I'll Never Let You Go...by Convoluted DictionChaptersPrologueChapter 1: Breaking the NewsChapter 2: Unexpected CompanyChapter 3: You're So Strong...Prologue"I'm sorry, I don't believe I heard you right, did you say..." The voice was shaky. Near tears, even. Rarity sat on the chair in the physician's office, if she wasn't so pearl-white, one would say that the colour had drained out of her face. "Cancer. Yes, Ms. Rarity. I apologize, I know that this might be a lot to take in, but your blood tests came back, and it seems as though your white blood cell count is higher than it should be. We tested this, and concluded that you have white cells that have lived much longer than they should have." The doctor stated; his voice was calm, which only seemed to worsen Rarity's sorrow. The unicorn shuddered at the idea: Cancer. She had cancer. What in Celestia's name was she going to do, now?! She was panicking, sweating, trying to think of way too many things at once. The doctor raised a hoof, and tapped her shoulder to bring her back to reality. "Like I said, I know this is a lot to take in.. But you haven't heard the rest of the news." He cleared his throat, and took another look over her medical chart. "Your condition is treatable, but only if you follow the guidelines that I lay out for you. Do you understand?" He was met with a feverish nod of Rarity's head, followed by a small sigh. Tapping her hooves together, she looked down to the floor, and tried to regain her composure. "What guidelines..?" She mumbled, before looking back up at the doctor with tear-filled eyes. "You have a choice: We can start you on a course of chemotherapy, that is the most commonly chosen method of treatment. Following this, we can issue you a course of radio-therapy. This is not as popular, as the effects of the radiation can, well.." He sighed, knowing how the next words could affect the mare. "Can cause your mane, or fur, to fall out." This hit Rarity like a ton of bricks. Nearly as bad as the initial news! "M-m-my.. My mane? My fur? G-gone...?" Her voice became a lot shakier, as the tears that were brimming in her glistening, azure eyes finally burst forth. Shaking his head, and letting out a sigh, the doctor placed a reassuring hoof on the unicorn's shoulder. "These are not the only methods of treatment. Even though both may result in the loss of your fur and mane, you do have a third option." He explained, this caused Rarity's ears to perk up, in hope. "The third option is a bone-marrow transplant. There's only one issue, though.." The unicorn's heart sank, once again. What was the bad news, this time? "There are no, available donors for you at this present time. You would have to wait for a few months before getting on the list. After that, well.. It's a matter of luck. That is very risky, however, as the longer your cancer remains untreated, the-" He was interrupted by the raising of a white hoof, followed by a small sniffle. "Please.." She began, trying to control her breathing so that she could speak, clearly. "D-don't say that word.. Call it a-a 'condition'.. But f-for the love of Celestia, don't call it c-c-can.. Can..." She couldn't even finish the statement. She burst out into a fit of crying, once again, her tears staining the clean, blue tiles beneath her seat. Nodding in understanding, the doctor continued on with his explanation. "The longer your.. 'Condition' remains untreated, the less the likelihood of survival becomes. I would not recommend you waiting on a bone-marrow transplant. Personally, I would like to start you on a course of chemo, or radio-therapy, immediately. The sooner we treat it, Ms. Rarity, the sooner you can resume your life." "And.. And how long until my mane and fur grows back?" She asked, fearfully. It was as if this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Her mane and her fur.. Her looks, were some of the most important things to her. As vain as it sounded, she didn't think she could be seen in public like that. "If it falls out. It's a big possibility, but there is still a chance that you won't lose anything. Maybe a little lustre, but no hair." He assured, he was used to dishing out this kind of news, so it seemed as though he was reciting all of this from a script. It made Rarity uneasy. "If it does fall out, however, you would be looking at around.. Three to six months, once your treatment has concluded." Three to six months.. What a length of time to have to wait. She didn't want this to be happening in the first place, she wished that it was just a nightmare that she was going to wake up from any moment! Oh please, let this be a terrible prank that Princess Luna was playing on her. Please.. "I understand.." She muttered, softly, before standing from her seat. "If you wouldn't mind, doctor, I would like to return home and give the news to my friends and family. Would it be okay if I returned tomorrow, to discuss treatment?" "Of course, I understand. Just promise that you won't over-exert yourself. You need as much energy as you can muster for whichever treatment you choose. I'll schedule you for another appointment to see me tomorrow afternoon.." He began to search through various papers and files before concluding a time. "How does.. 1PM sound?" He was given a small nod in response from the disheartened unicorn. "Okay, I'll see you then." With that, Rarity left the office. Then she left the hospital.. And made her way back to the Carousel Boutique. She didn't get five steps from the door of the hospital, before breaking down into tears. Cancer... Rarity had cancer. "I-I suppose I should g-go home, and tell everypony.." She sniffled, before taking a breath, and making her way back home. "What am I going to tell Sweetie Bell? Her older sister has cancer.. She relies on me.. What ever will I do?" This, amongst other, dreaded thoughts littered the unicorn's mind, as she trekked back to Ponyville. Chapter 1: Breaking the News"What d'ya think Rarity's callin' us over for?" Applejack asked, looking over to Twilight as she posed the question. "I don't really know, to be honest with you..." Twilight sighed, softly. Could it have been something to do with the hospital visit that she had earlier in the day? None of the girls were sure, all they knew is that it was a very important matter that required all of their attention. Even Spike. Speaking of the little dragon, he had the exact same thought going through his head: Will she be all right? Is it anything serious? Does she have to go away? Is it good news, or bad news? Judging by the coolness of the invitation to the Carousel Boutique, it seemed to be the latter, "I hope she's okay..." He grumbled, aloud, which rewarded him with a reassuring pat on the head from Twilight's hoof. "I'm sure she's fine, Spike, maybe it's something small. Something genetic, or maybe a little deformity." Twilight assured. But regardless to that assurance, she didn't even believe her own words. She was just as worried as everypony else. What if there was something wrong with her? What if she received the worst, possible medical news? Twilight's thoughts were interrupted by an ever-confident Rainbow Dash. "Pfft, Rarity always over-exaggerates things! I bet it's something small, like a slightly over-grown hoof, or a gray hair in her mane." The pegasus chuckled, but she stopped when she was given a rather deathly glare by Applejack. She hung her head, slightly. Of course she was joking! But everypony seemed so on edge, that she was just making it worse. "I'm sure she's fine..." She grumbled, running a hoof through her prismatic mane. She was just as worried as everypony else, though... Perhaps even more so. Pinkie didn't seem bothered, she was bouncing along in her usual, chipper demeanour! Even smiling, when the time called for it. Pinkie didn't seem to worry about anything, until she actually heard the bad news. So she was assuming the best, rather than the worst! "Oh, don't be such nervous-nellies! I'm sure she's super-duper-trooperly fine!" This seemed to perk everypony's spirits... If even a little. Fluttershy was being her usual, quiet self. She didn't say much, if anything, and seemed to be the most nervous out of the six of them. The others would have just chalked this up to typical Fluttershy being her usual self, however. "Okay, we're not going to make a big deal out of this." Twilight began, looking mostly to Spike, and Pinkie, "We're going to hear what she has to say, and give her support, should she need it. Okay?" Everypony nodded, but Spike took a little more encouragement to accept it. After a small stroke from Twilight's wing, he blinked and looked up at the her, "Everything is going to be fine.." But, truth be told, everything wasn't fine. Rarity was sitting in the middle of the Carousel Boutique; the sign on the door read: "Closed! Come back soon!" But that was just for regular patrons, she had left it there so that she could have a private conversation with her friends, without being disturbed, "How am I going to do this..?" She mumbled to herself, pushing a stray curl of her violet mane out of her face. "Come on, Rarity! Stop moping about! Do you really think your friends will take the news any better, if you were sitting on the floor like a lost filly?!" Her brain was right. She needed to be strong; not just for herself, but for her friends! This affected them, too. As an Element of Harmony, Rarity had to be ready to face any danger, no matter how her health was! She stood, and composed herself. This wasn't going to be an easy matter, not by any stretch of the imagination. Just then, as her thoughts were composing themselves, she heard a knock on the door. It shattered her resolve, and she gulped nervously, "They're here..." She grumbled, aloud. With a shaky composure, she got up to let her friends in, a solemn expression gracing her face as grasped the handle of the door with her magic, and pulled it open, "Come in..." All of her friends filed into the boutique, slowly. The look of dread on the unicorn's face let them know that this was not good news. Not at all. Twilight was the first to break the silence, tilting her head and giving a concerned look to Rarity, "What's the matter, Rarity?" The seamstress gulped, and looked down at the floor, feeling the fresh sting of tears beginning to well up at the corner of her eyes. She looked back up, and into the eyes of each of her friends, individually, "I... As you all know, I visited the hospital this morning." She began, this brought a nod from everypony else in the room. "Well, after one of my bi-annual blood tests, the results came back that..." Her voice was shaky. She was trembling, and could barely get the words out. Her throat had gone dry, and she failed to be able to support her weight any more. She plopped down on her flank, and whimpered. She was greeted by a familiar feeling of feathers gracing her shoulder, only to look up and see that Rainbow Dash had draped a wing over her. "Come on, Rares... You can tell us, we're your friends." Dash assured her. The comforting words from her friend brought a surge of life to her heart. She regained her resolve, and nodded, slowly. "The results came back that I..." She paused again, it was becoming nearly