The Forgotten Family

Rarity woke up to a hoof poking her in her face. "Five more minutes.", she said, snuggling further into her big feathery blanket. Feathery? Rarity opened one eye to see a very sheepish looking princess staring down at her. "Twilight, what are you-", the previous day seemed to slam into her like the Friendship Express. "Mythic.", she said with a smile, glad to remember her brother's name still.

"Rarity?" She looked back up at Twilight to see her expression had changed into a grimace. "You're laying on my wing.", Twilight said.

Rarity realized the position she was in and immediately jumped off the couch. "I'm terribly sorry, Twilight, dear. Let me go get you an ice-pack.", she said running to the kitchen. She was still half asleep but that was no excuse to be a bad hostess to one of her friends, let alone Twilight.

The thought shocked her. Why should Twilight be any more important than any of her other friends? She quickly brewed some tea while she ran to the freezer to grab a large ice pack.

She was starting to finally piece together the past day when Twilight walked into the room and Rarity realized she had work to do. "Twilight, darling you look dreadful.", she said. Twilight's wings alone had taken a beating in the past day, her mane was unkempt, her eyes were baggy like she had slept very little, and she looked dizzy. "What happened?", she asked.

"I was trying to stay awake in case you had another nightmare. I guess I just haven't had a whole lot of sleep lately.", Twilight replied.

Rarity was shocked that she did not see before how her friend had been doing in the past day. Twilight had been watching over her this entire time and Rarity had not even noticed! How could she, the very element of generosity, not have noticed the pain she was putting her friend through?

Seeing the concern on her face, Twilight attempted to reassure her friend. "It's no big deal, Rarity. I go without sleep to study all the time, and now that I have that big new library in the castle, it's just gotten a little worse." She smiled but she knew Rarity was unconvinced.

Rarity sighed and walked to the alicorn in her kitchen. "Really, princess, if you're going to force yourself, then at least let me help.", she said as she walked. Once she reached her friend she wrapped her forehooves around her. "Thank you.", she whispered.

"No.", Twilight said. "Thank you."

Rarity was confused. "Why would you ever thank me dear? You've just spent the past twenty-four hours keeping me from a mental breakdown."

"No, Rarity, you don't know how much it means to me for you to rely on me in times like this.", Twilight said finally releasing her hold on Rarity. "I want you to know that no matter what, I will always be here for you.", she smiled and her face looked so full of hope Rarity made two decisions. First she was going to put a rubber band around her hoof and pop it every time she wanted to squeal at how cute Twilight was. Second she needed to do something nice for her.

After a moments pause she finally decided. "Well, dear, we simply cannot leave the house with you in the state you are in.", Rarity said smiling at her friend. "I insist you allow me to assist you, and I do believe, since you insist on helping me find my brother, it is only fair."

Twilight seemed to relax. "You mean you're really going to let me help?", she asked.

"Of course, dear...", she paused and looked twilight over. "After you allow me to assist you with your appearance."

"I can just go upstairs and get a bath.", Twilight said backing away towards the stairs.

"Nonsense.", Rarity said putting a hoof behind Twilight's neck and pulling her back into the kitchen. "Sit.", she ordered. Twilight seeing no other options obeyed. "First we will tend to your wings.", Rarity said running a hoof expertly between the feathers. Twilight seemed to relax further as her wings were massaged and her feathers straightened.

"You are awful good at that, Rarity.", she said blushing.

"Well believe it or not, Rainbow Dash taught me the proper way to do it.", she said still tending to the lavender princess's wings. "I used to give her make-overs when we were kids. She didn't enjoy them but she humored me. After I snapped off a few too many feathers she felt the need to instruct me on proper wing care. Although yours are much larger, they don't seem to be all that different"

Twilight looked over her shoulder to Rarity then. "Do you think they look okay?", she asked nervously. Rarity knew what she meant was what she done.

Still she couldn't resist running her hoof through them one last time before replying, "Beautiful."

Twilight blushed brightly then and smiled cutely. Pop!

"Uhm, Rarity? What's with the rubber band?", she asked.

"Never you mind, dear. Just a habit I am currently trying to break.", Rarity said.

"Oh, is it working?", she asked smiling over her shoulder at Rarity. Big eyes full of curiousity, her smile large and inviting. Pop!

