The thick gray fog hovered just outside the café, fighting a losing battle against its dirty glass windows. The rhythmic clattering of silverware and porcelain was like the ticking of a grandfather clock.
Across the table, an elegant white mare was seated. Her indigo mane framed her unicorn horn with groomed curls. Black bags were visible below her azure eyes, as if the very idea of sleeping was a forgotten childhood memory. Her pristine white neck was accented by a collar made of seven bright red gems, tied together by a thin string.
It had taken me several weeks to track her down. The client was a VIP, and my remuneration had been as plentiful as a dragon's hoard.
She inhaled deeply, savoring the clean indoor atmosphere. “So, Twilight sent you.”
I had no reason to deny it to such a graceful lady. “Yes.”
“I see.” She looked down, almost closing her eyes. She inhaled again, as if trying to drink some strength from the aroma-filled air. She raised her right hoof slowly, and pointed it at the largest gem in the center of her collar.
“It's called the Ruby of Desire. A flawless gem, taken from an ancient temple deep inside a lost jungle. It's said to be cursed, bringing misfortune to all who come to possess it.” She caressed the gem.
“And do you believe in that curse?” I asked.
She didn't answer. I could see the doubt flickering in her eyes like the flame of an almost burning out candle. After a moment of silence, she spoke.
“I first saw it on the window of a dusty antiques shop in a back alley of the shadiest district of Canterlot. It was covered in dust, grime, and cobwebs. Most ponies would have passed by without a second look, but not me. I could see its beauty shining from behind all that dirt. It was beautiful. Enrapturing. I just had to have it. It had to be mine.
“There was something written next to it. I wiped the window, and took a look. It was a name, and a price. The Ruby of Desire. Yes, desire was what I was feeling.
“The problem was the price. It had too many zeros.”
She breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling like a boat in rough seas.
“I went there every day until the end of my vacation. I couldn't talk to the shop keeper. I went to a library on the first day, and found out it was worth even more than what was posted on the shop window. If the owner knew how badly I wanted it, he surely would have raised the price even more. No, I had to pay the posted price at once!”
-*-*-*-
“Howdy, Rarity! How was your trip?”
Applejack was greeting me with a wide grin on her face. I carefully levitated my few bags and suitcases onto the large luggage cart in front of her, which creaked under the weight.
“It was... great.”
She effortlessly pushed the cart towards the exit of Ponyville's train station. The cart's wheels squeaked in protest.
“Did you see all the sights and shops you wanted to see?” She was still grinning widely.
“Yes, there were many... interesting things to see.” In my mind, I could see a round object, glistening with a blood red light.
I looked at her. She was still grinning. “You look... happier than usual. What's happened, Applejack?”
“Did you know? My brother was on the market yesterday, and somepony ordered a huge batch of apples! And he was willing to pay extra if we could deliver them all the same day! I have no idea what he was going to do with so many apples, I heard something the other day about a new fruit juice company, so it might be that, but it doesn't matter! It was the largest load of apples we've ever sold at the same time, and thank Celestia we had just finished picking almost enough apples to cover the whole order, so we got the bonus! It's going to take a lot of work to recover the stock, sure, we're gonna have to pick the apples almost immediately before selling for a few weeks, but it's worth it!”
“I'm... happy for you.”
“You sound distracted, Rarity. Are you okay?” She gave me a concerned look.
“Yes, I'm just... a bit tired from the travel, that's it.”
-*-*-*-
Her eyes floated like a pure sky above the turbulent ocean of her memories.
“I couldn't sleep that night. Whenever I closed my eyes, I only saw it. Calling for me. Begging to be mine.
“There had to be a way. Even if I sold all my possessions, it wouldn't be nearly enough. I couldn't ask my friends, they wouldn't understand how important it was. They could even try to stop me!
“I decided to go for a walk. Take a breath of fresh night air. I chose some dark clothing, to keep me warm. It was a stylish one-piece suit with a matching pair of saddlebags. I must say, I'm quite proud of that outfit. Simple, elegant, and functional.
“My legs took me to Sweet Apple Acres. The trees near where I was were full of their red fruit. For an instant, I wished I could just reach with my hoof, and pluck from the tree the beautiful gem of my dreams, instead of just an ordinary apple.”
Her breathing was like a locomotive almost running out of steam. I decided to gently add more coal to the firebox. “Please, continue.”
“I-I... I remembered our talk in the train station. That she had just gotten a lot of bits.”
-*-*-*-
“I'm sure, Twilight. There was no way we could misplace that. We tore down the whole house to be certain. Yesterday, it was on Granny Smith's room. Today, it's gone!”
Twilight pensively stroke her chin, while Pinkie was playfully blowing bubbles from a pipe.
“I see. The first thing to do, is to take a look at the scene of the crime. Are you all coming with us?” She looked around the room.
“Sorry, Twilight. I need to... make some dresses.”
“And you, Fluttershy?” She turned to face the pegasus.
“I would love to help, but I need to take care of the parrot. He's still not used to this place, and gets nervous if I stay away for too long.”
I had seen that parrot before. It was from a rare tropical species, with a green body and a multicolored head.
Twilight sighed. “Are you going to ditch us with some lame excuse too, Rainbow Dash?” She looked upwards.
“You see, there's this really fluffy cloud...” She giggled at Twilight's reaction. “Just kidding, of course I'm going to help! We're going to catch this criminal in no time!”
