Emerald

by Raichu

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Slice of Life
Length: 5362

Ever since Rarity left Spike, he felt like her could never live again. Now she's back.

Ever since Rarity left him, Spike felt as though he could never live again. She was the love of his life and then she was gone. Gone to Manehatten to pursue the dream job of being a famous fashion designer. That meant leaving him behind. Spike didn't think he could ever get back on his feet again, but he did and just when things were getting back to normal, she returns. Yet her returning breaks his heart more than when she left because she brings somepony with her.

Her daughter.

For some odd reason though, she's single. Does Spike still have a chance? The more worrying issue might be that her daughter isn't even a pony to begin with…

This story is cancelled. If you want to know why, see my blog.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-29 01:23:05 UTC

Surprise

A white unicorn stared at her watch. It was almost midnight. Where was he?

Rarity sighed. Ever since the last attack on Equestria, Spike had finally come out and admitted his feelings to her. It was sweet even adorable when he asked her out on a date. He wasn’t just a baby dragon anymore, in fact, he had grown into that respectable grown dragon that everypony had come to love, including Rarity. Rarity agreed to the date and fell in love with him in the process. She wanted to proceed to date him and perhaps go further and start a family with him in the process, but something had come up.

Suddenly a dark shadow loomed over Rarity. Instead of being frightened, Rarity recognized the shadow of Spike and smiled.

“Spike. You’re late.” She said. He only grinned and held out flowers. They were roses which her favorite. That made telling him even harder.

“I’m sorry. Twilight was testing out a new spell and I got caught up in it.” He said happily. “So why’d you want to meet me here of all places? This is where we first met.”

“Yes Spike.” She said daring herself to look up at his face. Oh it was too painful! She couldn’t bear to look in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, noticing the way she was staring at her hooves. “Did something bad happen?”

“Yes.” Rarity said forcefully. She didn’t want to do this. But… she had to.

“What was it?” Spike asked all panicky. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“In a way.” Rarity muttered.

“Huh?”

“Listen, I-I think we should break up.” Rarity stuttered and Spike took it like she expected him to. He screamed. More in shock than anything else and when he calmed down, he was very unhappy.

“Ha ha. Nice prank Rarity.” He laughed weakly. “Stop trying to give me heart attacks.”

There went the denial. What was the next stage of sadness again?

“I’m serious Spike.” Rarity said sternly. “I’m not joking.”

“Why the heck are we breaking up?” Spike asked angrily. Right. Next was anger.

“I’ve been offered a job in the Manehatten fashion industry. This could be my big chance!” Rarity said. “I’m sorry Spike, but this is very important to me.”

“What about us?” Spike asked. “Am I important to you?”

“Yes, but this is a once and a lifetime opportunity! I can’t miss this chance! Besides, there are other stallions.” She said, but Spike frowned.

“So you don’t care about me? I thought that you loved me! Now I know that I was just another guy.” Spike said and turned away.

“Spike, please, it’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like? Huh? Do I mean nothing to you?” Spike shouted at her. “I thought you loved me. I thought you cared. Twilight was right. I shouldn’t have dated a friend. I’ll only get my heartbroken.”

“Spike.” Rarity whispered. “Please, it’s not like that.”

“No, it is.” Spike said and crumpled his hands into fists. “At least, I’ll never have to see you again.”

“Spike!” Rarity yelled as he ran off into the night. She collapsed on the ground while crying and quietly yelling his name as if she knew it wouldn’t make a different if he heard her or not.

“Spike…”

*******

Spike stared at the calendar. Twilight passed him in the hall, but said nothing. It had been many years since Rarity had left Spike and despite her visits to Ponyville, he refused to visit her. He stroked the calendar every morning, probably reminding himself of the day that him and Rarity broke up.

Spike had finally had the guts to ask Rarity out. Only a few months later did she tell him that she was leaving. It broke his heart. She left her friends and him. He was especially sad.

Their friendship, whatever was left, was torn apart. Twilight accepted that not all friendships could be mended after a few years and left him to his own devices. He took five minutes to stare at the calendar every morning. It reminded him that Rarity was never coming back. Then he went for his morning coffee.