"Apparently not.", she said with a smile. Twilight looked confused but made no more inquiries as Rarity levitated a brush from her living room to Twilight's mane. After several long minutes of comfortable silence, Rarity brushing Twilight's mane, Twilight humming in pleasure as the brush ran through her mane, and the rubber band popping Rarity's hoof occasionally Rarity began to ponder how she felt about the princess. She had caught herself thinking of her as cute, and beautiful before but she usually ignored the thoughts. In the past few months she had found herself wishing she could spend more time with her, and she found that Twilight only seemed more attractive lately.

"Rarity?", Twilight asked. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, dear.", she replied.

"You said you knew Rainbow Dash when you were kids. How old were you when you met?", the question confused Rarity.

"I suppose, I was around six. Why?", she asked.

"Well I was thinking. How old were you when your brother... disappeared?", Twilight asked.

The brush stopped moving as Rarity understood the point Twilight was trying to make. "Nine.", her voice was almost a whisper even to her.

"I don't think your memory was lost in the accident.", Twilight said.

"Then how? Why?", she asked.

"I don't know. Hopefully when we find your brother he can answer that.", Twilight looked at Rarity. Rarity met her eyes and realized something she was surprised she had missed before.

"Twilight. Do you intend to help me find him?", she asked.

Twilight blushed and looked nervous suddenly. "Only if you want me to.", she said. "I understand if you don't want me tagging along, but I just..... I... I want to be there for you.", she said snapping her head up meeting Rarity's gaze.

Rarity smiled at Twilight. Seeing those beautiful eyes full of hope and a bit of trepidation, she popped herself again, she could not help but admire how much the alicorn cared. She laid her head on top of Twilight's and wrapped her forehooves around her neck laying her stomach on Twilight's back. "I can't think of anypony I would rather have be there for me.", she whispered. She could feel her friend relax and lean into the hug and tucking her wings closer so the unicorn could better grip her.

For a few moments everything seemed to be perfect in the world for Rarity. Then the door to the boutique opened.

"We're closed.", she called. As she saw the shadow of somepony headed for her kitchen she released the alicorn she had been holding, grumbling quietly to herself, hoping whoever was coming in had a very good reason.

Rarity froze when she saw two fillies where she knew there had always been three. Scootaloo and Applebloom stood in the doorway of her kitchen tears streaming down their faces. Between the tears and the absence of Sweetie Belle, Rarity had to muster every ounce of self-control she had not to panic.

"Girls?", she asked. "What's wrong."

"Rarity.... She didn't say goodbye.", Scootaloo said her voice cracking. "We went to get her for the crusaders meeting and they were gone."

"What?", Rarity whispered.

"We thought you'd know.", Applebloom said apparently shocked. "You're parents, they moved last night. They took Sweetie. They're... gone."

"Rarity.", Twilight whispered.

Rarity could not believe it. Her parents had told her about the loss of a brother they had lied to her about, then took her only sister and moved in the middle of the night without telling her.

"Girls.", Twilight said using the voice she usually reserved for important commands. "I want you to go get Rainbow Dash, have her and the rest of our friends meet us in my castle in an hour. You three should be there to. We will have more questions then.", Twilight gave them a stern look as she said this but they seemed rooted to the spot. "Now!", she yelled slamming her wings open hard enough to knock everything off the table.

The girls ran from the room towards Rainbow Dash's house. If she had not been slightly in shock, she would have been impressed, however with the state she was in all she could do was sit in the floor and stare at the display. Rarity could see her vision blurring, and could feel her heart breaking. In one day it seemed, she had lost her entire family. She began to cry, and wished she could keep it together for Twilight. She lied on the floor stomach first, put her hooves over her eyes, and began sobbing. She was in pain, so much pain, and now she did not even have a family to turn to for comfort.

Just as this thought struck her a large wing draped over her. Despite her current situation she could not help but relish the feeling, it did not stop her tears however. Then she felt Twilight lay her head on Rarity's and she began stroking her mane. "It's okay.", she said. "Let it all out.", Rarity began to cry even more intensely then, and Twilight continued to give her comforting words all the while stroking her mane.

"There, there, it's okay.", Twilight continued to coo. "I'm here for you.", these words were what seemed to bring Rarity's spirit back. Despite her confusion over her recent feelings for Twilight she was sure of that one fact. Twilight was there for her. She wanted to help, and Rarity was happy to accept it. After a few more minutes of her sobbing slowly losing intensity she stopped crying completely. "Better?", Twilight asked.

"Much.", Rarity replied. "You have no idea how much that meant to me, Twilight.", she said, and she meant it. Twilight moved to remove her wing. "Please...", Rarity said. "Please can we stay like this? Just a little longer.", she couldn't bear the thought of leaving the beautiful mares comforting embrace.

