Shattered Diamonds

        Rarity trotted up to the entrance of Twilight Sparkle’s castle. She looked up and stared at the doorway, watching the crystals glimmer in the daylight. Rarity never felt comfortable walking in the castle alone, occasionally having the thought that she didn’t quite have the right to enter, as if she was doing something wrong. But as always, Rarity brushed off the feeling, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

Should I even tell Twilight about the details of the dream? Rarity thought to herself while she walked down the grand corridor. I know she would never treat me like that, and she’s my friend. She deserves to know what’s on my mind. She took a moment of pause, and let out a small sigh. No. You’re overthinking things. Stop letting a bad dream bother you like a filly, and just try to reconnect with Twilight a little more. That’s probably the reason you had such a nightmare in the first place. When was the last time you two just had some girl time?

“Rarity! There you are!” Rarity’s ears perked up at hearing her name called, and she looked down the hall to see Spike running towards her.

        “Spike? What are you doing?” She picked up her pace and met with him in the middle. Spike, completely out of breath, put his hands on his knees as he tried to explain himself.

        “Since you didn’t show up… they sent me to go get you…” Spike panted, barely getting the words out. He took another deep breath in, catching his breath once

        “What are you talking about?”

        “Didn’t Sweetie Belle tell you?”

        Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Tell me what?”

        “I stopped by your house this morning, Twilight asked me to get you. And of course Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Applejack. There were a couple things she wanted to talk about with the map. But you weren’t there, Sweetie Belle said you were asleep. So I asked her to tell you to get here when you got up. She said she would, but seeing how you only came just now, I don’t think she did…”

        Rarity rolled her eyes. “And I don’t know why she said she would tell me and not do so. But mom and dad picked her up this morning, I suppose she left before she could say anything. I do apologize, how tardy am I?”

        “Well…Turns out the map really didn’t have a need for you today. It just needed Applejack and Rainbow to head to Appleloosa, and Pinkie and Fluttershy to go up to Quebuck. I was going to run over to your house to tell you that you didn’t need to come over.”

        “You were going to go back to my home to tell me I didn’t need to go, then just run back here?”

        Spike rubbed a claw on the back of his neck. “It would have given me another chance to stop by your place?” Rarity gave a bit of a giggle in response to that, and Spike let out a small laugh too.

        “Well,” Rarity’s tone shifted a little more seriously, “is everypony still here at least?”

        “Oh, yeah, sorry, they’re still in the throne room.”

        “Thank you.” She said to Spike with a warm smile, before she trotted off to find the throne room. Despite knowing the way to get there at this point, Rarity still had a feeling that she was lost in the grandiose halls, with all the enormous doors and tapestries having this sense of looming over her.It all just nagged at her, contributing to the fear that she really shouldn’t be wandering around a place like this on her own, for it seemed like it was more of a place for royalty than a home of a friend. That’s nonsense to think that, of course it’s a home. It’s Twilight’s home. She too had these fears, I even tried to make it feel more like a home for her. And she loved it. So why is this bothering me now?

        Despite not being that far, going to the throne room felt more like a journey to Rarity. After the corridor from the entrance there was the towering staircase, followed by another long corridor, which then had a smaller staircase at its end, leading to another corridor, until Rarity finally was able to reach the final turn to the throne room. She pushed her hooves on the door, but it wouldn’t move. She placed her hoof on the doorknob, and tried pulling. But again, the door wouldn’t budge. Locked? Why?

“Girls? It’s me, I’m sorry I’m so late.” Rarity knocked her hoof a couple of times on the door. A few seconds passed with no response, so she repeated knocking. “Twilight, anypony?” Aren’t they there? I didn’t see anyone coming down as I came up, and Spike seemed to imply they were still here. Rarity leaned her head in quite a bit, and kept her ear on the door to try to listen if something was going on, but the door was too thick to allow much sound to travel through. It doesn’t seem like-

“Wahaha~!” The door swung open, and Rarity stumbled head first onto the floor.

“Hiya! What are you doin’ all the way down there?!”