This particular morning was no different from any other. Spike would help Twilight clean then he would follow her to the train station. Rarity was coming for a visit. It didn’t matter though; they weren’t really friends anymore. She was just another pony and he was just another dragon. However, Rarity was bringing a surprise. Twilight thought he shouldn’t show up, but their friendship was already such a mess anyways that he didn’t care. Besides, he was a little curious as to what this surprise might be.

He prepared himself for the emotional turmoil that he would feel later. He may have accepted her being gone, but it didn’t mean he didn’t care anymore. He walked out of the house and straight into somepony.

It was Spitfire, the only temporary Wonderbolt this town had for the time being. Wonderbolts were being placed in every town by order of Princess Celestia for some odd reason. Twilight didn't understand why and she had even asked Princess Celestia who refused to say why.

“What’s up, Spitfire?” Twilight asked. Spitfire backed off him quickly, knowing that he was very grouchy in the morning and then turned to Twilight with a look of warning on her face.

“The weather team’s preparing a serious storm today, Twilight. I just thought I’d warn you.” She said and flew away to warn the nearest and next citizen of Ponyville.

“Well, I guess Rarity will just stay with us. Her boutique has gotten a little dried up and we have no hotel.” Twilight muttered her plans aloud. Spike frowned.

“And I’ll stay with Fluttershy while she stays.” Spike muttered. Twilight looked up at him with an angry face. He may have been older and taller, but that didn’t stop her from giving him the angry mother look.

“Oh no you don’t. I understand that you will never make up with Rarity, but you’re not leaving either. She has an important guest with her and you have to be there to meet with her.” Twilight said. “So man up.”

Spike only sighed and went quietly with Twilight to train station. The train was already there and Rarity was waiting on the platform. She was a gorgeous as ever with her purple curls and dazzling eyes. Spike tried not to get lost in her gem like eyes. He instead rudely turned to look up at the sky.

“Hello!” Rarity said happily and hugged Twilight. “Spike?”

Spike ignored her again and she sighed. Perhaps she was hoping for a hug? She wasn’t going to get one ever.

“Alright. Then I would like you two to meet, Emerald.” She said with a smile. A white unicorn walked up to them, floating two suitcases in the air.

“Hi. I’m Emerald.” Emerald said with a smile. She was almost identical to Rarity except for her jagged green and black mane that only went to her shoulders, tail that was extremely short and her purple eyes. Her cutie mark was an emerald.

Twilight shook her outstretched hoof. She put out a hoof towards Spike, who shook it.

“So you’re a friend of her?” Spike asked with a point at Rarity. Emerald frowned and Rarity stared at her hooves as if she was embarrassed.

“Nah. She’s my mom.” Emerald said casually. Spike gasped and clutched his chest. No! Perhaps if there was a little spark of hope in his chest that they could be together, it vanished. She had a daughter. He no longer had any more chances and might as have died on the spot.

“WHAT?” He shouted, vibrating the train station with his cry of shock and surprise. Everypony on the train station turned to stare at him.

“She’s your daughter? You’re married?” Spike asked in shock and anger. Twilight almost grinned. He was finally talking to her, even if it wasn’t a good conversation.

“Yes, she is.” Rarity replied. “No, I’m not married.”

“Then who’s her-”

If looks could kill, then Spike would have been dead. Emerald shot him a look so deadly, he felt death actually stop his heart for a spilt second. She turned back to her mother as if nothing had happened and smiled. Spike wanted to slap her. There was nothing to be happy about. Today was a terrible day.

“Spike.” Twilight asked, noticing the look. “Why don’t you and Emerald head back. Leave Rarity and I to talk.” Before he could protest, she added, “That was an order, Spike.”

“I’m not your servant.” He muttered.

“What was that?” Twilight asked.

"I said, I'm not your servant!" Spike yelled at her. She stared up at him.

` "I never said you were. I just want you to give Rarity some space. You're acting very rude." Twilight said. "So please leave us."

Spike stomped off the train station with Emerald trotting behind him. As soon as they were out of earshot of the two mares, Spike finally turned on Emerald in anger.

