Lucid Nightmares

Lucid Nightmares

Chapter 2

Sweetie Belle awoke at the usual hour from the loveliest dream she couldn't remember. The filly gave a yawn that would make her sister shudder as she crawled out of her bed, blinking her eyes to adjust to the light of day.

Of course, she didn’t think about last night. She had no reason to. The filly glanced into a mirror, her tired eyes blurring the image slightly. She brought up a small hoof and rubbed the remaining sleep out of her eyes.

Yep, still Sweetie Belle. Sister to the Element of Generosity! One of the founding members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!

Just another filly.

The little unicorn walked over to the vanity desk, an addition to her room that Rarity innocently insisted she should use every day on her own. “A lady should start looking her best the moment she is out of bed!” she could practically hear her sister chime. Sweetie Belle sighed and brushed her mane, mind wandering.

Rarity had been acting weird lately. The young sibling, showing responsibility, caught this very quickly. She practically never left her work room, and the time she didn’t spend working she spent panicking over a cup of coffee and talking to herself.

Really, Sweetie Belle just wanted her sister back. The fancy, lovable sister that sometimes was a tiny bit too prim and proper.

Sweetie stared into the mirror, and gave a nod. Good enough. The filly hopped off of her seat and trotted to the door. She pushed the bedroom door open and blinked in confusion. Pancakes? The filly furrowed her brow. Rarity is up before me?

The filly gingerly trotted downstairs, careful with her steps, feeling uncharacteristically groggy this morning, and made her way to the kitchen. She failed to suppress her gasp as she looked over the impressive breakfast display. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a black blob moving, but when she looked over, all she could see was her sister.

Her wonderful sister, smiling at her.

“Oh, Sweetie Belle, darling! You’re finally up!” the unicorn sang, skipping over to Sweetie and giving the little filly an affectionate nuzzle. “Did you sleep well, dear?”

Sweetie was just a bit confused. Not only from that trick of the eye, but from her sister’s sudden affection. The mare looked more awake than ever. She looked up at Rarity, who smiled gently down at her. Sweetie blinked, realizing she asked her something. “Huh? Oh, um, yeah, Rarity” she muttered in response, looking around the room again, as she felt a hoof running across her mane. “D-did you make all of this?”

Rarity brought her hoof to her muzzle and giggled musically. “Mm, yes, I suppose I did! It certainly didn’t appear overnight, no?” The mare tossed her mane back and gave her sister a playful noogie. “Go ahead and eat, darling. We’re going to visit Applejack!”

Sweetie just had even more questions. “We are?” she asked, climbing onto a seat and digging in to some decidedly fluffy pancakes.

Rarity only nodded, smiling softly. “Mm. It’s been a while since I’ve taken a little walk about town, hasn’t it?” the mare chuckled quietly, glancing out the window. “And today looks so lovely, I’ve noticed. Regardless, I doubt you want to spend all day wasting away in here, darling. Don’t you want to see Applebloom?”

Sweetie stroked her foreleg. “Well, I guess.” She avoided eye contact with her sister. Something just felt so wrong in this picture. Really, she was getting used to Rarity not greeting her in the morning, or just barely acknowledging her presence. Did she have a change of heart over night?

The filly squeaked as a hoof was placed over her shoulder. She looked up to see Rarity’s smiling face. “Sweetie, darling...” her tone was quiet and somber, “You know your sister loves you, right?”

Sweetie shook, staring into the unicorn’s eyes. They looked bluer than ever. “Y-yeah, of course, Rarity!” She exclaimed finally.

Rarity hummed along the walk to Sweet Apple Acres. Today really was a lovely day to go outside. The clouds made the sun far less overbearing, and the breeze was a gentle, cool little thing. The early days of fall were the best, really.

A call from Sweetie to slow down brought the unicorn out of her mind. Probably for the best. Rarity had found out that her mind wasn’t exactly a gorgeous place at the moment. “Oh, goodness, Sweetie. Forgive me, I hadn’t even noticed that you were falling behind!”

Sweetie trotted up to Rarity’s side, fumbling with the dark blue-ish scarf that Rarity had given her. “Why are we in such a hurry??”

Rarity blinked. Why WERE they in such a hurry? Really, everything was just going on and on nowadays. “Hm. I suppose we aren’t in a hurry at all, darling.” she answered, chuckling to herself. She slided up close to her sister, walking at an even pace. “Silly me, getting distracted.”

