Under Your Halo

by Wand3r3r3

Chapters

Alibi
The White Pony
Chase This Light
Iridescent

Alibi

You are the only one I love. You are the only thing I live for.

You are my love, my lust, my faith, my hopes and my dreams.

You are my everything...

Rarity, my darling.

**********----------*----------*----------*----------*----------*----------*----------*----------***********

Under Your Halo

(~~~~~Alibi~~~~~)

I arrived here, in this wonderful haven...and I still can't believe I'm here. I was going to throw my life away...when I had so much to gain. I could never have been able to feel the way I do now if I had never tried, though. If Eva hadn't come along... I know I would never be able to feel it.

Bliss. True happiness...

My name is Zante, and I am in Heaven.

I can get on my knees and simply weep at the extraordinary sights and creatures around me. All the colorful mares and stallions here were fully capable of maintaining their own lives, as well as those of their childrens'. Life was existent here. It flooded this little town of Ponyville. And for every second, I loved every bit of it.

There was not a single pony here who had to doubt my kindness or detest my existence. Upon my arrival here in this land, my presence and name became publicized enough to the point where both of the leaders of the country--two Alicorns named Celestia and Luna--sent a message to the local librarian to relay to me. They wanted to personally thank me for my insane act of bravery. And following my arrival, they also asked me if I wanted to live in this wonderful place called Equestria. With no second thoughts, I agreed, and there was a huge ceremony with as many residents from the country as I could count.

My god...

I was actually appreciated...for once in my life. Everyone in attendance of the cermony was cheering for me, applauding me. And Elusive... He was there too. He surprised me on stage.

"I just can't ever thank you enough!" she told me. I remember shedding many tears that morning...

-And time didn't change anything. I was still a hero in many eyes. Perhaps a role model to some of the younger ones.

My life was incredible. I was so thankful I conceived that thought, way back when.

I rented an apartment that ran across the two biggest streets in the town of Ponyville, where the two created the main intersection which was further brought together by a monumental statue of an Earth Pony, standing back on its hind legs and striking a victorious pose, almost as if it was pointing at the sky in awe.

The apartment was previously owned by a mare by the name of Derpy Hooves, but her career as a mail carrier really took off when the decision came to legalize shipping packages to other countries. She happily gave me the keys, as she actually owned the place by herself.

I awoke at six thirty-nine in the morning drenched in sweat. I didn't sleep very well last night.

"Damn. All of this came from me?" it was useless asking, as the little evidence both on the soaking red bedsheets told me the truth. I spent the majority of the latest part of the previous evening just...panicking.

I had received a message about a week ago from Twilight Sparkle, the aforementioned librarian, who, herself, had gotten it from princess Celestia. Except the thing was, the message wasn't actually written by the Sun Goddess. It was from a mare who went by the street name 'Marshmallow Diamond', but her real name was Rarity.

She told me how she just started up a major department retailer in the Crystal Empire, where she sold and licensed top-of-the-line clothing items. Custom made suits and dresses in all sorts of fashions and styles and sizes... She told me how she wanted me to be the vice president of all operations and work directly alongside her at all times. At first, I really thought I could be using my time here more effectively, leisurely speaking. But then it hit me-

"Hey, hey. A job!" I repeated, as I continued to recall these events.

Anyway, today was the day she wanted me to come in and speak with her. I was still insanely nervous, but I was even more anxious than that, which defeated the intimidation factor and kept me going.

I started to get dressed, as nice as Rarity would have wanted me to look, but I decided to take a shower first. The sweaty T-shirt I wore clung tight to my body, and that clearly wasn't a good sign. A mare like that could only expect perfection and nothing else.

Besides, her name stuck out at me.

Rarity...

One in a billion...

After taking my time in the shower, I hopped out and dried myself off. I headed to my room with a towel wrapped around my waist, not bothering to close the door, as there was no one else in the house. Then I opened the door to a very claustrophobic closet space and slipped on a clean pair of underwear I had laundered just yesterday. I didn't see anything that which might impress her, as I didn't have too many impeccably detailed articles, but I wasn't going to settle either.

I was going to try, at least.

I took an intricately designed white polo-style shirt off of a black hanger that It was almost as thin as its diagonal stripes. The buttons that ran down the middle were all a melted combination of both a light black and a heavy beige color. On the left breast was a tight little buttoned pocket with a fragile chain coming out of it, and that chain was attached to the beautiful emblem of three turquoise gems of four sides that stood tall with one of its sharpest points at the bottom of its shape, and the other at the top.

I remembered now.

Rarity had asked me of my measurements about two months after I was sworn in as a legal citizen. She wanted to congratulate me with a custom made shirt that she had personally created just for me. No one else would have one like it, and it wasn't because of my bipedal stature. It was because she was inspired by me. How she was inspired, she hadn't mentioned, but who was I to question her profession?

I was planning on ironing the shirt, as well as the plain pair of khaki-colored pants she also custom sized me for. I would have been hard pressed to find any kind of clothes that would fit me here. I pulled them out as well, followed by the ironing board that hid behind the closet's door hinges. I set it up on its two legs; four and a half feet, it stood. I then set the impeccable shirt halfway over it, grabbing the iron out from underneath my bed. I filled it up with fresh water in the bathroom, took it back into the room, plugged it in the three-prong electrical outlet inside the closet, and then I started.

I folded the shirt lengthwise, so that one half of it was folded over the other, then I pressed the iron down slowly over its length, going down a straight path. The steam was helping to remove any nearby wrinkles as well. When I was done with one side, I did the same for the other, making a perfect crease where the fold laid.

When the front was done, I laid the shirt face up, buttons and all, and folded it over to match the exact reach as the bottom did. Then I ironed the fold that would hang at the back of the shirt. That was done. I slipped it through the same black hanger for the time being.

Then I moved onto the thin slacks, which only fit a tiny bit loose. I felt comfortable, as she was the one who made it for me anyway. I laid it across the board, contouring with its lengthy construction. Then I did the same thing as for the shirt, laying it down on its front and folding each side--each leg, in this case--over to give the a vertical crease to each of them. I didn't go down the back, though.

The first thing I did after I turned the iron off was slip on the warm pair of pants. As usual, a bit of slack hung at my feet, but it would turn to be a perfect fit when the time would come for me to put my shoes on. In fact, it was the next step I took. I grabbed my specially sized shoes from under my bed, still in pristine shape, as I didn't really use actual shoes all that much.

And yes, Rarity also made them for me. She had to take the idea of a Gryphon's foot, talons attached and reaching out quite far. She told me it took absolutely no trouble on her part, and that made me glad. So I slipped the black slip-on dress shoes on my feet, and the slack that hung on my pants suddenly looked more appropriate now.

Finally, I gently curved my arms through the sleeves of Rarity's shirt and fastened the buttons to the front. Then I took the time to look at my appearance in the mirror.

"I've already got the job anyway," I said to myself, totally out of the blue. But at the same time, I was complimenting Rarity's work. Good god...

She was amazing.

"Heck yeah, she'll love it!"

And with that, I was comfortable enough to overcome my doubt about this and head out the door.

After I tidied up any loose ends around the house, I grabbed the keys to the house, along with my EqueTrek train ticket, my identification card, my MP3 player and earphones, and my BitBalance (Equestria's equivalent of a debit card) and headed out the door, locking it behind me for the last time.

I had no belongings of my own, but it still felt sort of weird to come out of that house without a bag strapped over my shoulder.

Before I was offered my position working alongside Rarity, I held a job aiding Twilight Sparkle with her 'Reads By Feet' campaign. It was a program that allowed ponies to reserve books over the internet. And yes, internet existed here as well, but ponies could have those 'reads' delivered to their homes at their convenience.

A teenage Spike was sure relieved about me renting out the job that Twilight forced him to do regardless.

My time with Twilight didn't last more than a month, though, because that was around the time Rarity had taken her interest in me. Twilight understood my reason for resigning, and she thanked me from the bottom of her heart; as her business had really taken off with my help, though Spike wasn't around at the time I renounced my position.

And now, because I put Spike back on board for it, I began to fear his wrath, and I avoided the library from then on.

I walked down the streets of Ponyville, receiving beaming smiles from just about everypony I passed. Carriages rushed by in the far distance calling out my name, and ponies in their homes opened their doors to see me off. Everyone here knew my schedule for today. Literally everypony either waved at me, called my name, hugged me, or wished me the best in my endeavors. When the time came for two young fillies to see me off, presenting a picture they drew of me, I gladly took the time to talk with them.

"We hope you like it!" the little Pegasus shouted. "We really put a lot of time into how we think you'd be doing with Rarity," she added.

The detailed oil painting was in four parts, each depicting an image of myself being subjected to Rarity's 'awesome but ridiculous' fashion designs. And with each one, my expression depicted a moderate annoyance. One had me wearing a pink fru-fru dress. One had me studded up like a rich guy, with a top hat and a cane, and a monocle too. Another had me dressed as a princess, with a dress that was way too big for me, with gratuitously glittered shoes, too. And the final picture to the right looked like a huge pile of Rarity's work--she was at the side holding her hoof up to her chin and giggling at it. I must have been buried beneath all those articles. I laughed at that last one, causing the three girls to do the same. All four of them had Rarity and a little white Unicorn with a candy-colored mane laughing in the background.