-*-*-*-
“It was just a loan. I was going to repay her double, as soon as I could.”
The waitress arrived, as graceful as a figure skater. She looked at me with a look of disgust, as if I was a smelly hobo soiling the purity of her workplace. She silently placed my coffee on the table and left, not sparing a single look at the dame on my front.
-*-*-*-
“He-He-He's gone!” Fluttershy sniffed.
I forced myself to look at the sorry mess that was my friend. Applejack was trying to comfort her.
Twilight frowned. “So we have a thief, and an animal kidnapper. And no clues.”
“Wait a minute, Twilight,” interrupted Rainbow Dash, hovering in the middle of the room. “Aren't you jumping to conclusions? How do you know the parrot has been kidnapped, and didn't just escape? I wouldn't like to be kept in a small cage!”
Twilight gave Rainbow Dash an annoyed look. “First, the birdcage was for the parrot's own protection, and Fluttershy let him out as often as she could. Second, the birdcage is gone too!”
“So the thief wanted the cage, and the parrot took the opportunity to escape! Isn't it simple?”
Twilight rolled her eyes, exasperated. I looked again at my friend. I was sure the rare pet dealer would treat her parrot well.
-*-*-*-
“That night, I couldn't sleep again. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my friends' faces. I saw Applejack accusing me. I saw Fluttershy crying, and asking why. Only the image of a red jewel gave me some comfort.
“Since I wasn't going to have any rest, I decided to take some action. I took my dark outfit again. This time, I went to Pinkie's house. I had seen where she stored a strange flying contraption, and I needed it now.
“While there, I also took a box of rocks. Her sister had given them to her several birthdays ago. I don't know if she didn't know of their value, or simply didn't care; her sister for sure knew. In the hands of a good jeweler, their true character would show.”
-*-*-*-
“A box of bits, a parrot, and my collection of first edition Daring Do books? This is getting ridiculous! Twilight, we have to find this thief, now!”
Twilight rolled her eyes, annoyed that only now she was taking it seriously. “I know, Rainbow. At least now we have a clue. It's not much, but it's something.”
“Yeah, we now know that the culprit is a pegasus. That's what, half of Ponyville?” snarked Rainbow Dash.
Twilight hid her face with her hoof. “First, Rainbow, it's a third, not half. Second, you forgot the cloudwalking spell. It could be a unicorn too.”
I left them bickering in the middle of the room, and went to the corner where Fluttershy was lying. I laid myself by her side, letting my body warm hers, and whispered, “it's okay, darling. Everything will be fine.”
I couldn't look her in the eye. Luckly, she didn't open hers.
-*-*-*-
“I left for Canterlot the following morning.
“I had done all that I could. I hoped it would be enough.”
Her breathing was becoming faster, like a speeding train which had just lost its brakes. I nonchalantly took a sip of my coffee.
-*-*-*-
Before leaving, I went to Twilight's house to say goodbye.
They were all there, and assured me that the thief would have been dealt with by the time I got back.
As I was turning to exit, Spike called for me. “Rarity, wait!”
I looked back. “What is it, Spike?”
“Here, take these!” He showed me the bucket of gems he had been eating from.
“Why?”
“I noticed that you were looking a lot at my gems, and you are clearly worried about something. You don't have to tell me what it is, but if it might help you, you can have them!”
“Oh, Spike!” I hugged the little dragon. “Thank you so much! You have no idea!” I carefully turned and closed my eyes, so the other ponies in the room wouldn't see my barely contained tear.
-*-*-*-
“With Twilight's crown, I had almost all I needed. Almost. Spike's little present was what gave me enough in the end.”
Tears streamed down her pretty face. Like a small stream after a heavy rain, they would soon grow into a full river.
“I went back to the shop. Finally, it was mine!”
She looked at me with the sky from where her tears were raining.
“I finally had it. The Ruby of Desire... and nothing more.”
She looked down.
“Your friends have forgiven you. Twilight asked me to tell you,” I said.
As I had predicted, the dam could not hold back the flood waters.
“If only I had trusted them more!... If only I had believed they would forgive me!... But now... It's too late.”
She let out a small, pathetic laugh. “Curse? What curse? There's no curse. These gems are not enchanted. The curse is just an excuse to let us follow our darkest desires. It's a way to blame something outside us for forcing us to do what we desired all along. And I... fell for it.”
Sensing that our interview would soon be over, she looked at me with hopeful eyes. “My sister... Sweetie Belle... How is she?”
“She's fine. She doesn't blame you. But she misses you.”
Like a small ray of sun shining through an opening on heavy rain clouds, she smiled lightly.
“I see... Thank you... Will you tell it all to my friends for me?...”
“I will.”
“Thank you...”
She stood up, and walked slowly towards the door. The fog outside was like a hungry creature waiting for its prey. At the threshold, she turned her head towards me, and smiled peacefully, the seven gems on her neck burning bright red under the café's dim light. She faced the door, and walked resolutely into the embrace of the waiting mist.
I finished my coffee, and paid for it.
I looked down at the objects on my table. A collar made of seven bright red gems, tied together by a thin string, and a newspaper clipping from a low-brow tabloid. “Mare found hanged at Canterlot,” its main headline said, complete with a picture of the corpse.
I put both items back in my briefcase, and walked into the clear evening sun.