insufferable for everypony to suffer the tension of each imaginary ellipse. "Have cancer..." The room fell silent. Rainbow Dash's wing seemed to tense up around Rarity's shoulder, and she looked up to see the strangest look on the pegasus' face... Fear. "Wait... Did you just say..." Applejack began, only to be cut off by a nod of Rarity's head. She felt her eyes beginning to well up at the information. Fluttershy had already burst into tears, and Pinkie Pie's mane and tail had deflated to their typical 'Pinkamena' look. Spike looked completely dumb-founded. He looked as though his young mind was trying to comprehend what that meant. Twilight was the only one that approached Rarity, and broke the silence once more, "Rarity..." Her own eyes were already brimming with tears at the news her friend had just conveyed to them. She tried to keep her composure, the last thing that she needed was everypony else to lose track of their emotions. Rarity needed support. "The tests confirmed that I have... Lymphoma." Rarity added, her tears finally bursting their banks before all of her friends. She was not left to wallow in her despair, however, as she felt the embrace of the other six instantly warming her body. For the next half hour or so the girls, and Spike, spent their time sobbing and promising Rarity that they would give her all the support they could. They couldn't allow her to go through this alone, she was their friend! She needed as much support as they could give her, and by Celestia, was she going to get it. Rarity pulled away from the hug when she realized that her mane and fur was getting stained in wet make up and tears, but it only brought her thoughts back to what the doctor had said: She could lose her fur, and her mane, due to the treatments used to beat the condition. "So... How are you gonna deal with this?" Rainbow asked. Her voice was shaky, and breaking to pitches it never reached before. She looked to be the most upset out of all of them, and also seemed to be crying the most! That was the first time that Rarity had ever seen real tears of sorrow grace the pegasus' cheeks. She wiped her own eyes, mascara and eye-liner staining her pure white fur, "I've been given three choices... Chemotherapy, radiotherapy... Or a bone marrow transplant." She explained, clearing her throat before she continued, "The doctor advised either chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, as it would take too long to get on the transplant list, and even longer to find a suitable donor..." They all nodded in unison, and Twilight gave Rarity an especially affectionate nuzzle. "I've read about the effects of those treatments... I'm sure the doctor told you that there's a possibility that you'll lose your fur and mane?" Rarity solemnly nodded in response to this. It was, bizarrely, the fact that she was dreading the most. Heaving a sigh, Twilight followed up with another question, "Have you told Sweetie Belle?" Rarity shook her head in response to the question. "Not yet... I'm going to tell her, once I decide on the treatment with the doctor..." Rarity stated. She felt it was the best way, once she had gotten through the intensity of her own emotions. She needed to be level-headed when she told her little sister. No doubt, Sweetie would need just as much consoling as Rarity did. "We're all here for you, Rarity... I'm so sorry that you have to go through this." Fluttershy stated, softly. Pinkie piped up with a small smile, her mane and tail re-inflating before she spoke... That was the best way to describe how she returned to, well... Pinkie, "Yeah! And when you get all better, I'll throw you a big, super-duper congratulations party!" Rarity looked to all of her friends, and gave a big smile despite her tears, "Thank you all... I don't know how I could get through this without you..." After another hour or so of talking, reminiscing and promises, it was decided that it was time for Rarity to get some rest, "We should go, girls. If Rarity is going to see the doctor again tomorrow, she needs her rest." Twilight stated to the other five, including Spike. The little dragon ran up to give Rarity a big hug, "I'm always here if you need me, Rarity.." She pat him on the head, and gave him a small kiss upon one of his spines, "Thank you, sweetheart... You're a true gentlecolt." With that, they all began to file out of the boutique after a long, and extensive hug from each of them. Everypony, except Rainbow Dash. "Hey, uh... I just want you to know that I'm just a shout away. If you, y'know, need somepony to come over and keep you company..." She remarked, pointing towards the nearby Cloudsdale. Rarity nodded, and gave the pegasus a big, squeezing hug. This caused Rainbow to tense up slightly, before she placed a hoof around Rarity's shoulder and nuzzled into her. She smelled so sweet. Rarity held the hug for a few moments before breaking it and pressing a small kiss upon Rainbow's cheek, drawing a rather adorable blush from the cerulean pegasus, "Thank you, darling... You have no idea what that means to me..." Rainbow nodded with a soft smile, and then took off for home. Leaving Rarity back at the boutique. Alone... But there was a moment of peace in her heart. A moment that was brought on by Rainbow's sweetened words. But... Just what could that mean? Chapter 2: Unexpected CompanyThe night didn't pass quickly for Rarity. She spent the whole time tossing and turning, thinking of all the things that could go wrong with her treatment. Oh, her mane! Her fur! It was all too much. She even spent some of the night sobbing, alone. She could swear that she heard Sweetie Belle tapping on her door from time to time, but she took no notice. After a couple of hours of solid crying, the unicorn finally passed out from her over-exertion. She was so emotionally drained, that she couldn't find the energy to stay awake any longer. Perhaps it was for the best. In her dreams, however, she was tormented by the same thoughts that plagued her whilst she was awake. Would she ever get a reprieve from these horrible images?! Just as quickly as they came, they were washed away as the peeking sun on the horizon shone through the unicorn's uncovered window, and bathed Rarity's face in it's glow. It painted her room in with a soft, orange hue that would, on normal occasions, fill her with sense of warmth. But that wasn't what she was feeling. No, today was marred with a particular feeling of dread that had been haunting the alabaster unicorn since she left the hospital. Sighing, she plopped down off of her bed and moved into her en-suite. After a few moments of personal grooming: Mane styling, brushing her teeth, and rinsing with mouthwash, she made her way downstairs to the main floor of the boutique. Ever since she came back from the hospital, nothing had changed. Her most recent work was strewn across one corner of the room, covering her work bench and dotting the floor in different, cascading shades of fabric. This drew out another sigh from the mare. Should she clean up? It was only dawn, so she had a while before she had to go to the hospital again. She was beginning to hate that word: Hospital. Now she understood why Rainbow Dash despised such establishments. "Although, it seems our reasoning is rather different..." This mumble was met by a deafening silence. Sweetie was still asleep, of course. Unless there was something important that the filly needed to do, she never got up until mid-morning. That didn't bother Rarity though. At least she'd have a couple of hours of silence before she had to get ready. Or so she thought. Suddenly, there was a knock at the boutique door. Did she forget to put the sign up again? Random visitors to Ponyville often tried to visit in the early hours of the morning. Celestia knows why they do it, maybe it's to try and get some sort of one-up on everypony else? Ugh, she had no idea. "Coming, coming." Her voice was insincere. She did not want to deal with anypony this morning, and she wasn't afraid to let this mare or stallion know that, forthright. She pulled the latch on both sides of the door, top and bottom, and gripped the handle with her magic. Pulling the door open, she began to speak. "I'm so sorry, but the Carousel Boutique is not-" She was cut off as a familiar figure stood in her doorway. "... Open." "Heh, mornin' Rares... How're ya feeling?" It was Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was standing in her doorway, at Goddesses knows what hour. She looked... Tired. Her eyes were puffy, and red. Was she... Was she crying? "Rainbow, darling, what are you doing here? You know that I don't have the time to be hanging around with friends today." Rarity's eyes were the exact same way. She noticed it when she was looking in the mirror in her bathroom. Sighing, she stepped to the side and offered her friend to, at least, come inside. Scratching her head, nervously, Rainbow gave a nod at Rarity's statement. She stepped inside, and plopped her flank down on the floor. "I know, I know, but..." She took a breath, she was never used to going outside of her comfort zone like this. "I couldn't let you go on your own today, Rares. I hate hospitals so much, I know how bad this must be for you." "You have no idea..." Rarity mumbled, internally. "So, I wanted to go with you... Y'know, offer you support and all that junk." The pegasus was greeted by an air of tense silence... Until she was pulled into a hug that could rival Pinkie Pie's! Rarity nuzzled into the rainbow-mare's neck, fresh tears stinging at her eyes. "Thank you..." Was all she whispered. This was so amazing of Rainbow Dash. She was doing something so kind, so thoughtful... All for her. The mere thought made her stomach flutter with a mixture of warmth and nerves. A feeling that she was not accustomed to. "You're... Uhh... You're welcome." Dash seemed rather tense. There was a prominent blush on the pegasus' muzzle. The close proximity of Rarity's face simply increased the perfumed scent that always hung about her. She didn't douse herself in the stuff, but it seemed like she was constantly wearing it in some amount. The two stood in a rather thick aura of awkwardness for a few moments. Rarity had released the pegasus at this stage, and was now standing a fair bit back. Rainbow scratched at her foreleg with the other, biting her lower lip in visible nervousness. "So, uhh... Breakfast?" A rather audible grumble gave the distinct impression that she had not eaten recently. She was much more occupied with other matters. Rewarding that suggestion with a warm smile, the unicorn gave a nod. "Of course, darling! I'll get on that right..." She was cut off by the pegasus trotting ahead of her rather briskly. "... Away." "Don't sweat it, Rares! I'll do it, you just... Relax! What'cha want?" She paused at the doorway that separated the main room of the boutique from the rest: The kitchen, downstairs bathroom, utility closet, etc. Turning, she set her eyes on Rarity, and awaited her response. She seemed... More pleased than usual to be doing something like this. Blinking, the unicorn had to get her bearings. Rainbow Dash was going to attempt making food? She hoped that this wouldn't be another disaster, like when Sweetie