She was small and white, like her namesake. As cute as a button and twice as adorable. Marshmallow, that unicorn filly that reminded Rarity so much of her late sister, lay asleep in her bed, the soft glow of the elder mare’s magic fizzling out as she tucks her into bed with a smile. She partied hard and absolutely wore herself out.

“She reminds me a lot of you… Such a sweetie. I bet you are very proud of her, Sweetie Belle.”

She turned away, looking at the robotic mare standing at the door, a smile adorning her face as her green optics looked between her sister and Marshmallow, “It means a lot to hear you say that.”

Her white frame slowly stepped aside, letting the taller dark mare pass and then following after, “I have been trying my best to raise her ever since her parents died, but it has been difficult. I never really was able to get a few things right with this body. My old habits seep in some times. Glitches…”

She held up a hoof and let out exhaust, “Sometimes I can’t cook right. Housework piles up. My little Marshmallow really stepped up as I am falling apart. I am supposed to be her caretaker, but sometimes I feel like she is the one taking care of me.”

Rarity placed a hoof on her sister’s chassis and stated, “It's alright. Just keep having some faith in yourself. You were a great sister to me, and a wonderful mother in your own right.”

Another warm blast of exhaust washed over Rarity’s fur as she stated, “I know. It’s hard though. I may be able to see, hear, and move. But I just can’t feel. My horn is… Just decoration, the magic circuits are incomplete and without my original blueprints I can’t exactly be fixed so easily.”

There was a huff that came from her as she stated, “I suppose this was the price I had to pay for extending my life, as rushed as it was.”

Rarity cocked her head to the side, looking a little quizzical at her, “Do you ever regret it? Becoming this?”

Sweetie Belle shook her head as she went to embrace her older sister, “Not once… I got to see my little girl grow up into a strong mare. I got to see our family grow. I get to watch Marshmallow every day… And now, I got to see you again. Even though I can’t feel your touch, you have no idea how much being able to hug you right now means to me. It makes it all worth it!”

-Ding- -Ding- -Ding-

It was already late, they both knew that. Unfortunately, Rarity simply could not stay any longer, “Oh, I am sorry Sweetie Belle, but I must be going now. Twilight left already and she is expecting me.”

The robot waved a carbon fibre hoof in response and said, “No, I am sorry we don’t have room here for you and your family.”

With a small childish giggle, the nightmare responded, “It’s fine. I think I would know if my own home could house a dragon, a nightmare, and a half dragon, as well as a whole other family.”

Sweetie Belle nodded and escorted her sister out, “Quite… Perhaps it is time to expand the Boutique then? We’ll work that out some other time, until then, good night Sister mine.”

Rarity waved goodbye and left Sweetie Belle at the door, “Good night my dear, and stay safe!”

As she wandered through the decently lit city streets of Ponyville, she saw Twilight approaching her, “Ah, there you are. I was a little worried you might have gotten lost.”

Rarity shook her head as the two embraced, “I’m fine… Though, where are the others? Spike, Sparity?”

Twilight explained, “They went ahead. Spike wanted to show Sparity around a little, father daughter time before heading back to the castle.”

There was a bit of an awkward air about the two as Rarity glanced back at the boutique behind her, “So…”

A pause gave way to words as Rarity asked, “Twilight. Why is Sweetie a robot?”

Twilight looked away, somehow feeling ashamed to speak of this, “Technically speaking she is a golem. A doll brought to life by magic, just given a fresh coat of paint here and there. Back then, our technology was not sophisticated enough to be called ‘robotics’.”

She explained, “It all started the night you left Ponyville under the cover of darkness with Spike. You see, she saw the whole thing, and I did not know what awoke in her until it was too late. She hoped you would return, waiting day and night for the day you would come back down that road.

She waited, and waited, and waited some more, until she had no time left to wait. Using what knowledge she gained from you as a designer, and her many life experiences, she crafted a doll in her younger image with the intention of giving it life. You see, she… Was practicing soul magic. Some rather intense stuff. She kept this a secret from all except her closest friends, who worked together in secret to enact this plan.

It was crazy to imagine, but they cared about her so much they dropped everything to see her off, however, when I discovered the truth Sweetie was already gone, having casted the spell. Sweetie belle died that day, and the one you met today was born.”

Rarity frowned, eyes planted firmly on the ground as she spoke, “But it failed, didn’t it? They all did.”

Twilight gasped softly, but nodded, “So you knew? I figured you would have felt it.”

“She may have acted like my sister, and knew the whole routine. But when I talked with her, when I hugged her, I… Felt nothing. I could tell she was empty. Figments and fragments of someone, and being no one at the same time.”

