Marble by the Roadside

Chapters

The Travelers Stone
The Statuary Stop
A Byway Best Forgotten
A Wanderer's Road

The Travelers Stone

Prologue

Somewhere between Ponyville and Manehatten lies a stretch of road, bordered by endless plains of wild grasses and trees. Far and few between along this stretch are waysides and small towns, refusing to lay down and disappear into the wild ether. The vast emptiness is but one turn off from the main highway, easy to miss impossible to forget. Those who travel this stretch of road will swear their travel time halved, yet it is on no map, a secret bypass for the lucky or slightly less than sane.
Whispers in the barely living towns bordering the road speak of things, of why things are this way. They tell of legendary beasts, areas where everything shifts to one of old, and even of things that haunt the land itself.

But one tale is not whispered, for fear it will return to the bypass and byway of the lucky and mad. The few who know of it are tight lipped, refusing to indulge passerby and travelers with any possible hint that could cause curiosity to overtake logic. Those who encounter it are rare, those who continue on far fewer. To these alone will the story be hinted, and a warning given to those who are able to heed it.

"Beware the sheer of stone, the roadside bones, if you see the store walk away, time here holds no sway."

For one family of unicorns this warning they would heed, travelers of the road by chance. From youth to parents, and to youth again, a cycle repeated by accident or fate none know. But it is in youth that mistakes are made, curiosity cursed, and the stone always remembers even as foals fight to forget.

Rarity's Story

The chartered carriage moved swiftly along the main highway to Manehatten, gilded silver on a dark oak frame forming intricate patterns and shapes from the craftsman's mind. Wheels crafted for rougher paths glide smoothly along the well groomed road, well shod hooves clipping and clacking on the well set cobblestones mixed with newer patches of an invention known as cement. To one side of the highway stretches a view of majestic vistas and rivers, forests intertwining with plains that continue on the other side in a seemingly endless parade across the landscape.

The silver maned grey dappled earth pony pulling the cart was outfitted in light chain mail under a well worn gilded harness and blanket, matching the carriage she moved effortlessly over the cemented cobblestones. The company who she worked for required it, on the off chance that some miscreant pony would try to harm the passengers within. In this day and age such a thing was almost unheard of but the tradition itself refused to die.

Within the carriage proper a well maintained pair of plush seats with silver and deep burgundy silk covers sat opposite one another. The interior matched the outside though with silver inlays covered in clear resin instead of gilding. One of the seats held an occupant, an off white unicorn with dark purple mane and tail perfectly styled in a glamorous fashion. Her cutie mark was three diamonds, and in her light blue aura she held not a book but a small marble statue. The books on fashion and style lay to the side, atop a large fashionable portfolio with her cutie mark embossed into the cover. The statue in her magical grip was of a small infant seapony, no larger than a book it was carved so intricately it seemed to border between the real and unreal.

Half hidden in a clam shell the statue had an expressive smile with a mouth open in song, an object fitting for an artist. Rarity smiled as she brought the statue to her hooves and gently rubbed the clam shell for luck. This little figure had been her good luck charm since her childhood, when her parents had given it to her as a gift. One of her earliest designs had been an outfit for "Pearl Song", and though it had not earned her the cutie mark adorning her flank, it had set her on the path that would lead to it.

With a soft sigh she gently placed the figure back into it's protective box that sat to her right side. Enchanted to protect whatever was within, and to be easy to locate in case of theft it was the perfect place for her old friend. Her new friends may find her fondness of Pearl Song odd, but then that is why she had kept her a secret. It felt wrong to let others beyond her family know of one of her oldest friends, especially since they would probably find her as odd as Pinkie on a sugar rush. Glancing once more at Pearl Song she used her magic to careful close and lock the ornate box where her friend could rest toll they returned home.

Turning her attention to the design catalogues on her left she sighed, it seemed that this might be her biggest break in a long time. The cover of the top one advertised the upcoming Fall Fashion Trot designer auditions, the reason for her trip to Manehatten. It was true in Ponyville and to a degree Canterlot her name was known on the lips of many in the upper echelons of society, but to be known in Manehatten would make her known around the world. Her name on the lips of not just ponies but zebras, giraffe's, yaks, llamas, and more even the beaks of griffons. It would be a dream come true, and the only thing standing between her and that dream was the audition and one long carriage ride. It was a good thing she had decided to leave a few days early, with the train line from ponyville down her only choice was to by carriage. Of course a fabulous stylish carriage with a vintage charm, from the esteemed Regal Silvermane company, would impress just as well as arriving by train. It might give her an edge as well, after all old was vintage now. She must remember to thank Fancy Pants later for the suggestion of using them.

A sudden bump and slowing of the carriage lightly jostles Rarity out of her thoughts. Reacting on instinct she uses her magic to stabilize her belongings on the seats, especially the box that holds her friend. As the great and ornate carriage slows to a stop the fashionista peers out the right window, still holding her belongings with her blue hued magic. The surrounding region has changed to one of endless grasses taller than a small pony on the right side, shimmering in the late morning sun. A large series of boulders borders the edges carved into which are distances and names of towns, with one section seemingly crumbled to nothing over time. The grasses give way far in the distance to mountains as of dark blues and pinks, and some reddish tints if her eyes did not deceive her. And in between she saw more boulders and stones tightly clustered together. If not for her need to get to Manehatten on a deadline, she would love for nothing more than to sit bu the carriage and design dresses inspired by the sight. In a calm voice befitting a lady she calls out to the carriage pony.
"Silver Trails dear, why are we stopping? Manehatten must still be over half a days journey from here."

The earth pony Silver Trails glanced back at her passenger, neck muscles well defined against her coat. This unicorn must be in a hurry, the thought had been on her mind for most of this trip for she knew how to recognize the type. The silver maned earth pony also knew that Manehatten was far more than half a days trip from this point by the main road now. Her years of traveling all across Equestria for Regal Silvermane Carriages meant she knew most roads by heart, as well as most byroads. The company had given her the time table for this client, and there was no way to make it as things were now. She took a deep breath through her muzzle before responding in a voice that sounded more suited for a noble than high end cart pony. With deeper tones hinting through she said "Miss Rarity, I beg you to look forward instead of sideways. It seems the Wanderers of the Roads are not on our side today." Gesturing forward with her muzzle towards what lay before the carriage Silver Trails sighed internally.

Rarity turned her head to the direction indicated and gasped in shock. Before them was not well maintained cobblestone or a mix of any type of road material. The road had washed out, leaving nothing but muddy dirt and rocks for a fair way in the distance. In some areas the road was so far gone that you could not tell it was a road at all.
"Oh no, dear whatever shall we do?" the white coated mare swooned "There is no way we can make it through this in style, or grace, and it looks dreadfully dirty."

Silver Trails simply nodded "Not to mention the danger of the road itself falling from under us miss." As the unicorn swooned again the well traveled earth pony sighed, may as well get the worst news out.
"Miss Rarity, to my knowledge there are no byroads in this region of Equestria." Gesturing at the sign with her head she continued "all byroads not on maps are indicated by the markings on travelers stones like these. And not a one shows any other way but forward for a mile beyond where we stand now. We can't make it in time." Expecting a reprimand by a rather annoyed mare she instead heard the carriage door open and a set of manicured hooves set down on the cobblestone one after another. Glancing behind her Silver Trails saw the passenger, Rarity, approach the Travelers Stone beside them.

A great boulder carved with words and images, directions and distances. Some trails marked were nothing more but ancient paths by now covered in brush, but all marked the stone from top to bottom. A great chunk of marble it was, and as she got closer Rarity's trained eyes were again drawn to the section that seemed to have crumbled over time. A closer look indicated it had not crumbled but broken, curious for marble was a rather sturdy stone. Brushing her coifed hair aside she activated her seeking spell, focusing on the section of the Travelers Stone that had broken off. The attempt would probably be futile, but she had to try if only for the chance of finding a way around the washed out road to Manehatten.

Her blue magical aura lit up around her horn and somewhere in the tall grass something resonated with it. Walking closer to the edge of the road she used her aura to shift the grasses aside to reveal the broken section partially fused into the earthen ground right by the roads edge. Excitement lit up her eyes as Rarity barely contained her desire to jump for joy in a manner not befitting a lady. The broken fragment of marble was not blank, but had directions carved into it and images that indicated a side road right where the carriage stood. A pair of hooves in the shape of an arrow indicated the way. An odd icon made of two circles fused at the side with two lines by them were noted by the directional arrows. Using her levitation and a spell for fixing flawed stones she lifted the fragment of marble up and fused it with the travelers stone. Where her spell had touched one could not tell it had ever been removed, save for the muck and dirt lines on the fragment. Smiling and feeling a bit weary she turned to the carriage pony Silver Trails and in a happy yet slightly tired voice said. "Dear there is a way to Manehatten, it seems that a ruffian must have damaged the Travelers Stone by mistake causing it to be misplaced."

