No Matter What

Chapters

The Long and Winding Road
Never Again
If You Want It, Here It Is, Come and Get It
Warriors
Getting Away With Murder
Through the Ghost
Moment
Well Respected Man
With A Little Help From My Friends
The Pride
What A Shame
Everything Goes Black
Heartmender
The Little Things
I'm Still Here
Burning Bright
This Is Gonna Hurt
Are You With Me
Pretty Little Martyr Part I - Dirthouse
Pretty Little Martyr Part II - Season of the Witch
Devils and Angels
Brand New Key
Fortunate Son
My Wicked Bones

The Long and Winding Road

Author's Note

Warning!!! Before Reading any further!!!

This fic contains grimdark material, it will contain sexual tendencies, and it does talk about topics a lot of people don't like to read. Like rape. Or incest. If you are not into that kind of thing then go away to a safer page. Just a heads up!

The Long and Winding Road

You can't simply stop! You were raised from the beginning to kill! There is nothing you can do about it now! If you have the balls to kill your old man than go ahead and hope you kill me with the first strike, cause you won't last long if you miss!

The air was cold and pierced through the dark silence of the night. The moon hung high in the air, it was midnight. The witching hour. Pinkie knew the time well. When the sun is far enough away that there is only the light of the moon to keep a watchful eye on those that are still awake. She had once loved Princess Luna's nights. But now the night serves as a cruel reminder of the events she caused. All the blood that was on her hands now were that of her own family.

The dark overgrowth of the Everfree did nothing more than cast large shadows threatening to engulf her in their burning and looming shapes. The dry dirt crunched under her sneakers, the sound echoing in her bright red ears burning as she listened to her slowed heart beat thumping loudly in her head. Her chest aching and heaving with each breath taken in and taken out.

Those haunting words of her father repeated in her mind. She held her arms tightly woven over her chest. Pinkie limped along the long road leading out of Knoxville, just twenty miles east of Ponyville. Pinkie gasped hard with every breath. Blood dripped from gashes along her shoulders, arms, cheeks and face, legs, and one along her neck. Her plain pink tee shirt was now stained with crimson blood. Whether it was hers or that of one of her family's, she did not know. But she did know she would not last long. Her young eighteen year old body was not ready for wounds like these. Sure she had developed a pain tolerance for what her parents and family did but she never had these many cuts and broken bones before. She shuffled down the road, the wind lightly dancing over her trying to ease her pain but ultimately only numbed what had already existed there.

She walked along the right side of the dirt road leading towards Ponyville. She needed to start over some how, forget all of the horrible things she did and all the things her family did. They left nothing to the imagination. Cannibalism. Sadism. Murder. Incest. Rape. They did it all. And she hated herself for participating in it. She had heard of soldiers who never get over war and suffer severe cases of PTSD. She was going through it all right now. She felt the onrush of emotions when she first felt blood fall in between her fingers and over her face. She clenched her eyes closed remembering back to the pleasure she felt. The fact she held the power of holding the fate of someone's life in her hands, it was exhilarating. The cruel and twisted smile she held as she pulled that person apart limb by limb was excruciating.

Her father repeated in her mind, "Your soul is already as black as mine...just remember that..."

Pinkie stopped and clenched her hands tightly at her sides. She held her eyes shut and growled, "You made me what I am. I never wanted any of this..."

Her side flared in fiery pain. She grunted and breathed heavily, collapsing to her knees. It felt as if her sides were going to split in half, her back stung with the many lashings she had received before she killed her family. Her breaths were sharp and each time she exhaled her breaths were becoming shorter and shorter.

She stayed there kneeling in the dirt, clutching her wounds hard and lamenting of all the terrible things she had done. The dark overgrowth of the Everfree did nothing to alleviate her dark emotions. There was an eerie gale that blew past her. Wood creaking and owls hooting ominously in the distance. The darkness of night filled the corners of her vision. She clenched every she could and tried to muscle through the pain. But she heard foot steps approach her and her heart racing and the onrush of adrenaline kicked back in. The foot steps stopped in front of her and her mothers voice said, "You have been a naughty girl. I am afraid that I must punish you for your misdeeds."

Her heart sank and fear spread across her face. She looked up and saw her mother towering above her. There was only a few things in this world that frightened her, one of them was her mother's punishments. Most of them involved lashings or some other form of stinging pain. She fled back as fast as she could with her broken leg. She pleaded, "No! No! Not again! I can't survive another one! Please!"

She felt something hard press against her stinging back. Her fresh wounds exploded with pain and she gasped sharply as she tried to curl up. Blood continued to run down her wounds. She sat at the stump of the tree, her tattered clothing doing nothing at absorbing the red liquid. She cowered and shivered in pain, raising her severely cut arm to her face. She heard the footsteps draw closer and she said, "You've done a bad thing miss."

* * *

The air was rather cold, perhaps she should have brought a scarf. Did the weather team know that it was supposed to be this cold? Truth be told, it was autumn but something did not feel right. Rarity slowly shook her head and alleviated her wandering and troubled mind. Although, she did enjoy a nice midnight walk, the nights of Ponyville were a sight to see. The moon shining bright and full in the sky, a disk of pure reflected light. Stars dazzling and twinkling in the calm navy blue sky. A beautiful sight, that did not change with the seasons.

She slowly walked along the dirt road and her pristine alabaster skin shone gently in the night and an aura was about her with the light of the moon. She ran a hand through her dark indigo styled hair. She was careful with her steps however. While she was adventurous, she hated the feeling of dirt against her. It just did not feel right.

Her mind wandered off into a new vision, she was finally alone. Finally away from her nightmare of a father and her little sister now in custody of her mother. A hassle that they did not deserve. She remembered the long nights fearing her father to return heavy with a haze of drunkenness. Now it was all over, she however felt hesitant to move on. Was it truly his fault? He was always under the influence of alcohol, she never met him without that haze of drunkenness.

She was however taken out of her thoughts when she heard the light shuffle of feet against the dirt road she was on. Rarity looked up and about thirty feet away was the shadow of a woman, the fashionista feared her for a split second until she saw that she was limping. Rarity gasped sharply and rose her hand to her mouth and softly whispered to herself, "Oh my..."

Her heart sank when she saw the figure fall to her knees. Rarity carefully rushed over. Her heart and mind poured with questions as she rushed to the woman's side. Why was she injured? What had happened? What was her name? So many questions with so little answers. She slowed down and saw her in full view.

She could not have been more than maybe two years older than Rarity. She was shaken and was shuddering. Blood. Blood all over her. Gashes along her body. Dirt and strain against her face as well. Rarity never saw a more horrible sight. She had seen injuries before, but this...she was literally inches away from death.

Rarity saw the shaken form of a girl in front of her. Rarity calmly asked her, "Oh my...are you okay?"

The pink haired girl looked shakenly up at her. Her eyes were red and puffy and stained with tears. Fear was plastered on her face, her eyes grew wide as she met Rarity's. She stumbled backward and braced herself against the tree. She cried out, "No! No! Not again! I can't survive another one! Please!"

Tears formed in her eyes. Her chest heaved with long and laborious breaths. Each one bringing her closer to death. Rarity's heart felt crushed. She did not know this girl but she was not without a heart. Whatever this girl was subject to seeing, it scarred her. The time for thinking was for a later time, right now she needed to get this girl to a hospital. Rarity feared if she terried any longer then...

Like approaching a wounded animal she had careful steps and walked over slowly. She said aloud in a soothing voice, "Calm down, I'm here to help. Please just let me help you."

The pink haired girl looked shakenly back over at her, with each step she cringed, finally after closing her eyes tight and reopening them she seemed to calm down, only for a few seconds. Quickly she forced herself against the trunk of the tree behind her. She snapped at Rarity, "Stop! Don't help me! No one can..."

Rarity got down on her knee and reached out to touch the girl on the shoulder but she gasped hardly and moved her shoulder. Rarity shot her hand back away from the girl and said trying to soothe her, "Why? What happened?"

"I..." The girl's words were cut short as her entire upper body fell limply forward. Rarity caught her carefully in her arms, blood slowly staining her bleach white blouse. In any other circumstance she would not catch herself dead with something she wore being stained. But that did not matter at that moment. At that moment the only thought that Rarity had was. Save this girl.

Rarity muscled all she could and lifted her carefully. Holding her arm under the girl's knees and her other arm holding the girl's back. Rarity stood up carefully and started walking briskly over to the local hospital. She had a life in her hands now, if she failed then...her death was on her conscience and she was not going to allow this.

She felt the various still bleeding gashes along her body and they were still warm, seeping out and staining Rarity's arms and chest. Rarity as well felt the lash marks on her back, even through the dark pink tee shirt. She could not help but wonder what exactly happened to her, something dreadful and nightmarish no doubt.

She winded her way briskly but carefully to the hospital, she prayed to Celestia above that it was not closed. The hospital was not too big but not too small either. Besides the old town hall and the new town hall it was the largest building in Ponyville, oldest too.

Light illuminated the inside of the hospital, letting a large sigh of relief to wash over her for only a few moments. She stopped at the front door and kicked it open with all the might she had left, holding the girl tight in her chest so she would not fall. The door swung open and Rarity moved inside. She stopped in the middle of the waiting room and shouted the loudest she could, "I need help!"

A new nurse that Rarity knew well, Nurse Redheart, came bursting through the doors from another room. Her eyes went as wide as plates when she saw Rarity holding the pink haired girl in her arms and she called back and a doctor came from the right side of the door. He shoved past Nurse Redheart and he said to her with the tone of a drill sergeant, "Get a gurney, some towels and prepare a room."

"Right away Doctor Strongheart." With that being said she left the room. It was not long that Nurse Redheart came back with a gurney. She pushed through the doors and brought next to Rarity and Doctor Strongheart. Strongheart gently but quickly took the girl's torso and they together set her down on the gurney. Rarity folded her hands together and said with genuine concern, "Will she be okay?"

Strongheart heaved a breath as he finished laying down the girl and replied with a heavy heart, "Too early to tell."

Rarity never felt so concerned before. She never had to do something like this before. Her heart never felt so heavy before. This girl's life was still in her hands, she felt so nervous. She looked down at her blouse. Where once there was white, is now stained red with the blood of someone else. She raised her hands and they were shaking nervously, stained bright red just like her top and her tight jeans. It was then that her stomach heaved against her and she felt something rise up through her throat and threatened to escape. Rarity choked back the vomit long enough to rush into the woman's bathroom and heave it all out.

Never Again

"Cut there."

"Good."

"Now take this out."

Pinkie tried to awaken but she could not. The voices were distant but she could make it out a mile away. It was the sharp voice of her father, Gravel Pie. She felt nothing and heard only those words. She knew this was the end, she felt her life slowly slipping away. It was not long now.

But she felt tethered to this world somehow. Like she still had a purpose. What could she have left to do? She was a murderer, why would she remain alive? If anything she would make the world a better place if she was gone. She cursed herself. Her father was right, she was just as bad as him. She had become him. And she worked so hard to drive him away.

Now it was just time to play the waiting game. Life or death laid out before her. She wanted to die so badly, the Pie family was no longer the innocent family of rock farmers. Killers. Sadists. Rapists. And she was no exception. She deserved to die. All that it took now was to wait. Wait for these lacerations to overtake her.

* * *

If you let someone you don't know into your life, then they will kill you. Remember that, don't save anyone who doesn't want to be saved.

The final parting words of her father. That night was one she could never forget, the night her mother had enough. That night her father had struck her. Rarity never saw her mother so angry before, she never had seen so much fury overtake someone. Her mother told her to run and take Sweetie Belle away from there, as far as possible. She never ran so hard and fast in her life. Those words never left her.

Rarity sat in a chair outside in the hallway next to the door where the girl was being fixed up. She prayed to Celestia that she came out okay. That girl...she was so scared and so shaken. What did she expose herself to, to make her so shaken like that. She thought Rarity was someone else, had she suffered from PTSD? But there were no wars going on in Equestria. This girl became even more curious with every unanswered question. But one thing was certain, she was going to defy her father and help this girl even though she wanted to die.

She had her legs crossed and her hands rested folded together in her lap. Not sadness but worry filled her. She stared down at her hands and her blouse, she had gotten most of the blood out but there was still a veil of stained brown blood. Her hands were crusted with the same brown stain of blood, she looked them over and she muttered to herself, "So much blood..."

She had never seen so much. She had never seen so many cuts and bruises. Rarity would have guessed an animal attack but no animal would leave its prey alive, Fluttershy had told her that. It was the cold truth but still, if she lived through this...what would she do? Would she take her back to her apartment? Or would she leave her in the elements. Oh, she just did not know what to do.

Her head shot up as she saw the door finally open. It was Nurse Redheart, dread filled her eyes. She looked over at Rarity and said, "You brought...her...in here right?"

Rarity raised an eyebrow as she stood up responding, "Um...yes? Is there a problem? Is she okay!?"

Redheart did not move her gaze and said with no emotion, "Yes...yes she is...she will live...those cuts should heal completely in a few days. Her broken bones are now bruises but this is all we can do."

Rarity asked, "Then...why do you appear frightened..."

Redheart opened the door and Rarity saw a dreadful sight. Strongheart had a scalpel stabbed into his neck and the pink haired girl was standing up in the patient gown in the middle of the room and she held another scalpel in her hand. She was breathing heavy, she looked over at Rarity who had an astonished look on her face. The girl started to shake and she broke down. She dropped the scalpel and she repeated as she stepped back into one of the corners of the room, "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!"

Redheart said to Rarity, "She reacted violently to whatever we did. Strongheart was going to give her some sedatives but she picked up one of the scalpels and threw it at him."

"It's a miracle she missed."

"She didn't."

Rarity looked at Redheart with a confused look and she explained, "She has a very severe case of PTSD, while most people react differently she reacts through violence. Soldiers that see a lot of front line action receive this kind of PTSD. She threw that scalpel with amazing precision and accuracy, she was not going to kill...yet...do you know this woman?"

Rarity heard this new development with astonishment. As far as she knew she looked like a regular late teen like herself. People weren't required to go into the military but it was encouraged. This girl was not old enough to go into the military. This did not change Rarity's opinion of her however. She had to choose her words carefully. She moved to face Redheart and she said, "...Yes...she's my distant cousin from out of town."

Redheart looked inquisitively over at the girl and then back at Rarity. Redheart said sharply, "Well. I suggest you find her a place to stay."

She helped Strongheart back to his feet and they left the room. Rarity hated the silence that carried after they left. It was thick and made Rarity feel uncomfortable. Rarity looked over at the pink haired girl and asked, "So...what's your name?"

She tried to calm her breaths but they were short and hard. There was that silence once more. Rarity felt sympathy for her, this girl had felt and seen more than Rarity could ever know, but perhaps she could help her along. Rarity asked soothingly, "Are you with me darling?"

She had been taught some ways to help kids that were staring off into space. She had worked with kids like this. Rising seamstress and daycare owner, woohoo. The daycare stuff was only temporary until her sewing business took off. Rarity knelt down in front of the wounded girl and said as she winced, "It's okay. I just want to help."

The girl responded shakily, "Wha…why...do you want to help...me?"

Rarity had asked herself that question. Why was she helping her? Was it just because this person just needed to go to the doctor to sew up some wounds? She did want to die, why did Rarity take that away from her? Rarity mulled over what to say and replied promptly, "I want to help because you look like someone who needs it."

The pink haired girl seemed to act more comfortably around her. She stared off and remorse was swept away from her face. She stated flatly, "You can't help me...no one can."

Rarity put a gentle hand on the girl's knee and she said, "I can try."

* * *

Pinkie looked straight at this girl. She seemed genuine in what she wants to do. She was very pretty. No more than maybe 19 or 20, beautiful features that Pinkie had never seen before. She looked gorgeous even with just casual clothing. Her soft alabaster white skin shone in the morning sun making it look as if it was glowing, her bright sky blue eyes stared right her. Her face was round and Pinkie felt envious to a degree. This girl was offering her help, though unneeded, it was still help. Pinkie would have expected a girl with this amount of beauty to just simply walk away and leave her. No, not this one. Pinkie moved her gaze quickly and inspected her closely. A trick her mother taught her. She was very shapely, curves in all the right places and well shaped breasts. Her mother would be proud of the beauty and majesty of this girl. But there was something else. There was this air about her that seemed to soothe her and make her more comfortable.

Pinkie winced as she felt this girl touch her knee and heard her calming and soothing voice that said, "I can try."

Pinkie looked away from her and kept her broken heart in check. She could not let anyone get so close, but she could not refuse this girl either. This girl offered her help. She would be damned if she refused. Pinkie looked back at the girl and Pinkie said in a shaky voice, "I...I'm Pinkamena..."

A gentle smile spread across the beautiful girl's face and said gently, "I am Rarity. It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Pinkamena."

Rarity gently caressed Pinkie's knee and said, "I will pay for the hospital bill and then I'll get you something to wear. Don't worry, you'll be fine. I'll protect you."

Pinkie looked at Rarity and that same look was in her blue eyes. Pinkie kept everything inside, she used it as fuel now. She still wanted to die, she deserved to live on the streets alone to die in the cold. To freeze to death alone. But this person had a kind enough heart to take care of her. She never had...no there had to be some other reason she was helping her. Pinkie asked sharply, "Why are you helping me?"

"I..."

"No," Pinkie interrupted, "There has to be something else. There has to be some other reason as to why you're helping me. Tell me."

Rarity was caught off guard by the question. Hurt even. Rarity said calmly, "I just want to help you. I never got any..."

Pinkie was filled with remorse. Something had happened to her. She was the victim of something similar to Pinkie. Pinkie knew exactly when somebody was lying or not. There was forlorn that folded in her eyes and in her heart. Pinkie could feel it. She brought up something uncomfortable, and Pinkie hated herself for it. She never wanted to hurt another person. Pinkie looked away and said, "I...I'm sorry...you...you should go and..."

Rarity tenderly placed her hand on Pinkie's knee and said, "It's okay darling. Just know that you're not alone. Never again."

Pinkie felt the weight of her words and cherished them. This girl had saved her life and was offering her a place to stay. This was someone that despite what she went through, is still kind and gentle. Rarity nodded her head and went up to leave. Pinkie blurted out, "Wait..."

Rarity turned and she held an inquisitive look. Pinkie asked, "Are you...are you...are you an angel?"

Rarity cracked a small smile and replied, "No. I am not, why do you ask?"

Pinkie curled her legs close to her chest and twirled her finger over her knee and she explained, "Well...its just that...I don't...I don't see why anyone else would help me...and...and you're very beautiful."

Her smile turned into a warm and friendly one and she said, "No. But I'm flattered you asked."

With that Rarity left and Pinkie felt alone again, just as storm clouds moved in and blocked the sun away, crashing and crackling thunder making her jitter. She began shaking again, she was alone again. Her mind started pulling itself apart and reality broke back into oblivion. The nightmares would begin once more, and it was only just beginning.

If You Want It, Here It Is, Come and Get It

''Pinkie Pie...Pinkie...

"Pinkie." A casual but worried voice called out to Pinkie. A voice that she knew very well. Pinkie shook herself back out of her trance and she turned to Rarity. She stood with a worried look on her face. Her beautious features still astounded Pinkie to that day. Pinkie thought of something to say and she quickly rhapsodized, "Yeah. Yeah just fine! Same ol' Pinkie Pie!"

Pinkie Pie returned to preparing for dinner. Rarity was fixing it up, a delicious homemade lassagna. Pinkie took the job of cutting up the vegetables for the garden salad that was to be served with the lassagna. As she swiftly and proficiently diced up the tomatoes she took a quick glance around. Her natural instincts that were ingrained in her mind was to analyze her environment.

Like the rest of Rarity's house/business was very intricately decorated with so little material. Teal tile flooring, light grey walls aside from the corner of the kitchen they stood in which was a dark white. In two of the corners, more for desgin rather than structural integrity, were ivory columns. Pinkie had a natural talent ever since she was a kid, she could enter a special kind of mind set and let only one thing roam through her mind. Kill. Her parents called it the "Killer Instinct". Pinkie slowed down her heart beat down by a lot, a beat per minute. To a normal person this could be very fatal, but it was not to a Pie. Pies had a natural talent for their profession, they could rapidly lower their insides to increase performance during combat or in everyday tasks. Pinkie saw her sister destroy giant boulders without breaking a sweat.

Pinkie calmed the maelstrom forming inside herself, she looked through her peripherals. She saw Rarity and only Rarity in the room. Pinkie had slowly improved this skill over time and therefore a normal person would take a minute to analyze what they saw, Pinkie could do in a manner of seconds. The hardest part was escaping the killer instinct. The baker stopped her dicing as she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. It was a soft and gentle touch, a friendly and warm feeling. Pinkie slowly came out of her trance and heard her best friend gently muse, "Pinkie. What's wrong?"

Rarity. Pinkie's closest friend. While yes Pinkie was friends with everyone and had never chosen any favorites. But Rarity was in a close spot in her heart. Rarity was in every way a sister to her, and she loved that about her. Pinkie could never lie to Rarity, she could never bring herself to hurt her like that. Secrets are the quickest way to break a friendship. Her normally bubbly demeanor died and a charismatic and gentle voice came out, "Its...I can't...I was just remembering what happened."

Rarity brushed closer to Pinkie keeping her hand on her shoulder and released a soothing feeling every word she spoke, "It's okay Pinkie. The past is in the past nothing can happen and you can't do anything about it now darling."

There is a certain way that Rarity said those words. She said them before, but now they meant something. It was said with passion and conviction. Pinkie felt the full weight of those words. She actually believed them. But that is what she hated the most. She cannot do anything about it. She holds deep inside herself the killer she still hates. Pinkamena.

Pinkie rested the knife down and her expression went dark and her tone lowered as she quavered, "All those people...I...I can't."

Pinkie felt a hand rest on her shoulder. Pinkie was not one for physical contact but the only one that was able to do that was Rarity. Pinkie turned to the owner of the hand. The same beautiful woman that saved her six years ago. Almost nothing about her changed. The same youthful features, the same amazing hourglass shape. She wore the same outfit that Pinkie first saw her in. Her bright red lips, her light sky blue eyes. But what pieced it all together was her styled indigo hair. Pinkie could never see any harm come to this person, Rarity brought her through the fire and flames and Pinkie would return the favor. Rarity quietly said, "What happened in the past does not matter now. There is always tomorrow."

Rarity gently gripped Pinkie's shoulders with her soft hands. Pinkie felt the full force of her words. They washed over her dreary soul, it just seemed to sooth her. Perhaps it was the fact that she could wield magic and she was working some sort of spell. But Pinkie did not mind. Pinkie cracked a half smile and said, "Thank you Rarity....for everything."

Pinkie melted in her own shoes with what she did next. Rarity leaned in and gently kissed Pinkie on her cheek. Pinkie was stunned at the gesture. It was a sisterly kiss but it felt like something else. Her lips were soft and gentle as they brushed against Pinkie's cheek. Rarity said in a friendly tone, "No need for thanks darling. Being your best friend is more than enough."

Rarity left and stopped touching Pinkie. Pinkie felt like a part of her left, and it hurt. But she remembered the kiss and she instantly voided all other feelings. She could still feel her lips against her cheek. Before her mind began to wander Pinkie carefully told herself that she could never have Rarity. She was straight.

Pinkie returned to her chore and finished chopping up the vegetables. It did not take long considering her background with knives and other instruments of cutting. Pinkie was quite the enthusiast when it came to a lot of things like that. Pinkie set the table and as she did she kept her eyes on Rarity.

Rarity hummed as she put everything together. Pinkie inspected closely at Rarity, especially her voluptuous cruves and ass. Held tight in jeans. Pinkie held a lot of respect for Rarity's figure, all the right curves in all the right places. Muscles expertly toned and sheen with soft skin. It made Pinkie feel excited just thinking about it. She could not understand these feelings, they were just there. She felt this way towards Rarity for a long time, three years ago. Something just awoken inside of Pinkie. She just felt that no matter what she would always look out for her and Pinkie would do the same. Rarity was the only one who knew about Pinkie and her past and Pinkie was thankful for that. She feared what her other friends would think of her if she told them. At first glance Pinkie thought that Rarity was the sterotypical beautiful girl, a stone cold bitch that has no shame. But Pinkie was thankful that she was wrong.

Pinkie finished setting the table and made sure everything was perfect, even though Rarity was over that sort of thing Pinkie did it anyways. A kind gesture that pales in comparison to the kindness and generosity Rarity had shone her. Rarity picked up the lassagna pan and bent over and put it in the oven. Pinkie took a quick glance at Rarity before she looked away waiting for her friend to talk to her or something. Rarity set the timer on the oven and turned to Pinkie, her face beamed with a smile and a breath of relief escaped as she strided over towards her. Rarity said, "Forty minutes until dinner is ready. What shall we do in the mean time?"

Pinkie thought for a moment. There was silence and a low sigh that escaped Pinkie's lips as she thought for a second. There was not much that she could do. After a few seconds of silence Rarity said, "I think I will take inventory of my sewing items. Make sure I'm up to date with everything."

Pinkie answered, "I might draw."

Rarity's face lit up and she said happily, "Ooh. I can't wait to see it."

Pinkie had taken up drawing a while ago, and she had grown fairly used to it as well. It helped her keep her mind occupied, it helped her focus. Pinkie gave a smile and Rarity took off her cooking apron that was dark blue with three diamonds at the bottom corner. She hung it on a nearby hook and she sauntered out of the room and said as she left, "Au revoir, Pinkie. See you in forty minutes darling."

Pinkie smiled at her choice of words. Pinkie walked past the table and found herself in the foyer of Rarity's house, just to her left was the store front. And to her right was the stairs the led to the bedrooms up stairs. Pinkie looked over everything with a careful eye, making sure nothing was missing. She could not explain it but she had this distant feeling that Rarity and Pinkie were not alone. Pinkie found the gym bag she brough that had some of her personal items in it. A set of clothes, another pair of hightop sneakers, and a sketch pad with some pencils and a pen.

She took out the pad and two pencils and glided her way through the beautifully lit and painted home. She sat in the living room couch with a soft flop. She hiked her legs close to her and curled them, resting the pad on her now closer thighs. She opened it up and found many different sketchings she did over the years. Many were very scenic, she had some problems drawing humans. Although she still did it, she just took longer with it. Pinkie finally found a blank white paper towards the middle of the pad and she rested the graphite pencil lightly in her hands, thinking carefully of what to draw. Finally inspiration struck and Pinkie glided her hands over the paper. Completely not noticing the fact that she did not leave her bag in the foyer originally.

* * *

Rarity hummed expertly to the beat of a song that she always loved. In her head she could still hear the instruments and the singer's voice. She hummed to the beat of the singer, "Hm, hm, hm."

She strode through the hallways of her house and finally found her inspiration room. She opened the door and flipped on the light switch. The dark room was quickly sprayed in the light. Around the room mannequins with half made outfits and dresses, fabric strewn over the floor, her desk filled with orders, and needles everywhere. She loved it. Organized chaos at its finest.

She strode to the well decorated shelf that held all sorts of items. Slowly over time it became more than just a storage unit. Along with the many oak cabinets across the sea of chaos. She said to herself, "Ah. Paradise."

She scanned her expert eye over the co tents of the shelves. She focused her mind and she felt her mind blast in a sharp rise of pain but it was a numb pain. She held her hand open and a clipboard and pen levitated over to her in a bright blue aura, with her free hand she reached into her pocket and pulled out her red orange brimmed glasses. Her eyesight was not bad, but she would need them for working with small things like writing, reading, or sewing. It as well helped her focus. She floated the pen into her hand after her glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. She looked at the shelf and said with an upbeat voice, "So. Let us see just how much damage has to be made to my wallet."

As she was about to write something down she felt something small and furry brush against her leg. She looked down and saw a small mass of white fur and it was her cat Opal. Opal looked up at her and said with greeting, "Mreow."

Rarity leaned down and gently scratched to white cat's cheek and said with brightened spirits, "Why hello Opal wopale. Have you come to help mommy take inventory?"

"Mreow..." The cat said with dissatisfaction.

Rarity gently petted Opal's fur and said as she did so, "Oh I know. It is not as exciting as sewing a pure masterpiece, but it fills my time up long enough to wait for dinner."

Rarity with one hand picked up Opal by the stomach and set her down on the desk. She pulled the desk closer to the shelf and said to the ivory feline, "Well? What say you Opal Wopale?"

Opal thought for a moment and finally answered her enthused owner, "Mreow!"

Rarity smiled and said, "Manifique! Lets get started."

Rarity saw the cat expertly jump from the desk to the top shelf. Rarity watched the feline jump and as she waited she marked down how many bolts of thread she had. 27 in total. She would need 37 if she was to make those bridesmaid dresses for Lyra and Bon Bon's wedding coming up. She then heard an echo of Opal's voice, "Mreow."

Rarity scratched something on her clipboard and answered, "Okay how about needles?"

"Mreow."

"Oh that much huh?" Rarity said with lowered enthusiasm. "Well looks like I might need to make a trip to the store. Needles are essential for..."

"Mreow!"

"Yes right focus!"

For the next twenty minutes they continued the banter and Rarity carefully wrote down what she needed and as she did so and wrote how much supplies she needed, she thought back to her encounter with Pinkie. She had come a long way since that first day she met Pinkie. But she was still troubled by all of this, there was an eerie feeling whenever she thought of Pinkie's past. Rarity could not begin to fathom how much blood was on Pinkie's hands.

Rarity stared off into nothing and said with a quavered voice, "Oh its just aweful Opal...Why did it have to be Pinkie, she is such a sweet girl...to be subjected to things like that at such a young age it's....it's....it's barbaric...."

Opal jumped down on the desk and carefully strode next to Rarity. Opal purred lowdly and rubbed her head against Rarity's arm. Rarity noticed Opal and started petting the ivory feline. Rarity said staring off into nothing, "Just....holding the fate of someone in your hands like that....it's a tragedy. Pinkie deserved better than all this."

Rarity remembered back to the years of therapy and all those days she spent having her know the difference between reality and not reality. It was long and tedious but eventually she became somewhat normal. Her bubbly personality is only a facade of the true darkness she hides in herself. It's all a show. Rarity was the only one who knew Pinkie's true self and she felt special that she is the only one that knows. It made Rarity feel needed, like she has a purpose other than making clothes. It made her feel like she was one in a million. Rarity looked at Opal and sing songed as she asked the cat, "So Opal Wopal, is that everything?"

Opal looked around and scanned the shelf and its contents. Her slited ice blue eyes moved quickly over the items on the shelf and finally answered her owner, "Mreow."

Rarity muttered as she picked up the clipboard once more, "That's right we forgot about the gems."

Opal jumped down with great agility and walked over to the chest near the corner and sat on top of it. She turned her head proudly to her owner and stated, "Mreow."

Rarity answered, "If you truly think that we are so low on gems then perhaps you would like to attend."

Opal huffed and curled up on her side, tucking her thick tail underneath her paw. Rarity sashayed over to the well decprated gem chest. Vibrating underneath the chest was the steady hum of the gems, Rarity knew where almost every gem was. She opened up the chest subjecting Opal to find another spot to hunker down. Rarity rested the clipboard on her hip and used her pen to count the amount of gems. Nearly 300. A large number, but nothing too exciting. She could stand to find a few piles of gems, she would need to inform Twilight. Rarity smiled as she thought of the little guy that Twilight took care of. Spike. He was sweet and very kind hearted. Maybe eleven years old. As her mind began to wander she heard a large alarm go off. Rarity smiled. The lassagna was ready.

Author's Note

Hello everybody. A very casual and laid back chapter. But very foreshadowing and filled with detail I hope you guys enjoyed, more chapters on the way.

Warriors

Just after thirty minutes Pinkie finished her sketch of the most important person in her life. Rarity. Pinkie laid her pencil down and took in her drawing. It was not the best she had done, but it was something special. Pinkie erased all the unneeded pencil marks and closed her sketch pad. Pinkie cracked her knuckles and stood up stretching out her back. Her thin pink sweatshirt fit snuggly and tightly around her, half zipped up revealing her bright white tee shirt. Pinkie looked down at her sweatshirt and smiled, it was her first present made by Rarity and she loved it. She stood up and looked around the room as she adjusted her sweatshirt. It was empty and dead silent. It gave Pinkie an eerie feeling and a sense that there were more than two people in the house. Sweetie Belle was away with Rarity's mother. Pinkie shoved her hands into her pockets of her sweatshirt. Nestled in the right pocket was her ceramic bone knife. A half foot lon all together, the blade being four and a half inches long. Made from the bone of a Chimera, it could cut and slice anything that it touched. It rested lifeless in its leather sheath, Pinkie gripped the handle ready to kill if need be.

Pinkie seemlessly slipped into her Killer Instinct. Her heartbeat slowed. Her breaths steady and slow. Her mind focused. She walked past and made her way into the kitchen. It was empty, the only thing that made a noise was the clock that was on the wall. She placed careful steps and they made almost no sound even though she wore hightop knock off Converse. She sneaked her way through the kitchen, crouched and ready to pounce. She knelt to the floor and let her instinct overtake her, if she focused sometimes she could hear the heartbeats of anyone within thirty or fifty feet. Pinkie focused and her heartbeat nearly stopped and she heard the steady thump thump of Rarity's heart.

Pinkie listened closely and focused. She knew there was someone else in the house, Pinkie was very rarely wrong about these things. But not only was her Killer Instinct active but she also felt her knee get pinchy. Which meant that something dangerous and scary was going to happen. Her Pinkie Sense. An unexplainable phenomena that Pinkie has had since birth. When her Killer Instinct and her Pinkie Sense were active at the same time it did not bode well for whoever she was facing in combat or chasing down to kill. She had gained quite the reputation amongst the murderers and psychopaths in her family. She became known as Machine. When she killed she had no emotions and it did nothing to her moral compass, once she was in the zone, so to speak, she was nearly unstoppable.

Pinkie thought for a moment and then ignoring the heartbeat of her friend she heard something else. Thump......thump.....thump....thump. She found the intruder. Pinkie looked at the clock and saw that there was ten minutes left before the lassagna was ready. Pinkie pulled up her hood and said grimly to herself, "I will only need nine."

Pinkie unsheathed her blade and in a crouched position she carefully advanced, she followed the steady beating in the air. She was brought to a closed door and she opened it slowly, eliciting no sound. She looked and darkness laid before her. Pinkie sighed and advanced downwards. Pinkie reversed her dagger and readied to sneak up on someone. She slowly desended the stairs into the basement floor. Rarity used it as storage for items her mother or father left and she also used it to storage her scrapped projects. With careful and well placed steps she descended the stairs and continued on through the ebony shadows. Pinkie closed her eyes for a moment and focusing her Instinct she changed her pupils and made them slits. She saw in the darkness and found various dressers, boxes, old vanities, and book shelves in the basement. Pinkie also remembered that this used to be the old town hall and the mayor left some items in the basement.

Pinkie followed the beat of the intruder. The intruder was going to wait in the basement and wait until nightfall to come in and kill them. Not while Pinkie lived, but Pinkie had to be careful. She did not want to have any wounds, she might worry Rarity. Then Rarity would figure out that Pinkie killed someone again and then everything would spiral out of control. Pinkie focused and the intruder was hiding in the left corner of the room. Pinkie stalked over the cold wet concrete stone floor. A draft numbly chilling her.

She crept up to an empty wardrobe. She held her weapon close to her and she concentrated. She used all the mental strength she could to keep Pinkamena away. She kept her underneath herself and remained that way. Faster than lightning itself, Pinkie charged around the corner of the wardrobe and readied her bone knife to strike. She found the intruder unfocused and in the very corner of the basement. The intruder wore tight fitting clothes and a large shawl. Pinkie snarled as she thought of the fact that this guy had the nerve of attempting to kill her, and more importantly want to kill Rarity. The intruder turned and saw a flash of pink and too close for comfort he unsheathed his weapon and deflected the blow, narrowly.

Pinkie grew angry as her first blow was deflected away, she was getting a little rusty. Pinkie quickly went for another strike and slashed the intruders chest. The intruder almost screamed in pain, Pinkie took the moment of shock and gagged his mouth with his own shawl. She stuffed the rather thick cloth in his mouth and then pushed him over. Pinkie watched as the intruder fell to the ground, stunned at what happened to him. Pinkie gripped the tight shirt of the intruder and smashed his head hard against a vanity mirror nearby. A fatl blow but not one to kill or to fall unconscious. Pinkie brought the intruder to his knees and removed the hooded shawl.

Pinkie recognized the face. It belonged to her younger cousin, Berry Pie. An aspiring murderer from last Pinkie saw him. Didn't pay off if she could find him. Pinkie growled, "I don't know who dishonored our family most. Me or you."

Berry's face was bruised and blood dripped from his mouth. Berry coughed and answered twisting Pinkie's arms and releasing her vice like grips, "Yeah...But I do know who's more pathetic."

Pinkie did not reel back in the pain. She drew her knife again and took a blow at Berry. The amatuer killer glanced the blow away. Pinkie growled once more, "What are you doing here?!"

Pinkie thrusted her knife and attempted to gut the pathetic worthless maggot she called a relative. But once again glanced away harmlessly from Berry. Berry responded in the midst of a counterattack, "To tell you that this is useless. You are a killer. That is what you were born to do. Return with us and we might let your little friend live."

