Chapter 13:

Generosity and Honour

Rarity carefully trotted her way through the White Tail Woods as she searched for her Element. While she was fully determined to find her Element, her thoughts continuously drifted back to her sister, Sweetie Belle.

The safety of her sister worried her to no end. The Unicorn didn't doubt for a second that Applejack was probably going through the same thing aswell, considering her sister was also foalnapped. She remembered the faces of those responsible, and her blood boiled. A part of her was hoping that she'd run into one of them, while a larger part of her was hoping she wouldn't. While she wanted to just beat them up real bad, Princess Celestia had spoken with her before she left Canterlot with the others.

The Princess had told her to remain focused on finding her Element and assured her that Sweetie Belle would be okay. Rarity had no idea if she had said that because Blitz Bolt had given his 'word' not to harm them, or if she was just trying to convince herself that they really would be okay. Either way, if Rarity did encounter one of them, she would try her best to avoid fighting as much as possible. The task was to find her Element of Harmony, not fight, kill or capture one of the Iron Five.

Coming across a large dirty puddle, she carefully made her way around it, making sure she didn't get her hoofs dirty. For some reason, her thoughts drifted to the other day when she and rest of the Element wielders had made it to the council. She didn't deny that she was scared when Rainbow Dash almost got cut down by Magister Black Lance. She didn't know much about the Magisters but she immediately came to dislike Black Lance after what he did, even if Rainbow was the one to 'attack' him first.

Her thoughts then drifted to the one called Freed. Remembering what he had said to her when she tried to ask about Twilight's marriage, she found herself blushing. 'He was quite the gentlecolt. How he talked down to that brute Black Lance, and the way he spoke to me, such good manners are hard to find in a Stallion these days.'

Rarity made a mental note to speak with Magister Freed when she got back to Canterlot.

As she continued her way through the woods, she let out a high-pitched scream as she almost stood in a puddle of mud. She managed to stop just in time and quickly rushed around it. She had absolutely no intention of getting herself dirty, even if nopony was around.

She focused on her Element again and could it feel it was close. The sooner she found it, the sooner she could return to Ponyville and go to the spa.

After about ten minutes of walking, and avoiding dirt, Rarity reached a small open area that was clear of trees. She focused once more on her Element, and when she felt its presence not far in front of her, her eyes widened with horror.

Only now did she actually notice the large pool of slimy mud in the open area. She cringed at the thought of her Element being inside the pool of mud, and decided to walk around it.

Unfortunately, as she reached the other side, she could now feel the presence of her Element behind her. She stared at the pool of mud, eyes filled with horror and worry. "Oh please no..."

She focused on her Element again, no matter how many times she walked around the pool of mud though, she eventually had no choice but to accept the fact that her Element was underneath the filth.

"Oh dear...oh dear..." She dropped to her knees and started to panic. "This is so not good...not good at all. I know my Element is important but..." She looked at the slimy mud again. "It's just so FILTHY!"

An idea popped into her head. She charged up her horn to see if she could levitate it out of the mud. Her hopes were immediately crushed however when nothing came out.

"Oh please...do not make me jump in there." Rarity pleaded to the sky.

She remained on her knees for atleast a good five minutes.

Suddenly, her attention was caught by a flapping sound. Wings.

Eyes widening a little, she looked up and saw something flying down towards her. "Is that..."

A tall blue Pegasus landed just a few steps away from her and narrowed his eyes at her. Rarity recognized him immediately and got to her hoofs. "Cloud Hunter!"

Cloud Hunter kept his eyes on her as she stepped back. "It's good to see you again Rarity."

Rarity just gave him an angry look. It was only now that she remembered when she actually first met him. He was the guard that stopped them from searching for the stallions Pinkie Pie mentioned the other day. Clearly those stallions were the other members of the Iron Five.

"And what exactly do you want Cloud Hunter? To take my Element?" Rarity said.

Cloud Hunter nodded. "That's right. So where is it?"

Rarity rolled her eyes and pointed at the large puddle of slimy mud. Cloud Hunter looked at the puddle, then back at Rarity, back at the puddle, and then back at Rarity again. "You're kidding."

