The Forgotten Family

by Havokwithak

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Romance, Adventure
Length: 30133

Rarity remembers what she has lost and hopes to find it again.

Rarity sets out on a quest to find what she didn't even remember she had, until her parents allowed her to remember, accompanied by the only friend she has that might have some idea of what she is going through, Twilight Sparkle . Her mission? To find something very precious to her, something she can't believe she ever forgot, her brother.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-02-02 11:27:09 UTC

The Truth

It was an absolutely beautiful day in Ponyville. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, Rainbow Dash had made sure there was not a single cloud in the sky, and the Carousel Boutique was completely quiet.

Rarity was busy working on her new designs for a very important client when the bell above the door to the boutique chimed. "Welcome to Carousel Bou-", She began her usual greeting as she trotted down the stairs to find her parents standing in the main room of the boutique. "Oh, hello Mother, Father. Is it time for your annual vacation already?", She asked, trying desperately to remain calm despite the fact she knew she had far too much work to do to entertain Sweetie Belle for a week.

"No.", Her mother stated simply. "We decided to cancel it this year."

Rarity was baffled. Certainly she appreciated the peace and quiet of being alone with her work, but her parents had taken the same week long vacation every year for the past ten years. They had always left on the same day after breakfast with Sweetie and herself, and always returned one week later to the day always trying to hide looks of disappointment and sadness. She had assumed that her parents were just never able to do all they wanted in that week.

"Why would you want to cancel a week long vacation?", Rarity asked her mother.

Her father, who had not taken his eyes off of the floor since she had walked in the room, looked up at her then and she could have sworn that he had been crying recently. This startled Rarity, who had never seen her father stop smiling when he knew she was in the room and now here he was eyes bloodshot and frowning.

"Father?" she began. "Is something the matter?" For her parents, with their usually happy demeanor, being disheartened about anything was enough cause for concern, but when her father's only response was to return to staring at the floor she knew that something truly worrying must have happened to them.

"Rarity, we need to talk.", Her mother began. "Maybe it's best if we sit down?"

As much as Rarity would have liked to question her parents further, her better judgment told her to accommodate their request. "Sure.", she said as she walked into her kitchen. "Perhaps some tea?"

"That would be nice.", Her mother said, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

As Rarity set about making the tea, she realized two things. One, her parents were being quiet, which was abnormal for them. Two, her parents had not brought Sweetie Belle. The realization almost sent her reeling. Her parents always brought Sweetie Belle, every time they came to see her she was with them. Something must have been troubling them greatly for them to neglect to bring her little sister.

After a few minutes of almost unbearable silence, Rarity arrived at the table she had seated her parents at with three cups of freshly brewed chamomile and what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "So mother, father what exactly is on your minds?", She asked hoping to, at the very least, break the uncomfortable silence that had taken over her kitchen.

"Rarity, we decided it's time you knew the truth about our vacations.", her mother said.

"The truth?", Rarity asked, confused. They had never told her anything about their vacations, she had always just assumed that her parents went off for a week to enjoy one-another's company. "What ever do you mean, Mother?"

"They aren't vacations...", her father stated weakly from his seat. Upon hearing his hoarse voice and seeing his bloodshot eyes again, Rarity decided her earlier assumption of her father crying was correct. She was far from comforted by that fact as she used her magic to grab a box of tissues from a nearby counter top and place it on the table.

"No, they aren't.", her mother said. Her voice had begun to quiver and Rarity knew whatever news her parents were about to deliver would be far from pleasant. "They are searches.", her mother sobbed slightly as she said this and Rarity slid the tissues to her mother with her magic.

"I don't understand.", Rarity began. "Searches for what?"

"We've been looking for ten years Rarity.", Her father said. " We decided it's time to give up but, your mother and I believe you should know what we were looking for." She waited for further explanation but it seemed as if her father was done speaking.

After several long moments she asked, "What were you searching for then?" she was answered by silence, her father staring at the floor again and her mother sniffling slightly. "Please Mother, Father, I can help you, but only if you talk to me.", She was growing very concerned at this point. She felt the anticipation rising, causing her heart to feel like it was beating a hundred miles-per-hour.

Her parents were still quiet, aside from more sniffling, and she felt as if though she could scream. "What were you searching for?", her voice had more of an edge this time; she may have been asking a question but her tone told her parents she demanded an answer.

Her mother began to sob at this point, quietly but still enough to unnerve her daughter, who had never seen her mother cry so openly. Her father finally spoke and what he said made her blood run cold and sent a shiver down her spine. What he said would change her life. She decided she must have heard him wrong. What he said was impossible.

"What did you just say?", she asked, hoping against hope that she had heard him wrong, that it was a mistake, that she had not forgotten-

"Your brother.", Her father said grimly.

"My what?", Rarity asked. Surely this was not happening. She did not have a brother, and her parents did not have a son. They did not have any kids besides Sweetie Belle and herself. There was absolutely no way her parents had a son and hid it from her, it was so unlikely that she did not even register it.

"It's true.", Her mother said. "Your big brother has been missing for eleven years."

"That is completely impossible, Mother!", Rarity said, trying to suppress the panic that was building inside her. Surely this was all a dream and she would wake up soon. " That would mean I was nine years old when he disappeared. I believe I would remember. I don't know what kind of joke or prank this is, but I do not app-", Her father cut her off with a look that could pierce steel.

"No joke", her father's voice, barely above a whisper, cut her through to the bone. "I wish it was, but it's not. You don't remember him because of the accident.", He was either trying to contain anger, or tears and Rarity could not tell which would be worse at the moment.

"Accident?", she asked.

Her mother sighed and wiped at her eyes with a tissue using her own magic. "When we lost him you got hurt, dear.", Her mother explained. " You fell out of a window and hit your head. The doctors said you would be lucky to wake up, but you did... we didn't want you to go through the pain of losing your brother again, so we told you that you tripped at the playground."

Rarity was shocked. No, that was not the right word for it. She was devastated by the onslaught of information she was trying to process. She had a brother. She lost her brother ten years ago. She had lost a huge section of her memory so she never remembered her brother, and her parents had LIED to her about it all. She needed time to wrap her head around this.

"Leave.", she said as levelly as she could muster.

"Rari-", her mother began to plead, only to be cut off.

"MOTHER!", Rarity shouted. "I told you to leave. I want some time alone to think, so if you do not leave my house this instant... ", she let the sentence trail off as she stifled a sob.

Her parents looked at each other, unsure of what to do. After a few moments her mother just nodded and trotted out the door, her father in tow.

Rarity began crying openly now, not the loud sobs she used for getting attention, or whatever she wanted, but the quiet sobs of somepony whose whole world just came crashing down. She tried her best to curl up in a ball in the corner of her kitchen in an attempt to comfort herself. The bell above the door jingled as the door opened. "We're closed.", she said loud enough to be heard in the front room of the shop, not even trying to hide the sobs in her voice.

"Rarity?", a familiar voice asked. Rarity looked up from the floor to the doorway of the kitchen to see her friend Twilight Sparkle gazing at her with immense concern. "Oh my goodness, Rarity! Are you okay? What happened?", Twilight dropped the dress she had been holding under her wing (Rarity noticed it was the one she wore for her coronation ceremony several months ago) and ran to her friend.

Rarity wanted to answer her questions but she could not stop sobbing. Twilight, seeming to understand, sat next to Rarity and wrapped her forehooves around her and stroked her mane gently. "Shh, it's okay. It's okay.", she cooed into Rarity's ear.

After several minutes of crying in her friend's arms, Rarity finally began to stop crying, and fell asleep in the other mare's hooves.

Remember

Flames washed over Rarity in an endless inferno. She felt small and lost, she was confused and all she wanted was to go home. The screaming of the ponies attacking the building she had been staying in had quieted, apparently having found what they were looking for. Rarity could not remember why they had attacked or why she had not run when she had a chance.

She crawled low to the floor trying her best to avoid both the flames and the attention of the ponies patrolling looking for witnesses. She could not even remember what building she was in or what the walls and floors looked like before they were covered in flames. She could not remember who she had come here with, but she hoped desperately that they were alright and they would find her soon. She finally made it to the window on the far side of the room and quietly tried to push it open.

"Hey, little girl! What do you think you're doing?", a voice called out from under a nearby couch. Rarity turned to the couch to see a filly shivering. She had a green mane and tail and a dark turquoise coat. "We are on the top floor.", the filly said.

"That's okay.", Rarity said. She was not actually saying the words. It felt more like she was remembering what to say. "My big brother will be here any second and he shall show these ruffians what for.", she said proudly, careful not to speak too loudly.

Just then, the door to the room they were in was thrown open and the biggest unicorn she had ever seen ran in. She couldn't make out any details, such as his face or his colors, but she immediately knew this was her brother. "Rarity!", the faceless stallion called, unable to see her in the smoke.

"I'm over here!", she responded. He immediately turned to the sound of the voice as the doorway he had just come through was swarmed by large ponies with masks. They were all unicorns which would have spelled trouble for an ordinary pony but she knew her brother could handle them.

Her brother, (whose name she so desperately wanted to remember), turned to the doorway and laughed loudly. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven of you", he said and then laughed even louder. "You should have brought more men.", he said, his voice cold like steel. The unicorns who had been preparing to attack him took a step back.

The filly that had been hiding slid over to Rarity. "Can he really beat all of them?", she asked shaking but to her credit not crying.

Rarity giggled quietly and turned to the filly. "Yes, my big brother can do anything.", she said.

All seven unicorns fired a beam simultaneously at her brother and he deflected them with a shield. The beams shot off the green magic and bounced at the floor in front of him. Suddenly, the floor supporting the other unicorns gave way and they fell into the fires below.

"Way to go, big brother!", Rarity called to him.

He ran across the room to the two fillies and started checking for injuries. Rarity remembered feeling so safe right at that moment, thinking that despite the fire and flames, and the bad men in the building, if her brother was there she was safe. All of that shattered when the floor behind her brother caved in and the roof starting buckling under its own weight.

Her brother looked up and immediately knew what to do.

" Rarity, your big brother loves you.", he said, giving her a hug. He was choking back tears.

"I love you too big brother.", she said happily, unaware of what was happening. Suddenly she heard a click as the nearby window opened and she felt a strong hoof push her out it. She screamed as she fell, but not because she was falling. She screamed because as she saw the hoof push out the other filly, the top floor of the tall building they had been in exploded, her brother lost amid the flame and wreckage.

Rarity awoke screaming, feeling feminine hooves trying to calm her. "Rarity, please calm down! It was just a dream!", her friend twilight yelled over her screaming. After a moment, Rarity was able to collect herself and she noticed where she was.

She was in her bed, the blankets lost in the floor, and she was being cradled by the hooves of Twilight as she tried to calm her. She was shivering and covered in a cold sweat that only comes from the worst of nightmares. She was struggling to gain control of her breathing, but it was getting better.

"Rarity...", Twilight said from beside her. She looked dreadful, like she had been crying recently and her wings were ruffled like they had been hit. She then realized Twilight's wings had been hit by her.

"Twilight, I'm so sorry.", Rarity began. "I don't know what's wrong with me today.", she looked into the eyes of the other mare and felt like her heart was breaking. Twilight was still very concerned. Rarity wrapped her forehooves around Twilight's neck and held her close. For several minutes the two mares just lay there in each other's comforting embrace.

Rarity looked out the window and realized Princess Luna had risen the moon. She had slept all day. Regaining a bit of her composure she asked, "Twilight, have you stayed with me this entire time?"

Twilight blushed as she replied, "Well not the whole time. I hope you don't mind but I made myself a sandwich and took a small nap in your guest room. I also teleported home just long enough to tell Spike to watch the library." She seemed to tighten her grip on the white unicorn slightly. "I didn't know what you were going through, but I thought if it was bad enough to make you cry like that and then pass out you would probably want a friend nearby when you woke up. I heard you screaming and I ran in to see if I could help."

"You did help Twilight, I don't know what I would have done if you had not been here when I woke up.", she smiled at twilight and nuzzled her cheek. " You are a good friend.", she seemed to whisper.

They laid there in companionable silence for several more minutes, just content to enjoy each other's embrace.

"So," Twilight finally spoke. "What happened?"

Rarity sighed and suppressed the urge to start crying again. "I just received some terrible news is all, and I took it pretty hard. No need to concern yourself Twilight.", she said, trying to reassure her friend. Twilight started to tear up.

"Please", she began. "Please let me help you, Rarity."

Rarity did not know why her friend seemed so upset, but she knew that Twilight felt the need to help just as badly as Rarity needed help.

"Fine, I'll tell you. How about a cup of tea first?", Rarity asked.

Twilight released the unicorn she had been holding and Rarity immediately wished she had not. Twilight stood and walked to the door where she turned her head to Rarity. "That would be great.", she said smiling again. "But why don't you let me fix it?"

"Nonsense dear, I shall do it. Just because one is upset does not mean she can be a bad host.", Rarity smiled back at her as she too got to her hooves and walked to her kitchen.

Soon after, both mares sat at Rarity's kitchen table, fresh tea before them. Rarity had told Twilight everything her parents had told her and even about the dream she had. They sat there quietly sipping their tea, both trying to find the right words to make everything okay, and both failing.

"Rarity, I think it's best we talk to your parents.", Twilight finally said.

Rarity scoffed. "They lied to me dear, I don't think I want to see them again anytime soon.", she said, trying not to get agitated at her friend that had just spent the entire day trying to help her.

"I know that, but we need to know more if we want to find your brother.", Twilight said.

"Find my brother?", Rarity was shocked that Twilight would even suggest it. "Dear, if the dream I had was a memory, then I am sure my brother is dead. Besides, my parents looked for years. What makes you think that even if he were alive we could succeed where they failed?", she asked, in what she hoped was not a condescending tone.

"Rarity, even if that is what happened, if your parents thought he was alive there must be some hope he is.", Twilight looked on the verge of tears. "I know what it feels like to think you've lost your brother forever. That's why you shouldn't give up hope.", Rarity remembered the royal wedding. She remembered how Twilight cried after her brother had yelled at her, how she wanted to run to the crying mare but her pride got the better of her. Maybe it was not quite the same thing, but still, during those moments she knew Twilight honestly believed she would never see her brother again. In fact the pain must have been worse, for she could, at the very least, remember her brother.

Rarity sighed, knowing what she needed to say. "Alright, Twilight, we will go see my parents on two conditions."

Twilight's face immediately brightened. "Anything, name it.", she said, obviously very enthusiastic to help.