Pinkie snapped. She punched Berry right in the jaw, and slammed her forehead against the bridge of his nose. Her head butt broke skin and cartilage in his nose. Pinkie threatened, "You leave Rarity out of this!"

Pinkie grabbed his throat and lifted him against the wall, she went to stab him but he caught her wrist trying his best to resist against Pinkie's vengeful strength. Berry grunted, "You....it is over anyway....for you."

Pinkie memorized those words and pushed against her cousin's strength. She mustered all the strength she could and felt her back twitch. Pinkie smiled at that fact and said with defiance in her voice, "No. Because it's my lucky day."

Pinkie shoved her bone knife deep within Berry's stomach. Berry twitched and writhed over Pinkie. Pinkie increased her grip and crushed his windpipe. No screams. No cries. Just a limp body. Pinkie picked up the shawl and wiped off her blade. She wrapped up the body and stuffed it inside one of the wardrobes. Blood stained her hands. Once more she had killed someone. But this was a conscious kill, she knew this person meant harm and she did what she did to protect her and Rarity. It did not stop her from remembering the screams for mercy and cries for their family from the countless number of her victims. Pinkie shoved the feelings deep inside herself and sheathed her knife. And proceeded calmly upstairs with her hands in her pockets.

Pinkie smiled to herself as she asended the stairs, "Eight minutes."

* * *

Rarity slowly sauntered her way through her house and found herself in her kitchen once more. She stepped into the kitchen and nearly jumped out of her shoes. Pinkie stood there leaning against the countertop. Rarity stopped in her tracks to the stove and said, "Darling. You really have to stop doing that to people."

Pinkie chuckled and said, "I thought it was pretty funny."

Rarity smiled at the joke and proceeded to the lassagna. She held in her hands potholders and opened the stove. She knelt down and a wall of heat rushed up to her. She moved her head to the side and let the wall of heat rush to her. Rarity grabbed the sides of the pan and pulled it out. She lifted the oven door up with her foot and shut it with a quick bump with her hip. Rarity then set on the counter and looked at it. It still had its tin foil over top of it. Rarity lifted the tin foil a bit to sneak a peek at what she had just made. She saw the cooked thin layer of cheese over the red sauce and the noodles underneath that. Rarity smiled and said, "Magnifique. Now we let it rest and cool off. Don't want to destroy our taste buds. Did you set the table?"

Rarity turned to Pinkie to get her answer Pinkie quickly adjusted herself and replied, "Huh? Oh uh yes I did."

Rarity raised an eyebrow at that quick movement and said, "Okay...um...lets see...oh, can you show me what you drew if you did that?"

It was something that they did. Pinkie would draw something and she would show it to Rarity, it helped keep Pinkie's mind off of...troubled thoughts. Pinkie blushed and rubbed the back of her neck and said, "Well...ah....I don't....I don't know if you'll like this one."

Rarity was caught off guard and she replied, "Oh? And why would I not like it?"

"Well...."

"How will you know I won't like it when I haven't even seen it yet?" Rarity said with a shrug. She was not mad but she was a little disappointed with her trying to hide something. Pinkie finally rubbed the tip of her shoe against the floor and said, "Okay. But don't get mad. Promise?"

"I swear."

"Pinkie promise?"

"Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." Rarity recited the very sacred words of a Pinkie Promise. Once you made a Pinkie Promise you have to do it. It's like selling your soul to the devil but much MUCH cheaper. And you keep your soul. Rarity walked on into the living room and took a comfortable seat on her couch. Pinkie was close behind her and sat next to her. Not right next to her. There was an entire coushin between them. Rarity huffed agitatedly, "How am I supposed to see your masterpiece if you are that far away?"

Pinkie rested the pad in her lap and said nothing as Rarity scooched and settled right up against Pinkie. Pinkie was very warm and Rarity liked the feeling it was like snuggling up against a hearth, she wrapped her arms loosely around Pinkie and rested her head on Pinkie's shoulder. Rarity said with great enthusiasm, "Come now darling lets not stand on ceremony. Show me your masterpiece."

With a slight blush on her cheeks she flipped through the various drawings she has down over the years. All of them she knew and knew by heart at just a glance. Rarity was good at that. Pinkie finally found the drawing.

Rarity looked at it and had a shocked face, her mouth agape. There were no words to describe; Not enough words to describe. She cycled through her vocabulary to find something to say but she came up short. She found nothing clever. Pinkie asked, "Do you like it?"

There was a bit of an edge in Pinkie's voice. Subtle but Rarity now knew why she was nervous. It came to her understanding that artists needed to be careful drawing someone they knew without a medium to go off of. But this. Everything was just....perfect. It amazed Rarity. Rarity said barely containing her excitement, "Its. The. Best. Possible. Thing. I love it!"

"So you're not mad?"

"No. Not in the slightest darling," Rarity mused, "Why would I ever be mad at something you would draw? You are amazing at what you do."

Rarity saw the slight blush return. Pinkie said moving her gaze away, "Thanks Rarity."

There was silence in what she said. Rarity looked over at Pinkie. Rarity carefully pulled the hood to Pinkie's handstitched sweatshirt down. She slowly pulled it down and revealed Pinkie's hair. It was long and went down to the bottom of her neck. A good chunk of her hair was combed over to the right side. Rarity ran her hand through Pinkie's straight hair. It was very soft to the touch and had the same texture as a cat. Pinkie looked at Rarity with icy blue eyes, her most defining feature and perhaps the most beautiful feature about her. Not that she was unattractive, Rarity was sure she received plenty of attention from capable gentlemen. But it was her eyes that was the brightest thing about her. They almost glowed, stark different from the dark colors she wore. Her skin was a slightly darker shade and caused Pinkie's eyes to pop. Pinkie had very youthful features, soft and innocent features. Even though she was the same age if not older than Rarity. She continued to run her hand through Pinkie's dark pink hair. Pinkie looked at Rarity and asked with a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, "What are you doing?"

Rarity gently smiled and said, "Just combing out a few knots."

Rarity concentrated hard and floating down the stairs was a comb. Rarity held out her hand not taking her eyes off of Pinkie's hair. The brush floated into her fingers and she gently gripped the comb and continued to comb Pinkie's hair. Rarity was far from a beauty expert but she knew more than the average person. She knew the ins and outs of hair, makeup, and various other things. She needed to know, being a lady and all.

As Rarity continued to brush Pinkie's hair, Pinkie asked, "So. Where's your dad? I've only ever seen your mom and your sister."

Rarity stopped mid brush and felt the question hit her right in the diaphragm. She was caught so off guard from the question. Rarity had not thought about her father in six years. Rarity explained in a darkened tone, "Hopefully. Still in prison."

Pinkie said to herself, "I'm sorry I asked..."

Rarity dropped her dark mood and immediately said apologetically, "No no. You did not do anything darling. You merely asked a question about something I have not thought about for nine years."

Rarity continued to brush Pinkie's hair. Ready for anymore questions like the last one. Pinkie asked in a careful tone, "What was he sent to prison for?"

Rarity gulped down a lump in her throat and said as she continued brushing Pinkie's hair, "...Domestic violence, assault, resisting arrest, and....(cough)...attempted murder."

There was a cold silence that filled the room. Rarity's blood felt cold under her skin. Just thinking about that horrible man. Rarity choked back her emotion and said, "I remember the night vividly. I was tasked with tucking in Sweetie Belle. My mother was downstairs waiting for my father to return home. She might have been a kind and gentle person but if her family was endangered in any way at all, she would fix the problem herself. She confronted my father and tonight he was especially drunk. After I tucked in Sweetie Belle and went to my room I heard shouting. I went down to see what it was all about. I went down and I saw my drunken excuse of a father standing over my mother, a fresh bruise on her face. I looked at my father and I just unloaded all of my hate and anger on him. It was not the first time he had came back drunk, but it would be his last. I never shouted so loud in my life. What got was something I could...I could never forget. He struck me and he said to me as I looked up at him, "You are a pathetic waste of air and space. Of all my mistakes, you were probably the worst one. You are a good for nothing piece of shit. Nothing but a pathetic bitch." That was the only time his insults got to me. I laid there and cried. My mother though. She saw that threat and I have never seen my mother get so angry. She looked at me and said, "Get Sweetie Belle and run to the police." And that's just what I did. I...I..."

Rarity voice quavered after she explained what her father had said to her. Finally she had broke and stopped brushing. She started crying an sputtering trying to keep her emotions deep inside herself. She released it all. All those years of hate and pain, just coming out. Pinkie turned and pulled Rarity in for a friendly hug. Rarity rested her head on Pinkie's chest and continued to weep. Pinkie gently ran her hand through Rarity's hair and she said with great promise and conviction, "I might not be able to know exactly how you feel. Our situations were different. But, I know what it is like to have a cruel father. I grew up with it, I had to embrace the evil that he wore on his sleeves. I did bad things, I deserved what I got. But you."

Pinkie paused her words and grabbed Rarity's cheeks and they stared at each other. Rarity's makeup began to run with her tears. Pinkie continued, "You deserved better than that. You deserved better than him. And I want to give you something I never had."

Rarity stopped crying for a bit as she listened to her best friend. Pinkie stated, "Someone to protect you."

Rarity tightly embraced Pinkie and cried into her shoulder. As she wept into her shoulder she heard Pinkie promise, "I promise. That as long as I still breath, I will protect you from the evils of this world. No matter what."

Rarity smiled and said to Pinkie, "Thank...thank you darling."

They embraced each other for what seemed like hours. Finally Rarity stopped crying and pushed herself away and wiped her eyes clean and did her best to clean her makeup. She looked at Pinkie and said, "Shall we eat?"

Pinkie smiled and responded, "I'm starving."

Author's Note

Art by snelahestur. Go check em out! They actually have some good art. Took me forever to find a good sketch of Rarity though.

So, thanks for reading another chapter. The support is great. And just so we are all clear on something, all the chapter names will be named after a song. Now I am debating on whether or not I should have a link or not for the chapter. Let me just say that if you play the song the chapter references it really pops out. So, let me know what I should do with the music, I don't want you guys to open a new window everytime you want to listen to the song and read. So I'll take suggestions. :twilightsmile:

Getting Away With Murder

(Just as a warning! There is nudity in this chapter!)

Rarity dabbed her mouth with light touches of her napkin, her plate cleared and her mind clean. She felt a certain amount of clarity now with letting out her feelings with Pinkie. Rarity looked up and saw her friend still eating. Rarity had listened to six years of her problems, she was a fighter and a survivor. Rarity had respect for Pinkie Pie, even though in the beginning she did not believe in herself she survived this. Her past was as dark as it gets, Rarity's only regret is that she did not tell Pinkie Pie her own issues earlier. Tonight proved something for Rarity, Pinkie was just as much here for Rarity as Rarity was here for Pinkie. Rarity saw Pinkie consume her last bite and Pinkie leaned back in her chair and said, "That was awesome."

Rarity smiled and noticed she still wore her glasses. Rarity quickly took them off and put them back in her pocket. Rarity stood up and gathered up her plate and utensils. Rarity walked over to Pinkie and went to pick up her empty plate when Pinkie stopped her. Rarity looked at her friend and Pinkie said, "I'll take care of the dishes."

Rarity responded with a shake of her head, "It will be fine darling."

Pinkie grabbed Rarity's wrist. Rarity was caught off guard by the gesture and stopped. Pinkie said, "No. You have enough to worry about making those dresses. Go relax I'll take care of the dishes."

Rarity smiled and said giving in, "Alright darling you win. I will relax."

Rarity spun around on her heels and said to herself weaving a hand through her hair, "Perhaps I shall take a shower. My hair is not in its best condition."

Rarity strode through the kitchen and went to her bedroom. She opened the door and took in a deep breath. It was always a refreshing sight to see her bedroom. Satin curtains over her king sized bed, to offer a small amount of privacy. Her ornate and ellaborate designed furnishings, luxaries fit for a lady. Rarity could feel the warm and inviting feeling of satin sheets against her tired body. Cascading scarlet sheets enveloping her, enticing her entirely too much. It was a nice feeling, Rarity cooed in a low tone as she remembered the feeling. But she had more pressing matters to attend to, that being a warm shower. A much needed shower, she had not had time to take a relaxing shower in months. She had been busy planning Lyra and Bon Bon's wedding, constructing a new spring line of which was called "Full Spectrum Fashions" and if Rarity was being honest with herself she felt it was top notch, she as well was making many different dresses and tuxedos for the upcoming Equinox Ball in Canterlot. So she had little time to breath let alone relax.

Rarity sidled over to her dresser and opened various drawers, taking out various items for her shower. A fresh set of clothes, she was not going to choose to wear her night clothes as it was only seven o'clock in the afternoon. Which consisted of a pure white v neck tee shirt, a pair of light jeans, she wore jeans a lot because skirts and other such items are to be saved when a lady truly needs to look her best and it did not matter what Rarity wore she always looked good, white bra and panties, and hair care products that she did not keep in the shower. Just the essentials.

Rarity carried the items in her hand and looked at the mirror. She saw her reflection and she made various facial expressions and mainly stayed on her hair, it had its usual swirl but looked rather disheveled. She as well felt rather disappointed with it. It was not a bad hair style, it just did not feel like her. She decided to wear her hair differently. She quickly waltzed to out her bedroom and found her way to the bathroom. She promptly closed the door behind her and rested her clothes on the toilet seat. She walked back out and out of a bleached white cabinet she took out one of the many towels it held. Perfectly folded and had three sky blue diamonds emblazoned on the white body towel.

Rarity closed the bathroom door one final time and looked around her bathroom. It was an average sized bathroom, plaster white bathroom with black striped wallpaper half as tall as the wall it was on. Silver as well with the various handles and knobs on the cabinet, faucet, and shower. It was an average bath shower combination, with a shower curtain with blue diamonds on the curtain. Rarity took in a long breath and took her feet out of her blue suede flats. She rested the rest of her items on the sink and walked over to the shower. Rarity pulled the curtain aside and looked at the shower handle. Rarity pulled up the pin in the bath faucet and turned the water on. She quickly escaped through the three second window of the water turning on. She let it run to get the water at a comfortable setting.

Rarity then began undressing. She promptly pulled off her white blouse and dropped it to the floor, revealing her black bra she wore over her D cup sized breasts. She then unbuttoned her jeans and zipped down the zipper, pulling them off revealing her shapely toned legs and her matching black panties. Her white skin shimmering in the light of the bathroom. Rarity then unhooked her bra and took it off, letting drop onto the floor. Her chest felt so much better, like pressure had been lifted. She then pulled off her panties revealing to no one but herself her bright pink womanhood.

Before she stepped into the shower she looked in the mirror and saw her reflection once more but with less clothing. She then stared at her hair, she thought to herself what she could do. Again, she liked the hairstyle but it didn't fit her at the moment in time. Taking her hands she rubbed them roughly through her hair, completely nessig up her hair. After roughing it up a bit she comded and patted it down with her hands. Her hair was very long when it was not styled, it reached down to her shoulders. Dark blue hair and in certain lighting it even looked like a light shade of indigo. Rarity then decided on a hairstyle to do. She grabbed a hair tie and combed all the hair she could out of her face and formed it into a pony tail. She would style it later with the curl she always used with her hair later after her shower.

Without standing on ceremony she pulled back the curtain and stepped in the shower, letting the calming jet stream of warm water hit her naked form. She pulled the curtain back and let a moan of pleasure escape her lips as she relished in the warm relaxing water. She ran her hands over her neck and shoulders with her eyes closed, the water alone cooling her stressed out mind. Too much had been on her mind and it all just released from her with the water dripping down her. Droplets fell off of every inch of her. Her hair getting wetted down, making it a darker shade than it was.

Her muscles soothed and loosened against the water pressure. A welcoming feeling the Rarity loved. She ran her hands down her stomach and over her sides. She grabbed her Caress black orchid body wash. Rarity slightly giggled to herself, the name of the body wash was called sheer twilight. Even though Rarity knew it had nothing to do with her friend Twilight it still made her laugh. Rarity grabbed her luffae and wetted it down. She squeezed a quarter sized dollop of the body wash and rubbed it around the luffae. After it became soapy she wiped it around her, letting the body wash soak into her pores. As she liberated her body in the soap she sang with a beautiful singing voice that echoed off of the tile walls of the shower,
"Mr. Sandman. Bring me a dream,
Make him the cutest that I've ever seen.

Give him two lips like roses and clover,
And tell him his lonesome nights are over.

Sandman. I'm so alone.
I have no body to call my own.
Please turn on your magic beam.
Mr. Sandman bring me a dream."

She hummed the rest of the song as she rinsed out the luffae and washed off her body. It was an old song that Rarity had grown on over the years, a good song to sing when you are doing a menial task. Another one of Rarity's favorites. She grabbed her shampoo and opened it letting out a half dollar of it in her palm. She moved it through her hair and as she shampooed her hair she sang expertly another favorite of hers,
"Look, what you're doing. I'm feeling blue and lonely
Would it be too much to ask you
What you're doing to me?

You got me running and there's no fun in it
Why should it be so much to ask of you
What you're doing to me?

I've been waiting here for you
Wond'ring what you're gonna do
Should you need a love that's true
It's me."

She hummed through the rest of that song as well as she rinsed out her hair. Once all of her hair was ringed out she stopped everything she was doing. She heard something. Shuffling of feet? Boots? It was something. Rarity looked to her left slowly and saw the silhouette of someone on the other side of the shower curtain. Rarity's heart stopped and she was over taken by fear.

The curtain was forcefully pulled open and with it a high pitched scream that came from Rarity. It was a woman actually, Rarity could tell by the shape of the hips. The person was in all black and a mask that shrouded all features. Rarity saw it raise its arm and saw a glint, she instantly knew it was a knife. It came down fast but not fast enough. Rarity caught the murderer's wrist and kept the knife away from her exposed flesh, struggling with all of her might. Rarity strained with all the strength she could muster finally using two hands to push back the blade. The shrouded woman said, "If you resist you'll only make your death slower."

The woman's voice was filled with madness and hysteria. Rarity pushed with all she had and the knife still came ever closer to her neck. Rarity's mind filled with fear. She had to think quickly or she was done for, there had to be something more she could do. The blade slowly lowered down and was centimeters away from Rarity's neck. She concentrated and something hard flew up and hit the side of the murderer's head. The killer stumbled back and Rarity took the knife and fell with the killer. She moved up her hands to cushion her fall. It was in those split seconds that Rarity knew that she had killed someone.

That noise will always plague her. The sound of a knife rending through flesh, an unpleasant sound to her innocent ears. Rarity breathed out short breaths and she laid on top of the murderer clenching her eyes shut. Praying to all that is holy, that this was just a nightmare. Rarity opened her hurt eyes and she pushed herself up. She looked down at herself and saw blood draining out of the body and staining her white skin. It covered her hands, her stomach, her chest, and her neck. She looked at her hands in horror, blood stained her hands. She killed someone. She murdered another person. Rarity stood up and grabbed a towel or something to wash it off. She struggled and wiped off the blood but it was useless.

That gut wrenching aweful sound filled her ears and she threatened to heave out the contents of her stomach. Rarity rushed to the toilet and furiously opened the lid and unleashed a tidal wave of that night's dinner. As it was expelled from her body the scene replayed itself over. And over. And over again.

She stopped after a few minutes of heaving out her stomach contents, she turned back to see the still warm body of the shrouded woman. Rarity looked on in horror and fear. She tightly pressed the towel close to her and she craddled back and forth repeating to herself tears streaming down her eyes, "It was self defense....self defense....it was all just a big accident....I didn't do it on purpose....I did it....I killed her."

Rarity heard the door fly open. Rarity looked up and saw Pinkie barrel in. Pinkie exclaimed, "What happened Rarity I heard a scream. Are you o....oh fuck..."

Rarity shoots her head up and sputtered out with tears in her eyes, "I...it was an accident....it was an accident I swear....I swear I just....I...."

Pinkie knelt in front of Rarity and said calmly, "I know this is the first time you have killed someone. But you need to focus, we need to know who this is and why they were here."

Rarity only nodded not being able to look at the lifeless person she had taken away from this world. It was a feeling that she hated herself for. She just killed someone. Something that will never leave her and something to haunt her for the rest of her life.

Rarity watched Pinkie pull of the mask the dead murderer wore. Pinkie's eyes went wide as Pinkie saw something that astounded her. Rarity stopped crying long enough to ask, "What? What's wrong?"

Pinkie moved a hand over her mouth, Rarity leaned out to see the face. Rarity as well had an astounded look as she saw who was now dead. It was the face of Bon Bon. Fear and dread had stricken Rarity as she muttered out, "Oh god....oh god....OH MY GOD!!! I just killed Bon Bon!"

Pinkie knelt and sifted through Bon Bon's belongings she carried. As Pinkie did that, Rarity stood up and shuffled her hands together. Shock filled her veins and every movement. She repeated in her mind. 'You killed an innocent. You killed Bon Bon.' Rarity had no idea this was what it felt like to kill something. It made Rarity sick to her stomach and made her very shaky. She had no idea how Pinkie could handle killing people, that was the one thing Rarity did not know about Pinkie she did not know how Pinkie coped with murderering people. Pinkie pulled out a piece of paper and read it over. Rarity saw the paper and asked, "What does it say?"

Pinkie muttered something under her breath and replied after a long sigh, "It says, "We have found them." And has the crest of my family on it..."

Rarity felt like she was going to throw up again and asked, "What does that mean? 'Them'?"

Pinkie sorrowfully looked up at Rarity and said in a darkened tone, "Us."

Rarity heaved and felt more start to come up. Once again she flew open the toilet lid and upchucked another wave of her dinner into the toilet. After two more heaves Rarity finished and closed the lid and flushed it. She shuddered as she sat with her back straight, "I killed her..."

Pinkie placed her hands on Rarity's shoulders and said in an even tone, "Rarity listen to me. We have to leave. Now. Lyra and who knows who else, will notice that Bon Bon is gone. We need to leave here right now. Put on a fresh set of clothes and pack a small bag. Fill it only with things you need. And I know you're going through a lot right now, but you need to focus on what's happening right now."

Rarity nodded and Pinkie pulled her in for a qukck hug and said, "I'll hide the body. You get your things. We leave in a few minutes."

With that being said Rarity put on her fresh set of clothes. With each piece of clothing she remembered that horrifying sound and blood spilling all over her. She slipped on her bra and panties with ease. Then came her shirt and jeans, then finally her socks and her flats. Rarity watched as Pinkie slung the body over her shoulder and left the room. Rarity saw the calmness on her face, she had been in this situation before countless times. It amazed her the level of focus Pinkie had.

Rarity must seem like a fool compared to Pinkie in this situation. Rarity grabbed a small bag and suffed a shirt and another pair of jeans in it. She as well put in her dad's gun and the forty five rounds of ammo that came with it. It was a Colt revolver. It belonged to her father before he was arrested. Maybe she could make some use out of it. She as well packed in a comb, some matches, and a cantine of water. She filled it up at the kitchen sink. Rarity sat in the living room waiting. Beams of red and oranged began to peak over the horizon. Night making way for morning. The sun rose red, Rarity remembered what her father had told her once, "The red sun rises when blood has been spilled. Innocent or not."

Rarity tried with everything she could to get her mind off of the murder she had committed . But all she could think about was the blood and the sound of the knife ripping through flesh and rending organs. Rarity muttered to herself, "Rarity....what have you done..."

Through the Ghost

"You can't have a conscience when you kill, Pinkamena. You have to be willing to be judge, jury, and executioner. You have to murder in cold blood if you want to survive the trials of this life."

Pinkie tried with all of her might to expell the nightmarish thoughts that threatened to overtake her mind. Blood. Pain. Death. Lust. She tried to ignore it all but to no avail. She remained curled in the corner of her hospital room, a thunderous storm threatened to crash everything and to break her spirit. She knew the truth behind everything, she was never going to be able to destroy the monster she now harbours in her black soul. Nothing and no one can save her now. She was to remain a blight on this world for as long as she was breathing.

Pinkie shaked and shuddered as she felt fresh blood on her skin. She could feel her brain splitting in shattered pieces. Her sanity slowly slipping away from her.

Pinkie nearly jumped out of her skin as she saw a figure enter the room. She heard the cocky and benine voice of her elder sister Granite Pie, "Well well, what have I found? A very attractive ambiguous murderer. Never thought I would put those words in the same sentence."

Pinkie shakily rose to her feet and said anxiously, "Y-you're not r-real."

The tall and curvaceous figure of Granite Pie was not reassuring to Pinkie. Her silver white hair put Pinkie on edge and so did her lust filled eyes. Granite cracked a half smile and responded, "I am as real as you want me to be."

Granite advanced towards Pinkie that caused a vengeful fire to begin to rise in the pit of Pinkie's stomach. Pinkie growled at her elder sister, "I watched you die in front of me. Don't make me think otherwise."

A sly chuckle escaped Granite's voluminous lips. Granite had a habit of taking after their mother, performing the dirty acts and manipulating people to get what you want. Whether it was family or others, it did not matter. Granite finally came within inches of Pinkie and her bright red smile shined in the moonlight. Pinkie braced herself against the wall. Granite stood a half a head taller than Pinkie and she was very muscularly toned, a perfect figure. Granite leaned in closer to Pinkie feeling her hot lust filled breath dance over the pores of her face as she said, "Don't pretend that you don't have a dirty side Pinkie Pie. You can't boil up your desires, they can destroy you."

Pinkie snarled, "Don't manipulate me."

Granite lightly glided her soft warm hands over Pinkie's sides underneath the patient's gown and caressed the areas with expert movements. As Granite worked her hands over Pinkie she leaned in closer and licked her tongue over the surface of Pinkie's cheek. Pinkie convulsed under Granite's touch. Pinkie always hated Granite. She never knew why, but she did. It might have to do with the fact she was so much like their mother. Granite whispered after another lick, "I don't manipulate those that want it."

Pinkie felt warm soft lips dance across her own. They were firm but soft to the touch, Pinkie turned her head away breaking the kiss. But Granite was persistent, she turned Pinkie's head back to face her and Granite again said, "I'm the only thing that is keeping away those murderous thoughts of yours. Be thankful."

Their lips touched once more, this time Granite was more forceful. She put more pressure into her lips and into her hands. Try as she might, Pinkie was not able to resist Granite anymore. Pinkie did have pent up aggrestion and tension that Granite only knew to release. And that's was makes Pinkie sick the most about it, the fact that she was actually giving into Granite's demands.

Granite raised her hands just beneath Pinkie's breasts and caressed the skin there, and as her hands did so her tongue escaped her mouth and threatened to invade Pinkie's. It was then that Pinkie had an idea. Surprising Granite, Pinkie accepted the tongue and pulled her in closer pressing their bodies together. Pinkie had learned a few tricks from her mother, on how to tell fantasy from reality. When faced with a desire fantasy, the seductor/seductress will only be there to seduce. If the fantasy is caught off guard then the fantasy will fade away. And that is just what happened. Pinkie Pie felt the illusion her mind played on her fade and the nightmarish thoughts return.

Pinkie opened her eyes and almost instantly crawled out of her own skin. She was currently locking lips with her savior, Rarity. Pinkie grew wide eyes, the same size as Rarity's. Their tongues hard pressed against each other and their warm bodies collided and pressing ever closer against one another. Pinkie quickly broke away from the kiss and said flinching under Rarity's surprised gaze, "I'm so sorry! Please, please forgive me! I...I...I..."

She could no longer let words come out of her mouth as tears flowed like streams out of her eyes. She felt her body grow colder as the nightmarish thoughts returned. She felt alone once again, she had quickly betrayed the not even established friendship. Even damaged another person in the process, not physically but mentally. And that is something even worse than physical wounds.

* * *

"Thank you! Have a nice day!"

Oh, not a nice day at all. Rarity has had better days, well considering what your definition of 'better' is. Seems like the more generous Rarity is the more it taxes on herself. She just paid half of what she had left on the bill and she barely has enough now to break even. Rarity did not need this stress in her life. To make matters even worse, she had to resupply herself. Joy oh joy. But in the long run this would pay off, it had to. Rarity had been generous before, but this was a whole other beast in itself. She could not help Pinkie if she remained callous, she needed a way to know what happened to her.

Rarity slowly advanced through the very bare and eye soring bleakness of the hospital walls. Rarity scoffed, "One would think that at least someone would fix the dreadful decor of this place."

There were only a few things in this world that can set Rarity off the edge. Poor decorations and bad taste in color. Clearly, the decorators did not have the same mind set as her. Looking at the bleak light green walls allowed her time to think and relax, despite the poor taste in color. She felt a sense of longing, like she was missing something inside of her. What could it be? So far she had everything she has ever wanted. Her father was sent to jail, her career as a seamstress was at an all time high, and she nearly had enough money to buy the old town hall. Everything was going according to her schedule. Aside from missing her rent. But she could not shake the empty feeling she felt within herself.

She had been given a fresh set of clothes to give Pinkie once she was ready to leave. That poor girl. Rarity had to be careful bringing up that part, it was the first milestone in finding out how to help her. It was the only way, and she could not screw it up.

Rarity found herself once more at room 13, the room that harboured poor Miss Pie. Rather abruptly she opened the door and came in and said, "Okay Pinkie, the doctors said that you can leave whenever you want. I have filled out the paperwork and payed the bill, here is your fresh set of clothing."

Rarity looked up and saw Pinkie bracing herself against the wall mext to the window and anger was kept on her face. Pinkie Pie hissed, "Y-you're not r-real."

Rarity set the clothes on the bed and carefully sidled over to Pinkie and said raising her arms, "Pinkie Pie, it's me Rarity. The one that saved you."

As Rarity got closer her anger seemed to steam and she tightened her grip on the walls, turning her knuckles white. Rarity was surprised at her sudden anger at her, then it occurred. Perhaps Pinkie was not talking to her at all. Maybe she was repeating what happened on the road. Rarity placed both her hands on Pinkie's cheeks and said gently, "Pinkie Pie. It's me Rarity, you're...Hmfh!"

Then Pinkie Pie forcefully pulled Rarity in for a long kiss on the lips. Pinkie was very slow and very experienced with her kiss. Very experienced. Rarity had not been kissed like that at all, especially from a woman. This was the first time she found herself getting kissed by a woman. Rarity tried to escape her grip but she was too strong. Pinkie pulled her in closer and their chests collided and softly pressed against each other, eliciting a high pitched squeak from Rarity. Pinkie's hands moved seductively down Rarity's back letting an involuntary moan of pleasure to escape her mouth. Rarity slowly got into the kiss and her eyes started to close then Pinkie pushed Rarity away. Rarity's eyes became saucers once more as she saw Pinkie shudder and she asked with remorse in her eyes and hurt in her words, "I'm so sorry! Please, please forgive me! I...I...I..."

Pinkie let tears flow out of her eyes again and she fell to the ground. Rarity caught her and soothed like a mother talking to a child, "Hey. It's alright, I knew you weren't being yourself there darling. I forgive you."

Pinkie raised her head out of her hands and in a surprised voice she asked, "But...why? Why do you forgive me? I j...I just...I just made out with you, and you're just willing to forgive me for that?"

"Well, yes." Rarity answered very calmly and collectedly, "You were not being yourself. You lost yourself in your mind. You were facing a fantasy that you pulled yourself out of. Not a lot of people can do that. I saw it in your eyes."

Rarity hesitantly moved her hand up and gently combed a strand of hair out of Pinkie's face. As she combed it away Pinkie said very innocently, "You really are a good person."

Rarity pulled her hand back and rested it on her knee, she leaned in and gently kissed Pinkie on the cheek. Rarity replied with a smile, "That's what friends are for, darling."

Pinkie remained silent after Rarity pulled herself back. Rarity helped her stand, as the wounds were not fully healed yet. Rarity quickly braced herself and Pinkie Pie nearly toppled over, Rarity caught her and said, "I got you darling."

Pinkie looked up at her with reassurence in her eyes and finally stood up. Rarity did not fully break down the emotional wall that still remained firm between them, but she had removed the first brick. Rarity said, "I will wait outside while you change. Just call out my name if you need a hand."

Rarity gave a quick smile and walked out of the room, as she pressed her hand to the cold door handle she turned as Pinkie called out, "Rarity wait!"

Rarity carefully turned and met Pinkie's innocent gaze and said, "What is it darling?"

Pinkie answered timidly, "Can you wait for me in here? I...I don't trust myself alone..."

Rarity smiled and removed her grip from the handle and returned, "Sure thing darling."

Author's Note

High you guys! Here's another chapter for ya! I know it is not like the others. But this is the way I intend to write the rest of the story. A good chunk of chapters taking place in the past and a chunk taking place in the present. I have never really written a story in this style before, so I wanted to try it out. If you have an opinion on it, positive or negative, let me know and I might make the requested changes. But as it stands so far I'm writing the fic like this.

So, there you are.

See you guys next chapter! :raritywink:
~Sylus~

Moment

You can never be rid of your nightmares, Rarity. And you can't run from your fears. Face them or let them kill you. Either way you're free. Choose.

Rarity could not seem to get her father out of her head. Rarity looked up at the sky, it was very early in the morning but the sun was hidden behind a curtain of grey clouds. Rarity stepped out of the hospital, the dirt roads of Ppnyville now were firmly beneath her feet. Rarity stood in the forefront of the rain that steadily fell from the sky. Normally rain is supposed to make you refreshed or sad, but Rarity felt neither. It was more of an empty cold feeling. The rain battered down on Rarity and flattened her hair, all the time she had spent on her hair was now rendered useless. Twenty minutes gone. Rarity turned and found Pinkie standing in the cold bitter rain as well. Her hair was less affected considering her hair was already flat.

Rarity could not fight the dark sadness she felt. It hurt her that this person was lost and had nowhere to go. She was a loner. A wanderer. It hurt her even more not knowing the demons and memories she has that left her so traumatized. Rarity had thought of it before but it did not have this great of an effect. The weight never settled in.

The rain steadily fell, it gave Rarity an ominous feeling. Rarity looked over at Pinkie and she simply stared at the shadows on the ground. Her eyes filled with sobriety and a hidden secret. She had a blanket draped over her shoulders. Rarity was itching to ask her what happened to her and why she acted the way that she did. Not everybody was willing to die like that. Rarity said, "Come on, lets get out of this rain quickly. Wouldn't want you catching a cold now would we."

With no further words shared, Pinkie followed close behind Rarity. Their footsteps sloshing as they step into the mud of the dirt roads of Ponyville. The town was named after the founder nearly seven hundred years ago, Dameon Ponyville. He grew up in another country town but it had been ransacked by bandits and burned to the ground. Dameon was the only survivor. For fifteen years Dameon was believed dead like all the others. But for reasons unknown, he returned and had vengeance filled in his heart. He confronted these bandits and killed the leader. The bandits were lost without a leader and decided to follow Dameon. It was then that Dameon decided to build a new town, built on the foundation of the old one. And thus began the long story of Dameon Ponyville.

Rarity had remembered that story from school, it was one that stuck with her throughout her childhood and on into her early adult years. Casually and silently they strode past the many shops of Ponyville, closed for the night and waiting for the day to break and the working day to start. Rarity decided she would not live by the hours she had in a day. Live by the moment you have now, or let it slip away into oblivion. That was what she lived by.

Rarity turned to Pinkie Pie as she asked aloud, "Rarity? Can...can I ask you something?"

Rarity responded warmly, "Of course. Ask away darling."

Pinkie's expression went dark as she lost her gaze on Rarity and she asked, "Do...do you believe in someone getting a second chance?"

Rarity's heart sank as she let the words carry sadly into her ears with the steady rhythym of the rain. It felt like a shower of despair with every drop feeling heavier than the last. Rarity answered, "I...I believe that no one is beyond the path of redemption. That even if there is the slightest chance that they can be saved, they should be. But that is not something for me to decide."

Pinkie continued her solemn stare on the shadows ahead of them. She grabbed the hem of the blanket tightly and she said, "What if...what if this person has a really dark past?...what if...what if this person killed people?"

Rarity felt the sadness Pinkie was projecting. Pinkie looked over at Rarity with big saddened eyes. Tears formed at the corners. The blanket was beginning to catch the rain and started to weigh heavily on her shoulders. More weight than she needed. Rarity answered softly, "So long as that person truly holds remorse for their actions, then they deserve a second chance."

Pinkie moved her gaze back away from Rarity and she fell silent. Rarity had a good feeling that Pinkie was talking about herself. Things were starting to add up now. She was feeling remorseful because she killed somebody but that does not explain how Pinkie made out with her no more than a few minutes ago. Rarity never thought of herself as one to like the touch of a woman. She only ever dated men, and loved it. But the way Pinkie just forced herself on Rarity it was. Eye opening. She should casted Pinkie away and scorn her for ever trying to mkae out with her. But that was not the case, she forgave her.Rarity never considered being a lesbian before. There was nothing against it but she just never thought it would be comfortable feeling the touch of a woman before. She never took into consideration how soft a woman's touch can be, or how dirty it made her feel.

Pinkie said, "I...I'm sorry if I...made you uncomfortable back there."

