Deal With The Draconequus

Chapters

Chapter 1: Plague and desperation
Chapter 2: Rarity or Equestria?
Chapter 3: Sweetie Belle's decision
Chapter 4: Stop Sweetie Belle.
Chapter 5: True courage.
Chapter 6: Self-fulfilling prophecy
Chapter 7: Everybody loses
Chapter 9: A generous destiny.
Chapter 10: A new Element?
Chapter 11: In memorial
Chapter 12: Magic lessons
Chapter 13: Friendship renewed, friendship shattered
Chapter 14: Regrets of the past and visions of the future
Chapter 15: Discord's offer, Sweetie's maturity.
Final chapter: Forgiveness and a dream
Chapter 8: I haven't given up on you yet.

Chapter 1: Plague and desperation

Sweetie Belle stood in the hospital, gazing at Rarity in an isolation chamber. Her parents were next to her. Rarity’s mane was a mess, tufts of it having fallen out. There were dark splotches and boils all over the mare’s body.

It should have been the best news ever. Their mother was pregnant again. She was going to get another sister! They had seen on the ultrasound that it was a girl. With only a few weeks to go until the birth Sweetie Belle had been impatiently waiting, eager to see her new sibling.

It should have been the best news ever… but then everything was ruined. A plague had shown up in Ponyville. Over one hundred ponies had contracted the disease. It wasn’t like anything the doctors had seen before. They couldn’t identify the root cause, and attempts to find a cure had been ineffectual at best. Already ten ponies had died only a month after contracting the first symptoms. According to them Rarity had roughly four days to live before she succumbed to the illness as well.

All ponies with the illness had to be isolated, and everyone was getting tested to be sure they didn’t catch it as well. With that new cases had almost completely stopped cropping up, but no one was sure what had caused the disease in the first place. Only unicorn doctors capable of producing the magic health bubble were allowed near the patients.

Sweetie Belle couldn’t stand it, being so close but so far from her sister. She could talk with Rarity, but it just wasn’t the same as being in front of her or hugging her. Her sister just wasn’t the same. Their mother was a wreck, and they were worried the stress of Rarity’s sickness might cause her to have a miscarriage. That was the worst part about it. She might lose both her sisters in one fell swoop.

She wished she could do something, but she had no idea what. Her magic was pathetic. She could barely use a basic levitation spell. What could she possibly do?

She wracked her brain for an answer, but she kept coming up blank. She didn’t want Rarity to die, but there was nothing she could do to prevent it. She didn’t know anything about magic.

She decided to leave the hospital. She couldn’t stand looking at her sister like that. That wasn’t Rarity. Rarity was always beautiful, full of poise and pizazz. She was graceful and polite and charming and flawless. The pony in the hospital bed… she just couldn’t picture that being the same pony who was her sister.

Her parents followed her out as they headed back to their house. As she walked through town she only saw a few ponies walking around. Most ponies nowadays only went outside for necessities to avoid contamination. The town looked so dead she was surprised she didn’t see tumbleweeds rolling around.

“This is horrible!” Sweetie Belle cried out, her voice squeaking. “I can’t take it!”

Her mother rubbed her head. “I understand what you mean. My dear daughter is so sick. The whole town is in chaos. I’m worried for my new baby.”

Sweetie Belle had stopped in her tracks, making her parents look behind her. There was an odd expression on her face. Her eyes were bugging out and she had a thousand-yard stare, looking ahead of her but clearly not seeing it.

“Sweetie Belle?” said her dad. “What’s wrong?”

It took her a short while to respond. She shook her head. “It’s… it’s nothing. I just thought of something. I have to go see Fluttershy right away.”

“Fluttershy? Why?”

“I don’t have time to explain.” Without a word she turned around and began running, ignoring the voices of her parents as they called her back.

She ran without stopping, gasping for breath as she came close to Fluttershy’s cottage. Her mom had said the key word: chaos. Discord was the most powerful being in Equestria at the moment. He was stronger than the Royal Sisters. The only reason they were able to triumph over Discord was because of the Elements of Harmony. If anyone could possibly cure Rarity it would be him. It was a desperate gambit and probably fruitless, but she had to try. Discord would likely find the whole scenario hilarious, and he wouldn’t want to help out for free. Fluttershy was supposed to be his friend, so if anyone would know where he was it would be her.

She rapped on the door as hard as she could, panting and wheezing as she recovered from her run.

“H-hello?” came a timid voice on the other side of the door. “Y-you’re not sick, are you?”

“F-Flutter-shy… it’s… me… Sweetie… Belle.” Each word was punctuated with another pant.

The door opened a crack. “It is you. Are you alright?”

Sweetie Belle didn’t answer. She just gulped in breaths until her heart settled down a little. “No! I’m not sick! I just had a question for you. You’re friends with Discord, right?”

“Yes…”

“Where does he live now?”

“Ummm… he has a special room in the princess’s castle. Why?”

“Have you seen him recently?”

“No. I told him to stay away from Ponyville for now until they cure this disease.”

“What happens when you want to talk to him?”

“Um, well I usually just send him letters, but if I really want him he taught me a spell to use to summon him.”

Sweetie Belle’s head tilted. “But you’re a pegasus, not a unicorn.”

“I know, but it’s really his magic. All I have to say is that he’s my very best friend in the whole world, and it sends him an alert and he poofs right over.

“Why are you so interested in Discord all of a sudden, Sweetie Belle? You don’t think he’s behind all this, do you? I know Discord can be a troublemaker at the best of times but he’s reformed now. The last time he was in Ponyville was over two weeks before the outbreak.”

“Oh, um… you’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. I… I better go. I don’t want my parents getting worried. Stay safe.”

“You too.”

Sweetie Belle began running again until she came upon her sister’s boutique. She sighed as she saw the big “CONDEMNED” sign on it. All houses where someone had been infected were off-limits just in case. She knew she was taking a risk but she needed a place where she knew she wouldn’t be disturbed. She walked under the tape blocking it off and opened the door. Thankfully it was unlocked.

She saw it looked much the same as always. Going to the center of the room she took a deep breath. Was she really going to do this? It could spell some real trouble. Rarity’s face appeared in her mind. It was going to be trouble for all of them if they didn’t get this thing under control soon. She took another breath to steady herself. She shut all the curtains and returned to the middle. Taking one last breath she said, “Discord is my very best friend in the whole world!”

For a second Sweetie Belle felt a sensation from her horn, and then with a poof the draconequues appeared into the room. “HELLLOOOOO, FLUTTER…” He stopped as he saw a different pony.

“Um… hello?” Sweetie Belle said with an awkward smile, giving a little wave.

Discord put a claw to his face, scratching his chin. “Now who are you? I feel like I recognize you from somewhere… AH! That’s it. You’re one of those fillies that was fighting near my statue right before I broke free.” He gave a mocking bow. “Thank you for helping to speed up my release. It was most helpful.” He burst out into laughter.

Sweetie Belle grimaced. “Um… I’m Sweetie Belle. I wanted to ask for your help. I’m a friend of Fluttershy, and I’d really like it if you could heal my sister Rarity.”

“Rarity, hmmm?” he said with amusement. “I can see the resemblance. She’s another one of the Element wielders, is she not?”

“Yes, but I don’t care about that. I want to help her because she’s my sister.”

“Why come to me? Can’t your precious Princess Celestia make everything all better?”

“She’s tried, but she doesn’t know much about diseases.”

“And you think I do?”

“You’re way more powerful than Princess Celestia.”

A large smile came to Discord’s features. “Oh, that was just marvelous! I’m gonna have to save that one!”

Sweetie Belle looked on in horror as a box appeared, and a recording of her began playing of her saying he was better over and over. “Can you stop?” she cried out, her voice squeaking. “This is important! My sister’s life is in danger.”

Discord stretched his body into impossible proportions, and Sweetie Belle backed up a step. Even hearing about the kinds of things Discord could do it still unnerved her. “I SUPPOSE I could cure her...” Sweetie Belle’s face lit up, “…but… no thanks.”

Now her face fell. “Please, Discord! You’re the only one who can do it. You’ll be a hero! Everyone will throw parades in your honor.”

Discord poofed next to her, floating in the air with his claws on his chin. “Oh, save it. I’m not interested in being all HEROIC.” He said the last word with disgust.

“But you’re supposed to be reformed now.”

“Let me ask you something, Sweetie Belle,” Discord said, disappearing and reappearing in front of her in a fancy outfit and holding a cup of tea. “Now what have you brought for ME?”

“Huh?”

“Honestly. You summon me out of my home and demand a favor, and you don’t bring me a gift. That’s kinda rude.” Sweetie Belle’s eyes went wide as he drank the cup, the tea floating in mid-air until it suddenly disappeared.

“I’m sorry!” she said, bowing to him. “What do you want?”

“Nothing,” he replied. “I can use magic to get whatever I want. I want a dog?” With a snap a dog appeared, then disappeared. “I want a tree?” The same thing happened with a small tree. “The point is the gesture. Look at this.” With another snap of his claws a sweater appeared around him. “This was hoof-knitted by dear Fluttershy. If I really wanted a sweater it would be easy to make myself one, but she made this for me out of the kindness of her heart. Such a dear thing.

“You ponies are the real monsters, if you ask me.”

“How can you say that? You’re the one who was trying to turn everything into chaos!”

“All I ever wanted was to have a fun life. What’s wrong with that? Is it fair that just because our definitions of the word fun differ that I can’t be myself? You ponies want me to see that harmony is best and suppress my own desires, but will you ever do the same for me? Do you ever try to embrace my style of fun? No, it’s got to be your way all the time.

“Do you know why Celestia released me from my prison?”

“No,” Sweetie Belle said honestly, shaking her head.

“To use me!” he said, annoyed. “She didn’t have me reformed because she thought there was a good draconequues inside me just waiting to come out. She freed me for the sole sake of having my magic around in case things go sour in her perfect land.” Sweetie Belle jerked away as he ran a finger down her face. “Now I ask you, is that fair? To be forced to do good? To be told that if you ever try to be yourself you’ll be turned to stone? I just want a little space to be me, but Celestia won’t grant me even that. Oh, sure, I have my own room in the castle that I can mess with as much as I want, but chaos isn’t as much fun when it’s done alone.”

“I’m sorry,” Sweetie Belle said, looking around for something more meaningful to add but unable to think of anything.

“So basically I’m not doing the princess any favors for her selfish motives. That’s all.”

“But Rarity is one of Fluttershy’s friends! If you won’t do it for Equestria or Celestia can’t you do it for your only friend? Fluttershy will be heartbroken when she goes! How can you be so selfish?”

“Now, Sweetie Belle. I do believe that you may be the most selfish one of all.”

“HUH?” she sputtered out. “How am I being selfish?”

“All I’ve heard you say since you summoned me is that you want Rarity saved. And… what about the others? Oh, I guess since they’re not related to you they’re not important. They can die, so long as your sister is safe. I underestimated you. You might make a good agent of chaos yet.” He burst out into more laughter, poofing around to different parts of the boutique as he giggled.

Some of the color drained from Sweetie Belle’s coat. Her heart was racing and her stomach was burning with guilt. It was true. She hadn’t once considered all the other ponies also suffering from the disease. That DISCORD of all beings had to be the one to point that out just made it worse. “I… um… well…” She couldn’t think of a response, and tears began forming in her eyes.

Discord suddenly poofed in front of her. “Well, that was a fun little bit of sport in an otherwise dull day. I’m in a good mood now. I think I'll go have some fun back home.”

Sweetie Belle shook, her tears now pouring down her face. “Please! My sister! Fine! Maybe I AM selfish, but I couldn’t stand it if I lost her! I love her so much! Please, Discord!” She looked up at him, begging with her eyes for a little bit of compassion.

“Hmmm… nah! I’ll feel a lot safer with one of those annoying Element bearers out of commission. I’ll see you later, Selfish Belle.” Turning into a rabbit he turned around and hopped a few steps, lifting up his paw to teleport away.

‘Think, Sweetie Belle!’ she thought desperately. ‘Think, think, think, think, think! There has to be something! Rarity’s last hope is about to leave.’ Words suddenly poured out of her in a rush, “I know where Rarity keeps her Element of Generosity!” She let out a gasp, slapping both hooves over her mouth. She wasn’t ever supposed to tell anybody that, especially not to the one being that could overthrow Equestria in a heartbeat without them.

Discord became so still she thought time had stopped for a moment. With a small flash he turned back to normal. The top half of his body turned one hundred and eighty degrees, and there was a devious grin on his features. “What was that?” he asked, boundless joy in his voice.

Sweetie Belle shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. Sweat began pouring down her body, and her throat felt so dry she couldn’t swallow. What had she done?

Chapter 2: Rarity or Equestria?

Discord loomed over the scared filly. What a stroke of luck on his part. He would have been content to simply know that one of the Element bearers was gone, but if he got his paws on the Element itself he wouldn’t ever have to worry about being sealed away again. He could barely contain his excitement. “What’s wrong, Sweetie Belle? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Discord disappeared, turning into a transparent brown sheet.

Sweetie Belle just kept shaking her head.

Turning back to normal he shrank so he was her height. “Oh, honestly, Sweetie Belle. Why so serious? I mean, it’s not like you just revealed one of the biggest secrets ever and that could spell disaster for Equestria.”

“I… I didn’t say anything,” Sweetie Belle said weakly, knowing it was pointless even as she said it.

“Look, Sweetie Belle.” A miniscule heart appeared in his claw, growing until it filled his paw. “Your tale of woe has touched me. My heart has grown because of your tears. I accept your deal.”

“W-w-what deal?”

Discord’s eye's popped out of his head, making Sweetie Belle scream as they rolled across the floor. He reappeared, grabbing his eyes and putting them back in their sockets. “Really, Sweetie Belle. Don’t make me roll my eyes again. I think you might be tied with Applejack for worst at deception. The Element for Rarity’s life.”

“I can’t!” she said loudly. “I can’t give that to you! You’re… you’re…”

“Yeeeeesssss?” he said, turning his head as one of his ears grew three sizes. “Evil? Dashing? Scary? A monster? I’ll take any one of those.”

“Just… just forget I said anything.”

“Oh, but how can I? Do you really have anything to be afraid of by giving me the Element?”

“Of course!”

“Think about it. I’ve been reformed, remember?”

“I don’t trust you!”

Discord let out a laugh, turning into a snake and making circles around her in the air. “Have you forgotten one little detail? YOU’RE the one who called ME.”

Sweetie Belle looked at the ground. “W-well…”

“Let me settle your conscience. After all, why are we even making a deal here?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard it from your sister about my terrible past actions, haven’t you?”

“Yes…”

“One of my powers is being able to mind-control other beings. If I REALLY wanted the Element that badly all I have to do is touch you and I could put you completely under my power and FORCE you to get the Element for me. But I’m not doing that, am I? We’re just having a friendly discussion.”

Sweetie Belle gasped. Before he had touched her. What if she was already under his power? Her breathing picked up. “I-If you’re really reformed now then why do you even care about the Element? If you’re not going to do bad things any more then you don’t have anything to worry about.”

“I just want to feel safe. Is that so wrong? I’m sure you’ve been punished and locked in your room before.”

“Yes.”

“Now imagine that instead you were locked in a closest, covered from head to hoof in clothes, and kept in there for a month. Now times that by one thousand years and that’s what I had to deal with. I was awake for every moment I was in that stone prison.”

Sweetie Belle was starting to get dizzy as he kept rotating around her. “You’re making me sick.”

“Oh, sorry.” He poofed back into his normal form.

“Now I’ve tried to go along with Celestia’s wishes, but it’s not nice to feel I’m always going to be forced to do her bidding. I’m not allowed to ever say no to her. Effectively I’m her slave, not a subject. If I put my claw out of line she can order me locked away again. Is it wrong that I just want to feel safe, and not have to constantly worry that if I make just a single mistake that I’ll be locked away for eternity? Can you understand me, Sweetie Belle?”

“I… I guess…”

“With just one of the Elements in my possession I’ll be much more comfortable in my new home. I’ll be able to use my powers because I choose to, not because I’m being forced to with the threat of banishment. All the ponies will change their minds about me as they see I can be good even without a super-weapon at the ready. Isn’t that a much more happier world?”

Discord was looking deep into her eyes, his eyes spinning in a swirling pattern and she quickly turned away before he could try to hypnotize her. “I understand, but I still can’t just hand it over to you. I mean, I understand you’re really powerful, but even if YOU’RE good now it doesn’t mean a more powerful threat won't ever come around.”

“Hmm… I see you point. How about this?” Discord put a claw to his chest. “I give you my word that if, and only IF, the time comes that a threat too great for Celestia and Luna or me to handle that I will return the Element to Rarity for that battle, with the understanding that it is to be given back to me upon the battle’s end. I think that’s a fair compromise, don’t you?” It was quiet.

Sweetie Belle’s mind was running in all sorts of directions. She had been the one to summon Discord, but she wasn’t sure if she could actually trust him.

“Let me point something out to you, Sweetie Belle.”

She finally looked up at him. “What?”

“If things go along at their current pace your sister will definitely die and the Elements will become powerless then. If you give it to me Rarity will be alive, and you will have them as a backup in the future if things go wrong. Either way they won’t be able to be used for a while. However, at least if you give it to me your sister will still be alive.” It grew quiet again. Discord let out a small laugh. “Okay. I can see you need time to think it over. I’ll come back in a week.”

“NO!” Sweetie Belle cried out. “That will be too late.”

“So then do we have a deal now?”

Again Sweetie Belle hesitated, chewing her lip and restlessly kicking her hoof. “I… I need time to decide!”

“Very well. You know the spell, so call me when you make up your mind. Better hurry, though, or it might be too late.” He lifted his claw, but once again he paused. “Hmm. I just thought of something. I’m going to leave you a present as proof of my good intentions.”

Sweetie Belle jumped backward, panting.

“Oh, honestly, Sweetie Belle. No need to bristle like that. I already told you I’m not going to mind control you. If that was what I wanted I could just do it now.”

“W-what kind of present?” She was sweating again.

“Well, I do love your terror. You should fear me, but that’s not what I want today. Go to sleep tonight, and you’ll have your present waiting in the morning. It’s only a partial present, though. You’ll get the full thing when you come through on our deal.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ll have to wait to find out.”

“You… you better not be planning anything horrible.”

“Oh, dear? Is that a threat?” He grabbed his throat, collapsing to the ground. “Oh, no! One pint-sized filly is threatening me!” He got back up. “Trust me. You’ll like it. I’m really being sincere this time. Toodles!” He vanished with a puff of smoke.

Sweetie Belle waited, but he didn’t reappear. She walked home in a daze. She didn’t know what exactly this “gift” was supposed to be, but this was Discord. She was sure it would be something dangerous and hectic.

She had trouble sleeping that night. She kept waiting for something to go wrong. For her parents to be turned into chickens, or her house to turn into a hockey rink, or her bed to grow legs and start singing show tunes. With Discord she couldn’t tell.

After tossing and turning for hours she finally passed out. In what felt like minutes she was woken up a by a commotion. There was yelling and screaming throughout the town, and Sweetie Belle jumped up, instantly awake. She ran downstairs to see what was going on. What in Equestria had Discord done?

Heading outside she saw the town bustling with life. Listening, she now heard that the ponies were cheering and whooping. Ponies were throwing confetti around and passing out newspapers. She pulled one pony running around to a stop. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“It’s a miracle!” said the yellow stallion. “An absolute miracle! All the ponies in the hospital have completely recovered from the illness. It’s like they were never sick!”

Sweetie Belle blinked a few times. “A present. Discord.”

“What’s that?”

“Uh, nothing!” Tears came to her eyes. “Rarity!” She smiled.

The pony suddenly stopped smiling. “Oh… right. Not all the ponies recovered. There was just one that didn’t. That was her name. They have no idea why she was the only one. Her isolation conditions were the same as everyone else’s.”

Sweetie Belle’s happiness drained out of her. “Thank you,” she said quickly before running back to her room. She thought back to Discord’s words as she sat on her bed. “It’s only a partial present. You’ll get the full thing when you come through on our deal. Meaning… he won’t heal Rarity unless I give him the Element of Harmony.

“Discord healed everybody and made it like they were never sick. He can do the same for Rarity. But… can I really trust him? He’s right. He could have just mind controlled me and made me give him the Element. There was no real reason to wait a few days for me to make up my mind.

"But… if it’s for the only weapon that could possibly stop him it makes sense he would do all that he could to get on my good side. ARGH!” She slammed her hooves on the bed. “I don’t know! I don’t what to do! I can’t ask anybody for advice. They’d all insist I not do it!”

She let out a heavy breath. “I guess it all comes down to one question: Rarity… or Equestria?”

Chapter 3: Sweetie Belle's decision

Sweetie Belle’s mind was in a whirl. The next few days were absolutely horrible. Their mother was a wreck as Rarity’s health continued to decline. She couldn’t even explain why everyone else had become healthy without also explaining about the deal she was considering.

She thought and thought and thought some more until her brain felt like it was going to break. Everyone basically gave her space, figuring her extreme distraction was simply over her worry for Rarity, but it was so much more. She was the only one who could save Rarity now, and the only way to do that would involve putting all of Equestria at risk. If Discord one day decided he didn’t feel like being good any more then there would be absolutely no way to stop him.

Another thought came to mind: If she gave Discord the Element would that make her a traitor? In order for Discord’s “I’ll give the Element back only if it’s absolutely necessary” deal to work it would mean revealing the Element was in his possession, and THAT would require explaining HOW he got it. Rarity kept it in a safe in her boutique. The safe was hidden behind both a painting and a piece of wall that was shaped to blend in perfectly with the rest of the wall. Only she and Rarity knew about it. It would quickly become obvious that she was to blame. She might be banished for her actions. “But if it will save Rarity’s life…”

She thought back to the story of Discord, about how he had corrupted her sister and her friends so they couldn’t wield the Elements. They had managed to come back and defeat him in the end only because Celestia had sent Twilight back the friendship reports. When he was released the second time he had been making trouble, but Fluttershy had made an impression on him and he decided that he enjoyed her friendship enough he was willing to make compromises. Basically it was only Fluttershy’s influence that was stopping him from his attempts to conquer Equestria again.

He had made a good point. He had improved a bit from the way he used to be. He was at least willing to trade for Rarity’s safety when he could have just used his magic to force her to do it. What reason could he possibly have not to do it, when it would ensure his one weakness was permanently taken care of? They were alone and right near the Element. No one would have known about it.

She thought that Discord had gone through some changes, but was he really trustworthy? It had only been a few months since he had been rereleased. Was it really enough time for him to have truly changed?

No matter how much she went back and forth in her mind she just couldn’t make a decision. She wanted Rarity to live. There was no question about that. She would do anything to make it happen. But to trust in one of the most powerful beings in Equestria to mind his manners when he knew he had absolutely nothing left to fear…

So long as they held onto the Elements there was always the possibility of finding a new Element of Generosity, but if they gave the Element away Discord would be sure to put it in a place where none of them could get to it. He could do anything to it. He wouldn’t give it back lightly, if he even would give it back at all.

“AGH!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “What’s right? What’s the right thing to do? Rarity!” Tears came down her eyes as she pictured them at the Sisterhooves Social, acting together as sisters as they dictated a friendship letter to Spike. The two of them had their spats and differences, but they always made up in the end.

It was the morning of the last day. She hadn’t been able to sleep. Rarity was in critical condition, in the final stage of the disease. Her life was being measured in hours now instead of days. She kept her head on her desk, half-dozing through class. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had tried to talk to her, but she was too drowsy to care. She kept dozing off.

Cheerilee called an early recess, asking to talk to her. As the rest of the class filed outside to play Cheerilee said, “I’m so sorry, Sweetie Belle. I’ve heard that your sister was the only one who wasn’t cured. If there’s anything I can do…” She rubbed a hoof through Sweetie Belle’s mane and said, “You know, if you want to be excused from school today to visit your sister that would be fine. I understand she’s close to death. It wouldn’t feel right keeping you here when you should be spending these last days with her while you can.”

Sweetie Belle gazed up into her teacher’s eyes. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

She took a breath and said, “Do you think it’s okay to do something bad that’s good?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean, do you think it’s ever okay to do something bad, in order to do something good? I… I have this friend who has to make a HUGE decision to help somebody, but she would have to do something bad to do it.” Cheerilee gave her a searching gaze, which made her avert her eyes. Her teacher would have no idea about the severity of the choice she had to make, but she didn’t want to help give her any hints.

After a few moments of silence Cheerilee slowly said, “Well, Sweetie Belle… doing the wrong thing for noble reasons is certainly better than doing it to be cruel or mean, but there are still many issues to consider.”

Taking a chair from an adjacent desk she sat down in front of Sweetie Belle. “I could go on a long-winded explanation of why it’s not a good idea, but I think it’s easier to get the concept if I give you an example. Let’s say, for this story, that I’m your friend, and let’s make what they’re after an expensive sweater.”

“Um… okay.”

“Now I have a friend who absolutely adores this sweater. Every day as we walk home she has to stop at the shop window. She cries and cries all the time because she wants it so badly, but her parents won’t buy it for her and she can’t afford it. Neither can I. Day after day it’s the same thing. She stares at the sweater, wanting it more and more with each passing day. As her good friend I can’t stand to see her suffering.

"Now what should I do? I don’t have the bits to buy it, so one day I go into the shop. I carry a bag with me, and I wait for the store owner to turn his back before slipping the sweater in and sneaking back out, with him being none the wiser.

“I go up to my friend, and I hand her the sweater. She is overjoyed. She can’t believe it. She throws her hooves around me, crying in happiness. She throws the sweater on and runs off to show her parents the lovely gift I gave her. She wears it every day, showing it off to everyone she meets. And when we walk together she grabs me each time, talking about how wonderful I am.

“Then the day comes where she finally asks the question: How did you afford it? What should I respond? That I found it? That I did lots of extra chores? Should I use more lies to cover up my crime? Or should I tell her the truth?” She looked down at Sweetie Belle expectantly.

Sweetie Belle looked back up at her unsurely. “I… I don’t know. I guess I… it would be better to…”

“Well, let’s look at the scenarios involved. If I continue the deception then only I know the truth. My friend gets to keep thinking I’m wonderful, but the whole time I know I didn’t get that sweater honestly. Each time I see her wearing it, each time she shows it off to someone, each time she grabs me and sings my praises, I would feel a pit of guilt in my stomach because deep down I know I’m a criminal.”

Sweetie Belle let out a little groan, staring pointedly at the ground as she shifted uncomfortably.

“And if I tell her the truth? Think about how devastated my friend would be. Here she was, thinking I had gone out of my way to earn the bits to get her a nice present, when all I did was swipe it. Now she knows a terrible secret. Does she turn me in? Does she keep wearing the sweater or does she return it? What if she’s suspected to be involved with the theft because the store owner finally saw her wearing it and knows where his missing sweater went to? What if she's arrested for it?

“How is my friend supposed to feel about the fact that she whined so much about the sweater that I turned into a criminal to make her happy? As my good friend is she truly going to appreciate what I went through emotionally to make her happy? Even if she never tells and we’re never found out she’ll always know that I bear the guilt of my crime.

“I may have done something bad with the best of intentions, but in the end my actions could cause far more pain than I prevented. Think about the recipient of your gift. Are they truly going to be happy about what you gave them in the end, knowing that you’re going to spend a lot of time suffering and agonizing over your decision? Are they themselves going to be satisfied with the price you paid morally to give them that gift? If the situation was reversed would you want them to have done the same? Would you want your friend to become a thief just to try to make you happy?

“I don’t know exactly what it is your friend is planning, but make sure you tell them to think VERY carefully about what they’re considering doing. While they’re only thinking about it it’s fine, since they can always decide against it in the end, but once they actually go and do it sometimes there is no taking it back and it can have lasting consequences. Going back to my opening line I’ll say again that doing something bad for the right reason is miles above doing it to be spiteful, cruel, or just because you can, but it still amounts to being no better in the end when all it does is cause pain for all parties involved.

"In the end it comes down to a simple question: Was that act of generosity actually generous at all?”

Sweetie Belle felt a bead of sweat come down her forehead. She was ninety-nine percent sure that Cheerilee had only mentioned generosity by chance, but it only made her think of the struggle going on in her head.

“So do you think that helped you? Now you can make a good argument to your friend, right, and help her make the right decision?”

That was the second time her teacher had emphasized those two words, and Sweetie Belle was certain that her teacher knew that she was really talking about herself. Taking a breath she put on a over-wide smile and said, “Yep! You sure did! You know, I think you’re right. I AM going to take the rest of the day off. I should go see Rarity while I have the chance.”

Not giving her teacher a chance to object she got up and ran out the door. As soon as she was outside and away from the schoolhouse her smile faded and she felt like a weight had fallen into her stomach. She had been fairly certain before of what to do, but now she felt more unsure than ever. Her teacher’s words had thrown her into doubt.

She reached her sister’s boutique, heading inside just like before. Heading up to her sister’s bedroom she went to a full-length portrait of Rarity. Getting a step-stool since she couldn’t use magic she stood up and lifted it up, letting it fall to the floor. Grabbing one of her sister’s hoof files she wedged it into a small line that nearly blended in perfectly with the rest of the wall. With a little bit of pressure the fake wall panel opened up, revealing a safe.

Closing her eyes for a moment she tried to recall the combination.

She put her hoof on the dial, rotating it two times before stopping on the number 3. “Three for the number of diamonds in her cutie mark.” Spinning it around again she stopped on the number 5. “Five for the number of best friends she has.”

Her body began trembling. “C-come on, Sweetie Belle! Stop shaking! Stop!” A few tears came down her eyes as she spun it around one final time to the number 1. “And… and…” Tears blurred her vision as she pulled the door to the safe open, seeing the necklace with the Element in its brooch. “And one… for the number of amazing sisters she has.” She shut her eyes tight as she put her hooves to her face and sobbed a little.

Putting her hoof inside the safe she grabbed the Element. She tried to step down gently but she was so worked up she fell to the floor. Sitting in the corner she hugged the Element to her, shaking like a leaf. “Rarity...Rarity!”

“We ARE apple pie!”

“I am NOT better off without a sister!”

"Oh, Sweetie Belle. I'm taking us to the spa today. We're getting MAKE-OVERS!"

Memories of her and Rarity began playing in her mind. This was about more than just a simple sweater. This was about a pony’s life.

What was right? What was the right thing to do? Wasn’t there a way out that didn’t involve putting Equestria at risk? If she gave Discord the Element he could turn on them at any time without fear, but Rarity would live. Without the Element he wouldn’t have anything to fear from her so he wouldn’t care one way or the other if she was alive and well. If she refused to give it to him Rarity would definitely die and the Element would become useless anyway… but they could always find another pony to wield its magic. Celestia had been the original bearer of the Element, so if necessary she could always take it up again.

Disjointed words raced through her head at the speed of light. ‘Rarity, Discord, Equestria, life, death, disease, right, wrong, danger, mom, pain, pregnancy, miscarriage, gift, Element, safety…’

After what felt like an eternity she had stopped shaking. She stared blankly at the floor, still cradling the Element to her body. “I… I know what I’m going to do,” she said to the empty room. “I’ve made my decision.” Standing up she began heading towards the safe. After a brief moment of hesitation she continued walking past it, the Element around her neck.

Right or wrong, whether Rarity would come to hate her for what she did, even if Equestria turned chaotic like the last time Discord got free… she was going to protect her sister, no matter the consequences. And if she was banished as a result of her choice… then so be it. It was enough for her that she would know Rarity would be alive. Everyone may see her as a traitor, Equestria might face the biggest catastrophe it ever had, but... her sister would be alive. That was all she cared about.

A world without a great pony like Rarity, who filled lives with light and joy with her giving nature, was a world of ponies who would grow up selfish. Someone needed to set a good example and show everyone how it was done. That was why Rarity was the Element of Generosity: because she was so giving. Now she had the chance to do something amazing for her.

