Tragedy

The carriage trundled along at a fair pace. The four friends sat in silence inside the entire trip. Fluttershy was nervously twitching while Rainbow Dash nursed her bruises and looked anxious from sitting still. Applejack, still scowling, sat across from Dash, and the two exchanged a glaring stare every so often and Twilight, who was an emotional wreck at this point, could not believe what had happened to all her friends. It was horrible, and a part of her wished she had not sent the letters at all. With all that had happened, what would await her when she meets Rarity? It was all too much for Twilight, who had to open the carriage window and throw up.

The others were left to look at each other. Rainbow Dash and Applejack realized how stupid they both had acted but neither apologized. Fluttershy sat in silence twiddling her hooves as Twilight sat back in her seat. "Why?" was all Twilight could mumble to herself. A few minutes later, the carriage stopped, and looking through the window, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack all gazed up at the huge mansion that was in front of them. It was gorgeous and covered in gems and jewels and flowers and every centimeter was a perfectly constructed piece of art.

"WOAH!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. The stallion opened the door for them and each of them got out and stood in shock on the front lawn. Eventually, Twilight nervously edged forward all the while Fluttershy looked increasingly uncomfortable. Rainbow Dash and Applejack just looked impressed, but at least weren't screaming at each other. Suddenly a brilliant fanfare of horns and music came from the mansion. Fluttershy jumped in fright. Twilight recognized the sounds, though they were a little different; they reminded her of the royal fanfare. Then a figure appeared with two handsome stallions by her side. Twilight closed her eyes. She wasn't sure if she wanted to look, but she felt she had to. She had come this far, and opened her eyes slowly.

At the top of the steps stood Rarity. No disfigurement. No bulky body. No broken horn. No unimaginable horror. Just Rarity. Looking a little older, but still beautiful. "Twilight, darling! Oh, this is just wonderful! Truly fabulous! When I received your letter, I just did NOT know what to make of it. I mean, it had been so many years and..." Rarity slowly made her way over to the others. "And, well, you can imagine the shock, but I just had to see for myself! So, I sent someone to this Tavern I was told of, but oh, imagine my horror when I was told of this... establishment..." She got close enough so she could speak quietly. "I just couldn't possibly demean myself by entering such a place. So, I sent Fluttershy to find you, and the poor dear doesn't get out that often, so I thought to kill two birds with one stone, uh, as it were..." Rarity paused for a moment to gracefully spin around, stopping in front of them. "And here you all are! I must say, I wasn't expecting Rainbow Dash and Applejack but it's a nice surprise. I had heard you had both perished in unfortunate accidents back home, but then I was always one for gossip and rumors, but here you are... all... dirty and... scruffy... Oh dear."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash stood still, mouths agape. Twilight took the opportunity of Rarity's silence to get a word in. "Rarity, you seem normal. I have to say I'm relieved."

Rarity snapped to Twilight in shock. "Normal? Oh no no no, dear, I look FABULOUS! But, darlings, you must come inside and let me give you a tour. We have so much to catch up on, but um, first we need to get you two cleaned up," she said, pointing out Applejack and Rainbow Dash. "Fluttershy, be a dear for me and show Rainbow Dash and Applejack to the boutique, chop chop," she ordered, ushering them away but before they began to move, Rarity finally noticed Rainbow Dash's back. "Eeeek! OH MY GOODNESS! Rainbow Dash, your WINGS! What happened to your pretty wings, you poor thing?"

Rainbow Dash sighed, "This again? Can I explain it later, please? I've had enough of embarrassing myself for one day."

Rarity gave Rainbow a hug. "Oh, ew dirt... well yes," she seemed to be saying to herself, but aloud. "Of course darling, but, well... yes. Of course, you can tell Rarity in your own time. Now both of you go clean up, you'll feel so much better for it." Rainbow Dash followed Fluttershy into the mansion. Applejack turned to Twilight and shrugged before following.

Rarity turned to Twilight and let out a heavy sigh. "Oh my, it's awful is it not?" she began saying as she started to walk Twilight up the steps.

Twilight shuddered a moment thinking of her friend's horrible troubles. "Yes, I can't believe how badly things have turned out for them. Their lives are -"

Rarity interrupted, "Oh, I meant how awfully hideous they look now." Twilight gasped loud enough to cut Rarity off. Rarity gave her a puzzling look. "Oh, I still love them both to bits darling, they're my friends. But did you SEE the size of Applejack now? Ugh, she is more brutish than my personal bodyguards, and Rainbow Dash, oh those scars where her wings used to be... SURELY you would think even SHE would see sense enough to cover them with something, like Fluttershy."

