When something is lost how do you cope with the pain. Will Rarity be able to; when through her own actions loses the most important thing in her life (Sweetie belle). What horrors will she suffer and in the end what will she be willing to give up to set things right.
~6:45 am~ A crisp breeze blew through the streets of Ponyville as the sun slow began to creep over the horizon. It was a rather sleepy little day, but the peace was quickly cut short from the sounds coming from the Carousel Boutique.
"WHAAT! HAVE!! YOU!!! DONE!!!!"
Rarity the white unicorn with a lavender mane with deep amethyst curls circled around her younger sister Sweetie Belle; who was the same color as her sister but had a dark pink and light purple swirled mane and tail. Sweetie Belle's glassy eyes stared deeply into Rarity's dagger-like pupils. What She found was not understanding, but an unbridled rage that she had never seen before in her sister's eyes. Sweetie Belle had seen her sister upset before but this different. The demon that circled her was so far beyond reason that it scared her.
There was no telling what the Mare would do.
"You miserable Wretched little creature!!!!!"
"Did you honestly think i wouldn't notice so many of my materials going missing! You filthy thief!! "Rarity snarled
Sweetie cowered backwards. "But...but...i..."
"If only that was all...if only that was it , but LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO MY HOUSE YOU! ROTTEN!! STUPID!!! LITTLE!!!!..." Rarity paused."..BITCH!!!!!!"
Sweetie Belle sniffed the tears back as she compressed herself tightly into a ball; never in her life had Rarity called her such names. .
Rarity glared at the room; it was complete and utter war-zone. There were dressers tipped over with their contents sprawled out across the floor. Broken glass from a window and other assorted objects were mixed in with the clothes that littered the ground, but this was only the beginning of the horrors. Several floorboards had snapped from the weight of the heavy dressers; even a chandelier had fallen from the ceiling. Worst of all there was a gaping hole in the side wall leading to Rarity's creation room. The dust and debris of the mayhem covered the latest dresses in Rarity's collection; But the horrors didn't end there. One of Sweetie belle's paint cans had fallen through the floor; exploding upon impact and spraying several dozen of Rarity's designer dresses that were stored in the room; Most of which had been for wealth clients.
The chaos had never been intentional as Sweetie Belle would never go out of her way to cause her sister any grief.
It had all started so innocently with Sweetie Belle sneaking into Rarity's work room to "borrow" a few things. What started out as a simple task turned into a disaster. It all happened so fast, one second she was reaching out for a spool of golden silk the next everything was falling all around her. Had she touched the wrong drawer or perhaps bumped into something as she climbed the crudely made step ladder that consisted of paint cans and other things so that she could reach the silk. Whatever the cause of the disaster that's chain reaction swept across the Work room, the Creation room and the storage room underneath. One thing was certain ; She had nowhere to escape Rarity's wrath.
Sweetie Belle wiped her nose as red droplets fell to the ground. She had fallen onto her face from the hoof made stepladder that fell apart almost immediately when the disaster had begun ; so it wasn't too surprising that her nose was bleeding. There was also a sharp pain coming from her right hind leg; had she cut herself on the glass from the broken window; she couldn't tell but it sure felt like it.
Whether Rarity noticed this or not she couldn't tell.
Rarity glared at Sweetie Belle with the most unforgiving eyes the filly had ever seen. "Look at my house! Look at what you did to my house!!!"
"But...I..." Sweetie Belle tried to continue but was quickly cut off. "What did you even need with the things you stole !!"
Before Sweetie Belle could even answer Rarity continued. "What were you and your two stupid friends going to do with them; make more of those useless capes for that idiotic club of yours." Rarity quipped.
Rarity turned sharply slapping Sweetie Belle across the face with her tail. intentional or not it caused tears to slid down Sweetie Belle's face.
"Sis..I'm.."Sweetie Belle hiccupped amidst the tears that dripped to the floor .
Rarity glared at her sister with unsympathetic eyes.
"No." Rarity began as she pushed her face into Sweetie Belle"s. "Not this time!!! A sorry isn't going to cut it..."
Rarity pushed her face down forcing Sweetie Belle to the ground. "Know what you are: a parasite,an insignificant little bug i wish i could squash."
Sweetie Belle didn't say a word to hurt her too much to even try.
Rarity pulled her face away releasing the vice-like grip she had over her sister. Rarity took a breath then continue with her verbal thrashing.
"There are days my dear feeble useless little sister that I imagine things they way there were.."Rarity began. "I guess you could say..." Rarity paused for a second as she moved her face to Sweetie Belle's once again. "..I wish you were never born." She whispered into Sweetie Belle's ear then pulled her head back up.
Sweetie Belle's ears dropped and tears poured down her face. Any strength she may have had was gone now; as she laid on the floor sobbing.
Rarity grabbed her sister by her mane and dragged her down the stairs. upon reaching the final step; she tossed Sweetie Belle a few feet in front of herself. Rarity stood at the bottom of the stairs in almost complete disbelief; her eyes darted to the room beneath her workroom.She scanned the room silently as her rage began to boil. So many dresses, so many gowns ruined in less than a minute; It made her sick. She had put so much work into the clothes in the collection, there would be so many disappointed clients. Rarity's head shifted seeing that several dressers on the first floor had also toppled over from the vibrations. How her sister had caused such destruction she didn't know but just seeing the house as it was caused Her anger to flare.The fury compressed in her chest; Then in a low but audible voice Rarity said the most painful and dangerous words a sister could say:
"I hate you."
Sweetie Belle's heart fell and shattered; She moaned in agony but Rarity didn't flinch. The filly jumped to her hooves wailing in pain as she ran to the front door.Tears poured down her face to the floor as she pulled the door open and ran outside.
The door slammed into the wall causing a picture to fall to the ground and shatter.Rarity's rage exploded as she ran to the doorway
"Thats right cry you baby!! I don't want to see your ugly face around here ever again!! Don't you ever come back!!! You hear me!!!! Don't ever come back!!!!!!!!!" Rarity screamed as she watched her sister disappear behind some trees.
Rarity bite her lip then turned to go back inside. She had alot of work to do so there was no time to waste. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~1:21 pm~
Several hours past as Rarity fixed up her home. It was tedious work but it had to be done. Rarity was restitching one of her dresses that had been ripped when she heard a light rapping at her door. She ignored it at first but the knocking continued. Rarity stomped down her stairs with the table and dress magically levitating right behind her . She placed the table down a few feet away from the door; propping the dress back into position before turning her head to glare at the door. There was clearly a sign on her door that read 'closed for the day'; had the pony knocking just ignored the sign. "What gall." Rarity thought to herself. She had so much work to do and didn't have time to deal with anypony.
She sighed then tilted the glasses that she wore for stitching.
"The door is open."
The door opened slowly and a small yellow filly stepped inside. It was Apple Bloom; Applejack's younger sister and one Sweetie belle's friends. She had a large rose colored bow amidst her scarlet mane.
Rarity shifted her eyes from the filly then back too her work.
"What do you want?" Rarity asked without even looking at the filly
Apple Bloom gulped down a lump in her throat out of nervousness; The yellow filly could already tell she wasn't wanted there.
"Um...Well..." Apple Bloom started; her southern accent stung Rarity's ears. "Ya see Sweetie Belle never came to school today, So i came to check on her...to see if she was alright." the filly said.
The thought of Sweetie Belle made Rarity's blood boil.
"Shes not here! "Rarity snarled. "I don't know where she is and quite frankly i don't care. What she does is her own business not mine." Rarity Scoffed.
Apple Bloom lowered her eyes. "Oh..ok..." She said softly with a sadness to her voice.
"Now if you do not mind, I have alot of work to do." Rarity said harshly.
Apple Bloom closed her eyes and nodded slowly "Ah....sure...ok...I understand."
Apple Bloom moved back to the doorway.
Rarity tilted her eyes towards the filly. "Before you go I have a question for you that i would like answered."
The filly stopped and turned her head to Rarity.
"I know my sister has been taking materials from my workroom." Rarity said softly but Apple Bloom could tell it was the voice of a viper readying itself to strike. "Exactly what do the three of you need them for."
Apple Bloom sighed lightly "well I aint suppose to say nothin' to nopony on account of it bein' a secret."
" I don't really care for secrets." Rarity said with a slight hiss.
" Well a couple of weeks ago Sweetie Belle asked me and Scoot... I mean Scootaloo if we could help her out makin' a dress..."Apple Bloom paused "..for your..um birth..day..."
Rarity's eyes lit up; she had completely forgotten about her own birthday. Rarity dropped her eyes back to the young filly who was still talking. "...Belle ain't so good at stitchin' and mendin' dresses so she asked if we could help' er." the filly continued.
Rarity lowered her eyes slowly as guilt was starting to set in. "..Yes....I...see.."
Apple Bloom nodded then frowned. "Please don't be too sore at Sweetie Belle. I was the one tellin' her what materials we needed...we didn't have the bits to buy'em....so we thought we could borrow'em." The filly said in a low voice.
Rarity lowered her eyes "...I see..th-that...explains...alot."
Apple Bloom nodded with a half smile. "I'ma gonna go and look for Sweetie Belle..maybe shes..." Apple bloom trailed off as she walked to the doorway.
"Yes you do that." Rarity said as her eyes returned to the dress on her table.
Apple Bloom walked through the door stopped and turned her head slightly.
"Could ya please not tell Sweetie Belle what I told ya. She'll be awful upset with me if she found out." The little filly said as she stared at Rarity with her large brilliant gamboge eyes.
Rarity rolled her eyes then sighed. "Not a word."
Apple bloom chuckled to herself then sprinted outside. Rarity watched the filly disappear from view then closed the door with her magic.
"A dress...they were making a dress...for my birthday..." Rarity thought as she started back up the stairs with the table and dress following right behind.
When Rarity opened the door to her work room; her anger return. The sight of the destroyed room infuriated her; any ounce of guilt she'd felt disappeared.
"To make a dress for me out of materials stolen from me isn't what i'd call a present." Rarity thought bitterly.
Rarity's fury flared as she looked from one end of the room to the next, her beautiful home was only a shadow of it's former self.
"That stupid foal will pay for this." Rarity swore to herself.
The hours went by slowly as Rarity cleaned. The glass littering the floor from the broken window and chandelier hadn't been too hard to get up, but the red droplets sprinkled across her regal floor required scrubbing. Rarity let out an annoyed groan when she thought of her inconsiderate sister running around her home; carelessly dripping her drawing utensils across the mare's perfect floor.
A loud knock threw Rarity's concentration off and the broom she was controlling with her magic flew through another window. Rarity growled in frustration, She turned and stormed down the stairs to her door. Rarity jerked her head violently throwing the door open.
The heavy door collided with the wall for second time that day.
Apple Bloom was standing In the doorway but this time she was joined by Sweetie belle's other friend Scootaloo; The light orange pegasus with a fuchsia mane.
The two fillies stared into Rarity's irritated face; the sight caused the two to back away slowly.
"What do you want now?!" Rarity asked with a groan.
Apple Bloom gulped slowly. "We was hopin' Sweetie Belle was here."
"We've been looking everywhere." Scootaloo added
Rarity rolled her eyes. "Well shes not here I can assure you of that."
The two fillies turned to one another.
"I don't understand, this just ain't like her to up and disappear." Apple Bloom said with a grave face.
Scootaloo nodded. "i know..." The filly pegasus said slowly. "....shes never been gone this long."
Rarity looked the two over slowly, and to her surprise she hadn't noticed how filthy the two were. The two fillies were both covered head to tail in dirt and dry mud with slouches of yellow tree sap and burrs.
The mare was glad she hadn't let the them into her house.
The two fillies conversed amongst themselves for what seemed like hours to Rarity but in reality it was simply a few minutes before the two turned back to the mare.
"Your her sister do you have any idea where she'd have gone?" Scootaloo asked.
Rarity thought for a second but she honestly couldn't think of anything. No matter how hard she tried every time Sweetie belle popped into her head an image of her home in ruins tagged along.
"We checked all over Sweet Apple Acres but haven't seen hide nor hair of 'er." Apple bloom said with clear worry in her voice.
"We were thinking of looking in Ponyville next and well..." Scootaloo started but paused for a second. "...we were kinda hoping you could help."The pegasus said with a half smile but the smile faded almost immediately.
Rarity nodded and took a step forward; towards the two but then a thought flew into her head.
"What if." She thought.
What if Sweetie Belle had told the two what she had said about her,about them. What if the two were trying to lead her into a trap. They could be trying to make her believe Sweetie Belle was missing in hopes of making her feel guilty for what she had said. What clever children they were, but as smart as they were Rarity was smarter. There was no way she would let herself be turned into the bad guy here.
She was in the right.
"On second thought." Rarity said as Smuggly as she could before taking a step backwards.
"I have soo much work i still have to do." She grinned. "So I'm afraid i can't join you. hmm perhaps later. If you haven't already found her by then... that is." Rarity said in a condescending voice.
What she expected to see were faces of anger and disappointment but what she got were faces drooped in confusion. Despite everything the two were good actors.
"But!!.." Scootaloo squeaked but the door slammed in her face before she could say another word.
Rarity smiled to herself then made her way back upstairs.
Rarity wiped the sweat from her forehead as she was nearly finished the second floor of her house. All that remained were the two broken windows, the destroyed chandelier and of course the gapping hole in her wall. Her magic had helped her out considerably and it was the reason she had done so much. Rarity stared at the hole in her wall then sighed: she had done enough; so it was time to retire for the day.
Rarity smiled as she walked to her bathroom.
The thought of the warm water washing away all the dust, dirt and sweat from her immaculate body made her squee with delight.
Rarity despised the feeling of being sweaty and the sight of the filth that covered her mane and flank revolted her . Rarity giggled to herself as she reached out for the door. The unicorn could almost feel the sweet embrace of the warm water against her beautiful supple coat, but the sweet daydream was cut short by the sounds of light knocking at her front door.
The Mare jerked her head away from the bathroom. Rarity groaned loudly as she stomped her hoof on the ground.
"Oh what now!!" Rarity whined.
Rarity turned from her salvation with a sigh and headed to the stairs once again.
As she walked down the steps a grin began to form; She had a good idea who was at the door this time.
As it was late; Rarity could only imagine that it was her sister at the door. Luckily for Sweetie Belle; Rarity's rage had been quelled slightly with all of the work she had done, After all the second floor was just about finished and as for the floor; far fewer dresses needed her attention then she thought and to her surprise the paint itself could be washed off. Of course that didn't mean Sweetie Belle was off the hook.
Sweetie Belle had to suffer as much as she had.
Rarity imagined her sister sitting on the doorstep waiting to be let in. She could almost see her sister's face soaked in tears; her head hung in shame; and in truth she would enjoy every second of it. Rarity wanted to see her sister squirm; to know that she was still not forgivin.
Rarity stepped casually to the door. She tilted her head slightly to open it. The unicorn smiled as the door opened; readying herself to give her sister a piece of her mind.
"So looked who came craw-."Rarity stopped upon seeing that it wasn't Sweetie Belle standing at her doorway; it was her friend Twilight Sparkle.
"Hi Rari- what did you say?" Twilight said as her head tilted in confusion.
Rarity shook her head "Oh um...I thought you were somepony els-" Rarity stopped herself "Nevermind...what brings you here....so late?" Rarity asked in an attempt to change the subject.
Twilight lowered her eyes "I came right over...when I heard..."
"Heard?..Heard what?.." Rarity asked with raised an eyebrow.