Rarity replied with a wave of her hand, "It's quite alright Pinkie. I just pray to Celestia that nothing like that happens again...not that I'm saying you did not handle yourself well it's just that...I don't really find interest in dating another woman. I apologize if I am being too open on the subject."

"On no you're fine," Pinkie replied, "At least we're talking about it and not pretending it did not happen....you know let's not talk about it...it's making me feel weird."

Rarity replied with a smile, "Alright darling."

And with that the air felt lighter and a little less awkward as they found themselves at Heartstrings Complex, walking on in complete silence.

Author's Note

Hello faithful readers! I apologize for the rather short chapter. I write until I feel the chapter is over, and I felt this chapter should be shorter one. Not my fault just the way I thought I should write. Expect things to get cereal in the next few chapters. Long and a nice good chunk. Okay, so have patience it will take me longer to post the next few chapters because of how long they shohld be.

Also, in the description I will put a link to the playlist of songs that are the titles of the chapter. To help along with reading. Okay.

See you next chapter! :raritywink:
~Sylus~

Well Respected Man

"Ugh...." Spike groaned as his eyes opened groggily. He stared up at the oak ceiling and felt the feeling of sleep still well within his muscles and eyes. That was the first time he felt how it was to sleep as a teen. He was now thirteen years old and was absolutely not enjoying it. Anything but the latter.

Spike tried with all the strength he could to force himself back to sleep. But it was futile, his body told him that it was time for him to wake up. He tried to defy what his body had told him. But it was still made in vain. Spike slowly rose. He slept with his shirt off, he felt more comfortable that way. He had slowly grown into his physique and knew what he was. He was actually very mature for his age, he did things that no one expected. He stretched out his arms and scratched his side. Spike sat up completely and remained at the side of his bed. He ran a hand through his hair releasing a sigh. A slow beginning to another morning filled with the emptiness of night.

The sun arrayed a spectrum of colors that shone into the glassy paned walls of pure glistening wonder. Spike had never woken up to such a beautiful sight. Birds remained perched a few feet on a branch outside the window. Spike stood up and watched the birds. It was a Blue Jay and an Equestrian Pink Swallow. The Jay gently rubbed its head against the Swallow, a friendly touch and movement. The Swallow repeated the motion and remained there for quite some time before a gentle breeze danced them away.

Spike looked down at the streets of Ponyville and saw it nearly barren. One or two people passing by every minute. Something was wrong, the air felt heavy and wrong. Spike had felt this before and it warranted more trouble than he thought it was. One of his birthdays where he became someone he did not wish to be, the day he had treated Rarity like she was nothing. It hurt his heart every time he thought about it. Spike sighed at the memory and carefully tucked it away, his emerald eyes opened up again and scanned the rustic town for anything unusual.

The sun had raised bright red, making his suspicions true. Something had went wrong, horribly wrong. He looked at Sugarcube Corner and noticed not a single soul was seen at the gingerbread looking shoppe. Spike now felt the piranhas in the water, and now he bled to find the sharks. And after a few seconds of looking he saw a small tgathering of people outside Carousel Boutique. The small throng of people did not hold any particular emotions, just wondered what was going on and Spike had to say that his curiosity was peaked. The only thing that warranted these feelings true were the two guards outside the dress shop door.

Spike called out after a yawn, "Twilight! I'm going over to Rarity's! I'll be back by lunch!"

Spike lowered his head expecting to hear a shouted answer. When nothing but silence came Spike suspected that she had gone to see what the commotion was about. Spike pulled the window down and promptly went over to his dresser. He sifted through the pile of well folded clothing and found what he would wear. He found a pair of blue jeans and a small dark purple Hemley shirt. Spike had grown accustomed to wearing this almost every day. He slipped out of his pajama pants that were made of satin, and threw them into his clothsbasket. He pulled on his jeans and pulled on his Hemley, buttoning the top three buttons of the shirt. He then proceeded to apply Old Spice Original deodorant to his pits. The smell that wafted up to his morning nostrils was very much appealing to his smell.

Spike slipped on his pair of dark purple loffers and proceeded downstairs at a steady pace. Not too brisk but not too slow. His footsteps echoed off of the oaken floors as he glided down the stairs and out the front door. Spike closed the door behind him and felt himself enter the calm and cool spring air. A gentle breeze brushing up against him, ever so slightly dancing off of him as he walked on to Carousal Boutique. Keeping his pace even and in a sense of heightened rhythm.

Spike then found himself at the back of many people, he gently pushed past them and said out loud as he made his way to the front, "Excuse me....sorry....my friend lives here....excuse me....pardon me."

He found himself at the front and proceeded to walk into the dress shop when two crossed spears stopped him frkm gaining entry. One of the guards clad in bright gold armor said in a proud and commanding voice, "No one is allowed to enter unless told by the princesses!"

Before Spike could protest he saw at the threshold a woman he had come to know and recognize. She was tall and well figured for being the total bookworm that she is. She wore tight fitting jeans with a dress shirt and a purple and pink sweater vest over top. Her features were well toned and feminine. And almost unmistakable was her long dark violet hair with a streak of pink and lilac. It was the form of Twilight Sparkle, in almost every sense of the word his older sister.

Twilight saw Spike and walked to the crossed spears and told the guards in a soft and knowledgable tone, "It's okay sir guards, he is my assistant."

The one on the left, a tall black man in the same golden plate armor proclaimed lowering his spear, "Our apologies Miss Sparkle."

Spike asked in his slightly aged teen voice, "Twilight what is going on? I go to sleep for nine hours and there is something wrong?"

There was that serious face Spike had seen all too well. Twilight answered with smile trying to lighten her already dark mood, "So it would seem."

Spike shrugged his shoulders and asked once more, "What happened? Is Rarity okay?"

Twilight bit her lip and moved her amethyst eyes away from Spike. He did not like this at all, a knot slowly formed in his throat as he feared for the worst. Twilight stepped aside and ushered Spike into the dress shop.

Spike looked around and he heard Rarity's voice proclaim heartily and happily in his mind, "Welcome to Carousal Boutique! Where everything is chic, unique, and manifique!"

His heart slightly warmed as he heard the silken voice of his crush. Probably one of the most beautiful women he had ever laid eyes on. The way she walked. The way she talked. How she was always willing to lend a hand. If there was a way for him to love her even more he has not found it. She was almost the definition of perfect. Twilight walked next to Spike as they entered Rarity's home part of the shop, she answered, "I...I hope so Spike."

Spike walked in the familiar foyer and looked to his left and saw in the kitchen nothing. To his left came two people who pushed past him and went up stairs. Spike then heard another familiar voice, "Spike. I am glad that you are here as well. A good morning to you."

Spike looked and saw the heavenly stride of Princess Celestia. Standing much taller than Twilight, she carried no weight upon her shoulders as she found her way down the stairs. She wore a long bright white silk dress with a thick gold necklace with an amethyst in the center, with a crown to match. Spike had always known Celestia as one that had god like features but never really paid any attention until now. Her hair slightly billowed and rippled even though there was no wind. Her skin was slightly colored and shined as she passed a window at the stairs. Celestia had a warm smile and continued to walk down the stairs as she said, "It has been such a long time since I have seen you Spike. I wish I would have stopped by and-"

Spike raised a hand interrupting the monarch and Spike replied, "Princess. I know that you are trying to hide a really dark secret from me to try and make me seem like everything is alright when in reality everything has gone to Tartarus."

Celestia breathed out a short breath and said, "It seems that Twilight has been rubbing off on you."

Spike nodded crossing his arms over his chest. The Princess finished coming down the stairs and behind her he saw Luna and Rainbow Dash come down. Celestia said coming down in front of Spike and stepped to the side of the ornate mahogany railing as she explained, "Then I will not beat around the bush, so to speak. Something terrible has happened Spike. Something that has not occured in over seven hundred years, I am afraid that a murder has happened here. A person was killed on cold blood."

A chill ran through Spike. Spike had heard of things like that, but for him to actually be in the place of murder...it hurt Spike. Spike let the fear spread slightly on his face, the knot got tighter and nearly choked him like a noose as he asked, "Wa...was Rarity?..."

Spike looked to Celestia for sympathy and recieved it, but not entirely. Celestia responded shifting weight to her other leg, "She...she is fine...which is what worries me."

Spike heaved out a troubled sigh. Spike responded with a shrug of his shoulders and a knit eyebrow, "Why worry? Rarity is okay, that is good. Right?"

"I am afraid that is not the case young assistant." Answered Princess Luna as she stepped into Spike's field of view. Luna was shorter than Celestia but seemed to hold power more on her sleeves than her sister, she projected a feeling of sovereignty and godlike power. Her features soft and her skin white as the pale moon light. Her outfit mirrored Celestia's, other than the metal being a dark midnight blue and her dress having the same color only having thin wisps of black along the fabric. The closer she came Spike noticed that the black wisps danced and seemed to be living as it moved across the fabric. Her turquoise eyes were filled with sorrow. Spike kept his gaze on Luna as she finished, "Rarity is okay as far as we know. But we believe that she left, with Pinkie Pie."

Spike felt something hit him right in the chest. He could barely breath. How could she just get up and leave? Spike would have at least expected a goodbye at least. Spike felt another hit to his chest as Rainbow Dash leaned against the railing and said in her all too familiar tomboyish voice, "You forgot to mention the part where you think that Rarity is the one that killed Bon Bon."

Horror struck Spike's face as he looked up at the rainbow haired girl. She wore a black cap on her head and a sweatshirt with a jean vest with a hood and draw strings. Spike always thought she looked like a punk rocker just extremely dummed down. Rainbow Dash was the definition of a sports maniac, and had the body for it. Spike lowered his head and said sarcastically, "That would have been helpful information to know."

Spike had his look plastered on his face. Spike looked at Luna and snapped, "How could you make accusations like that!?"

Everyone else held their breath besides Luna and Celestia as they looked t the defiant teen. Luna kept her anger supressed. She narrowed her gaze and growled, "You forget, youngling, that I am Goddess of the Night. I watch over the entirety of Equestria under my gaze. All I saw was a splash of blood and Rarity with blood stains."

Spike refused to believe what she said and looked to Twilight. Spike said, "Are you listening to this?"

Twilight remained silent and looked away from Spike. Spike held a shocked look and said, "You cannot be serious Twi....you too?"

Twilight sighed heavily and rubbed the back of her neck as she replied, "It makes sense. So far it has yet to be proven wrong."

Spike held a betrayed look as he could barely recognize the person who stood before him. Spike held a tight gaze and said, "Did those years of friendship mean nothing to you?"

"Spike I-"

"DID BEING YOUR BEST FRIEND FOR YEARS MEAN NOTHING!"

Twilight replied with a shrunken voice, "Of course they meant something it's just-"

"For someone who spent more time studying friendship," Spike snapped, "I expected you to not run off of empty assumptions."

"They are not empty you manipulative snake!" Luna yelled stepping threateningly closer to Spike. Luna finished with a growl, "I saw it with my own eyes!"

Spike stepped closer to Luna and yelled at an equal volume, "You saw a misinterpreted scene! You are jumping to-"

"ENOUGH!" Celestia shouted stepping in between the Princess of the night and Spike. Spike huffed out large breaths and calmed his angered spirit. He could not believe that Luna had the authority to make accusations like that. Celestia alternated her scolding gaze between Luna and Spike as she finished, "I will not let this event come between us. It is too early in the investigation to throw Rarity and Pinkie into the wolves. We need to keep looking if we are to find real clues."

Spike moved back away from Celestia and Luna. Spike expected Celestia to defend his case when in reality she just interrpreted Luna's differently. Spike turned away from the others for a moment and collected his thoughts. Twilight stepped over next to him and she wisely said, "Look. I know you have a crush on Rarity. But you can't let that love blind you from what might come to pass. I'm not trying to sway you just to be right. I am trying to prepare you for it just in case it might happen."

Spike still could not believe. Spike turned to Twilight and snapped as he left the Boutique, "I expected more from you Twilight. Especially you Luna."

With those final words Spike left the building and remained staring at the small throng. He looked at their faces and he lowered his head. He prayed to anything that it was not true, that they were just running off of assumptions.He hoped that Rarity was not the one with blood on their hands. He knew the woman better than anyone and held in his heart that she was just protecting herself.

Woth his head kept lowered he whispered, "May the light of Celestia guide you Rarity....wherever you are."

With A Little Help From My Friends

The air was cold and pierced through the broken veil of mortal feeling. The dark shadows cast by the overgrown trees of darkness, were cast large and hit right into Pinkie's dark soul. Normally she would feel callous about these shadows of the Everfree, but the emotions Rarity was projecting made her feel otherwise. Her usual upbeat companion simply walked with no emotion to her stride. Just emptiness.

Pinkie held her bone knife firmly in her sweatshirt pocket and her other hand gripping on her pack that was slung over her shoulder. Pinkie looked over at her companion and saw her lifeless gaze upon the road beneath her.

Her ponytail swished from side to side as her heavy steps landed on the dirt road. Pinkie asked warm heartedly, "Rarity?"

No sound came from the seamstress. Just the sound of her breaths piercing through the dark air. Pinkie pressed on, "Rarity? Say something."

Rarity lifted her head and there was a look of agitation. Pinkie pressed further, "Anything."

Rarity spoke with an edge to her voice as sharp as the blade in her pocket, "What do you want me to talk about? Do wish to know how I am feeling right now? If you really wanted to know you should have asked, 'Good morning Rarity. How was your evening?' 'Oh nothing too stressful it's just I murdered someone in cold blood and now I'm on the run with someone who knows next to everything about murdering other people! Other than that my evening was just PEACHY!"

As she talked further her voice rose in volume and in madness. She was not taking it well. Pinkie shrunk and said, "Forget I said anything then."

Rarity must have picked up on the signal she was putting out. She released a sigh and answered, "I'm sorry I snapped darling. It's just...(sigh)...I have been through a lot the past few hours."

Pinkie let there be a bit of silence, to help ease the tension that Rarity was making. Finally Pinkie asked, "How do you feel?"

Rarity let silence be her answer. Her expression turned dark as she hissed coldly, "I murdered someone I knew since my childhood. Someone whom I was going to make a wedding dress for. How do you think I feel?"

Pinkie felt the icy words drift to her. Pinkie was not one to get mad at her friends for any reason. Pinkie growled, "If you keep those feelings bottled up then you will slowly kill yourself, and not the person you murdered."

Rarity sighed aggravatedly and responded, "Noted. Now, can you please tell me where we are going. It's bad luck to keep a lady waiting."

"Should have thought of that before you bit my head off." Pinkie answered snidely.

Rarity ground her teeth tightly together, sounding as if she would break her teeth. She growled through gritted teeth, "Well, you should have shared where you intend on taking us."

Pinkie could feel the anger coming off of her, like an aura of rage rising off of her. A rising tide of supressed fury. Pinkie answered, "Alright. Calm down...we are heading to Zecora's hut. She used to work for my family a few years back."

Rarity knit an eyebrow and asked, "Then why did you react so audibly?"

"Because I did not want her to recognise me," Pinkie answered motioning her hand in the air, "I did not want to put Zecora in a position where she was able to give away where I was. I was protecting her."

"Then why are we going there?"

"Because she can give us shelter for a night or two and she can offer us materials and tools on our continued journey." Pinkie answered swiping a strand of hair out of her face.

Rarity stopped in her tracks abruptly with a shocked look as she mused, "Journey? Where are we going from Zecora's?"

Pinkie's expression turned dark as she remembered the splattering blood of her family. The rising tide of crimson liquid that stained the walls. The screams of horror and terror. The feelings of pure adrenaline and vengeance, against years of hell and agony. That emotion spread on her face. Pinkie looked over at her friend and said coldly, "I'm going to finish what I started."

Rarity's eyes went wide and pronounced over the chilling forest air, "I'm sorry darling can you repeat that? Cause I thought I heard you say that we are going back to your old house!?"

Pinkie shrugged her shoulders and retorted, "What? Did you think that I was going to let a family of assassins hunt us forever? What about the endless amount of patrols that are probably on their way now to arrest us? No. I am not running anymore, I'm returning the favor."

Rarity let her voice raise in volume, "So you are going to give your life away for a grudge!? What will you hope to gain from this Pinkie!? Clarity!? Vengeance!? Peace! Will you kill them all just so you can feel better. Once they are gone what will you do then!?"

Pinkie stepped threateningly towards Rarity and hissed like a snake, "What happened to 'I will always be by your side?' What happened to the friend that would offer her own soul to save her friends!?"

"SHE'S GONE!" Rarity shouted that made Pinkie flinch. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she continued, "SHE DIED LAST NIGHT WHEN SHE FUCKING KILLED SOMEONE!!!"

Rarity let tears come from the corners of her eyes and she continued in a lower tone, "She died with Bon Bon...now all that is left is the soulless husk that used to be Lady Rarity."

Pinkie slumped her shoulders. There it was. The truth. She held that over her head, no doubt. Pinkie clenched her eyes shut as she said, "Bon Bon...was not innocent...she...she was a distant relative of mine...she moved here to get away from the family. Like any sane person would do...she tried to kill you because she was no doubt threatened that otherwise Lyra would be killed."

Rarity slouched as she sat on a log next to the dirt road. She rested her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands. She let the tears flow out and she said through hard breaths, "How...is that...supposed...to make me feel better."

If there was one thing in this world that Pinkie Pie truly felt bad about, it was hearing Rarity cry. It was an unexplained sensation. She sat next to Rarity and rested a tender hand on her irritable friend. She shivered as she let all her tears out. Pinkie Pie soothingly rubbed her hand on Rarity's shoulder and said in a softened tone, "It was not supposed to make you feel better. It was supposed to give you closure. This was your first time spilling blood. You deserved to know that she tried to leave the family but failed."

Pinkie scooched closer to her friend and gingerly grabbed both sides of her face and turned her to face Pinkie. Looking deep into Rarity's aquamarine eyes, seeing and feeling the sadness and remorse of what she did. Pinkie soothed as she spoke, "You aren't a monster Rarity. You are still the generous soul that found me that night. One kill will never change that, unless you let it. If you let that darkness consume you you will turn out like me."

Rarity sniffled and wiped her eyes as Pinkie dropped her hands. Her face was so warm, and distraught. She truly felt bad over what she did. And it was something she would carry for the rest of her life. Pinkie never wanted anything like this to happen to her. She never wanted Rarity to be put in a situation between life and death. Pinkie never wanted Rarity involved in her dark past and, no doubt now, dark future. Rarity let out a controlled breath and she seemed to return to normal.

Pinkie noticed the changed and clapped her hand on Rarity's shoulder and said with a smile, "Okay? We better get moving before..."

Pinkie stood up and froze. Her knees felt really pinchy. Her heart slowed and she slipped into her Killer Instinct. Something was not right. There was someone or something stalking them and Pinkie could sense it. It lurked beyond the shadows of the forest and watched with predatorial eyes. Rarity noticed her friend and said, "Pinkie Pie, what is it?"

"Quiet." Pinkie answered raising a hand to her stationary friend. Pinkie slipped off her pack and drew out her bone knife and reversed the dagger. She knelt in the dirt and felt her knees pinch once more. They pinched three more times and then a fourth. 5 stalkers beyond her field of vision. Four were circling them and the fifth remained stationary. Pinkie focused to try and analyze what she faced. She shuddered as she learned what they were. Shadowcats. Large part shadow part animal creatures that take on the form of a large cat. Like a lion or a tiger.

She hoped that she would make it to Zecora's hut before she encountered any of the wildlife. She considered herself lucky that it was not a manticores or chimeras that stalked them. But these were none the less dangerous. Pinkie took off her sweatshirt, and revealed a white v neck t-shirt. Pinkie knelt on the ground and slowed her breathing even further, making it sound as if she did not breath at all. She sat there as she patiently waited for the first one to pounce. Readying her knife to rend flesh and bone once more.

The Pride

In a voice that frightened her, Pinkie asked as she knelt in the dirt, "Rarity. Do not move. Do not even think about touching anything. No matter what happens, stay right there."

Rarity was slightly terrified. Her friend just stopped doing everything and took off her belongings and her sweatshirt. Now she was kneeling in the dirt. What was going on? Rarity looked around and saw nothing. But the state of mind she slipped into...she was so focused and ready for anything. As if she awaited the cold touch of death that came from an executioner. Rarity looked around again to analyze or find anything she missed.

They had stuck to not being on the main road, or what was left of it at least. To make sure they did not wander upon any patrols. Harder to track that way too. But really it was only Zecora, Rarity and her friends that ever dared to wander in the Everfree. But, that changes once you kill someone. They wandered into a small clearing. But the shadows of the woods did not cease, killing all light that tried to beam from the heavens.

Rarity's heart raced. She could feel something bad happen but she did not know what it was. It scratched at her. It bit her. Telling her that anything and everything could go wrong. She watched as Pinkie sat there in pure utter silence. No sound but the eerie rustle of a light breeze. Rarity heard no breathing coming from her friend, she looked as if she was a kneeling statue. She held in her hand what looked to be a bone knife, shining slightly in a few strands of sunlight that shone through. The blade itself was curved and looked as sharp as a sword. Rarity felt her heart beat increase once more as she waited for something bad to happen. After about a minute she was about to gather back her friend when after that, it happened.

Pouncing from the shadows were three large cats of some kind, but they were as black as night with shadows rolling off their wild fur. Rarity rushed a hand to her mouth as she feared for her friend's life. Pinkie knelt facing Rarity. In the split second before the feral cats connected, Pinkie shot her eyes open and they were filled with malicious and protective intentions. Dark pink mist came out of the corners of her eyes.

Faster than anything Rarity had ever seen, in one swift motion she raced her body along one of the shadowed cats. As her outstretched arm went along the cat's thick neck she quickly moved along the cat's body and mounted on its back. Pinkie pulled her knife back and thrust it deep in the cat's throat. A rising tide of blood spilled over Pinkie as she cut a large circle around the neck of the animal. Pinkie was in such a state of calm that it frightened Rarity.

Pinkie jumped off of the cat and did a back flip in the air. As she landed on the ground she knelt briefly in the ground. She quickly got back up and dashed towards the closest one that landed upon its long gone prey. The two remaining growled and cried in vengeance towards the girl that killed one of its pridemates. The two rushed towards Pinkie. The large cats bounded towards the killer.

Rarity slowly turned her head as she heard a deep vibrating growl emanate from her right. Rarity slowly turned and saw that twenty feet away was a large shadow covered lion. It's fur coat was a pale grey and its large and voluminous mane was as black as night. Rarity saw its predatorial stare that was transfixed on Rarity. She feld her pride quickly run away from her and slowly let fear settle in her heart. The lion was large and stood five feet tall on all fours. The largest cat Rarity has ever seen.

Slowly it circled Rarity, making her feel scared as she waited for it to pounce. Rarity slowly lowered to her bag and slowly pulled out the Colt. She did not take her gaze away from the lion as she did so. She readied the weapon at her side, her chest rose and fell with sharp and anxious breaths. The lion growled out a low reverberating tone. A sound that promised a malicious and painful death. This was not a kill out of desperation for food. Nor was it protection out of their hunting grounds. It was going to be a kill merely because the lion was higher up on the food chain than the seamstress. For two long minutes they stared each other down, the lion daring Rarity to make the first move.

Finally unleashing an earth shaking roar it bounded towards Rarity. She raised the Colt and held it tight in her hands. She looked down the dark grey metal barrel and shakily aimed towards the lion. The lion was a few feet away, when Rarity heard a sound of crashing thunder. Rarity kept her eyes closed and waited for her to be maimed and swiped into millions of shreds. All that came was the resounding thud of a large form falling to the ground. Rarity shakily opened her eyes and they went as wide as dinner plates.

The large lion lied lifeless on the ground, blood oozing out into a pool. Rarity knelt down and lifted the lifeless head of the large cat and saw where the bullet pierced through the leader of the pride. Shock filled Rarity as the entrance wound was the lion's right eye. Blood ran down the now empty crater of the lion's eye. Rarity had never shot a gun before and her first shot was a lethal blow. An instant kill. The bullet ripped through the eye and made contact with the lion's brain, killing it instantly. Rarity dropped the head of the lion, it was heavy and the fur felt thick and coarse like she had expected. If the bullet shot the lion in the shoulder or in the chest. It would barely get past the thick fur hide. But that shot...a one in a million.

Rarity stared at the lifeless form and flooding in her vision was last night, when she killed Bon Bon. She watched the steady flow of the blood that came out of its empty hole. It slowly dripped down over the bridge of its nose and collected in a puddle that slowly grew in width and volume. It spread over the dirt and created a puddle of crimson red blood. Rarity wrenched back as she felt a stinging pain rise in her back.

Red hot pain rose on her back and she fell to her knees. She cried in excrutiating pain, howling for the pain to subside. It felt as if someone took boiling hot water and spread it across her back. She shivered as she felt something ooze and drip down her back. She fell to her hands and knees, she turned her head and saw another male lion. It looked like the one she had killed but it was much smaller and more lithe, the lion's son perhaps.

The vengeful son reared up and let loose an angered roar. It raised its monstrous paws and swiped down at Rarity, to land the killing blow on her unscathed pristine skin. She turned swiftly, her back pressing hard against the dirt letting the pain rise once more and let a whine escape her resentful lips. She raised her firearm, letting another rip of thunder across the cold autumn air.

Only the strong survive, in the wild or otherwise. And it appeared to Pinkie that these Shadowcats thought her weak. But she had quickly shown that she was not easy prey. Pinkie still had her dagger reversed, even though it was more of a short sword. She held it close to her face and kept her hardened focus on the remaining two Shadowcats.

Pinkie growled loud enough for them to hear, "Come on you pathetic waste of pridemates. Is this the best you can do?"

As if it was her answer, the one on the left growled a deep vibrating hiss. They slowly advanced on Pinkie. She still sensed five, but the other two were going over to Rarity. No doubt because they thought she was easier prey. Pinkie hardened her killer gaze focusing on the two large cats in front of her. She needed to get to Rarity and fast. She would not last very long if she was caught by these lions.

Rolled her fingers over the linen hilt of her bone knife and still kept it close. The blood stained on her white tee shirt was drying from the freshly killed Shadowcat behind her. Over her shirt and her arms and neck. The blood hardened somewhat and clung tightly to the fabric. One of the lions growled and then roared as it charged Pinkie. Pinkie tightened her grip on the dagger and put more weight in her feet to keep herself from flinching or falling away.

The lion came into range and with a quick swipe of her dagger she cut along the cat's shoulder. The wound pierced deep and a crimson flood spilled out. The lion roared and stopped its charge to slightly regain its strength. Pinkie quickly pulled her attention back to the other one, just in time as she was tackled to the ground by the cat.

Her knife fell out of her hands as it tried to clamp down on Pinkie with its monstrous jaws. Pinkie caught the gaping maw and pushed against the cat's strong push towards its prey. Some saliva dripped down onto her chest as she pushed back the cat. She clenched her eyes closed and strained with all of her might against the Shadowcat. It was within that moment that she felt her spirit lighten. It was in that moment that she felt determined to push away the cat to save the woman she loved. Pinkie grumbled as she pushed against the Shadowcat.

As she defiantly pushed against the cat she heard a blast of thunder and knew that it was a gunshot, followed by a large thud. Pinkie prayed to Celestia that Rarity was okay. Then her heart and soul sank as she heard a sound she never wanted to hear again. She heard a sharp screech of pain that ripped through the air and came into Pinkie's eardrums. The sound repeated itself in her mind again. She would never forget that soul crushing sound. Hearing her best friend cry out in pain, it was a cold feeling.

A vengeful fire sparked in her stomach and she opened her eyes letting pure anger and hatred loose. Gripping tightly on the cat's jaws Pinkie felt an electric feeling cacade over her body and looked and saw that crackling ove her was bright pink lightning. Pinkie felt her strength increase and with more ease she opened the cat's maw wider. She pumped more strength into her arms and swiftly with a an ear splitting crunch of bones and meat, she ripped apart the lion's jaw. Blood spilled from its now open and unhinged maw. Pinkie felt the adrenaline rush mix with her killer instinct and her mind was brought to a certain level of focus that she could never leave. She pushed herself back up and stood firm.

As she stood up she heard another blast of thunder. She prayed to anything that Rarity was okay. She looked around and found she was alone. The last one either left or is lurking in the shadows near her. Pinkie kept her senses open and slowly picked up her knife. She steadied her breath and raised her dagger, ready to slice through flesh. Her heart rate slowed once more as she tried to sense the injured cat.

She could smell the blood in the air, filling her mind with a familiar smell. One that she knew all too well. The smell fo iron mixed with a sort of innocence. It filled her senses with deep longing. She felt Pinkamena push into her and attempt to break free but Pinkie remained adamant. She was not going to allow that side of herself show ever again. Her form rippled with power and energy as crackles of bright pink lightning, she scanned over the dim lighting of the forest. It was quiet, eeriely so. Not a sound pierced the air or the quiet solemnness of the forest.

Pinkie closed her eyes and before she could sense where the cat was she felt a force hit against her back. A powerful swipe against her lower back. This caused a grunt of pain to escape from Pinkie. She had been through worse pain than a simple slice against her back. She had suffered through living hell for nineteen years, she was not going to let some cat take her away. She felt the energy ripple across her back and healed wound, but the pain was very much still there. Pinkie growled and turned to face the cat. It raised a paw to maim her once again. Pinkie stabbed her dagger deep into the cat's paw, blood slowly spilling out of the wound. Pinkie took out her dagger and faster than lightning she slashed along the cat's throat interrupting its vengeful roar. The cat's eyes was laced with fear as it stared at its death dealer. It stared long at the pink killer and finally succumbed to the blackness of death.

The cat fell limp on the ground like its brethren. Pinkie calmed down and the pink lightning dissipated. Her heart beat slowly sped up to a normal speed and her breathing became ragged. She coughed and wiped the back of her hand over her mouth and spat on the ground as she said, "Welcome to the pride."

Pinkie cleaned the blood off her blade and put it back in its scabbard which was now hooked to her waist band of her jeans. She controlled her breathing only for a brief moment until she realised something. She turned to her left and after a gasp she whispered shakily, "Rarity..."

She rushed over and saw two limp dead Shadowcats. The pride leader and his son no doubt. Pinkie looked around and did not see any sign of her friend. She saw their belongings lying on the ground so she did not leave. Her heart increased in speed as she felt anxiety wash over her. She took in a few breaths and opened up he hearing. She listened into the silence and tried to hear the warm heart beat of her closest friend.

After a few seconds she heard it.

Thump...thump...thump...

It was not regular heartbeats. They were slow and uneven, suggesting that she was losing blood. She followed the beating of her heart and found herself at the son of the prideleader. She heard he beating loud in he ears now, she focused once more and the heart beats died in her ears. She shoved over the Shadowcat with a grunt as her pain in her back and her exhaustion overtook her. But she got the Shadowcat off and saw a horrific sight.

Rarity's eyes were closed and her face, torso, and arms stained with blood and dirt. Dripping into a steady pool was blood from her back. Her clothes ruffled, and being held loosely in her hand was a Colt .45 Revolver. One of the best pistols ever to be invented. Pinkie slowly picked her up and nestled her head in her lap and said, "Come on Rares...stay with me...don't close your eyes..."

Rarity coughed as she rested her head in Pinkie's lap. Mucus spat up with her coughs. Her eyes slowly opened and they looked to be almost depleted of all energy and life. They were half open, she let out a low cough and looked lazily over at Pinkie and a smirk came across her face as she weakly stated, "For...future...reference...I did what you...told me."

Pinkie held the back of her head in her palm, her hand just below where the roots of her hair started and made way for her soft skinned nape of her neck. She was uncharacteristically warm and it radiated off of her, showing her body was working so hard to keep her from unconsciousness. Pinkie ran the back of her fingers over Rarity's stained cheek and said softly, "I know. I know..."

Rarity grunted in pain and pressed her hand to her back trying to ease the pain. Rarity said with a grunt of pain in between her words, "We need to get...to...Zecora's."

Pinkie nodded and saw the blood that spilled from the three slashes along her back. Pinkie guessed that she lost maybe a half pint, maybe a whole pint. Pinkie leaned over and picked up her sweatshirt. Pinkie laid it next to her and lifted Rarity's head once more and said looking into her sapphire eyes, "I know it hurts, but I need you to hold yourself up for a little bit. We need to put pressure on those wounds. Okay?"

Rarity simply gave a hurtful nod. Pinkie picked up the sweatshirt and rolled it out long, like she was ringing it out of water. Her head was now resting on Pinkie's thigh and she pushed her hand on the ground and weakily lifted her upperbody, she clenched her eyes shut grunting out a weak cry. The painful cry hurt Pinkie's heart but she woven her sweatshirt over the now crimson stained light blue top. She pulled it tightly around the wounds, once it was tightly wound over the gashes Rarity's arm gave out and fell into Pinkie's ready arms. Pinkie held her back and her other hand on Rarity's side.

Pinkie saw hurt in Rarity's eyes. She averted her gaze as she uttered apologetically, "I'm sorry that I...yelled at you before...I don't know what came over me...I...I just..."

Pinkie replied with great heart, meaning every word, "It is quite alright Rarity. You were still mourning the loss of Bon Bon. As everyone does with their first kill, and I do not doubt that you had flashbacks of last night when you killed these lions."

Pinkie moved her hand to Rarity's neck and felt her soft skin against her coarse fingers. Rarity moved her gaze lazily back to her friend and Pinkie finished, "The important thing to remember is you don't dwell on it too much. Otherwise you will end up like me. And I refuse for that to happen."

Rarity smirked and coughed again. Rarity inspected Pinkie with a careful eye and said raising an eyebrow, "How are you unscathed? Truly you must have gotten some form of wound?"

Pinkie grunted as a pain shot through her exhausted body, as if to answer her question. She could not reveal what she could do though, she feared what Rarity would think of her. Pinkie Pie smiled half heartedly and said in reply, "I...guess I'm just lucky."

With that Pinkie helped Rarity stand but she quickly fell back, only to be caught by Pinkie again. Pinkie slung both of their packs over her shoulders. She then picked up Rarity. One arm holding her back, and her other arm underneath her knees, like a husband would carry their newly wed wife. Despite her exhaustion she held Rarity well. Pinkie turned and found the dirt road once more.

As they began their journey once more Rarity laid her head against Pinkie's shoulder. Rarity said, "You were very good back there darling."

Pinkie kept her focused gaze on the path that laid before them and responded, "Thank you...years of practice..."

Rarity must have sensed the darkness of her tone and quickly said, "I'm sorry if I brought up any bad memories dear. I was merely trying to congratulate you on your abilities."

Curses were more like it. She loved that the most about Rarity, the way she was able to pick up on someone's mood just with a quick glance and the way she would aplogize if she thought she offended someone. Pinkie always admired Rarity for her confidence, not only in herself, but also in other people. She just saw something that no other people saw. Perhaps her greatest gift, her unquestionable amount of benevolence. Pinkie smiled warmly at the complement and replied, "Yes. But nothing will compare to your accuracy with that gun."

Which was now stowed away back in Rarity's pack. Rarity held her hand gently on Pinkie's shoulder and the other supporting, to keep some weight off of Pinkie's arms. She nestled her head in Pinkie's shoulder and replied, "They were merely lucky shots darling. Nothing to fret about."

"No," Pinkie said quickly, "You were seriously good with that gun. If this was the first time you shot a gun I would not believe it if I did not see it myself. You were awesome!"

Rarity half smiled and her somber tone became more drowsy as she said, "Please. They were...one...in...a million..."

With that she succumbed to unconsciousness. Pinkie Pie was not worried, as the humble tree hut of Zecora's came into view. She humbled at seeing the dark skinned witchdoctor again. But as she neared the hut the pain rose high in her lower back and felt as if someone filled her veins with red hot lava. Burning and sizzling as it travlled over her.

She fell to her knees and strained with all her might to stay awake. Only to finally succumb to her exhaustedness. Slowly her vision becam blurry and she started seeing spots, then her eyes shut and she fell to her side.

What A Shame

Of all the smells that Spike had to endure, rotting corpse had to have topped the list. He never smelled something so vile and horrid. He stood in the doorway staring at the pale and lifeless face of Bon Bon. He leaned against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest. He was still mad that Luna accused Rarity of murder. Spike knew what kind of girl Rarity was, she would never do anything like that. She couldn't. She did not have the stomach for it, at least from what Spike knew about her.

Spike turned as he heard a familiar male voice call out to him, "Hey Spike!"

The young man turned and saw a tall man clad in dark violet and gold plate armor. He looked very masculine and cut from stone, his features powerful but very soft as well. He had long navy blue hair with a large stripe of dark sky blue. Spike knew him as Shining Armor. Spike answered unmoving, "Hey Shining."

Shining Armor stopped next to Spike and said, "Spike? Do you mind filling me in on what's going on I just got here."

Spike looked over at his brother figure and replied very monotoned, "In the middle of the night there was a murder here. And Rarity and Pinkie Pie are missing."

Shining seemed unmoved from his somber and neutral face. Shining Armor stepped past Spike and knelt next to the corpse, the guards inspecting the corpse stopped what they were doing and saluted, "Guard Captain!"

"At ease." Shining responded in a commanding and order filled tone. Shining said aloud, "(sigh)...not another one..."