"No." Rarity replied.

Cloud Hunter raised a brow. "So...aren't you going to go in and get it?"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Rarity shouted, her voice echoing into the air. Cloud Hunter was taken aback by her outburst as she continued. "I REFUSE TO WILLINGLY THROW MYSELF INTO SUCH FILTH!"

The Pegasus couldn't help but chuckle a little at her words. "You sound just like Kickback."

Rarity looked back at him. "Don't compare me to your sadistic friends! I am nothing like them!"

Cloud Hunter's smirk lowered a little. "I wasn't comparing."

She glared at him again. She could feel her anger rising when she remembered her sister was still being held captive by them. She wanted to charge up her horn and rip him apart right now, but she refrained from doing so, remembering that her task was the Element.

Still, it did not stop her from asking, "Cloud Hunter...how is my little sister?"

Cloud Hunter knew she would ask that question, he didn't hesitate to answer. "She's fine. The others too. Don't worry, I took responsibility to look after them so you can put your mind at ease."

Rarity raised a brow. "Look after them? What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I just said, I'm looking after them so Blitz Bolt can't do anything to them. As long as I'm around, they're perfectly safe." Cloud Hunter replied.

The Unicorn was taken aback by his words. 'He's looking after my little sister and her friends? Why would he do that? He's evil...isn't he?'

Cloud Hunter noticed the look on her face and said, "What's wrong?"

"I don't believe you! You threatened to kill Rainbow Dash and hurt a lot of guards back in Canterlot! You even hurt my friend Twilight Sparkle! Why should I believe that you would look after my sister and her friends?!" Rarity yelled, her anger clearly got the better of her.

Sighing, Cloud Hunter said, "Even if Celestia didn't approach me, I still wouldn't have killed Rainbow Dash. The guards thing was self-defence." He took a deep breath as he tried to think of a way to explain what happened with Twilight. "As for Twilight Sparkle...that was Vanisher. I was only trying to comfort her while she was going through that pain in her head."

Rarity's angry expression slowly faded as he explained each reason, it fully faded when he explained what happened with Twilight. "Comfort her?"

"Of course. Wouldn't you do the same?" Cloud Hunter asked.

"I ABSOLUTELY WOULD!" Rarity shouted.

Again, Cloud Hunter was taken aback by her outburst.

Rarity calmed down and said, "I mean...yes...yes I would." She took in a deep breath. "So...you didn't mean to hurt her then?"

Cloud Hunter narrowed his eyes at her, she was the one who was taken aback now.

Rarity took a step back. "I'm...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you angry."

"It's fine." Cloud Hunter replied as he looked up at the blue sky as his eyes softened again. "Beautiful day..."

Rarity slowly approached him but still kept her distance. Cloud Hunter faced her again. "I know you're angry, about Blitz Bolt taking your sister and her friends."

"Well OF COURSE I'm angry! She IS my little sister after all!" Rarity yelled. "How would you feel if YOUR sibling was foalnapped by a bunch of cruel, sadistic, warmongering, bloodthirsty monsters?!"

Cloud Hunter sighed. "...Is that what you think of us?"

Rarity decided not to reply this time. Cloud Hunter faced her again. "I completely understand that you hate us, it's only right considering what we've done so far." He took a step towards her, forcing her to take a step back. "But know this...we are not monsters."

The Pegasus took another step towards the young mare again. "We've fought in many battles, we've taken our share of lives, but even so, we are not cruel or sadistic. We don't do any of this for the sole purpose of enjoyment..."

Rarity continued to step back while he continued to slowly approach her. "We don't do this to enjoy watching others suffer..."

Finally, Rarity found herself backed against a tree. Her expression turned to one of fear as Cloud Hunter reached her. He towered over her slightly. He slowly lowered his head a little until their faces were mere inches away from each other. "We do this...because we have no other path. We do this, because this is the path we were raised on."

Cloud Hunter then took a step back. "I know you would like nothing more than for a chance at revenge for the foalnapping of your sister..."

