After breaking her leg, Rarity finds interest in watching ponies whose lives she finds rather addicting, however things take a dark turn when she fears she watched a stallion murder his wife.
After breaking her leg, Rarity finds interest in watching ponies whose lives she finds rather addicting, however things take a dark turn when she fears she watched a stallion murder his wife.
Inspired by a little film called Rear Window, clearly. What you never heard of it, Alfred Hitchcock? James Stewart? Go check that out, like now.
It was a normal day in the quiet town of Ponyville, students were in school, the animals were being cared for, the bakers were preparing their latest mouthwatering deserts, and inside the Carousel Boutique a local dressmaker was working on her latest ensemble.
Rarity scrutinized the piece for any flaws. The latest dress was a beautiful and colorful arrangement, she’d gone all out and woven the material of some the rarest and most dazzling fabric, rainbow silk. After precariously inspecting the dress, she found it to be flawless.
Pleased with her work Rarity sat down and admired the beautiful work of art. After a feeling of satisfaction washed through her she looked over to her front window. She’d never noticed just how much she can see with her view. Her boutique had a fantastic view of many Ponyville homes and apartments; she sat back and embraced the open view for several minutes.
She began to doze off when she suddenly remembered Applejack. She’d gotten her to agree to a day at the spa, after she helped repair the earth pony’s signature Stetson hat. Rarity tempted and enticed the earth pony until she finally agreed on the day spa.
It was almost time for their spa treatment, and with her latest piece now complete she made her way over to Sweet Apple Acres.
“Alright Rarity I’ll just be a bit longer than I expected.” Applejack continued bucking at trees as Rarity looked on in disappointment.
“But Applejack, you promised you’d be finished by now.”
“I said, ‘I might be finished’ around this time.”
“Well hurry up, I keep telling you my hooves are just dying for a hooficure.”
“An’ I keep telling you, stop using them fancy made up words. Why don’t you just sit down and relax, I’ll finish up here in a little bit.”
Rarity huffed as she walked over sat below an apple tree, where she began to doze off again.
Applejack trying to rush herself, bucked trees without being too careful. She never noticed Rarity beneath the tree until she’d already kicked and sent the mare back several feet with a thud and a crack.
************
“Rarity, I just wanna tell ya just how sorry I am that this all happened.” Applejack opened the door to her boutique and pushed Rarity into her shop.
“And I just want to tell you that you don’t have to keep apologizing, it was an accident. Accidents do happen after all and you shall not blame yourself.”
“But if I were more focused I wouldn’t have kicked you.”
“Applejack dear, I know you would never do anything to hurt me and you mustn’t think any less of yourself.” Rarity wheeled herself over to the stairs and called up to Sweetie Belle. “Oh Sweetie Belle could you come down here for a moment.”
Sweetie Belle galloped down the stairs and gasped when she saw her sister’s leg in a cast. “Rarity what happened to you?!”
“Oh Sweetie Belle I’m alright, it was just a silly accident” Applejack’s face flushed red from embarrassment.
“What happened to your leg?”
Rarity looked over and saw the panic in Applejack’s eyes, Sweetie Belle was so protective over her older sister that she must’ve worried the filly would never forgive her for hurting her sister. “I fell off a carriage, and my leg got the worst of it.” She saw relief in Applejack’s face and decided why not make her a hero to cheer her up a little. “Luckily Applejack was there and rushed me straight to the emergency room, I don’t know what I would have done without her.”
“Oh my” Sweetie Belle ran over and gave Applejack a big hug. “Thank you for saving my sister.” Applejack’s face rushed red once again but this time out of shame.
‘Why did Rarity have to say that’ she thought. “Oh Sweetie Belle it weren’t nothing, just did what anypony would’ve done.”
“No really I mean it thank you so so so so much!”
Now Rarity turned slightly red, maybe she shouldn’t have poured on the hero element so much. Especially considering her friend is the Element of Honesty. “Now Sweetie Belle I want you stay with Applejack until I get better, I can’t very well take care of you in this condition.”
“What?! No way! Then who is going take care of you while you get better.”
“Applejack was going to stop in a couple times a day to make sure I’m doing alright.”
“You can’t do that to her sis, she just saved your life and now you want her to be your nurse.”
“But Sweetie Belle wait, I”
Sweetie Belle interrupted, “I won’t allow it, No I’ll stay here and take care of you. Besides Applejack is busy with harvest and you need someone there all the time, not just to pop in and make sure your not dead.”
“Sweetie Belle don’t take that tone with me now I want you to stay with Applejack, now you will stay with Applejack.”
“Now hold up Rarity” Applejack spoke up. “I think Sweetie Belles right, you don’t need someone to check in on you, you need someone to take care of you. Maybe it would be best if you let her stay with you.”
“Alright fine you can stay, but it’s going to be a lot of work, Ok Sweetie Belle?”
“Please Rarity after all Applejack’s done for you, the least I can do is take care of you. Besides maybe I’ll get my Cutie Mark in nursing.” Rarity and Applejack rolled their eyes, but they all agreed that Sweetie Belle could stay as long as Applejack came by to check on them.
After several agonizing minutes Rarity, with the help of Applejack, made her way up the stairs and into her room. Applejack wondered what she’d do until her leg healed. “What are you gonna do until yer leg get’s better?”
“What ever do you mean, I’ll keep making dresses of coarse, do you think a silly ol’ fracture will stop me? I’m fine.”
“I don’t see how you could keep making dresses in yer condition.”
Rarity demonstrated how capable she remained by reaching up to grab a pattern of fabric from high up on the shelf, for her effort she was met with immediate regret following a sharp pain from her hip. Luckily Applejack was actually able to save her this time before she got hurt.
“See just like I said, ’fine’ ” She joked as she winced from pain. “Maybe I’ll take a break from dress making, relax for the next few days.” She chuckled. “But what am I going to do with all that other free time?”
The next day Applejack made her way over to Carousel Boutique to check on Rarity for the first time since yesterday. She made her way in and heard a noise coming from the kitchen. She went in to investigate to find Sweetie Belle hovering over the stove, presumably making lunch.
“Whoa there partner.” As she went over to get her off the stove. “What do ya think yer doing standing over the oven like that?”
“I was making lunch for Rarity.”
“Well when you’re making lunch for Rarity you should try making a sandwich, or maybe some soup, not a 3 coarse meal using the oven.” She looked inside to see that what she presumed to be lasagna, which fairly burnt to a crisp. “Besides maybe a sandwich would be a little easier anyway.”
Sweetie Belle blushed at her burnt lunch. “Okay I’ll just make her a sandwich.”
Now Applejack made her way upstairs, she entered Rarity’s room to find her signing her own cast. “What’cha writing there Rarity.” She looked over to get a closer look. ‘Here lie the broken bones of Rarity.’ Applejack changed the short subject to a more responsive one. “So uh, anypony come over to visit you yet?”
Rarity sighed, satisfied with the memorial to her leg, and set the marker back down on the table. “Rainbow Dash stopped by for a visit.”
“Well wasn’t that sweet of her.”
“She tried to take off my cast to ‘get at better look at my leg’ ”.
Applejack looked around to find several pieces of loose confetti around the room, though not as much as she’d expect. “Not much confetti, I see.”
“I picked up most of it myself.”
Applejack began picking up the left over pieces as she decided to change subjects again. “Oh, anyway you wouldn’t believe what I saw Sweetie Belle making you for lunch.”
“Oh my that’s right is the lasagna almost done?”
“That was your idea?! Oh well not exactly.”
Rarity sighed once again. Clearly she was not having the best time with her broken leg.
“Well what else have you been doing to pass the time?”
“Nothing else to do, been sitting here wallowing in my own pity,” She then pointed over to her large window. “been looking out the window too.”
After helping to clean Rarity’s room, as well as making sure she ate her lunch, much to the indifference of Rarity. Applejack was ready to leave, she knew she should stay and keep her friend company, but Rarity clearly wanted to be left alone.
“Oh right before I leave,” She pulled a few magazines and books from her bag. “I brought you some readin’ material over from the library. It’s not much, but I’m sure it’ll do ya some good.” She placed them over on the table by Rarity before leaving for the day.
Rarity made her way over to pick up one of the magazines Applejack gave to her. “Fashion Weekly? That’s not funny AJ.” Before picking up and deciding on another magazine. “Stallion Central, I guess I’ll just read the articles.” As she opened the magazine.