Twilight stopped dead in her tracks, not sure if what she was hearing was real. "I... I can't believe you could say such things. They are your... friends."

Rarity turned to her. "And as such, I am merely pointing out how they could... improve... their appearance for their own benefit. Darling, darling, I am a critic. It's my JOB to find fault in things." Twilight knew it was too good to be true. There had to be some catch to Rarity seeming to be the same.

Twilight spoke up. "I don't know what to say, Rarity. I never expected to hear something like that from you." Rarity laughed lightly.

"And I never expected you to disappear for years with no word. Times change, darling. I did not get to where I am today through kindness and generosity; they were the two ingredients stopping me from realizing my true potential."

Twilight shook her head is disbelief. "Kindness and GENEROSITY made you what you are!"

Rarity sighed at Twilight's outburst. "Oh, it's not like I'm completely heartless; after all, if it were not for me, Fluttershy would most certainly be dead right now."

Twilight walked back up to where Rarity was. "Yes, I've been meaning to ask about Fluttershy. That scar around her neck, how did she get that? What happen... that wasn't you, WAS IT?" Twilight didn't want to think that for a second but with the way the day had been going, how could she think any different?

"Oh, GOODNESS NO! Do not be absurd, Twilight!" Twilight still wasn't sure what to think. "Look, when Rainbow Dash and Applejack are ready, we will have dinner together and I will explain EVERYTHING, darling."

Twilight gave in with a light sigh. "Fine, but I want to know exactly what happened to her."

That evening Twilight and Rarity were sitting in Rarity's grand dining hall, both dressed in one of Rarity's fabulous dresses. Rarity was passing the time chatting away about the latest fashions while Twilight was half-listening and all too anxious to hear the full story. Fluttershy entered the room and ushered in Rainbow Dash and Applejack who were both clean as a whistle and dressed in some of Rarity's rejected clothing. "Is this really nessasary?" Rainbow Dash moaned.

"Ah have to agree, why are ya makin' us wear these dresses, Rarity? It don't feel or fit right," Applejack sneered.

"Oh nonsense, darling. You both look..." Rarity paused to let out a slight sarcastic cough, "wonderful. Now sit, sit. Dinner will soon be served." Rarity finished saying as Fluttershy wandered off towards the kitchen.

"Hey Fluttershy, aren't you going to eat too?" Rainbow Dash quizzed. Fluttershy paused a moment, but continued on.

"So, Rarity. You promised to explain about Fluttershy..." Twilight gave her a friendly look. Rarity pondered.

"Hmm, Well, I was going to start with the fabulous story of my rise to the top, but, I suppose as she isn't here to get upset, I can tell you". The others leaned forward, curious to hear the story.

"Well, Darling's, I can't tell you every detail as the poor thing hasn't been able to speak since I found her. But I can tell you HOW I found her. Slave traders had -"

"WHAT? What do you mean slave traders? What was she doing with them? What were YOU doing involved with slavers?" Twilight demanded to know.

"I will get to that shortly. Now then, from what I hear, Fluttershy became more and more obsessed with helping animals after we had all split up. So much so that she began to look closer to the Everfree Forest for the more exotic creatures. Ponies say she would often travel there out there alone. Well, one can only assume at some point she was filly-napped by a group of slavers. I'm not sure for how long she was in their captivity, but, judging by the damage from her slave collar, I would assume it was a long while. I had written to her many times, but I never heard from her, and no one knew where she had gone."

"Well a few years ago my business was just taking off and I needed laborers to do some of the, well, manual labor. And, I will confess, I did dabble a 'little' bit in the black market. Yes, yes. I know, very unladylike, but I was young, naïve. A silly mare who could not have -"

"Just git on with it," Applejack protested, getting weary from all the talking.

"Yes, well... Obviously I happened on to these 'traders'. Now, girls, you have to understand at this point, I treat my workers fair and never had any intentions of treating them as slaves. They are all paid a fair wage here..." Rarity's voice trailed off as she shared a nervous look with the other ponies around the table. Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Applejack did not look too impressed.

"Yes well, obviously I stumbled across Fluttershy and after much crying and hugging, I attempted to buy her freedom. However, the slavers liked having her around, saying she was their 'favorite'. I had to fight for her, not physically, you understand, but with deals and cold, hard negotiations. Eventually I had used a quarter of my earnings, but I valiantly bought her freedom. We hugged and cried and cried and hugged. I brought her back here and asked her to work fo... with me to help my business really fly. She agreed and so became my assistant. And now she and I live side by side, though she seems to go out of her way for me sometimes a little too much. But I told her that she is under no obligation to do anything she does not want to."