Rarity merely looked at him with a confused expression. Cloud Hunter then took a small step towards her. "So if you getting your revenge is what is required to prove to you that we are not what you think we are..." He slowly moved his hoof forward.

Knowing what was going to happen next, Rarity clenched her eyes shut and waited for him to strike her. However, no strike came. She slowly opened her eyes and was taken aback by what she was seeing.

Cloud Hunter was on his knees in front her, his head lay low as he finished speaking. "Then by all means...strike me down. Plunge your horn into my head and take my life, to make up for the foalnapping of your sister, the guards who were hurt, and the suffering Twilight Sparkle was put through."

Rarity was completely at a loss for words. Cloud Hunter was just offering his life to her to make up for everything that had happened yesterday, he was giving her the chance to kill him to satisfy her anger and get revenge.

'And he's supposed to be my enemy?' Rarity just continued to look down at the blue Pegasus, thoughts rushing through her mind. A small part of her wanted them to get what they deserved, and killing Cloud Hunter would be the perfect way to get revenge on the others for foalnapping Sweetie Belle and her friends. 'No! Absolutely not! I can't believe I'm even considering such a thing!'

With that, Rarity took a deep breath and whispered softly, "Cloud Hunter?"

Cloud Hunter slowly looked up at her, only to be met by a slap to his face. He continued to look in shock before turning back to Rarity. "There, I've gotten my revenge." She said.

As Rarity slowly trotted around him, Cloud Hunter got back to his hoofs, rubbed his face where she slapped him and said, "Why not kill me? You have every right to, why not take the opportunity when you had it?"

Rarity reached the large pool of slimy mud and sighed. "Because, I could never bring myself to take a life, it's not me."

Cloud Hunter just looked at her for a moment before walking to her side. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying..." She looked up at him, he was taken aback by the sad expression on her face. "Killing is horrible. And I would never do such a thing, neither would my friends for that matter."

The Pegasus raised a brow at her words. "Rarity...taking a life is indeed a horrible thing to do. But there are times that when you find yourself in a bad situation, the only choice you have left is to kill."

Rarity looked away from him. "I don't believe that for a second. There is always another way."

Cloud Hunter sighed. "I wouldn't know...I've never really lived much of a peaceful life to know about other ways."

The two stood in silence for what seemed like forever, the only sound filling the air was the wind blowing against the trees.

Finally, Rarity broke the silence. "I'm sorry Cloud Hunter."

"What for?" Cloud Hunter replied, eyes filled with confusion.

Rarity looked up at him again. "For calling you all of those things..."

Cloud Hunter shrugged. "It's fine. You had every right to considering what's happened so far. I don't blame you for calling me a monster."

Suddenly, Cloud Hunter was shocked beyond words when he saw Rarity place her hoof around his foreleg. "You're no monster..."

He looked into her eyes for a moment before quickly turning his head away. "A monster wouldn't offer his life to somepony so willingly just to satisfy them. A monster wouldn't go out of his way to ensure the safety of three young fillies." She placed her other hoof on his face and turned his head until they were facing each other again. "You are better than that. I can see it now."

Cloud Hunter just looked at her for a moment. Rarity slowly removed her hoofs from him, allowing him to turn around. "That's exactly what Celestia said..." He replied.

Rarity smiled at him. "And it's true."

Taking in a deep breath, Cloud Hunter faced her and managed a slight smirk. "I have to say...Equestria really is a wonderful place to have such friendly Ponies like you in it."

"So you weren't born here?" Rarity said.

Cloud Hunter shook his head. "No. But that's a story I would be more than willing to share with you another time..." He looked at the large pool of mud. "Right now, we have something more important to deal with."

Rarity nodded. "Right..." She cringed again she looked at the pool of slimy mud. "Ew...I...I just can't do it. My Element is important, yes, but I just can't allow myself to be covered in such filth."

"Not to worry..." Cloud Hunter said.

Rarity faced him. Before she could ask what he meant, she was surprised when the blue Pegasus slowly made his way into the pool of mud. By the time he was in the middle, the mud was up to his neck. He started moving his hoofs around underneath the mud. "So you couldn't use your magic to levitate it out because, despite your connection, you couldn't get a proper lock on it?" Cloud Hunter asked as he blindly searched for the Element.