After several hours she read through most of the magazines, the good ones anyway, and decided to skip the novels altogether. ‘Really Applejack, I’m not much of a Daring Do fan.’ Before she tossed aside the adventure books.
It was beginning to get late and out of ideas again, she made her way over to the window and looked out to see a smiling Pinkie Pie bouncing as she made her way over presumably to Sugar Cube Corner. ‘Well at least one of us is having a good time.’ She decided to have a good time herself; she took the bottle of wine out of the chilled bucket that Sweetie Belle brought up earlier with her dinner. She pulled the cork and poured herself a glass as she continued peering out the window at the few ponies who passed by.
She then noticed someone inside her house. She made out the figure to be Cherilee, as she sat down at her table with places set for two ponies. Including two plates, two set of utensils, and two wine glasses that sat directly across from each other. Rarity told herself it wasn’t polite to spy, but she couldn’t help herself, she wondered who the lucky stallion was.
She continued watching as Cherilee now poured herself a glass of wine, while Rarity wondered if Cherilee didn’t have a special somepony. Cherilee lifted her glass, which Rarity copied herself as she imagined keeping the mare company during what must’ve been a lonely dinner. They took their short sips, and after the wine had cleared her throat, Cherilee buried her head between her forelegs on the table.
Rarity turned away from the highly personal sight and noticed through a different window another pony, this one she didn’t recognize. He sat at his desk typing on his typewriter.
This one was a handsome light blue stallion, who she’d never met before. He must’ve been writing something long, because he continued to type away for as long as Rarity keep her gaze. Every few minutes the stallion, whom she nicknamed ‘Hemingway’, would bring his forehoof to his forehead as he struggled to find his next few sentences. ‘Writer’s block?’ Rarity would ask him in her mind, and after just a few seconds Hemingway would smile at his work and respond with ‘Of coarse not’ as he continued his writing.
Rarity then noticed a grey mare who must’ve been working on her latest piece with her violin. She struggled, but Rarity could tell it was only because she didn’t think she was good enough herself. She continued to silently stroke her violin throughout most of the night. Rarity imagined how wonderful she must’ve sounded despite her own doubts and made her way over to the record player she left by her bedside. She found the vinyl she was looking for ‘Violin Sonata in E Major’ and placed it on the surface of the player. She went back to the window and imagined the grey mare playing something akin to Beethoofen as she silently reassured the pony ‘See I knew your music was beautiful.’
After several hours of listening to the wonderful violin as the mare silently practiced. The mare made her way over and carefully placed what was surely her most prized possession in it’s case, she then turned off the lights and made her way to bed. ‘Don’t want to be tired, you must have big concert coming up.’ Rarity advised her.
Rarity herself turned off the soft music and was about ready to turn in to bed, however as she wheeled herself she heard faint sounds of yelling. She made her way back over to the window and without the sound of Beethoofen; she was able to make out two ponies arguing. When she found them, they were in their bedroom yelling at each other, he was a rather large yellow stallion, and she was a rather timid looking blue pegasus. She watched as they argued for several minutes over what she presumed was nonsense, until he made his way over the sofa and slept there for the night.
‘They’ll probably make up in the morning.’ She told herself as she made her way to her bed and fell asleep after a long day of doing nothing.
When she woke up Rarity tried to be more productive, sure she couldn’t make dresses, but at least she could design something beautiful. She grabbed a few pencils and a notepad, and began sketching the lines that would become her latest ensemble, but after a while she found it useless. From lack of inspiration, to simply being in too much pain to design, she gave up on her idea of doing anything productive entirely.
It was afternoon as she peered out the window and noticed the same blue pegasus from the previous night. She was out in her yard gardening. Rarity watched as she was enchanted by her growing garden. She never noticed the garden before, but the roses that this pegasus were able to grow were absolutely stunning. She could only watch as the mare, who probably spent years mastering her craft, tended to her incredible collection of tulips, orchids and the most stunning roses she’d ever seen.
Rarity went over and grabbed her camera; she wanted to capture the absolute beauty of those flowers. She took the most endearing photo of this pegasus as she cared for what must be one of the most important things in her life.
Rarity heard more yelling however and looked over to see the mail mare being thoroughly criticized for delivering the wrong mail. She set the camera down and could tell the stallion was the same who yelled at his wife the previous night and he was clearly still upset from the night before, that didn’t mean he had to take it out on Ditzy.
She noticed Applejack walking by on her way to her Boutique, when she caught wind of Ditzy’s berating. She walked over and Rarity watched as Applejack scolded the stallion for yelling at Ditzy. She proceeded to yell, which Rarity could not make out. She then led Ditzy away from the angry stallion and gave the visibly upset mare a hug before walking into Carousel Boutique.
***********
“Ugh, the nerve of someponies” Applejack made her way into the kitchen of Rarity’s Boutique to find Sweetie Belle once again making lunch. “And what’s for lunch today Sweetie Belle?”
“Well today I’m making Rarity some soup. Except I’m not sure how to make soup.”
“Don’t you worry about it Sugarcube, I’ll finish up in here and bring Rarity her soup. Why don’t you make yer way over to the clubhouse? Applebloom’s been asking about you an’ wondering where you’ve been.”
“Are you sure, I don’t wanna leave Rarity alone.”
“I’m sure, now go on your friends wanna se ya.”
“Thanks Applejack.” She made her way over and hugged the mare. “I’ll be back soon.”
Applejack finished up the soup and made her way upstairs. She found Rarity gazing out the window, never noticing that she entered. “Eh’hem.” Applejack cleared her throat. Rarity turned and smiled toward her. “Well you look more chipper than ya did yesterday.”
“Thank you Applejack, is that my soup? I feel like I haven’t eaten in a while. Mostly because with Sweetie Belle it’s a game of Roulette, and I always bet on black.” She smiled as the soup was placed on her lap. She began sipping the mixture and found it rather hot, as she decided to give it a minute to cool off.
“So Applejack I saw your little show outside, with the stallion that yelled at poor Ditzy.”
“You saw that? Can you believe the nerve of someponies? Ditzy Doo is one of the kindest, most sweetest mail mares you’ll ever meet, and that brute yells at her in front of everyone, just for delivering the wrong mail.”
“Well you wouldn’t believe it, but I saw that same stallion yelling at his wife yesterday. He must be really upset.”
“You saw him yelling at his wife, now how in the hay did you see that?”
“I heard him yelling at her, yea he was really giving it to her and ended up sleeping on the couch.”
“You watched them as they argued, that ain’t right. You shouldn’t watch what two ponies do in their own home.”
“I know Applejack, but honestly he doesn’t seem like much a gentleman himself.”
“Okay, but shouldn’t be snoopin’ like that. ” Applejack now changed subjects as Rarity began sipping her lunch. “Now I brought some playing cards, wanna pass the time?”
Rarity grumbled. “Sure” She’d rather watch out her window and ‘observe’, as she put it, the ponies of the town. But she’d just have to catch up on her on subjects later.
*******
Applejack left after Sweetie Belle came back, and as much as Rarity enjoyed her company with Applejack, she much preferred her ‘window-shopping’, and with Applejack around Rarity wasn’t about to snoop on other ponies.
As night fell she first noticed ‘Hemingway’. He was looking over what he had written the previous night and with his ‘sword’, he began the process of editing his story. He would read through a section, cross out and re-write something, and silently read it back to himself.
He continued for a little while until he was satisfied with his progress. He then set aside his work, as he brought a box out from his desk and opened it with great care. He lifted a long, brown cigar out of the box, and put it under his nose, he inhaled its aroma and enjoyed its scent before placing back in the box and inside his desk.
Rarity then noticed Cherilee as she came home, alone. Rarity hoped that Cherilee staying out so late meant that she’d been on a date, but it didn’t seem that was the plan for the night. Instead Cherilee heated up presumably leftovers, and spent her evening grading papers. Which turned out to be rather uneventful.
After a few more rather ordinary hours, the violist came home. She made her way over to her case and with incredible care picked up her most prized possession. She practiced again for about an hour before she set her violin aside, satisfied with herself.
She sat in front of her makeup mirror and brushed her mane until it looked perfect. She then reached in front of picture frame, which Rarity couldn’t make out, and grabbed a pink bowtie. She put it on in front of the mirror, and made sure it was straight. She looked over herself one more time to make sure she looked good, she looked perfect, the type of simple elegance Rarity wish she herself could pull off.
