Chapter XXV

When she awoke, Rarity was greeted by those Goddamn eyes. Rainbow Dash gazed at her for a couple moments, then she smiled as she saw the unicorn waking.

“Rarity!” The Pegasus cried. Rarity’s tongue seemed dead in her mouth and she simply stared back at Rainbow Dash. “You’ve been in a coma for a week.” Rainbow Dash related. “Pinkie found you.” The blue pony was quiet for a moment. “Twilight got taken to Cantorlot, I think she’s going to be ok.” She said softly. Even if she could have spoken, Rarity still would have been speechless. Both she and Twilight were alive. She felt the blood rush to her head and a monitor by her bed began to chirp. A nurse entered.

“Oh my.” The nurse looked at Rainbow Dash. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave while we check miss Rarity.” The grey nurse waved to an unseen doctor in the hall.

“Bye Rarity, I’ll be back soon.” Rainbow Dash said, quietly shuffling past the doctor who flew into the room. He was a brown stallion with a caterpillarish mustache. He was also uncharacteristically excited for a doctor observing a grievously injured patient.

“Well hello! I’m doctor Estrogen, and I have to say, I’ve never seen a mare like you before!” He checked the monitors near the bed, then clucked his tongue in disbelief. “You’re fine.” He shook his head. “God, I would have settled for a crippled shell of a creature.” He rechecked the monitor then tossed his hooves in the air. “But no, you’re fine.” He looked back at the nurse, then back to the bed-ridden unicorn. “You were past the threshold of bleeding out by about ten percent, then you apparently dragged the queen up twenty stairs.” He paused. “You realized there’s no pony in Equestria that I’ve seen do that right?”

“I don’t think she wants to hear about how close to death she was.” The nurse said crossly.

“Yes, I suppose so.” Dr. Estrogen said with a nod. “Anyway, like I said, you’re fine. Most of your injuries were related to blood loss, a pink earth pony and that blue Pegasus, they gave a lot of blood for your transfusions, I hope you send them each a card or something. Anyway, besides obscenely gratuitous blood loss.” He shook his head here to indicate his lingering misdoubt over her impossible survival. “You sustained a minor concussion, which appears to be your second in the past year.” He pointed to her side. “The uh, puncture wound needed some sewing, but nothing tore too much, another miracle it would seem.” Rarity’s tongue unstuck. She swallowed and tried to speak, but her mouth seemed to be full of cotton. “Yes, your brain needs some time to unstick, you’ve been in a medically induced coma for a week. I’m told the queen is still unconscious and her condition is guarded. But if you had not brought her out of the basement, we might not have found her in time.” His smiled faded and he ran a hoof through his touch of grey hair. “That guard, Brutus, it seems he, well, I shouldn’t speculate. At any rate he was the one who killed the other guard, and who would have killed Twilight had you not intervened.” He cleared his throat. “You saved the Queen of Equestria, so I’m just going to give you some painkillers, discharge you in a week or so, and forget about the bill for this.”

“Thank you.” Rarity croaked. He chuckled.

“Thank you, although I imagine Queen Sparkle will say it with a bit more eloquence.”

Rarity spent the next week and a half in the hospital bed. She replayed the scene over and over in her mind as she slowly recovered. She had saved Twilight, she had killed a royal guard, and saved Twilight. She had beaten Snips in a fight. She had taken down two stallions while heavily intoxicated. She had been crushed, beaten, and stabbed and survived it all. Ten months ago she was afraid to touch paint because it felt gooey. What had happened to her? Was this the new Rarity?

Pinkie Pie helped walk Rarity home when she was finally discharged. As they walked carefully down Mane Street, ponies began to notice the white unicorn and clapped for her.

“Awh, that’s nice, you’re a hero Rarity.” Pinkie said warmly.

“Yeah, I don’t really feel like it. I feel like somepony who’s had the shit kicked out of her one too many times.” Rarity said tiredly. Pinkie giggled.

“Well, I made up your bed at home, and Sonny said to take off as much time as you need, so you can get that shit back inside you in no time!”

Rarity was glad for Pinkie Pie, very glad.

Rarity laid carefully on the bed. Her side stung beneath the familiar haze of painkillers. She didn’t want to tear the sutures and carefully positioned herself under the covers. Pinkie Pie knelt by the bed.

“So what do ya need?” Asked Pinkie. Rarity smiled and gave Pinkie’s mane a pat.

“Nothing, I’m good.” She cleared her throat. “I heard you gave blood for me.”

