Chapter XXIV

Pinkie Pie dragged Rarity out the doorway.

“C’mon! It’s gunna start in like five minutes!”

Rarity laughed.

“Pinkie, I hate Pegasus shows.” The pink mare stubbornly tugged her out the doorway.

“Well it doesn’t matter, you’re coming with me!” She said persistently.

The weekend upon them, Pinkie and Rarity were headed to an airshow taking place out in the fields (which Rarity still owned). Rarity didn’t like airshows, but Pinkie did, and Rarity was her friend, and she was going to make Pinkie happy.

Bonbon skipped up to the two as they walked down the street.

“Hay guys! Are you going to the show too?” She asked.

“YEAH!” Pinkie cried. “Wanna sit with us?”

Rarity was fine with Pinkie, really she was, but as the two hyperactive ponies surrounding her exploded with excitement, Rarity began to hope that alcohol would be served at the demonstration.

The small bandstands set up amidst the fields soon filled, and the three squished in on the top row. Rarity watched as the flight crews dashed back and forth in preparation for the start of the event.

“Say, did you hear who’s gonna be here?” Bonbon said excitedly. Pinkie shook her head. Rarity suspected Pinkie attended events just for the sake of getting excited over something. “AUDACITY!” Bonbon cried. “And Soarin’ the Wonderbolt!!!”

Rarity sighed, today was going to be a long day.

“Oh hay! There’s room up here!” Pinkie called to the ground. Rarity looked down, Octavia stood at the bottom of the stands. She was looking around for a seat.

“Sorry, there’s no room-” Rarity said loudly. Octavia clawed through the crowd and reached them.

“Why thank you Pinkie Pie.” She caught sight of Rarity and thus it began.

“You can sit right there, by Rarity!” Pinkie said kindly. Rarity and Octavia stared one another down. “Um, guys, it’s gunna start in a minute.” Pinkie said to the fixated ponies. Rarity grudgingly made room and Octavia took her seat.

Mayor Mare strolled to the center of the field and gave a speech about the many great Pegasi born to the town while Rarity and Octavia prepared their opening salvos. It was shaping up to be a hell of a show.

The first few demonstrations were of amateur Pegasi attempting to show off their prowess to the academy scouts they assumed were amidst the crowd. Yet Pinkie and Bonbon still oohed and ahhed at every mediocre performance. As the more experienced flyers began to loop and roll through the air, Ocatavia shifted her mane back carelessly.

“You know, Audacity said he trains five hours every day. I imagine that’s what makes him the best. Of course, it might be his talent, he could have been a Wonderbolt you know.” She said with a convivial laugh. Rarity smiled breezily.

“Oh yes, he’s quite the athlete. Tell me, how does he like music? You know, I hear it’s rather hard to find a stallion willing to spend any amount of time in, say, a dusty music store.” Octavia smiled dubiously.

“I know one instrument my stallion’s good with.”

“Oh wow! He’s musical too!” Bonbon said. “He sounds like the perfect stallion.” Octavia giggled and pushed at her mane.

“Oh he is, I really don’t know what he saw in little old me.”

“Yeah, me either.” Rarity said in irritation. Octavia giggled again.

“It was the funniest thing, he said he actually had a bit of a crush on you when he moved here.” She smiled and stretched her legs out. “Oh well, he must have outgrown it.” It wasn’t jealousy so much as it was just her intense dislike for Octavia that made Rarity consider slapping the music pony.

“Oh look! There’s Audacity now!” Pinkie pointed up to a bolt of red shooting through the clouds. Rarity didn’t want to hear any more poorly-hidden remarks about the obviously passionate liaisons between Audacity and Octavia. She rose out of her seat and muttered something about popcorn.

It was a little quieter under the bandstands and Rarity leaned against the support beam in an attempt to relax. She closed her eyes, she was doing this for Pinkie she reminded herself.

