Discolored

Twilight Sparkle sat on her chair, reading the Foal Free Press's latest breaking news article while drinking a nice pipping cup of hot cocoa.

An End of Harmony?

Today, Rarity, a local fashionista and an Element of Harmony has been found unconscious in her home. According to her friend, Fluttershy, she found Rarity's body laying slouched beside her couch. After rushing her to the Ponyville Clinic, Fluttershy told the Foal Free Press that Rarity's status was unknown and doctors are currently operating on her. We hope that she will be all right. We'll give you more on her story as more information is brought to our attention.

Twilight couldn't believe her eyes.

"Rarity?"

Twilight gazed at the door, imagining its crystal sheen being replaced by the door of yesteryear.

Then, a flash.

She appeared at Twilight's door.

"Rarity!"

The shout echoed through the cold, empty room. Twilight heard herself again and again. Nothing could be worse.

Except Rarity.

In seconds, Twilight sprung to her hooves and galloped out of her throne room. She needed to get to the clinic, and fast.

All the while, the paper floated gently to the ground, landing in a heap of text and luster.

Inside the white room lay a white unicorn whose horn was wrapped in a prison of white and fluff. Her purple irises twinkled brightly in the gentle yellow hue that shined above her. Below her body stood the mobile metal comfort. It supported her and made her rest easy from the dangerous condition she had undergone. In all her life, she had never been effected by her own spells. She had heard of a designer in Canterlot who had died while sewing the final stitch on a black dress the artist was commissioned to make, but it was thought that they perished from age, not of spellcasting radiation. Yet, here Rarity was, laid gently on her new resting place.

Outside her room was where the action was happening. Lightning of various sizes decorated the harsh sky, while their frequencies boomed loudly for all to hear, ravaging the once calm landscape with strikes of electricity. It colored the dark skies with flashes of yellow and white, while the black and grey clouds drew an unfortunate, gloomy image in her mind. Rarity had left Sweetie Belle, her lovely little sister, at home while the storms took over. It was a mistake on Rarity's part that she couldn't help but commit; her body wasn't in the shape to bring her dear sister with. Rarity's mind clouded her other worries with Sweetie Belle's frightened gaze, huddled underneath the kitchen table. In her forehooves laid her doll, Mr. Whiskers, whose furry brown coat and bright smile differed from Opalescence's furious gaze, yet hard to read face. It worried her not only of Sweetie's safety from the storm, but also the safety from the living cat. That cat could scratch anypony if they weren't careful.

Sadly Rarity could only watch the sky boom and the machines croon their songs of death and misery. Her bed kept her still, while her horn was encompassed in gauze.

After staring out beyond the clouds for so long, Rarity heard a click come from her room's door. Her ears sprang up at the sound. Whoever was opening up the door had a shaky grip. Either that, or the door needed a tune up. She might have to ask them to oil that. Any rattling noise irked her like the plague.

"Miss Rarity, I presume?" called the unwelcomed guest.

"Yes, may I ask who?"

The light shined on the newcomer's attire: a bright white that was smeared with the blood from another. She shifted her attention to the pony who wore such a travesty, face stained with the same blood. The pony was a nurse, whose pink hair poked just barely out of her small cap. "Hello, Rarity, my name is Nurse Redheart." A pause and a slight adjustment of the cap later, she continued, "I am here to check on your horn..."

For a second, the nurse moved towards her bed. However, she stopped, much to Rarity's surprise. Redheart's muzzle scrunched up before she spoke, "I will be right back."

Nurse Redheart then promptly exited the room, leaving Rarity to her thoughts.

What the hay was that?

Twilight rushed through the clinic's glass doors, letting them smack against the doorstops. "Rarity!"