Spike uncrossed his arms and asked inquisitively, "Wait, what do you mean another one?"

The captain of the guard stated not taking his eyes off of the corpse of Bon Bon, "For years there have been a series of murders. Four six years ago, it was the only murder that slipped away from us. I only just became Captain of the Guard at the time so I was still getting used to the job...yeah, this has been one killer who has been moving around. Five victims so far."

Spike rubbed his chin with his index finger and his thumb as he inquired, "Do you think that Rarity was the killer?"

"No." Shining Armor stated with a gentle shake of his head, "She would be too young to do so. I suspect that the killer captured Bon Bon and killed her here. At least that is what I hope. And Pinkie came to get Rarity and they left together."

It seemed believable, but Spike has watched enough TV to know that it was never this simple. If he learned anything from watching Castle, it was that it is usually never the first suspect. So that ruled out Rarity. Spike thought hard about this but tucked away his thoughts as Shining Armor stood up and turned to Spike and asked, "So, why was Princess Luna so angry when I came here?"

"Oh. I got in an argument with her claiming Rarity's innocence. We exchanged some words."

"Ah," Sining said lifting his head in reply, "Yeah you have to be careful with Luna. She has a very short temper."

Spike was about to ask another question when he felt a gentle paw touch his leg. He looked down and saw Opal pawing at his jeans. She looked up at him with large icy blue eyes. She said gently, "Mreow!"

She pawed at him one more time and went and stopped at the door, turning her head as if to say, 'Well? Are you coming?'

Spike felt like she had something to show him. Maybe it was important to the investigation. Maybe it was just a dead bird. Or she just wanted to be fed. But a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that she had something important to show him. Spike stood up. It was a gamble, and one he was willing to make. Spike looked at Shining Armor who was getting a full report from one of the guards. He was about to tell Shining that he was going to step outside for some air. But he looked busy.

He turned back to Opal and he followed the ivory feline. She lightly trotted down the hall and stopped at the stairs. She waited for him to catch up and then she gracefully flew down the stairs. Spike slowly sneaked down the stairs. He tried to stay out of sight, he stopped at the bottom and looked around. The princesses were convening in the other room with Twilight and Rainbow Dash. That was one thing he did not understand. It made sense that Twilight was here; she was Princess Celestia's prized student. But Rainbow Dash? She was a racer. What good did she have to be there? Not that he had no faith in the flyer, but it just seemed like her actual purpose allieviated him.

"Mreow!" Opal called angerly at him. Spike came back from his thoughts and as he approached Opal he said, "Sorry Opal! I was just thinking."

As if to respond to that, the white cat grumbled, "Mrrr..."

Spike rolled his eyes at Opal. He could not shake the feeling however that Opal held some sort of deep sorrow inside of her. Opal was a very loyal cat and loved Rarity to death, often helping Rarity with a few of her dresses. Telling her what was good and what was not. Opal as well was one of the only one of the many pets of his friends that seemed to always express what was on her mind. She was not afraid to tell people what she thought, Spike also somehow always knew what she was saying. Same with Rarity. Opal had proven to be a very odd cat.

Spike followed the bright white feline to the basement door. It was a large dark oaken door that Spike gingerly opened. What did Opal want in the basement? Rarity kept her wet food in the fridge and her dry food in one of the cabinets nearest to the fridge. As she glided down the stairs with a feminine grace she looked back breifly calling out to Spike to follow, "Mreow."

Spike lifted his hands and said quietly as he slowly descended the dark stairs, "Alright. Alright. Don't piss your fur, I'm coming. I'm coming."

Spike smiled smuggly at his comment which the cat answered wittily, "Mreow."

Spike could only guess that she made fun of him somehow. He rolled his eyes as he looked over the dark corners of the basement level of Caresoual Boutique.

The walls and floor a dark midnight blue color. There were discarded furniture and other miscellaneous carboard boxes, filled with items from Rarity's past. She inherited all her mother's belongings and when she finally bought the old town hall she moved her stuff from her old house to Caresoual Boutique. And the Mayor left a lot of some of the old town hall stuff in the basement, neglecting to take what was never hers. She always tried to avoid talking about the basement of the old town hall. Spike always wanted to know why, his best guess was purely on the fact that it was as creepy as Tartarus down there.

Spike said to the stark white feline, "Okay, what did you want to show me Opal?"

"Mreow." Opal ushered Spike to follow and they wound there way through a sea of carboard and damaged furniture. Opal skillfully jumped on various flat surfaces, doing well with keeping up with Spike and his long strides. Opal had lost a lot of weight in the past year. The cat now actually had feminine curves to her, making it easy to tell by the way she walked that she was a female cat. Spike followed the ghostly specter and she stopped an old looking wardrobe in the back right corner of the hoard of stuff.

It was aged and lightly scratched over the surface of the wood. Spike felt a chill run down his spine and felt a lump start to gather in his throat. As if the basement did not creep him out enough. Spike stood staring at the doors to the wardrobe. He could not will himself to open it for some reason, he did not know what it was but some force gripped him and held him against opening the doors. Spike normally never had a problem with stuff like this. But something about the whole situation and where he found himself. It was all too unsettling.

Opal rolled her icy blue eyes and pawed at the wardrobe and said with discontent, "Mreow!"

Spike sensed the measure of impatience in her voice. She looked at the wardrobe and then back at Spike. Her eyes were filled with slight anger. Without anymore delay to further anger Opal, Spike moved his hand to open up the door.

Sweat dripped from his nervous brow as the cold metal handle gripped him, rather than it. Flying the door open inside the ebony shadows, there Spike saw a sight he dared to never see again. Lying in the corner was the rotten and decaying form of another murder victim. The stench wafted into his nostrils and assaulted his nose, the deathly odor sending more chills through his spine. The iron blood staining his shirt and a crimson pool gathering beneath him. Resting lifeless in his hand, was a stained knife. The silver metal shining with a scarlet sheen. Smiling at him almost as if he was its next victim.

His stomach wrenched and attempted to upchuck the contents of his stomach, for full display. Spike clenched his hand over his stomach and forced down the chunks left over from the dinner before. Spike stared into the shut eyes of the victim. He wore clothes as if he was a hired assassin or mercenary. Spike leaned in closer dry heaving as the stench grew stronger.

He searched through the various pockets this assassin had and found a letter. The aged parchment echoed the sound through his ears as he unfolded it. The writing on the paper gently and carefully scrawled. Almost as if the writer was in a rush. It read,

We have found her. She is hiding in Ponyville. I will alert the rest of our family so a proper hunt for her can begin. We will avenge Obsidian and Sweetie, and her lost children.

Spread the word that the Machine lives.

Spike was appalled by the letter. It spoke of murderous actions and vengeance, reeking of lies and alcohol. Spike folded up the letter and shoved it into his pocket.

He remained at an impasse. He needed to give this to Twilight or one of the Princesses, but this would only make more ammunition against Pinkie and Rarity. Although he doubted that they did kill someone, but he needed to keep both eyes open. He was torn. It did not feel right keeping secrets from Twilight and the Princesses. But he was doing this to further protect Rarity and Pinkie.

Spike looked at Opal and said to the cat, "Thank you Opal. You were very helpful."

The cat snidely turned her head and said, "Mreow..."

As if to say, 'Don't patronize me.'

Spike needed more proof if he was to prove Rarity's innocence. But as it stood right now, Rarity was the prime suspect. This meant patrols and search parties. Lots of them too. They needed a way to stay ahead, to not get caught-

"Hey Spike! Watchya doin'?"

Spike nearly jumped out of his shoes as he heard a familiar voice behind him. Turning abruptly and shakenly to find the source of the voice. He turned and saw Scootaloo. A dark violet haired girl who are clothes almost the exact same as Rainbow Dash. Faded dark jeans, knock off converse, and a jacket. Scootaloo crossed her arms waiting for an answer. Spike snapped, "Scoots? What are you doing here?"

"Oh you know. Enjoying the scenery and also I want to know who killed who." Scootaloo answered with more enthusiasm than she needed. She casually waltzed in front of the wardrobe and saw the dead body. She whistled, "My goodness...that one is fresh. I'm guessing that this one died last night."

Spike did a double take, but decided against asking. She looked at Spike again with agitation and letting out a sigh he answered the previous question, "Okay fine...two people died last night. They came here, and no one knows why, and were murdered. The wound on this one is definitely a knife wound. Whoever tried to clean this up, they did a slouchy job. Almost everyone is blaming Rarity for it. I am here trying to find clues on proving her innocence. And I was juat about to leave to follow a patrol."

Scootaloo stored all the careful information away and she answered, "Alright. I'm coming with you."

"What? No."

"Two heads are better than one Spike," Scootaloo answered quickly, "That and I need something to do. Applebloom is working and Sweetie Belle is at her mom's so I am without friends for a while. So, looks like I'm coming along with you."

Spike loathed the thought, but a little company did not hurt. Spike heaved out a sigh and said, "Fine."

Spike could tell that this was going to be a ride that he was not going to enjoy. He could feel it.

Everything Goes Black

Numb. Even with the new comfort of an actual friend, all Pinkie can feel is numb. Empty. Devoid of the cherished feeling of a friend. The absence of happiness.

Pinkie gripped tightly on the hems of the thin cotton blanket, absent mindedly she stared at the ground in the line of fire from the ominous falling rain. Distantly she could hear the screams of horror from her countless victims. She can vaguely make out the cries of mercy and their weeps for an end to their pain. Pinkie dared not close her eyes to try and find solace in the darkness. For the darkness she carries, it offers no solace. Only a promise of pain and lunacy.

The steady rhythm of the rain echoing in her hearing. Each drop reminding her the countless victims she had taken from this world. Was there any escape from this? Can she ever forgive herself for what she did? If Rarity knew, what would she think of her? Would she throw Pinkie away because of her lost innocence? All these questions were given empty answers, no solace to be known.

After her conversation with Rarity as they continued on to her living space, there was silence. Pinkie shakily raised her head to watch Rarity as she walked. The sway in her hips distracted Pinkie, briefly. There were hidden emotions in her steps. She walked as though she had somewhere to be, but her steps were calm and well placed. She walked with the careful agility of a cat. Pinkie could not shake the feeling that she had an ulterior motive. Pinkie felt a knot in her throat, she dared to think this girl would take advantage of her. She had offered a kindness that she did not deserve, but Pinkie had to be careful. The facade that was put up by the princesses was not perfect. Pinkie the perfect example of that. Raised from the beginning that no one was here to help you, you can only help yourself.

Pinkie thought of what to say but what came out was a timid voice, "Wh...where are we going?"

The girl turned to Pinkie and answered, "We're going to my apartment. Like I said, I can't let you freeze out here alone."

Pinkie went back to her silence, she went back to hearing the screams. Pinkie wanted to talk but she did not know what to talk about. All she could think about was the screams and the blood of the innocents she slaughtered. Rarity slowed her pace and walked next to the shivering girl. As they continued their walk she asked, "So...do you have any family here?"

Pinkie fell silent, letting the screams die down so she can think about her answer. She knew that she had to have some relatives in Ponyville, but she did not care much about that now. If she did she would have to be careful who she keeps close to her, then hunt them down and kill them. Pinkie avoided Rarity's gaze and answered with the innocence of a small child, "Ah...I...I don't know."

"Where did you come from?" Rarity tried to revive the conversation. Pinkie fell to silence once more as she remembered last night. Rarity leaned in and gently asked, "Darling, I can't help you if you don't talk to me."

Pinkie wanted to. She wanted with all of her heart to have another person confide her feelings. Someone to share the memories. Someone who could hold her and tell her that they forgive her for all the horrible things she did. But, she feared of how Rarity would react. Pinkie took in a careful breath and kept her eyes away from the kind hearted girl as she answered, "I...I came from my...my parent's."

Those words hurt as they came out. Insurmountable amount of anxiety and pain. Rarity asked once more in a softer tone, "Why did you leave?...why did you want to...um...take your own life?"

And there it was. The question that made Pinkie's heart race. She heard voices shout at her to run. Run and kill herself right now, it's what she deserves. It is justice, not suicide. Pinkie stopped and tears streamed down her face as she wanted to tell her everything but the war inside of herself was killing her. She closed her eyes and heard fresh in her mind, her father's voice and ominously he said,

Do it. Take your life. All you'll prove was how weak you are.

Pinkie tightly embraced herself as she stood in the rain, letting the drops fall into nothing. No sound only her own voice.

He's right. What do I have left? I killed the rest of my family, who do I have to run to? No one. Might as well do it.

She sat in pure darkness and looked up and saw her father standing before her. His tall and unsatisfied stance almost unmistakable. He stood with agitation across his scruffy face. Pale grey patches in a field of pure white, his face showing the strife and the hate he was raised in. He solemnly shook his head and he said, "You disappoint me Pinkamena. You used to be better than this, you used to be better than this."

Pinkie tore her gaze away in hate. She spat out with fury and tears streaming out of her eyes, "I never asked to be this. I never asked to kill people. You made me what I am. You turned me into a monster."

He remained unmoved from her anger and replied, "I made you into a weapon. I made you into something more than a mortal person. But now you're weak. Now you fill your heart with remorse and sorrow."

"Shut up..." Pinkie said with a slight shake of her head, her eyes now puffy stained from the tears. Her eyes stung as she growled, "...just shut up..."

"Still you defy me? Still you choose to live this, this facade of a life that is not even real? Even before you killed me you showed defiance. Just remember, we become the monsters we create. And this is a message. Listen to those voices. Kill yourself if you think you can't handle the emotions."

Pinkie wanted to throw everything at him. To kill him again. But he was right. He...

Pinkie jumped back to reality as she felt gentle and sincere hands on her cheeks. Pinkie focused and saw those bright sapphire eyes. They stared deep into Pinkie's and she said gingerly and with sincerity, "Pinkie. Darling, there is nothing on this world that will make me think anything less of you. Just know that. You can tell me when you have the chance, but just know that I will always be by your side. No matter what, I will never abandon you."

Her words washed over her and she felt her cheeks burn. She was so beautiful, and the kindness she was projecting...it spoke to Pinkie. This person was willing to help her. It was all in her eyes, they told it all. She spoke with the truest of hearts and the promise of a mother to a child. Pinkie finally slightly smiled and said timidly, "Thank you...Rarity."

Rarity gave a friendly smile and she hesitantly moved in and embraced Pinkie warmly. Pinkie slightly convulsed at the touch, but she knew that Rarity knew well. She was someone she could trust. Rarity pushed slowly away and said, "Alright. Let's get out of this dreadful rain."

Rarity slowly sauntered away and called back, "Come darling! You might catch a cold."

Pinkie looked at Rarity as she walked away and for the first time in forever, she did not hear the screams. Pinkie breathed out a controlled breath and said to herself, "Thank you...my angel."

Heartmender

The cold night air nipped Rarity on the neck, making her stand on edge. They had walked for a few minutes and finally found the home that Rarity was renting out. It was a medium sized home, a thick thatched roof and burgundy siding. It was quaint and fit for now. Rarity hoped to buy the old town hall. A dream that Rarity had dreamt of since starting her career as a seamstress.

Rarity let out a careful sigh as she remembered the conversation she had before. Pinkie was shivering so much, it was almost as if she was going to fall unconscious on the spot. It hurt her heart once more to see this girl in pain. She wanted to reach out and embrace her for an eternity to help with whatever pain she had. She had no explanation for her benevolence, she could not explain why she felt so close. It was just this feeling underneath her that screamed for her to help her.

Rarity opened the door letting the sound of the rain grow numb as she focused on the girl behind her. The rain dripped down her face and her pink hair. She was still shivering but it had calmed down to a bearable level it seemed. Her heart warmed that she no longer saw the same broken hearted face, replaced by a friendly face. A gentle smile, a smile that looked at a friend. Pinkie said shyly and timidly, "You...you really are very nice."

It was as if this girl wanted Rarity to cry. The way she said it and the way the rain dripped down from the top of her head. She was glad to do this that she was doing something good. But she just saw the reward of her actions. Just to see that smiling face. To know that underneath that mysterious exterior lies a girl who aches to be known and aches to be seen. Rarity could see the person in her head now, right before her eyes. Rarity made a promise right then and there, she would mend the heart that lies underneath her.

Rarity ushered Pinkie entry, she stepped in and looked around. Rarity entered after her and smelled the familiar aroma of cinnamon and vanilla. The smell that always made Rarity feel right at home. The well decorated interior, it was not large but not too small. The walls a light grey, on the fence of being white. Light blue wallpaper of flowers danced across the space of the walls meeting the ceiling. To her near right was the living area and to her left and forward was the kitchen/dining room area. It was a one level apartment house but it was enough for Rarity as of right now.

She drained the last of her bits with the medical bill, she would need to get a job quickly. Her rent was due in a week and a half from that day, only one just to get past the rent. Then, she could breath a little bit and focus on what was really important, taking care of Pinkie. Pinkie looked over the not so heavily decorated living area, where on the right lead to the bedrooms. Three in total.

Pinkie glanced over everything. She said, "You have a very nice house."

There was a very innocent and childlike way she talked, it reminded Rarity a lot like Sweetie Belle. But she was more timid, closer to sounding like Fluttershy just a bit louder in volume. Rarity walked over to Pinkie and slowly took off the blanket and said tenderly, "Can I get you anything Miss Pie?"

Pinkie gave a slight friendly blush and replied, "I...I'm fine right now...thank you."

Her eyes were now holding life behind them, slowly but surely she was no doubt living and passing on through pure nightmares. If it was enough to traumatize a girl than she was living through hell. It sent shivers down her spine. Rarity folded the blanket over her arm like a towel rack. She looked back into her bright icy blue eyes and she said with upmost sincerity, "If at all you need anything or anyone to talk to, I will always be right across the hall."

Rarity went to leave when she felt a force pull her in. Rarity was shocked but not repulsed by the gesture. Pinkie said kindly, "Thank you."

Rarity warmly returned the gesture and replied soothingly, "No problem darling...no problem."

And for a few seconds Rarity ignored all outside noise and just embraced Pinkie warmly. Knowing that she was slowly repairing her heart. That day was the first stepping stone in a much longer relationship of friendship.

It had been a few hours since Pinkie had settled in Rarity's humble abode. She had the room in the farthest corner of the house. Pinkie did not mind, she refused for her to live in the guest room. So, she settled in comfortably. Rarity remained content with sitting at the kitchen table, left to ponder her life from here on out. Rarity knew what she was getting into. She thought back on another slip she had when they were walking to her home. She was willing to be open for trust, this was good. Now she needed to solidify that feeling so she can begin the healing process.

Rarity brought up to her lips a nice glass of water, the refreshing liquid moving down her throat and spreading its energy through her body. It was in those few moments that Rarity realized that Pinkie only had one set of clothes. Almost immediately Rarity would need to make her a few sets of clothing. Rarity brought a hand to her chin and rested her elbow on the table. What types of clothing would she like? She did not come off as an overly girly girl. So no skirts or jeans, even Rarity did not like wearing skirts too often. There were times she had to wear one out of necessity or out of formal attire. And judging by the shirt she wore, she loves pink and tee shirts. Then came underwear.

She would have to make Pinkie underwear of course. Rarity was not about to share with her. Rarity treated her as a friend but not much of a friend. So it was settled, one of her top priorities was to make Pinkie sets of clothing. Rarity briefly mulled over the details in her head. She thought if she had enough needles and thread, enough fabric, and designs to go off of or if she was to rely solely on muscle memory. She had faith in her own abilities, but she wanted them to be perfect.

At that moment, taking Rarity out of her thoughtful trance she heard a ringing noise.

Ring ring....ring ring....ring ring

Rarity quickly sauntered over to the phone and picked it up reciting the familiar saying she had when talking over the phone, "Hello this Carousal Boutique! How might I make your day fabulous?"

"Y'all kno' that yah dun have ta answer the phon' like that all the time sugarcube."

Rarity recognized the familiar western accent of her dear friend Applejack. Probably one of Rarity's lifelong friends, knowing her since early childhood. Rarity remembered back to her bright golden hair tied back in a braid. Her usual flannel button up shirt and her jeans with those all too familiar faded brown cowgirl boots. Then there was the most defining features about her. Her freckled face and her hat. She never parted with that thing and only let a select few actually wear it. And her bright green eyes like emerald spheres. Rarity answered snidely, "Well. Some of us have business to run nearly all hours of the day."

"Ya? And what is that suppose tah mean?"

"My dear Applejack," Rarity replied snidely, "I was merely jesting. Yanking your chain so to speak. You really should lighten up darling."

"(sigh)..."

"Just remember that you started this darling." Rarity answered again, leaning against the granite countertop. Rarity continued, "So, why have you called me at nearly three in the afternoon."

"I finished mah chores and ah was wonderin' if yah weren't busy that we could hang out?"

Rarity twirled the cord of the phone and replied nonchalantly, "While that sounds great, I must respectfully decline. I am SUPREMELY behind on my sewing. I need at least one job that way I can get past rent. That and I am...ahem...taking care of someone."

"Really? Who?"

"Why she is new in town. Her name is Pinkie Pie. She was alone and I decided that she could stay with me. So I have to stay here and look after her."

"What 'bout yer daycare job?"

Rarity explained with a shrug, "A few vacation days won't be that bad. And I won't get my paycheck from that job until next week. Sooo.. do you have any types of clothing that need repairing or interested in getting a new piece of clothing?"

There was silence for a few moments until the farmgirl answered, "Hmm...A few of mah shirts are missing some buttons. And mah jacket's zipper is busted."

"Excellent," Rarity said giddily, "Later today drop them off and they will be fixed by tomorrow."

"'Aight Rares. By the way, this Pinkie Pie...are ya sure yah can handle this? I know that ya werk with kids an' all...but..."

"I can assure you Applejack, I have it completely under control." Rarity said waving her hand dismissively, "And you can meet her later tonight when you are going to drop off your clothes."

"....alright sugarcube....if yah say so. I'll see yah later then. 'Bye."

"See you soon darling."

Rarity heard the dial tone of the phone and the emptiness of the call as Applejack hung up. Rarity let out a sigh of relief and whispered to herself, "Okay Rarity. You can finally breath. Your rent will be taken care of. Nothing to worry about anymore."

Rarity stood back up and looked to the darkened hallway that lead to where Pinkie's room would be. She said to herself, "Now you can focus on what's important."

She strode her way out of the kitchen and across the living room into the hallway, her footsteps muffled underneath the white carpet. She stopped in he back of the hallway and saw that Pinkie's door was half open and the light was on. Rarity knocked gently on the door and poked her head in. She saw Pinkie staring out of the window at the afternoon sky, laden with passing grey clouds. She folded her arms gently across her stomach and stared out with forlorn and deep sorrow, Rarity could tell. Pinkie turned to the door swiftly but calmed her nerves when she saw it was Rarity. She put on a half smile as she met the seamstress' gaze and said, "Hello..."

Rarity said pushing past the door, opening it half way and stepped into the room and warmly replied, "Hello. Are you settling in okay? Can I get you anything? You must be starving."

Pinkie lowered her innocent gaze and said timidly, "...I guess I'm pretty hungry."

"What would you like?" Rarity asked. Pinkie's once innocent gaze grew dark and all emotion escaped. As if she was staring down the gaze of the devil himself.

Before the tears came Rarity pulled her in close and warmly embraced her to shield her from the dark that threatened to close in around her. Pinkie sputtered and kept tears from flowing and Rarity said, "Shh...it's okay darling...I'm here...I'm here."

Pinkie tightly embraced her new friend and Pinkie answered with her voice being muffled into Rarity's shoulder, "I...I don't know...I always...I always ate..."

Rarity let go of Pinkie and lifted her chin to meet her eyes and soothed, "It'll be okay darling. I'll just make some Mac and Cheese and some smoked sausage-"

"No," Pinkie answered briskly, "No...no meat..."

Rarity did not ask but every fibre of her being ached her to ask, but she kept the question to herself and answered with a warm smile, "Okay then...just the pasta. I'll let you know when dinner is ready."

Pinkie nodded and Rarity went to leave when Pinkie said, "Wait!"

Rarity turned as she rested a gentle hand on the door ready to close it. Pinkie said softly, "I don't want to be alone..."

Rarity answered in a motherly and silken tone, "Okay then. You can help me make it then."

Pinkie's face beamed and she said with a warm and friendly smile, "Really?"

"Yes," Rarity answered, "Come on. It'll be fun."

And with that the two left the room and made their way into the kitchen. Other than the occasional instruction, they made their dinner in silence. Rarity did not ask her anything, she was a guest in her house and she would not prod in a situation that she was not comfortable in. And Pinkie did not say anything, trying to not break the warm and friendly atmosphere. And for once in Pinkie's life, she actually enjoyed herself in cooking something. They made a batch that can feed four people, leaving more than enough leftovers.

The air filled with the smell of freshly cooked cheese. A smell that Pinkie was not used to, she watched and stood next to Rarity as she stirred the mac and cheese. Pinkie said taking in a large whiff, "Mmm...it smells great."

Pinkie noticed the smile across Rarity's face as she stirred. Rarity added not skipping a beat in her stirring, "This is hardly the representation of my cooking, but yes we did rather well."

Pinkie took in another large breathe in and let out a sigh of ecstasy. Rarity chuckled at this and said, "You seem as if you have never had mac and cheese before."

Pinkie leaned back and rubbed the back of her neck. She felt a slight blush across her cheeks and she added timidly, "That's because...I...haven't..."

Rarity stopped stirring and looked over at Pinkie in shock and said raising an eyebrow, "You. Have never had. Mac and Cheese?"

"No," Pinkie finished rubbing her arm. She felt weird now, she made it sound like such a trivial thing. She made it sound as though it was a blasphemous sin not to have eaten mac and cheese. Rarity dropped the expression as she noticed Pinkie had and added, "Well then I am glad that your first time eating it will be mine."

Pinkie felt slightly smaller that she has never had this amazing smelling dish. When she was with her family, she usually just ate the dead victims. And every time she was sickened of herself. To block the memories Pinkie took in another whiff of the mac and cheese as Rarity continued stirring. Rarity chuckled to herself as she finished stirring. She brought the wooden spoon to her voluminous and tasteful lips, tasting the mac and cheese making sure that it was perfect. She smocked the cheese against the roof of her mouth and finally nodded in approval and said, "Magnifique!"

Pinkie joyfully looked over at Rarity and said, "Is it ready!?"

Rarity lifted her hand and said, "Patienter, darling. Now, can you set the table please while I am dishing it up?"

With jubilation in her steps she rushed to the kitchen table, eager to eat possibly one of the most amazing dishes she has ever smelled. Pinkie set up the table in a whirlwind, ever eager to taste the sweet smelling mac and cheese. She had never been so excited in her life. But she calmed her nerves as she looked over at Rarity. She used a large spoon to dish up the mac and cheese out of the metal cooking pan.

The sun began to set, spraying across the land of Equestria waves of oranges and violets. The light cascaded in from the window, bathing Rarity in its glorious light. Her face shining brightly as the cracks in her hair shadowing her face somewhat and the rest amplifying with a bright shine. Her pristine alabaster skin looking as smooth as ever. Her jubilation had stopped and another feeling replaced it. She felt...steamy. Pinkie just has never seen a more beautiful girl in all of her life.

Pinkie blushed slightly and kept staring at Rarity who was oblivious to her staring. She whispered quietly to herself, "Wow..."

It was as if she was graced by the heavens above, to have a Seraph stand before her now. Unparalleled beauty. And dauntless amount of devotion and kindness. The most beautiful sight she had ever seen. Pinkie wished that this moment could last forever. Admiring and loving the sight of Rarity. And for once, her heart felt warm and her soul calm. As if just by her shine of beauty healed her. She never wants to be anywhere else. She always wants to be by her side. No matter the cost. And no matter who else does not believe it. She promised herself then and there that she would not rest until she knew this person inside and out, and never stop loving her. She felt the slight temperature increase in her heart.

Pinkie turned away and she said looking across the room to the setting sun and whispered to herself, "You can stitch together more than clothes Rarity..."

Author's Note

'Bout time I reference a brony song! I needed to find the perfect one. So here it is. :heart: :raritystarry:

Moment doesn't count because there is no singing. I still love it though.

A little cutsie chapter. I know some of you aren't into the warm hearted writing, but I am just trying to further torment you with Raripie.

Anyways,
See you guys next chapter :raritywink:
~Sylus~

The Little Things

Celestia looked out sorrowfully and longingly. Her gaze filled with the very mortal gaze of normal people. How would have she been thought of right now by her family. Her long dead father and mother that did nothing but support them. She shook her head slightly going to a place she never wanted to go back to. She stood on the second level of Carousel Boutique, the outer level. Facing the wind that blew from the north. She stood tall and firm against the edge and felt the wind blow past her. The immortal felt a numb wave of no heat or any ice, where there should have been temperature, there was none.

She was left with the wind, bringing nothing of comfort or of discomfort. Just a numb wave bracing against her. It was not a pleasant feeling. Oh how Celestia longed for the breeze against the wind, rushing through her hair and against her face. To be swept far away from that mortal place. To take her place amongst her ancestors in the sky. She looked longingly up into the sky. She saw the faintest of their twinkles as they made way for night. Luna was ready to raise the moon, and Celestia was ready to lower the sun. They had about an hour or so left, of twilight.

The princess of the sun. Her official title. What she was in essence. A goddess to be worshiped, yet she was every bit as mortal as her subjects. Nothing aside from immortality that differentiated from them. Celestia heard the careful placement of feet agains the wood floor, she looked out of her peripherals to see the form of her sister. She stopped at the top of the stairs and leaned against the railing. Crossing her arms casually. Celestia glanced over at Luna briefly and asked after a sigh, "What have we done wrong dear sister?"

The Princess of the Night answered unmoving from her spot, "Please elaborate?"

"I mean, " Celestia asked once more looking at her younger sister, "I mean why have some of them been drawn to murder? Have we not given everything we could to our subjects?"

The moon goddess shrugged and added, "There is little that I can answer better than you, 'Tia. I have only been back for a few years after I made a poor decision."

Luna pushed herself off of the railing and walked over to stand next to her sister. She followed Celestia's hollowed gaze and she said, "There are little answers to many hollow questions of this world. Many of them will remain a mystery, but if you want to know why these ponies were driven to murder is beyond me. They cast their fate and destiny away when they decided to spill innocent blood."

Celestia listened with great care and worry. The wise words of her sister spoke in volumes to Celestia. She had not heard her do so in over a thousand years. Celestia turned towards Luna and asked, "Do you truly believe that Rarity and Pinkie Pie were capable of such things?"

Luna appeared hurt by the question. The princess of the night stared up at the sky, raising the moon. With it's pale maiden light staring long at its master. Luna said with a darkened expression, "I do not know for certain if they were the ones who performed the deed...all I know for certain is where Pinkie Pie comes from....and...and it's not the peace that you wanted your subjects to have."

"What do you mean?" Celestia asked with worry in her voice.

Luna leaned against the railing folding her arms in close. She answered, "She comes from a family of murderers. In their blood runs the sins of their legacy. She...she used to pray to me...when she was going to bed...she prayed I took her far away from that place. She...she prayed that she did not have to do anything. It got to point where she prayed for her death."

Celestia held a shocked look. Pinkie Pie. How could a being filled with joy think of such awful thoughts? What had she been raised around? Celestia herself enchanted the land so that it was nearly impossible to kill. Celestia looked over at Luna and she visibly shown how much it hurt her. She was asked upon to do things, but she could do nothing. She was banished to the moon and she was forced with listening to many cries of people who wanted their princess of the night back. They prayed to an empty source. Celestia offered a gentle hand to rest on her sister and said tenderly, "I know it must have been hard for you. Being unable to answer her prayers-"

"No 'Tia," Luna stood back up wiping a tear away, "You don't understand. I wasn't just banished to the moon because I threatened the lives of so many of my subjects. But I broke one of the only laws that we set for each other."

Celestia stood back from her sister and asked, "Lulu...what...what have you done?"

Luna kept her gaze away from Celestia and she said, "I...I...I started a family."

Celestia's eyes grew as wide as plates. When they were asked to watch over the land by Adena, Goddess of Harmony, they were given laws that were to never be broken. One, they were not supposed to start a family. Two, they were to protect not cause wars. Three, they were not to reveal their actual identities to anyone. And Four, they were to never use Dark Forces. Adena gave them these simple rules to live by, and Luna found a way to break nearly every one. There was a time during Luna's banishment that Celestia asked Adena why they were not able to start family. Adena said that when an Angel, what Luna and Celestia are, where to have a family of half breeds. They would be born from pure sin, all that they would know was to kill. These are known as Nephilim. Celestia now knew what she meant. Pinkie Pie is a Nephilim. Which was why Luna was so easy to jump to the conclusion that Rarity and Pinkie killed someone.

Celestia asked letting it sink in, "What are you going to do now?"

She had been crying this whole time. Letting tears fall like rain from clouds. When Celestia asked what she was going to do. One thing entered her mind. Luna sniffed and answered in a tone that descended quickly, "I am going to take matters into my own hands. I cannot bare the thought of my family dying at the hands of my fellow Sisters and Brothers. For they would be banished to Tartarus forever, they are already going there. So, I am going to fix what I started. I am going to kill every one that carries my celestial blood."

Author's Note

Closed out of school and here you go my lovelies! I hope that this will explain a few things. Although I have seen many variations of Luna and Celestia, but I don't think anyone has considered having them be Angels. Anyway, sorry about the short chapter but we will soon be getting back to the important stuff!

See you guys next chapter :raritywink:
~Sylus~

I'm Still Here

"Rarity. I will always and forever love you. It does not matter if we are separated by miles or feet. I will always be in your heart, my darling."

"AGH!!!" Rarity woke up with a start. She was breathing heavily and were broken in between how they came out. Every time her chest rose up she ache in stinging pain, rising from her lower back up to her shoulders. She clenched her eyes closed in the rising pain. She felt a feminine and gentle hand on her shoulder and gently guiding her to lay back down. Rarity opened her eyes and saw it was a familiar face.

It was the middle aged face of Zecora. She was wearing various rags and linen wraps around her body. Her face aged to perfection and her long jet black hair braided into dreadlocks. They were pulled and tied back revealing her face. She wore a necklace of good luck, she called it, it was a leather cord with porcelain ceramic arts pieces. They looked to be made in the shape of faces. A tradition of where she came from. Zecora held a damp cloth in her hand and she said gently dabbing it on Rarity's forehead, "Easy, dyaman timoun. You have suffered terrible wounds, you must take it easy. You are not capable of moving just yet. I still have a few things left to do."

Rarity controlled her breathing and felt her heartbeat calm down. She looked down and saw her shirt was gone and replaced by tightly woven linen bandages, stained with blood. Wrapped around her chest and back, to stop the bleeding. Rarity moved a hand over the bandages and said, "How bad are they?"

Zecora squeezed out the cloth over a dark wooden bowl and left it there. Zecora said wiping off her hands, "Your wounds run deep. You fought against Shadowcats, their claws are coated in a poison that rapidly heats meat. To make it easier to pick off the bones. You were its quarry young one. If it had taken you longer to get here then you probably wouldn't be living."

Rarity laid her hands across her stomach. Her back did not sting as much as it had when she had first been given them, but it was enough to know that she could barely move. Her mind flashed back to those recent scenes, hearing loudly in her ears the crashes of thunder that came from her weapon. her weapon of pure steel that now lied with the rest of her belongings.

Rarity looked around the very familiar hut. The hut itself only had one room and she was in the far corner of the room, laying on a bed with a comforter made of thick animal furs. The pelts were aged and somewhat hard to the touch as Rarity laid on them. She glanced over the various decorations of the house. The hanging masks, the black cauldron in the center of the hut, the various tables with alchemical supplies such as bowls, herbs, potions, mashers, and various other items. Rarity looked to her right and saw the sink and nearest to that was a large wooden tub, a wash tub that could fit up to six people. Rarity knew the wash tub well, she remembered the horror she had to suffer from the poison joke.

Rarity drew her attention back to Zecora as she stepped next to the bed ridden girl and leaned over with a bottle in her hand. She poured it into what looked to be a shot glass made of aged wood. She poured a mysterious green liquid into the wooden glass and held it out in front of her, as she did so she elevated Rarity's head a bit more. Rarity took the glass and held it in close. The wood was soft to the touch as she held it in her fingertips. She looked over at Zecora as she held a neutral face as she said, "This will help with the pain."

Rarity brought the wooden glass closer to her lips and said in her mind, Bottoms up.

She pulled back her head and let the green liquid wash down her throat. She half expected the liquid to burn as it ran down her gullet. But it soothed every muscle as it ran down her throat. But the taste was wretched. It tasted like spoiled lettuce that sat out for seven days straight. Her face had shown the conflict her gag reflex that showed great resistance. Zecora smiled at the reaction and said laying a hand on her shoulder, "I said it would help ease the pain. Not taste like aged wine."

"No kidding." Rarity said with a tug at the corners of her lips. They both shared a light chuckle. Rarity did not know what it was but there was a certain air that Zecora carried about her. Like she was willing to give a helping hand no matter what. Rarity let her stomach digest the awful liquid, so she laid there. She refocused back to Zecora and asked, "I have a question Zecora. How come you aren't talking in rhymes?"