Rarity smiled at her excitement. "First, I want you to go with me. I believe that if I see them alone it... may not end well." Upon seeing her friend nod, she continued. "Also, if it isn't too much trouble, do you think you could... stay with me tonight? I really don't want to be alone." She was nervous. She knew that for a while at least she could not be alone, and she could think of nopony better than Twilight to stay with her.

Her stomach unknotted as she saw Twilight smile. "Of course, Rarity.", she said. "Just let me run home, grab a few things and make sure Spike gets to bed."

Rarity nodded and watched her friend disappear in a magical pop. She knew that Twilight was a good friend. She also knew about her past with her brother, Shining Armor. Even so, Rarity couldn't help but feel as if Twilight seemed even more eager to help than she normally would. She also wondered about her own emotions today.

Rarity was never one to turn down friendly affection, but she could not remember ever feeling as needy as she did today. Sure, she needed somepony there, but the affection she had required from Twilight seemed borderline crazy. Friends don't cuddle with friends in bed, nor do they feel such a huge loss when one friend leaves. Maybe she should talk to Twilight about it at some point. Perhaps she had read a book that explained how she was feeling.

Who are you kidding?, Rarity said a voice in her head. You have bookshelves full of books that explain exactly what you are feeling. She looked over at the bookshelf in her kitchen full of romance novels and decided to think about something else, which ended up being pretty good timing because at that moment she felt a surge of magical energy in the room.

With a familiar crackle, Twilight Sparkle once again appeared in Rarity's kitchen. "Sorry it took me so long.", she said as she carried her saddle bags into the main room.

"Did it?", Rarity asked looking at the clock. Twilight had been gone for an hour. "Don't worry about it dear, I was so caught up in my thoughts I hardly noticed.", She smiled reassuringly at Twilight as they walked into her main room.

"I can imagine.", Twilight said looking slightly glum.

"Don't worry about it dear, why don't we do something fun?", she asked. She then gasped loudly. "Makeovers!", she singsonged loudly.

Twilight smiled. "Alright.", she said.

A few hours later, both mares were sitting on Rarity's couch, laughing and joking, their manes in curlers. "So", Twilight said. "What do you wanna do next?"

"I don't suppose you brought any books?", Rarity asked, hoping for further diversion from the day's events.

Twilight smiled as she wrapped her magic around her saddlebags. "Of course.", she said. Rarity smiled at her as she levitated a book over to her.

It was a typical romance novel, which did not surprise Rarity. After all, her bookshelves were full of them, and all of them had been read cover to cover numerous times. What did surprise her, however, was she had not read the one twilight loaned her. "The Princess and The Magician.", she read the title aloud.

"It's my favorite.", Twilight said quietly.

"Well", Rarity said, trying to ease her friend's obvious discomfort. "If someone as book savvy as you can call it your favorite, then I'm sure I will enjoy it. Thank you." Her words seemed to ease the mind of the lavender alicorn, and Rarity saw Twilight visibly relax.

"I hope you do and, you're welcome, Rarity.", Twilight said, seeming to blush slightly. Rarity knew how uncomfortable it could be to suggest romance novels to other ponies, so she believed she understood Twilight's discomfort.

Rarity opened the book and was immediately absorbed by the story, the protagonist being a mare unicorn who was trying to win the heart of a lovely princess unicorn from a foreign nation. The princess's father was against it and tried to separate them constantly. Rarity was so engrossed in the story she didn't even notice how late in the night it had gotten.

Rarity looked to the couch Twilight had taken, and found her sleeping soundly. She looked so peaceful, she didn't snore, and she didn't drool in her sleep. Rarity thought she looked absolutely adorable, and then chided herself for the rogue thought. Friends don't think of each other that way she told herself. Still she could not help but smile at her friend as she levitated a blanket to the sleeping alicorn.

Twilight then yawned, stretched, and rolled onto her back, still asleep. It took every ounce of Rarity's self-control not to squeal with delight at the display. Her weariness from the day's events finally catching up to her, Rarity placed her book on the table and levitated herself a blanket.

Rarity was four years old. She was standing in a circle of light before her mother, and a stallion standing in the shadows, her brother. "Don't you remember his name?", her mother asked her. She shook her head. She couldn't even remember his face, let alone his name.

"No.", she answered. She wanted to remember, she just... couldn't. She looked to her brother hoping that he would step from the shadows, that he would introduce himself, but he did not.

"Remember.", her mother said.

"Remember.", her brother said.

"Remember?", she echoed.

"Remember.", they said in unison. She wanted to remember. She wanted to know her brother's name, to know his face. All she had to do was-

"Remember!", she screamed when she awoke. She noticed her face and pillow were soaked. She had started crying in her sleep.

"Rarity!", Twilight called as she ran to the couch Rarity slept on. Rarity's blanket was on the floor; she had been tossing and turning. Tears were still streaming down her face.

"Remember.", Rarity whispered. Twilight looked concerned but unsure of what to do next. She sat on the couch next to Rarity, close but not quite touching her, and upon noticing the blanket was missing, draped her wing over her.

The gesture was not unappreciated, and Rarity relaxed under the wing. It was much lighter than she thought, but just as warm as she had imagined. Not that I imagined anything like that she thought to herself. "What do you need to remember?", Twilight's voice broke her from her reverie.

"His name.", she said. "My brother's name." Twilight scooted closer, tightening her wing's grip on Rarity. She looked at her then and Rarity looked back. She saw a beautiful face full of love and a large-eyed gaze full of concern. Something clicked.

Rarity didn't know if it was the magic within her or a memory, but she remembered.

"Mythic.", Rarity said. She laughed slightly. "His name is Mythic. My brother's name is Mythic!"

Twilight smiled at her and nuzzled her neck. Rarity did not know if it was the comfortable position she was in, or finally relaxing after her most recent nightmare, but she felt herself being lulled to sleep. The last thing she heard before she succumbed to a night of dreamless sleep was the voice of Twilight.

"We will find Mythic."

Just Two

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."

I'm Sorry

Twilight and Rarity had walked all day and the sun had gradually fallen past the horizon. The two mares continued walking for awhile in companionable silence. "Maybe we should make camp.", Rarity said. She had packed much lighter than normal knowing that she would have nopony but Twilight to share the load and she was not about to ask the mare carry her bags.

"Um, I'm sorry Rarity, but you don't really want to sleep on the ground do you?", Twilight asked.

"Of course not, Twilight. I packed a tent.", she said.

"Oh.", Twilight replied looking a bit sheepish. "I kinda, didn't think about it. All I packed was some food, and some books.", she seemed nervous to Rarity, and she believed she understood why.

"You are more than welcome to stay in my tent.", Rarity said, trying to keep her excitement out of her voice. She had only slept together with Twilight twice now, but she already knew that it was something that kept her from depression, Plus apparently alicorn wings were amazingly comfortable.

"Are you sure you don't mind?", Twilight asked. "I didn't even remember to pack a sleeping bag.", she looked down at the ground then and even in the dim moonlight Rarity could see her blushing clearly. Pop!

"You are more than welcome to share that too.", Rarity said with a smile while putting her rubber band on the other hoof (It had actually started to thin the hair around one and she did not want it falling out) all the while trying to contain her excitement over the idea of spending a night together with Twilight.

"Really?", Twilight said excitement evident in her voice, a bright smile upon her face.

"Really.", Rarity said with a smile.

An hour later and the tent was set up and both mares were inside it pressed together in the sleeping bag Rarity had packed. The sleeping bag was actually large enough that Twilight could still lay her wing over Rarity.

"This is okay, right?", Twilight asked pointing to her wing. Rarity pretended to think about it for a moment before replying.

"Not quiet.", she said. Feeling bold she pulled herself closer to Twilight and wrapped her hooves around her. "Now it is.", she said hoping that she had not crossed the line. Her worries were put to rest as Twilight returned the gesture and sighed contently.

"Thank you.", she whispered before Rarity fell asleep.

Rarity awoke with a shiver, and immediately realized something was missing. That "something" happened to be a lavender alicorn princess. Rarity momentarily panicked until she heard the sounds of a fire crackling under the night sky. It was the middle of the night, and she was curious as to why Twilight would start a camp fire. She didn't want to leave the tent, but she knew something had awoken her.

She heard the noise that had disturbed her slumber again. A beautiful voice saying just two words. The words were whispered, and Rarity knew they were not for her ears. "I'm sorry...", the whisper came again. She could hear a disturbing tremble in the voice, as if the speaker were on the verge of tears.

She knew that this was not something Twilight wanted Rarity to be privy to, however she could not stand to let her, the same mare that had spent the past two days taking care of her, to go through whatever was wrong alone.

Rarity got to her hooves and walked out of the tent. As she exited the tent, she saw Twilight, her back to the tent, staring into the fire she had made. Her shoulders were shaking, and Rarity could hear her sniffling, and sobbing quietly. Rarity approached the crying alicorn and put a hoof on her shoulder.

Twilight stiffened, but then seemed to relax as she realized who the hoof belonged to.

"What's wrong, dear?", Rarity asked. Twilight quickly wiped her eyes and smiled up at Rarity. She could see her eyes were bloodshot and puffy.

"Nothing.", she said trying, and failing, to sound cheerful. "Just couldn't sleep so I thought I would come sit outside and enjoy the lovely view.... I didn't want to disturb you."

"Twilight.", Rarity said, unconvinced. "Please, tell me what's bothering you."

Twilight's smile faltered. "I just....", she obviously had more to say, but couldn't bring herself to say whatever it was she was thinking. Rarity knew that she needed help, but she did not want to bother her friend. "I'm sorry.", Twilight said again.

"Whatever for?", Rarity asked. Twilight had been nothing short of perfect the past two days, Rarity had no idea what she needed to apologize for. "Darling, you've done nothing wrong.", Rarity said.

"Maybe not, but"- she looked at Rarity and she could see the tears in her friends eyes, ready to spill down her cheeks- "I've been selfish.", she said. "I only came with you because....", she did not complete her thought, but Rarity could see the war waging in her mind, and she knew that Twilight was obviously not ready to say whatever was on her mind.

"Twilight.", Rarity said. Twilight looked at her again and their eyes met. "I've been more selfish than you possibly could."

"But I-", Twilight began, but was cut off.

"No. Twilight.", Rarity said saying each word sternly. "I only brought you for selfish reasons. I could have left you to stay in your castle, to spend your days whiling away the time with our friends. Instead I chose to ask you to accompany me.", she paused and let her words sink in while she debated how much to reveal to her friend. She knew she had developed feelings for the princess, however she decided that this was not the time to voice those feelings, and maybe never would be a good time. "I asked you to accompany me because you are strong enough to protect me, because you are an excellent companion, and-", she stopped long enough to smile at the blushing alicorn before wrapping her hooves around her neck and hugging her tightly. "-because I feel like you have been the only thing keeping me sane since this whole... mess started.", Twilight smiled back at her and returned the hug nuzzling Rarity's cheek.

"But what about letting me sleep in your tent? Your sleeping bag?", Twilight asked.

"Selfish also.", Rarity said smiling. "For several reasons, although the most selfish is probably because sleeping under your wing is simply...", she searched for the right word. "Divine."

"Rarity...", Twilight said, hugging her even more intensely. Rarity could feel her cheek become wet and assumed the alicorn was crying. She did not mind.

"I'm sorry.", Rarity said from the heavenly embrace. "I'm sorry."

Twilight pulled away suddenly with tears streaming down her cheeks, but a joyful smile on her face. "Thank you.", she said.

Rarity smiled sheepishly. "So... you don't mind that I've been selfish?", Rarity asked.

Twilight smiled even more beautifully then, a blush in her cheeks. "Not if you don't mind that I've been selfish.", she said. "And besides, you're the element of generosity. If anypony is entitled to be a little selfish, it's you."

"Well then, if that's why you came out here, perhaps we should return to bed.", Rarity said.

"Well...", Twilight said hesitantly. "I had something else on my mind.", she said, her tone indicating it was a grim, but important, topic. Twilight took a breath and prepared herself to reveal what had been on her mind for awhile. "I had a few questions.... they're important." she said. Rarity nodded at her and she took that as her queue to ask. "First, how long have you lived in Ponyville?"

"All my life.", Rarity replied.

"And your parents?", Twilight asked.

"Since I was born, as far as I know.", she said. Twilight pondered her words for several seconds before continuing.

"I thought so.", she said. "Listen, you remember when I had to restore all of your memories?", she asked.

"I believe you've needed to do that for all of our friends at least once now.", Rarity replied.

"Right well, first of all, why didn't that restore your memories of your brother?", she asked.

"I thought you only had to restore the memories related to our friendship.", Rarity said.

Twilight shook her head and considered her next words. "No.", she said. "I had to restore the memories that made you who you are. That was all of your memories that I could access.", she said. "And if you, your parents, and presumably Mythic lived in Ponyville for at-least as long as you have been alive, why does nopony else remember him?", Twilight asked. "Don't you think it's a little odd?"

Rarity considered her friends words. Nopony remembered Mythic which was, in Ponyville's close-knit community, completely impossible. Twilight was one of the most powerful unicorns in history when she restored the memories of her friends, which led Rarity to believe even if there were some block on her memories, Twilight would have easily removed them. Then she also took into consideration she still had all of her memories from her child-hood except for the memories of her brother.

"I know you probably don't want to hear this...", Twilight said as Rarity braced herself. "But I think your parents are hiding something."

Rarity considered her friends words for a long time after that. Her mind was ablaze trying to process everything, until Twilight spoke again.

"I know it's a lot to take in but, I thought you needed to think about it a bit before we find them.", she said.

"Thank you, Twilight.", Rarity said. "I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, and I agree with you completely.", she said. She then looked up at the moon and saw that it had drifted to the midpoint of the night sky. The clearing they had made camp in was completely still and quiet. "However... I don't believe there is anything we can do about it just now.", she smiled at Twilight. "So, why don't we return to our sleeping bag, and you allow me to be selfish for a little while.", she said with a smile.

Twilight opened one wing. "You mean...?", she asked waving with her wing.

"If it's no trouble.", she said. "You really have no idea how comfortable it is.", she said with a smile. She meant it too, nothing she had ever touched was quite as soft as the alicorn's large lavender wings.

"I don't mind.", Twilight said. "I also don't mind the... uh... closeness.", she said blushing again, which in turn caused Rarity to blush. "It's... uh... nice...", she said quietly. She was obviously just as nervous about the subject as Rarity. "Plus it is practical.", she said quickly. Upon seeing the confused expression on Rarity's face she clarified, "It's been cold at night lately, and it's only going to get colder."