Taking a few hoof steps back so the earth pony mare could see, she felt a feeling of relief rush through her body. They would make it on time after all, she would be on time to the auditions. She could see it now, the words Rarity of Carousal Boutique in lights in the Fall Fashion Trot. Rarity's heart leaps at the prospect of her name alongside greats such as Crown Glory, Marecrombie and Stitch, Trota, and the most recent upcoming designer Rave Ribbons. It was so close to being lost but now her chance is back, shining brighter than the best cut sapphire.

Silver Trails ignored the Unicorn lost on her reverie and focused on the newly discovered road directions. It was directly to the right of where they were by the indications on the great marble stone, though what the two fused circles indicated she hadn't the slightest idea. Turning her head and focusing on the area indicated she indeed saw under the grasses what looked like an old cobblestone road. So old that dirt had covered most of the stones themselves, but still it was there a side road she hadn't known existed. It bothered her a little, that such a thing could occur after all her company kept meticulous maps going back hundreds of years. Why wasn't this road on any of them?
Shaking her head causing her silver mane to shift and shimmer in the light, she turned to her passenger still lost in her waking dreams.

"Miss Rarity" she said, breaking the mare out of her day dreams of lights and designs. "It seems we have a way, now if you wish to be in Manehatten before tomorrow afternoon I suggest you get back in the carriage. It is still a long way to go, and on a unknown road I don't know how long that will be." Shifting in place, her hooves and mind more than ready to move on Silver Trails glances at the road before her. The old cobblestone is surrounded by prairie grasses and far in the distance trees. Further on she can make out shapes like oddly formed boulders clustered by the edges of the cobblestone way. It is the oddest thing though, for all the dirt on the back road itself the grass seems to be well maintained and kept well off from it. There are even margins visible where prairie moss can be seen, for an abandoned road it seems out of place. But who is she to kick a gift from the Wanderers of the Roads in the muzzle. It was her job and duty to finish this journey with her passenger safe and secure, and the old Wanderers and seen fit to give them a way. It would be best to follow it.

Rarity adjusts her mane, turning she gets back in the carriage and settles onto her plush silk seat for the remainder of the journey. Checking to make sure everything is still in place, she latches the door and lifts up the box which holds her precious friend. As the carriage moves towards the new road she discovered she smiles holding the box close. Which is just as well considering the bumpy transition from the new road to the old causes her to be jostled around in her seat a bit. As the carriage's wheels transition from the new road to the old they dig tracts into the dirt covering the cobblestone, masking the almost worn away tracks beneath them completely. Tracks of another cart, another set of hooves, and more hooves following.

As the carriage pulled by the dapple grey earth pony holding and carrying Rarity move forward along this sideroad the grasses grow thicker. As birdsong and insect voices fill the air a voice on the wind whispers "Byroads and sideriads, shortcuts and ways, time has no meaning for travelers and strays." Focused on the road and the box holding a friend respectively, neither seem to notice a light shimmering glow in the grasses behind them. A sheen of silver shifting in the breeze, swaying with the prairie grass itself as if singing to those who no longer hear. It moves behind the carriage, gliding through the grass an amorphous form of silvery grey mist. Following as they travel further down the old cobblestone road, down a byway shown by the great marble Travelers Stone.

Author's Note

This chapter is in three parts, and inspired from a memory of my childhood. Rarity is in for a shock, after all it isn't like somebody would break off that section of the Travelers Stone for no reason right?

Terms I created for this story, if you want to use them please reference me:

Travelers Stone : A stone marker used to indicate trails, roads, distances, and hazards. As well as back roads, shortcuts and byways. Often icons and imagery is used to indicate different things, much of this language is known to only the most experienced travelers or those who study it. Parts of it though have long since been lost to time.

Wanderers of the Roads: Carriage and Cart ponies as well as frequent travelers believe in a type of spirit or being that wanders the paths and roads in wilder areas. These beings are to be respected and can bring disaster or fortune depending on their moods or how they are treated. Many city and urban ponies scoff at this belief and consider it a holdover superstition with little merit.

Regal Silvermane Carriage Company: A well renowned and ancient cross country travel company who specializes in custom carriages, and renting out rides to those who wish to travel a long way in style and comfort. At one point they rented to those who preferred a basic carriage, but have since turned that branch of their company into a franchise. This has allowed them to focus on the one of a kind regal and secure carriages that are their namesake, each is decorated in silver indicating the companies ownership. Every pony who pulls such a carriage is required to have a silver or silver grey mane, and be capable of speaking in some sort of posh or noble manner. On top of the requirements that are hold overs from the days of old, that in rare cases have been needed in modern times.

Fall Fashion Trot : A premiere fashion and design event held yearly in Manehatten, it is often the place where new designers get their big break into the fashion world.

Rave Ribbons: Last years breakout fashion designer, specializing in punk and rave style fashions with ribbons as accents. Her bright and bold color combinations are considered to be setting the tone for haute coutre fashion right now.

Pearl Song: A small marble statuette of a baby seapony singing in a clam shell, Rarity's childhood "friend" and inspiration for her early designs. Rarity considers her a good luck charm, and a work of art. Due to how she was carved she almost seems alive.

The Statuary Stop

*thump clip clop thump bump clip clop *

As the carriage continues down the back road shown by the Travelers Stone, Rarity stares out the window at the passing scenery of grass intermittently broken by animal trails and trees. It seems very strange to her that such an area would have such a relatively well maintained road. Grasses neatly trimmed back from it as if some pony had been actively trying to keep it clear. But that would be silly after all this way isn't on any maps, and surely there couldn't be anyone living back here. And if there was how could they survive such rugged conditions so far from civilization. Such an idea was absurd, still the area had it's charms.

Placing Pearl Song's box in a save place between the left door and her portfolio, the white coated unicorns light blue aura picks up her sketchpad and a pencil. Staring out the window at the surrounding region has sparked her creative mind, and she begins to draw. Sketching the region itself as it goes by, the pencil moving so quickly one would swear the images appeared by magic. Lost in her work, Rarity doesn't spot the same silver grey form that has been behind the carriage for the past few miles. It moves too and fro now, jumping or more floating over the road every so often seeming to gain more energy the further in they go.

As the day moves on towards afternoon the prairie gives way to a region more sparsely covered in vegetation. Silver Trails breathing has become slightly ragged. All the dust in the air was not what she had expected. The sun is beating down on her coat, causing sweating under her required uniform that is leeching away what little precious water she has retained. By now if the main road hadn't washed out they would have found a watering hole so she could re-hydrate. But it seems out here no such thing exists.

Her passenger is in far better shape. But as the carriage pony she knows that without water, and soon, neither of them will be in good straits for long. Silver Trails had considered stopping, but stopping in an unknown area would be folly. Not to mention there had to be someone out here, this road was too relatively well maintained for there not to be. It had been giving her the creeps for some time, how perfectly edged the dirt coated cobblestone is. And as they have moved further along the road into this more arid region that hasn't changed. An involuntary shiver runs up the dapple grey mares spine, if someone is out there she can't see them but they can see her.

It disturbs her more since she knows of the stories of those who have been lost on Lost Wanderer's Roads. Paths and trails leading to nowhere from which no pony has ever returned. Those who have are often mad, or so terrified they refuse to take anything but the main road ever again. As one who lives to travel the roads and trails of Equestria, the concept of being driven to fear them is something that Silver Trails finds more terrifying than anything else.

Glancing up she notices the boulders from the distance moving closer, how odd they seem to be shaped like houses. The closer the carriage gets, the more they seem to take on such a form. One almost looks like a sign of some sort. Turning around she calls back to her passenger. "Miss Rarity, could you take look up ahead from where you are? It looks like those boulders may be a town."

The dust and some dried plants drift across the cobblestones, riding a barely existent wind that does the travelers no good. The sun seems to have seared itself into one place in the sky, Celestia must not be in a good mood for such a thing to occur. The thought goes through Silver Trails mind for a few moments before a refined voice shouts back to her.