She hadn't forgotten Cheerilee's words. Rarity might not be grateful for what she had to stoop to in order to get Discord on her side, but she'd become a criminal to save her sister's life. At least if Rarity was alive she could always yell and shout and scold her for her actions.

A feeling of unease and dread was prominent in her stomach but she ignored it. This was the right thing to do. It had to be... didn't it? As she left the room a gray pallor came over her coat, and her usually poofy mane drooped a little.

Chapter 4: Stop Sweetie Belle.

“Huff, huff, huff. Come… on… Spike!” Twilight said. Her usually tidy mane was a mess. There were bags under her eyes. The two of them were in the former castle of Luna and Celestia.

“Twilight!” he said sternly. “You can’t do anymore. You have to rest!”

“No!” she said stubbornly, shaking a hoof at him. Her vision suddenly went blurry, and she fell to the ground, too groggy to stand back up.

During the outbreak Twilight had been certain that it would be quickly contained. She didn’t expect that no one would know of the disease or of how to find a cure for it. Since the day she heard that she had barely slept as she had poured through all the books in her library that might even have a hint of what was occurring in Ponyville. She had gone through medical books, autobiographies and biographies of famous pony doctors, spell books, history books. In the end she had found nothing.

She was at a loss. She thought for sure her only option was to wait for her friend to die and simply hope that they could discover a cure before the worst happened. Celestia had encouraged her to check out her old castle and go through the library in there, believing it could be an outbreak of a supposedly dead virus that ponies had lost immunity to over time. It reminded her of the Cutie Pox incident, where it broke out and then vanished in a short period of time.

She only left the castle for food and drink, and she had even begun sleeping there as she spent countless hours reading all the books she could get her hooves on. As the deadline to the end came closer she had pushed herself harder. She was sleeping less and less, eating less, and straining her brain to the max.

Just a short while ago she was sure she had finally hit paydirt. There was a book about an outbreak in a town near Ponyville that seemed very similar to what was going on now. There was good news and bad news. The bad news was that there was no known cure. The good news was that there was a recipe for a concoction that could fight off the symptoms temporarily. With Rarity so close to death she didn’t want to waste any time mixing it up and heading to the hospital.

“Twilight! You know more than anyone how I feel about Rarity. If anyone should want this done right away its me, but in your exhausted state you’re going to mess up the mixture and that will lead to her dying anyway. YOU… NEED… SLEEP! If you’re going to do this then you have to do it right.”

Twilight hated how right he was. She wasn’t in any fit shape to do anything. Time was of the essence, but she didn’t have any strength left. “F-fifteen minutes, Spike. That’s all I’ll need. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

She let out a big sigh and dropped her head on the floor, letting out soft snores almost right away.

Spike wished he could do more, but he didn’t trust himself to mix up anything either. He had been with Twilight throughout this whole ordeal, skimming through books as well but he was nowhere as fast as her. About the only thing he could do at the moment was make sure she was comfortable. He went and grabbed her blanket, setting it over her before lifting her head and letting her use him as a pillow.

“Rarity,” he said quietly. He really wanted to be there at the hospital with her. The rest of their friends were already there. He felt it was more important to work towards possibly finding a cure, that way she could still be alive. He had hardly slept the past few days himself. He closed his eyes, feeling like he was going to drift off too, but he fought it. He had to wake Twilight up in a little while, or it might be too late.

After about ten minutes he gasped as a sudden bright light blinded him for a moment. As he opened his eyes he saw Twilight’s horn was glowing, the red aura flickering back and forth like a candle. Twilight’s eyes were still closed. Spike looked around the room, but he didn’t see a glow around anything else, so he didn’t know where her magic was being directed to. When he looked back at her he noticed something he had missed the first time: above the glow was a transparent purple diamond.

He stared at it for a little while, but nothing happened. The glow stayed constant. Not knowing what it all meant he thought he should wake Twilight up and tell her. He wanted to let her get some more sleep, but he had never seen her generate magic while asleep, so he wondered if this was something serious.

Giving her a gentle shake he said, “Twilight. Twilight! Wake up!”

Twilight mumbled incoherently before gazing at him through half-lidded eyes. “Spike?” she said drowsily. “What’s wrong?”

“Your horn is glowing.”

She let out a groan. “You woke me up for THAT? How many times have you seen me use magic?”

“There’s also a diamond on top of your horn.”

She groaned again, setting her head on the floor. After a few seconds her eyes shot open, and she looked upward. Her eyes grew wide, and she suddenly jumped up. “Oh, no! This is bad!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I helped all my friends hide their Element of Harmony. Each one is locked away in a safe place, and I put a magical alert spell on each of them to let me know if they’ve been removed from their houses. This means that somepony has Rarity’s Element.”

Spike understood the gravity of the situation. “Like we don’t have enough to deal with! Who else knows about her hiding spot?”

“No one! It’s in a safe in her house, and her house is under quarantine. Although… I suppose… she might have told her parents… or Sweetie Belle.”

“But why would any of them want her Element of Generosity?”

“I don’t know, Spike, but we need to find out. Get on my back!”

“Right!”

Using her magic to grab the book she needed she teleported the two of them back to her library. She raced around, grabbing all the items listed for the potion. She had Spike read her the directions, and she quickly began mixing it up. The last step was a spell with unicorn magic to bring it to full potency. Concentrating her energy in her horn she shot it towards the beaker, and it glowed brightly for a short time before fading away. When it was finished she held up a beaker of a dark brown liquid. It smelled like spoiled food. She didn’t envy Rarity for having to drink it. She had followed all the directions to the letter, so she was certain it would help her friend out for now.

With another poof she appeared in front of Ponyville Hospital, Spike on her back like before. She ran inside, having to contain herself so she didn’t cause an accident in the hospital. When she got to Rarity’s room she saw Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy around Rarity’s bed.

“Is Rarity still alive?” Twilight asked desperately.

“Yes,” Fluttershy responded, tears coming down her eyes. “But they say she only has another hour to live. This is the end, Twilight.”

“Not yet, it’s not!”

“What do you mean?” Pinkie asked, her mane completely flat as she cried too.

She went up to Rarity, and she winced at her friend’s condition. Half of her body was covered with a blanket, but there were large patches of broken skin, there was only a sliver of hair remaining in her mane, most of her coat was gone, and boils were rampant across her body. Her body, hooves, and face were swollen up. She couldn’t get any closer because of the health bubble surrounding her friend, so she used her magic to teleport it inside.

“Rarity! I need you to drink that. It will help.”

Rarity’s breathing was haggard. It took her a short time to open her mouth. Twilight poured some of the liquid into her mouth, and Rarity showed some energy as she gagged and spit it out onto the floor. “Yuck!” she sputtered out weakly. “What IS that mess? Dirt flavored sweat?”

“I know it’s gross, but it will help your condition for now. This is a matter of life and death.

“I need to know. Did you ever tell anyone else about your hiding spot for your Element?”

Again she took a short time to answer. “Only you… and Sweetie Belle.”

“Uhn! So it WAS her.”

Rarity’s eye’s focused. “W-what… do you… mean?”

“Someone set off the alarm I set on your Element. I don’t have any idea why, but she took it out of the safe.”

“Oh!” Fluttershy cried out, putting a hoof to her mouth.

“What is it, Fluttershy?”

A blush came to her face. “I… I don’t know if this is related. I don’t want to think so, but… I can’t think of any other reason.”

“What is it?”

“A few days ago Sweetie Belle came to me asking questions about Discord.”

Twilight had a sinking feeling in her chest. “DISCORD? What was she asking about?”

“She wanted to know how I got in contact with him, so I told her about sending him letters and the phrase he gave me if I want to summon him. The next morning was when all those other ponies suddenly got better.”

Twilight had a thoughtful look on her face. “Hmm… there’s no doubt in my mind that those ponies were helped by Discord. That they showed no sign of ever being sick clearly speaks of Discord’s ability to rewrite reality as he sees fit. If Sweetie Belle saw him and the next day that happened it’s also clear that he did it at her request.”

She let out a loud gasp as the last piece of the puzzle connected in her mind. “I’ve got it!” she said, dread in her voice. “This is horrible!”

“What’s wrong?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Sweetie Belle went to Discord because he was the only one who might be able to cure Rarity. Although he’s been reformed it would still be to his benefit for Rarity or any of the rest of us to disappear so he doesn’t have to worry about being sealed away. If just one of the Elements of Harmony is unusable they all become worthless.”

Applejack felt she understood the situation, and her heart sank. “Ya… yer not sayin’ that Sweetie Belle…”

Twilight nodded. “She’s desperate for Discord to help her sister. Discord healed everyone else to show he was more than capable of curing her. That’s the reason Rarity is the only one still sick. He wants the Element in exchange for her life. If he gets his claws on just one of the Elements he’ll destroy it, or hide it in a place on the other side of Equestria, or… or whatever he wants with it!”

She let out a heavy sigh. “We need to stop her before she makes the biggest mistake of her life.” She turned to Fluttershy. “I know how you feel about Discord, and I know how hard you’ve tried to help him see the good side of harmony, but this could turn into an utter disaster. Once Discord doesn’t have a leash to keep his darker side in check the temptation to go back to his old ways may be too powerful. If we can catch up to Sweetie Belle I think it would be for the best to seal him away again until we get the full story from her. For all we know Discord is manipulating her the same way he did to us. Do you agree?”

Fluttershy had a pained look on her face. A tear came down her face and she gave a curt nod.

Rarity was staring off into space. The pain made it hard to concentrate but she had the gist of their conversation. “T-Twilight,” she huffed. “Why would… why would Sweetie Belle… do this?”

Twilight smiled at her friend sadly. “For you,” she stated plainly. “She’s going to endanger all of Equestria to save your life. Now that he’s proven he can cure this disease like its nothing he wants the Element before he heals you. Her love for you is so strong she’s risking the world for you.”

Tears dripped down her eyes. “Sweetie Belle…” A sudden strength came to Rarity’s face. Lifting her hooves she grabbed the beaker. Shudders went through her body as she forced herself to down the entire thing. She gagged for almost an entire minute afterward. “I think I’m gonna throw up,” she stated, holding a hoof to her face as a wave of nausea passed through her.

“I’ll get you some water.”

Twilight teleported a glass of water into her bubble, and Rarity drank it down gratefully. “Thank you.” She dry-heaved again. “Ugh! I don’t think all the water in the world is going to get that taste out of my mouth. My whole body is on fire, but I feel… strangely… better.”

Even as they watched some of the swelling began going down. Her mane and coat were still nearly bare, but the potion was having some effect on her.

“Is Rarity all better now?” Fluttershy asked hopefully.

Twilight closed her eyes and shook her head. “No. This is a temporary thing. It’s basically like a super-shot of adrenaline to the immune system. It will allow her to get up and move around for a few hours, but that may be all we have. I could whip up some more, but just like with regular adrenaline it’s dangerous for the body to constantly be in that state or it will burn itself out.”

She took a long breath. She was trying to be strong, but she couldn’t stop a few tears from coming down her face. “This may be out last mission together, friends. One last time… let’s show the power of the Elements of Harmony and help to save Equestria.” All of them gave solemn nods, trying not to think of what awaited the end of the battle.

Using her magic she grabbed each of her friends and teleported them to their houses to grab their respective Elements, with the exception of Rainbow Dash since she couldn’t walk on clouds as a unicorn. When she returned to the hospital she was unsurprised to see Rainbow Dash waiting for her, given her incredible speed.

“Spike…I want you to come with us. I don’t know what’s going to happen but if necessary I want you to grab Sweetie Belle and get her out of harm’s way.”

“Alright, Twilight.”

Using her horn once again she shook off a wave of fatigue as she set Rarity on her back. There was time to sleep later. Teleporting the seven of them outside she used her horn one last time. An arrow appeared in front of her, pointing diagonally left. “This will allow me us to trace the Element. I only hope it isn’t too late.”

***

In a clearing near the entrance to the Everfree Forest Sweetie Belle was seated on her back hooves, holding the Element of Generosity close to her, an unreadable expression on her face.

Discord looked down at the white filly, a pleasant smile on his face. “Well, Sweetie Belle? What’s your answer?”

She was quiet for a few more moments, then she said, “I’ll… I’ll do it. For Rarity’s sake.” As the words left her mouth the last of her color faded from her mane and coat.

“WONDERFUL!” Discord said, confetti appearing from his paws.

Author's Note

So I need opinions because I'm not really satisfied with this chapter. Sometimes I'm too critical of my own work and other people are fine with it so did this chapter go over well for you? Or was it "too easy?" Twilight's magical alarm system shows she's at least acting smarter than Celestia in protecting the Elements, and it makes sense. I'm cool with that aspect, but what about the rest? I just needed a way for the mane 6 to gather and go to stop Sweetie Belle as we near the climax.

Chapter 5: True courage.

“This is simply a marvelous day,” Discord said, turning into a dog and running circles around the filly. He sniffed a few times, and covered his nose with a whine. “Ugh! Smell of harmony…too powerful…” He fell to the ground, legs in the air. “Burning out my nose.” He turned back into his regular self. “Well, enough jokes. Hand it over, Sweetie Belle. Once you do I’ll go help your poor sister and the two of you can have a lovely and TOUCHING reunion.”

He could tell by her faded colors that she had made up her mind already. “Well… what are you waiting for?” he asked when she didn’t move. “Don’t tell me you’re going to change your mind now, not after you went through the trouble of summoning me? Do you really have the time to think it over anymore?”

Sweetie Belle reluctantly lifted her head, looking into his eyes. “If… if I give you this, then what are you going to do after you help Rarity?”

Discord looked up thoughtfully, scratching his chin. Poofing a fancy outfit onto his body along with a cane, a monocle, and a slicked back hairstyle he held up a piece of paper and said in an important voice, “Hmm…so much planned. I guess first I’ll conquer Ponyville again.”

“WHAT?” Sweetie Belle cried out.

Discord cracked up. “Oh, you ponies are just delightful. Everything I say gets you so riled up. It’s just a joke.”

“Oh… right.” She let out a weak laugh.

“I mean, really. Taking over Ponyville? Of course I’d have to start with Canterlot to get those pesky alicorns out of my way before I begin my new rule.” He gave her a sideways look, grinning down at her.

Sweetie Belle looked at him uncertainly. Discord was scaring her now. Was he actually being honest, or was it just more of his twisted humor to get a reaction out of her? “That’s not funny.”

“Is what I’m saying really so threatening, Sweetie Belle? Is it so wrong that I want to show ponies a new way to live? I mean, in Celestia’s PERFECT WORLD have things ever gone smoothly? I didn’t remember before, but I went back to some of my letters to Fluttershy, and now I know who you are.”

A letter appeared in his paw, and Sweetie Belle felt her heart skip a beat as Discord’s top half turned into Fluttershy, with the voice to match. “Oh, Discord. I feel so bad for those three little fillies. They get bullied for not having their cutie mark by these two fillies in their class. I can’t tell you how many different things they’ve tried to get their cutie marks, but they always seem to come up short. I hope they get them soon.”

With another poof he turned into an alicorn pony. “Interesting… isn’t it? I play pranks and try to let everyone have a good time, and I get turned to stone for a millennium, but two ponies mercilessly pick on you on a daily basis, and they constantly get off scot-free. So that’s what justice is in this 'world of harmony?' ”

Sweetie Belle let out a small moan, shrinking away from him a little as he got in her face. “But… I… well…”

“I just abhor boredom. When things become the same day after day it starts eating away at me. I just want to spice up the world, that’s all. Can you imagine? My power made it so a bunch of sick ponies showed no evidence of ever being sick. Before I met Fluttershy I wanted a world all about chaos. Now all I want is a world where chaos and harmony can coexist. What are a few soap roads and cotton candy clouds showering the town in chocolate rain, if in return they can come to me whenever they’re sick or injured, and I can make it all better?

“I know what I’ve done in the past was wrong. Fluttershy taught me that when I was on the brink of losing her friendship due to my selfishness. She’s been trying to teach me to do things a different way, but I think it would be for the best if all of you tried to do something different as well. After all, isn’t it just a bit selfish to demand conformity to just one standard? Your precious Ponyville has all three races living together. You have an earth pony and a pegasus friend. Do you hate them for being of a different race or thinking differently than you?”

“No… of course not!”

“Ponyville was founded BY earth ponies, and earth ponies alone. But as time went on other races began coexisting with them, and now you have a town with variety, with ponies of all kinds living together. And do you know why? It’s because the founders were willing to open their hearts and give the other races a chance, and it worked out splendidly. Why can’t I, as a draconequues, be extended the same courtesy, hmm?

“In the new world I desire things don’t have to make sense. Ponies can do whatever they want. I’ll just shave off a few useless rules. I won’t go as far as I did before. I’ll respect other ponies boundaries… to an extent. Dear Fluttershy loves animals. If you so wanted you could become her new pet for a day.”

“What are you-whoa!” Discord suddenly become huge as his horn glowed in a plaid green and purple mix. It took her a few moments to see that he hadn’t grown. She had shrunk. Discord summoned a mirror, and Sweetie Belle saw she was a bunny.

“Aw, you’re so adorable!” he said, before turning her back to normal. “As you know, my abilities to defy the normal order of things means that I can break the rules of reality as I see fit. In a chaotic world ponies would be too busy dealing with their different lives for bullies to focus on your blank flank. But… that would be going too far. Fluttershy wouldn’t approve. What about this? Would you like a cutie mark now?”

Sweetie Belle let out an angry huff. “Twilight already tried that for Apple Bloom. Magic can’t force a cutie mark to appear. That’s impossible!”

“Impossible for a unicorn or even an alicorn, but you’re forgetting who you’re talking to. Come on. What would you like?”

Letting out another heavy breath she said, “I don’t know! How about an overly tall owl stuck to a barn with pancake syrup? Oh, and the barn is eating spaghetti with 3 unicorn's horns as a fork. OH! And the moon is eating the barn. That’s the kind of wacky thing you’d like, right?”

Discord let out a big laugh as he turned back to normal. “Oh, Sweetie Belle. There’s hope for you yet.” He snapped his claw.

Sweetie Belle looked behind her at her flank, rolling her eyes as she saw an owl with its head stuck to a barn wall, sticking straight out horizontally. A barn with a mouth was eating a big plate of spaghetti while the moon nibbled on the barn. She waited for a few seconds for it to disappear, but nothing happened. It stayed in place.

After staring for thirty seconds it was still there. Her anger was fading away, and a smile slowly came to her face. She could have any cutie mark she wanted? That was awesome! No longer would they have to pull all sorts of wild schemes. The three of them could spend some time deciding on what mark they wanted to show the world, and then Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon would stop bullying them.

“Huh?” Discord felt a minor stab of panic as he saw the pink and purple returning to her mane. He quickly snapped his claw, making the cutie mark disappear. He let out a sigh of relief at her look of despair as her color faded again. “So there you have it. Do you really want to tell me this system of things is the best? The world says you can’t create a cutie mark? I can. The world says there is an incurable disease? I can cure it. Just give me a chance, and I’ll show you we can create the best of both worlds.”

He saw her hesitating again, and he bit his cheek as he restlessly moved up and down. His patience was running thin. He wanted to just go over and rip the element from her hooves, but that might prove dangerous. She had to be the one to hand it over to him. He wanted the Element being in his possession to be a secret for as long as possible. So long as she freely gave it to him her guilt and fear would prevent her from spilling the beans on the matter.

Sweetie Belle looked up towards the sun, feelings its warmth. “A world without rules,” she said in an emotionless voice. “Where I could have any cutie mark I wanted…”

Discord suppressed a snicker. She was so close to cracking he could taste it.

“Rarity…” She loved her sister so much. She couldn’t think of a world without her. She wanted to be just like her sister when she grew up. She had no doubt in her mind that Discord would help Rarity out if she gave him the Element, so why was her mind rebelling against the idea? Why did her body feel so heavy?

Cheerilee’s words came back to her again. “Was your act of generosity ACTUALLY generous at all?” “Think about the recipient of your gift. If the situation was reversed would you want them to have done the same?”

In her mind she thought, ‘Would I want Rarity to do this for me?’ Tears began pouring down her eyes. ‘I want Rarity to live. I want her to, but… how is she going to feel?’

Her breathing sped up as her crying increased in intensity. “Sometimes there is no going back,” she muttered out. “But so long as you haven’t actually done it there’s still time to consider your options.”

She tilted her head down, settling on Discord. “I… I can’t. Not like this. Because I love Rarity so much I was willing to risk whatever was going to happen. And… it’s because my love for her is so strong that I can’t disgrace everything she’s worked for by becoming a traitor. I can’t put the weight of my guilt on her. She’d never forgive herself for that. It would destroy her.”

“So don’t tell her, obviously. How would she know it was you?”

“Rarity’s not stupid!” she said loudly, irritation settling in. “She’d know something was up because I suddenly started acting differently. Me and her and Twilight are the only ones who are supposed to know where it is.”

“A lot of places have been quarantined, right? A daring thief could very well have broken in and swiped it.”

“You just don’t get it! Do you? I’m not doing it and that’s FINAL! SO THERE!” She began panting as she said it. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Her colors returned to normal. She just wouldn’t have been able to live with the knowledge of what she had done. She thought she could throw everything away for Rarity, but when it came down to it… when the time came… she just couldn’t. Everything about her fought that notion.

Discord had genuine disappointment on his face. He slowly shook his head. “So is that your final answer?”

“Yes!” she said, blinking tears out of her eyes. That decision was sealing Rarity’s fate, but she knew her sister wouldn’t want to live with what it would cost.

He shrugged. “So be it. I guess I should say I’m proud of you for having the courage to make that decision. I really was going to help her, you know.”

Sweetie Belle shook her head, trying not to start sobbing. “I have to go. I have to see Rarity before she dies.” She turned around and started running. “Oof!” she cried out as she suddenly slammed into something, falling to the ground. She looked up and saw Discord in front of her.

“And just where do you think you’re going, Sweetie Belle?”

“I already told you. I have to see Rarity.”

“Not yet. I believe you owe me something. It’s your decision if you want to back out of our deal, but I’m afraid you still have a debt to me for healing all those other ponies.”

“Fine! I’ll bring you some cookies or something later. I have to go!” She tried running around him, but he only reappeared in front of her as a brick wall blocking her path. “Stop it, Discord!”

“I waited long enough for you. I’m not waiting anymore. I’ll be taking that Element now, then I’ll consider your tab null and void.”

“Forget it!” She turned and began racing in the opposite direction. She only got a short distance before she felt something pulling at her hooves and she tripped. There was a rope tied around her, locking her back legs together. Holding a fishing rod Discord began reeling her in.

“Look at that!” he said with a chuckle as he held her up by her front hoof. “I’ve caught me a Sweetie Belle. Now hand over that little trinket, if you don’t mind.”

Sweetie Belle squirmed in his grasp but wasn’t able to get loose. Getting an idea as he lifted his claw to take the Element she put her back hooves on his arm,kicking off, then using the forward momentum to kick him in the eye.

Discord let out a cry of pain. He dropped the filly, putting his paws over his face.

Sweetie Belle quickly took off. She knew that wouldn’t stop him for long.

Discord brought his claw down a few seconds later, all the humor gone from his face. His face slowly started turning red before the top of his head blew upward with a cloud of steam erupting out. “You shouldn’t have done that,” he said angrily. “I’m done playing around.” Pulling his eye out of his socket he began rubbing it clean with a napkin before putting it back in.

“OH, SWEETIE BELLE! Where do you think you’re going?”

Sweetie Belle heard his furious cry, and picked up the pace. She began hearing music. The melody was very catchy, and she found herself slowing down, her hooves moving in time to the music. While she still had some control over herself she grabbed the Element from around her neck and threw it into a hollow in a tree.

She suddenly tripped, her hooves moving uncontrollably. Her eyes bugged out of her head and she let out a loud shriek as she saw her hooves had turned into snakes. Each of her legs sniffed the air, and began pulling her in the opposite direction. She continued screaming the whole way there.

As she returned to the clearing she saw Discord sitting down playing a flute. “Stop it!” she screamed, tears coming down her eyes. “Please stop!”

The music ceased as the flute disappeared and her legs turned back to normal. Discord picked her up, his arm extending a little so she couldn’t do the same thing as before. “See, Sweetie Belle, what you got for your pointless insolence? I was willing to be patient and play around with you, to heal your ailing sister and do some good deeds. But you shouldn’t have attacked me. That was a foolish decision on your part.

"Now just give me the Element and we’ll let bygones be bygones, hmm?” He lifted his other claw, but then he noticed her neck was bare, and his eyes narrowed. “What have you done with it?”

She gave him a defiant grin, even as a bead of sweat came down her face. “Who knows? I sent it away with my magic. Even if I don’t know where it is at least you won’t have it either.”

Discord let out an aggravated sigh. “So be it. I guess I have no choice. I really didn’t want to resort to this."

“Ha! You wouldn’t dare mind-control me. Fluttershy would never accept that.”

“What Fluttershy doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” His eyes began spinning around rapidly.

***

Rarity’s ears perked up as she heard it. The loud screaming coming from the direction of the forest. “Sweetie Belle! Oh, no! Speed up! Who knows what’s he doing to her.”

“Right!” Twilight said, the rest of them increasing their pace. After another minute they found themselves in a clearing, seeing Discord standing there.

“Discord!” cried out Applejack.

Discord groaned. “I should have known you would show up. What a pain. I was so close.”

“Where’s my sister?” Rarity asked. “If you’ve hurt her…!”

“Why, she’s right here,” he replied, moving out of the way.

Sweetie Belle’s coat had turned colorless again. She stood there with a blank look on her face. “The Element,” she said emptily. “Have to find the Element.”

Chapter 6: Self-fulfilling prophecy

“How did you find us?” Discord asked.

“I put a spell on the Elements to alert me if they were taken from their hiding spots,” Twilight responded.

“Heh!” Discord smiled. “You’re a step above your mentor, at least. SHE had no idea they were gone until she opened the chest. Her expression was just GOLDEN!”

“I knew you were up to something tricky the moment Fluttershy told me about Sweetie Belle wanting to talk to you, and now here’s ironclad proof! Where’s the Element of Generosity?”

“Oooohhh… somewhere. Sweetie Belle hid it on me. I was just about to have her retrieve it.”

“You corrupted her just like you did to us! How could you?”

“Is it MY fault she wanted to back out of our deal? Since you already seem to have figured a good deal out on your own I guess I should fill you in on the rest. Sweetie Belle came to me asking for a trade. She summoned me and offered me the Element for Rarity’s life. I thought it sounded great. She didn’t intend to mention that detail, of course. It just slipped out in the heat of the moment.

"I gave her some time to decide since she couldn’t make up her mind. She said she was going to do it, but then changed her mind at the last second. I mean, really. Is that the thanks I get for helping to clean out your hospital? I just want what I was promised, that’s all.”

Rarity let out a heavy breath, a tear coming down her eye. “Sweetie Belle… so it is true.”

“Rarity!” Discord said with surprised amusement. “To think you could be so coherent in your state. I’m genuinely impressed.”

A red tinge appeared on Fluttershy’s cheeks before she zoomed forward until she was flying in front of Discord. She lifted her hoof and gave him a hard whack in the face. Discord’s head spun around in circles for a few rotations before he grabbed it and stopped it.

“That’s enough, Discord!” she said angrily. “I can’t believe you! This is absolutely UN-AC-CEPT-ABLE! Mind-controlling other pony’s is how you acted as a villain. Now you change her back to normal this instant or our friendship is OVER!”

Discord had never seen Fluttershy look so furious. “Oh, Fluttershy. I’m afraid you can’t do that.”

“TRY ME!”

“Is it a crime to do something bad when you’re angry?” he said innocently. “Look at how bloodshot my eye is.” He pulled one of his eyes out. “She kicked me in the eye when all I wanted was to complete our deal. I haven’t forgotten the letters you’ve sent me. Don’t you remember when you learned about assertiveness? You got so high up on your training that you insulted Rarity and Pinkie Pie until they ran away in tears.”

Fluttershy’s face softened a little at the memory. “That may be true, but I realized my mistake later and apologized to them for it. Why are you so obsessed with getting Rarity’s Element in the first place? We’re friends, aren’t we? I thought you trusted me. Wasn’t my promise good enough to you?”

“Apparently not,” he replied sarcastically as he poked the Element of Kindness around her neck. Placing his eye back in his socket he continued, “Why would you bring your Element here if you weren’t intending to use it?”

“I still believe in you, Discord, but I know Twilight wouldn’t have let me come along without it. I just wanted to talk with you and get the story from you.”

“And therein lies the problem. You can succumb to pressure from your friends. I just wanted a guarantee of safety. I can lose my temper just like the rest of you. I just wanted to be sure I wouldn’t be turned to stone again for reacting just like any of you would.”

“And what you can do when you’re angry is far worse than any of us can do. Your power being out of control is dangerous.”

Twilight hopped forward, her horn glowing. “Enough, Fluttershy! He’s too dangerous to be left alone. I bet you’re behind all of this trouble, AREN’T YOU? If you can cure this plague like it’s nothing that’s enough proof for me. You just wanted one of the Element bearers gone, and you don’t care who else had to die as long as your part in things is hidden, right?” Her vision flickered as another wave of fatigue came over her, and she nearly fell to the ground as her exhaustion began overpowering her. She shook her head hard to try to shake herself out of it.

“What?” Discord said flatly. He lifted his claw and snapped it. “Better now?”

Twilight blinked. She suddenly felt refreshed. “What did you do?”

“Really, Twilight. Making such rash accusations without a shred of proof to support it. If you’re going to come here sleep deprived you wouldn’t listen to anything I said, anyway.”

Twilight eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you helping me?”

“Oh, so now I need a REASON to help others out?”

“Didn’t stop you from doing nothing to help until you were offered our most powerful weapon.”

“What do you want from me, Twilight? Ponies live, ponies die. It’s part of the natural order of things. Sure, I saved them from the plague, but they’ll just die of something else in the future. YOU’RE the ones who dislike the power I hold and threaten me every time I want to use it. My power can be used for chaos, but also for the benefit of others. The rest of you are so selfish that I don’t feel any desire to help you. Just like Celestia.

"I’ll say to you the same thing I said to Sweetie Belle: you only want me around because my power can be beneficial to you. You don’t care about me myself, but only for what I can do for YOU, and you expect me to be okay with that? You expect me to want to do you favors, when you’ll just go ahead and accuse me of mass murder on the hopes that one of the ponies who got infected just happened to be one of the holders of the Elements of Harmony? If that’s what passes for friendship in your world, then even as a god of chaos who dislikes things to make sense I don’t understand it.

“And for your information I’m not responsible for this plague, anyway. A dead pony can’t enjoy chaos, after all. The fun is in other’s reactions to it. If they can’t respond to what’s going on around them it’s boring. It’s the same reason I never turned ponies to stone in the past. It’s dull!"

Fluttershy took a deep breath. “Twilight may have gone a bit overboard with her accusation, but her fears aren’t completely unreasonable. You lost your temper and wound up acting like your old self. You brainwashed Sweetie Belle to get her to do your bidding, and I can’t just overlook that. Now return Sweetie Belle to normal. Such wickedness is below you now.”

“Wickedness?” he asked.

“Yes! Wickedness! I can’t be friends with someone who manipulates others like that. Now say you’re sorry and let’s just forget about all this.”

“Hmmm… then I believe you’re going to have to stop being friends with Twilight then.”

“What are you talking about? Twilight would never act like that.”

“Oh, really? Tell me, Fluttershy, do you remember that odd thing I did while I was living at your house?”

“Which one?” she said under her breath as she rolled her eyes.

“Like eating paper.”

“Hey!” Twilight said as she remembered. “That’s right! You ruined a good number of my spell books. Do you know how much it cost to replace all those?”

“Oh, Twilight. Do you remember what was on all those pages I ate?”