The past few weeks had been filled with grace for Pinkie. Rarity realized that Pinkie needed friends about as much as she needed air and the unicorn had attended nine parties and one bat mitzvah to demonstrate her friendship. She had hoped that her frustration with party pony and her mischief with give way to her previous enjoyment of Pinkie’s shenanigans, but unfortunately, that was not the case. Rarity still got upset with her roommate on occasion and on days like today, had to force herself to cooperate. She sighed and listened to the roar of the crowd. She heard Bonbon and Pinkie excitedly observing the performance.

“I wonder why Rarity went to get popcorn right when we were talking about Audacity!” Bonbon mused.

“Oh I’m sure it’s just the cob she’s looking for.” Octavia laughed. Rarity started to walk away from the grandstands, she was done for the day.

“Well I wish she were here.” Pinkie said wistfully. “It’s not as fun without Rarity.” Rarity smiled to herself. Despite all of the frustration, Rarity was still very glad that she had jumped out of the clock tower.

Rarity walked home and took a nap. In about a half an hour she heard Pinkie bounding up the steps.

“Oh Rarity! You missed it! After the show, we got to meet Audacity!” She cried. Rarity forced a smile.

“Fun!”

“Yeah, and he really wanted to see you. He thought he saw you sitting with us.”

“Heh, well, that’s a terrible shame.” Rarity said with a chuckle. Pinkie clopped her hooves.

“Yeah…” The door creaked open behind them and a bit of fire-red mane poked in the door.

“Uh, Pinkie, is it ok if I come in?” Audacity asked.

“Sure!” Pinkie said. Before Rarity had time to again leap out the window, Audacity entered the room. There were char marks on his mane and wings and he looked sweaty. He smiled when he saw Rarity.

“Hey, uh, I saw you in the stands and I wanted to talk to you after the show. But you disappeared.” He said hesitantly.

“Hehe, yeah…I went to go get some popcorn.” She said awkwardly. Rarity looked over at her roommate. “Pinkie, can you go make sure the wood grain is going the right way on the thirty-second step of the stairs?” Rarity asked.

Pinkie was gone in an instant.

“So, um, about that night at the bar.” Audacity began.

She sighed.

“I was having a bit of a time of introspection. I’m sorry, tell Octavia-”

“I broke up with her.” He interrupted. “It was stupid of me, I wasn’t even thinking when I said yes to her.” He sighed and put a hoof to his head. “I love this place, I love the little shops, I love the cute cobblestone streets and your little bakery. And I love you Rarity.” He cleared his throat. “Since I met you, you’ve been in my thoughts. You’re the most beautiful mare I’ve ever met. I don’t even care what you did the night you kissed me, because all that matters is that you kissed me.” He said to frankly. “I want to know if you would please forgive me and maybe go out on a date?”

“I am engaged.” She said slowly. The stallion’s shoulders sank and he nodded.

“I know, I know. But, I dunno, I just felt like I had to tell you.”

“You’re a wonderful stallion Audacity, and while I’m glad you aren’t with Octavia, I still can’t date you.” Rarity said to the heartbroken stallion.

He nodded sadly.

“You’re a really cool mare Rarity, I hope he makes you happy.” There was a pause as the Pegasus realized there was nothing more to say. “Well, I oughta get going.”

She smiled.

“Thank you for stopping by.” Pinkie burst into the room.

“Five degrees off!” She relayed. “I have a sander we can use!” Rarity giggled.

“It’s fine Pinkie.”

Audacity tossed party pony a card.

“There ya go Pinkie, hope you can read my writing. It was fun meeting you.” He nodded to Rarity, then departed.

“Bye!!!” Pinkie called. She looked down at the card, Rarity saw that it was an autographed trading card. Pinkie gazed at it lovingly. “I like him.” The pink mare said to herself. “He’s fun. I hope he doesn’t think I have a crush on him ‘cause I do.”

