic learner out there should strive to become.”

Twilight was a bit mortified. She started to feel terrible, because the mare she pinned to the wall turned out to be her secret fan, and she felt like a guilt-ridden owner after accidentally stepping on her pet’s leg. With a flicker, the magic glow around the white mare’s body ceased, and she dropped to the ground like a ball of lead.

“Ou…!”

The white mare massaged her back and said. “… Thank you Twilight. It was a bit hard to breathe up there.”

Twilight let out a muted nasal noise. The white mare was not quite certain what she was signaling by that, so she just continued. “I know it’s going to sound weird to be this invested in somepony else’s life story, but I think that it’s extra admirable how you brought Spike up in addition of pursuing your study.”

The duo looked surprised at the fact that the white mare mentioned more than the topic of magic.

“It is not easy to balance between work and care. Umm… Like me, I got flustered when I have to deal with boutique orders and take care of my little sister Sweetie Belle at the same time. But you bring Spike up from mere egg to a proud little dragon boy. Not even many parents can raise their foal alone properly and at the same time having to study or work. I can’t help but feel more amazed and appreciative when I see you two in the person. Again, dear, sorry for everything, and please excuse me, I must’ve accidentally given off a stalker vibe by saying all these, ha.”

“Rarity…” The dragon looked at the white mare, for the first time using an observant and curious gaze, instead of his usual lover’s stare. He realized that the white mare was much more than the well-manicured hooves, curled purple bangs and impeccable face that he had seen.

“… I’m sorry.”

Twilight muttered with sadness. “I shouldn’t be that rash and did that to you. You sound like a pony who means well after all… I must be quite disappointing to meet in person, aren’t I?”

“Don’t be silly, darling. It’s only natural for you to feel agitated with the threat of eternal night looming in the horizons. I’m just glad that you don’t somehow think that I’m in cahoots with the Nightmare anymore. I just want to be friend with you, the other girls and of course, Spike.”

Hearing the name of her dragon assistant, Twilight’s face was again clouded with some doubt. Although she was now convinced that the white mare was not some evil spy, she was still not sure why the white mare seemed particularly interested in her own dragon.

The white mare clearly noticed the rising doubt. He drew in a breath. Of course he’s going to be interested in the welfare and feeling of ‘himself’. After all, who would hate to see himself live a happy life? 

“You must think that I’m acting strange, or even not having the best of intentions, when I was being so nice to Spike, don’t you?”

Twilight turned her head aside, but looked back somewhat uncertainly.

The white mare sighed. “I assure you, Twilight. If I have any ulterior motive, it is not in any way wicked.”

After drawing in a breath, He said briskly. “I’m going to be honest with you, dear. When I see Spike, I realize something. I like Spikey-wikey and I care about Spikey-wikey, when he’s happy, I’m happy as well.”

The dragon loudly gasped while stumbling backwards, and Twilight cupped her mouth.

“… So of course I go out of my way to make sure… wait, Spike, Spike! Are you okay?”

The white mare and the purple unicorn both sprinted near the dragon, who had keeled over with a face full of bliss and jubilation.

“W- What happened? Spike, Spike, can you hear me?” The white mare tapped the cheek of the dragon with worry.

Twilight facehoofed and said with a loud groan. “What happened, you ask! Come on, he just heard his very love-at-first-sight said she likes him! He must be in seventh heaven right now, and his little heart must’ve given up on him!”

“I- I don’t-” The white mare blushed heavily. He did not mean it in that way, right? He was not a hopeless narcissist, he thought uncertainly. Although… he did enjoy seeing the dragon fall all over him and look so thrilled.

“Get some cold water from downstairs! Quick!”

“Y- Yes, Twilight!”

The white mare quickly trotted towards the staircase. But before he went down, he turned and asked sheepishly. “T- Twilight, does this mean you’re not mad with me anymore?”

Twilight said with some embarrassment. “I said it already… It’s me who was a tad bit too paranoid. S- So yeah.”

“Thank you, dear! I- I can’t express how thankful I’m for you to accept my explanation. I will give it my all come the time we have to deal with the threat of the Nightmare!”

“I- alright. Thanks, but please just go fetch me the water first. And don’t alert the other girls and keep this little… episode between us three, can you promise me?”

“Of course. Roger that!”

Twilight saw to the delighted mare trotting down the stairs with light steps, and began to ponder. 

‘Roger that?’ Hmm, for being like a mannered pony in general, that particular reaction and reply was so Spike-like. I thought she was just into dragons, and he’s just into her looks, but it seems they’re more than that. No wonder they two match up this quickly. Rarity… what a strange pony. Stranger than even Pinkie, I must say.
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just as what was supposed to be, the six mares went into the Everfree in search of the Elements after the episode in the town hall. By strategically placing soft décor on the wall, he helped spare some Royal Guards from worse injuries after they were ordered to tackle the boastful dark Alicorn.

And just like back then, Nightmare Moon soon left for the Castle of the Two Sisters to pre-empt them from finding and activating the Elements.