“Yeah, me and Rainbow Dash. We were really scared for you, and Twilight.” Pinkie said quietly. Rarity nodded.

“Yeah, I don’t know what happened. One of her guards wanted to kill her.” Pinkie frowned and sat down on the floor.

“I wish everypony could be nice.” She said unhappily. Rarity coughed and her side stung.

“Yeah, that’d be nice.” They sat for a second.

“Rarity, you fight really well.” Pinkie said softly. Rarity coughed.

“I know.” They sat in silence for a time.

In a few minutes, somepony knocked at the door and Pinkie ran down to get it. Audacity blushed when he entered, his fire red cheeks growing somehow redder.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re ok.” He said to the supine unicorn. “I, uh, was really really worried about you when I heard what had happened.” Rarity smiled.

“Thank you for your concern.” He smiled back, the blush not fading from his face.

“You’re not, permanently injured or anything?” He asked in concern.

“No, the doctors say I’m fine.”

“Good.” He said with an affirming nod.

“Yeah.” Audacity pawed the floor.

“Well hey, I should let you get some rest. I’m really glad you’re doing ok, let me know if you need anything.”

“Sure will.” Rarity said politely. As he departed, Pinkie poked her head out the door and watched the departing Pegasus. “Got a crush?” Rarity asked humorously.

“Yeah, he’s so cute.” Pinkie pulled her head back inside. “You have no idea, he’s been coming to the tower every day to see if you were home.” Rarity sighed.

“Great.”

Later that day, Applecrisp visited Rarity. The blue pony took a seat on the bed and gave the injured unicorn a playful knock on the shoulder.

“Heh, ya’ll got a knack for gettin’ into crazy shit. Whut the fuck were ya’ll thinkin’?”

“I was going to tell Twilight off, like you said.” Rarity laughed painfully. “And just like last time, your advice went a lot farther than I thought it would.” Applecrisp snorted.

“Y’got problems with yer’ timin’. Cops said he was settin’ up a camera to photograph her body. Means this was a paid assassination.” A chill ran through Rarity. “Yeah, they’ve got her locked up tahght no doubt.” Applecrisp surmised.

“I hope they’ve got better guards.” Rarity said nervously. Applecrisp nodded.

“They do. It was jus’ somepony getting’ greedy an’ not mahndin’ sellin’ Equestria downriver is all. Course, if they ever have any more problems, they can just call ya’ll.” She said with a grin. “Ah mean DAYM! Yer’ unstoppable Rarity! Yew always been this vicious?” Asked the swamp pony in admiration.

“You shoulda seen me back when I made dresses, you wouldn’t have recognized me.” Rarity said with a weak smile. Applecrisp tossed her head.

“Ah saw that a bit, but ah lahk the killer bitch moar.” Rarity laughed.

“Hey, how was your party?”

“Oh it was great!” Pinkie said excitedly as she leaped between the two. “We played tip the cow and recite the Constitution, Applecrisp has some great games!” Applecrisp shrugged sheepishly.

“Jus’ sum kids’ stuff from home is all.” Rarity felt a smile spread across her face as she saw the two getting along. Pinkie Pie and Applecrisp were unlikely friends, but then, Rarity was coming to expect the unlikely these days.

“And she told me all about how the government was-” A knock sounded on the door and Pinkie Pie clopped her hooves. “Oooh! You’re popular Rarity!” She flung open the door.

“Wai howdy ya’ll!” Applejack said jovially. “Hope y’didn’t mahnd me lettin’ mahself in through the first door, but it’s cold out there! Nao Rarity, ah know y’just got outta the hospital, but-” She saw Applecrisp on the bed. “Oh.” She said abruptly. The swamp Apple stood up.

“Ah gotta go, hope ya’ll get better soon.” Applecrisp said briskly. She pushed by her cousin and Rarity heard her clomping hoofsteps in the stairwell.

“Well anyway!” Applejack said, slamming the door. “Ah heard y’ain’t feelin’ up t’snuff!” Rarity grinned.

“No, I’ve got a touch of throat sickness, just sort of came on me.” Applejack set a jug of cider down on the floor.

“This oughta clear it up.” She squinted at the stitching on Rarity’s side. “Gawd, y’really got hurt bad.” She said in a sudden seriousness. “Twah’s gunna be ok ah heard.” She said quietly. She shook her head and sat down beside Rarity. “Ah ain’t never heard a’ Celestia’s guards turnin’ on her.”

“Yeah, me either. It took me by surprise too.” Applejack patted her bed.