Audacity came by the bakery a few more times. He made sure to tip her and ask how her day was going whenever he purchased Katchapuri. Audacity was sweet, but Rarity wasn’t going to date him. No, she was still technically engaged to Spike, well, assuming Twilight hadn’t told him about her incident. No matter how much of a lie it was, she was going to respect her commitment to Spike.

It was a bitterly cold autumn day, Rarity and Pinkie Pie trotted side by side toward Sweet Apple Acres. Pinkie Pie was doing well, she had even planned a party for Applecrisp’s birthday, which was in a week. As the pair neared the farm, Pinkie began relating all of the party favors she was going to include in the goodie bags.

Rarity nosed the intercom before the gate.

“H’lo?” Asked a young voice.

“Applebloom! It’s Rarity and Pinkie Pie, we’re here delivering some wood.”

“Oh kay!” They walked into the yard, which was filled with supply-laden worker ponies clopping to and fro. Applebloom emerged from the house and ran over to meet them. “Rarity! Pinkie! Y’got some wood?”

“Yup! We sure do!” Pinkie said cheerfully.

“Back for the weekend?” Rarity asked the college student. Applebloom nodded.

“Yeah, got some laundry t’do an’ a bit a’ studyin’.”

“Where’s AJ?” Rarity asked. Applebloom pointed toward town.

“Pickin’ up some supplies fer granny ah think. Lemme bring ya’ll t’the barn.”

Applebloom led them to the barn, explaining her courses and professors and pretty much everything about academia. She was the first Apple to even go to college and Rarity could tell the farming family was exceptionally proud of that fact.

“An’ they got them libr’l arts degrees too!” She snorted. “Ah ain’t gunna have no art from a libr’l in any building ah design lemme tell ya that!”

“Oooh! They have degrees! How hot does it get there?” Pinkie asked excitedly.

“Whut? Aw shucks Pinkie, y’never make a lick a’sense.” Applebloom said with a giggle as they reached the already opened barn. A long row of stills gurgled and hissed as dozens of worker ponies shuttled apples and jugs back and forth. The barn reeked of apples and fermenting cider. Rarity and Pinkie Pie dumped their wood fragments and started out of the barn.

Big Macintosh made his way from the midst of the organized chaos.

“Thanks fer the wood.” He said shortly as he directed a few workers to collect the pile. Macintosh never talked much, but Rarity could tell that he was enjoying his work.

“Hey, no problem. Tell AJ we said hi.” Rarity said to the muscular pony.

“Eeyup.”

“Don’tcha go hurtin’ yerself again.” Applebloom called to her brother. He shrugged and returned to the crowd. “He’s always up ev’ry mornin’ at dawn tellin’ everypony where t’go. Applejack is always frettin’ he’ll reinjure himself.” She explained. Rarity looked back at the stallion that was directing the placement of yet another still. He would keep working until the earth stopped giving apples. It was good to see the Apple family back to normal again. “Well, it was good seein’ ya’ll!” Applebloom said as they reached the gate. “But ah gotta get back t’studyin’!”

“Bye!” Pinkie said, giving the filly a hug. “Have fun with your books!”

Rarity and Pinkie Pie were walking back to the Lone Star when Pinkie stopped in the middle of the road. “Oh shoot!” She said in annoyance. “I forgot to invite her to the party!”

“Um, yeah, I think she’ll be busy.” Rarity said quickly. Pinkie frowned.

“Really? I thought that-” From above, there came the unmistakable tinkle of magical aeronautics. Rarity looked up as the royal chariot sped over them and toward the town. “Hey! That’s Twilight!” Pinkie said in surprise.

“Yeah…” Rarity had no idea why Twilight would return to Ponyville and she started to run after the chariot. Pinkie trailed close behind her. Rarity reached the town; the golden vehicle was just touching down at the library. Unhitching herself from the cart, Rarity galloped toward the tree.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Pinkie called after her. Rarity didn’t answer and continued to bolt toward the tree. She reached the library just as Twilight and her guards were disembarking from the chariot. Twilight was dismounting the vehicle when she caught sight of Rarity. She sighed and a tiredness came over her.