She then grabbed her violin and made her way out the door, she walked out of that door with the same elegance and grace that she was sure to walk out onto that stage with, in just a little while. ‘You’ll knock ‘em dead.’ Rarity assured her.
After a while Rarity checked in on the blue pegasus from last night. She sat alone reading a book, which took up a bulk of her evening. She noticed as the door slowly opened, as she felt her own heart as it began to race. The stallion came home and was quiet for the better half of a minute before yelling and berating his wife for something. It went on for several minutes, and Rarity found herself silently begging the stallion to just give up and sleep on the couch. With her heart now racing, she was sure he was about to strike at any moment. After a few more tense filled moments he and his wife parted, with her taking the master bedroom, and him taking the couch.
Rarity began to take great breaths of relief, when she noticed him getting up and making his way to the bedroom. Rarity noticed the camera on her nightstand and made her way over to retrieve it, ‘if that bastard tries anything I’ll be able to capture it.’
Rarity struggled but managed to quickly make it over to her nightstand and grabbed her camera. She made it back over to the window and saw nothing. The curtains in the bedroom were drawn shut; she could’ve sworn they were open a minute ago. She sat there and waited, her camera pointed at the apartment across from her, as her heart continued beating as hard as if she’d just finished a marathon.
She continued to wait for several hours for anything. Any sign that he’d done something to his wife, with her camera drawn to her eye. After a while she began to doze off only to quickly wake up and refocus on the bedroom, where she could do nothing but stare at the closed and darkened curtains. She passed out after several hours in her wheelchair with her camera in her lap, with the last thought running through her head being ‘I hope she’s alright.’
Rarity stretched out and realized she’d slept in her chair. She wondered for what reason would she sleep on that cold metal contraption that she already spent the rest of her day attached to. She felt something heavy sitting on her lap, ‘what’s my camera doing on my lap?’ she asked herself as she came into full consciousness. “My camera!” She wheeled her way over to the window and peered outwards into the night sky. It must’ve been early in the morning; early enough that it was still very dark. She pointed her camera at her target and still saw nothing. ‘Damn it, nothing. Where is that pony, what did he do to her?’
Throughout the night Rarity leaned her foreleg on her broken one in order to balance the camera. After several hours the pressure took its toll and the pain in her leg became pretty unbearable. She wheeled herself over and picked up some of the pain medication she’d never touched. She tossed back a few and swallowed them with some wine as she made her way back over to her window.
About half an hour later and it was still very early in the morning, but the combination of Rarity’s lack of energy and the effect of the pain medication produced a pretty powerful knockout for the unicorn as she passed out once again.
A few hours later in the afternoon, Applejack went to once again check in on Rarity, she made her way in and prepared another bowl of soup for the unicorn. She made her way up the stairs and saw Rarity as she sat, slumped over in her chair. She ran over to make sure her friend was still breathing.
“Rarity, wake up sugar, you’re starting to scare me!”
Rarity snapped out her drug induced light coma and completely ignored her friend as she wheeled her way over to the window.
“Are you ok? You scared the hell out of me.”
“I’m just fine Applejack.” She quickly dismissed her friend. She scanned the house just in time to see the stallion as he ran out of the house to leave for work. “and where the hell are you running off to?”
“And what in the hay are you doing looking out that window?”
“Shh, quiet.” Rarity noticed the stallion looking out his own living room window as he scanned several buildings “Quickly get back.” She wheeled her own chair out of sight from him as she pulled Applejack to follow.
Satisfied after his scan, he put on his hat and left to go to work.
Applejack stepped in front of Rarity after she noticed him leave. “What in the heck just happened?”
“The son of a bitch almost saw us, that’s what just happened.” Rarity winced in slight pain as she made her way to take some more pain medication.
“Rarity, what are you talking about, why were we just hiding from that stallion?”
“Because he might be onto me.” Rarity popped a couple pills in her mouth before she swallowed it with a taste of wine. “and I think he just hurt his wife.” Rarity said flatly, as if expecting Applejack to just accept her claim.
“He…hurt...his…wife?” Applejack was confused at the entire situation. “Rarity have you been drinking?” She looked over at the wine bottle Rarity had on the table.
“No, well I’ve had some wine, but what else am I supposed to do?”
Applejack just nodded her head sarcastically.
“Listen, I watched him last night, he definitely hurt her, the blue pegasus, you might have seen her yesterday when he was yelling at Ditzy.”
“You saw him hit his wife?”
“Well, I know he hit her.”
“But did you see him hit her?”
“Listen Applejack, I know what I saw.”
“But what exactly did you see, two ponies arguing?”
“AJ, this was not two ponies in an argument, I watched as her eyes grew wide with fear every time he came close to her. You should’ve seen her when he came home, she couldn’t hide the terror she felt from him.”
“Fine, I’ll play along, but there’s really just one way to settle this.” She turned to make her way out the bedroom door. “I’ll go over there and make sure she’s alright. Actually wait…let me see that camera of yours.” She walked over and got the camera from Rarity “If’n she does have any bruises I’ll have to document them.” For the most part Applejack just humored the idea, and didn’t actually believe that anything happened to the pegasus.
“No, wait you can’t go what if he catches you? I don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
“Listen sugarcube, I’ll just be gone a minute. I’ll knock on the door and make sure she’s alright. Then we can put this whole thing to rest.”
“Fine…fine, but Applejack please be careful alright?”
“Don’t worry I can handle my own.” Applejack left and Rarity could only watch nervously to make sure her friend remained safe.
Rarity watched from her window as Applejack casually walked across the street and made her way to the house. She watched as Applejack knocked on the door, and waited for a few moments.
She tried several more times but the door remained unanswered. Applejack moved towards the Rarity watching from her window and openly shrugged.
‘She’s not home right now because she is at the hospital already or worse.’ Rarity hated the thought. ‘Okay Applejack come back now, don’t risk him coming back and catching you.’
Applejack rejected the notion of quitting now, Rarity would only believe something terrible had happened. She made her way around the house and took a better look through every window she could. Rarity could only watch in horror as she made her way to the other side of the house, where Rarity couldn’t keep watch of her. ‘Please be okay Applejack.'
After several tense minutes Applejack made her way back around the house, across the street and into Rarity’s Boutique. Rarity looked toward her bedroom door and waited for Applejack to come through and confirm her suspicions.
Applejack walked through the door and over to Rarity.
“Well, what happened?”
Applejack placed the camera on Rarity’s lap. “See for yourself.”
Rarity quickly turned on the camera and looked at the single picture. She saw a blue pegasus half covered by a thick comforter, asleep in her bed, laying on her side with her face fairly visible and without a mark on her. “But she looks fine.” Indeed there wasn’t scratch, bruise, cut or mark on the visible side of the pegasus.
“Yeah, she looks alright to me, almost like she’s sleeping. Maybe she had a rough night, but she doesn’t seem too beat up, wouldn’t you say?”
“Well what about the other side of her face, maybe he just hit her on one side?”
“Are you hearing yourself, I’m sorry but did you want me to break in there and give her a full physical for Pete’s sake. Besides if she had been hit, at all, don’t you think she’d have an ice pack for her face or something?”
Rarity considered this and figured maybe Applejack was right. “Well what happened?”
Applejack sighed. “Made my way over there, an’ no one answered, which you saw. Then I made my way around to see if I could get a look at any knocked over furniture, or anything like that. I looked through the living room window on the other side and through the door I was able to see her,” She pointed to the pegasus in the picture. “fast asleep. Is that good enough Rarity?”
“I’m…sorry AJ, it’s just I could’ve sworn that he’d done something to her.”
Applejack chuckled. “It’s alright Rarity, being cooped up in this here room for so long’s got you seeing things, or maybe just comin’ up with crazy ideas out of sheer boredom or maybe it’s just the wine talkin’. Now if’in you’re satisfied, I believe you haven’t touched your soup yet, besides,” She pulled out her playing cards again.” you beat me yesterday, and now it’s game on.”
Once again it began to get late when Applejack left, while Rarity found herself drawn to the window. This time she wasn’t as worried about the blue pegasus, but she still found herself peering first at their familiar windows. The curtains remained shut and she saw nothing to be alarmed about.
Rarity had decided that Applejack was probably right, she was probably just sick and in bed. She wondered if the fear was all in her mind. Still she found herself gazing to the window every few minutes as none of her favorite subjects were home yet.