“Of course! I was looking for-” She suddenly stopped, blushing as she looked at him, annoyed.

“Hmmm? Why’d you halt there? Continue.” She glared at him and didn’t respond. “Well, if you won’t say it then I will. Weren’t they all reforming spells? REFORMING SPELLS! Weren’t Celestia’s words that she could use my power if I could be convinced to use if for good “of my own free will?” So, then. It’s okay for you to manipulate minds to act more like YOU want, but I can’t? A bookworm like you was fine with cheating?”

Twilight met his gaze. “Fine! It’s true. In case you couldn’t be reformed I was looking for an alternate method to sealing you away again.”

“Because your PRECIOUS PRINCESS wanted it, of course.”

“That’s part of it, but I also felt a little bad. You said you were fully conscious and could hear everything inside the stone, so I wanted to free you from that fate if I was able. The thought of being trapped and unable to move but being aware of each moment of captivity seemed a bit cruel, even for you.”

A smirk appeared on his face. “So then you’re saying Celestia is cruel?”

Her blush became a little deeper as she gasped. “No! That’s not what I’m saying at all! She did what she had to.

“A-anyway, that was only to be as a last resort. I didn’t want to use it unless absolutely necessary. It was only a back-up plan.”

“That’s not the point. The point was that the first thing you did was try to find a mind-control method. So I guess it’s fine to control others who don’t see it your way, which means it’s fine for me to do too. Either that, or what you were planning was evil… no?”

Twilight couldn’t meet his gaze any more. He had a point.

Seeing Twilight lose her spirit made Applejack speak up. “Ther’s a big diff’rince between tha two. Ya used your power ta make others miserable and act like the opposite of themselves. Twilight was planning it ta help others and Equestria.”

“I still fail to see the difference. If at the time I was evil then she was still planning to have me act the opposite of myself and against my own free will. Even if it would have made me good she’d still have been forcing it upon me and leaving me no choice in the matter. So am I good for what I do, or is she evil for planning to hijack my mind and thoughts? If I robbed a store because I could, and she robbed a store because it was 'for the good of Equestria,' does that mean that robbery is fine if it’s 'for a good reason?'

"Or how about you, Applejack? Element of Honesty. Do you think it’s fine to lie if it’s 'for a good reason?' But you can be dishonest when its not for a good reason, like letting the stress of wanting to win against Rainbow Dash during the Running of the Leaves cause you to cheat and sink down to Rainbow’s level. I thought the whole point of morals and integrity was for you was to remain true to your true self, but what you seem to be saying is it’s fine to break your morals and ethics anytime it becomes too troublesome to do it the right way. Is that how it goes in your 'righteous and ordered' world? But you want to belittle ME for the way I do things?

“How about you, Rainbow Dash? Element of Loyalty, but you turned against Twilight like the rest of your friends during the Changeling invasion.

"Or you, Pinkie Pie? Element of Laughter and you love to make friends, but they avoided you for a short time to set up your surprise party and you were convinced they hated you? Is that how shallow your belief in them is?

"Or Rarity? Element of Generosity, but you let your fake wings go to your head and selfishly entered the Best Young Flier’s competition when you were supposed to be giving her moral support.

"And of course you, Twilight, Element of Magic. You spent years with Celestia and know her good nature, but you still caused town-wide chaos with your 'want it, need it' spell because you were so convinced she was going to banish you for not sending a letter about friendship for one week.

"You scarcely need ME to turn you against your own Elements. You can do so perfectly well on your own and abandon your morals whenever it becomes inconvenient to what YOU want, but I’M the bad guy here?”

Awkward looks abounded as each of them found it hard to answer him. He was correct. Each of them at times had gone against their own values to get what they wanted.

Fluttershy put a hoof on his shoulder. “You do have a point. Like you, we are not perfect, and we each make mistakes. We can lose our tempers and do bad things as well. We’ve all gotten into fights with one another at times, but like I said before we realize our errors later on. We apologize and hug it out and we feel better over what we did.

"The point is to try to grow from the experience and try not to make the same mistakes as before. That’s how we each learn things. You always wanted things to be your way, but now you’ve changed. You’re willing to compromise and you value our friendship enough that you don’t make all of Equestria into a chaotic land.

"I don’t want us to be at each other’s throats like this. Sweetie Belle made a mistake, but you should have respected her refusal. Bribing other ponies for their lives is NOT a respectable trait. I understand why you feel you’re just being used, but I DO value you as a friend. And in time I bet other ponies will come to see you that way too. Now do the right thing and return Sweetie Belle to normal for me, please.”

Discord got a thoughtful look on his face. “You know, this fighting really is pointless. There’s no need for us to argue like this. Friendship didn’t use to mean anything to me, but now I’ve found that it really is an enjoyable thing.”

“Good,” Fluttershy responded, nodding.

“And I’d like to become friends with a lot more ponies.”

“Great!” Now she was smiling.

Discord put a claw on Sweetie Belle’s head, and her eye’s swirled around as her color returned to normal.

Sweetie Belle blinked a few times, shaking her head. “Whoa… what just happened?” She looked ahead of her and saw her sister and her friends. “Rarity! What are you doing out of the hospital?”

“Oh, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said, a tear coming down her eye. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“That’s great, Discord,” said Fluttershy. “I’m proud of you for coming to the right decision.”

“Yes, yes,” Rarity said anxiously. “Warm fuzzies all around. Now come over here, Sweetie Belle.”

For a second Sweetie Belle’s eyes glazed over, then she gave Rarity a strange look. “Why would I wanna do that?” She jumped onto Discord with a huge smile, hugging him and nuzzling his leg. “I want to stay here with my bestest friend in the whole world! Isn’t he just awesome?” She let out a laugh of pure delight.

“Discord!” Fluttershy said exasperatedly, her hooves on her sides. “What have you done NOW?”

“I just thought of something. A way for all of us to coexist in peace. Why would you ever want to pay fifty bits for the exact same thing you can get for free? Instead of all this fighting and arguing and compromising and needing depth I’ll just become friends with everypony right away. I can be myself and create some chaos, and no one will mind, because all of us will think the same.

"I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. Just look at how happy Sweetie Belle is. She no longer has any reason to be terrified of me. And all of us will become friends too.” Discord looked around, seeing the looks on their faces. “Stop that! Why are all of you looking at me like you pity me?”

Pinkie Pie said, “That’s NOT what friendship is about! Friendship IS about love and unity and harmony, but the fact is that it also involves fighting and arguments and hurt feelings. It’s overcoming those, facing your pride to apologize, and coming back into harmony with one another that really builds up a friendship. You’re just looking for the end result, but that’s not going to bring you any happiness.”

“It is right now.” He rubbed Sweetie Belle’s head, and she practically purred.

Twilight spoke up now. “What you’re doing is NOT friendship. It’s only the appearance of friendship. All it really is... is a lie, and you’ll know that fact. Mind controlling other ponies to think you’re the greatest thing ever might seem like the essence of friendship, but really all you’re doing is creating mindless slaves. Soon enough you’ll grow tired of their endless praise of you because you’ll know that it’s all forced on them, and they’re not doing it because they want to. Friendship is a CHOICE, not an obligation.

“I wish I could allow you to see the folly of your ways, but I can’t just sit back and let you start corrupting Ponyville again.”

“Corrupting?” he responded, confused. “The last time I was out of control, sure. I did whatever I wanted whenever I wanted and cause a lot of inconvenience for others. Here I’m trying to be considerate of the other ponies. They’ll like me, and I’ll help them. Letting things go a little wacky to have my fun isn’t a huge deal in return, is it? You understand me, right, Fluttershy? You get it, don’t you?”

A sad look came to her face. “I made a promise to a dear friend, but if this is your response then your ego is getting the better of you again. Friendship like that is just a lie, and I can’t just sit back and let that happen. If that’s what you’re planning then as I said we can’t be friends. So… my promise is no longer valid. I’m sorry.” Tears began coming down her eyes.

A hurt look came to Discord’s face. He slowly gritted his teeth. “We’ll always be friends, Fluttershy. ALWAYS,” he growled in a dangerous voice.

Before Fluttershy could respond Sweetie Belle said, “Best buddy! I’m gonna go help you. I’m gonna go grab the Element so they can’t use it against you.”

“Sweetie Belle, no!” Rarity cried out. “You can’t do this! You can’t help a monster like him!”

Sweetie Belle turned to Rarity, her head tilting to the side. Her eyes squinted so hard she began blinking. There was a flash of recognizance in her eyes, but then it disappeared and her eyes narrowed. “Shut up! You’re not my sister! She would never insult my best friend like that.” She ran off into the forest.

The anger faded slightly as he looked after the running filly. “Such a dear little friend she is. So helpful.” He turned his gaze back to them. “Try whatever you want. You know full well that your Elements are team players. They won’t ever play if even one of their 'friends' isn’t there, so you already know you’re powerless to stop me right now.

“A new Equestria is coming. I’ll have my magic, my chaos, my freedom, and lots of friends. What more could I ask for?”

Twilight backed up a step. Her heart was racing. This was quickly turning into the worst case scenario. Once Fluttershy truly threatened their friendship and his safety he was quickly reverting back to his old ways. In that state he would be unstoppable if Sweetie Belle handed the Element over to him. Her horn began glowing. She had to get to Sweetie Belle quickly or Equestria was doomed.

With another snap of his claw Twilight gasped. She couldn’t feel anything from her horn. She concentrated as hard as she could but her magic wasn’t working.

“Nowhere to go but through me,” Discord said in a dark voice. “And without your little magic tricks you already know how weak and pathetic you truly are compared to me. Now let’s put an end to this. Just one little touch, and we’ll all be friends again. Like you said… we can put this whole thing behind us.” He took a step toward them, and all of them backed up.

Twilight knew they were out of options. There was nothing they could do. Discord wasn’t playing around like usual, which made him all the more dangerous. Looking behind her she got an idea. It was a long shot, but it just might save them. “Spike,” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth. “I don’t think Discord has seen you. I’ll try and create a distraction. I want you to run through the forest and try to head off Sweetie Belle.”

“Got it,” he whispered back.

“What are you mumbling about over there?” Discord asked. “There is no one here to save you. I win! Pure and simple.” He took another few steps toward them, and each of them backed up some more.

There was the sound of running, and Sweetie Belle returned into the clearing.

“Oh, no!” Applejack said. “We’re too late!”

“Here you go, best buddy!” Sweetie Belle said, placing the Element around his neck. Pulling off her saddle bag she threw it towards the rest of the group, nearly hitting Rarity. “Ha ha ha! Take that.” She stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry at the rest of the group,

Discord let out a roaring laughter. “Now… now your last hope truly is gone. You really only have yourselves to blame for this. I tried to be nice and see things your way, but you just couldn’t accept it. You just had to keep pushing me and needling me. Even YOU’VE betrayed me, Fluttershy. If that’s the way things are going to be then I’ll just do things MY way.”

Twilight slumped to the ground, Rarity sliding off her back. “It’s… it’s over. There’s nothing we can do.”

Rainbow Dash tried her usual bravado, but it just didn’t come out that way. “C-come on, guys. We can still… still win.”

Rarity stared into her sister’s eyes. How had things turned out so wrong? Her sister had only wanted to do something nice by making a trade, but it seemed the temptation was too great for Discord to resist. Now all they had to look forward to was brainwashing and being under Discord’s rule, their only means of taming him in the hands of their enemy.

“Argh!” Twilight yelled. “It might not work, but we have to try. We have to use the Elements NOW.”

Discord let out a derisive laugh. “Oh, the cries of the desperate. You already know it’s not going to work, so why waste your time and mine?”

Sweetie Belle was standing behind Discord. She kept doing things in a pattern. She would look up towards Discord’s face, then down at the ground by the rest of them.

Rarity was trying to figure out what she was doing. Her sister’s expression was no longer complete adoration, but a little fearful and urgent. Was Sweetie Belle trying to tell her something? But how could she? She was under Discord’s control. It was probably another trap, just one last prank to get under their skin. Still, she couldn’t help but feel Sweetie Belle was trying to send her a message.

The Elements began glowing. Twilight held almost no hope of victory, but it was the only thing they had left. Was it absolutely necessary to have all six Elements together, or could five be used? It was time to find out. Even if five couldn’t turn him back to stone perhaps they could at least knock him out.

Sweetie Belle had stopped using just her eyes. She was now openly and insistently pointing her hoof at Discord, and then towards Rarity.

Rarity looked at Discord, trying to figure out what Sweetie Belle was trying to tell her. Her eyes went wide as she noticed something. She stared in disbelief, wondering how she had missed it. Now she knew exactly what she was being told. She nodded at her sister, and a relieved look came to Sweetie Belle’s face. They weren’t out of hope yet.

Author's Note

So I incorporated some more things my readers have brought up. This was a hard chapter to write for me. I just got too worried of how my readers would react and it drained my enthusiasm. Sometimes it just takes me a bit to get back in the groove of things. Still not sure how I feel about this chapter. I feel it could have been better but I'll let my readers tell me how they feel about it.

Chapter 7: Everybody loses

Outlines of the Elements began pouring out of the five Elements of Harmony. A rainbow began to connect them, but it quickly puttered out, and the five of them fell to the ground.

Discord smirked. “I did warn you. Now are you going to make this easy on yourselves, or not? Let us be friends, hmm?” He lifted a claw.

Now things truly were hopeless. Twilight still couldn’t feel her magic, so she couldn’t even teleport them out to safety.

“Twilight,” said Rarity. “Do it again.”

Tears began coming down Twilight’s eyes. “It won’t work. Equestria is doomed.”

“Twilight!” she said sternly, making Twilight look over. “One more time. We have a secret weapon he doesn’t know about. Trust me!”

Twilight looked deep into her friends eyes, seeing her strength. She didn’t know what it was that Rarity was talking about, but if her friend was that convinced…

Taking a breath she said, “One more time, girls!”

“You just won’t quit, will you?” Discord asked, shaking his head. “If it didn’t work the first time it certainly won’t work now. That stubbornness isn’t serving you well. All you’re doing is delaying the inevitable.” Reaching around his neck he pulled off the necklace, holding it up. “You see this? Your precious Element of Harmony is in my possession, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t beat me without this.”

Twilight looked confused for a second, then she understood. “I got it, Rarity.” She walked forward, kicking Sweetie Belle’s saddle bag backwards. She had also noticed Sweetie Belle’s behavior.

Discord was now the one looking confused. Twilight’s expression had changed from hopeless to confident. Why? As the Elements began glowing again Discord suddenly had a bad feeling and he didn’t know why. His only two defeats were both because he had been too sure of victory to take his opponents seriously. He had a sense of déjà vu. Why was he feeling that way? He was carrying the only means they had to stop him, and he had disabled their most powerful unicorn from using magic.

He felt it was too dangerous to keep the element in the area. He turned it around to look at it and a seething fear came to him. This wasn’t the same element Sweetie Belle had been wearing a short while ago. It looked similar, but the gem and the clasp were a subtly different color and shape.

He turned to Sweetie Belle in rage. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” he yelled.

She grinned up at him. “I had a plan to give you a fake Element when I came here, but I decided against it because I thought you couldn’t be that stupid to not know it was a fake. Confident as you were you didn’t doubt for a second I was still under your control.”

“HOW? How could you break through my spell?”

“My love for Rarity was so strong I almost sold out all of Equestria for my sister. You think your pitiful spell could turn me against her? I guess you still just don’t understand how powerful friendship is. Game over, Discord.”

Rage came to his face as he took a step towards her. “You’ll pay for this!”

“You sure you have the time to come after me? I switched the real one for the fake in my saddlebag. The same saddlebag I threw over there a little while ago.”

“Huh? NO!” he spun around as the realization sank in. A look of horror came to his face as he saw Rarity wearing the real Element of Generosity. The rainbow had connected between the six of them, shooting towards him. “No! Not again!”

He lifted up his claw to teleport away, but he was a second too late. The rainbow wave completely covered him, and from the bottom up he began turning back to stone.

Once it was complete all that remained was a statue, immortalizing his panic.

As all of them landed back on the ground again Fluttershy walked up to the statue and flew up to his face, hugging him as she began sobbing. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

None of the rest of them looked too happy about what they had done either. “Discord…,” Applejack said quietly. “This feels wrong.”

“I agree,” said Pinkie, her mane deflating a little. “I really thought he’d changed.”

“He did a little,” said Rainbow Dash with a sigh. “He didn’t want Ponyville to be the 'chaos capital of the world.' He just wanted some loyal friends with a dash of chaos to go along with it.”

Twilight closed her eyes as she concentrated. Whether it was because of the Elements power or because Discord had been sealed away she could feel the flow of magic in her body again. “Princess Celestia isn’t going to be pleased with this. She wanted him to be around in case of an emergency… but we did what we had to do.”

Sweetie Belle ran over to her sister. “Rarity!”

Rarity was crying a little as she pulled her sister to her. Because of the spell still on her she couldn’t make direct contact with her sister. “You silly little foal. What were you thinking? I wasn’t worth that much of a sacrifice.”

“I… I don’t agree with that!” she responded, tearing up as well. “You’re so important to Ponyville I just couldn’t bear to lose you. But… when I got here… I just couldn’t do it. I knew I would only cause you to feel guilty for the rest of your life.”

“Discord clearly wasn’t worthy of our trust if this was the way he began acting. Why he was-” Her eyes suddenly rolled up in her head and she collapsed to the ground.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle cried out.

“Rarity!” said the rest of her friends, all of them crowding around her.

“T-Twilight!” Sweetie Belle said. “Can’t you help her?”

“I… I’m sorry, Sweetie Belle,” she responded, shaking her head. “I’ve done all I can. That potion shouldn’t have worn off yet.”

Rarity coughed. “I…I guess it’s… the stress of using the Elements. I… I just feel so… exhausted.”

Spike kneeled down next to her, hating that he couldn’t actually touch her. He wanted to be able to hold her, even if it meant he might get infected.

“S-Sweetie Belle… listen to me.”

“Y-yeah, sis?” she replied, wiping her face but the tears still kept coming regardless.

“D-despite all the… trouble this has caused… I’m proud of you! I’m proud… to be your older sister. I’m proud… to have you as my younger sister. And most important of all… I’m proud of you… for making the right choice. In the end Discord showed that he… couldn’t resist the desire for power… so giving him the Element would have proved disastrous.

"I love you! I love you, Sweetie Belle! I’m just… sorry we… couldn’t have had more time… together.”

Sweetie Belle shut her eyes tight as she began sobbing a little. “I love you, too! I’ll always love you! I’ll never forget you! I won’t let Ponyville forget you, either! I’ll do my best to be just like you! I Pinkie Promise!”

Rarity took some shallow breaths. “G…good. Thank you… Sweetie… Belle.” She let out one last long breath and her head slumped over as she stopped breathing.

“No! Rarity! Rarity!” She shook her sister, but there was no response. Rarity was gone.

Spike cradled her body as he broke down, the rest of them breaking down right along with him as they all keened their lamentations, boundless tears soaking Rarity’s body.

Chapter 9: A generous destiny.

Sweetie Belle sat by the lake in front of her house, her legs kicking restlessly on the small pier that her dad usually went fishing in. She looked at her reflection in the water, seeing her own miserable face looking back at her.

“Sweetie Belle?” came a voice calling her name.

The filly turned slightly towards the voice, and said dully, “Oh, hi, Miss Cheerilee.” She turned back towards the water.

“May I join you?” her teacher asked.

“Sure,” she replied with a sigh.

Cheerilee sat down next to her student, putting a hoof around Sweetie Belle. “I’m sorry about your sister.”

Sweetie Belle shrugged, not responding. She had felt so drained lately. She felt like she had run out of tears to cry.

“I heard the story from Twilight. So in the end do you think your friend made the right choice?”

A pang of rage built up inside Sweetie Belle, and she threw her teacher’s hoof off of her. “Oh, stop it! You know that it had nothing to do with any of my friends. You knew when I was asking you about it a few days ago.”

“Yes… I did,” she replied, not sounding bothered. “As a teacher I have many roles to play. One of the most important ones is teaching my students how to think and make decisions. When you began asking me about committing a crime for a good reason I felt a little uncomfortable. I could have insisted you take no part in whatever you were thinking of doing but that wouldn’t have actually taught you anything or helped you out.

"There won’t always be someone to ask when you need to make an important decision. My goal is to help you become independent enough to rely on your own input should the occasion arise. Even if I just told you it was a horrible idea and you should never do it you might have decided to do it anyway if you felt the situation called for it. Without probing into exactly what it was that was on your mind the most I could do to help you was to make sure you were well-equipped mentally.

"I told you that story and pointed out all the ways such a path could go wrong for both you and whatever parties were involved to allow you to make your own decision and face whatever consequences that decision would have. I certainly wouldn’t have ever imagined you were considering a deal for Equestria’s most powerful weapon for your sister’s life.

“So tell me… honestly. Do you think you made the right decision, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle grimaced. “I… I don’t know! Discord was really going to restore her back to full health! He was perfectly polite and willing to bargain. He only started going really crazy when I turned him down and attacked him. I thought about it so hard I couldn’t concentrate on anything else.

"The day she died I finally decided to do it. I WANTED to do it, and I didn’t care what the consequences were. I was willing to be banished and for Rarity to hate me, but in the end…I just couldn’t. I couldn’t do it. The guilt was too heavy. When I yelled at him and refused the trade I felt so much better… even though I knew what that would mean for Rarity. Like you said… I had to think about how SHE would feel about what I did. I knew how badly it would hurt her. That’s why I stopped myself.

“Rarity…” Sweetie Belle wiped her eyes as tears began forming. “Rarity’s last words were to tell me she was proud to have me as a sister, and she was proud of the choice I made.”

“I know that’s the way your sister feels, but is that the way YOU feel, Sweetie Belle?”

There was quiet for a time as some more tears came down her face. “I don’t know,” she said emotionlessly. “Discord started going crazy, so I guess he wasn’t trustworthy. Rarity said the same thing. But what he was talking about didn’t seem so bad. He wanted to rule like he did before, but he didn’t want to be cruel about it like before. Being friends is about give and take. It’s not about always getting what you want, and that was Discord’s issue. He felt he couldn’t be himself with the way things were.

"He said he would help others in exchange for being able to cause a little chaos once in a while. He also said he didn’t want to have to live in fear of making a mistake and losing his temper the way all of us do. I don’t know how much of that is true, but I do know he helped all those other ponies who caught the plague.

“I… I just don’t know what is right. Without knowing what Discord was really thinking I can’t say whether he would have actually kept his word to me.”

Cheerilee put her hoof on Sweetie Belle’s back, gently rubbing it. “Sometimes… there are no answers,” she said softly. “We can’t always know the way things would have gone if we had just made a different choice, whether it would have turned out better or worse. All we can do is accept the choice we made, learn what we can from it, and then move past it.

“You said yourself that what stopped you from handing over the Element was guilt. I think that says enough about how you really felt deep down. You decided that it wasn’t worth the risk. It’s unfortunate that your sister died as a result, but she told you how she felt about it. She felt you did the right thing. She was proud of you, and I’m proud of you too, Sweetie Belle. You made an impossible choice and stuck to what your heart told you. You turned against what your conscience was telling you was wrong.”

Sweetie Belle shook her head, holding herself as she began sobbing a little. “No!” she cried out, her voice cracking. “It’s not fair! IT’S NOT FAIR!"

Cheerilee picked Sweetie Belle up, sitting the filly on her lap and hugging her. “Shh. It’s okay, Sweetie Belle. I know it hurts, but you did the right thing!”

Sweetie Belle shook with her sobs, holding her teacher close. “I miss her! I miss her SO much! And-and-and she’s never coming back!” She let out a mournful wail as she rested her head on her teacher’s neck, squeezing like her life depended on it.

Cheerilee just held the filly until she cried herself out and was reduced to jerky breaths. “I know you miss her, Sweetie Belle," she said kindly, “but it’s not like she’s really gone for good.”

Sweetie Belle sniffed a few times, wiping her eyes as she said, “W-what do you mean?”

“She still lives on inside of you. Your memories of her will never go away. And if you look at her best attributes and all the things you looked up to her for then she’ll also live on THROUGH you. Every nice thing you do that you know Rarity would do allows her to still be present by letting her best side live on through those you meet and interact with.”

Sweetie Belle sniffed again, looking into her teacher’s eyes. She remembered the last thing she had said to her sister as well. She had promised she wouldn’t let Rarity be forgotten by Ponyville, and she would do her best to emulate her sister.

“You’re looking calmer now, Sweetie Belle. Are you starting to feel better?”

“I… I think I am.”

“That’s great. So can I expect you in school tomorrow? You don’t want to miss too many days of school or you’ll never grow to be as smart as your sister.”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “I’ll be there.” She gave Cheerilee one last squeeze, saying, “Thank you so much for coming to visit. I… I really needed it.”

Cheerilee responded in kind, hugging Sweetie Belle harder, saying, “You’re very welcome, Sweetie Belle.”

The next morning Cheerilee was looking over the classroom, about to take attendance, when she noticed that Sweetie Belle’s seat was empty. Her smile faded.

Just as she was about to call the first name the door of the schoolhouse burst open. Sweetie Belle came in, wearing a pink dress studded with small gems and ruffles. “S-sorry I’m late,” she huffed. She turned around, dragging a sack behind her.

“Sweetie Belle, why are you dressed like that?” asked Cheerilee.

“I’m taking after my sister, like you said.”

“And what’s in the bag?"

“I brought some presents for everyone. I had to borrow some money from my parents, but they gave it to me because it was for a good cause.”

“Oh. Well, I guess we can put roll call off for a little while, then.”

Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes as Sweetie Belle began handing out little wrapped boxes to the other students. She was trying not to say something nasty because she had at least some respect for the dead, but she knew that Sweetie Belle wasn’t going to give her anything. It wasn’t like she WANTED anything from her, anyway.

She looked down as she heard an impact on her desk, and she saw a red box wrapped with a green bow. She was surprised. “What’s this?” she asked suspiciously.

“That’s for you,” said Sweetie Belle. “I hope you like it.” Going into the sack again she took out another box and put it on Silver Spoon’s desk.

As everyone began opening their presents Diamond Tiara felt a small bit of exhilaration, wondering what was inside. She pulled on the ribbon until it came undone, and opened the box. Pulling away some tissue paper she took out a small bottle and a few pieces of cloth. Turning the bottle around she read it. “Silver polish?” she said confusedly.

Sweetie Belle pointed above her head. “I know you love to wear your diamond tiara to school every day, and I know you like the best of the best, so I thought it was about time you helped to restore it to its full shine so it looks the best it can.”

Diamond Tiara had trouble swallowing through the lump in her throat. She tried to play it off like it didn’t matter, saying, “Well, thanks,” in an uninterested voice, but she took off her tiara and began rubbing it clean all the same. She couldn’t stop a genuine smile from coming to her face.

Silver Spoon opened her box next, seeing a bottle of eyeglass cleaner and some drying cloths. She was much more warm about her gift. “Hey, thanks a lot. I needed this. They’re getting so foggy lately.” Removing her glasses she, like her classmate, was smiling as she took advantage of her gift.

With the worst of the class being grateful she knew the rest of them would also like their own presents. Each of them began smiling as they opened their gifts. She had tried to get them something that she knew they would need. Featherweight got a carrying case for his camera. Scootaloo got a Wonderbolts necklace. Each of them were nosy, trying to see what everyone else got.

All in all, she got no complaints. Every one of them expressed their gratitude to her, making her smile wider and wider, joyful tears coming to her eyes.

All of them were in bright spirits as the school day began, and Sweetie Belle could see it. For probably the only time in her life she saw Diamond Tiara dispense with her snobby attitude. She wasn’t nasty or dismissive at all. She almost dropped dead of shock when Diamond Tiara actually complimented her on her fashion sense for the dress she was wearing.

When it was time for recess Cheerilee asked her to stay behind. As everyone one else headed outside she went up to the desk and said, “Yes, Miss Cheerilee?”

Cheerilee saw that as soon as they were alone that Sweetie Belle’s spirit had faded. “I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you for what you did today.”

“Thank you.

“I didn’t want to tell Apple Bloom and Scootaloo yet, and that’s one reason I wore this dress, but I got my cutie mark yesterday.”

“You did?” she asked excitedly. “Let me see.”

Sweetie Belle turned to the side, lifting up the back of the dress.

Cheerilee leaned in, observing the mark. The bottom half looked like a treasure map, with hoof marks heading forward and making little left and right turns before ending at an “X.” Above that were two ponies, one holding a wrapped box and the other with their hooves out to receive it.

“Hmmm? What does it mean, Sweetie Belle?”

“I did a lot of thinking yesterday about what you said. You told me that every time I showed off what Rarity taught me that I help to keep her alive. Watching me, other ponies will know that I am my sister’s sister. That’s when I knew what my destiny was.

"I’m going to follow in the hoofprints of my sister Rarity, and I’m going to be generous to every pony I can. I’ll show each of them about how great a pony Rarity really was, so that way she’ll never disappear from Ponyville. I’m not going to hold back, either. That’s why I also got gifts for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. If I singled them out just because I don’t like them that much that would be selfish, the exact opposite of what she stood for. And seeing the joy I brought them made it all worth it.”

“So why do you look so down, Sweetie Belle? Aren’t you happy?”

“I am happy I got my cutie mark, and that I know what I want to do with my life, but I still miss my sister a lot. I’ll always keep her alive in my heart each time I do something generous for another pony, but I wish she could be alive for real, too.”

“Do you know, Sweetie Belle, what the best part about giving to others is?”

“What’s that?”

“That you get something back in return. You inspire others to follow your example. Like me. Right now I’m feeling generous too, and I want to give you something: a nice, big hug.” Picking the filly up she held her student close. “You’re an amazingly strong pony, Sweetie Belle. Smiling even at your worst moment takes a lot of courage. I know your sister would be proud of you for your decision and what your cutie mark represents.”

Sweetie Belle broke down crying at her teacher’s words, feeling a sense of relief. “T-thank you, Miss Cheerilee! Thank you!”

Chapter 10: A new Element?

Sweetie Belle turned to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, saying, “Thanks for coming, you guys.”

Scootaloo looked around the auditorium, watching the ponies walking around buying things. “It’s no problem, Sweetie Belle. We’re happy to help.”

“Yeah,” said Apple Bloom. “This charity fundraiser yer doing for Ponyville Hospital has got a huge turnout.

“Ya seem almost like a different pony these days, Sweetie Belle. Every day after school ya go around and look for ponies to show some kindness and generosity to. I’m glad ya found your destiny and got yer cutie mark, but the Crusaders have sure missed you.”

“Got that right,” said Scootaloo. “It’s just not as fun without the three of us. But… I know we can’t stop you.”

Sweetie Belle looked down at the floor. “I’m sorry, you guys. I haven’t forgotten about you, but I’m not doing this just because I got my cutie mark.”

Apple Bloom put her hoof under Sweetie Belle’s chin, pushing until they were eye to eye. “Buck up, Sweetie Belle. We know. Yer doing it fer yer sister. To honor her memory. Why do you think we haven’t bothered ya about it?”

Tears dripped down her eyes as she hugged her friend. “I’m still sorry. Every day I just feel like I might break at any moment. Taking over where Rarity stopped is the only thing I can think of to get my mind off of the worst time of her life and focus on the best. I’ve never felt so much pain in my life.”

Scootaloo walked over and hugged her. “Come on, Sweetie Belle. Don’t cry. You’re doing great!”

A small grin came to her face at her friend’s unrelenting support. “What do you say tomorrow we hang out like we used to? It’s certainly a generous thing to help my best friends find their own destinies.”

“That’ll work.”

She let out a sigh as her small joy faded. “It’s hard to believe it’s already been a month. My mother hasn’t been feeling well lately. She’s been under a lot of stress. No matter how much pain I’m in I always smile around her so she won’t worry about me too. She’s taking comfort in the fact that I got my cutie mark and have been out helping others in memory of Rarity.