When they just entered the forest, the white mare had felt a palpable sense of excitement. He was about to do something important and influential for once. While he, as Spike the dragon, did do something remarkable occasionally, like helping to retrieve the Crystal Heart during the return of Sombra, he always felt like he was merely tagging along on the girls’ adventures.

While it was not at all his wish to usurp Rarity’s place in the team of Element-bearers, it was also the first time he stood alongside Twilight and her friends as equal, instead of standing behind Twilight as a follower. Before he found a way to return to his own time, or at least find out where the real Rarity here was, he hoped that his presence could at least compare to his beloved mare on how much she helped.

Although this time, he still could not help but leave his alternate self behind, because the latter was still out by the time they went off to the town hall.

This whole thing is already quite different than what I remember, with the kerfuffle with Twi and whatnot, but so long as she’s got no problem with me, and the search for the Elements is still on, I’m fine with it. Heck, if I could choose between the oh-so-invaluable opportunity to walk into a creepy forest, or getting the real Rarity to say she likes me, oh boy, I will so choose the latter ten times out of ten.

He rued the fact that he never asked how exactly his Rarity demonstrated her generosity in Everfree back then. And the farther the six went in the forest, he felt more and more worried.

Applejack had shown her honesty by earning Twilight’s trust at the cliff. Fluttershy had calmed the large, aggressive manticore by sheer display of kindness. Pinkie calmed everypony’s nerve by her cheerful songs. Rainbow Dash had opted for her true companions rather than the illusory glory of the Shadowbolts.

But what about him? He had no chance to show off his supposed generosity. The white mare began to dread that it was because he was not really Rarity, and therefore not eligible for bearing the Element of Generosity.

He originally saw a near-chance, when the sea monster, called Steven Magnet he thought, lamented that he lost his moustache. He originally wanted to help immediately, thinking to cut a portion of his mane or tail to help him become ‘fabulous’ again.

However, he hesitated for a moment, because he got a bit attached to the luxurious strands that he spent so much effort brushing and taking care of. What’s more, it would make his beautiful Rarity look somewhat comical.

He did eventually come to terms with himself, but by then, Twilight alreadt casted a hair growth spell and successfully befriended the sea monster to carry them across the river. She then even said that she could have just teleported them all across as a last resort. The white mare could only glare in resignation.

After all these, the other mares said nothing out loud, but he felt that they were expecting something from him.

Especially Twilight. The purple unicorn had basically been staring at him throughout the journey, making him very uncomfortable. 

Can’t blame Twi… After all I was the one who spoilt and explained the whole Element thing to her. If I can’t even fulfill my own Element, I’ll probably be seen as a ‘big fat phony’, as Pinkie would’ve put it… 

He quietly slapped his own forehead. Aw, bulls. We’ve arrived at the old castle.

“Whoa, is that the castle that we’re looking for?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight nodded. “I think so. Rarity?”

“A- Ah, yes, dear. That’s the Castle of the Two Sisters. If what I know is true, the Elements should be simply lying around in the halls.”  

“Cool! Seems like we’re way ahead of Nightmare Moon this time!” Rainbow Dash grinned.

“U- um, Rarity.” Fluttershy quietly said, curiosity evident in her tone.

“Yes, Fluttershy?”

The yellow pegasus smiled thinly. “I never knew that you’re that knowledgeable in the lore of Everfree.”

The white mare slightly flustered. “I- I just read about it on the off-chance I was in the library. After all, we all live just next to it, and it’s good to know about the greens once and a while.”

Applejack snorted. “It’s jus’ a bit weird and all.”

“Why, dear Applejack?”

Applejack was slightly surprised that Rarity addressed her as such. Usually the two were not exactly the closest of ponies, being so diagonally different in terms of personality.

The white mare cantered up the stone stairs and continued. “You of all ponies should know about the importance of the Everfree. Without it there wouldn’t be zap apples, and without zap apples there wouldn’t be Ponyville. It’s why this lovely town exists, and we’d all be better off to know about it more.”

The orange mare widened her eyes, and scratched her mane with a grin. “Well, yer not wrong. But Ah jus’ never thought of you as the type who’re into sticks and wilderness. You like ‘glamor’ and whatnot, Canterlot should be somewhere you’d like to be rather than Everfree. Heck, you’d totally cry foul before you’d go within ten feet of a farm or sit down on the grass for a picnic.”

The white mare just shrugged. “I can’t help myself, I have a white coat, the least dirt-resistant of colors. But that doesn’t mean I am not up for dirtying my hooves once in a while. Sometimes in life, you just need to get down in the mud to get things done. Like now, right?”

“Hah, truer words have never been said.”

Applejack exhaled amusingly. “Rarity, Ah thought yer jus’ a prissy and overly dramatic pony, but Ah was wrong.”

The white mare snorted. That’s when the stone wall next to her suddenly crashed. He gasped and barely jumped back to safety. And from the rubble emerged a tall, dark figure, magically elevating a bunch of rubbles with gleefulness.