“Distracted by what...?” Sweetie inquired.

“Mm, oh, fashion, dates, such and such. What day was it again?”

Sweetie rolled her eyes. “Sunday.”

“Goodness, already?!” Rarity hummed. She could have sworn she had some work to do today.

Oh well.

Finally, Sweet Apple Acres came into view. Rarity noticed an orange blob in the distance. “Oh, I think I see Applejack now! Let’s go see if she knows where Applebloom is, hm?” she waited for a confirmation from Sweetie, then smiled and picked up the pace of her trot, Sweetie following close behind.

And as Rarity thought, there was Applejack. Doing some work or another, really, Rarity didn’t know or care. ‘That’s quite rude, darling’ she chided herself, and yet it was true. Why did Rarity even bother keeping this mare around? This rash little thing who shared nothing in common with her, who stood against everything Rarity tried to build for herself, who had sealed her away.

Applejack turned around and noticed the two unicorns approaching. The farmer smiled and waved eagerly. It looked like she was saying something, but Rarity had long since tuned everything but the sound of her own hoofsteps out. She was good at that, she gathered.

Oh, goodness, she’s already standing right there. Rarity blinked, then smiled, skipping over and hugging the earth pony. “Applejack, darling! Oh how are you? Goodness, it feels as if it’s been months since I’ve seen you!”

Applejack yelped at the very sudden hug, before laughing a bit, patting the unicorn on the back. “Shucks, sugacube, it’s only been a few days! But ah reckon it’s nice ta see ya anyway, Rares.” The two friends separated, Applejack grinning wide. “What brings y’all here? I thought ya had a lot o’ work ta do.”

Rarity scoffed and waved a hoof. “Oh, never you mind that, darling. I just decided to go for a walk, is all. Is Applebloom around? I don’t want Sweetie getting bored by us adults.” the unicorn sang. Sweetie Belle hmphed and stuck her tongue out, though Rarity didn’t seem to notice.

Applejack laughed. “Heh, yeah, she’s inside. Hang on just a sec’.” The mare turned and called out. “APPLEBLOOM!! SWEETIE’S HERE T’ SEE YA.”

Soon after, the yellow filly galloped out of the Apple family home, dumb smile on her face. Rarity rolled her eyes as her sister ran over to meet the filly halfway. The unicorn turned her attention to her friend. The Element of Honesty. The sweet, dependable earth pony.

She smelled like apples, of course.

“So Applejack,” Rarity started, nuzzling up close to said pony. “how have you been, darling? We really must catch up!”

Applejack hrmed, tilting her hat. “Well, ah dunno. Guess things haven’t been any different since we saw each other. What have ya been doin’, anyway? Ah heard you were mighty sick!”

Rarity blinked. “Sick, now? From who?” You stay inside suffering from a breakdown and suddenly everypony thinks you’re dead. Applejack seemed to mull it over for a second. Such a cute thinking face. Finally, the earth pony just shrugged. Rarity sighed, perhaps a tad too dramatically, and leaned against her friend. “Well, as you can see, I am perfectly fine.” Rarity winced at a sudden spike in her head. Voices screaming. She smiled. “Perfectly, wonderfully FINE, darling!” She chuckled, nuzzling Applejack affectionately.

Said pony could only respond with confusion. The sirens in her own head were blaring that there was most definitely something wrong. “Uh... huh.” The two fillies had stopped chatting with each other, looking over at the two mares.

“Oh, Applejack, darling.” Rarity chuckled. The sun felt so intense, even passed the clouds. Was it still morning? The night felt so far away. “...Shall we go for a walk, hm? I feel like going for a walk. And I would oh so love the company, darling.”

“Erm, sure?” Applejack turned to the two fillies. “Y’all two can run off. Me and Rares are gonna catch up a li’l.”

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other, then shrugged and skipped off on their own towards the house. Rarity simply smiled again when Applejack turned to look at her. The orange pony squinted at the unicorn. Rarity rose an eyebrow. “Yes, darling?”

Applejack shook her head. “Nothin’, Rares.” She glanced at the single white strand in Rarity’s otherwise perfectly purple mane. “Ah’m happy ya decided to visit, s’all. Seems like yer always in  the boutique workin’ or somethin’ lately.”