“Nao ya’ll jus’ rest up an’ get back t’health. If there’s anythin’ ya’ll need, don’t be no stranger.” Applejack said gently. Rarity smiled.

“I won’t, and thanks for stopping by, it means a lot.”

“Any tahm sugar.” Her smile faded. “Ah was really scared fer’ ya’ll when ah heard y’d been in a faght with a royal guard.” She clicked her tongue. “But he wasn’t gunna stahp Rarity was he?”

“Heh, I guess not.”

Rarity began to wonder just what could stop her.

Pinkie Pie and Rarity sat up for a while. The painkillers that Rarity downed apparently had a very different mechanism of action than her previous brand, as she found herself wide awake as time went on. As the hours passed, Pinkie Pie described her various opening strategies as black and white, and her counters and advances with knights. She had already read seven books on chess and was thinking about maybe taking up whittling. Finally, Rarity asked.

“Why’s party pony so interested in having new interests?”

“Well, I just thought it made sense.” Pinkie said softly.

“What do you mean? You’re all about nonsense and fun!” Rarity said in confusion. Pinkie played with her hooves.

“Well, no, not any more. Ever since Gummy died, I’ve felt a lot like you. You know, I’m trying to move on from the past. Maybe I can be more than just party pony.”

“Hey, moving on doesn’t always mean changing. Plus I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want to follow anything that I set an example in.” Rarity said, giving Pinkie’s arm a pat.

Pinkie smiled.

“You make things easier Rarity. I see how strong you are, and it makes me want to be brave whenever I get scared or sad when I think of Fluttershy.”

“Geez, I thought I was pretty much the most uninspiring pony ever.” Rarity chuckled. Pinkie giggled.

“Nope.”

A soft knock emanated from the door.

“The hell? Is everypony going to drop by?” Rarity said in puzzlement as Pinkie went to open the door.

“Oh hi!” Pinkie said cheerfully. Rainbow Dash wore a thick brown cloak.

“Good, thanks for asking Pinkie.” The blue pony looked down at Rarity. “How are you doing Rarity?”

“Good, great! How about you Dash?” Rarity asked. The Pegasus took off her cloak and Rarity gasped. “Your wings, you’ve, they’ve!” Rainbow Dash blushed and nodded.

“The explosion interrupted the procedure, the doctors had just made the first incision. They had to stop since I woke up.” She explained. Rarity swallowed.

“Sorry…”

“I didn’t schedule another appointment.” Rainbow Dash said, looking at her hooves.

“Oh.” Rarity bit her lip. “Pinkie, why don’t you go-”

“No, it’s fine, she can stay.” Dash said. “I, came by to see how you were doing.” The Pegasus said in a louder voice.

“I’m good, I should be walking in a few days.” Rarity related. Rainbow Dash nodded.

“That’s good.”

“Dash, look, I’m sorry. I know I’m a bad example, but you’re still making good choices. I’m sorry if everything I’ve done in the past few weeks has-”

“No, you’re a wonderful pony Rarity. You saved Twilight, twice! You’re a hero! Don’t be sorry for anything.”

“I felt like I really hurt you by being such a hypocrite, all that talk about being a designer again, about getting married and having normal life…then I went and burned down the Boutique. I feel like you were pretty ashamed of me.” Rarity said in embarrassment. Rainbow Dash shook her head.

“No, you’re totally fine. I really understand that you can’t just force yourself to be something you’re not.” She was silent for a second. “I’m really glad you’re ok Rarity.” She said with a little smile.

“Thanks for donating blood to me…I owe you.” Rarity said softly.

“No you don’t, I’m happy to help. I’m also happy you’re being honest about who you are.” Rainbow Dash said with a weak smile. “But most of all I’m happy that you’re safe.”

The next couple days went by slowly, with Pinkie going to work every morning and returning every night with stories of the bakery. Audacity arrived every day at nine, bearing some sort of gift and an awkward conversation. Rarity found him a little cute (and still very hot), but regardless, she wasn’t going to cheat on Spike.

Finally, on a freezing Thursday morning, Rarity walked with Pinkie to the Lone Star. The bakery smelled wonderful after so many days of sitting in the musty tower, and Rarity was almost glad for Ana’s scowling countenance as she passed the register. Sonny made sure she was comfortable at her workstation.

“We have only a few things to be made today, are you sure you do not want to stay at home?” He asked cautiously.

“Nope, I’m good here.” She smiled and took a bag of flour down from the cupboard to demonstrate her capability. “I’m fine, really.” He waited a moment for her to wince, then reluctantly accepted her recovery.