A shock went through Rarity’s body as she heard that, sparking a memory of the dream. No. Go away. She shook her head to wipe the thought from her mind, and turned her head upwards to see Pinkie Pie smiling down on her. Rarity picked herself up, and while returning the smile to Pinkie, she dusted herself off.

“What are you here so late for?!”

“I’m sorry, I just had a bit of a long night…” Rarity tried to step past Pinkie, but she was still standing in her way, with a gleaming smile on her face. “Pinkie.”

“Yes?”

“Excuse me, I’d just like to get in.”

“Right!” Pinkie laughed and skipped to her own throne, allowing Rarity to enter, and took a seat at her own throne, next to Applejack and Pinkie, who had just hopped onto her throne herself. Conversations were already in full swing, as Applejack and Rainbow Dash were discussing how excited they were to return to Appleloosa in hopes of seeing Braeburn and Little Strongheart again, while Fluttershy wasn’t at the table at all. Rarity looked across the table at Twilight, who was buried face first in a book, titled Pre-Princess Recorded Equestian History, vol. 2

“Again, I’m so sorry for only just coming in now.” Rarity said, attempting to find a way to step into the conversation, her head darting in each direction around the table just trying to make eye contact with a friend. “Like I was just I had a very long night.”

“Heya Rarity,” Applejack nodded to acknowledge her friend, before turning back and continuing her discussion with Rainbow Dash. “But as nice it’d be to see them again, ‘I wouldn’t want to have to see them fight all over again.”

“You know there’s more ponies in Appleloosa than just Braeburn! And it’s not like they could only have issues with the buffalo again!” Rainbow Dash refuted as she waved her hooves around.

“Alright, alright.” Applejack stood up. “No point just chit chatting about it here. ‘I don’t wanna get to Appleloosa too late.”

“Yeah, okay.” Rainbow flew up from her seat, and waved down at Twilight, Pinkie and Rarity. “I’ll see you guys later!” She gave a wink down at Applejack. “And race you to the train station Applejack!”

“No you can’t do that, we’re supposed to get there together now!” Applejack leaped from her chair, as both she and her pegasus friend bolted out of the room.

Rarity turned to Pinkie Pie, who seemed more willing to talk as she bobbed up and down on her throne, rather than Twilight who still looked like she couldn’t take her face away from her book. “Pinkie, where’s Fluttershy? Spike said you both were going to Quebuck together?”

“Yes! Well, she left earlier because she wanted to feed the animals before we left. She didn’t seem that excited to go, but I’m so excited to! I’ve never gone there, and I don’t think she has either but oh my gosh, we’re going to have just the best time there!” Pinkie Pie began shaking in her seat, looking like a rocket ready to fire off. “I just need to go any second!”

“So why did you wait here, instead of just leaving with her?”

“Oh yeah. Huh. I don’t know!” She rubbed her hooves on her head for a bit, looking as if she was pondering the great mysteries of life, and finally she clapped her hooves together. “Oh duh! Of course, I needed to wait for you to ask you something! About Quebuck I mean.”

Rarity was a bit puzzled with the response, unable to figure what Pinkie would want from her, considering she’s never been there either. “And what would that be?”

Pinkie Pie rubbed her head much harder than before, only this time she ended it with a shrug. “I completely forgot! I’ll go then!” She leaped from her seat, and galloped out the door. “See ya Twilight, see ya Rarity!”

An uncomfortable silence took over the room, as Rarity sat alone with Twilight, who still remained focused on her reading. Rarity wasn’t even sure she turned the page.

“So… Twilight…” Rarity’s words wandered off, as she just tried to get her attention at this point. “Since we’re the ones left, do you want to go out for a treatment day? Maybe get a hooficure? We haven’t done anything in quite some time.” Rarity paused, to see if she could get a response from Twilight. But there was nothing. “Twilight? Is everything alright?”  Rarity got down from her own throne and move closer to Twilight. She waved a hoof in front of her face, but it was to no avail, as her eyes never lifted from the book. This is ridiculous. She put her hoof over the book and covered up one of the pages. “Twilight!”