"Mister Zor?" The yellow Earth filly took her opportunity to speak, and my undivided attention was given to her. "All of us at our school think you're so darn cool, and...well, we made this picture as a project one day. We were supposed to make a painting of someone or something that inspires us."

"And we chose to draw you!" the Pegasus cheered along.

"Heh, I'm sure Rarity will love this!" I assured the sweet smiles on their cute little faces. "Thank you so so much, girls!" They both burst forward to hug me. Not unexpected, really. It was just...

It was an amazing feeling.

I knelt down a little and gave them each an embrace of my own.

"We love ya, Zor."

"We'll miss you while you're gone..."

A few tiny tears were finding it easier to leak from my eyes. "I'll miss you too. I'm gonna miss everyone."

Our sessions each ended with some tears on their end as well.

"Well guys, I guess the school Bell's gonna ring soon..." said the pony whose name I found out to be AppleBloom.

"Yeah, it is." the Pegasus now called Scootaloo somberly answered. Neither of these sweethearts wanted to go back and say goodbye...

"Oh, um. Mister Zor? We were also wonderin' if you could say hi to Rarity's sister for us. She's our friend..."

"No problem, cutiepie. How'd you guys like it if I wrote to you too, every now and then?"

That was a rather silly question on my part

"Oh my gosh!! Really?"

"Om wow, yes!!"

"Thank you so much, you're SO AMAZING!" they concluded.

They all came to give me one more quick hug, then they turned tail and headed off in the opposite direction, toward the school I saw in the distance. They all called behind their backs:

"Byyyyyyeee!"

"Keep an eye out, guys!"

Soon enough, the bell in the spire of the building swayed from side to side, bellowing its beautiful song across the whole town. I took one last look at the picture they drew me, smiling uncontrollably as I reviewed my goofy face.

This was going to be so much fun. With my resolved mindset, I continued down the single street I was on, heading toward the vacant train station I had in sight.

After two more minutes of receiving best wishes from everyone, I approached the lonely train station. Sugarcube Corner sat directly next to its terminal building.

Elusive used to work there...my only friend around here. But I was more proud of him than I was sad that he was gone. I remembered what he told me, after our close encounter with the Timberwolves back then:

"I need to find my place in the world, but-"

"But what?"

"Sugarcube Corner is only bound to nearby towns and cities. But what I really want to do is make the name internationally known, like a huge franchise, you know? Do these amazing ponies good."

Well, that's exactly what he did. After the rumors subsided, of how he was plotting against Equestria by joining a madmare to murder innocent ponies and use their organs as a 'secret ingredient', the doubt for their perfect recipes was no more.

It was true, he did have a purpose for living.

To connect with others...

Now, he was one of the most successful chefs in the world, expanding his talents beyond just baking. He's written books, been a guest on many radio shows, as well as run his own, and he accomplished his lifelong dream shortly before all of that.

And to think he was just going to throw it away when I first met him...

So there it stood, still. It was fully operational with a staff of intensely-trained employees. I really wanted to go inside after the my memories came back, but I heard the train approaching from the distant tracks. I almost tripped over my own feet when its powerful call bellowed through the air, beckoning me to take position at the outdoor station. Then I followed the sound of the whistle as the train was rapidly approaching. I looked back at the bakery, the name bringing back more memories that I wish never came.

They were too hard to fight, especially considering how Elusive was way too far out of contact for me. I wondered if he even remembered me...

"Train number TWO-HUNDRED AND TWO has arrived in PONYVILLE, EQUESTRIA."

I felt like my doubt was falsely placed; on his hooves.

My attention was once again stolen by the arrival of the train. The loudspeaker wasn't needed, I thought. When the train came to a full stop, the release of the braking mechanism was more than signal enough. It's second level of seating was purposed enough as well; hundreds of ponies poured out of the many doors that slid open just then. Then the rough voice on the loudspeaker returned.

"Passengers who are just now boarding the train may take a seat now, and a friendly representative will check for your ticket later." I started making my way through the crowds of ponies every and any door they came from, as polite as I always had been. "Train number TWO-HUNDRED AND TWO makes many stops in many cities that allow for transfers via bus. Please pay attention for your stop. This train makes chronological stops in HOOFINGTON, MANEHATTEN, TROTTINGHAM, NEIGHAGRA FALLS NATIONAL PARK, and a final stop at THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE."

Then it finally concluded. "We hope you enjoy the ride, and we thank you for choosing Equetrek."

I entered the train through one of the sliding doors at the front of the train. There was a staircase that headed to the second story to my immediate left. There was also an area where I saw many full bugs of luggage stowed away, and a circular restroom whose curved door led to a view of the lower level seating on this car. I was insanely impressed with the design of everything I laid my eyes on, and I couldn't wait to see what was on the second story. The sliding door closed slowly and tightly behind me as I made my way up the steps, grasping and sliding my hand on the support rail. It wasn't hard to find a vacant seat from that point onward.

To my direct right, I saw an open pair of seats that featured a table between them at it's width. It was cornered between the body of the train and a wall that curved the walkway. I used the opportunity to take the spot, getting in the corner near the window.

Everywhere I looked, I saw signs of luxury. The carpet beneath my feet was a pristine blue, sprinkled with rectangles of white into its weave. I saw an elderly couple in a pair of seats close to the farthest end of the train car, almost in the corner. They were asleep together, huddled up and holding each other's hooves in their own. Every seat had a couple of windows, each also with curtains that could be hung in front of them if desired. The seats--speaking from immediate experience--all had the most comfortable back support for my bipedal stature. Though, sitting on their rump to be becoming more and more common among quadrupeds such as ponies.

The pathways that connected the train cars weren't shaking as the train just started to move. The cars were so tightly tethered together, there was absolutely no distance between them, and anyone could just walk through its spotless and automatic sliding glass doors without stumbling one bit.

"Good evening passengers."

I reached for my MP3 player that I stored in my rear pocket when a sensitive, feminine voice spoke over the intercom, clearly different from the previous narrator. "Thank you again for letting Equetrek serve you. This train will be going through the city of Hoofington in about an hour, and we'll be making a quick stop there, for anyone who is transferring to another service of ours. Then, in about another sixty minutes, will be our transfer in the big city of Manehatten. For those of you who have never been there, I personally recommend taking a few pictures of the nearby area or stopping by some of the shops near our stopping point. We'll have plenty of time, as there are many transfers there."

As I was listening to the mare speak, a stallion looking like an employee came through the sliding glass door and looked around the car. Then he came to my table. He was a Unicorn who had a very kept mane of beige that flowed down and past his neck His coat was colored a light-brown, and it was visible anywhere else but his chest and midsection. He was wearing a detailed coat that sported the main two colors I saw all over the rest of the train, blue and white. Buttons lined each decorative flap that I could see near his collar.

"You alone in here?" he chuckled. I looked around the only seats I could see from where I was. Minus the sleeping couple, I considered myself alone.

"I guess so. A whole lot of people got out at Ponyville."

I proceeded to show him my boarding ticket, as that is what he wanted to see anyway. It was printed basically as any receipt would have been; my name and destination, the date and time of arrival, the amount of bits it cost, and the exact time of purchase, all on a thick slip of layered parchment. He scanned it relatively quickly, then he tore a serrated, rigid portion from it and placed it in his coat pocket. "I think I heard someone say there was gonna be a big bake sale there this weekend, and hey, I don't really blame them. They've got a Sugarcube Corner right there."

"Yeah. Pretty big name, now."

The stallion pulled out a slip of those sticky slips of paper and laid it on the end of the table face up, then he pulled out a pen and wrote the letters 'C' and 'E' with his magical azure glow. He didn't pick it back up.

"Indeed it is! Enjoy the ride, buddy!"

"Thanks, you too!" Perhaps it was a little weird to say that back to him, but nonetheless, he was gone.

"And once more, we hope you enjoy the ride." The mare on the intercom had finished speaking as well, then she was pretty much gone, too.

I fully pulled out my MP3 player out of my back pocket and unraveled the earphones stuffed in my front. I plugged the jack into the smartphone-like device and inserted the buds in the corresponding ears.

"This is gonna be quite the ride..."

I was really excited about this part. I didn't catch the announced time it would take to get to the Crystal Empire, but I was pretty sure I'd know the looks of it when the time draws near. There was a window next to me, so I figured I had no worries at all.

Finally, I decided to guide the music program on my phone around to some of my favorite songs. I quickly clicked on one of them, and feeling a well-rounded dose of fatigue (probably because I had a bad sleep session last night), I laid my head down on the table and closed my eyes.

I fell asleep fairly quickly, as music immediately dominated my world from that point on.

-----I'm Under Your Halo-----

The White Pony

Under Your Halo

(~~~~~The White Pony~~~~~)

"It's been quite a long trip, but here we are at the Crystal Empire."

I awoke to those very words, the ones the conductor had spoken. Out the nearest window gleamed the golden glow of civil twilight; six degrees below the mountainous horizon that hid the sun. It was breathtakingly beautiful, as the sunlight silhouetted the exclusive, awesome landmarks that the Crystal Empire had to show off.

The music was still playing in my ears, as my phone had been plugged in the three-pronged outlet underneath the table. I hadn't realized that I still had the music application on repeat, and so the same song was playing the whole time I was asleep.

I didn't mind at all though. I kept one ear plugged in and listened to the conductor speak while I looked out at the glorious sights

Lonely bird, sing me your song.