“Rarity, listen-” She began as the white unicorn approached her.

“Spike, where is Spike?” Rarity demanded. “I have a right to see my fiancé.”

“Guards, please go inside and look for the book.” Twilight said coldly as the tiredness left her. The three giant stallions did as they were told and the two mares stared one another down.

Twilight waited until the door to the library closed.

“Don’t you dare bring up rights Rarity.” She whispered fiercely. “This has nothing to do with rights. Spike is back in Cantorlot. He has every right to be protected from you.”

“Protected from me?!!” Rarity shouted in indignation. “How dare you-”

“How many ponies have your hurt since I left?”

“NONE!” Rarity shouted.

“Oh, sorry if I don’t believe that.” Twilight retorted. Rarity began to speak, but Twilight shook her head. “Stop Rarity. You aren’t going to see him until I have a chance to explain what you did.”

“He’s my fucking fiancé!” Rarity cried in outrage.

“Rarity you lost the right to talk to him when you burned the Boutique and your future down. A pony like you, one who constantly picks fights and can’t manage herself, has no place in society. So for the last time, leave us alone!” She said in exasperation.

Rarity said nothing. The rabid indignation coursed through her veins and she didn’t trust herself to safely express her feelings to the Alicorn. She simply turned and started back toward the Lone Star. Twilight watched her, then shook her head and entered the library.

“Hay Rarity! What didja talk to Twilight about?” Pinkie asked perkily as the unicorn entered the oven room. Rarity didn’t say a word and got back to her work without acknowledging her co-worker. Pinkie had since learned that silence usually preceded death threats in a conversation and party pony quietly started to mix some muffins. Applecrisp did not start a conversation and the three spent a mute afternoon in the warm workroom.

Rarity had a place in society, she did. She might not know where it was, but she did. Stupid Twilight and her pride couldn’t see it but she did. Rarity grew more and more furious as she thought about it. She didn’t love her dragon, but she didn’t want to hurt him any more than she had to. Spike deserved to know the truth, he deserved to know the truth! Twilight was in essence lying to him by not telling him what had happened. Rarity didn’t love Spike, and she would never marry him, but she was honest, or would be honest once she told him of their breakup.

By the time they were done for the day, Rarity was entirely vindicated. As they left, Sonny paid them, which brightened her spirits and temporarily pacified the unicorn. Pinkie Pie raced home to deposit her bits into her piggy bank and Applecrisp and Rarity stepped out into the bitter night. Applecrisp cursed at the bite of the cold air.

“Gawd, ah ain’t never felt cold lahk this down in Hayseed.” The blue mare said, rubbing her chest.

“Yeah, it gets pretty fucking cold up here.” Rarity miserably agreed.

“S’whut’s been eatin’ ya?” Applecrisp asked as they walked through the darkened town.

“Ah just some bullshit with my friend, or ex-friend.” Rarity said with a sigh. “My fiancé doesn’t know I fucked up my life again and I have to tell him the wedding is off.” Rarity shook her head. “But my friend won’t let me tell him, she’s pissed ‘cause she thinks I’m a menace to society or some shit.” Rarity said in frustration. Applecrisp snorted.

“Ya’ll don’t know shit about menaces t’society, come down t’Hayseed, we got all the freaks and psychos y’could want.” She spat onto the cobblestone. “But as fer yer friend, ah don’t see wai y’don’t go and stand up t’her. Ah mean, tell her flat out she’s playin’ Gawd and decidin’ how things work out. If nuthin’ else, it’ll show her how wrong she is.”

Rarity chuckled.

“I feel like that wouldn’t go well, and I’m cautious of taking your advice now.” She shrugged. “I’ll figure something out I guess.” She looked over at the swamp pony. “How have you been?”