“I’m a bit worried about her baby. If she’s not careful she could lose it from not eating and sleeping.”

“I sure hope that doesn’t happen,” said Scootaloo. “I don’t know if you could handle it.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Sweetie Belle said, trying to sound aloof but not managing it. “Whether she lives or not I can’t stop what I’m doing. Rarity will always live on so long as I’m around to carry out her will.”

Twilight walked over to the group. “Hello, Sweetie Belle.”

She looked over, responding, “Hi, Twilight.”

“This is amazing. I heard that you were the one who set all this up.”

“I had a lot of help. Mayor Mare was the one who gave me permission and her assistants handled all the big stuff. I just went around and asked the Cakes and other ponies I know who are good at baking to donate food and stuff. Once this is all over I’ll count up all the bits and they’ll help me deliver it to the hospital.”

“I see you also got your cutie mark.”

She nodded, and explained its meaning. “Miss Cheerilee told me that Rarity will always be alive so long as there are others who use what they learned from her to better their own lives and the lives of others. I’ve been doing my best to live up to her standard. I don’t care much for dresses and fashion, and I stink at sewing, but being generous is pretty simple.”

Twilight’s eyes faded out for a moment. “A generosity cutie mark...”

Something about the way she said it piqued Sweetie Belle’s interest. “Twilight?”

“Hmm?” She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

Sweetie Belle shrugged. “Is everyone else here?”

“Just about. Rainbow Dash is busy at her job, but Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie are here.”

“Would you mind helping out with the organization and the money counting? I know you’re good at that.”

“Sure!” Twilight responded with a smile. She started to walk away, but then turned back to the filly. “Sweetie Belle… I’d like to talk with you later.”

She said it with the same tone she had used before, and now Sweetie Belle knew it wasn’t just nothing. “Okay.”

Sweetie Belle felt a lot more comfortable having her friends there to help her out. To no one’s surprise the biggest contributions came from Pinkie Pie, who bought up about a quarter of all the cake’s and goodies by herself.

At the conclusion of the bake sale she met up with Twilight, who had meticulously counted every bit, double and triple and quadruple-checking the figures to make sure it was correct. Following that she and the mayor’s aide’s helped transport it to the hospital.

Sweetie Belle got a lot of praise from everyone for helping out others in need, which made her heart shine with pride, filling her with joy.

After leaving the hospital she went with Twilight back to the library. She tried asking Twilight what she wanted on the way there, but the mare wouldn’t respond to her. Twilight had a strange look on her face. She guessed she was just going to have to wait until they were alone.

When they arrived she asked Sweetie Belle to sit down, offering her a chair. “Okay,” said Sweetie Belle. “We’re here. Now would you please tell me what was so important?” Twilight was still giving her that strange look. “And why do you keep staring at me like that?”

“Sweetie Belle…,” started Twilight, “I… I need to ask you for a favor.”

“Sure. How can I help?”

“No! No, no, no. Don’t just say yes without knowing what it is. This is something huge! Monumental! It can’t just be decided on just like that.”

Sweetie Belle blinked. Twilight seemed unusually worked up. “Okay, then. Tell me what it is and then I’ll decide if I want to do it. Is that better?”

“Yes.” Turning away from the filly she began pacing back and forth. “I… I don’t know myself if this is the right thing to do. It could end up horribly. It might be more than you can handle. But this is a problem that needs to be resolved quickly before it has the chance to cause a great tragedy. And if we’re really lucky it might turn out that you won’t be needed after all.”

Sweetie Belle’s eyebrow went up. She was getting annoyed. “Would you just TELL me what you’re talking about instead of hinting about it?”

Twilight suddenly stopped her pacing, one hoof above the floor. She closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath. “Sweetie Belle… you want to take after your sister, do you not?”

“Yes! I already explained that to you. Get to the point already!”

“The fact of the matter is you’re a little too young for this, but at the same time I’d rather rely on someone we already know and we’re close to. That’s the best course. Princess Celestia was the first, but she won’t always be close by. We need someone who lives in Ponyville.” Her horn glowed red as she lifted up a glass case. Lifting her hoof she picked something up that Sweetie Belle couldn’t see from her position.

“Sweetie Belle… you’ve taken on Rarity’s spirit. You’ve gone out of your way to be generous to others, without expecting anything in return but their gratitude. You’re quickly becoming the talk of Ponyville, and you truly honor what Rarity stood for. You’ve now got your cutie mark, and embody the spirit of generosity.” She turned around, levitating the Element of Generosity. “For the good of Equestria… and as Rarity’s little sister who has taken on her will… will you take this Element of Generosity and serve as an Equestrian protector?”

Sweetie Belle blinked again, sure she had misheard that. “W-what did you say?” Her chest felt cold. “You… you didn’t really just… just ask me… ME… to become an element bearer, did you?”

“I understand your reluctance, but as of this time there is no else I can think of to ask. Without the Elements of Harmony we’re defenseless if a powerful magical foe like Nightmare Moon or King Sombra comes about. I know that this is a gigantic responsibility I’m asking for, which is why I know you’ll need time to consider it.”

Sweetie Belle was having trouble breathing. “B-b-but what am I supposed to do in an attack? All of you can fight and fly and do magic. I can’t even use any magic. And I’m just a filly. They’d come after me first just because I’m the weakest. This is crazy!”

“If you’re lucky you’ll only have to use it once. There is one specific thing I’d like you to use it on, and there won’t be any danger at all. It just requires a magical power stronger than we can manage.”

Sweetie Belle lifted her legs, taking the Element in her hooves. She looked uncertainly at it. “Rarity…” Tears came to her eyes as she thought of all the trouble that had arisen from this little piece of jewelry. The thought of wearing the same element her sister had worn, and possibly helping to save all of Equestria was an idea too big for the filly to digest properly. She just couldn’t picture it. She looked up at Twilight, asking, “What do you mean that if I’m lucky I’ll only have to use it once?”

“I can’t explain that to you yet. This is something you have to decide to do of your own free will. If I tell you now it could taint your decision and turn a generous act into one done out of greed. And even if you do decide to do it, there is no guarantee that it will turn out the way I’d like. It might be impossible for the best result to occur. Truth be told… it’s a selfish thing for us to want.”

Sweetie Belle didn’t feel in the mood to argue. “Okay… so, um… what do you want to use the Elements on, anyway?”

“Discord.”

“WHAT?” the filly shouted. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” She threw the Element down on the ground as hard as she could. “He killed my sister. He practically blackmailed me in exchange for her life. He brainwashed me. And now you want to release him AGAIN? Nothing doing! He can rot in his stone prison for all I care!” She hopped out of her seat. “Feh! What a waste of my time!”

“Sweetie Belle!” came the sharp voice of Twilight. “Get back here and sit down! I’m not done with you yet!”

She kept walking for a few more steps, then rounded on the mare, ready to unleash a verbal tirade. She stopped when she saw Twilight looked miserable, not angry or confrontational. She hesitated for a few more seconds, then returned back to her seat.

“Sweetie Belle… it wasn’t Discord’s fault that Rarity died. It was ours.”

“What are you talking about?” She gripped the sides of her seat hard.

“Except for Fluttershy, all of us played a role in Discord’s slipping back into his old ways. He showed that simply having a friend was enough to get him to reign in his chaotic behaviors. It was only when Fluttershy genuinely said she ended her friendship that he began getting truly mad. In friendship and your relationships with others you only get what you give. Fluttershy treated him with kindness, and it finally got Discord to respond in kind. We each treated Discord with scorn and distrust, so he felt those same things in regards to us.

"Him and Fluttershy truly enjoyed their friendship with each other, but Discord knew Fluttershy was also friends with us. If it came down to conflicting loyalties he felt pretty sure that she would give in to us pressuring her. Thus, he always felt a fear of being sealed away again. That’s why he wouldn’t just help Rarity, even though he knew it would make Fluttershy sad when she died. When you offered him the Element he was more than willing to make the trade because it would give him an eternal sense of security.”

“That doesn’t make what Discord did right!”

“You’re correct, Sweetie Belle… but what you did wasn’t a shining example of morality either,” she replied with a bit of sternness. “You came within a hair of betraying the world.”

Sweetie Belle averted her eyes, her anger gone. “Well… you’re right… about that.” The same guilt she had had before surfaced.

Twilight felt bad now. Walking over she placed a hoof on Sweetie Belle’s shoulder. “Look, Sweetie Belle. I didn’t say that to hurt you. I just wanted to remind you that we all make mistakes. In the end you changed your mind and tried your hardest to make amends by running away and then swapping out the real Element for a fake one. We forgave you for it and life moved on. Discord made a huge error, and paid for it. But now it’s time to give him another chance.

“You don’t know this, but the other four of us have taken to following Fluttershy’s example. We’re been visiting Discord whenever we have spare time to share with him the events of the day. When the time comes that he is freed again we want to be sure he’s going to be an ally this time. If he doesn’t feel threatened he’ll know he has more wiggle room, and he won’t have to resort to brainwashing to be friends.

Twilight turned around, pacing a little. “I know that you’re going to need some time to decide. As I said before this is something that we can’t force on you. The Element won’t work if you don’t truly want it too.

“In regards to battles with powerful opponents all of us would do our best to keep you safe and in the back. The opponent, if they don’t know about the Elements power, would simply see you as a weakling unworthy of their attention. They’d come after the adults first, so you shouldn’t be too worried if it comes down to it.

“Again, though… this is a choice only you can make. I can make the request, but if I push you into doing it through bribing or yelling or guilt-tripping or any other means of coercion it wouldn’t do any good. Your heart must be in it. That being said, if you don’t want to do it then you’re free to leave. I don’t mean you have to leave right now if you refuse. I’m saying that I’ll respect your decision whichever way it goes. If you say no then we’ll have to find someone else to wield it, so I don’t want you to feel pressured into accepting, like you’re the only pony in the world who could be the new wielder.”

Sweetie Belle looked down at the Element of Generosity. Conflicting feelings and emotions were running through her. Taking up Rarity’s mantle in regards to doing good deeds for others was one thing, but being expected to save the world was another. Twilight did have a point that she would be the least likely to be attacked, but they could always use her as a hostage as well.

There was something more to this, and she couldn’t figure out what. Twilight had mentioned that, if they were lucky, she’d only have to use the Element once. It made sense. If she freed Discord and he remained friendly they wouldn’t have to use the Elements again to seal him away. And if no other evil villains attacked then they wouldn’t need to use the Elements for that either. It all made perfect sense… but then why wouldn’t Twilight just say that if that was the case?

Twilight was hiding something from her, and she had even admitted that there was something more behind her request than simply letting Discord out of the stone. There had to be something they specifically wanted Discord to do once he was free, but she couldn’t figure out what. The Elements had proven to be stronger than him, so what could he do that the Elements couldn’t? Though she strained her brain she couldn’t think of an explanation.

After a while she got up, handing the Element back to Twilight. “I can’t do it. No… right now I don’t WANT to do it. I’m still mad at Discord for what he did, and I’m not ready to put my life at risk for Equestria. I need more time.”

Twilight simply nodded. “I understand. Take all the time you need. As I told you before I’ll accept whatever decision you make, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle returned home in a daze. She still couldn’t believe that Twilight was trying to saddle her with such a gigantic responsibility. She was still in Elementary school! She knew she wasn’t just a kid anymore, either. She wanted to take after Rarity in all the ways she could, but the thought of actually putting on her sister’s Element and protecting all of Equestria… of possibly having a mural in Celestia’s palace on one of her stained glass windows… it was still so far above what she could picture.

She felt like her brain was breaking. Between Rarity’s illness, deciding what to do about Discord’s offer, dealing with her emotions and stress following Rarity’s death, and now Twilight’s offer… she just felt her brain had reached its limit. Her thoughts shut down, and she felt like she teleported when she suddenly was at her house with no recollection of traversing the space in-between.

Walking into her house she went to check up on her mother. She was shaken out of her stupor by the sound of a scream and cries of pain. Her heart began racing immediately as panic clutched her heart. That was definitely her mother. She had lost her sister. She wasn’t going to lose her mother too.

“MOM!” she yelled as she ran into her mother’s room. She saw her mother on her bed, her father right next to her. Her mother’s face was beet red and she was sweating, looking in intense pain.

“Sweetie Belle!” said her dad. “I need you to stay with your mother while I go to the hospital. Your mother’s going into labor.”

That statement brought tears to her eyes. A sense of euphoria she hadn’t felt since before Rarity’s passing overtook her. It was finally time. In a short time she’d finally get to meet her new sister. She felt hope springing forth within her.

Chapter 11: In memorial

Sweetie Belle was sitting in the waiting room in the hospital. Her friends were gathered around her. Once the ambulance had arrived to cart her mother off to the hospital she had elected to stay behind to get them since she hadn’t wanted to wait all by herself. Just like with her the simple knowledge of the impending birth of a brand new, innocent life was enough to lift their spirits from the gloom that had surrounded them following Rarity’s death.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were on opposite sides of her, hardly able to contain their excitement. Pinkie Pie was even worse. She was pacing around in rapid circles, looking like she would explode in happiness at the slightest provocation. Applejack, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were more subdued, but had trouble sitting still as well.

“Thank you for being here, everybody,” said Sweetie Belle. “It means a lot to me to have all my family with me now. I know Rarity would really appreciate it.”

“Of course, Sweetie Belle,” said Fluttershy, a smile on her face. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Here, here!” agreed Rainbow Dash. “We were all there for Pinkie when the Cakes had their twins. I can’t wait to see what the new rugrat looks like. Heh! Maybe she’ll look like a certain super-cool pony.”

“YEAH!” Scootaloo cheered.

Apple Bloom said, “So she’s gonna come out orange?”

Applejack giggled and gave Rainbow a sly grin. “Maybe.”

Rainbow frowned. “I was talking about ME!”

“Oh,” Apple Bloom said. “That makes more sense for you, but Applejack is the coolest sister ever!”

“No way!” Scootaloo replied, giving Apple Bloom a light shove. “Rainbow Dash is!”

“Is not!”

“Is too!

“Is not!”

“Is too!”

“GIRLS!” Fluttershy said sternly, pointing with her hoof. “Show some consideration for Sweetie Belle.”

“Sorry, Sweetie Belle!” both of them replied, seeing the heartbroken expression on her face. The light that had burned in Sweetie Belle had gone out.

Tears dripped down her face. “It’s okay. It’s just… I remember we used to have arguments like these all the time. We’d talk about who had the best sister around, and each of us always chose our own sister. Now that she’s gone… I guess we can’t play around like that anymore."

Pinkie Pie came over, settled down a little at seeing Sweetie Belle’s distress. She picked up the filly, holding her close. “Don’t cry, Sweetie Belle. You said yourself that you’re keeping Rarity alive by the way you act. Just because she’s dead doesn’t mean you can’t argue with the best of them about who has the best sister around.

"Your love for her was strong enough you broke through Discord’s spell. Even Twilight needed those letters Princess Celestia sent back to get the strength to fight him off. You’re an amazing girl who has always had a fantastic sister, and that will never change. Be proud of your sister always, and keep doing what you do best.”

Sweetie Belle let out a heavy breath. “Thank you, Pinkie. That means a lot to me.”

“No problem.”

A few hours passed. Sweetie Belle was getting really restless. She was pacing around the room, feeling like she was going out of her mind. When was this baby going to be born?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a doctor came out of the room. Everyone jumped up, talking at once. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Relax!” he said, shaking his hoof in a calming motion. “The baby has been born.” All of them cheered. “It’s a girl, and she’s quite healthy.”

Sweetie Belle let out a huge sigh of relief. “What about my mom?”

“She’s pretty tired, but she’s doing fine as well. Right now she and the baby are being cleaned up. In a few more minutes you can come in and see her. But only you for right now, as her immediate family. New babies don’t do well with huge crowds.”

Pinkie let out a disappointed sigh. “Bummer!”

Sweetie Belle felt so anxious. It felt to her like the same amount of time passed before the doctor told her to come in as it had been while her mom was in labor.

Heading into the room she could see her mother looking down at a bundle she held in her hooves. Though her face was strained from the ordeal of childbirth she had a tender smile on her face. Her father was standing next to her, also looking down at the baby.

“Hello?” Sweetie Belle said to get their attention.

Her mom looked over at her. “Hello, Sweetie Belle. Come on up here and meet your new sister. She’s just lovely."

It was strange. After being so anxious to come in now she was hesitating. She felt a sense of apprehension and she couldn’t figure out why. Maybe it was just that after losing her older sister she wanted to be sure her younger one was going to be okay. The doctor said the baby was okay, and her mother looked calm, but she couldn’t believe it until she saw it for herself.

Forcing herself forward step by step she lifted her hooves and climbed up onto the bed. Sitting on the opposite side of her mother the bundle was placed in her hooves. She gulped, feeling like it was hard to breathe. A smile came to her as she saw her new baby sister. She was a unicorn like the rest of her family. She had a white coat, with a short purple mane. Happy tears came down her eyes.

The baby was looking around, taking in its surroundings. “Hello,” Sweetie Belle said, her voice thick with emotion. She sniffed, barely able to contain her joy. “I’m Sweetie Belle. Your new sister.” For a second the baby’s eyes turned to the sound of her voice. Their eyes met, and her breathing caught. After a second the baby lost interest, letting out a yawn and sucking on her hoof before closing her eyes.

Sweetie Belle quietly cried, feeling a sense of euphoria as she rocked her sister. A short while later she heard the baby let out gentle snores. She wiped her eyes, but the tears still kept coming. After having a piece of her heart ripped out following Rarity’s passing she finally felt like something was filling in the void.

“She’s so beautiful,” said Sweetie Belle quietly.

“Isn’t she though,” replied her mom.

“So what’s her name?”

“We haven’t named her yet,” replied her dad. “We thought it should be a family decision.”

“What do you think, Sweetie Belle?” asked her mom.

She stared at her baby sister, but nothing came to mind at first. “I don’t know.” As she looked closer she suddenly had a flash of recognizance, and her chest felt tight. “Mom… dad…?”

“Yes, Sweetie Belle?”

“What if… what if… we called her Rarity? She looks just like her. Maybe Rarity has come back to us after all.”

The two of them gave her sad looks. As her mother looked down at her new baby again she had that same flash, and a pained look came to her face. “I… I can see it now. She does look just like Rarity as a baby.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want to name her?” asked her dad in a cautious voice. “It might be too painful for you. You can’t replace your sister.”

“I know that,” said Sweetie Belle, “but the point of being an older sister is to teach the younger ones all the important things, just like Rarity did to me. I’ll help to make her just like her namesake. I think it’s an honor to give my younger sister such a powerful name. Growing up, watching me, she’ll know all the things Rarity taught me, and she’ll be proud that she was named after her oldest sister.

"It’s better to remember Rarity than to throw her memory away. I know she won’t be exactly like her. She might not like fashion, and she may get a cutie mark for anything, but so long as I can teach her to have a generous heart then it won’t matter. She’ll have the most important part of Rarity inside her.”

She wiped her face of tears again. “A name is one of the biggest gifts you can give to a child, and I think the most generous name we can give is to name her after the greatest pony I know.”

Her parents looked at each other, and then back at Sweetie Belle. “Very well,” said her mom. Gently taking the baby back from Sweetie Belle she said, “Welcome to the world, little Rarity.” That caused a pang of heartache inside her. She’d get used to it. Right now she knew that giving her new child her deceased child’s name would only remind her of her loss, but at the same time Sweetie Belle had a point. Baby Rarity would grow up knowing how much she was loved with that name. In the end it wasn’t just the name itself, but the similarity between the two that was getting to her the most.

They got to spend half an hour just holding and cuddling Rarity before she was taken away to be put in a warm room with the other newborns. Sweetie Belle left the room to rejoin her friends.

Pinkie Pie rushed up to her. “Well? Well? Well? Where is she? Where is she?” She was going up and down on her hooves so fast it was like a machine.

Sweetie Belle backed up a step. “She’s going to be put in the nursery right now. Calm down, Pinkie.”

“CALM DOWN?” she yelled. “How am I supposed to calm down?”

“Um… go for a run outside?”

Twilight put a hoof on Pinkie. “I second that. You remember how Nurse Redheart threw you out the last time for being too loud, right?”

“Arrr!” Pinkie gritted her teeth. “Fine.” She took off, trying not to run.

The rest of them walked toward the nursery, looking through the transparent glass. “Which one is it?” asked Rainbow Dash, scanning the room of babies.

“Yes, Sweetie,” said Fluttershy excitedly. “Which one?”

She pointed with her hoof. “The one in the back with the white coat.”

“Aww!” said Applejack. “She’s just plain adorable!”

“I wanna see, I wanna see!” said Apple Bloom, hopping up on her sister’s back. “Aww! She really is cute!”

“Hey!” said Scootaloo. “I wanna see too.”

“Then come on up, squirt,” said Rainbow Dash, throwing Scootaloo on her back.

“She’s beautiful,” said Scootaloo, trying to sound nonchalant, but wiping away the two tears that had formed.

“So what’s her name?” asked Twilight. When Sweetie Belle didn’t respond she looked down at the filly. “You didn’t give her a name yet?”

“Rarity,” she responded. “My parents let me name her, and I named her after my big sis as a memorial to the best pony I ever knew.”

There was a silence in the room for a short time, the air feeling heavy, but it broke quickly enough.

Sweetie Belle let out a small yelp as she felt herself being lifted up. “I think that’s just wonderful,” said Pinkie Pie, back from her exercise.

“Same here,” said Fluttershy. “I think it’s a great name for her.”

“So we’ll still have a Rarity around, huh?” said Rainbow Dash in a whimsical voice. “Sounds good to me.”

Pinkie put Sweetie Belle down, already starting to ramp back up. “Which one is she?”

Once more Sweetie Belle pointed to baby Rarity.

Pinkie gripped the small part of the wall next to the glass, moving back and forth rapidly. “SO… CUTE!”

***

“HAPPY MONTHAVERSARY!” Pinkie cried out.

Sweetie Belle was at Sugarcube Corner at Pinkie’s insistence. She didn’t know why but Pinkie thought Rarity’s “monthaversary” was really important. She had invited all the usual guests.

Baby Rarity loved all the attention. Pinkie was chasing her and playing with her and she was ecstatic. She just let Pinkie do what she wanted. It would be good if Pinkie tired her out. It meant less work for her later on.

It had been a crazy month. Now she knew what Rarity had likely gone through during her foalhood. Chasing a tireless foal around, changing diapers, endless crying and tantrums. She was half-asleep most of the time because baby Rarity kept her up half the night.

She found that letting the foal stay in her bed had reduced a lot of her problems. Rarity enjoyed being able to sleep with someone and likely felt more secure that way. Sweetie Belle understood the feeling. Before Rarity moved out to start her boutique she had often slept with her sister at night.

The foal had grown some more hair. Sweetie Belle enjoyed playing dress up and doing make-overs, but she never tried to do baby Rarity’s mane in the same style as her older sister. She didn’t ever want to forget that her new sister was her own pony, not just a copy of Rarity.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were busy running away from Rarity at a slow pace. Rarity was giggling like mad as she attempted to catch them. She grabbed one of Scootaloo’s hooves, and Scootaloo tilted over onto her back. “AGH!” she cried out dramatically. “She got me!”

Rarity climbed on top of Scootaloo, flopping onto the filly’s stomach, still laughing.

“Oh, no!” said Apple Bloom. “My dear friend.” Picking Rarity up she said, “There’s only one way to stop this little monster.” Sitting the foal on the floor she said, “With lots of tickles!”

Rarity squealed, kicking her hooves as she laughed hard as Apple Bloom rubbed her stomach.

Sweetie Belle watched her friends having fun with her baby sister, feeling a little ashamed at the jealously in her heart. Even with a cutie mark for generosity and loving to be generous to others she still found it difficult to share her baby sister with anyone. She knew it was selfish, but she wanted Rarity to herself right now. She trusted her friends, but the first few months were the most important for a developing foal. What if one of her friends taught Rarity a bad habit? What if her first word happened to be a swear word?

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes she forced herself to settle down. Everyone loved babies. The Cakes had let her play with their twins without pushing her away. She owed the people she loved the same courtesy.

“Ya alright there, Sugarcube?” asked Applejack. “Ya look like ya want ta cry.”

Sweetie Belle looked up at the mare, feeling guilty. “I guess it’s just hard. I never thought I’d lose Rarity, and we lived in different houses. Now I have another sister, and I want to make the most of things by spending as much time together as possible.”

Applejack sat down, pulling the filly close. “I understand what yer feelin’ perfectly. I was still quite young when our parents passed away. Apple Bloom was just a baby. I spent all my time on her, just trying to give her what she couldn’t have anymore. It made us very close, but at the same time spending too much time together began ta grate on our nerves. Cherish the times ya can be close to yer sister, and think about the good times when ya can’t.

“Now, c’mon. Let’s go have some punch.”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “Thanks, Applejack.”

“No problem, youngin.”

She felt a little better as she went to the punch bowl, pouring herself a glass. Shifting her thinking allowed her to see this as a good thing. She knew she might not be around forever, so it was good for Rarity to start developing relationships with all her other friends. When she was a little older it might be vital for her to know them, in case anything happened and she needed help.

A gentle smile pulled at her lips as she watched Twilight doing a little magic show for the foal, while Rainbow did aerial tricks. Baby Rarity clapped her hooves.

After another fifteen minutes Pinkie cut cake for all of them. Sweetie set the foal on her lap, carefully feeding her. Or she tried to, anyway. After a few bites apparently Rarity thought she was being too slow. She put her hooves down, grabbing the cake and slamming it into her face. The cake was too big to fit, and it left chocolate stains all around her mouth.

Sweetie Belle let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, Rarity,” she said with a laugh. “You silly foal."

After helping to clean her up it looked like Pinkie, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom were fixing to play with her again, but Sweetie Belle put her hoof down. “No! I’m the big sister, and I say it’s time for Rarity to take a nap. She just settled down. I don’t want her getting amped up again.”

“Awwww,” the three of them said disappointedly.

“Fine,” Pinkie said with a sigh. “You can put her down in my bedroom upstairs. It’s on the top floor, so she shouldn’t be disturbed by the music.”

“Thanks, Pinkie,” said Sweetie Belle. Putting Rarity on her back she climbed the stairs, the foal holding on tight.

Sitting down on Pinkie’s bed she saw Gummy in his pond in the corner of the room. For a moment she wondered if it was safe, but then she dismissed her worries. Gummy wasn’t dangerous. He didn’t even have any teeth. Even so, she didn’t think she should leave Rarity alone to rejoin the party. Besides the fact that the guest of honor was going to be asleep it was possible she could get hurt without her knowing.

Sitting Rarity down on the bed she felt a sense of relief that she was alone with her sister again. She still couldn’t quite shake her selfish desire. “It’s naptime, Rarity.”

The foal immediately frowned, shaking her head, looking about to cry.

“Hmmm. Okay. Would you like to fly instead?”

Rarity’s frown quickly turned to a smile as she nodded hard.

Picking Rarity up a little with her front hooves she put her back legs under her stomach, lifting her up. “Fly! Fly, Rarity!”

“Wheee! Whee!” Rarity said, laughing.

After playing a little longer she set Rarity down. “Okay. Now do you want to nap?” Again Rarity shook her head. “How about if I take a nap with you?” Rarity pouted a bit, but then hugged her.

“Good girl,” she said, patting Rarity’s head. Pulling the blankets up she covered the two of them, holding her sister close. Rarity gently whined, fighting sleep, but she didn’t try to get out of Sweetie Belle’s hold.

She began to sing the lullaby Fluttershy had tried singing to her. Unlike the last time she didn’t make it loud. She sang it quietly and gently as a lullaby should be. “Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to go to bed…”

With each line Sweetie Belle’s voice rushed over the foal like a calm spring, settling the fussy girl down. She could see Rarity’s eyes fluttering, closing slowly but opening again quickly as she tried to stay awake, but clearly losing the battle.

By the time she was done Rarity’s eyes were closed, and her body had gone limp as she drifted off to sleep.

Sweetie Belle smiled, overjoyed that she could be such a good caretaker for her little sister. She hoped that Rarity would be proud of her for how well she could take care of her younger sister.

When she thought things couldn’t be better she heard a tiny voice come out of Rarity’s mouth as she was nuzzled, “Swee-Belle. Swee-Belle.”

Tears come down the filly’s eyes. Her sister’s first words! And it was her name! Pinkie had told her the twins firsts words were her name, and it had made her forget all the grief they had given her the first time she had foal-sat them. Now she understood that feeling. The sleepless nights, the temper tantrums… they were all meaningless compared to that, to seeing her sister slumbering peacefully.

She closed her eyes, squeezing her sister tight. “Sleep well, Rarity. I’ll always protect you, no matter what.”

As she began drifting off her thoughts meandered, and a thought she hadn’t had much time to dwell on recently came to her. She began thinking of Twilight’s offer. She wanted to make sure Rarity lived in a safe world. If a major threat came to attack Equestria again they had to be prepared. She was only a filly, but she could play her part in keeping Equestria safe by becoming the new Element of Generosity.

She had been hesitant before, because of the responsibility involved, but now she no longer wanted to hold back. She would accept that responsibility and its inherent dangers. For the sake of Rarity, and for Equestria.

She hadn’t forgotten the other part of Twilight’s request. If each of them had truly been doing what they claimed then it might be safe now. It had been a month, after all. If she wanted to play her part for a safer Equestria then she knew there was something she needed to do. His power would be extremely useful if he had changed for the better.

She felt too comfortable to move. The warmth of her sister against her made her so sleepy. As she drifted off too she thought, ‘I’ll do it. I’ll forgive Discord and set him free again. If he is truly sorry he can be the second line of defense in case we’re separated from the Elements somehow. He is extremely powerful, and he can keep Rarity safe.”

Giving her sister one last squeeze before she passed out she said in a whisper, “I love you, Rarity.”

Chapter 12: Magic lessons

“Are you sure about this?” asked Twilight.

Sweetie Belle nodded. She had gone to visit Twilight in the library. “I’ve made up my mind. Our world is pretty peaceful, but villains like Nightmare Moon and King Sombra had plans that could have hurt and killed a lot of ponies. I’m still scared of what will happen if we get into an actual battle, but I can’t let that fear hold me back when it could mean my sister’s death. I want to be the protector that keeps her safe. So… I accept. I’ll take up the Element of Generosity like my sister did, and play my part for a safer Equestria.”

“Thank you, Sweetie Belle. That’s a load off my shoulders.” With a red glow Twilight brought out the Element from the case, putting it around Sweetie Belle’s neck. “It looks good on you.”

Sweetie Belle grimaced, her body contracting as she let out a small sob. The thought of actually being given this much power… to be given her sister’s lofty position… it was still hard to comprehend for the filly. “I-I-I’ll do my best,” she said in a strained voice.

Twilight walked over and hugged Sweetie Belle. “You don’t have to cry. You should be proud. Not just anyone can wear that. Just because you’re sisters doesn’t make you qualified to be an Element bearer. You have to embody the Element inside of you. The fact that you can wear that just shows how powerful an inspiration Rarity was for you. You remind me of Rarity more and more every time I see you.”

Tears came down her face as she sniffed a little. Rarity appeared in her mind. Both of them. The one who taught her what she needed, and the one she was going to teach.

Taking a deep breath she said, “I came to another decision. I’ll help to release Discord again.”

Twilight looked down at the filly. “That’s great. I’ll let everyone know. Meet me back here tomorrow after school. I’ll have everything set up.”

“Okay, Twilight. I’ll see you later.”

As Sweetie Belle walked home she could feel the Element sitting on her neck. It only weighed a few pounds, but to her the weight was massive. She kept trying to wrap her head around the massive responsibility she had committed herself to, but it was still hard to believe. It was going to take some more time to get used to the idea. Once she actually used the Element it would be bonded to her until she chose to give it away.