First she watched as ‘Hemingway’ walked through his door. He looked upset as if he’d screwed up somehow. He reached in his bag and took out what must’ve been a final version of his story. He sat down and read through it a couple times as he shook his head disapprovingly. He then flung the story into his wastebasket and turned away as he reached for a bottle of hard liquor. He spent the next hour alone and drinking at his desk. After what felt like a really long time, Rarity watched him get up and put on his coat before leaving. She assumed he was going to a bar.
‘Poor Hemingway, you must’ve worked on that story for so long, I was hoping I’d get to read it some day. You won’t find happiness at the end of the bottle, but I hope its helps you out tonight.'
Rarity felt pain shoot through her spine once again and downed another couple pills of her pain medication. Except this time the medication didn’t help as much as it had been and just a little while later she took another dose of the medication. After that she felt much better and as the pain disappeared she watched the window again.
The next couple hours remained fairly uneventful, Rarity watched several ponies as they either fixed dinner, or read a book, or talked to friends. Rarity herself took comfort in her wine; she downed a few until she found herself having a good time.
Suddenly Rarity noticed the grey violist come home; she shot up in her chair and directed her full attention to her one of her favorites. Rarity assumed that if she had gone to a concert it must’ve been held in Canterlot, seeing as she didn’t come home last night. She watched as the grey mare set her violin case aside and lay on her bed for several minutes. She too seemed upset.
‘Tough crowd?’ Rarity wondered. The grey mare’s only response was to quietly cry into her pillow. After a few minutes Rarity noticed as she grabbed the photo frame from earlier and stared into it for several minutes.
Later in the evening Rarity watched as Cherilee came walking though her front door with a friend. He was light blue earth pony who Cherilee must’ve stayed out late with. She watched as he stumbled over to pour a drink for them. He reached the couch with only incredible difficulty keeping his balance, and offered the mare a drink. She politely rejected and the two spent the next hour just talking to each other. Something told Rarity that Cherilee hadn’t had anything to drink, while the stallion was clumsy to say the least.
Rarity figured out that Cherilee must’ve gone out on a lousy date, and this stallion was just trying to get her to drink, which he failed at miserably. She probably didn’t even want to bring him home, because it was clear she just wanted him to leave. A few minutes later and the stallion began to get a little handsy, or maybe hoofsy, and Cherilee took no part in it, she pushed him out of her house and closed the door on him. She then slid her back down the frame of the door and sat on the floor while she cried.
‘Poor Cherilee, you’ll find someone. You’re way too special not to.’
The rest of the night remained uneventful, and although she continued to watch the house for any sign of either the yellow stallion or his wife, she saw nothing and assumed that her imagination, or perhaps the wine, must’ve been playing tricks with her. She popped another pill and made her way over to the bed as she lay down to finally sleep. Still she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
Rarity woke up the next day with a pounding headache and an unbearable pain in her leg. So reasonably she reached for her bottle of pain medication, she took another couple and realized those were her last pills. This was going to be a problem.
She spent her morning as she spent every morning, she got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to freshen up as best as she could. She wasn’t certain why but she still spent an hour brushing her mane to get it to its usual state of perfection.
It had hardly been an hour and Rarity had already begun grinding her teeth, she was beginning to feel the pain in her leg once again. She reached for the bottle despite knowing it was empty, but she was still disappointed to be left empty hoofed. She became rather desperate quickly and turned to her sister.
“Sweetie Belle, are you still here?” She called out. Sweetie Belle quickly made her way to her sister’s room.
“Yea Rarity, school’s not for another half hour, do you need something?”
“Yes,” She winced from slight pain. “could you be a dear and look in the medicine cabinet for some pain medication.”
“Uhm…okay. What kind do you want?”
“Oh well, if you see any blue and white pills those would be great, but anything you find really.” She stretched out and tried to massage her leg.
Sweetie Belle left and came back a couple minutes later. “This is the only thing I could find.” She handed the bottle over to her sister. “Are you okay Rarity?”
“I’m fine Sweetie Belle, don’t you worry about me.” She looked at the bottle and saw it was just simple aspirin, she wanted something stronger, but this would have to do for now. She opened it up and took several of the pills. “Thanks, hopefully these will help.”
Sweetie Belle left for school and Rarity tried to handle the pain. The aspirin didn’t do much to help and Rarity decided to ask Applejack to pick up some more of her medication.
Afternoon came and Applejack made her way over to Carousel Boutique, but before she reached it she noticed the stallion that Rarity found suspicious leaving his home and decided to stop by and chat to see how his wife was doing.
She entered the shop and made her way over to the kitchen to make Rarity her lunch when she was interrupted.
“Applejack, Is that you?!” She heard Rarity call out. “Come upstairs, I need you!”
Applejack rushed upstairs and made her way through the door, she found Rarity lying in bed hunched over in pain.
“What happened, are you alright?”
“No Applejack, I’m actually in a lot of pain right now.”
“Did you fall outta yer chair?”
“No, my leg has been in unbearable pain all day, and I just ran out of medication. Could you please go down to the pharmacy and pick me up a refill?”
“Well a’ coarse I can.” She grabbed the empty bottle and hurried out the door to refill the prescription.
After about twenty minutes Applejack returned and made her way up to give Rarity her medication.
“Oh Applejack, thank Celestia you’re back, were you able to get a refill?”
“Yeah I was able to get these pills, I think they are the same ones. These ones are called oxi-something and I guess they’re supposed to give your muscles tons of oxygen to help stop the pain.”
“Oh yes, thank you Applejack those are the ones.” Rarity took the box and began taking out the bottle.
“Oh hey, I ran into that stallion earlier, the one who you thought was suspicious. I asked him how his wife was doing.”
“Yep.” Rarity continued fumbling with the bottle trying to get it open.
“He told me she was sick the other day and just last night he had to take her to the hospital, because she has had terrible arthritis for months and she couldn’t stand any longer.
“Uh-huh.” She kept trying to open the bottle, but was having difficulty.
“He said she might be even there for a while, and then he told me they’ve been arguing about her going to the hospital, because she didn’t want to go, but he knew it was for the best.”
“Okay.” What was she doing wrong, push cap, then turn, or wait maybe it said pull cap then turn.
“He said she hasn’t been herself lately. Poor guy I hope she gets better, and you thought he wanted to hurt her.” Applejack chuckled.
“Listen AJ, that’s great and all, really awesome job, but I can’t get this freaking thing…”
*pop*
“Oh never mind, it was push, then turn left and pull. Stupid bottle.” She popped a few pills in her mouth and immediately started to feel relief. She took a deep breath and relaxed in her chair, the pain quickly washing away. She then clapped her hooves together. “So, what’s for lunch?”
That night Rarity sat peering out her window, tonight was another uneventful night. Cherilee once again graded papers, alone. Rarity tried to watch other ponies, but she hadn’t felt good anyway and everybody was so boring tonight, in fact she was bored to the point where she actually picked up a fashion magazine.
She skimmed through the several she hadn’t read, and within minutes she had read them all front to back, with nothing to do and no one to watch, Rarity became desperate once again, maybe her sister could provide some company.
“Oh, Sweetie Belle.”
Sweetie Belle came running into Rarity’s room in just a few moments. “Yeah sis, are you ok?”
“I’m just fine Sweetie Belle, I was just wondering what you were up to.”
“Oh, well I was just coloring some pictures, was I being too loud?”
“Of coarse not dear, but I noticed we haven’t spent much time together since I broke my leg.”
“Sorry Rarity, what do you want me to do? Make you something to eat?”
“No no dear, nothing like that at all, I was just becoming a little bored here myself, why don’t you color in here with me and keep me company.”
“Okay!” Sweetie Belle excitingly shouted. “I’ll be right back.” She ran off to retrieve her markers and drawings.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle spent the next few hours, for the most part, listening to Sweetie Belle’s stories about the CMC and school over the past few days, while she colored drawings for Rarity.
“I really love this one of you and your friends in your clubhouse.”
“Thanks, I like that one a lot too.”
Rarity went through some of Sweetie Belle’s adorable drawings. Tonight she had a lot of fun just hanging out with her sister, in fact she went several hours without even touching her pain medication and forgot about her leg entirely.
“Oh and Sweetie Belle this one is beautiful, I didn’t know you could draw marshmallows so life like.”
“That’s not a marshmallow silly, that’s you.”
Rarity looked at the drawing and down at herself, ‘this is not fabulous’ she told herself, but still managed to give her sister the fakest smile in history. “Oh, I would’ve never guessed.”
