Endgame

Endgame:

Crimson Smile

Moonshine The Brony

Beep. Beep.

Rarity was lost, trapped in an ocean of darkness. She couldn't see, she couldn't feel, she couldn't speak. She was alone, without a clue as how she got there.

Beep. Beep.

She couldn't remember. What had happened before? She remembered the dress order.

Beep. Beep.

She remembered the Emergency Alarm.

Beepbeep. Beepbeep.

She remembered finding the town square, full of wounded ponies.

Beepbeep. Beepbeep.

She remembered going inside and finding Rainbow Dash, crying over...

Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep.

~ ~ ~

Rarity's eyes flew open, her heart hammering in her chest. She flinched, the bright light blinding her temporarily. Several shapes moved blurrily in front of her. She let out a weak groan. "Wha...?"

A familiar voice comforted her. "You're gonna be okay, Sugarcube." Rarity focused her vision in front of her, making out the fuzzy outline of Applejack. Applejack sighed. "Whew! Ah was worried for a second," she said, wiping something from her eyes. "Ah thought we lost you!" Rarity sat up.

"Am I in the hospital?" she asked groggily. A mare she recognized as Nurse Redheart from Sweetie Belle's last sprained hoof stepped in front of Applejack. She nodded, then handed Rarity some juice. "Yes, dear, you are. You fainted back at the town square." Rarity took the juice, finding that her mouth was unbearably dry, like sandpaper. She sipped the juice, then decided to slurp it down. Who cared if she looked unladylike? She was in the hospital! She gestured to a glass next to the hospital room's mirror. "Water," she croaked. Nurse Redheart nodded and walked over to get Rarity some water. She grunted and leaned up to Applejack. "Applejack, how is Rainbow Dash?" she whispered. Applejack swallowed and paled, signs that she didn't want to talk about it.

"It... It's bad," said Applejack gingerly. Rarity's eyes opened wide. "Well I do hope she's okay! Losing her friends Cloudchaser and Flitter must be hard on her!" Applejack swallowed, shaking now. "S-so you don't remember?" she asked, afraid of the answer. Rarity eyed her friend suspiciously. "Remember what?" she asked. "Nothing," said Applejack, though it was obvious to Rarity that she was lying. She chose to ignore it for now.

"Anyway, how are the girls?" she asked, changing the subject. Applejack grimaced.

"Well, Pinkie Pie was the first to visit you, suggesting we should throw a 'Get Well Soon' party. We said no. Rainbow Dash is shaken up very badly. She hasn't come out of the town hall yet. Fluttershy is helping with the wounded; she's the one who brought you here. She was crying pretty badly. She also left you that flower," she gestured at a beautiful rose on the table next to Rarity's bed. "You're here in the hospital, and I haven't left. Twilight..." she trailed off. "We haven't heard from her, but the library's got lights flashing inside, so she probably just hasn't heard the news." Rarity frowned at Applejack. "Applejack, you know very well what I meant when I said 'how are the girls'."

Applejack sighed. "Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are in the square with Rainbow Dash." Rarity gestured for Applejack to keep talking. "And Sweetie Bell? I assume she's already been here as well?" Applejack's eyes were watery, something that didn't happen very often. That in itself caused a knot to form in Rarity's stomach. Drops of ice water trickled down her spine. "Rarity... I'm sorry. Rainbow Dash tried, but she didn't make it..."

Rarity took a second to understand what her friend had said. At first she thought it to be some disgusting, morbid prank. Then she remembered that Applejack was the Element of Honesty, and she wasn't capable of lying. She felt light-headed, like she was going to throw up. Her heart pounded as her breathing quickened and she started to hyperventilate. She saw Applejack's lips move but never heard her calling for the nurse. The world grew black around her and all was still.

~ ~ ~

Beep. Beep.

Rarity opened her eyes. It was dark now, so she adjusted quickly to the lack of light. She layed in her hospital bed silently, thinking about what Applejack had said. If it was true that Sweetie Bell was gone... it was her fault. Guilt crashed down on her like a ton of bricks. If she hadn't kicked Sweetie out of the Boutique for her childish games, she'd... she'd...

Rarity started to sob. She had no right to, she thought, as it was her fault. But she wept anyway, for herself and for her gone sister. Her parents had died a few months earlier, and they were having a hard time adjusting. Now Sweetie had gone too. It was too much for Rarity to bear. She cried, cursing herself and her entire existence. Then she eyed the mirror next to her bed. She struggled to her feet and limped over to the mirror, regarding her reflection with disgust. Her appearance, regarded by many as the image of beauty, mocked her. She didn't deserve great friends such as Applejack and the girls. She only brought suffering. She inhaled deeply, steeling herself for what she was about to do. She prayed to Celestia that she would be forgiven for ruining the lives of so many, and made her peace.

~ ~ ~

CRASH!

"What was that?"

"I don't know!"

"It came from Miss Rarity's room!"

"Goodness! Is she okay?"

"I'm headed there right now!"

"I'll go with you!"

The door to Rarity's dark room creaked open as two ponies peeked inside. They saw nothing, so they turned the lights on. Nurse Redheart's scream echoed throughout the hospital, haunting the orderlies and other nurses for the rest of their lives. The mirror was shattered, most of the shards of glass on the floor. As they looked around, Redheart noticed a glint of light on Rarity's blanket. They pulled the sheets down and gasped. Rarity lay there, a peaceful smile underscored by a crimson grin on her face. Thin trails of blood ran down her face, as if gruesome tears. And clenched in a hoof was a beautiful rose, petals scattered on her chest.