Zecora cracked a smile and said with her all too familiar accent of a far away place, speaking with her throat and putting emphasis on the "h" sounds, "I have moved past that. It was getting tire some, not to mention that I now have a fully grasped the Equestrian language now."

Rarity knit her eyebrow and added, "You had trouble grasping Equestrian?"

"Yes indeed," Zecora said gathering up her supplies from the night stand and moved to the nearby sink, "When I first moved away from my home in Zebria, I did not know anything about Equestrian. It was a miracle that I actually made it here with only making symbols and shapes with my hands just at getting here. I however had no job to fulfill and there was no one who needed my talents. Until I stumbled upon the Pies. I was made into their family healer, the best in the business, Granite used to say. I eventually taught the young ones my language so I could actually say something, and in turn they taught me Equestrian.

"I left before the horrors happened that I dared not repeat out loud." Rarity saw the way she cleaned the bowls. She carried a weight that was very similar to Pinkie's when she first found her. She knew the weight Zecora carried and she continued, "I was a drifter again. I wandered the Everfree Forest for hours on end trying to find a way out. When it dawned on me that I could just live here. So I worked day in and day out on this hut. And then I searched for various herbs I needed for various recipes and even finding a few new ones. I spoke in rhymes because I was only around myself, I did just to be funny with myself. But it quickly turned into a habit. Just describing a normal thing, I would make it into a rhyme. But, once I met you girls Twilight offered me lessons in Equestrian and ever since I finished I got out of the habit of rhyming."

Rarity crossed her arms gently over her stomach as she felt unease from the silence. She felt compelled to ask, "Where is Pinkie Pie?"

Zecora pointed a finger to a bed on the opposite side of the hut and saw someone occupying the bed. All Rarity could see was the deep pink hair and the sheets rising and falling with her gentle and slowed breaths. It was a calm and peaceful sight to see. The person who carried the most strife within herself, can sleep so soundly. Rarity turned back to Zecora as she asked, "I take it you know about Miss Pinkamena?"

Zecora turned to Rarity who nodded her head gently and slowly and responded, "Yes. And the only one that knows out of our friends."

There was a pause in her next words, she cleaned her hands off and said as she let cold water run onto them, "Must be such a burden. Having to carry that much evil on her shoulders."

Rarity responded, "Pinkie is not evil...just misunderstood. I will fix her."

"And how does that make you feel?"

"I'm sorry?" Rarity asked lying back knitting an eyebrow.

Zecora replied quickly drying off her hands, "I mean what does it make you feel like, having to burden someone else's demons? It must have some sort of weight behind it?"

Rarity never really analyzed that. She had never taken her emotions in it, she just helped without even thinking the consequences of doing that. She had received many scars and lots of tears shed. It was more taxing on her than she realized. She had faced poverty because she wanted to help someone out. Rarity shifted her weight testing the wound, to see if she could move, it was more of a numb feeling now. She responded, "It...it has brought a lot to light...it opened the world to a place that I never thought existed...I helped her because I felt sympathy...I grew up in a bad household...But Pinkie...she had it much worse."

With her last words she drew her sympathetic and soft gaze to the sleeping girl on the other side of the hut. The rising and falling of her breathing. She turned back to Zecora as she asked, "And why are you doing this?"

Rarity had asked herself that question repeatedly in side herself for six years and to date had never answered that question. Rarity stood up and rested her elbows on her knees and replied, "I...I have not found that answer yet."

Zecora stepped next to Rarity and moved her hand up and said, "Come on."

Rarity stood up in replience to her motion. Zecora guided the seamstress to the other side of the hut and stopped at Pinkie's bed side. She stepped out of the way and faced Rarity. She motioned to the sleeping girl and said, "Look at her."

Rarity knelt at her bedside and stared at her sleeping face. She was so calm and peaceful, like she was floating on an endless sea of steady waves. No rogue waves to break her peacefulness. No storms to rock her away from her calmed state of mind. Nothing but complete and utter bliss. No strife of the real world, no worries to fill every pore of her body. Rarity stared at her young and beautiful face, showing no sign of true age over the six years that she had known Pinkie. It made Rarity's heart skip a beat, knowing that she helped this poor soul from a deprived state as a vagabond and a wanderer. Now she was a good friend.

They had shared so much together. They had a special friendship, one that is inseparable. Zecora said, "Now that you have gotten a good look at her. Tell her why you did what you did. Why you took her in when the world shut her out."

Rarity looked back at the sleeping form and almost instantly felt a knot tie in the back of her throat. She could not find the words to say. Not that she feared what Pinkie would say, but the fact that she would do anything to protect Pinkie and she would do the same for her. She could not find the words because she was so close to Pinkie. She has said almost everything to Pinkie, she had never kept anything from Pinkie. Rarity looked at the wooden floor for a second, drawing in her breath and gathering herself to let it all out.

Rarity looked back up and rested a warm and loving hand on the bed. She raised it to gently stroke the back of her fingers against her cheek. Rarity said shakily and in a serene voice, "I...It...A...all my life, I thought that I would never have a friend or family member to share my feelings...I always thought that I would spend my days alone...with no one special to talk to...I was living with a void...I...For so many years thought that my shadow I called a father would curse my family forever...but once I saw you walking down that path with that much blood dripping from your body...I just thought to myself that my pain was nothing compared to yours...my demons were not as bad as yours...You...you filled that void Pinkie...you filled the darkness I thought I would have for the rest of my life...you are special to me Pinkie...I know that I share my benevolence with everyone...but...when it's you...it...that void gets so much smaller."

Rarity let tears come out of her eyes and she shakenly finished, "I...I...I love you so much Pinkie...Now I promise you...that I will remain here....I...I'm still here..."

Rarity sunk her face in the bed letting it all out. She had finally found the reason why she saved Pinkie. She saved her to have someone that can help her from the bad times of her life and see the light of the world. And Pinkie had proven to do the impossible, she had proven that even the darkest person can help you see the light. Her tears stained the cloth mattress and she covered her head.

When she thought she would face these emotions alone, she felt a soft touch move in against her cheek lifting her head out of her arms. Rarity moved with the hand. She looked up and saw the groggy face of Pinkie look at her with sweet loving eyes. Pinkie said only a half foot away from Rarity, "I love you too Rarity."

Pinkie pulled Rarity in for a warm hug and said, "I never want to leave you Rarity. I will always be here."

Author's Note

This chapter named after possibly one of the most beautiful Disney songs I have ever listened to. The song is "I'm Still Here" by Johnny Rzeznik. It brings back so many memories of my early childhood. I remember going to the movie theatre and watching Treasure Planet for the first time. I never fully understood the message of the movie, but now that I'm older I can appreciate the movie. Truly from the Golden Age of Disney.

See you guys next chapter :raritywink: !
~Sylus~

Burning Bright

After a few minutes Pinkie had broke up their moment and took the moment to thank Zecora for her generous hospitality. Zecora dismissed it and told them that it was her pleasure. Pinkie and Rarity sat down and explained their situation to Zecora. Pinkie did not want to drag any one else in her situation, but no one else was more qualified for assistance than Zecora. Zecora told them that she was willing to help them with anything even if it meant her life was on the line. That and her secret existence from the Equestrian government. It was only a matter of time now before the patrols would catch up with them.

Pinkie hefted an axe tight in her grip, sweat dripping profusely from her brow and down her body. She had bold anger on her face as she raised the axe high in the sky and letting the head fall down and split a log right down the middle. Perfectly cut. The split ends falling to the side. The axe dug deep in the tree stump she was using to chop wood. She and Rarity agreed that they would help with any chores for the next two days that they could stay. Zecora did not want to impose but they had insisted.

The morning sun beamed brightly and high in the sky, casting its hot beams down on her. She squinted her eyes as she looked at the sun briefly. it felt like ages since she had felt the sun shine. Bathing in its loving and warm light. The weather teams must have had something against Celestia's sun. Pinkie wiped her brow, cleaning the sweat off before they dripped into her eyes. Normally, manual labor would not be as taxing on her but she was using some of her reserve strength she held for her Instincts. To make sure something like the day before never happened again. She needed to be more careful with her powers.

Pinkie turned when she heard Rarity walk up to her and asked, "So darling, where are we headed next?"

Pinkie looked and saw that she was wearing her jeans as usual and a new shirt. It was lacy and looked exceptionally soft, a gift from Zecora no doubt. Her shirt before was very torn up. Pinkie looked and saw that she offered a towel, most likely because she noticed she wiped her brow with a damp back side of her hand. Pinkie accepted the towel and wiped her face clean with the cloth. She tucked an end in her jean pocket. She was lucky that she had worn her white sleeveless shirt, she would have drenched it with ehr sweat. She finally replied, "I...I haven't thought about that yet."

Rarity gave a sarcastic smile and responded, "Well, nice to know that we know exactly what we're doing."

Pinkie smiled and added, "Would you keep your shirt on, I know exactly what I'm doing."

Rarity rolled her eyes and walked off in annoyance. She followed the annoyed girl as she stomped off. Pinkie chuckled to herself and said, "Works every time."

Pinkie strained against the axe and wrenched it out of the stump. She held her hand just below the head of the axe, she looked and saw that she had a few more logs to do. She lifted a log and once again brought the axe up and swung it down with great force, splitting it in half. Perfectly. She grabbed another log when she saw Zecora was standing near her. Pinkie looked up and saw a curious look on Zecora. Pinkie asked with short breaths, "What?"

Zecora said, "You two just shared a moment together and you act this way around each other still?"

Pinkie looked back at the log and split it in half. She looked back over at Zecora and said, "That is usually how we work. How most friends work. A little sarcasm never hurt anyone. She knows that and wields her weapon well."

Zecora leaned against a nearby tree and chuckled to herself and added, "From what you told me, she probably does."

Pinkie was about to raise her axe when she stopped. Pinkie looked at Rarity who stood at a clothes line and was hanging some laundry. Pinkie replied with a slight shake of her head, "I never would have believed it if I did not see it myself. I kid you not, she got one right in between the eyes. And the other was right in the eye. And I know the rounds she used, those rounds are not meant to pierce that far into the head. Especially of a Shadowcat."

"Perhaps there are more similarities between you two than just your kindness." Zecora commented.

Pinkie shot a disgusted look at the witch doctor and said, "She is nothing like me. She is not a killer. I would rather see myself die than see her turn into something like me. Besides they could just be lucky shots."

Pinkie hefts another and with the strength of the gods themselves, the axe fell and cut through the log like butter. She put more strength into her strike she did not realize she almost split the stump in half. Her breaths were heavy and short, she would not let Rarity turn into a killer. She would never want to see that in her life. But that did not stop her mind to wander. She saw Rarity standing over a pile of bodies, blood splattered over her innocent form and a gun gripped in her hand. Smoke coming out of the barrel, indicating she had freshly killed. She turned her head slightly revealing an ear to ear maddening grin and a soul wrenching cry of joy and sadistic enjoyment.

Pinkie noticed what she had done and came back to reality. Exhaustion quickly taking over, almost passing out. She caught herself. Zecora offered some help but Pinkie lifted a palm and said dismissively, "I'm fine...I just need a minute."

She focused her breathing and her sore muscles. She felt like the pain of a thousand suns were rushing through her veins. Pinkie felt the destructive force of a titan running through her and she stood staunch determined not to let it take her over. she had not felt like this in a long time. The rush of a kill. The adrenaline pumping through her veins. But she remembered the darkness that came with her. For three years she had not had those thoughts, and dreaded now that she had them. It tore her away, piece by piece.

She remembered the good times and the happy times she had shared with Rarity, and she felt the killer inside of her die down. She opened her eyes and looked back over at Zecora who glanced over her shoulder at Rarity who whistled while she worked, a happy melody and one that promised good times ahead, false hope that Pinkie knew she knew was not there. Zecora looked back over at Pinkie and said, "You will need to tell her what you are one of these days."

After a few laborious breaths Pinkie responded, "All she needs to know is that I have killed. She does not need to know what I am. If she knew, Celestia herself would smite me. She knows enough."

Zecora nodded her head and silence ensued between them as Pinkie swung the axe and it sunk itself into the trunk. Zecora had a callous look on her face and Pinkie replied to her look, "It is better this way. I am protecting her."

Silence over took them and Pinkie finally broke the silence and asked, "So...have you seen any of my family in these woods?"

Zecora crossed her arms over her chest and replied dropping her callous look, "I tried all the spells I know to try and find those that share your blood. But...what I see is hazy...all I can tell you is that I see a house that rests in a silent and dead grove and carved into a tree the words, "Domus Lutum". And that it is located in the northwestern part of the forest. That is all I know."

Pinkie knew the phrase well. Domus Lutum is "Dirt House" in latin, it was said to ward off uninvited visitors to stumble upon their property. It makes the property nearly invisible. To those who do not know it exists and to those who want to seek it out. It requires a lot of dark magic to break the protective spell to learn where it is located, let alone know what it looks like. It was her family's way of staying hidden from the princesses. But that also only permitted hunters to leave. Those to find the victims and the prey.

Zecora asked, "Are you going to go there."

Pinkie looked to the northwest and replied, "I will have to if I am to redeem myself. To finish what should have never started. Can you counter the spell?"

Pinkie turned to the witch doctor and shrugged her shoulders and responded, "I can try. I will make no guarantees that my hex bags will work. I have not worked woth magic that old since I was with your family, and even then I barely understood it."

Pinkie lifted her hand to her chin and tapped it contemplatively. They needed a way to sneak in and take care of things quickly and silently. Zecora was not their only master of the dark arts they had, and certainly not their most powerful. But they needed a way to be invisible to their eyes. She knew Lilith would try and search for Pinkie if she knew she was still alive. Lilith never liked Pinkie, mainly because of the fact Lilith had to take her under the her wing and teach Pinkie the art of sadism. And like most times, the apprentice soon became the master. Since Pinkie's day one of murdering, Lilith had worked to sabotage Pinkie. If she was to kill her family, she needed to kill the eyes first. She needed to get Lilith's attention. Pinkie never took kindly to witches, they were unsanitary when they killed. Granted, neither was Pinkie when she killed. But to kill for personal power...it was...inhuman. It was not right.

So she stood at an impasse. She could not counter the spell and walk right on in, risking Lilith's dauntless conviction. Or, she could counter the spell and not know where Lilith is hiding. The decision was hard and a heavy one. One that would require many a night to think, and not soaked in sweat. Pinkie looked to Zecora and said, "I am going to clean myself up. Make the hex bags just in case. I am still uncertain of if I will use them."

Pinkie walked off towards the hut and Zecora said to her as she stepped away, "You are fighting a raging inferno, child. And you cannot fight it with the forgotten embers of another."

Pinkie stopped and felt a force bash against the side of her mind. Like a hammer blow to the head. A vicious strike and memory of what happened before. A cruel memory of one of the dark magic massacres. Her mind drew black as she remembered the night as clear as day,

The night air was cold and could pierce innocent flesh if it so required. A night perfect for the blood of the innocent to be spilled. To wash in the blood and gather the powers of the unholy. But not for me. My walk was brisk and determined, a long black cloak to shroud my features and hide from the innocents that lay chained in the middle of the grove. Their skin exposed and their faces shown with the pale expressions of their last moments and breaths. Their final night, a look that I drank in.

I ignored them fro now. And turned my attention to the ringleader of the carnival of madness. Standing atop a pavilion of rotted and aged wood was one who's soul was darker than mine. Standing with wraps and garb of the Blackwhisper coven, Lilith. Lilith had long blonde hair that gently billowed in the wind, making her stark white face and her beating pale blue eyes stare at her quarry in the middle of the grove. I stared upon her face and growled inwardly at her. I was stopped by a hand against my shoulder. The owner being that of my brother, Flint. Flint had short jet black hair and dark green eyes. His face hardened with absolute neutrality. I said to Flint, "Brother. Take your hand off of me so that I may pass."

Flint did not flinch as he replied, "I do not fear your threats dear sister. But what I do fear is why you would interrupt the ritual."

"Because it is not right," I snapped, "Our fates do not lie in the hands of witches and their blood stained bones. Our fates lie with our survival skills and our wits, not black magic."

It was then I heard the condescending and sharp tone of Lilith, "I do not expect a fool such as yourself to understand what we would hope to do. The weak minded have no place amongst the Blackwhisper."

My fury was unrelentless when I spoke to her. I turned and growled with anger in my eyes, "Yet you stand here before us, Lilith. You hide behind books and spells, too much of a coward to face me yourself."

Lilith huffed and replied, "I do not need spells to put you in your place, worm."

With gritted teeth I threatened, pulling out my knife, "You bi-"

"That is just about enough!" The all too familiar voice of my uncle called out. Announcing he had returned from hunting with the rest of his party. Wearing cloth and aged plate on the shoulders, wrists, and boots. His aged gaze set to mine and continued, "The blood of the innocent shall be spilt. Not that of our own. Pinkamena, I want you to return to the house. And Lilith, you have more duties to attend to than insult my niece. Remember your place here."

With that we both exchanged hateful looks. Promising each other one day, we would meet again. And one would come out on top. And the other would die. I looked back at my silver haired Uncle Grossan and responded, "Forgive me uncle. I just thought that we should have control of our fates. And not have them in the hands of thieves."

Pinkie returned back to reality and replied looking over at the dark skinned witchdoctor, "Sometimes all we have is fire to fight the flames."

Rarity hung various clothes on the line to let them dry. Who knew that one person had so many changes of clothes? She hung up a shirt and with that she saw the flash of Bon Bon. Standing with blood leaking from her mouth, lazily falling off of her lips and staining her chest. Repeating in her mind was the words. It was you.....it was you...

Rarity held tightly onto the white shirt and prayed to anything to let that horrible image escape her vision. How many more days was she supposed to go through before the visions stopped. How many times must she tell herself that it was an accident, and hoping the visions would not come back? Is this what Pinkie always saw? How was she still sane? How was she able to accept the blood on her hands? All she could think about was the blood. The pain. All the soul straining pain that came with taking a life. Every time she felt the visions come, she felt a little part of herself being consumed by the endless void of cold blooded murder.

Cruel intentions. Fountains of blood. Salting old wounds. And sacrificing the masses. These were her thoughts now. She needed some way to cope with the dreaded thoughts that threatened to overtake her. She knew that Pinkie never wanted this for her. And she refused to let the darkness take hold of her. But her grip was loosening ever so slightly. Her courage hanging by the edge of a knife. Her dauntlessness faltering ever so slightly, showing the true strain it had upon her soul. Rarity closed her eyes, hearing fresh in her mind the cracks of thunder coming from her weapon of cold steel. She can feel the leather grip in her hand right now. Pulling back the hammer, and watching the squirming of her victim. She sat at the wash board feeling the cold rustle of grass against her bare feet and the wind billowing at her, waving her ponytail slightly in the wind.

She tried to calm her nerves with the soothing air, slightly pushing back the darkness that encompassed her soul. If she let the darkness slip through, it would be all over. She would become a nightmare.

She felt something heavy fall into her lap. She grunted slightly at the pain and opened her eyes to see Zecora standing over her and she asked ever so slightly, "Come, ti kras chasè."

Rarity simply held the cold steel weapon at the chambers of the six bulleted gun. She stood up and followed Zecora as she walked deeper into the woods. The brush slowly became more overgrown and a darker shade of green. The sound of cicadas loud in her ears, threatening to over come her hearing with their choir of high pitched clicking. Rarity looked at the aged metal gun. It had saved her life twice. No, she had. What she held in her hand now was merely a tool. An extension of herself. It was apart of her now, it had spilt blood already. And it was the object of her nightmares, with the promise of a cold death. Rarity had remembered the particular make of the Colt. Called a "Peacemaker".

They delved into the Everfree for what felt like hours. The her feet brushing and crunching the rough and unfamiliar ground, there was something her father had told her about unfamiliar ground. Never have a fight on unfamiliar ground. Know your way around the area around you, so you know where to land punches and where to evade the fists of injustice. But what did he know of injustice? He was a drunken bastard of a father. Nothing more. At least that was all he was to her. Refocusing on the present, Rarity followed close behind Zecora. The light tried all it could to seep through the treetops, lighting the dark path before her.

While the atmosphere of the forest itself felt abandoned and lifeless and somewhat lively. But Rarity could not shake the feeling that they were being watched, by a thousand different eyes. Rarity shifted her gaze from left to right, trying to find some mental comfort in knowing that it was just them in the forest. The cicadas silenced and the wind rustling through the dry brush of the forest. Unsettled and slightly on edge, Rarity followed at a slightly slower pace. Not wanting anything to do with that place. The dark ebony shadows blanketing over the forest, masking the bright sunshine she was getting used to.

The silent breeze gently and ever so softly dancing across the floor of the forest. And the whispered wind the blows through the tree tops. The slight creaking of wood, tree against tree. The crunch of dead grass underneath her feet, echoing down their derailed path. Rarity never liked the Everfree Forest. For all that it was worth, she never liked any atmosphere like the one she was in. It seemed as if everything was put there to unsettle her and give her a false sense of solitude. A false sense of being alone.

Rarity's eyes bulged and she convulsed at each and every sound, making her nearly jump out of her skin. The witch doctor noticed her jumps and said, "Do not fear the woods. For they will take care of you."

Rarity increased her pacing and walked next to Zecora and asked, "Then don't have the forest look so menacing."

Zecora cracked a friendly smile and replied, "The forest is much like a painting. It holds hidden beauty and hidden monstrosities. It is important to find the difference. It is either a monster to be feared. Or a beautiful friend."

Rarity looked back at the Peacemaker in her hand. Holding the gun did not help the situation, she had taken lives with it now. A contract made in stone that she was to never be the same again. Pinkie praised her for her marksmanship, being her first time ever firing a gun. Did she deserve such praise? Was it just a "beginners luck" sort of situation? Or was it some hidden talent she had? That she could shoot with amazing accuracy. Rarity assumed, that she would find out soon enough.

Finally they stopped and Zecora looked over at Rarity and said, "I reloaded the gun before we came. Two fresh rounds. Now, I have a challenge for you."

Rarity nodded her head in reply and Zecora continued, "Do you see that deer over there?"

Zecora pointed a finger out in front of her. Rarity followed the finger and saw past the overgrowth and past the haze of darkness, she saw it. It was a beautiful doe eating at some plants. Gently munching at some grass. Rarity's heart stopped as she realized what Zecora wanted her to do. She wanted Rarity to shoot the doe and kill it. Killing a doe is no different than taking the life of an innocent. It was not right. But Zecora would not let her leave if she did not perform the deed. Rarity looked down at the gun once again and closed her eyes in solitude. Trying to reach a calmed state of mind and nodded.

Zecora said in a quieter tone, "Shoot it. And shoot to kill."

Rarity took in a deep breath and held the grip of the gun. Rarity at first when she first held it, that it would weigh too much for her to even hold it. But the opposite was true, it was perfectly balanced. Rarity rested her finger on the trigger and still having her eyes closed she raised the steel weapon. Holding the grip with one hand and having her right foot out pointing at the doe. Her other hand dangling lazily at her side and her left foot digging into the ground. Rarity was focusing her breathing, long breaths. In through the nose and out through the mouth.

Her right eye opened and it squinted as it stared down the iron sight of the Peacemaker. Rarity's hand steady and her breaths long. In those moments she held the reigns over life and death. The doe's life was in her hands, that weight did not belong to Rarity. She was about to lower her arm when she heard the incessant taunts of her father. The years of pain that had him in her life. Especially that night everything went wrong. When her own father called her a bitch. And with those memories Rarity pulled back the hammer of the gun with a resounding click as the gears set into place, and the spark was read to ignite and fire the bullet.

With new found focus Rarity stared down the barrel at her quarry. Her mind wiped clean of all other thoughts, a deep fire in her stomach. Fires of vengeance as she continued to hear his disapproving voice. Rarity felt her grip tighten ground the Peacemaker and constrict the handle of the gun. Rarity pressed lightly on the trigger, not completely pulling it back. With one more deep breathe and at the final pull of the breath Rarity released a crack of thunder and within split seconds she heard no cry of pain from the doe. A sigh of relief came out of her mouth.

Zecora clapped a hand on her shoulder and they went to the doe to inspect the wound. Rarity walked on with a heavy heart. She had done it. She took an innocent life with it now. Which made Rarity question why it was called a "Peacemaker". Now it weighed on her, this weapon was her now. She could never part with it now. A bond now solid and made real, one that can never be broken. Not a bond of friendship, but a bond of need. A bond of partnership.

They stopped at the deer corpse. A pool of blood leaked out and gathered, to stain the dirt with innocent blood. The liquid soaking in the dirt. Rarity saw the light brown lifeless doe and her soul left her. She had taken this doe's life. It looked to just have gotten to the age where she would look for a mate. And she took that privilege from her. Rarity knelt and rested a hand on the doe's neck. The doe was cold to the touch and Rarity sputtered as she rested her hand there. A tear came out of her eye and joined the pool of blood beneath her. Rarity said brokenly, "I'm...sorry."

Rarity looked at the entrance wound. The hole placed on the deer's head. Rarity looked at Zecora who held a neutral look and she said, "You just killed a doe from 150 yards away, with a head shot."

Zecora knelt next to Rarity and finished, "I sensed you use magic. It seems you have a gift. I know that you are like Twlight, in that you can use magic, but you cannot cast very offensive attacks. But, you are a master of telekinesis because of how much you use it. You use your telekinesis to see over the field and sense the weak points of the prey. And you use it, when the bullet releases, to send the bullet farther and harder and guide it to its spot. You are what is called, a Gunslinger. It does not matter what gun it is or what caliber it is. You were born with this gift young Rarity. You are in the early stages of being a Gunslinger, if you work at it you can eventually make it so that you can make the bullet explode on impact. Or even freeze the opponent solid."

Rarity had eyes as wide as plates and all throughout her talking Rarity stared down at the Peacemaker and had a new found respect for her weapon. She knew that this pistol only had a range of fifty yards. She carried the bullet with her telekinesis 150 yards. She could do the impossible with this weapon. And she could go further with it. She had to talk to Pinkie because she had the insatiable need to spill blood again. To make herself a better gunslinger. And to clock in more kills with the gun. For she held the bonds of life and death in her hand right now, all she needed to do was aim and pull the trigger.

Author's Note

In case some of you guys missed it. Or don't care to look at the description. I made the unofficial "soundtrack" of the fic. Songs will be added as the chapters come out. But only after the chapter comes out, no secret sneak peeks. And you can only access the playlist on Youtube by this link. So listen to the songs. Just as a word of warning for some, some people might not like the song selection but most of the people that read this story have previously already listened to the song or know of the band. Just in case you guys.

Okay? Okay.
See you guys next chapter :raritywink: !
~Sylus~

This Is Gonna Hurt

Pinkie stood by the window, gently dabbing her long hair as she stared out into the forest that laid all around her. A blank stare that was filled with pain and wounds long gone. She still remembers the days and the nights filled with endless training, training to become the Machine she hoped to never become. A Machine that would take over the family when her mom and dad died, becoming the new leader of the family. A position she never wanted. A machine that made her family proud.

But as she chalked up all the kills she has made, she could feel something distant. Distantly and yet almost in her reach, was guilt. For years she has wished that it would hit her. Hit her, so she could feel the pain of killing so many. But she had killed so many that it was all just a numb feeling. A lost feeling of remorse, like the passing of the wind. But now it was as if it came in a flood. All those innocents screaming their long silenced voices. Their soulless screams of eternal torment.

She was not one to dwell on the past, but she was one for witnessing her dark deeds and feeling disgusted at herself. To take her mind off of it she summoned forth her Instinct and tried to sense any moving animals nearby. Deep within her skin she pulsated with the powers that she had since she was a little kid, growing in strength since a young age. She did sense some people. Their stance of walking was powerful and full of martial discipline. Their footsteps echoing with physical power. Pinkie knew just from their walk that these were the Royal Guards. They were getting closer than she thought. She thought for a long moment. At the edges of her mind she could feel Pinkamena trying to break free from her cage.

For so long she had been locked away and now she was trying to escape. Pinkie knew that it would come soon, but not now. Anytime but now. Pinkie rubbed the palm of her calloused hand, from years of grit and training. Pinkie thought even more for a second. She recalled her days she would hunt. She tasked herself with eliminating potential enemies of the family. Merchants, Private Investigators, Sheriffs, Royal Guard. You name it. She would eliminate them. The garb that she would wear was a medium length linen robe that opened at the front and sports tape around her hands.

She had stashed that garb in Zecora's hut. Just in case a need such as this one arised. And she could hear the siren call of the equipment she had left behind. Pinkie remembered as clear as day just where she had left it. She sauntered over to the back of the room and opened a cupboard where she stored the equipment. After lifting the linen robe that was folded neatly she took in a deep breath and put it on. Then she wrapped the tape around her palms and slowly moved it up her forearms. She felt the onrush of past emotions. The emotions that she thought she had buried when she had been with Rarity. She never had the guts to tell Rarity exactly how she felt, she never had the courage to do it. Of all the things she has done she could not tell her because she is scared of what she might think of Pinkie. Fearful of how she would respond.

The fall of evening into night was gradual and slow. Almost painfully slow, perhaps it was the canopy of trees overhead. Or perhaps it was the Everfree itself. Silver Bolt could never be too sure. If there was one thing that was for certain it was the fact that these convicts were worth it. If him and his regiment had to risk their lives and sanity to venture into the Everfree. Maybe it was just his over imagination. Or maybe it was the forest working its dark magic on his mind. Silver looked back at his fellow guards and they all wore the same gold armor as him, glinting fadedly in the dark shadows. He did not bring his full regiment out of fear of bringing too many, it was just two convicts how hard could it be to capture two convicts?

Although the shadows over their heads did not help ease the fear that was rising up him and his soldiers spines. The path ahead opened up and there appeared to be less brush. Distantly and faintly Silver could make out a loud crack in the air, something that he recognized. A gun shot. Just one. This sparked inner determination and new found conviction to capture them. Although he did go back to what Princess Luna had ordered him and his regiment to do,

I want you to find and capture Pinkie Pie and Rarity. Use lethal force to retain. And if necessary, kill.

Her cold words repeated in his mind. He looked back and said, "Okay this way."

They all stopped when they heard a faint rustle of leaves to their immediate left. They turned quickly to see what had caused the noise. Nothing. Another rustle to their right. Turn. Nothing. Silver looked back and saw one of his soldiers shaking and shivering in his armor. His breaths were short and uncontrolled. Silver said reassuringly, "It's okay Blitz, it's just the sounds of the woods."

He responded shakily to his commanding officer, "I know sir....it's j-just....I don't know sir...this place-"

Silver turned back in horror and heard a sharp stab of a dagger piercing through flesh. A sharp gasp escaped Blitz's dying breath. He fell forward and lied there, a crimson river leaking out of his back and spilling out on the ground. Silver had seen blood many times before but this was too much. This was no random strike, this strike was precise and made by a perfect killer. The stab placed just beneath the upper back and the lower back, straight through the heart. Blood pouring out like a geyser, Silver heard his regiment unsheathed their weapons and search around for the killer. The forest seemed darker than before, it seemed even more closed. Like the shadows were going to envelope him. Like the killer was at any moment going to come out and kill him. He slowly unsheathed his sword, while his eyes scanned his limited field of vision.

He heard another sharp scream and the clatter of armor against the ground. Silver turned letting his sword of glittering silver to show and shine even in the dim light. He turned and saw another of his regiment fall to the ground. He saw a leaping shadow and tried to follow it but it disappeared into the other shadows around him. Two down and he brought only fifteen. And he was the only patrol sent out. He turned to another one of his regiment and said, "Send word back to Captain Armor! That we have-"

The three he was referring to dropped almost instantly. Silver cried with fury towards the tops of the trees, "Damn it...COME ON YOU SICK SON OF A BITCH!!!"

Ten left and they gathered around Silver Bolt. Silver raised his sword and said still seething with anger, "Keep tight ranks. Wall formation, circulus!"

They raised their golden spears and fear in their eyes. Silver raised his sword and listened. He heard a voice and it said, "Six rookies. Three have family back in Canterlot, a pretty wife and maybe some kiddies. That leaves nine that actually know what the hell they're doing. Five are dead and bleeding on the ground. Most of you were pulled from being your run in the mill citizen but asked to pick up a weapon to defend Equestria. I have fought thousands with a mile long list of more experience. So after all of this I only have one question for all of you..."

There was a pause in the voice's words and Silver shuddered as he heard a whisper that chilled the nape of his neck. The sound of a woman that promised him nothing but death as she whispered, "Are you afraid of the dark?"

Magic is reserved for those who were born with the innate ability to manipulate energies around them, forming them into spells or into material things. Many can manipulate shadows and even turn invisible. Pinkie was none of those. She was just gifted in the art of killing, the natural ability to kill. She did all of these tricks because of her Instinct. The sergeant tried to turn and run but Pinkie stabbed him in his right hamstring, paralyzing his movements. She left her knife inside his leg and kicked him to the ground.

His soldiers turned to see their leading officer lying on the ground in pain. In their moment of confusion Pinkie disarmed one and took their spear. She pulled back and thrust it deep inside the guard. Finding the perfect spot in between plates and rending perfectly through flesh. She wrenched it out and cracked the opposite end against another guard's head. She felt a sharp pain stab through her shoulder, she grunted at the pain and looked at the source of the pain. A spear head pierced through her shoulder, freshly dripping with her blood. Faster than lightning she slammed the flat of her hand agains the spear head and broke off the head. She pushed her shoulder off of the broken stick and while turning around she slashed the guard's throat.

Two went to impale her but being faster than they were she dodged out of the way and slammed her arm against the guard's waist, taking him down with her. She thrust the spear deep within the fallen soldier and bashed the butt of the spear against the other's face and knocking him to his knees in quick response. He pleaded while he was on his knees, but before he could say anything she tabbed him right in the face before hand. Blood splattering against her. She pushed it forward and the body fell limply to the ground.

With the veterans dead, that left six rookies. Pinkie made quick work of the rookies, not even standing a chance against her. Tumbling and dodging out of their inexperienced strikes. Snapping a few of their necks and impale the others with their own weapons. But she did not leave unscathed. A wound in her shoulder, one over her thigh, and another over her back. Pinkie held the cracked off head of a spear in her hand, tightly gripped. She through it to the ground as she caught her breath. She had never expended so much energy before. Without relying too heavily on her abilities. She would not waste her energy on some of the royal guards. Covered in blood and other bodily fluids that she had killed, she turned her head at the sound of grunting.

It as the leader of the little company, inching along to flee. Pinkie stomped her way over and pulled out her knife, eliciting a sharp cry of pain stopping his movements. Pinkie grabbed him by the chest plate and lifted him off the ground. Pinkie stared deep into his fearful eyes. She moved her hand to a grip around his throat. She said, "Bringing fifteen? Come on I knew that the Princesses underestimated me, but by this much? Frankly I'm hurt."

Her voice became a sharp sting and she tightened her grip around his neck. She continued, "You should have brought the rest. You do not face a normal person."

She brought him closer to her. She crackled dark pink lightning over the surface of her skin and her eyes as she whispered, "You face the harbinger of hell itself."

She slashed quickly over the sergeant's throat and threw his body away in one swift motion. She stood up tall, her stained robe billowing in the wind. She said to herself cleaning off her knife and continuing on back to Zecora's hut, "More food for the wolves."

Author's Note

Sorry about the late chapter update, I had to go on a writing binge to push out Rondo of Blood. There are still at least two pieces of writing that I still had to write before I released Rondo of Blood but I'll write those when I don't have so much on my plate. I have this fic, Wild Fantasies, Rondo of Blood, and Ashes to Ashes. Why do I overbear myself? Seriously? What the hell is wrong with me? There are a few things that I will be abandoning, Heaven and Hell for one thing. I just kind of lost my will to write it. It was not what I had in mind of a prequel fic to Children of the Night. Aria of Sorrow Series was supposed to be waited on.

Anyways, sorry about this large wall of text, I had a lot to talk about. Oh and in case any of you were wondering, the song is THis Is Gonna Hurt by Sixx:A.M.
And I will see you guys next chapter :raritywink: !
~Sylus~

Are You With Me

Twilight sighed as she stared out her window. The rain came down heavy and in large droplets. Normally she would not feel such a large sense of longing. Two of her best friends were missing and on the run, perhaps even murder suspects. It was perplexing for Twilight. She had never been in this situation before and apparently, "Dealing with murderous friends." Cannot be found in any of her books. She had grown so attached to Rarity and Pinkie that she almost felt like a part of herself was missing and to add insult to injury Spike was gone as well. So the silence was not a friend for Twilight.

Sure there had been days when she wished for silence, just to have some peace and quiet. But she was now one hundred percent cured of that feeling. It was not pleasant at all. She stared out of her window for what seemed like hours. She heard a loud slam of the door and her day dreaming was cut short. Twilight jerked herself to see who it was that slammed the door. She looked and saw a very good friend of hers. Rainbow Dash.

Her tomboyish looks only stayed at her face, she was not very butch and her body very expertly toned. From all the racing and sports she did. She leaned against the doorframe and just looked at Twilight. Twilight looked down and noticed that all she had on was a black and purple striped sweater and her panties. Under normal circumstances she would have freaked out and asked the person to wait outside the room to allow her to change into more decent cloths. But they were not in a normal situation.