Overall Rarity was glad she spent the night with her sister instead of obsessing over that blue pegasus or any other pony in general.
“This one is my favorite Rarity.” She held up and handed her sister the drawing.
“Oh Sweetie Belle this is gorgeous.” She looked at the picture, which was a rather simple drawing of a garden with all types of colorful flowers. “Actually Sweetie Belle do you mind if I hang this up. It’s so pretty.”
“Really you like it that much? Sure you can hang it up!”
Rarity took a pushpin from inside one of her drawers and wheeled her way over to her designs corkboard. She pinned the drawing to it and wheeled back to look at it.
“Thank you so much Sweetie Belle.” She reached out and gave her sister a hug. “I’ll see it everyday now.”
“Wow, if you like that so much why don’t we hang up the one I made that looks like you?”
Rarity sat there admiring the drawing.
“Rarity I said, if you like that one so much why don’t we hang…”
“Let’s not ruin this moment Sweetie Belle.”
After Sweetie Belle went off to sleep, Rarity too went to bed. She hadn’t touched her pills at all during the coarse of the entire night and something told her tomorrow was going to be a great day.
***********
Rarity woke up the next day feeling good. For the first time since breaking her leg, Rarity actually had an appetite for breakfast. She had Sweetie Belle bring up some toast, a muffin and some coffee before she made her way off to school. It was the first time that Rarity began to feel better, of coarse her leg was nowhere near healed, but she felt great today.
She looked out her window and watched as ponies finished their morning routines and made their way off to work and school. She was still tempted, but she hadn’t touched any of her pain medication. Instead she picked up the Daring Do book from the first day, and gave it a shot.
At this point she was no longer worried about the blue pegasus, she’d see her soon enough once she felt good enough to finally get out of bed.
After giving the book a few chapters, she ultimately rejected it, not because it was bad, but because it wasn’t her favorite style of storytelling. Daring Do was an adventure book about a common hero, and a fairly familiar antagonist. Rarity liked something a little more suspenseful, something that would keep her on the edge of her seat and always leave her guessing. ‘Oh what I’d do for a good murder mystery right about now.’
A few hours later and Applejack made her into Rarity’s Boutique. Rarity heard the door and was actually very exited to see her friend.
Today Applejack wanted to fix Rarity up some chowder, but ultimately decided against it. Instead she stuck with a much more appealing salad, she just hoped Rarity would feel well enough for it. She made way upstairs and surprisingly found Rarity excited to see her.
“Hey ya Rarity, feelin’ better today?’
“Oh Applejack, you have no idea. I feel as if I had just been pampered with a day at the spa. Which reminds me that you still owe me one.” Rarity chuckled.
“Well that’s right I guess I do.” Applejack chuckled as well.
“Is that for me, that delicious looking salad?”
“Sure is. Figured you’d want something better than soup today.”
“Well this day has been just great so far.”
“No more thinkin’ bout’ that stallion and his wife then?”
“Of coarse not dear, I can’t believe I was so silly.” She laughed. “Oh right I wanted to tell you about last night.” She said as she took the first bite of her salad.
“Don’t tell me you were out spying on every pony again?”
Rarity swallowed a mouthful of salad. “Mmm, no. Sweetie Belle and I spent the night talking about how school’s been and she made me the most wonderful drawings, and one awful one.” She wheeled her way over to the drawing of the garden hung up on the corkboard. “Isn’t this just the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen?”
“Wow, that sister of yours sure is something to be proud of.”
“Actually AJ that drawing reminds me of something. Hold on one second.” She wheeled over to her desk and grabbed her camera.
She then wheeled back over to Applejack and showed the picture of the rose garden from the other day that she took. “Don’t they look just alike?”
“They really do, wow that garden is beautiful Rarity, where’d you plant that?”
“Oh Applejack, although I’d love to take credit for those magnificent roses, and I’d even love to snag one when no one is looking, I can’t take credit for them.”
“Oh really, then who planted those beautiful flowers?”
“It was the blue pegasus.”
“I didn’t know Rainbow Dash knew how ta garden.”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh Applejack, Rainbow Dash didn’t plant those. The other blue pegasus did, you know, the one who I thought got hurt by her husband.”
“Wow, she must’ve been a really good gardener. How long ago did you take that photo?”
“AJ I took that photo the other day, right before you yelled at her husband, you know before she got sick.”
“Well ain’t that the strangest thing, Rarity you ever hear of someone gardening with chronic arthritis?”
“Are you kidding me?” She put her camera back. “My grandma had only moderate arthritis and she spent her days in the hospital, arthritis is very severe considering we’re ponies with four limbs. In fact she could barely move because she was in so much pain, even before she went to the hospital.”
She grinned and turned back to Applejack. “So to answer your question, no. There’s no way a pony could garden with even moderate arthritis. Let alone a severe case like in your example. Why do you ask, do you think Mrs. Pegasus had chronic arthritis?” She pointed back at her camera. “Cause there’s no way she could maintain those stunning roses with any hint of arthritis at all.”
Applejack stood there with her jaw practically touching the floor. She blinked a few times. “A...are y…you sure?”
“Yes Applejack I’m sure, besides I even saw her cooking dinner and reading a book, that’s not something you do when you have arthritis. As a matter of fact from what I remember about grandma, ponies with arthritis don’t generally like to move.”
Applejack remembered to breath and sat down on the chair behind her. “Rarity this may sound crazy, but I want you to tell me about her husband, tell me everything you know about that bastard.”
Rarity’s now lunch sat untouched for the last hour between the two as they sat and seriously discussed the possibility of a murder. The air turned dense as Rarity’s one time wine-induced fantasy suddenly became so heavy handed and unexpected that the two found themselves without any clue of what to do next.
“So should we go to the police Rarity?”
“No no, we can’t.” She sighed. “We couldn’t possibly convince them that someone’s a murderer, because of a little arguing and some lie.”
“But, you yourself said that it wasn’t just yelling, it was pure terror on that wife a’ his.”
“Yes, but then it’ll just be our word against his. We can’t possibly expect anyone to take us seriously until we have some proof against him.”
“Darn it, we can’t even be sure that she isn’t at the hospital.”
The two considered if they were blowing the whole thing out of proportion. Were they really about to accuse a stallion of murdering his wife without any evidence. For all they knew she could be fine, they didn't even have a body, let alone no real evidence of any real abuse. They needed to come up with some plan in order to prove that not only was the stallion lying, but they needed to prove that the pegasus was gone.
Rarity wheeled herself over to the window and looked over at their house for any ideas. Suddenly she knew exactly how to remedy their uncertainty. “Okay how about this, before we go throw ourselves into this whole thing, we have to make sure that he really did lie about where she is now.”
“And what do you suppose we do about that?”
“I think you should pay Ms Pegasus a surprise visit in the hospital, that is if she is even admitted there.”
“Great plan, but how am I supposed to ask for her. I can’t very much just ask for the blue pegasus, wait can I?”
Rarity gritted her teeth. “Shoot… no you can’t. Even if they did allow you any records on a pony without any personal information on them, which they won’t. You couldn’t be sure on any blue pegasus that may or may not be her.”
“Huh?” Applejack didn’t quite understand.
“Imagine that they say ‘yes there are five blue pegasi here’ the only way you’d be able to know if she was one of them, is to check every blue pegaus, which again they wouldn’t allow you to do anyway. No, what we really need is a name.”
“Right, that way we can be certain that she really is there or not, but how do we find out her name?”
Rarity scratched her chin, and then her arm, and then her leg got itchy as she looked out the window again. After appearing to come across an idea, she wheeled over and retrieved her camera and looked through it at the house.
“Applejack dear what time is it?”
“Well I’d say it’s about three maybe four o’ clock.”
Rarity continued peering at the house, focusing on something Applejack couldn’t see. “Could you please hand me that notepad and a pencil.”
Applejack handed the notepad and pencil as Rarity began scribbling down something before tearing off the sheet and handing it over to Applejack.
“243 M. Street?” Applejack read off the note. “An address, Rarity what good does an address do me at the hospital.”
“None of coarse.” Rarity admitted as she returned her camera. “But you said it’s at latest four, that means the library doesn’t close for another hour. So you are to make your way over to the library and do as much digging as you can on that address and who lives there, get every piece of dirt you can. The library is safest, because Twilight won’t refuse you any information. Then make your way over to the hospital and see if our ‘patient’ is even there.”