Twilight sighed. "But you know she will, because she feels guilty for you having to pay for her. She will always be in your debt, Rarity. I know it's possibly me jumping to conclusions, but she doesn't seem happy here. She was flinching at the mention of your name and she seems terribly upset."

"I don't think its fear, darling. More of... a disagreement on certain methods I may use for my business. You see, these kinds of dresses we are all wearing, well, the nobility fall over themselves just to get one on order and the materials used to make them are, rare, to say the least." Rarity paused a moment to glance nervously at the other three ponies before continuing. "Normal fabric just WILL NOT DO for these ponies. They need something exotic; something that screams SUPERIORITY. And so, we use more... organic materials." Her voice trailed off on the last few words but what Rarity said was clear.

Twilight questioned, "Organic? You mean from plants and things?"

"This kinda reminds me of that manticore smell when we..." Applejack said while sniffing at the sleek dress she was wearing while Rainbow Dash eyed the leathery dress she was wearing.

"Is this... is this what I think it is?" Rainbow Dash asked, a bit of disgust mixed with horror carrying her voice. The three of them, all realizing what they were wearing, jumped up out of their seats and threw off their dresses in revolt.

"Careful with those, they cost a fortune to make!" Rarity screamed as Twilight reached to Rarity with her hooves and grabbed her.

"YOU KILL ANIMALS TO MAKE THESE DRESSES, RARITY, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT!?" Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs before calming herself down. "Oh no... no wonder Fluttershy seemed so disturbed."

Rarity brushed away Twilight with ease, her grip weakened from the disappointments the day had brought. "We do not KILL animals, we merely... recycle, dead ones, or, if there is a dangerous creature that is bothersome, we put it to better use. We are NOT barbarians, Twilight."

Twilight paced around the room a little before she snapped. "Well, this. Is. PERFECT. JUST ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL REUNION THIS HAS TURNED OUT TO BE! MY BEST FRIENDS TURN OUT TO BE..." She paused to calm herself down a little, though it did no good. She pointed at each pony one-by-one as Fluttershy re-entered the room. "A VIOLENT ALCHOHOLIC, A RECKLESS SMARTMOUTH, AND A MUTE ACCOMPLICE TO A BARBARIC ICE QUEEN!" Twilight screamed and finally broke down into tears. "Why... why is this happening?"

The other ponies stood around awkwardly for a moment before Applejack walked over to Twilight and put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Ahm sorry, Twi. None of us wants to see you so upset after all you been through to find us, but we can't change whut life has made us. We all wish thangs had stayed the way they did in Ponyville, well, 'cept maybe Rarity." Rarity gave a small huff and turned her head. "But, you just need to be strong. At least we're all still alive, right?" Applejack gave Twilight a half-grizzled smile as Twilight wiped away her tears.

"You're, right. I'm sorry everyone, I'm being so selfish. I was so wrapped up in my vision of us all being back like the old days that I never took into consideration that you all are allowed to choose how YOU want to live, forgive me," Twilight said, her tears slowing.

"It ain't how we wanted it, sugarcube, but it coulda been much worse." The rest of the ponies tried to give a convincing smile as Twilight stood up.

"Oh boy. I can't wait to see how Pinkie turned out," Twilight said, an obvious sarcastic tone in her voice. Twilight looked at the others who had gone from half-smiles to stares of worry. "What?" Twilight asked as more worry began to weigh down her heart.

"We don't ever say that name out loud Twilight..." Rainbow Dash said, breaking the silence, a soft sadness in her words.

Twilight tilted her head a little, confused. "Pinkie Pie?"

"Dagnabbit, Twi! Hold yer tongue," Applejack snapped at Twilight, who began to look even more confused.

"Why don't you talk about Pinkie Pie?" she asked.

"Darling, please, for the love of all that is fashionable and beautiful, PLEASE refrain from saying that name," Rarity begged with Twilight who was now getting more annoyed than confused.

"Okay, what's the joke here? You keep telling me not to mention Pinkie Pie, but you won't tell me why." Twilight looked down at her legs to see Fluttershy wrapped around them shaking her head. Twilight looked down at her then up at Applejack. "What happened... to... Pinkie Pie?!" The other ponies looked around at each other with a nervous and worrying look.