Rainbow Dash always wore a beanie, Twilight had no idea why but she did. Usually black or a dark grey. She stepped in and said as she slowly sauntered over to Twilight, "So how are you holding up?"

Twilight took in a heavy breath and let it out slowly through her nose and responded resting her face into her hand, "If you are referring to the whole situation wrapped up with Pinkie and Rarity then, not very well. It's not every day two of your best friends are tried convicts. Of manslaughter nonetheless."

Twilight felt gentle hands slide down her sides that she recognized as Rainbow's, her touch soothing her aching muscles. Rainbow replied, "It'll be okay Twilight. I'm sure it's not as bad as it sounds."

Twilight opened her eyes and saw Rainbow's hands resting at her sides and her arms resting against her chest. She welcomed the heat she radiated and the warmth of her body. She pulled Rainbow in closer and nestled her head on Rainbow's tight stomach. She hummed as she briefly forgot about her problems to feel the warmth of her girlfriend.

It was not exactly something that they shared out loud. They were the only ones that knew about their relationship, they feared of what their friends would think of them. Twilight had feared of her own opinion in the beginning but it did not take too long to get her convinced that she wanted this. For so long she had neglected the touch of another person and even ignored people socially to become a great student under Princess Celestia. She had no idea she carried so much stress with what she did. She just feels so free and calm around Rainbow Dash, touching or not.

Twilight felt the fabric of Rainbow's jean jacket and she mused, "I just hope that it is not as bad as it seems. I want to believe that it was in self defense. I mean...but...the body was found half buried. And-"

Rainbow knelt down and was face to face with Twilight, or should she say mouth to mouth. Twilight relaxed under Rainbow's soft lips, like kissing velvet itself. They were very sweet, almost like a candy and Twilight savored the taste. Twilight caressed her shoulder and broke the kiss. Rainbow answered, "You are thinking WAY too much. This thing will settle itself out. Don't worry."

Twilight smiled and leaned back in to get another kiss from Rainbow. This one was open mouthed and tongue was involved. The soft pieces of pink flesh collided and Twilight felt her body temperature rise. Twilight's breathing was sharp and in brief blasts. She never thought that she would feel this much pleasure from another person. It was liberating to everything that she knew. Twilight broke the kiss and with a somber look she stared at the tanned face of Rainbow Dash. Twilight asked slowly geting out of her erotic high, "So...how have the patrols been going?"

Rainbow Dash was recently promoted to lead an elite team of flyers called the Stormwings. Rainbow was what was known as a Skyions, who were still human like but they could manipulate energy much like a Kindred but they can only manipulate air molecules. They did not have wings but they were able to lift themselves into the sky. Twilight was always very fascinated with Skyions. Rainbow rubbed the back of her head and replied, "We're still forming the groups, we are still kind of new to this. But a group of Royal Guards were sent out to find them and capture them. They left when I went to come over here."

So it came down to waiting. Twilight was never really a person to wait for something to happen, she preferred direct solutions to answers, not waiting on the solution to happen. If it was up to her she would go after Rarity and Pinkie herself, but she did not want to come off as too pushy. And she did not want to jump to conclusions. She did not doubt Luna's abilities but she just needed to know herself if it was really Rarity and Pinkie Pie that killed that man. As she thought about it she actually should talk to her brother to ask him if she could go with a patrol. Twilight looked back over at Rainbow who was now on her knees and looking straight at Twilight. twilight rested her arms on Rainbow's shoulders and leaned in for a short peck on the lips.

Twilight pulled back and said, "We'll figure this out. Together. Are you with me?"

Rainbow glided her hands over Twilight's exposed thighs and ran them up her sides, eliciting a coo from Twilight's lips. Rainbow answered finishing her caress, "I'll always be with you Twi."

Author's Note

Sorry for another short chapter. But this fic has become so easy to write. We'll get into a more horror aspect next chapter and then back to the past after that. So the next chapter might take me a while.

See you guys next chapter :raritywink: !
~Sylus~

Pretty Little Martyr Part I - Dirthouse

Rarity trudged through the thick foliage of the Everfree. Night settled with a cold wind that billowed from the north, unsettling Rarity. A cold shiver running up her spine. She might be special but that did not stop her mind from wandering to places she should not be. Blood. Death. Murder. Her mind went to that image of her murdering an innocent once again. She closed her eyes and rubbed her arms as she trudged on. More than anything she wanted to go back to the hut and just lay down on the soft pelted bed. Just let the haze of sleep overtake her.

Zecora was right on her, right next to her. Rarity said trying to break the silence between them, "So...I overheard you and Pinkie talking earlier...are you-"

"A witch doctor?" Zecora knit an eyebrow and responded, "An answer to your question is yes, I am. But not what you usually think. I used to delve heavily into black magic. Conjuration. Transmutation. Reanimation. But I became someone that I was not. The Pies had more influence on me than I had thought. But they soon abandoned me once they figured out about the Blackwhisper Coven. A powerful group of witches and warlocks, especially Lilith. At my prime I could not match her power and I do not hope to. I soon let myself escape, a wanderer once again. I then discovered white magic. Herbal remedies and teas, salves, and so many other ways of healing."

Zecora lifted her hand and a bright green flame sparked on her palm and she stared at it as it continued to billow, "But I have not forsaken the eldritch energy that runs through my veins."

Rarity watched the witch doctor slowly regain her original demeanor that was briefly lost as she explained. She very well knew the implications of dark magic. But to actually see it and feel it, it was another beast all together. She felt the raw energy that was created in her hand, it crackled as the green tongues of flame engulfed Zecora's palm. Rarity patted Peacemaker that rested calmly at her side. Breathing in calmed and heavy breaths. Zecora must have picked up on something because she asked, "What is wrong young Rarity?"

Rarity swiftly looked over at Zecora and replied rubbing her arm, "I just...I'm-"

"You are worried that you will turn into someone like Pinkamena?" Zecora interrupted. Rarity shifted her gaze away from the witch doctor and held her gaze low. Her hand no longer resting on Peacemaker. Her hand shook with anxiousness.

Rarity wiped her mouth with her shaky hand and replied, "No...it's just...I don't...I don't want to be...a...killer."

Zecora looked over at her white colored friend and responded, "It is quite alright Rarity. You are not a first to be in this position. You are trying to hold onto your innocence as long as you can. That is why you are so hesitant to kill. This is what the Pie's would call the Wall. Once it was broken, there is no leaving it. No matter how far you travel or how long you ride. You can never escape from this. But I can tell that your wall is still somewhat in tact. You have three kills under your belt, a few more and you could very well turn into Pinkamena if you are not careful."

Zecora stopped and turned Rarity so she was facing her. She stared at Rarity and said with great conviction in her eyes, "Fight to defend. Not to kill. You have extraordinary powers Rarity. Do not exploit them."

Rarity then felt a feeling of cold steel on her side, it was Peacemaker itching to be drawn. Rarity's breathing became ragged and she closed her eyes. Blood rained down in her vision. Though she knew that it was not real, that was not how it felt. She felt like there was really blood falling from her head.

Rarity opened her eyes and she was standing in a hallway with limited light fixtures. Shadows almost leaping out and attaching to her skin. She drew Peacemaker and swatted away the shadows. Rarity looked around hastily to try and find an exit but found none. She jogged down the hallway with no way to tell what was in front of her. Peacemaker raised and ready to shoot down anyone that threatened her life. She tried to control her breathing as she travelled down the dark hallway.

Her pace increased as she heard a sharp voice, "Where do you think you are running to?"

Rarity looked around as she sprinted down the hallway, her vision flashing and she stopped. Rarity opened her eyes and saw that she was in the wide and abandoned church where she had killed her father. Rarity knew the stained columns and the paned windows anywhere. They were almost unmistakable. Rarity clutched Peacemaker tightly in her hand as she carefully stepped closer to the abandoned altar. Looking around as she walked closer.

It was quiet. Eerily quiet. Rarity's breathing slowly controlled and her heart beat returned to normalcy. As normal as it would seem at the moment. More pressing questions were why she was in the church where she killed her escaped convict father? Or why she was leveling her hysteria to a relaxed rate?

Her gaze set upon the large stone altar with a statue of Celestia holding a spear to the sky. Rarity was never one to go to Celestial churches. She thought that it was ridiculous to worship statues when you could worship the real thing. It did not make sense to her. But she paid her respects anyways. She kissed the space in between her thumb and her index figure as she clenched her free hand. Then moving her fist to her heart and lowered her head. It was a common show of respect for higher officials or of the princesses themselves. A common expression of great power.

Once she opened her eyes she felt a force bash against her temple, causing her to topple to the ground. Rarity cried in pain as she hit the floor. She dropped Peacemaker and pressed her hand against her head and kept pressure there as her vision slowly began to clear. She heard a voice that said, "I always knew that I was pathetic but not this much."

It was strange she heard her voice but she did not speak. She shook her head to shake away the haze. Rarity refocused and leaned to her side and looked up. She saw herself standing tall above her in jet black combat suit. Standard issue to stealth units in the Equestrian Military. Rarity knew it well as her grandfather was a Shadow Unit. One of the greatest in the business. She looked tough and battle hardened. Her tight leather armor and her gaze as well, staring daggers at her. Rarity looked at her hand and saw that it had blood on it, glistening with the red liquid.

Rarity said, "How...is this happening right now?"

The other Rarity replied sharply, "I'm you but a darker version of you."

So this was a test that her mind was playing on her. If she can fight herself then she can keep up the wall. The darker her said, "This is gonna hurt."

Rarity quickly reached for Peacemaker but felt a heavy boot stomp on her hand. Rarity said in her mind, 'Well? This is how it is going to go down?' Rarity kicked her leg up and it connected to the back of Dark Rarity's knee. She fell to one knee and Rarity lifted her foot and hooked over Dark Rarity's neck and slammed her head on the ground. Rarity had no idea where she got all these combat moves from. Rarity's foot cracked as it broke under Dark Rarity's twist. Dark Rarity pulled Rarity closer and punched Rarity hard in the nose. Her head slammed against the stone floor. Her vision showing spots. Rarity groaned as she caught the next punch. Dark Rarity spat out, blood leaking down her head, "You can't fight forever you know? You can't win this fight."

Rarity kept a grit look on Dark Rarity and then shifted her eyes over to Peacemaker. Rarity stared at her darker self. If this was what she was to become then she did not want to have an part in becoming a killer. New found conviction swelled and boiled underneath herself. Rarity growled at Dark Rarity, "I can damn well try."

Rarity spat in Dark Rarity's face and slammed her forehead at the bridge of Dark Rarity's nose. Rarity felt that she broke bone and Dark Rarity flew back. She reeled back in pain. Rarity crawled over to Peacemaker and pulled back the hammer. She felt the cold steel sting on her warm grip. Rarity closed one eye and stared down the iron sight and Rarity said coldly, "I'm not going dark today. I'm sorry princess, for I spill blood in your church on this day. My own."

Rarity released the bullet and it tore through the air and whistled as it connected and pierced through it's target. A large hole in Dark Rarity's brow. Smoke billowed from the iron barrel and Rarity let out a sigh and her vision closed.

Rarity jerked herself back to reality. She opened her eyes and became more calm than before. She looked and saw Zecora staring at her. Rarity asked as she rested hand on Peacemaker to make sure that it was still there. Rarity said, "How...what was that?"

Zecora nodded as she responded, "That was your first test. It was a way to keep the darker version of you at bay. It now resides deep within you. There is a fifty/fifty chance that you would come out of that a completely different person. But I expected you to win considering that you are older."

Zecora nodded and continued on to her hut. Rarity called out, "Wait! What happened to Pinkie when she took hers?"

There was a cold silence before Zecora responded before she started for her hut once more, "She lost."

Rarity looked on and saw the hut. She had never been so exhausted in her life. She craved to fall onto a bed and just nap for the rest of the day. Everything seemed so rushed, she had begun to have a headache form inside her head. For she longed for the long days she would spend at home. Looking after Pinkie and sometimes Sweetie Belle. Depending on what day it was. The simple days. But she knew in her heart that she can never return to that life. That simplistic way to live, no death other than old age. No killing. And no revenge.

Rarity sighed and walked up to the porch, Rarity looked and saw Pinkie reclined on a rocking chair with something on the ground next to her. She was covered in dried blood and she was twirling her knife around her hand whistling away as if it was a normal day. Rarity thought it was odd the tape she wore on her arms and hands. But what was really off was the linen robe, wavy and open. Rarity wondered what she did this time. 'Nothing good...' Rarity thought to herself.

Rarity brought herself to the front steps and looked over at Pinkie who continued her whistling. Rarity asked, "Where were you?"

Pinkie had her hood drawn over her face, but Rarity could still see the cruel smile that curled from ear to ear. Pinkie picked up what was next to her and threw it to Rarity. As it sailed through the air she said, "I was just tying up loose ends."

Rarity caught what Pinkie threw and it was soft, her eyes grew wide as she looked at it. Holding in her hands was a severed head of some poor sap who happened to cross Pinkie. It's eyes were lulled and half open, it smelled awful like a combination of blood and rotted meat. Blood stained the stump of it's neck. Rarity heaved as she looked at the head. Rarity tossed it away and tried not to puke. Pinkie said, "Hey. Try not to bruise it too bad. It has to be in acceptable condition if I am going to send it to the Princesses."

A shocked look filled Rarity and not finding the right words to say Rarity blurted out, "Pinkie...why the fuck do you have a severed head?!"

Pinkie stopped twirling her knife and sat up, pulling down her hood revealing her long pink hair. She kept her gaze on her dagger for a second and then refocused to Rarity and replied, "We need to send some sort of message back to the Princesses. They are sending patrols to capture not to kill. Sooner or later if we do this enough then they will be forced to send Twilight. We won't kill Twilight, just rough her up a bit while we explain our situation to her. I'm sure she'll understand."

Rarity was absolutely disgusted. Rarity responded, "Pinkie. The whole reason why you left was to not kill anymore people. What do you think will happen if you continue to do this?"

Pinkie shrugged her shoulders and began twirling her blade as she responded, "Old habits die hard I guess..."

"Old habits..." Rarity pressed the bridge of her nose hard as she continued, "Fine...what are we going to do next?"

Pinkie stopped and stood up and walked over to Rarity as she explained, "Well...we'll be heading to the nearby dirthouse. Do something to draw the attention of Lilith. Once we have her attention she will be forced to send more assassins. We will then take out the other dirthouses and finally find her and kill her. She is the sole reason on why there are assassins coming to kill us."

Rarity raised her hands and knit her eyebrows, "Woa...did I just hear the words destroy?"

"Yeah," Pinkie shrugged her shoulders, "How else are we supposed to weaken her powers? Those houses are under the protection of a lot of dark magic. Lilith made more of the dirthouses for our family, so we can expand our horizons. But what is the one thing that witches get their power from?"

Rarity shrugged as she replied, "Sacrifices?"

"Exactly." Pinkie said, "The more people killed on the ground of the dirthouses, the more power Lilith absorbed. Luckily, that power is linked from the house to the witch. So if we destroy the house then we severe the link between her and her power."

Rarity crossed her arms and said, "Okay then, what will it take to destroy the link and the house?"

Pinkie looked over at Rarity and said, "Has anyone complimented you on your beautiful brain?"

Rarity felt rosy and responded timidly, "Well...not exactly...the only compliments I got were for my...well...my boobs."

Pinkie shrugged, "Well, that's a shame. Anyways, well in order for the power to be absorbed into Lilith there has to be a constant connection between her and the sacrificed ground. That means there has to be a witch there constantly drawing the energy and giving it to Lilith. Willing or unwilling."

Her immense knowledge on witches was astounding, which begged the question, "How do you know so much on witches?"

Pinkie rested her hands on the railing and looked out. Something troubling entered her mind when she asked that question. Her gaze distant and she seemed distraught at the memory. Rarity knew this reaction well, it was very common for Pinkie to react like that. Rarity did nothing but rest her elbows on the railing next to Pinkie.

The sun was just beginning to set, twilight making way for night. Beautiful pinks and purples cascading across the sky. It was a truly amazing sigh to see. Much like seeing the dawn of the sun, it was just as beautiful to see it set as well. But it gave no sympathy to the mood. Rarity and Pinkie stood in silence staring off at the setting sun. Pinkie finally spoke and uttered, "I...my family are not normal...our family was started just before Nightmare Moon was banished. By Luna herself. It seems that the reason that we are like this is because of that fact. I don't know how and I don't know why, but ever since that day my family has been as black as sin. We took in the Blackwhisper Coven when they needed to be saved. They were being hunted for their strength, a sympathy I can relate to."

Rarity breathed out carefully and calmly, trying to remain calm. Rarity said, "So you picked up on a few things from the Blackwhispers?"

Pinkie looked at her hand and made a fist as she shrugged, "Just the basic stuff. I could not learn everything, being that I am not a Kindred and I was...Pinkamena...so...obsessed with natural killing."

Rarity leaned next to Pinkie and asked, "You okay?"

Pinkie sheathed her dagger and leaned against the railing and replied, "I am hunting down my family of psychopathic killers and rapers. Does it sound like I'm okay?"

"A straight forward answer would have been nice." Rarity said to herself. She looked over at Pinkie and continued, "Are you prepared to do this?"

Pinkie returned, "All we are doing is waiting on Zecora to finish making her hexbags. Then we'll be good to go."

"Do you know where to go?"

A cruel smile found its way to the corners of Pinkie's lips as she answered, "I am a member of the family, I always know my way home."

Rarity slowly nodded and stepped away from Pinkie and said, "Alright then. Let me know when you are ready to go, I'll be taking a nap inside."

Author's Note

Sorry for the long update but I decided to split this chapter into two parts. Don't want something overly long to read when only this far into the fic. Towards the end they'll be longer, cause eventually I am going to stop doing the past chapters. For one thing they are a pain in the ass to write and take me way too long to finish. Not that I don't like them it's just sort of a genre I am not strong in. I have a hard problem in finding goals or plots in little things like what they are eating or who they are hanging out with. So sorry to those who enjoyed those chapters.

Anyways, Part II will come out soon.

See you guys next chapter :raritywink: !
~Sylus~

Pretty Little Martyr Part II - Season of the Witch

"Keep your eyes and ears open. Even though we are going to the dirthouse, that does not mean that we are scott free from assassins. Got me Rarity?" Pinkie asked over her shoulder. She looked at her friend who had her gun ready in her hand, she had a contemplative look about her as she looked over. Her eyes concentrated and set upon a goal, she was acting a little strange as of late.

Rarity replied, "Okay. I am ready."

Pinkie nodded her head with a grunt and they looked on. The sun had begun to set and the dying rays peaked through the treetops. Pinkie lost sight of the rays as they trudged on deep into the Everfree. They were going to go to the very edge, the Dirthouse lied at the edge of a cliff. Something that Pinkie was going to use to her advantage. Even from that distance she could hear and feel the resonant beat of the Dirthouse. She gripped hard against the hilt of her dagger, reversed the grip and focused on what lied in front of her. She stepped and watched as the scenery quickly had less light and their field of vision lessened. Pinkie drew out a sigh of annoyance and activated her Instinct.

Slowly her eyes open and she saw through the darkness and saw where they needed to go. Rarity looked over at Pinkie and asked, "How are you doing that?"

Pinkie trudged on as they continued, "I have always been able to do this. My family called it The Instinct. They seemed to think that I was some sort of veteran at this. At killing..."

Her voice trailed off as she started remembering the bodies she has buried. All those feelings she buried so long ago, they came rushing back, making her feel the increased amount of remorse that she had felt at the time she tried to bury them. Pinkie looked away from her friend and her gaze went down cast, "I was the perfect killer in their eyes...they were proud of me...and I hated them for it. I hated me..."

There was not anger in her voice. Not a drop of hatred, but what was there was sorrow and longing. As they continued on, the brush and vegetation thickened. Their footsteps almost echoing in the dead silence of the forest. Pinkie elevated her senses to activate her Instinct. Her mind dead set and ever present within her dark mind.

The soft crunching of the grass and flora sounding loud in her ears. The distant calls of cicadas and owls, their haunting voices sounding as though they were right on her shoulders and not miles away. Like a ghostly choir raising their voices to Pinkie. But what remained stark above the near silence of the Everfree, was the occasional howl of a lone wolf. Banning at the pale maiden moon. Their lost cries as broken and forgotten members of their pack. Pinkie's heart grew heavy as she understood the wolf's pleas. Thinking they were forever lost, it made her think and question her decisions. She knew what it was like to be without a pack. Pinkie was taken out of her thoughts as she heard the soothing voice of her friend, "You seem lost in thought darling, are you alright?"

Pinkie slowed her pace and lowered her knife as she answered solemnly and her gaze set low, "Just...thinking...that's all."

"About?" Rarity asked. Prodding in a sing song tone that was unmistakable. Pinkie looked over at her friend, her skin glistening in the starlight. Her eyes sparkling as they promised nothing short of benevolence and friendship. Innocent eyes that Pinkie had come to love. Her soft jawline, her kitten like soft skin, her full lips and her makeup. Everything toned and made to expertly improve her beauty. Everything about her was beautiful, she has stressed this so many times but she could not help herself.

Pinkie stopped herself from staring and answered quickly, "I...just...about my family and if what I'm doing is right."

"What do you mean?" Rarity inquired in her ever accented and soft voice.

Pinkie walked alongside Rarity and replied in a distant tone, "I mean if killing my entire family is the right course of action. I want to tell myself that this is the only answer. That this is the only way. But...I just can't shake the feeling that maybe there is someone like me...a killer with a conscience."

Sorrow filled Pinkie but did not last long as it was banished far away once she rested a soft and tender hand on her shoulder. Rarity gently squeezed her shoulder and caressed it as she said, "If there is a slight chance that there is someone like you then we should not hesitate to help them."

Pinkie held back all she could not to moan in pleasure under her soft touch. Pinkie was sent to her own nirvana each time she felt Rarity's warm touch. Rarity stopped caressing her shoulder and Pinkie asked in somewhat of a lighter mood, "So...how are you holding up?"

Rarity seemed to look distantly ahead of herself and then cast her gaze down at Peacemaker and she replied in more of a darker tone, "I'm...I'm holding up as much as I can..."

Her voice trailed off and Pinkie added gruelingly, "It ain't easy. To just shut off your emotions when you kill."

Rarity rested the chamber of the gun in her other palm and asked, "What does it feel like? When you kill someone I mean?"

Pinkie's blood drew cold as she answered carefully, "Like I am someone completely different. Like something dark takes hold of me and shuts me away when I start killing. It...it is so cold..."

Pinkie felt herself tremble and shiver, even though it was not that cold out. She wrapped her arms over her stomach and shook herself. She stopped once she felt loving arms wrap around her. Offering her their warmth and love from a friend. Making Pinkie feel that she was not alone, that she would never be alone. She remembered back to their promise and Pinkie said, "Thank you Rarity."

Rarity answered in her silken voice, "Any time darling."

Before Pinkie became drunk with the loving embrace and unload her feelings she felt a wave shoot up through her veins, from her feet to chest. Her eyes shot open and they became as hard as iron and focused ahead of her. She heard Rarity ask, "What is it? What's wrong?"

A cruel smile found its way on Pinkie's lips and she said, "We have arrived."

Rarity slowly moved her hands away from her friend and readied her gun. Waiting for a crack shot to rip through the air and find its mark into someone else's head. Pinkie lifted her knife and said, "Once we are inside then we find the witch and we kill or disrupt whoever he or she is. Then we burn it to the ground."

"Why do that? Won't it draw attention?"

"I don't care," A primal voice exchanging for Pinkie's, "As long as I make them pay for trying to kill us."

The brush lowered and a thin layer of mist rested calmly at their feet. Pinkie's breathing almost non exsistent, but she remained careful not to go too far. There was nothing that could break the still silence of the air around them. A determined and focused face found its way to the marshy environment around her. She dared not think about the outcome of her decision. She shook her head and raised a hand motioning for Rarity to stop and she listened closely.

She could hear pairs of silently placed feet. Pinkie took it to heart that she was the only one that could do this, likes she had said before. It can be a blessing and a curse. The still wind leaving a sort of apprehensive pull in her breathing. They were nearby she could feel it, and judging by Rarity's expression she had a feeling they were not alone as well. Pinkie focused and tried to see the residual energies and the steady heart beats of her family members.

Pinkie knelt, the marshy waters enveloping her legs as she said, "Three of them. All armed with standard equipment to fight. A scout band. Not a huge threat."

Pinkie looked up as she heard the resounding tone of a twig snapping and Pinkie rushed over as fast as lightning to where she heard the twig snap. The world rushed past her. She closed her eyes as she rushed on, sensing the place where she saw the one of her family. Once she came within range of him she dove under as he swung a sword to try and cut her in half at the chest. She slid on the ground, outstretching her arm and smashing her arm back to hit the back of his knees. He fell to his knees and she heard a loud crunch as she broke bone. Pinkie opened her eyes and in her left hand held tight was her knife. She spun around and stabbed it deep into his shoulder. Wrenching it down hard, he released a whimper and moan of pain. She took out her knife and grabbed his scalp in her hand pulling it tight back and lifting his head to the sky. She stared down into his eyes and she said in a cold blooded tone, deep and marauding, "You made a grave mistake."

Pulling her knife hard over his throat she cut deep and like a water fall it spilled out. Dripping down fast, falling and forming into a sea of red staining the dirt. In her eyes lied no emotion as she heard his sputtering and gargling as he choked on his own blood. She pushed his body down and it thumped as it crashed limply on the ground. Pinkie looked on and found her next target. She moved her knife reversed in her right hand and sped along, moving faster than any person should run. Dashing over overgrown vines, boulders, and vegetation.

Her mind anything but clear, with every fibre of her being she willed herself not to let Pinkamena overtake her. She felt at the brim, at the very edge of her renewed sanity since six years ago. She felt determination not to let Pinkamena out, bold conviction not to let Pinkamena see the light of day. She heard her sharp and raspy voice say to her, You can't hold me back for much longer. I can feel your mental strength breaking. Like a damaged dam it is about to burst.

Pinkie dictated her opposite, "You can try, Pinkamena. And you will fail."

Don't be so sure about that, Pinkie. You are at the edge of snapping. I can feel it, stop lying to yourself. Just let it out Pinkie. You know you want to. Her words speaking loudly and echoing off the walls of her mind. Pinkie breathed heavily as she felt mental fatigue overcome her. She used Instinct for too long and she felt a mind splitting head ache accompanied by a glancing blow against her shoulder. Another sword, a niching cut over her shoulder. Her left shoulder. Slicing through cloth and cutting into skin. Pinkie looked at it briefly and saw no blood leave. Just as she had expected. She looked and saw the assassin thrust forward as Pinkie was caught off balance. It stabbed deep into her stomach, twisting as it entered. The assassin hissed, "Looks like you are getting rusty, Machine."

She leaned back as she looked down at the sword stabbed deep into her stomach and piercing through her back. She gave a deadly look at the assassin as she regained her balance. The assassin looked perplexed as she expected her to be bleeding, taking advantage of her being struck hard. Pinkie grabbed the sword with her free hand and gripped the steel blade tightly. Pinkie slowly pulled out the blade. The sound of metal escaping meat loud in both their ears. Pinkie grunted as it came fully out, tossing the blade aside and flying out of the grip of the assassin. Pinkie growled at her, "You are not worthy to see my blood."

Pinkie shoved her knife hard and deep through her head. Stabbing straight through her head. Entering through the bottom jaw and stabbing straight up through the top of her head. Blood dripping from the wound and running down from her eyes that popped out of their sockets, making enough room for the newly entered knife. Pinkie stared long into her perplexed eyes, seeing the shocked look. Striking a nerve that somewhat loosened Pinkamena. Very close she was to being forgotten, feeling the warm tide of blood dripping onto her hands and staining over her face. She clenched as she pulled out her knife. Fury swelled through her veins and she began to shake trying to hold back Pinkamena. Her strength depleting fast. She gathered back her wits as she heard a loud rip of thunder. Pinkie walked over and stood top a small hill and watched as Rarity had both her arms raised, both hands holding her gun. Pinkie looked on and saw the third, a smoking hole in the space between his eyes. She slowly regained her breath as she remembered who she was fighting to protect, the innocent woman she loved ever so much. With new refound vigor she pushed Pinkamena back in the darkest recesses of her mind. Calming her nerves she slid down the hill. Pinkie stopped and grunted as she gripped her wounds on her shoulder and her stomach. Pinkie looked down and saw blood beginning to flow out of her fresh wounds. Staining the cloth over her wounds. She clutched her hand over her stomach and gasped at the pain.

Her heartbeat increased, causing more blood to pump through her, allowing more blood to spill out of her. She felt at edge again, Pinkamena almost coming out but she retreated as she felt a soft and sympathetic hand on her shoulder. Pinkie looked up, opening her worn eyes. Rarity knelt in front of her and asked, "Are you alright darling?"

Pinkie clutched at her wounds harder, feeling her somewhat older wounds burn as she looked inside herself and offered a piece of herself so that the wounds would heal. Pinkie controlled her ragged breathing and looked up at Rarity as she was on her hands and knees, she responded, "Yeah...let's go."

Rarity shook her head as Pinkie gasped in sudden pain, "No. You need medical attention, you can't-"

"I said I'm fine!" Pinkie snapped, the pain not helping her anger, "I just need a second!...I'm sorry for snapping at you, but you go on ahead I'll catch up with you."

Rarity seemed surprised at her sudden anger, raising her hands away from her friend. Rarity clutched Peacemaker tighter and nodded. She ran off, the ankle high swamp water sloshing as she ran off towards the house, now somewhat visible past a thin wall of mist in an outcropping to Pinkie's left. Past the house was a large cliff, over the face leading to the White Barrens. A desert famous for it's pure white sand, famous because the surface of the desert is so hot that it is nearly impossible to traverse.

She groaned as the pain rose once more up her side, her muscles tightening up and seizing under an invisible force. She clenched her hand over the would be wound. Pinkie's breathing was as controlled as possible, trying to remain calm. She overused her amount of magic she could use, maybe even broke past the barrier of what she could do. She felt on the verge of death.

It was cold as the air broke through her chilled and numb skin. Pinkie remembered back to some of her teachings as a child. She drew in large breaths through her nose and released them out her mouth. She did this for a minute or two, and then sat down her legs crossed underneath the warm surface of the murky water. She laid her hands on her knees and stood up straight. Her posture opening up her fiery lungs. All thoughts fading away into her mind, drawing her brain clear of all senses. Opening her mind to the world around her, letting the energy flow through her. She released a small fraction of the shared power and a light breeze danced over her. It's soothing feeling inviting Pinkie to relax her muscles and her wounds to numb away. She had twenty hours before the pain would return, temporary strength offered by the resting dead spirits around her. They answered, but did not care enough to grant her their permanent blessing.

Her eyes closed and resting silently, her heart calming back down from her heightened and irregular rate. Her lungs lowering back down and now numb from the fire that coursed through her at a time. She shot her eyes quickly open, a glossy layer peeling away and her eyes beginning to glow bright pink she smiled cruelly and said, "Let's finish this."

Rarity walked through the thick layer of fog. Her eyes barely able to see pas the mist. Clutching Peacemaker tightly in her hand she gulped down a knot of fear. She had down some scary things in her life, but this was something completely different. Rarity was willingly offering herself to the crazy cursed house where she might not make it out alive.

A breathe of calm escaped her lips as she suppressed her anxiety. If only for a short while. All she heard seemed to echo off of walls and suspend in the humid and damp air. It seemed to strangulate her in her throat. She coughed absent mindedly, her steps gently disturbing the murky waters around her ankles. She never had to face situations like this before, the whole mood making her skin crawl and her soul scream. It was a feeling like no other.

Drawing herself closer she could feel a residual magical energy being radiated off of something. It was dark and foreboding. The shadows almost leaping out to catch her. Rarity pulled back the hammer on Peacemaker and brought it closer to her face, her breaths as controlled as she could make them. She shoved past hanging moss from some of the trees and past the curtain she felt the swamp and and the dry dirt and grass ground of the normal forest floor. As she moved on she saw the signs of various attacks.

Claw marks along the trees. Trees fallen and lying restless on the ground, splintered and broken. Their souls gone and their normal brown glow now dull and black. The vegetation was almost a dark grey, the gentle brushes against her jeans were unfriendly and wanted to cut through her. The feeling growing stronger and causing her to become even more on edge. Her heart pounding in her throat and her breaths short and staggered. Her skin felt heavy, as what came into view almost froze her.

Standing in a clove of dark green emerald clearing was an aged and rotted house. Bleak rafters and roof, laid bare from any and all detail. Porch posts cracked and almost falling over, barely supporting the small ceiling. The oak wood was stained and slightly darker from her knowledge of housing and interior decorating. The entire sight making her skin crawl and her eyes sore from the decrepit and decaying house. What was worse than the look was how she felt from the house, a deep dark ancient magic pulsated from the house. Moving over her skin with every wave, fear and despair only continuing to grow underneath her. Almost the exact same feeling she had when she first met Pinkie. Her crazed eyes, her shaking form, forever scarred from the horrors she was put through.

Death, blood, murder, rape. So many sins at once that she bared witness to. Rarity could have related to Pinkie, being subjected to abuse for most of her life. But those dark memories could wait as a loud crack of a twig rose high in her ears. Her heart beating threateningly fast, feeling the pulsations in her throat and her wrists. She took in calm breaths and focused, 'Fight to defend...fight to defend.' She repeated in her mind, keeping the dark thoughts out of her head. She readied Peacemaker and shot her head to find the source of the sound.

To her left she found nothing but the outside edge of the outcropping, dead leaves waving on the wind. She shot her head to her right and straining her eyes she could see the cause of the noise. A perched and laying in wait to pounce and kill Rarity. A stern face came over Rarity's face as she focused all of her magic into this shot. Almost slowing time itself she spun to face the assassin as it sprang from the bushes to kill Rarity. She stretched out her arm and took aim down the iron sight, aiming between the eyes. With a crack of thunder she pulled the trigger back and the bullet ripped through the air and found its target. Past the smoke she saw the assassin fall back on the ground. A hole in between its eyes, blood slowly falling out of the wound.

Rarity had a few minutes before the others in the house would take notice to her crack shot, and inspected the body. It was a female dressed in a large black trench coat, leather buckles and straps around the thick leather vestments she wore. Rarity took note of that choice of clothing and would remember that fact for another time. It was very similar to Pinkie's cloth robes she wore more often now. But she dodged her head out of the way as a bullet whizzed past her ear and shot into a tree. Rarity quickly found cover behind a large dead stump and pressed her back against the dead wood. She pulled the hammer back and readied for another shot, glancing back to see the shooter.

She saw the front porch and the door was wide open, she saw the silhouette of the shooter. A male carrying a rifle, a Remington 700 from the looks of it. An excellent hunting rifle, whether it be a deer or another man it got the job done. She saw another silhouette for a second, almost blinking out of existence and then blinking back in behind a tree in the grove. Carrying two Colt Sidehammers, a .28 and a .31 caliber.

The rifleman peeked out of his cover and taking the advantage Rarity took aim with Peacemaker and stared once more down the iron sight aiming for his neck, his exposed pink flesh shining in the pale glow of the moon peering in from a window in the house. Time seemingly slowing down she cracked off the shot, the bullet sailing through the air and connecting into the man's throat. The wound almost instantly exploded in a shower and splatter of dark red blood. He roared back in pain, his comrade cracking off two shots from each of his Sidehammers. One shot glancing just off where Rarity rested her head and the other whizzing past over her as she quickly sat back against the stump. Her breath gathering back to her as she leaned up to see the shooter.

Rarity peered on and saw the shooter's Sidehammers were slightly modified, as Rarity could tell. The cartridge had rounds and not balls. Normally Sidehammers used balls but these were changed to take in .28 and .31 rounds. Rarity had no idea where she was getting this information from but she decided not to question it and continue her firefight with the anonymous shooter. Rarity peered up again and rested Peacemaker on the stump, readying and aiming to fire. Peering down the sight once more she pulled back the hammer and waited until the shooter peered out, cracking off another shot.

BANG!

The shot rippled through the air and found its target set in the shooter's skull. She was impressed at the two shooter's accuracy. All the shots fired at her were well placed and had she not been aware she would have been stone cold dead. She decided that after immediate danger she would go and collect the Remington 700 and two Sidehammers. Would not hurt to have a few extras, she would always grab for Peacemaker first. She relaxed a bit and holdstered Peacemaker back at her side and immediately regretted it. She felt a hand grip the back of her hair and yank hard, pulling her to her feet.

The grip was somewhat loose and she turned and saw another black cloaked assassin trying to kill her. Rarity clenched her teeth as she tried to break free from the grip on her ponytail. Rarity then pulled back one of her hands and flung it forward into the assassin's throat, causing the assassin to reel back in pain. Rarity then went to take out Peacemaker and as she did she rushed forward and slammed her shoulder into the disoriented assassin, knocking him straight on his back. A grunt of pain issued from the assassin and Rarity aimed Peacemaker and shot the assassin right in the head. The assassin falling limp and a slight small splatter of blood as the wound ripped into the assassin's jaw.

