Chapter 1: His Semiprecious Aquamarine
Sky.
Distant miracles twinkled this night, bigger than Equestria, denser than onyx. Dusk had set, domed rich sapphire over the scarred trees fleeting beneath Rainbow Dash, Rarity secure in her arms. Majestic amber bark like fingers trying to pull them to safety. Spike's dry scales.
"So soft," whispered Rarity. "Luna, the kittens. They wish to nuzzle our noses."
Her grip closed tighter; urgency pressed her wings. "Almost there, Rarity! Keep telling me about those kittens."
"Spike kissed me."
Rainbow's brain was a koifish army-crawling for moisture.
"Cuffs?"
Rarity scoffed, sheets offensive with his sweat as he plunged into her beauty like a couch. He didn't even hold her properly: His hooves timbered to whatever was available, quite unconcerned with her delicate instruments, her locks combed for hours until they achieved their precise waves. His wild boyishness used to ignite in her a phoenix's very first combustion, but now it was just exasperating. He was keeping her from sewing, creating more chores and mashing deadlines too close. Who was going to take these sheets to the washboard pond? Apple Buh-unkin? "Mac. It's been a lovely diversion, but it's getting late. I'm sure Applejack could use your help."
"So ... No cuffs?"
She pushed his shoulders until he lumbered aside, stood and slinked to the door.
"Your plot is awesome."
"Hush."
Smash! Clattercrash!
The door blew open, rattling the small hut, knocking a kaleidoscope of beakers to the floor. Zecora spun around in fury. "What is the meaning of this intrusion? Can you even fathom -"
"Rarity is hurt!"
She softened immediately on the sight of the battered pony, regal purple spattered alarmingly crimson. Ponyville's proudest lady arrived a gob of bones and wrinkled fur wading its garnet current, countenance contorting inelegantly as she whimpered: "Winter's come early. Luna, the kittens ... they're crying ..."
"She's in shock. Quickly - my rocks."
Rainbow dutifully surveyed the walls, flashed to the tall sunflower upright on a top shelf, scientifically alive and budding bright turquoise pebbles. When she returned with it, Zecora had kneeled, ear to her friend's heart.
"Vitals appear fine," she reported. "Though she has not much time."
Her newspaper stripes retrieved every stone at once, and the flower crumpled mournfully to Rainbow's hooves.
"Why are the kittens crying, Luna?" she implored faintly. "Are we going to die?"
Zecora purred brown velvet as she laid the stones along Rarity's even plane, each warm as fire illuminating all the glorious facets of a diamond. "Shhhhh. Calm yourself, my light. No one is going to die this night."
She knew Rainbow was rolling her eyes, but Rarity adored her fractured poetry. Encountering art was a genial treat in this frivolous workaday town.
"This is not an affliction mild." She turned to Rainbow. "What happened to this child?"
Now Rainbow's wings stiffened in offense. "She isn't a child. And I'd rather not say where she was."
Rarity's cheeks flushed hot. She'd been found splayed across their best friend's brother's bed, barely conscious, positively leprous with guilt.
"I did not ask you where," replied Zecora tersely; "I asked you what happened there."
Rainbow's head jerked, straining to clear the images. "I - I don't know. I just found her like this."
"I ... " She'd known she'd have to confess sooner or later. Secrets were not her special Element. "I woke among apple trees, so I knew the closest pony. But I couldn't stay awake. I used to ... we used to ..."
Zecora pleased at this flash of semi-clarity, but Rainbow railed over her words: "Ew! Nopony wants to know that! And why Mac? He's not your best friend. He's so - he's so ... He's her brother!"
Zecora opened her mouth again, but Rarity twisted in defense.
"He was stressed, all right?" she snapped. "And working all the time was frazzling my wonderful coat as well. A lady has needs."
"EWWWW!!" Rainbow flitted off the floor. "Brain soap! Brain soap!"
The only sane woman in the room, Zecora made another attempt: "Misses! What Rarity does is her business -"
"I mean geez, Rarity, why don't you just jack it like the rest of us?"
Bewildered eyes in Rainbow's direction. She settled to the plain concrete, zipped.
"Rarity." Zecora breathed to realign herself. "Now that you have found clarity, try to remember. How were you thus rendered?"
She frowned, gears turning their rust out. "I ... I think I was shot."
The horror unspooling the zebra's dark eyes. "Are you ... certain this is fact?"
Rainbow plucked greying petals from the deceased flower, sulking. Zecora snatched it from her. "Do not pick that."