“Why did you stop me from asking Rarity about your dad?” He asked angrily. She looked him up and down before answering. She seemed so calm compared to him.

“Because I tried asking that. Funny, I don’t even know my own father.” She laughed dryly. “She got extremely upset. So I avoid that question.” She said and came up beside him.

“I can’t believe she left me.” Spike said and clutched his heart again. “I thought she loved me.”

“What are you, an old boyfriend?” She asked. He nodded truthfully and she stopped to tap her chin thoughtfully.

“What if you’re my dad?” Emerald asked while Spike rolled his eyes. “You are the last guy she ever talks about.”

“She talks about me?” Spike asked hopefully. She rolled her eyes.

“On occasion.”

“Impossible. You’re a pony. I’m a dragon. You look nothing like me. Besides, she would have told me if…”

“What?” She asked looking at him.

“She… I told her I didn’t want kids.” Spike said with realization. “On the night of our last date, she asked me if I ever wanted a family and I said no. She might have thought that we could never have a family and ran away with someone else.”

“That’s also possible.” Emerald said. “But aren’t you a dragon? And shouldn’t that…oh wait.”

“What?” Spike asked. She had paused and looked around. There wasn’t anypony around, probably because of the incoming storm.

“I’m only… half pony.” She admitted. Spike stared at her in shock. “I’m part dragon.”

“What?” If Spike was drinking water, he would have spit it out at that point. “How?”

Her horn glowed and her tail disappeared. It was replaced by a long white dragon tail, complete with spines and a pointed end. He stared at it for a few seconds with his mouth open. He shut his mouth but was still as shocked as ever.

“I didn’t want anyone to freak out.” She said, placing the illusion over her tail again.

“Does Rarity know?” He asked in a hushed whisper.

“Of course she knows! She’s my mom! She taught me the illusion spell for my tail!” She whispered back. Spike stopped and she stopped too in front of a giant tree castle.

“Well, this is the place.” Spike said and opened the door. “Welcome to Twilight and mine’s house.”

“It’s so freaking huge!” She said, looking around. “And there are so many books! What is this, a library?”

“Actually, yes.” Spike said. “It is.”

“That’s so cool.” Emerald said. “Hey, can I take the illusion spell off my tail in here?”

“Sure.” Spike said.

“Hey Spike…”

Spike and Emerald turned around to see Rainbow Dash frozen behind them. She looked at Emerald and raised an eyebrow.

“Who’s that?” She asked, pointing at Emerald.

“Rarity’s daughter.” Spike stated plainly. “Why are you here, Rainbow?”

“Rude.” She said. “I’m here because Rarity wanted me to give Emerald this.” She put down Emerald’s suitcase. “So… what are you?”

“Oh. I’m a longma!” Emerald said happily. Rainbow still looked confused and Emerald sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Half pony, half dragon.”

“Oh. That’s makes sense.” Rainbow said and with one last glance at her tail, she smiled at her.

“So longmas are a thing?” Rainbow asked.

“No. One hasn’t been born for a thousand years.” Emerald said like it was no big deal. “We live a long time, but whatever!”

“Okay.” Rainbow said slowly. “So Rarity knows about longmas?”

“Duh.” Emerald said.  “I mean Princess Celestia did foalsit me a couple of times, so yeah.”

“Princess Celestia foalsat you?” Spike asked in awe.

“Yeah. I guess I’m half dragon so maybe I’d was a problem? I guess buildings aren’t exactly fireproof, right?”

The story

As soon as Spike and Emerald had left, Rarity smiled.

“So what did you want to talk to me about Twilight?” She asked.

“You know what I want.” Twilight said sternly. Rarity’s mouth stiffened at the edges and she began to trot off the station platform with Twilight in tow behind her.

“A lady does not talk of such things.” Rarity said. “Knowing the father of my precious Emerald is none of your concern.”

“Actually, it is. Longmas haven’t been born for over a thousand years and the last time, nopony knew genetics worked like that. There have been only three recorded Longmas in history. She’s a big deal! Nopony knows what kind of powers she has or anything! She is special. She’s the only one of her kind in this century.” Twilight explained quickly as she grew more and more excited about the chance of a lifetime of meeting and learning about a new species.