I'll stay awake until I see the sunlight.

"To our right, you can see the shadow of the almighty arch that towers over this whole region. As the sun moves, the reaches that the arch's shadow casts encircles the population of the Empire that is crystallized, ponies and all."

It was then that I saw it in it's astounding glory. The arch stood as tall as the heavens, it seemed, and as the sun climbed higher, the Crystal structure gleamed with incredible detail and beauty. With all colors of a rainbow and more, I laid my eyes upon the Crystal Heart, floating still between two protruding spires that looked as if they were holding it in place; I didn't know which; the train was too far to see. And all around the landscape were mountains, high enough to seclude the region from the North.

"The Crystal Heart inside the arch is endlessly strengthened by Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, the king wins queen of this region. Their intense love for each other, in addition to the Sun, kept the Heart strong, beating waves of happiness, goodness, and even affection toward the residents who live here." This place sounded absolutely wonderful. I was immediately reminded of the theory about how Heaven laid above the clouds-

That is so untrue. That's Hell, in every sense of the word. Heaven was on the ground, and it was so beautiful...

I just had to exert myself aloud:

"Oh my god..."

As the train came closer--seven more minutes according to a passerby receptionist--I decided to leave my MP3 player at the table and get up to look out of the bigger window in the car I was in. I stared in pure awe at the whole landscape now. And as the Sun also grew slightly higher, the millions of colors seemed to look as if they had clustered into one huge ocean of shimmering light.

Only a portion of the land was radiant, but the Sun was only partly up in the sky, too.

Ponies from the other nearby train cars suddenly started to come into mine and head down the steps to the doors at the bottom.

Then, before I knew it, we arrived with the loud screech of the brakes.With the Player in my back pocket and my earphones in the front, I departed the train and touched ground one foot below.

I've certainly heard stories of Crystal Ponies, and how they were really their own kind, not biologically related to Earth Ponies, Pegasi, or Unicorns at all. Crystal Ponies were merely sprites comprised of all different colors and contrasts from the multi-million color spectrum created by the Sun reflecting off of the Crystal Heart. And when the Sun sets behind the western mountains, they cease to exist until the Sun shines once more. They can appear anywhere they want to, as they are not physical beings. They can't be touched or felt, and just looking at the glistening bodies can put a strain on living eyes. However, they can interact with other Crystal Ponies with no downsides.

And there's a theory to them too. Crystal Ponies are thought by many to be the spirits of loved ones that have passed on to another life. I thought it made enough sense, with the immaterial beings they are, and how many of them were speaking to the emerging passengers as if they were family members.

The Crystal Ponies were beginning to arrive and increase in numbers as the Sun ascended ever higher. I tried to choose which route I wanted to take, as I felt like a total stranger in an even stranger--but wonderful--land. Bodies were everywhere, both physical and ethereal; and though I could see through the Sprites, their combined gleams left me in a bit of a pinch.

"Oh DARLING!" A squealing voice seemingly boomed out of nowhere, leveling over many other conversations. "Stay right there!"

I didn't really know if I was the one being spoken to or not, but I continued to follow any route I could find that would lead to the Arch that towered above, using it as a guide at the same time. I stopped immediately to reassure my direction by preceding to ask a redheaded Crystal Pony for exact directions, but, right before I was about to-

"H-ooof!"

Someone ran straight into me, knocking me off balance significantly, but not enough to make me fall. When I stumbled back to both straight legs, and after looking pretty awkward, the Crystal mare smiled at me and spoke something to me that I couldn't hear and trotted away.

"What was that for?" I laughed a bit as I asked the Unicorn who bumped into me.

"Oh, forgive me, dear," the feminine voice asked of me. The oversized hat that the mare wore was rather simple, but flashy, too: as she raised her head to look up at me. It was a giant fashion statement with contrasts of nothing but black above it and white below it that shaded her entire mane underneath. Where the black brim came up in the middle of it, there were three neatly trimmed clusters of some kind of thick material, and they seemed to have all been gently pressed into each other, enough to look as if they were actually bound together. One of them was a black cylindrical-shaped object. With added glitter to it that made it look like a portion of space, it highlighted the other, brighter objects that accompanied it.

At it's right was a more malleable-looking cube with black and white stripes that horizontally laid over it. And the last one, in front of them all, was another cylindrical shape that was all too much like the first, but instead of black with white glitter, it was white with black glitter--the complete opposite.

Then dress she wore was unlike any I had ever seen a pony wear. She wore a full-body, cloudy-looking dress that encompassed her body starting early down her neck. All four of her legs were independently inside it's woven sleeves, and tied at her back was a very nice black and white ribbon that was neatly tied into a beautiful bow at her chest. The dress headed all the way down her back and her rear legs, and it was cut just before it would touch the ground, less than an inch. The bow at her chest also held a small bundle of roses, all in different colors. Some red, two blue, one a rare green-

And then, I looked at her face. I looked at it for what seemed like forever.

Good god... She was the most beautiful of all of those roses... She was the most perfect one. The irises in her deep blue eyes were literally the shape of six-sided gems.

She was the true rarity.

Hear your voice and I know you're alright.

"Hehe, what's the matter? Kitty cat got your tongue?" Her words brought me back to full attention.

Oh my god. This feeling I was having just then...

She giggled, then she continued to talk, as I was merely lost for words. "I suppose I'll be the one to acquaint the two of us. I am Rarity-" she then stuck a pose, with her left rear leg and her right foreleg stretched outward and a confident smile on her pretty face. "Fashion designer EXTRAORDINAIRE!"

I just then noticed how her body had a slight radiance to it. It wasn't like the Crystal Ponies, and it could have just her pure white coat throwing me off. The green saddlebag that she wore was also flashy as heck, with the same three-colored threads outlining the bags on both of her sides, and also with the addition of a smaller version of her trademark--three sky blue gems--in the lower-right corner of them.

I still had to think of the best possible thing to say, as her confidence and her pride, and, now that I knew this was Rarity, her title was intimidating to the core. But then again, this was our very first meeting. She saw how blank my expression was.

"Eheh, but you can simple call me Rarity, dear."

"Oh wow," was all that slipped off my tongue. I had to back myself up. "It's so nice to finally meet you!" My next action was denied approval by my mindset, but I put both of my hands around her shoulders and lightly hugged her. But... She hugged me back. I enjoyed the feel of her light embrace before I pulled back.

"It's so very nice to meet you too, Zor!" she beamed at me, and I couldn't help but beam back. "How long did it take you to get here?"

"Well, I fell asleep on the train, but it was daytime when we took off from Ponyville... So maybe half a day?"

"Have you eaten anything before you fell asleep?"

I had to admit it. "No." And I made up an excuse too. "They would only take cash."

"They really should change that. I've only used Equetrek a on a few occasions in my young life, and it really could have been so much better, I think. Then again, those trips were many many many moons ago." She ended her train of thought with another glance at me, but it quickly turned into a stare. Then she ended whatever her newest train of thought was. Then she turned around and spoke with her admittedly seductive voice once more. "Come dear, let's get you something to eat, my treat. We have plenty of time before I need to show you what we'll be doing."

I felt a little bad about how Rarity had to feed me, but she was the Element of Generosity, after all, and I couldn't really fight that even if I wanted to.

As I quickly followed her lead at her side, I caught a few quick glances at her impeccably groomed mane and tail. Her beautiful violet mane rolled up a little past her ears, heading over the stands of her hair that hung from the diamond studs in her ears. Then it slid down and curved away from her face, the upper portion of the slide brushing against her cheek occasionally. Then, when it the bottom of her muzzle, it curled up and spiraled into itself until it formed a core somewhere that bordered the enclosure her mane had formed around itself.

And then there was her Cutie Mark. The reassuring sky blue diamonds in a group of three, glistening along with the small iridescent glow she was giving off.

This was actually happening...

We stopped for breakfast at a small coffee shop within the primary city of the Crystal Empire. We sat at a table the rested right beside the window, and immediately to the left of the door.

The sun was now pretty high up in the sky, and the Crystal Ponies were everywhere now, happily trotting alongside their physical families. Rarity and I both gave them all big smiles, feeling happy for them. Crystal Ponies were insanely adorable, I thought. It seemed like they felt nothing but fun and joy. We watched them for a bit as we sipped on our coffee and bit on our pastries.

"Hey Rarity," I asked of her attention. And she gave it to me with a look from those incredible eyes of hers.

"Hm?" She had her mouth full of bread, so she didn't actually speak.

"That redheaded mare I saw right before we met... Her eyes were like diamonds. And you have the same look in your eyes. Are you a Crystal Pony too?" She swallowed her food down with some coffee, then she answered.

"Well, I guess I could say I was at one point, but it was kind of like how I look now. I think just being in the Crystal Empire gives ponies a bit of a gleam to them. But my eyes have been this way ever since I started working here. I wouldn't trade them for the world!"

"Don't take this the wrong way, but... They're very pretty."

"My darling Zor, thank you. Why in the world would I take that the wrong way?"

"You're...very pretty. Even prettier than I thought any fashion designer would be. You know, given what they do."

"Oho, you're too much!" She started to cover her blushing cheeks.

"I do apologize, that really just slipped out."

"Well, dear, whether it was a slip of the tongue or not, I should inform you that... It would be best if we keep this to a minimum.