"Of course.", Rarity said. She also had no problem with the "closeness" as Twilight called it, still Rarity preferred to think of it as what it was- snuggling. Twilight looked hesitant, so Rarity decided to take the lead and walk back to the tent, confidant that Twilight would follow.

As she slid into the sleeping bag, she felt Twilight do the same. They laid apart for several awkward minutes, until Rarity slid directly next to Twilight and nervously wrapped her hooves around her again. Twilight stiffened at the contact, and Rarity was nervous that she had only been joking when she said she did not mind. However after a few moments she felt a large wing unfurl over her and pull her closer.

Rarity could feel her eyelids getting heavier by the second and knew it would only be a few more moments until she fell asleep. Before that though, she had one last thing she wanted to say before she fell asleep.

"I'm sorry."

The next morning Rarity awoke to find Twilight asleep. The large wing that had caressed her through the night remained and she could feel Twilight's hooves still wrapped around her. Rarity laid in her friends embrace content to stay there until she awoke. She knew Twilight had slept very little since she had started watching over the unicorn, and she did not want to do anything to disturb her rest.

She also found laying in her friends embrace extremely relaxing. Rarity breathed in the scent of the lavender alicorn's mane, and sighed at the pleasant aroma. She had been through so much in the past forty-eight hours, and she had not been lying when she said that she believed Twilight Sparkle was the one thing keeping her sane through it all. She felt like her closeness with Twilight was the worlds way of apologizing for her recent problems. If that was the case, the world could hit her with whatever it wanted, so long as she got to stay by the side of the beautiful mare in her hooves.

After several minutes Rarity felt the pony under her hooves begin to shift. Then she heard probably, the most adorable yawn she had ever heard. She would have popped herself again but she had taken off the rubber band to sleep.

"Good morning.", she said.

"Good morning.", the sleepy alicorn answered quietly. "Did you sleep well?", she asked.

"Best night's sleep I've ever had.", Rarity answered. "Yourself?"

"Best sleep ever.", she said quietly obviously fighting the urge to return to that "best sleep ever". Rarity could not blame her.

"Well as much as I would like to stay here, we should probably set out soon if we hope to catch up to my parents.", Rarity said.

Twilight nodded and they set about putting away their make-shift campsite. As Rarity put away the tent and sleeping bag, Twilight prepared them a light breakfast of daisy sandwiches. They ate in companionable silence, and then set off down the road.

After they had been walking for about an hour Twilight checked her map. "Well...", she said. "It looks like we should reach Manehatten by nightfall tonight."

"Excellent.", Rarity said. As much as she had enjoyed a night spent in the other mare's embrace, she was ready to have a real bed to sleep in even if it was just a hotel's and not her own.

After a few minutes of silence Rarity had a thought. "Twilight?", she asked.

Twilight stopped and looked at her. "What is it, Rarity?"

"I was just thinking... last night, when we got to talking about the memory spell, you made it sound as if my memories were no longer there.", she said.

"Essentially yes. If they were completely removed though there would be an item or a pony those memories were stored in, and I never saw any magical blocks in your mind. Why?", Twilight asked.

"Well, I was thinking. If all traces of my brother are gone from my mind, how did I remember his name?", she asked.

Twilight thought on this for a moment before replying. "I honestly don't know.", she said. "Maybe, whoever removed your memories missed one mention of your brother's name. That's all it would take, and honestly even somepony as skilled at magic as I am would have missed that much at least, let alone somepony who didn't have much experience.", she explained. "Or maybe somepony, who knew about it, decided to return that much to you at least."

"I see.", Rarity said. They walked in silence for the rest of the day and soon night descended upon them. Shortly after night fell, they arrived at the bustling city Manehatten.

"I don't think it's a good idea to start looking for your parents this late at night.", Twilight said as they walked through the streets, careful to avoid the darker areas.

"Agreed.", Rarity said. "Perhaps we should just find somewhere to stay the night, and we can see if any apartments or houses have been occupied recently tomorrow."

"Sounds like a plan.", Twilight said. She seemed very nervous all of a sudden.

When they found a hotel that seemed up to Rarity's standards Twilight stopped. "Rarity?", she said.

Rarity stopped with her. "Yes?", she asked. "What is it, dear?"

Twilight shuffled nervously and was not meeting Rarity's gaze. "Maybe we should... just get one room?", she said quietly. "It's...... practical." she said. "It'll be cheaper...."

Rarity was far from short on bits, and could always use her gem-finding spell if she ever did get low. However she replied, "That certainly seems like a good idea to me."

Twilight beamed at her. "Really?", she asked. Pop! Rarity's hoof was throbbing at this point.

"Of course, dear.", she said.

Later that night the two mares were on separate beds in the same hotel room, and Rarity longed for the alicorn's embrace once more. Her wings truly were much more comfortable than the stiff blankets the hotel used. Then she had an idea.

She scoffed loudly and looked to Twilight who was currently reading a book. Twilight looked up from her book and raised an eyebrow. "My bed is too small.", Rarity said.

"I'm sorry, but my bed is the same size.", Twilight said. After a moments pause Twilight smiled and said, "We could push them together....", she said quietly, hesitantly. "That is.... it's kind of cold in here.", she said blushing intensely, and trying not to sound too hopeful.

"I agree completely.", Rarity said.

So both mares, without leaving their beds, used their magic to pull each other's beds close. Twilight then levitated her book back to her saddlebags and wrapped her hooves around Rarity, who returned the gesture. After a few minutes the two became comfortable and Rarity felt the now-familiar weight of a large wing holding her closely. Part of her hoped their journey never ended, so she would never have to give up her nights spent in the alicorn's embrace. After awhile, Rarity realized that Twilight's breathing had become deep, and even. She was fast asleep.

"Good idea...", she whispered quietly so as not to disturb the Princess's sleep. "After all the real work starts in the morning." After that Rarity took one last breath of the scent of Twilight's mane and sighed contently before falling into a deep sleep herself.

Legendary Seven

Rarity was very frustrated. Though Twilight had obtained a list from the mayor's office of Manehatten listing all of the ponies who had moved into the city within the past two days, the list was three pages long. Rarity huffed loudly and looked to Twilight. "Why?", she asked. "Why did three hundred ponies move to Manehatten in two days? It just doesn't make sense."

Twilight chuckled lightly. Rarity glared at her for a moment before laughing lightly herself. "This just seems to be your luck lately.", Twilight said. Rarity laughed again and shook her head.

"I'm afraid you're right, dear.", she said. "It would be easier if the list had names, instead of just addresses.", she said. "Why do they do it that way?", she asked.

"Well, it's because the office doesn't need to know who moved in, just which apartments and houses have been occupied.", Twilight said. "How do you know your parents aren't staying in a hotel?"

Rarity sighed loudly. "I don't know that they didn't, but this seems better than just wandering around hotels hoping they randomly bump into us."

Twilight nodded, and they continued down the street from the mayor's office. Twilight had also grabbed a Manehatten map at some point and was studying it intently as they walked. "Alright.", she said. "The closest one on the list to where we are now is on mareble street."

They continued down the road quietly. Rarity was lost in thought, trying to figure out what she would say to her parents. They were obviously hiding something, but she had no idea what, or even how to bring the subject up. She was broken from her reverie as they arrived at their first stop. "They aren't here.", Rarity said after a quick glance.

"How do you know?", Twilight asked.

"Mother would never move into a shabby neighborhood like this.", Rarity said.

Twilight looked nervous as she spoke again. "Two days ago you thought she would never lie to you...."

Both mares were quiet after that. Twilight looked afraid and Rarity looked as if she was trying to contain her anger as she stared at the sidewalk. All of that angered dissipated as she looked up at the alicorn. She was so scared but, she knew that it needed to be said. She also kept in mind that this was the same mare who had helped her the past three days, who had spent her nights in her embrace, and who had been the one good thing in her life over the past few days.

"You're right....", Rarity practically whispered. "I'm sorry.", she said.

"Let's at least knock on the door.", Twilight said. She looked grateful that Rarity had not gotten angry with her.

Rarity nodded and was just about to knock on the door when she immediately knew where to find her sister.

An explosion took place a few blocks from their location and both mares instinctively ran towards it. As they rounded the corner the could see fire and smoke coming from a nearby building that could have been a bakery, or a mechanic, or a house. The building in question was mostly demolished as the fire ponies approached the building. Rarity scanned the crowd for a moment before finding what she was looking for.

Two fillies wearing red capes were slinking away from the building guiltily. "I guess we aren't cut out to be Cutie Mark Chemists....", the white unicorn of the pair said.

"You got that right...", the brown earth pony said.

Rarity immediately ran through the crowd and scooped the unicorn filly into her hooves. "Sweetie Belle!", Rarity yelled as she squeezed her sister. "I've missed you. Oh I was so worried.", she continue to hug the unicorn until Twilight spoke again.

"Are we just ignoring that they probably blew up a chemistry lab?", the alicorn asked.

Rarity looked at her, then to the sheepish fillies. "Yes.", she said shocking all three ponies as she put her sister back on the sidewalk. "Honestly she was just taken from her best friends and only sister in the middle of night. I think we should be grateful it was just one building.", she said with a smile. She turned to look at Twilight to see her smiling cutely at her. Pop!

"Uh... Rarity? What's with the rubber band.?", Sweetie asked.

After several awkward conversations with the officials of Manehatten and an apology from the two fillies (in which Sweetie cried until they were convinced to drop the charges) the four ponies were leaving the police station. Rarity thought that Sweetie looked a little more proud of herself than she should have.

Babs apparently agreed. "That would never work again in a million years.", she said irritably.

Rarity sighed. "The sad thing is I can assure you that you're wrong." Babs looked at her and blinked in surprise.

"Don't tell me that works on you?", she said.

Rarity merely hung her head in shame. Twilight poked her side with her wing and Rarity looked up to see her smiling. Rarity smiled back and looked to her little sister. "Now, Sweetie, where are our parents living now?"

"They bought a small house over next door to Octavia.", she said with a smile. "Apparently she used to be friends with some colt named Mythic, so she was happy to help....", Sweetie trailed off as Rarity stopped, all of the color draining from her face.

"Sweetie Belle.", Twilight said in her commanding tone. Sweetie looked at her as she continued. " Don't tell your parents that we arrived in the city. We want it to be a....", she was obviously trying to convince Sweetie they had good intentions however, she was just worried they'd run again. "Surprise.", she said with a smile. Rarity noticed the smile did not reach her eyes. Why is Twilight so angry with them? she thought. Does she really care that much? The thought made her smile slightly. "Now why don't you girls go do some crusading?", Twilight asked her tone much softer. "We have just a few stops to make and then we'll swing by okay?"

Sweetie and Babs nodded before smiling and running down the street. "Twilight, dear.", Rarity said with a smile. Twilight looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "You can be very impressive.", Rarity said. Twilight began blushing slightly then and pawed the ground nervously with her hoof. Pop!

After a few minutes Twilight regained her composure enough to speak. "Do you know where Octavia lives?", she asked. Rarity nodded and led the way down the Manehatten streets. Twilight noticed the houses seemed to get more luxurious as they headed towards their destination. Rarity saw Twilight taking in the sights of grandeur and gave the alicorn her best "told you so" smile. Twilight smiled back in an adorably clueless way. Pop!

They soon arrived at a large house with a well cared for lawn. The house obviously belonged to somepony with far too much money however, Twilight was sure that she had met the mare in question before. She was sure that Octavia was a very sensible pony (after an apology from pinkie for ruining her performance) and Twilight was sure she would help them.

Rarity opened the gate and approached the door before stopping, a nervous look on her face. "What is it?", Twilight asked.

"It's just...", Rarity sighed. "I remember spending time with Octavia when we were fillies but I can't remember how we met or why she was in Ponyville." She shook her head in an attempt to clear her muddled thoughts. She then took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Octavia opened the door and stared blankly at the two mares on her porch. She then arched an eyebrow.

Rarity smiled at her but, Octavia made no show of inviting them in. "Octavia.", she said. "We have something we need to discuss with you." Octavia looked her over and then she began to laugh.

"Oh dear, Rarity you really haven't changed at all.", she continued to laugh much to the other mare's confusion. Upon noticing Rarity's puzzled expression she elaborated. "I'm sorry but I don't see you for years, then you show up at my door with a princess.", she then continued her laughing while waving them inside.

Confused and slightly annoyed Rarity followed her inside followed by Twilight. As Octavia led them through the halls (still laughing) Rarity noticed the walls while a pleasant shade of cyan, were completely bare of any decoration. Upon reaching the living room Octavia managed to contain her laughter and looked at Rarity.

"So, when is the big day?", she asked.

Rarity blinked once. "What?"

"Well you see I will be more than happy to perform but I need to make sure I have no pressing engagements before I can agree to anything."

Rarity blinked again. "What?"

Octavia creased her brow and shook her head. "I'm sorry. I was just assuming you wanted me to play at your wedding."

Rarity was feeling a little like a broken record but could not stop herself. "What?"

Octavia chuckled slightly. "If you recall when we were fillies we made a deal. I was to perform at your wedding on the grounds that you were to design the dresses for mine." Octavia looked at her shocked expression and frowned. "Don't tell me you forgot."

Rarity shook her head. She had forgotten but, as far as she was concerned that was not an issue. "What makes you think I'm getting married?", she asked.

Octavia blushed. "I'm sorry, I just assumed that the only reason a princess would accompany you here was if she....", Octavia trailed off and looked at the floor.

Rarity could also feel heat rising in her cheeks and upon looking to Twilight she saw a familiar red on her cheeks as well.

Twilight cleared her throat and began to speak. "Miss Octavia, we came here because we need to know everything you remember about Mythic.", she said in a tone that reminded Rarity of the way Princess Celestia spoke when something was truly important.

Octavia looked at Twilight and shook her head. "I remember that I was his cello tutor. That after several lessons he started to speak in the same manner I do, and after we started dating I remember he took Rarity on that vacation and then...." There were tears forming in her eyes as she trailed off.

"Octavia.", Twilight said firmly, but calmly. "I know this is a sad subject but I need to know what exactly you heard about the day he disappeared."

Octavia sighed and nodded. "My apologies, I just miss him..." she took a deep breath and continued. "I heard that there was a cult after him."

"After my brother but why?", Rarity asked.

Octavia looked at her, puzzled. "His special talent."

"What was his special talent?", she asked.

Octavia looked worried. "You don't remember?"