“So what? You want to study my daughter like a lab rat? That’s not going to happen, Twilight.” Rarity said as a drop of rain landed on her nose. “She’s my gem.”

“Well, her father is obviously a dragon. Her powers will depend on the dragon and I’d like to know the daddy in case she has the potential to burn Equestria or something!” Twilight exclaimed, ignoring what Rarity said and only thinking of the most wonderful and worst possibilities.

“Oh, so you only care about Equestria, huh? What if she can? Are you just going to lock her away and throw away the key? I’m not interested in telling you and if we were really friends, you wouldn’t care!” Rarity said heatedly. “I think being the big hero of Equestria with the elements has gotten to your head, Twilight! You’re looking for crimes before they even happen!”

Twilight cringed. A raindrop hit her nose and she looked up at the sky as it began to rain. It was only a slight drizzle. She knew Rarity was right. Emerald wasn’t a thing to study. She was a pony too and Twilight couldn’t treat her as if she was just another one of Twilight’s experiments.

“We’d better get back.” Twilight said.

“That’s very kind of you, Twilight, but maybe my daughter and I should stay elsewhere.” Rarity said, still worked up over the argument.

“No. Look, I’m sorry.” Twilight apologized. “I shouldn’t be acting like Emerald is some kind of test experiment. She’s your daughter, not my lab rat.”

“It’s ok.” Rarity said without a smile.

“Let’s get back.” Twilight said and they began to trot off the train station and make their way back.

“Rarity!”

Applejack came trotting over with a smile. She gave Rarity a hug and grin.

“Ah can’t believe you’re back! It’s been so long!” Applejack exclaimed. “Well, minus all the visits to see ya.”

“Oh yeah.” Rarity said with a smile.

“You visited Rarity?” Twilight asked. Applejack gave her a look.

“Ah know you were trying to repair Spike after she left him, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t visit your friend.” Applejack said.

“I wrote her letters!” Twilight said.

“How’s Emerald?” Applejack asked as she quickly changed the subject. “Is she ok?”

“She’s fine.” Rarity said.

“No more sickness?”

“None.”

“What sickness?” Twilight asked. “I didn’t hear about this one.”

“Emerald got sick. But it was much weirder than any old foal sickness…”

***

Rarity smiled at her daughter. Emerald was an adorable little filly with a small fat dragon tail slapping the floor in happiness. She rolled the ball towards Emerald and Emerald rolled it back. Suddenly, a knock came to the door. Rarity rushed over and opened it. Princess Celestia grinned and stepped inside.

“I wanted to see how Emerald was doing.” She explained and looked at the tiny foal who smile back at her. “It seems she’s well.”

“Well, yes, but she has this terrible cough that worries me.” Rarity said. “I don’t know what kind of sickness it would be because like you said, she’s a bit different.”

“Not different. It’s just that longmas haven’t been born for a while and many have forgotten they exist.” Princess Celestia explained. “How are you, Emerald?”

“Tia!” Emerald said happily. She laughed then began to cough badly. Rarity patted her back. Emerald swallowed whatever it was that she coughed up and continued to smile up at Celestia before she got distracted with the ball again.

“See? I don’t know what the problem is.” Rarity said.

“I’m sure it’s just a cold.” Princess Celestia said. “She should be fine.”

“Alright.” Rarity said as Emerald crawled over to Celestia and hugged her leg.

“Tia!”

“That’s right.” Princess Celestia said. “Huh?”

Emerald started coughing again, but this time she shuddered and coughed it up onto Celestia’s leg. Unlike normal vomit or mucus, it sizzled on her leg and the smell of burning hairs came up as Celestia realized it was acid. Rarity quickly scooped up Emerald who was now crying. She quickly wiped the acid off her leg with a swipe of magic and looked at Rarity.

“I think there might be something wrong with her.” Princess Celestia said. “I’ll call up Spike-”

“NO!” Rarity screamed. Celestia raised an eyebrow and she blushed.