Rarity smiled sadly. “Oh, yes, I know. Part of the reason I decided to stop by, actually. It felt so... cramped, in that silly little place I call home. Things have been so... oppressive, lately, really.”

Applejack frowned. The unicorn suddenly looked far more tired. “You... sure you alright, Rarity?” she asked, gingerly stepping over and resting a hoof on the mare’s side.

Rarity let out a sigh. Are we? The voices were silent. Her dark little friends were playing hard to get today. And she was just getting used to them. The unicorn laughed. “Applejack, darling. Are we friends?”

“Wh-, huh?” Applejack raised a brow.

“Are we friends. Are the ponies known as Rarity and Applejack friends. Simple question, darling.” Rarity smiled up at the clouds, shielding her from the sun.

“Well, o’ course we are, Rarity!” Applejack did her best to smile. “What’s... do ya have something on yer mind?”

“Quite a few somethings, really. But forget that for a second.” The unicorn waved a hoof before Applejack could even think to respond. “Tell me, darling. Who is Rarity?"

“E-erm, beg pardon?”

“Really now, darling. This is getting sad.” The unicorn chuckled, tossing her mane back. “Who, is, Rarity? What does that name mean to you?”

“Well, ah mean, that’s kind of a hard question...” Applejack rubbed at the back of her neck with a hoof, looking aside. She looked up to see Rarity glaring at her in what could only be described as sheer disappointment. “I-I mean! There’s just so much to ya, yanno? Yer my friend, and a pretty good, no, great pony! And, er, yanno, even if ah don’t really understand a lick about fashion, ah can tell yer pretty amazin’ at it an-”

“Okay, that’s enough, darling.” Rarity chuckled. Applejack could swear she saw her eyes shift. For just a second, she saw slits in her friend’s eyes. The earth pony’s heart was pounding and the worst part was she didn’t even know why. “Thank you. Terribly sorry, really. Sometimes I need a reminder. I suppose I am odd like that.”

Applejack grimaced. “R-right. Erm, if anything’s botherin’ ya, you can talk to me or...”

“Yes, yes, I know. Thank you, Applejack. I... should leave. Tell Sweetie to come back home before bed.” Rarity sighed. “I’m feeling a tad overwhelmed, yet... in a good way, I suppose.” The unicorn leaned into the earth pony, nuzzling the mare’s orange cheek. Rarity smiled and trotted off.

Applejack stared at Rarity as she walked away. “Rarity... er... was that...?” She rubbed her head. “What in tarnation...?”

Rarity rubbed her forehead. Her horn hurt. Her head hurt. Her very being hurt. “Oh, sweet Celestia. Perhaps I need a little rest after all.”

The fact that she had stayed up all night had finally dawned on the poor unicorn’s mind. “I may be powerful, but I am still mortal, yes, I understand that now. I’ll sleep, I’ll sleep, just leave me be.” she growled.

The pounding, the yelling. She only barely noticed a pony step in. She stood prim and proper. “Hello! Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique!”

The pony’s lips started moving, but Rarity couldn’t hear them at all. She recognized this one, though. Lyra... Heartstrings, was it?. She had come in a few days ago requesting a new dress for some sort of family reunion. Did Rarity even finish designing that? No, we did not. Of course. Rarity smiled, shaking only slightly. “Terribly sorry, darling. I was simply too busy to finish your dress. Perhaps you’ll allow me one more day...?”

Of course she won’t.

Rarity grimaced as she watched the mare’s mouth move, but simply nothing came out. She didn’t look particularly happy, though. She didn’t care anymore. “One more day, darling, one more day.”

More mouth movements.

Rarity pressed her hooves against her temples. “I SAID ONE MORE DAY.” the mare growled through her teeth.

The darkened unicorn stood over Lyra. She simply stared down at the fallen form of her client. Her magic was wrapped around the seafoam colored pony in dark coils. Where did Lyra live again? Ah, yes.

With a simple flick of her horn, Rarity had sent the heavily sleeping form of Lyra Heartstrings to the front of her home.

She was fine, the voices told her. Fine enough, anyway. Maybe some insomnia and nightmares for a month or two. She could have done much worse. She’d only be trapped in the dream world for twelve hours, the voices said.

Rarity held a blackened hoof up to her eyes, mane blowing in an invisible wind.

“...I’m tired.”