She then realized that she just asked her best friend if she could keep cuddling with her on the dirty floor of the kitchen, and briefly wondered what was happening to her, however when Twilight replied, "Of course.", with a sweet smile and continued stroking her mane, she quit caring. She slid closer into the embrace and the stayed that way for as long as they possibly could.

After they had laid in the floor embracing each other for half an hour Rarity began to move again. "You ready?", Twilight asked her.

"Honestly, no, and I don't think I ever will be, but we need to find out how to find my parents and my brother.", she replied as she stood. "It seems this is going to get even more complicated, so... if... I-I-I-f you don't want to accompany me any longer...", she let the sentence die in the air.

"Rarity.", Twilight said her voice soft and full of care. "I want nothing more.", Rarity could not believe it.

"Really?", she asked. "I mean not only do we need to find my parents and my brother, but we have no idea of where to even begin looking. I have no idea of how long we could be gone or even if we will be able to find them. Why would you want nothing more?", she asked.

"Because... I care about you, and I don't want you to go through this alone.", Twilight smiled at her then her eyes glistening her cheeks blushing brightly, and her voice full of care. Snap.

The rubber band she had previously worn broke as she popped herself with it again.

"Oh Rarity, I'm sorry.", Twilight said.

"It's quiet alright, I don't think it was helping all that much anyways.", Rarity said smiling at her. "And if you truly wish to join me on this journey, I would greatly appreciate your company, but what of spike?"

"I'll have him stay with one of our friends. Besides he's not as young as he acts, he can manage without me.", Twilight smiled. "Plus I don't think he'll mind if I just tell him I'm helping the most beautiful unicorn in the world.", Twilight said with a laugh.

"Beautiful?", Rarity asked blushing. Twilight blushed just as brightly.

"Right, so, erm.... why don't we head to the castle? We can come back here before we head out. Maybe somepony can point us in the right direction.", she said swiftly levitating her saddlebags to her back. Rarity smiled and nodded and they headed out.

Later that day, in the castle of the princess of friendship, six mares, two fillies, and one dragon sat in silence. It had not taken long for Rarity to fill in her friends on the events of the previous day. The two remaining members of the CMC had explained that they had found a note Sweetie Belle had hidden for them. The note had simply stated that her family was moving, they would not allow her to say goodbye, and she did not know where they were moving to but she would write soon.

"I intend to go find them, and my brother.", Rarity said breaking the silence. "I don't know how long I will be gone-", Applejack cut her off by raising her hoof.

"Whatdya mean 'I'? Ain't we goin' with ya'?", she asked.

"I'm afraid I must insist that you don't join me.", Rarity said. Applejack opened her mouth to protest but Rarity continued anyways. "Applejack you have the farm to tend to, and your little sister is going to need you.", Applejack looked at her little sister as Rarity said this.

Applebloom decided to give her opinion. "I do sis. I just lost ma' best friend, I ain't gonna be too happy for awhile and I was hopin' you'd stay...", she said obviously nervous.

Scootaloo chimed in, "And I need you, Rainbow Dash." she said.

"I also believe the cakes, and their children need you pinkie.", Rarity said.

"And Fluttershy, your animals need you. Not to mention spike.", Twilight said. All heads in the room turned to Twilight just then.

"What?", spike asked. "What do you mean 'not to mention spike', Twilight?"

"I'm going with her.", Twilight said.

"But-", spike began to protest but was cut off.

"Spike.", Twilight said sternly but not without compassion. "Rarity needs me. You can manage without me and I have no duties to attend to. I mean for Celestia's sake I study for a living.", everything got quiet for awhile after that.

"Uhm...", Fluttershy began speaking but nopony could hear her.

"What was that darling?", Rarity asked.

"I said that I don't mind watching him while you are gone.", Fluttershy said.

"Okay...", Spike said. "I guess I don't mind."

"Well I don't like it.", Rainbow Dash said flapping her wings in irritation. "We've dropped everything all at once before. What makes this so unimportant we can't help?"

"It's not that it's unimportant.", Rarity said. "However, the fate of Equestria doesn't hang in the balance this time. Besides last time we at least knew where we were going. I have no idea where I shall be going or when I will be back."

"Ugh, fine.", Rainbow said.

"What 'bout your store Rarity?", Applejack asked.

"I shall be sending a letter to my friend Coco Pommel to come manage it for me.", Rarity said. "Last time I spoke to her she had finished making the dresses for one of my clients shows and was hoping I could help her find some work."