We will be working together, after all." She was still blushing even after she let down her hooves. I saw it.

"Right. My mistake."

"Also... And I don't even know why I'm telling you this, but, well, I just got out of a bad relationship about two weeks ago."

"Really?" I set my coffee down, just as I was going to take one of the last few sips of it. "Well, I guess that's good if it was a bad one."

"Yes. It is." A somber mood writhed through her face. "Let's just say that he got a little... Er, very jealous of my success here in the Empire." She then set down her own empty coffee container on the table and continued to nibble on her pastry.

I saw something just then.

"That bruise on your head." It was deep underneath her mane, and it couldn't be seen unless she had her head looking down. "He did that?"

Her eyes rolled up to meet mine, where I saw her frown and nod her head.

"Dammit Rarity, you're too beautiful to have been treated like that."

"...He was quite the quick-tempered one, regardless of how strong the Crystal Heart's influence has been recently. And our relationship seemed shorter than his fuse did. But I poured everything I had into him because I loved him. And I still do...kind of...love him."

That's it. I didn't know what to say at all anymore, in terms of being too much or too little sensitive. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Rarity..."

"It's not your fault, Zor. It's alright."

No it wasn't alright. She was starting to cry as she excused herself to use the 'little filly's room'. This wasn't alright. All I wanted to do right now was hug her tight and tell her everything would be alright; her body was so warm, told by the one we shared earlier. I wanted to tell her, every minute, that she was the most beautiful mare in the world. Every second, even.

What was this I was feeling? I think it was love. Legitimate love, regardless of only spending an hour together.

I think I was so in love with Rarity...

I can't wait to feel each inch of you tonight.

When Rarity came back, I had my eyes staring out the window once more, observing the ponies playing and sharing stories with each other. They were so happy.

"Are you ready to go, dear?" asked Rarity, now seeming absentminded of the topic we brought up earlier.

I set my hands down on the table and pushed myself up. "Whenever you are." I smiled at her. "That was absolutely delicious, thank you so much for that!"

"Hehe, it's really no problem,." Rarity left a good amount of bits on the table we chose to sit at as a tip, then we exited the shop through the door directly to our right. "We're going to be working together for quite some time. You might as well get used to my generosity. It is my middle name, after all."

Rarity decided to guide me through the city via a scenic route. It was very scenic for me anyway, and I wouldn't doubt she knew it was.

We walked through the streets of the city, with overhead lights strung from both residential and commercial buildings. Colored lights also adorned the insides of every window, lining the frames with a rainbow of hues and glittering cycles of flashes. The buildings, as well as the paved cobblestone roads, were decorated with various images, more than likely drawn by children. Those same cobblestone roads were ridden with many chalk drawings, such as the well-known legend of when the prince and princess of the Empire rescued the land from a certain destruction.

One of the greasy images was of the two kissing each other, accompanied with a giant version of the Crystal Heart, as well a black cloud at the side that had lines coming out of it from all directions. I assumed it was an attempt to scribble it out, representing the vanquishing of the evil that tried to overcome the kingdom. Another drawing, this one on a piece of cardboard leaned against an emporium for all kinds of glasses, depicted a marker image of Princess Cadence flying down at a slope at full speed with low brows and gritted teeth. There was a baby dragon her back--Spike--that had Crystal Heart in his right hand, and there was a text bubble coming from his open mouth. It said: 'LOVE CONKERS ALL!!'"

All the Crystal Ponies around us were still amazingly joyous around their families, with their eyes closed and mouths wide open, laughing lively with their faint voices.

It made me smile so much, all of it. It even made me really want to cry a little.

"Is there some kind of celebration going on today?" I asked, wanting badly to know the reason for all the decorations.

"Oh Zor, dear, you don't know?" She wasn't surprised in the bad sort of way, but surprised nonetheless. The she explained as I caught back up to her side. "Well, I still have a bit to learn about it too, but tomorrow is the official start of the bi-annual celebration known as The Festival of Lights. It's where the Crystal Ponies reunite with their living families for three days and enjoy their company in any way they want to. It's not every day that they can see each other."

"Wait," My thought process seemed to have hit a block. "What do you mean 'their living families'?"

"Well," she stumbled to try and find the most comfortable way to explain. "As cheerful and upbeat as the story of the Crystal Empire may seem, there were actually...very many fatalities with the rise of King Sombra."

"Oh... Well, I know that much about this place."

"So... The former ponies, also called Crystal Ponies, who resided here at the time of his uprising...died."

"Damn."

"But their spirits or souls, whatever term you prefer, lived on in the iridescent form of balls of light." Now I was following her clearly. "Then, after the Crystal Heart regained greater strength many months later, the Heart's mere radiance gave the Crystal Ponies visible forms and new influence toward the living ponies who started to move here. So, in essence, their families could see, hear, feel, and touch them. But their bodies aren't really there. Ugh, that part is so hard to explain."

"I understand, though.."

"I'm glad. Anyway, you know how the Sun reflects the cuts in the Crystal Heart and lets the Crystal Ponies take form, right?"

"Yeah. It's really interesting!"

"Well, two times in the year, the Sun comes closest to the Earth, also being the hottest days of the year. The Sun overloads the Heart with the severity of its rays, allowing enough energy for the Crystal Ponies to keep their partly physical forms for three whole days, about seventy-six hours, exactly speaking. And today happens to be one of those times of the year."

For whatever reason, just thinking about how hot it might have been actually made me realize how hot to really was.

"Well it's only the afternoon, I'd guess. It'll get even hotter, I bet."

"Oh, you're right about that. Oh, and this also means I get to see my younger sister again! I'm so excited!"

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear about your loss... Really."

"Well, it was a while ago, and I'll never really get over it."

We continued down the festive roads, and Rarity told me we were almost at her studio apartment. Our next conversation ate up the rest of the time it would take till then.

"Can I tell you a secret?" she asked of me.

"As long as you feel comfortable with it. I'd have no one to tell anyway." The street we were walking on was almost abandoned at this moment in time, and that gave her the comfort to speak aloud.

"The only reason why I chose to base my headquarters here wasn't because of how glamorous it is here, or anything, really." she said. "I did it all for my sister."

"Who was she?" I asked.

She sighed "Little Sweetie Belle... She was the best sister I think literally anyone could ever ask for. I mean, it's not like she's not here with me all the time, and I also don't know why she can't appear like any other Crystal Pony at any other time of the year, but it will be so nice to actually see her and hear her again, and to feel her again, too."

"That's so sad. I'm so sorry...."

"She was so young though... She was transferred to the school here because of her supreme intellect. She had to leave her me and our parents, her friends... Oh god, her friends. They were probably the most devastated out of everyone. They hadn't done a single thing for a year or two. The poor things."

Just then, I was reminded of what the fillies wanted me to do for them.

"AppleBloom and Scootaloo wanted me to tell Sweetie hi, by the way. Maybe we could get that message back to her."

She beamed wide at me letting her sadness of the subject also show. "I know she'd like that. They have school and they can't come here themselves."

Then I reached for my back pocket, taking out the picture they drew for me. It was folded about four or five times. I unraveled it and showed it to Rarity.

"They also drew this for us." She skimmed it over, then scanned it over, and then she just burst out laughing.

"Oh, Celestia, those fillies are just TOO funny! Is this their idea of what we'll be doing?"

"I don't know, maybe?"

"Hehe, well I suppose you could sample some things if you really wanted to." She kept on laughing, but I wasn't sure what she wanted me to say, or what I could have said.

"Heh, yeah!"

"Aww, I'm teasing you, Zorry!" She turned her head to me and threw me the sweetest smile I had seen on her beautiful face yet. Then she nudged me and turned back. I wished I could have been able to stare at her a lot longer, though.

Finally, our brief tour of Rarity's new life brought us to her apartment door. She led the way to the door and took her time to get her keys off of the necklace she wore.

The apartment's exterior was comprised of a single story that was painted with what looked like a fresh coat of blue paint. Adorning the outside walls were only two simple but spotless windows from the inside looking out. The one at the right was about three feet long, whereas the one that sat lower toward the right looked twice the size as the other. Then, looking up above, I saw how the roof protruded out about a foot-and-a-half, sheltering that distance from the door.

There was a total of three windchimes that hung from that part of the roof, and each of them were near the small walkway that we stood on.

"Oh jeez, why does this thing have to be such a pain all the time?" Rarity kept her eyes down at her jade necklace as she tried to take the key out from the littlest hoop.

"Want me to get that for you?" I offered.

"No, dear, I've got this, thank you so. It's just... Sometimes... It's absurdly-" It was now stuck, and she couldn't move it anymore. She grinned sheepishly. "Eheh, is that offer still open, by chance?"

"Of course it is." I knelt down to Rarity's level of sight and reached for her flashy necklace. I began to try my fingers at the task.

"This is necklace looks very pretty on you," I commented.

"Thank you so much!" she beamed, turning her head to let me have a little more room to work with. I saw her blushing, though. "My-uh. My ex got it for me."

"No offense or anything, but was he the kind of guy who buys you jewelry in exchange for, like, part of your company or something?"

At that moment, I wriggled the key from out of the loop and stuck it into the simple brass doorknob.

"Oh please, I don't care if you offend him. I could give less than a single care in the world." Her feelings about her ex-boyfriend changed pretty quickly, I thought...