Opening the door to her house she yelled out, “I’m home!”

She heard her parents respond with a greeting. Shortly after that she saw a blur and heard the sweetest voice call out, “Swee-Belle!”

She picked up her little sister, nuzzling her face. “Hi, Rarity!” She gave Rarity a hug, feeling all her tension melt away. Her sister’s innocent nature always put a smile on her face. It was clear the foal had taken a liking to her older sister.

The following day after school she went home to pick up the Element of Harmony, then headed to the library. As she walked inside she saw Discord’s statue sitting in the middle of the room, along with the other five Element bearers.

All of them were staring at her. Her eyes went back and forth anxiously, and she said, “What?”

Fluttershy replied, “Well… it’s just… it’s kinda weird seeing you as the new Element of Generosity. I know you’re taking after Rarity, but even so…”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Aw, don’t listen to the worrywart over there. I think it’s awesome you’re coming into your talents so young. Just like me.” Unfurling her wings she did an aerial maneuver. “Sonic rainboom!”

“Oh!” Fluttershy said with surprise. “I wasn’t trying to say you couldn’t do it. It’s just… it reminds me of Rarity.”

Sweetie Belle looked at the ground. “Yeah. I know what you’re talking about.”

“Enough yakking!” Rainbow said with annoyance. “If we’re gonna release this bad boy let’s just get it over with.”

“Yeah,” said Applejack. “I agree with Rainbow. The sooner we get this over with the better.”

“Come here, Sweetie Belle,” said Twilight. “Just stand next to us. Focus your energy on your Element, and it’s power will resonate with the other five.”

“O-okay,” the filly responded, walking forward until she was in between Pinkie Pie and Applejack.

“Okay, everyone. You know the drill.”

“Right!” came the reply from the other four.

“Um… right!” Sweetie Belle said quickly. Twilight’s horn glowed brightly, and Sweetie Belle let out a small yelp as her Element began reacting to Twilight’s magic and she started floating in the air. Outlines of the other five Elements began pouring out.

“Wha-what is this?” Sweetie Belle said. Power. Immense power surrounded her. Power like she had never known, and it was only getting stronger and stronger. It was stifling, and it felt like it was hard to breathe. She had no idea what was happening. A rainbow began to connect the six Elements together. As it approached her she let out a small scream, unable to take the overwhelming sensation anymore, grabbing the Element and throwing it on the floor.

The power of the Elements quickly puttered out, and all six of them fell to the floor.

“What happened?” said Applejack. She turned to the sound of panting.

Sweetie Belle was on the floor, gasping for breath. Her already white face had gone paler still, and sweat was pouring down her. She had a look of intense fear.

Twilight walked over to the filly, lying down to be on her level. “Sweetie Belle. Are you okay?” The filly didn’t respond. She looked like she had just seen a ghost. Twilight put a hoof on her, and Sweetie Belle jumped. “Hey! Are you okay?”

Sweetie Belle looked up into Twilight’s face. “I’m… I’m sorry. I… just got so scared. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”

“Poor thing,” said Fluttershy, also walking over and gently rubbing Sweetie Belle’s back. “Twilight. I think she’s still too young for this. She can’t handle this kind of power.”

“Hmm,” murmured Twilight. “You might be right. Well… I guess Discord is going to be locked up for a while longer. I would like to try one more thing though before giving it up.

“Sweetie Belle, I’d like to take this next month to give you magic lessons. If you get a better grasp of what magical power feels like you could be more prepared for the power of the Elements. Of course I don’t want to force this on you. I told you before that you have to make this choice of your own free will. If you heart isn’t in it you won’t be able to use the Element in the first place.”

Sweetie Belle hesitated. The sensations she’d just had coursing through her were so immense she didn’t think she would ever be ready for it. Still…

She closed her eyes, picturing her older sister. Rarity had been able to handle it. Even Fluttershy could handle it. Surely she could get used to it, given more time. After that her thoughts turned to her younger sister. Rarity’s lifeless body came to her mind, and she knew that she didn’t ever want that to happen again to anyone else. If she could learn to master her power she could keep baby Rarity safe, and help to stop other ponies from dealing with what she had to.

She still felt very afraid, but she didn’t want to back down from this. She was sure her age played a factor in the intensity of the feelings, but it was also likely because it was her first time making contact with a magical object like that. If she could learn to control her own little magic, combined with the knowledge of the force involved from attempting it once, she was certain the next time she could pull it off.

Sweetie Belle opened her eyes, saying to Twilight in a shaky voice, “O-okay. I’ll learn whatever I can.”

“Spike!” Twilight called out.

“Yes, Twilight?” he said as he came running.

“Would you make Sweetie Belle some tea? I think a soothing cup is just what she needs to recover from her ordeal.”

Spike nodded. “Okay, Twilight.”

Applejack and Fluttershy helped Sweetie Belle up. She tried to walk, but her legs were shaky and she almost fell right back to the ground. With their assistance they helped her into a chair.

Twilight went into a cupboard, pulling out a plate and some chocolate cookies for the filly.

“Thank you, Twilight,” Sweetie Belle said.

“No problem.”

She tried to pick up a cookie, but her hooves were still shaking so bad she kept dropping them. Feeling bad for her Fluttershy held onto her hooves, helping to steady them.

When the tea was done Spike poured her a steaming mug. After giving it a little time to cool Fluttershy helped her again so she wouldn’t drop it all over her lap. The hot liquid pouring down her throat was helping to settle her down, and she stopped shaking. By the time she had finished her tea and cookies her distress was well past her. The memory was still there, but it wasn’t causing her any more trauma.

The rest of the gang hung around while Twilight began teaching her the basics of magic control. “As you know, magic is a skill that is inherent in all unicorns. Most unicorns have a unique magical ability, like Rarity’s gem finding spell for instance, but every unicorn has a basic skill that we all master: levitation.” Her horn began glowing red, and an aura surrounded a book on the table, floating in the air. “For most of us that’s the very first thing we discover. Rarity seems to have discovered her unique talent first, going by her cutie mark story. I myself had to struggle hard simply to turn the page of a book with magic at first, so we all learn different things at different speeds.”

Setting the book down she continued, “Magic is sometimes set off by a trigger, and sometimes by plain hard work, just like the difference between me and Rarity. I’ll set you tasks to attempt, and we’ll see if it’s enough to awaken your magic. In the meantime I’ll drill into you the basics of magic.

“Focus all your thoughts and energy on your horn. Visualization is key. Imagine your body as just a mass of energy, then picture that energy being focused into one location, into the tip of your horn.” Her horn glowing again, she grabbed a simple sheet of paper and set it on the table. “The bigger the object you’re trying to levitate the more you have to strain and focus, so this nearly weightless piece of paper is the perfect thing to start your practice on.”

Sweetie Belle closed her eyes, trying to imagine what Twilight told her. She gritted her teeth, straining to force a reaction out of her horn. Opening her eyes she glared at the paper, willing it to rise. There was a small spark from her horn, but that was all.

“Not bad for a first attempt,” said Twilight. “Keep working on it.”

She practiced for an hour, but by the end she still hadn’t managed to lift the paper. The process left her sweating and tired.

The following day she came to visit Twilight again. They continued off like before. Still she had no success.

By the fourth day she was beginning to get really frustrated at her lack of progress. She had started to develop a hatred for that little slip of paper, at how it defied her every effort. Twilight, seeing this, taught her breathing exercises. “You’ll never be able to focus properly if you’re tense and angry. Breathe in slowly, and count to three, then exhale. Do it in a pattern just like that.”

“For how long?” Sweetie Belle asked, annoyed.

“As long as it takes.”

At first she was still ticked off enough that she had trouble following directions, but the exercise started working wonders on her mood. The longer she kept at it the more relaxed she began feeling.

Twilight saw her pupil looked calmer now. “You’ll get it, Sweetie Belle. The only thing for it is practice, practice, and more practice.”

She continued her lessons, Twilight giving her tips every so often, but the magic continued to elude her. She kept feeling like she was on the edge of awakening it, like it was hovering just outside of her reach, and that frustrated her to no end.

By the end of the month she was still unsuccessful. She tried her breathing exercises, but they weren’t helping. She ran forward, and spitefully tore the paper in half. “This is pointless!” she yelled. “I can’t do it. I’m useless!”

Twilight walked over and put a hoof on Sweetie Belle’s shoulder. “You’re NOT useless, Sweetie Belle. Some unicorns just take a little more time than others. It’s the same thing for pegasi and flight. Your friend Scootaloo hasn’t begun flying yet. Do you think SHE is useless?”

“Well… no, but it’s not like Equestria is depending on Scootaloo to fly. We’re lucky we haven’t been attacked again, but that luck could run out at any time. I need to do this!” A tear came down her eye.

“Hmmm. A good teacher shouldn’t always just use the established practices. If the ordinary method won’t work let’s try another one. Do you remember why you began this in the first place?”

“Because trying to use the Element scared me?”

“That’s part of it, but isn’t there something more? A more important reason? If just regular practice isn’t enough you may need to simply strengthen your motivation.

“Close your eyes for me.” When she complied Twilight said, “Good. Now instead of just picturing your magic and trying to force a reaction out of yourself I’d like you to picture a calm meadow. You and little Rarity are frolicking through the flowers. You’re both having a fantastic time.”

A gentle smile was on Sweetie Belle’s lips. She enjoyed this scenario.

“You sit down on a log, watching her have the time of her short life.” Twilight’s voice shifted. “Then all of a sudden three ponies come out of nowhere, heading right for little Rarity. You’ve come across a group of foalnappers.”

Sweetie Belle tensed. She wasn’t liking this anymore.

“They are closing in on the defenseless foal, and you’re too far away to get to her in time.”

Sweetie Belle began panting slightly, her heart rate shooting up.

“You try running, even though you know it will be futile. Closer and closer they get to Rarity. Who knows what they’re going to do her if they get her. Maybe they’ll just hold her for ransom, but maybe they’re cruel bullies, who will hit her or starve her."

She was shaking with rage now, sparks shooting out from her horn.

“They’re only seconds away from grabbing her. You’re now the only one who can help her, but you’re still too far away. Only your magic can get her out of danger. Don’t you care what happens to your sister?”

She gritted her teeth, letting out a small roar as a glow erupted out of her horn. Her eyes opened as a magical aura surrounded her entire body. Her eyes were pure white, charged with energy. “Rarity! RARITY! No one hurts my sister!” Sweetie Belle let out a loud yell, her power exploding outward.

“Uh-oh,” said Twilight, backing up a few steps, feeling she went too far. She put up a force field around herself. She wasn’t hurt but the force of the energy threw her backwards into the wall.

Sweetie Belle began panting heavily, flopping to the floor with a sigh. She felt exhausted. The green glow faded, and her eyes returned to normal.

Twilight got up, surveying the damage. Most of the books on the bookshelves had fallen to the floor. Her table had flown into the wall and smashed into a million pieces. Papers were strewn apart everywhere and a lot of things were knocked over, but the treehouse itself was still fully intact.

Twilight lowered the force field, walking up to Sweetie Belle and letting out a big breath. She let out an awkward laugh. “That was a bit more than I imagined.”

Sweetie Belle looked up at Twilight, her eyes half-lidded. “Sorry, Twilight. I lost control.”

“It’s alright, Sweetie Belle. At least we’ve now proven that you can use magic, hmm? Not so 'useless' now, are you?”

Sweetie Belle gave her a half-smile. “I guess not.”

“We just need to work on fine-tuning your control. We’ve now found the motivator you needed. When you’re trying to access your magic focus your thoughts on your sister and how you want to protect her. Give a reason, a need, for your power, and it will respond and answer to your call.”

“I’ll do my best,” she said in a tired voice. She forced herself up on shaky hooves. “I… I’ll help you clean up.” She went to take a step, and almost collapsed back to the floor until Twilight caught her with her magic. Levitating the filly she set Sweetie Belle in her bed. “There’s no need for that. I can get this room cleaned up in a jiffy. It was almost reshelving day anyway. You take a little nap and just relax for now. We’ll start things over from the top tomorrow.”

Sweetie Belle was too wiped out to argue. “Okay,” she said in a tired voice, closing her eyes.

The following day Twilight explained to her about what had happened the day before. “What you did is called a magic surge. If you remember my cutie mark story I had to hatch an egg for my entrance exam. I was good with magic. That was why I was applying to a school for gifted unicorns in the first place. But I got major performance anxiety. I tried my hardest but I couldn’t feel my magic at all because I was so nervous. I was so amped up with nerves that I couldn’t focus. When Rainbow Dash did her sonic rainboom and the sonic boom shook the room the shock of it let loose all the emotions that were beneath the surface, and my magic spiraled out of control.

“A magic surge is usually caused by a build-up of tensions pushed to the breaking point. All it’s waiting for is that last little push, a stimulus to push it over the edge. Think of it like a volcano. The pressure in a volcano builds up slowly, getting stronger and stronger, and then in one single burst breaks through the crust and causes a massive eruption.

“It can be a defense mechanism, allowing a unicorn to defend themselves in a state of danger. As you saw, even as a filly your surging magic was quite powerful. If I hadn’t put up a shield I probably would have broken a few bones. So it’s clear that you CAN use magic. You just need to refine your control. Believe in yourself, Sweetie Belle, and you power will respond.

“We’ve seen how effective your protective thoughts can be, but you don’t want to RELY on a magic surge. It can be useful in a dangerous situation, but without fine control you could wind up doing far more damage than you prevent. For example, if the scenario I was describing yesterday actually WAS happening, and you responded the way you did here, you would have sent Rarity flying along with the bullies. And given her young age she would suffer far worse injuries than the bullies would. So you need to refine your power, so that you only use it on what you WANT to use it on, and avoid harming those you care for in the process of protecting them. Do you understand, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “Yeah. It wouldn’t be good to hurt my friends along with the bullies.”

“So I want you to focus on two ponies to help hone your magic.”

“Focus on two ponies?”

“Yes. Your magic can be used both offensively and defensively. Most of the time you should try to make due with being defensive but there are times you might have to get aggressive. For offense I want you to imagine a tough pony. The toughest one you know.”

“So… the princess?” Sweetie Belle responded, a little annoyed that she only had one choice thrust on her.

Twilight shook her head. “Not at all. Strength comes in different forms to different ponies, and each one has their own opinion on what categorizes strength. For instance: Rainbow Dash considers herself the toughest around. There are very few things she’s afraid of. She tried to attack Discord head-on despite his great magical power. True enough she’s strong. Now let’s take a look at Fluttershy, her polar opposite. Would you say Fluttershy is stronger than Rainbow Dash?”

Sweetie Belle licked her lips and slowly rolled her eyes, sure that there was some kind of trick to the question. She couldn’t think of it, but she finally said, “Yes?”

Twilight’s eye’s looked towards the corner, an amused smile on her lips. “Is that a question or a response?”

“Um… both?”

She giggled now. “Come on. Give me your honest answer.”

Sweetie Belle’s face scrunched up a little. “I know the answer is yes, because you wouldn’t bring her up if she wasn’t. I just can’t figure out how she’s stronger.”

“The answer isn’t yes.”

“So then it’s no?”

“No.”

Sweetie Belle threw up her hooves in frustration. “That makes no sense! You said it’s not yes, and it’s not no. So what’s the answer?”

“I can’t give you the answer. As I said before this is all about opinions. I can say Rainbow is stronger than Fluttershy, but you may see it the opposite.”

“But I don’t! Fluttershy is…” She got a light blush on her face. She didn’t want to say anything insulting. “Well… um… she’s not that brave. She gets scared really easily.”

“It is true that she gets scared easily, but my personal opinion is that Fluttershy is braver than any one of us.”

“How?”

“It’s easy for a strong and courageous pony to be strong and courageous. It’s a lot harder to throw away your usual character and act the opposite way. When we were tasked to wake up a sleeping dragon so that the smoke from its snoring wouldn’t cover Ponyville Fluttershy didn’t want to go. We had to basically force her to come. She slowed us down immensely because her wings locked up out of fear and she kept lagging behind. While all of us tried our own methods of convincing the dragon to leave Fluttershy hid behind a rock.

“But you know what happened in the end? When Rainbow Dash tried brute force and kicked it in the face it became furious, and attacked all of us. When Fluttershy saw that we were all hurt her fear disappeared. She flew up to the dragon without a speck of fear, and with a few harsh words and a glare she brought the dragon to tears and made it agree to leave.

“Despite labeling herself as a weak flyer, when Spike and Rarity were plummeting to the ground after Spike shrunk due to reigning in his natural dragon greed she was able to match Rainbow’s Dash’s pace enough that they made it just in time.

“Those are just two examples. Even though Fluttershy is naturally timid she always rises to the occasion when her friends or her animals are in danger. So she may not be the hot-blooded pegasus with a need for speed and a desire to prove herself. She still has great strength when she needs to. It’s definitely harder for her to call it up, and easy for Rainbow to do, but it’s still there.

“So the true answer is that there is no definitive answer. In some ways Rainbow is stronger, and in some ways Fluttershy is. Now… getting back to what I was asking you to do before. Magic power is one form of strength, but physical strength is another. Another area of strength is mental and emotional strength. You pick any pony that to you just makes you think of strength when you imagine them. You’re going to picture them as your strength. Imagine them lending you their strength and letting it infuse your magic with great power; power enough to knock out any bullies who would bring harm upon your sister.

“The second pony I want you to do the opposite.”

Sweetie Belle tilted her head a little. “You want me to imagine the weakest pony I can think of?”

Twilight giggled, shaking her head. “No. Imagining the strongest pony is the core of your offense. For the second one I want you to imagine the kindest, sweetest pony you can think of. That will be the core of your defense. Power enough to beat off bullies, but gentle enough to protect those you care for. You have to learn to switch between those two rapidly. In the scenario I was posing to you before let’s just say that you didn’t have a magic surge and your power didn’t go out of control, but the power you sent out is what you could muster on your own.

"Now you have a shockwave heading towards the bullies, but Rarity is also in the line of fire. You can’t just pull back your magic after you’ve cast the spell. You have to use another spell to get her out of danger. Whether it be by levitation, a shield bubble, or just putting something heavy in her path to block the magic.

“We’ll get deeper into that later. For now you have to work on mustering your power at will. Emotional charged magic is normal, but you’ve seen what happens when you don’t have control.” She gestured around the room. “So… now find your two perfect ponies. Remember: they can be ANY pony. Like I told you about using your Element it has to be done with your heart. You don’t HAVE to pick Fluttershy as your kind pony simply because she’s the Element of Kindness. Pick someone who you personally feel best embodies what I’ve asked for.”

Sweetie Belle sat on the floor, closing her eyes, pondering the question put to her. Who were the strongest and the kindest ponies she knew? Since Twilight brought her up her mind immediately turned to Fluttershy. She thought on it for a little while. Was Fluttershy the kindest pony she knew?

“Oh!” Sweetie Belle said, getting an idea. “Miss Cheerilee!”

“Cheerilee?”

“Yeah!” she replied, getting up and doing a little hop. “She’s such an amazing teacher, and she’s kind and funny and smart and helps me out when I don’t understand stuff. She didn’t ever get that mad when me and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo tricked her and Big Mac into drinking that love potion that actually turned out to be a love poison. All of us love her so, so much! This one time I tripped and skinned my knees and she got out the first aid kit and cleaned it up and held me until I felt better.

“Yeah. Miss Cheerilee is definitely my first choice!”

“That’s good. Now what about your second choice?”

That stumped her for a short time, but then she got another brain wave. “Big Mac!”

“Him, huh?”

“Yep! Thinking about that whole thing with the love poison got me thinking about how incredibly strong he is. He was dragging a house he’s so strong!”

“A part of that might have been a side effect of the infatuation caused by the effects of the potion, but I get your point.”

“Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“I have an idea that will really help me in my magic lessons. Do you think you can cast the spell for me?”

“Anything to help someone who wants to learn. What do you need?”

“I’m gonna bring Rarity over here. Do you think you could make a doll or a stuffed animal that looks like her?”

Twilight’s eyebrow rose. “I… suppose. Why do you want that?”

“Well… you keep taking about visualizing and imagination. Since I’m still in training I don’t want to do anything to hurt Rarity, so I don’t want to use the real her, but I figure a doll that LOOKS like her will help me to focus and watch how much power I put into my spells. “

Twilight’s eyes twinkled with stars. “Excellent idea, Sweetie Belle! You’re learning so quickly already! I’m proud of you.”

Sweetie Belle blushed a little. “Thank you , Twilight.”

So Sweetie Belle returned home, picking up her sister. With a little bit of study Twilight created a workable copy of Rarity in a stuffed animal body. She also created three Diamond Dog lookalikes, setting them around the stuffed animal.

Sweetie Belle took a deep breath before starting her breathing exercises. Whispering to herself she said, “The protectiveness of Miss Cheerilee, the toughness of Big Macintosh. Kindness and strength. Stop the bullies, but don’t hurt my sister.”

She opened her eyes, focusing solely on the doll of Rarity. A glow came to life in her horn. A small aura appeared around the doll and it began slowly lifting into the air. “Gentle. Just like Miss Cheerilee. Protect her from harm.”

Twilight clapped her hooves. “See? You’re getting the hang of it already. Give little Rarity a hug. With your magic, I mean.”

“Huh?” she asked, losing her concentration. The doll fell to the ground.

“I don’t mean a literal hug. As I told you before imagination and will is the key to mastering your magic. Look.” Twilight’s horn started glowing, and a pillow from Twilight’s bed flew in front of her. With a slight increase in the glow the pillow began squeezing itself a few times. “See? I can fluff my pillow with magic. Levitation is a basic art, but it encompasses a little more than simply lifting things in the air. You can also squeeze the object you’re holding.

“Now. This will be a test on your control. That doll is designed to fall apart easily. If you’re too rough on it then it will break into several pieces. The goal, of course, is not to destroy the doll. It will start showing signs of tearing before it actually comes apart, so if you just pay attention it will stay in one piece.”

“Got it!” Sweetie Belle responded with a nod.

Closing her eyes she imagined Cheerilee, and the fun times they’d had together as teacher and student. Joy entered her heart, and she transferred her feelings into her horn. The Rarity doll began floating in the air. It hovered there for a short while. “Okay. Give a gentle hug.” Her heart racing, she pushed her magic to make her imagination reality, and the doll got an indentation around it like it was being held. A few seconds went by, and the doll remained intact. Extremely gently she set the doll back down on the floor like she was holding the real Rarity. She wiped a bead of sweat off her face. “Phew! That’s hard work, even with all this visualizing stuff.”

“You didn’t break the doll. That was a phenomenal first attempt considering you couldn’t even lift a piece of paper yesterday.”

“I want to protect Rarity. No matter what it takes. She’s my baby sister.”

Twilight nodded. “Then let’s continue.” With a flash from her horn the Diamond Dog dolls appeared. “We’re going to do the opposite this time. I want you to think of your image of Big Mac, and squeeze these ones as hard as you can. They’re made of a much stronger material, so you’re going to have to really put your all into it to break them."

Sweetie Belle thought of all the times Big Mac had shown how strong he was. She remembered him yelling at her and her friends over the Gabby Gums fiasco. She’d seen him plowing at the farm. When they had tried to set him up with their teacher he had easily pulled a lot of heavy objects with barely any strain.

Next her thoughts turned to Rarity, and how she wanted to be able to protect her sister. She lifted the doll, imagining it was someone trying to come after her. She strained her thoughts, a soft growl coming from her lips as she squeezed the doll, her horn glowing brightly. “No… one… hurts… my… sister.” After a few more seconds her horn flashed and the doll fell into several pieces.

Just like before she felt herself sweating a little. Wiping her face again she turned to Twilight with a big smile. Panting a little she said, “How was that? Not bad, huh?”

“Not bad at all.” Twilight’s horn glowed, putting the doll back together. “Now for the next test we’re going to alternate between gentleness and strength." Twilight levitated a blanket over the table so it blocked the view of the floor. “Now I’m going to use my magic and lift up the dolls one at a time. Sometimes it will be Rarity, and sometimes a Diamond Dog. The goal here is to keep the Rarity doll intact, and to break the Diamond Dog ones. You won’t know which one it is until it comes up, so the goal here is to be able to switch the strength of your magic quickly, and to be able to alternate between offense and defense. Sounds simple enough, right?”

Sweetie Belle nodded.

“Since you’re still new to this I’m going to call out the name of the doll when it first comes up. As you get more experience I’ll stop doing that and force you to use your own eyes to determine how strong your magic needs to be.”

“Got it.”

Sweetie Belle turned to look at Rarity, who was sitting there watching their magic show with rapt attention. When she saw Sweetie Belle looking she let out a happy squeal and waved her hooves. “Swee-Belle. Swee-Belle!”

She smiled back at her sister. “Hi, Rarity.”

Putting a hoof to her mouth Rarity made a smooching sound, and then blew on it. “Kiss! Kiss!”

Joy entered the filly’s heart. “Right back at you, Rarity.” She blew a kiss back.

Turning to Twilight she said, “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s do it.”

Sweetie Belle took some deep breaths, waiting for Twilight to begin.

“Rarity!” said Twilight, and the doll came up and began falling.

Her protectiveness flaring up her horn started glowing, and the aura surrounded the doll. Remembering to be gentle she slowly lowered it back down.

“Diamond Dog!”

Sweetie Belle narrowed her eyes, glaring at the doll as her horn lit up brightly. Using all the force she could muster she squeezed it hard, and it broke into pieces.

“Rarity!”

“Diamond Dog!”

“Rarity!”

Like before she continued listening to Twilight’s voice. There was just one more Diamond Dog doll left, and then the exercise would be over. She was feeling a little fatigued, but she had enough energy left to smash the last one. She prepared all the magic she could, ready to get rid of the last thing threatening her sister. “Rarity!” she heard, and the doll popped back up a second time.

“HAAAA!” Sweetie Belle yelled, using all her strength. “Gotcha?” she said with confusion as she saw the doll of her sister break into pieces. “Huh-wha-huh?” A look of horror came to her face as she let the pieces drop to the floor, tears starting to pour down her eyes. If that had been the real thing…

She ran over to her baby sister, sobbing a little as she held Rarity close.

Rarity hugged her back. “No cry, Swee-Belle. No cry.”

Twilight walked over to the filly. “I’m sorry, Sweetie Belle. I didn’t intend to make you cry, but you needed this lesson. You were so sure there was a pattern you didn’t hesitate to unleash your magic on what you thought was an enemy, but was actually your sister. Or rather, a doll of your sister.

"I warned you about relying on magic surges because you could wind up hurting the one you love because you can’t control your magic. But even being in control now you still need to exercise caution and be sure of your target before attacking. If you carelessly use your magic without being certain you’re using it on what you want to use it on you still could wind up doing harm to those you love.

"Look on the bright side, though. Lessons are often learned through experience. You make a mistake, and then attempt not to make the same error twice. Far better that you destroyed a doll of your sister than the real thing, isn’t it?”

Sweetie Belle sniffed, giving a terse nod. “I’ll be more careful next time. I don’t want to ever hurt Rarity by being careless like that.” Looking over at Twilight she said, “I don’t want to practice any more today.”

“I understand.” She put a hoof on the filly’s shoulder and said, “You did great today, Sweetie Belle. I mean that. You’re learning fast, and have a lot of potential.”

“Thank you, Twilight.”

“No problem.”

For the next two weeks she continued her daily lessons, getting better at using only the amount of energy she wanted to. Every day she practiced she felt herself improving. It wasn’t causing so much mental strain to activate it and maintain it. It started to feel natural.

She took her first day’s lesson to heart. She always made sure to take a few moments to be sure she was going after a Diamond Dog doll before using her magic. The contrast in their colors made them easy enough to distinguish at first, but Twilight very nearly got her good when she put a gray coat and hoodie on the Rarity doll. Twilight tried all sorts of tricks to get her to attack the Rarity doll, but she wasn’t fooled.

Finally Twilight said it was time for a real test of her magic. She was told to bring Rarity over on the weekend. When she arrived there she saw the other Element Bearers there, along with three surprise guests: the three Diamond Dogs that the dolls had been modeled after.

“What are they doing here?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“I told you,” replied Twilight. “It’s time for a real test of your abilities. You’ve gotten great at fine-control with dolls. Can you do the same with living targets? These three have graciously agreed to be our test subjects in return for us spending a few hours helping them mine some gems through the gem-locating spell. This is Spot, Rover, and Fido.” She pointed her hoof to the smallest, medium-sized, and the largest in turn.

“So here’s the drill: Diamond Dogs, like earth ponies, are very in tune with the ground. They are fantastic diggers and can make holes in the ground extremely quickly. Rarity will be placed in the middle with a circle around her. The other five of us are going to run around. The Diamond Dogs will each attempt to capture us and drag us underground. Your goal is to use what you’ve learned of magic to pull us out of their grasp when they try to drag us down.

"From time to time they will pop up to try to get a better view. That’s when you’ll try to get them out of the ground. If you can pull one of them out they’re stuck on the sidelines for a whole minute. The overall goal is to drag all three out. That’s how you win. If, on the other hand, they manage to get all five of us then they’re allowed to try to grab Rarity. Then they win.”

Sweetie Belle felt really uncomfortable with that last part. “And what are they gonna do with Rarity if they get her?”

“Nothing. If they pick her up it simply means they win. They’re not going to hurt her. If you win we have to go digging for two hours. If they win then its four hours. That’s the deal.”

The small Diamond Dog let out a laugh. “Yes! Lots of digging time for pony. We win contest easy.”

Twilight said, “There is no true win or lose. Spending a little extra time digging isn’t a huge deal. This is simply about checking your growth. Since we are all living creature and not dolls you have to be even more careful. Just remember everything you’ve learned over the past two months. Remember your visualization. Strength and power, and gentleness and kindness.”

Sweetie Belle was still uncertain. “You promise nothing bad is going to happen to Rarity? What if they decide to kidnap her to try to force you to work at the mine forever?”

“”Hey!” said Rover. “We are not monsters. We don’t kidnap babies!”

“Yeah!” said Fido.

Sweetie Belle chewed on her lip. She was still very wary of this. But… this was all the more reason to go through with it. Like Twilight tricking her into destroying the Rarity doll it was better that she risk a failure in practice than a real situation. If she ever wanted to be able to save Rarity from danger she had to know she could handle a real-life scenario, even if it was only a simulation. Letting out a heavy breath she said, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

The ten of them left the house, going to a large dirt patch near the edge of town. Setting a blanket down in the middle Rarity was placed on it.

Sweetie Belle went off to the side, panting slightly even though she hadn’t even done anything yet. She had to keep Rarity safe. If she could just protect the others that meant they couldn’t go after Rarity.

The rest of the group dispersed around the area. “Ready, Sweetie Belle?” asked Twilight.

“As I’ll ever be,” she replied, her heart rate going up.

“Three… two… one… GO!”

Jumping up, the Diamond Dogs landed with their paws in the ground, rapidly digging holes.

Sweetie Belle charged up energy in her horn, rapidly shifting her eyes and following the trail of rising dirt scattering about the land. She saw one heading directly for Rainbow Dash. “Gentle, gentle,” she said to herself. She focused on the rainbow maned pony and lifted her up into the air. The Diamond Dog passed under her harmlessly, and Sweetie Belle set her back down.

She heard Applejack let out a yell. She quickly turned her head and saw Applejack being dragged down. Her heartbeat speeding up she focused her energy on the orange earth pony, lifting her up out of its grasp.

She saw the head of Fido pop out of the ground, and she quickly thought, “Power! Power!” With a stronger glow she grasped the Diamond Dog and pulled upwards.

“One down!” She didn’t get much chance to celebrate her accomplishment before she heard two screams from two different directions. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were both being dragged down. She looked back and forth between them, knowing if she didn’t make a choice in the next few seconds she’d lose both of them. She decided to save Fluttershy.

Pinkie Pie was left with only her head above ground. She guessed that it had to be that way or they wouldn’t be able to breathe.