Applejack looked at the address and then back at her friend. “Rarity how the heck did you come up with all that?”
“I read a lot of murder mysteries in my spare time.” She wheeled over to a book on her bed. “and seriously Applejack, Daring Do and the Quest for the Golden Horseshoe. The font size alone on these books must be at least sixteen…SIXTEEN!”
“Well alright I guess I’ll make my way out now, see ya in a bit.”
“Sounds good, I’ll be stay here and watch to see if our stallion comes home.” She began to focus out he window again. “Oh and Applejack, don’t tell Twilight anything, I have a feeling our friend might disappear into thin air if he hears a princess is onto him.”
Earlier they questioned whether it was in fact a good idea to keep Twilight and the others out of the loop, but they agreed that none of their friends were subtle, and feared they’d lose him if he caught wind of them. Besides accusing somepony of murder is not something you cite on a hunch, no matter much you think it may be true.
Applejack left and Rarity continued watching the window. She began to wonder what’d happen if he did turn out to be a murderer and how much evidence they would need against him. When suddenly Rarity watched as he came home.
He opened the door to his house when Rarity noticed he was carrying bags, like shopping bags. He made his way in a placed the bags on the floor as he made his way to the other room.
Rarity wanted to know what was in those bags, a saw or maybe a shovel. She wheeled herself over and grabbed her camera; she rested it on her leg and zoomed in to see what he bought. She couldn’t quite make it out as he had his items in a large brown paper bag, frustrated she moved the camera over to see what he up to.
She watched as he made his way into the bedroom. Rarity shocked to see the curtains finally open, looked intensely into the bedroom to see if she was maybe still in bed. But it was clear from the perfectly made bed that no pony was sleeping in it.
He sat down on the bed and reached for a small jewelry box. He opened it and took out a few rings and necklaces. He examined them all as if looking for some sentimental value, but found none. He set the jewelry aside and opened a few drawers. Then he looked under the bed and behind some furniture as if one piece was missing.
He spent next few minutes looking for the lost piece before he gave up. He grabbed the box and walked back over into the kitchen, where he placed the box on the table. Then he finally took the shopping bag and placed it on the floor while he took out several items and put them on the table.
Nothing too unusual, she watched as he took out a few cans of soup, a gallon of milk, a newspaper and a can of paint. He put his stuff on the table and went to throw away the bag before realizing he forgot something in bag, he reached in one last time and pulled out a utility knife. Rarity gasped and took a photo. ‘Why did he buy a knife?’
He looked at what he bought and must’ve realized he forgot something, because next thing Rarity knew, he made his way out of the house once again.
After about another half hour, Rarity watched as Applejack made her way back into her shop.
“Well what did you find?”
Applejack walked closer to Rarity. “His name is Buck, and her name is, well was Violet Rose. They’ve been together for the last ten years.”
“and did you make your way over to the hospital?”
“Okay, of coarse she isn’t there, and she hasn’t been there In a while.”
“What do you mean ‘in a while’?”
Applejack took out a piece of paper and handed to Rarity, she opened it and saw it noted every time she’d been to the hospital. “I was able to swipe that at the hospital when nopony was looking.”
Rarity looked over the sheet of Medical history for Violet Rose.
• Name Violet Rose. • Admitted 9 pm, Walked into door. • Several facial lacerations. • Prescribed 200mg painkillers and bandaged.
• Name Violet Rose. • Admitted 11:30pm, Fell down the stairs. • Few bruises on foreleg, Minor lacerations to eye area. • Cleaned and bandaged, Prescribed 115mg Painkillers.
• Name Violet Rose. • Admitted 1:30pm,Fell off moving cart. • Broken leg. • Leg put in medium cast, Prescribed 250mg Painkillers.
“Well what are we waiting for, can’t we go to the police with this Applejack?” She looked over the sheet again scrutinizing it for any flaws. “What’s wrong dear, this is it this is what we needed…right?”
“Well when I was at the library, and I asked Twi for any thing about her once I knew her name, Twilight found a records book on anypony who filed for immediate departue from town and, well here.” She handed another sheet to Rarity who looked it over. She read through several names on the list before she came to the one she recognized.
Rarity picked up her head and looked at Applejack.
Applejack bit her lip. “It sure does seem that she left the day after she was lying in bed sick.”
“But..but …no what if…well how about…it just doesn’t make sense Applejack.”
“Sugar think about it, apparently he hurt her a few times, and if’n they were arguing she might have just called it quits and left for Fillydelphia. It does make sense right, and it’d give him a reason to lie about her being in the hospital. He didn’t want anyone to know she left him.”
“But no, wait she left her jewelry at home.” She grabbed her camera and showed Applejack. “Now you tell me, if she left why wouldn’t she take her jewelry with her?”
“Well okay I guess you got a point nopony would ever leave her wedding ring home, no matter where she goes.”
“Actually I didn’t see a wedding ring. But she’d never leave any of her other jewelry home would she?”
“I dunno Rarity, she probably left that stuff there, the most important thing to a mare is her wedding ring, and she probably took that with her ta Fillydelphia.”
"So is this it?"
"I dunno Rarity, what else can we do?"
"Well why don’t we go to Fillydelphia and make sure she's really there?"
"Are you crazy? First of all, we wouldn't go, I'd go. And secondly I can't be away from the farm for that long."
"Dangit Applejack. So we’re just going to let him get away?"
Just then the two noticed as the stallion, now identified as Buck, came home. He put the shopping bag on the table and made took out a few paintbrushes and bleach.
Rarity looked over to her friend. "So Applejack any reason why he might have bleach, hmm?"
"I'll admit I'm not sure what ta think anymore. It seems like he's up ta something. But we can't prove anythi..."
"Shh, look." She directed her friend. The stallion walked over to his window and closed the blinds, but from the view of high window of Rarity's Boutique they were easily able to still see through the blinds and much of the view.
Buck reached for a trunk and unlocked it. Then he took a something wrapped tightly in paper bag. He brought it over to kitchen's sink and began to unwrap it.
Rarity and Applejack watched in horror as he took out what looked like a hack saw and began pouring bleach onto it and scrubbing it in the sink.
The two were so shocked to get a view of something so crucial.
Rarity and Applejack thought of a way to get the hacksaw away from Buck.
“We need to get him out off the house quickly, before he disposes of it.” Rarity looked around and tried to come up with a plan, when something came to her. “Applejack dear, by any chance did you manage to get Buck’s phone number?”
Applejack looked through the papers she’d retrieved from Ponyville library before she found the right one. “Here ya go Rarity.” She handed her friend the contact information for the address.
“Excellent, now just give me one moment.” She picked up her notepad and an envelope. Then she began to write ‘What Have You Done With Her?’ before she placed the note inside the envelope. “Could you be a dear and deliver this to our friend, I have an idea.”
It was getting late when Applejack made her over to the house; she looked over to Rarity, who in turn, gave her the thumbs-up to go ahead as planned. Applejack nodded and went to the door. She took a deep breath and slid the letter under the doorway. Then with one last push she knocked on the door and hurried off around the house. Buck went to the door and saw no one there, he tried to chase whoever it was, but Applejack was already around the house and well hidden. He gave up the search and went back inside before noticing the letter on the floor. He picked it and opened it before he began to read it.
His reaction was as good as any confession, the face of a stallion who was not confused, but who was afraid. His face told Rarity that he was guilty and he read the note several times and looked around as he started breathing heavily. He then quickly ran back outside and tried to catch who placed the note there, but Applejack was in no danger as she had already made her way around the block quickly and silently. He went back inside and sat down on the chair as he ran his hoof though his short mane.
Applejack ran around the back entrance of Carousel Boutique. Rarity continued watching his guilt pouring out like a leaky faucet when Applejack burst through the bedroom door out breath and smirking.
“Well what’d ya see, how’d he react.” Applejack was short on breath from the fast running and adrenaline still pumping.
“Perfectly, the face of a Stallion who’d just committed a murder suddenly realizing that someone’s onto him.”
“Okay, now what?” Applejack caught her breath.
Rarity made her way to the lamp and switched it off. “Now we give our friend a neighborly call.” She turned off another lamp and suddenly the room was completely black. She picked up the telephone and placed it on her lap as she moved slowly back from the window, just enough so she could see, but not enough to be noticed.
She dialed the number and waited for the ring on his part. She watched as the ringing phone surprised the stallion still sitting on the chair. “Go ahead Buck, you know you’re curious.” He made his way over to the phone slowly and cautiously before he swallowed hard and picked it up.