"..About your sister...how shes missing."
Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Who told you that?"
"Well they did." Twilight said as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stepped out from behind her.
Rarity sighed and placed a hoof to her face.
Twilight tilted her head "You ok?"
"Yes...yes...I'm fine." Rarity said in a tired annoyed voice as she lowered her hoof to the ground.
Twilight turned her head to the two fillies behind her. "I found these two wondering around Ponyville; when i asked them what they were doing....they told me they were looking for Sweetie Belle because neither of them had seen her all day."
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded in approval.
"I asked a few ponies and nopony else has seen her either so i decided to help them.....but so far we haven't had any luck at all." Twilight explained slowly.
Rarity looked from Twilight the to the fillies. "Come on Twilight your smarter then this..can't you see your being used." Rarity thought as she glared at the fillies.
"I guess....shes not here is she?" Twilight asked with a frown.
"Ye-I mean no. She not here. I haven't seen her since this morning."Rarity said as she snapped back into reality.
"Thats what I was afraid of." Twilight lowered her head.
Neither Apple Bloom or Scootaloo said a word as Twilight and Rarity spoke.
"We're going to do one final look around Ponyville before it gets too late." Twilight said as her head rose back up. "We were wondering if you coul-"
"I'm afraid I can't." Rarity interrupted.
The two fillies' heads shot up upon those words. Twilight cocked her eyes in surprise. "I"m sorry? What was that?"
"I've had a very hectic and exhausting day and am quite tired." Rarity sighed
Twilight took took a step forward, her mane was scuffy from hours of searching. "But....Rarity...your sister....aren't you worried..."
"Oh yes I-I'm quite worried." Rarity said with a fake grimace.
"...But she's not sma- stupid enough to go to far. I'm sure she'll turn up shortly." Rarity said as she turned away from the door to hide her emotions.
"But..."Twilight said in a low voice.
"...Now if you'll excuse me I-I must be going." Rarity replied as she started up the stairs.
Twilight opened her mouth to say more; to protest Rarity's actions but no words came out.
Twilight lowered her head in defeat. "Alright...then...we'll continue our search."
"Of course." Rarity said in a low voice as she reached the final step.
Twilight turned slowly; As she walked past the two fillies the door closed behind her.
~authors note~
So I put this chapter through a proofreading program but for the life of me it did nothing. I've been trying to fix this chapter and i think i got most of the mistakes but please if their are any mistakes tell me and i'll gladly fix them. please give the later chapters a chance if you would. I've been doing my own proofreading since this chapter and i think i'm doing better . anyway thank you for reading and if there is any criticism i'll certainly listen to it; Please be civil though.
Rarity giggled as she stepped into her bathroom. She grinned merrily at her reflection for a few seconds before her eyes glanced at an unknown blemish on her magnificent tail.
Almost instinctually her hooves latched onto the edge of her tail and pulled it to her face. The red smear at the edge of her tail irritated Rarity immensely as she had been so careful while she worked. Rarity took a wiff expecting to find the aroma of paint or maybe some other sort of drawing utensil but the smell she inhaled was an irony smell she wasn't very familiar with. A more reckless pony like her friends Rainbow dash or Applejack would most likely know the smell quite well but for Rarity the smell of blood wasn't something she was accustomed to.
"Damn it all!!!! OF ALL THE WORST THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN...THIS IS...THE. WORST! POSSIBLE!! THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO ME!!!!! Rarity cried
Rarity quickly checked herself; She had been so careful, so diligent while she was cleaning the glass. The thought of a cut on her illustrious body almost made her sick to her stomach. After a few minutes of checking every inch of her body, she found that there wasn't a mark on her. Rarity waved her tail upward catching the tip of her tail in her mouth. The smear was at the edge of her tail; but the biggest question was how it had gotten there. The only way it could have gotten there was by rubbing against something, but where and when.
Rarity held her tail out in front of the mirror as she slid her hoof across the blood spot; the blood was dry; maybe hours old. She dipped her tail into the sink and began scrubbing it furiously with soap. One question circled through her mind:
Where did the blood come from?
An image appeared before Rarity's eyes, but she dismissed it as quickly as it had come.
Rarity washed herself silently as the joy and ecstasy she had so very much wanted to feel had vanished.
---------------------
~8:48 am the next day~
Rarity's eyes opened slowly, the blood on her tail had kept her from getting the peaceful sleep she had wanted.
Rarity stretched herself as she descended from her bed. The brush in front of her make-up mirror floated upward and began combing her scruffy mane back to it's perfect form.
After a few minutes of preparing herself; she drowsily walked down her hallway to a set of doors.
Rarity nudged the door open with her face as she peered inside.
"Sweetie Bel-" She started but yawned half way through.
She covered her mouth for a few seconds then tried again.
"Swee-Sweetie Belle...it's time to get up." She said in drugged voice.
Rarity's half closed eye traveled from one end of the guest room her sister was using to the other; the room was silent. The bed was empty and devoid of life as though no one had occupied it the entire night.The pillow and blanket were still in the same position they had been when Sweetie belle had gotten up the day before.
Rarity stood there half confused by what she was seeing, her mind was still too hazy from sleep to comprehend what was wrong.
"Sweetie...Belle" Rarity repeated as her hoof began to rub the sleep from her eyes.
Before Rarity's mind could understand what was happening a loud knock caught her attention.
Rarity drifted down the hall and stairs until she reached the door when her mind finally caught up to her.
"Oh Celestia...are we still doing this?" Rarity thought as her hoof slid down her face.
Rarity narrowed her eyes as she slowly open the doors with her magic. In her minds eye she could see Twilight and the two fillies standing behind the door.
At this point Rarity wanted to punch herself for agreeing to look after Sweetie Belle while their parents were on their second honeymoon; it was causing her nothing but grief.
Rarity had a scowl on her face as the door opened; her expression shifted upon seeing that Twilight wasn't with the fillies.
This time Apple Bloom's older sister Applejack was standing beside Twilight and standing (almost cowering) beside a tree was the yellow coated and pink maned pegasus Fluttershy.
"Hello sugarcube ." Applejack said with a half smile.
Fluttershy poked her head out from behind the tree: "oh...yes...um..go-good morning Rarity.." The yellow pegasus said in her almost whisper-like tone.
Rarity looked from one friend to next. "I'm guessing that last nights venture....didn't end well."
"I'm sorry...me and the girls... we searched all night but we couldn't..." Twilight trailed off.
"...I took the fillies home at around one...I-i really didn't mean to keep them up so late but i lost track of..." Twilight started
"When i heard what was goin' on i got the others and we've been searchin' ever since." Applejack continued.
Fluttershy nodded in approval.
"We came by an hour ago but got no answer." The light orange mare said with tip of her stetson hat. "Figured you were already lookin' for her..." Applejack eyes scanned Rarity up and down "...I guess you..just got up..."
"Um..yes..I.."Rarity choked out.
Fluttershy stepped out from behind the tree. "...Um...I...don't mean to interrupt but there's a-a...terrible storm scheduled for...this afternoon...we...can't..what..I-I..mean to say is..."
"Fluttershys right we can't just stand here talking." Twilight said with more vigor then before.
"Yeah so come on Rarity; I told the fillies we'd meet up with'em at around 9 so..." Applejack said as she walked past and was followed closely behind by the other two mares.
"I-I'm...afraid i can't..."
The three mares froze.
"Beg your pardon?" Applejack asked slowly.
Applejack, Twilight and Fluttershy turned to face their friend; Rarity sighed. " I'm afraid I can't go with you."
"I-I...don't unde-." Twilight muttered as she galloped back to the boutique.
""There's been a slight mishap in my boutique...and until this mess is taken care of i'm afraid I can't leave..." Rarity face dropped down as she spoke.
"We're not lookin' for some stranger here..." Applejack paused as her tone grew more serious. "..Your sister...shes been missin' for an entire day...she could be stuck somewhere or...even hurt."
Fluttershy shuttered at Applejacks words; trying her hardest to suppress the tears that were forming at the sides of her eyes.
"I-I'm sorry.." Rarity said as her eyes darted away from her friends.
"And what the hay is that suspose to mean!"
Rarity's eyes shifted back only to be met by the glare of a cyan rainbow maned mare. Rarity jumped back in surprise; almost tripping over her own hind legs.
"Rain-Rainbow Dash.." Rarity huffed
The cyan Pegasus was floating upside down with her mane hanging loosely above Rarity's door step.
"We've been busting our tails all morning!" Rainbow Dash snarled "How can you say your not going to help...she's your sister afterall!!"
"Come on Dashie! You don't have to be such a grumpy-pants just because you didn't get any sleep." A chipper voice called out as a pink cotton candy maned pony's head popped out beside Rainbow Dash.
"Pinkie Pie how are you...?" Twilight asked from below but the pink mare didn't seem to be listening.
"Poor Sweetie Belle must be so scared but..." Pinkie giggled to herself. " I know just the cure!"
Rainbow Dash blinked as she stared her at pink friend.
"..Uh..Pinkie."
"Oh we'll throw Sweetie Belle the biggest most bestest party ever."
"...Pinkie."
"I can't wait!!"
"..Pinkie."
"Maybe I shouldn't wait!!"
"Pinkie."
"I should go home and get ready!"
"PInk..ie!"
"Oh but we haven't found her yet...then I should wait!" Pinkie said as she put a hoof to her chin.
"Pinkie!"
" But then what if we find her super fast and the party isn't ready."
"Pinkie!!!"
"Oh nononono I should go and start preparing for the party."
"PINKIE PIE!!!!!!!" Rainbow shouted.
"Yes Dashie?" The bubbly mare asked with a grin.
The two stared at each other for a few second before gravity finally took effect.
Pinkie Pie fell downward but managed to twist herself around so she landed on her bottom. Sadly Twilight wasn't so lucky as the pink mare landed ontop of her head.
"Oh sorry about that Twi."Pinkie said with a giggle
"Phats ok Minkie , but doh ou bind retting of ee." Twilight muttered as her face was pressed into the floor.
Pinkie Pie nodded "Okie dokie lokie." She said with a smile.
Pinkie hopped off Twilight's head and began skipping over to Fluttershy and Applejack.
Rainbow Dash flipped herself around; landed on the doorstep and proceeded to help Twilight to her hooves. Twilight gave a small nod and smile to Rainbow then turned back to Rarity.
"Please understand...I-I have..so much work..I..." Rarity said slowly
Twilight grimaced. "I don't...I don't fully understand what your trying to say...but we don't have time to stand around and argue with you. We have to keep searching." Twilight turned her head ."Come on girls lets go."
Twilight walked slowly to the others followed closely behind by Rainbow dash. Rainbow gave Rarity a quick glance; the white unicorn's actions puzzled her. If it were Rainbow whose sibling was missing she'd search to the end of Equestria till he/she was found. Rainbow wanted to press the issue further, but she had to agree with Twilight . With the storm closing in and all the ground they had to cover they didn't have a moment to spare.
"Fine, fine, fine! Lets just go already!!" Rainbow sighed then rolled her eyes "Don't worry Rarity we'll find her dea-" A hoof shot into her mouth.
"Maybe we shouldn't be a sayin' such...um delicate things in the present company." Applejack said as she motioned her head to the left .
Rainbow dash tilted herself only to see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo coming down the path.
Rarity glared at the two fillies; luckily for her none of her friends had noticed.
The five mares started down the path meeting up with the fillies in the middle. Fluttershy sighed lightly as she gave Rarity a final look.The yellow pegasus' glassy eyes held a suffocating sorrow that slowly began to press down on Rarity's soul. The disappointment that filled her eyes cut deeply into Rarity's heart more sharply then any blade ever could. Rarity had to turn away; she couldn't bare to stare into her friend's eyes any longer. It was causing her too much pain.
Fluttershy shook her head slowly than turned so she could catch up with the others.
Rarity moved slowly into her home; closing the door lightly behind herself. Her balance slipped but she managed to catch the wall with a hoof.
"Curse them!" She thought " Curse those three for involving my friends in this farce!!"
Rarity stabilized herself before pushing away from the wall. She dragged herself to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, and to put her mind at ease. She cooked and baked but her attention was elsewhere. Try as she might the disappointed faces of her friends circled through her mind.
Rarity lowered her eyes at the plate in front of her. she shifted the food around with her hoof; As much as she wanted to; she didn't have the strength to eat.
Rarity's eyes drifted upward; her hoof flew to her face as tears began to slide down her cheeks.
A second plate of food was setup at the seat beside her.
" Oh...Celestia...am..I really this weak." Rarity buried her head in her hooves as the tears began to fall freely from the unicorn's eyes to her checks.
Rarity's eye opened slowly as a low pounding noise pulled her away from her dreams. She turned her head slightly to the window above the table only to realized how dark it was outside. The light pounding intensified; slightly drumming through Rarity's ears. Rarity sluggishly lifted her head off the kitchen table as the light rapping at the door was getting more and more annoying. Rarity barely had any energy but she managed to crawl off her chair as she lazily made her way out of the room.
Rarity's horn sparked a little as she attempted to open the door with her magic. The door creaked slowly but a strong gust blew the door forward as the wind's howled echoed through the room. Rarity shielded her eyes as a bright light flashed across the desolate sky. Rarity's eyes refocused to find a waterlogged Twilight, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo at the base of her doorstep. Rarity hesitated for a seconds before allowing the three into her home.
The fillies immediately began to shake the water from their bodies while Twilight simply pushed the hair away from her face. The torrent of rain began to spill into the room so Rarity closed the door as quickly as she could.
"The storm hit harder then we thought it would." Twilight said in a stern voice.
Rarity turned to reply but she was meet with the annoyed face of her friend. Twilight's eyes were a combination of anger and confusion. Rarity opened her mouth but was quickly cut off by Twilight.
"The others went back to their homes to wait out the storm...but I doubt we'll be able to do anymore today." Twilight's voice was sharper then usual.
Rarity bit her lip "Then i'm guessing..."
"Can I ask you a question?" Twilight quipped
Rarity grimaced "Of course..."
"Whats going on with you?" Twilight began. "We've all been out there looking and you...you don't seem to be concerned in the least?"Why is that?" Twilight asked with a frown.
Rarity opened her mouth to reply but was quickly interrupited.
"Shes been actin' real funny since yesterday." Apple Bloom chirped
Rarity glared at the filly but said nothing as the orange Pegasus took a step foward to add her own two cents.
"We went to her for help first...and it looked like she was gonna." Scootaloo paused. "But then she got really cocky with us...like she was mad at us or something."
Twilight looked from one filly to the next then to Rarity. "Is this true?" She asked slowly
Rarity's eyes narrowed as her anger began bubble in her chest.
"Thats It!" Rarity growled through gritted teeth.
Twilight and the fillies jumped back in surprise.
"I've had it! This foolish game ends here and now!! Where is she?!!"Rarity snarled as her anger exploded "Where is Sweetie Belle?!!!"
The two fillies cowered backwards to escape the creature that was bearing down on them.
Rarity moved in closer; her body resonated an aura of anger and hate that swirled around her.
"Your going to tell me and your going to tell me now!!!!!" Rarity demanded
"WHERE IS SWEETIE BELLE!!!!!" Rarity hissed before either filly could utter a word.
"Rarity!!" Twilight shouted as she jumped in between Rarity and the fillies.
"Don't defend them Twilight!" Rarity barked
Twilight stared at her friend in horror. Never in all her time in Ponyville had she seen the look that Rarity had in her eyes; it terrified her.