Rarity shook her head. "No. I'm afraid somepony removed almost all memories I had of my brother."

Octavia tap her chin in thought. "Who would do such a thing?" she mumbled. "I am sorry to hear that. To answer your question his special talent is supposed to be one of the seven legendary special talents. His special talent was combat magic."

Twilight spoke then. "I've heard of those before but, the books say that only the most powerful unicorns have those special talents."

Rarity looked at Twilight then. "What are they?", she asked.

"Well according to books and old legends the seven legendary special talents only belong to unicorns and alicorns. You actually have one of them.", Twilight explained.

"Really?", Rarity asked. "I just thought it was a plain old gem-finding special talent."

Twilight shook her head and smiled. "No, your special talent is one of the legendary seven. It's real title is just the gem talent. I've read that it is the least powerful of the seven but the most practical. After all if just anypony could have a gem special talent the entire world currency would be complete chaos."

"But what exactly are they?", Rarity asked.

Octavia chimed in. "According to the legends if all seven legendary special talents are together they could potentially reshape the world. They are gem, sun, moon, love, defensive magic, combat magic, and just magic."

"So, you?", Rarity pointed a hoof to Twilight's magic cutie-mark. Twilight nodded sheepishly.

"Yes. Celestia, Luna, you, me, Cadence, Shining Armor, and apparently Mythic. Mine and his are supposed to be the most powerful and rare special talents of the seven.", she explained.

Rarity was shocked that she was part of some legendary seven.  "Why have I never heard of any of this sooner?" she asked.

"Well, because most ponies don't know about it." Twilight said.

"That's true.", Octavia said. "The only reason I knew about those old legends was because of my relationship with your brother."

"The only reason I know is because Princess Celestia was my teacher.", Twilight said. "Although, I don't think Shining Armor knows about his special talent, I know Cadance knows about the legendary seven and her role in them."

Rarity was trying to piece everything together. "Okay so what exactly are our rolls?", she asked.

"Well according to the legends if the seven of you were to combine powers it's said you could shape the very fabric of reality. However, it's also said that if just two of the seven were to combine powers they could rule the world. I find that much easier to believe given the nation's hierarchy." Octavia explained.

"There's one more legend.", Twilight said darkly. Her tone was grim and her posture stiff. Apparently she had put more pieces together than Rarity. "That's probably why the cult was after Mythic."

"What's the legend?", Rarity asked.

Twilight looked at her with a grim expression. "The last unicorn born with combat magic as a special talent.... We've met him before.", she said her tone more ominous by the second.

"Who?", Rarity whispered.

"King Sombra...", Octavia answered.

Twilight nodded before continuing. "They say if one of the legendary seven go through a dark ritual.... I don't know anything about the ritual itself.... but they say that if one of the seven go through the ritual, they're power will increase ten fold but, their mind would be darkened until nothing is left but hate."

"King Sombra went through that ritual.", Octavia said. "What I heard was that, the cult went after your brother to try to re-create the fall of the Crystal Empire. They wanted him to have the power to overthrow Princess Celestia. Then when they learned they couldn't recruit him, they decided to kill him."

They were all quiet after that. Each of the mares were mentally going over the new information and, reliving old pain. "Why?", Octavia finally asked.

Rarity sighed and looked at the earth pony. "We have reason to believe he is alive.", she said. "And we intend to find him."

Octavia's eyes began to water. "Alive?", she asked.

Twilight nodded. "Rarity's parents, your new neighbors, have been searching for him for ten years now. I don't know if that's much to go on but, I don't think somepony would search for ten years unless there was a good chance he was alive."

Octavia smiled as the tears streamed down her face. "I hope you're right...." she said. "Why did they never tell me though?"

"I intend to find out.", Rarity said.

"I wish I could join you but,.... I believe that if he is alive he's moved on just as I have. Still I would like to see him again when you find him."

Rarity nodded. "You'll be our first stop.", she said with a smile.

"Which house did Rarity's parents move into?", Twilight asked.

"Oh, I sold them the old guest house in the back.", Octavia said.

Then Rarity and Twilight thanked their hostess and prepared for the inevitable confrontation. They stepped out of the house and walked around it to see another, smaller house behind Octavia's. They approached the door and, Rarity froze. She was scared of what her parents would tell her, she was nervous. She wanted to run just turn and run. She wanted to go home, lock herself in the boutique, and forget any of this ever happened.

Twilight noticed her discomfort and draped a wing over the unicorns back pulling her into a quick hug. "I'm here for you."

Those words were all Rarity needed to regain her resolve. Rarity opened the door without knocking and walked in. She saw an average living room, leading off to an average kitchen where her parents sat at the table mouth agape. Rarity noticed her father had shaved his ridiculous moustache. In any other circumstances she would have been happy to see them.

"Rarity, wha-", Rarity's mother began but was cut off.

"Not! Another! Word!", Rarity yelled emphasizing each word with a step towards her parents. Twilight walked by her side, wings unfurled to their full size. Rarity knew from experience with Rainbow dash this was an involuntary reaction that usually meant somepony was very angry, or they were ready to protect themselves and their loved ones. Looking at Twilight's stern expression she guessed it was a little of both.

"Tell us, why did you leave?", Rarity asked.

Her father was the first to speak. "We Ponyville didn't have what we needed anymore." Rarity noticed he had dropped his ridiculous accent.

"You leave, last minute, in the middle of the night, after dropping that bomb on me, for a change of scenery? You actually expect me to believe that?"

"It's the truth.", her mother said also lacking any accent.

Rarity scoffed but decided to press more important issues. "Why do you think Mythic is alive?"

"You remember his name?", her father asked obviously shocked. "How? We were assured you would never remember anything about your brother."

"By whom?", Twilight asked. Her voice was quiet yet full of cold, seething fury. "The unicorn you had remove her memories?"

Both of Rarity's parents froze. They looked to see the princess shaking with rage, and quickly decided to tell the truth.

"Yes...", her mother said quietly. "It was his punishment."

"Punishment? For what?", Rarity asked.

"For putting you in harm's way.", her father said.

"He didn't know!", Rarity had started yelling at this point. "He had no idea some cultists would attack him! He saved my life that day! What did you do banish him?"

They nodded slowly, eyes wide with confusion and terror. "How much do you remember?", her mother asked.

Rarity smiled calmly. "Enough.", she said cheerfully. "Have you two ever taken the time to meet Twilight Sparkle?", she asked smiling, however her tone was cold and joyless. "Well I suppose people like you would have to refer to her as Princess Twilight. So this is what is going to happen. First you tell me where I can start looking for Mythic. Then you send Sweetie Belle back to Ponyville. Then you leave Manehatten, somewhere nopony knows you. Now if you don't start talking, if I don't receive confirmation of Sweetie arriving in Ponyville within three days, or if you ever return to equestrian, then I will ask this beautiful princess here to banish you to the moon." She smiled at Twilight who smiled back.

"And I love your daughter enough to do it.", she said cheerfully. Rarity giggled when Twilight used the word love and Twilight blushed but held her firm gaze on Rarity's parents.

Both of the older ponies were shaking by this point. They simply nodded. Her mother spoke. "The last thing we heard was that the only pony he trusted enough with his location, was unreachable.", she said. "Not even a princess can see him."

"Oh? Well regardless I need a name.", Rarity said.

"Shining Armor.", her father said a smug look on his face. He seemed to honestly believe that even Twilight could not gain an audience with him.

"Wow.", Twilight said, her voice dripping with a malice Rarity had never heard before. "You people, are so stupid.", she said causing their jaws to drop. Twilight began speaking in what Rarity could only describe as the "royal-canterlot-voice" and, from the sound of it Princess Luna had been giving her lessons. "ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF! I AM PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE, PRINCESS OF FRIENDSHIP, STUDENT TO PRINCESS CELESTIA, FRIEND TO PRINCESS LUNA, SISTER-IN-LAW OF PRINCESS CADANCE, AND BLOOD RELATED SISTER TO PRINCE SHINING ARMOR!"

With that last statement ringing in Rarity's ears she couldn't help but smile at Twilight. "Let's go.", she said sweetly as Twilight blushed. Pop!

"Uh, Twilight? What's with the rubber band?", Rarity asked as they exited her parents house.

Twilight smiled at her then. "Just thought I would see how bad it hurt.", she said levitating the rubber band back to Rarity.

"Why's that?", Rarity asked with a laugh as they headed back to their hotel.

"Well honestly, I'm just trying to figure out why you do it all the time.", she replied with a laugh.

An hour later both mares were back in their hotel room, warm in each other's comforting embrace on their makeshift double bed. Twilight woke up to their mare in her hooves shifting around uncomfortably. Twilight noticed her coat was soaking wet. "Rarity.", she said. "What is it?"

Rarity continued to cry for a few minutes before responding, Twilight stroking her mane in the meantime. "I just used you.... I just used you to banish my own parents.... What kind of pony am I?", she asked.

"Rarity.", Twilight's voice was more firm than usual. Rarity looked up to see her staring intently into the unicorn's eyes, as if she were searching for something within them. "You didn't use me. I would have made the same threat if you hadn't.", she said. "And besides, I meant it when I told your parents that I love you."

Rarity froze for a moment when the meaning of Twilight's word started sinking in. "What?"

"Rarity... I love you.", Twilight said. "As more than a friend... I have for a while now."

"Really?", Rarity asked. She was hoping that this was not a dream, that her friend actually returned the feelings she felt for her.

"Yes.", Twilight said smiling sweetly wiping the tears from Rarity's eyes. "That first day.... when all this started, I was coming to your shop to have you replace a button on my coronation dress."

"And?"

Twilight's blush deepened. "I may have cut it off myself.... and then I watched over you while you slept. I was so worried. Then when we left Ponyville, on the road when I rubbed my cheek against yours... I was going to kiss you. That's why I thought I was being selfish. That I only came on this journey with you because I was falling in love with you."

Rarity pondered everything the alicorn said for just a moment before nodding. "I'm glad you didn't kiss me that day.", she said. Twilight's face fell and she started to slide her hooves away from Rarity, when Rarity tightened her grip and then pulled her closer. "However, if you were to kiss me now... I don't think I would have any complaints.", she said with a smile.

Twilight looked at her mutely for a moment before smiling herself. She closed her eyes and leaned into the unicorn. Their lips were so close that Rarity could feel Twilight's breath tickling her coat. Then their lips met. It was... sloppy, inexperienced, over way too fast, and the best kiss Rarity or Twilight had ever had.

They both slept fitfully that night knowing that neither of them had ever been happier.

Gem

Rarity woke up to the feeling of a pony squeezing her so tightly, she honestly believed for a moment they were trying to crush her. She poked the pony in question with her hoof and they seemed to relax their grip.

"I'm so sorry, Rarity. I just thought that last night was a dream so when I woke up, and you were still here... I just couldn't contain myself." Twilight spoke so fast, it took Rarity's sleep addled mind a few minutes to fully process them.

She smiled after she understood what had happened. "It's no trouble, dear. After all, I was a little afraid it was a dream too.", she said as she snuggled closer to the pony in her hooves. She sighed contently. "Let's just stay here the rest of the day, we can leave tomorrow.", she half-joked. Then she heard a loud growling noise coming from Twilight. Specifically, her stomach. "Or, not."

"Sorry. I guess we haven't been eating very much the past few days.", Twilight said bashfully. When Rarity considered it, she could not remember eating more than a few sandwiches over the past several days.

Rarity sighed and smiled at Twilight. "It's quite alright, dear. Let's get freshened up a bit, and then, while we're in still in Manehatten, we will find a nice restaurant to dine in."

Twilight smiled at her. "That sounds lovely.", she said. Rarity saw the red in the other mare's cheeks and could easily guess that she was waiting (or hoping) for something else before they began the day. Rarity smiled and leaned in to kiss the alicorn on the lips. Twilight returned the kiss, and Rarity found it was a much better experience than the night before. Twilight then gasped loudly. "Spike's going to hate me.", she said. Rarity could tell from her tone and the worried expression upon her face that she honestly believed it too.

"I doubt it.", Rarity said as she retrieved her brush from her saddle bags. "Spike has supported every other crush I've had, and he has never once begrudged anypony else my affections." She then levitated the brush to Twilight's mane.

"Still, I feel really bad, because....", Twilight trailed off as she enjoyed the feeling of Rarity using her hooves to brush her hair instead of her magic.

"Don't worry about it darling. After all, if I know Spike, he will be happy so long as you are happy.", Rarity said. "There, now would you like to comb my mane?", she asked.

Twilight's jaw fell slightly. Rarity understood her reaction. She had never allowed anypony (not even Aloe, or Lotus) to tend to her mane. Twilight smiled brightly and nodded enthusiastically. Rarity was nervous about allowing the other mare to work on her mane but, she wanted to show her how much she trusted her. Twilight was gentle and took her time brushing slowly and allowing the brush to follow the curves of her mane, careful not to straighten it. "Rarity?", Twilight asked the nervousness in her voice apparent.

"Yes, dear?"

"Are we a... couple now?", Twilight had stopped brushing and was obviously nervous about the answer. Rarity looked over her shoulder at her princess.

"That depends.", she said with a smile. "Are you the princess or the magician?"

"You remembered that?", Twilight asked.

"Yes, dear. I just wish I had finished it.", Rarity said with a reassuring smile.

"I think... I'm the magician.", Twilight said with a smile.

"Then I will happily be your princess.", Rarity smiled. Then she felt as if she were choking to death. Strong hooves wrapped around her neck from behind, accompanied by the sound of Twilight squealing with delight.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!", she squealed. Twilight then noticed Rarity's face changing a strange shade of purple. She relaxed her grip. "Oh, sorry."

Rarity heaved in heavy breaths until she was sure she could speak again. "That's alright, dear. Maybe one day you'll get used to that alicorn strength."

Twilight looked at Rarity after she released her neck. "What if I had said I was the princess?", she asked.

"I would have said 'only if you don't mind how poor of a magician I am' because you are a princess, and a very fine one at that.", Rarity said, hugging the alicorn.

"That's something else I've been thinking about.", Twilight said. "The legendary seven are supposed to have unparalleled magical talent. I think that you haven't tapped into your full potential yet."

"What ever do you mean?", Rarity asked. "I can find gems. I thought that was the extent of my talent."

Twilight shook her head. "I don't think it is.", she sighed heavily, then smiled. "Why don't we talk about this more over lunch?"

An hour later both mares were wandering the streets of Manehatten. Their bags were packed so they could leave town immediately after their meal. Twilight had insisted she had seen a nice looking restaurant during their trek through the city the day before. Twilight was leading the way down the city streets and Rarity was using the opportunity to contemplate what the legend could mean for her.