"Dear I think you may be right!" Rarity calls to the carriage mare, her eyes focused on the boulders that in fact seem to be homes of some sort. Squinting she makes out the outline of a sign, worn by age. Scraps of paint have peeled off it's wooden surface to the point no words can be made out, merely one circle with a C attached to it. Shaking her head she smiles, her own lips slightly parched by the dry air. "I do think it would be best if we go towards it darling, you are looking a bit parched and so am I. And that simply won't do."

Silver Trails nods and keeps moving towards the sign, focused on it and the slowly growing buildings that line a small section of the right side of the road. This must be where those maintaining the road are from, it all makes sense now. Breathing a short sigh of relief the mare thanks the Wanderers of the Roads for not having lead her down a road of the lost. Focusing her movements she moves towards her goal, muscles bringing the carriage ever closer as her large hooves clip and clack on the cobblestones. With each step spurts of dust lift up and around her fetlocks, drifting lazily away on that invisible wind.

In the carriage Rarity leans back, drawing the scenery by instinct instead of focus. Something about this area feels familiar and yet it can't be. Her ears fill with the laughter of her parents, the sound of a carriage or cart and the giggles of a filly. Somehow she feels she knows this region. But that's impossible after all her parents never took her with on long trips. And they would never take their beloved filly down a byway such as this. As the sign and buildings get closer, her mind can't shake this nagging feeling that she knows where she is. Fighting of apprehension not befitting a lady she glances out the window again. To her shock the buildings are much closer than before. That can't be right though, the carriage hasn't been moving that fast.

Now that she can see them better she realizes there are only three buildings and a sign. One is an ancient house, more like a hovel built into the ground out of mud and bricks with a wooden roof. Two stories with a paint job of dark grey and what looks like must have at one point been yellow trim, it is now well worn by age. Any more damage to it would likely push it to the point of dilapidation, cracked window frames are shoddily patched back together in places. Barely connected shutters move lazily in a wind, or maybe just due to wear.
The porch, if you can call an awning covering a block of wood a porch; is home to a weathered empty rocking chair. An elderly mare sits in it, wearing clothes that Rarity swears are centuries out of fashion. The dark grey bonnet on her head looks to be from the colonial era of equestria, the mare herself wouldn't look out of place there.

As Rarity begins to glance at the yawning doorway the mare suddenly lifts her head, staring right at the purple maned white unicorn. Her eyes seem empty yet filled with age, glazed over by time they hold Rarity in their grasp refusing to release her. The ancient mare smiles, revealing gums with only a few teeth, and leathery lips to whom age has not been kind. Unnerved Rarity shudders, as another feeling of familiarity hits her.

"Father, why is that old lady staring at us?"
"Oh my precious gem, she is only appreciating how lovely we are. Especially you my treasure."
"Darlings come look at this, isn't it amazing to find something so artistic way out here."

Before Rarity's eyes she sees the phantoms of three Unicorns, moving past the old house towards the next building. She can't make out their colors or coats, but they are definitely a family with a small filly in tow. As they move beyond her line of sight still in the ancient mare's grasp, the old crone relents. With a single blink she frees Rarity, who quickly moves her head to search for the family only to find them gone. As if they had been nothing more than dust no trace of them remains.

But as her eyes move further she sees something that takes her breath away. Right in front of the carriage is an ancient old half barn, paint worn away by the wind so it looks a few shades off of grey brown dust. Roof shining in the sunlight with perfectly maintained wooden shingles, held together by old heavy nails no doubt. One side has been propped up to create an awning like one would see in the Canterlot grand market. Ornate decorations and siding cover the barn itself, symbols of grasses and stones and one unmistakeable one above a trough. Two wavy lines with a droplet beneath indicate water for the travel weary, and there is even enough space to park the carriage.

Beaneath the awning and in front of the building, scattered all across the lawn and up to the road are statues. An ancient sign creaks on hinges above the open barn door. With a symbol of two circles merged together above ancient hand painted words, in a style long lost to Equestria. The words old and peeling still read "The Statuary Stop", and the cool shade of the barn invites travelers to stop by and rest thier weary hooves.

Glancing back to the porch she sees the ancient mare rocking slowly in her chair, eyes down and seemingly asleep. Breathing a sigh of relief she reaches out her magic and carefully picks up Pearl Song's box. Holding it close she freezes, it could just be her nerves but for a second she could of swore she heard a song from the box. Listening closer she hears nothing but the sounds of the carriage slowing in the dusty parking area in front of the trough.

"Miss Rarity" A voice calls from outside, that of Silver Trails. "We are going to be stopping for a bit to rest, if you want you can look around and stretch your legs. I'll come and get find you when we are going to leave."
A shuffling from outside and the sound of a harness being removed indicate that the earth pony mare is serious. After all if they had kept going Silver Trails isn't sure how long she would have lasted. Besides drinking her fill she intends to make sure the emergency canteens are topped off. Of course a quick rest is in order too, preferably until the mid day sun moves further on in the sky.

In the carriage proper Rarity carefully puts on her saddlebags and places her sketchpad, pencil, and Pearl Song in her box into them. After all if they are stopping here she may as well get a look around. And for some reason she can't place it feels like she needs her old friend right now. That she has to bring her with.

Opening the door and stepping into the ground she gasps, what an artistic dream they have wandered into. Despite that dreary house next door the lawn of The Statuary Stop is littered with the most stunningly realistic statues she has ever seen. Well except for Pearl Song that is. Walking forward her eyes grow wider as she perfectly sculpted visions of humans, dryads, nyads, fawns, fairies ponies, flutter ponies, full sized sea ponies, and more all across the lawn. Their bodies posed as if captured in time, one pair a seapony and a fawn gaze at each other as if sharing one last loving look for all time.

Moving closer Rarity appreciates the talent to create such a thing even more, every scale is sculpted perfectly from solid marble. Blue marble no less, and the seapony's mouth is open as if in song as is her partners. His horns ridged as legends say, and his cloven hooves posed as if he was going to sweep her off her fins. Both have their for limbs outstretched, grasping in longing for one another forever beyond the other lovers reach.

Her eyes sweeping the lawn as she walks past the two lovers she spots another piece, a human of legend kneeling in front of a pony her hand holding his chin. Eyes filled with sorrow and love, both stare at one another with tears cascading down their cheeks. The earth pony has his right hoof on her left knee, mouth open in a pleading expression as a sad smile graces the human female's lips. Both of their manes are flying in a wind frozen with them, billowing in the same direction.

Over there is a dragon curled in rest, next to a hydra that is holding it gently like a child. There is a Dryad caressing a proud centaur, while another pouts behind them. A Nyad coaxes a Manticore to rest, another of a Manticore alone roaring in rage at all who challenge it. A Chimera facing off against a unicorn in wild west garb, multiple baby pegasus run across the lawn some seemingly in mid flight chasing giggling unicorn children.

One young earth pony foal covered in a ratty blanket has a look of absolute hopelessness on it's face. The expression so perfectly rendered Rarity feels affected as well causing her to shake her head before moving on. Heading past more statues of ponies and other creatures in a multitude of poses and dressed in styles from different eras, she finally reaches the barn door.
Walking through the open gateway and into the cool air of the barn she gives off a soft sigh of relief. The difference between the outside and inside temperatures is obvious, as the little sweat she had begun to shed cools off into a glistening sheen on her coat.

At the counter stands a grizzled old unicorn in an artists smock that must date back to the dawn of Equestria itself. Peering through gold spectacles that don't fit his visage he looks at her. With a granite grey coat and pure white mane and tail, he looks the very image of some ancient master of art down to his icy yellow eyes. Behind him are all sort of odds and ends, from different times and eras indicating he must be an eccentric artist at the very least. Covering the wall on one side is a worn calendar, so coated in dust you can't see the date at all. On the counter is tiny gold bell and a sign that says "ring when ready". He smiles down at her, his eyes twinkling in a way that one does when welcoming someone back.

"Welcome young miss, do take a look around. You wont find anything like the passionate works of art we have here anywhere else in the world." He says with a voice that sounds like a young serenading stallion instead of that of a wizened old artist.