Rarity didn’t want to speak first and so she remained silent.
“…Hello?” Buck talked into the phone not knowing who to expect.
Rarity spoke in a voice that she hoped couldn’t be identified. “Did you get my note?”
“Who is this?”
“That doesn’t matter…I saw what you did.”
“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“So where is she Buck, Fillydeplia? Maybe still at the hospital? Or maybe she’s still in pieces.”
“…What do you want from me?”
A long pause followed as Rarity refused to answer.
“Huh, what do you want?”
“…I think we can work out a deal. Meet me at the Ponyville Pub in ten minutes with 200 bits, then we can talk.”
“…Will you keep silent?”
“Ten minutes Buck, or I call the cops.” Rarity hung up the phone.
“What did you think Applejack, will he leave? What am I saying of coarse he will.”
“That was great and all Rarity, but why are you sending him to a bar?”
“That bar is at least a twenty minute walk, that will give you plenty of time to sneak in and grab that hacksaw, there might still be some blood on it.”
“Ya want me ta sneak over there again? And this time you want me to break in?”
“I knew you wouldn’t want to go, that’s why I told you the plan after I called him, because now will be your only chance to go over there.”
“Well what if the door is locked, you want me ta break a window or something?”
Rarity continued watching a distressed Buck deciding his next move. “There’s a key under the mat.”
“Are you sure?”
“AJ, I’ve been watching him for the past few days now, there is a key under the mat.”
“But what if he doesn’t even go, I mean he hasn’t left yet.” Applejack pointed out.
Rarity looked though the window as well and smiled when she saw him reaching for a bag under his bed and dumping it on the bed to count out 200 bits.
“Well Applejack it sure does seem our friend has taken the bait.”
*************
Once again Applejack made her way over to the house. Rarity watched as she tried to get in through the door, but found it to be of coarse locked. She looked around for a second, making sure Buck was really gone and nopony could see her, before she lifted up the mat and grabbed the key.
She opened the door and made her way inside as Rarity bit her lip. ‘Do be careful dear.’
Applejack swiftly moved over to the sink and disappointingly lifted up the saw for Rarity to see. It was in fact perfectly cleaned and looked brand new.
‘Okay now come back AJ.’ Rarity told herself, but Applejack put down the saw and continued looking around. This was her only shot to get some hard evidence and she wasn’t about to blow it.
She spent a few minutes looking for some something that could incriminate the stallion. She made her way over to the locked trunk and tried to open it, which she found impossible. It must’ve had some strong lock because even with a powerful kick AJ still couldn’t convince the truck to open. She then looked around for a key. Rarity realized she should have paid closer attention to see where he put it, as Applejack continued to rummage around the house.
Suddenly Applejack, who had just looked underneath some couch cushions, turned to face Rarity and held up a shining gold key. Rarity smiled to Applejack, they both realized that anything worth putting under lock and key must be important. Applejack walked over to the trunk, ready to find some truth, but for some reason Rarity watched as she turned and dropped the key, as her face turned white. Rarity couldn’t see what Applejack was looking at and became confused when she began to step back as her lips moved.
Rarity quickly lifted up her camera and got a close look of a backpedaling Applejack and moved the lens to see an infuriated Buck speaking to her. Rarity lost her breath as she moved the camera again and noticed the door was open. ‘How long ago did he come back, and how much did he see?’
Rarity dropped the camera and quickly grabbed the phone, as she immediantly dialed the police.
“Yes, yes hello? There is a mare being assaulted, she needs help right now!”
“Ok, calm down ma’am, where is your friend?”
“She’s at 243 Main Street. Yes the house. Hurry!”
Rarity put the phone down and picked back up the camera where she refocused on Applejack. She had backed into a wall and was trying to talk her way out of being hurt. ‘Good Aj, just keep talking. The police will be there soon. ‘
Applejack continued her show, as Buck walked closer and closer to the mare. It was clear he wasn’t buying any of her story, but it didn’t matter all she needed was to buy time.
Rarity watched as Buck got up to her and raised his hoof to her, as a knock was heard at the door, grabbing his attention.
Buck walked over and allowed the police to enter. He began telling them how he came home to find someone breaking in. Rarity watched Applejack, Buck and the two Police stallions talking together. After a few moments the police nodded their heads and escorted Applejack out of the house. Applejack looked out the window and Rarity saw her quickly wink as she swished her tail. Rarity looked with her camera and saw the barely visible key being held by Applejack’s tail.
Rarity then watched as Buck looked at the swinging tail, than out the window to see a darkened room with a hardly visible white pony watching with a camera.
The police escorted Applejack out of the house and led her to the station. Buck watched as she was taken away, and after they left with her he made his way over to the Boutique, where he’d noticed someone watching him.
Rarity watched the scene as Applejack was being brought away by police. She also noticed when Buck walked over to her boutique. He knocked loudly on the door, which made Rarity jump. After he did that she only had one thing on her mind.
“Sweetie Belle?!” She called out. “Are you home?”
Sweetie Belle called out from her room, where she must’ve been sleeping. “Rarity? What’s wro…”
“Stay in your room Sweetie Belle…and lock you door, and stay quiet!”
“Okay, but why sis?”
“Just do it!” Rarity yelled out as she nearly fell over reaching for the phone. She picked it up and dialed the police. “Hello, hello, is someone there. My name is Rarity, someone’s breaking into my home.” A loud bang told Rarity that Buck had just broken through the door. “Hurry, my little sister is here!”
She dropped the phone and looked for anything she could use to defend herself. She opened several drawers and found mostly useless weapons, then she opened her scissors drawer. She grabbed as many as she could hold and dropped them in her lap, then she reached over and picked back up her camera as she wheeled herself back against the window to face the door.
She heard his footsteps slowly thumping against the stairs as she remained silent, but breathing heavily. The room was still pitch black and Rarity sat there motionlessly awaiting him with a camera in one hoof and a ready to throw pair of scissors in the other.
Buck opened the door to the room and could hardly see a thing, he was about to give up and search another room, but he was able to see the barely visible outline of a pony in a wheelchair against the bright night sky. She sat there frozen waiting for him to make any move.
“Who are you?” He asked the shadowy figure who didn’t respond. He continued to stand there and hoped for any response.
“What do you want from me?” He gave a slight pause. “Money? I don’t have much money.” Rarity refused to budge.
Buck started to walk forward towards the impaired pony. Rarity quickly lifted up her camera and fired a point blank flash toward the on coming stallion.
He stopped and blinked a couple of times as he brought his hooves to his eyes. He then continued walking forward. Rarity fired another flash, which again made him stop and regain his eyesight.
He once again recovered and walked forward. Rarity fired another flash, but this time once he stopped she launched her first pair of scissors towards the paralyzed intruder.
It hit his neck and bounced off. Rarity wasn’t sure of the success of the hit, but it was all she had. Buck let out a small grunt and this time tried to quickly stumble his way over to grab the mare. Rarity let a flash hit him, and tossed another pair of scissors, this time with a stronger toss.
This time she could tell it was a direct hit, Buck stumbled to the floor and let out loud yelp. She watched as an almost defeated Buck pulled the sharp blade out from his shoulder.
She almost thought the battle was over and prepared another pair of scissors, as he stood hurt. He then regained his composure and ran over to the mare, catching her off guard. She fired another pair of scissors at him which missed outright.
Now he was able to grab the mare, as he struggled to wrap his hooves around her neck. She tried to kick him off with her good leg, but it seemed almost pointless as he had her beat in size. He picked up the mare with both hooves firmly suffocating her. He walked over to the window as she struggled against the stallion for a breath of air. He opened the window by bringing his good shoulder against it and prepared to drop the choking mare out to death.
Before he could drop her out however, a voice yelled out to him. “LET GO OF MY SISTER!” At first Buck didn’t feel anything as he continued to choke the mare, who was quickly losing consciousness, but suddenly an agonizing pain ran though his left side and burst up through his spine. He felt the worst pain in his life as he lost control of his body and feel out of the window along with the now unconsciousness Rarity.
Sweetie Belle watched as both her sister and the intruder, who she’d just stabbed, feel out of the window. She raced down the stairs and burst through the front door to see if her sister was alive.
She found them both lying on the ground. Rarity lay on top Buck, who still had a knife lodged in the side of his stomach, neither of them were moving. “Help! Somepony help!” Sweetie Belle called out as she tried to wake her sister up.