"Wha-whats gotten into you." Twilight whimpered timidly
"I Said move!!" Rarity glared at Twilight.Twilight grimaced but stood her ground. "Get the hell out of my way!!" Rarity hissed
Rarity raised her hoof up to strike.
Twilight eyes lit up in fear, it wasn't some stranger trying to hurt her. It was a friend and one of her best; that was going to cause her pain. Twilight turned her head sharply readying herself for the blow, but her body reacted on it's own as her horn began to glow. Rarity shuffled backwards as a force engulfed her body, and before she could react she was thrown backward across the hall until her back collided with the steps.
Rarity let out a small yelp of pain as she rolled down several steps; before landing on her side with a thud.
Twilight let out a few heavy breaths before finally catching her breath.
"Rarity...I-I'm so sorry.."Twilight said in a shaky voice. "...Yo-you were really scaring me there...I thought you were going to hur-"
"I wasn't going to hurt anypony." Rarity said dryly " I just don't have time for these games."
Twilight narrowed her eyes as Rarity struggled to get back to her hooves.
"What do you mean games?" Twilight Asked slowly.
Twilight's eyes lit up; then she gave her friend a stern look. " You think this is somesort of joke or prank their playing on you.Don't you?"
Rarity glared at the purple unicorn as she took another step forward.
Twilight's eye softened. "Before this goes any further." She said calmly."Take a good look at the mirror and tell me what you see."
Rarity twisted her head to the small hanging mirror on the wall. Rarity face fell as she stared deeply into her own reflection. She could barely recognize herself; The murderous eyes that stared back at her made her sick to her stomach. Her mane and coat were ruffled and disheveled. Rarity's eyes darted downward ashamed of herself for what she had become.
"I don't know where you got it through your head that these two are trying to pull something on you." Twilight said in an almost motherly scolding voice " But look at them."
Rarity's eyes darted away from the mirror; Her heart sank at the image she saw. Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were balled up and shaking with wide frightened eyes. "I...I..."
" So you thought this was somesort of prank."Twilight said with a confused face
"I...I thought it was too convenient...but...I..." Rarity said slowly
Twilight cocked her eye at Rarity "What do yo-" She shook her head. " That doesn't matter right now."
Twilight moved a few steps to the left then pointed at the two shaking fillies
"There foals Rarity! Do you honestly think they would come up with such a cruel prank like this."She started " Right now your sister is out there somewhere scared or hurt and you-you haven't done a....." Twilight grimaced at herself for what she was going to say. "..Damn thing about it." Twilight lowered her eyes at herself as she didn't like to swear.
Rarity's face went pale "Oh Celestia....what have i done..."
Twilight's face softened "I'm sorry...I was so abrupt..."
"No no...that's fine..." Rarity said lightly "Where have you searched...so far.."
Twilight nodded quickly "So far...we've done most of Ponyville and Sweet Apple...we were going to ask Zecora to help us with the Everfree Forest...but shes away. I think she said somethin-"
Rarity's eyes widened; she had told her sister several times to stay away from the forest. So if Sweetie Belle had gone anywhere to hide it was there.
"...so once the storm breaks we're going check the Everfree Forest." Twilight continued
"No!" Rarity said quickly
Twilight blinked "Wha-"
"No no no...it'll be...too late by then." Rarity shook her head rapidly
Rarity rushed foward plowing through Twilight as she reached for the door.
Twilight flipped over from the impact landing on her side. Her head shot out as she watched her friend opened the door. "Rarity!! Wait!! The storm.. it's too dangerous....you can't go to the Everfree...."
Rarity shook her head "No... no I-I have to go..."
Rarity pulled the door foward as a streak of lightning cut across the sky. Rarity took a deep breath then sped outside shielding herself as the rain pelted her body.
Twilight pulled herself up slowly but weakly fell back to the ground. Her body was exausted from the overuse of magic. She'd been using it for most of the day and was actually feeling light headed. Twililght had actually gotten lucky when she had accidentally used her magic on Rarity, but now she had nothing left in her to stop her friend.
------------------------------------------------------- ~Somewhere between 6:00 and 6:45~
"SWEETIE BELLE!!!!!!!!" Rarity screamed with all her might so as not to be drowned out by the constant falling of rain.
Rarity's heart raced as the storm raged around her. She sped as fast as she could through the bleak forest; her only source of light was the flashes of lightning that illuminated the sky.The grass and branches cut across her fragile body and limbs but she pressed on; ignoring the pain. She had only one thing on her mind; nothing else even came close.
All that mattered to her now was her sister.
"Sweeti-" The boom of thunder rang out across the sky.
Rarity's head spun as she turned for a new direction. The volume of the rain increased as the wind picked up. The ferocity of the storm was much worse then before.
In Rarity's mind she knew the reason. While the weather in Ponyville was controlled; the weather in the Everfree forest was not. If there was a terrible storm in Ponyville it was worse in the Everfree forest.
The wind howled and shook the trees that Rarity past. Her hoof was out infront of her face to shield her eyes from her own wind tousled mane.
The sound of a loud creak drew Rarity's attention. One of the trees to the far left began to give way. The tree fell downward landing with an earth shattering thud that threw Rarity off balance for a few seconds. Rarity was simply glad she had been nowhere near it and in her mind hoped her sister hadn't been as well.
"Sweetie Belle!!! Sweetie Belle please answer me!!!!! Rarity cried.
Rarity's eyes shifted "Sweetie Belle...I-I'm....I'm sor-" A crash of thunder bellowed; once again muffling Rarity's voice.
Rarity's eyes lowered as her head dropped down. "....Please..."
Rarity blindly rushed foward; screaming her sisters name, but no reply was heard.
---------------------------------------- ~????~
The howl of the wind had subsided as the storm was slowly dying down.
The rain drenched white unicorn stood at her door step. Her eyes were blank as she stared at the ground. How had she gotten home? What time was it? These were question she asked herself but had no answer to either of them.
There was one thing she knew; (her eyes drifted upward) she was alone.
The physically and mentally exhausted mare didn't even have the strength to use her magic to open her door. After a few seconds she simply pushed the door forward with a hoof.
In her minds eye she could see her sister jumping out from behind the door with an ear to ear grin. Laughing wholeheartedly at the joke she and her friends had played, but this didn't happen; as there was no one to greet her.
Twilight and the fillies were nowhere to be found. Rarity felt more alone then she had ever felt in her life.
Rarity's heavy hoofsteps echoed through the dark room. It was the only sound that could be heard in the empty house. That was until something crunched under her hoof.
Rarity lowered her head slowly to the object under her hoof. She picked her hoof up only to find a facedown picture; the one that had fallen the day before. Rarity sighed to herself for not having picked it up earlier. She nudged the picture with her nose carefully; making sure not cut herself on the glass.
Rarity flipped the picture trying to move it closer to the wall. Her heart stopped when her eyes met the image on the picture.
It was a picture of herself and Sweetie Belle.
The two were younger with bright smiles on their faces as though they had had been laughing. Rarity lowered her eyes as the memories came back to her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A young Sweetie Belle hopped around the room. She could barely contain herself as she began climbed all over Rarity; laughing the entire time.
"ok you two." The pairs mother said calmly.
"Sweetie Belle." The younger Rarity chuckled "You have to stay still or mom can't take the picture."
The little foal giggled and squeaked when she felt her sister's hooves grab her sides. Sweetie Belle jumped forward latching onto her sister's neck as she climbed up to Rarity's head.
Their mother smiled gently "ok girls now say...CHEESE!!!"
"CHEESE!!!" Rarity giggled
"RARITY!!!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rarity's eyes closed slowly as a tear slipped out. Her hoof flew to her face as more tears began to poor down to the floor. Her body began to sway as she slowly lost control of her emotions. Her mouth opened and in a low voice only audible to the picture; Rarity said the only words her body would allow.
Rarity's bloodshot eyes opened slowly; She'd only been asleep for an hour but it was the most sleep she had gotten in the last few day. Rarity rubbed her eyes slowly with a hoof.
Even in her dreams Sweetie Belle haunted her.
Three more days had already come and gone but still there was no sign of the small white unicorn. Twilight and the others were diligent in their search and as much as Rarity wanted to join them; she was forced to stay home.The numerous cuts and scrapes the unicorn suffered from her venture in the Everfree Forest had grounded her. The snug bandages that hugged Rarity's forelegs, hind legs and sides were simply a reminder of her failure.
Growls from the mare's empty stomach echoed through her ears. It had been hours since her last meal but Try as she may; no matter how often she tried to satisfy her hunger she couldn't. Each time Rarity gathered enough strength to leave her bedroom and walk down to her kitchen; the appetite she had would simply disappear. Forcing herself to eat only made things worse as she felt nauseous soon after.
Rarity felt weak; weaker than she had ever felt in her life. Whether it from the lack of food or the heavy pressure on her chest; she wasn't sure. It was then that the mare's eyes glanced down at her fading body. Her once glamorous mane was now an disheveled mess thrown in every direction as was as her stunning coat. Worst of all was the pain; not a physical pain as the wounds Rarity suffered had already gone numb to her.
The anguish she felt was in her heart.
Rarity's head drooped down as Her mind circled through all the things she had said to both her friends and the two fillies. The white unicorn wasn't as prideful as Rainbow Dash or Applejack; but still She had yet to apologies to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo for her horrid behavior. Rarity wanted to apologies; She wanted to tell them how horrible she felt for her actions, but the two fillies were avoiding her. There was one other whose forgiveness Rarity desperately craved but that would have to wait until she was found.
The somber mare was glued to the fame at the edge of her bed that now held Sweetie Belle's picture. For a moment the room was still then the memories of her sister's arrival to her home more then a week ago flooded her mind.
"So...Um." Rarity began as the two sisters walked up the stairs. "Did mother or Father tell you how long you'll be staying."
The filly tilted her head to the side trying to recall the words from her parents. "I think mom said...a week or...maybe two...I kinda forget."
Rarity sighed as the two reached the top of the stairs.
"What do you even do on a 'honey moon' anyway?" Sweetie BGelle asked with an innocent smile
"Oh..ah..."Rarity hesitated for second as a drop of sweat ran down her face. " I'll...explain it to you when your a little older."
""(unless you learn about it from school of course.)" Rarity muttered under her breath.
The filly narrowed her eyes. "OOOOOHH!!' Sweetie belle said with a smug smile. "It's like that huh!" She giggled as she swong her tail side to side. "I thought they were too old for that."
"Sweetie Belle!!" Rarity cried "This is our parents we're talking about here...you shouldn't talk about their sex lif-" Rarity stooped herself as her face turned red.
Sweetie belle's smile grew wider and wider as she watched her sister turn a bright red.
"Rreeaallllyy!" Sweetie Belle said slyly "Go on." She said with a wink "I'd love to hear more about mom and dad's sex life or just sex in general...I know so little bu-"
Rarity lowered her head trying to hide her face. "What you..." Rarity paused to collect herself before continuing "...ho-how much...do you know....i mean...I didn't think....they...um taught...'that'...at school... just yet...with you....being so young..."
"Oh um..." Sweetie Belle hesitated.
The filly's slyness disappeared as though the question had caught her off guard.
"...I-i...didn't learn it from school." The small unicorn said with a half smile.
"Pardon." Rarity said with a tilted eyebrow.
"I-It was Scootaloo..."
"(Why am i not surprised.)" Rarity thought with a sigh.
"...She..um..taught me the difference between fillies and colts...and..." Sweetie Belle paused as she started to blush "...and a few other things...that she said i shouldn't repeat..."
"(Why do i get the feeling a certain rainbow haired mare has something to do with this.)" Raity thought in disgust.
"So..." The blushing filly began "Then... i-it's....true right."
The white mare simply coughed into her hoof. " A proper lady...doesn't speak of such vulgar things...it's very unbecoming."
"I think we've had enough sexual..." Rarity paused as her sister giggled at the word. "...education for one day." The embarrassed mare said with an annoyed face.
The filly toppled to the floor; (She couldn't hold it any longer.) laughing madly at her sisters embarrassment.
Rarity rolled her eyes. "Anyway." The mare began; grabbing her sister off the ground by the filly's mane so the two could continue down the hall. "Much like last time you will be staying in the guest room." Rarity tilted her head to the filly. "You remember the rules am I correct?"
The filly's face fell as she rolled her eyes at the question. "Yes I remember." Sweetie said in a monotone voice.
"Good."The mare said with a smile. "I'll be quite buzy for the next few days so i would appreciate it if you could keep the noise to a minimum."
Sweetie belle sighed as the two made their way to the middle of the hall.
"...But then again i guess you will be at school most of the time so that won't be too much of a problem." Rarity grinned to herself.
The guest room was only a few steps away but Rarity tilted her head towards the door the two were about to pass.
"Oh and one more thing."Rarity said with a frown. "I doubt I have to say this; (mostly because tou have no business in there anyway.), but I don't want you going into my workroom. I have quite a few things going on in there an-" Rarity stopped.
The tiny unicorn lifted her head upwards to her sister. "Everything...ok?"
Rarity narrowed her eyes at the door. She herself had closed the door tightly the day before but now the door was tilted open.
"Yes..." Rarity began. " ...Yes everything is fine."
The two moved slowly into the guest room.
"I expect the bed to be made everyday you understand." Rarity said in a harsh voice with narrowed eyes.
The filly simply blinked in confusion at her sisters change in tone.
Rarity shook her head quickly; letting her face soften once again. "Listen if you follow all the rules and don't bother me while i'm working...I-i'll take you out for some ice cream...or somthing this weekend...ok...how does that sound."
"Oh..ok or maybe we coul-" But Before the filly could finish her sister was already halfway out the door.
"I love you sis."
Rarity stopped; her head drifted down. "oh yes...and I L-"
Rarity's thoughts were broken by the light tapping at her window. The unicorn dragged herself off her bed to the window.
Rarity let out a low sigh when she spotted Ditzy "Derpy" Doo (Derpy Hooves to most.) the off grey pegasus with a blonde mane fluttering outside her windowframe with a large bag over her shoulder.
Rarity pulled the frame up; which took more effort then she thought it would. "Your a bit early Ditzy."
The crossed eyed mailmare smiled as she held out several letters. "Here you go." Ditzy said with a pleasant smile.
"Yes...um thank you." Rarity said with a half smile as she took the stack of letters.
Ditzy gave a little nod before reaching into her bag and pulling out a muffin.The mailmare turned with a grin as she flew away; taking a bite from her treat as she swiveled through the air.
Rarity took the mail and staggered back to her bed. It wasnt that she was hurt; her body was just sore. The mare laid the letters on her night stand as she began shuffling through them. Rarity rolled her eyes, shook her head and chuckled to herself; as she had found that only half the letters actually belonged to her.
There was a good reason Ditzy's nickname was Derpy.
It wasn't because the pegasus was stupid or incompetent; if anything she as normal as any other pony and quite a dilligent worker. The mailmare; (after hearing that Rarity was more or less bedridden.) had actually gone out of way to deliver the mail to Rarity through the window simply so that Rarity didnt have to strain herself. Ditzy's problem was her depth perception; with her eyes crossed like they were it made reading the names on the letters difficult.
A birth defect maybe, but Rarity could never bring herself to ask.
Rarity sorted the letters into different piles;
The first letter was addressed to Berry punch; (a new drink recipe most likely.).
The second was for Fluttershy; (which Rarity would deliver personally when she was strong enough.)