With a smile Rarity opens her mouth to say "Why thank you darling, I will be sure to appreciate each and every one of them. From one artist to another, I know how hard the business can be." She feels odd, as if she has heard these words before. But they feel right, under the ancient wooden roof in a barn in the middle of nowhere filled with statues. It's as if no other words would do.
Gazing about she admires the ancient barn itself, wood so old it is almost fossilized with grains making images of their own surround her. The statues are placed in an almost gallery like fashion within it and in the awning area. Beyond that they continue along an ancient barnyard fence, fairies and sea serpents, great beasts and snakes perch and crawl up the posts and upon the wooden cross bars.

An aura of timelessness surrounds this place, and with a shake of her head to clear some dust from her eyes Rarity sees she is not alone. Others move up and down the gallery rows, admiring the works of sculpture clothed in garb as varied as the works themselves. One couple has a child, they must be who she saw earlier. They are clothed in old styles from the Reinehseance era; they must be on their way to an acting debut of some sort. Walking over to where they are standing in their garish clothing she gasps. In front of her is the most realistic life size depiction of a royal carriage and pulling pony she has ever seen.

It's hooves are perfectly shaped and it is posed as if cantering forward on a great mission. Left leg lifted in a proud fashion as it's jaw is open in a proud challenge. The stallion is coated in armor from head to hooves even a croupier, with some long lost royal standard emblazoned upon it. Even the armor is ornately decorated. Perfectly layered upon the statue of the grand charger as if it was truly a separate thing not part of one stunning artwork. The carriage is a masterpiece in and of itself, every single flourish and decoration seeming real enough to touch. It is carved out of solid green marble to contrast the white marble charger. Inside in hues of purple, blue, and cream are two passengers their appearance hidden by the shadow of the ornate carriage.

Turning to the mare nearest her, who has a purple coat with a cream mane Rarity comments in pure awe. "It is as if the artist captured this moment in time, frozen forever. It seems so real, don't you think?"

The mare moves her head, keeping her face shadowed by her massive hat. "Yes, tis almost as if it twas real." A sweet voice like a springtime stream comes forth from her, tinged by an accent Rarity can't place. A hoof beckons to the white unicorn and Rarity unable to resist, moves closer to the mare who brings her muzzle down to the white unicorn's ear.
Her breath eerily cold like a winter river whispers in her ear. "All of the arts here twer real once, or so twould seem. Mayhaps tis but the musings of mine own mind, but twould it be so hard to believe. For to craft such works would take either a master of many lifetimes, or the hand of a god."

Her words strike shivers down Rarity's spine familiar yet not, with a voice more like a conspiratorial whisper she responds. "Yes, they all seem so real. So alive, yet familiar.." She had noticed this upon seeing the place but the more she stays the more it strikes her. This beautiful gallery seem to be like somewhere she has been before. She can't place it but everything here, minus a few pieces, a part of her mind sees shadows over them. As if something is trying to barge it's way to the surface of her psyche.

The garishly dressed mare touches her shoulder with a hoof that is cold as stone, and whispers to the white and purple maned unicorn. "Don't little one, try thine best to appreciate the artwork here. But after thy would do best to leave, before the sun falls across the horizon, before the mind recalls time. Buy something maybe, but do not linger."
Removing her hoof from rarity she returns to her prior pose, staring at the carriage as if some great mystery lies within.

Rarity releases a breath she didn't know she had held, and moves along away from the mare whose voice lingers in familiar tones in her mind.
Moving down the aisles of artwork she sees more ponies and creatures, each staring at a different work longingly. Walking past perfect replicas of dancer, sword fighters, cowponies, guards, peasants, fairy ponies in ponds. Past timberwolves and a pony with timber wolf characteristics, she comes to another piece that strikes her as odd.

Nobody stands before it but she recognizes something in it all the same. It is a perfect replica of two stallions that look eerily like princess Luna and Celestia. Minus their obvious male features their manes and bodies are perfect matches for the Alicorn sisters, even the stone they are cut from is the same. For the one with a cutie mark of a Flaming sun on a horizon line, a perfectly day yellowish white pearled marble. For the one with a cutie mark of a half moon on the horizon, with an owl flying across the moon a pearled midnight blue and black. Both stand regally but with a look of shock or courage on their faces, and for the one of night maybe a tear by his eye.

Rarity shivers and moves on, feeling as if the marble Alicorns are following her with their eyes pleading for aid. Their ethereal manes frozen in a invisible gale, crying out for aid that will never come. She can almost hear them calling to her.

"That's because they are shoo bee."

A soft singing voice echoes in her head and she freezes. Her perfectly styled tail stands stiff, and she glances around seeing nobody else nearby. Not a single pony could have said anything, even the artist is too busy going through a sketchbook to even glance at her. Shaking her head Rarity whispers "It must of been in my head, oh I need a spa visit so badly to calm these nerves when I get home."

"A visit to the spa sounds nice, but I'm not in your head bee doo." The voice echoes again, this time accompanied by a sound of scales rubbing against fine satin in her bag.

Rarity walks forward stiffly unable to cope with what is going on, she glances at more statues. There are more Alicorns, Pegasus warriors in flight, a pair of regal noble Unicorns, a rather odd group of fellows by some mushrooms. There a series of giant tortoises, and a massive fanged cat with spikes running down it's back. Stopping in front of a series of statues by the far right fence nearest the farthest building she now believes is a re purposed church turned studio, Rarity sighs. This all feels so familiar so why? "Why can't I place this..all of this?" she whispers to herself.

"Because if you did you'd be stuck." The voice again in her head, she grips the ground with her hooves trying to remember, the voice sounds so familiar. But why is it saying she shouldn't remember, why did that mare say that too.

Staring out at the artists workshop she feels something, a twinge in her senses. It is not a feeling of awe or joy but something darker. A dread fills the pit of her stomach the more she stares at it, and before her eyes it distorts and twists shimmering in and out.

Almost as if it is a living thing the church shifts from a re-purposed semi derelict building to a massive monstrosity of architecture. Great kilns are visible on the edges, open steel doors like maws filled with fire. The building itself is rotting yet alive lit by flashes of silver, red, black, and grey accompanied by thuds and sounds of smashing bodies slamming to the ground. A smell of burning flesh and cooking clay mix together into a unbearable stench that clogs her nostrils. And before her eyes she sees what looks like a massive vat of wet, soggy clay tipping onto an unfortunate shade of grey frozen in a pose of fear and desperation. The sky is filled with a burning angry sun permanently frozen on the horizon, appearing to bleed into the landscape itself over it's shadow on the ground the moon. The landscape is no longer picturesque but frozen and dead, not by ice but in place as if nothing exists but everything does. Things fill her vision, beasts and buildings beyond pony understanding. And as one massive monstrosity moves over the road she sees the icon, two circles merged at the edge side by side. Things no filly should see fill her vision.

On instinct Rarity looks away, barely maintaining her composure and trying not to vomit. Breathing softly but deeply she glances up and sees the vision gone. The workshop is merely a re purposed church and the sun is still above her yet closer to the horizon than before.
The scenery is normal and insects buzz in the sparse vegetation beyond the fence and barn. Behind her the sound of a page flipping and the scratching of a pen is heard. And the sounds of hoof steps shifting and moving re assure her that she is alright, a bit nervous but perfectly fine.

She moves away from the fence, avoiding looking at the church workshop and moves along through the gallery rows of the statuary stop.
Something by the far right side near the trough draws her near. Trotting herself past statues of Draconequi and gorgons facing some cowardly gargoyles and draconic looking dogs as she goes.

Skidding to a halt she feels her jaw drop at something familiar, that she knows she has seen before. In a perfectly carved pond of sheer crystal, is a sea pony mare of pure sapphire colored marble partially out of the water with her tail fin spread above the surface. Her mouth open in song as she glances lovingly and longingly down at the little seapony babies posed in the water and on the rocks around her. Carved from many different colors of marble, each has an expression unique to them and is posed with their mouth open in song. Four under the water, three in the reeds, one in her arms and two on the water edge. No, Rarity's eye for detail notices a spot where another once sat. In a cluster of clam shells is an obviously empty spot where something once sat. By the shadow worn into the marble by time it is obvious there was once a third seapony, sitting among the pearl white clam shells.

Rarity feels her heart catch, then beat faster as she realizes who once sat there. A adorable realistic young seapony, sitting in a clam shell and made of purest off white pearl marble mouth open on joyous song. One that she currently holds in her saddlebags. One she has had for most of her life.

"Pearl Song..this is.." Rarity can barely speak as her eyes fill with tears and her heart beats faster with fear.