As she continued to stand there crying and huddled over her sister’s body, the police could be heard running over to the scene as ponies stepped out onto their doorsteps to watch in horror as the Element of Generosity lay motionless against the dark night.
************
“I can’t believe she’s really dead.” A somber Sweetie Belle sat on the bed in her sister’s room.
“Ah can’t believe that bastard actually killed her.” Applejack looked down at the floor with a grave look on her face.
“Applejack why do you think he killed her.” Sweetie Belle looked to her friend for comfort.
“Ah don’t know Sweetie Belle, I wish I could answer that myself.” She admitted to the filly. “What do you think Rarity?”
Suddenly Rarity spun around to reveal that both her legs lie in casts. “I’m not sure either dear. Maybe he just wanted a change.”
“And how did he kill her?” Sweetie Belle looked curiously at the two.
“Well sugarcube, I’m not sure we should go in to detail…”
“Actually Applejack dear, I think she has a right to know.” She told her friend, which only prompted a small nod. “You see, we weren’t to sure about what he’d done to her and we kept being thrown off by little things. But in the end when Applejack went back over to his house with the police, this time with the key to the trunk, she opened it to find…” She couldn’t find the right words to tell her sister.
“Well I uh found…her… in there. But she wasn’t all cut up, like we thought.” Applejack quickly pointed out. “Turns out he’d choked her a few days before, like he was doing to Rarity, before you saved her.” She said which prompted a blush from both Sweetie Belle as well as Rarity. “and then put her in the trunk.”
“But what about the hacksaw?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Sweetie Belle how do you know so much?” Rarity interrupted.
“Because, it was in all the papers, and everypony’s been talking about it. Now what about the hacksaw, didn’t he use it to cut her up?” Sweetie Belle demonstrated by using her hoof to pretend to saw her other arm.
“Well not exactly dear, the police aren’t really sure why he didn’t. He had the hack saw and everything, but he just never did, her body was still completely intact, and looked as if she was still sleeping. Now they think he didn’t do it because he didn’t have enough time or something. But let me tell you, he could have if he wanted to. We believe he didn’t do it because he just couldn’t bring himself to actually cut up his own wife. Like he still had some sense of dignity for her.” Rarity said.
Then she wheeled herself closer to her sister. “Actually Sweetie Belle, even though no one seems to agree with me, not even Applejack, I think Buck might have even turned himself in.” She said.
“What no way, you’re kidding right?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“No I’m serious, every one else thinks I’m crazy, but when I think back to watching him he didn’t’ seem like he was happy with the choice he made. Sure he didn’t like her, but I think he regretted killing from the start.”
“An’ I keep telling ya Rarity, I’m just not sure about that.” Applejack said as she walked over and fluffed another pillow for Rarity.
Rarity gave out a short laugh as she leaned forward and allowed Applejack to place the pillow. “Right, right everyone thinks I’m crazy.”
“So how long do you have to stay in this new cast for?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“A few more weeks.” Rarity complained. “Can you believe it?”
“All worth it though, with out you that stallion might have gotten away with killin’ his wife.” Applejack said.
“Might have.” Rarity emphasized. “And yes I suppose it was all worth it.”
Rarity then rolled herself over to the window and looked out for a few moments while Sweetie Belle and Applejack looked on.
“Oh Applejack could I ask you of one more favor?”
“Sure, whatever you need.”
“I hate to ask you go over to their house yet again, but it seems that with both owners passing, Violet’s roses have haven’t been watered in days. Could you be a dear and make sure those roses stay healthy. I don’t think she’d like to see them suffer.”
Rarity sat in her chair against the window, it was late and she was reading the Ponyville Inquirer, they had a featured article on a local dressmaker turned hero. When she felt a slight surge of pain run through her leg, she reached over onto her nightstand and grabbed the small bottle of aspirin.
She downed a few pills with some wine, and although the aspirin didn’t help the pain much, Rarity knew the wine would knock her out soon enough, as she poured herself another glass.
She put down the magazine she’d been reading after she determined it was mostly feel good nonsense, the damn article hadn’t even mentioned Applejack, so she made her way over to a second supply of books that her friend had dropped off.
This time her friend brought her some books that Rarity could actually sink her teeth into, she grabbed the one she’d been reading ‘A Rose to Kill For’ and opened it back up to where she left off.
After a while of reading while leaned against the window, she heard the faint sound of music, she placed the book face down and realized one of her subjects must be home.
She grabbed her camera and focused on the source of the music, she noticed the grey mare beginning her practice on the violin once again. This time however, she must’ve opened the window slightly, just enough that Rarity was finally able to hear the wonderful and certainly mastered sounds from the violist. She watched in awe as the mare continued her routine, and although the sound was very faint, Rarity found her music to be absolutely incredible. She continued to watch the mare’s stunning talent, but she couldn’t help but wonder about the pony from the photo frame from a few days ago.
Rarity went back to her reading before she again found herself drawn to another pony that she’d been wondering about, she heard indistinctive chatter and looked over at the source. She found Cherilee laughing in her kitchen as she walked an apple pie over to the coffee table. Rarity tilted her camera and found Big Macintosh lay on the couch stifling a short laugh. She watched as they both playfully chatted.
After a few minutes of playful banter, Big Mac looked into Cherilee’s eyes and must’ve whispered something beautiful, because the next thing Rarity knew Cherilee had jumped onto Big Mac as they began their embrace. After a long passionate kiss, the two made their way up and out of the living room, like excited filly’s they ran into the bedroom, where Rarity’s show was cut short.
Rarity managed a short laugh to herself. ‘What a catch, Cherilee.’ She was about to pick back up her novel, but she noticed Hemingway as he sat at his desk, she knew she had to see what he was up to as well.
He was sitting at his desk biting at his hoof, he seemed anxious. He heard a knock on the door and made his way over to answer it, he opened it and talked to a delivery pony who handed him a late night shipment, a large brown box. He signed for it and slid the box across the floor, clearly excited to open it.
He tore it opened and smiled as if he’d just won the lottery. He let his hooves fall into the box as he lifted several books and placed them on his desk. Rarity shifted the lens over as was able to read the spines of the books ‘The Night Garden’ was written on the side of each book he placed down. He walked over to his stack of books and lifted the first one up; he ran a hoof over the cover and opened it up to feel the page. He spent several minutes admiring the craftsmanship of the final book, and when he was satisfied with it’s finished quality he set the book back down and opened up his cigar box.
He pulled out the one that he’d been saving and let in sit in his mouth as he enjoyed the aroma again. He pulled out a fancy lighter and did some little trick to pop it open before he lit up the cigar. He puffed it away as he picked back up the book and admired his own work.
Rarity grabbed a notepad and wrote down the name of the book, she had to read it. After a while of enjoying his victory smoke he grabbed several of the books and ran out of the house, presumably to brag to family or friends. Rarity was glad that she was able to watch him enjoy himself, and couldn’t wait to read his work.
Rarity spent the next several hours switching between reading her own book, and peering out of her window to see if anything else was happening. After a few hours of waiting she heard a knock on the door of one of her neighbors and Rarity shot up to see who it was.
After a quick scan, she determined the source to be the grey violist’s door. She brought her camera up and watched as she carefully placed the violin on the bed and fixed her hair to open the door. When she opened it she yelled out in excitement and let the pony in, where Rarity got a good look at her. She was a white unicorn with purple goggles resting on top of her head. They looked at each for a moment before they quickly embraced in a hug.
They walked over to the bed where the violin sat, and Rarity realized the unicorn must’ve missed the concert, which is why her violist friend was so upset a few days ago. The White unicorn sat on a chair in the corner of the room, while the grey mare carefully picked back up her instrument and quietly reenacted the concert in her bedroom. The unicorn just watched in silent awe as her friend finally had the only important member in the audience listening to her melody.
After a while Rarity found herself tearing up, but she wasn’t sure why. Was it because her writer finally found success, or because Cherilee found someone who’d treat her right, or was it even just watching the grey violist playing her most important private concert for a close friend, she wasn’t sure, but for the last time she looked out her window and over to the pitch black house that was once home to a happy couple. Rarity cried, because although she hadn’t let her husband get away with the murder, she also was unable to save the innocent blue pegasus.
After she’d cried all she could she made her way over to the bed and after a short struggle she was able to fall into sheets, with the last thought running through her head before she fell into sleep being ‘I’m so sorry Violet Rose, but I won’t ever forget you.’