Time went on, and it took every ounce of concentration she had to keep saving her friends. The Diamond Dogs were actually quite intelligent. Whenever she went to pull one out of the ground one of its buddies would go after one of her friends. She actually managed to get two of them one time, but she couldn’t get the third one before the one minute penalty for the others were up.

It was down to only Twilight and Fluttershy now. She was starting to feel drained from using her magic so much. She had to think of a way to trick them into all coming out.

“AHH!” she yelled as one of them popped up right in front of her. She quickly used her magic to try pulling it out, but then she heard two more yells. By the time she pulled him out she understood he was only trying to block her view so she couldn’t use her magic on the others. All five of them were now caught.

“We win! We win!” said Spot. “As soon as we get the baby we win.”

All three of them were running towards Rarity, and it paralleled heavily the scenario Twilight had had her envision to unlock her magic. Three creatures were all running towards her sister with the intent of possibly doing harm to her.

Rarity saw all three of the Diamond Dogs running at her, and she got scared. Starting to cry she shouted fearfully, “Swee-Belle! Swee-Belle!"

She let out a growl, her horn flaring up brightly as an aura surrounded her entire body.

“Sweetie Belle!” yelled out Twilight. “Remember your lessons!”

Sweetie Belle could feel her magic spiraling out of control. She couldn’t allow it to stay that way, or her sister could end up hurt by her own hoof. “Protect her! Protect her! PROTECT HER!” Her horn glowed brighter and brighter, and then there was a flash, and the three Diamond Dogs let out surprised grunts as they flew backward.

A force field surrounded the small baby. “You’re not gonna… touch my sister,” said Sweetie Belle strongly, panting slightly from her exertion. “This is how I can protect her from all harm! I couldn’t do a thing for my older sister. I won’t let any harm come to my younger sister while I have the strength to help her.”

“Hey!” said Fido. “That’s cheating!”

Twilight laughed a little. “Hey. The rule was that if you got all five of us you could go and pick up Rarity to win. You can’t touch her, so I guess that makes us the winners.”

“Drat!” Rover snapped his paw.

All three of them began digging again, pulling out the other five from the dirt.

Sweetie Belle ran over to her sister, picking her up with tears coming down her eyes. “I’ve discovered new magic. Magic strong enough to keep you safe. That makes me so happy!”

“New magic?” said Rainbow Dash. “Twilight has done force field spells before.”

“It’s new for her,” Twilight replied simply. “All she has done so far is levitation.” Walking over to Sweetie Belle she gave the filly a hug. “I’m so proud of you, Sweetie Belle. You did fantastic today!

“We have to go repay our debt for using the Diamond Dogs in your experiment, but do you think tomorrow we can restore Discord? Are you ready to give it another try?”

“Yes,” she replied. “I’m going to do it. I know what magic feels like now, so I think I can handle it.”

The following day Sweetie Belle brought Rarity to Twilight’s library. She was wearing the Element of Generosity around her neck. Setting Rarity down in the corner she walked up to the other five and they all stood around Discord’s statue.

Today was the day. The day she would see if she had truly matured. She took some breaths to settle herself.

“Alright,” said Twilight. “Let’s do this, girls!”

Chapter 13: Friendship renewed, friendship shattered

Sweetie Belle put a hoof on her Element of Harmony. “Be with me today, Rarity. I need you more than ever right now.”

Twilight’s horn began glowing, her Element of Magic starting to glow too. The other Elements began reacting to the surge of magic, and all of them began floating in the air.

The magic outlines of the Elements began shooting out.

Sweetie Belle gritted her teeth as she felt her Element powering up. Before she was so inexperienced. Now she had a better idea of what it felt like to use the Element and had a basic working of magic. Even so it was difficult not to throw off her Element like she did before. The power flowing through her still felt like it was compressing her body and feeding off her energy. She forced her thoughts onto her lessons and baby Rarity, ignoring her discomfort.

The tightness in her chest increased as the rainbow began connecting the power of the six Elements together. “Come… on…,” Sweetie Belle spat out through clenched teeth. “Just a… little… longer…”

The six of them floated closer together, and a gigantic rainbow shot out of the six Elements, heading towards Discord.

The light hit the statue, and pieces of it began crumbling away until with a groan and a stretch Discord was freed once more.

As the magic of the Elements faded the six of them landed back on the ground. Sweetie Belle immediately flopped to the floor, panting. “Whew! That… was really… something. Thanks for… all those… lessons.”

“No problem," said Twilight. "Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Straining a little bit she forced herself back up on her hooves. She felt kinda tired from the exertion but she felt that she could at least say she could use her Element when it was needed. Now she had the means to keep Rarity safe.

All of them looked towards Discord, who had an impassive expression on his face.

Fluttershy had tears coming down her eyes. “Oh, Discord! I’m so glad you’re free once again. You don’t know how much I’ve missed you.” Her wings unfurling she charged towards him, hooves outstretched.

Just as she was about to reach him he disappeared.

“Where’d he go?” asked Sweetie Belle. Her heart skipped a beat as she heard Rarity call her name. Spinning around she saw Discord holding her sister, and terror instantly seized her.

Discord gently rubbed Rarity’s cheek, saying in a darkly humorous voice, “It’s so funny. Through your lessons you’ve made it clear you don’t fully trust me. And yet… you brought your little sister, who is less than three months old and totally defenseless, to my unsealing? Is that what you call 'protecting' her?” He snickered, a devious smirk on his face as he looked over at her.

Sweetie Belle was shaking, both in anger and fear. She felt so stupid. He was right. Why had she just assumed that Discord had learned his lesson? Talking much more bravely than she felt she said, “I’m only going to say this once, Discord! Let my sister go NOW!” Her horn began glowing.

Discord let out a sarcastic laugh. “Or what? You’ll seal me away again? So long as I’m holding this little bundle of joy you won’t do a thing to me. I mean, unless you WANT your sister to join me as a stone statue. Your little rainbow magic affects whatever it hits.”

Sweetie Belle’s horn began glowing brighter and brighter. Her panic and fear were making her feel out of control. She wanted to attack him, no matter the consequences, but she couldn’t. He had Rarity. She couldn’t risk harming her sister, but her magic was spiraling out of control, surging up inside of her. She didn’t know how long she could contain it.

“Discord!” said Fluttershy, tears coming down her eyes. “Please stop! I couldn’t bear it if I lost you again.”

The other four felt stuck. They couldn’t put the baby in danger.

Sweetie Belle’s mind turned back to her lessons. What had she bothered learning everything for and spent every day coming there if she was just going to ignore everything she had strived towards? She forced herself to take deep breaths, levitating a bunch of small objects to offset the power building up inside her, and slowly she got her magic back under control.

With a flash a protective bubble appeared around Rarity. “I’ll stop you!”

Discord smirked. With a claw he poked the barrier and it popped like a balloon. He disappeared again, reappearing right in front of her.

Sweetie Belle let out a small shriek, backing up a step. She looked on with confusion as Discord held Rarity out to her. Sweetie Belle slowly took her sister from him, perplexed by his action.

“Good job,” he said, patting her head. “You pass.”

“I… pass?”

“Congratulations!” A rain of confetti rained down on her and a silly hat appeared on her head. “Wasn’t it Twilight who brought in those Diamond Dogs as a test? I figured you needed something more realistic. At least now you’ve seen that you can control yourself even in a tense situation and you feel out of control, hmm?”

Sweetie Belle had a dumbfounded look on her face. After a few seconds her face hardened and she screamed, “You were just testing me?”

“Oh, come ooonnn, Sweetie Belle,” he said in a baby voice. “Why so upset? Wasn’t it Twilight who said it was better to screw up in practice than in an actual situation when you accidentally crushed that doll of your sister?” He let out a laugh. “Now that you’ve seen you can do it once when you really thought she was in danger than you should know you can do it again.”

Sweetie Belle let out a long breath, releasing the tension in her body as Rarity hugged her. The other members of their group followed suit. She averted her eyes, reluctantly saying, “Thanks, I guess… for scaring the living daylights out of me.”

Fluttershy flew over to him again, and held him tightly. “Oh, Discord! You scared me! I couldn’t bear having to lock you away again.” She looked up at him, a teary smile on her face. “You know you’re a part of us now, don’t you? All of us have been talking to you since…” Her smile faded a little as she thought of Rarity “…well, since over a month now.”

“Oh, yes. It’s been a real 'thrill' having to listen to Rainbow Brag all month.” Fluttershy put her hoof over her mouth, stifling a snort. Rainbow Dash gave them a dirty look.

Twilight walked up to him. “We’ve all done our best to show you that we value you. We wanted to share our lives with you and show you we respect you as a friend just like Fluttershy does so it doesn’t have to be like it was before, when you thought the slightest mistake might get you sealed away again. Can we start over?” She held out her hoof.

Discord gently pried Fluttershy’s hooves off him. “Well, yes. About that...” Turning away he said, “I’ve decided that I’m leaving Equestria.”

“What?”

“No!” said Fluttershy. “Why, Discord?”

“Do you think I’m just going to trust you again, just like that? So long as I’m here and you’ve got your little magic jewels I’ll still have to worry about being sealed away. I’ve seen it’s pointless to try to force others to your way of thinking. You’re correct, Twilight. Having a bunch of fake friends who will only say what I want them to isn’t true friendship, and won’t satisfy me. Even if I start causing trouble in other lands you’d just follow.

"I’m done with the whole friendship shtick. If even a sweet, honest pony like Fluttershy could break her promise to me then why should I ever believe the rest of you won’t do the same? I put my trust in her, and she betrayed me.

“I did my last good deed for you ponies by testing Sweetie Belle. Now I’m off to go somewhere I can be myself.”

He began walking away from them.

Fluttershy began crying. “Discord… please don’t leave! I’m sorry!” She sniffed, gently sobbing. “Please stay! We can all be friends now. You can stay and we’ll have fun every day and you won’t have to be afraid anymore! Hasn’t the past three months meant anything to you? All of us came to visit you all the time.”

Discord turned his head around to her. “I don’t want to take that chance. It’s easy to spend time talking to me as a lifeless statue, but I doubt you’d still put in the effort to talk with me if you knew I was on your side simply in terms of not going against you. You don’t trust me. You have no reason to, especially after what I pulled the last time. So why should I put my trust in you?”

Discord slowly lifted his claw, and they all heard him let out a sigh. “I’ll be going now. Thanks for releasing me. I’ll say at least that much.”

Fluttershy turned to Twilight, begging, “Do something, Twilight! I can tell he doesn’t really want to leave.”

Twilight could only think of one thing to do. It was risky, but as Fluttershy had said to her when she was trying to reform him, “If I’m going to be his friend I’ve got to start by giving him the benefit of the doubt.”

“Discord!” Her horn started glowing, and as Discord turned around the Element of Magic landed on his head.

Discord blinked, lifting his hoof and tapping the Element. “What’s this?”

“I’m putting my trust in you, that’s what. For now we can go by the deal you were originally going to make with Sweetie Belle. You can hold onto one of the Elements, with the promise that you’ll return it any time we need it, and our promise that we’ll return it once we are done with it.”

The other Element bearers let out shocked exclamations, murmuring amongst themselves.

Discord looked into Twilight’s eyes, trying to find out her trick. He took the Element off his head and looked at it. He could feel the power emanating out of it, and it looked just the same as the one that was just on her head, so he was certain it wasn’t a fake like last time. He looked back at Twilight and said, “Do you think that was a wise move? You’re as bad as Sweetie Belle, throwing your trust on me without knowing what I plan to do with my freedom.”

“I trust you!” Twilight said firmly, meeting his eyes.

“Is that right? With the Elements out of the way I now can start right where I left off, with nothing to stop me.” He started walking toward her, lifting a claw, leaving it an inch from her nose. “With just a simple touch I can render you a slave to my will.”

A bead of sweat came down her face, but her expression remained unchanged, and she didn’t move. This was just another test… one she intended to pass.

Discord moved his claw forward, touching her now. “With just a tiny bit of magic I could make you my slave for life. You gave me the real one this time, so now you have no way to stop me. And your Element especially is the central focus of all the Elements.” Pushing a little harder her head moved back slightly. “Yet even now do you still feel so confident? Just one little act of will, and I can make you mine.”

“Yes!” she said without hesitation. “If that was really what you wanted you would have done it already. I know we were in the wrong for being so distrustful to you despite your attempts to change, but we ourselves have changed with all that’s happened.” She pushed against his claw. “So if you’re going to start brainwashing everyone to like you then just start doing it already. As you said, there is nothing we can do to stop you right now. Giving you the Element was the only way I could truly show you my offering of friendship to you was honest and true.

“There is still a lot of work to be done to cement our bond, but I’m putting all my trust in you right now, because there is nothing else I can give you. Please stay with us and let’s start over.”

The other Element bearers silently watched the contest between Twilight and Discord. Twilight had put her faith in Discord. Now they had to see how he would respond.

Except for some gurgling and baby-talk from Rarity the library was silent. The seconds ticked by, none of them moving.

Discord poofed a pair of dark glasses onto his face before floating in the air and laughing hysterically.

Twilight cocked her head slightly. “What’s so funny?”

“Oh, you ponies are just hilarious! You just have to take everything so seriously!” Taking off the Element he put it back on Twilight’s head. “Like I really needed this to be sure you wanted to be BEST FWIENDS!” He held himself as he began cracking up again. Wiping a tear from his eye he said, “Honestly! After what I just pulled with Sweetie Belle you’d think 'the smartest unicorn' in Ponyville would have learned. The looks on your faces were just priceless. Why would I ever want to leave? You guys are just too much fun. I got you twice in a row!”

There was a collective sigh by everyone. “Well, I guess Discord is back, after all,” said Rainbow Dash as she rolled her eyes, though with a small smile.

“Yep,” said Applejack, an exasperated grin on her face as well. “Just as annoyin’ as ever.”

Fluttershy spoke up. “Discord wasn’t messing around,” she said simply. “He really was testing us.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Even if he was upset with me I was his first friend and the one who missed him the most while he was trapped. He knows how bad I felt about breaking my promise, and he wouldn’t add to my hurt by just up and leaving, and he especially wouldn’t just feel nothing about making me cry. Why do you think he’s wearing those glasses right now? Because he’s trying to hide his relief.”

Discord gave Fluttershy a funny look.

“If he really didn’t care about us then he could have just left as soon as he was free, but he went through the trouble of seeing if Sweetie Belle had really matured in keeping control of her magic when he had no reason to. I know Discord has his bad side, as do we all, but I’ve always been able to see the sweet side hidden underneath. No amount of tasteless jokes or pranks can take that away.” Tears shined on her face as she gave a bright smile. “That’s why I’m proud to call him my friend, and that’s why I know he never had any real intention of leaving.”

Discord put on another pair of glasses with much larger and thicker lenses, but though his eyes were covered it couldn’t stop them from seeing a few tears fall down to the floor.

“Group hug!” Fluttershy called out, rushing over to him. The others were a little more restrained, but they all followed along.

“No,” said Discord, looking horrified as they ran towards him. “No. Stop it. No group hugs!”

Applejack laughed. “Look at the great master of chaos now.”

“Yeah,” said Rainbow. “Scared of a little hug.”

“Dogpile!” said Pinkie, jumping into the air and the rest of them tackled him to the ground.

Sweetie Belle held back because she was holding Rarity. A disquieting thought was beginning to take root as she saw Discord fighting to suppress his contentment.

The five of them tickled him all over, making him laugh. “Say it!” said Twilight. “Say you love having us as friends.”

“Or else we keep going,” said Applejack.

Discord poofed away, a twisted grin on his features. “Oh, you want to play, do you? Well, we can play, then. But I’m playing my way.” With a snap of his claw he said, “Look at darling Fluttershy now.” As they looked over at Fluttershy all their mouths dropped open. She had Sweetie Belle’s and Twilight’s horn on her head, as well as Rainbow’s wings.

Fluttershy looked around the room, fluttering her two sets of wings. “This feels weeeeeird!”

“So if being an alicorn makes you a princess, does this make Fluttershy a super princess?” he mused with delight.

“Discord!” spat out Sweetie Belle, Twilight, and Rainbow.

His grin expanded off his face and rose up until it broke through the top of the library, debris falling around them. “You started this, girls. This is why I won’t leave. You’re just far too much fun. It’s so easy to tick you off. You’d think you’d have learned by now.

“Fine, then. I’ll return your wings and horns.” He snapped his claw as his face returned to normal, the library repaired. “There! Much better!”

“DISCORD!” the three of them yelled now. Rainbow’s wings were on her flank, Twilight’s horn was coming out her snout, and Sweetie Belle’s was on her chin.

He began hysterically laughing, tears coming down his eyes. “Oh, this is too rich!” He slapped his knee a few times, unable to contain his joy. “N-n-no complaining, girls,” he sputtered out. “You said you wanted me as a friend, so you have to deal with what that entails.”

Pinkie Pie and Applejack joined in on his merriment, finding it extremely funny.

“D-Discord,” Fluttershy spoke up, trying to contain her laughter and be serious. “Return them to normal, please. Fun is fun, but you’re upsetting them.”

He let out a sigh. “Fine.” He snapped his claw, but nothing happened. “Hmm?” He snapped it again, and still nothing happened. “That’s odd,” he said as he looked strangely at his claw. “It’s not working. It must be because my magic hasn’t fully regenerated after being stuck inside the stone for so long.”

Rainbow’s face sank. “Please tell me this is just a bad joke. I’m not going around with wings on my butt!”

Twilight was blushing. “Well… this is awkward. I guess we’ll just have to wait until his magic comes back. I hope it isn’t too long. I don’t have the magic to fix things.” She looked down at the absurdness of seeing her horn jutting out of her nose.

Sweetie Belle was mostly just mildly annoyed at Discord’s antics, but her irritation began feeding on her thought from earlier and quickly spiked into rage. Setting Rarity down on the floor she walked up to Discord and gave him a hard smack with her hoof, eliciting a gasp from everyone else. “Knock it off!” she said angrily. “I know this is just another one of your stupid jokes. Now fix things back to the way they were before. NOW!”

“Sweetie Belle,” said Twilight. “Calm down.”

Discord looked a little shocked. It hadn’t really hurt. He was just surprised that she had actually hit him. With a snap of his claw their wings and horns returned to their proper spots. “What’s wrong, Sweetie Belle?” he asked, sounding sincere. “Are you still sore because of my testing earlier?”

“No!” She shook her head. “I needed that, and I won’t blame you for that. But you act like everything is just a big joke. In fact, it’s not just you. Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and even you, Fluttershy. If you were really so interested in making friends and being liked then you should have tried something other than just staying away and pulling pranks all the time.

"We needed your help in Ponyville! Fluttershy told me she sent you letters about that disease that went throughout the town, and you didn’t do a thing to help! You want us to see you as a friend and a hero, but all you cared about was Fluttershy. Everyone else who died wasn’t important, right, so long as Fluttershy wasn’t affected? But even that isn’t true. You let Rarity die! One of Fluttershy’s closest friends. My sister is dead because of you!”

Her horn started glowing. “You can’t expect me to just forget that.” Her horn flashed, and Discord went flying backwards, hitting a bookshelf and knocking several rows of books off the shelves.

“Sweetie Belle!” cried out Fluttershy. “Stop!”

“Get up, Discord!” she said, lifting him up with her magic. “What do you have to say for yourself?” She squeezed him hard with her magic. “Answer me or I’ll choke the life out of you!”

“That’s enough, Sweetie Belle!” said Twilight sternly, smacking her horn and disrupting her concentration. “We’ve already had this talk. I told you it was our fault.”

“No! It isn’t!” She gave Twilight a dirty look. “He could have saved Rarity at any time, but he wanted her out of the way for his own selfish desires, and then blackmailed me for her life with the deal for the Element.”

“If that’s how you truly feel then why did you help release him? You used your Element knowing it would free him, so you weren’t feeling this way just a short time ago or it wouldn’t have worked. What happened?”

“That’s none of your business!”

Discord said in an apologetic voice, “Sweetie Belle, I am sorry for the way I acted. I let fear guide my actions and it did lead to your sister dying. It was wrong of me. I admit that. The only thing I can do now is pledge myself to helping protect you, little Rarity, and all of Ponyville.”

“Sweetie Belle,” said Twilight softly. “Do you remember what you said to me about Discord? How he gave you a cutie mark?”

Sweetie Belle was still feeling mad, but she was curious as to what Twilight was getting at. “Yeah. Unlike when you tried it for Apple Bloom his actually stuck around. Why are you asking? What does that matter now?”

“Discord,” started Twilight in a hesitant voice. “You’ve shown many times that your magic transcends the possible for even the strongest alicorn. You can remove body parts from ponies, change landscapes, and even give a pony the cutie mark of their choice.”

“Yes," he replied. "And?”

“If you truly want to make things up for what happened… can you… will you bring Rarity back to us?”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes grew large as saucers, her anger evaporating on the spot. That was right. Discord could break all the usual magical rules. He could set things right. Tears started coming down her eyes.

Discord let out a sigh. “I’m sorry, girls, but that is impossible even for me. I cannot bring the dead back to life. Once they’re gone they’re gone, and nothing can bring them back.”

Sweetie Belle’s hope cracked along with her heart, shattering into a million pieces. For a few seconds she had entertained a glorious hope: of having her sister back, letting her meet her little sister, of the two of them doing generous acts for others. Now that was gone.

Letting out a frustrated cry she slammed her hooves into the ground repeatedly, sobbing a little. When one of the ponies, she didn’t know which, put a hoof on her to comfort her she knocked it away and got up, running out of the library towards her house.

All of them looked uncertainly at each other. “I was afraid that might be his response," said Twilight. "I think it would probably be best if you all go home for now. I’ll try to work things out with her.”

“Swee-Belle! Swee-Belle!” Baby Rarity cried out as she crawled towards the door, banging on it. “Swee-Belle!”

Twilight walked over to Rarity and picked her up. “And I have to get you home as well.” Rarity squirmed in her hooves, trying to get away. “Rarity. Do you want Sweetie Belle?”

She stopped moving so much, looking at Twilight with teary eyes. “Swee-Belle?”

“Yes. I’ll take you home so you can see her.”

The rest of them filed out along with her. Discord came out last. “Twilight,” he started, wringing his claw and paw together, “I really AM sorry about Rarity. I really wish there was a way to take it back, but I can’t.”

“I know… Discord.” She closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “Sweetie Belle will come around. She said the reason she wanted you around was so you could act as a second line of defense in case we’re separated from the Elements. If you can help to save her or Rarity from danger I’m sure she’ll be more apt to give up some of her anger towards you. For now, though, return home.”

“No,” said Fluttershy. “I’d like him to come with me. Discord feels bad. He shouldn’t have to deal with those feelings all by himself.”

“Do what you want, Discord. Sweetie Belle shouldn’t have to deal with her feelings alone, either.” Her horn began to glow with a red aura, but then it stopped as she looked down at Rarity. She had teleported many times before with no complications, but she didn’t know how a baby would take the procedure. If Sweetie Belle had had a much harder time harnessing the power of the Elements because of her young age it was possible that teleporting Rarity could harm her, and if anything happened to baby Rarity now Sweetie Belle would be utterly crushed and devoid of any hope. That being the case she thought it would be much safer simply to walk. Sweetie Belle’s home wasn’t that far away, anyway.

About ten minutes later she came upon the house by the lake. She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Straining her ear she could hear the sound of crying. Feeling a little bit guilty about intruding she tried the doorknob and found it was unlocked. She entered the house, closing the door behind her as she headed upstairs. She looked around, but she didn’t see Sweetie Belle’s parents.

Knocking on the door she said, “Sweetie Belle! It’s Twilight. I brought Rarity home.”

The sound of crying stifled, and the door opened after a short time.

As soon as it did Rarity practically jumped off her back and towards the filly, calling out happily, “Swee-Belle!”

Sweetie Belle took her sister, holding her close. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked so conflicted about whether she wanted to feel joy or sadness. Both Rarity’s were pulling her thoughts and emotions in opposing directions. “Oh, Rarity,” she said, affection clear in her voice. “I love you so much!”

Rarity strained, trying to talk. “W-wuv yew, Swee-Belle!”

Turning around she took Rarity to her bed, setting her down. “Stay here, Rarity.” She left the room, running downstairs. Rarity looked upset, but stayed where she was. After a minute she returned, holding a bottle of warm milk. Rarity’s face lit up as Sweetie Belle came in the room.

Setting Rarity on her lap she placed the bottle to her sister’s lips, and Rarity greedily began drinking it down. “Good girl, Rarity. Drink it all, and then it will be time for a little nap.”

Twilight just stood off to the side, watching Sweetie Belle taking care of her sister. She didn’t know if it was intentional, but Sweetie Belle hadn’t said a word to her since she had come in. She hadn’t even said a thank you for having her sister brought home.

After Rarity was done with her bottle Sweetie Belle brought her up, patting her back until Rarity let out a soft belch. “That a girl, Rarity.” She began rocking her sister as Rarity let out a yawn. “Nap time.” Sweetie Belle began singing a gentle lullaby, and it wasn’t long until Rarity was out like a light. Getting up she set her sister in the crib on the other side of the room.

When that was done she headed towards the door to her room. She gave Twilight a quick look, jerking her head, and Twilight followed her as they went downstairs. Sweetie Belle closed the door as they left. As they reached the ground floor and went to the kitchen Sweetie Belle rounded on her, and her kind, loving expression was gone. “Discord was right about you!” she said angrily. “For being so smart with books you are unbelievably stupid when it comes to other ponies.”

That one stung a little. “Sweetie Belle,” she started, but she was cut off with a smack to the face.

“I don’t want to hear it, Twilight!” Tears were pouring down her eyes. “You KNOW how much Rarity meant to me! You know how much it hurt me to lose her. And watching you guys pal around it got me thinking that, really, I am the one who is responsible for Rarity’s death. If I had just given Discord the Element when he asked he probably would have acted just like he did today. That means Rarity’s death was completely pointless!

“NOW I get what you meant when you said 'If we’re lucky you’ll only have to use it once.' You planned all along to see if Discord could bring Rarity back to life. Then Rarity could take her Element back and use it again. The whole point is that you weren’t sure if it could be done.

"AND YET YOU ASKED HIM ABOUT IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!” she roared. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THAT MAKES ME FEEL, RAISING UP MY HOPES AND THEN DASHING THEM TO PIECES IN LESS THAN TEN SECONDS?” She hit Twilight again on her chest. “I truly believed for a short, glorious time that I could have my sister back. If you weren’t sure it could be done you should have asked him when I wasn’t there, which is what anyone with a BRAIN in their head would have done!”

Tears started coming down Twilight’s eyes. “Sweetie Belle, I’m so sorry. I never meant -”

“SHUT UP! I don’t want to hear it! Get out! Get out of my house and don’t come back! I don’t want to see you right now.”

“Sweetie Belle-”

“I said get OUT!” Her horn glowed as various small things began floating, all of them directed at Twilight.

Twilight let out a small yelp, jumping out of the way. More things followed the first wave, and Twilight saw Sweetie Belle was beyond reaching at the moment. She went running for the door, dodging things along the way.

As she got some distance from the house she heard Sweetie Belle yelling her name. “Hey, Twilight! Take this junk with you!”

Twilight turned her head, her eyes shrinking as all she saw was a green blur coming towards her. She let out a cry of pain and fell to the ground, her nose and eye throbbing. Looking down as she heard the door slam she saw the Element of Generosity.

Guilt began overtaking her. How had she been messing things up so badly lately? First it was Discord, then Rarity, and now Sweetie Belle. Getting up she put on the Element and began the slow walk home, her right eye closed from the pain, tears coming down her eyes all the while.

Chapter 14: Regrets of the past and visions of the future

Sweetie Belle stormed around her house for a while, fuming and raging and cursing under her breath. She was so frustrated and angry she could barely walk straight. Her horn kept sporadically firing up, sending things flying on accident and not even caring.

As her anger built up she began throwing a tantrum again. She repeatedly slammed her hooves into the floor, screaming and sobbing, not even trying to be quiet for her sister’s sake anymore.

She cried and shouted until she had burnt out her emotions, breathing heavily on the ground. She took in shaky breaths, leaving her head on the floor as she closed her eyes. “Rarity… Rarity.” Tears were still coming down her eyes. She had thought she was over this. She had accepted the loss of her sister and had pledged to do all she could to take care of the new Rarity to stop from dwelling on the older one.

She gently panted, feeling her stomach still burning. “No more,” she said in a whisper, her vision blurry. “I can’t take anymore. This pain is unbearable. I don’t want to feel it anymore. It feels like I lost Rarity all over again. And it’s all my fault.” She let out a small sob. “B-b-but if I’m not here… then who will protect Rarity?”

Her head felt like it weighed a ton, and her eyelids wouldn’t stay open.

She didn’t know how long she stayed there when she suddenly heard a voice calling her name. “Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle!”

Confusion assaulted her. That voice… so familiar. It couldn’t be! Forcing her eyes open she let out a loud gasp, her eyes going wide. “Ra… Ra… Rarity?” There in front of her was her sister. Had Discord been lying to her once again?

***

Twilight entered the library, heading towards the loft.

“Hey, Twilight!” said the cheery voice of Spike. “How did everything-” He stopped and let out a gasp as he saw the light swelling on her face. “Twilight! What happened to your eye?”

She just shook her head. “It’s nothing.” In an undertone she said, “Nothing less than I deserve.”

“What do you mean nothing? You look terrible! Did Sweetie Belle do that to you?”

She let out a growl and snapped, “I said it’s nothing! So just shut up and drop it, ALRIGHT!” When she saw the hurt look on his face she immediately felt guilty. Now she was taking things out on Spike. How many of her friends was she going to make things worse for? She let out a whimper, and she began crying again as she grabbed Spike and hugged him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”

Spike hugged her back. “It’s okay, Twilight. I’m sorry for prying.” He let her go, looking her in the eyes. “Is… is there anything I can do?”

Twilight slowly shook her head. “No… Spike. This is something I have to bear alone.” Walking up the ramp she sat down in her bed, letting her emotions run free as she reflected on her failures of the past few months. When she had given Discord the Element of Magic as a gesture of trust he had thrown it right back at her because simply knowing that she was willing to do that was enough to convince him that she trusted him. If she had only done more Rarity might still be alive today. What had she been thinking, asking Discord about bringing Rarity back to life while Sweetie Belle was right next to her? Sweetie Belle’s harsh words echoed in her mind, making her wince.

She reached up with her hooves, removing the Element of Generosity. She had been so stupid lately, and it had cost one of her dear friends everything. Despite all her efforts she hadn’t been able to do anything but give Rarity a little extra time. An overwhelming sense of failure was overtaking her. What was it all for? What was the point of everything she had learned if she couldn’t help her friends when they needed her the most?

She let out a loud gasp as a cold sensation appeared on her hurt eye. With her good eye she looked and saw Spike there, holding something over her eye. “What are you doing, Spike?”

“I got you an ice pack,” he responded. “You don’t have to tell me what happened if you don’t want to, but I’m not going to let you be all alone up here when you’re clearly in need of a friend.”

Tears started coming down her eyes. Shifting her position she picked up Spike and held him to her. “Thank you, Spike!” She started feeling a little better.

“No problem, Twilight,” he said with a smile.

***

“There you are!” she heard Rarity say. “What are you doing sleeping on the floor, you silly?”

“Rarity?” she said with confusion.

She saw her older sister flipping her hair as she showed off one of her dresses. “Isn’t it just FABULOUS?” she heard. “Oh, I’m sure this dress will be the talk of the town.”

“Yes, Rarity,” she responded. “It’s beautiful just like you.”

“Oh, thank you, Sweetie Belle. Your compliments mean a lot to me.”

Sweetie Belle’s sense of euphoria quickly dwindled. She clenched her eyes shut, shaking her head. “No! Stop it! You’re not real! Rarity’s dead! She isn’t with me anymore.”