I turned the key one direction, but it did nothing. When Rarity told me to turn it the other way, though, the complete turn unlocked the deadbolt from the door. Then the door crept it's way inside, but Rarity sped up the process with a bump from her hips.

"Besides, I've already decided to just forget about him." I smiled. "Come on in, dear. Make yourself at home! Hehe, you know I won't bite."

Chase This Light

Under Your Halo

(~~~~~Chase This Light~~~~~)

Rarity's humble abode had a heavenly greeting, with what smelled like fresh chamomile mixed in with a strong hint of cherries and roses that were just beginning to bloom. It was intensely intoxicating. I took a seat on the sofa that sat in what I assumed was her living room. From there, her home continued to amaze me.

In front of me, my knees were bent down to make room for the marble coffee table that stood on the burgundy carpeting. It had an intricate pattern etched into it--it was a faint checkered pattern, but with what reminded me of what you see when you look up at an aurora-filled sky with tens of thousands of visible stars.

Other than that, though, a stack of granite coasters laid on the mirror-like table. Then, four feet in front of it was an in-wall fireplace. Not the old fashioned stacked bricks kind, but it was actually inside the wall. I saw the remote to it lay on the attached shelf above the box where the fire would shine out from. And a short distance from the box was a very fat bean bag chair.

The walls extended to both the left and the right five-and-a-half feet on each side with a desk to the left floor, but then they came toward my direction. The wall on the left sported an extremely thin television mounted to it, an estimated ninety-six inches, and beneath that was a super-polished cedarwood cabinet with glass doors that opened up to three shelves inside. On the top shelf sat a ScooRay player that was as thin as the shelf itself was. Nothing was on the bottom two. There were doors on each outer side of the cabinet too, and they each matched its two-foot length.

But then the wall made a sharp turn further to the left, going into a deep hall with three bedrooms and a bathroom, with three in-wall shelves beneath a tall cabinet. All the doors in the hall were closed, though, causing a bleak view from afar. Next, the wall came back toward me, sneaking around the couch and turning to the kitchen behind me, and that's where I got up to look around.

The carpeting on the floor transitioned into laminate with a two heightened steps that led into the kitchen. A tall refrigerator started to line the wall first from my view, but then I saw a modern-style range with an oven inside of it. A wall mounted rack held sharp knives magnetically. The wall came out a bit, then to back a bit more, than back again heading left. There was another closed door, and in the middle of the forward wall was an out-of-place container with five plastic shelves that held various cooking utensils. Then moving along still, a washing machine sat on the floor. It's door laid dead in the middle of it's standing height.

From where all the buttons and compartments slid out, the kitchen sink and counter followed its level until a door could be seen on the wall to the right. And above the washing machine was a protrusion of the wall that stuck out halfway from the washer, sink and counter. Many cupboards laid inside of it, and the whole wall rose up above the sink, then came back down to the counter. A bread toaster, a coffee pot and a water purifier container were a few of the items that were huddled underneath the cupboards. The sink was empty, too.

Out of the actual kitchen, and right below the shortest window I saw earlier, stood a similarly polished cedarwood table pressed below it, not even half-a-foot below the curtain's reach. Those curtains were folded as they were spread tightly to the sides of the window, but I thought about what the image could have been, a cluster of dew-covered fruit. Four chairs accompanied the table; one on each end and two on the accessible side of its length.

Finally, the wall reached the door from whence we entered and met back to the fireplace, the only things preceding it being the other window with closed red velvet curtains on a brass rod, two rocking reclining chairs of leather, and one more cedarwood table between them.

"Rarity," I started out loud. "This place is incredible! Like, just... Wow!" I didn't know where she was in the apartment, but I hope she heard it. Then the door between the kitchen counter and table slowly opened. But nothing was to be seen because of how dark it was in that room.

Instinctively, I walked over to it and pushed it open a little more, still seeing nothing but black. But then I felt something press up against my neck, like a scarf, and then it pushed against me with an awkward force behind it. It started forcing me to walk forward into the dark room.

"Rarity?" I wasn't really worried. "What's happening??" Just a little surprised by her playfulness, if this was her doing. The door shut behind me, letting absolutely no light in the room I was now in.

"You'll see."

Some seconds later, a triad of stagelights along the ceiling flipped on with a blinding artificial light. But once my eyes got used to the lights, I could look around the room with much more ease. I was just standing idly in the middle of the room now, with the scarf now loosely circulated around my shoulders and neck.

"So, how do you like my workshop, Zor?"

I looked around me and the only thing I saw was the genius of the beautiful mind I knew a Rarity had. There wasn't much in terms of furniture or decoration, but I instantly considered some of the clothing blueprints laid up on the wall to be over-the-top decor. The designs she devised were incredibly intricate and breathtaking.

A few of the designs were in their physical forms, placed on mannequins in the form of quadrupeds. One of the dresses was placed on the collarbone of a mannequin in a way so that the shimmering lining at it's back would line the top and bottom of the wearers tail, and the end of that glittering violet fabric tied onto the end of the mannequin's tail, and the entire dress sparkled as the light shined on the fabric. Another dress featured a golden glow to its entirety, and with extensions that cover the wearer's front legs, the bottom portion of the dress had fabrics that spiraled in all directions of its body. Lined with lightweight studs that were probably real gems, the spiraled supporting fabrics easily became the main feature, despite the iridescent, rainbow-like illusion that the gold-colored threads gave off.

The whole room was like a big, wide-open box, and to my direct right was another, smaller room with outward folding doors. Inside, from what I could see, were rolls of thread and spindles of fabric and tools that lined the walls, and... Everything she would ever need was probably in there.

"Rarity, everything is just...so amazing!" I admitted proudly.

She gave me a quirky grin as she walked toward me. "You think so?"

"I mean, I thought everything would throw the vibe that you're rich, but everything you've done here is truly amazing!"

"You think I'm rich?" She looked puzzled.

"Well, with talent known across the world-"

"It sounds like a nice life to have, and indeed, I have dreamed of that life at one point in time." She walked closer to me, now a two feet away from me. "But I've learned to appreciate other things in life, like making others happy through my own sacrifice."

"What do you mean?" What was I asking? "I mean, you're the Element of Generosity, so how did you need to learn how to be generous?"

"Well, I wasn't always how I am today. When I was younger--much younger-- I would think mostly of myself and very little of others. No one knows this little part of me, but... I would often steal things I wanted that didn't belong to me, mostly things that I thought were worth holding onto, or things that sparkled in my eyes, like small gems and things like that." This was honestly very surprising. "I was also a little brat at that age, having to always look over my back and change my attitude around others. I didn't really have too many friends back then, but the ones that were my friends taught me how to change myself for the best, and they were documented criminals on the run from the law. Can you believe that?"

My thoughts about Rarity remained unchanged. In fact, it was a good thing we were getting to know each other better. I merely responded:

"I believe every bit of it. Even the worst of people can have the most sensitive hearts." I had to catch myself, though. "Not you, of course, I'm talking about those friends you mentioned."

"Mmhmm, that's exactly right. And I suppose I can put myself under that phrase."

"But Rarity."

"Which is why-"

"You're not a bad person-"

"I'm going to attack you!"

I was suddenly snapped out of my sensitive mindset when Rarity jumped at me just then. She knocked me down and stood on top of me, trapping my arms between my body and her hooves. Then I saw her horn glow with a sea-blue aura, and far behind her, I saw a top hat, a monocle, and a black stallion's tuxedo lift from atop a mannequin.

"Oh no," I started laughing.

"Oh yes, dear! It's time to play dress up!"

As the accessories first grew closer, I bit her dangling mane with my lips, at which point she tugged her head back gently, trying to break my grip. When she did break it, though, her head jerked back enough for her to lose her magical focus, dropping the accessories on a cushioned rocking chair. Then I bent my knees up and lifted my upper body to hers. She gently pushed me back down with her left hoof, but then I took the opportunity to start wriggling my way out from underneath her, the two of us still laughing.

When she let me escape, she leaped at me once more, and the two of us were rolling around on the ground until she reached for a prop pipe and immediately tried to get me to open my mouth again, as I was not laughing out loud anymore. This was a life or death situation.

After a few minutes of playful wrestling, Rarity was beneath me when she managed to slip the tip of the pipe in my mouth. We froze in a position that had me holding Rarity's hoof with one hand, trying to stop her from her goal. And she laid there, trying to hold her laughter through a toothy smile she wore on her face. But when the pipe eventually slipped out from my lips and onto the floor. I used the opportunity to do something I've wanted to do when I discovered my feelings for her.

I kissed the top of her hoof. It was quick, and I could see the surprise on Rarity's face, now wearing a faint smile and widened eyes But...I didn't see any indications of an objection.

"That was quite the unexpected outcome," she said. I was confident, though.

"It just sort of...dawned on me."

"Well I'm glad it did, because that was a good excuse to stop playing around in here."

"Right. Don't want to cause any damage in here."

"Definitely. Plus, I've got to show you what you'll be helping me out with."

That might have sounded really exciting before, but at this point, the feeling was boosted tenfold.

I sat up on my legs and let her get back on her own. Whereas then, she unlocked the door to the kitchen and opened it, entering.

I really didn't know if I offended her or disgusted her by kissing her, but I resolved to repress the event as best I could. And with that, I followed her into the living room, where I saw her sitting like a duck in one of the leather chairs.