Two days previously, she had never heard of this "legendary seven", and now it was all she could think about. She understood that Twilight had known her role in it. She wanted to ask why Twilight had never mentioned it sooner but, she did not want Twilight to think she was mad at her. She was not mad at all, just confused. Why would Twilight keep this from me if she knew I was one of the legendary seven? , she caught herself thinking. It was as if she had been kept in the dark on purpose. Rarity knew that even if they had not been as close as they were now, Twilight would not keep this from her without good reason.

She decided it did not matter, and she would ask Twilight later. "We're here.", Twilight said happily, breaking off Rarity's thoughts. Rarity looked at the sign on the small building 'The Bannered Mare'.

"Well, this certainly seems quaint. Although I'm not sure what to make of the name.", Rarity said.

Twilight laughed lightly. "Apparently it's from some game.", Twilight said blushing slightly. "It's a really good game."

Rarity laughed. "Is that the only reason you wanted to eat here, darling?", Rarity asked. Twilight only blushed more brightly. Rarity laughed again. "Well if the game is so good, maybe the food will be too.", she said, happily trotting into the restaurant. As they entered the building, Rarity saw a bar and two tables to the side with some stairs leading off the left side of the building.

Twilight gasped slightly a smile on her face. "This is just how it looks in the game.", she squealed happily. Rarity laughed at the sight. Twilight looked at her and blushed.

Rarity approached the bar and the stallion behind smiled brightly at her. "Welcome to The Bannered Mare.", he said. "What can I get you today?"

Rarity thought for a moment. "I'll have a large salad with a water.", she said.

"I'll have the same please.", Twilight said.

The man smiled. "Is that together or separate?", he asked.

"Together.", Rarity said quickly. She looked over to Twilight. "I will get this.", she said.

Twilight nodded, although she did not look too happy about Rarity spending money on her. The man laughed heartily. "I'll bet she's a keeper there, princess.", he said to Twilight with a wink. "If y'all will have a seat, I'll bring your food in a minute."

Rarity put a large amount of bits on the bar and walked to one of the two tables. Twilight sat opposite her. "Now, Twilight, I do have a question.", Rarity said. "Why have you never mentioned any of this legendary seven business before?"

"Well, honestly it's just never been important before. The legends really exaggerate our power. Sure, we have a lot more than most ponies, but we can't really take over the world or reshape the fabric of reality. Also, I was never sure if you really were the gem or not.", Twilight explained almost academically.

"Well, how do you know now?", Rarity asked.

Twilight giggled, and it was enough to assure Rarity that it was no big deal. "Well, I suppose it's because Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are sisters. Then Shining Armor is my brother. When Octavia told us your brother was one, it just seemed like the most likely conclusion. Besides, nopony else has a special talent that allows them to find gems."

Their food was delivered, and they ate in silence. After they ate, Rarity was left with one last question. "Before we go, I was wondering... What makes you think there is more to my talent?", she asked.

Twilight smiled at her. "Because I believe that some of the legends about the legendary seven aren't an exaggeration."

Rarity nodded. "Well, while we are on the road you can tell me about some of the legends, if you would."

Twilight smiled and nodded. "Of course. I was wondering, though... Where are we going?"

Rarity blinked at her. "I assumed we were going back to Ponyville, and then boarding a train from there to the Crystal Empire.", she said. "Why, did you have something else in mind?"

Twilight nodded. "I think we should walk north to Baltimare.", she said. "It's closer than Ponyville, and then we can board a train from there."

Rarity nodded. "Good idea.", she said. "The less we walk, the better."

Both mares stood from the table and left the building. They then headed north.

After a few hours walking North from Manehatten, night began to fall. "We can make a camp and arrive at Baltimare at noon tomorrow, or we can walk through the night and be there by morning.", Twilight said.

Rarity tapped her chin in thought for a moment. When her mind drifted to the thought of sleeping under large, comfortable lavender wings, she smiled. "Let's make camp."

I Wish

Twilight and Rarity had been walking all morning when they finally arrived at Baltimare. Twilight had spent the day telling Rarity all of the legends that she did and did not believe. Apparently, what she had found most believable was that the legends were... well, legends. Rarity and Twilight did indeed have two of the most extremely rare special talents. However, Twilight did not believe that seven of them could truly change the very basis of reality.

Rarity had spent the morning walk trying to absorb new information, but her mind continued to wander. Specifically, her mind wandered to her marefriend. Twilight was absolutely the best thing to come out of this impromptu adventure and Rarity felt that all of the pain and suffering over the past few days would be completely worth it if she could call Twilight her own.

"We're here, Rarity." Twilight smiled.

Rarity returned the smile and then looked at the bustling city before them. Baltimare was amazing. There were tall buildings as far as the eye could see and, the locals seemed friendly. They smiled and nodded and Rarity heard the occasional "Good morning." from a passerby. It was a quite a grand city, and Rarity made a note to return to Baltimare sometime after their journey was over.

"Hey, Rarity?", Twilight asked. When the white unicorn looked at her she stopped walking. "I wanted to go.... take care of something. Can I meet you at the train station in about an hour?"

Rarity was slightly confused but, nodded anyways. "Of course, dear. What ever do you need?"

Twilight blushed and shook her head. "It's just something I wanted to get while we were here. I'll be okay.", the alicorn said with a warm smile.

Rarity nodded. "That's fine. If you need anything though...", she added, putting as much care as she could into these words. "I'll be there for you."

Twilight blushed adorably and smiled. "Thank you.", she said. She then kissed Rarity firmly before cantering away. Rarity watched her walk away with a sense of longing. She knew that she could not spend literally every moment with her, but she realized this would be the first time in several days that she was not accompanied by Twilight. Rarity was not sure she could handle it... even for an hour.

Rarity found a newspaper stand and purchased a Baltimare city map from it. Upon looking at the map she realized that there was a chocolate shop on the way and decided she would get something for her new marefriend. She trotted happily to the chocolate shop, "Heart's Sweet", humming a tune to herself.

Upon arriving at the shop, she wondered if maybe she should go somewhere else. The shop was small, dirty, and leaning to one side. Reviewing the map, she realized that for some strange reason, this city only seemed to have one chocolate shop. She sighed and approached the building. Maybe the inside would be an improvement from the outside.

A bell rang above the door as she entered, and she saw that the inside was clean, a bright room full of display cases. The counter was full of enticing looking chocolates and Rarity immediately knew which ones she would get. "Welcome to 'Heart's Sweet'!" A voice rang out as she closed the door behind her . An old earth pony with a bright pink mane and vanilla coat walked out from the back of the shop. "I'm Sweetheart, how can I help you?"

"Hello.", Rarity said as kindly as she could. "I was wondering how much it would be for a box of those there?", she pointed a hoof at the heart shaped chocolates sitting on the counter.

Sweetheart smiled at her. "Depends.", she said warmly. Rarity raised an eyebrow as she continued. "Who are they for?"

Rarity giggled slightly at the chance to tell somepony. "They are for my marefriend.", she said proudly.

The woman smiled at her even bigger than before. "What's her name?"

"Twilight Sparkle.", Rarity was very proud as she spoke those words. The woman's jaw dropped.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle?" she asked.

Rarity giggled girlishly. "Yes, Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Sweetheart positively beamed at Rarity. "One bit." she said. Rarity visibly balked at the price. In Ponyville one bit would not even get tomatoes.

"Are you sure?", Rarity asked. Sweetheart did not know her and yet her she was just giving her the chocolates for probably what it cost to make them. Sweetheart nodded at her. Rarity was unused to being on the receiving end of somepony's generosity but, she was not about to turn down such an offer. Still, she had to ask. "Why?"

"Well, you see, my special talent is making candy. These chocolate hearts you picked out... they are the chocolates I made when I discovered my special talent. I gave some to my husband when we first met, and we have been together for twenty years. We have a daughter who lives in Ponyville, and I run this shop all day. I've always been happy, and I think that it was, and still is, because of these chocolates. I give them to you for one bit per box because I love to see a pony be so proud of who he or she is with. Be happy with that mare!"

Rarity smiled as she fought back tears. In four days, two ponies in all of Equestria had gone out of their way to make her happy, and she could not be more grateful. "Thank you, Sweetheart.", she said as she levitated a single bit to the counter. Sweetheart simply smiled and shook her head while she filled a large box with a generous amount of chocolate hearts.

Rarity took the chocolates and placed them in her saddle bags. With one final "Thank you!" she was off walking happily through the streets to wait on Twilight at the train station. She did not notice the streets were becoming less and less lively. She also did not notice that the area in front of the train station was abandoned. She did, however, notice the group of several unicorns standing in her path. She counted six of them.

She thought for a moment about asking them to politely move, but the way they looked at her, they were standing in her way for a reason. She stopped in the road several paces away from the group. In the most calm voice she could muster, she spoke. "Can I help you?"

All of the unicorns (stallions, she noted) seemed to shift about. Then one spoke. "Where is she?", the largest of the group asked. He had a blue coat and no mane or tail to speak of.

"Who?", she asked.

"The princess.", he said stepping towards her. There was a slight snarl to his voice that unnerved Rarity. "We was told she was comin' this way. Said she was with you. Where is she?"

Rarity panicked for just a moment before realizing that if they had hurt Twilight, they would not be here now. Still, she was in a rough spot and knew that her magic was no match for six others'. She began backing away as the group stepped closer.

"Where is she?", he asked again, never breaking eye contact. Rarity felt her flank hit a wall as one of the unicorns lit their horn. "Where is she!" he did not ask, so much as scream.

Rarity looked behind her and saw the wall of arcane energy. She was on the verge of tears, and she felt as if she were about to hyperventilate. "I don't know. She said she had some errands to run!" It was the truth, but she knew they would not accept that answer. They continued to close in on her when the most unlikely of things happened.

Twilight swore. "Don't you bastards touch her!"

Rarity looked up to see lavender wings speeding directly down at her would-be assailants. A wave of energy was being charged above, and Twilight's horn began to glow several different colors. Rarity had only seen this spell once before, and from a distance at that. Still, she knew what her marefriend was about to do.

Twilight threw back her head, preparing to launch the spell with all of its strength. The ground beneath all of them shook as the colossal ball of energy sped towards them. The smarter members of the group ran.

Three unicorns (Including the ringleader) were caught in the blast. The wave of power sent everypony in the area flying back. Rarity felt herself get thrown through the air, and then a sharp pain in the back of her head as she lande. Darkness crept into her vision. The last thing she saw was a crying princess running towards her, yelling her name.

"Rarity!"

"Your big brother loves you.", his voice called out of the darkness. Rarity could see nothing. She was in a sea of blankness. Neither dark nor black, just blank. The memory was gone, but the voice was there. It soothed her to the core to hear those words.

"Mythic?", she called into the emptiness. "Mythic? Please, answer me."

Silence.

"Mythic?"

"You know your big brother loves you, right?"

She then recalled where she had heard those words before. She was falling, watching a pair of white-coated hooves push a green pegasus filly out the window.

Funny. she thought, Last time I couldn't remember his coat. Was that little filly a pegasus last time?

Her heart felt as if somepony had just shoved a nail through it as she saw the explosion. As she screamed, she could see the pegasus filly fly to Rarity and wrap her hooves around her. The filly was not strong enough to lift them both as they fell, but she did not let go. Rarity knew their fall would be over soon. She remembered her last thought before she hit the ground.

I wish....

Rarity woke to find herself in the crying embrace of lavender hooves. "Twilight..." Twilight looked down to see Rarity was fine. She then held her even more closely.

Rarity could see the damage her marefriend had done to the area surrounding them. A large crater sat just outside the train station, smoke rising out of it. She also saw a bundle of unicorns, the ones that had attacked her, laying next to the station. "Twilight, dear?", Rarity said.

"I'm so sorry.", Twilight said as she rocked Rarity in her hooves. "I shouldn't have left you."

"It's quite alright." Even if she was dirty, beaten, and crying slightly, she would still behave like a lady. "No permanent damage done... to me at least.", she giggled slightly. "You really can be quite the madmare when you so choose, can't you?"

Twilight relaxed her hold on the unicorn long enough to glance at the bundle just next to the train station. She then laughed lightly. "They had it coming. I just... I saw you.... y-you looked so scared..."

"It's alright dear.", Rarity wiped away Twilight's tears with her hoof. She then kissed Twilight softly, relishing the feeling of their lips pressed together. After she broke from the kiss Twilight managed to stop crying. "Now, what do we know?"

Twilight scoffed slightly, an angry expression covering her beautiful face. "Bandits. Apparently their boss-" she looked at Rarity with a slight grimace "-is in the bottom of the crater over there. He thought that if they ponynapped my marefriend, they could ransom her. I dealt with them though, apparently it was just the six of them."

Rarity smiled at the princess. She had never heard Twilight refer to her as 'marefriend' before and she had to stifle a giggle at the revelation. "Well, good." Twilight looked at Rarity and smiled. "I suppose we should alert the officials?", Rarity asked.

Twilight shook her head. "No. While you were sleeping, a mare came. I sent her to fetch the guards." Rarity nodded and got to her hooves. She wobbled slightly, but was no worse for wear. She looked at the powerful princess and found herself wishing....

"I wish...", she said. "I wish I could be like you." She wrapped her forehooves around her marefriend's neck. "I wish I could be strong, or even just a little more useful to you...", she sighed.

Twilight pulled away from the hug, giving her a stern look. "You are plenty strong, and I have never considered your 'usefulness to me' to be an important quality.", Rarity noticed she used the same tone she used when scolding spike. Her voice became much more gentle and warm with her next statement. "Rarity, I care about you. Just you. You really are nothing less than perfect."

Rarity smiled at her. She knew that Twilight cared for her but, she could not stop herself wishing.

I wish...

After giving their report to the officials, Twilight and Rarity boarded a train headed for the Crystal Empire. They sat in a passenger car close to the back of the train. Rarity was dozing in Twilight's lap while the alicorn read a book. Rarity opened her eyes and looked at Twilight.

"Twilight?" Rarity said. "Where did you go?", she winced slightly as she realized how accusatory her tone sounded. Twilight looked down at her and smiled. The smile had such warmth to it, Rarity could not help herself as she giggled.

"I went to get something, of course." Twilight's tone indicated that there was more to the story. "I thought about how I wanted to get something for a while, so I got something."

Rarity pouted at Twilight's friendly teasing. She knew her marefriend was just enjoying a little teasing, but Rarity wanted to know.