“I mean, Spike wouldn’t know anything. Emerald’s a filly...” Rarity said and rocked Emerald in a magical aura.

“I guess, I could take her to Fluttershy.” Celestia said. “She knows about… dragons.”

“Alright.” Rarity said, handing her Emerald. “Here.”

***

“And when I got Emerald back, she was all better.” Rarity explained. “I don’t really know how Fluttershy did it, but she did.”

“Well, that’s an impressive story.” Twilight said. “Well, I guess we’re here.”

Applejack had trotted off in the middle of the story, leaving Twilight and Rarity in front of castle in the rainstorm.

“It’s been a long while.” Rarity muttered. “Too long.”

They opened the door to find Spike sweeping away at the floor. He took one look at Rarity and stalked off in the direction of the kitchen.

“I’m sorry he’s so rude.” Twilight apologized.

“It’s ok. I understand.” Rarity said. “He’s not a friend anymore anyways.”

“Spike?” Twilight called. Spike stuck his head out of the kitchen.

“Yes Twilight?”

“Could you show Rarity to her guest room?” Twilight asked.

“Why don’t you do it, Twilight?” Spike asked. “I’m busy, unless you don’t want a dinner tonight.”

Twilight frowned. Spike wasn’t normally so rude, but she knew it was the fact that he didn’t want to spend time with the mare that broke his heart. Either way, he didn’t have a choice at this point.

“Spike, I’m making dinner tonight.” Twilight said and went into the kitchen. She saw spike wrapping something in some dough. “You’re showing Rarity and Emerald their rooms.”

“Fine!” Spike said and stomped out. Twilight sighed and looked around. How hard could it be to make some dinner?

What she thinks

“Emerald!” Rarity called. Nothing happened. Spike sighed and stood there patiently. He knew perfectly well what Twilight was up to and it wasn’t going to happen. There was no way his friendship with Rarity was ever going to mend. The spot in his heart may have been stitched up enough to love another, but the spot where Rarity should have been was now a burnt out hole, metaphorically speaking anyways.

“Rarity?” He asked. She looked up at him. He gulped as he stared down into her pretty gem like eyes. This question had been lingering on his mind for too long. “Who did you marry?”

“I told you; I’m not married.” Rarity replied. “Emerald!”

“Then who is Emerald’s father?” Spike asked. Rarity ignored him.

“Emerald!”

“It’s not nice for a daughter to have no dad.” Spike added, hoping that he could guilt the answer out of her.

“I know.” Rarity replied. “I didn’t want it to turn out that way.”

“So who is he?” Spike asked as Emerald spotted them and slowly trotted in their direction.

“No one.”

“Who’s what?” Emerald asked as she came closer.

“Nothing.” Rarity replied quickly. “Spike is going to show you to your room.”

“Ok.” Emerald said.

“I’m going to go talk to Twilight.” Rarity said. “I’ll be back.”

Spike groaned. Rarity had deliberately left because she knew he would keep asking questions. She left and stuck him with her daughter who knew none of the answers that he wanted. He nodded at her reluctantly and began to walk down one hallway of the castle. This place may have been slightly medium sized, but Spike knew this place as well as Twilight and maybe even better. There were secret passageways that he had discovered for his own enjoyment, but that was about all her knew of them place. He walked until he stopped in front of a fully stocked guest room. It had a bed and a dresser and a desk with a chair. The bed was well made and the desk was neat and tidy. Sunlight flooded the room through the side window.

“Here you are.” Spike said. “Your room.”

“Wow!” Emerald exclaimed as she trotted up to the window. “This is nicer than the apartment we used to live in.”

“Apartment?” Spike repeated in surprise. He thought the fashion business would have made Rarity at least somewhat rich.

“Yeah. Mom bought it for us when I was first born. She grew higher up in the fashion industry, but she couldn’t bring herself to move us out. She said it contained too many memories for her to leave. So we stayed. It’s a cozy three bedroom apartment. It’s got a neat view of the city and I’m perfectly fine with living there.” Emerald explained.

“So you don’t wish you lived somewhere else?” Spike asked. Emerald sighed.