Twilight shivered hearing that, but the truth was harsh, “Sweetie Belle was only partially successful, giving the Golem her memories, but the strain on her body and soul was too great. She perished before it could finish. I did not want to believe it, but the truth is, not even Apple Eden can see anything in her.”

Nightmare Rarity sighed, “I see…”

The Alicorn gestured for Rarity to follow her as she continued speaking, “Sweetie Golem may not have a soul, but surely you wonder why she still moves? Those memories were enough to get it started, active. It may not have a soul, but those feelings and thoughts allow it to simulate how she should feel. And the most tragic part is, she believes the lie. She thinks she is the real Sweetie, living life as a doll waiting for her sister to return.”

“Honestly, soul magic is unpredictable, something that not even alicorns can even get a grasp of completely. Souls are fraile, I am honestly relieved her soul was not destroyed or corrupted, it was still able to pass on.”

As the two stood at the door to Twilight’s castle, the Alicorn simply had to ask her shaking friend, “Rarity… I am sorry you had to hear this. How do you feel?”

Powering through the conflicting feelings, Rarity steeled herself and answered resolutely, “If Sweetie Golem believes she is my sister… I will believe in her too. She may be a copy, and imitation, but what kind of sister would I be if I turned my back on her? I... I will honor my sister’s last wish.”

That was a good answer, one that Twilight knew her friend would come to. Even after all this time, her heart was still full of generosity, that willingness to open itself up to others and give more than what would be expected. It brought a smile to Twilight’s face as they parted ways, “Good night Rarity.”

“Good night Twilight.”

Once alone, as alone as one can be with an Owl AI taking care of your whims and needs, she mused aloud, “Destiny… It can be rather cruel sometimes. Sweetie wished to meet her sister again so she made herself a dummy body to inhabit, only for that body to be taking care of the mare she became in the next life.”

Owly responded with a deep question, “Do you think it is wise to not tell Rarity that Marshmallow is Sweetie’s next life?”

Twilight sighed as she headed for bed, her regalia removed at a simple command and gesture, “To be honest, I am unsure. Maybe it is for the best. This whole subject is still new to Rarity. Given her own circumstances, who knows how she may react to the knews of her sister’s reincarnation. Perhaps one Sweetie Belle in her life is enough, yes?”

“If that is what you believe.”

The next morning~

Toast jumped out of the toaster, buttered mid flight before being caught in a hurried Alicorn’s mouth. She was busy getting her regalia on as she bounced around the kitchen, “Sorry, sorry!”

She was rather cute as she flailed around getting her affairs in order as her guests looked on, “Sorry everyone, emergency meeting in Canterlot. I wish I could show you all around a little more.”

Spike waved a claw and chuckled, “You do your thing Twilight. We understand. Sparity and I will just be gem hunting today, no big deal.”

Twilight nodded and said as she took another bite out of her toast, “Good luck you two, stay safe… What do you plan on doing, Rarity?”

The Nightmare pondered aloud, “What am I gonna do today? Maybe I will walk around town a little?”

She looked up from her newsprint and sighed, noting that everyone had left her alone already, “Oh come on!”

Feeling a little dejected, she absent mindedly wandered to Sweet Apple Acres. Compared to everything else in Ponyville, it was a refreshing sight seeing this place still so familiar even after all these years. She was lost in thought, reminiscing about the good old days when suddenly she almost got her head blown clean off by an applebucker she really should have seen coming.

Apple Eden apologized profusely, shaking like a leaf as she stated, “Oh f*ck… I am so sorry, I didn’t see you there. Please forgive me.”

Rarity held her chest in shock, thoughtlessly comforting the mare who nearly took her head off, “It’s fine… I am okay.”

She says this, but her mind was racing with just how close death had been to claiming her yet again. Giving Big Mac a run for his money in terms of strength was putting it lightly. Having been around Applejack enough she knew very well how much control and force is needed to buck these trees, and Apple Eden was holding back super hard just then, and even that horrified her!

Once the situation had calmed, Apple Eden sat down on the ground and asked, “Is there anything I can help you with Miss Rarity?”

Rarity shook her head and said, “I just wanted to see this old place again, see how much it has changed…”

She looked around briefly before asking, “Is there anyone else working at the Orchard?”

It was now Apple Eden's turn to shake her head as she explained, “No actually. I work here alone. My cousin works the Orchard a few towns over, and her mom does the housework, my mom works at the crystal Empire, my father sells apples to the gryphons, Gramps is in Appleloosa, Grams is in Canterlot, and my other cousin-”

She trailed off, speaking more and more about her family tree and making Rarity regret even asking. She was thinking what almost anyone might think, that Apples were slowly taking over the world.