“Muahahaha! You’re too late, foolish foals!”

“Nightmare Moon?!” The mares all gasped in shock.

“Your puny plan to use the Elements to stop me is all but moot, for I have smashed them into pieces!”

Her horn flared up, and the remaining pieces of Elements instantly vaporized.

The white mare felt a scorching glare behind him again. It seemed like Twilight was not wholly convinced that he had absolutely nothing to do with the dark Alicorn despite the clear-up talk.

He felt pressured, but since Elements might not work right now, he was going to try something that the girls had not tried before.

“Okay. Nightmare Moon, can we, like, talk?”

Both the girls and the dark Alicorn herself looked stunned.

“Diplomacy first, isn’t that only fair?”

Pinkie yelped. “B- B- But she’s Nightmare Moon!”

Applejack also frowned. “Yeah, she’d not stop short from eternal night, what’s there to talk ‘bout?”

Twilight let out a muted noise again, but she remained otherwise quiet for the moment. The white mare knew that he was walking on the line there.

The dark Alicorn huffed. “Hmph, if you wish to submit to my eventual domination, and become one of my first followers, then very well, I might consider sparing you, and even grant you a place in my night court… based on how well you help suppress any further foolish sun-worshipping, haha!”

“No, I’m just asking you to go back to your sister, Princess Luna.”

The dark Alicorn was immediately incensed. Her face contorted in anger and she shouted. “How dare you call me by that name?! I’m not Luna, I’m the Nightmare, dread of the everlasting night!”

“I know it is hard to swallow. After all, Prin… I mean, Celestia did banish you to the moon for a thousand years, it is quite harsh.”

“Tell me about that, foal! My unimaginable pain would only be soothed by exacting the ultimate revenge on the foolish sun princess, my so-called ‘sister’!”

The white mare started to think that conversation might not really change Nightmare Moon’s mind. But he was going to try his darnedest anyway.

Suddenly, he thought of something the old Twilight had taught him. With a small bit of confidence, he began.

“But… um, hey, time has changed, and many more ponies work in times of night compared to a thousand years ago.”

Nightmare Moon’s interest was clearly piqued. Although still visibly displeased, she said. “… Go on.”

“Back when society was simpler, ponies were mostly agricultural. So it was natural that they worked in the day and slept at night. But now more and more ponies live in big bustling metropolises. Be them restaurant and bar workers, shipping workers and couriers, store clerks, journalists and media personalities, entertainment workers, and even different types of emergency personnel, a lot of them would feel very glad if they have a royal patron of the night, looking over them with peaceful serenity as they go about their life. These ponies do not need to be forced to respect the night. The night is their life. The night court would not be empty even if you go back as… Luna.”

For the first time, Nightmare Moon did not retort immediately. She slowly absorbed what the white mare said to her, and pondered. The other girls were also more than surprised and amazed that the white mare’s words seemed to be actually getting through the Nightmare Moon’s head.

After a moment of uneasy silence, the white mare added with a quieter voice. “Dear, if what you desire is love, you’re not going to get it through force-”

The dark Alicorn suddenly thundered. “W- Who said what I want is love?! I demand total submission! And universal fear of my might!”

She angrily pointed a hoof at the white mare. “You insolent mare! I almost fell for your honey-coated words! You must be trying to lower my guard, and attack me when I am not aware, huh?”

What the heck, man? 

If not for the need to keep character, he would just say those words out loud. Indeed, the white mare almost thought that was a joke. Not that he had expected easy success at convincing her, but this was the second time in the day that somepony accused him of trying to trick them after he had shown complete sincerity. How Nightmare Moon reacted was but an eerie encore of what Twilight had done in the library. The biggest difference, of course, was that Nightmare Moon certainly had the intent to maim and even kill.

And just then, they were blasted with a high-energy impact spell, sending them tumbling down the stairs and scattered them on the muddy field before the castle.

“Girls! Are you all alright?” The white mare yelled despite piercing pain.

“Not shattered into pieces yet.” “*cough* *cough* I- I’m alright.” “I… I’m fine.” “Ouch, you meanie, that hurt!” “Ah’m fine, Rares.”

“Sorry, talks have failed, but Twilight, don’t fall for her lies! The Elements are not just physical! As long as the embodiment of the Elements are th- Argh!”

Nightmare Moon lunged forth from cloud of dust created from the blast, and kicked the yelling white mare to the side. “You would do well to shut your mouth, foal. Your time is over, and my reign is about to begin!”

Twilight gritted her teeth and yelled. “Not so fast, Nightmare Moon!”

The purple unicorn charged up a powerful counter blast and struck the Alicorn right in her face.

“Gotcha!”

“… And you’re saying?”

Twilight gasped, and turned to find an evil smirk right next to her. And with that, a strong buck was delivered squarely to her face, knocking her violently backwards. The purple mare did not even had a second to react before darkness clouded her eyes, falling to the ground unconscious.

The white mare looked on with horror, and his attempt to sanitize his speech loosened up. “For F… ickleberry’s sake! Nightmare Moon! You’re wearing a damned armored horseshoe! This could’ve killed her!”