"More or less." Rarity replied as she watched him.

Cloud Hunter continued his search for the Element, moving his hoofs everywhere he could under the mud. "Well, the mud is quick thick...even if you did get a lock on it, I don't know if you would have gotten it out."

Rarity shrugged. After about five minutes of searching, Cloud Hunter finally felt something. "Ah...I think I've got it."

"Really?" Rarity took a small step forward.

Cloud Hunter pulled hard as he backed out of the mud. When he got himself out, he slowly pulled his hoof out next. What he was holding was exactly what they were looking for, the Element of Generosity. A necklace with a purple diamond-shaped gem, that, and it was covered in mud.

"Oh dear..." Rarity said.

Cloud Hunter chuckled before gently swinging the necklace back and forth, shaking all of the mud off it. He picked up a few leaves and used them to clean the necklace until there was no more mud on it.

After he had finished cleaning the necklace, Cloud Hunter walked back to over to Rarity and held it out to her. "Here."

Rarity looked at it for a moment, then back at Cloud Hunter. "What?"

Cloud Hunter held it out further. "Take it. It's yours."

"But..." Rarity looked at it again. "Aren't you here to take it too? Aren't you going to try and take it?"

Shaking his head, Cloud Hunter said, "Your Generosity proved to be more powerful than my Honour, as such, you defeated me in a fair and honourable battle. It's only fair that I accept defeat and let you leave with the Element. Here, take it."

Rarity looked at the Element again before finally using her magic to levitate it out of his hoof. After putting it around her neck, she looked back at Cloud Hunter and smiled at him. "You really are such a kind gentlecolt aren't you?"

Cloud Hunter looked away from her. "I am merely standing by my honour, that's all."

Rarity continued to smile. "Well, whatever the case, thank you Cloud Hunter. I really appreciate you helping me get my Element."

"It's nothing." Cloud Hunter replied as he shook off some of the mud from his body. After wiping off the rest with his hoofs, he turned to leave. "I will take my leave now."

Rarity quickly walked in front of him. "Wait...I need to ask you something."

"What is it?" The Pegasus replied.

After looking at her Element for a quick moment, she faced him again and said, "I...I'm grateful that you would give my Element back to me, really I am. And...I know it may not be my place, but please, can I ask you for one small favour?"

Cloud Hunter raised a brow. "And what would that be?"

Rarity placed her hoof on his foreleg. "Tell my sister...tell Sweetie Belle, that I love her."

The blue Pegasus looked into the mares eyes for a long moment. Rarity knew that he owed her no favours especially when he gave her the Element without a fight. Something which she was relieved of. But she really wanted to make sure that Sweetie Belle knew she was thinking about her.

Cloud Hunter sighed and walked past her.

"Cloud Hunter? Please tell her. Please?" Rarity could feel tears starting to form in her eyes as the Pegasus's back was turned to her.

Finally, Cloud Hunter replied. "You can tell her yourself, tonight." He looked over his shoulder at her. "You will see your sister again very soon."

Rarity was able hold her tears back and smiled.

Unfurling his wings, Cloud Hunter smiled back at her and took off faster than the eye could see.

Rarity watched as the Pegasus disappeared from her sight. Upon looking back at her Element, she smiled again and started making her way back to Ponyville. "I believe I should inform Princess Celestia of a valuable lesson I learned today when I get back to Canterlot."

Seeing the end of the woods up ahead, she smiled as her thoughts drifted back to her conversation with the Iron Empire's Commander.

"You should never be so quick to jump to conclusions. Sometimes reasoning with others is the best way to settle any debate. Reasoning, is a brilliant way to learn more about somepony, because you never know what you might learn about them."

Upon exiting the woods, Rarity continued to smile as she trotted happily back to Ponyville. However, as she looked up, her smile faded as she watched as the sky began to darken.

Before her very eyes, she could see the sun...being eclipsed.

"Oh dear...that doesn't look good."

Knowing the eclipse wasn't a good thing, she increased her pace and hurried back to Ponyville to meet up with her friends.