The Visitor

“Hey there!”

Twilight’s head spun around at the sound of the muffled voice coming out of an impossible direction. As she registered the sight behind the window, her heart made an unpleasant leap, and in record speed she had opened it, enveloping the pink body in a purple cloud, pulling her inside.

“Pinkie!” Her heart still hammering against her chest, she carefully shut the window, turning towards her guest. “What. In Celestia’s name. Are you doing here?”

“Hi to you too!” The pink pony’s head turned around to examine the sight of the room as her body bounced up and down, as if she had never laid eyes on the library before. “My Pinkie sense told me that one of my friends wanted to talk to me but was afraid to do so, and at first I thought it was Fluttershy, but then she-”

“What?” This was almost more than she could take. “But how did you... no, never mind that. Did you talk to Fluttershy?”

“I did, and she told me to come to you!”

Breathing out in relief, Twilight attempted to calm herself. At least that problem-

“Hey, do you like phoenixes?”

“What?” How did she... “Why?”

“Well, you’re reading about them, duh.”

Twilight’s eyes flickered towards the side of her desk. “But... you... you can’t see that!” Confusedly, she gestured towards the book in question. “You aren’t supposed to see that! I hid it!”

“You mean that purple bubble?” Pinkie giggled. “Silly Twilight. It’s transparent. I can see through it. You know how you can see through glass and-”

“Yes!” Twilight interrupted her. “Yes, I know what transparent means. Listen-”

“What does a phoenix say in a bar?”

“I must- ... err, what?”

“Phoenixes don’t go to bars, silly. Hehehe...”

“Gnnnhhh...” Twilight rubbed her brow with her magic, sighing. “Pinkie, please. I need to tell you something!”

“I’m all ears! Well, I’m not all ears, but you know what I-”

“Something bad.”

Pinkie did three more bounces, each one lessening in height, until she came to a gentle halt. Something about Twilight’s tone must have given away the severity of the moment, as for the first time since she knew her, she seemed to have captured all of the pink pony’s attention.

“Areyoumovingawaypleasedonttellmeyouremovingawayareyou?”

“What?” Twilight blinked. “No, I’m not moving.”

“Oh. Okay then...” For a short moment, it seemed as if Pinkie was heading into the next bounce, until it died halfway through. “Uuuuhm.” She blushed. “There’s still bad news, isn’t there? What is it?”

Twilight shut her eyes, pressing her lids together. She hated to say this. But delaying it was no good.

“Fluttershy... did something,” she murmured, gulping. “Or, tried to do something. To me. Something bad.”

“Oh...”

“She tried to rape me.”

As Twilight re-opened her eyes, Pinkie still stood there with an unchanged expression. It took her one, two seconds to put the pieces in place.

“You don’t know what that word means, do you?”

Pinkie shook her head.

“Right. Why would you? She... tried to force me to have sex with her. She gave me a potion that brought me under her control.”

Silence spread, until what Twilight had been wondering about began to happen. Before her eyes, Pinkie’s mane fell began to fall in on itself, until it hang down on both sides of her head. Even now, despite the seriousness of the matter, Twilight couldn’t help to feel a certain sense of fascination at the sight.

“But... why?”

“I don’t know yet. But I’ll figure it out.” Twilight gulped. “Please don’t cry.”

Pinkie nodded. “I... I don’t understand. She’s always been so-”

“Nice.”

A sob came over the pink pony’s lips, but she didn’t begin to cry... not yet, anyway.

“Yes.”

“I know.” Twilight shook her head. “I have no idea what has gotten into her. Do you?”

Pinkie gave a laugh at that, but not of her usual, over-the-top-happy kind. This one was short, almost sad. “I never know what other ponies think, Twilight.”

“Right.” Of course not. “I’ll... I'll figure it out. And then I’ll tell you. We’ll get over this.”

Pinkie nodded again. “I think I need to be alone for a while,” she murmured. “And... I think I’ll take the door this time.”

Twilight nodded, walking her downstairs. At least it was over. She had already told Spike, and that hadn’t been pretty, but telling it to the other girls, who were actually friends with the pegasus, that was worse.

“Just one more thing,” Twilight said as she opened the door for Pinkie to leave. “Please don’t meet her alone.”

Pinkie nodded. “Goodbye, Twilight.”

“Bye.” Twilight pushed the door shut, giving a long sigh. One down, three to go.

“Yer pullin’ a prank on me.”

“No!” Twilight gave an exasperated sigh. “Look, I’m sorry, but she did.”

“Fluttershy.”

“Yeah.”

“Yer sayin’ that shy feather of a pegasus... nah, come on now, Twi. That ain’t true.”

