Mistress Do Well: Reparation
by milesprower06

Rarity
Part 4

It took Rarity several moments to take a step towards the stairs, which Rainbow had already ascended. Rarity slowly followed, with Twilight behind her. They saw her already out on the balcony, watching as the sun gave way to the moon and stars. She crossed the bedroom, and slowly opened the door. Rainbow motioned to Twilight, letting her know to stay inside. Rarity slowly came out on the balcony, closing the door behind her. She took a seat a few paces away from Rainbow, and waited for the mare to speak.

Rainbow took a deep breath, and looked Rarity in the eyes.

"What I said this morning still stands. There's nothing you can do for me, and there's nothing I want from you. I'm sorry. I can't forgive what you did, especially now that we know how you manipulated the others."

Rarity's gaze fell to the floor, and she slowly nodded.

"I understand. So... Your cutie mark fixed when you made a decision on what to do?"

"My cutie mark was altered because I was conflicted over what to do with you, but it wasn't about picking a side. It was about taking those sides and making them fit together. I never was the best at jigsaw puzzles, so it took me the better part of the day to figure it out."

"What did you figure out?"

"The good that came from what you did. Over my year in exile, I took a very close look at the kind of mare I had become, the kind of friend I had become. Regardless of what your true intentions were, and regardless of what you did to the others, their hearts were still intent on helping me, so I feel better about rebuilding my friendships with them. But I can't with you."

Again, Rarity nodded.

"And... Your plan brought me and Twilight together... Eventually. We discovered our feelings for each other, and all of you created a very different side to me, a side I'm learning to live with. But you can't stay here. It's just not possible. Not just because of me, but because of all of us."

Rarity shuffled her hooves on the wooden floor.

"So... What will you do with me?"

"Did you hear what I just said? I don't want anything from you, and I don't want to do anything to you. I'm putting it behind me."

"It's only fitting. I don't care if I can't stay, send me somewhere then. Anywhere. It's your choice."

Rainbow became frustrated, but kept it beneath the surface, and gave it some momentary thought.

"Your job in Manehattan. Charity's job. Do you like it? Do you enjoy the customers?"

Rarity silently nodded.

"Then go back. I know that's probably not what you wanted to get out of your trip here, but it is what it is. Go back to Charity's life. It's best if Rarity stays dead to this town. That's the way it has to be."

Rainbow was right. It wasn't what Rarity was expecting. She had come to realize that she had no idea what she was expecting. Probably to be strung up and beaten by a lynch mob of five. But they hadn't. She had gained nothing more than a bruise on the cheek for her time here, and her former friends were now going to rest a little easier knowing that she had been behind their desires to treat Rainbow Dash in the way they had down there. Maybe that was enough.

It would have to be.

"So that's it?"

"That's it."

Rarity swallowed, and shuffled her hooves again, slowly turning back towards the door.

"I... I suppose if I hurry, I can catch the last train out of town tonight..."

Rainbow said nothing, merely giving a soft nod. She opened the door with a hoof, returned inside, passing Twilight without a word, and descended the stairs. Rainbow returned inside in time to hear the front door close. She came up to Twilight and slowly embraced her, taking a deep breath.

It was over.

They stood there silently holding each other for a couple minutes, then decided to climb into bed. They had just shut the lights off before there was a knock at the door.

"Did she forget something?"

Rarity waited on the nearly deserted train platform as the moon began to rise over the night sky.

There had been no hugs. No tearful goodbyes. No promises to write. They had all dismissed her, and were willing to let her return up to Manehattan so they could continue to heal... And forget. Even if it wasn't the same to her, maybe they believe she had gotten her punishment, or they just didn't care anymore. At the very least, Rainbow had set her mind straight.

"Leaving without saying goodbye?"

Rarity turned, and saw a very familiar face come up onto the boarding platform.

"Sweetie Belle..." She greeted, tears immediately pricking her eyelids.

The filly unicorn came up to her sister, and looked up at her with a soft smile.

"I was hoping to catch you at the library, but Twilight told me you had already gone."

"You can't be here. If dad finds out-"

"He still thinks I can't hear him from one room away. Listen... Even if what you did is so horrible that no one here can forgive you... It doesn't change the fact that you regret what you did and that you're sorry. Dad can shut you out if he wants, but that doesn't change the fact that you're my big sister."

Rarity could not stop the tears from falling down her cheeks.

"These things I did... You were just two floors away, and it'll be several years before you realize just how horrible my crimes were."

"Then I'll take the years in between to miss you. Will... Will you at least write? You have to have some interesting stories from up in Manehattan, right?"

Rarity sniffled, as the train whistle blew, and the conductor passed.

"Eastbound to Manehattan, all aboard!"

She pulled her sister into a tight hug.

"You got it, little sis. I'll send them to Twilight so there's no more drama at home."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. Keep working towards that cutie mark. I know you'll get it eventually. I love you, Sweetie Belle."

With that, Rarity boarded the train seconds before the doors closed, and it began pulling away from the dock, leaving Sweetie Belle alone on the platform.

Rainbow moved through the streets of Mustang Springs at a slow trot, as the setting sun gave way to the magnificent desert night sky. At last, the setting had changed. She was relaxed even in sleep. For once, it wasn't the basement.

"About time you got here." An all-too-familiar voice said.

Rainbow looked at her destination, up to the hot springs that this place was known for. None of them were occupied, save for one, where four ponies were chest deep in the hot spring, waiting for her.

Noctilucent. Broken Rainbow. Mistress and Submissive Twilight. All these facets of her mind finally at peace with each other.

"So I take it we're all good now?" Rainbow asked, slowly getting into the hot water. There were smiles all around.

She stretched, and let out a deep breath as she let the steam relax her mind.

But only until she started to think of what she and Twilight could do in the bathtub.