Broken, but Still Standing

The gravel crunched as we made the long walk up the grand mansion of Diamond Bright. It's strange how you make a resolve without ever knowing if you're actually capable of going through with it. I told myself I'd kick Bright's plot for what he did, but now I questioned if I could. I've never actually seen the Stallion behind the name, and from what I've heard, he's a hulk. I swallowed hard when our guide, who hadn't said a word since he told us to follow him, opened the grandiose front door, revealing a hallway that literally looked like it was made of gold.

I could feel Rainbow's jaw open as she stared at it. She didn't step in until she carefully wiped ever hoof, holding us up for a minute, much to the disapproval of our mute guide.

I lifted an eyebrow. “What was that about?”

“Look, we might be walking to our doom.” She looked around at the sparkling hallway. “But this place is so bucking nice, I'd feel rude dying with dirty hooves.”

I gave her a,' you serious?' look.

“What?” She demanded in a hush tone, looking around at the walls and ceiling, which all seemed to be connected seamlessly. “I'd hate to die being rude! That just ain't me.”

I shook my head, and kept walking.

We came to a door that seemed to be cut out of a single ruby. What lay behind took both of us by surprise.

“Octavia?” I blinked.

Octavia didn't meet my eye. She looked like she'd been crying. Sitting in a chair by a grand fire was the most massive unicorn I'd ever seen. He was pure white, even his mane and cutie mark, a diamond. The only color was the blue ice chips for eyes.

I took a moment to examine the room we just stepped into. It was like one of those old fashioned dens, dark red rugs over dark redwood planks. The ceiling was lower than the hallways, but not low enough to give it a claustrophobic feeling. The walls were lined with bookshelves made of mahogany, and there was a dark, polished walnut study table with an ornate candle stick made of crystal. Near by Diamond Bright, sat another high back chair, like his own, looking more like a thrown rather than a simple chair.

“This is...” Rainbow's voice was low and hushed as her eyes drank in the small details that only pegasi could see. She shook her head. “I've never seen anything so incredible in my life.”

“Thank you.” A deep bass voice intoned. Bright was watching us with his ice chipped eyes. “I shall pass on the complement to the master craft ponies who made the house. They, no doubt, will be pleased to hear it.”

I faced Diamond, anger starting to boil as I locked eyes with the white stallion. He didn't blink, didn't stand, almost didn't acknowledge that I was standing there.

“Please, Miss Scratch. I would prefer if you removed your iconic glasses. It is only polite for a guest to show her eyes to her host.”

“Really?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even. “Why do-” A look from Octavia told me not to finish the challenge. I might be impulsive, but I'm not stupid. With a sigh, I magicked them off.

“I see you are reasonable.” Bright's deep voiced, with a hint of relief. “Maybe we can resolve this, misunderstanding, peacefully.” He nodded to the unicorn behind us, and our guide left.

“Where's Derpy?”

“Miss Hooves, I'm afraid, is unavailable.” He answered. His voice grated on my ears, not because of its harshness, but because it was so calm, smooth, reassuring. “She is still in recovery from the baby's birth.”

I was stunned. I was no doctor, but she wasn't that far along! Diamond stood, showing his true size. The stallion was a bucking beast! A regular stallion was around five foot four. The ceiling was about eight feet high. Diamond Bright had about a foot clearance.

“So...” Rainbow gave a nervous smile. “Is there, aaahh, set visiting hours?” She laughed a little nervously as Bright's eyes found hers. “Y-you know. We could just come and con-gradulate her...later?” She squeaked.

“I don't feel that's the best idea for you to come back.” Bright boomed softly.

“Some brave pony you are.” I quipped to RD.

“Hey!” She shot back. “You want to argue with him?!” She folded her ears, as Diamond never looked away from her. “I mean to say, you're quite the reasonable Stallion. I don't want to be rude.”

Bright didn't say anything. His eyes bore into hers for another few seconds, then turned to mine. As intimidating as he looked, I stared him down, as if we were the same size. No way I was going to leave this place without my Derp, and her baby.

“Miss Scratch.” Bright said my name, as if tasting it on his tongue. “I see you have much on your mind.” He took a few steps towards me, and bent down, so we were nose to nose. “I am listening.”