“Look.” Twilight made a pause, giving her words as much sincerity as possible. “Fluttershy. Did that to me. Yesterday. It’s not a prank, it’s the truth.”

“I just dun believe that.” Applejack threw a nervous gaze at the apple-selling stand Twilight had pulled her from. Already, there was a stallion giving the unoccupied carts a confused glance, but he made no attempts to serve himself. “With her bein’ the element of kindness n’all that. What yer sayin’ is somethin’ only a a real nasty-like pony would do. That ain’t Fluttershy.”

“I know.” Twilight gave her friend an unhappy look. “But she did do it.”

Applejack spent a few more moments eyeing her stand before she shook her head, sighing.

“Just look at me. Yer the real victim, not me, and here I am, doubtin’ ya for no good reason. Are you feelin’ alright, Twilight?”

“I’m okay. I gotta talk it out with Fluttershy, but I’m not ready yet.”

“Nopony will blame ya for that.” Applejack threw yet another nervous look at her stand. “Listen, I gotta get back...”

“Sure. Yeah.” Twilight nodded. “Just... be careful with her for the time being.”

“Oh, I’ll be mighty careful, alright. Until this whole mess is settled, I ain’t even gonna go near that pony.”

Twilight nodded again, adding nothing. With a tip of her hat, Applejack made for her stand.

Two more.

“It’s open!” Rarity’s voice came drifting out of the shop. Twilight lowered her head, unhappily chewing on her lip as she entered the boutique. It was unmistakable from her voice that the fashionista was in a good mood, perhaps now was not the best time... but she wanted to get it done. And it would not be fair to leave her friends in the dark for longer than necessary.

Rarity was alone, standing in front of a chalkboard, a pen floating in a white aura beside her. A final stroke was added before she turned around, her face lighting up even more at the sight of her visitor.

“Twilight! To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?” She did a double-take, noticing Twilight’s unhappy features. “Is everything alright, dear?”

“No.” There was no point in dragging this out any longer than necessary. “Something... pretty awful has happened, and I think you should know. I’ve already told AJ and Pinkie.”

Rarity took a step away from the chalkboard, while simultaneously grasping it in her magic and turning it around, so that all they could see was its backside.

“Yes?”

“I’m not pranking you,” Twilight began, not wanting to repeat another AJ. “I was at Fluttershy’s yesterday. She said I should come over as soon as I could, and that it was urgent, but she wouldn’t tell me why. When I was there, she offered me a cup of tea, and... there was a potion in it that would basically turn me into a slave for a while, making me do anything she said. She wanted to use it to...” The word didn’t want to come over her lips. “... make me have sex with her,” she murmured. “She changed her mind at the last moment, and sent me to Zecora for a cure.”

When she finished talking, Rarity just stood there, saying nothing. Time passed, and a small sob came over her lips. Still not saying a word, she took a step closer, leaned her head against Twilight’s shoulder, and began to cry silent tears. Her carefully stylized mane was being shoved against Twilight’s muzzle, who was at a loss of how to react.

The doorbell rang. Twilight’s head spun around, revealing a stallion she’d never seen before standing in the entrance. Their gazes met, and Twilight shook her head just slightly. With a nervous smile, the stallion turned around, disappearing behind the door. Lighting her horn, Twilight reached out for the wooden sign hanging outside the building, flipping it around.

If Rarity had noticed any of this, then she showed no reaction. It was an intimate moment, and although Twilight was merely the messenger, she couldn’t help feeling guilty for the news she had brought. A shiver ran down her spine as she could feel the tears dripping into her fur.

“I never thought she would be capable of that,” Rarity said as she pulled back, drying her eyes with her magic. “Fluttershy... has always had a special place in my heart. And now...” She left the sentence unfinished.

“Did you... has she ever...”

“Nothing she’s ever done would have given a hint.” Rarity’s magic left her own eyes, reaching over to Twilight to clean the traces of her tears from her neck. “Are you alright, Twilight? She’s done it to you, after all, not me.”

“I’m okay. I’m just glad she hasn’t gone through with it.”

“Have you told anypony? The princess? The mare? Her parents?”

“Just the other girls, so far.”

Rarity nodded. “It would be my wish that you keep it that way. We shan’t... ruin her life because of it. Not if she has decided against it... and left you your memory, which she could have erased, I would assume?”

“Yeah.” The request was unexpected, but if Rarity was willing to stay loyal to Fluttershy despite what she had done, then so would she. “Alright. I won’t tell anypony else.”