“Did I say I’d pull any punch? You six are simply too dangerous to be kept around, knowing about the Elements and all."

“Grr…”

The white mare glared at the situation with fear and cold sweats. He was blowing it. He had not managed to ‘prove’ his generosity to the Elements, and Twilight, the very centerpiece, was knocked out before the battle really began.

He looked up, and noticed with surprise that Applejack and Rainbow Dash was sneaking up on Nightmare Moon up behind a hedge.

He almost wanted to call out and stop them, telling them it was too dangerous and futile to engage in melee battle with her. But at heart, he still held out a small hope that conventional means might bring them the victory.

Considering his moves, he jumped back and hid behind a cover. Nightmare Moon began to sprint forward and mop up the remaining resistance, leaving the ledge his two friends were standing on. He immediately attempted to charge up his horn and throw out a spell like Twilight would have done, aiming to force the Alicorn back to where the ambush would succeed.

Problem was, he did not really know any spell other than telekinesis. Moving objects with magic was like making a figure out of sticks. It would take him a bit of concentration, but it was not too difficult. Perhaps it was because Rarity was an adult unicorn skilled in fine magic control, her magical output was stable and steady, easy to manipulate even for a newbie like him.

But to go beyond that and project magic onto something else was like trying to use the same sticks to make fire. Unless he really knew how to do it, the most he could do was to stand there and glare with defeat.

“Do you really think that you can hide from me, little foal?”

The white mare gasped, and trotted sideways to get some distance away from the Alicorn, but the dark Alicorn used her hooves to pin him to the ground firmly.

“Argh! Get off me, you cur!”

“You, Rarity isn’t it?”

“What is it, villain? Didn’t you say you’ve got no time to talk, huh?”

Nightmare Moon slapped the white mare with her hard hoof. “Insolent whelp, you still don’t know your place in front of your better.”

She sharply turned and let out a giant blast of energy, striking right at the hiding place on the white mare’s two friends. With shocked screams, they fell out of their positions and dropped to the ground like two sock puppets.

“Applejack! Rainbow Dash!”

The white mare shouted in shock. He then cupped his hurt face, and fiercely growled towards his captor. “How dare you hurt my friends like that?!”

“I’m the rightful princess of all Equestria! And as such, I alone shall determine who shall live.”

Nightmare Moon proudly proclaimed. She did not look offended this time. Instead, a predatory grin appeared on her face, like a cat who was about to toy with a hapless mouse. 

“I noticed it. I thought that the purple one was the brain of your little group of troublemakers, but you turned out to be the one who proposed to them the idea of using the Elements against your rightful sovereign of the night.”

“So what if I do?” The white mare grunted.

“Your treachery will be duly punished… with death.”

His pupils dilated, and his breaths became quick and irregular, as the direct verbal threat from the Nightmare was something the dragon had never before experienced. Somepony out there was serious about wanting to take his life, and his mind could not comprehend such an occurrence.

Looking at the face of the white mare who was paralyzed by fear, Nightmare Moon licked her lips in satisfaction.

“You’re clever, and curiously knowledgeable in the legends pertaining to my final triumphant return. I’m now giving you an offer that you cannot refuse.”

The white mare summoned his remaining courage and yelled. “I refuse, you brutish boar of a bohemian!”

“Not even wait to hear what it’s about? Tragic. And I see that you’re not that concerned with your own safety. But how about theirs?”

“What?!”

Nightmare Moon’s metal hoof forcefully stepped on the ground, and from a distance, she yanked the barely conscious form of Twilight out of the caring hooves of Pinkie and Fluttershy.

The white mare could barely hear the distant cries of his remaining friends, as he could only focus on the purple mare, who were being choked by the evil magic of the Nightmare.

His gaze was a mix of horror and anger. “Release Twilight at once, Nightmare Moon!”

“I might consider the petulant proposal of such plebeian if you give your rightful princess proper respect and attention.”

The white mare bit his tongue so hard, it almost bled. With much difficulty, he said. “… Say your words.”

“The resurgent night court of mine requires my first courtier and retainer. But I have no interest in attracting those pathetic hoof-kissers my decadent sister likes to surround herself with. You’re an audacious mare with some wit, not afraid to show your fang. That I very much admire. I need you to renounce your allegiance to my foolish sun-loving sister, join me and embrace the eternal night.”

“Are you kidding me? You have already pulled this one on Rainbow Dash when you conjured those laughable ‘Shadowbolts’ in front of her. Do you actually think that I would be baited by your lies and betray my friends and Princess Celestia?”

“Hah. So it is a no. Say goodbye to your new friend, then.”

Nightmare Moon tightened her hold on Twilight’s neck, and the purple mare gargled. Pieces of her bones could be heard crackling against each other, and she let out an anguished cry of pain and fear.

“N… N- No, no no no!” 

The white mare shouted with abject terror. “S- Stop! Stop this at once! I- I will- I… I will take up on your offer!”

