The Forgotten Family

The past week had been uneventful for the four ponies. They had spent their mornings eating breakfast by a warm fire in, then they would trudge through the snow until lunch, all the while swapping stories and learning more about one-another. Then after lunch they would walk again until the moon rose.

The nights had been the best part of the week. They all spent their nights sitting around the fire talking, laughing, and in Rarity's case bonding with both her marefriend and her big brother. It was during the seventh night of their journey that Rarity finally created her first enchantment.

Shining Armor and Mythic were laughing by the fire, they had been drinking most of the night. Twilight and Rarity had gone to bed before them.

Rarity laid in Twilight's warm embrace, the large wing folded over her made her feel as if she was safe from everything. Twilight had fallen asleep almost immediately after they had laid down in their tent and Rarity laid awake holding a gem in her magic.

She felt the enchantment flowing through the ruby, but she knew it was no-where near right yet. After several hours of trying to enchant the gem Rarity heard her brother and Shining go to their own tents.

Rarity sighed quietly to herself. "I guess I'll try again later."  She levitated the ruby back to her saddlebags and tucked herself deeper into the hooves and wing of her princess.

She sighed happily as she snuggled with Twilight. She could not sleep for some reason, however she was happy just to enjoy Twilight's embrace. She thought of just how great the past week had been. Sure they were on their way to go fight a unicorn cult trying to resurrect King Sombra, but the week had been so calm, so peaceful. They had all been bonding and Rarity had been learning just who her brother was while enjoying her marefriend's company.

Twilight seemed to be happy too. She had been spending time with Shining, who she really did not get to see as often as she would like. She was also learning some of the combat magic that Mythic knew. Rarity also liked to think Twilight had even been more romantic in the past week. Twilight had not done any specific romantic act, but Rarity saw so much love in her eyes every time she looked at her.

Feeling brave Rarity kissed the base of Twilight's horn. "Are you awake?" she asked the sleeping alicorn. Twilight shifted slightly before yawning adorably.

She opened her bleary purple eyes and smiled warmly. "Yeah," she said. "You okay?"

Rarity giggled. "Yes," she said. "I just wanted to talk." Twilight smiled at her before kissing her softly on the lips. Rarity returned the kiss.

"What did you wanna talk about?" Twilight asked after breaking from the kiss.

Rarity blushed and fidgeted. "Nothing... actually," she said smiling. "I just wanted to hear your voice... I couldn't sleep and... hearing your voice is.... soothing." Twilight smiled at her.

"Well," Twilight said. "how about we talk about your studies in enchantment?"

Rarity laughed lightly. "I hardly think worrying over my learning will help me sleep, dear." she hugged Twilight closer to her. "maybe we could talk about something else that's been bothering me..." Rarity whispered.

"What's wrong?" Twilight asked.

"I've been worrying about what we'll do when we get back." Rarity said. "I don't know what to do. Where do we go from here?"

"What do you mean, Rarity?" Twilight asked, a look of concern on her face.

"I mean," Rarity paused, "What do we tell our friends... how do we continue... I mean..." she took a deep breath and steadied her breathing which had become slightly erratic. "I mean, I can't imagine... not sleeping in your embrace... ever again, and I mean... what I'm trying to say... is... Twilight, I-I-I," Rarity wanted so hard to say it, she wanted nothing more than to tell Twilight those three little words. "Twilight-"

Twilight cut her off with a firm kiss. Rarity stared at Twilight's closed eyes for only a moment before closing her eyes and returning the kiss. Twilight broke away with a tender smile on her face. "I love you..." she said.

Rarity gasped. She knew Twilight had said that before, but this was different. This wasn't a casual thing or some false sentiment. Twilight had just told her exactly what she wanted to hear. That is what gave her the confidence to finally say what she wanted to say. "I love you, Twilight." Rarity smiled. "I know, it may be sudden, and we have not been dating for very long, but I mean it. After all these years together I really, really know that it's true." Twilight smiled warmly. "I love you." Rarity whispered.

Twilight held her tightly before saying, "I love you too, Rarity." she held her even more tightly. "And, as far as our friends go, I think they'll be happy for us... and living arrangements? We can figure that out no problem."

Rarity's initial fears returned. "But what of Sweetie Belle... and Spike?"

"Spike's been like a little brother to me for years, he'll be alright no matter what... and Sweetie is your sister and she loves you... she'll be alright."

"Do you really think so?" Rarity asked.

Twilight smiled at her again. "I know so." Rarity smiled at her and breathed out a relieved sigh. "Feel better?" Twilight asked. Rarity simply nodded as she buried her head in Twilight's chest. "Good." Twilight said, nuzzling her head on top of Rarity's. Rarity believed they were about to go to sleep, but as fate would have it that was not the case.