Belle offers to do these things. Rarity's heart immediately sunk. The recurring realisation of the fact that she'd need to tell her little sister about her 'condition' re-assumed it's place in her brain. "Anything, darling..." She huffed, making her way over to her chaise lounge and plopping upon it. Narrowing her eyes, slightly, Rainbow simply shrugged and disappeared into the kitchen to prepare... Well, something! She rummaged through some of the cupboards in the kitchen, as well as Rarity's refrigerator. All she found were some eggs, flour, and tea. "How can a pony live on so little...?" The pegasus made sure that she didn't say that too loud, the unicorn in the next room was feeling sensitive enough, as it seemed. And sensitive she was. Rarity remained, plopped onto the chaise, and staring into space. Her mind was racing with the ever-present issue of breaking the news to Sweetie Belle. Her thoughts then drifted to the kind pegasus that was preparing breakfast for the two of them. "It was so nice of her..." Blinking, the unicorn noticed that a warmth had graced her cheeks. An unfamiliar warmth. Standing, she made her way over to a nearby mirror and looked at her reflection. Her face was alight with the soft tint of pink. It tinted her cheeks in such a way, that she looked like a gushing school-filly. Scratching the back of her head, she was perplexed as to what could have caused such a reaction. And then another stray thought of Rainbow Dash entered her mind, causing the blush to darken. "Oh my... It's her?" Continually confused, Rarity resumed her position on the chaise. The only thoughts running through her head now, were of Rainbow. But... Why? What was so significant about that toned, athletic... Beautiful. Wait, beautiful? Where did that come from? Shaking her head, she gave a small grunt and tried to force the thoughts from her mind. "I'm probably suffering from elevated stress... Yes. That must be it. There is no other explanation." "Hey, Rares, how d'you like your eggs?" It would seem that Rainbow had decided to go with eggs, due to the sparse nature of the unicorn's food supply. Pondering for a moment, Rarity was glad that her attention was diverted. Although, it was diverted to the very source of her thoughts in the first place. "Oh, uhm... Scrambled, I suppose." She didn't care, she just wanted everything to fast forward. Today, the treatment, the aftermath. Everything. Soon enough, Rainbow re-entered the room with two plates of scrambled eggs, one balanced on her tail, and the other between her teeth. It wasn't the most extravagant of breakfasts, but it was something. "Here ya go," She stated, after handing the plate between her teeth, to the unicorn. "Thank you darling. It looks wonderful." This compliment seemed to make Dash blush, for some reason. It was the same reaction that Rarity got when the pegasus simply entered her mind. How bizarre. They sat in relative silence as they ate, neither one saying much to the other. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, and of Rarity occasionally glancing in Rainbow's direction, the pegasus piped up. "So... Have you told Sweetie, yet?" She winced at this question, she knew it wasn't an easy subject for anypony, let alone Rarity. She was surprised to see a rather collected expression on the unicorn's face. Rarity shook her head, simply. She said nothing, and this just made the tension in the air between them even thicker. "When are you gonna tell her?" Once again, no words. Just a shrug. "Rarity, you have to tell her, she's your sister." Nothing. This irritated Rainbow just a little. "She has a right to know, Rarity." "Don't you think I know that?!" The sudden height and tone of Rarity's voice startled Rainbow, and she flinched in response. Her ears splayed back and she drooped her head, as if she had just been chastised for acting out. Having the unicorn look at her now, dead on, Rainbow could see that she was trying to maintain her composure. But her eyes... Those gorgeous, azure eyes. They showed more pain and uncertainty than any words could ever express. "Gorgeous?" Rainbow thought. Where did that come from? It must've been her lack of sleep, that's all it could be! ... Right? Immediately, Rarity felt bad for snapping at her friend. She knew that Rainbow had a point, she would have to tell Sweetie, eventually. "I'm sorry, Rainbow... I'm just under such a heavy amount of stress." Shaking her head, the pegasus draped a wing over Rarity's shoulder and tugged her into a hug. "I know... Don't worry, Rares. You'll be fine." You'll be fine... Those words rang out in Rarity's head for so long. They brought her so much comfort, but why? Why Rainbow Dash? Everypony else had tried to comfort her to the best of their ability, and yet Rainbow was the only one that made her feel... Safe. Absent-mindedly, Rarity's forelegs wrapped around the pegasus' waist, and huddled in close, to her. She caught Dash's natural scent on in her breath. It was sweetly spiced... Did all pegasi smell like this? It was... Wonderful. Intoxicating, even. "How long until your appointment?" Rainbow's voice broke the steady silence between the two of them, but the question just made Rarity wince. "In a couple of hours..." It was still early, at least another hour or two until she would have to leave for the hospital. After a few more moments silence, the pegasus forced out another question: "What're you gonna do? Treatment, I mean..." That was something that Rarity was expecting. She had thought about it, long and hard, "Chemotherapy. It will be arduous... But it's the most effective procedure." Rainbow nodded. She didn't know enough about the situation, or indeed, Rarity's condition in order to give more than a simple vote of encouragement, "Well, I'll be there for you today... And through the treatment. You gotta have somepony there, right?" Once again, words of encouragement battered Rarity's heart. Why was she feeling such a strong reaction from Rainbow's assurances? Why was she feeling this warmth in her cheeks every time that she heard her light, raspy voice? Or when she felt that soft, silken wing drape over her shoulder for comfort? A wing that was just like an angel's... Maybe Rainbow was an angel... Issuing a sigh, Rainbow pulled back, and allowed Rarity her personal space, "We should get you ready, though... Can't have ya goin' to the hospital lookin' like that, can we?" It was a joke, of course... Rarity was always gorgeous, even if her face was smudged with mascara, or her hooves were streaked with lipstick. Rarity smiled a little. The first, genuine smile she managed since she returned from the hospital. Dear Celestia, it felt like an eternity... "I believe you're right, darling. You remain here, I shall return momentarily." With that, Rarity slipped herself down from the chaise and began the minuscule trek up towards her room. Rainbow simply stared on... A light blush on her cheeks as she truly took in every facet of Rarity's form. Was she always that beautiful? She had the distinct feeling that there was more to what she was feeling than she thought. Chapter 3: You're So Strong..."So, which d'you think you're gonna go for?" The two mares, Rarity and Rainbow, sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office. Rarity perked a brow at her friend, before a grim sigh escaped her lips, "Thinking it over, I have decided to go for the chemotherapy." Giving a little grimace, her muzzle crinkling up in obvious distaste, she continued, "Although I know it will be a long, and arduous endeavour, the risk of losing my fur, my mane... Everything..." Another sigh escaped her before finishing, "Losing those will be much better, in contrast to the vast possibility of beating this thing." A comforting hoof was placed around her shoulder, and she found that she was taking more comfort in Rainbow's embrace than she thought she would, "You're gonna do fine, Rares," the Pegasus stated, with her trademark, cocky smirk, "How couldn't you? You've got the most awesome mare in Equestria here to support you. There's no way that this thing is gonna beat you." A small smile graced Rarity's features in response to the encouraging statement. There was no way that this thing was going to beat her. Rainbow Dash said it, so it has to be true, right? She was taking a lot of comfort and solace in her friend's company, and was greatly appreciative of having her around for this difficult appointment, "Thank you, darling, I-" A nurse spoke up just before Rarity could finish her statement, "Miss Rarity? Doctor Bridle will see you, now. Could I get you to sign something, here?" Standing, Rarity trudged over to the desk and nodded as she was slid a piece of paper, "It's nothing serious, just a formality... A check-in, sheet. We do it with all of our... Well, our patients of 'this type'." Rarity suddenly felt more at ease with this nurse; she was kind, and rather sympathetic to other pony's trials, "Thank you... And, thank you again for not calling it... Well... The 'C' word." The nurse gave Rarity a polite nod, before returning to her work. Equally, Rarity trotted back over to Rainbow and nodded her head towards the doctor's office, "It's this way, Dash." Nodding, the pegasus stood and walked alongside Rarity, a look of distaste on her features as they traversed the small hospital hallway, "Something the matter, darling?" Rainbow snapped from her distant daydreaming and chuckled nervously, "Heh... No, I just don't really like hospitals, y'know? Too many sick ponies, and-" She stopped, realizing that she was getting a rather well-known glare from Rarity, "Sorry..." With a soft sigh, Rarity gave a nuzzle into Rainbow's cheek and shook her head, "It's okay, Rainbow... I know what you meant. Just remember, though, I'm sick now, too." This statement drew out a rather heavy sigh from Rainbow, but she nodded and nuzzled back into Rarity's mane. She smelled really nice after that shower, earlier... Like peaches and lavender. It almost sent a shiver down Rainbow's spine. She was tapped on the shoulder which jolted her out of her next reverie, finding that she was practically muzzle-to-muzzle with the door of Doctor Bridle's office. Rarity decided not to question it... There were more important things to think about. Raising her hoof, she tapped on the door three times, before it opened. An Earth pony-stallion stood in the doorway; wearing a doctor's coat, a stethoscope and a name badge that said: Doctor Bridle, Oncologist. He was relatively tall, with dark, chestnut fur and soft, emerald eyes. In any other circumstances, the mares standing before him would have considered him rather attractive... But now was not the time for that kind of silliness, "Miss Rarity?" He spoke with a slightly husked voice, deep and booming, "Please, come in." Before Rarity did enter, however, she spoke up, "Oh, this is Rainbow Dash. She is a close friend of mine that wished to attend this appointment with me... I assume that this is okay?" There was no distasteful grimace from the doctor, he simply smiled, nodded, and stood to the side to allow the mares entry to his office. Once inside, the initial impression was that the office was cool and comfortable. There were several medical