Everypony was quiet for a long time after that. They knew what came next and nopony wanted to do it, but they knew they had to.

Pinkie seemed to deflate slightly, and Rarity noticed she had not spoken the entire time. "Something wrong Pinkie?", Rarity asked.

"It's just....", she looked at Rarity ,"I don't want to see you hurting.", she said. Her eyes were watery like she was about to burst into tears. Her attitude was very out of character for her, and it bothered Rarity. Pinkie Pie sniffed. "This is a problem that's obviously hurting you really, really, really, bad, and I can't help.", she said sniffling again.

Rarity smiled at her then and wrapped her hooves around the pink mare's neck pulling her into a hug. "You already are.", she whispered. Pinkie stopped sniffling and returned the hug. "Please, be happy for me, Pinkie. I'm leaving soon and I don't want my goodbye to you to be in tears."

"Promise when you come back you won't be in anymore pain.", Pinkie said releasing her hug. "Pinkie Pie promise, and I promise I'll be happy again."

Rarity smiled and said, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." while going through the motions of the promise.

"Okie-Dokie, that's good enough for Pinkie Pie.", Pinkie said. "Oh one more thing. When you get back we got to throw you a party, especially if you're gone a super-duper long time.", she said smiling her usual smile again.

"Of course, dear, but only if you serve my favorite punch.", Rarity said smiling.

"We should go soon.", Twilight said. "If we go catch the conductor maybe he can tell us if your parents took the train or not, and if so where they were headed."

"Right.", Rarity said. "Well girls, it's time we said goodbye."

After several hugs, well wishes, and barely disguised tears the group went their separate ways.

Several minutes later Twilight and Rarity approached the train station. They had stopped at Rarity's to pack some saddle bags and other necessities for the journey just in case her parents took the train. The conductor was standing in the ticket booth and his face brightened when he saw Rarity. "Miss Rarity, how are you?", he asked as she approached. "I just saw your parents last night. Was wondering where they were headed off to."

"You saw my parents?", she asked, he nodded. "Where did they go?", she asked.

"I don't know.", he said.

"What?", she asked. "I thought you said you saw them last night."

"I did.", he said. "They didn't take the train. They walked, took the road headed towards, probably Manehatten."

"The east road?", Twilight asked.

"Yes, your highness.", he said bowing slightly. Twilight just blushed.

"Are there no trains headed towards Manehatten?", she asked.

"Probably the only place no trains are headed to for awhile.", he said. "They seemed like they was in a hurry to leave."

"Thank you.", Rarity said as they walked away.

"Anytime.", he called cheerfully after them.

"So, I guess we're headed east?", Twilight asked.

"It would seem so.", Rarity sighed. They walked to the edge of town were the east road lied. "It seems that we are "hoofing it" as it were. Although...", she stopped and Twilight stopped to turn and look back and meet her gaze. "If I am to walk hundreds of miles.... I'm glad it's going to be with you.", she said. Twilight blushed intensely and smiled brightly at Rarity. "Oh, one more thing.", she said reaching with her magic in her bag and sliding the new rubber band she had grabbed around her hoof. "Onward.", she said happily trotting forwards once again.

Twilight laughed, "What's that for?", she asked keeping pace with Rarity.

Rarity looked at Twilight's adorable laughing face, her bright eyes, and her wonderful smile. Pop!

She looked at the welt on her hoof and smiled. "I just have a feeling I will need it pretty badly.", and as she said it, she realized she did not mind.

"Just two.", Twilight said.

"What was that, dear?", Rarity asked.

"Just two.", she repeated. "I was just thinking that... it's just the two of us.... and I'm actually kind of happy. Don't get me wrong I would be happy if our other friends were here but...", she smiled at Rarity then, and the warmth of that smile was enough to stop Rarity in her tracks. "I'm glad to have your company all to myself.", Twilight then shut her eyes and leaned forward. Rarity felt her heart beating faster and she too closed her eyes, hoping that Twilight was doing what she thought she was. Then she felt a warmth on her cheek and realized Twilight was just giving her a friendly nuzzle, cheek to cheek. Rarity was slightly disappointed for a moment before returning the gesture.

"I couldn't have said it better myself.", she said smiling at the blushing alicorn. "Just two."

They walked on under the afternoon sun down the eastern most road of Ponyville, and the last words either of them spoke for a long time were from Twilight's beautiful voice for which Rarity was grateful.

"We will find Mythic."