The Third and fourth letters were from two of Rarity's clients who were inquiring about their dresses.(sadly neither dress had even been started.)
The fifth was to Lyra heartstrings ;( which Rarity could only guess had to do with the mystical creatures she was known to study.)
The next was from Twilight; (most likely a report of some sort.) and the the seventh... Rarity pause when she looked at the final letter it was different then the others.
There was only four words 'To Miss Rarity' and the In Giant letters the word:URGENT.
There was no return adress or signature from the one who even sent the letter. Rarity bit her lip then slowly opened the letter.To her surprise and annoyance the letter was blank; there was not a single written word, the only thing inside was a small white stone at the very top. Rarity grimaced to herself for a second until she took a closer notice at the stone.
Rarity's eyes widened. "Is this what...i think this..." Rarity thought slowly "...Is this a...two-way communication letter."
Although Rarity had never actually seen a communication letter she'd heard of them. From what Rarity had heard a communication letter was a rare magical type of documation inwhich two letters were linked together through magic; allowing both parties to speak to one another through the letters.The white object that Rarity mistook for a rock was actually a small cut gem. The gem was laced in magic and was itself the link that connected the letters.The mare remembered that this type of letter was more commonly used in one of the larger cities like Fillydelphia or Cloudsdale. It was likly the close net community that made up ponyville rendered a communication letter somewhat useless.
Rarity flipped the letter up and and down in an attempting activate it, but despite her best efforts nothing happened. The mare grimaced to herself; she let out a low sigh as she had an idea. Rarity gathered her courage; then in a low but audible voice she spoke a single word: "Hello."
To the unicorns surprise the white jem flashed blue.
The room fell silent; Rarity's heart pounded in her ears as several drops of sweat ran down her face. Then just as she thought an eternity had pasted the gem flashed green. "Hello..." A gruff voice said. "Is this..." The voice paused "...Miss Rarity i'm speaking to."
Rarity froze; her voice disappeared as she stared blankly at the paper in front of her. The voice (obviously a stallion.) was unfamiliar to her, but for some reason he knew her name. Rarity hesitated; she didn't know what to say and before she could even attempt to say another word the gem flashed brightly in her face.
"Excuse me miss..." The voice said sternly "...We really need to talk."
A sudden chill ran down Rarity's spine as a lump formed in her throat. The unicorn grimaced to herself as she puzzled over the identity of the stallion; (at least she hoped it was a stallion.). The mare bit her lip; shallowing the lump as she approached her next move. She considered destroying the letter; ending it there and then; but at the back of her mind she knew it was a foolish idea. There were just to many question that Rarity needed answered.
How did he know her?
Why did he send the letter?
And most importantly what did he want?
In the end Rarity's curiosity got the better of her. The unicorn took a deep breath as she mustered her courage. She opened her mouth slowly....."Miss...Miss Rarity." The voice said quickly.
Rarity grimaced to herself; her resolve was shattered. "Ye-yes." She squeaked.
The voice frightened her; more so then she would admit.
Rarity shook her head viciously. "I'll never get anywhere if I act like a timid filly." the mare told herself." Come on! I can do this!!"
Rarity took in a few short breaths; as her body relexed. "I-i mean...hello sir." her voice was still shaky but coherent.
There was a short paused then the gem flashed once again.
"Ah good...your still there." The voice said. "I thought something went wrong the letter."
"If you don't mind me asking...sir...." Rarity readied herself. "....As to whom am I-i speaking with?"
"my apologies Miss..." The voice said slowly. "...I've been quite rude...Haven't I ."
another pause then the green flash of the gem illuminated the dimly lit room.
"Allow me to introduce myself." the voice continued "My name is Doctor La-"
"A Doctor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rarity's mind screamed.
Dozens of thoughts soared through Rarity's head. She broke out in a cold sweat as her mind tried to fathom a reason a Doctor would be talking to her; but at the back her mind she knew the answer.
Whether it was good news or bad it most likely had to do with her sister.
"Excuse me...hello."
Rarity's heart pounded rapidly in her chest as she was slowly dragged back into reality. "I-I'm so sorry....my mind was elsewhere."
The Doctor cleared his throat then continued . "Yeesss...anyway I have something very important to talk to you about." he paused for a momement then continued. "Your related to one...Sweetie Belle am I correct."
The mare's stomach flipped upon hearing her sister's name. Her heart's palpitations were pulsing in her ears as she primed herself to answer the Doctor's question. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Then after a few seconds her voice finally returned.
"yes." Rarity said in a low almost whispery tone as though she was using Fluttershy's voice instead of her own. The unicorn braced herself for the Doctor's reply. Her heart nearly stopped when the gem flashed it's green light into her face.
"I was letting you know; she was found this morni-"
Rarity jumped to her hooves. "you mean shes there!" the unicorn said quickly "She at the hospital...right now!!!"
"Well...yes..." the Doctor said slowly.
"I'll be there as soon as possible!!!!" Rarity Squeed in excitement as she tossed the letter aside.
The mare lepted from her bed; She let out a low yelp as her hoofs hit the hard ground; but she didn't care.
Her sister was waiting,
With a swift twist of her head the small comb on Rarity's make-up desk floated up to the mare's mane and began brushing the knots out of her hair. it had been awhile since the last time she had used the brush,( three days to be exact.) but Rarity certainly wasn't about to let her sister see her the way she was. Satisfied with herself ; Rarity flicked her head sending the brush skimming across the bed until it hit a pillow with a dull thud.
"Oh Celestia I can't believe it...i just can't..." Rarity"s mind raced. "I just can't wait to tell Twilight and the oth-" Rarity stopped. "Twilight!!!" the mare thought " I have to tell Twilight....and then she'll get the others...an-and we'll all go...and see Sweet-.... oh yes it's perfect." She said with a smile." First twilight's then the Hospital."
Rarity opened the door just as a green light began to flash from behind her.
The unicorn blew past her bedroom door nearly knocking it off it's hinges. She sped towards the steps at a speed she never thought possible. She felt good; better then she had in days; all because of a simple conversation. Her hooves barely touched the ground as she made her way down the stair.
"ICAN'TBELIEVEIT!!!! ICAN'TBELIEVEIT!!!!!" Rarity's mind repeated over and over in her head as she reached the final step.
A searing pain caught her off guard as she took her final step down the stairs. Rarity nearly lost her balance from the sudden pain , but somehow managed to keep herself steady. Rarity's head flicked to the her side; and to the unicorn's disgust a trickle of blood was slowly steaping through the banadges along her flank.
Rarity grimaced to herself as fluttershy's words flooded her mind. "...don't overexert yourself...you don't want your wounds to reopen...specifically that one..."
Rarity gritted her teeth in a vain attempt to soothe her pain. She took in a few heavy breaths before continuing forward; praying she wouldn't do any further damage to her body.
The white unicorn closed her eyes tightly; trying to force the pain back; as she pulled the front door open with her magic.
"This won't...stop me...nothing will..." Rarity told herself." I can't keep her waiting...not anymore."
A sudden gust of wind hit Rarity in the face as she took her first step outside in days. It was a strange feeling being outside once again but she welcomed it wholeheartedly . With that She took in one final breath then darted forward; full gallop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An early morning mist awaited Rarity as she scurried across the nearly barren streets of Ponyville . The weather hadn't been the same since the storm; and while Rarity wasn't exactly sure the reason behind the strange weather; She could only guess that it had to do with Rainbow Dash focusing more on finding Sweetie Belle then her job. The unicorn had enjoyed the dreary weather from her window as it fit her somber mood, but now was different. Now she wanted it to be bright and sunny to fit the warmth she felt in her heart.
The warmth was quickly replaced by a sharp pain at her side.
Rarity's heavy hoofsteps echoed across Ponyville; with the bleak weather and the fact it was so early there were very few ponies in Rarity's path as she made her way to Twilight sparkles' library home. The mare bit her lip to subdue the pain that flared at her back. Rarity's heart pounded rapidly; she had barely run a mile and already her lungs were burning. The poor unicorn felt her fatigue in every step she took; but somehow she managed pushed forward through the pain and fatigue that ate at her.
The thoughts of her sister the only thing driving her forward.
Rarity glanced to her left only to spot Lyra and Bon bon stepping out of a small diner. The unicorn groaned and mentally kicked herself for not taking the the letters with her. Lyra tilted her head giving Rarity a smile and a wave; Rarity returned the gesture with a nod; only wishing she had more time.
Rarity grinned to herself through the pain; she was only a few blocks away from Twilight's.
The mare turned sharply; her forelegs locked together and before the unicorn could stop herself ; her body was tumbling across the cold ground. The world flipped several times before Rarity finally came to a stop. Disoriented and winded the unicorn tried to wail in pain but nothing came out. Rarity took in several heavy breaths before even attempting to move her pain riddled body. Several of the wrappings around her waist and limbs had torn or were hanging loosely at her sides. She whimpered softly as her voice slowly came back to her; tears were already falling down her checks before she realised she was crying.
The mare wiped her waterlogged eyes slowly; She took in a short breath; bracing herself for what she knew was coming. Rarity clenched her teeth as she used all the strength she could muster to raise herself from the ground. The pain was immense; so much so that she flopped back to the ground almost immediatly.
"I...I-'m so....pathetic..."Rarity said softly between labored breaths "...It's...just a...little further..."
The unicorn bit her lip as she made her second attempt at standing. Her lips trembled as she slowly balanced herself. Rarity took a mere step forward; her body froze as her mouth dropped open in a wordless scream. She gasped as the pain intensified; Rarity's head shot back to her flank only to look on in horror as a pool of blood dripped down her side.
The mare stumbled forward unable stop herself; she let out a low tearful yelp then collapsed back to the ground. Rarity weakly lifted her head; the red liquid was slowly spreading across the banadages to the ground. Rarity took a few heavy breaths; her body was at it's limits and she knew. As much as she didn't want to admit it; she didn't have the strength to make it Twilight's let alone the hospital.
Rarity tilted her head and grimaced at her pitiful self.
"Move!!" Her mind screamed.
The mare lifted her front forelegs up.
"Move!!!"
Her hooves latched onto the ground.
"More!!!!"
She pulled herself forward; leaving a trail of blood behind her.
"Move!!!! Damn you!!!! Move!!!!!"
Rarity's hooves fell weakly to the ground; she had nothing left in her.
"I....I...I-i..." Rarity said tearfully."...can't do it....I'm so sorry....I just can't..."
The unicorn dropped her head down and buried her face under her hooves in shame.
"Rar...ity..." a voice at the back of her mind called out.
The unicorn glared at the blood pouring from her side. She shook her head slowly as her body was starting to go numb. Rarity tilted her head up into the sky and took in a deep breath. " Alright Twilight...." She said with a sigh. "...I guess it's time i try out that spell."
Rarity's mind raced back to three nights ago when her purple friend taught her the spell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Several hours after Rarity returned from the Everfree forest~
Rarity sat at the edge of her bed as Fluttershy wrapped fresh bandages around her body. The other were there as well except the two fillies of course.
" I can't believe how careless you were!!!' Applejack barked
"I...know...I just..." Rarity said weakly.
Rainbow dash sighed as she paced back and forth. " I know I was giving you a hard time yesterday..." She started. " ...but seriously i told you how bad the weather was going to be." The pegasus stopped with a smirk, " I mean hell not even I was stupid enough to go out in that."
Rarity narrowed her eyes at her rainbow friend; being called stupid by somepony like Rainbow dash just didn't sit right with the unicorn.
"I..was trying to find my sister!" Rarity said with as much vigor as she could.
" And that damn well nearly killed you didn't it!" Rainbow said harshly.
Rarity grimaced to herself; a combination of anger and sadness filled her heart. the unicorn open her mouth to rebuke the pegasus but was quickly interrupted by a voice at the back.
"That not a very nice thing to say Dashie." Pinkie said as she jumped in between the two mares. " She was super worried about her sister."
Rainbow dash sighed to herself. "Yeah I kno-"
"Oh and Dashie..." Pinkie said with frown
"What?"
"You shouldn't swear so much people don't like it when ponies swear." Pinkie said as she began bouncing around the room.
Dash tilted an eyebrow. "Wait what...peo-"
Pinkie bounced a few more time then stopped suddenly as though her heart had fallen from her chest. "Oh no..." Pinkie said as she landed back on the floor." I'd forgotten...."
Pinkie tilted her head down; she looked as though she was on the verge of crying. "I shouldn't have read that....i shouldn't have...." Pinkie said slowly " It said sad and tragedy...an-and dark....what does that mean...what does that mean." Pinkie's voice was low and inaudible; not even Rainbow; (who was only a few feet away.) could understand the words she spoke.
Rainbow grimaced as she stared at the sulken pink mare. "Pinkie...you ok."
Pinkie tilted her head up slowly and gave her friend a half smile. "Yeah...I'm fine...I guess i'm just a little tired."
Rarity tilted her head in confusion at the odd conversation her two friends were having. The white unicorn's head drifted downward as she put her focus back on the yellow pegasus who was wrapping bandages around her right foreleg.
"Alright there we go." Fluttershy said with a warm smile. " I hope I didn't make them too tight."
"They fit just fine." The mare said with a glassy-eyed smile "Thank you....Fluttershy."
Fluttershy turned her head as she blushed. "Oh...don't mention it..."
"It means alot to me." Rarity said as she placed a hoof on the yellow mare's shoulder. " I'm so lucky to have friends like the five of you." She paused with a sigh. " I know i've been quite beastly the last few days and for that...i would like to apologise."
Rarity lowered her head in shame. "Can you ever forgive me ."
She tilted her eyes upward only to see that all of her friends were nodding; all except Applejack who had turned away.
"Applejack?" Twilight said as she walked over to the orange earth pony. "Eveything ok?"
Applejack's head hung low to the floor. "I don't know if i can forgive her just yet." she paused "Not after the way she blew up on my sis.'
Rarity sighed and closed her eyes. "That's...ok...."
" But after hearin' how sorry ya are about everythin' and since everypony else forgave ya i guess...." Applejack sighed "...I do to."
"thank you Appl-" Rarity started.
"...but only under one condition." The orange pony said quickly.
"Anything Applejack...I'll do anything to show how truly sorry i am ." Rarity pleaded.
" Ya got ta apologise to my sis and Scootaloo thats all."
Rarity lowered her head slowly as her eyes closed. "Of course...Applejack...you don't know how terrible I've felt about that..."She sighed " I would be happy to apologise to them."
"Good to hear" Applejack said with smile.
Rarity let out a sigh of relief as her attention turned back to Fluttershy who had a gentle smile across her face.
" Now Rarity." Fluttershy started as she cleared her throat. "Most of your wounds are minor...but there are a few more serious ones...specifically that one." Fluttershy pointed a hoof at Raity's flank.
Rarity nodded slowly; she knew which wound her friend meant. There was a gash cutting across Rarity's three diamond cutie mark.
Fluttershy tilted her head and the mare's tone changed drastically; she sounded like doctor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "All she needed was a pair of glasses." Rarity would have chuckled at this thought but because of the pain she was in; decided against it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Now the pressure bandages I've wrapped around you will need to be changed every few days." The pegasus paused."Which I'll be handling personally."
Rarity nodded slowly; still amazed at how different her friend acted when it came to medical things.