She had never been this alert before, her mind and wits open to take down any challenge thus far to face her. She straightened her hair and held Peacemaker close and advanced towards the house. Rarity had no idea what she was getting into or how many were going to be waiting for her but she suspected that it would be almost too much. Her steps hard and determined as she placed them on the porch and climbed the small set of stairs, Peacemaker cocked back and ready to rip into another foe. Three shots left before she had to reload, she had decided to move the extra rounds in her pocket so they would be better to access. And she did not regret that decision.

Peacemaker lowered and pointed in front of her, ready for another shot. She looked and just inside the door in the house she saw the two dead forms of the shooters. Rarity quickly leaned down and picked up the Remington 700 and pulled the gun over her shoulder. And as well picking up the two Sidehammers and putting both in little pockets on the strap. Not a perfect fit but snug enough to hold the two new pistols. Her weaponry now extended to four guns. She slightly smiled at the fact and raised Peacemaker once again and stepped through the threshold of the house and felt something strange wash over her. Her wits disoriented for a second as she crossed the threshold into the house. The whole atmosphere of the house made her feel as though Dirthouse was an understatement for the inside of the house.

The walls were rotted and the wallpaper peeling, revealing the aged skeleton of the dirthouse. The ceiling and floorboards in no better shape than the walls. Holes dotted the floor and ceiling as it rose high, no more than three feet above her head. She could see into the holes above her head and see the rooms almost as clear as day. She looked on and the hallway continued in front of her by about fifteen to twenty feet ahead of her. Or there was the living room to her immediate right. She decided that investigating the upstairs was an adventure that she dared not go alone. Not in a place like this.

Overall it was not the look of the inside of the dirthouse that scarred her, it was the loud intense silence that ensued for hours upon hours. She would have expected to hear the pitter patter of feet above her, marching as if ready to engage an enemy soldier. She expected to be met wholeheartedly by Pinkie's mad relatives, yet not even a whisper carried in the wind around her. Her breaths slowed and controlled to keep herself calm. In extreme situations like this she has been known to lock up and freeze when danger arrived but that was not her. No, the Rarity now was a fighter. Not a coward that hid behind her friends, not a prissy noblewoman incapable of fighting her battles. No, she held death and fate in her very hooves. Lives depended on her aimed precision shots, and it was for this reason that all fears and devils were banished from her.

Washing over her like an ocean wave was the soothing and calming wave of discipline and courage. Fear no longer had a place in her evermore. But this did not mean she was freed from her inner demons that hid inside. She now knew what it meant to fight to defend and not to mindlessly kill. She understood it all, death was always predetermined and she was only the deliverer of fates. She was only a messenger to delver the message of death. She clutched Peacemaker with a slightly loosened grip and for once in so many hours her breathing was normal. She opened her sore eyes and ushered herself into the living room.

As she did so she felt a hand press onto her shoulder. She spun her head around to meet the strange touch, only to see Pinkie. Her hood was pulled up and her wounds somewhat healed from the state that Rarity left her in. She brought her hand that held her knife to her mouth and pressed her index finger to her shadowed lips and Rarity nodded her head. She secretly found a great enjoyment in this, her and Pinkie sneaking through a house and killing as they went on. Pinkie in the front and Rarity to offer support.

They sneaked their way through the lightly furnished living room. A large dust filled rug in the middle of the floor, a fire place on the right wall, a large sofa aged with time and rotted with holes in the soft perhaps cotton sofa, a large table decorated with a vase of dead flowers with black water in the clear glass vase. Dust over almost every surface, the air feeling heavy and very humid, she released a breath out of her mouth and walked through the room. Various ripped and torn paintings lied around the wall. Crooked and not align with one another. On the other side of the room there was a large hall opening which connected the kitchen with the living room. She could see the dirt and dust covered white tiled floors in the kitchen. Bare aside from the quick rush of mice that scattered when they saw them.

Rarity quickly rushed to the edge of the large frame to take quick cover and she nodded to Pinkie, who reversed her dagger and crouched down low. She large steps carrying her quickly across the floor. Her movements reminding Rarity of a spider, slow movements waiting for their prey so they might spring and surprise them. Rarity pressed her back against the post and reached her arm out readying Peacemaker for a fight. The hammer already pulled for the readied shot. She peered over the corner and saw her friend creep across the floor, stopping in the center her educated and studied gaze set over all details and waited for something. Rarity had no idea what she had been waiting for but she was getting impatient as she watched Pinkie.

The silence carried for what was longer than needed. Not a sound broke the glass surface of the silence between the two invaders. She clutched Peacemaker with two hands and kept the cold metal barrel close to her face. Her breathing seemed to slow to a manageable rate and she peered back around to see any movement from Pinkie. She glanced over every surface of the kitchen, her studious gaze trying to see anything off putting or out of place. She sifted through contents on the counter and mumbled something to herself. She then stopped and motioned for Rarity to come towards her.

Lowering Peacemaker a bit and readjusting her rifle slung over her shoulder, she sashayed over to her friend. Careful and quiet footsteps as she traversed the creaky floors. Finally she found herself at Pinkie's side and glanced over her shoulder and asked, "What's wrong? You seem troubled by something?"

Her face told it all. She grabbed her knife once again and said, "It's too quiet...they should have sensed us by now. There is no way these bags are that powerful. And I was also thinking of where we are going to get the explosives."

She rubbed her chins as she leaned against the counter and after a few minutes she mused, "They are in the basement closet if I am remembering correctly, I could be wrong through I have not set foot in a house like this in a little over a few years."

Rarity nodded and they moved their way to the basement where they had found a certain detail odd. They saw the basement door ajar. Pinkie looked over at Rarity and readied her knife to strike, nodding slowly to Rarity. She lifted Peacemaker and followed Pinkie down the oaken stairs. Like they were walking on the wooden planks of a harbor docks. It was pleasant on most days but they needed to remain silent. Careful footsteps placed quietly and with expert placement. Time seemed suspended in the silence as they traversed back to the main stairs. Pinkie turned back to Rarity and whispered, "Stay here, I'm going to go get the explosives."

Rarity only nodded and lowered her gun. Allowing her enough time for her to regain her breathing, as she had become overwhelmed with nervousness. She did not recover very quickly however as she heard movement. She shot her head up in attention and moved her gaze to the source of the sudden movement. She looked and saw the basement door a little bit opened and heard struggling happening just beneath the stairs. Rarity put Peacemaker away and pulled out her two Sidehammers, cocking back and readying them both for a fight.

She quietly traversed the floor and pushed the door ajar and strode down quietly. Listening carefully as she heard voices. A male and a female. The male said, "How long can she keep that up?"

The female answered, "Only as long as that girl can live. Then she will be replaced by another."

"Poor little shit," The male snorted, "A shame that we have to waste such a young woman for this."

"What you offer is a pain worse than death, but I can understand."

"What if I just interrupted the spell for a few minutes?" Rarity silently growled as she crept through the shadow filled stairs and finally identified the sources of the voices, "Just seven minutes."

Rarity stepped onto the cold stone floor and saw a small open and bare area, coarse and rough stone as the walls and over near the far wall was a sight that was odd looking and gave off more magic than Rarity had ever sensed before. She saw a girl, naked in a bauble of pure magic. Curled in a bubble, her head tucked into her lap. Could not have been older than fifteen. Which made the implication of what the male had said even crueler and more gross. Once Rarity returned back from her inspection of the room she noticed that the girl was gone and the male was advancing towards the girl. Rarity's heart raced and she now crouched and brought herself a little bit closer to get an even shot.

But before she could aim to shoot her guns crashed to the floor as she felt an arm wrap around her elbows and pull her tightly back. The sudden movement knocking her rifle off her shoulder and clattering to the ground. She as well felt a knife press to the nape of her neck, just below her chin. She gasped and she heard the female voice whisper in her ear, "What do we have hear? Mmm...a pretty little bitch I've found..."

Rarity was about to return something clever back to her when she felt a hand rise up from her right elbow and forcefully grasp her breast. Under other circumstances Rarity might have fund this arousing, but this was just wrong. Rarity squirmed and tried to break free from her grasp but there was just something about Pinkie and her family and them being stronger than most people and it annoyed the living hell out of her. Rarity gasped as she squeezed tighter, the female purred, "Do you have somewhere to go little bitch?"

Not wanting to hear another word out of her mouth Rarity pushed her head forward and then brought it back hard, the blow connecting above the female's nose. The force breaking through skin and cartilage. She reeled back and Rarity quickly turned and with as much force as she could muster she swung her clasped fist and it smashed against her temple. She toppled to the floor and Rarity fixed her ruffled shirt and growled at the girl lying on the ground, "You could at least have the curtesy to buy me a drink first."

Enraged the woman sprung from her vulnerable state and tackled Rarity to the ground, not only did she feel a fist hit her nose but she also had to face her head slamming against the concrete. Her senses blurring for a few seconds she felt two more blows, one to her mouth and the other just below her eye. Her vision returned to her and she hiked her foot to her waist and kicked her leg back, the woman flying back a few feet and falling to the ground with a large thud. Rarity pulled out Peacemaker and cocked the hammer and she stood up and aimed at the prone woman and shot once. The bullet ripping through the air and shattering its way into the woman's head, blood splattering over the floor.

Smoke billowed from the barrel and she blew it away and snickered at the corpse, "No one calls me a bitch."

She dapped the back of her hand to the cut just below her eye and saw the blood on her hand, she would have to stitch it up later. Luckily she did not have any black eyes, she could not stand those things. Rarity slung her rifle over her shoulder and sheathed her Sidehammers and refocused and found the spell broken and the man forcing the girl against the wall. Rarity could now hear her screams, as before she could not hear anything above the grunts of their scuffle a few seconds ago. Rarity aimed Peacemaker and activated her magic, time seeming to slow as she took aim. She pinpointed exactly where she wanted to hit. She shot three times, once in the shoulder, once in the back of his knee, and the other into his lower spine. Three shots almost releasing at the same time rang out and a gut wrenching scream rippled through the air, coming from the man and the girl.

The girl fell to the ground, and the man followed her as he stooped in pain. Bleeding onto the floor from three holes in his body, the blood starting to gather in a pool beneath him. He forced to keep tears from falling from his clenched eyes as he shouted, "Fuck! Fuck!"

Rarity closed the distance between them and she knelt and said to the male. Normally she would have sympathy for her kills but this time it was different. Her tone was dangerously serious as she explained, "Now darling, I am going to give a question and you will answer. Whether you answer or not will be our decision but let me give you the terms. I have paralyzed you and shot you twice, it's only a matter of time before you bleed out. So, you can tell me where the rest of you fuckers are and I give you a quick end. Or you can just lay there and just bleed out. Your choice dear."

She fluttered her eyes awaiting an answer and he groaned, "N-Never...you...you bi-AGH!"

She shot him in his knee, causing him to cut his word short and she added, "Make that three bullet wounds and lets not use such vulgar language in front of the minor."

Rarity sifted through her pockets and brought out six bullets and started to reload them into Peacemaker and as she flicked the loading cartridge she said, "You have three seconds to choose before I leave you here. Make your choice."

He sat there for a good few seconds weighing his options and finally after she flicked the full cartridge back and cocked the hammer with an audible click he gasped out, "Okay...okay I'll talk...there...there's an ambush...set...just around the perimeter of the Dirthouse...Spider holes they call up...waitin' for ya."

Rarity hmphed in response and stood up taking aim and shooting him once in the head, blood and pieces of his brain came out and splattered on the floor and she put Peacemaker back and said in a genuine and friendly tone, "Now that was not so hard now was it darling?"

Rarity then spun on her heels and focused on the girl who was averting her gaze into her lap, her legs blood splattered. Rarity knelt down and rested a careful hand on her knee. She was a little pale and her hair was long and jet black. She gasped and lifted her head and tears flowed from her eyes and she yelped, "Please don't hurt me!"

Rarity soothed, "Darling it's okay. I'm not here to hurt you."

The girl sniffled and she stopped crying and said shakily, "You...you killed him...you saved me..."

Rarity nodded, "Yes. My name is Rarity, what is yours?"

She wiped her tears away and seemed to think for a few minutes and finally answered, "Bethany...my name is Bethany-"

Before they could exchange anymore pleasantries the house heaved and rocked back. Rarity said to herself, "Damn it Pinkie, you were supposed to wait."

She looked and the house creaked and exploded on one side, the force hitting hard against her and her head smashing against a cross beam. Her vision slowly turned back, the last thing she remembers is Bethany falling with her and grabbing her tightly around the waist. The house fell off the cliff. Her vision turned fully black and she fell limp.

Author's Note

Down in Flames by Blue Stahli is the reason for the title of this song, mainly because I found it highly appropriate to both the chapter and the characters of this story. So, I hope you enjoyed this extra long update that I have been piecing together for a little over two months. Yeah, I went through a dry spell where I could not write for a while and during that time I got so scared.

But I'm back in the groove of things and I am ready for more updates on my fics. Expect more!

~Sylus~

Devils and Angels

The day settled quickly down into the horizon and gave way for an equally beautiful night. Pinkie realized within that moment that she was able to breathe in the nice air of being free from that life. That life of misery and despair. A life that Pinkie never wanted to go back to. Pinkie sat on the couch in Rarity's living room and waited for Rarity to finish stock of her supplies. Pinkie took this moment to fully take in the sight of Rarity's apartment.

There is a saying that a person's house is an extension of the person that owns it, and it remained true to this instance. The fact that everything was beautiful and glamorous beyond compare. She had been there for perhaps only a few hours and she already felt that she could welcome the place as her home.

Rarity had left a few minutes ago for some groceries that she needed to get, Pinkie tried to recall exactly what she said but frankly Pinkie was not exactly all there. She sat there and gave a reply and with little else, she left.

Pinkie sat on the couch, her legs folded in and curled towards her chest. Her hands fidgeting with her pant legs and fraying the hem a little bit, tearing some of the seam with it. They were raggedy jeans to begin with and they were nothing really to brag about. The Pie family was not too keen on leaving the house for little else. Other than the occasional prisoner, and by occasional Pinkie means nearly on a nightly basis.

The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to grow louder and louder with each passing second, an unwelcoming feeling but yet another one that she would have to muscle. After which, she raised her arm and scratched her shoulder gently over the fabric. It was perhaps a little too quiet for Pinkie's tastes. In that silence, she closed ehr eyes and swallowed hard as she could see and hear every single kill that she would get.

She remembered back to her first, when her father had for once let one out and crippled. Her father had previously cut his hamstrings to watch him run around and eventually tear the muscle so bad that he could not walk again. She stood over the crippled man and in that moment, staring down at the man. Pinkie did not hesitate as her father handed her the bone knife and said, "This will be your first kill, Pinkie. Make it count, what you do here will echo for the rest of your life. Both for the family and for yourself."

Despite the poisonous words that he would feed to her over the years, she could not help but find morbid wisdom to his words. He was right, cursed forever to walk the earth not as a normal human but as something completely different.

She ran her hands over her hair and pulled it back, blinking away the tears that were starting to form.

She shot her head up as she heard sudden and harsh banging on the door.

She waited patiently, until a voice rose up, "Rarity! This is your landlord! Open the door you freeloading bitch!"

Pinkie sat in stunned silence at the harsh words that transferred over through the oaken door. Pinkie remained silent, hoping that this person would leave, though she knew deep down that he would not.

He yelled again, "Come on! It has been four weeks passed due. It's time to pay up!"

She could feel something inside of her, she does not know what, but something rose inside of her that caused her to clench her fists. Was it anger? And if it was, why was she angry? This person has every right to say what he has to say, if she is behind on rent, then she gets what's coming to her. But this, this felt different. She felt a fire burn inside of her that she thought she had been rid of. The same dark feelings rose once again, she whispered to herself, "No...not her..."

More incessant and increasingly more threatening banging on the door ensued, "You goddamn whore, open this fucking door. I know that you're in there!"

She bit her cheek and continued as she felt iron overflow in her mouth and whispered, tears flowing down her face, "Please..."

He threatened, "I swear to god! If you don't open this door in the next five seconds I am going to raise hell you stupid bitch!"

"No..."

"One."

"Please just go away..."

"Two."

"I don'w want to hurt you..."

"Three."

"Oh god no-"

"Four....Five!"

The door swung open, but not by the landlord's own hand. He stood, angered and shocked. Angry at Rarity who refuses to pay her rent on time, insisting that she is going to be paid soon and that she will have the money in a few days. He was stunned to see a strange pink haired girl standing before him. He permeated with hatred and growled, "Oh, so she decided to get one of her whore friends to fight her battles for her? Let me guess she could not come up with the money? This is just like that stupid-"

Pinkie had enough of this dick.

She grabbed him by the scruff, he was larger than she was but she grabbed him with ease and pulled him in close. Her eyes were narrowed and could pierce skin she was glaring daggers straight at Rarity's landlord. She grumbled, "Why are you in such a hurry to take Rarity's money?"

He did not answer initially and struggled to break free. He squirmed and wriggled but to now avail. She held firm and restated, "I asked you a question you brainless dick."

Her words bled with all the ferocity of a wounded wolf and all the sly tonality as a fox. He strained against her grip and was about to answer when she shook him slightly and pulled him in closer, and gave a devilish whisper, "Answer, the fucking question."

He stuttered after a good minute of silence, "Um...well-"

He took too long, having already tried Pinkie's patience, "Are you behind on your protection money? How about payments to payback so many drug dealers for your crippling addiction to heroine?"

"It's...well...it's just that-"

"What?" She pulled him and threw him to the ground with all her might and he slammed hard against the ground. A large thud resounding in the apartment. Pinkie turned and closed the door, locking it. She continued through this action, "Just a matter of principle? I see, so you don't give a shit. You're one of those landlords. One those that will pay you shit nothing if something is wrong with the apartment and will demand higher rent if something does go wrong."

He sat up and Pinkie continued as she proceeded to the kitchen and wandered over to the fridge near the sink, "You see, frankly, I really don't give a shit about your motives behind demanding overly much for rent. Honestly, I don't know why I asked because I already knew. And I just bet that you pine over seeing Rarity beg at your feet to extend the deadline, and you are more than happy to do it. Because you a re a sick piece of shit."

She looked through it and pulled the freezer door open, chilled air blasting over her as she reached in and pulled out a large haunch to a pig. Holding it threateningly, like a police baton. The landlord scooted back against the wall and pleaded, "Woah hey, I don't want any trouble. I just wanted-"

"Then why else would you call Rarity a whore?" Pinkie shrugged nonchalantly at the situation, "If not for the exact reason to start something?"

She shook her head, raising up the frozen piece of meat, "I can almost find sympathy for a sack of shit like you."

With a powerful strike from above she struck hard and true, the blow smashing against the landlord's head. His greasy black hair flying out form it's sleek slicked back style and becoming more unkempt and ruined. The side of his face almost instantly went red and at his temple he started to form the early signs of bruising.

Another strike delivered, this time breaking some skin and bruising the bone too. Pinkie's hand trembled with rage as she unloaded un this guy. Blow after blow and slowly but surely Pinkie is finding harder and harder to being able to identify who he used to be and what he looked like. Blood splattered with each strike, not on the floor or the walls, but more so on the slab of meat and her pants. Beating the meat and pulverizing whatever was left and recognizable to see that this man was once human.

His eyes sunken and lifeless, seeping with blood as she pulverized the inside of his skull. Bits of his face strewn about. In the wake of what she had just done, she felt nothing. She felt no remorse, no guilt. Her face strained as she felt her mind splitting in two, she convulsed and sunk to her knees in the sudden pain. Her brain splitting in two and her thoughts breaking and tearing into two divisions. Her eyes popping and burning inside of her sockets. her memories dividing.

Her muscles contorted and she felt the bones inside of her shift and move, she felt her insides contort and disfigure itself. She strained and beat back what was inside of her. The demon that resided deep inside of her, of whom she named Pinkamena. She felt her conscience shift and mould into something else. She felt as if her actions were now guided by another entity entirely. Her soul wailed and screamed inside of her, reaching out.

It has begun again.

Breathing heavily she stood over the body and brushed off some bits of skin on her pants and wandered over to the sink and turned on the water. Rinsing off the meat she put it back in the freezer. Clean as a whistle, she turned her head over to the right at the body and turned off the water to comment, "I'll have you know you made me do this. Who knows what you would have done to Rarity. And I can't have you harming her. So, you had to be eliminated."

Clapping her hands, a cruel smile formed on her lips, "Time to clean up before Rarity gets back..."

"So who's this Pinkie any how?" Applejack said off handedly, sinking her folded hands into her jacket pockets further. She was not exactly one for small talk but she was talking to Rarity, whom she has known since they were little kids. Her calloused hands holding firm inside of her pockets.

She looked over at her friend, both keeping within pace with one another. She turned her hand towards Applejack and answered, her eyes low, "Well, that is not such an easy question to answer. Mainly because I do not have the whole truth. As far as I know she's troubled by something in her past and her name is Pinkie Pie."

Applejack nodded and looked back ahead of her, wandering the dirt streets of Ponyville with Rarity. Her boots hitting hard against the ground, her sore muscles from a day's hard work. She had only just begun picking up the business of her family, after the death of her parents she needed to fill rather large shoes. All of the responsibilities of a farm and a brand, fell upon the shoulders of a seventeen year old girl. What could possibly go wrong?

The more she heard about this girl, Pinkie Pie, the more she grew suspicious. Perhaps that's the western blood in her, but she could not shake a feeling about this girl.

Applejack huffed, "Thought you had enough on your plate already...do you think you can do this on yer own?"

Rarity shook her head, a half smile on her face, "Applejack...you worry too much. I will be fine. Just one more mouth to feed, that's all."

Applejack made a circle after lifting out one of her hands from her pockets and chided, "Yeah but...the whole thang with yer pap...that sort of thing doesn't go away with time-"

"Please," She slowed her pace, clenching her fists at her sides and quickly correcting her composure and continued, "Please don't mention that."

The farm girl lifted her hands in defeat, "Ah apologize sugarcube, I did not mean to open any closed wounds."

She shifted the pack, slung over her shoulder, that held a lot of her shirts and a few pairs of jeans. They stopped once they reached the apartment complex on the eastern edge of town. A good half hour of walking from her farm to the other side of Ponyville, it was quite the trek. But she did not mind it, she at least got her miles in for the day.

Rarity sifted through pocket and brought out a brass key and looked over at Applejack before she started unlocking the door, "I do think I should warn you."

Applejack knit an eyebrow, "Yeah?"

Rarity smacked her lips, "She...can be a little bit skittish...and by that I mean worse than dear Fluttershy...so slow movements...Oh, and do not mention meat in front of her."

Applejack was about to ask a question but simply replied with, "Aight sugarcube."

Rarity nodded and deftly unlocked the door, or at least she thought she did. Applejack saw a puzzled expression cross Rarity's face at the door and the farm girl asked, "What's wrong?"

"Hmpf, the door was unlocked...I could have sworn that I locked it before I left."

Applejack spread apart her legs, one behind and one in front. Readying for something inside to cause some manner of trouble. Her hand gripped the bag over her shoulder and clenched her teeth in her closed mouth. Staring daggers at the door waiting in anticipation for the door to open.

Rarity pocketed her key and opened the door, the door creaking as it opened slowly. Rarity peaked her head in and stepped inside. Applejack followed in tow and readied for an attacker. She stood at the door way, blocking any way of escape. She scanned the room and saw no intruders. She looked into the living room and saw her, Pinkie Pie. She could not have been much older than Applejack was, yet her face bore child like resemblance. She looked at her face, studying her straightly combed pink hair and bright sky blue eyes. There was something vaguely familiar about her, she could not place it.

She pocketed the memory as she saw Rarity step into the room, Pinkie's dour mood brightened as she saw the seamstress. Rarity beamed, "Hello darling, I trust you got yourself more acquainted with the space whilst I was gone?"

Pinkie smiled brightly, Applejack's heart fluttering only slightly at the scene, and answered in a low but feminine tone, "Yeah..."

Rarity took in a large breath and commented warmly, "That smell is divine, you found the air freshener?"

Pinkie nodded swiftly, "Yeah...it was starting to smell bad."

She had childlike charm to her, but there was a facade as clear as day. Applejack knew one when she saw one, this girl was not as revealing as she would lead Rarity to believe. There was something dark that resided in her, Applejack could see it as clear as day. But she held on tight to that information as she slowly stepped into the room, her boots sounding hard against the wood flooring.

Rarity turned to see Applejack enter the room and introduced, "Pinkie Pie. This is my friend Applejack, we hve known each other since we were little girls. Applejack, this is Pinkie Pie."

Applejack lifted her hand, the girl flinched and stepped back. She stared directly at Pinkie Pie, shouting in her mind the information and accusations she held for the girl. But she kept a straight face and gave a half and empty smile, "Howdy."

Pinkie Pie lifted her hand slowly to meet Applejack's, her hand was rough like Applejack's own, perhaps she worked on a farm too. Pinkie Pie did not hold her gaze as she shyly replied, "Nice to meet you..."

"Yes," Applejack stared, "Yes it is."

Rarity clapped happily and said, "Excellent, I will get started on the repairs tomorrow, but for now I will prepare dinner and i would like to invite you Applejack."

Applejack padded her stomach and her light hearted demeanor returned, "Thanks sugarcube but I do not mean to intrude."

Rarity waved her hand, "Oh come now Applejack, do not be so evasive, I insist. Plus, it will give you two a better chance to acquaint each other."

Applejack shrugged, she faltered every time that Rarity used her fancy talk, and said, "Alright then, what'll we have?"

Rarity smiled and moved to leave towards the kitchen and said, "I have some pork in the freezer that I have been saving. I will thaw it and we will have some pulled pork, beans, and potatoes."

Applejack's mouth watered at the thought and chided, "Oh that sounds mighty delicious Rarity."

Pinkie Pie thanked her lucky stars that Rarity had hydraulic fluid laying around, the process a little slow but with some clever chemistry Pinkie was able to properly dispose of the body at a quick rate. However, the smell was a little bit more tricky. So she eventually found some air freshener and sprayed it all around the house, as well as cleaning the tub she had used to create a human soup. She then proceeded to her previous sitting position and resumed listening to the ticking of the clock.

Waiting patiently for her friend to return, praying that she will ask nothing about what she did. At least not too much.

She breathed hard out, she hoped that she got rid of Pinkamena but it would appear she was wrong. Now she really needed to be rid of this dark thing inside of her, she gulped as she feared Pinkamena coming out at the wrong time and having Pinkie accidentally kill Rarity. The thought terrified her, as it very well could happen.

She buried the thought as she heard the door to the apartment open and she gave a wide smile at her new friend as she entered the living room.

Author's Note

Apologies for all of you waiting so patiently for this update. It was a while I know and there is not an excuse that I can use to stop you from being at least slightly mad. So, this will see some attention as well as my other works that are otherwise unfinished. So keep an eye and ear out.

Brand New Key

"So you still crushing on Rarity?" Scootaloo casually asked her hands nestling behind her head, a smirk as wide as the sky on her face.

Spike rolled his eyes, "Like you want to know..."

Scootaloo shrugged, "Kind of. Friends confide in one another, at least that is what I heard from your crush anyways."

Spike clenched his jaw and nearly growled out his words, "Never thought you would know what confide means."

Scootaloo looked up above them for a second and commented, "It means feeling guilt right?"

"No that's contrite," Spike shrugged, "And yet another word I would not have expected you to know."

Scootaloo huffed, "Not everyone is roommates with the smartest person in all of Equestria."

Spike sighed, they had only been walking for maybe twenty minutes and Spike already wanted to bite a bullet. Swallow a barrel and wish for nothing more than to end. This girl was hilariously annoying. Spike could handle her only in small doses and even then she would drive him so insane that he wish he had a cup of bleach nearby. Seriously this chick ground his gears in the wrong way.

The air was heavy and humid, nearly choking the air from his lungs. Nothing he was not used to, strange weather patterns were apart of the gig when he moved to Ponyville with Twilight.

He sighed at the thought of the librarian, his sister in many ways and now he was on the opposite fence as her. Sitting in her room waiting for answers to be given to her, waiting with Rainbow Dash to relieve her stress. A little crude but Spike would always drown them out with a little Papa Roach and comics, nothing that couldn't be fixed, albeit temporarily. The creaking however could not be ignored.

He sighed again, warranting the attention of Scootaloo, "Quit sighing like a mildly pissed off teenaged girl."

Spike rubbed his eyes, his coat locking in the heat, "Scoots I have not been sleeping very well lately. With the whole murder thing and all."

Scootaloo smiled and looked over at him, not even breaking a stride, "Keep telling yourself that, I'm sure your girlfriend would say the same thing."

Teasing is one thing, it's another to be a complete asshole. Spike commented off handedly, "Bitch."

Scootaloo tuned, "Jerk."

Scootaloo felt a vague sadistic pleasure in teasing the hot headed assistant of one of the scholars of Equestria. She breathed with relative ease, a lot calmer than Spike was. This whole situation, while tragic, did not overly affect Scootaloo's mood. She felt for her best friend Sweetie Belle, but she was gone so it was not overly that bad. And likely, she would be on her way back home immediately after hearing her sister was missing.

The brush grew thicker as they continued along, their footsteps sloshing after the fresh shower of rain a few hours prior. They were a good day or two ahead of the rest of Ponyville, any of those guard patrols that the princesses had sent out. She twirled her hair as she continued along, tailing behind the ivory cat that lead the way. She knew something, what it was, Scootaloo had not the slightest guess in hell. But any other leads were dead in the water.

Scootaloo whispered to her friend, hands buried in his jacket, "Where do you think we're going?"

"We'll find out if you would just stop talking," Spike snapped, in a very passive aggressive tone.

Scootaloo barked, "Lighten up lover boy, it was just a question. Shit."

Spike sighed, "I'm sorry...just a lot-"

"Of stress?" Scootaloo looked aside at her friend, "Kind of underselling it don't you think? Two people died in the house of your "girlfriend", whom of which is missing, and along with a mildly insane girl. Nope, nothing stressful at all. Listen, I get it-"

"How could you possibly understand how I feel?" That bit harder to Scootaloo than anything else she had heard in her life. Now all of a sudden her world almost collapsed, her facade of a laissez faire attitude crumbled as she felt anger suddenly flair up.

She lowered her hands and growled, "Because, I saw my parents die in front of me..."

Spike stopped suddenly, now understanding the gravitation of the situation. Spike lowered his gaze and in a defeated tone he chided, shaking his head slightly, "I...I'm sorry Scoots, I didn't-"

"Listen," Scootaloo straightened her back and wiped down her jeans, "Let's just forget about it and just continue to follow the cat."

Spike sighed, in defeat once more. He could sense the anger that still lingered after her explosive outburst. And it still roared inside of her, a lingering ember of rage that he had the audacity to accuse her of ignorance towards her eternal pain. She shook her head, beating back the images of her parents hanging by their ankles and blood slowly draining down their exposed bodies. Truly horrifying, but she muscled through the pain and beat it back down.

They cleared the brush and Opel promptly sat on her haunches and looked to her followers and stated simply, "Mreow."

Scootaloo looked at what she mewed at and slumped her shoulders, "Really? Zecora's hut? Are you serious?"

Opel rolled her eyes and continued towards the hut and Scootaloo shrugged her shoulders and said, "What, are we supposed to pick up some potion that can reveal the way to our missing friends?"

Spike shrugged, "Why do you have a problem with Zecora?"

Scootaloo shivered, "Because I swear to the princesses that she has some sort of weird sexual agenda with me."

"You're too paranoid Scoots."

"Yeah, and you're too obsessed with Rarity, seriously a creepy doll of Rarity? We all have our problems Spike. Zecora's is that she is a a creepy lesbian pedophile."

Spike fumed, "Let's just see why Opel lead us here."

Scootaloo growled as they moved closer to the house, they took a few steps before they heard a twig break. Scootaloo snapped her head in the direction of which it came from. Scanning her eyes over the field she could see through. It was late and the sun was hidden past the large canopy cover.

She sidled her way towards the hut with careful steps and drug Spike with her, gripping his arm hard and monitoring the woods around them. She tread carefully, making sure that it was likely just some wild animal. Spike barked, "Hey! Careful would ya?"

Scootaloo snapped, shoving him towards the make shift pelt door on the hut, and shushed him, "Shut up! Be quiet."

She listened carefully for a minute or two to try and subside her fear that they are not alone. After those fearful moments Scootaloo shoved the nailed pelts out of the way and voiced her greetings to the adult that crushed on her, "Hey Zecora, we just had a few-"

Her words were cut short as she stopped when she stepped in, looking down in horror at what lied on the floor.

Spike soon followed behind Scootaloo and asked, "What why did you-oh my sweet Celestia..."

They both gazed down at a shivering, and curled form on the floor. Hands and feet tied, bound in tight cords of hempen rope. Tears draining out of her eyes and her breathing coarse and rough as she exhaled through her mouth against the ground. Her clothes torn and ripped from the stitching she had made or perhaps Rarity herself. Her dark light hazel skin glistening in the dim light on the floor of the hut, her breasts on partial display as she lied there. Scootaloo looked closer and saw she was even lying in a pool of mysterious fluid. Scootaloo wrenched her stomach and felt something rise up, she choked it back at the smell of the hut. She knew the smell, it was the embodiment of filth and gross. She knew the smell from a building just in Ponyville, the brothel.

It all clicked together in her mind, Zecora was violated. Scootaloo choked back the vomit once again and asked, her voice cracked as it came out, "Z-Zecora?"

She flinched and turned to find Scootaloo and Spike standing there, fear spreading over her bright yellow irises. She scrambled to her feet, her legs trembling as she did so. Sputtering something in a foreign tongue.

Scootaloo raised her hands and attempted to calm the older woman, "Zecora. Hey, it's alright. It's me and Spike."

She looked between Spike and Scootaloo, her gaze becoming less wild and her breaths coming easier. Deep breaths as she saw who it really was, focusing it seemed on their faces. She breathed, "What. What...oh...what...what are you doing here?"

Spike answered this time, "We came looking for Rarity and Pinkie. Have you seen them?"

She curled in her legs and shook her head, "No! No...I...I have not seen Rarity and Pinkie."

Suddenly her eyes grew wide and pointed, shouting in warning, "Behind you!"

Scootaloo spun around hard and saw a shrouded man raise his arm and come down hard over her head. Her world grew dark as she felt the rest of the world melt into shadows.

Fortunate Son

Rarity coughed, keeping her eyes shut as she released herself into a mad coughing fit. The smoke in the air filled her lungs and felt spit flying from her mouth as she felt the air choking out, sucking the life straight out of her. Her eyes were fuzzy and she moaned against a pressure on her chest. She craned her neck to see what crushed her and she saw a large piece of debris. Singed wood, from the looks of it. She moaned as she felt it slowly but surely melt through her shirt and burn her skin.

Everything hurt. Every bone, every muscle, and every organ, they all felt as if the fire that raged around her spread over her. It cut deep, her soul screamed under the pain of the over stimulation of pain that roared in her veins and muscles. The sinew feeling as though it might evaporate at any moment, her throat felt as though razors were tearing it to shreds. Rarity coughed violently, the groans that erupted from her pain stricken vocal chords. She beat back the pain and pushed with all her might against what lied on top of her. Her arms shook, her muscles slowly beginning to fail her. She thought she might be trapped for a minute, but she pushed on, she was not about to be defeated by some debris of the dirthouse.

With a large groan, the debris was moved off of her, kicking up still burning ash as it found its resting place upon the ground just a meter away. She spat, what little saliva she had left and saw a little bit of blood mixed with the salivated liquid. She shook her head, a pain stretching all the way around her head like a bandana tensed and increased in pressure. She got to her knees, as this was all she could do.

She settled slightly as she groaned, lifting herself up, sprawled upon the ashen ground. Sparks and dying flames all around her. It all had come back to her now. She and Pinkie destroyed the Dirthouse, they blasted it into smithereens. The damned thing was gone but their journey was just beginning. It was a long way until they would confront Lilith. One down, two to go.

Rarity attempted to stand up but felt her side flare in sudden pain, she looked down and saw shards of wood splinter inside of her, a small pool of blood gathered beneath her. The edges of the wounds were charred so she did not have to worry if it got infected or to cauterize it, that and the bleeding had settled down.

Though that did not mean that the damage was not already done. She felt woozy and lightheaded, shaking her wits to break the exhaustion she felt. She thought back to what had happened, her thoughts being as lost as the ashes that now floated high above their heads. She pressed her hands hard against the ground and lifted herself up despite the pain.

She looked down and over to see that lying next to her was Bethany, who now started coughing, violently. Rarity thrust out her arms and cradled the little girl into her lap and soothed, "Shh, it's okay...we're okay...you're okay...we're safe for now...rest now..."

The young ebony haired girl listened to her and settled easily in her arms, the warmth of the little girl reminding her of when she would settle Sweetie Belle down to sleep when she was just a little baby. Life was so simple, it was easy. It was when her father had not touched the bottle in years. The warm memory causing Rarity herself to forget about her pain, both physical and emotional.