“Oh?” Nightmare Moon looked truly surprised and piqued, and she did slightly release the choke-hold on Twilight. She had not thought that the bond of the white mare with Twilight was so strong that she would consider even joining her side just to spare the purple mare’s life.

Pinkie looked at the unfolding scene from a distance and gasped. “No, Rarity! You can’t do this! S- She’s a big bad meanie! Y- Y- You can’t possibly join her, can you?”

Fluttershy difficultly pulled together all her friends who had been knocked out. She was too shocked and afraid to add to Pinkie’s plea, but her eyes were telling the same story as the pink pony’s.

“Very well then.”

Like throwing away a used towel, Twilight was thrown to the pile of the white mare’s remaining friends. Pinkie barely caught Twilight in time, as Nightmare Moon closed in on Rarity and touched her horn to his.

“W- What are you trying to do?” The white mare asked in dread.

“I’m not exactly an idiot. Given how much you love and worship your sun princess, it’s unthinkable that you’d so willingly become one of my own. You need to be branded with a sign of your loyalty.”

“Branded?! What do you mean?”

Nightmare Moon’s grin bloomed into a full-fledged cackle. “You will know once you’ve experienced it in full, foal!”

The white mare widened her eyes, as their horns crossed and touched each other. Immediately, a domineering and overwhelming force of magic descended on her mind. It was like a tsunami of dark magic, threatening to eat away his sense of self.

“Rarity!” 

Pinkie again called out. The white mare’s crumbling mental defense was pulled together in time to prevent a complete collapse. Like a fearful homeowner against an encroaching robber, he immediately threw everything in his disposal to stem the abrupt invasion.

Suddenly, a flicker of familiar feeling came to him. He had not felt it ever since he became his beloved mare.

It was a brilliant spark of light, an immense core of heat. Dancing green and white that once swirled in his chest. The unique magic of his own, so readily to be drawn out and serve his purposes.

His eyes opened wide, and his horn glowed a verdant white. Even Nightmare Moon’s dark magic was temporarily knocked back.

“What the-?”

He let out a desperate, almost primal cry. The gentle glow on his horn became fierce and scorching. As if a concrete plan and purpose suddenly flashed in his mind, he turned to his friends and slightly dipped his head.

Nightmare Moon watched with shock, as the white mare spew out a piercing pillar of green fire. To her bemusement, it shot not against her, but towards the white mare's friends who were watching with wide eyes.

“Gah!” Pinkie and Fluttershy let out a fearful yelp, as they thought the fire was going to scorch them. Instead, it felt like the gentle touch of spring wind, warm and soothing.

The views before them wobbled, as they realized that the white mare had cast a spell to protect them and move them away from danger.

“R- Rarity! No, you can’t!” Fluttershy shed her cowering look and cried. She watched with disbelief as the white mare yanked herself off from the Nightmare and began to charge her horn. An immense firestorm of red, orange, green and white formed directly above the dueling duo, with Nightmare Moon yelling angrily at the white mare and shooting powerful spells at her, somehow to no avail.

The dark forest was now as bright as midday sun. The entire Castle of the Two Sisters were entirely engulfed in a fiery tornado of heat. Nightmare Moon looked on with her first sign of fear, and again pinned the white mare to the ground in melee.

In between the tongues of fire, Pinkie and Fluttershy could see that the look on the white mare’s face was not one of defeat, but one of assured victory.

The white mare’s lips moved. But before they could hear and see anything, a bright flash of light surrounded all five of them, and they disappeared entirely from the scene.
> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The white mare felt tugged by something.

Groggily opening his eyes, he stretched and tried to see where he was.

It was dark. Not even the darkest corner in the Everfree was that dark. It was the total lack of light, and he could not even see himself.

“Did Nightmare Moon win... regardless of what I’d done?”

He gazed around with tiredness. But then he shook his head. “No, eternal night would have a moon, at least. This place is darker than a ditch.”

Breathing in and out for a few moments, he muttered. “So… is this death?”

He ruefully sighed. Shakily, he said on the verge of tears. “I’m so sorry, Rarity. I’m a failure, and I ruined your life. You have such a bright future before you, and I turned it into ashes and dust.”

“Now dear, fret not.”

The white mare shot up with shock. He definitely heard a voice. Whose voice it was, he could not tell yet, but it rang clear in his mind.

“Yes, I’m talking to you, darling.”

“R- Rarity? Are you Rarity?” The white mare said hopefully.

A few chuckles came through, but there was no concrete answer. It did sound like Rarity, but he was not entirely sure. He also didn’t know if he had mistaken, but the chuckles had more sadness than mirth in them. 

Still he said. “Rarity, I’m Spike! Thank goodness you’re here, I was worried sick! Now where is this place, huh? How do we get out?”

“… Are you?”

The white mare was bemused. “H- Huh? What? Am I what?”

“Listen to yourself, dear.”

“To myself…?”

The velvety voice of his beloved mare again rang in his head.

The other voice gently cooed and asked. “Is that the voice of Spike the Dragon?”