"This is my family Rares, shoo bee doo. We were here so long be doo. When you came I could feel it something told me bee do boo, something like a kinship be doo. You chose me be doo, and I went free be doo, as free as I can be doo. Now you must choose another and flee bee doo."

Rarity caught her breath, the fear from before escalating as she could swear she heard hoof steps getting closer and whispers behind her. The eyes of the Alicorn felt as if they were burning into her again almost as if it was closer.
"Why must I flee Pearl Song?" Her voice came out as a tiny little squeak of a whisper, not like a lady but a terrified filly.

"If you do not flee Rarity, you will be like me. This cannot be doo bee doo." The joyous sing song voice had a sorrowful note to it, almost fearful.

Rarity took a deep breathe and looked once more at the seapony family. Her eyes casting over each one till she came to one perched alone on what looked like an ancient tiny chest. Made of a pearled marble of blue and white that contrasted with the brownish marble of the chest itself, using her magic she picked the little one up. It's expression one of dreaming and reverie, mouth open in song. As she released it from it's place in the family of seaponies, she swore she heard a sorrowful and happy sigh of a weary mother.

Pulling it close to her and backing away, she turned and moved swiftly to the counter not looking anywhere but straight ahead. Around her she could hear and almost feel the other statues shifting and moving, the eyes of the Alicorn burned into her flank as she passed it. The sounds were so loud in the sudden quiet of the barn gallery, when she finally got the counter she almost smacked the bell before remembering her manners.
Reaching out with her hoof she gave the bell a light ring. "Ring a ding ding ring".

The artist at the counter put down his book and glanced at her, spying the seapony baby in her hands he says.
"Ahh a good choice, perfect for a young artist such as yourself. You know if you listen real closely you might hear it giving you inspiration."
He chuckled in a way that seemed more malicious than joyful, his tail hitting the calendar as he moved to the register causing dust to fall like curtains from it.

"Well young lady that will be fifteen bits, I'd hurry if I were you I think your ride is waiting outside. You don't want to be late do you?" He smiles, his lips curling a bit too far up as Rarity reached into her saddlebags to get the bits.

Placing them on the counter she smiled back, trying as hard as she can not to let her fear show. "Why thank you, your art is so outstanding and truly seems to be alive. I couldn't leave without taking one home with me." Her eyes dart quickly to the calendar and widen slightly before darting back to the stallion counting her bits.

"I'm sorry but I never got your name Darling, as a fellow artist I would like to know whose work I have at home. It is only proper courtesy." Rarity says with as much poise as she can muster despite her fear, as she puts the new seapony statue in her saddlebag.

The stallion put the bits away before reaching behind the counter, removing a stone object and a card. With a smile more disturbing than the last for Rarity could of sworn his teeth were not that large before he says. "My name, my young and talented lady, is Terminus Langoliesier. I am an artist whose medium is stone, as of late I favor marble but you know us artists." His smile gets wider as his hooves seem to grow in the suns moving light.
"We are always looking for new things to try, isn't that right Miss Rarity."
With his magic, an aura of grey and red with blue tinges, he hands rarity the card and the stone leaning back behind the counter with a grin on his face and a light in his yellow eyes.

Quickly, almost to quickly Rarity puts the card and stone in her saddlebags before saying "Thank you, I hope to see you again."
The Stallions smile grows larger and his body seems to grow more, shadows moving out in the awning yard enhance a growing sense of dread and an unknown source of terror. "I wouldn't worry about that." The voice still serenades her ears but with the sound of a thing far beyond her understanding. Somewhere with in she hears what sounds like a buzzing noise, similar to thousands of those new automated saws used by Canterlot tree trimmers.

As quickly as she can without panicking she trots out the barn door, past the statues on the lawn before jumping into the carriage and locking the door. Removing her saddlebags with great haste and holding them to her chest she shouts "Silver Trails, We must go".
Her ears suddenly pick up a voice echoing and distorting through the air as it solidifies into a recognizable tone one of a dapple grey earth pony.

"Mi..ii..Miss Rarity?" Silver Trails shouts in surprise "I didn't see you get in dear, are you ready to leave now? It's been a few hours, and I'll need to travel all night to get you to Manehatten in time."

Rarity still in shock stares at the sun inching towards the horizon "Yes Silver Trails, I'm ready to leave, right now would be best Darling." Her hooves unconsciously clench the seat in fear, her heart pounding as two voices now echo in her head.

"You have to hurry, they'll be awake soon." Pearl Songs voice is full of fear and dread, her normally joyful tune distressed into a song of despair.

"Yes hurry now, we don't have much time." The new voice is definitely male, and sounds of one in panic as if the one chance at something thought lost forever is about to disappear into dust.

A fear felt by not just him but Rarity as well, something is coming she knows it because she's been here before.
"Oh Celestia, I've been here before..." She let's out a gasp, at the same time the carriage jerks into motion.

The carriage backs up and away from The Statuary Shop, as Silver Trails turns onto the road and takes off at a fast clip. She has never heard a pony with such pure fear in her voice before, and for some reason she too senses something is wrong. As they pass the last building, an old church turned work shop, she can swear she hears screaming and sees shapes pounding at the window. Stories of old flit through her mind as she picks up the pace. Hurrying past the last thing to this place, that massive peeling sign. Closer now she can read bits of it through the peeling paint as the gallops past, the carriage behind her built for this barely affected besides a whistling sound in the cabin.

"Wel o Wigh T" Flashes past her vision as she passes it and continues beyond, her unicorn passenger in the carriage crying into her saddlebags as memories of before and what she has avoided yet again come crashing down on her like a tidal wave.
Behind them follows a shape of silver, amorphous and fluid it guards their rear as they flee down the byway shown by the fragment of the Travelers Stone. And as Silver Trails hooves move the carriage far beyond the sight of the barn, house, and church it begins to shift and fade twisting as the last part of the suns journey to the horizon grows to an end.

Later

Down this cobblestone road a dapple grey earth pony with a silver mane slows her pace, the carriage behind her silent as if a solemn power has descended on them. Eyes forward she lets loose ragged breaths as the full weight of having escaped something hits her full force. Ready to collapse on the spot from exhaustion and stress, she sees a glint of silver ahead further down the road.

"Wanderers of the Roads, protect us as we finish our journey on this road and beyond." The mare whispers as she follows the silver light forward. Even as it keeps the same distance from her with each step, she carries on towards it and away from whatever it is that was behind her.

As the carriage moves onward following the silver light Rarity sits in the carriage cabin, curled around her saddlebags lost in memories new and old. With a terrified and sorrowful whisper she says "I've been there before..my family has been there before..we came from..oh no no."

Author's Note

Ahem so yes that would be why the Travelers Stone fragment was broken off.

Next up what exactly does Rarity remember? And how will it affect the ending?
I hope somebody gets the references, though some are obscure.

This story was partially to get my creative thoughts going again to finish the others.

I welcome theories on exactly what just happened, where the story goes is set but still I like theories.
Feel free to build off this story, just reference it.

If you down vote tell me why.

Also please comment on if the story should end here, or if I should publish the third chapter. The third chapter is more of a prequel that only links to this chapter with an extra end portion. However it also has loads of lore and explains more about The Statuary Stop and Terminus Langoliesier. Not to mention what exactly those creepy silver grey things following Rarity and the carriage are, and the worst part about the statues.

One :moustache: to the first person to get the obvious reference in the story.

A Byway Best Forgotten

A Note for readers: This is the memory chapter, the memories are told from the view of a very young Rarity. The style of writing used is meant to indicate changes in mood and how she sees things. As she gets more unsure, nervous, or panicked the writing style gets more child like, frantic, and vague. Using repeating terms and words versus proper explanation are signs of fear and extreme panic. At some point in the story the "current" Rarity can't tell the difference between her and the "past" Rarity. This is when her memories begin to fully merge with her psyche, changing the writing style yet again.
When this is done you may be scared to travel back roads, you have been warned.

As Silver Trails follows the spirit of silver and grey, within the mind of Rarity memories have engulfed her.

The Past through a four year old filly's eyes

I follows my parents into a store filled with pretty statues, Daddy is lecturing about how to carve them and art techniques. I love to learn about art, and my father is one of the best artists there is. In fact he's one of the best in the whole world!
It's a rather odd store, built inside a barn with it's side raised up and out like a giant gate. Everywhere I look there are statues, very pretty statues beside not statues.