"As for the wounds themselves..." Fluttershy continued. "The minor ones should heal quickly so we won't have to worry to much about them." The pegasus stopped as her eyes drifted to Rarity's side. "It's the three deeper wounds we'll have to keep an eye on...especially the one across your cutie mark." Fluttershy sighed and shook her head slowly. " I'm afraid that because of prolonged exposure to the rain and the amount time it took for me to treat you; the wound has become infected."
The others gasped in horror but Fluttershy simply smiled.
"You don't have to worry it's only a minor infection...with some treatments of antibiotic she should be fine." Fluttershy said to reassure her friends." We'll start tomorrow with the antibiotic; afterall i did just give you that mild sedative so you should be ok for the night."
The dumbfounded white unicorn stared blankly at her friend. "My goodness." Rarity said with a grin. "Have you ever thought of changing your profession. I think you'd make an excellent doctor."
Fluttershy shook her head violently "Oh my no...I could never be a doctor...Treating a friend is one thing and I have my animals..." Fluttershy trailed off.
Rarity nodded slowly to her friends reaction.
"Anyway..." Fluttershy said changing the subject. "...There are a few things we have to go over."
Rarity tilt her head slowly. "Such as?"
"First off I would like treat you without the use of drugs...besides the antibiotics of course." Fluttershy put her hoof to her chin. "I'd like to refrain from sedatives...unless they are absolutely necessary..."
Rarity sighed slowly. " That shouldn't be too much of a problem..."
"As for the wound on your flank....i'd suggest stitches but i believe if left alone it should heal normally...which brings me to most important thing." Fluttershy said with a frown.
"And that would be?" Rarity asked slowly.
"Given the nature of your wounds i would suggest continuous bed rest...which would of course mean staying in bed for the next few days." Fluttershy lowered her head
Rarity froze; "But...that would mean.. I-I can't....but i have to...What would Sweetie Belle think of me if I wasn't out there searching for her." Rarity said quickly.
"I'm afraid it can't be helped...you don't want your wounds to reopen..."Fluttershy said with grimace
Rarity tilted her head down in defeat "...that's why i'm asking you to stay in bed for the next few days so you don't over overexert yourself. The wound on your flank...should it reopen and get worse..and i'm not here..."Fluttershy turned her head away. "you could...bleed out..."
Rarity gulped down a lump in her throat at the thought.
"Hey don't worry Rarity..." Rainbow said as she walked up to the bed. "I'll find her no problem...leave it all up to me ok..."
Rarity smiled . "Thank you...thank you all..."
"No problem" Rainbow said with a grin while the others simply nodded.
"Alright..." Fluttershy said with a half smile. "We should let Rarity rest....the sedative i gave her will wear off soon so..."
The five mares began there march out the door.
"But seriously how did she not feel all those cuts..." Rainbow dash said as she started out the door. "Oh it has to do with adrenaline and the other chemical bodies in her...um body...you see..." Fluttershy trailed off as she stepped out of the room.
Next was Applejack followed closely behind by Pinkie pie who was back to bouncing. "Twilight!" Rarity called out
Twilight turned from the doorway."yes Rarity...you ok."
"Twilight...you have to help me..."Rarity said slowly.
"Are you in pain should I get Flutt-" Twilight began.
"No no no...it's not that...I need a spell..." Rarity said with puffy red eyes,
"A spell?"
"I can't just sit here Twilight....I need to be out there...I need to find her..." Rarity sulked her head. " There's something I have to say...to her..."
"But I can't just..."
"Please Twilight...please..." Rarity pleaded with teary eye.
Twilight took a deep breath. "Alright...there is this one spell i know....' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rarity grimaced in pain as her life's blood drained from her body. "It's now or never" Rarity thought as her horn began to glow.
"Now there's a few things you should know about this spell." Twilight's voice said at the back of Rarity's head.
A purple mist began to engulf Rarity's body as she started the spell.
"First off this isn't some cure-all spell...i'm sure you know magic doesn't work like that."
The purple aura quickly spread across Rarity's limbs.
"What this spell does is it stops bleeding and compresses wounds...it won't make the cuts disappear but it will close them up making them easier for the body to heal the wounds."
With purple aura fully encompassing her body; Rarity took a deep breath.
"Well if this spell does all that then why isn't it used more often?" Rarity asked
"There's a reason..." Twilight replied
Rarity closed her eyes; then her horn sparked starting the process.
"...Most ponies that use this spell blackout from the immense pain they experience."
Rarity gasped as the spell quickly took effect.
"I'm not kidding I've heard of full grown stallions crying out like foals from this spells."
Rarity hooves flew to her face as a burning pain spread across her entire body. It was like she was completely engulfed in a never ending flame. The unicorn thrashed her body violently in some vain attempt to extinguish the living purple flame . She rolled across the floor whimpering and screaming as the never ending pain continued. Her eyes fluttered but somehow she managed to stay awake; had it not been for the fact the magic aura was suppressing the sounds she was making all of Ponyville would have heard her blood curdling cries of anguish that escaped her mouth. The pain shifted suddenly and now felt like hundreds of knives and needles stabbing into and out of her body over and over; And what felt like an eternity the process continued over and over changing to a different form of pain each time.
Then Finally after three full minutes the aura began to subside.
Rarity laid sprawled out across the ground; breathing heavily for a few seconds before she realized the pain had stopped. Rarity twisted herself over; after few more seconds of rest she finally stood back up. She looked to her side and was somewhat relieved to find the bleeding had stopped. She wobbled forward; not out of pain but of blood loss and fatigue.
It only took her a minute to reach Twilight's home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rarity stood at the doorway; She found it somewhat ironic to be at someone else's doorway for once. She lifted her hoof up steadily and with as much strength as she could; pounded on the door several times.
After a few second a small voice came from the other side and the mare knew exactly who it was. The door opened slowly and purple creature with green spikes stepped outside.The dragon known as Spike stood at the doorway; his eyes were only half open.
"hel-" The Dragon started but yawned half way through his greetings
"Listen Spik-" Rarity started
The dragon's eyes shot open and wide smile grew across his face. "Oh Rarity!! I didn't know you were coming!!!!" The Dragon said rapidly. " If I'd have known i would hav-
"Ah...Spike..." Rarity said slowly. "Would you mind getting Twilight for me....it's important that I speak to her."
The dragon dropped his head down in defeat. "Oh..." He said with a sigh "...Oh ok...I'll go get her."
Rarity nodded slowly; wishing she had the strength to use one of her pet names for the little dragon. Once Spike was out of sight she leaned forward balancing herself on the door frame as she waited for her friend. Rarity scanned the room and wasn't too surprised to find books littering the floor.
She chuckled to herself " I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to summon Sweetie Belle to her house with one of these book."
Rarity tilted her head upward as she heard the sound of hoofsteps. In a few second Twilight appeared at the bottom of the stairs and was slowly making her way over.
"Hello Rar-"Twilight started before her eyes shot open. "My goodness!!!" Twilight screamed. "What the hell happened to you."
" That's not important right now." Rarity said as she pulled away from the doorway.
"Not important!!! Twilight yelled as she pointed a hoof at the white unicorn. "...look at yourself; your a bloody mess!!!" Twilight said with a grimace.
"I know that...but..."Rarity began
"This is why Fluttershy told you to stay in bed!!!..." Twilight glared at The white bloody mare.
The Purple unicorn turned her head sharply. "Spike!!!!" Twilight Screamed into the house." Why didn't tell me Rarity was hu-!!!!"
" He was half asleep....I don't think he noticed." Rarity said weakly."...but there's something i have to tell you."
"You can tell me later!!" Twilight said with an annoyed frown " I'm taking you home right no-"
"They found her."
Twilight tilted her head. "What was that?'
"Sweetie Belle...shes at the Hospital..."Rarity said between labored breaths
"Someone found her!!!!!" Twilight said quickly
"Yes...and that's where i'm headed...right now..."
Twilight lowered her head "But...Rarity do you think your in a condition to...."
"I-I'm fine...I used that spell,,,"
"You did....and your still....but how......" Twilight said quickly.
" Nevermind that for now." Rarity said with half smile. "I came here first...because I want you to tell the others...for me...they deserve to know..."
"Of course i'll tell the others bu-but you should be in bed...or at the very least .shouldn't we tell them together... I mean you shouldn't be going all by yoursel-" Twilight pleaded
"I need to see her...I can't wait around...."
Twilight grimaced and for a few moments stood silently; in the end she sighed and nodded slowly in agreement. " Fine.....I still don't think your in any condition to go..but it is a hospital your going to...so..."
Rarity nodded in return; wanting more then anything to end the conversation as soon as possible.
"I'll get the others together....and I guess we'll meet you there..." Twilight said as she turned back to the doorway "...I really don't think Fluttershy's going to be too happy when she see you all bloody though."
"I'll cross that bridge when it comes." Rarity said as she stepped down from the steps.
"Spike I'm going to the hospital!!!" Twilight yelled into the library "...If anypony comes by tell'em I'm there!!! Oh and if it's one of my friends like Applejack; tell them to go there ok!!!"
"Alright Will do!!" Spike yelled back.
Rarity and Twilight galloped forward at a medium speed (so that Rarity's wounds didn't reopen.); until they reach a fork in the road.
"Alright will meet you there."Twilight said as she sped towards the left path. "We'll be there as soon as possible."
Rarity smiled at her friend. "See you there ."
Rarity galloped forward; making sure not to push herself to hard.
During the flashback there was suspose to be a part involving Opalescence.
At some point during the conversation Rarity was suspose to either thank Fluttershy for watching Opal or she was going ask Fluttershy to watch her. I'm not sure which it was anymore but it was probably to Thank her for watching Opalescence because the cat hasn't been in the story yet.
It would have been like "Oh thank you for watching Opal for me'" and Fluttershy would have said something like "Oh of course it's no problem at all." or something like that.
It wasn't a very important part and at this point theres noway to work in without changing things. So if your wondering where Opal is; shes at fluttershy's house. Not that she has any part in this story.
As for the next chapter; no more stalling Sweetie belle will be in it.
Sorry about the Author's note. hope this makes up for it.
A bright flash illuminated the sky as the large double doors of Ponyville general hospital flew open. The patients young and old turned their heads swiftly to the opening doors as they collided with the walls on either side of the doorframe with a loud thud. Even the multible nurses that were scurrying across the room stopped in their tracks to determine the cause of the disturbance. Rarity the white unicorn stepped nervously into the building. The mare had intended to simply creep inside unnoticed; but in her haste and to her despair she'd used to much magic on the doors. The patients, the nurses and even the sickly foals glared daggers at the unicorn; that was until they saw the condition she was in.
Rarity's bloody wrappings hung loosely at her sides; slidiing across the floor with each step she took. (luckly the mare wasn't leaving a trail behind her; as the blood had long since dried.). She'd been fortunate so far as none of her wounds had reopened; although the unicorn chalked this up to the cautionary slowed pace she'd been using since parting wih Twilight. The once scornful eye of those Rarity passed had soften; and although none of the ponies spoke directly to the bloody mare some were whispering to one another behind her back.
Rarity tilted her head to the ground and began walking sheepishly across the room; trying her hardest to avoid bringing any further attention to herself. Rarity's eyes shifted to the patients she passed. There was Mr. and Mrs. Cake sitting with there two young foals; beside them was Rose who was sighing and rolling her eyes at the unconscious strawberry coated mare with lilies on her flank. Sitting behind Rose was Berry Punch and her younger sickly sister; (Whose name Rarity couldn't recall.).
Rarity sighed; again mentally kicking herself for not taking the letters with her.
The unicorn sighed as her attention was drawn to the large circular desk at the center of the room. Rarity dropped her eyes downward; trying her best to forget the multiple ponies that followed her every more. The mares shook her head slowly wishing more then anything that she (just for moment) was somewhere else. Rarity slowly brought her eyes back up; only to meet the gaze of the white pony sitting at the receptionist desk. While Rarity had never made it a habit of knowing every resident of Ponyville; she did know most of the mares that inhabited the town; (unlike a certain pink party pony whose photographic memory and senses helped her remember every single pony and none pony in Ponyville.) The white mare staring blankly at her was certainly a pony Rarity had never seen before in her life.
Rarity took in a deep breath as she took her final steps forward. The white mare at the desk's face twisted from confusion to disgust then finally finally to a look of anger. It was then that Rarity noticed the the mare was a pegasus and dressed in a nurse outfit; which Rarity saw as odd as she'd never seen a pegasus nurse in Ponyville. Not that a pegasus couldn't be a nurse it was just that most Pegasi in Ponyville chose weather based jobs because their natural talents normally dealt with them being airborne.The more Rarity thought on the subject the more she felt stupid for thinking it; after-all Fluttershy didn't have a weather based job and if anything she was as good a nurse or doctor as any.
"Ma'am...." The pegasus said as she tilted her head to the side. . Rarity shook herself slowly; pulling away from her thoughts
"What are you doing out out of your room!!" The nurse snarled.
"Oh...um...i'm..." Rarity said slowly.
"What are you nurses doing over there!!!" The pegasus shouted. "Why are you all just standing around!!!!"
"I'm...not..."Rarity said weakly.
"We have a heavily injured young unicorn out of her room, and you-you're all just standing there!!!" The pegasus continued.
The pegasus groaned to herself as she turned her head to the side.
"Somepony get the head nurse out here....what was her name...Redheart or something..."
"Miss!!" Rarity said loudly.
"I can't believe the ponies here.... if this was..." The Pegasus said under her breath before turning to face Rarity."Oh I'm sorry did you say something."
"I am not a patient here!!"
The pegasus nurse glared at the unicorn. "Excuse me!"
"I am not a patient here!!" Rarity repeated.
The pegasus scanned Rarity up and down then raised an eyebrow skeptically and scoffed at the unicorn. "Your bandages say otherwise."
Rarity grimaced to herself. "Well you see...um...these...are..."
"You came in from the outside right." The Pegasus cut in
"Yes!" Rarity said quickly."Thats right! So as you can se-"
The Pegasus placed a hoof to her face and sighed. "This is why hospitals should always have magic proof walls." She groaned. "So that unicorns don't just teleport accidentally or purposely out of the hospital!!"
"Listen!!" Rarity said as sternly as she could.
The pegasus frowned at the unicorn's raised voice.
"I am not a patient here! I'm not checking myself in here!! I'm JUST here to see my sister!!!"
The pegasus opened her mouth to refute Rarity but quickly shut it. Instead she seemed to be meekly retreating backwards to the side.
Rarity glared at the pegasus for a few seconds then continued. "I'm here to see my sister Sweetie Belle and just so you know my name is-"
"Miss Rarity?"
Rarity froze in place; as her mind tried to process the voice that called out to her. It didn't take her long to recall the gruff voice of the of the one she'd spoken to through the letter.( Afterall it had only been less then an hour since she had last heard the voice so it wasn't too surprising she remembered it.). Rarity turned her head slowly to find the source of the voice. Her eye stopped as they fixed themselves on the tan stallion standing a few feet behind her.
The Stallion wore a white medical lab coat over his body; which went as far as to cover his flank and cutie mark.(Rarity could only guess the mark was something medical like a stethoscope.). The unicorns eyes drifted to the Stallions sides and found a feathery set of wings sticking out from openings at the sides of the white coat; it wasn't until this that Rarity realised the Doctor was a pegasus. Aside from that the only other thing Rarity could make out from the Doctor was his facial features; (which were an odd combination of the tenderness of a doctor but with the rigidness of a drill instructor.) and that he was two maybe three times older then her.
The Doctor cocked his head gently to the side as though he were studying Rarity. "My dear..."He said. " Are you alright..."