The white mare looked agog, and he retorted. “W- Well, that’s your voice because I’m in your body, Rarity.”

Another bout of soft chuckles was heard. “Alas… It seems that my desperate action was not only warped, but too much of a success.”

“R- Rarity, stop saying vague things in that strange tone, you’re confusing me!”

“Alright. I’d be frank to you. You’re not quite exactly Spike, I’m afraid.”

“What? What are you talking about, Rarity? Who else can I be if I’m not Twi’s number one assistant?”

“Why, you’re Rarity, of course.”

“… Ha, ha ha. Funny joke, Rarity. But I think that we should make jokes after we get out-”

“I see that you still don’t believe me.”

The other voice sighed. “What do you remember before you come into this situation?”

“I- I was sweeping the Cutie Map clean in Twi’s castle, of course!”

“… I see.”

The white mare frowned, as he thought he heard a faint hint of a sniffle. The voice quickly picked itself up and said. “I did not expect us to meet so quickly. There’s much amiss in your mind; some are intended, and some are not.”

“Please, Rari-”

“Please don’t call me that anymore, dear.”

The white mare was startled. “Y- You’re not Rarity?”

After another belabored silence, the voice said. “I am you.”

“You’re not making sense, Rar- I mean, uh…”

“You’re only what I hoped to be Spikey-wikey, dear. But I’m afraid it’s just a pipe dream of mine.”

“… What… what are you…?”

“Spike… I always teased him so.” The voice began, seemingly shifting her attention away from the conversation.

The white mare’s head shot up with a stunned expression, and it continued. 

“I knew that he loved me. I always did. And I’m ashamed to say, I enjoyed it… perhaps a little too much. He was devoted to me, entirely caught up in my entire being. Although he merely loved me for my look at first, he grew to love me as a mare eventually. And yet, I saw him as my adorable plaything, keeping him at a hoof’s length, because I loved to be showered with his attention.”

The voice audibly gulped. “And I’m afraid that once I let go off my veneer of ladylike aloof, he would treat me as simply a gem in his pile of treasure, no longer worthy of but the briefest glance.”

“N- No! I’d never do something like that!”

The voice paused. “This is but wishful thinking on my part, dear. As I said, you’re not him.”

“W- Why?! Why don’t you believe me? I’m Spike! The bona-fide dragon assistant!”

“Spike is dead, dear.”

The white mare was stunned silent. 

Did- did she just say that I’m dead?

“Don’t you realize? You’re not Spike. You’re just forcibly remolded in his image.”

The ostensibly neutral tone of the voice turned shaky and breathy. “Spike was a brave dragon. He gave his life away so that the brutish intruder of the Castle might not lay harm to the Element-bearers, and specifically me, or make use of the Cutie Map for her nefarious purpose.”

The white mare listened to the shocking words, memories hidden began to reform and resurface in his mind.

“… A dragon, whose feelings she so long toyed with, perished in her own hooves with a satisfied smile, knowing that he had protected his beloved mare. A seamstress was left with a shattered heart and barely drying trails of tears. She took the cold, unbreathing form of her beloved dragon, and turned to the vile but potent promise of dark magic."

The white mare gasped, while the voice sounded increasingly resentful. "Dark magic is by nature exacting. It demands sacrifice, and the generous mare was only too willing to give. Unfortunately, dark magic is also twisted, for it pretend to accomplish her wish to bring back the dragon, but in truth, the dragon could never be brought back in the first place.”

“… Th- This is not true. This is impossible!” 

The white mare cried out in abject despondence. 

“I’m not a mere mockery of Spike! I- I’m- I… I am… not…”

His legs felt weak, and he finally buckled in a spiral of utter despair. 

“Now now.”

Another voice, this time unmistakably the youthful voice of Spike the dragon, rang through the strange dark space. Not only was the shaking white mare stunned at hearing it, the other voice which had been talking with him sounded surprised as well.

“W- Who are you?!” The first voice called out in shock.

“What you’ve said is too grim, too upsetting to him, isn’t it? Not to mention it’s not right. I’m way too young to just quit the stage.”

The white mare was now thoroughly confused. “W- What’s happening in here?”

The second voice continued to the first voice regardless. “You misunderstood the portent of the spell. Dark and ancient it might be, it’s not malicious. It’s seldom used because it’s something that causes effects that are utterly unpredictable, as it basically unhinges space and time just try to pin, drag and bring someone back.”

The first voice was silent at first, but it turned inexplicably emotional, even with a hint of uncontrollable anger. “But how do you explain that? That caricature of-”

“Easy peasy. That is not me, nor you. It’s both.”

“… Are you telling the truth?” The first voice sounded shaken. "But I saw in the..."

It emanated a mixed sense of hope and desperation in its words. “Alas, I’m too hurt and broken to be lied to again.”

“How about you find out yourself?"

"... How?"

"Can't you feel it?" The second voice youthfully chuckled. "The pulse of Harmony, having been quickened by an unmistakable act of great generosity. An act that was powered by a unique magic that is distinctly draconic."