Interrupting her long winded speech about Apples and saving the readers and the editor a lot of headaches, Rarity states, “Wow! You must be an incredibly hard worker to keep this up all by yourself.”

Apple Eden grinned sheepishly and said, “Well, in truth it's mostly for everyone else’s protection. I am well aware it's dangerous to be around me when I work.”

Rarity facefaults, “No kidding?”

She did not intend to say that outloud, but it seems like Eden did not seem to mind in the slightest, “Well, I should let you get back to work. The day is still young.”

Eden replied, “And there are plenty of trees to buck, i Know. Have a good day Rarity!”

Rarity nodded as she wandered off, “Good morning, and I will see you later.”

Eden waves her off and says, “I’ll see you guys later.”

The Nightmare sighs, running a hoof through her mane to straighten it as Eden sends shockwaves through the air, having resumed her apple bucking duties.

Eventually she found herself at the apple homestead and let herself inside, finding the door unlocked. She breathed deep that rustic air, noting just how familiar this place was. It truly was as if nothing had changed in the last… What, hundred years?

She called out, “Hello, is anypony home?”

As she stepped further inside, she looked around a little, “A few changes here and there, but overall still the same old home. Applejack would love it here! Hmmm?”

She paused her thought to spot a strange looking set of armor on a mannequin inside a glass case over on the far wall. Her curiosity piqued, she asked aloud, “What is this?”

He looked at the armor as close as she could and mused, “The upper part reminds me of a minotaur, but the lower half does not fit that… Neither does a diamond dog.”

“That’s because it's something I used to wear in another world. That was a long journey, so long ago.”

Rarity turned to see a very familiar face staring back at her. The stetson wearing orange mare that told the hard truth and was one of the backbones of her group of friends back in the day, “Applejack?”

Said honest mare flicked her rim up and grinned, “So you have returned… Glad to see ya Rares, sorry for not being here for your party yesterday, I was in Dodge City and only just got here this mornin’.”

The Nightmare was uneasy at first, but she quickly rushed in to hug her hold friend, “I thought I would never see you again! It's been too long!”

Applejack snorted and said, “You ain’t the only one sugarcube… I missed you too.”

Rarity held up one of Applejack’s hooves and gasped, “By Nightmare moon’s chipped fangs, you look positively dreadful. What happened to you? I know you were not the most beauty focused, but I know you wouldn’t let yourself get banged up this badly.”

Indeed, Applejack looked absolutely destroyed. Scars riddled her body and hooves, sure signs of harsh conflict. That was the only explanation. It had to be. To confirm this, she stated, “I got these in another world. It was full of… Fighting, and horrors I dare not speak of. I was lucky not to have lost any limbs there, or my life for that matter. That was a long two years.”

That was when Rarity noticed something else striking about her friend, she gestured to the ring around her neck and asked, “I see… Is that a memento from there… Or maybe-”

Applejack held the ring fondly and smiled wide, “It’s actually an engagement ring.”

Rarity gasped, getting a little excited to hear that, “Oh? And who is the lucky stallion? They must have been someone mighty impressive to catch your eye.”

Fond smiles turned to tears slowly as Applejack nodded, “Y-yeah… He was. I’m afraid we never did get married. He died over fourteen years ago.”

That dropped a cold bucket of water on Rarity’s enthusiasm rather quickly as applejack continued, “He died, leaving me all alone in that world. This ring, his sword, our armor… It’s all I had on me when Twilight found me and brought me home.”

She wiped her tears and followed up by gesturing to some of the very old pictures on the wall, pictures of her family, of the past, “I was there for two years, fighting to stay alive until I could one day return home, and when I did I found over a hundred and fifty years passed. It was strange… One day, everyone I knew was alive, then they were not ‘the next’, and I never even had the chance to say goodbye. It was hard to swallow, almost too much, but I wasn’t alone at least.”

She smiled and held up a picture to her friend, one of her in the hospital with a bundle of joy in her arms, “I found out I was pregnant… A child with a man from another world.”

Rarity’s eyes widened, “You had a child?”

Applejack nodded, “My pride and joy, LJ? Darn tootin… She was the brightest thing to come out of all of it by the end.”

The nightmare hugged her friend once more and said, “You have been through so much… I am sorry. Had I known, I would have been here in a heartbeat, you know.”

“You ain’t changed a bit, sugarcube.”

Rarity waved a hoof at her and scoffed, “Oh shush… As if time can change me~”

She gave her friend a knowing look and said, “My generous spirit is not so easily quashed. If you are ever feeling lonely, I will drop everything to help you out. Me, and my darling gentledrake.”