Mommy has just declared how amazing and fantastic the statue artist is, Daddy agrees and promises to buy her a statue of her choosing causing her to grab him in a loving hug. But I want one too, so I pout till daddy ruffles my mane to Mommy's annoyance, she goes on about how a lady must have a perfect mane and manner at all times. But I don't mind, because daddy smiles and promises me a statue of my choice too. I think mommy just wanted to be the only one to get a statue, but daddy likes to play fair because we are both his favorites. The store owner asks their names, and Mommy responds with that special flair she has.

"Why darling I am Miss Bell, this my husband Mister Bell; and our lovely little filly Rarity Bell."

The stallion behind the counter shifts his pure white mane and smiles, focusing his ice yellow eyes on the me "Why you have quite the artistically talented little gem, you must be very proud."

I doesn't like those eyes, they don't seem right. They seem hungry, like the neighbors dog at breakfast. Or my Mommy when she sees certain kinds of musical instruments. As Mommy and Daddy keep talking to the creepy pony I wander off, I really don't like him and want to get far away from his hungry stare. The rows of statues seem so real, I swear I sees the people in the carriage crying.

As I glance at the three people standing in front of the carriage, I wonders why the statue ponies are also the watching ponies. How can they be both at the same time, and why do the watching ponies dress in different colors. I'm curious, so I walk up to the mommy watching pony, taking and with my hoof I gently tap her hoof.
"Ma'am, why are you both a watching pony and a statue pony?" I ask innocently, in only the way a foal can.

The mare seems startled at the question, and glances over her shoulder. Seeing the store owner busy she kneels down and beckons the me over. She seems nice, but sad at the same time.
I trot over and smiles up at her, waiting for an answer. The mare whispers to me in a voice like a springtime stream, but breathe as cold as winter. "Because little filly, I am both the statue and myself. We are one and the same. Until we become one, then I will cease to be me."
Her eyes look into mine, empty limpid pools of solid purple with no depth and no life. Pupils writhing like a frozen fire instead, as tears the color of the statue of her streak down her cheeks into her curled up mouth. They are like tears on a canvas, still wet right after the artist has painted them. Maybe if I do something for her, those tears will dry; like when daddy uses the mane dryer to dry his works on a deadline.

Rarity in the carriage whimpers as the memory returns. Realization of what she had forgotten and what that poor mare would suffer make her curl up tighter around her saddlebags. Trying to gain comfort from those within.

I smile and say "Will that make you stop crying? Maybe I can make you stop crying by drawing a picture of you. Would you like that Ma'am?"

The Mare Wight pauses then smiles at me, a sincere smile befit for a carnival of terror. But it's still a nice smile, there is a kindness to it.
"Little one, it would be my honor if you would draw my picture."

I squeal in joy before pulling out my notepad and drawing the statue not statue mare. This isn't going to be easy, the statue and the Wight Mare look different; but I do my best. Drawing her twice I smiles, it's perfect my daddy would be proud of me. And it might make the crying mommy stop sobbing tears. Showing the drawing to the Mare Wight before me, I wait for the critique. Daddy told me artists always get critiques, he gives me them as well, saying he is preparing me for the art world.

The Mare Wight stares at the picture, her eyes still crying but less now. It's like that wet paint is finally drying. She reaches out a hoof, cold as winter yet soft as velvet and hugs me. It's so cold, but I can feel how happy she is.

"Thank you little one, thank you. To draw me as I am and how I was, you are a true gem of an artist."

Releasing me, she shows her twisted face to me once more, no more tears falling from her solid dead eyes. I think she looks better without the tears, like a perfect painting after the paint has dried so perfectly as to be pristine.

"Little one, look the tears have stopped. Sweet Stream's tears have stopped. You have my blessings and thanks little one."

I smile proudly at her, my drawing has made Sweet Stream happy. Writing the mare's name by the drawing, I close the book and mark it. I turn back to her and ask "Miss Sweet Stream, you have stopped crying but...You can't leave can you?"

Sweet Stream smiles sadly, turning to the statue again.
"No little one, I can't leave but you can. Be sure to leave this place by the time the sun meets the horizon and the boundary blurs or you will..not be well"
Getting back up and onto her four hooves she returns to her position staring at the statue.
"Remember me little one.."

I am Rarity, still a young filly, I proudly smile puffing out my chest as I promise; "Don't worry Sweet Stream, I will always remember you."
The mare wight remains silent, but beneath her now pulled down hat she smiles. A single tear, the last she will ever shed, falling down her face.

On her seat in a carriage moving faster and faster Rarity cries out.
"I'm sorry Sweet Stream, I forgot you, I'm sorry darling. I didn't keep my promise." Whimpering into the saddlebags, she can almost hear soothing singing coming from within.

Turning and running off I continue to roam through the statue gallery. Poking at things, drawing others, I even get to poke an Alicorn. Then I find this really weird statue, and though Mommy wouldn't like it I prank a dragon horse thing. Being a generally curious as I am, I eventually wander over to a crystal like pond over in the right corner. Looking into it I ask the occupants.
"Who here wants to go home with me? Daddy says I can take one of you home. And nobody else here is small enough to carry."

To my eyes, the entire gallery is alive, and the seaponies are moving beneath the crystal. Tails flared and spikes moving up their spines, some more than others. The mommy seapony gestures at the baby in the clam shell, then the one on a treasure chest. She sings a sad song, I somehow know that they have been here a long time. The song is about a time my mommy and daddy didn't even learn about, it's so sad what happened to them. To me, the worst part is that only two of them can ever really leave. The mommy and the other babies can't or bad things will happen. They will do bad things, and the mommy seapony doesn't want to do anything that would ham others. Nor does she want her children to either, so she can't come with me or anybody else. This makes me kind of sad, they are so pretty and can never share their songs with the world.

I look at the mommy sea pony and say " Daddy will only let me take one."

Glancing between the two and carefully considering the statue and not statue, I grabs the clam shell baby in my magic and pulls it close to me. Holding tight to her with a blue aura, I turn to the seapony mother with a look of sincerity. I'm really kind of sad that I can't take the other baby with me.

I open my mouth and say,"But I promise, I will be back before three and zero years are up. Will he be alright until then?"

Beneath the crystal barrier the mother seapony nods. Her massive jaw filled with rows upon rows of sharp teeth, and jagged spikes moving up her nasal bridge to merge with the ones on her back moving like living things. Rearranging her head and neck to make some semblance of a smile. Her clawed flippers gesture into something like a hoof bump and I do the same on the crystal lake surface, my own reflection unchanged next to the seapony's grotesque visage. With a hoof bump to seal the deal the seapony mother frantically gestures at the sun, her song taking on a tone of urgency and sorrow. She sings of despair and fear, futility and boundaries, and of fleeing far from here and failing.

Her eyes seem to reflect a screaming shapeless mass of things behind the me growing closer, and as she sings her jaw extends further out as her scales shift into tendrils weaving intricate patterns over her form. In some places plunging into her and surging under the surface to emerge elsewhere, interconnecting and reshaping her into something beyond fear.

I look up as the seapony gestures frantically and gasp, the sun is so close to the horizon. I have to get my Mommy and Daddy to leave now. Something tells me if I doesn't, no the song screams into my mind if I doesn't; I will face the worst of all fates by the hand of one forgotten. I don't know who this one forgotten is, but I won't let him hurt my Mommy and Daddy.

Turning to the stone seaponies and the reflection seaponies I say, "I promise I'll be back."

Before racing off to find my parents. My hooves beating a rabid rhythm, under the suns predetermined path towards the horizon boundary. Racing against the very thing that should protect me, protect my parents.
Running through aisles of statues, my eyes grow wide as the Alicorn I poked before flicks at me with it's stone tail sending me flying. Stone isn't supposed to move like that, but I can't worry about that.

Landing right next to a stone statue of a fairy pony, I see Mommy is not done deciding what to take with. The other statues on the fence line are shifting like the seaponies did. The snake's not statue growing many limb like tendrils as it's jaw moves further and further back upon it's long body, rows and rows of teeth growing out of it's mouth like corn ripe for harvest. Shifting and buzzing, moving and cutting through the gum tissue.

"Mommy Daddy we have to leave now." I shout while panicking, something is wrong this place is wrong. The statues and not statues are changing into things that shouldn't be, the ones without not statues are starting to move.

My parents look at me confused, my Mommy being my Mommy raises her hoof dramatically before sighing "I suppose I'll just take this cute little fairy pony."