“Fahn, still hate mah lahf, but ever since ya’ll stopped mopin’ things’ve been better. Ah’m gonna go see Thomas for mah birthday, come back Monday.”

“Oh, Pinkie Pie was going to throw you a party.” Rarity said softly.

“Heh, well ain’t that a bitch?” Applecrisp said with a chuckle. They walked for a bit, then Applecrisp kicked a rock. “Whut tahm?” She asked a little softer.

“Seven, on Saturday, she’s planned out all of the games, I made sure they’re not bullshit.” Rarity answered. Applecrisp spat again.

“Well, ain’t no sense in lettin’ good party favors go t’waste is there? Y’kin tell her t’throw it on Monday ah guess.”

“Ha, great, I’ll let her know.” Rarity said thankfully.

“Ah can’t stand t’think of her cryin’ an’ bein’ all upset is all.” Applecrisp explained.

“Somepony’s growing a heart.” Rarity said with a grin.

“Yeah, whutever, ah’ll see ya later.” Applecrisp said unenthusiastically as she turned down her street.

“Make sure you wear party clothes!” Rarity said with a laugh.

“Yeah yeah!” Called the reluctant guest of honor.

Back at the tower, Pinkie was propped up in bed, reading a book.

“Well now, isn’t this a change?” Rarity said as she dropped her money on the desk.

“Hey, I have other interests besides parties and games.” Pinkie said indignantly. Rarity raised her eyebrows.

“Oh really?” She took the book out of Pinkie’s hooves. “Everything You Need to Know About Blitz Chess.” She blinked as if she had misread. “Chess? Really?” Pinkie nodded.

“Hey, party pony can be a smart pony too.”

Rarity chuckled and tossed her the book.

“I guess she can.”

“How are you Rarity? You seemed pretty mad this afternoon.” Pinkie asked gently.

Rarity sighed and sat down on the bed.

“Yeah, Twilight’s not letting me see Spike. I’m really pissed about that.”

“Why?” Pinkie asked innocently.

“Because I’m a violent and foulmouthed pony! Because I’m not a proper pony like her!” Rarity shook her head. “That’s why she won’t let me see the dragon I’m engaged to.” Rarity muttered, her fury starting to rise again.

“Well, he is her dragon.” Pinkie offered.

“Yeah except he’s not, she kept telling me that she wanted him to have his own life. She actually wanted him to marry me just so he could have a new life.” Rarity stood up. “That fucking bitch! She’s all for letting him have a life, so long as she approves of what happens in it!” Rarity started for the door. “Well heartbreak is a part of a normal life!” She threw the door open. “Well fuck you you hypocritical piece of manipulative shit!” She shouted in outrage.

“Rarity! I didn’t mean it like that!” Pinkie called ineffectually after her.

Rarity ran out into the icy night air, her blood boiled. She might be a heartbreaking mare with no conscience, but Twilight was a two-faced hypocrite. That fucking Alicorn wanted everybody to play by her rules. She wanted Spike to have his own life only so long as she approved of how it was lived. She was going to tell that self-righteous bitch just how much of a liar she was.

Rarity reached the tree, her outrage surging at Twilight’s blatant hypocrisy. She pounded against the bulletproofed door; she was going to tell that arrogant queen off. The door drifted open with the sudden battering. Rarity stood on the threshold for a moment, nopony had answered. She strode into the interior of the tree.

“Twilight!” She shouted. “It’s Rarity, we have to talk!” There was no reply. The white unicorn looked around. Where the fuck was everypony? She walked past the couch and to the table. A thick brown book lay upset on the oaken tabletop.