You know what's funny? You wonder what you'd say in moments like this, long before the moment comes. You rehearse what you're going to say, to sound tough, cool, bad-plot even. You spend long afternoons wondering what would make the most impact, and how to prove your right. Then, when the moment finally comes, you don't say any of it. Your heart just opens and you say what you feel.

“I'm here for Derpy and her baby.” I replied, not backing down in the slightest. “Either let me take them, or I will kick your plot, and then take them.”

He didn't react in anyway. The door behind us opened and something was pushed in on rollers.

“I think you should reconsider, Miss Scratch.” Bright said, his hot breath on my nose. He wasn't going to be the first look away. “Please, consider this as a reason to vacate my residence.”

Some pony groaned. I didn't want to look away, but when I heard the thunk and the 'omf!' followed by curses, I looked to the roller to find Aegis in restraints, fore hooves over his head and a magic inhibitor on his horn, getting hit in the side by the scrawny unicorn.

“I found him trying to intimidate my employees. I'm not very tolerant of others putting their snouts where they don't belong.”

The green unicorn smacked my dad again in the side with a crowbar.

“Crowbar?” Aegis chuckled. “Sure they hurt, but do you know how unoriginal that is, Stutters?”

“I-i-it may b-b-be unorig-g-ginal, b-b-but I-f-f it's not-t-t bro-o-ke t-t-then w-hy f-f-ix it?” He smacked him again in the ribs.

“Nngg, I see your point. Could you at least hit a little harder? You're not going to break shit with pussy swings like that.”

Okay, so he was fine, for now, but the fact that he was here caused me to start to panic. RD was starting to make a move, but Octavia was eying her too.

The whole room was powder keg ready to blow. All it needed was a spark.

I didn't wait to time things, I just acted. I shot a blast at the magic inhibitor on my dad's horn. Immediately, the blast was intercepted by both unicorns, and I used that moment to shot another blast at the crow bar in the stutterer's grasp. It shot up, and was caught by my dad, as he clamped his teeth down and swung it to catch Mr. Stutter full in the face, knocking him out instantly.

The hoof that hit me in the face drove me back to the wall as RD an Octavia started to grapple, trying to get to my dad.

“You little shit!” Bright growled, pinning me to the wall with his two fore hooves.

“That's what I thought.” I smirked, taking the offensive magic wise, forcing him to shield his eyes from fiery blue sparks.

“You will die here with your father and friend.”

“Not if I kill you first!” I'm not the most talented in offensive magic, but I levitated the dropped crow bar and smacked Bright on the back of the head as hard as I could.

He let go, being knocked to one side, struggling to get up. Instead of finishing him, I turned my attention to what was happening to the others. Aegis had two hooves free, and was working the magic inhibitor off his horn. RD an Octi were rolling on the ground, curing and biting at each other. The tackle that caught me was unexpected, but it drove me to the wall, knocking all wind out of me with a scream of pain and surprise.

It seemed like all motion in the room stopped as Bright stomped backwards, snorting and growling, scraping the carpet to ribbons as he got ready for the charge, horn down. I only had the strength to turn my head to see it coming. There were screams, I'm sure, yells of disrepair, but I heard none of that. The only thing my mind registered was the gray mare throwing herself in front of me, pulling the hulking white train off coarse and into the wall next to me. The wall shook as Bright nailed Octavia to the wall, running his horn through her body.

She screamed out in pain, her eyes going wild as she desperately wrapped her forelegs around his massive head. With a cry, she yanked as hard as she could, silencing the room with a mighty -SNAP.

I watched in horror as Bright slid to the ground, leaving a bloody trail and a gaping hole in Tavi's chest. I was there in a spit second, pressing my hooves against the bleeding hole.

“There's...” She gasped. “Not much time.”

“Shut up, you stupid, stupid,” I could feel the tears falling on my cheeks as I looked into the face of Tavi, shuddering as her life bled out of her.