“Ah!” Twilight dropped the book, and swatted away Rarity’s hoof before she could even realize what just happened. “Oh my goodness, I’m so, so sorry Rarity, I hope I wasn’t ignoring you. I was just a bit too concentrated on something.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry I interrupted your concentration, it got a little worrisome.” Rarity glanced back at the book. “What are you reading this one for? Didn’t seem like you were reading it for pleasure.”

“Well, Princess Luna said there was a matter to be discussed, and it was in regards to something before her era. So I figured it’d be a good idea to study what I could before seeing her. In fact, I better get going.”

“Get going? To Canterlot…?” Rarity didn’t even know why she bothered to ask that, she knew the answer.

“Well of course! Where else would I go to see Princess Luna?”

A sense of disappointment took over Rarity, aware of the fact that her plans for a nice day with Twilight probably weren’t going to happen anytime in the near future. Still, she tried to make the best of it. “Well, would you want me to maybe go with you?”

Twilight chuckled a little bit. “Oh Rarity, it’s okay, you don’t have to keep me company, I’ll be fine.”

Keep *you** company? The words cut into Rarity with a quick, sharp pain before she disregarded them. *What’s wrong with her saying that? It’s nothing, she wasn’t acting selfish at all by saying that. Stop it. “Well, we haven’t spent that much time together recently, so maybe after you meet with the Princess, we can have a little girl time in Canterlot?”

“You’re not going to take no as an answer, are you?” Twilight sighed, and gave her friend a smile. “Alright, let’s go. But this isn’t really anything important most likely. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if things get a bit boring.”

************************************

Twilight certainly wasn’t kidding. Despite being on the train to Canterlot for some time, Rarity could not find a way to maintain any sort of conversation with Twilight, her mind was definitely not in the moment. All she did was continue to read her history book very intensely, or shuffle throw a notebook she brought with her.

Rarity glared out the window, watching the terrain speed and change behind them. They were still a decent amount of time away from Canterlot, and she certainly didn’t want to spend the rest of the ride in complete silence.

“So, Twilight,” Rarity said, attempting one more time to spark up a chat, “You never really quite explained why you were so keen on reading all of this now.”

“Yeah I did. I said Princess Luna asked me to.” Twilight replied, unable to look up to Rarity.

“You said Princess Luna wanted to talk to you about history, and you were the one who wanted to read up on it.”

Twilight put her books down on the seat next to her, and looked up at Rarity. “If you already know the answer then why did you ask?”

“Well I was hoping you would maybe elaborate a bit, that’s all.”

“How can I elaborate when I’m not even sure what exactly the Princess requested me for?”

“Nevermind it, Twilight.” Rarity took in a deep breath and exhaled as she went back to just staring out the window.

“Rarity, no. I’m sorry.” Twilight’s voice softened to a more sympathetic tone, realizing she hurt her friend with how she was talking. “I am just a little anxious at the moment. Princess Luna rarely requests me to go to Canterlot. If anything, it’s her sister. The fact that she called for me makes me feel it’s an urgent matter.”

“If it was that urgent, why did she only request you?” Rarity said as she continued to watch the scenery go by.

Twilight opened her mouth to respond, but instead she paused for a moment. “Rarity… what’s bothering you?”

Rarity turned her head so it was facing Twilight, but she wouldn’t make eye contact, she just stared down at her own hooves. “I haven’t been feeling well over a couple of things.”

“Like what? Talk to me.” Twilight raised Rarity’s chin so she could maintain eye contact her, and she gave her a small smile.

Look at her. How could you ever think she sees you as anything less than a friend? “I’m sorry.” Rarity rubbed her eyes a bit, trying to hide the fact that they were getting a bit teary. “I just was feeling a bit left out.”

“Because the map sent away the others, and I had to go too?”

“Well it’s not just that.” She stopped at that to take a moment to choose her words carefully. It is worth mentioning to her, it could be important, but again, do you want to sound like some little filly? “I had this dream last night-”

“Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight!” Seemingly out of nowhere, a stallion’s voice cut off Rarity mid-sentence. Rarity looked behind her into the aisle to see a tall unicorn with a grey coat and a light golden mane standing beside her, with his attention clearly focused on Twilight. He lowered his head, and bowed to Twilight. “It’s an honor to see you again.”