Twilight laughed slightly and levitated her saddlebags over from the next seat. "Fine.", she said, still smiling. "It's not much....," she levitated a book to Rarity. "But I wanted to get you something..." Rarity looked at the title of the book and smiled. "I remembered you said you wished you could have finished it..."

Rarity remembered the tale of a princess and her magician. She kissed Twilight and whispered "Thank you...." She then remembered her trip to the chocolate shop. "Oh, I got you something while I was out, too." She levitated the box of chocolates to Twilight.

Twilight smiled at her and levitated a chocolate out of the box. She broke the heart in half and handed one half to Rarity. "Let's try them together.", she said with a cute smile. Rarity gasped as she realized what Twilight's smile really was. It was a smile she had only ever seen her give two other ponies: Princess Celestia and Shining Armor. She smiled back just as warmly (she hoped) and bit into the chocolate.

It was the best she had ever eaten. Then she remembered the thoughts in her mind. "Twilight?"

"Yes?" Twilight looked worried. Apparently, Rarity's tone had sounded more desperate than she thought.

"You said you think there are other facets to my special talent. Can you teach me? She knew there was little chance. She also knew that Twilight would probably know why she was asking, but she did not think Twilight would be cross with her.

I wish I could be a worthy princess.... the thought struck her as random and a little silly, but she wanted to be worthy of Twilight.

Twilight smiled sadly at her. "No." The single word seemed to crush all of Rarity's hope. "I'm sorry but... I don't know. I don't know what those other skills might be, and I don't know if I have those skills to teach... I'm sorry."

Rarity fought back the tears and smiled at her. "It's fine dear..."

Twilight looked unsure, but smiled politely back at her. She then levitated another chocolate heart to Rarity while saying in the meekest (cutest) voice Rarity had ever heard, "Chocolate makes everything better."

Rarity laughed loudly before nodding and biting into the chocolate. It really did seem to make everything better.

Enchantment

Twilight looked at Rarity, eyes full of love and care. "You are my precious gem. You know that don't you princess?" she said. Rarity blushed as she adjusted her crown. She wanted to be the perfect princess for her beautiful magician.

"Of course I do, dear." she said smiling at her beloved. "You know that you are my most beloved magician, don't you dear?" Twilight simply smiled before nodding. "Good." Rarity smiled. Her precious mage was blushing brightly and she could tell she was in very dire need of affection. "Come here." she commanded in a most regal voice. Twilight smiled even more beautifully before walking up to Rarity's throne.

"Yes, princess?", Rarity honestly did not know if it was a pet-name or her title and cared little regardless. She smiled at her mage before taking her face in her hooves. Rarity closed her eyes, leaned forward, and...

"Rarity?" a voice called out. Twilight disappeared just before Rarity could kiss her. Her crown and throne also vanished.

Rarity became annoyed as she searched for the disturbance and turned to face a large pair of green alicorn eyes. "Princess Luna?", she asked.

Princess Luna smiled down at her with the same compassion her sister might employ. "This is not the first time we have seen you dreaming about being a princess is it?", she asked. Rarity blushed realizing this would be the ninth time in as many weeks she had been caught dreaming of being a princess. "Do not worry, child. We were only entering your dream to deliver a message."

"A message?", Rarity asked. Who could ask a favor like this of Princess Luna of all ponies?

"Yes, we... that is I.. have a friend who wished not to be named. He told me to tell you the question you have asked, can only be answered with 'Enchantment'... that is all we know." she said.

"Enchantment?", Rarity asked. "I'm afraid I don't quite understand, your majesty. Surely you can tell me more than that."

Princess Luna shook her head. "It is a friend I owe almost as much as I owe my sister. If he chooses to stay nameless.... I am sorry."

Rarity smiled at the princess. "If they mean that much to you I won't pry princess." Princess Luna smiled at her. It was an odd thing to see the princess smile. "I do have a favor to ask of you if you would?"

Princess Luna did not look surprised and her smile never faltered as she nodded. "What ever you need, child."

"Could you keep an eye on my little sister? I had her sent back to Ponyville alone and I'm a little worried about her."

"On one condition.", Princess Luna said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Tell us... Does Princess Twilight know about your feelings?"

Rarity blushed as she replied. "Yes, and she returns them." Princess Luna smiled even bigger. "I believe we are currently dating."

"Good. I have a debt to collect... after I have checked on young Sweetie Belle of course.", Princess Luna winked at her (actually winked) as she walked away.

Rarity woke under a large wing and smiled. She contemplated snuggling further under it and trying to go back to sleep but, decided against it. She took a moment to take stock of where she was. She was on a train, laying in a seat next to Twilight with a large wing draped over her. She smiled and looked at Twilight. Twilight was reading a book that she seemed very interested in.

"What time is it?", she asked. She had not even been aware she had gone to sleep.

Twilight looked down at her with a smile that made her heart flutter. Twilight was obviously tired and yet, she still looked at Rarity with the warmth and love Rarity had come to depend on in the past few days. "Good morning. It's only about eight.", she answered, her voice piercing her sleep addled mind with it's softness.

Rarity looked at Twilight and smiled again (she was doing that a lot recently). "Twilight, why would Princess Luna need to collect a debt if she discovered we were together?", Rarity asked.

Twilight giggled softly. "Luna is a gambler.", she said mischievously. "You'll see."

Rarity laughed as she imagined the implications of what that could mean. "Also dear, what do you know about enchantment? Princess Luna paid me a visit in my dream and... she said a friend told her to tell me 'Enchantment' and that's all she could tell me..."

Twilight shook her head. "I honestly don't know a lot about enchanting. I'm not very good at it but.... that's because.... I'm not..." Twilight sentences became choppy as she trailed off. "Ugh.", Twilight yelled into the air making the only other passenger on the car (A large pony under an old blanket) jump. "I should have figured it out." She turned to Rarity and started speaking so fast that Rarity had to really focus to keep up. "Because I don't have plenty of gems on hand that Spike doesn't constantly eat. Gems are the best filter for enchanting, and your special talent is Gem and I should have realized that but, I haven't because I haven't been thinking. Well I have been thinking, just not about you... Well about you but, not about your talent. Well about doing things with you like dates, and movies, and how all this is gonna work, and how we are going to tell our friends and-", Rarity wisely cut her off with a kiss.

"Sweet Celestia, you are adorable.", Rarity said after their kiss. Twilight blushed brightly and looked at the floor blushing.

"Sorry... guess I got carried away." she said.

"Quite alright, dear." Rarity smiled. "Sometimes, you just need to remember that everything is alright."

"Right....", Twilight looked at the floor. "So enchanting...?", she said.

"Yes dear. That's all Princess Luna said." Twilight placed a hoof on her chin while she thought (it was absolutely adorable) and sat like that for several minutes.

Finally when Rarity believed she was on the cusp of giving up she spoke. "It would be a very likely aspect of your talents. Next time you have a gem try enchanting it." she said. "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."

Rarity absorbed all of this new information with the enthusiasm of a school filly during a lecture. She did care for her marefriend but, she really could go on and on. "Well I'll keep that in mind. " She smiled politely.

Twilight positively beamed. "Do you want to know any more?"

"No, thank you. I believe I can work with what you've already said, dear.", Rarity smiled. "I was curious about a few things though... if you don't mind.", she had several questions she had been wanting to ask her new marefriend when they had a moment.

Twilight smiled warmly. "Of course.", she said quietly.

Rarity did not exactly blurt her question, more like, in a ladylike fashion, said it very abruptly and loudly. "When did you realize you cared for me in that way?"

Twilight smiled. "Do you remember when the ponytones quartet sang at Fluttershy's event? It was when I saw you standing on the stage singing and.... I wished you were singing just for me....." Twilight blushed. "I asked my brother a few questions about how he felt about Cadence and from the way he talked... it seemed like I was feeling the same thing... towards you. Then I guess I just kept making excuses to spend time with you.... like with the dress."

"That's very sweet dear.", Rarity said.

"What about you?", Twilight asked.

Rarity felt her cheeks get warmer. "Well... I guess I first noticed it when we all went to Manehatten. I just kept thinking about you... and when I walked out onto the stage and saw you weren't there... I felt bad that all of my friends weren't there but.. I kept thinking about you."

"Well I always thought you.... like stallions?", Twilight seemed to be a little bashful when it came to that particular subject.

"I've honestly never cared about another mare... besides you.", Rarity smiled. She hoped that Twilight wasn't offended. "When did you realize that you.... liked mares?"

Twilight smiled reassuringly. "I've honestly just always found them more attractive. You especially.", she said with a wink.

Rarity giggled at the compliment. "Well thank you, dear. Truth be told I've always found you attractive, even before I had these... feelings for you."

Twilight sighed. "I'm glad you wanted me to be your magician.", it was probably the most corny and heart-felt thing Rarity had ever heard. She smiled at the alicorn.

"I'm glad you chose me as your princess.", she said matching Twilight's corniness.

A bark of laughter from the sole remaining passenger irked at her. She turned around intent on informing him of how rude that was to see he was gone. Then a door in the opposite direction opened.

Rarity looked to the front of the car to see a large unicorn. He was a stallion with a short black mane, his coat a turquoise color. He glared around the train car before his dark green eyes settled on Rarity and Twilight. He walked slowly towards the couple brow creased and a very unsettling smile upon his face.

"You two the ones lookin' for Mythic?", he asked. He was very blunt and Rarity felt like any answer to his question would not end well.

Twilight suddenly flared out her wings standing between the two unicorns. "Who wants to know?", she said, her voice more brisk than Rarity had ever heard before.

The stallion smiled. It was not pleasant. "My name is Dark Blaze but, I guess you want the name of my.... order." his smile only grew more malicious. "I am with the order of Mythlisombratic."

Twilight gasped before charging a spell with her horn. "If that's the case I'm sure you know who I am.", Twilight's voice was quiet and she did not hide the threat in her tone. "You should leave now. Stop looking for him."

The stallion scowled at her. "We only want what everypony wants.", he said obviously enraged. "Freedom. All we need is your cooperation." Twilight looked at him quizzically but did not release the spell she was charging. "Help us find Mythic. With his power we could overthrow Celestia."

Bang

The words had barely left the stallions mouth when Twilight slammed her spell into his side. "That's Princess Celestia to you. Now if you value your precious order you'll leave now. If you don't leave first I'll knock you into next week, then I'll track down your order, and then I'll DESTROY IT!" Twilight yelled.

The stallion stood and began limping to the front of the train car. Before he opened the door he looked over his shoulder and smiled. "You will live to regret this.", he said his voice conveying all of his contempt. Then he turned his head back to the door touched the handle with his magic.

Another explosion rocked the train, much more powerful than the spell Twilight had hit the stallion with. The beam of pure arcane energy seemed to originate on top of the train car and then spread.

After the blinding light of the blast disappeared, Rarity noticed a hole in the roof above and below where the stallion had previously stood. The stallion was gone.

"What was that?", Rarity asked frightened.

Twilight just shook her head. "I recognize that spell.... It's setup kind of like a bomb. If anypony uses dark magic within range of it.... boom." she said. "Somepony set that up. He was about to use some kind of dark magic, probably to attack us, and the ward went off."

A loud yawn erupted from behind them as the other passenger from before seemed to materialize back in his seat, in the same position he had been in before. Rarity was curious as to where he had gone before and how he could sleep through an explosion like that... but she had had enough craziness for one day.

Twilight sat back down next to Rarity and unconsciously draped her wing over her unicorn. Rarity blushed as she realized she had thought of herself as belonging to Twilight. "Don't worry.", Twilight said, "I'll protect you.", she smiled then and laid down in the seat pressed against Rarity. She kissed her gently on the lips before laying her head on Rarity's neck.

After several minutes Rarity realized she was asleep. How much had they gone through in the last few days that anypony could sleep after that? Rarity shook her head. Best not to worry about it now.

She nuzzled her head further under Twilight's before resigning herself to do the same. The next day they would arrive in the crystal empire, then she would be one step closer to finding her brother, and maybe getting some questions answered.

You Died

Rarity watched Twilight sleep, amazed at how well things had gone with their developing relationship in the past few days. She contemplated how strange it was just how close they had grown in so short a time. Of course they had been friends for years but, still it was strange, she thought.

She looked at her hoof where her rubber band was. She still refused to take it off except to sleep. It was a reminder for her, for no matter how bad these past few days had been, Twilight was the one thing holding her together. She smiled as her marefriend snuggled closer, still unconscious with a small smile playing across her lips.

Rarity looked out the window and sighed as she realized the Crystal Empire was finally in sight. She would need to wake Twilight soon. She looked at the back to the back of the car, shocked to see a pair of emerald eyes staring at her intently. The eyes did not waver or look away when they made contact with her own.

Rarity hurriedly looked back to Twilight and began to shake her gently. "Twilight," she said. "we're almost there."

Twilight mumbled something about the "mathematical sequencing between the dimensions of theoretical dimensional teleportation" before opening her eyes, blinking herself awake. "Rarity?" she said. "What are you doing in my lab?"

Rarity laughed before pointing a hoof out the window, trying very hard to ignore the gaze she could feel boring into the back of her head. "We are almost to the Crystal Empire."

Twilight blinked before smiling at her. "Can't wait to see my BBBFF."

"Honestly, I really think you should try to wake up a bit before we arrive." Rarity said.

Twilight shook her head. "I'm awake, sorry." she said. "I just organize my thoughts better when I sleep."

Rarity was curious but, she did not want to pry. She opened her mouth to speak and closed it silently several times. Twilight looked at her from the window and smiled. "I suppose you're curious about what I needed to figure out?" Rarity nodded. "I was trying to figure out if it was possible to teleport between alternate dimensions."

"Why?" Rarity asked.

"Because of that spell we saw yesterday. It's an extremely advanced anti-dark-magic spell set in a rune style. It's formed from the inert light in a pony's heart but, it takes extreme magical talent to manifest that light. The only pony I know who could cast a spell that advanced would have to be extremely talented and have personal training from somepony just as powerful, or plenty of experience in that type of magic." Twilight said quickly. Half of the lavender alicorn's words were lost on Rarity but, she nodded anyways. "The only pony I could think of who could do that without standing out in a crowd would be Sunset Shimmer. I don't think it was her though. First, she has no idea what's going on and wouldn't be able to help anyways. Then I was reviewing the mathematical sequencing required to break through the barriers between dimensions, and I couldn't find anyway it would be possible without several years of intense study on the portal at the very least."