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to break the silence. "Twilight... Pinkie... she kinda-"

"Shut up, Rainbow!" Applejack shouted over Rainbow Dash. "Shut yer mouth right now! We all promised not to -"

"She has a right to know, Applejack, I think we should tell her. After all she's had to put up with today, it's only fair." Rainbow Dash shouted back at Applejack. She turned to Twilight who stood firm, bracing herself for the news. "Twilight... Pinkie Pie, she -" Before Rainbow Dash could finish her sentence Applejack was upon her. Applejack threw her back legs up and bucked Rainbow Dash hard enough that she had smashed through the entire table, scattering silverware everywhere. Rarity was backing away from the scuffle while Fluttershy hugged the floor trembling. Twilight screamed at Applejack to stop her attack. "Pinkie is -" Rainbow Dash tried to continue telling Twilight, but Applejack kicked her again. Rainbow Dash fell to the ground winded and hurting. By this time, Rarity's bodyguards had heard the commotion and entered the room.

"Will somepony PLEASE restrain her before she ruins anymore of my precious furniture!" Rarity screamed out. The bodyguards rushed at Applejack, grabbing her neck and backside.

"Get yer stinkin hooves off me!" Applejack shouted before bucking like mad, flinging the two on her tumbling in separate directions and keeping the other guards at a distance.

All the while, Rarity was ushered out of the room. "Twilight, Fluttershy, come on, before you get hurt," she said, waving at the two to follow her.

"I can't leave them to kill each other!" Twilight paused to look at Fluttershy who was slowly making her way over to Rarity but looking back at Twilight. "Go, Fluttershy. I'll calm them down," Twilight said unconvincingly with a half-crooked smile. Fluttershy turned back and ran out of the room.

Rainbow Dash had pulled herself to her feet at this point and started to slowly hobble over to Twilight while Applejack was busy dealing with the guards. "Twi... Twilight. Listen to me..." she gasped as Applejack had charged through the last bodyguard and knocked her to the floor.

"AH said DON'T." Applejack shouted at Rainbow Dash who was too beaten to try to stand. "We all promised we wouldn't speak about her an Ah don't plan to break that promise, even if Twilight is here!" Applejack's face was contorted with anger and frustration as Rainbow Dash looked up to her.

"But..." Rainbow Dash started to say; pain covering her face as she tried to stand but ultimately gave up, "She has a right to know." She then turned to Twilight which caused her to grimace slightly. "Twi... Pinkie Pie -"

Applejack didn't give Rainbow Dash a chance and bucked her into a side-table holding a number of candles. The blow knocked Rainbow Dash out and a number of still-lit candles scattered about on the floor while a few of the candles rolled to a nearby curtain setting it ablaze almost instantly.

"Dash!" Twilight screamed as she watched her body fall to the ground unconscious and ran over to her. Grabbing her by the tail, Twilight tried to pull Rainbow Dash away from the fire but found she was not strong enough. She looked over to Applejack and pleaded her for help. Applejack looked at them both and hesitated but, giving in with a huff, went over and grabbed Rainbow Dash's tail too and helped drag her through the mansion and eventually outside where Rarity was screaming as the fire in her mansion got worse and Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. Twilight and Applejack managed to get Rainbow Dash a safe distance from the burning building before setting her down on the ground. Twilight suddenly spun around and slapped Applejack across the face.

Applejack was frozen in shock for a second from the unexpected hit, but came to and spun her head back around to meet Twilight's gaze; her eyes were seething with anger, but it soon faded. "Ah... deserved that," was all Applejack could say before Twilight hit her again, her eyes flowing with tears.

"You IDIOT! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HER... you could have killed her..." Twilight's voice trailed off as she began to break down.

Applejack turned away, embarrassed slightly. "Twi, please do me a favor. When Dash wakes up, tell er... tell er Ah'm sorry." Twilight knelt down next to Rainbow Dash, holding her in her arms.

"You tell her..." Twilight said in a weeping, quiet voice.

"Ah can't. Ah have to go check on something an' I don't have much time," Applejack said, turning around from Twilight and Rainbow Dash about to head off. "An, Twi? Whatever that flabbermouth says, don't go lookin' fer her. Please." She didn't give Twilight a chance to respond and galloped off, leaving Twilight holding Rainbow Dash in her arms.