She entered the kitchen. Rarity stopped. A scream rose from her mouth. One of Twilight’s guards lay face down on the wooden floor, a pool of blood had collected around the armored stallion. Instantly, Rarity raced up the stairs to Twilight’s room, the bed was neatly folded, and the room looked untouched. She looked out the window, the chariot still sat outside. Rarity raced back down the stairs and nearly screamed again at the sight of the dead guard. Where was Twilight? The basement door stood slightly ajar.

Rarity crept down the concrete stairs, her flesh crawling with terror. A single blue light illuminated the bunker. Twilight lay bound and beaten, propped up against one of the box-like radars that stood against the wall. Her face had been punched repeatedly and her purple body was marked with bruises. Blood was splattered on the dials and surfaces of the sleek metal machines. Rarity bolted down to her.

The Alicorn was barely conscious.

“Rarity…” Twilight said weakly.

“Twilight, just a sec, I’ll untie you.” Rarity said hurriedly as she fumbled with the ropes.

“Rarity…” Twilight whispered again.

“Just a sec-” Rarity gasped as she felt a knife thrust into her side. Somepony picked her up and threw her across the room. She slammed against the hard metal of a mass spectrometer and sank to the ground. Blood trickled down her body and a golden dagger stuck from the left side of her abdomen. A royal guard knelt over Twilight. Rarity tried to say something, but her mouth had gone dry. The room blurred as the blood ran from her wound.

She saw the white stallion pick Twilight up and the glint of another knife shone in the air. Twilight kicked at him and he lost his grip on her. Rarity struggled to move, but the knife had paralyzed her and the deathly blackness closed in around her vision. Twilight stumbled up a few stairs but the guard caught her leg and dragged her back. Pinning the mare against the last few steps, he stabbed her violently. The silver blade of the knife lifted blood into the air, where it twisted about before splattering the grey steps. By the third strike, Rarity knew Twilight was dead.

The guard rose, blood running down his golden armor. Rarity watched as he walked toward her with the bloodied knife. She was going to die, and Twilight had died hating her. Twilight had died wishing they had never been friends.

The guard lifted the unicorn’s head and looked into her eyes to check if she was still alive. In a blind eruption of anger, she tore the knife from herself and thrust it into his throat. She ripped the other knife from his hooves and stabbed it alongside the other one. He slammed her head into the machine and the room spun about. Rarity grabbed him by the shoulders and rolled over on top of him. She lifted a weak hoof to strike at him when he punched her across the face and all went black.

When she awoke, she was staring at the icy blue orb of the light bulb. She felt numb, her body was soaked with blood and sweat. She shakily picked herself up. Her wound still oozed through a mushy film of drying blood and her vision was edged with black. The guard lay on his back, both daggers still stuck into his torn throat. He stared lifelessly at the ceiling. Rarity sank to her knees and realized she was kneeling in a pool of her own blood. She fell face down into the dark liquid and passed into unconsciousness.

When she awoke again, her nose was filled with congealed blood and she coughed and choked as she tried to dislodge the suffocating scab. Nothing had changed. She looked back, blood from Twilight’s body had run down the concrete steps and collected in a pool at the foot of the stairs. The Alicorn was slumped face down across several stairs. Rarity staggered over to her, nearly collapsing with each step. She reached the fallen queen and Rarity clutched the corpse. The wounded unicorn shook, no tears came. The sorrow sapped the last bit of strength she held and Rarity felt herself falling into the yawning darkness. Then she felt it, a slow and impossible heartbeat faintly pulsing through Twilight’s bloodstained chest. She was alive. She had to get Twilight help.

Rarity took hold of the Alicorn and summoned her final strength. Blood beginning to run anew from her freshly opened wound, Rarity sluggishly dragged Twilight up the stairs. The world blurred so much she could barely make out each step, and she panted for breath in the stuffy air. Her muscles slackened, though she urged them on; Rarity knew she was dying. With a final strain, she pulled Twilight over the threshold of the stairs and dropped her onto the wooden floor of the kitchen. Rarity swayed on lifeless hooves for a moment, then toppled headlong into darkness.