certificates hanging on the walls around the desk at the back window, which were all framed, sporting Doctor Bridle's name as the holder of the qualifications. Two chairs were situated at the front of his desk, as well as one behind it for him to sit on, "Please, take a seat, and we'll get down to business." Nodding, Rarity and Rainbow took a seat beside one another and Doctor Bridle did the same, sitting opposite them, "Now, this appointment is to confirm which method of treatment you will be seeking regarding your... Condition." A lot of ponies seemed sympathetic to calling it something, anything, other than what it was. It certainly softened the blow for Rarity, "Yes, I have decided, with much trepidation, that I shall be going for the chemotherapy." Taking a pen between his teeth, the doctor produced a piece of paper, onto which he began to write. After a few moments of pen-scratching, he placed it down and attached the piece of paper to a clipboard with Rarity's name at the top, "I see. Well, that's fine, Miss Rarity. But I trust that you understand the conditions of this treatment? Even so, I shall run you through them again." Rarity seemed to noticeably sag at that, and let out a soft sigh, "By all means, doctor..." She found herself wrapped in a familiar warmth, suddenly, and looked to see that it was Rainbow's wing. Looking over, the pegasus gave her a soft smile, and a wink, before looking back to the doctor and allowing him to continue. "Right, well... During your chemotherapy, you will be put on a course of anti-carcinogenic drugs. Your first course will involve chlorambucil, vinblastine, procarbazine and prednisolone. Occasionally, we may be using drugs such as doxorubicin, and vincristine. These are to kill the cells in your body that are making you sick, but please bear in mind that chemotherapy is not an absolute treatment..." He sighed softly, before continuing. "As we stated before, you will lose your fur and mane; you may suffer side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, aches and mild disorientation. But I assure you, these are temporary hardships that will lead up to recovery, should you respond well to treatment." Rarity's head perked up and she gave the doctor a rather stern look. "What do you mean, 'should I respond well to treatment'? Are you saying that there is a possibility that this won't work at all?" Her voice was intimidatingly low and monotonous. Unaffected by Rarity's response, the doctor nodded, "It is a small chance that the chemotherapy could do more damage than anything else, as it attacks more than just the cancerous cells in your body. It will leave you very vulnerable to smaller illnesses, such as the common cold. Even that could prove too much for your body to handle." He affixed his stethoscope before continuing, "That said, your visitors will have to pass a check to see if they are showing any symptoms of standard illnesses. Should they show signs of these, I am afraid that they will not be able to visit you until they are well. We cannot risk you getting more sick than you already are." Rarity seemed to relax at this, and slumped back in her chair, leaning against Rainbow's wing for support, "Can anypony come in to visit her?" Rainbow's voice broke the silence with its unfamiliarity, and the doctor shifted his gaze over to her, "Yes, so long as she is not undergoing treatment, she will be allowed to have visitors during the designated hours." He moved a few papers around on his desk, before clearing his throat. "Okay, now that we have gotten that out of the way, the only thing left to do is schedule your first, chemotherapy appointment. How does..." He began flipping through pages, reading things briefly before a date apparently clicked in his head, "This coming Tuesday, sound? We would like to start treatment as soon as possible." Rarity nodded, and stood from her chair, "Tuesday is fine, doctor. Thank you." Turning, she walked from the office out into the hallway, leaving the door open behind her. Frowning a little, Rainbow looked back to the doctor and scratched her head, "Heh, so... What time on Tuesday?" He blinked, before smiling in embarrassment, "Apologies, I forgot to mention at time to her... Please, tell her that eleven in the morning is when we will start treatment. She should have a healthy breakfast and then come into us." Giving a nod, Rainbow raised from her own seat, only to be stopped by the doctor again, "Oh, and please... Ask her to keep visitors to a minimum. I now how popular Miss Rarity is, having done all she has with her boutique, but it would not bode well for her treatment to have everypony in Ponyville coming to visit her." With another nod, Rainbow gave a mock salute and chuckled, "Got it, doc." With that, she left the office, closing the door behind herself and trotting a little way down the hallway to find Rarity sitting in the same seat they were in whilst waiting for the appointment. She seemed distant, lost in her thoughts... It wasn't until a familiar wing slipped around her shoulder that she jolted a little and gave a small sigh, "This is a lot to take in, Rainbow... I don't know if I..." She was silenced by a gentle squeeze of Rainbow's wing, followed by the pegasus' muzzle pressing against her cheek in a nuzzle, "Shh... It's fine. You're strong... You're so strong. You can do this, I know you can." She gave a small grin and gently nudged Rarity's cheek with her nose, "Besides, you've got the most awesome mare in Equestria supporting you. Cancer can suck it." This brought a soft smile back to Rarity's features, as she leaned in against her friend and sighed softly, "It should be a crime, with how easily you can make a mare feel better." After a few moments of consensual silence, Rainbow was the first to speak up and break the silence again, "C'mon... We better get you back to the boutique. Day's not over yet, Rares... You still gotta tell Sweetie what's going on." A grim sigh escaped Rarity's lungs, and she nodded, before slipping up from her seat and stretching out a little, "Yes... I suppose I should." There was no absence of weight in her voice, as she contemplated just how she would break the news to her younger sister... Then to her parents. This was not going to be easy, but it had to be done. It had to be done. The two mares left the hospital, and trekked back to Ponyville. It wasn't a long journey, but with what awaited Rarity at the end, it felt like an eternity. She didn't have the first idea as to how she would break this news. Heck, she might even break down well before Sweetie Belle... What was she thinking, of course she would. This damn thing just had her so emotional. "You will aid me through this, Rainbow, won't you? I don't know if I could break this news to Sweetie on my own... I fear I might break down before I get the message out to her." Rainbow perked a brow at the statement and gave a nod, "Anything for you, Rares..." Normally, she would have told a pony to buck up and get it over with... But Rarity was sensitive in her current state. She could use as much help as she could get. Eventually, they reached the door to the Carousel Boutique. The light hustle and bustle inside indicated that Sweetie had company over... Possibly the other Crusaders. With a sigh, she opened the door to find just what she would have suspected. The boutique was still in the condition that she had left it in, aside from one or two rolls of fabric strewn across her workbench in a messy fashion. Underneath the rolls of fabric were three, little lumps, bobbing and shifting with the occasional mumble or murmur. Rarity cleared her throat, which made the three fillies in question jump suddenly at the addition to the room, "Oh, Rarity! I, uhh... Didn't expect you back so soon! This isn't what it looks like!" Taking a breath, Rarity raised her hoof to silence Sweetie Belle in the middle of her attempt at explaining herself. "Not now, we'll talk about what's gone on in here, later. It's not important... I need to speak to you." She turned her attention to the other fillies; Scootaloo and Applebloom, and gave them a small smile, "Little ones, would you mind going off and playing with one another outside? I need to speak to Sweetie Belle in private, if that is okay?" Confused, the fillies simply nodded and complied with Rarity's request, "We'll see y'later, Sweetie." Applebloom nudged Scootaloo's side and skittered off towards the door, "Yeah, catch you later, Sweetie!" Her little wings buzzed, and she did a small gallop towards the door to follow Applebloom. Once the other two fillies had left, Rarity took a breath and motioned over to the chaise off to the left side of the room, "We'll need to sit for this, little darling, I have some news to give you." She trotted over to the chaise and plopped down upon it, Rainbow shadowing her to give support whenever she may need it. Once she and Sweetie were settled, Rarity bit her lower lip in thought, "First thing's first, Sweetie... Do you know what cancer is?" The filly blinked and furrowed her brow, giving a slow nod in response, "Yeah, I heard a few adult ponies talking about it before, but I guess I don't know anypony that has it... Why?" Being as young as she was, she was still naive when it came to reading between the lines. "Well... You do, actually. Somepony very close to you has it." Rarity rubbed her own forehooves together, nervously, before continuing, "It's a very serious illness... And the treatment is quite harsh. It will be a long, difficult road... But I'm sure it will be okay." Sweetie still wasn't grasping this... She flicked an ear and tilted her head to the side, "Okay... So, you never told me the who the pony is." Rarity couldn't help but smile softly at her little sister's naivety, and ran a hoof through the little filly's mane, affectionately, "I do, Sweetie... I have it. I'm starting treatment next week... So you may notice me being gone for a while at a time. You can visit me in the hospital, and I'll ask Applejack if you can stay with her and Applebloom for the next little while... Okay?" It took a little while to register, but once it did, Sweetie immediately began to panic, "A-a-are you going to be okay?" A small sniffle indicated that tears were well on the way. She didn't, fully grasp the severity of having cancer, but she knew that having to spend any length of time in hospital is not a good thing, "Y-you're going to b-b-be okay, right?" Her lower lip quivered as the corners of her emerald eyes began to glisten with tears. Giving her own, small sniffle, Rarity immediately pulled Sweetie into a hug and nuzzled down into the filly's sweet-scented mane, "I promise, I'll be fine, sweetheart... I have a wonderful, perfect little sister, and friends who would do anything for me... Don't you worry your sweet, little head, my darling..." Rarity could feel the fur of her chest becoming matted with Sweetie's tears. The little filly sobbed quietly into her older sister's chest, and Rarity did everything she could to stop herself from breaking down. Rainbow watched the scene with tears bordering on the corners of her own eyes. She wiped them away, quickly, and simply sat on the floor beside the chaise to allow the two sisters time to comfort each other. Everything would be fine... Wouldn't it?