“Of course she is!” she heard another voice say. Princess Luna appeared.

“Princess Luna?” Realization washed over her. “So this is just… a dream?”

“I could feel your distress in my sleep, so I decided to come help you out.”

Sweetie Belle let out a sigh. “I knew it. She’s gone forever.”

“Not at all. Do you think the ones we love ever truly leave us? Rarity is still looking over you. Though her body may have passed on her heart and soul are still alive in you.”

Luna came and sat down next to her, gently rubbing her back. “Your sister loved you very dearly. You were a frequent occupant of her dreams. At times it was when she was annoyed at you for breaking something or making a mess, but most of the time she dreamt of the two of you together.”

With a flash the scenery changed to a lush beach. Sweetie Belle wiped her face, sniffing a little. She saw her and Rarity at the beach, playing volleyball against Apple Bloom and Applejack.

“And at still others it was about her fears and worries over you.”

With another flash the scenery changed once again. Rarity was sitting in her workshop, her lush mane mostly gray and lines on her face. Sweetie Belle saw herself as a mare, looking troubled. “Don’t worry, Rarity,” her older self said, with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Tomorrow I’ll go out and try again. I HAVE to get a cutie mark sometime. I won’t be a blank flank forever.”

The image faded away, leaving the area black as night. Luna patted her head. “Do you see, Sweetie Belle? Your sister has always cared about you, no matter what happened between you. You have grown up, striving to master magic and become a hero.”

Rarity appeared again. “That’s right, dear sister,” said Rarity. “I’m so proud of you for all that you’ve done in honor of me.”

Tears brimmed in Sweetie Belle’s eyes as her whole body clenched, and she gasped in a breath. Even if it was only an illusion, a dream, it felt like a stabbing pain in her heart to hear that. She fell to the floor, sobbing. Really, it was what she been most desiring to hear: That all her efforts were enough to make her sister proud.

“I know things are difficult right now, but they will get better. A lot of ponies need you, Sweetie Belle. To think of leaving this life and pursuing the sister that is gone is not a good choice. You know full well how much you yourself are hurting right now. Do you think you could force that same pain onto others? Your baby sister especially needs you to teach her.

"I know that it is not easy, but you must endure. Be strong, like the sister you admire, and you will give strength to all those around you. Ponies rally around those who show admirable attributes. The same way that observing the generous nature of your sister made you strive to be like her.”

Sweetie Belle looked at the ground. “I know that. I know. It’s just… I’ve missed her so much. I accepted that she was dead, but then I got a hope of being able to see her again. It lifted me up so high that the crash hurt worse than the first time I lost her. I know I can’t leave yet. It would make all my lessons meaningless if I wasn’t around to protect my little sister.”

Her eyes narrowed as rage filled her mind again. “It’s all that stupid Twilight’s fault!”

As the memory came back to her Twilight and Discord appeared in the dreamscape. “If you truly want to make things up for what happened… can you… will you bring Rarity back to us?”

Sweetie Belle growled as she ran forward and tackled Twilight, making it dissolve into mist. “I hate her! I hate her! She’s so stupid! What was she thinking? Why would she say that if she didn’t know if it would work?”

“Sweetie Belle-”

“NO!” she yelled, rounding on the alicorn. “You’re going to order me to apologize, right? Well, nothing doing!”

“Of course not.”

“Don’t give me that! I know you’re going to tell me I should.”

“Sweetie Belle. Do you know the only way to apologize?"

She rolled her eyes. “With words?” she said sarcastically.

“No. With your heart.”

“Huh?”

“An apology means nothing if it is said with insincere motives. Ordering you to apologize is meaningless if you won’t mean what you say.

“Let me ask you something, Sweetie Belle. Are you so arrogant as to believe that you’re the only one in Ponyville that was saddened by your sister’s death?”

“Of course not! I know tons of ponies were sad. Why wouldn’t they be? Rarity was amazing.”

“Did you consider the fact that Twilight was just as devastated as you were by Rarity’s passing?”

“So what?”

“If it had been YOU that had an idea that Discord could bring Rarity back to life do you not think that the rest of your friends would be similarly devastated that it couldn’t be done?”

“They probably were. Again, so what? It doesn’t make what Twilight did any less stupid.”

“Did you even consider the possibility that Twilight was likely so hopeful that she couldn’t hold back?” Sweetie Belle blinked, meeting her eyes but not responding. “You talk to me about your pain. If you thought there was a way to bring Rarity back to life don’t you think that you yourself would ask as soon as possible, wanting to know the answer one way or the other? You got your hopes up for a short time, but the rest of them have had a few months of uncertainty. Is it any wonder then that Twilight couldn’t hold back, banking on a hope of Discord’s ability to defy reality so that she could see her best friend once more?”

Sweetie Belle averted her eyes, not wanting to answer.

Luna let out a small huff. “Your action just now shows more than you know. Twilight feels responsible for Rarity not getting better. I know she spent countless hours going through books, looking for a cure to that disease. Now on top of that you had to attack her for attempting to right things?”

The accusation made her anger flare up again. “WHY SHOULDN’T SHE FEEL GUILTY? She FAILED! She failed everyone!”

“Who is it you are really mad at, Sweetie Belle? I once helped out your friend Scootaloo when she was having nightmares. She turned her inner struggles into outer ones through monsters in her dreams, when her true conflict was in her heart. She felt inferior to the idol she looked up to, and thought Rainbow Dash could never appreciate her for being 'weak.' So is it truly Twilight you’re the most angry at, or is she just a perfect target for misdirecting the anger that otherwise would be aimed at yourself?”

Sweetie Belle shuddered, grimacing. “No,” she said in a small voice. “It’s… it’s her fault. She admitted it herself.”

“Really? Then why have you suddenly gotten so quiet? Just as I told your friend you have to face your true self. You must forgive yourself for your mistakes, and stop dwelling on the past. There is no room for 'What if’s' in the world. There is no guarantee of what will happen after a given action until it happens.

"If you HAD given Discord the Element back when he tried to make that trade with you there is no guarantee he would have remained friendly. It was only because their mistrust led to Rarity’s death that the rest of them did their best to befriend Discord, and thus give him a feeling of security. Without that Fluttershy would still be his only friend, and there would still be a lot of distrust between the rest of them because they would know Discord had the Element and could turn on them at any time.

“You made the decision that felt right in your heart. That is the best that you can do in this life: to remain true to yourself. You made the best choice you could, and anything else is mere assumption.”

“Just stop it! I made my mistake, but I’m just a kid! I’m supposed to make mistakes. Twilight was your sister’s personal student since she was about my age. She doesn’t have any excuse to be stupid. I don’t want to forgive her and YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!”

Luna’s eyebrow went up. “I don’t believe I’ve said once in our conversation that you should forgive her or that I want you to. You’re the one who keeps bringing it up, Sweetie Belle.”

“Don’t lie to me! You just haven’t brought it up YET. YET! You’re going to tell me at some point before you leave what I should do.”

“Your feelings are your own. As I said earlier, even if I threatened or coerced you into apologizing it would be a hollow act and a token gesture, because your heart wouldn’t be in your words.”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. So then you’re going to use my sister against me, right? 'What do you think RARITY would do if this happened? What would RARITY want you to feel? Wouldn't RARITY want you to forgive Twilight?' Don’t bother!”

Luna shook her head, a slightly exasperated look on her face. “I’m not going to ask you what you think Rarity would do. I want to ask you what you would tell Rarity to do.”

Sweetie Belle tilted her head slightly, an eyebrow rising. “What are you talking about? Rarity was older than me. Who would I be to tell her what to do?”

Luna shook her head again. “I’m not talking about her.” Rarity appeared and vanished. “I’m talking about HER.” Baby Rarity appeared, but she stayed. “What would you tell her to do in your situation?

“Young foals are like information sponges. They absorb information at a rate older ponies can’t even fathom. It is necessary for their first few years of life, as they have to be able to begin to understand the world around them, learn to speak, run, and interact with the ponies in their life. And learning isn’t done simply when you’re making the effort to teach them. They also pay attention to you in your daily life. They automatically copy the ponies in their lives to start forming their own identity.

"Without a notion of right and wrong, or good and evil, they make no distinction between the two. If they observe you being kind to others and sharing they see that as good. If they observe you being jealous and greedy they also see that as good, since they saw someone they love doing it, and anything they see their loved ones doing is something they should too.

“The first ponies babies observe is, naturally, their mother and father, as well as their siblings. The point of being an older sibling is to pass on the traits you most cherish onto them. You observed your sister being generous, and thus now you have a cutie mark for generosity and desire to show off that to others so they can do the same. Good and desirable traits are like a contagious disease: they pass on to others by close contact as what you have gets passed onto them.”

The dream Rarity was on her back, gently kicking her hooves and giggling. “Swee-Belle!” she said happily as another Sweetie Belle appeared above her and started tickling her, making her laugh more.

Sweetie Belle found her anger dwindling as she looked warmly at her sister.

“Yes, Rarity is truly a little angel right now. All babies are innocent, ignorant of the evils and wrongs of the world. But in time they grow up, and they do start to know them. In order to not get corrupted by them and begin to follow after them it requires ponies who will keep a firm hold on them when they start to wander off the path, and push them back onto the right one, no matter how much they resist along the way.

“Your influence might be even stronger than that of your parents, as ponies tend to come to those closer to their own age. Sometimes there are things we want to hide from our parents and we feel more comfortable confiding in our siblings. Sometimes we need our sister by our side to get up the courage to tell our parents we made a mistake. There are plenty of other examples, but having been a younger sister yourself I’m sure you know full well what I’m talking about.” Sweetie Belle nodded.

“Your influence will help determine the type of pony Rarity will grow up to be. It is completely true that ponies need to be responsible for their own actions. Just because they had a good upbringing doesn’t mean a pony won’t ever do anything bad or be talked into doing the wrong thing. However, those who have a strong support system and a strong moral foundation will be more able to admit their errors and come back to their family or friends in apology. For that a pony needs to be around those who will set the best examples. You may still be a child in age, Sweetie Belle, but you are maturing quickly. You now are one of the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, and you are a big sister, who will help to guide the life of a pony.

“Just like a plant, the only thing that will sprout in a child is what is planted. You wouldn’t expect to plant an apple seed and give birth to a pear tree. Similarly, what seeds you plant in your sister is an indicator of the way she herself will grow up. One small thing can snowball into a big thing, tainting your being with anger and hatred and leading to destruction of the spirit and heart, and that is something your sister may pick up and pass on to others.”

There was a flash from Luna’s horn, and both Rarity and dream Sweetie Belle began growing. Sweetie Belle found it fascinating to see herself as a mare. Rarity’s resemblance to her namesake was even more pronounced. Her mane and tail were still not the same, but besides that it was difficult to tell the difference.

Rarity began crying. Her voice sounded much the same, just in a deeper pitch.

“Rarity!” said dream Sweetie Belle. “What happened?”

“That jerk friend of mine made a fool out of me in front of everyone!” She buried her head in Sweetie Belle’s chest, sobbing.

“Aw, Rarity!” She put her hooves up, taking her sister in a hug.

After a short time she settled down, pulling away as she wiped her face. “Hmph!” She scoffed as she took on an annoyed tone. “You were right about him. I should have gotten rid of him after the last time he did something stupid. I shouldn’t have forgiven him. Forgiving others is stupid, unless they’re family.” A twisted smile came to her face. “Just like that stupid Twilight. You told me enough about how she betrayed you.” She started looking enraged. “Twilight Sparkle!” She said it like it was the foulest thing imaginable. “The pony that killed our sister!”

The real Sweetie Belle gasped, her eyes widening.

“What a horrible example of the Element of Magic she is. She couldn’t even save one of her friends when it mattered the most."

A cold feeling came to her chest as she gently shook her head. “No…”

“I’m glad you broke all ties with her. It’s HER fault I never got to meet the awesome sister I was named after. I never got to try my sister’s fashions. Too bad SHE didn’t die instead, that monster of a pony!”

Sweetie Belle was panting now, tears coming down her eyes. “No! Stop it! Stop it, Rarity!”

With that same twisted smile she said, “I snuck into the library the other day when she wasn’t paying attention and drew all over a bunch of books. I could have just destroyed them, but I think it makes it more funny to think of her just browsing one of her favorite books in the middle of the night and not being able to finish because there’s a big black spot all over the page.” She let out a malicious laugh. “Aren’t you so proud of me, Big Sis?”

“STOP IT!” she squeaked. “STOP IT, RARITY! Stop talking like that!”

The illusion faded, and like time rewinding the scene slowly went back until Rarity had become a baby again. “Swee-Belle!” she called out in her tiny voice.

Sweetie Belle fell to the ground, gently sobbing. It was just an illusion, but it had felt way too real.

“Do you see now what anger, hatred, and a refusal to forgive can lead to? You are now an older sister, Sweetie Belle. Is THAT want you want to pass on to Rarity? Is that the way you want her to be?”

Sweetie Belle rapidly shook her head hard. “No! I don’t EVER want Rarity to be like that. But… but…” She shifted her eyes around. “I… I don’t know what’s right. Do you think I was wrong to be mad at Twilight?”

“One of the golden rules of friendship is to treat others the way you want to be treated. Twilight already feels responsible for most of what went wrong. If you were in her position, would you want someone to throw more guilt at you?”

“No…”

“You may be Rarity’s little sister, and strive to be like her, but you are not her. You are your own pony, and you have to make your own decisions. Forgive her, or don’t. Your pain is justified, and your anger is justified, but you have to decide what you want to do with those feelings. Always keep in the back of your mind that you’re going to be accompanied by a pony that is going to follow after your every move, striving to be like her cherished older sister. What example are YOU going to set for her?”

Sweetie Belle felt her mind return to the images she had just watched, of that perverse smile on Rarity’s face, and the delight she was getting out of doing what she could to hurt Twilight. It didn’t escape her that Luna was in control of the dreams and it wasn’t actually the future, but did she actually want to take the chance to have that come true? Did she ever want to envision a future that she was directing Rarity to be bitter and vindictive and untrusting? No matter how she felt about Twilight she would never, EVER let that possibility become a certainty.

“Princess Luna…”

“Yes, young one?”

“I… I’m going to forgive Twilight,” she said in a small voice. “I would set a bad example for Rarity if things continued on like this. Even if what you showed me wasn’t real it might become that, and that is even more unbearable. To think of Rarity staining my older sister’s name by becoming the exact opposite of what she represented, and all because of my influence… that would make me far worse than Twilight ever was.

“You’re right. A part of my anger at Twilight is because I don’t want to face myself. I do feel like Rarity’s death was meaningless and that I could have stopped it. But… there’s no going back now. I can only go forward now by teaching little Rarity all the things that Rarity no longer can.”

Luna’s face lit up. “I’m proud of you, Sweetie Belle. I’m here helping you for the same reason.”

“What do you mean?”

“My anger and hatred led to me turning into Nightmare Moon and being sealed away for a thousand years. Upon my return I’ve done my best to make amends for my errors of the past. I’ve learned that bearing a grudge has not brought me any benefits, and now I talk with my sister when I have issues to stop something small growing into something bigger. By choosing to let go of your anger and being forgiving you’re giving your sister something positive to watch instead of something negative. That already makes my freedom worth a lot, as it allows me to stop other ponies from making my same mistake.

“As a reward for your decision I will grant you the thing you want most. Of course, that’s only if you want it.”

Sweetie Belle felt confused again. “If it’s the thing I want most then why wouldn’t I want it?”

“My dream-walking ability allows me to enter and manipulate the dreams of others. When one is having a nightmare I can destroy what it is that is tormenting them. I can show them images and memories and help them see their way through their problems. Anything I can imagine I can make manifest in this world.

“If you wish, for a short time, I can let you see your sister again. You can choose a memory of the two of you that you want to revisit, or I can make a more solid Rarity that you can play around with.

“The danger there, of course, is of longing. You might come to desire it more and more and dwell on the past, forgetting the present.”

“If I did that then I’d be abandoning the Rarity I’m obligated to look after, and that won’t ever happen.

“I do think I’d like that, but not now. Tonight. After all, I don’t want to be interrupted, and I did kinda fall asleep right in the middle of the living room.”

Luna nodded. “Very well. I shall see you tonight, Sweetie Belle.”

Luna flapped her wings, rising into the sky as a vortex appeared behind her, absorbing the blackness of the dreamscape and turning it white. The whiteness grew so bright it hurt her eyes, and she closed them.

As she opened her eye a crack she saw she was back home. Getting up she walked up to her room. She saw Rarity was still sound asleep. Lowering the bars on the crib she took her sister out.

Rarity fussed a little, opening her eyes a crack and whining, but when she saw her sister she let out a small, content, “Swee-Belle.” A few seconds later she was back to sleep.

Using her magic to help hold her sister up she went outside to the lake, dipping her hooves in as she slowly rocked her sister. Again, the images ran through her mind. She wouldn’t ever let them become reality. Her sister would never become malicious and hateful like that. She wouldn’t allow it. When her parents got home she’d leave Rarity with them and go visit Twilight and make things right between them.

She continued staring at her reflection, deep in thought, when she heard a voice call her name. As she looked up she saw Discord standing there. She felt a flash of irritation that she quickly suppressed, mindful of her sister in her lap.

“Sweetie Belle,” he said quickly. “Just say the word and I’ll leave, but I can do something for you that can partially make up for what I’ve done.”

She felt some mild interest. “Like what?” she said, restlessly kicking her hooves back and forth.

“I told you before that I can’t bring the dead back to life. Similarly, I can’t create life from nothing. However, with my magic and the help of you and all your friends there is a way I can 'sorta' restore Rarity back to life. You’ll just have to understand it won’t truly be your sister.”

Sweetie Belle turned her head to him completely, wondering what he had in mind.

Chapter 15: Discord's offer, Sweetie's maturity.

“I see,” said Spike with a sigh. “We finally settled one issue and now we have to deal with another one.”

Twilight sighed as well, levitating a mirror toward her. The swelling on her eye had gone down considerably. She could see out of it again. Setting the mirror down she pulled Spike to her, wrapping him in a strong hug. “Thank you for listening, Spike. It really did help.”

“No problem, Twilight. I’m glad you opened up. I already lost one of my best friends. We don’t need any more sadness than we already have from that.”

“I don’t expect she’ll want to forgive me. She really blew her stack.” She tapped her eye. “It was a foolish decision on my part, and she was right. I really should have asked Discord in private. The heartbreak on her face was devastating.”

“So… why didn’t you?”

Twilight backed off, sitting back on her bed. “I don’t know.” She looked blankly toward a wall. “I guess… I just attributed more to Discord than he actually had. If he can move the sun and moon like nothing, transfer wings and horns from one pony to another, use mind-control, make it rain chocolate milk from cotton candy clouds, and transform himself as he wishes why shouldn’t I think that bringing the dead back to life would be any more of a strain for him?

"He’s so insanely powerful that I thought the only thing he couldn’t do with his magic was defeat the Elements of Harmony. He could go after the users, yes, but not overpower the Elements themselves. He’s done things so far above what Princess Celestia can do and with such incredible ease and lack of effort that I didn’t think this would be any different.” She set her head back on the bed, starting to cry again. “I was wrong. So very wrong. And I made Sweetie Belle suffer for it.” She buried her head in her hooves. “I’m so stupid!”

Spike grabbed Twilight’s head, lifting it up. “Stop it, Twilight! This isn’t helping. Beating yourself up isn’t going to make things any better. I’m sad too that Rarity can’t come back, but you have to stop blaming yourself.”

Twilight blinked tears out of her eyes, trying to pull away, but Spike held her head steady, looking her in the eyes. “I don’t know what to do,” she finally said. “Sweetie Belle hates me, and she has every right to. Distrusting Discord was a reasonable course of action at the time. Sweetie Belle did the same when she refused to hand the Element over, which is why she wasn’t too mad at me when I said it was our fault for what happened. But what I did just a little while ago was the peak of stupidity.”

“Twiliiight,” Spike said exasperatingly. “You’re NOT stupid. You’re a pony like the rest of your friends. You make mistakes. Sure, Sweetie Belle is mad now, but she’ll forgive you. It might take a day or two, or maybe even a week or two, but she will forgive you. It’s what friends do, you know? You got mad at me for ruining your book and then lying about it, and my jealously over Owlicious made me leave town, thinking you didn’t need me anymore. Still, after all that, you forgave me and we moved past it. It will happen here too. Now I want you to stop with the stupid talk, alright? I don’t want to hear any more.”

Twilight let out a heavy breath. “Alright, Spike,” she said in a quiet voice, a hint of a smile on her face.

***

“What are you thinking, Discord?” said Sweetie Belle, her eyes narrowed. There was a squeak of discomfort from her sister, making Sweetie Belle look down quickly. She saw she was tensing up so hard that she had been squeezing her sister without realizing it. She loosened her grip, rocking Rarity again. “Shh. Shh. It’s okay.” After a few seconds Rarity settled down and remained asleep.

Looking back up she said, “You said you need me and my friends. I guess you’re planning to use the Elements of Harmony and combine it with your magic somehow to restore her.”

Discord shook his head. He shrank down to her size. “No. What I need from you isn’t the Elements, but your information.”

Sweetie Belle sighed. In a way she was glad she was holding Rarity. She didn’t know how she would be acting otherwise. She had already had her hopes crushed just a short time ago and pledged to forgive Twilight so she didn’t chance having Rarity turn out wrong. How now should she feel about Discord? Should she forgive him too?

Tears came down her eyes, splashing down onto Rarity’s coat. “It’s partly your fault my sister died,” she said in a quiet voice. She felt herself tensing this time, and so worked to unclench her body before she caused Rarity discomfort. “I can say that, but I know that I also played a part along with Twilight and her friends. As Luna just tried to teach me there is no going back in time. The only thing we can do is learn from the past and move on.

“So what is this grand plan of yours? You planning to make a life size Rarity doll and bring it to life? Or maybe you want me to decide which Rarity is more important to me by aging up this Rarity and having it like my older sister?”

“Of course not! I’ve learned my lesson now.” Surprising her completely he got down on the ground in a submissive position. “I’m sorry, Sweetie Belle. I’m sorry my stupidity and fear cost you your sister."

Her body clenched again as more tears came down her eyes. She slowly shook her head. “Please don’t do that. It’s not you.”

He got up to a kneeling position. “It is me now. I had one friend, and being told she didn’t want to be friends anymore is what truly set me off. Now I have five friends. I finally feel safe, even though I don’t have one of the Elements. I still have a lot to learn about friendship, and so I’d like to have a sixth friend in you.”

Bowing down again he continued, “I know I’m usually proud and arrogant and joking, but this is the one thing I can’t joke about. Even at my worst I never took anyone’s life, but it seems I really did this time, even if indirectly. I was too blinded by pride to see anyone’s life as important besides my friend Fluttershy. I humbly ask for your forgiveness,” he said with complete sincerity.

Sweetie Belle wiped her face, but the tears still kept going. She felt like she was still dreaming. Seeing Discord prostrate on the ground, begging for her good favor, and actually MEANING it, was the last thing she thought she’d ever see, especially given the way he had been acting before.

“Rarity…” Sweetie Belle closed her eyes, seeing her older sister. She thought back to Luna’s words, when she was asked if it was Twilight she was really the angriest at, or if it simply was easier to hate someone else to forget her feelings towards herself.

“Raise your head. Get up. Please… just stop doing that. It’s really weirding me out. But… I guess that’s just a sign of how serious you are about wanting to change. I will forgive you, but I want to know one thing first.”

Discord stood up again. “Yes?” He waited, but she didn’t speak. “Yeeees?”

Sweetie Belle was hesitating. She didn’t want to ask, but she had to know. “If… if I had given you the Element back… back before Rarity died… what were you really planning to do?”

Now it was Discord’s turn to be quiet for a little while. “I… well… at the time I didn’t have the best of intentions. I tried to manipulate you and break you to my will without actually using my powers on you. I needed you to give me the Element on your own so your guilt would make you keep it a secret until it was too late to do anything about it. I was being truthful that I would have cured Rarity.

“My friendship with Fluttershy was very important to me, and I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that, but I wanted out of the confines I was being placed under. Once the Element stopped being the deciding factor I planned to force my way into pony society.

"Like I said before, I wanted to have a way that chaos and harmony could coexist the same way you three types of ponies did. Kids cause trouble all the time. They get into mischief and act bad and do crazy things, and yet no one wants to turn THEM to stone for it. I wanted to show ponies the brighter side of chaos. A pony that prefers cold weather to hot weather could have a house with an ice rink year long. There could be snowball fights whenever you want.

"My powers can be used for good things too. It was like I told you before. I would use my magic to help out those who needed it, in exchange for letting me have my way. Of course, with all the stories about me being a horrible monster and such going around, no one would accept it at first. That’s why I’d have to force it a little, to show them I was serious.”

Sweetie Belle let out a long sigh. “So it is true.”

“What’s true?”

“Rarity’s death really was for nothing.” She stared at her reflection in the water, feeling despair begin to eat at her again.

“No, Sweetie Belle!” Discord said firmly as he saw her pain. “It wasn’t for nothing.”

“Please stop,” she said quietly. “Just leave me alone.

“I know what you’re going to say. That if it wasn’t for Rarity’s death and you being locked away I wouldn’t have pushed so hard to learn magic and strive to learn how to protect little Rarity, and I wouldn’t have gotten my cutie mark so quickly, and that Rarity isn’t really dead. She’s still alive in me. I’m not stupid. I know all that, but it doesn’t mean anything. I would rather be a stupid kid and a lifelong blank flank if it meant Rarity was still here with me.” She closed her eyes, letting her tears flow.

“I don’t know what your offer is, but I doubt it will cheer me up. If you’re saying 'sorta' it means she really won’t still be alive. She’ll be a ghost or something, right?”

“No. Giving it some thought I figured that there is one way to have 'Rarity' here again. Do you remember the wedding for Shining Armor and Cadence?”

“What about it?” she asked, remembering how she was one of the flower girls.

“I’m sure you also remember the little disturbance that occurred?”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. An army of monsters invading the ceremony was hardly what one would call little. “Yeah, the Changelings attacked. After Queen Chrysalis manipulated Shining Armor while disguised as Cadence the army broke through his shield spell and attacked all of Canterlot." She had seen first-hoof how they could turn into perfect copies of other ponies.

Sweetie Belle suddenly twitched, slowly turning toward him. That couldn’t possibly what he had in mind, could it? “Please tell me you’re joking!” she spat out. “You want to bring a Changeling here?”

Discord said quickly, “Now just hear me out.” A thought bubble appeared above his head. One of the Changeling drones appeared. “First I use my magic to get it on our side.” A caricature of Discord came in and poked the Changeling, making spiral dizzy lines appear in its eyes for a few seconds before it become brighter colored and cute. With a green flash it transformed into Rarity, a blank look on “her” face. “Next we add in all of you.” “Rarity’s” head opened, and Sweetie Belle, Spike, and the other Element bearers appeared around her. Images of dresses, beauty, and other things one would associate with Rarity all started flowing into “Rarity’s” brain, before going back in and her head closing, then “Rarity” was wearing a dress and making an elegant pose. “We feed all you and your friends memories of Rarity into the Changeling, so it will start to act just like the Rarity you all remember.”

Sweetie Belle stared at Discord for a short while, unsure if she should be amazed or horrified at the idea. There were problems with it that should have been obvious. “And… how do you plan to explain just how come 'Rarity' is back after three months of being dead?”

“Simple. Because I’M back. You can tell everyone that I CAN bring others back to life. It’s ME, after all. They already experienced my power back when I was evil. They wouldn’t doubt that explanation for a second.”

“And, when you’re claiming to be good now and wanting to help others with their injuries and illnesses and stuff, how are you going to explain why you can’t do for all the others who died as you did for 'Rarity?' They’ll want loved ones back too.”

“I’ll just say I refuse on ethical boundaries. I could say I only brought her back because she’s needed for her Element of Harmony to protect Equestria because using the Element is too tough on your tiny body.”

“And how are you planning on getting a Changeling for this plan of yours?”

“I don’t need to know where they are. I can get one easy. Don’t underestimate my abilities.”

Sweetie Belle sighed, shaking her head as she went back to staring at her reflection in the water. She pulled her sister closer to her, nuzzling her nose. “When I lost Rarity I felt like my heart was destroyed. I had never felt such pain in my entire life. When my baby sister was born it was the first time since she died that I had a reason to feel hopeful again. Even more than this cutie mark it makes me feel a purpose in life, that I am truly needed and necessary.

“I’m tired of playing the blame game already. It’s her fault, it’s your fault, it’s my fault. No matter who we blame it won’t bring Rarity back. Princess Luna helped me to realize that. Having Twilight bring up that possibility brought me back to when I had first lost her, and it felt like I had lost my purpose again.”

She gave Rarity a few gentle kisses on her cheeks. “I love my baby sister more than I’ve loved anything else, and she needs that love to grow up right. Growing up around a hateful, angry me will cause her to grow up that same way.” Tears began coming down her eyes again. “No matter how painful it is for me I have to put on my best face for her, because she needs me.

“As for you…” She looked over at Discord, shaking her head again. “Oh, Discord.” She stood up, walking towards him after gently setting her sister on the ground. “You’ve still got a lot to learn. That much is clear. After what happened the last two times you began relying on mind-control to try to accomplish your aims ended with you being sealed away, your grand plan is to use mind-control again?”

Discord gave her an awkward look. “Well… I…”

“It’s obvious to me that at this rate you’re going to wind up getting a swelled head again, leading to you to start abusing your powers and forcing us to use the Elements of Harmony again. And, honestly, that’s way too annoying to me. I failed Rarity. I don’t want to fail at this too.

"You’re right that using the Element takes a lot out of me because I’m so young, and I want you to be around to help protect my little sister. So…” Her face clenched like she was in pain, and then she jumped up and gave Discord a hug. “…so I guess I don’t have any choice but to forgive you and be your friend so I can make sure you don’t go off the wrong path again.”

A small smile came to Discord’s face as he gently patted her head. “Thank you, Sweetie Belle.”

Throwing her anger and blame towards Discord away felt cleansing to her, as difficult as it had been to do. Letting go of Discord she began pacing around, saying, “As your new friend I want to pass on a lesson my teacher taught me about friendship. I talked to her about our deal for the Element, without actually telling her any of the details, and making it seem like it was about someone else. She saw right through my lie, but she pretended not to so I would talk normally.

“She told me that doing something wrong for the right reasons is better than doing it to be mean or cruel, but it still winds up being no better in the long run. It was her words that made me change my mind about handing over the Element of Generosity.

“Mind-controlling others is wrong, no matter what the circumstances. The Changelings invaded and attacked Princess Celestia. They were bad, no doubt about it. Still… your plan is just as evil. You mocked Twilight for planning to use a spell to force your change to good. And you’re planning to do the same thing. Not only that, but you’re planning on destroying its identity and forcing it to become someone completely different for its entire life with no choice in the matter.

“Having a fake Rarity that acts exactly like the original... it sounds nice on the surface, but we’d all know it wasn’t the real thing. Even if you gave the Changeling information about all her likes and dislikes it doesn’t mean she can play the part perfectly. Just because you implant the knowledge that Rarity was a fashion designer doesn’t mean it would have the skill to sew and make dresses. It would be the same as if you turned me into Rarity. I stink at sewing. All it would make me feel is inadequate because I couldn’t do what my cutie mark was pushing me toward.

“Then of course there is the possibility that it would fight off your magic over time, the same way my intense love for Rarity led to me breaking your spell on me. And since Changelings feed on love it would only grow stronger from all of us being around it. Shining Armor’s love for Cadence was strong enough that it allowed Queen Chrysalis to defeat the princess in a magic duel.