"Oh yes...I-I had a bit of a fall on my way here but...."Rarity started
The Doctor lowered his eyes. " A fall did all this."The Doctor said slowly "...and these bandages...how did they..."
Rarity lowered her head to her knees. "The fall I had..." Rarity said with a sigh. "Reopened a few wounds I suffered a couple of nights ago...I'm ok now though...a little tired...but ok."
The Doctor slowly closed his eyes; as he turned his head away from the young unicorn. "If i'd have known the condition you were in...I wouldn't have sent that letter to you...today."
Rarity gave The Doctor a half-smile. "It's ok sir...I'm fine...I used a spell a little while ago to help with the pain and healing...so i should be fine for now."
The Doctor's eyes drifted to the floor "Your...so young..." The Doctor said gently."...much younger then I thought you would be..."
Rarity tilted her head in confusion. "I'm sorry...?"
"It's nothing...are you sure your alright..." The Doctor said in a distantly low tone.
"Oh yes...well enough for this..." Rarity said with a weak grin.
"I see..." The Doctor said as he turned to the hallway he'd come from. "Then if you don't mind...would you please follow me..."
Rarity nodded and the two began their treck done the hallway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm sure may have guessed this, but i'm not from Ponyville." The Doctor said as he and Rarity made their way down the hall.
"Oh..." Rarity said weakly.
"I'm from Cloudsdale....I'm sure you saw the chaos at the front."
Rarity nodded her head slowly in agreement. "Yes I will admit it was alot busier today then I thought it would be."
"There was a problem this morning and...long story short they were severely understaffed..."
"So then they contacted yo-" Rarity started.
"Yes...yes they certainly did."The Doctor said with a sigh. "I even brought a few of my staff as well."
The two turned their heads to one of the many rooms they pasted only to find several nurse clad Pegasi dashing from one end of the room to the next. After a few seconds one of the Pegasi sped out of the room to another room across from it; she was greeted by several of the hospital's normal staff as she made her way inside the new room.
"Um Docto-...." Rarity's eyes widdened in terror
The Mare lowered her eyes in despair; she had never learned the Doctor's name.
The Doctor tilted his head. "Hmm..."
"Oh...as I was saying...Um..." Rarity paused as she bit down on her lip. ".. .How much further is my sisters room...Doctor..."
Rarity grimaced to herself; she was to embarrassed to ask the Doctor his name at this point.
"Not...too much further..." He said slowly.
Rarity paused for a second; then resumed her pace; suddenly a shrap pain spread down her side. Rarity gasped from the sudden burst of pain and nearly lost her balance in the process.The Doctor turned sharply to the mare grabbing her before she could fall.
"What happened!" The Doctor said quickly
----- "Theres one last thing I should tell you Rarity...about the spell." Twilight's voice said at the back of Rarity's mind.
"Whats that?" Rarity asked
"Theres one other reason the Celestial healing spell isn't used too often."
"And that would be?"
"Despite it's name...the spell just doesn't last very long...." Twilight continued.
"How long...does it last...?"
"I-i...really don't know... it varies...i don't think it's ever lasted more then an hour though."
"I see..."
"That's why I've been so hesitant...all and all theirs no real benefit from the spell...all it does is cause alot of pain and very little actual healing..." Twilight paused as her head dropped down. "For that fact alone I really don't want to teach it to you ."
"But Twilight dear....you said...."
"I know thats why I'm teaching it to you....but I really don't think you should use it..."
"I'll take my chances..." ------
Rarity tilted her head to the Doctor; whose face was twisted in concern.
"Are you ok?" The Doctor asked as he helped Rarity to a wall.
"I'm fine...i think the spell i used...just wore off..." Rarity said with a weak smile.
"Are you in pain do you need somethin-" The Doctor said Quickly
"No..no..I-I'm fine...the pain..I thin- I mean is bearable enough for me to continue...." Rarity said as she pushed herself from the wall.
"Are you sure...well let me at least change your bandages..." The Doctor said turning his head to one of the rooms.
"It's fine for now...I just want to see my sister...besides..." Rarity said panting a little. "...A...friends of mine is personally looking after me...I was planning on letting her treat me when this whole affair is over with."
The Doctor nodded with a frown plastered across his face. He shook his head slowly then pointed forward. "We'll continue... but if the pain gets worse..." The Doctor said timidly.
Rarity nodded to the Doctor then closed her eyes and smiled; finally she would see her sister.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The pristine air of the hospital finally reach Rarity nose as she and the Doctor made their way down the hall. The pleasant atmosphere of the hospital always made the mare frown in disappointment as she never had a chance to appreciate it; after all it wasn't the first time she'd been dragged down to the hospital because of Sweetie belle. Ever since the three had formed their little group (the Cutie mark crusaders) ; Sweetie belle and to a lesser extent her friends had been visiting the hospital a lot more often. The wounds they suffered varied from simple cuts and bruises to broken bones.
There was the time Scootaloo had broken her right fore leg and one of her wing while attempting a trick on her scooter. Then there was the time Apple bloom had broken a rib;(How she had done this during a pillow fight was anyponies guess.). Rarity groaned when she thought of the time Sweetie belle had cracked her horn trying to break a boulder; simply because her friends told her it was possible. Rarity sighed to herself when she thought of all the stupid thing the three had done in their pursuit of there cutie marks.
The mare shook head as a smile spread across her face. "Stupid little fillies."
Rarity chuckled to herself as her excitement increased with each step. At this point she didn't know whether she was going to give Sweetie Belle a bear hug or strangle her for making the mare worry so much.
"We're here..." A voice said.
Rarity shook her head; breaking herself free of her thoughts.
The door crept open as the Doctor stepped inside with Rarity following close behind.
Rarity blinked a few times as the bright lights of the room flashed in her eye; when her vision returned she could finally see the room; but it wasn't what she was expecting. The first thing she noticed was the sudden temperature drop upon stepping inside the brightly lit room; it was ten maybe even twenty degrees colder inside the room then how it had been outside in the hallway. Aside from the sudden chill; and the size of the it being larger then she had expected; there really wasn't much inside the room. There was a few shrouded exam room tables at the center of the room; (they had wheels so they may have been gurneys but the unicorn wasn't sure.). What did catch her eye was the three or four file cabinets arranged along the wall; side by side at the back of the room. What made the steel colored and framed cabinets stand out were their tremendous size; they were maybe three time wider and larger then then any file cabinet she'd ever heard of. It was true; she was in a hospital, and while hospitals were known to have many different documents and other patients related things to file it still baffled her as to why the cabinets were so big. For some unknown reason Rarity shuttered as she continued her examination of the over sized cabinets.
There was something unsettling about the room; something Rarity just couldn't put a hoof on.
The perplexed mare twisted her head in confusion; Rarity just couldn't figure out the purpose of the room. It could have been a file room of some sort but that didn't seem likely as she doubted there would be need of medical tables in a file room; (and the fact that was so cold made it even more unlikely.). If it was a room to store documents then what purpose would it serve for the Doctor to take her there. It didn't look like an office of any sort either; there were no chairs, no desk, nothing and she very much doubted they were meant to sit on the medical tables. At this point there was only one thing the unicorn knew for certain.
No matter how she looked at it; the room just wasn't meant for a patient; and that scared Rarity more then anything.
"Um...excuse me...sir..." The mare said as she slowly turned away from the cabinets. "...I don't understan-..."
Rarity stopped herself when she found the Doctor was no longer beside her; instead he was making his way across the room. The Doctor stopped beside the shrouded table at the center; he sighed to himself then turned to face Rarity. He motioned his head for Rarity to come to him but the unicorn paused. There was something wrong she could tell; there was something about the Doctor's eyes she didn't like. The sound of Rarity's heavy hoofsteps only matched the pounding of her heart in her ears as she drew closer to the Doctor. The Doctor took in a deep breath; turned then lowered his head to the table. Rarity followed him with her eyes as he reached for the the shroud.
The Doctor gently tugged at the sheet; pulling it forward to about a quarter of the length of the table. The unicorn stared in confusion at small bundle of hair sprawled out from under the sheet. The unicorns eye's tilted downward; her mind raced as she tried to process what what she was staring at. For a few second she had no answer; then suddenly her eyes opened wide; the hair no the fur; she knew exactly what it was now.
"A tail." Rarity thought slowly.
Rarity blinked a few times as she stared at the multi colored scruffy tail. For some reason It was damp; as thought it had been washed recently but was dried in haste; leaving it still mostly still wet. The more she stared at the tail the more familiar it seem to her. There was something about the colors; they seem so familiar so...Rarity paused; her eyes widened in fear; her face slowly dropped and her throat went dry.
"Li-ligh-light pur-purple.....da-dark pink...."
The pale faced mare turned sharply as her eyes shifted back to the file cabinets; no not cabinet she knew that now; she knew what there were. Rarity's breathing intensified as torrents of sweat dripped down her fore head. The unicorn's eyes darted from from one end of the room to the next; her body trembled violently as she finally realised were she was.
"A room at the back of the hospital....twenty degrees colder then any other....shrouded tables at it's center.....and iron boxes large enough to fit full grow-...OH CELESTIA....."
Rarity Turned back to the Doctor; whose mouth motioned as though he were about to speak. Rarity didn't let him; her horn sparked; the shroud flew from the table and landed gently to the ground. The unicorn's face went even paler then before; her heart's pace slowed to a crawl as she looked on in horror at the white creature sprawled out motionlessly across the table. Her body much like her tail was damp; there was even a small trail of water dripping down the side of the table. The small creature's mouth lay open but nothing came out; Rarity took in several heavy breaths as she waited for the tiny thing's chest to rise and fall; to move in some way. She waited and waited but to her horror the thing wasn't breathing. Rarity placed a hoof to her mouth; shaking her head slowly. No not a thing, not an unknown creature that she could just pass off as nothing; It was a filly and not just any filly; it was her sister.
It was Sweetie Belle laying lifelessly across the table. .
"...Swe-Swee...." Rarity said slowly as tears slowly began to form at the sides of her eyes.
"I'm sorry...so sorry...I..." The Doctor choked out
The mare stumbled; her eyes fluttered as she fell backward. The room began to spin as the light slowly faded away. After a few second she saw nothing; nothing but darkness.
~Autor's note~
Sadly this is only the tip of the iceberg. If their are any grammar mistakes or spelling errors please let me know; and as always thank you for reading.
Rarity Turned back to the Doctor; whose mouth motioned as though he were about to speak. Rarity didn't let him; her horn sparked; the shroud flew from the table and landed gentle to the ground. The two ponies stared blankly at the strange creature that was laying on the table; it was smaller then them; nearly half there size. The strange creature wore a pink dress-shirt with a thin white line near the bottom; it's head resembled what looked a pink mushroom with pink plaits coming out of the back of it's bulbous head. Suddenly and without warning the creature lepted from the table; nearly knocking the two ponies off there hooves. The creature landed gracefully to ground; spun around and began to giggle to itself. Rarity grimaced to herself as she stared at the creature; judging from it's voice Rarity could tell the creature was female but little else.The creature began motioning it's arms up and down as it bounced in place.
"Oh thank you for rescuing me..." It said in a chipper voice as it continued to bounce in place."...But...I'm afraid your sister is in another hospital"
"Goddamnit..."Rarity said as she hoofpalmed herself
inspired by ArcaneAngel
and so we come to regret part 4 of 6 (i know i keep adding parts but 6 is the final part of Regret then Sorrow)
Poor Rarity; sadly this is only the beginning of her lament. Afterall the next chapter will be far worse for her then this one.
things can only go downhill from here.
one last thing it was one of Rarity's friend who found Sweetie belle.....
maybe you can guess who...i've put some hints in the story so it shouldn't be too hard.
"When all the truth does, is make your heart ache...sometimes a lie is easier to take!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on sis please !!" A small voice squeaked from the back of the room.
Rarity groaned; a hoof slid down her face as she turned away from the dress she was tailoring to the filly standing at the doorway of her creation room. A scowl formed across her face; the mare's left eye twitched as she glared daggers at her sister.The mare shifted her eyes back to the dress then sighed; she knew full well the dress would not be finished anytime soon. With a roll of her eyes; the mare turned her attention from the dress to the eager white filly who was now standing behind her.
"Please sis!!" The filly chirped."It'll be so much fun!!"
Rarity sighed; mentally kicking herself for leaving her front door unlock.
"Your definition of fun and mine are very different I'm afraid." Rarity hissed
Rarity pointed her horn downward; with a flick of her head the outfit lifted off the the table and began levitating to one of the many Mannequins at the back of the room. With a deep sigh the mare stepped leisurely out of the room; passing Sweetie belle without even looking at her. Rarity grimaced; rolling her eyes once more as the filly bounced happily behind her. Rarity narrowed her eyes; traversing across the hallway and down the stairs; while the filly followed closely behind.
"So....What do you think sis!" Sweetie Belle said; Still bouncing (Pinkie pie style) after the mare.
Rarity grit her teeth; her anger flared and almost instinctually her head snapped back to filly.
"For the hundredth time....No!!!" She screeched.
With a low yelp the filly stopped mid-bounce; her ears folded and her head dropped to the floor.
Rarity lowered her eyes; her mouth opened to apologize but she quickly shut it. "You know I'm not a fan of the beach dear...with all that sand...it just gets everywhere..." The mare stated in lower; more calming tone.
"You...use to like the beach...." Sweetie Belle said as she lifted her head up; there were visible tears at the sides of her eyes. "...an-and sand...it washes right out..."
"Yes your right i did like the beach...when I was a filly." Rarity Replied.
"...Back when it was you,me...mom and dad...." The filly added in soft almost whispery voice. "...Back when you...still lived at home...:"
"Yes..." Rarity said with a half-smile. "...Mother and Father did takes us to the beach quite a few times..." The mares lifted her head to the ceiling. "And Don't get me wrong." she said with a chuckle "The feeling of the sun against my coat and coolness of the ocean air were always so calming..."
The filly's ears perked up; her mouth opened to reply but quickly closed it as her sister continued.
"...But I'm afraid those days are long gone..." The mare said with a sigh. "...I...no longer have any desire to go to the beach...I've simply grown away from it."
The filly closed her eyes and with a whimper lowered her head back to the ground.
"...I-I just wanted to spend time with you..." Sweetie Belle said as tears began to stream down her checks. "....ever since you moved out I...don't see you.... much anymore..."
Rarity closed her eyes and sighed "I know that Sweetie...it's just....my work...It keeps me so busy...I barely have time for myself."
"...Nowadays..." The filly sniffled. " ...I-it.... almost seems li-like.... your trying to push me away...."
The mare froze in place; her heart sunk into her chest; now their were tears at the sides of her eyes as well.
"...Sweetie..." The mare paused. "...Your my sister...I could never push you away." Rarity lowered her head to comfort the tiny filly. "...I may not have a lot of time to be around you...it's nothing against you of course...It's just...I have to work to provide for myself." Her voice was a bit shaky but coherent. "You understand right."
Sweetie Belle nodded her head; then stared her sister in the eyes. "That's why I'm asking you now..." The tearful filly said. "...So you can make time..." The filly pressed her hooves against the mares chest. "...I know how busy you are...but the beach thing isn't until the summer...and that's not for a few months."
Rarity Chuckled to herself at how well her sister had thought things through. The smile that had formed quickly faded when her mind came to the second topic.
"I understand that Sweetie..." Rarity said as she pulled away from her sister. "...But there is one other issue we have to discuss."