Prologue"I'm sorry, I don't believe I heard you right, did you say..." The voice was shaky. Near tears, even. Rarity sat on the chair in the physician's office, if she wasn't so pearl-white, one would say that the colour had drained out of her face. "Cancer. Yes, Ms. Rarity. I apologize, I know that this might be a lot to take in, but your blood tests came back, and it seems as though your white blood cell count is higher than it should be. We tested this, and concluded that you have white cells that have lived much longer than they should have." The doctor stated; his voice was calm, which only seemed to worsen Rarity's sorrow. The unicorn shuddered at the idea: Cancer. She had cancer. What in Celestia's name was she going to do, now?! She was panicking, sweating, trying to think of way too many things at once. The doctor raised a hoof, and tapped her shoulder to bring her back to reality. "Like I said, I know this is a lot to take in.. But you haven't heard the rest of the news." He cleared his throat, and took another look over her medical chart. "Your condition is treatable, but only if you follow the guidelines that I lay out for you. Do you understand?" He was met with a feverish nod of Rarity's head, followed by a small sigh. Tapping her hooves together, she looked down to the floor, and tried to regain her composure. "What guidelines..?" She mumbled, before looking back up at the doctor with tear-filled eyes. "You have a choice: We can start you on a course of chemotherapy, that is the most commonly chosen method of treatment. Following this, we can issue you a course of radio-therapy. This is not as popular, as the effects of the radiation can, well.." He sighed, knowing how the next words could affect the mare. "Can cause your mane, or fur, to fall out." This hit Rarity like a ton of bricks. Nearly as bad as the initial news! "M-m-my.. My mane? My fur? G-gone...?" Her voice became a lot shakier, as the tears that were brimming in her glistening, azure eyes finally burst forth. Shaking his head, and letting out a sigh, the doctor placed a reassuring hoof on the unicorn's shoulder. "These are not the only methods of treatment. Even though both may result in the loss of your fur and mane, you do have a third option." He explained, this caused Rarity's ears to perk up, in hope. "The third option is a bone-marrow transplant. There's only one issue, though.." The unicorn's heart sank, once again. What was the bad news, this time? "There are no, available donors for you at this present time. You would have to wait for a few months before getting on the list. After that, well.. It's a matter of luck. That is very risky, however, as the longer your cancer remains untreated, the-" He was interrupted by the raising of a white hoof, followed by a small sniffle. "Please.." She began, trying to control her breathing so that she could speak, clearly. "D-don't say that word.. Call it a-a 'condition'.. But f-for the love of Celestia, don't call it c-c-can.. Can..." She couldn't even finish the statement. She burst out into a fit of crying, once again, her tears staining the clean, blue tiles beneath her seat. Nodding in understanding, the doctor continued on with his explanation. "The longer your.. 'Condition' remains untreated, the less the likelihood of survival becomes. I would not recommend you waiting on a bone-marrow transplant. Personally, I would like to start you on a course of chemo, or radio-therapy, immediately. The sooner we treat it, Ms. Rarity, the sooner you can resume your life." "And.. And how long until my mane and fur grows back?" She asked, fearfully. It was as if this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Her mane and her fur.. Her looks, were some of the most important things to her. As vain as it sounded, she didn't think she could be seen in public like that. "If it falls out. It's a big possibility, but there is still a chance that you won't lose anything. Maybe a little lustre, but no hair." He assured, he was used to dishing out this kind of news, so it seemed as though he was reciting all of this from a script. It made Rarity uneasy. "If it does fall out, however, you would be looking at around.. Three to six months, once your treatment has concluded." Three to six months.. What a length of time to have to wait. She didn't want this to be happening in the first place, she wished that it was just a nightmare that she was going to wake up from any moment! Oh please, let this be a terrible prank that Princess Luna was playing on her. Please.. "I understand.." She muttered, softly, before standing from her seat. "If you wouldn't mind, doctor, I would like to return home and give the news to my friends and family. Would it be okay if I returned tomorrow, to discuss treatment?" "Of course, I understand. Just promise that you won't over-exert yourself. You need as much energy as you can muster for whichever treatment you choose. I'll schedule you for another appointment to see me tomorrow afternoon.." He began to search through various papers and files before concluding a time. "How does.. 1PM sound?" He was given a small nod in response from the disheartened unicorn. "Okay, I'll see you then." With that, Rarity left the office. Then she left the hospital.. And made her way back to the Carousel Boutique. She didn't get five steps from the door of the hospital, before breaking down into tears. Cancer... Rarity had cancer. "I-I suppose I should g-go home, and tell everypony.." She sniffled, before taking a breath, and making her way back home. "What am I going to tell Sweetie Bell? Her older sister has cancer.. She relies on me.. What ever will I do?" This, amongst other, dreaded thoughts littered the unicorn's mind, as she trekked back to Ponyville.
Chapter 1: Breaking the News"What d'ya think Rarity's callin' us over for?" Applejack asked, looking over to Twilight as she posed the question. "I don't really know, to be honest with you..." Twilight sighed, softly. Could it have been something to do with the hospital visit that she had earlier in the day? None of the girls were sure, all they knew is that it was a very important matter that required all of their attention. Even Spike. Speaking of the little dragon, he had the exact same thought going through his head: Will she be all right? Is it anything serious? Does she have to go away? Is it good news, or bad news? Judging by the coolness of the invitation to the Carousel Boutique, it seemed to be the latter, "I hope she's okay..." He grumbled, aloud, which rewarded him with a reassuring pat on the head from Twilight's hoof. "I'm sure she's fine, Spike, maybe it's something small. Something genetic, or maybe a little deformity." Twilight assured. But regardless to that assurance, she didn't even believe her own words. She was just as worried as everypony else. What if there was something wrong with her? What if she received the worst, possible medical news? Twilight's thoughts were interrupted by an ever-confident Rainbow Dash. "Pfft, Rarity always over-exaggerates things! I bet it's something small, like a slightly over-grown hoof, or a gray hair in her mane." The pegasus chuckled, but she stopped when she was given a rather deathly glare by Applejack. She hung her head, slightly. Of course she was joking! But everypony seemed so on edge, that she was just making it worse. "I'm sure she's fine..." She grumbled, running a hoof through her prismatic mane. She was just as worried as everypony else, though... Perhaps even more so. Pinkie didn't seem bothered, she was bouncing along in her usual, chipper demeanour! Even smiling, when the time called for it. Pinkie didn't seem to worry about anything, until she actually heard the bad news. So she was assuming the best, rather than the worst! "Oh, don't be such nervous-nellies! I'm sure she's super-duper-trooperly fine!" This seemed to perk everypony's spirits... If even a little. Fluttershy was being her usual, quiet self. She didn't say much, if anything, and seemed to be the most nervous out of the six of them. The others would have just chalked this up to typical Fluttershy being her usual self, however. "Okay, we're not going to make a big deal out of this." Twilight began, looking mostly to Spike, and Pinkie, "We're going to hear what she has to say, and give her support, should she need it. Okay?" Everypony nodded, but Spike took a little more encouragement to accept it. After a small stroke from Twilight's wing, he blinked and looked up at the her, "Everything is going to be fine.." But, truth be told, everything wasn't fine. Rarity was sitting in the middle of the Carousel Boutique; the sign on the door read: "Closed! Come back soon!" But that was just for regular patrons, she had left it there so that she could have a private conversation with her friends, without being disturbed, "How am I going to do this..?" She mumbled to herself, pushing a stray curl of her violet mane out of her face. "Come on, Rarity! Stop moping about! Do you really think your friends will take the news any better, if you were sitting on the floor like a lost filly?!" Her brain was right. She needed to be strong; not just for herself, but for her friends! This affected them, too. As an Element of Harmony, Rarity had to be ready to face any danger, no matter how her health was! She stood, and composed herself. This wasn't going to be an easy matter, not by any stretch of the imagination. Just then, as her thoughts were composing themselves, she heard a knock on the door. It shattered her resolve, and she gulped nervously, "They're here..." She grumbled, aloud. With a shaky composure, she got up to let her friends in, a solemn expression gracing her face as grasped the handle of the door with her magic, and pulled it open, "Come in..." All of her friends filed into the boutique, slowly. The look of dread on the unicorn's face let them know that this was not good news. Not at all. Twilight was the first to break the silence, tilting her head and giving a concerned look to Rarity, "What's the matter, Rarity?" The seamstress gulped, and looked down at the floor, feeling the fresh sting of tears beginning to well up at the corner of her eyes. She looked back up, and into the eyes of each of her friends, individually, "I... As you all know, I visited the hospital this morning." She began, this brought a nod from everypony else in the room. "Well, after one of my bi-annual blood tests, the results came back that..." Her voice was shaky. She was trembling, and could barely get the words out. Her throat had gone dry, and she failed to be able to support her weight any more. She plopped down on her flank, and whimpered. She was greeted by a familiar feeling of feathers gracing her shoulder, only to look up and see that Rainbow Dash had draped a wing over her. "Come on, Rares... You can tell us, we're your friends." Dash assured her. The comforting words from her friend brought a surge of life to her heart. She regained her resolve, and nodded, slowly. "The results came back that I..." She paused again, it was becoming nearly insufferable for everypony to suffer the tension of each imaginary ellipse. "Have