“Listen.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I lied about things.” She pulled a little picture out of her collar, pressing it into my unbloodied hoof. “I did it for her. My parents were in Bright's pocket their whole lives. I tried to change that after you left me at school. That's why I joined the Symphony, and started dating Barra Von Hoofen.” She coughed, her voice getting weaker. “He was gay, and never gave me what I needed, so...I cheated on him.” Her eyes stated to close, as tears ran down our faces. “His name was Fire Fly. I gave birth last year. Diamond found out and foalnapped her, forcing me into his services.” She coughed. “That's how I was appointed to become the Chief Inspector. I was his recovery dog. Please,” She locked eyes with me, drawing a shuddering breath. “Her name is Scootaloo.”

Her haggard breathing was shallow and slow.

I looked at the picture, and nodded, tears streaming down my face, blinding me. “I'll raise her like she's my own.” I promised. As messed up as Octavia's actions were, they made sense now. She was being forced to find Derpy, and knew that I was the only pony standing in the way.

Octavia, now one of the bravest mares I knew, mouthed the words 'thank you' and breathed out her last breath.

The room was silent, save a few sniffles. I looked down at the picture of the little orange pegasi with a pink mane. The picture was worn. Poor mare must have looked at this every spare chance she had, like any mother would.

We didn't speak as we made our way around the mansion, looking for Derpy. There were a few guards, but they didn't stand much of a chance as my dad is ex black Ops and I was still in rage mode from the death of a friend.

“Stay back!” A voice called out as we opened another door. Inside was a white mare with a long, curled, purple mane, three crystals for a cutie mark, and levitating a kitchen knife. Behind her was  a bed with a scared Derpy, and not far from her was a large crib in a large plastic box with wires and tubes hooked into the little white foal inside. “I'm warning you!”

“Easy there,” RD said, holding up her hooves, stepping in front of me. Guess I looked like I was about to burn the place down, which was a rather entertaining thought, but, “It's okay. We're the good guys. We're here to take Derpy home.”

The white mare blinked. “You're not sent by my father?”

“No.” I said bluntly. “He's dead.”

Her eyes widened, as the knife fell to the ground with a clank. She put a hoof to her mouth. “Oh...oh my.” She turned away for a moment, thinking, tears welling in her eyes. She blinked, her eyes getting hard. “Good.”

“I'm sorry,” I looked around me. “Did I miss hear you? Did you just say good?”

She sniffed. “My father was a bad bad stallion. He tried to keep me from the truth, but I knew he wasn't any good.” She straightened. “I'm Rarity. Now that my father is gone, I'm the head of this family. You may take Derpy, but.” Her eyes looked to the baby in the plastic box. “I'm afraid I can't let you take Sweetie Belle as well.” She sniffed.

“Complications?” Aegis asked, stepping forward.

“Yes.” Rarity looked very uncomfortable. “My father ordered an emergency c-section on Derpy last month. Derpy is almost fully healed now, but poor little Sweetie Belle has to be on life support day and night.”

My heart ached. “Is there anything that can be done?” I pleaded, hoping there was some way to bring our baby home.

Rarity shook her head. “She's not strong enough to survive without the machines. I don't know if she'll be okay. I'm making sure I have the best doctors doing all they can to keep her healthy.”

We stood in silence.

“Vinyl” I rushed over to Derpy's side as soon as she started to say my name. “It's really you~”

“Yes, yes I'm here.” I kissed her for a long moment. “I'll never leave you again.”

Derpy smiled weakly. “Did you see my baby?”

“Sweetie Belle.” I gave a strained smile, not sure how to tell her we can't take her home. “She's...she's beautiful.”

She nodded. “I know.” She sniffed. “Rarity?”

“Derpy Dear.” Rarity nodded. “She'll be safe.”

Derpy smiled. “I don't want her to be without a mommy.” Derpy smiled, tears leaking out of her eyes. “Please, tell her you love her everyday.”

I sat back on my haunches, stunned. Did she just...?

“I will.” Rarity nodded, whipping tears from her eyes. “I'll tell her mummy loves her every day.”

I pulled out the photo that Octavia had given to me, showing it to Derpy. “This little filly needs a mom too.” I sniffed.

Derpy looked at it, and by the way she took the picture from me, her heart melted. “What's her name?”

“Scootaloo.” I smiled. “She was Octavia's reason for living.”

Derpy nodded. “Scootaloo.” She cooed. “Our little Scoots. Mommy loves you.”