“Thank you.” Rarity took a deep breath. A closet was opened, and a white tissue came floating towards her. Rarity unfolded it slowly, cleaning her eyes and muzzle. “It might be too much to ask,” she said in a quiet voice, “but can you also do me a second favor?”

Twilight shrugged helplessly. “What is it?”

“I want to visit her. But after what happened, I would not feel safe going on my own. Could you...”

“I...” Twilight licked her lips, thinking. Could she? She didn’t really want to go to her again. She did want to to help Rarity, but...

It was not a pleasant prospect, but she didn’t want Rarity to go alone, and neither did she want her not to go if that was what she wished.

“Okay.”

“Thank you...” Rarity sighed, reaching for her mane with her magic, sensing for how much damage had been done. “You’re a wonderful friend, Twilight.”

In an effort to give her the privacy she wanted, Twilight had decided not to show herself during the visit. Hiding behind a cloak of magic, she watched as Fluttershy opened the door, spotting the fashionista on the spot. Even though Rarity said nothing, her expression alone seemed to be all that Fluttershy needed to read the situation.

“Come in,” she murmured, turning back as if she couldn’t endure her gaze. She shut the door behind her, too quickly for Twilight to sneak in.

But there was another way. Licking her lips, she went through a series of complex patterns, erupting a few sparks from the tip of her horn. Short-range teleportation was fairly easy. Suppressing the sound it made was not.

With a puff too quiet for anypony to hear, she reappeared inside the building, only to find herself in front of the very same table she’d smashed on the day before. It had broken in two parts, with a few splinters and a small layer of white dust spread over the floor. Raising an eyebrow, she carefully stepped over it, making for the stairs. Just like she had expected, she found both Fluttershy and her friend in the pegasus’ sleeping room, sitting next to each other on the bed.

“... an excuse,” she heard Fluttershy’s quiet voice. “If you thought I could tell you anything to make it better... I’m sorry.”

“I see.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I forgive you, darling.” Twilight could see her brushing over Fluttershy’s mane, and suddenly she felt guilty. It wasn’t right that she was spying on this scene, it was too intimate.

What had she been thinking? Sneaking into her home with no invitation, cloaking herself?

And was it really necessary? Looking at Fluttershy now, it seemed ridiculous.

Twilight bit her lip, feeling regret dwell up inside her. Fluttershy sniffed, and it sent a chill down her spine. Maybe she should leave...

Rarity threw a nervous gaze around the room, and Twilight could only guess that she was thinking the same thing. Well, if she wanted to bring it up, then it’d be better to come clean and stay. It had been her idea, after all.

“Fluttershy, I...” Rarity bit her lip, looking almost as if she was expecting help from Twilight, who felt increasingly uncomfortable at the sight. “I have to make a... confession, of sorts.”

“Huh?”

“You should come out, if you’re here.”

Twilight winced, but did as she was told. With a single spark, the magic around her dissolved, unveiling her sight.

“Uh... hi,” she said nervously.

Fluttershy took a sharp breath at the revelation, but she didn’t shriek or jerk back. Her eyes darted between the two unicorns, and her lips parted.

“You...” She swallowed. Visibly nervous, Rarity drew back her hoof. “You... you... y-you...” Her body tensed, her voice barely audible. “You are af... afraid of me...”

Fluttershy looked at Rarity for one, two seconds, then she faced away, burying her head in the blanket. “You’re afraid of me...”

Twilight and Rarity exchanged an uncomfortable look, but neither of them dared to say anything. After ten, fifteen seconds of Fluttershy keeping her face hidden, Rarity stood up as quietly as she could, and Twilight led the way downstairs.

Guilty or not, what had happened wasn’t enough for her to feel sympathy for the broken pegasus. A part of her felt anger, even. Why was it her right to be upset that Rarity was now afraid of her? It was her fault.

“Well.” Rarity’s voice was reserved, her eyes avoiding Twilight’s gaze. “That went horribly.”

“You were right not to go alone, Rarity. Don’t blame yourself.”

“I suppose...” Rarity sighed. “But I did not mean... I wanted to be the one friend who was with her during all this...”

“I’m not sure if she deserves that.”

“Yes, well.” Rarity gave an unhappy shrug. “Neither am I.”

Twilight shook her head vigorously, trying to get all of the nagging thoughts out of it.

“Anyway. I’ll be heading home. Do you want me to teleport you?”

“... no, I think a quiet walk is just what I need. And... Twilight... thank you. I know this can’t have been easy for you, and it means a lot to me.”

Twilight nodded. “I’ll keep you up to date if something else happens.”

“Don’t forget to take care of yourself, darling,” Rarity said, right before Twilight disappeared in a flash.