Rarity did not understand almost anything Twilight had just said. "So," she said. "you don't know who could have done that then?" Twilight nodded. "Well whoever it was, I'm grateful for it."

The train began to slow. Twilight stood up and began examining the holes in the train car. "Whoever it was, they'd have to be a very good pony." Twilight said. "That particular spell is based off the kindness in a pony's heart." she smiled.

Rarity smiled as she began gathering their saddlebags. "Perhaps we should ask Shining Armor about it," she said. "maybe he'll know somepony like that." Twilight turned around to smile and nod.

As the train finally came to a stop Rarity and Twilight exited. They both immediately began to walk towards the massive crystal castle in the center of the city. Rarity's worry grew with every step they took towards the castle. All of the answers would, hopefully, be in that castle. Still, she was unsure she actually wanted to know the answers. Her parents had stolen all memory of her brother from all of Ponyville, the hid them away for ten years before just deciding to tell Rarity he existed. She was worried that he really was dead, that all of this was for nothing.

Twilight spun around suddenly before planting a kiss directly on Rarity's lips. Rarity, while surprised at first, leaned into the kiss closing her eyes. She reveled in the feeling of her lips pressed against Twilight's. Twilight's breathing was heavy when she pulled away. "Sorry," she said. "I just wanted to get it out of my system. I want to tell my BBBFF, but I thought I would keep the affection to a minimum. I just don't want to make him uncomfortable."

Rarity laughed before nodding. "Quite alright, I wouldn't want to bother him." she said. They finally arrived at the castle and Rarity took a deep breath to steel herself before opening the door.

They could hear loud arguing from the throne room down the hall. Twilight laughed slightly before heading towards the noise. As Rarity walked behind her marefriend she could hear very loud yelling from familiar voices.

"WE TOLD YOU SO!" definitely Princess Luna, yelled. "YOU MADE AN OATH TO PAY US IN THE SPECIFIED MANNER, NOW SHINING ARMOR WE DEMAND YOU DO SO!"

"I still don't believe it," Shining Armor said, just before Twilight opened the door to the throne room, Rarity caught his next words clearly and blushed. "Twily would have to walk in and kiss Rarity before I'd believe it."

As they entered the room all of the occupants quickly grew quiet. Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Princess Cadence had all been staring down Shining Armor, the former three wearing smug grins as they noticed the newcomers.

Rarity blushed even more intently as she realized they were all waiting expectantly. Rarity looked to Twilight, who to her credit, looked just as stoic as she always did. "Well," Twilight said "I believe we also had a bet BBBFF." Twilight looked back at Rarity before kissing her quickly on the lips. Rarity honestly did not believe that a blush could grow quite as hot as hers had.

Shining Armor's jaw dropped. "Please, tell me that didn't just happen," he said. "I really don't want to do it."

"Twilight?" Rarity asked. "You bet your brother that we would start dating?"

"No," she said. "I bet him when I was six that I would never date a stallion."

Rarity laughed loudly. "And the rest of you?"

Princess Cadence laughed as well. "I bet him that she would start dating you, Princess Luna bet him that she would start dating another mare, and Princess Celestia just came to watch him pay up." she said.

"How much did you bet?" Rarity asked him. Shining armor just sighed dejectedly and shook his head.

"I didn't bet money..." he said cryptically. "I'll just get them all out of the way now." He walked to Princess Luna and said "You are always right about everything and I'm not."

He then approached Princess Cadence his voice growing monotone. He then proceeded to sing every line of "I feel pretty" while tap-dancing. Rarity raised an eyebrow, wondering just why the princesses would have him do these things.

Lastly he approached Twilight, then hugged her tightly. "I'm proud of you..." he said quietly. "I promised, that if you never started dating a stallion that I would always be honest with you, and that's probably the most honest thing I can say. I'm proud of you and I love you little sis." Twilight had tears in her eyes when she pulled away from the hug.

"Love you too, BBBFF." she said.

Pop!

"Um, Rarity? What's with the rubber band?" Princess Cadence asked. Twilight just shook her head which made Rarity realize she had never told her marefriend.

"It's nothing really, just a memento now." Rarity said happily.

"So why are thee here, child?" Princess Luna asked. "We did not know you had planned a trip here."

"We needed to have a talk with Shining Armor," Twilight said. "he's apparently been in contact with somepony we've been trying to find."

"Yes," Rarity said "We believe you know how to find my brother." Shining Armor's jaw dropped slightly. "His name is Mythic."

"That's impossible." Shining Armor said. "He told me he doesn't have a family anymore."

Rarity's heart skipped a beat. Her brother was alive. "Where is he?" she asked.

Shining Armor hung his head and sighed loudly, causing Rarity to deflate slightly. "I don't know." he said. "He doesn't tell me where he stays, we just meet every few weeks. He just kinda appears, hangs out for a while, then disappears again." Rarity wondered if he meant that literally or not.

"But," she hesitated "he is alive, right?" Rarity looked to Shining, her heart ready to shatter.

He smiled and nodded before laughing slightly. "Oh yeah, I don't think anything can kill him."

Rarity smiled and looked to see Twilight smiling just as brightly. All this had not been for nothing. "When did he last show up?" Twilight asked.

"It's actually been awhile." Shining Armor said. "Knowing him he should roll in any day now, if nothing else has caught his attention."

"Whatever do you mean?" Rarity asked.

Shining laughed again. "Sometimes he gets the desire to just go on an adventure. It's kinda weird but, that's just part of who he is, I suppose."

Rarity felt a little pang of sadness as she realized that Shining Armor knew her brother better than she did. "What's he like?" she asked suddenly, Twilight giving her a pained look as she realized Rarity's train of thought.

Shining Armor for his part just looked confused. "What do you mean?" he asked. "He's your brother I thought you'd know him better than me."

Rarity began to tear up surprising everypony in the room (including herself). "I should, should I not?" she asked. "I just can't remember." Twilight moved closer to Rarity and draped her wing over her. Rarity had become very accustomed to this gesture and appreciated the closeness with her marefriend. When Rarity felt the soft down covering her she began to calm slightly. "Please, Shining Armor, anything you can tell me about him."

Shining Armor opened his mouth to speak when the sound of fighting outside the doors to the throne room floated in. Everypony in the room stopped to stare at the door. None of them were concerned about the combat, probably because the five most powerful ponies in Equestria were all in the room.

As the sounds of fighting started to die down the door slowly opened revealing a large unicorn. He was slightly taller than Princess Luna, with a snow white coat and long purple mane. The style of the stallion's mane looked very similar to Rainbow Dash's, although his mane and tail were one color. As he walked past Rarity she could see his cutie mark.

Rarity gasped loudly as she saw his flank. His cutie mark looked just like Twilight's, only it had a sword in the center of the largest star. She knew who he was now. His emerald eyes scanned over the room before settling on her. His brow furrowed as he spoke, his voice a lot less menacing than she would have thought. "Who, pray tell, are you?" he asked.

Rarity shook her head, trying to discern if this was a dream. "Mythic?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Shining Armor!" he yelled. "One would think you had learned your lesson by now. These ponies cannot be who they claim to be."

"And why is that?" Twilight said, her voice betraying the building anger within her. "I assure you that I am Twilight, and that is Rarity." she indicated Rarity with a hoof.

"That can't be, little one." Mythic said. "She can't be Rarity."

"Why not?" Rarity asked.

Mythic looked at his little sister, pain crossing his expression. "Because, I killed you eleven years ago."

"What?" six voices asked simultaneously. Mythic looked back at Rarity his eyes red ringed like he was about to cry.

"You died."

Monsters

"You died." Mythic said. The brother Rarity had just spent the past week trying to find had just confessed to killing his sister. There was total silence in the room as everypony present was shocked into silence.

The silence was broken as a guard limped into the room shaking. "We tried to stop him, your highness. He was just too strong." the guard said falling to the floor.

"MYTHIC!" Shining Armor's authoritative voice caused Rarity and Twilight to jump. "What have you done?" Mythic smiled.

"Sorry, Captain. Your soldiers just wouldn't let me in. Something about a princess meeting they said. Besides they needed a little training, sir." Mythic said.

"Mythic..." Shining Armor began, "You can't just come beat up my guards because you feel like it."

Mythic snapped off a serious salute. "Sorry, Captain. Won't happen again, sir." He said in a militaristic fashion.

Twilight spoke then, her voice full of anger. "Mythic," she said "how dare you." Mythic looked at her as if seeing her for the first time.

"Excuse me?", he asked. "How dare I, what? Accuse that mare," he pointed a hoof at Rarity. "of being an imposter? I know I killed my little sister. My parents may have been awful, but they would not have lied to me about that..." he stopped as he realized something. "Why are you crying?" He asked Rarity.

Rarity was sitting in the floor, tears streaming down her face. "Mythic..." Her voice was quiet and cracked slightly when she spoke. "I'm your little sister. I don't know if I can prove it... but I am."

Mythic considered her for a moment before stepping closer. He was the largest unicorn Rarity had ever seen, and he was the second largest being in the room. His eyes seemed to look right through her. "Changelings." was all he said.

Shining Armor and Twilight both stepped in front of him then, everypony else too shocked to move. Shining Armor spoke first. "She helped us fight off the changelings. Besides, she's been around for a long time."

"It's true," Twilight said. "She wielded the Element of Generosity, against Nightmare Moon, a few years ago." Princess Luna winced slightly at her old name before nodding.

"It's true." said the midnight blue alicorn. "She has been our friend for a long time now because of it." Mythic looked at all of the ponies in the room, his eyes finally resting on Princess Celestia.

"What do you have to say?" His voice lacking any of the respect Princess Celestia was accustomed to.

Princess Celestia smiled as she walked to stand directly in front of Mythic. She stopped just in front of him before studying his eyes. "I believe," she said. "that you don't want this to be your sister. You already went through the pain of losing her once, so you don't want to have to go through it again." The look on Princess Celestia's face lost some of it's intensity as her expression warmed. "This is your sister, Rarity, Mythic. Trust me."

Mythic nodded before looking at Rarity, his expression changed to one of remorse. "I'm sorry." he said. "I knew our parents were awful, but I didn't know they would..." he trailed off again. Suddenly he slammed a hoof on the floor. "I'm so stupid!" he yelled.

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Whatever for?" she asked.

He looked back at her. "Our parents. They've been trying to find me for a long time now. I've always avoided them but, now it makes sense. Think Rarity, why would they go to the trouble of hiding my existence from you, and your existence from me, just to tell you eleven years later? Then they ran off in the middle of the night and never explained why!"

Rarity was shocked. She had no idea how he knew all of this. "What?" was all she could say.

Mythic grunted in frustration, realizing he was the only pony in the room who knew what he was getting at. "I found out they left in the middle of the night, with no plans... I have contacts watching them," he explained "So I went to Manehatten. Then I started following you when I realized you were looking for me." Rarity nodded catching on. He knew everything that had transpired because he had been following them since Manehatten.

"That was you on the train?" Twilight asked. Mythic nodded. "You saved us? You thought we were fakes!"

Mythic rolled his eyes. "Yes, but I wanted to learn who you were working for. I honestly didn't think you were really my sister." He stopped short looking at Rarity. Everything was still and silent for one moment. After that moment was up, Rarity felt as if her bones were being crushed. Her brothers forelegs wrapped around her middle as he lifted her into the air. "You're really my sister." he said quietly. "I've missed you so much. I thought I killed you I'm so sorry." He was crying by this point but, he did release her. "Sorry." he said. "I just... I'm glad you're alive..." he smiled mischievously. "and dating royalty? Good for you." he said.

Rarity and Twilight both began blushing. "I still don't understand though, whatever is the matter?" Rarity asked.

Mythic wiped away his tears as his calm expression returned. "The matter, dear sister, is that our parents wanted to find me, when they couldn't they told you about me, then they must have fed you some of your old memories, enough to find me anyways. Then they couldn't risk facing Captain Armor," he motioned towards Shining Armor. "so they told you the roadblock they ran into."

Rarity slowly put the pieces together. "I still don't understand. Why is this a bad thing?" she asked.

Mythic shook his head and pointed towards the door he had come in. "Because that cult? The ones who have been trying to turn me into the next King Sombra? Our parent were the founding members." As Mythic spoke two cloaked figures walked into the doorway.

Rarity shivered as she realized what had happened. Her parents were the cultists. They had tried to force Mythic to do their bidding and he had refused. When he ran away, taking Rarity with him, they had followed and attacked him. After the incident at the hotel, they had wiped her memories of her brother and told him that when he pushed her out the window he had killed her. Then they tried to find him again later, and were unsuccessful. Believing his sister was dead, he must have seen no reason to return.

When her parents could not find him again, they decided to use Rarity as bait. They had all fallen for it, and she realized this as the two figures in the doorway removed their hoods revealing, "Mother, Father. Still not dead?" Mythic asked, his tone the same as if commenting on the weather.

Mythic stepped between the two unicorns and his friends. "Not quite there yet, son." Their father said.

Mythic smirked. "I can arrange that." The malice in his voice sent a chill up Rarity's spine. Her brother had just threatened their father, and she was sure he would deliver.

"How ungrateful are you?" Their mother chimed in. "All of you children, you're useless." Rarity wanted to cry again. This can't be happening she thought. these are not my parents. "Seriously," she said, gaining the attention of the room. "We have one child that's a walking disaster, one that won't obey, and now one that's apparently a filly-fooler. We must be cursed as parents."

Pure rage. That was the best way to describe how everypony in the room felt. "How dare you!" Everypony was shocked that it was Princess Celestia yelling angrily. "First, your youngest daughter is by far one of the kindest ponies I have ever met." Had Sweetie ever met Celestia Rarity thought to herself. "Second your son is probably the finest soldier in Equestria" she was advancing on the short, plump ponies as she spoke. "And last of all, how dare you insult love, in any form. I've never, never tolerated anypony insulting the way my little ponies love each other." Celestia was now standing before the two cultists towering over them. "Now, you have a choice to make. You can flee now or you can surrender. If you flee, we will find you, and we will arrest you."

The two ponies stood their ground, despite how livid the princess was. They ignored her and looked back to Mythic. "How did you figure us out?" His mother asked.

Mythic scowled. "I only told three ponies where I was going, and I don't think Octavia would betray me. Especially when she knew that Rarity would be with me."

Mythic began to glow, and an unnatural wind began to blow around his body sending his mane billowing around him. Rarity recognized this show of power, she had only ever seen Twilight do it alone. She had also seen the combined power of Cadence and Shining Armor create a similar effect.