“Maybe sometimes. But I think I wish more that we lived in a different city. No matter where we go, ponies always treat me the same. I’m always alone or given dirty looks because I’m not normal.” Emerald said bitterly. “Sometimes, I wish whatever mom did for me to end up like this… I wish it hadn’t happened. Maybe for once I could be normal or accepted for being weird. I wish I was born differently.”

“Oh.” Spike said. He didn’t really know what that would feel like. Sure, he was a dragon in a town full of ponies, but not only was he accepted, he knew other dragons lived out there somewhere. Emerald had no one. She was the only Longma.

“Well, hey, whatcha gonna do?” Emerald said brightly. “I think this vacation in Ponyville will do mom and me some good.”

“Yeah.” Spike said.

“Emerald darling! Where’s Spike! He simply must show me around this place!” Rarity called. Spike looked out the door.

“I’d better go. I hope you enjoy your stay.” Spike said with a slight bow and left Emerald to her silent room.

Consequences

“Twilight.” Rarity said after Spike had left with Emerald. “Can I talk to you?”

“Sure.” Twilight said as she shifted the pan over the stove. She had no clue what she was making, but it smelled good at least.

“Do you remember… the secret I told you sixteen years ago?” Rarity asked. Twilight looked briefly at Rarity before looking back at the pan.

“Yeah.”

“I… I feel guilty.” Rarity gulped.

“Well you should!” Twilight yelled. She looked around then looked back at Rarity.

“Well you should!” She repeated in a whisper.

“I know.” Rarity said while playing with her curls. “I should have before, but now I feel even worse!”

“Why?” Twilight asked and dumped the cooked whatever into a pot which she shut a lid over. “Why now of all times? You should have felt guilty long before all of this!”

“I know! I did!” Rarity loudly whispered. “But… I feel even worse now. Spike said that… kids should have a father. I didn’t give Emerald that.”

“So you think she’s going to be messed up mentally? If you wanted to fix that, it’s too late now. I think Emerald is going to be fine though; Spike turned out fine.” Twilight said.

“I know… but that’s not the only thing I feel bad about.” Rarity said and turned around to make sure no one was around. No one was there. “I cheated on him.”

“I know that already, remember? You told me.” Twilight said. “Oh and let me guess; you’re still not going to tell me right now who he was, are you?”

“No…” Rarity replied. “But I do feel bad…”

“So what?” Twilight asked coldly. “Not only did you cheat on him, you dumped him for your fashion industry job which I think was just an excuse so Spike didn’t find out the truth about you cheating on him! You made a perfectly fine profit over there at the Carousel Boutique! But you just had to make more bits! I was beginning to think that it was all about the money, but nope! You broke Spike’s heart!”

“I’m sorry…” Rarity sniffed. “I didn’t mean to break poor Spikey Wikey’s heart…”

“Yeah, well, you did.” Twilight growled. “You don’t even know what it did to his mental state. You broke his mind. Once he stopped crying, a year later I might add, he became some kind of grouchy monster! It’s only thanks to his little crush he formed for somepony else that I got him back to nearly normal! And I don’t need you ruining his life again! So stay away from him, got it? And he’s not your Spikey Wikey…”

“I’m sorry…” Rarity muttered.

“That apology should be said to Spike, in front of his face. I think you should also explain to him that you cheated on him, but I think, knowing you, that won’t happen.” Twilight muttered.

“He’ll hate me if I tell him!” Rarity cried out. “Hatred is worse than sadness. I don’t want to keep him in the dark, but I don’t want him to hate me forever.”

“He sort of already hates you.” Twilight said angrily. “And he hates everypony now! He hardly trusts us and he certainly can’t move on. He LOVED you. And you LEFT him.”

“I’m sorry that I hurt everypony. I’m sorry that I hurt Spike.” Rarity apologized. “But he can’t know. He won’t understand.”

Twilight only grunted and turned to the pot which was now steaming.

“You meant something to him.” Twilight muttered. “You were a piece of him. That piece was ripped from him a long time ago and it will never be given back.”