“Oh, Silver Lining, you don’t have to do that.” Twilight said, waving a hoof.

“You know each other?” Rarity asked, with a slightly confused look on her face as she glanced between the two ponies.

“This is Silver Lining, he’s a representative from the Crystal Empire.” Twilight then looked at Silver. “And this is my friend Rarity.”

“It’s very nice to meet you.” Rarity smiled at Silver Lining, extending a hoof out to him, however it was ignored as Silver Lining just sat down next to her, while still only focusing on Twilight.

“It’s very coincidental to have found you on your way to Canterlot as well. Princess Cadence has asked me to relay a message to Princess Celestia regarding the Empire.”

“I was actually on my way to see Princess Luna myself. By the way, how is my brother doing?”

“He’s doing rather well, though there has been a bit of a growing concern in the Empire of a changeling spy, so the royal guard has been on very high alert.”

“Oh dear, is it serious?”

“Not exactly, and so far, fortunately, nothing seems to point to there being a spy at all. However, of course it is better to be safe than sorry.”

“Oh absolutely. And I’m sure Shining is more than equipped to handle the circumstances.”

Rarity just watched as the conversation just bounced between Silver Lining and Twilight, as she couldn’t find a way to rejoin as they began chatting more and more about matters she knew little about, or one would cut off the other, and allow no room for Rarity to interject with something to say herself.

Well I certainly know a third wheel when I see one. Rarity stood up, and tried to step over Silver Lining, who wouldn’t budge, making it more difficult for her to get out into the aisle.

“Twilight.” Rarity said as she finally was able to step over the oblivious Silver Lining. “I’m going to head over to the café car. Can I bring you back anything?”

“No thanks Rarity, I’m good!”

Silver Lining finally turned to address Rarity for the first time. “I’m fine as well.”

Of course *that’s** what gets your attention.* Of course Rarity was incredibly irritated that the stallion only spoke to her when he wanted something, but she tried her best not to show her irritation, and just smiled before she trotted down the car to the door. The café car was just two more cars down. Before she opened the door to the next car, Rarity turned back to look at Silver Lining and Twilight. The two ponies were already re-engaged in a full conversation, and there was no difference whether Rarity was with them or not.

“Maybe coming here wasn’t the best idea, perhaps I should have remained at home. At least then I could have finished another project, or done something.” Rarity told herself as she entered the next car. “Just let Twilight deal with him, and you can finally get back together.” She knew Twilight wasn’t to blame, but she still felt a little booted out considering how Silver Lining interrupted them right when Rarity was about to share her concerns. Just terrible timing. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. She thought as she made her way to the end of the next car, now in front of the door to the café care.

As she stepped inside the café car, she took a moment to stare at the menu above the counter. Not even to actually read it to see what was available, just to zone out, clear her mind. She stood there, thoughtless.

“Eh, uh, miss, can I get you something?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Rarity shifted her focus to the pony working at the counter. “Yes, I’ll just have a coffee. Just black, please.”

“Coming right up.” The pony turned her back to Rarity for a moment to fix the coffee machine, before pouring some of it into a cup and sliding it across the counter. Rarity placed a couple of bits on the counter.

“Thank you, please keep the change.” Rarity took the coffee cup and walked over to a booth, and took a seat. She picked up a sugar cube and just held it over the cup. What’s the problem, why can’t I focus?

“Princess Twilight Sparkle when you address me.” A Twilight’s statements from the nightmare began to flash in her head.

No, that’s not her. Rarity closed her eyes and exhaled, trying to clear her mind.

Is it now? What was originally Twilight’s voice, transformed, distorted, sharpening into something sounding more like a hiss. It didn’t seem to be so just a few minutes ago.

She’s busy with royal duties. It’s part of her job to engage in such matters of importance.

And how did she get that ‘job’? After making a mistake and suddenly getting rewarded for it?

That’s not at all what occurred. Twilight worked hard as Princess Celestia’s student, she earned that. And I’m proud of her.

