"Cut there."

"Good."

"Now take this out."

Pinkie tried to awaken but she could not. The voices were distant but she could make it out a mile away. It was the sharp voice of her father, Gravel Pie. She felt nothing and heard only those words. She knew this was the end, she felt her life slowly slipping away. It was not long now.

But she felt tethered to this world somehow. Like she still had a purpose. What could she have left to do? She was a murderer, why would she remain alive? If anything she would make the world a better place if she was gone. She cursed herself. Her father was right, she was just as bad as him. She had become him. And she worked so hard to drive him away.

Now it was just time to play the waiting game. Life or death laid out before her. She wanted to die so badly, the Pie family was no longer the innocent family of rock farmers. Killers. Sadists. Rapists. And she was no exception. She deserved to die. All that it took now was to wait. Wait for these lacerations to overtake her.

If you let someone you don't know into your life, then they will kill you. Remember that, don't save anyone who doesn't want to be saved.

The final parting words of her father. That night was one she could never forget, the night her mother had enough. That night her father had struck her. Rarity never saw her mother so angry before, she never had seen so much fury overtake someone. Her mother told her to run and take Sweetie Belle away from there, as far as possible. She never ran so hard and fast in her life. Those words never left her.

Rarity sat in a chair outside in the hallway next to the door where the girl was being fixed up. She prayed to Celestia that she came out okay. That girl...she was so scared and so shaken. What did she expose herself to, to make her so shaken like that. She thought Rarity was someone else, had she suffered from PTSD? But there were no wars going on in Equestria. This girl became even more curious with every unanswered question. But one thing was certain, she was going to defy her father and help this girl even though she wanted to die.

She had her legs crossed and her hands rested folded together in her lap. Not sadness but worry filled her. She stared down at her hands and her blouse, she had gotten most of the blood out but there was still a veil of stained brown blood. Her hands were crusted with the same brown stain of blood, she looked them over and she muttered to herself, "So much blood..."

She had never seen so much. She had never seen so many cuts and bruises. Rarity would have guessed an animal attack but no animal would leave its prey alive, Fluttershy had told her that. It was the cold truth but still, if she lived through this...what would she do? Would she take her back to her apartment? Or would she leave her in the elements. Oh, she just did not know what to do.

Her head shot up as she saw the door finally open. It was Nurse Redheart, dread filled her eyes. She looked over at Rarity and said, "You brought...her...in here right?"

Rarity raised an eyebrow as she stood up responding, "Um...yes? Is there a problem? Is she okay!?"

Redheart did not move her gaze and said with no emotion, "Yes...yes she is...she will live...those cuts should heal completely in a few days. Her broken bones are now bruises but this is all we can do."

Rarity asked, "Then...why do you appear frightened..."

Redheart opened the door and Rarity saw a dreadful sight. Strongheart had a scalpel stabbed into his neck and the pink haired girl was standing up in the patient gown in the middle of the room and she held another scalpel in her hand. She was breathing heavy, she looked over at Rarity who had an astonished look on her face. The girl started to shake and she broke down. She dropped the scalpel and she repeated as she stepped back into one of the corners of the room, "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!"

Redheart said to Rarity, "She reacted violently to whatever we did. Strongheart was going to give her some sedatives but she picked up one of the scalpels and threw it at him."

"It's a miracle she missed."

"She didn't."

Rarity looked at Redheart with a confused look and she explained, "She has a very severe case of PTSD, while most people react differently she reacts through violence. Soldiers that see a lot of front line action receive this kind of PTSD. She threw that scalpel with amazing precision and accuracy, she was not going to kill...yet...do you know this woman?"

Rarity heard this new development with astonishment. As far as she knew she looked like a regular late teen like herself. People weren't required to go into the military but it was encouraged. This girl was not old enough to go into the military. This did not change Rarity's opinion of her however. She had to choose her words carefully. She moved to face Redheart and she said, "...Yes...she's my distant cousin from out of town."

Redheart looked inquisitively over at the girl and then back at Rarity. Redheart said sharply, "Well. I suggest you find her a place to stay."

She helped Strongheart back to his feet and they left the room. Rarity hated the silence that carried after they left. It was thick and made Rarity feel uncomfortable. Rarity looked over at the pink haired girl and asked, "So...what's your name?"