And all I can do now...

I took my rest back on the burgundy couch, ready and intent to listen to my duties as Rarity's partner. I was still trying to forget about that kiss, too.

"Ahem." Rarity cleared her throat as she started talking. "Honestly, Zor, you're not going to be very busy, but everything you do do for me will be very important. Although your primary task may prove to be redundant over time, my stressed-out schedule leaves me with no time to make reviews and all that."

"Doesn't sound too hard." I said.

"Well aren't you eager to get to work! Hehe, I'm going to be asking you to review my blueprints, as well as all the articles I make from them, for any flaws or sketchy corners you may find. A lot. I value your opinion, and I'm not sure if you've noticed this or not, but I value perfection to the highest standard."

"Everything I've seen so far was absolutely perfect," I commented as she smiled. "I also think I saw how a lot of those designs you drew were already done, and they looked better than perfect!"

"Thank you so much! Last night, I was so excited to meet you the morning after, I kind of got ahead of myself and my own duties as well. Which is why it's insanely important that we look those over for any imperfections. I'll also want you to document a log of my expenses. I just don't have the time for anything other than working on my designs."

"Understandable. You're a genius at what you do."

"Hehe, but, as I said before, we're ahead of schedule a bit, so we can sit back and relax for a day or two. It usually takes me a single twenty-four hour period to just craft one of my designs, and then some more time to look them over."

"So... What are we going to do for the rest of the day?" I looked through the striped mahogany curtains on the window behind Rarity and saw that the sun was casting a shimmering sunset through the air. "The day looks like it's almost over." She thought about my question, putting her hoof under her head and staring at the ceiling as she did.

Then she leapt off the chair and said; "I want you to dance with me."

...Is wait to leave the ground

"You want me to...dance?" I repeated her words like a fool, dumbfounded.

"With me, if you don't mind. I'd like to practice for the start of the festival tonight. And now that I have someone else here with me, the proposition stands unquestionably. Besides," she teased me again." You're in my house. You can't simply can't escape! Hehee!"

That was a good point, not that I would have ever passed this opportunity for the world. I would never.

Never.

"So come, Zor. I promise you I won't bite this time." She eagerly awaited my approach, with those glimmering diamond eyes. They beckoned me to her.

She gave me her left hoof, and I gave her my right hand, lifting her up to my level, and on her hind legs, she was partially leaning against me. She set her hoof on my shoulder and placed her other one on my upper torso, and I held her higher foreleg with my hand and placed my other hand on her waist. I imagined that a crowd of ponies of all kinds were watching just the two of us dance under that star-clustered sky. All of them.

This felt strangely uncomfortable for her, I was sure of it.

"Let's see what you can do..." she giggled.

Nevermind.

~~~~~I feel invincible;

So chemical around you.

Flying high, I'm so alive beside you.

All the stars above are under your halo.

I'll take every breath and every lie about you.

Everything.

Fuck the world without you.

Pull me higher up, just like an angel.~~~~~

We spent about thirty minutes just dancing. I couldn't have been any happier with my entire life than I was at that moment in time. Her face was buried in my chest for the last fourteen minutes till we stopped, and when we did stop dancing. She looked up at me, her wet face evidence enough that she was crying. I wished I knew she was, but I didn't.

"Zor," she said, halfway between a mutter and a whisper.

"Rarity?" I answered. We still stood motionless.

"I..."

Oh my god.

"I... Um, I'm..."

"Spill it, Rarity." I teased her for a change. But it wasn't enough.

She retracted her hooves to the floor and let me go, whereas I knelt down to her level. "I knew there was no doubt in choosing you to work with me. Because I...already really like you."

"Oh," Why did this have to be the one time for me to get tongue-tied? "I really like you to, Rarity... "

But I guess that enough had done the trick. She came back to wrap one of her forelegs around my shoulder and our cheeks rubbed against each other, with my face buried in her silky-smooth mane.

~~~~~I'm under your halo~~~~

Eventually, the late evening had evolved into the early night. Rarity had gone into her room through the straightforward door in the hall to change into something appropriate for the festival she mentioned. The activities began that night, and she didn't want to be late. She told me I looked absolutely perfect, and I didn't have to worry about a thing. My hair was short, my clothes were still perfectly clean. I would have taken Rarity's word even if I was nothing but a mess. I was sitting on the chair this time around, the same one she was sitting in when we were talking earlier.

And then I heard the her bedroom door open, and the soft steps of her hooves on the carpet. And then I saw her come from out from the corner, in every bit of her absolute glory.

Her hair was fixed in a ball shape with a few other, smaller bundles next to the biggest, with bridges of layers that overlapped each other as they continued atop her head. Then, from that point on, her mane was let down to hang over the sides of her neck, and the front of the dress she wore came to cover her back and encompass the rest of her lower body under it.

The masterpiece shined in all the colors of a rainbow. It was so thin, in fact, that it would have looked as if she wasn't wearing anything if I weren't right there in that very same room as her. The colors were faint, but, as Rarity explained to me, under a cloak of light--artificial or natural--that's when it it really shows itself off.

"This is also one of my mess-ups for a dress you may have seen in my little workroom," she added.

"What was wrong with it?"

Nothing was wrong with it. It was perfect.

There were some parts of the actual dress that laid over her tail and on each side of it, too. Or at least, they looked like separate parts to the piece, but it was really part of the dress itself, with the ocean-blue fabric woven into the beautiful clothing. At the bottom where the special pieces of material stopped along with the body of the dress, many blue and pink gems lined the edges and shined bright, despite the inadequate lighting in the living room.

A part of the dress also came up from underneath her chest and rounded itself down toward the bottom, heading down to the top of her forelegs and pointing itself diagonally down her legs, then curving back up to her underside after it reached the backsides of her legs. She was wearing beautiful shoes on all her hooves, too. They shimmered as I saw them curve down toward her backsides, whereas where they met with a slight slope at the front, a single diamond joined them in the area between the downward slides.

Finally, her mane, at both parts where they hung down beside her neck, was under the thin veil of sparkling fabric in which she slipped over it. Those parts of her mane simply looked as if there were electric lights in her hair. They didn't move at all, but only with her movements thy would stay embedded there.

She was just beautiful, to describe her in one word. But the word wasn't 'just' anything, really; she was absolutely magnificent.

"Oh, I made the whole thing a little too thin for the commissioner 's liking. So I figured, why not add this beauty to my own wardrobe?"

"Heh, yeah, right?" We were now heading out the door.

"After you, dear." I exited the apartment first, the cool night air inviting me to the events to come. Rarity came out next, locking the door with her key after she shut it behind her.

When she asked me to flip the key on her necklace again, I noticed how she wasn't wearing the same one she was before. No, this one was a big piece with just as big a frame, littered with diamonds that formed various shapes, such as a heart, a crescent moon, a shimmering sun, and a star. There was a hook at the top where Rarity asked me to slip it through. Once I did that, she thanked me sincerely, and we were on our way.

The city streets, every single one of them, were sparkling with spheres of light in all colors understandable. Hanging from lighted wires across buildings, inside windows and on lining the sides of the streets.

Everywhere.

The sparkling arch that towered over the city was shining and glittering intensely, showering the same streets with an overlaying of bright, natural light. The Crystal Ponies and all their families looked to be out and about in every inch of the roads, talking and playing, dancing and loving.

It was crowded, Rarity and I had to admit, but neither one of us would ever mind; she knew what these next three nights would mean to all of them. True, they could see each other whenever they wanted at any other time of the year, but, as Rarity also told me, Crystal Ponies lose their memories every time they revert back to their spiritual forms.

And, during this seventy-six hour period, they would have the time of their lives.

Lonely bird, lend me your ear.

"This must be heaven," I told Rarity. I was unable to stop feeling and looking at all the happiness and love around us.

"Yes, it really seems like it, doesn't it?" She suddenly seemed...out if it. The thought could have just been my own, though. "It kills me to see how happy they all are."

"You don't mean that literally, do you?" I teased.

She lowered her voice and responded. "Honestly... Okay, it doesn't literally kill me, but, after what I've been through...and what I still feel... It's hard not to be a little envious."

"Hey," I tried comforting her. "I know how you feel, really."

"You do?"

"Yeah, really."

At that point, I offered Rarity a seat at a lone roadside table in a partially empty part of the street. She agreed to sit down for a bit, rather than continuing on and feeling even worse in a much bigger crowd.

"I mean, yeah, I've lost most of my own memory when I came here. It's a matter of fact that I don't even remember how I got here either. But yes, I know I felt the same way where I came from, because I still feel the same way as you now, just a little bit."

"So... You were like me, pretty much." said Rarity.

"It would be the only explanation, unless something hit me just now."

Rarity now had her head looking down at the plastic table, her sad eyes making her sudden emotions all too clear.

"I feel sick," was what she said next.

"Do you want to go back?"

"Yes... Please." I felt for Rarity, more than I have ever felt for anyone or anything. I would comply with her every wish. And she needed me to do that more than ever. And she needed someone in her life to treat her right.

We got up from the table set and walked together again, just in the opposite direction. Some of the ponies around us gave us some confused looks as we walked away from the city's festive attractions, and it was a shame that we had to be.

"Sorry..." Rarity arched her head up to my hand as I started to stroke her mane with my hand. "Really, I'm so sorry I had to ruin this for you..."