Rarity turned to leave. Obviously Twilight didn’t forgive her for breaking Spike’s heart all those years ago. She headed down the hall when she stopped near the doorway of a room. She could hear talking and even though she knew it was wrong, she inched closer to hear what they were saying.

“So you don’t wish you lived somewhere else?” Spike asked. Emerald sighed.

“Maybe sometimes. But I think I wish more that we lived in a different city. No matter where we go, ponies always treat me the same. I’m always alone or given dirty looks because I’m not normal.” Emerald said bitterly. “Sometimes, I wish whatever mom did for me to end up like this… I wish it hadn’t happened. Maybe for once I could be normal or accepted for being weird. I wish I was born differently.”

Emerald felt lonely? Rarity didn’t realized that perhaps because of the way Emerald was that anypony would be cruel to her. Emerald was a nice pony. But Rarity knew that the nobles of Canterlot and rich ponies of Manehatten wouldn’t see her this way. Rarity should have known her daughter was struggling in the world. Why didn’t Emerald say anything?

‘Why didn’t I notice as her mother?’ Rarity thought. ‘Am I really that bad of a pony?’

Rarity didn’t realized that Emerald actually regretted being a longma. She didn’t realize how many ponies or dragons she had hurt by her actions. She didn’t realize that her daughter was getting bullied or that Spike would never get over her. She put two of the ponies she dearly loved in bad positions. Not to mention that her friends and even the town were probably shaken up by her absence. Spike had also probably cut his trust and friendship with others in the town because of her. Rarity had hurt too many.

“Emerald darling! Where’s Spike! He simply must show me around this place!” Rarity called out, hoping for a distraction from the pain. She walked back out into the main room and stood there. She hoped her daughter would come quickly so maybe they could come. Instead, Spike lumbered out there slowly and stared down at Rarity.

“Um… Could you show me my room then take me to Emerald?” Rarity asked. “I’ve got to talk to her.”

Spike said nothing but turned around and began to walk down the hall in silence.

“So Spike, I don’t suppose that you’re married now, hm?” Rarity asked. “Anypony you’re interested in?”

Spike chuckled with deep throaty sort of growl mixed in. They stopped in front of a neat room and Spike turned to Rarity.

“Me married? Never.” He said and looked at the room. “But I do have my eyes on somepony.”

“Who is it then?” Rarity asked, but Spike smiled and walked back down the hall. He pointed at a closed door as he went by.

“Emerald’s room.” He said and left. Rarity watched him leave then headed down the hall. She knocked twice on Emerald door before entering.

“Darling?”

“Yeah mom?” Emerald was sitting at the desk, spinning herself around in the chair. “Come on in.”

Rarity let herself in and looked around. The room was identical to her, except it was much warmer. Emerald burned off a lot of internal heat when she was upset or angry. She smiled at Rarity who smiled back.

“What’s wrong dear?” Rarity asked, noticing the current dent in the wall near the window. The crystal wall had cracked and was deeply dented.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I needed to… cool down.” Emerald apologized and sighed. Smoke came out of her nostrils as she sighed. “Do you think that Twilight will forgive me on that one?”

“Yeah.” Rarity replied even if she wasn’t exactly sure. Twilight wasn’t in a very good mood when she left. “Hey, are you ok?”

“Yep.” Emerald said without even bothering to looked at Rarity.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m fine.” Emerald replied. “I just need some space.”

“Emerald, you can trust me if something is truly bothering you.” Rarity said. “I’m your mother; you can trust me.”

“Can I?” Emerald burst out. She looked completely angry and slammed a hoof into the desk which rattled under the weight. “Can I really?”

“Whatever do you mean, dear?” Rarity asked. Emerald stood up in front of Rarity.

“I wonder if I’m really your daughter. I mean, I don’t have a dad and you’re definitely not a dragon. I barely feel like I’m related to you.” Emerald said and turned to stare outside. “Maybe you just picked me up off the streets without knowing what I was and took me in. Maybe I was a lab experiment for some sick twisted game somepony was playing. I don’t know anymore, but… mom?”

Rarity had frozen. Emerald blinked.

Rarity was gone.