"..." 

"Come, and guide him back to his temporal anchoring. It is calling him.”

The white mare blinked. Still barely understanding anything the two voices were talking about, he could only wait. 

However, a head-splitting headache suddenly descended, and he let out a painful yell. It was as if he was being peeled away from atop, his vision swam and throbbed. 

The darkness in front of his eyes quickly gave way to even more consuming darkness of unconsciousness, and he passed out again.


--------------------------------------------------------


The white mare woke up again.

His eyes fluttered open. The surface he was lying on was cold and smooth.

Location and comfort were his last concerns, however. He was still paralyzed by what had transpired in the space of his mind.

Two streams of memories meshing around each other in his mind as one unsegmented whole. It should feel alien and bizarre, but it somehow did not. He gradually realized. He was a product of hope, desperation and compromise. Not entirely a boy drake, not a unicorn mare either, he alone bore a legacy of two.

Checking himself for any injuries, he was surprised that he was white as new. With a whimpering sigh, he stood up unsteadily and took a look of his surroundings.

Trying to get down from the table he found himself on, he was shocked to see that he was literally standing on a circular table on a large pedestal.

It was a large, bluish-purple circular slab of glittering stone, sitting upon a pure white rectangular block of marble. And surrounding it was a large rhombus-shaped room with a sharp tip at the top. There must be some magic involved, because the room was as bright and white as day despite that there was no lamp. The walls were also pure white, but on it was also a continuous stripe of encrusted aquamarine gems, letting out a brilliant band of blue.

The platform was high, and he was very cautious when she tried to climb down to the floor.

When he slowly walked towards and reached what appeared to be a door, he was shocked and appalled to discover that there was no handle of any sort. He frantically searched, and there were no mechanisms to open the door either.

Now fully skilled in using innate unicorn magic, he attempted to use telekinesis to drag the door open. But the door was as heavy as a gigantic boulder, and he could not move it by even a little bit.

Defeated, he slumped down against the door and sighed. But then he immediately heard something – someone talking with a group of people.

“… No way…”

“Twilight, a- are you sure this is the right place…?”

Twilight is outside? He thought with a stunned look.

“Yeah, Twilight… This is in really bad taste.”

“Eeyup, sugarcube. If we’re mistaken, that’d be terribly disrespectful.”

“B- But it should be here! My magic tells me so!”

“Twi, I know you’re already a Princess of Friendship and all, but your magic has failed on you so many times, not even I can count it off my claws on all of my limbs.”

A round of chuckles rang round, slightly defusing the taut atmosphere.

“S- Spike!” The voice of Twilight sounded flustered and embarrassed.

She protested. “The magic of Harmony is not going to tell lies to me! It must be here!”

After some silence, a raspy voice replied. “Well, Twi… If you’re so sure about that…”

“Ah don’t think she would mind… right?”

After a nervous silence, a soft voice that barely penetrated the wall said. “We’ll give her our proper respect in either case.”

“Proper… respect…”

The youthful boyish voice muttered. “I… uh…”

“Spike… if you don’t feel comfortable…”

“… No, I can handle it. Let’s open the door, Twi.”

The white mare heard the words, and quickly scrambled away from the heavy door, backing himself against the marble block at the center. This was when he finally noticed that the circular slab behind him looked oddly familiar. 

With a heavy tremble and grinding sound, the door slowly opened inwards.

Into his sight revealed the five mares that he knew and loved, plus the small purple dragon. Their gazes invariably fixated on the dual appearance of the Cutie Map and the white mare, who was grinning uneasily back at them.

The group froze entirely. The white mare gingerly said. “… Hello?”

Rainbow Dash let out a scream of horror, and shot out of the room in near-sonic speed. Applejack also galloped out of the room with a swift back trot, hiding outside the room and behind the white wall with a terrified, shaky glance. Pinkie Pie tugged behind Fluttershy in fear, but she then noticed that the pink maned pegasus had already passed out.

Among the shocking scene of battle royal, only Twilight and Spike remained where they were.

“T- This can’t be…”

The white mare scratched his cheek and said. “I am-”

Twilight let out a grunt and began to charge up her horn. The white mare noticed the abrupt change and immediately rolled to the side. A blast of magic landed on where he was standing, swaying a bout of dust in the air.

Spike was horrified. “What the hay are you doing, Twilight! That is Rarity! She’s back!”

“That isn’t her! She must be a changeling spy! Rarity… Rarity’s been no more! Not since she gave her life to take down the Nightmare and return Luna to her sanity!”

“Twilight! I’m Rarity!”

The white mare gasped and quickly yelled. “Please, don’t create another episode of drama like we two did in the library during the first night we met!”

Twilight was stunned. “… What?”

Spike hurriedly said. “See! That is something that only we three would know!”

The white mare touched his forehead with a sigh. “What a greeting, Twilight dear.”

Twilight already galloped forward and tackled the white mare with a deep hug.

“Are you really Rarity?” She asked in between sobs.