Mythic smirked. "I knew you guys were behind it, and I still didn't want to believe it. I was going to disappear and leave you be, but now?" The wind picked up as his power grew more intense. "Now, I'm going to hunt down your little club, and I'm going to bury it. You've put my little sister in harm's way one too many times."

Their parents faces looked passive, not even a hint of fear showing. Princess Luna began to speak. "You should surrender now." she said. "You can't possibly hope to defeat the seven of us."

The cultists (Rarity could not think of them as anything else anymore) looked to one another, nodded, and disappeared in a flash of light. Rarity wished she could teleport as she fell to the floor. Twilight was at her side immediately, holding her closely.

Mythic's aura dispersed as he stared at the spot where the cultists stood. "Monsters." he said. Everypony in the room, aside from Rarity, nodded their assent.

Rarity could not contain herself any longer. Her parents may have been distant all her life, but they had never showed such contempt for their own children. She began to cry quietly into the soft fur of her marefriend. Twilight cooed sweetly to her as she cried, nopony in the room wanting to intervene. After all none of them knew what to say to make her feel better.

After Twilight was able to calm Rarity, everypony gathered together in the center of the room. "So," Cadence said. "what are we going to do about this?"

Mythic snapped his head up. "I'll deal with it." he said. "They're my parents, my problem."

"You'll need help." Celestia said. "You've been their goal for years, you can't go alone."

"Agreed, I'll go too." Shining Armor said. Cadence shot him a look. "I'm sorry, but he needs me." Shining explained to his wife. "After all, I think he'd do the same for me." Cadence sighed, then nodded silently.

"I would." Mythic said.

"I'm going too." Rarity said causing everypony to look at her. "I've come this far, I'm not about to lose my brother to my parents."

"What about Sweetie Belle?" Twilight asked.

"Who?" Mythic asked.

"Your other little sister." Twilight said.

"I have another little sister?" Mythic smiled.

Rarity nodded at him as Luna spoke. "We have been keeping an eye on her... aside from needing a friend, she is alright. We can continue to keep an eye on her if you'd like."

Rarity nodded. "Thank you, Your Majesty." she said.

"If you're going, I'm going." Twilight said smiling at her.

"Sibling outing, huh?" Shining Armor said. The other ponies laughing slightly at his joke.

"I'll go too." Cadence said. Princess Celestia shook her head.

"Somepony needs to be here for the crystal ponies." Celestia said. Cadence huffed slightly but nodded at the other princess.

"What do we know?" Shining asked Mythic.

"I know their order is called Mythlisombratic, I know where a couple of their officers are, and I know who their leaders are." Mythic replied, not even attempting to hide his distaste at the mention of his parents.

"That's all?" Luna asked. Mythic just sighed and nodded. "Well, I believe you should at least wait until tomorrow to head out, maybe make a plan tonight, then leave tomorrow morning."

"One more thing," Rarity said. "in my dream, the message," she looked at Mythic. "that was from you wasn't it?"

Mythic nodded. "I thought even if you were an imposter, if you were one of the legendary seven, it would be beneficial to see what you were capable of." Rarity nodded.

"I wish I could help." Celestia said, sounding uncharacteristically somber. "The crown is a heavy burden in such trying times."

"If you need any help feel free to ask us." Luna said.

"Well, Twilight," Cadence said, a mischievous smile on her lips. "Do you and Rarity need one room, or two?" she asked.

They laughed as Twilight and Rarity blushed brightly. "One." Twilight mumbled, causing everypony to laugh louder.

Mythic suddenly approached the lavender alicorn, stooping to be eye-level with her. After a moment of studying her nervous face he smiled. "I can think of worse ponies for my sister." he said with a light chuckle.

"I have a question." Twilight said. "Octavia said you picked her accent in your years together, but you sound like anypony else. Why is that?"

Shining laughed. "The Royal Guard will kinda beat that out of a pony." he said.

"Alright everypony," Celestia said. "Maybe it's time to retire for the night?"

Mythic shared a look with Shining. "Actually I think me and Capt- I mean Prince Shining Armor, should stay up a bit and make a game plan." Shining Armor nodded his agreement.

"Well, I think I should get ready for the evening court." Cadence said walking to the doors. "Don't leave tomorrow before I get to tell you goodbye." she called over her shoulder, knowing she wouldn't have to worry about it.

"We should return to Canterlot." Princess Luna said. "We wish you luck, and we'll keep a close eye on young Sweetie Belle." Rarity nodded her thanks at the princess as she walked out the doors.

"I should probably return too." Celestia said wrapping her wing over both Twilight and Rarity. "I'm happy for both of you." she said before walking out the door.

"We should go to bed," Twilight said to Rarity. "If I know Shining Armor as well as I think I do, he'll want to head out early."

"Goodnight you two." Shining Armor called to them as they walked away.

Rarity paused in the doorway. "Mythic?" she called.

Mythic looked at her and smiled. "We'll catch up tomorrow I promise." he said.

Rarity smiled and nodded. She turned around and began to follow her marefriend to their bed. She had the feeling that even though there was still work to be done on their adventure, she had reached some form of closure. She leaned into Twilight as she walked. "We finally found Mythic." she said.

Twilight giggled cutely. "Yes, we did." she said.

"Thank you." Rarity whispered. Twilight's only response was a kiss on Rarity's lips.

It was just a quick peck on the lips but, Rarity thought it was the best kiss she had shared with her. She would definitely sleep well tonight.

"Thank you." Rarity said one last time as they entered their room, Twilight seeming to know which one was theirs without being told.

As Rarity snuggled under Twilight's wing she felt a lot of things, but the most important things were the ones that lulled her to sleep. She may have lost two parents on their journey but, she had gained an amazing marefriend and a great big brother.

Sibling Outing

Rarity woke to a headache. Normally she would have attributed it to the stress of the past few days, or maybe to the fact that she was sleeping in an unfamiliar place, but this was not the case. She knew where her headache came from the moment she woke. It was from her brother and Twilight's brother.

"Sibling outing!" they yelled simultaneously as they threw open the doors of Twilight and Rarity's room. Twilight flew to the ceiling in shock, and Rarity rolled out of bed onto the crystal floors. Shining Armor and Mythic stood in the doorway laughing loudly. Rarity groaned from the floor. She had only had her brother back for one day and he was already acting like the big brother stereotype.

"I suppose you think that's funny?" Rarity asked from the floor. The stallions only laughed louder. She giggled despite herself as Twilight glided to the floor.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at her brother. "What?" Shining Armor asked. "That was funny."

"You've never done anything like that before." Twilight smiled. "I think Mythic has a bit of an influence on you."

Mythic laughed. "Good influence or bad?" he asked.

"I believe that's up for debate." Rarity said as she stood. "How did you two even meet?" she asked realizing Shining Armor had never mentioned Mythic before.

"The Royal Guard Academy." Mythic answered. "We were room-mates and we even got assigned our own team, just the two of us." Mythic smiled as he briefly reflected on his memories of the academy.

"Yeah, he made quite the impression on me the day we met." Shining laughed. "Mythic really took some getting used to, but I could never ask for a better friend." he said as he draped a foreleg over Mythic's massive back.

Rarity giggled as she looked at them. They looked more like a two brothers than two battle hardened warriors. "So you were a guard?" she asked Mythic.

Mythic pawed the ground nervously as Shining Armor chuckled lightly. "No," Shining said. "not just any guard. He was the head of Luna's night guard." Rarity's jaw dropped. "Yeah, he quit after the first couple of months though... What did you say?" He asked Mythic. "Something about, thought she was playing favorites?"

Mythic shook his head. "Ponies were spreading rumors that she only picked me because I was her only friend. That wasn't true but still I was tired of hearing them say that... so I quit."

"Yeah, that was it. The night after you guys used the elements on her Princess Celestia wanted to setup a new night guard for her, and he was the best, but he was only her captain for a year before he quit." Shining explained. "After that he pulled his disappearing act and I was the only pony he'd visit."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "The way you guys are so calm, I could almost believe we aren't heading out to fight a cult today." she said.

"Lighten up princess," Mythic said. "This used to be a regular thing for me and Shining Armor."

Twilight looked to Shining Armor who smiled. "Yeah, another day... another Anti-Celestia cult." he said. Rarity tried to imagine the two fun-loving stallions as fighters capable of fighting cults regularly.

"Our first assignment as a two-man team was to destroy a cult similar to Mythlisombratic." Mythic explained. "Now important stuff," he jumped to a new topic. "We are leaving in two hours, Twilight we would like you to carry the food and provisions, Shining and I will carry the tents and bedding... I assume we only need three." He said with a sly wink to his sister, who blushed furiously. He laughed before continuing. "We have to walk to Darktown from here so pack light."

"Wait," Rarity began. "What am I carrying?" she didn't want her brother and her marefriend to do all the work, she wanted to be useful.

Mythic smiled at her. "You'll probably slow us down enough training, we can't risk having you carry anything too."

Rarity's jaw dropped. "And what, exactly, am I going to be training for?" she asked. Mythic pulled a gem off of a nearby table and handed it to her. "Oh... Enchantment?" she asked.

Mythic nodded. "If you can at-least get the basics down, you'll be absolutely invaluable." he explained. "Trust me, I heard your conversation on the train, I know you want to be more useful."

Rarity nodded. "I'll try to learn and walk."

An incredibly refined yawn escaped from the hallway. Princess Cadence entered the room looking like she had just woke up. "You guys are up early." she said.

"Why don't we all go get some breakfast?" Mythic said as he led the way out of the room. Does he know where he's going? Rarity wondered.

"Other way, Mythic." Cadence called as she led the way (in the right direction). Apparently not.

The group walked down the hallways toward the dining rooms silently. It was much earlier in the morning than what Rarity was used to and now that the initial shock of her strange wake-up call was passed she was feeling very tired. "So," she began in an attempt to socialize with her brother. "why do they call it Darktown?"

Mythic slowed his long-legged gait to walk on Rarity's side, opposite of Twilight. "Because it's far to the north, and almost always snowing there, so it's really dark."  He smirked. "So how long have you been dating the princess?"

Rarity blushed and tried not to mumble her response. "A few days..."

Mythic laughed loudly. "And you're already sleeping together? Good on you." he said.

Twilight blushed and stammered while Rarity replied. "It's not like that, Mythic!" Which only cause Mythic to laugh even more loudly.

"I didn't think so." he said with a devilish grin. "You two should get your minds out of the gutter."

An awkward silence reined over Rarity and Twilight over breakfast. Mythic and Shining Armor took the time to reminisce over old academy stories while they ate. Cadence left shorty after she ate stating that without Shining she had even more duties to tend to, Shining apologized and told her goodbye.

After the meal Mythic brought out three saddle bags of supplies and they headed out. "So," Rarity said as they left the boarders of the Crystal Empire. "are there no trains in Darktown?'

"Nah, it isn't a very big town so they don't get a lot of visitors. Perfect town for our first target to stay in." Mythic said.

"So, when you say target... you don't mean... are we going to kill somepony?" Rarity asked nervously.

Mythic laughed. "No, we just want to get some information from him."

Shining looked hurt. "We don't kill unless it's absolutely necessary." Shining said.

"Sorry, I wasn't trying to imply-" Rarity was cut off.

"It's alright, I understand. If we do run into anything like that, I just wanted you to know... we'll try to avoid it." Shining Armor said.

"If we have to resort to that... I understand." Rarity said. A ruby flew in front of her face wrapped in a green telekinetic field.

"Time to train, little sis." Mythic said. Rarity glared at the back of her big brother's head. Who did he think he was, telling her what to do?

Nevertheless she began examining the ruby with her own magic. She tried to picture the enchantment and realized that she had no idea of where to start. "What should I do?" she asked.

Twilight floated a book to the mare on her side. "Maybe you should study it a bit before you just jump right in." she said.

Rarity nodded as she opened the book reading it aloud. "Enchantment Basics of the Arcane, chapter one: the basics.... Thank you, Twilight." Rarity said. "I believe this is more my level."

Mythic smiled at Twilight, "So, how long have you two known each other?" he asked as Rarity studied the book.

"Several years now. Why?" Twilight asked.

Mythic just shrugged. "Just trying to make conversation... I ought to get to know my sister's marefriend."

"Well, I honestly think you should get to know her a bit too..." Twilight said.

Mythic sighed sadly. "Yes, well I remember her..."

Rarity looked up from her book and noticed the looks of sadness on both Twilight and Mythic's faces. She then closed the book.

"Well, Mythic... Tell us a bit about yourself." Rarity said. "After all I don't really know anything about my brother, and I believe that is more important than learning enchantments, besides I can always read before we go to sleep at night."

Mythic positively beamed. "That's true, you can just read when we make camp." He cleared his throat. "Well you know my name, my special talent, and my best friend," as he spoke he walked to Rarity's side, opposite to Twilight. "Let's see, I suppose I should start at the beginning. When I was attacked by some cultists in Ponyville, who demanded I become the next Sombra, I realized I wasn't safe... you were living with me at the time, so I told our parents I was moving and taking you with me then I told Octavia. After we went to the city, Las Pegasus, we stayed in a hotel for our first night... that's when we were attacked."

Mythic grew quiet for a few minutes after that, but eventually he spoke again. "The building blew up with me in it, but I survived, woke up in the woods a few days later... just tough like that. Then I went to the Las Pegasus hospital to try to find you and that little green filly. Our parents were there... they told me I killed you.... I-I-I..." Mythic choked back a sob. "I ran away... I didn't even stay to see if that little filly was okay..."

Tears ran down Rarity's face as she realized her brother was beginning to cry, silently. She stretched out her hoof to try to place it on his back in a soothing manner, but found she could not reach it.

Mythic smiled when he saw what his little sister was attempting and leaned down for her. "Thank you." he said. When Rarity simply nodded he continued talking. " After that I spent a few years in the guard academy.... and well you know the rest."

"That doesn't tell me very much." Rarity said.

Mythic shrugged again. "Not much to tell, sorry... What about you? What have you been up to these past few years?"

Rarity smiled. "Well, I opened a shop where I make dresses." Mythic began snickering. "What?"

"You actually became a dress maker?" Mythic asked. When Rarity nodded Mythic began laughing openly.

"Be nice, Mythic." Shining Armor called back to him. "She's your little sister."

"She's a dress maker!" Mythic laughed louder.

Shining Armor and Twilight exchanged looks and then rolled their eyes. Rarity huffed in a most dignified manner before re-opening her book on enchantment.

"This is going to be a long trip." she said.

Heal

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.