“All right, if you say so. I will be in the front if you need anything.” He reminded her. Rarity smiled to herself at Sonny’s concern. She returned to work and the day passed quickly.

“S’Rarity, y’wanna drop bah mah place, get sumthin’ t’drink after work?” Applecrisp asked midway through their shift.

“Hell yeah, that sounds good.” Rarity agreed. She looked over at Pinkie PIe, who was frosting some cupcakes. “Is it cool if Pinkie comes?”

“Heh, s’long as she promises to show me where she’s stashed her props on mah property.” Applecrisp said with a laugh. Pinkie giggled.

“Welllllll, maybe I can give you a hint.” The two started to joke about Pinkie’s prop collection and the legitimacy of many of Pinkie’s “improvised jokes”. They were really friends.

Back at Applecrisp’s control room home, they continued their conversation about parties and even alligators. Absurd as it was, Rarity felt like an outsider with the two, who laughed and joked without reservation. Pinkie and Applecrisp were friends now; Rarity wondered how long she had been in her coma.

The next day, Rarity took the empty cider jug back to Applejack’s. The day was warm and it felt good to get some air after being under blankets for so long. She slung the container over her back and strolled past the familiar signs advertising Sweet Apple Acres. The gate was open and Paco was leaned against the side of one of the doors. He seemed surprised when she approached him.

“Oh, hello miss Rarity! I’m sorry but Applejack is not here right now. She is in town getting something for her grandmother.” He said in his strange accent.

“Oh that’s fine, I can wait, I just have this jug to deliver.” She said cheerfully, leaning up against the gate beside him.

“Oh, that’s fine too.” He said nervously. She shifted her weight, and he caught sight of her scar. “Is that where you were stabbed?!” He asked in amazement. She nodded.

“Yeah, I didn’t really feel it, must have been the shock.”

“I heard you killed a guard.” He said seriously. She blushed.

“I didn’t really mean to, you know, I wasn’t thinking about killing him.” She said self-consciously. Paco tossed his black mane out of his eyes.

“If you are interested, there is a fight between two of my cousins down in Las Pegasus this Sunday. You could take either of them. I can get you the address if you would like.” He offered eagerly.

“Oh no no! I’m alright thank you!” She said quickly. An awkward silence fell until Applejack finally came up the road. Rarity picked up the jug and ran out to meet her.

“Hold on nao! Y’can’t be runnin’ with yer guts stitched up!” Applejack said, galloping to close the gap between them. “Lord, doncha know the first thing about recov’ry? Or do ah gotta treat ya lahk Big Macintosh?”

“I’m fine Applejack, you don’t need to mother me. I brought you back your jug.” Rarity chuckled as she held out the glass container.

“Heh, we got a lotta those, ya’ll coulda kept it.” AJ said, waving her off. Paco joined the two.

“Miguel is inside.” He informed Applejack.

“Ah, thanks!” She turned to Rarity. “Got another boatload ah burros comin’ t’the farm. We’re lookin’ to open a second distil’ry.”

“Damn, that’s impressive, this place is really getting big!” Rarity said in awe. Applejack shrugged.

“Well, we’re still Sweet Apple Acres, ain’t nuthin’ gonna change that. Anyway, thanks fer’ stoppin’ bah. Don’t go injurin’ yerself y’hear?”

Rarity laughed.

“You know me, I can’t promise that.”

Audacity dropped by, again, at nine P.M. this time. Rarity was practicing openings with Pinkie and she did not like getting up to answer the door.

“Hello?” She asked in irritation, her side stinging under the blanket of painkillers. The red Pegasus swallowed.

“Hey, I, uh brought you.” He held out a letter. “This, uh, I flew to Cantorlot and picked this up from Queen Twilight. She’s still recovering.” He cleared his throat. “But she said I could take this back to you.” Rarity took the letter. He had actually flown all the way to Cantorlot. Impossible as it was for her to love Audacity, she began to feel some warmth toward the obsessed Pegasus.

“Thank you, I, God, you didn’t have to do that.” She said in disbelief at this gesture. He flashed an enamored smile.

“Hey, no, it was fine. I just did it as my long flight for the week. She seemed glad that she could send you a letter, she wasn’t sure what had happened to you.” Rarity gave the muscled Pegasus a hug.

“Thank you Audacity, no matter what, you’re a really kind pony.”

“I love you Rarity.” He said as he held her. The Pegasus didn’t seem to want to let go and she had to pull away a little bit. Rarity sighed.