She tried to calm her breaths but they were short and hard. There was that silence once more. Rarity felt sympathy for her, this girl had felt and seen more than Rarity could ever know, but perhaps she could help her along. Rarity asked soothingly, "Are you with me darling?"

She had been taught some ways to help kids that were staring off into space. She had worked with kids like this. Rising seamstress and daycare owner, woohoo. The daycare stuff was only temporary until her sewing business took off. Rarity knelt down in front of the wounded girl and said as she winced, "It's okay. I just want to help."

The girl responded shakily, "Wha…why...do you want to help...me?"

Rarity had asked herself that question. Why was she helping her? Was it just because this person just needed to go to the doctor to sew up some wounds? She did want to die, why did Rarity take that away from her? Rarity mulled over what to say and replied promptly, "I want to help because you look like someone who needs it."

The pink haired girl seemed to act more comfortably around her. She stared off and remorse was swept away from her face. She stated flatly, "You can't help me...no one can."

Rarity put a gentle hand on the girl's knee and she said, "I can try."

* * *

Pinkie looked straight at this girl. She seemed genuine in what she wants to do. She was very pretty. No more than maybe 19 or 20, beautiful features that Pinkie had never seen before. She looked gorgeous even with just casual clothing. Her soft alabaster white skin shone in the morning sun making it look as if it was glowing, her bright sky blue eyes stared right her. Her face was round and Pinkie felt envious to a degree. This girl was offering her help, though unneeded, it was still help. Pinkie would have expected a girl with this amount of beauty to just simply walk away and leave her. No, not this one. Pinkie moved her gaze quickly and inspected her closely. A trick her mother taught her. She was very shapely, curves in all the right places and well shaped breasts. Her mother would be proud of the beauty and majesty of this girl. But there was something else. There was this air about her that seemed to soothe her and make her more comfortable.

Pinkie winced as she felt this girl touch her knee and heard her calming and soothing voice that said, "I can try."

Pinkie looked away from her and kept her broken heart in check. She could not let anyone get so close, but she could not refuse this girl either. This girl offered her help. She would be damned if she refused. Pinkie looked back at the girl and Pinkie said in a shaky voice, "I...I'm Pinkamena..."

A gentle smile spread across the beautiful girl's face and said gently, "I am Rarity. It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Pinkamena."

Rarity gently caressed Pinkie's knee and said, "I will pay for the hospital bill and then I'll get you something to wear. Don't worry, you'll be fine. I'll protect you."

Pinkie looked at Rarity and that same look was in her blue eyes. Pinkie kept everything inside, she used it as fuel now. She still wanted to die, she deserved to live on the streets alone to die in the cold. To freeze to death alone. But this person had a kind enough heart to take care of her. She never had...no there had to be some other reason she was helping her. Pinkie asked sharply, "Why are you helping me?"

"I..."

"No," Pinkie interrupted, "There has to be something else. There has to be some other reason as to why you're helping me. Tell me."

Rarity was caught off guard by the question. Hurt even. Rarity said calmly, "I just want to help you. I never got any..."

Pinkie was filled with remorse. Something had happened to her. She was the victim of something similar to Pinkie. Pinkie knew exactly when somebody was lying or not. There was forlorn that folded in her eyes and in her heart. Pinkie could feel it. She brought up something uncomfortable, and Pinkie hated herself for it. She never wanted to hurt another person. Pinkie looked away and said, "I...I'm sorry...you...you should go and..."

Rarity tenderly placed her hand on Pinkie's knee and said, "It's okay darling. Just know that you're not alone. Never again."

Pinkie felt the weight of her words and cherished them. This girl had saved her life and was offering her a place to stay. This was someone that despite what she went through, is still kind and gentle. Rarity nodded her head and went up to leave. Pinkie blurted out, "Wait..."

Rarity turned and she held an inquisitive look. Pinkie asked, "Are you...are you...are you an angel?"

Rarity cracked a small smile and replied, "No. I am not, why do you ask?"

Pinkie curled her legs close to her chest and twirled her finger over her knee and she explained, "Well...its just that...I don't...I don't see why anyone else would help me...and...and you're very beautiful."

Her smile turned into a warm and friendly one and she said, "No. But I'm flattered you asked."

With that Rarity left and Pinkie felt alone again, just as storm clouds moved in and blocked the sun away, crashing and crackling thunder making her jitter. She began shaking again, she was alone again. Her mind started pulling itself apart and reality broke back into oblivion. The nightmares would begin once more, and it was only just beginning.