“I- I am…” The white mare mouthed reflexively. At least, Twilight was not exactly wrong.

Spike was also in tears. “Where have you been in these two years?! W- We’ve all missed you! I... I...!”

“Two years?!" The white mare quivered at the news. Two years... it was also the time the battle in the Friendship Castle occurred, at least in his time. "I… I don’t know. The last thing I remember was teleporting all of you away and igniting the blast as a last resort.”

"Thank Celestia..." Twilight then held her head in intense shame. "I- I am so sorry for everything. I should never have doubted your intentions... I screwed it all up! I have been patching up in your honor by striving in my friendship missions thereafter."

"Twi, it's definitely not your fault-" The white mare ached at the misassigned self-blame from the purple unicorn, as he was the one who tampered with time with dire results.

"Thanks to the grace of Harmony you're brought back to us... Finally I can apologize to you in person." Twilight shuddered in some apprehension, and again sniffled.

"... No more apologies, darling." He finally exhaled, and stroked the mane of the purple mare gently. "Just tell me that in my absence, you all still love and treasure each other as dearest friends, and guard Equestria as her stalwart protectors. This would already soothe me."

Twilight looked up, her eyes glistened in appreciation and some pride. "What you have done was the ultimate example of your Element, Generosity in self-sacrifice. It drives me forward and gives me purpose in my friendship journey every day. I think this is why, despite there is no longer a physical wielder of Generosity, we still managed to solve every Friendship problem we've encountered so far, and I even eventually become the Princess of Friendship, no doubt with your blessing. You must have been watching over us from the endless meadow above, huh?"

"My my. I think that would require me to have actually ascended to a higher plane of existence, wouldn't it? I'm too young and pretty to just quit."

Twilight chortled, but Spike finally could not hold it and hug the white mare's leg with much sorrow. The hurt on his face was all too apparent. "Rarity! Why... Don't you know that I..."

"I'm so sorry to just... go away like that, Spikey-wikey. I never envisioned that things will turn south so badly. You must've been distraught..." The white mare winced, and then squeezed out the best gentle smile he could offer, even though it was evidently bittersweet. "And I know... I know all about that."

Spike looked both surprised and somewhat unsure, but his doubt was soon assuaged by a powerful hug from his once-loved mare. All his queries seem to have melted away in comforting bliss.

The white mare suddenly thought of something, and hurriedly asked Twilight nearby in clear worry. "Oh dear, Twilight. My darling dear sis-"

"Sweetie Belle, isn't it?" Twilight seemed to have anticipated the question, and she tried to put up a reassuring smile. "She was indeed quite shaken by your abrupt... departure, but I did my best to ensure that she could adjust well afterwards. She's now living in with us in the library, it's the smallest way we can give thanks to you."

"I... see. Thank you so much for taking on the monumental task of taking care of a delicate filly like Sweetie, Twilight. I must-" 

"So... so... you aren't a ghost, are you?" A suspicious voice interrupted the emotional scene.

The cyan prankster had tentatively returned, but seemed to be still doubtful of her eyes. "And not a prank with very good execution but very poor taste?"

"Come now, Rainbow. I'm alive as ever. It will certainly be a true demonstration of poor taste to continue doubting my survival and insisting on the veracity of my demise."

The white mare looked around and added wryly. "... in this prematurely-built mausoleum of mine, no less. Admittedly, it's quite exquisitely built, I could not ask for more."

"No, sugarcube. There's certainly more to come and more to ask for." Applejack trotted forward, finally blooming into a smile.

"Sure, sure, Rarity!" Pinkie Pie looked absolutely delighted, her own grin was splitting. "This is totally a super-duper-best-ever-out-of-this-world whale of a whooping resurrection! This calls for-"

"Now Pinkie, you shan't use the word 'whale' even in loose association with a fine lady like me." The white mare, though, snickered without a hint of accusation. "But a party to celebrate seems like a good idea to kick things off again. Two years... there is quite a blank in time, hmm?" 

"We have all the time in the world this time, Rarity." Twilight smiled.

"A- And... Rarity..." Fluttershy, having recovered a moment ago, quietly tugged at the white mare.

"Hmm?"

The yellow pegasus shifted timidly, and finally said. "I'm just... so happy to see you again."

"Me too, Fluttershy. Me too."

"I... I..." Fluttershy stuttered. "You... always were the one inviting me to the spa. This time... let me... um..."

"Sure thing, darling." The white mare preempted and replied graciously, to the relief of the yellow mare and the collective mirth of the group. 

He then looked up one last time at the interior of the alabaster monument. There was much to catch up, much to patch up, and much to heal. Some secrets were still not revealed, and others not yet found. And a façade he seemed obligated to uphold, just as what he had been doing for his friends in full imitation of Rarity's mannerism.

However, what had happened in the future-past, and even who he had become, suddenly all seemed ultimately inconsequential, when compared to the contagious laughter of the assembled friends and loved ones here. 

Such is the allure of love and friendship in an imperfect world, isn't it?


- Fin -