The party lasted longer than Rarity expected it to. On any other day, Rarity would have been glad to spend more time with her friends, especially Twilight. With the scroll that had to be delivered and the ticket that had to be bought, she was all but running out of the library when the party had ended. She briefly gave each of her friends and Sweetie Bell a hug before making her way out. She was at the train station and on the train within the next hour.
While on the train, she relaxed a little. She looked out the window, left alone with her thoughts. She thought about her past, about the ponies she once considered friends, no, family. It surprised her how she could easily say that they disgusted her now. She was disgusted with herself as well. The things she used to do… Things like steal, scam, and kill. She shuddered. Yes, kill. She had killed ponies, innocent ponies. The thought haunted her. Her mind was then full of frightening ideas. She thought that maybe she didn’t deserve the friends she had now. She was tainted and ugly. The blood and crimes that covered her past made her unworthy of what bountiful friendship and success she had acquired. Maybe she belonged with them. She was just as disgusting as them. NO. The thought surged through her mind. She reminded herself that she left for a reason, many reasons. She left because she is better than them. She’s better than them at their own game. That’s why they had to use her for this job, rather than getting it done themselves. She may be tainted but she’s done much to redeem herself. The thought comforts her. Her friends make her a better pony than she was. As she concludes her thoughts, the scenery outside the train door changes. She watched the clear landscape rush by as her eyes began to droop. Within minutes, she was asleep.

The breakfast cart pony woke her as the sun’s rays just began to light the train cars. She groggily gave her some bits for a chocolate chip muffin and milk. She ate her breakfast quietly, chewing slowly as she mulled over the plan she had for the day. She’d rent a room at the inn, deliver the scroll tomorrow, grab a souvenir for Sweetie Bell, get on the train, and head back home. She had no desire to linger in Appaloosa and the prospect of being back home as soon as possible was appealing. She was eager to get back to the life she had made for herself. To what she considered the life she had always wanted. All of this would be over soon.

The afternoon came quickly and Rarity could see the town of Appaloosa in the distance from her train car. She willed the train to go faster, dying to stretch out her legs. She accepted a glass of water from the breakfast cart pony to give her something to do while she waited. As she sipped at the last of the crisp liquid, the train pulled into the Appaloosa station. She disembarked from the train, smoothing out her hair as she stepped onto the platform. The town of Appaloosa in front of her was alive with earth ponies and buffalo. Rarity silently cursed herself for not remembering to wear her black cloak. It would be hard to go unnoticed by the inhabitants of this small town. She shook her head and trotted quickly to the inn and pushed inside the door. The building was deserted except for three stallions playing cards in a corner and the bartender. They all looked up and stared at her as she slowly and gracefully made her way to the bar. She regarded the bartender politely.

“May I help you Ma’am?” he asked, setting aside the glass he was cleaning. He had deep blue eyes and a dark brown coat with a sand colored mane. Rarity smiled politely.

“I’d like a room for the night,” she told him, fishing her pouch of bits out of her saddlebag. The bartender nodded and dipped below the counter for a moment, bringing up a notebook and quill. Rarity levitated ten bits from her pouch and set them neatly in two stacks of five on the counter. The bartender took them and smiled.

“I’ll just have you sign right here ma’am and you’ll have the room for tonight,” he said, turning to grab a key from the many hanging on the wall. Rarity pursed her lips. She didn’t want a trace of her being here. She leaned over the counter, closer to the bartender. She levitated an extra three bits from her pouch.

“How about you take these extra bits and we forget the signature?” she coaxed, fluttering her eyelashes. The bartender paused and stared at her for a moment before eyeing the three floating bits. He snatched them from the air and tossed the key her way. She caught it with her magic and smiled sweetly at him. He smiled as well and went back to cleaning the glass saying,
“Third room on your left. Number five.” She made her way up the stairs and into the designated room.

Author's Note

Extremely short I know. Bear with me.