But I didn't care about anything except her now.

"Rarity," I comforted her as she leaned against me. "Anything for you."

Iridescent

Under Your Halo

(~~~~~Iridescent~~~~~)

Once again, I worked my handy magic and unlocked the door, letting ourselves in. The first place Rarity went through was the early door to the right of the hall. She then poked her head out and told me she would be out in a few minutes, then she went back in and shut the door behind her.

As for me, I didn't know what else to do except take a seat and wait for her to finish doing whatever it was she was doing. She seemed like something was ailing her, and to a pretty steep degree too. I stopped doubting myself a while ago, ceasing to tell myself that I was the reason why she got to acting this way. I had a real feeling that I knew what she wanted.

It was like I told her before. I didn't remember what it was that made me the lonely, desperate person I was before, but I knew how she felt. I could see life through her perspective, I feel, If given the chance. In fact, I knew what she wanted, actually. She needed someone in her life who would treat her right and never do her wrong...

So suddenly, but rather quietly, Rarity's voice began to leak through her bedroom door. Instinctively, I stayed seated, but when I heard another voice a few seconds after hers, I had to move my seat to the middle cushion of the couch. Some part of me told me that I had to listen, and I really hated doing it because it was behind her back, and she was unaware of it, but these insane feelings I had for her would make me do anything and everything that would ever involve her, or even something as simple yet beautiful as her name.

My internal signs and thoughts led me to the inevitable conclusion. It would have came around eventually, whether through my actions or my words.

I was, in fact, in love with Rarity. I knew this like it was something I could have never forgotten, even when all my memories were wiped away. I felt so...powerful just repeating her name to myself. I mean, she chose me to work with her, to be her...partner.

Nothing could ever replace the feeling I was enjoying so much. My head was way up in the clouds. I truly felt unstoppable. Powerful; even...Good fucking god I couldn't ever start to describe how wonderful this felt.

"Hello?" Rarity's voice asked of nothing every few seconds. "You're here, aren't you?" I remember what she told me before... "Are you hiding from me in those walls?"

Her sister...

"Boo!!" Rarity literally jumped about foot from her seat on the little bed she sat on.

"Oh my..!" SweetieBelle!"

There was suddenly a dome-like lump under the bed sheets, which Rarity quickly unraveled the object underneath when she looked back around. There was nothing to be seen, though.

"I wasn't scared, I swear it!" She giggled and looked around in the room some more for wherever her sister could be hiding.

The pink-walled room was no bigger than the size of half her living room; it was only nearly a fourteen foot box, pretty much. The room was empty of any decorations or furniture, save for the highly-raised bed that stood tall of the carpeted floor, and there was a closet to the right of the bed's frame. It was the first place she looked.

"Are you in here?" Rarity pulled the slightly creaky door outwards, only to see absolutely nothing inside. "Oh. Of course not. Come on dear, it's not like I'm going to do anything to you."

"Who's that guy?" spoke the gentle voice once more. The room was so small and empty, it made SweetieBelle's voice literally untraceable; Rarity still couldn't tell where her sister was, that is until she floated up through the bed and sat on top of it. She gave her the most sinister of playful grins, and Rarity took it kindheartedly, regardless of her urge to jump on that bed with her and wrestle with her playfully.

"Oh, SweetieBelle. I've missed you so much." But she did, however, hop up on the foot of the bed with her and pull her close to her. Crystal ponies were able to travel through solid objects, and would normally be unable to be touched at all. But of course, since they were both of the same blood, they could share each other's touch.

"I missed you too..." The little white Unicorn pulled herself closer to Rarity, sinking her face into her shoulders briefly before she spoke again. "Even though it's only been six months or so."

"I know what you mean." Rarity laughed with her a bit. "Did you have to go about frightening me, though?"

"I thought you said you weren't scared." Sweetie grinned suggestively.

"I wasn't! Eheh, I said I was frightened."

"There's no difference, I don't think. I can go "OOOOOOO" all day and everyone will run, even other crystal ponies! Hehe!"

"Well I guess you're just one of a kind, then!" The two sisters had been reunited once again. Not even death could stand between them...

"You're my sister, and I love you to death. I always will..."

A few minutes passed, with the sisters still holding each other close in their embrace. "Hey Rarity?" SweetieBelle piped up with her squealing petite voice. "You never answered my question."

"Which one?"

"Who that guy is. He's still out there. Is he waiting for something? Or something?"

"I thought you knew who he was," Rarity answered. "He's my new partner for my fashion designer line!"

"I'm really happy for you! I'm not going to doubt him one bit, but...why a human? The only human?"

Rarity then bit her lips and looked to the side, thinking of an explanation the Sweetie would understand. "Well, what harm is there in taking a chance on a total stranger? He's from a whole other land, so who knows what kind of skills and talents he has."

"I guess that's true. One of the last things I learned before I passed on was not to be the one to start or believe any birdie gossip," It was easier than she thought, but Rarity also knew that her sister was incredibly smart for her age. "So I'm not going to say he's not good for you, if you thought that's where I was getting at.

"Oh, on the contrary SweetieBelle." Rarity raised her voice to emphasize her statement. "But he is good for me in so many ways. I feel as if we've hit it off straight from the start!"

"What do you mean?" the younger sister asked. "Does he know a lot about what you want to do?"

"Well...I gave him a quick rundown of what I do, but I'm sure he had very good knowledge of me beforehand."

"...Rarity?" SweetieBelle caught something in her sister; Rarity was the element of Generosity, yes, but she always had an uncontrollable habit of talking about herself before anyone else in many situations similar to this.

"What's the matter, Sweetie?"

"Are you okay?" She asked, bluntly. Not rudely, but it was like she was in her face.

"Of course I am! I'm positively wonderful!" Now Rarity was giggling continuously. "My heart is fluttering!"

According to SweetieBelle, that was conformation enough. "Oh jeez, you're in love with him."

"Oh...hehe. Yes, dear, I really think I am!"

"With a human?"

Rarity's face abruptly turned more than halfway blank, with a sliver of her exponential happiness letting be shown."Okay, Sweetie, what are you getting at? You've never really liked it when something good happens with me, so tell me. What is it about him that you don't like?"

"I'll say it again; I don't have anything against him. Sorry for acting like I did, Rarity..." SweetieBelle was starting to frown. Rarity was always a bit of an aggressive older sister when it came to choosing her words.

"Sweetie...I'm sorry, I-"

"All I was trying to say, er, ask was, and I'm just curious here, why you chose him over plenty other qualified designers?"

"Sweetie..." Rarity saw the jewels in her sister's eyes shimmer as she started to sniffle and cry. There were no physical tears, but Rarity knew she was crying. And she started to well up as well. "Sweetie don't do this to me..."

"Do...what?"

"Cry. Please don't. I can't stand to-"

"I'm-I'M JUST TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR MY SISTER!" Sweetie was screaming at the top of her lungs, but her ethereal existence took most of the anger out of her voice, and the end result sounded like she was whispering loudly. "I'm sorry!"

The Unicorn hopped off the bed in a fit of scarcely explained rage, but Rarity leapt off as well and stopped her in her tracks, making the little filly look her straight in the eyes with a squished face. She could still see the premature frustration in her face, though.

"Look. Sweetie," she started. "I never meant to hurt you, and I'm so...so so SO sorry if I did. I love you, darling... You're my one and only sister...and you're the best one anypony could EVER ask for. Even after death..." Now she was full fledged sobbing. "Even after death, you're still here with me! Even though I haven't ever returned the favor to you, you're still here!"

SweetieBelle couldn't move at all. She was trapped in Rarity's loving arms. "Rarity..." The older sister immediately turned her head from the youngers' little shoulders and looked at her teary face, her own just the same way.

"Anything, Sweetie. Just don't leave me. Never leave me..."

"Rarity...I think it would be for the best..."

"You think...what would be for the best?" Rarity was quivering now, her legs shaking and her hooves getting moist with perspiration.

"If I left you," Sweetie said, intentionally blunt this time.

Rarity had no real words ready for what SweetieBelle had told her.

"You can't... You can't..!" She was utterly devastated. Nothing could save her now. "You... YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE ME!" She literally screamed at Sweetie, throwing her forelegs behind her with the velocity of her voice.

"You think so, huh?" responded the filly, fearlessly. Rarity took her hooves off of her; she could do whatever she wanted. "Watch me." And so she did, a burst of light coming from her body. It blinded Rarity for a moment, but when her sight came to once more, she saw SweetieBelle beginning to vanish. Her body was less transparent than it was before, and the diamonds in her eyes was the only part of her that was shining brighter than any other part of her dissipating body.

"STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!" screamed Rarity. And one of the saddest things was that she couldn't even touch SweetieBelle anymore. He body was entirely gone now.

"Too late. My second life is gone.

"But! SWEETIE WHY IN THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO THAT!? What can I do???"

"Rarity. I just want you to be happy. But I can't deal with how happy you WERE, so I just ended my second chance at life so I wouldn't make myself any more jealous than I was the moment you said you were in love."

"Is THAT what this is about??"" Shouted Rarity, still trying to see if she could feel her little sister one final time. "My feelings for him?"

"It may seem like a stupid reason, but...well-"

"You don't need to explain, Sweetie!" Rarity tried to make haste with her words. She didn't know how much time she had. "I understand the hard things in life AND I CAN HELP YOU!"