“I know Audacity.”

He left, dejected as usual. No matter what, she would not cheat on Spike.

The unicorn sat down at her desk and carefully opened the letter. It was scribbled on a sheet of paper towel in what Rarity hoped was just red pen; apparently the royal bodyguards didn’t want the queen sending any messages that might compromise her location. Rarity took a deep breath, then looked down at the page.

“Dear Rarity,

You many things. I realized that when I woke up in a hospital bed with three puncture wounds and three missing bodyguards. I heard that you were stabbed by Brutus, who has since been identified as having taken a million bit assassination contract on me. I also heard that you fought him off and pulled me up the stairs, keeping me alive, despite your injuries, which were reported to be very severe.

As I said, you are many things. Until I woke up in this bed, I didn’t know what any of those things were. I thought you were a disloyal, selfish, uncaring, and purposeless pony. I thought the Blast turned you into a self-centered and using unicorn who refused to move on with her life. I have never been more wrong about anything in my life. You are the most loyal subject I have ever known; you saved my life, twice, both times you risked your life without hesitation and rose against overwhelming odds. There is nothing more I can ask from a subject, or even a bodyguard.

Moreover you are selfless. If anything, the Blast and your troubles since have made your element of generosity stronger than ever. From my two degrees in psychology, I deduce your engagement to Spike to be one of pity and kindness. He told me of your courtship and proposal and it seemed more like an arranged marriage than anything else. You love Spike, and you want him to be happy, and after six years of constant pleading and seemingly perfectly romantic scenarios, I think you wanted to make him as happy as possible. The correct term is displacement, but I think of it as the ultimate form of generosity: being willing to deny yourself your actual feelings and even convince yourself to marry someone you don’t love, just so they won’t be sad any more.

And that brings me to the last thing that I realize you are: a pony with a purpose. After moving away, Rainbow Dash entered Ponyville a total of four times after the Blast, (I stole the surveillance tapes from the mayor’s office) until she started talking with you. Rarity, of all of the things that hurt me about the Blast, besides losing Fluttershy and Celestia, seeing Rainbow Dash so quiet and lifeless was the worst. But she got louder around you.

Rarity, you might think of yourself any number of ways, but know this, there are a lot of ponies who look up to you. Right now, Mr. and Mrs. Cake are in Cantorlot, negotiating form 4473 of bankruptcy for their business. They told me that you jumped out of a two story window to keep Pinkie Pie in Ponyville. I know there’s nothing in the world sadder than a deflated Pinkamina Pie and that it takes a lot to keep her full of life, but you don’t seem to have any trouble keeping her happy.

Out of everything I learned about you when I woke up, I think the knowledge that you have a purpose is what I like the most. Burning down the Boutique, giving my dress to Angora (it’s beautiful by the way, tell her thank you), I wonder if you don’t think you have a purpose, or you don’t know it yet. Rarity, if you spent the rest of your life doing what you’ve done this summer, doing what you do for your friends, then you can live under the knowledge that you have a very special purpose indeed. We haven’t really gotten along since the Blast and I think that’s everypony’s fault. But you were the one who brought the five of us back together. If the old adage is correct, and friendship really is magic, then you can take pride in knowing that you are a master magician.

You are many things Rarity, and whatever you make of the rest of your life will be something wonderful, I have complete faith in that. I’m so very sorry it took me this long to look past my prim interests to see that. You are my friend, and I hope that I can be yours.

Sincerely,

Twilight Sparkle.

P.S. Spike heard about everything and he sort of guessed you weren’t going to really marry him. He still loves you, but, I think it was good for him to understand that sometimes you just have to let love go. I shouldn’t speak for him, I know I’ve done that too much in the past, so I’ll just let him write the rest.” Beneath Twilight’s looping cursive sat Spike’s familiar jaunty script.

“Rarity, thank you. When I first started dating you, I thought my wish had come true. That Rarity the unicorn was going to marry me and we were going to have a wonderful life in a nice little house just like I had always imagined. But I was wrong. I don’t know the first thing about love. And I would have had no idea what to bring to a marriage, all I knew was that I loved you and that I wanted to marry you. That’s not love, that’s a selfish dream. I wanted you to be happy with me, and I wasn’t willing to see that that wouldn’t happen. It took two rejections for me to realize this, but I think I’m starting to see just what love is. It took the mare I loved most, telling me no, to teach me what love is. Thank you Rarity, for teaching me a lesson that nopony else could.”

Rarity laid the towel down on the desk. She was smiling. What happened?