Twilight gently stroked Rainbow Dash's mane as she looked up at the raging fire that was consuming the large mansion. Rarity came storming over with several stallions in tow and stomped her hooves down in front of Twilight. "My beautiful home! My fashion designs, my... EVERYTHING! It's all gone, thanks to those two... RUFFIANS!" she screamed as loud as she could, making sure to stomp the ground again to show her immense displeasure.

Twilight gripped Rainbow Dash tighter in fear and looked up trying to find Fluttershy but still saw no sign of her. "Where's Fluttershy?" she asked.

Rarity stomped the ground again. "That's the LEAST of my concerns right now! UGH! YOU STALLIONS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? FIND WATER AND PUT THIS FIRE OUT NOW!" Rarity yelled as loud as she could as the stallions gave each other a nervous look before running off to look for water. Twilight shook her head slowly in despair. Rarity turned back to look at her burning house. "M-maybe It's not too late. I can still salvage some of the dresses in the east wing - EEK!" Rarity screamed as a tiny Ursa ran past her and Twilight, followed by a cockatrice and several other animals and creatures. Rarity could only watch in horror and shock as her entire 'stock' ran past. "My beautiful..." her voice trailed off as she noticed Fluttershy standing at the edge of the far garden with a set of keys in her mouth and a steely look in her eye. "Fluttershy! What have you DONE?!" she screamed, but Fluttershy had dropped the keys and ran off with tears in her eyes.

Rarity collapsed into a sobbing heap on the ground. "I'm ruined... RUINED! Years of hard work all gone in an instant!" She sat there motionless for a moment before turning to Twilight with a nasty glare in her eyes. "YOU! This is all YOUR FAULT!" she screamed at Twilight who was far too drained at this point to even reply with words. She just sat there cradling Rainbow Dash. "If YOU had not come back, if you had NOT written that stupid letter and brought them together. If you had not..." Rarity watched as Twilight ignored her, picking up Rainbow Dash and placing her onto her back. "WAIT, Where do you think you are going?" Rarity demanded. "You can't just leave after..."

Twilight turned her head as she began to slowly walk away. "Just... don't, Rarity," was all Twilight said as she picked up the pace and went off in the same direction as Fluttershy, leaving Rarity behind who stood there dumbfounded and in complete disbelief as escaping creatures ran around her and the fire in her mansion burned everything it could touch.

Twilight had been walking aimlessly around for twenty minutes down the road, unable to pay attention to where she was going and tripping and stumbling every so often when Rainbow Dash started to stir. "Uhh, w... where am I?" She muttered in a daze. Twilight stopped and turned her head to check on Rainbow Dash, whose face and body was bruised and swollen and began to weep softly.

"You're safe now," Twilight said as she made her way over to a large tree and placed Rainbow Dash on the ground against it.

"Safe from what, Applehead? Heh, I was just about to - unnh..." Rainbow Dash groaned with pain as she talked. "Heh, who am I kidding, right? I never could beat her even when we were younger..." She looked around for Applejack but saw she was nowhere to be seen. "H-hey wait, where IS Applejack? And Fluttershy and Rarity?" she asked turning her head slowly to not cause more discomfort looking for the others, but saw no other pony.

Twilight sat next to her. "Rarity is back at her hole-in-the-ground; we're not going back. Fluttershy is... I'm not sure, and Applejack took off somewhere. She told me... she told me to tell you that she was sorry," Twilight explained and gave a loud and heavy sigh.

Rainbow Dash had a look of confusion on her face. "Ah, forget it," was all she said before they both sat there in silence for a while but after time had passed slightly, they both heard a soft rustle in the bushes and looked at each other before looking towards the foliage.

"Who's there?" Twilight asked, her throat tensing in fear. A small, yellow hoof timidly stepped out from behind a curtain of green brush. "Fluttershy!" Twilight gasped as she got up and rushed over to hug her. "Oh, thank goodness you are okay!" she cried out, embracing Fluttershy in a hug. Fluttershy returned the hug before they both went over to Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy sat down next to Rainbow Dash, nestling in beside her. "Ow... cut it out. I'm okay, really, Fluttershy. I've had worse, heh," Rainbow Dash joked as Fluttershy laid her head on Dash, utterly exhausted by the day's events.

After a few silent minutes, Twilight composed herself and turned to Rainbow Dash for some answers. "Rainbow, I'm scared to ask now, after all that has happened, but... you were trying to tell me about Pinkie. For the others to react the way they did... I'm not sure I want to know any more, but..." Twilight wasn't sure if she wanted to hear, but she had come too far this day. Rainbow Dash looked up at Twilight and gave a heavy sigh.