cancer..." The room fell silent. Rainbow Dash's wing seemed to tense up around Rarity's shoulder, and she looked up to see the strangest look on the pegasus' face... Fear. "Wait... Did you just say..." Applejack began, only to be cut off by a nod of Rarity's head. She felt her eyes beginning to well up at the information. Fluttershy had already burst into tears, and Pinkie Pie's mane and tail had deflated to their typical 'Pinkamena' look. Spike looked completely dumb-founded. He looked as though his young mind was trying to comprehend what that meant. Twilight was the only one that approached Rarity, and broke the silence once more, "Rarity..." Her own eyes were already brimming with tears at the news her friend had just conveyed to them. She tried to keep her composure, the last thing that she needed was everypony else to lose track of their emotions. Rarity needed support. "The tests confirmed that I have... Lymphoma." Rarity added, her tears finally bursting their banks before all of her friends. She was not left to wallow in her despair, however, as she felt the embrace of the other six instantly warming her body. For the next half hour or so the girls, and Spike, spent their time sobbing and promising Rarity that they would give her all the support they could. They couldn't allow her to go through this alone, she was their friend! She needed as much support as they could give her, and by Celestia, was she going to get it. Rarity pulled away from the hug when she realized that her mane and fur was getting stained in wet make up and tears, but it only brought her thoughts back to what the doctor had said: She could lose her fur, and her mane, due to the treatments used to beat the condition. "So... How are you gonna deal with this?" Rainbow asked. Her voice was shaky, and breaking to pitches it never reached before. She looked to be the most upset out of all of them, and also seemed to be crying the most! That was the first time that Rarity had ever seen real tears of sorrow grace the pegasus' cheeks. She wiped her own eyes, mascara and eye-liner staining her pure white fur, "I've been given three choices... Chemotherapy, radiotherapy... Or a bone marrow transplant." She explained, clearing her throat before she continued, "The doctor advised either chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, as it would take too long to get on the transplant list, and even longer to find a suitable donor..." They all nodded in unison, and Twilight gave Rarity an especially affectionate nuzzle. "I've read about the effects of those treatments... I'm sure the doctor told you that there's a possibility that you'll lose your fur and mane?" Rarity solemnly nodded in response to this. It was, bizarrely, the fact that she was dreading the most. Heaving a sigh, Twilight followed up with another question, "Have you told Sweetie Belle?" Rarity shook her head in response to the question. "Not yet... I'm going to tell her, once I decide on the treatment with the doctor..." Rarity stated. She felt it was the best way, once she had gotten through the intensity of her own emotions. She needed to be level-headed when she told her little sister. No doubt, Sweetie would need just as much consoling as Rarity did. "We're all here for you, Rarity... I'm so sorry that you have to go through this." Fluttershy stated, softly. Pinkie piped up with a small smile, her mane and tail re-inflating before she spoke... That was the best way to describe how she returned to, well... Pinkie, "Yeah! And when you get all better, I'll throw you a big, super-duper congratulations party!" Rarity looked to all of her friends, and gave a big smile despite her tears, "Thank you all... I don't know how I could get through this without you..." After another hour or so of talking, reminiscing and promises, it was decided that it was time for Rarity to get some rest, "We should go, girls. If Rarity is going to see the doctor again tomorrow, she needs her rest." Twilight stated to the other five, including Spike. The little dragon ran up to give Rarity a big hug, "I'm always here if you need me, Rarity.." She pat him on the head, and gave him a small kiss upon one of his spines, "Thank you, sweetheart... You're a true gentlecolt." With that, they all began to file out of the boutique after a long, and extensive hug from each of them. Everypony, except Rainbow Dash. "Hey, uh... I just want you to know that I'm just a shout away. If you, y'know, need somepony to come over and keep you company..." She remarked, pointing towards the nearby Cloudsdale. Rarity nodded, and gave the pegasus a big, squeezing hug. This caused Rainbow to tense up slightly, before she placed a hoof around Rarity's shoulder and nuzzled into her. She smelled so sweet. Rarity held the hug for a few moments before breaking it and pressing a small kiss upon Rainbow's cheek, drawing a rather adorable blush from the cerulean pegasus, "Thank you, darling... You have no idea what that means to me..." Rainbow nodded with a soft smile, and then took off for home. Leaving Rarity back at the boutique. Alone... But there was a moment of peace in her heart. A moment that was brought on by Rainbow's sweetened words. But... Just what could that mean?
Chapter 2: Unexpected CompanyThe night didn't pass quickly for Rarity. She spent the whole time tossing and turning, thinking of all the things that could go wrong with her treatment. Oh, her mane! Her fur! It was all too much. She even spent some of the night sobbing, alone. She could swear that she heard Sweetie Belle tapping on her door from time to time, but she took no notice. After a couple of hours of solid crying, the unicorn finally passed out from her over-exertion. She was so emotionally drained, that she couldn't find the energy to stay awake any longer. Perhaps it was for the best. In her dreams, however, she was tormented by the same thoughts that plagued her whilst she was awake. Would she ever get a reprieve from these horrible images?! Just as quickly as they came, they were washed away as the peeking sun on the horizon shone through the unicorn's uncovered window, and bathed Rarity's face in it's glow. It painted her room in with a soft, orange hue that would, on normal occasions, fill her with sense of warmth. But that wasn't what she was feeling. No, today was marred with a particular feeling of dread that had been haunting the alabaster unicorn since she left the hospital. Sighing, she plopped down off of her bed and moved into her en-suite. After a few moments of personal grooming: Mane styling, brushing her teeth, and rinsing with mouthwash, she made her way downstairs to the main floor of the boutique. Ever since she came back from the hospital, nothing had changed. Her most recent work was strewn across one corner of the room, covering her work bench and dotting the floor in different, cascading shades of fabric. This drew out another sigh from the mare. Should she clean up? It was only dawn, so she had a while before she had to go to the hospital again. She was beginning to hate that word: Hospital. Now she understood why Rainbow Dash despised such establishments. "Although, it seems our reasoning is rather different..." This mumble was met by a deafening silence. Sweetie was still asleep, of course. Unless there was something important that the filly needed to do, she never got up until mid-morning. That didn't bother Rarity though. At least she'd have a couple of hours of silence before she had to get ready. Or so she thought. Suddenly, there was a knock at the boutique door. Did she forget to put the sign up again? Random visitors to Ponyville often tried to visit in the early hours of the morning. Celestia knows why they do it, maybe it's to try and get some sort of one-up on everypony else? Ugh, she had no idea. "Coming, coming." Her voice was insincere. She did not want to deal with anypony this morning, and she wasn't afraid to let this mare or stallion know that, forthright. She pulled the latch on both sides of the door, top and bottom, and gripped the handle with her magic. Pulling the door open, she began to speak. "I'm so sorry, but the Carousel Boutique is not-" She was cut off as a familiar figure stood in her doorway. "... Open." "Heh, mornin' Rares... How're ya feeling?" It was Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was standing in her doorway, at Goddesses knows what hour. She looked... Tired. Her eyes were puffy, and red. Was she... Was she crying? "Rainbow, darling, what are you doing here? You know that I don't have the time to be hanging around with friends today." Rarity's eyes were the exact same way. She noticed it when she was looking in the mirror in her bathroom. Sighing, she stepped to the side and offered her friend to, at least, come inside. Scratching her head, nervously, Rainbow gave a nod at Rarity's statement. She stepped inside, and plopped her flank down on the floor. "I know, I know, but..." She took a breath, she was never used to going outside of her comfort zone like this. "I couldn't let you go on your own today, Rares. I hate hospitals so much, I know how bad this must be for you." "You have no idea..." Rarity mumbled, internally. "So, I wanted to go with you... Y'know, offer you support and all that junk." The pegasus was greeted by an air of tense silence... Until she was pulled into a hug that could rival Pinkie Pie's! Rarity nuzzled into the rainbow-mare's neck, fresh tears stinging at her eyes. "Thank you..." Was all she whispered. This was so amazing of Rainbow Dash. She was doing something so kind, so thoughtful... All for her. The mere thought made her stomach flutter with a mixture of warmth and nerves. A feeling that she was not accustomed to. "You're... Uhh... You're welcome." Dash seemed rather tense. There was a prominent blush on the pegasus' muzzle. The close proximity of Rarity's face simply increased the perfumed scent that always hung about her. She didn't douse herself in the stuff, but it seemed like she was constantly wearing it in some amount. The two stood in a rather thick aura of awkwardness for a few moments. Rarity had released the pegasus at this stage, and was now standing a fair bit back. Rainbow scratched at her foreleg with the other, biting her lower lip in visible nervousness. "So, uhh... Breakfast?" A rather audible grumble gave the distinct impression that she had not eaten recently. She was much more occupied with other matters. Rewarding that suggestion with a warm smile, the unicorn gave a nod. "Of course, darling! I'll get on that right..." She was cut off by the pegasus trotting ahead of her rather briskly. "... Away." "Don't sweat it, Rares! I'll do it, you just... Relax! What'cha want?" She paused at the doorway that separated the main room of the boutique from the rest: The kitchen, downstairs bathroom, utility closet, etc. Turning, she set her eyes on Rarity, and awaited her response. She seemed... More pleased than usual to be doing something like this. Blinking, the unicorn had to get her bearings. Rainbow Dash was going to attempt making food? She hoped that this wouldn't be another disaster, like when Sweetie Belle offers to do these things. Rarity's heart immediately sunk. The