Daddy smiles and picks it up, as he does I can't help but gasp as I see it grin, showing rows of malicious teeth shifting and buzzing. A freakish mass of amorphous material in place of a tongue. This is not a good fairy pony, it's a wrong should not exist statue monster. Just like the others slowly making their way over to where my parents and I are.

My parents move towards the counter through the statue aisles, I can't understand why they don't see them moving. Is it a grown up thing? Do grown ups lose the ability to see such things? How do they survive? How can they not see them lash out trying to grasp at their horns, yank their manes, do things my mind can't even imagine. These pony and creature like abominations, the ones behind me are getting closer. "Oh please hurry up mommy and daddy" I whisper in hopes the statues won't hear me. The quickening of the movement behind us, destroys that hope without mercy.

Looking up at the counter I see that Daddy is paying for my seapony, the store owner seems to want us to stay longer. He is looking meaner and more not right than before. Was his jaw always that big?
Mommy wants to go, she pleads with Daddy to let them leave this place and head to Manehatten before the sun sets. I know mommy doesn't like the dark.

The mean monster pony owner let's Daddy pay for my seapony, but not before giving him a disturbingly large smile. His lips twisting up and around in impossible ways. I quickly put my new friend into my saddlebags and close them. No, I can't let this monster have my friend, but it wants it and me and my family. It has that hungry look in his eyes. The one like the neighbor's dog when it hasn't eaten for a few days, before he goes out "Fox Hunting".

I wonder, why won't he let Mommy take her fairy pony? Is it because it is moving?
Oh no it's moving, Daddy sees it's moving, and now he can see all of the statues moving.
Daddy shouts for Mommy to take me away, she screams and he tells her to "Just Go".

He turns around and prepares to fight as the store owner monster gets bigger and scarier. His head rounding as his mane moves back and beginning to merge with something that wasn't there before, shouldn't be there.

In her posh silk seat Rarity pulls her perfectly maintained tail closer to her with a hoof, tears pouring down her cheeks as the shock of the memories spills over into her psyche. Emotions from what happened then, and what just occurred, blending into an overpowering torrent threatening to wash her away. Just as she feels herself slipping, falling, losing grip, a pair voices rise in song. Their melody calms that raging waves of emotions, and another deeper voice joins in; calming her to a turbulent but more stable state.

Mommy grabs me in her magic and runs out of the door to the rented carriage from the Golden Lights Carriage Company. She shouts at the earth pony to go. To run fast as her husband is fighting off a disgusting beast. The stallion stares at her like she is crazy then looks at the store. And screams in a way only one who has stared into the void of what should never be can.

Mommy says don't look back, But I looks anyway.

Rarity sobs into the saddlebags. "No Daddy, why did you have to.."

Daddy is being dragged into the store by the mean statues. He is fighting tooth and hoof to break free, but the fairy pony Mommy wanted is biting his left eye out. Is Daddy supposed to be bleeding? Why isn't Daddy bleeding at all Mommy? The monster statues on the lawn are moving now, that scary building far away is burning. No it's twisting, no it's not it's..what is it? Why are the ponies and creatures screaming Mommy? Why is that thing being covered in..No Mommy don't let them make him a statue! They are going to make Daddy a statue too! No! Don't let the monster things make us into a statue. Statues mean not statue's. You can't let us become not statues, protect me Mommy.

The earth pony who pulled the cart has taken off his harness to help. He doesn't make it more than eight hoof steps, before the mean statues get him. The centaur and plant ladies are holding him down. As he screams, the two legged goat thing and his seapony are bringing over a bucket of something. Oh no Mommy are they going to make him a statue? Oh no no no....

The evil store pony is coming out now, but he's not a pony. His face has twisted into a giant monstrous maw, with sun like mane around it. His eyes are just little dots, and his cavernous jaw has rows of rotating teeth like the fairy pony but worse. Within that endless void of a mouth they are layered, over and over. His body is a massive thing I..no Mommy I don't know what he is. Mommy make him go away. He shouldn't be here, he isn't something that should be real. Nothing like that monster pony should ever exist. My eyes, they hurt and burn as I try to focus on anything beyond that head, that frames the void filled with endless buzzing teeth like razors.

I can't take it!
No more!
No more!
I have to do something, anything!

That thing is.. Why?

Those statues took Daddy, It can't have him It can't!
Tears stream down my face as I shriek out in desperation.
"Bring Daddy back!"

The monster that was never a pony laughs and laughs. In a voice that sounds like a million saws, a billion screams; alongside the grinding of stones distorted beyond anything possible it sneers back.
"Your Daddy isn't coming back... Because he isn't your Daddy anymore."

Tears pour down my face as I feel compelled to not turn away from it. This feeling, it's like that old lady from before, why can't I look away?

It walks over to the earth pony, grabs the bucket from the two legged goat monster; and dumps it over him. The smell of burning flesh and solidifying stone hit my nose. I scream as he screams, his body slowly being swallowed alive by living stone. Burning and forcing it's way into every single possible entrance, oozing into him down to his very cells. I can see it breathe as it moves over him, swallowing him whole; before forcing his final expression and pose into one serene as sleep. The earth pony is both a statue and not a statue, but something else is in the statue now. It hurts to look at it. Distorting, twisting, changing, mesmerizing my eyes drawing my focus closer.

"Rarity! Gem! Look Away!"

My focus is broken, and a scream from far beyond anything on the mortal plane echoes in my mind, enraged at being beaten. I turn to find that voice, the only voice that matters. The voice of the pony that taught me to love art, who critiqued my drawings, who taught me to paint and love the art world. The pony who loves me with all his heart.

I see Daddy, no..He's not Daddy.
He's becoming a statue now. But some of him is still Daddy.
Statue bits of his face are shifting into forms that I feel will drive me mad, but the real daddy parts are fine.
He's saying something, what is he saying?

"Wanderers..Roads..save..family..love..Gem."

That is the last thing Daddy says before he isn't Daddy anymore. Daddy is there but statue daddy won't listen, It wants to make us statues. I don't want to be a statue.

It moves forward. Defiling the image of my father as it distorts and twists, I turn away.
I'm sorry daddy.

The sky isn't pretty anymore, monsters and things are everywhere; roaming and hunting, devouring and glaring. I can see over by that big not church. The giant kilns are hurting ponies, baking them and roasting them; changing them into the things currently surrounding us. One creature crests the hill far away, from here it is bigger than Canterlot castle. We can't escape. They won't let us go. Mommy is crying while holding me close.

"It's over Darling."

She keeps saying those words what does she mean? I know Daddy said something, but Daddy isn't daddy now. Mommy is holding me so close to her I can hear her heartbeat. It's beating faster than a bunny's; why are droplets are hitting the top if my mane? Mommy is crying, Mommy never cries like this. I'm scared, somepony, anybody,help us.

What is that over there in the sea of melted tendril trees, it's silver and coming closer. Look Mommy something is here to save us! Look it's saving real Daddy! The silver thing walks over to real Daddy, and frees him from stone daddy. Monster pony isn't happy, stone daddy is slowing down but not gone. Real Daddy is turning silver like the thing that saved him, he's coming over to us.

Mommy can't you see him?
Daddy is coming back! He's going to save us! Stop crying and look!

I grab Mommy with my hooves and try to shake her out of her tears, but they won't stop.
I turn my head and see the creatures approaching, distorting faster than before. Real Daddy is right by the carriage. He's heading for the front where the earth pony was, before he ran towards the statues. He's so beautiful now, taller and more graceful almost like he isn't there. He's changing too, but not like the not statues. It's like a star is being born in this nightmare.

Real Daddy hooks himself to the carriage, he looks so pretty now...
The Silver Shiny thing that saved him is behind us. Protecting us from the monster not pony, and the not statues. It won't let them get close, but I don't think it can hold them at bay for long.

Daddy tenses and takes off, and we fly down the road!
He is so fast! It's like the road doesn't exist to him, like he is the wind.
Silver Shiny is behind us, it's keeping the monsters away as we fly away from them.
Is this what it feels like to fly?
The scenery flies by faster, and faster; almost a blur as his hooves make no sound upon the road.

We keep going and going, through this nightmare world until we see the sign. Oh no we passed it, and the world is dark, but normal dark. Look Mommy the moon is out, we made it!

Daddy isn't stopping, he keeps pulling and pulling. He's going to take us all the way to the main road Mommy! Oh, you can see him now Mommy? I'm so happy.
I feel tired, but the sight of this road of cobblestone, with the forests on the other side are something I cant help but smile at. Daddy brought us to safety, the monsters can't get us here.