Mythic and Shining Armor tore into the two mare's tent. "Get up!" Mythic yelled, the authority in his voice making both mares jump to attention. Shining Armor's horn flared up with lavender energy as a shield covered the tent.

Explosions starting going off all around the tent, a barrage of unicorn magic destroying the scenery around the tent. Rarity tilted her head to see out of the opening of the tent and immediately wished she hadn't. The ground in front of Shining's shield was smoldering and she saw several unicorns standing outside staring at the tent.

"Good catch, Mythic." Shining said. He turned his attention to the others. "Alright," he said. "these guys were sneaking around the camp we made. I think the may be Mythlisombratic, and they are not messing around."

Mythic poked his head out of the tent, just barely inside the shield. "Hey!" he yelled. "You here to kill me?" More explosions followed by slightly manic chuckling from Mythic. "I'll take that as a yes." he said to the others, still chuckling.

Shining laughed slightly rolling his eyes. "Do you want me to deal with them?" Shining asked. Mythic shook his head and nodded towards the mares. Shining saw how wide their eyes had gotten and the fear on their faces before sighing.

Mythic laughed again. "I think they'd feel better if I took care of it Shining." he said. "Besides, if nothing else I can fall back to the shield."

Shining nodded. "Good idea... can't leave our sisters defenseless." he said.

Mythic nodded and stepped outside of the tent. Rarity, Twilight, and Shining stared out the tent flap. Shining smiled confidently and looked to the other two. "You ready for a show?" he asked darkly.

Mythic stepped out of the shield and surveyed the area. He then began counting loudly, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve." He stopped, pointing a hoof at the cloaked unicorns. "A dozen? You should know better." he called. "I can take all twelve of you."

One of the unicorns in the middle of the line waved a hoof towards Mythic and they charged. Mythic stood his ground and laughed darkly.

"Come and get it." he said.

The unicorns all charged spells aimed for Mythic. Mythic braced his legs and jumped straight up in the air. The launch threw his opponents off guard creating an opening. He charged his own spell quickly, a sharp burst of magical energy tearing a fissure in the ground. Four of the attacking cultists fell into the crack.

Mythic landed on the other side of the unicorns. "Down to eight." he said playfully.

"Incredible," Twilight whispered. "That spell is so advanced, I haven't even gotten around to learning it yet."

Shining laughed quietly. "Yeah, Mythic says he knows just about every combat magic spell there is." he whispered. "The stuff he does, I can believe it."

The unicorns turned towards Mythic and charged again. The dark green energy charged in his horn again. He turned deliberately slow, and blasted the ground in front of the unicorns. Flames appeared in a large wall in front of them. Before they could react, Mythic jumped through the flames kicking two of them unconscious. "Half gone..." he whispered darkly. The remaining six had Mythic surrounded, and all charged spells. Mythic charged his own spell.

Rarity blinked and it was over. A huge explosion rocked the area around them. When the smoke began to clear Rarity could only make out one pony silhouette. It was a very large pony.

She smiled as the smoke cleared, revealing a smirking Mythic. "Is that really all they had?" he asked, still smirking.

A flash in the night sky, a gasp of pain from Mythic, and a unicorn running away. There were thirteen cultists that day, one had been hiding in the snow, waiting for a chance to strike. The blade of the sword the coward had thrown was lodged in the center of Mythic's back.

Blood stained the snow and Mythic laughed as he fell to his side. "Won't... kill... me." he said, hitting the ground.

Shining Armor roared, chasing down the pony that ran, while Twilight ran to Mythic's side. Rarity was numb to all of it.

This isn't happening. I didn't just find my brother to lose him again... killed in the snow by a coward.

Twilight's words popped into her head, a memory of a conversation long past.  "All you have to do is imagine what properties you want the gem to have. Like if you wanted somepony to be stronger you would imagine strength as you pour your magic into the gem. There are also enchantments for healing, enhanced magic, faster flight, better balance, and several other useful enchantments."

Healing. That was what made her useful. She had never seen anypony else cast a healing spell, sure the doctor ponies had spells that helped healing, but nothing specifically for healing. She grabbed the ruby out of her saddlebags and ran to her brother, all-the-while pouring her magic into the gem.

"Healing." she said as she pushed with her magic. "Healing, healing, healing, healing, healing!" she yelled.

She reached her brother and saw that Twilight had pulled the sword from his back. She placed the gem on the cut in his back. "Healing." she whispered to the gem.

She closed her eyes and pushed harder with her magical, physically reshaping the gem into a heart shape. Healing. She thought.

She opened her eyes and saw that nothing happened. Twilight draped a wing over Rarity's back. "You can do this." she whispered.

Rarity took a deep breath. If Twilight had faith in her, she would have faith in herself. She exhaled while pushing her magic into the gem, gently this time.

Heal.