"You might have been able to, but I lost a lot of respect for you after I died the first time."

This was an absolute nightmare for Rarity. "What the?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?? I didn't know you died when you did!"

"I think you did, Rarity. Why else would you have avoided my friends when you got on the train back to Ponyville? When you came with your own friends for the Crystal Fair all those years ago?"

"God..! I was told that you were evacuated and taken to Canterlot to resume your schooling! And I found out right when I got back to Ponyville after we killed Sombra, and your friends were the ones that told us!"

"But...who told them?"

"Your parents! Who the heck do you think!?" Do you seriously think no one ever loved you??!"

SweetieBelle was now almost completely transparent, her slightly grey-turned outline being the second-to-last thing left of her existence.

"They told them?"

"YES THEY TOLD THEM. THEY TOLD EVERYONE!"

"Like who else?"

Like the whole freaking town! They told me! They told the Celestia and Luna, who agreed to find your body and give you A PROPER BURIAL!" Rarity was out of breath and still very angry. But she soon started to calm down when Sweetie started to cry again.

"Oh my god..." She didn't think the world wanted her at all. "What have I done..?" But now it was too late for a third shot at life. "Rarity!" She screamed as loud as her evanescent voice would let her. "Rarity, save me! I don't wanna leave!!"

"I can't- I can't do anything!!" Hug me!"

"I CAAAN'T!" Sweetie tried and tried, but there was nothing to be felt for either of them. "RARITYYY!!"

"DAMMIT, SWEETIEBELLE!!! Stay-STAY WITH ME...JUST STAY HERE WITH ME-EE!!"

Rarity screamed my name through the closed door, and it didn't take me much thought, if any at all, to spring off of the couch and head to the room. I continued to hear her scream out loud, but I couldn't get the door open to find out why. I thought she was in some sort of danger, as dreadful as the thought was, but it could have been true. I twisted the knob as fast as far as I could both ways and pushed, but nothing happened.

"Zor, HELP!"

I also pulled on the knob repeatedly, but still, nothing came of it.

"Rarity open the door!" I tried to shout over her. "I can't get it!"

Then...Rarity's voice just, died. It wasn't replaced by anything, but at the same moment it did, the door pulled itself open, away from my handle on the knob. "Rarity..." I whispered now. "What happened? Why were you screaming?"

Rarity sat there on the carpet floor with her head down and her right foreleg up. She was holding something in the cleft of her hoof, and I had almost made it out from my standing view.

"Oh Zor..."

I should have never let my eyes blink that night...

In her hoof, Rarity held the last remaining piece of her sister, and she quickly couldn't bear to look at it anymore. It was a glistening diamond that shined bright with a slight emerald shade to it. It almost looked as if it was exactly going off of the color wheel, combining a certain yellow with a certain blue hue. I looked at it and safely figured the worst.

"Zooooorrr!" Rarity clambered her body at mine and locked me in her deathgrip. She was crying her eyes out, literally; the tears she wept on my clothes didn't stop. "Zor, whyy? Why...WHY-DID-SHE HAVE-T DO THIS?"

At that point, I put the pieces together, and I still didn't know for sure, but I had to ask:

"SweetieBelle? Where is she?"

"SHE'S...Oh god, SHE'S GOOOONE!"

But SweetieBelle was gone. Forever, this time.

"Oh no... God..." My words were useless though. I meant to comfort her with all the simple words I chose, but Rarity shushed me with her hoof.

"Stop talking...Just be here for me." She told me with no other movements at all. With her head buried in my chest now as I knelt down to her level, she cried as long as her eyes would allow her to. I began to pet her back and her mane gently.

"Alright..."

It was a good hour before Rarity said anything. She might have briefly fallen asleep on me; it was hard to tell when I lifted up the slide of her mane that covered her eyes. Her gaze was cloudy and gloomy, and she was just staring in a straightforward direction, into nothing except my chest. She still didn't say anything when I recited her beautiful name.

"Rarity?" I continued. "Rarity?" Finally, she came back to when I touched her face, cupping her head with my hand and running my fingers along her chin.

"...Huh? Oh gosh, Zor... I fell asleep for a bit and I just woke up maybe ten minutes ago."

"Well you've been through a lot."

"I was just...thinking."

"Rarity, I'm so sorry."

"Dear. It's just not your fault." She kept her blank expression as she finally let go of me, taking her forelegs to the duty of walking out the open door. "I'm going to wash my hair and let it down. I feel so clouded."

I got back up to my feet and followed her out of the room, catching the end of her tail head into the bathroom right across to the other side of the hall. She didn't know I was watching her though. She proceeded to magically slip her dress off her body and down her legs, where she laid it neatly behind where the door hung in the room. She then filled the bathtub up with water as she pushed one of the knobs over the faucet, turning it on. It filled rather quickly, and she didn't do anything but keep her head down, staring at the water that filled the porcelain.

When the bathtub was full of water, Rarity dunked her head in and kept it down there for various secondly intervals before she would lift her head up from the water. She kept on sighing silently as she continued soaking her mane.

Then eventually she climbed in entirely, and that was when she caught me watching her.

"Hehe... Have you been there the whole time?" She asked, still somewhat blankly. I looked at her with the same vague expression she gave me; one that told me tat I didn't know what to say, or even what I was saying.

"I can't help it. I really can't."

"Hehe, what ever do you mean?" She seemed to have calmed down significantly. I was really impressed, yet still intensely mournful at the same time.

"Uhm...nothing like that. It's just..." I struggled with how the situation was portrayed, and that made me struggle with the words I meant to use as well, "I just wanna be here for you, you know?"

"Are you saying you want to watch me bathe, dear?" Her transformation was incredible. "Do you want to sit right here and take the role of this little rubber ducky right here?" She immediately pulled a rubber duck toy seemingly from out of nowhere, and that just made me laugh so much. I was still feeling bad for Sweetie, though, so I felt so bad for having a laugh, but Rarity was the one who made me, so she must not have minded very much at all. Strange.

"I guess that depends," I said. "Do you want me to?"

"Well that also depends, dear," She smirked. "Do you want to?"

I gave into temptation. "I want to be beside you."

And so I took a seat on the wide body of the bathtub, watching her innocently play with her little toy duck in the clear water. Rarity didn't need to take a bath at all--hell, knowing her, she would have gone with a shower anyway. But she was under some kind of describable influence that hid her sadness extremely well, and I was even starting to think that she was already over her sister, as harsh as that may sound. I knew something was still really there, though.

"Zor?" Rarity said as she came up from under the surface of the water. "Won't you play with me?"

"Rarity?" What...exactly was she asking of me? "What do you mean..?"

"Well I mean, little ducky can't move on his own."

"Oh! Hehe, okay!" What a relief, man.

I put two fingers on the floating toy as Rarity sunk beneath the miniature waves. I didn't know what she was planning to do, but I proceeded tom move the duck along the water's feeble flesh. I saw Rarity slide her body down to the front of the tub, her rear legs raised in the air and her head laying on the floor of it. As I moved Mister Duck moved along the ripples, Rarity's head slowly came up and I saw her open her mouth too.

If I was that duck...I would have suffered a pleasant death. Rarity blew a tiny amount of bubbles at the water's surface, making the duck wobble and shake with my loose grip on it. Then soon enough, she unveiled her head from the depths and ate the little duck whole with her mouth wide open. Of course, she removed it from her mouth, but only after she gently spit my two fingers out, I blushed, and so did she.

"Pfft. that was cute," I told her.

"It's just part of my bath time. Hehe, I usually just turn the shower on and stand here, letting it soak me completely. But I guess I just felt like sitting in warm water." She wiggled her legs around and put them back of the corner of the wall and the tub, leaning against them. "Actually, dear, could you do me a favor and lift that little lever upon the faucet?" I suddenly feel like having a shower right now. And make the water warm, please."

I looked at the faucet and saw a straight lever standing up with a circular lift at the top of it. I pulled it up and turned the water on by also pulling back on a bigger wall-mounted knob. Water came shooting out of the shower head above, and when it hit Rarity, she laid back and enjoyed every drop of it. It was a beautiful thing to see.

Rarity was so perfect...In every single way I could think of. Yes, she had her natural flaws, and so did I. Everyone does. But she was my soulmate. I felt it in my heart, my mind, my everything.

"Zor," she started. Why don't you go get comfortable in the living room or something? You don't have to stay here just for me."

It was at that time that I felt like I could leave and not offend her. She did give me permission, after all. "I'll be out in a few minutes anyway."

"What do you want to do the rest of the night?" I asked,getting up and heading to the door.

"I have way too many movies that I haven't got the chance to watch yet. Maybe we could choose something and spend the rest of the night with that. Or a few of them."

"Sounds great." It really did. Anytime with her was beyond great, actually. "Do you want the door shut?" I also asked as I started to head out the doorway.

"Yes please, dear. I wouldn't want to the surprise to be spoiled."

Surprise? I had to ask myself what she might have meant. So I closed the door for her, sat back down in the living room couch and let my eyes look around in the cabinet that the ScooRay player was in. This time around, I saw a couple of thin, orange cases that held the movies she was talking about. I didn't want to invade her privacy by actually looking at them with my hands, so I didn't and continued to think about what was going to transpire that night.

I heard the water for the shower turn off less than a minute later after I sat down. But that was all I heard. Nothing else.