“So basically your plan is way too dangerous, morally wrong, and it wouldn’t really solve the problem because, without getting your memories directly from Rarity herself, you wouldn’t be able to create a convincing fake. You’d be taking each of our perspectives on Rarity and trying to make them make sense. I idolize Rarity, but Applejack and Rainbow Dash can find her annoying. Each of us has our own bias toward her, and I just don’t think it would add up.

“I thank you for trying to come up with an idea to help me after what happened today, but nothing doing.”

She stopped her pacing, sitting down and picking up Rarity again. Giving her sister a warm smile she said, “The word Rarity MEANS rare. It means unique... special... one-of-a-kind. That’s why I think there can only be one Rarity in the world. This Rarity can only be here because the old Rarity is not. So to try to create a fake Rarity just wouldn’t work, because the world wouldn’t allow it. She’s far too special to be replaced.”

Moving to a sitting position still holding her sister she said, “But if you really want to help me you can do me a favor right now.”

“Yes, Sweetie Belle?”

“Take me over to Twilight’s place. I owe her an apology.”

“Okay. But before we go I just want to say thank you. You’ve grown up a lot in such a short time.”

She gave him a weak smile. “I’m a big sister now. I don’t have any other choice but to grow up if I want to show Rarity the way to live her life.”

Discord smiled back. “Yes, I suppose not.” With a snap of his claw they disappeared, reappearing in front of the library.

Final chapter: Forgiveness and a dream

Sweetie Belle was about to knock on the door but then stopped, looking down at Rarity. She shook her head. “No. This won’t do. I have to handle this like a mare.”

“What do you mean?” asked Discord.

She looked over at him. “I need you to do me a favor.”

“Sure.” Lifting up her hooves she held Rarity out to him. “What are you doing?”

“Take her for me.”

“Why?”

Lowering Rarity a bit she glared at him. “I’m offering to let you hold my sister. Is that not enough of a trust gesture for you? Now just take her already!”

Hesitantly Discord took Rarity from her. He looked very awkward holding her, like she might explode at any moment. “Um… so why am I doing this?”

“I want to talk to Twilight alone. I started getting mad at you before, and I only held back because I was holding Rarity. I want to set good examples for her, but I also need to be able to resolve my problems by myself.”

Looking up at him she said in a firm voice, “I trust you to take good care of my sister. Don’t let any harm come to her.”

“I’ve never taken care of a baby before. What if she soils herself?”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “I thought that’s what your magic was for. Honestly, you look more scared of holding a baby than of getting turned to stone. And you were the one planning to conquer Equestria?” Sweetie Belle got a silly grin on her face. “Sheesh. Who knew? We never needed the Elements of Harmony at all. All we had to do was send a few foals in your direction and you would be powerless.” She began snickering.

Discord gave her a dirty look. “You know I can send your sister to the moon, right?”

Her expression didn’t change. “You could… but I know you won’t. You care too much about keeping friends to do that.”

Sweetie Belle turned around, rapping on the door a few times. After about ten seconds she heard movement coming towards the door before it opened, revealing Spike.

“Hi, Sweetie Belle,” said Spike in a cautious voice.

“Twilight here?” she asked, not wanting to mince words. She just wanted to get it over with.

“Yeah,” he responded, looking up towards the loft. Looking back towards her he asked simply, “Why are you here? Is it to make peace or to yell at her some more?”

Sweetie Belle blinked. “The first one, but I can’t promise the second one won’t happen.” With that, she walked past him, heading up the stairs leading to the loft.

When she got there she saw Twilight sitting on her bed, facing away from her. A flash of rage made her stomach burn with agitation. She felt power channeling into her horn, and she gritted her teeth as she forced herself to take deep breaths until it settled down. She returned back to her magic lessons, picturing Cheerilee and baby Rarity to think of peaceful images.

When she felt calm enough she continued walking. As she neared the bed she heard Twilight say in a quiet voice, “Hello, Sweetie Belle.”

“Hello, Twilight,” she responded in a short voice. Once more she felt her body tensing hard. A part of her was ready to start yelling and attacking Twilight again, but she managed to hold back the urge. She forced her mind to stay on the images of the possible future that Princess Luna had showed her. If she couldn’t reign in her anger to forgive it could spell disaster for Rarity’s future.

After a few more deep breaths she said slowly, “Twilight, I understand you made a mistake. I was extremely furious with you, and to be honest I’m still really angry at you. You don’t know just how strong the urge is to go after you again. The only thing holding me back is Rarity.” She saw Twilight grimace, and set her head on her pillow.

Sweetie Belle’s eyes narrowed. “At least have the guts to look me in the eyes, you coward!” Her horn started glowing, and Twilight let out a little yelp as she flew into the air. Sweetie Belle turned her around and set her back on the bed. “You did something stupid! You understand that. After I kicked you out I went into such a rage that I exhausted myself and fell asleep for a little while. Princess Luna came to visit my dreams and she’s the only reason I’m here right now.”

Twilight knew of Luna’s dream walking ability. She’d heard from Scootaloo about how Luna had helped her with her own issue. “What… what did she say?”

“She showed me a vision of the future. No, that’s not right. A POSSIBLE future. She showed me and Rarity grown up, where I never forgave you, and Rarity fed off of my anger and hostility and constant talking down about you to become bitter and distrusting of other ponies. Worst of all, she got such a twisted delight from the thought of tormenting you. She said she wrote over a bunch of all your books so you’d get a nasty surprise whenever you tried to finish a story.

“That was horrifying to me. I refuse to let Rarity grow up to be that way, even if I am disgusted with what you did.” As the images came back to her once more her fear of that future returned, tempering her anger. As her rage began subsiding she noticed the bruising around Twilight’s eye from where she had thrown the Element at her. She closed her eyes and took a big breath.

Walking forward she got up on the bed, giving Twilight a hug. “I’m sorry for attacking you,” she said in a calm voice. “I’ve been a downright horrible big sister today. Rarity wouldn’t approve of the way I’ve been treating one of her best friends.”

Twilight sniffed, beginning to cry as she held Sweetie Belle back. “I’m sorry, too! I never meant to hurt you! It’s like I told Spike: Discord’s powers are so beyond what I can comprehend that I honestly thought there was nothing he couldn’t do.”

Sweetie Belle hesitated, the words hanging on her lips. “Rarity…,” she said quietly to herself, then forced the words out. “I forgive you.” As she said those words she felt that same cleansing sensation she’d had when she said them to Discord.

As her anger dispelled it was immediately replaced with guilt. “Hating you won’t bring Rarity back to me. It will only drive her further away.” Tears began coming down her eyes as she began gently sobbing. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Twilight! I keep taking everything out on you, but I know you must be hurting inside just as much as I am over not having Rarity around. I’m so stupid. You spent so much time helping me to master my magic, and I was so ungrateful for it all.”

Twilight let her emotions run free now, squeezing Sweetie Belle closer to her. “I forgive you, Sweetie Belle. I’m sorry, too.”

The two of them both turned into crying wrecks for the next few minutes, apologizing and sobbing and holding each other in equal measure until they burned out their emotions and ended up just holding onto each other.

Sweetie Belle looked up at Twilight. Her eyes were red from crying, but she had a little smile on her face. Gently putting her hoof on Twilight’s eye she said, “I really am sorry about that. If Rarity had been awake and saw what I had done she might have begun thinking it’s okay to hurt others who make you mad.”

Twilight returned her smile with one of her own. “No problem. It will heal up in a few days. I’m just glad we still have the chance to be friends.”

Letting out another sigh she said, “I guess I still have a lot more growing up to do. I really want to show Rarity the best so she’ll grow up to be as amazing as my older sister. Luna scared me so much because I know I adore spending time with Rarity, and so I’m going to have the biggest influence on how she turns out. If it wasn’t for her I don’t think I would have been able to do this.”

“Princess Luna knows full well how painful it can be when your anger gets out of control. She doesn’t want anyone else to turn out like her. She has fully earned her second chance.” Lifting her hoof she wiped away Sweetie Belle’s tears. “I’ll do my best to earn mine as well.”

“Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think I can come visit you like once a week so you can teach me more about magic? I want to get even better control of my magic. I need to be faster. If anything attacks Rarity I need to be able to set up a force field as quick as possible.”

“Of course. I would be honored to continue your education. You’re an excellent student and a hard worker.”

Closing her eyes she thought of Rarity. “I still miss her a lot. If it wasn’t for little Rarity I don’t know if I would have made it. She’s so small and tiny and helpless, and I have to do my best to keep her safe from harm and teach her all the right things to do.”

“I miss her too. It’s unfortunate that she can’t come back to us, but we’ll always keep her memories in our hearts. Even as a child I feel all of us can learn from you about how we can better emulate Rarity and be more giving ourselves.”

“I’ll try my best. After all, I-“ Sweetie Belle stopped, both of them covering their ears as a ear-splitting cry erupted over them. The entire library was shaking.

“What in Equestria?” said Twilight.

Discord poofed into the room. “Sweetie Belle,” he said with annoyance. “I have to say that your sister is a big baby.”

“Obviously!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, still covering her ears. “She’s only a few months old. What do you expect?

“What is that awful racket? And why did you leave her alone? STUPID!” Hopping off the bed she ran outside to see where Rarity was.

As she got outside the sound got louder and louder. “What in the…” Right in front of the door was what looked like a gigantic marshmallow. As she heard what sounded like a deeper voice of her sister call out, “Swee-Belle!” she looked up and immediately sat down, a look of disbelief on her face. She could see Rarity’s mane.

Discord appeared next to her, snickering away. “What did I tell you? Your sister is a big baby! I guess SHE’S the big sister now.” He erupted into more laughter.

“Discooooord!”

“Sorry, sorry. Let me fix things.” Flying up towards Rarity’s head he called her name. “Oh, Rarity! You want Sweetie Belle?”

Rarity settled down just a little. “S-Swee-Belle?”

“Yep!” Conjuring up a neon sign of Sweetie Belle pointing down he said, “She’s right down there.”

Rarity saw her sister down below, and a look of delight came to her face. “SWEE-BELLE!” Her voice rumbled, making the earth shake with it.

As Rarity reached for her Sweetie Belle screamed at the top of her lungs, running away. “Discord! Discord! DISCORD!” With each cry her voice squeaked.

Discord only watched with amusement as Rarity began trotting towards the young filly. “Oh, Sweetie Belle! I COULD return her to normal. That is, if you apologize for making fun of me before.”

“Alright!” Sweetie Belle cried out in complete surrender, sweat coming down her face. “Alright! You win! I’m sorry for what I said!” Rarity was only a step or two away from catching her. “Discord! Please!”

Discord giggled, snapping his hoof. Rarity shrunk back down to normal, falling towards the ground. “Going down! Better catch her.”

Sweetie Belle spun around, seeing Rarity plummeting to the earth. Her eyes narrowed, and a green glow went around her baby sister, halting her momentum and leaving her hovering a few feet off the ground. Focusing, she pulled Rarity to her, hugging her sister.

“Swee-Belle!” Rarity said happily, nuzzling her.

Sweetie Belle sighed, nuzzling her back. “Oh, Rarity. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Awwwww, that’s so sweet,” said Discord in an overly sappy voice. “Makes tears come to my eyes.”

Sweetie Belle looked up at him, glaring. Her expression quickly changed to shock as she saw a gigantic teardrop come from Discord’s eyes, heading right toward them. She grunted, her horn glowing brightly as a shield appeared around both of them. The water passed harmlessly around them.

Discord appeared in front of her, clapping. “Very, very good, Sweetie Belle.”

“Discord, I-” She started to yell, but could only let out unintelligible noises as her mouth suddenly disappeared.

“Come on. Why so upset, Sweetie Belle?” Using one of his claws he poked a hole in her shield spell, turning into a snake and slithering inside. “You want to protect your sister, right? What’s wrong with giving you some extra practice? You reacted quickly and instantly both times. It only shows that your reflexes and powers are getting sharper. I mean, after all, what’s the point of learning all this stuff about magic if you’re unable to do anything when it counts, hmm?”

Her mouth returned, and Sweetie Belle gave him a death glare. She couldn’t tell if he was being serious or if he was just messing with her. She had seen with his testing of her when they unsealed him that he only seemed to offer help in the most obnoxious way possible.

Letting out a tense breath she rolled her eyes and said, “Thanks… I guess.”

“Of course.” He turned back to normal as Sweetie Belle undid the barrier. “Oh, come on. Stop glaring at me. Here, why don’t I do something special for you?”

“NO!” Sweetie Belle immediately said. “Anything you try to give me is going to be ridiculous.”

“Oh, come on. You said we’re friends. Can’t you trust me just a little bit?” He turned into a dog, giving her pleading eyes as his lower lip stuck out.

She rolled her eyes again and said flatly, “No.”

“Fine, then.” Discord said, turning back to normal. “I guess I’ll just force you to take it.” He snapped his claw.

Sweetie Belle flinched, waiting for whatever wackiness would happen, but it looked like nothing did. In her hooves she heard Rarity say, “Nummy!” She looked down and saw Rarity had an ice cream cone.

“See? I told you I can be nice. Would you like one too, or do you still not trust me?”

She gave Discord a dirty look, her lower lip going to one side of her mouth, torn between the desire for ice cream and the thought of actually apologizing to him. With a huff she lowered her reluctance enough to say, “I’m sorry.”

“Great.” Discord snapped his claw again.

Sweetie Belle let out a squeal at a sudden cold sensation on her head before a cone fell to the ground.

“Whoops. You had your hooves full. Where else was I to put your ice cream?” Sweetie Belle growled, her face going beet red. “Easy now. Your sister is within earshot. Don’t want to teach your sister anything inappropriate now, do you?”

Her face puffed up like she was about to explode. She forced herself to breathe, her breaths coming in short and shallow. She felt so close to losing it.

Discord put up his paw, saying, “Alright. That’s enough fun for me. The last test is over. One of the other things you said is you want to make sure you teach your sister the right things. Being able to keep your cool when someone annoys you is definitely on that list, isn’t it? After all, you don’t want to teach Rarity that yelling and violence is the first thing to resort to when someone gets on your nerves, right?” He snapped his claw, and the ice cream on her head vanished. A bowl of ice cream as big as her appeared with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors, as well as various toppings and a big spoon.

Sweetie Belle let out a long, slow breath. Once again she wasn’t sure if he was actually testing her, or just testing her patience and using “testing” as an excuse to be unbearable.

Sweetie Belle looked over at the ice cream. It did look delicious, but, this being Discord…

Discord saw her suspicion and said in a sincere voice, “I’m really done this time. Enjoy your treat for putting up with me for so long. It’s nice to have friends. I guess I’ll do one last little thing for you.” He snapped his claw and disappeared.

Sweetie Belle saw a blanket had appeared on the ground. She set Rarity down on it. Rarity just continued eating her ice cream as Sweetie Belle began to dig into hers. It was the most delicious ice cream she had ever tasted.

As she ate she started to wonder if every time she saw Discord was going to be like this. It was hard to stay mad while chowing down on a bowl full of ice cream. He was okay, deep down. Although she wouldn’t admit it to him she was actually grateful for him putting her through her paces. As he said, she needed to be able to react quickly to keep Rarity safe, so his testing was actually beneficial to her.

She ate until her belly was bulging, keeping an eye on Rarity all the while.

She got out of the bowl and sat down on the blanket next to her sister, using the edges of it to clean her hooves off.

Rarity turned over, hugging her. “Wuv yew, Swee-Belle!”

Sweetie Belle hugged her back. “I love you too, Rarity. No one will ever hurt you as long as I’m around."

She set Rarity on her stomach as she turned so she was on her back, just watching the clouds roll by.

“Fwy! Fwy!” Rarity called out.

Sweetie Belle laughed. “Okay, Rarity.” Moving her hooves around she picked Rarity up with her back legs. “Fly! Fly up high in the sky!”

Rarity laughed and laughed. “Fwy! I fwying!”

Sweetie Belle laughed too at her sister’s exuberance.

She ran around with Rarity for a little while, playing tag and hide-and-seek. She had a blast. Sweetie Belle’s heart felt so light having given up her anger, and she knew that she would be able to handle her sisterhood to make sure Rarity grew up right.

After a few hours she returned home, a serene feeling about her. She went to visit her mom, telling her about her day. Her mother was proud of her for trying to be more mature.

She had dinner, then they went to the living room for story time.

Rarity fell asleep a little while later. Sweetie Belle began to feel sleepy as well, so she bid her parents good night and headed to her room. She debated putting Rarity in her crib, but decided against it. She knew she might be spoiling Rarity a bit, but she knew if Rarity woke up in the middle of the night she would start crying until she took her in her bed anyway.

She was still recovering from the loss of her sister as well. Rarity took comfort from sleeping with someone at night so she wouldn’t be afraid, but Sweetie Belle took comfort too. Her older sister had gone far away, so it made her feel more relaxed holding her little sister close.

As she drifted off she gave Rarity a kiss. “Goodnight, Rarity. I love you.” She gave a loving squeeze, feeling content.

“Good evening, Sweetie Belle,” said a voice she recognized. Princess Luna appeared in front of her.

“Hello, Princess Luna,” Sweetie Belle replied.

“As you have requested I have set up your dream tonight. I hope you enjoy it. However, as I said before, do not become too wrapped up in what is no longer a possibility.”

“I understand.” She nodded.

“Very well.” Her horn began glowing, and a bright light came into the space.

Sweetie Belle found herself in her room in the middle of the day, Rarity on her lap. Her mother came in the door, saying, “Sweetie Belle. Your sister is here. Hurry down.”

“Rarity?” Walking downstairs holding her little sister she saw Rarity standing there in the entranceway.

“Sweetie Belle!” said Rarity. “There you are. Oh, let me see. Let me see!” Sweetie Belle lifted her hooves, holding out her little sister. “Oh, she is just adorable! So pretty! So what’s her name?”

“I named her Rarity. After you. Because you’re the greatest and sweetest sister I could ever have, and I want her to grow up just like you.”

Rarity began tearing up. “Oh! Thank you, Sweetie Belle!” She grabbed Sweetie Belle, the three of them now in a group hug.

Sweetie Belle felt herself crying now. “You’re welcome, Rarity.” Pulling away she pointed to her flank. “Look! I got my cutie mark.”

“I see!” she said proudly. “What’s it for?”

“It’s for generosity. I’m being just like you now."

“Wonderful! Well, the day is young. Let’s go play.”

With a teary smile she said, “Okay.”

The three of them, along with their parents, went on a picnic together, playing in a meadow. After eating the five of them all chased each other around, making baby Rarity giggle like crazy.

Once they had tuckered themselves out a bit the five of them all sat up against a tree. She sat on her father’s lap with baby Rarity on her own lap. Rarity had a hoof around her, nuzzling her face. It was a dream come true.

It hurt just a little knowing that it was only a dream, but for a short time she got to experience what life could have been like if Rarity had survived. She knew she’d wake up eventually, but for now she was content.

She rested her head on Rarity’s shoulder, a warm smile on her face. “I love you, Rarity.”

“I love you too, Sweetie Belle.”

Author's Note

Of COURSE can't end the story without some good old trolling from Discord. >=)

I just want to give shout outs to Conred NerfStranger SilentBelle lazyreader19 MadMaudlin, and alarajrogers for helping to shape this story into what it is. As I've said before this story was a lot different and shorter when I first wrote it, but the comments from my readers have helped to flesh it out and make it more intense and meaningful. Thanks for all your help and reading until the end. You guys rock!

Chapter 8: I haven't given up on you yet.

Twilight walked around the library restlessly. It had been three days since Discord’s resealing and Rarity’s funeral. All of Ponyville had turned out for the occasion. Princess Celestia had given the eulogy. It had been so touching it had brought her to tears. She spoke of Rarity’s courage and of her achievements, expressing her gratitude for helping to save Equestria a multitude of times.

Three days. Even now she still couldn’t fully grasp the idea that Rarity was gone. She had thought things would work out in the end, that their friendship and her efforts would win out in the end, but it hadn’t been enough. Rarity was gone and she wasn’t coming back.

Spike was in just as much of a funk as her. He spent most of his time cuddled up on his side in his bed, quietly crying. He would barely respond when she tried to talk to him. He barely ate anything. He was so heartbroken about losing not only a dear friend, but the mare he had a crush on. She was still wondering had things had gone downhill so fast.

She heard a knock on the door, and went towards it. Opening the door she saw Applejack and Pinkie Pie. “Hey, guys,” she said somberly.

“Hi… Twilight,” Pinkie replied slowly. Her mane was usually untidy, but today it was out of control. There were split hairs everywhere.

“Still hard ta believe what happened,” said Applejack.

“So why did you call us over today?”

“In the brink of despair all of us left the forest shortly after Rarity passed,” said Twilight, “so we forgot the most important thing. I want to move Discord’s statue out of the forest, and put it somewhere safe.”

“Oh,” Pinkie replied with a sigh. “Right…”

“Rainbow Dash should be here shortly, but I guess we should start walking anyway. She’s the fastest in Equestria for a reason.”

They slowly walked in the direction of the Everfree Forest. There was a heavy silence between them, which none of them broke. None of them had yet reconciled themselves with the fact that Rarity was dead. They had been to her funeral. They had seen her in her coffin. They had seen her placed in her grave and buried. Even so, it still didn’t feel quite real to them yet.

As Twilight has guessed Rainbow Dash caught up to them a few minutes later. She landed on the ground and, like the rest of them, barely muttered a hello before following them as they walked. Twilight told her what they were going to do, and after Rainbow gave a curt nod they continued on in silence.

When they were about halfway there Pinkie Pie said, “So… what about Fluttershy?”

“She lives right by the Everfree Forest. Even so, I didn’t want to bother her with this. Even if he wasn’t planning on conquering Ponyville maliciously she still feels like she broke her promise to Discord and she lost two friends in one day. I thought it would be best if she didn’t have to help out with moving Discord’s statue.”

Things were quiet for a little while before Pinkie finally responded, “Yeah… I guess you’re right.”

They walked in a line, right next to each other but each of them feeling alone in their hearts. As they came upon the Everfree Forest they avoided walking directly in the line of sight of Fluttershy’s cottage, refraining from using the path to hit the forest at an angle.

A few minutes later they entered the clearing, and for the first time since they had met up all of them showed emotion. Each of them gasped. Discord’s statue was gone!

“This is bad!” Twilight said, going up and down on her hooves. “Who in the world would have taken the statue?”

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find them!” Rainbow Dash said strongly. “Look!”

There were long grooves in the dirt like it had been dragged away and sloppily covered up. They had tried to make it not as obvious something had been dragged through but they hadn’t completely erased the grooves in the ground.

“Follow the path,” said Applejack, nodding, immediately getting into business mode.

The five of them began trotting, following the trail of drag marks.

As they exited the forest Twilights fear began eroding. Looking up slightly she saw the grooves in the dirt were pretty much straight on, and she began to get a strong suspicion of who had taken it, and why. Her suspicions were confirmed a minute later as she saw them end by Fluttershy’s front door.

“Fluttershy?” said Pinkie Pie. “What’s she doing with the statue? Making it into a lawn ornament?”

Twilight went to the window, hearing Fluttershy’s voice. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I hope you’re at least somewhat comfortable. I wish I could do more, but I can’t do it alone… and they would never do it anyway.”

As she looked inside she could see Discord’s statue on its side. An eyebrow went up as she saw a pillow under his head and a blanket over his body.

“Fluttershy?” said Twilight.

Fluttershy jumped in surprise, quickly turning around with a look of panic. “Oh, uh, hi.” She raced to the window and slammed the shade shut.

Twilight was about to say something when Fluttershy came out, and quickly shut the door behind her. “Hello, everypony.”

Twilight let out a short breath. “Fluttershy, I’m not even going to beat around the bush.” She pointed to the path and the obvious signs of something being dragged. “Did you really think you were hiding what you did?”

Fluttershy’s face puffed up for a second like she was about to argue, but then it deflated. She shook her head, a hopeless look on her face. “I should have known you’d figure it out sooner or later. I knew I couldn’t keep it secret forever.”

“What were you doing?”

Tears brimmed around her eyes. “I took him to my house because I didn’t want him to be stuck there alone inside the Everfree Forest.” Giving a defeated sigh she said, “I guess you should come in. I’ll tell you everything.” Opening the door she went inside, the rest of them following behind her.

Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash all looked strangely at the statue, but didn’t comment.

After all of them sat down Fluttershy clutched her hooves together and said, “It was the day after Rarity’s funeral. It took a lot of effort but I managed to drag him all the way here with the help of my bear. I wasn’t planning anything bad. I just… I just…” Now her tears began flowing freely. “I only wanted to talk to him.”

“Talk to him?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Why?”

“I was his friend. His one and only friend. I should have worked harder. He should never have felt the only way to resolve things was to mind control the town into liking him. If he had felt more accepted he wouldn’t have been so focused on getting the Element of Harmony. He would have felt safe. He could have helped Rarity. And in the end, even if he wasn’t acting like one, I never stopped thinking of him as a friend.

"I broke my promise. It may have had to be done to protect everyone, but I feel sick to my stomach for having to seal him away when I felt like I had made so much progress. All of that is my failing for not being a better friend.” She wiped her face, but more tears kept coming down. “He said that he can still hear everything even being trapped inside. I know it won’t happen for a long, long time, but I’m hoping that if I can talk to him every day and treat him like a friend then one day we can release him again and become friends like before. I really would like to see him again… but not… you know… trapped in stone.”

Twilight felt a heaviness in her chest. There had been more troubling her recently than just her feelings about losing Rarity. “No… Fluttershy. This wasn’t your failing. It was ours. You were the only one who was trying to do the right thing by Discord.”

“Hold on!” said Rainbow Dash defensively. “How was this OUR fault? Sweetie Belle was the one who went to Discord and blabbed about the Element. And Discord was the one using Rarity’s life as bait. Oh, and he brainwashed her afterward when she refused the deal. Discord got what was coming to him for returning to his old ways. Fluttershy just wasn’t taking things seriously enough. She’s always been like that.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack said angrily, giving her a whack.

“Ow! What was that for?” Applejack pointed towards Fluttershy, and as Rainbow looked and saw the heartbroken look on her friend’s face she quickly backtracked. “H-hey! Twilight is right! It wasn’t all your fault, Fluttershy. So what were you saying, Twilight?”

Twilight was looking intensely at the table, not really seeing it. “I haven’t been able to dwell on it much because I was more focused on Rarity and the funeral and my own sadness at her passing, but… Discord had a point. At first I tried to turn my eyes away from the truth, but he was right. I tried to dismiss his accusations as just him trying to create strife and render us unable to use the Elements of Harmony, but now I’m beginning to understand who was really in the wrong here.

“When I first came to Ponyville all I was concerned with was studying and learning more about Nightmare Moon. All of you just annoyed me. I couldn’t stand you guys. Pinkie throwing a party for me. Applejack wanting me to meet all her family and stay for brunch. And later on you accompanying me into the forest when I felt I could handle it alone. It all just felt like a waste of my time. But as all of you helped to conquer Nightmare Moon’s tests my opinions about you slowly began shifting.

"Pinkie helping us to face our fears ended with all of us laughing. Through each hurdle I learned a little about friendship by watching you, and by the end I was glad you had come along with me. When it was time for me to leave I can’t even explain how sad it made me. I didn’t know if I would ever see you guys again. I never knew how important friendship was… not until I had friends to lose."

She looked over towards the statue. “I think Discord was much the same. When he broke out from his prison he wasted no time in trying to break us of our connection to the Elements. He played around so much because he was certain he was unbeatable. The second time when we unleashed him at Celestia’s order he wasn’t nearly so out of control because he wanted to be sure he didn’t get turned back to stone again.

"We were rightfully cautious throughout his reformation. We saw that he had been manipulating things behind the scenes to create flooding at Sweet Apple Acres. At first he was only acting nice to Fluttershy to get a promise out of her she wouldn’t use her Element against him, but when he made things worse and she threatened to end their friendship it was only when he actually realized he enjoyed having a friend that he turned things back to normal.

“I hate to be fatalistic, especially after just losing one of our friends, but the truth is that Fluttershy won’t live forever. Even if Discord minded his manners the rest of her life we don’t know if he simply would have returned to his old ways after she was gone, or gone for the plan he was trying for today, of brainwashing everyone into liking him.

“He never should have felt he needed to go to that extreme. Even though he genuinely came to enjoy having a friend and reigned in his desire for his selfish pleasures for her sake he still didn’t really feel accepted, and I think that’s the most important factor in his decision. How she got through to Discord was through her unceasing belief in him, even when he didn’t deserve it. She gave him the benefit of the doubt, gave him the run of her house to cause a little chaos, was kind, called him her friend, and never stopped trying to get through to him. All of those things played a part in getting him to change, even if he didn’t realize it at the time. It was her persistence that won him over."

"It's just part of my nature," said Fluttershy quietly.

“I can’t speak for Princess Celestia and her motives, but I choose to believe it wasn’t only out of selfishness she wanted to help him reform. She’s helped me to improve before by not intervening in situations where her aid would have solved things much faster. Perhaps the lesson she wanted to instill was that no one is truly a monster, and that, given the right stimulus, anyone can be helped to change.

“However, if that WAS her lesson, then I failed miserably to learn from it. The lesson I learned the day of Pinkie’s surprise party was that you shouldn’t expect the worst from your friends, but that was what I did in this situation. Discord had become Fluttershy’s friend and genuinely changed, so I should have been more open to believing in the little spark of goodness that had bloomed inside him. Instead I immediately opted to seal him away again. Sleep deprived or not that was unacceptable. I never even considered trying to get his side of the story."

"But it wasn't like that would have changed anything," said Applejack. "We got his side of the story when we showed up, and it was as bad as we thought."

"She's kinda right, Twilight," said Pinkie.

“Maybe so, but in the end… he was right. We brought this tragedy on ourselves. Fluttershy kept in contact with him through letters, and he gave her a phrase to use to summon him when she wanted to interact with him on a personal level.

"On the other hoof, the rest of us still retained our distrust and caution, never breaching past that wall in our hearts to give him a chance. If we had been more friendly to him and not so suspicious we wouldn’t have needed to worry so much about needing the Elements to keep him contained when he already showed that having just one friend was enough to have him adopt a new way of thinking.

"Imagine how he would have felt it he had seven friends in us six ponies and Spike. He wouldn’t have felt he was just being used, and we could have gone to him and asked him to help Rarity earlier, and he’d WANT to do it, because he valued her as a friend.

"The reason we can wield the Elements of Harmony is because we embody what the Elements represent. Spending time with Fluttershy taught him about kindness. In turn we could have taught him what it means to be honest, generous, and loyal, and how to laugh at each other’s joys instead of at their miseries. Through all of our efforts we could have helped him to see all the different aspects of what friendship is truly about, and helped him assimilate into pony society the right way.

“So, Fluttershy, you’re wrong. You played no part in how horribly everything turned out. It was my failing to see the mission as complete once Discord reformed. I should have continued to see that task through to be sure he didn’t change his mind. I failed as a good friend to you.”

“No, Twilight,” said Rainbow Dash, her standoffish voice from before gone. “It was my fault too. I… I guess I didn’t want to admit it either, but I agree with what you said. We screwed up big time.”

“The best part of being friends is trying to become friends with your friend’s friends,” said Pinkie, “but I never tried to do that. Discord hasn’t been around much, so I almost forgot about him, even with all the work I do to learn everything I can about everyone in Ponyville.”

“Fluttershy?” said Applejack.

“Yes?” she replied.

“Do… do ya think… that I kin come here to visit and talk with him too from time to time?”

“Me too?” said Pinkie Pie.

“And me?” said Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy gave them a small smile. “That would be lovely.”

“There’s no way of going back,” said Twilight, “so we’re going to have to take what we learned and move forward. It will take some time to convince Discord we’re for real, and also to find a new Element bearer for the Element of Generosity, but after that we can restore him again and become real friends this time.”

Tears began coming down Fluttershy’s face as she nodded, a big grin on her face at the thought that she could at least get one of her friends back. “Thank you! Thank you!”