Mommy has stopped crying, she's fast asleep. I think I might join her soon. First I look over at Silver Daddy, he's watching us and waiting for something. I know what he wants.. But I don't want to say it.
I think if I do he'll go away.
My mind can't stay awake, I'm going to sleep now; but I have to say something to Daddy..

'Thank you for saving me and Mommy,' I think I have to thank him. Will he stay or go away? I'm too tired to think.

"Daddy, thank you for saving me and Mommy. You are so beautiful."

A young filly's tired whisper carries through the air to the specter of silver, standing with his nose on her neck nuzzling her.

"You're welcome my little Gem, sweet dreams my beautiful Rarity..." Her father replies. Before fading away into a misty sheen of silver wisps, gone into the night.

Rarity opens her eyes tears fresh on her face. Sore from crying, and far more sore from remembering.

The Present

As Rarity peers out the carriage window, a part of her knows what she will see. The other is shocked it is actually there.
Silver Shiny is behind the carriage, guarding it from anything that may follow; just as it did before.

Turning her head she sees him, closer than before. Standing right by the exit to the byway, a form both ethereal and real. Silver in the early moonlight, he still has the same gentle eyes and long horn she remembers. He stands poised by the exit, a smile on his face as Silver Trails moves closer to him. Yet again he has saved her, Rarity can't believe she forgot him. How could she have forgotten him? When he had saved her and her mother so long ago.

A mother's words whisper gently in her memory.
"Now little one, such things are not meant for the mind of wee fillies."

Author's Note

As the author I request you point out typos to me, thank you.

Rarity was given a memory spell by her mother, due to the trauma that experience put her little filly mind through. Remembering it as an adult would normally of led to a breakdown. But after everything she has been through as an element of harmony she is coping much better. Meeting her original father again helped too, he probably did something to keep her from completely falling apart.

Rarity is officially bad ass for escaping Terminus Langoliesier fallen god of stone, boundaries between time, and boundary markers, and souls lost between time twice. In case you are wondering the road they took exists between time, in the boundary realm between day and night. You can only be trapped there if you stay in the settlement till sunset or sunrise. That is what the two merged circles represented.

The story telling style intentionally devolves over time in the filly Rarity part, considering she's a panicked four year old this shouldn't be a surprise. The last extra chapter I have to add.. Explains some sweet parting details, and more about the Silver Spectre beings, and why exactly Rarity's original father is one.

See why names are important? On the bright side this is why Sweetie Belle looks so different from Rarity.
And her original Dad is kind of not exactly dead, just... :applejackconfused:
Never mind there is no real bright to this besides Rarity, her Mother, and Silver Trails escaping a monstrosity from beyond the boundaries. And who is the one to whom boundaries themselves belonged, long ago.

Now on to the last chapter.

A Wanderer's Road

As Silver Trails spots the exit she speeds up, freedom at her hooves. Upon reaching it she stops, slowing suddenly to a halt as if sensing something. Glancing around she smiles and sighs.
"Thank you Wanderers of the Roads, you saved us."

With these words ,Rarity watches her father move away from the exit and towards her. Strong and proud, yet kind, he stops in front of her.
In her mind she hears words echoed, from a voice she had forgotten. One who now stands before her with a smile on his face.
"You have grown up my little Gem, I know you forgot about me."

Tears fall upon Rarity's cheeks at these words, how could she have forgotten him?

"It's alright, your Mother was right to do what she did," her father; now a being of amorphous silver sheen, says with a smile.

"You were a little filly, you deserved happy memories. You deserved and needed to forget what happened out here. And for you to grow to be the generous, artistic, brilliant mare I see before me.. My beautiful little Rarity you had to forget about me."

Tears are not left to cry, though Rarity still sniffles, as her memory of the event hangs fresh in her mind. As the memories of what her first father and her had return, she can't help but ask.

"Daddy, you can't come back can you?"

Her father shifts, phasing out a bit, before returning to the form she knows well. Or did, before her memories were blocked and rewritten by her mother. He bows his head, a single silver tear on his cheek.

"My little Gem, you know I can't. Your daddy is in a state where he can never come back, or move on. Grey back there can't either, anymore than I can. We are bound to the roads."

Rarity sniffles as her father moves closer and nuzzles her with a silver cheek. It feels like liquid mist, or what silver would feel like if it was mixed with silk. Backing up he smiles once more at his daughter, who deep down he always missed.

Standing tall and regal, he turns his head back to the road, horn more brilliant than it had been in life.
In a sorrowful tone he says, "My little gem, I love you, but we can't meet again. You must not wander down roads like these again, Terminus wants you. And It will find you; unless you avoid them."

Rarity gulps, remembering that monster. And what it had done to her father, and that poor earth pony. What it had almost done tonight.
With a sad smile, she sniffles and responds
"I guess this is good bye Daddy.. isn't it."

Her father, Silver Bell, nods slowly in response; before walking down the road away from the carriage.
"Yes this is good bye my little Gem, I love you Rarity."

Rarity bows her head and whispers. "I love you too Daddy."

As if those words had broken a spell, Silver Trails moves forward beyond the exit and onto the main road.

Upon getting the carriage fully on the pavement, she neighs to the heavens, and the moon far above. Those neighs turn to chitters and clicks, as she lets out her joy at having escaped that horrible road. Turning her head she freezes. Where there had been an exit, there is now none; there is no road they could have come from. The mare gulps slowly, she had really been on a Lost Wanderer Road. She had escaped something few had, and that would cause a normal pony to swear off short cuts and byways for life.

Glancing at the main road, she chuckles under her breathe as she mutters "Thank the hive I'm a change..."

Rarity still posed with her head out of the carriage window, turns her head towards the dapple grey mare.
"Did you say something Darling?" Her eyes looking at Silver Trails curiously.

Silver Trails smiles back, "I was just saying we better get a move on. Before we can't make it on time anymore."

Rarity nods her head, too busy thinking about what happened. She is still too caught up by fear to notice the obvious twitching tell in Silver Trails eye. Pulling her head back into the carriage, she removes Pearl Song from her saddle bag and opens her box.

Using her magic, she lifts the new seapony statue out of her saddle bags and places him next to her in the box. Making sure he is nicely settled in, securely by his sister, she smiles.
"Pearl Song, I found your brother Hidden Reverie. He's going to be staying by you from now on. Rest well my old friend."

As she closes the box, and turns to straighten out her magazines, books, and portfolio from the mad rush on the road. She could have sworn she heard two voices say in sync.

"Thank you Rarity, get some rest too.."

Outside the moon shone it's guiding light on the lucky travelers, who had gone down a byway of the lost and come back. Those who had faced a legend of the byways and lived. Who had escaped the clutches of gods older than Equestria, and fiends who were once gods.
And those who faced varied futures, but would now share one section of their pasts.
The past written on that night on a wanderers lost road.

Author's Note

So final notes on this story.
Somebody was a changeling the entire time, as for why she's pulling a carriage it's very depressing.

Pearl Song got her brother to be by her side, even though they are both statues indefinitely. And her mom and siblings are sort of eldritch monsters, unless someone can manage to undo what a fallen god can do.

Rarity is officially bad ass for escaping Terminus Langoliesier fallen god of stone, boundaries between time, boundary markers, and souls lost between time twice. In case you are wondering the road they took exists between time, in the boundary between day and night. You can only be trapped there if you stay till sunset or sunrise. That is what the two merged circles represented.

Rarity remembering Sweet Streams is important, I may play on that more later.

Oh and every single thing that's a statue in The Statuary Stop was at one point a living thing. Over time their spirits or souls merge with the malicious creature in their body and become one, at which point saving them is next to impossible. If their spirit is separate from the statue, they can be freed but it's hard to do. They get turned into statues a multitude of ways, from the living stone, to infection and forced integration (like Rarity's father), to getting baked alive in something, to being put in that church where crazy rituals occur and statue abomination do things. Yeah let your mind go wild, they even have a serum to turn you into a marble statue. An evil, bloodthirsty, eldritch abomination of a statue.

Those Alicorns in The Statue Stop were actual Alicorns, same for the Draconequi and others. Unique species like that are not going to become monsters. Why there are there well that's another story.

The end of this chapter took days to write due to having to flesh it out.
Yes there is a Steven King reference in there.

If you want to write backstories for the statues in The Statuary Stop feel free to do so, just reference my story and I'll add you to a story collection.