Rarity once more trudged into her inspiration room inside the Carousel Boutique late at night, sighing loudly. Glad nopony was there to see her moping about. She had spent the past week not doing anything, only thinking about thing.

The mare that had taken her heart hostage. Her rust orange coat, accentuated by the silky blond mane and tail, eyes, deep green eyes, the faint dusting of freckles across her face. A trio of bright red apples adorning her perfect rump either side. The mare of rarity's dreams was perfect. Her name rolled off Rarity's tongue in a perfect delicate sigh. "Applejack. . ."

She started at the heavy sound of knocking at her door, wondering who could be making such an uncouth display she rose gracefully and made her way to the door.

"Who is it?" She asked. Unexpectedly at those words the door slammed inwards. Thanking her adventures with her friends and of course looking after the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she nimbly dodged the door, her horn flaring brightly as she set a shield about herself; just as Twilight Sparkle had taught her.

Two rough looking bay ruffians shambled in, trying to get close to her, yet they could not get past her shield. ‘thank Celestia for small miracles’ she thought.

"Who are you and what do you want?" She demanded imperiously if a bit loudly, hoping someone would hear her.

"Oh don't you worry miss. We don't want anything. You're just going to have to accept your fate" the one on the right said, before taking a flask of fire oil out his saddlebag and splashing it about liberally.

With true fear in her voice Rarity demanded. "Why are you doing this?" The second stallion looked towards her with an evil glint in his eye. "That would be quite simple miss Rarity, Our employer, wife of the best in fashion, Mr Fancy Pants, has become sick of you being the only thing he talks about, we were sent to remove you. But I suppose a fire while you sleep will do the job." He finishes with a darkened gravelly laugh that held no mirth.

"You can't. Please, have you no heart, my baby sister lives with me, please let her go, she's just a filly!" Rarity begged now, dropping her usual demeanour, knowing her life was up, but she could only pray they would spare Sweetie-Belle.

The one spreading oil had finished and looked at her. He nodded once to the stairs behind her. "Go get her and say your goodbyes. As soon as she's out this place, you will burn." He said without a trace of emotion.

Rarity pounded up the stairs and flew into Sweetie-Belles room. Glad the commotion hasn't woken her she nuzzled her gently with a silky soft touch.

"Mmmm wha?" Sweetie-Belle said quietly. Barely holding in the tears Rarity spoke to her. "Sweetie, I am ever, ever so sorry to wake you, but I need you to run to Twilights and stay the night ok? Oh and if you could take the cloak she ordered with you for her that would be just grand." She finished.

"What now?" Sweetie-bell asked somewhat groggily. "Yes dear. Don't worry though, she won't mind, oh and when you get there, just tell her Generosity trusts Magic to watch what's left behind." Rarity answered guiding her sister down the stairs, seeing the two rough looking stallions were outside she quickly grabbed Twilights' cloak off the shelf for sweetie to take.

There now, you run to Twilights and I'll see you later." She said, managing not to choke on the lie. She pulled her sister in for a tight embrace, holding back all signs her heart was breaking at the life she would miss sharing with her sister. Gently she leaned down and kissed Sweetie-Bell between her ears.

"Now you go on dear" she said, her voice starting to crack a bit, yet she would not break. There was no way she would allow her sisters last memory of her to be breaking down in tears.

Sweetie-Bell seemed surprised at the kiss but didn't mention anything about it as she took the cloak and ran into the night, completely failing to notice the strangers in the dark. She watched out the door as her sister disappeared before looking to the stallions.

She suddenly narrowed her eyes and charged, after getting her sister safe, she felt she could fight these stallions enough to get away, but no more.

Unfortunately they seemed to have anticipated such an action, and as she got close they split, before she knew what was happening, two sharp hard impacts hit her either side of her body. Feeling the pain of many ribs breaking she stumbled to the ground in the mud.

One of the stallions approached and kicked her head with force, right where her horn protruded out. She felt more than heard the snap as her horn broke and her connection to her magic shattered. "Don't worry that losing your horns your fault, we just needed to be sure you couldn't magic your way out." the nameless stallion said as he picked her up before throwing her back in the boutique, Hard.

As she landed, her full weight came down upon one of her forelegs at a bad angle, snapping the bones within, the force of her landing forcing the jagged ends through her skin.

Had she not already been having trouble breathing, her landing did even worse, the pain in her side as she tried to scream, and coughing up blood.

"We'll miss Rarity, we’ll just make sure yer not going to be cold and we'll be on our way." With a final mirthless chuckle he took a rag and lighter from his saddlebag, lit the rag and threw it in, the oil catching instantly, creating a flame that held no escape.

Ignoring the burning pain in her body Rarity forced herself round to look at a photo on the mantle. It was a simple picture, she and Sweetie-Belle were day in the grass by an apple tree, applejack with them, they were all smiling at the camera.

This was the picture Rarity wanted to hold in her mind as she struggled to breath with the heat and smoke. Her final thoughts as she passed out were for her sister and Applejack. She could almost hear her calling her name. Her Applejacks voice was there at her end.

Author's Note

Decided to go a different direction with this, hope you like it - let me know what you think.