"And that would be?" The filly asked while tilting her head to the side.
"You invited your friends as well...didn't you." Rarity said slowly." I would have to look after them as well...wouldn't I..."
The filly rubbed the back of her head. "I...was talking about about the beach at the clubhouse...and they got really excited..."The filly shifted her eyes away from her sister. "...I just had to invite them..."
Rarity sighed; moving around her sister; positioning the filly in front of her front door. " I understand, but that does make things a bit more difficult for me now doesn't it."
"What could I do.... there my best friends." Sweetie Belle said with a squeak " I've known Scootaloo for a long time and Apple Bloom...she's a really good friend...I didn't want to hurt their feelings."
"Yes that's true..." Rarity said slowly.
"I don't understand why you don't like my friends." The filly said with a low sigh. . "I don't dislike your friends..I..." The mare began but was quickly cut off.
"I mean their like your friends....Apple Bloom is Applejack's sister and Scoots...shes just like Rainbow dash..." The filly said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"But how often do you see me hanging out with those two alone?" Rarity chuckled.
The filly tilted her head to the side in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"They are my friends that's true...and I do see them quite often; but that doesn't mean we hang out unless we're all together." Rarity lowered her eyes. "Sure we have get-togethers every so often but you don't see me bucking apples with Applejack or racing Rainbow dash now do you....We're just too different..."
"...What are you saying?" The filly asked darkly.
"Simply put...I just wish you had better taste in friends...that's all." Rarity said with a sigh.
"Like who...Diamond Tiara..." Sweetie Belle said with a frown.
"I know the two of you don't get along bu-..." Rarity started.
"She doesn't like anypony..." Sweetie Belle said slowly. " She makes fun of me and my friend because we don't have our cutie marks and bullies every other pony...hell the only pony Diamond even talks to is Silver Spoon..."
"Um...Sweetie..." Rarity said with a nervous chuckle.
"...And to be honest I don't even think Silver Spoon likes her either." The filly paused; her nostrils flared. "...No pony likes her."
"...Uh...Sweetie I think...You..." Rarity said with a grimace.
The filly narrowed her eyes; completely ignoring her sisters words.
"Do you wanna know what she is..." The filly asked scornfully; any sadness she had was quickly replaced by anger.
"Diamond Tiara is a Snobby, Stuck-up, Arrogant, Selfish little Bitch..." The filly stomped her hoof on the ground then continued. "...She's a no-nothing, useless piece of sh-" The filly's hoof flew to her mouth; stopping herself from continuing.
Rarity blinked a few times in confusion as the filly lowered her head in shame.
"Oh...Sis...I'm so sorry...I..."The filly said with eyes full of fright.
The mare put a hoof to her mouth. "My goodness...Sweetie Belle what's come over you!"
The filly lifted her head back up. "I didn't mean to...it just... "
"While I do applaud your vocabulary for the most part... swearing is unbecoming of a lady."The mare shook her head. "I'm glad you caught yourself at the end but...where did you learn those words."
The filly turned her head to the side and swept her hoof across the ground. "I-i...well you see...it was..."
"...Scootaloo...wasn't it." Rarity deadpanned
The filly nodded slowly; her eyes darted to the floor; she didn't want to meet her sisters gaze.
"And I'm sure she learned them from Rainbow dash." Rarity muttered to herself.
The filly closed her eyes; a few fresh tears fell to the floor as she walked sluggishly to the door. "...I guess...the beach is out then..." The filly raised her sad eyes to her sister. '...I'll understand if it is...."
"While I am ashamed of the vulgar words you've spoken...." Rarity bit her lip. "...I can see how sorry you are so...as for the beach..." The mare paused. "I'll think about it."
The filly turned sharply; a wide grin spread across her face; and without a second thought the filly leapt forward latching onto her sister fore leg.
"You mean it sis!!!" Sweetie belle said with a squeak.
"I said I'll think about." Rarity said as she tried to pry the small pony from her leg.
"That's good enough for me." Sweetie Belle said with a smile.
"Now if yo-" Rarity began. "...Don't mind I have alot of work to do..." The filly said with a smug grin.
"...Yeees...As I was saying ..." Rarity said in annoyance as she cleared her throat. " ... Since Mother and Father are dropping you off next week (and I have no choice in the matter) we'll discuss this then alright."
The chipper filly galloped out the door. "Thank sis!!!!!" The filly squeaked in joy.
The mare turned away from the door; beginning her trek back to the workroom to finish the new dress.
"Love ya!!!!" The filly called out from the distance.
Rarity stopped; rolling her eyes she turned to the door way. "Yes and I lo-" "Miss!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Rarity?" a shrill voice whispered into the mare's ear.
Rarity's eyes fluttered rapidly and for a second the silhouette of face appeared but it only lasted for the briefest of moments before vanishing into the darkness.
"Miss!!" A whispery voice called out from the bleak nothingness.
The mare struggled with all her might to open her eyes but it felt as though ten pound weights had been grafted onto each one. Soon A familiar pain at the mare's side returned and quickly replaced the pressure that kept her eyes shut. After a short amount of time the pressure seemed to fade; until the only thing she felt was the stinging pain cutting across her cutie mark and flank. Rarity took in several short breaths; compiling her strength as she made her second attempt at opening her heavy eyes.
The unicorn's eyes flickered a few times before become steadily open. Rarity tilted her head upward and although her vision was blurry she could still make out the outlines of a face hovering above her own.
"Are you alright miss?" The voice was distant but the mare recognised it almost immediately.
"Doc...tor." The unicorn said weakly.
"Yes miss..." The Doctor said in low but calming voice. "...I'm right here."
"Wh-what happened..." the unicorn paused; a rhythmic pounding at the back of her head was causing the mare to feel light- headed. "I don't reme-"
Rarity turned her head slowly to the side; finding a white tiled floor several feet below her. The unicorn's unfocused eyes shifted back to the Doctor; but the hazy room seemed to spin around her. A swift jolt of fear swept through the mare as she struggled to figure out what was going on. After a few seconds Her breathing intensified to the point she was nearly hyperventilating.
"It's alright...It's alright..." The Doctor said softly. "...You lost consciousness a few moments ago and I believe you hit your head." The Doctor paused to take in a deep breath. "....You might be a little disoriented right now but that's alright...it'll pass..."
Rarity rolled to the side; took in a deep breath then shut her eyes tightly in an attempted to steady her breathing. After taking a few moments to collect herself; the mare sat up. It was then that she realised she was sitting (on her haunches) on a medical exam room table. (Up until this point the dazed unicorn had been under the impression she'd been floating in midair.) The unicorn's eyes dropped down; it took a few second for her mind to process where she was.
Rarity was in a hospital room of some sort; how and why she was there; she couldn't remember. The fog that enveloped her mind was preventing her from recollecting anything. The sickening feeling the unicorn had at the pit of her stomach told her something was wrong.
There was just something ominous about the room.
" I'm sorry miss..." The Doctor said timidly; the cloudy eyes of the unicorn drifted upward."....I'm so sorry I didn't catch you...it happened so fast.... I didn't have a chance to react..." The Doctor sighed." Are you alright...miss...mis-?"
Rarity's mind wandered as she attempted to put together the pieces of what had occurred that day (completely ignoring the Doctor's words). She remembered talking to the Doctor (how, why and in what way she wasn't quite sure.); then heading over to Twilight's; but where was she going? The mare's eyes lit up; she remembered now; she was heading to the beach.
"No" The unicorn thought. "That was a dream...a memory..." She paused. "...then...where was I going?" she asked herself.
Rarity bit her quivering lip; delving deeper into her foggy mind; only to find a small letter buried deep in her subconscious.
"A letter....who...was it from....Twilight?" Her mind raced. "...No not Twilight....it was from....oh..." Rarity's eyes lit up. "The Doctor....that's who it was from...but what was it for....it was important...I think..."
The image of a white filly appeared before her eyes.
"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity thought quickly. "It was about...her..."
The unicorn's head snapped back; the mist that encased her mind started to fade, and with it her memories slowly came back. She pieced the events together as quickly as she could.The mare remembered waking up and talking to the Doctor through the letter. Her trip to Twilight's (which included the damage she suffered from the fall, and the painful experience of the Celestial healing spell; a spell she would never again use in her life.). She remembered the awkwardness she felt when she entered the hospital; the rude nurse at the receptionist desk and her first meeting with the Doctor, (whose name she still didn't know.). Rarity knew She was at the hospital for Sweetie Belle; but everything after meeting the Doctor was still hazy.
Rarity delved into the furthest reaches of her mind; She paused as a lump formed in her throat. She found herself in front of a shrouded table with something laying on top of it; something small and white.
"No!" The mare told herself. ."That was a dream too...a nightmare...that didn't happen...couldn't have happened..."
"IT WAS A DREAM!...IT WAS A DREAM!" Rarity repeated the words over and over in her head.
"I-i...fainted...it was a dream...I overexerted myself....and with everything that's been going on I..." She paused. "Yes...that's it...I was in so much pain...that...I lost consciousness...and then the Doctor...he brought me here...and now...He's going to take me to Sweetie's room...an-and everything will be fine...there's no way she was dea-..." The unicorn stopped herself from continuing. "...No I can't even think about that..."
"Yes...it was just a stupid...little dream....nothing more..."Rarity thought slowly.
The more Rarity thought on the subject; the more ridiculous it seemed; and she would have smiled and laughed at herself for being so stupid; had it not been for the seriousness in the Doctor's eyes.
A cold shiver ran down the unicorn's spine.
The Doctor extended a hoof to Rarity. "This is all my fault. " The Doctor whispered; as he helped the unicorn down from the table. " I should have done something....said something...when I had the chance..."His eyes lowered to the floor. "But...I doubt I could have done anything to prepared you for this...and for that...I am...truly sorry...."
The fearful mare turn her head sharply to the side; her vision had returned but she certainly didn't like what she saw. A chill seeped into her body from the briskly cold room she was standing in (A cold she had just now noticed.). The unicorn's body shook violently but it was not from the frigid air that circulated throughout the room; no it was from the large steel framed boxes standing in front of her; the ones from her nightmare.
"....Twenty degrees colder then any other room....shrouded tables at it's center.....and iron boxes large enough to fit..."The unicorn grit her teeth and shook the thoughts away. "No...it can't be....it just can't be..." Rarity thought frantically. "There's no way this can be real...it's a dream...it has to be a dream..."
Rarity turned to her flank; raised a hoof and bat it lightly. She yelped softly from the waves of pain that spread down her side. All hope left the unicorn's body; her mouth went dry as she lowered her head.
Even if she didn't want to admit; she knew it was not a dream.
The reluctant Mare swallowed the lump in her throat; took in a heavy breath then turned to the Doctor. The Stallion lowered his head slowly; Rarity could see the sorrow in his eyes as he stepped to the side revealing another medical table positioned behind him.
Rarity froze; her blood ran cold. The mare's eyes widened, her hind legs shifted; betraying her as she nearly fell backward (Somehow through sheer force of will she managed to stay up.).
A filly laid sprawled out across the table; she wasn't moving and even worse; although the filly's mouth lay open she didn't seem to be breathing.
The pink and purple mane, the white coat; Rarity knew the colors well; after all she'd known the known the filly for most of her life. She'd grown up with her, played with her, fed her and even sometimes bathed her. It was her sister; it was Sweetie Belle; and despite what her heart tried to convince her of; she knew what was wrong. She knew Why the filly was so still, why she was unresponsive and why the Doctor looked so distraught as he stared blankly at the mare with sorrowful eye.
"No!" the panic-stricken mare thought. "It can't be tru-...it just can't be..."
Rarity's chest to tighten; She broke into a cold sweat as she stared at the unmoving filly; Her mouth opened but not a word came out. For next few moments the only sound that could be heard was that of a clock ticking somewhere off in the distance. The mare turned her head away; unable to look at her sister any longer.The lightheadedness returned, and for a few seconds it seemed the darkness would quickly engulf her once more; but the sound of the Doctor clearing his throat somehow stopped her from drifting off into the subconsciousness of her mind.
"I-i...." He said before placing a hoof on the mare's shoulder
The unicorn pulled away from The Doctor.
"I-i..."Rarity started; her voice breaking. "...Can't do this..." The mare turned her head gingerly "...I-i...just...."her eyes drifted downward. "...She can't...be..."
"I...understand..." The Doctor said softly. "I...know how hard...thi-..."
Rarity turned sharply; tears forming at the sides of the mare's eyes. The Doctor stumbled backward by the sudden movement of the heartbroken mare. The unicorn rushed forward shoving the Doctor aside in a tearful blur before stopping in front of the table.
"Swee-Sweetie...." Rarity mumbled softly as tears dripped down the sides of face. "I-i...never...got...to...say...I....was...sor-..." The somber mare buried her face in the filly's chest; staining her sister's already damp coat with her tears.
"...I'm...so...sor-..."
The unicorn nuzzled her sister softly before wrapping her hooves around the filly in a tight embrace.
.....sniffle...hiccup...sniffle
Sweetie belle was cold; even more so then the room itself. The panic-stricken mare's muscles tensed up; Her grip around Sweetie Belle tightened. She pressed her entire body down on the filly; in some vain attempt to warm the filly's frigid, water drenched body with her own, but despite her best efforts nothing seemed to be helping.
"She's cold.....so cold...." Rarity Pulled the filly closer to her chest . "...I-I...I..."
The trembling mare pressed her face deeper into her sister's soft body; but to her despair; she felt nothing; nothing at all; not even a heart beat from the filly. Rarity's bloodshot shots widened in horror; her mouth opened but nothing more than a small whimper escaped the distraught mare's throat. The heartbroken unicorn lowered the filly back to the table; giving her sister one last loving nuzzle before resting her head on the filly's body and staring blankly at the wall. Rarity's heavy eyes closed slowly as the images of the silly little filly danced around her head. She knew; from the very first moment she laid eyes on her sister; she knew. In her heart she didn't want to believe it; it was just too horrible to even think about; but there was no denying it anymore:
Rarity panted heavily; breaking into a coughing fit from her dried throat as the tears continued to rain down the sides of her checks. The unicorn took a few shallow breaths in between her sorrowful but low wails of pain; and What seemed like hours pasted as the mare wept, but in reality only a few minutes had gone by. After a few moment of quietly sobbing into her sisters's soft, damp coat ; the unicorn slowly manged to settle herself.
The reluctant mare lifted her head up gently; a fragile smile spread across her face; and through blurry, tear-filled eyes she stared at her sister.The beautiful little pony looked so serene; almost as though she'd simply fallen asleep after taking a relaxing bath.(Something the filly had actually done once at the Boutique to Rarity's disdain). Rarity's lip quivered; at any moment she expected her sister to leap from the table and with a silly grin plastered across her face; shout "Gotcha!!" Rarity could almost see it in her mind, but of course this was nothing more than a daydream for the heartbroken mare.
Sweetie Belle was gone; but even knowing this; Rarity could almost hear her sister's squeaky voice.
"Look! Look I-I drew you another picture."
"Are you making a new dress..."
"Please sis! Can I help! I promise to be good!"
"You know what sis... someday I'm going to be a dressmaker too....then we can be together all the time...."
"I love you sis."
Rarity lower her head; she could already feel herself breaking down. "And...and I...I-i....lov-..."The trembling mare fumbled with her words as Fresh tears dripped down to the table. "...I love you too...."