recurring realisation of the fact that she'd need to tell her little sister about her 'condition' re-assumed it's place in her brain. "Anything, darling..." She huffed, making her way over to her chaise lounge and plopping upon it. Narrowing her eyes, slightly, Rainbow simply shrugged and disappeared into the kitchen to prepare... Well, something! She rummaged through some of the cupboards in the kitchen, as well as Rarity's refrigerator. All she found were some eggs, flour, and tea. "How can a pony live on so little...?" The pegasus made sure that she didn't say that too loud, the unicorn in the next room was feeling sensitive enough, as it seemed. And sensitive she was. Rarity remained, plopped onto the chaise, and staring into space. Her mind was racing with the ever-present issue of breaking the news to Sweetie Belle. Her thoughts then drifted to the kind pegasus that was preparing breakfast for the two of them. "It was so nice of her..." Blinking, the unicorn noticed that a warmth had graced her cheeks. An unfamiliar warmth. Standing, she made her way over to a nearby mirror and looked at her reflection. Her face was alight with the soft tint of pink. It tinted her cheeks in such a way, that she looked like a gushing school-filly. Scratching the back of her head, she was perplexed as to what could have caused such a reaction. And then another stray thought of Rainbow Dash entered her mind, causing the blush to darken. "Oh my... It's her?" Continually confused, Rarity resumed her position on the chaise. The only thoughts running through her head now, were of Rainbow. But... Why? What was so significant about that toned, athletic... Beautiful. Wait, beautiful? Where did that come from? Shaking her head, she gave a small grunt and tried to force the thoughts from her mind. "I'm probably suffering from elevated stress... Yes. That must be it. There is no other explanation." "Hey, Rares, how d'you like your eggs?" It would seem that Rainbow had decided to go with eggs, due to the sparse nature of the unicorn's food supply. Pondering for a moment, Rarity was glad that her attention was diverted. Although, it was diverted to the very source of her thoughts in the first place. "Oh, uhm... Scrambled, I suppose." She didn't care, she just wanted everything to fast forward. Today, the treatment, the aftermath. Everything. Soon enough, Rainbow re-entered the room with two plates of scrambled eggs, one balanced on her tail, and the other between her teeth. It wasn't the most extravagant of breakfasts, but it was something. "Here ya go," She stated, after handing the plate between her teeth, to the unicorn. "Thank you darling. It looks wonderful." This compliment seemed to make Dash blush, for some reason. It was the same reaction that Rarity got when the pegasus simply entered her mind. How bizarre. They sat in relative silence as they ate, neither one saying much to the other. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, and of Rarity occasionally glancing in Rainbow's direction, the pegasus piped up. "So... Have you told Sweetie, yet?" She winced at this question, she knew it wasn't an easy subject for anypony, let alone Rarity. She was surprised to see a rather collected expression on the unicorn's face. Rarity shook her head, simply. She said nothing, and this just made the tension in the air between them even thicker. "When are you gonna tell her?" Once again, no words. Just a shrug. "Rarity, you have to tell her, she's your sister." Nothing. This irritated Rainbow just a little. "She has a right to know, Rarity." "Don't you think I know that?!" The sudden height and tone of Rarity's voice startled Rainbow, and she flinched in response. Her ears splayed back and she drooped her head, as if she had just been chastised for acting out. Having the unicorn look at her now, dead on, Rainbow could see that she was trying to maintain her composure. But her eyes... Those gorgeous, azure eyes. They showed more pain and uncertainty than any words could ever express. "Gorgeous?" Rainbow thought. Where did that come from? It must've been her lack of sleep, that's all it could be! ... Right? Immediately, Rarity felt bad for snapping at her friend. She knew that Rainbow had a point, she would have to tell Sweetie, eventually. "I'm sorry, Rainbow... I'm just under such a heavy amount of stress." Shaking her head, the pegasus draped a wing over Rarity's shoulder and tugged her into a hug. "I know... Don't worry, Rares. You'll be fine." You'll be fine... Those words rang out in Rarity's head for so long. They brought her so much comfort, but why? Why Rainbow Dash? Everypony else had tried to comfort her to the best of their ability, and yet Rainbow was the only one that made her feel... Safe. Absent-mindedly, Rarity's forelegs wrapped around the pegasus' waist, and huddled in close, to her. She caught Dash's natural scent on in her breath. It was sweetly spiced... Did all pegasi smell like this? It was... Wonderful. Intoxicating, even. "How long until your appointment?" Rainbow's voice broke the steady silence between the two of them, but the question just made Rarity wince. "In a couple of hours..." It was still early, at least another hour or two until she would have to leave for the hospital. After a few more moments silence, the pegasus forced out another question: "What're you gonna do? Treatment, I mean..." That was something that Rarity was expecting. She had thought about it, long and hard, "Chemotherapy. It will be arduous... But it's the most effective procedure." Rainbow nodded. She didn't know enough about the situation, or indeed, Rarity's condition in order to give more than a simple vote of encouragement, "Well, I'll be there for you today... And through the treatment. You gotta have somepony there, right?" Once again, words of encouragement battered Rarity's heart. Why was she feeling such a strong reaction from Rainbow's assurances? Why was she feeling this warmth in her cheeks every time that she heard her light, raspy voice? Or when she felt that soft, silken wing drape over her shoulder for comfort? A wing that was just like an angel's... Maybe Rainbow was an angel... Issuing a sigh, Rainbow pulled back, and allowed Rarity her personal space, "We should get you ready, though... Can't have ya goin' to the hospital lookin' like that, can we?" It was a joke, of course... Rarity was always gorgeous, even if her face was smudged with mascara, or her hooves were streaked with lipstick. Rarity smiled a little. The first, genuine smile she managed since she returned from the hospital. Dear Celestia, it felt like an eternity... "I believe you're right, darling. You remain here, I shall return momentarily." With that, Rarity slipped herself down from the chaise and began the minuscule trek up towards her room. Rainbow simply stared on... A light blush on her cheeks as she truly took in every facet of Rarity's form. Was she always that beautiful? She had the distinct feeling that there was more to what she was feeling than she thought.
Chapter 3: You're So Strong..."So, which d'you think you're gonna go for?" The two mares, Rarity and Rainbow, sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office. Rarity perked a brow at her friend, before a grim sigh escaped her lips, "Thinking it over, I have decided to go for the chemotherapy." Giving a little grimace, her muzzle crinkling up in obvious distaste, she continued, "Although I know it will be a long, and arduous endeavour, the risk of losing my fur, my mane... Everything..." Another sigh escaped her before finishing, "Losing those will be much better, in contrast to the vast possibility of beating this thing." A comforting hoof was placed around her shoulder, and she found that she was taking more comfort in Rainbow's embrace than she thought she would, "You're gonna do fine, Rares," the Pegasus stated, with her trademark, cocky smirk, "How couldn't you? You've got the most awesome mare in Equestria here to support you. There's no way that this thing is gonna beat you." A small smile graced Rarity's features in response to the encouraging statement. There was no way that this thing was going to beat her. Rainbow Dash said it, so it has to be true, right? She was taking a lot of comfort and solace in her friend's company, and was greatly appreciative of having her around for this difficult appointment, "Thank you, darling, I-" A nurse spoke up just before Rarity could finish her statement, "Miss Rarity? Doctor Bridle will see you, now. Could I get you to sign something, here?" Standing, Rarity trudged over to the desk and nodded as she was slid a piece of paper, "It's nothing serious, just a formality... A check-in, sheet. We do it with all of our... Well, our patients of 'this type'." Rarity suddenly felt more at ease with this nurse; she was kind, and rather sympathetic to other pony's trials, "Thank you... And, thank you again for not calling it... Well... The 'C' word." The nurse gave Rarity a polite nod, before returning to her work. Equally, Rarity trotted back over to Rainbow and nodded her head towards the doctor's office, "It's this way, Dash." Nodding, the pegasus stood and walked alongside Rarity, a look of distaste on her features as they traversed the small hospital hallway, "Something the matter, darling?" Rainbow snapped from her distant daydreaming and chuckled nervously, "Heh... No, I just don't really like hospitals, y'know? Too many sick ponies, and-" She stopped, realizing that she was getting a rather well-known glare from Rarity, "Sorry..." With a soft sigh, Rarity gave a nuzzle into Rainbow's cheek and shook her head, "It's okay, Rainbow... I know what you meant. Just remember, though, I'm sick now, too." This statement drew out a rather heavy sigh from Rainbow, but she nodded and nuzzled back into Rarity's mane. She smelled really nice after that shower, earlier... Like peaches and lavender. It almost sent a shiver down Rainbow's spine. She was tapped on the shoulder which jolted her out of her next reverie, finding that she was practically muzzle-to-muzzle with the door of Doctor Bridle's office. Rarity decided not to question it... There were more important things to think about. Raising her hoof, she tapped on the door three times, before it opened. An Earth pony-stallion stood in the doorway; wearing a doctor's coat, a stethoscope and a name badge that said: Doctor Bridle, Oncologist. He was relatively tall, with dark, chestnut fur and soft, emerald eyes. In any other circumstances, the mares standing before him would have considered him rather attractive... But now was not the time for that kind of silliness, "Miss Rarity?" He spoke with a slightly husked voice, deep and booming, "Please, come in." Before Rarity did enter, however, she spoke up, "Oh, this is Rainbow Dash. She is a close friend of mine that wished to attend this appointment with me... I assume that this is okay?" There was no distasteful grimace from the doctor, he simply smiled, nodded, and stood to the side to allow the mares entry to his office. Once inside, the initial impression was that the office was cool and comfortable. There were several medical certificates hanging on the walls around the desk at the back window, which