It was all so fast. Her life had changed so quickly, it was like nothing was even real anymore. She felt tears well in her eyes, everything came crashing down. Just like the Dirthouse.

Her world collapsed, she could feel her insides turn and twist, causing an immense amount of pain. Dirthouses. Witches. Warlocks. The Instinct. Witch Doctors. Hex Bags. Family ties. Fugitives. She had a great many titles, but she never thought fugitive would be one of them. They were hunted, not only by the government but also by hired assassins of some ex psycho killer now turned down to earth and complete party maniac. She bit back a scream that she desperately wanted to release. She was crazy, she was absolutely crazy for all of this happening.

But she could not find herself to hate anything, she could not find herself to abandon Pinkie Pie. She needed someone, and that someone was going to be her. But this, all of this, this was too much.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard rustling and coughing that was similar to her own. She dried her eyes and straightened her back. She breathed evenly, despite her blood pressure rising at the sound. She rested Bethany down, drawing her hand threw her hair and kissed her forehead like she did with Sweetie Belle.

She stood up, groaning at the acceptable pain level, taking wounded steps towards the sound. Pushing past some fallen debris she blinked away at the smoke filing her vision. She pressed her shoulder against the debris, offering her cover. She reached to one of her holdsters and found her side hammer, cocking it and readying it and herself for a fight.

She watched as coming into view was a dressed man, not dressed in the sense that he wore a suit, but a dressed man as in he was dressed for combat. She strafed to the wall, setting Bethany down behind her and readying her side hammer. She controlled her breathing, in and then out. Her mind bled with calm, an unnatural amount of it as she could feel the ash filled wind glide across the cold iron barrel of the gun.

Rarity breathed and pushed past the cover, pistol whipping the Royal guard. Dazing him, while he was still gathering his senses she cracked off a shot that connected with the base of his neck. Whatever cover she had left it was gone now, with the thunderous promise of death that released itself in the open air. The guard crumbled to the ground with a heavy thud, his golden armour weighing heavily on him. She saw three more burst from the smoke and ash, all with batons. She took in a large gulp of air, concentrated and closing one eye she raised her gun.

Three shots seemingly rang out at the same time, she watched as two burst back at the pressure of the fire and the third keel over, clutching his thigh and releasing a scream. Rarity told herself that this was in self defense. She knew how stubborn royal guards can be, and she could not be accused of a crime she did not commit. This was her life now.

The fourth released, silencing the scream. Smoke rising from the barrel, she blew casually on it, her muscles pumped full of adrenaline that soothed the pain a considerable amount.

She turned to go find Pinkie when she felt a sharp point stop her from turning. It pressed hard at the base of her neck. She heard a familiar male voice ask in a tenor voice, "Nice trick. Did Pinkamena teach you that?"

It was Shining Armour. And she could feel the man's bleeding courage in his breaths, he was assured that he had this battle already won. She felt her veins rise with fire, anger swelling inside of her as she responded, "No."

"So I am supposed to believe that you always knew how to wield a gun?"

Rarity replied, her poshness returning, "You can choose to believe whatever you like Shining Armour. There is no amount of reasoning that I can say to you that will change your mind."

"Are we talking about the same thing?"

"Your banter is beginning to aggravate me Shining Armour, if you are here to arrest us then do so. Do not waste time in monologuing. Because-"

She spun around, seemingly faster that Shining anticipated, and quickly twisted the sword out of Shining Armour's hand. He jerked towards the fallen weapon, but was halted when he felt a warm barrel against his forehead. Rarity finished, "-your convict might surprise you."

He smiled, a smile that even Discord would reel under, "I have to say Rarity, you definitely are full of surprises."

The smile died and he turned dead serious, a state of mind she found herself to be familiar with, "Surprises i never thought would be like you. First, you kill an innocent and then you flee with a prisoner, Pinkie Pie. Who you undoubtedly learned by now is a serial killer. escaping the law so that you can disappear and kill again."

Rarity shook her head, biting back anger, "That is not true. She never asked for this."

"You did."

"I had no other options."

"You could have turned yourself in," Shining Armour snapped, he continued as she slowly shook his head, "You could have turned in Pinkie and yourself and your punishment would be miniscule. Now arson and mass slaughter added to that list? The least that I could give you is the death penalty."

Rarity cocked the hammer, staring deep into his dark blue eyes. The calm she had once felt washed over her, her finger putting [ressure on the trigger, but not releasing a shot.

Shining Armor chuckled, a half smile crossing his lips, "So you're going to add another victim on your list? Brother to one of your closest friends. What do you think Twilight thinks of all of this? She misses you, she wants you home. She doesn't want this for you. She begged and pleaded for Celestia to have the benefit of the doubt. She needs you."

Rarity's gaze did not falter for a second. She stared, coldly, into his aquamarine irises. Thinking. She began to think about Twilight, and everything that has transpired. She thought deeply, she considered this offer. She was one of the Elements of Harmony, surely she could lighten the punishment if she turned herself and Pinkie in. All of this would be over, this nightmare would finally be over.

But, but she could not stop thinking about Pinkie Pie. She could not stop thinking about what she would think of all of this. If Rarity went through with this, Pinkie would turn on her or worse. Would forget completely about Rarity. Rarity was all that she had. Everything that tethered herself to this world, if she was gone...the emotional consequences would be too dire for Rarity to deal with.

She was going to finish what she started with Pinkie Pie.

Rarity sighed, "No...we need her."

"What?-"

Rarity lowered her side arm and blasted apart his calf. Just missing the bone but enough to cause significant damage to his achilles tendon. He keeled over, Rarity shot the other one, ensuring his escape was futile. Her gaze was cold upon the shaking and pain stricken friend at her feet. She explained, putting away her side arm, "Twilight is very powerful, if we are going to finish what we got ourselves into, we'll need her. What we are going to go face has power unrivaled by any other. I can't convince you to help us, so I am going to make you."

She patted him on the shoulder as she holdstered her side arm and reassured, "Don't worry, I didn't cause any permanent damage, just enough to cripple you from escaping. You see, if you are going to monologue, make sure that you hold the other person's strings first. Make sure that there is no way for them to escape."

Rarity dusted herself off as Shining Armor spat, "You sick bitch!"

Rarity scoffed, "Such crass language. Do not think that will get you anywhere. Does it make you feel better? Does it help ease the wound?"

She lifted her hand gracefully to her ear to hear an answer. There was nothing but harsh and anger filled heavy breathing, Rarity smiled crookedly, "No, didn't think so."

"Now, I hope that you have experience with being a hostage. And if not, then I am glad that it is both our first time being in a hostage situation together."

Rarity struck the captain of the guard before he could say anything else, he slumped over in the dirt, silencing anything he had to say. Rarity shook her head, and breathed a sigh of relief. She found her father's gun. Peacemaker.

She kissed the barrel, she has grown to appreciate the intricate workings of inlays on the iron pistol. She put it in its respective holdster and began to drag Shining Armor's unconscious form through the ash. He was heavy, not that he was large but he was dense. He was very built for his age, which is why it surprises Rarity so much that she was able to take care of him. She was very petite when compared next to him. And she had to admit, he was quite the specimen. Very ruggedly handsome and all the charm that a woman could desire. Rarity found herself, nights before all of these events transpired, growing very jealous of Cadence.

Rarity dropped him and growled in pain at the shrapnel in her side. She winced, falling to the ground. She breathed, hand resting beneath the wound, "Whoo...okay...on the count of three...1...2...3."

She wrenched the shrapnel out of the singed wound, shrieking at the release of pain but glad that they were out. Tears nearly burst out of her close eyes. She breathed, trying to calm the irritated wound.

As the wound slowly died down of pain, she looked up to find Bethany, and Pinkie Pie being dragged along. Arm slung over shoulder, and feet dragging as Bethany carried her. Pinkie looked in no better shape, sustained, barely breathing, but Rarity had seen how fast she could heal. A few hours and Pinkie Pie will be back to her former self.

She gave a simple nod to Bethany as she stopped in front of Rarity and Shining Armor. Bethany nodded back to her, Rarity picked up the unconscious form of Shining armor, groaning at the weight. And set off away from the destruction. Sun rising to their left, and a wide grassland opening before them, emerald hills sprouting with life.

Rarity breathed, her world had fit itself back together. Not completely, but it was no longer fractured.

Author's Note

The best version of this song to use in conjuncture with this chapter is the one from the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack.

My Wicked Bones

The sun beat down heavily, cresting just above the sky. Firing scorching rays upon Rarity and her compatriots. Sweat drenched her face as she traversed the White Barrens. The white sand heated her feet, she now regretted her choice of footwear. Her feet had grown damp after hours of trekking through the bleak wastes near the edge of Equestria, from sweat and blood that seeped from sores that had grown on the souls of her feet.

Her iron definitely did not help in cooling her off either. She could feel the heated metal of her sidehammers with each step, singing her skin with every movement.

Shining Armour was quiet and passed out. The blood loss had finally gotten to him, after that she treated the wounds with torn cloth from her old shirt and some alcohol she had found in the wreckage of the Dirthouse, which from her estimate was two or three miles behind her.

Rather than madden herself from staring at the snow like sand ahead of her for another minute, she gazed over at Bethany that dragged Pinkie along. Rarity offered some of Pinkie’s extra clothes, as they were the closest in size, and she seemed to wear it fine. It would not have been a first choice for Rarity to give such dirty clothing to her, but they had very little options at the moment.

Bethany had been silent throughout most of the trek, more than likely she was trying to either accept her new situation or ponder her next move.

In an attempt to break the silence, Rarity asked her young still conscious companion, “So, darling, how are you holding up?”

Drawing Bethany out of her day dreaming, she responded, “Hm?...Oh, um, not bad.”
The few hours they were walking had down wonders to her earlier skittishness, likely brought on from the magical fatigue of literally be used as a mana battery. The very thought of which disgusted the gunslinger.

Rarity nodded her head, chiding, “That’s excellent to hear.”

Bethany mused, “So you and your friend are trying to bring down the Pie family from their criminal network?”
“Mainly Lilith,” Rarity replied, shifting the weight of her rifle and Shining Armour, on her shoulder, “But yes, we are going to kill the Pies and all their connections. We aim to wipe them from the history books.”

Bethany grunted, trying to keep pace with Rarity. Pinkie was not heavy by any stretch of the imagination, but after hours of walking one only thinks about resting and nothing more.
Bethany piped, knitting her brow as she looked over at the gunslinger, “So, what did you do before all this?”
Without breaking stride, Rarity cocked an eyebrow and responded, “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Bethany mused while looking at the ground, “You don’t walk like a gunslinger, at least not yet anyways. There is elegance in your steps, undaunted vanity. I mean no offense of course.”
“No, it’s quite alright darling.” Rarity gestured with her free hand. Telling Bethany to pause in their track, she needed to sit down for a little bit if they were going to continue.

Bethany nodded, they had found a small gathering of rock that provided some much needed respite for the travelers.
Rarity rested Shining Armour against the far side rock, grunts roused from the unconscious soldier offering a cruel smile from the gunslinger. Bethany did the same with Pinkie, stretching her arms above her head.

Rarity sat in the shade, sighing in relief as the shade cooled her warmed flesh. Taking off her flats, Rarity massaged the souls of her feet trying to ease the pain. Biting her lip as a sharp pain shot through the flat of her feet, easing over time.

Bethany joined next to her, sitting down folding her legs close to her body. She looked over at Rarity expectantly, awaiting for her to answer. Her innocent sky blue eyes twinkling in the shaded sun’s light.

Her answer did not come easy, the words halted as she mulled them over in her head. All of the past events of the last week or so spilling over through her mind. She rested her hand on Peacemaker, the heated steel cooling in the shade. It’s warm grip cooling her sore hands.

She lamented, not looking Bethany in the eyes, “I was a seamstress. A very well known one at that. People from across Equestria came to me specifically for my skills. I do not care to brag, but I was one of the best of the best.”

Bethany gave a warm smile, resting her head against her knees, her voice having the consistency of caramel, “You loved it.”

Scorn suddenly adorned Rarity’s features, gazing down at Peacemaker. Such a simple tool, a mechanism that fires a projectile to injury or kill whoever was on the other side of the barrel. That is all it is. As simple as a paring knife or a pair of sewing shears. Yet, she had killed with this instrument of death in her hand. Her scorn turned into grim acceptance. Once more, she was no longer a simple seamstress, she was a gunslinger whether she liked it or not.

Rarity eased her hand of the grip of the pistol, and commented running a hand through her now frizzy and messy hair, “I loved a lot of things before a few days ago. A lot has changed from then to now. And I’m afraid I can’t look back.”

She blinked, looking back over at Bethany and smiled, “And what of you darling, what did you do before...all of this?”

Bethany sighed, not moving her curiously filled eyes, “All I’ve ever known was the sanctity and security of the Pie family, they took me at a young age. They tried to endocrine me into the darker ways of magic.”
“So you are a Kindred?”
“Yes,” Bethany answered matter-of-factly, “From what my ritual teachers said, I had a long line of Kindred in my family, one of the founding families of magic.”

Rarity smiled, sidling her way closer to the young girl, she mused wistfully, “I have a friend that would have loved to talk to you. Ask all manner of questions for you, she’d not leave you alone for hours.”

Bethany looked over at Pinkie and asked, “Is she a friend of yours?”

Rarity warmed her sneer and responded, “Yeah...I’d argue she is my closest friend.”

Bethany leaned up for a second, dropping her legs and scooted facing Rarity and asked, “Can I see your hand?”

Rarity knit an eyebrow, “Excuse me?”
“Just.” Bethany combed her hair back with her hands, revealing more of her face. “Trust me on this. Let me see your hand.”

Rarity shrugged and held out her hand, Bethany slowly prodded her appendages and her palm. She was feeling around for something, what it was Rarity had no idea but she played along.

A few seconds had gone by, her breaths were steady and her eyes were focused on the lines in Rarity’s right hand. The gunslinger had seen a few palm readers come through Ponyville but she never payed any attention to them, they were mostly just trying to get some extra coin through trickery. But this was different.

Rarity sensed the pulsing magic that awakened deep inside Bethany. Though she was young, her magic felt old. It felt ancient. It hummed as her hands continued to prod Rarity’s, the old magic drenching her arm gently cascading over her skin. It gently pulled on her arm, itching her to come closer. Not to Bethany, but to its magic. It tempted her, she taste magic like this before but never at this intensity. It reminded her of the magic she felt when she helped reclaim the Crystal Empire. Drinking in the euphoria of the arcane miasma, she closed her eyes.

Images filled her mind, various scenes and pictures of all kinds flooded and raced through her mind. She could not ascertain what they were or when they had happened. But one thing she did know, they were all about her and Pinkie. Her breaths were slow and calming, trying to not be overwhelmed by the magic that was moving its way through her body.

The images began to slowly meld and form into one solid picture, it was her memory of the promise she shared with Pinkie in Zecora’s hut.

Her heart fluttered, she felt a solitary tear crawl its way down her cheek. For once, as she pondered and held the scene fresh in her mind, she felt as if everything was going to be okay.

The magic slowly faded, Rarity’s breath returned to her as she opened her eyes, Bethany held a grand smile on her face.

Rarity snickered, “What are you smiling about?”

Bethany combed a strand of her hair over her ear and answered, “Nothing...nothing really...it’s just...you two care deeply about each other.”
“I-”

Rarity’s words were cut off as she heard the sound of a rifle being loaded, her arm swung to shield Bethany. In one fluid motion she pulled one of her sidehammers. Pulling back the hammer she waited for something to come into vision.

She heard the voice of a man shout, “Aight, I know you’s down there! Come out and tell me yer intentions before I show you mine!”

Rarity listened closely for a moment and heard the light sound of boots digging into rock. She heard it just above her, light pebbles crawled and fell off the side of the over hang.

The gunslinger sheathed her sidehammer, and pulled out Peacemaker, looking to Bethany and whispered in a low focused tone, “Step out and distract him while I sneak around behind him.”

Bethany gave not moment to resist or give an opposing plan. She pondered it for a moment, nodded her head and stood up. Her face was neutral, not a single expression across her face. It had become evident that she was not unfamiliar to situations such as these. Rarity watched as she stood up and walked to the very edge of the overhang, with every step closer Rarity could feel the air thrum with a rising magical energy. The same ancient mana that she felt when Bethany performed her spell on Rarity, but where it was warm and inviting before this was a threatening cold sting.

Readying Peacemaker, Rarity slinked closer to the edge of the rock and waited by the other side of the wall of stone. She looked back over at Bethany who raised her hands and turned around as she stepped out, her voice was loud and garnered a friendly tone as she shouted, “Alright, I’m stepping out now with my hands above my head. I am disarmed.”

Rarity then crouched low and sneaked her way around the rock, her steps slow and deliberate. Her breath was low and she could feel the cold steel tempt her to spring out and open fire on the unsuspecting man, but a small part of her beat back that thought.

She crept low and around, her foot finding purchase against the stone on the otherside. The sky opening up once again, the rock jutted out a good fifteen feet and saw the man standing on the edge, rifle raised pointing down. Taking in a slow breath, in and then out, she listened to their conversation.

The man nodded his head and called out, “Aight. Now, tell me why you’ve got them unconscious folk with ya.”

Bethany answered coldly, not wanting to incite anything, “They are friends of mine, they were injured a while back. We were just hiking through the mountains nearby and a rock slide caught us by surprise. We stopped over here to find some shade and respite. We did not mean to intrude on any territory of yours.”

Rarity smirked, she had quite the tongue on her, she was good at this kind of thing.

She watched as the man spat to his right, his tone was alligator like with a low raspy quality. It sounded as though his mouth was full of chew or something else, as he responded, “Ah see...well, yer a little ways from civilization. Not smart of ya to come here without a weapon of some kind.”

Rarity crept closer, and stood up taller. She straightened her arm and took aim at the older man, their conversation continued.

Bethany asked, “If I may, could you give us some food and respite we could-”
" ‘fraid I can’t do that sweetheart,” The older man interrupted, “I don’t usually trust strangers in the White Barrens. Hungry desperate folk will do some dark things. An-”

Rarity took careful steps closer and cocked the hammer of Peacemaker and threatened the man, “Lower your weapon, sir.”

The man slowly turned his head to the side, spitting up more with a little bit more substance exiting his calloused pursed lips. He eased out quietly, “Shit.”

Clicking his tongue against his teeth, he slowly lowered his weapon. Raising his back and commented, “You better pray to the al-mighties that you know how to shoot that little lady.”

Rarity smirked coldly, “Oh, I know plenty how to shoot. Turn around slowly, and if you make any sudden movements you’ll find out real quick how I handle my weapon.”

The man chuckled, slowly turning around. Rarity now saw him in full view now, and she had to admit from looks alone he appeared to be now slouch in carrying iron.

He wore a tan vest, open and exposing his bright blue button up shirt. A gunbelt slung around his darkened dust covered jeans, with rounded leather boots. His face looked like aged leather, his small squinted eyes were threatening and his grey hair was short and bald in the front. His jaw was covered in a shaved beard that covered his cheeks and chin. His mustache combed down melding into the forest of grey.

He inspected her up and down and humphed matter-of-factly, “Heh, never thought a lady as pretty as you would point iron my way.”

Rarity retorted, tightening her grip on Peacemaker, “With charm like yours I can’t help but agree.”

He chuckled, his gaze tightening on her gun. His voice came low and growled out between vice like lips, “Where’d you find that gun?”

Rarity answered, “It’s a family heirloom. Belonged to my father.”

He slowly nodded his head, lifting his chin. His gaze was ponderous and thoughtful, his next words echoed in Rarity’s ears, “Yer Jack Dallas’ kid aren’t ya? ‘Course you may know him as James Crow.”

Rarity gulped, her eyes growing wide for a second before she squinted them and pointed her gun with more purpose as she threatened, “How do you know my father?”

He chuckled, “I used to run guns with yer father, ah saw him grow up with a glint in his eyes for the outlaw life. Jack Dallas was one of the finest shots this side of the badlands.”

So her father was not only abusive but he was an outlaw too. That just added icing on to his cake of degenerate filth.

He hooked his thumb from his free hand on his gunbelt and smiled warmly, “Well, any child of Jack’s is welcome in my territory any day o’ the week. Ah always wondered what he did in his free time.”

He paused, stepping forward slinging his rifle over his shoulder. He came close, Rarity flexed her finger threatening to fire, he outstretched his hand and greeted, “Name’s ‘Mad-Eye’ Jay, pleasure ta meet ya.”

She looked to his hand and then back at him. She studied him, he seemed friendly but she of all people knew that could quickly turn into threatening especially if he was an outlaw like her father.

The gunslinger stepped back, raising her gun to aim between his eyes. All he did was chortle, “Worry none darlin’, ah was close to yer father. Ah ain’t got no bad blood wit ‘em.”

She slowly nodded her head and lowered her gun, stepping forward taking his hand. She greeted, “My name’s Rarity Belle. Pleasure to meet you sir.”

He shook her hand with a wide smile and laughed out loud, “Ah, that’s rich. I had a feeling he’d settle down wit Mary Belle. They were always sweet on one another.”

He continued, resting his hands on his gunbelt, “It’s also nice that gun ain’t collectin’ dust somewheres.”
“Yeah,” Rarity stepped back, returning Peacemaker to its holdster, “Me too.”

He raised his hands out and gestured openly, “Well, if it’s food and lodgin’ ya need yer welcome to follow me back. Don’t worry none, ‘taint far from ‘ere.”

Rarity nodded, her expression becoming more inviting as she combed a hand through her messy hair. She sighed, “That sounds nice. Thank you for your generous hospitality, sir.”

He waved his hand, and commented, “No need fer fermality, Rarity. Call me Jay.”

She nodded, “Well then Jay, thank you.”

He then nodded and began to shuffle off, “Pleasure’s mine, ah’ll give ya some time to get yer things then we’ll head off.”

She sauntered down the stone and met Bethany who was tending to Pinkie. Kneeling down, Bethany looked up and commented off handedly, “Well that went better than I thought.”

Rarity sighed, “Yeah...I keep learning new things about my father. Even after his death.”

Bethany turned towards her with sympathetic eyes and gulped, “Oh, I’m sorry for your loss.”

Rarity waved a hand, “Don’t be, he was rat bastard. He got what was coming to him.”

She raised her eyebrows, Rarity’s young companion commented, “Ah, I see...”

She paused and asked as Rarity gathered up her flats and her knapsack, “If I’m not being too bold, how did your father die?”

Rarity slowly died down the hot rage that she still held for her father. Her answer came slow and low toned, “I put a bullet between his lying eyes.”

She found grim satisfaction in her words. Her inner gunslinger proud of her kill. Her wicked bones gleeful at her response. Rarity beat back that feeling, not wanting her outlaw blood to show.

They were silent as they gathered their friend and their prisoner and found their way next to Jay who was leaning against a rock.

He looked to them and Rarity simply nodded her head, and they set off across the desert once more. All the while, her memory playing all of the events that lead up to and finally the final day of her father’s death. She found new found strength in them she had not noticed before. Her firing hand felt firmer, more controlled.

She smirked as she finally found respite in those memories. Jack Dallas, infamous outlaw was gunned down by his own blood. Rarity could not have been more proud of herself.

Rarity looked up at the sky and in her head she heard Zecora’s words echo in her head, ”Fight to defend, not to kill.”

Pinkie groaned as she roused from her sleep, her head splitting from the calamitous re-tightening of her Instinct. As her wits were returning to her, she silently promised herself to not let her Instinct get the better of herself. Though Pinkamena was quiet and rested, she knew that it was too close to call it a victory.

Her muscles were tired and weighed heavy on her bones, she felt her feet being dragged against the ground. She shook her head, her vision crawling back to her.

She shot her head over, her gut telling her that she had been captured. She flinched and knocked herself out of her captor’s hands. The sun blinding her vision.

She pushed back and rolled against hot sand, pulling out her bone knife, she readied low. Her breaths were heavy, her Instinct kicking in readying for combat.

She felt familiar soft hands rest on her shoulders, a calm and soothing voice of the purest silk whispered softly in her ear, “Pinkie, darling. It’s alright. You’re safe.”

The killer shook her head slowly, shutting her eyes closed trying to expel her temporary blindness. Raising a hand to her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose.

She eased out in a low hushed tone, “Eh...Rarity?...What happened? Where are we?”

Keeping her eyes closed, Rarity kneaded her shoulders and whispered, “We are in the White Barrens, darling. You fell unconscious after the explosion. You suffered some gruesome wounds. We wandered in the desert for a few days, we then met with an old friend of my father’s and he is giving us a place to stay. To rest.”

Pinkie shook her head and said defiantly, “No, we have to continue on. We can’t-”
“Darling.” Rarity threatened kindly in a low tone. “You are in no condition to continue on. We haven’t eaten anything in days. And frankly I need a minute to rest.”

Pinkie finally opened her eyes, looking over she saw the same angel that saved her on that lonesome day so many years ago. Her eyes were soft and sympathetic. The elements might not have been kind on her hair or her pristine alabaster skin, but she was still as beautiful as ever.

Pinkie smiled and chortled, “Heh...you look like shit Rarity.”

Rarity returned her smile and commented sarcastically, “You’re not exactly looking particularly better, darling.”

Pinkie stood up, Rarity moving her hands to her side and back to help her up. Pinkie would normally have waved her away, she felt fine but she just wanted Rarity to hold her for just a few moments longer.

She stretched her back and arms, her muscles slowly returning the similar strength that she was used too. But it fled quickly as it became very apparent that she had not been given sustenance in quite some time. Her body felt tired and depleted of energy.

Pinkie looked over at who carried her and saw a young girl. Raven locks long and wearing Rarity’s black blouse and tight blue jeans. They seemed to fit fairly well, her eyes were a deep eldritch green. And she felt a familiar dark energy emanating around her.

She tightened her grip on her knife and commented, “Who’s she? And why is she with us?”

Rarity answered calmly, “This is Bethany. She was being used as a mana battery for the Dirthouse. She’s here to help us.”

Bethany waved a hand slowly, startled by Pinkie’s sudden and rude awakening.

Pinkie looked to Rarity disapprovingly, Rarity knit an eyebrow, “What?”

Pinkie sighed, “We’ll talk about it later.”

They found pace with their new caretaker. Who carried the unconscious body of none other than Shining Armor himself. He was slung over the man’s shoulder and Pinkie could smell mixed with sweat was the scent of blood. She inspected Shining closer and saw wounds on his calves.

Pinkie shook her head, events connecting in her head, she eased out, “Rarity...you took Shining hostage?”

She looked to Rarity who gave the same look that Pinkie gave her a few moments before and commented sarcastically, “We’ll talk about it later.”

Pinkie chuckled and nodded her head to the man and asked loud enough for the stranger to hear, “So who’s the bag of bones that’s carrying Shining?”

He answered, his deep raspy voice barely audible through his teeth, “Name’s ‘Mad-Eye’ Jay.”

Pinkie raised an eyebrow at Rarity who shrugged her shoulders in response as Pinkie commented, “So we are finding rest with an outlaw? You certainly know how to find ‘em Rares.”

Rarity gave a devilish smile in response and remarked sardonically, “Well I’m friends with you? I’m sure you two will get along great.”

Pinkie chuckled and moved her gaze back over to Bethany, suspicion bleeding through her gaze. Her mind filling with memories she buried of the Deathwhisper coven. This new ally bled with that same magical energy. Pinkie could not shake the feeling that the only reason she was with them was because she wanted to catch them off guard and kill them in the name of the Deathwhisper coven. Or slow them down long enough so that she can join with the tailing assassins and show her true colors.

Her gaze tightened slightly. She could not shake the feeling that a snake walked amongst them, ready to strike at any moment. Her mind flooded with possible ways to deal with this treasonous bitch. She surmised that while conditions were perfect for her to kill her and deal with Rarity’s anger later.

But, she was not that sloppy. No, Pinkamena fed her with a slew of possibilities when they find respite to wherever Jay was taking them. She would strike first. Carefully, quietly.

She buried her thoughts and asked, “So where are we headed to Jay?”

As they crested a dune, Pinkie saw a town just a few miles out. The buildings looked lived in but she saw no citizens. No life in the buildings, no light. It was nearing the evening so it would stand to reason they were turning in early. Jay answered warmly gesturing towards the town ahead, “We’re heading to Scarth.”

Pinkie felt fear rise in her stomach, defiantly she remarked, “We’re headed to a town? I’m sorry but more than half of us are criminals, two of us have active bounties on our heads. I don’t think-“
“Don’t worry none, it’s a ghost town after Dallas and I cleared it out. Spooked ‘em into thinking a sand demon was haunting the place. We needed a place that we could rest in the small hours we weren’t shootin’ and thievin’. Fortunately, our gang cleared out ‘while ago. So, I decided to move on in and have a quiet place to retire.”

Bethany commented, “How quaint, a criminal outliving his own desire to steal and murder. Never thought I’d see the day.”

Pinkie rolled her eyes as Jay laughed, “This one’s got some fire, ah like it! Nah it ain’t that, just too old to live by the gun no more. I’d still do it if I could.”

Pinkie was about to throw a comment towards Bethany, except Jay suddenly stopped and ordered, “Quiet now.”

They all stopped, the wind rustling against them. Pinkie drew her gaze over her surroundings, trying to find the reason for their halt.

She listened closely, breathing in her surroundings to find something out of place. Silently analyzing her perimeter. She saw nothing out of the ordinary.

But as she listened, registering just above the whispering wind she could hear it:
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...

Pinkie’s eyes grew wide as what the sound was clicked in her mind. She grabbed Rarity and Bethany and shouted, “Into cover, now!”

She dragged them with her as she rushed away and fell behind a nearby rock. Jay followed with Shining Armor and slamming down against the rock. Pinkie pulled out a knife and listened as a great calamitous crash boomed and shook the ground beneath their feet. She peeked over the rock and saw the sand burst into the air, watching as it then found its way back to the earth.

Pinkie ducked her head back as she heard a gunshot and a bullet ricochet off their cover.

Flinching, Pinkie growled to herself. Cracking her head, she watched as both Rarity and Jay pulled out their rifles and began to return fire. Bethany flicked her hands and dark green eldritch magic erupted across her hands.

Ducking back under cover, Jay hastily started to reload and yelled, “Friends of yers?”

Rarity flinched back under cover, Pinkie listened to the choir of guns and bullets that deafened the quiet desert air.

Rarity flicked the lever and pulled out the empty cartridge of shells and commented as she grabbed another from her knapsack, “I’d hardly call them friends!”

Regaining their positions, Rarity and Jay returned heavy fire. Pinkie watched them and peeked over the stone.

Through the haze of gun smoke, she could see where they were firing at. About fifty feet out were about three assassins, even from that distance Pinkie could see their iconic masks that assassins of the Pie family wore. A crimson sun against a black sky.

Ducking back under cover, Pinkie flexed her hands and tensed her grip on her knife. Her Instinct swelled inside of her, she felt her skin toughen and her eyes burned with the familiar feeling of the dark pink lightning dancing over the rims of her irises.

She felt a hand grip her arm and she swung her head to meet who grabbed her, it was Bethany as she shouted, “What are you doing!? You’re injured, you can’t go out there!”

Pinkie shoved her grip away and barked, “I’m fine! Just cover me while I charge them!”
“Not a chance,” Bethany calmly retorted, “Not like-WAIT!”

Pinkie charged around their cover and felt the sand try and hinder her charging feet. She rushed along the glass like surface of the desert and rushed along the plains of white sand. She heard briefly the cracks of rifles and pistols in the air. Her Instinct flooded her vision, focusing solely on the assassins behind cover like cowards. Rage filled her veins and mixed well with deep energy of her power.

She then heard the sound of eldritch energy bolts flying free towards the assassins, the cacophonous sound of the bolts blasted against the stone and black necrotic energy crawled over the surface of the rock. The assassins fell back behind their cover.

Nearing the covering in a few seconds she leaped over the rock and dove straight for one of the assassins.

Catching him off guard she tucked against the sand and stabbed her knife deep into the assassins abdomen and punctured straight into his stomach and his kidney. The assassin howled in pain as he met the full force of her strikes and the slamming against the ground. A calm bloodlust filling her veins.

Sitting up she parried the bash of another assassin’s gun. She barked angrily and assaulted the assassin, striking hard and fast. She tried to press the advantage but blocked each of her strikes with their gun, the blows crippling the integrity of the gun as sparks danced off the guns metal barrel.

She felt a bash against the bottom of her neck from the third assassin, her vision growing white for second form the strike. She grunted in pain and regathered her senses quickly from the rapid healing of her Instinct.

Spinning around she slashed horizontally and tried to make purchase to the other assassin, but he had dodged the strike.

He tossed his gun and pulled out a knife of his own and they exchanged blows. Pinkie growled as she tried to find a crack in his defenses, something to give her the advantage. Her Instinct swelled and grew to new heights as she gave a bloodcurdling war cry that rose above the gunfire.

After the last strike of his assault, she reversed her dagger and bashed the hilt against his jaw and sent him off staggering.

Spinning around she saw as the other assassin raised his knife above his head wrenching it down and finding purchase in Pinkie’s shoulder. She cried at the pain as blood slowly leaked from the sound. A cruel laugh emanated from the assassin, but quickly died as a shot ripped through the air and Pinkie watched as blood splattered from a new bullet wound in his neck. Dark red blood spewed from his wound and lost grip from the knife.

Pinkie smiled cruelly and stabbed her bone dagger deep into his neck causing a wave of blood to wash over Pinkie. Delighting in the wash of iron against her.

Tossing the body she turned and faced the final standing assassin.

He was rushing off and ducking his head from the bullets that whizzed past his ears. Trying to escape with his life.

Pinkie wrenched the knife in her shoulder and flipping the knife in the air briefly and with renewed vigor threw the dagger sailing towards the assassin.

Whistling through the air, she watched as it pierced through his back and an eldritch bolt blasting against the space between his shoulders. Finding a resting place in the sand as he slumped over.

Pinkie breathed heavily as he nerves and her Instinct died down, she felt the red hot pain in her shoulder shoot up and she grunted at its stinging pain.

She moved a hand over the wound and put pressure on the wound. Clenching her eyes shut, she bit back groans of pain at the fresh wound on her shoulder.

Harvesting the pain and trying to lower her heart beat she heard Rarity shout over the dunes, “Pinkie Pie!”

Her breaths were escaping at a fast rhythm, she looked and saw Rarity slinging her rifle over her shoulder and rushing towards her. All the while, Pinkie fought against the urge to close her eyes and let the pain over take her like the assassins that lied around her.

Rarity clambered to Pinkie’s side and grabbed her with worry in her eyes and her voice was shot with fear as she rhapsodized, “Pinkie! Pinkie Pie! Don’t close your eyes, look at me darling!”

Pinkie painfully spat out, “Rares...I’m...I’m fine.”

Even Pinkie did not believe her own words as she tried to reassure her friend.

Slumping against Rarity, Rarity grabbed her and choked, “No no no no! You are not passing out on me again!”

Pinkie saw spots in her vision as she tried not succumb to her failing strength. She did not understand, her power should be healing her by now. But she felt cold, the pain subsiding, but her failed strength overwhelming her muscles. Was she losing her edge? Were these her final moments?

Rarity bit back tears that swelled in her pools of aquamarine and quivered holding Pinkie close, “No...no...don’t leave me yet...I need you...”

Rarity rested her head in on her shoulder and let her pain bleed from her eyes. Rarity trembled against Pinkie Pie, she knew, she felt her failing strength. Her hands pressed hard into her back and one of them eased pressure and moved to her head. Cradling Pinkie's head, she dug her fingers into Pinkie's dirty messy hair. Petting her, Pinkie gave a quivering smile at these small moments. In another time she would have enjoyed this. With the last of her strength she returned the hug. If it was her final moments she choked back her pain and whispered to her dearest and closest friend, “Rarity...”

Her weakened tone caused a lump to form in Pinkie's throat, Rarity pulled back and looked deep into her eyes and asked, “What? What is it?”

The desperation in her voice stopped her words for a moment, if it was all up to her she would keep Rarity far away from this feeling of loss. Keep her safe, protected, from all the bad things in the cruel cruel world. The pain that bled from Rarity's face hurt Pinkie deeply. She should not see her go. But it was not Pinkie's choice now.

Pinkie rested a hand on her neck and pawed her soft skin, in case it was the last she felt it. Her silky soft skin eased her pain for but a moment, and she drank in its power. She drew her hand to her cheek, soaking her dust covered hand in her tears that fell willingly from her beautiful eyes.

Pinkie bit back tears of her own as she painfully croaked, “Rares...I’ve...I’ve always...loved you...”

Rarity clamored her hands to Pinkie’s and nodded sniffling, “Yeah...I know...I love you too.”

Pinkie shook her head, “No...not like I do Rarity...not as a friend...”

Pinkie watched as her friend’s mood shifted, moving from grief to a deep sorrow. She stood there stunned.

Pinkie rubbed her thumb against her soft cheek and smiled, “A deep love...something more than just a friend...”

With those last words the darkness settled in and the last thing she saw was Bethany rushing towards them both.

Before her mind clouded and all slipped into oblivion she heard a dark voice in the back of her head growl, ”Damnit you weak sack of shit. I can’t let you die yet!”