Rarity pressed a hoof to her mouth; she shook her head slowly; remembering all the good time the two had together; the laughs they'd shared; but now those times were gone; and that's what hurt Rarity the most.
"There...was...were...many things....so many...things...we...were...supposed to do together...you were...suppose to...find your talent...get your cutie mark...then... we...were.... suppose to...grow old together...But now..." Rarity closing her eyes tightly. "...I....I-i...don't....what...should....I...what ...am I...going to do..."
Rarity's last bit of strength left her as she fell back to the table.
"Wh-why..di-did...ho-how...cou-could..." The mare said in feathery light but trembly voice.
"I'm...sorry dear," The Doctor said gently."I-I shouldn't...have brought you here..."
The unicorn lifted her head from Sweetie Belle's supple chest and through puffy tearful eyes; stared at the Doctor.
. "I should have...known...you wouldn't be able to handle this..."The Doctor lowered his head. "But..I...had no choice..."
"Your name..."The stallion said with a sigh. "....was one of the few...coherent things we could make out from that mare."
"....M-mare?" Rarity whispered.
"...That poor....poor thing....I don't think I've ever seen pony so....broken before." The Doctor said as he shifted his eyes away from the mare.
"Who...who...do you mean?..."Rarity asked in a voice even lower then whisper.
The Doctor open his mouth but quickly shut it; he took in a deep breath and placed his hoof on the unicorn's shoulder. "The mare...who found your sister this morning..."
The dumbfounded unicorn stared at the Doctor in complete shock. "Th-the mare who...who found...Sweetie Belle..." Rarity repeated to herself slowly. ; "Yes...your name was the one of only things we could get out of her..." The Doctor trailed off.
Rarity wanted to say something; to question The Doctor, but her body wouldn't let her.
"The mare...she was an absolute wreck....when she arrived this morning...." The stallion said softly. "... she held that filly...so tightly...we...we had to...nearly pry her from the mare's grip..."
Rarity could do nothing but stare in silent horror as The Doctor continued.
"Through the mare's rambling....we managed to get out her that the filly wasn't breathing....and that she had already attempted CPR on her ." Rarity's heart sank further into her chest."The nurses administered...CPR on the filly almost immediately...but I'm afraid...It was already...too late..."
Rarity turned her head in disgust; She felt hollow; almost empty inside. Fresh tears flowed down her cheeks; she closed her eyes and clenched them tightly; Rarity could feel the Doctor's hoof slide from her shoulder; it was likely he was giving her space to calm down.
------ ~several painful minutes later~
Rarity took in a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Whe-where...is she now?..."Rarity asked softly.
"The poor thing..." The Doctor said as he himself took in a deep breath. "...She's resting in the waiting room right now...I'm sure you have a lot of question you want to ask her...but I doubt she's in any condition to answer any of them right now."
"Per...haps...later...then." Rarity said sadly.
"Yes." The Doctor said with a nod. "I'm...sure...once shes settled...she'll be able to answer any question you may have..."
Rarity nodded her head delicately; The Doctor must have noticed this hesitation in her movements as he moved to Rarity's side as he eyed the cuts across her flank. "Does it hurt?..."
"A...little..."Rarity said honestly.
The Doctor put his hoof to his face. "I should have known better then to bring you in here....with the condition your in an-and how young you are..."
Rarity opened her mouth to protest but the Doctor Quickly cut her off.
"...as soon as I saw you... I-I knew you were too young to be...the filly's mother."
Rarity lowered her head.
"...But I didn't have many choices....there were things that's need to be done...questions that needed to be answered...and your name was all we had to go by..."
"Qu-questions?"Rarity asked.
The Doctor shook his head. "No miss you've done quite enough...I've hurt you more then I ever intended to..."The Doctor turned gingerly to the exam room table. "...No...I have to inform the filly's parent..."The Doctor stopped as he shook his head in despair.
Rarity's puffy eyes lit up upon hearing the Doctor's words.
" ..your parents...'The Doctor continued."..It won't be an easy thing to tell them bu-"
"Th-they're...not home...." Rarity said sorrowfully.
The Doctor frozen; then turned his head back to the Mare. "I'm sorry miss...what did yo-"
"My...parent...aren't home...th-they went on their honeymoon...." Rarity said in dismay."...I-I...she...Sweetie...my sister...my...."
"Miss what are yo-" The Doctor said quickly as he hurried over to the unicorn.
Rarity's hoof shoot out and stop the Doctor in his tracks; She closed her eyes and sighed.
"Sweetie...Belle...I-I was looking after her...while they were away..." Rarity's body swayed back and forth." I...was suppose...to watch over her...She...was my responsibility...and I...I failed her and now....shes...shes..."
The Doctor reached out to pull the Mare into his hooves but Rarity pulled away. "It's alright miss." The Doctor whispered softly.
"It's not...I failed her...I failed my sister....my...my..."
With the mare's guard down the Doctor pulled her forward with his wings; into a tight embrace. "There...there...." He said as he patted the mare lightly on her back.
Rarity tried to resist but quickly surrendered to her emotions and wept into the Doctor's shoulder. "Thank...you...sir..." Rarity sniffled. "I-I needed that...but...what are you going yo do now..."
"I don't know." He whispered. "I have a report to file out...but...without your parent here..."
"What's going to happen...." Rarity asked in a muffled voice as her face was still buried in the Doctor's shoulder.
The Doctor lifted his head up gently. "I'm...going to have to do something..." He stopped as he lowered his eyes."...something...neither you or I will like very much...I just wish there was another way to go about this..."
'Wha-what do....you mean sir..."Rarity said as she pulled her head away from the Doctor.
The Doctor sighed as he retracted his wings. "I'm going to have to ask you the questions...: although I'd rather not."
"You...want to ask ...me...but..."
"I'm afraid so." The Doctor said with a sorrowful sigh.
"But..."
"...It pains me to have to ask this of you ...but...I'm afraid...I have no choice."The Doctor said with distraught tone to his voice.
Rarity's lips quivered as she attempted to speak, but in the end she simply lowered her head in defeat. "What....sort...of questions?..."
"Thank you miss." The Doctor said with a reassuring smile. " I know full well how painful this is for you so I...won't keep you long." The Doctor reached into one of his pocket.
"Theres... just a few basic questions..." The Doctor said as he took in a deep breath. "...but if it gets too hard we can stop..."
Rarity sniffed as she attempted to clear her throat. "I'll...try my best..."
The Doctor nodded his head as he pulled out a tablet of paper. "May we begin then?"
"Yes..." The unicorn said timidly. . "Alright then..." The Doctor held the paper in front of his face. "When was the last time you saw your...sister..."
"Three...days ago..." Rarity said slowly. "...that was the last...I saw her aliv-"
Rarity turned her head away from The Doctor; already new tears were sliding down her face. The Doctor reached out for her, but she dismissed his hoof away.
"I'm...I'm alright...I..just...I'll be fine..." Rarity lied. "I-I...can continue...I just..have to go at this slowly..."
The Doctor Sighed. "I hate...to see you or anypony like this...is there anyway we can contact your paren-"
"I'm afraid not..." Rarity said as she clenched her eyes shut. "They're...all the way in Las Pegasus...and as much as it pain me to say this...she was my responsibility..." The unicorn rubbed the tears from her eyes. "...It would only be right if I...answered your questions...."
"Fine..." The Doctor said as his eye moved back to the paper. "Lets continue...but if you can't handle it..."
"Yes...I understand...."
"Alright then..." The Doctor said as he lifted the paper back up. "Jut a few more questions...do you know the last pon-" The Doctor suddenly and without warning stopped talking.
Rarity stared at the Doctor for few second; waiting him to continue but in her gut she knew something was wrong. The Doctor's mouth hung open but not another word escaped his lips as though he had simply froze in place.
"Sir...." Rarity's heart pounded rapidly in her chest."... are you...."
"Your quite the actress aren't you." A mocking voice called out from behind the mare.
Rarity heart stopped upon hearing the chilly otherworldly voice. She turned her head slowly and to her horror a darkness was slowly engulfing the room.
"You pretend to be the loving sister but that's not you at all is it. "
"Who...who's ther-" Rarity said in a voice just above a whisper before turning back to the Doctor.
Rarity's eyes lit up in fear as the darkness had already encompassed almost the entire room. She jumped back just in time as The Doctor disappeared into the dark void .The mare shuffled backwards attempting to escape the the rapidly approaching darkness, but her efforts were in vain as she herself was quickly swallowed up by it. Rarity closed her eyes in fear; her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she waited for whatever horror awaited her . The unicorn waited a few more minutes then slowly opened her eyes. She looked around but to her despair she saw nothing, nothing but darkness.
"This darkness is quite inviting isn't it? The voice asked in a mocking tone before chuckling sinisterly.
Rarity took in a few heavy breaths as she attempted to process the voice in her head. There was something about the voice that sounded almost familiar to her; almost as though she had heard the voice before.
"Wh-..." Rarity gathered up her courage."...Who are you...?"
"Who am I?" The voice responded with a chuckle"What a silly question dear.'
Rarity took a few steps backwards before stumbling over her own back legs and falling onto her bottom.
"Don't you recognize ..." Suddenly the darkness began to shift and a shadowy being stepped forward."Your own voice?"
Rarity face went pale as she stared at the strange being standing in front of her. The mane, the tail, the face even the cutie mark ; all of it was her's. It was as though Rarity was standing in front of a mirror staring at her own reflection; the only difference was the color of the mare. Instead of Rarity's pale white coat and lavender mane and tail; the mare in front of her was completely grey with a dark shadowy aura surrounding her.
"Wha-what are you...?" Rarity said in a shaky voice.
"I'm you of course."The Shadow said with grin."The true you anyway."
The shadow chuckled as she began to circle Rarity. "I'm the you you've been suppressing." The shadow stopped suddenly then simply began to shake her head."Oh how diluted you've become...to think you would stoop this low...' The shadow closed her eye and began to laugh.
"but then again this might be your greatest performance yet?" The shadow tilted her head with a mocking grin plastered across her face. "Either way it's quite pathetic."
The jeering tone of the Shadow was getting to Rarity; the mare picked herself up then glared at the shadow. "I have no idea what your talking about." Rarity barked.
"Oh you don't do you..." The shadowy said mockingly before placing a hoof to her chin."Well I guess I wouldn't be here if you did..."
Rarity narrowed her her eyes at the shadow. "I...have no idea what you are...or where this is and frankly I don't care....I just lost somepony...very...very dear to me..." Rarity lowered her head in despair. "So whatever you have to say to me...say it now."
"Well then I'll get straight to it then." The shadow said with a toothy grin." I guess it's time you know...and who better to tell you then you then yourself."
"Tell...me what...."Rarity said slowly.
The shadow Rarity chuckled to herself as her pale grey eye began to glow red. "The truth of course."
"...And the truth is...I am your Father's brother's cousin's friend's former roommate." Shadow Rarity said slyly.
" No! No!!" Rarity screamed in horror as she fell backwards."That's not true!.....That's impossible!!"
"Search your feelings you know it to be true." Shadow Rarity said as she extended a hoof to the mare. "Join me Rarity and together we can take over Equestria....I have foreseen it...only you can destroy the princesses."
"Never!" Rarity snarled. " I'll nev-" Rarity tilted her head slowly."Wait a minut- cousin's friend's former roommate...."
Rarity lifted herself up and glared at the shadow. " cousin's friend's former roommate...what the hell does that make us then..."
Shadow Rarity brought a hoof to her chin as she began to ponder on the subject. "Hmm....nothing I guess..."
Rarity facehoofed. "Then why would I ever join you then."
"Well...because...." The shadow's eyes shift as it attempted to find an answer."um....well."
"And now you've lost your evil voice..." Rarity said with a grimaced as she jumped back."....what in Equestria is going on here!"
"Look I can explain!"The Shadow said quickly.
"You can Explain everything in hell!!!!" Rarity rushed forward knocking the shadow to the ground.
"Alright!"Rarity said as she reach down." Now to see who you really are."
Rarity grabbed and pulled the mask off revealing an orange, blonde maned earth pony.
"Applejack!" Rarity said with narrowed eyes. "I should have known."
"And I would I would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for meddlin' marshmallows."
Rarity chuckled to herself as she lifted her rifle up. "Hasta la vista baby."
Rarity fired; blasting Applejack head off but unfortunately for her; Applejack was made of liquid metal and simply regenerated from the wound. Applejack bucked forward knocking Rarity to the ground. The earth pony jumped and made her way to the conveniently placed door on the other side of the dark shadowy room.
"I'll get you next time Rarity! Next time!!!!" Applejack snarled as she shook her hoof at the mare before rushing through the door.
"She forgot one thing." Rarity said slowly as she lifted herself up." There won't be a next time."
Suddenly a loud explosion happened and Applejack torn hat floated into the room.
"Sweetie Belle."Rarity said slowly as she turned around only to find Sweetie Belle (who for some reason wasn't dead) standing behind her.
Sweetie belle opened her mouth to say something but Rarity quickly cut her off.
"I must go." Rarity said as she lifted her head up to ceiling."My planet needs me."
With that Rarity leapt upward through the solid stone ceiling and continued to fly upward until she was well out of sight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"And that's how Equestria was made." Pinkie pie said a smile.
'I don't know."Scootaloo said slowly. "Yeah and...why was Rarity an alien."Sweetie Belle asked with a grimace. "And did Rarity just kill my sis!!" Apple Bloom said with widened eyes.
"The answer to all your questions is.... Eeyup." Pinkie said with a chuckle."Ok now who want to help me make cupcakes."
"We do! We do!" The three filly exclaimed.
"Alright then follow me to the basement where I will totally not kill you."Pinkie said with an evil grin.
"Yay!!!' The three fillys screamed as they followed the murderous pink pony nice lady to her evil basement.
"The...Truth..." Rarity thought as a grimace slowly formed across her face."What in Equestria is that suppose to mean?!"
"...It's not a very hard concept to grasp darling."The Shadow said as it rolled it's glow red eyes." It's the truth not Rocket science."
Rarity's eye widened in fear as she stared at the shadow. "Ho-how did you...did you just...."
" I swear that fall must've given you brain damage or something"The Shadow scoffed."because you certainly seem to be getting dumber by the second....then again..." The Shadow Rarity placed a hoof to her chin." You never were all that smart to begin with."
"HOW DARE YOU!" Rarity's rage erupted as she pounced at the shadow, but to her despair she simply fell through it and landed hard on her side.
"Wha-how...did you..."Rarity stood and too her surprise and slight dismay she was completely fine."Whats going on here....why am I not hurt..."
"You still don't get what this is do you. "The Shadow said bitterly."....I seriously can't believe your this dense...it's quite pitiful really..."
. "Yo-you can read my mind...ho-how is that possible..." Rarity said in a whispery tone."wh-what are you...."
The Shadow let out a sigh of disgust and placed a hoove on her forehead. "We already went through this song and dance...what two minutes ago.... " Shadow Rarity chuckled to herself,dropping her hoof back to the ground then moved closer to Rarity." I'm you...or did you forget that already?"
"No!"Rarity said quickly."What are you really? You look like me....you almost sound like me but you certainly are not me..."
" Then what do think I am Rarity? " The Shadow asked as it's glowing red eyes faded back to normal."Am I a demon? A changeling perhaps? Or maybe I'm just a figment of your imagination...come to life because you've finally snapped...."The shadow chuckled to itself as it's eyes locked onto Rarity's."What am I Rarity?What.Am.I? "