were all framed, sporting Doctor Bridle's name as the holder of the qualifications. Two chairs were situated at the front of his desk, as well as one behind it for him to sit on, "Please, take a seat, and we'll get down to business." Nodding, Rarity and Rainbow took a seat beside one another and Doctor Bridle did the same, sitting opposite them, "Now, this appointment is to confirm which method of treatment you will be seeking regarding your... Condition." A lot of ponies seemed sympathetic to calling it something, anything, other than what it was. It certainly softened the blow for Rarity, "Yes, I have decided, with much trepidation, that I shall be going for the chemotherapy." Taking a pen between his teeth, the doctor produced a piece of paper, onto which he began to write. After a few moments of pen-scratching, he placed it down and attached the piece of paper to a clipboard with Rarity's name at the top, "I see. Well, that's fine, Miss Rarity. But I trust that you understand the conditions of this treatment? Even so, I shall run you through them again." Rarity seemed to noticeably sag at that, and let out a soft sigh, "By all means, doctor..." She found herself wrapped in a familiar warmth, suddenly, and looked to see that it was Rainbow's wing. Looking over, the pegasus gave her a soft smile, and a wink, before looking back to the doctor and allowing him to continue. "Right, well... During your chemotherapy, you will be put on a course of anti-carcinogenic drugs. Your first course will involve chlorambucil, vinblastine, procarbazine and prednisolone. Occasionally, we may be using drugs such as doxorubicin, and vincristine. These are to kill the cells in your body that are making you sick, but please bear in mind that chemotherapy is not an absolute treatment..." He sighed softly, before continuing. "As we stated before, you will lose your fur and mane; you may suffer side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, aches and mild disorientation. But I assure you, these are temporary hardships that will lead up to recovery, should you respond well to treatment." Rarity's head perked up and she gave the doctor a rather stern look. "What do you mean, 'should I respond well to treatment'? Are you saying that there is a possibility that this won't work at all?" Her voice was intimidatingly low and monotonous. Unaffected by Rarity's response, the doctor nodded, "It is a small chance that the chemotherapy could do more damage than anything else, as it attacks more than just the cancerous cells in your body. It will leave you very vulnerable to smaller illnesses, such as the common cold. Even that could prove too much for your body to handle." He affixed his stethoscope before continuing, "That said, your visitors will have to pass a check to see if they are showing any symptoms of standard illnesses. Should they show signs of these, I am afraid that they will not be able to visit you until they are well. We cannot risk you getting more sick than you already are." Rarity seemed to relax at this, and slumped back in her chair, leaning against Rainbow's wing for support, "Can anypony come in to visit her?" Rainbow's voice broke the silence with its unfamiliarity, and the doctor shifted his gaze over to her, "Yes, so long as she is not undergoing treatment, she will be allowed to have visitors during the designated hours." He moved a few papers around on his desk, before clearing his throat. "Okay, now that we have gotten that out of the way, the only thing left to do is schedule your first, chemotherapy appointment. How does..." He began flipping through pages, reading things briefly before a date apparently clicked in his head, "This coming Tuesday, sound? We would like to start treatment as soon as possible." Rarity nodded, and stood from her chair, "Tuesday is fine, doctor. Thank you." Turning, she walked from the office out into the hallway, leaving the door open behind her. Frowning a little, Rainbow looked back to the doctor and scratched her head, "Heh, so... What time on Tuesday?" He blinked, before smiling in embarrassment, "Apologies, I forgot to mention at time to her... Please, tell her that eleven in the morning is when we will start treatment. She should have a healthy breakfast and then come into us." Giving a nod, Rainbow raised from her own seat, only to be stopped by the doctor again, "Oh, and please... Ask her to keep visitors to a minimum. I now how popular Miss Rarity is, having done all she has with her boutique, but it would not bode well for her treatment to have everypony in Ponyville coming to visit her." With another nod, Rainbow gave a mock salute and chuckled, "Got it, doc." With that, she left the office, closing the door behind herself and trotting a little way down the hallway to find Rarity sitting in the same seat they were in whilst waiting for the appointment. She seemed distant, lost in her thoughts... It wasn't until a familiar wing slipped around her shoulder that she jolted a little and gave a small sigh, "This is a lot to take in, Rainbow... I don't know if I..." She was silenced by a gentle squeeze of Rainbow's wing, followed by the pegasus' muzzle pressing against her cheek in a nuzzle, "Shh... It's fine. You're strong... You're so strong. You can do this, I know you can." She gave a small grin and gently nudged Rarity's cheek with her nose, "Besides, you've got the most awesome mare in Equestria supporting you. Cancer can suck it." This brought a soft smile back to Rarity's features, as she leaned in against her friend and sighed softly, "It should be a crime, with how easily you can make a mare feel better." After a few moments of consensual silence, Rainbow was the first to speak up and break the silence again, "C'mon... We better get you back to the boutique. Day's not over yet, Rares... You still gotta tell Sweetie what's going on." A grim sigh escaped Rarity's lungs, and she nodded, before slipping up from her seat and stretching out a little, "Yes... I suppose I should." There was no absence of weight in her voice, as she contemplated just how she would break the news to her younger sister... Then to her parents. This was not going to be easy, but it had to be done. It had to be done. The two mares left the hospital, and trekked back to Ponyville. It wasn't a long journey, but with what awaited Rarity at the end, it felt like an eternity. She didn't have the first idea as to how she would break this news. Heck, she might even break down well before Sweetie Belle... What was she thinking, of course she would. This damn thing just had her so emotional. "You will aid me through this, Rainbow, won't you? I don't know if I could break this news to Sweetie on my own... I fear I might break down before I get the message out to her." Rainbow perked a brow at the statement and gave a nod, "Anything for you, Rares..." Normally, she would have told a pony to buck up and get it over with... But Rarity was sensitive in her current state. She could use as much help as she could get. Eventually, they reached the door to the Carousel Boutique. The light hustle and bustle inside indicated that Sweetie had company over... Possibly the other Crusaders. With a sigh, she opened the door to find just what she would have suspected. The boutique was still in the condition that she had left it in, aside from one or two rolls of fabric strewn across her workbench in a messy fashion. Underneath the rolls of fabric were three, little lumps, bobbing and shifting with the occasional mumble or murmur. Rarity cleared her throat, which made the three fillies in question jump suddenly at the addition to the room, "Oh, Rarity! I, uhh... Didn't expect you back so soon! This isn't what it looks like!" Taking a breath, Rarity raised her hoof to silence Sweetie Belle in the middle of her attempt at explaining herself. "Not now, we'll talk about what's gone on in here, later. It's not important... I need to speak to you." She turned her attention to the other fillies; Scootaloo and Applebloom, and gave them a small smile, "Little ones, would you mind going off and playing with one another outside? I need to speak to Sweetie Belle in private, if that is okay?" Confused, the fillies simply nodded and complied with Rarity's request, "We'll see y'later, Sweetie." Applebloom nudged Scootaloo's side and skittered off towards the door, "Yeah, catch you later, Sweetie!" Her little wings buzzed, and she did a small gallop towards the door to follow Applebloom. Once the other two fillies had left, Rarity took a breath and motioned over to the chaise off to the left side of the room, "We'll need to sit for this, little darling, I have some news to give you." She trotted over to the chaise and plopped down upon it, Rainbow shadowing her to give support whenever she may need it. Once she and Sweetie were settled, Rarity bit her lower lip in thought, "First thing's first, Sweetie... Do you know what cancer is?" The filly blinked and furrowed her brow, giving a slow nod in response, "Yeah, I heard a few adult ponies talking about it before, but I guess I don't know anypony that has it... Why?" Being as young as she was, she was still naive when it came to reading between the lines. "Well... You do, actually. Somepony very close to you has it." Rarity rubbed her own forehooves together, nervously, before continuing, "It's a very serious illness... And the treatment is quite harsh. It will be a long, difficult road... But I'm sure it will be okay." Sweetie still wasn't grasping this... She flicked an ear and tilted her head to the side, "Okay... So, you never told me the who the pony is." Rarity couldn't help but smile softly at her little sister's naivety, and ran a hoof through the little filly's mane, affectionately, "I do, Sweetie... I have it. I'm starting treatment next week... So you may notice me being gone for a while at a time. You can visit me in the hospital, and I'll ask Applejack if you can stay with her and Applebloom for the next little while... Okay?" It took a little while to register, but once it did, Sweetie immediately began to panic, "A-a-are you going to be okay?" A small sniffle indicated that tears were well on the way. She didn't, fully grasp the severity of having cancer, but she knew that having to spend any length of time in hospital is not a good thing, "Y-you're going to b-b-be okay, right?" Her lower lip quivered as the corners of her emerald eyes began to glisten with tears. Giving her own, small sniffle, Rarity immediately pulled Sweetie into a hug and nuzzled down into the filly's sweet-scented mane, "I promise, I'll be fine, sweetheart... I have a wonderful, perfect little sister, and friends who would do anything for me... Don't you worry your sweet, little head, my darling..." Rarity could feel the fur of her chest becoming matted with Sweetie's tears. The little filly sobbed quietly into her older sister's chest, and Rarity did everything she could to stop herself from breaking down. Rainbow watched the scene with tears bordering on the corners of her own eyes. She wiped them away, quickly, and simply sat on the floor beside the chaise to allow the two sisters time to comfort each other. Everything would be fine... Wouldn't it?