The room was dark, save for a few flecks of precious yellow lights. In the center of the room was a wooden kiosk, painted red and white. Its surface was bare, except for the pad of paper that was perfectly aligned with its chair. The rest was what Twilight expected of a normal clinic: chairs and small tables complimented the open space, while paintings decorated their white walls. Although all these items were present, their purpose of comfort and glimmer did not soothe Twilight's rapidly beating heart. Her blood boiled within her body as the sight of nopony led her heart to the path of misery and despair. Her mind bled profusely the last time she had seen Rarity: her smile, her bouncing mane, her talent of creating the best attire in Equestria--Twilight knew Rarity well. Rarity knew her well too, or so Twilight hoped.

Twilight raised her hoof to the help desk and rung the bell. It crooned its fateful tune, but to her chagrin, the bell's eerie tones echoed without a response. She rung it again.

Ding

The bell played its sweet song.

No response.

Curious, Twilight looked around again. "Where is everypony?" she said.

Like the bell's toll, so did her voice.

She frowned.

And like the bell, no one responded.

The nurse hadn't returned since her sudden departure from her room.

Rarity grew worried, much like her worry for her little sister. Although, her mind couldn't help but picture the nurse in a darker setting: smirked, looming over her patient, cutting open their body with a knife--she shook her head and wiped the tears from her cheeks. There was no need for her to fret over the care of another, let alone a care of a professional. Not to mention that her sister was way more important than a devious-looking nurse. Besides, her mind was in a darker place, much like when she sews: how she notices the needle strike every portion of the fabric. She imagined sewing to be like nursing, except much more difficult. It wasn't an art then, it was a necessity.

But to Rarity, they were both making art. One that bled blood, and one that bled creativity.

She sighed. If only the universe hadn't tainted her with this white noise. Ever since she thought of the Boutique, her entire mind could not settle down. Something was blocking her from remembering something.

More importantly, somepony...

"Hello, Miss Rarity!" chirped a familiar voice.

Rarity looked up at her guest. "Hello, Nurse Redheart."

Her previous view of the nurse changed immediately. Her white--and now pristine--uniform glistened in the light. It was free from the vile blood that sent Rarity's stomach in a twist. Instead, Nurse Redheart was free from its dreadful red hues. Her bun was contained in her cap, not a single pink strand of hair sticking out. The little apron she wore was branded with a red cross.

"May I check your horn?"

Rarity noticed Redheart's eyes. They were wonderful.

"Yes..."

Redheart smiled. "Don't worry, it's just a checkup." A pause. "I had to clean up from my last patient; he was a nice guy."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"He was dreamy," she began, a goofy smile gracing her face. "He had a smile that gave me the chills! Oh! he had my heart more so than any stallion..."

Another pause.

"But the doctors are having problems with him," Redheart continued. "His eyes were beginning to roll when I left. I'm not sure if he is going to be fine." A flash of lightning gave light to her face. "The doctor's didn't want me to weep over their patient again. They think I'd give his body an infection."

"Sounds like he is charming..." Rarity gave her a slight smile. "If only I met a stallion like that." She felt some pressure loosen from her horn. "Do they have more of them in Ponyville?" A piece of white frill danced in front of her eyes. "Or was he the only one?"

Redheart laughed. "If there was, you wouldn't hear it from me. I'd be pursuing him faster than any mare."

Rarity tried to grin, but a slight pinch on her horn halted her smile. "T-Touché."

"Sorry about that, your horn was snagged on the gauze," Redheart said.

Rarity waved her hoof dismissively. "It's alright, Nurse Redheart." A pause. "My horn must be simply awful right now."

Redheart frowned. "Don't sell your horn so short." Another pinch on her horn. "Oops, again." The fabric fell to the floor. "Your horn is looking better than before..." Redheart cringed. "It wasn't a pretty sight then."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "How bad is it?"

Redheart sighed. "You... lost a fourth of your horn, Rarity." She bit her lower lip. "We can't add more on..."

Rarity froze. "I..." She quickly threw off her blanket that concealed the rest of her body. Her eyes were drawn to her flank, and there was the horror she did not want to see.

Blank.