Whatever you want to delude us into thinking, fine, the voice crackled, but we can’t keep avoiding the truth.

Rarity’s eyes shot open as she felt a hoof nudge her shoulder. It was Twilight, standing right beside the booth.

“So this is where you were hiding? Come on, we’re here.” Twilight chuckled a bit.

“Already? But I thought we still had a decent amount of time left.” Rarity took a sip of her coffee, only to immediately follow with spitting it out. “Oh goodness, it’s… cold?”

“You must have just briefly fallen asleep, come on, let’s get going.” Twilight kept her hoof out, helping Rarity get out of the booth. “I already asked one of the attendants to take our bags, they’ll actually send someone to deliver them over to the castle for us so we don’t have to pick them up ourselves.”

“Thank you, Twilight.” Rarity was still trying to get herself together, still feeling quite disjointed after missing what seemed to be a long period of time. “Where’s that one stallion?”

“Oh Silver Lining?” Twilight said, as she led Rarity out of the door of the train and onto the station. “He got off already. Besides, quite honestly, I didn’t want to go with him to Canterlot. He can be a bit pretentious.”

“I could tell.”

“I know he interrupted you, and you didn’t get a chance to talk. I’m sorry.” Twilight walked down to the road, and looked around her. “Did you want to get a cab?”

“It’s a short walk, right? I don’t mind. And it’s fine.”

“Are you alright?”

Rarity hesitated for a moment, thinking about her nightmare, and the thoughts she was having in the café car. “Well… I suppose it’s a good thing we’re seeing Princess Luna. I think I really need to talk to her.”

“You were going to tell me about a dream you had. Is that what this is about?” Twilight paused, and looked Rarity in her eyes with a concerned expression. “Is... is it about me, and that’s why you don’t want to talk to me about it now?”

“Well, no, it’s not that.” Rarity lied, averting Twilight’s eyes. I don’t want to hurt her feelings. She’ll think I genuinely hate her. “It’s just that, well, you know if the dreams are bothering me, who else better to ask for advice than the Princess who sees over the night?”

“Alright. Just tell me what she says about it, please.”

“Of course!”

It wasn’t too long before Twilight and Rarity had made it to the grand castle in Canterlot, and were standing just outside its grand doors. The guard ponies who stood watch over it, immediately recognized the two of them and let them into the castle together. Upon entering, they were both greeted by another member of the royal guard.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle, what an honor to see you again. Please, right this way, Princess Luna is expecting you.” The guard pony addressed Twilight, and led the way for her and Rarity to Princess Luna’s personal study room. Upon reaching the door, he gave it a very hard knock before stepping aside, giving room to Twilight and Rarity to stand in front. The door then began to open, and behind it stood Princess Luna, and upon seeing her, both Twilight and Rarity instinctively bowed.

“Welcome, Princess Twilight. Come in, we have much to discuss.” As she spoke to Twilight, Luna looked beside her and saw Rarity as well. “Miss Rarity, I didn’t not expect your company here as well.”

“Please forgive me, Princess. I asked to accompany Twilight here to Canterlot, not her. I hope I am not intruding.”

“No, it is not an intrusion, it is wonderful to see you again.” The words spoken by Luna started off welcoming, but then transitioned into something much more serious in tone. “But unfortunately, this is a matter I must discuss with Twilight alone, and I must ask that you remain out here.”

        Twilight stood up, and made an attempt to protest. “But Princess-”

        “Twilight,” Luna cut her off, “I’ll explain it to you inside. Please come in.”

        Twilight opened her mouth as if about to make one last objection, but instead accepted it, and turned to look back at Rarity as she walked inside. “I’m sorry, I’ll see you in a little bit, as soon as we’re done.”

        “No, it’s okay, I understand, I’ll just wait for you two.” Rarity said, attempting to hide her mixed feelings of embarrassment, disappointment and loneliness dwelling within her.

        “Please forgive me, Rarity. This is a discussion for Twilight and I. I will be able to speak to you when we are finished.” And with that, Luna closed the door, leaving Rarity in the castle halls, alone.