“Just like that one time in the barn.”

Applejack blushed heavily, “Do ya really need to bring that up again? It was embarrassing…”

Rarity smirked as applejack put the picture of her daughter down, “Speaking of barns, is your daughter in one of em? I don’t think I met her yet.”

The apple mare pondered that, thinking it over, “Hmmm… I sent her off to inspect the corn fields, but I have a feeling she went off to go train again.”

Her friend winked at her, “Sneaking off to do her own thing when there is work to be done, doesn’t sound like the apple way, eh?”

Applejack sighed, looking mighty embarrassed, enough to pull her cap down, “Yeah, she gets that from her Pa. A thrill seeking fighter…”

“Fighter? What does she fight for?”

Applejack gestured to the both of them and said, “Every generation needs the element bearers in some form. As the element bearer of loyalty, I expect nothing less than her best for her friend’s sake.”

At that, Rarity was once again very curious, “Loyalty?”

Questions, always endless questions, and no matter how many answers she gets, she had one more. With a groan, the apple mare asked, “Yeah, she isn’t exactly the most honest… Another thing she gets from her father. Anyway, do you mind if I step out for a bit, I need to check up on her.”

Rarity nods, “But of course, darling! I will see you later. And I promise it won’t be another hundred and fifty years wait this time.”

Applejack waved her friend off as she ran off, “I reckon you’ll keep that one! Later sugarcube!”

Rarity smiled and waved back, watching her go down one of the Acre’s many paths, relieved to know that yet another friend is still around and living life. But one thing still bothered her. What was with that strange bonfire beside the house. It obviously had a warning not to touch it written by AJ, but is it really okay for it to just be there beside something… Ya know, flammable?

Oh well~

Meanwhile, a ways away, the sound of clashing wood and crystal resounded throughout the orchard. Once, twice, three times before it would cease momentarily before the loudest rang out, “Iainuki!”

LJ’s sword was blown away as her master held his blade up to her throat, “And just like that, you are dead… I told you, fighting with a head full of air will only lead to you getting popped.”

LJ growled as she batted away her master’s blade, pouting like a child, “No fair… No instant win attacks!”

Her master sighed and put his wooden blade back in its holster and said, “You would have been able to block and counter that if you had a better grip on your blade. Now go retrieve it, my pupil, there is still much to learn.”

LJ sighed, deflating as she got to her hooves, “Yes master Kensai…”

The angry student groaned as she grumbled to herself, “Stupid weak hands… Stupid flimsy legs… It's not fair!”

She elbowed an apple tree as she passed and caught the red delicious treat in her grasp and angrily took a bite out of it, “I am supposed to learn how to fight from one of the Seven heavenly warriors, not how get my ass handed to me all the time… This isn’t how a Hero is supposed to do things.”

As she wandered through the brush looking for her lost blade, she grew more and more exasperated, “Sword, sword… Where the hell are you now? Did he really have to hit it that hard?”

A voice called out to her as she rummaged through a bush, “Pardon me, is this what you are looking for?”

She looked up to see a very irate looking dark unicorn with her sword sticking out of her mane comically, “My sword! Ah, thank you!”

The unicorn plucked it out of her mane with her magic and pointed the wooden crystal blade at her, “Is that so… Mind telling me why you are trying to kill me? That hurt!”

LJ bowed, “Sorry! It was an accident I swear! I didn’t mean to drop it! It was knocked from my hands!”

Once she held it again, the dark unicorn marveled at her, “Wow, you really do look like your mother LJ. She was not kidding…”

LJ looked up from her blade at the stranger and asked, “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

She shook her head in response, “We haven’t met, but I am one of your mother’s best friends.”

LJ hummed softly, “Really? I know all of her friends, and I don’t recognize you none.”

Her grip on her blade tightened, her stance shifting slightly, “You’re taller than any Unicorn I ever met, and your coat is dark as midnight. And those fangs are giving me some wicked vibes… If you knew my Ma back in the old time, then that can only mean one thing.”

Rarity smiled and asked, “And what’s that?”

LJ rushed forward and struck Rarity on the forehead. Just as she expected, an HP bar appeared above her head, “Oww… What was that for?”

The swordsmare smirked, “Nice try stranger, but I can see you for the fake you are. Others may get fooled, but you can’t hide from the elements. You’re a dark monster, and monsters like you need to be brought back to Harmony!”

Clearly there was a huge misunderstanding going on, but if LJ was anything like her mother, this was not going to be solved with words. Not now that this was escalating fast, still she had to try right? This was her best friend’s daughter!

LJ may still be a squire, a knight in training, but by no means was she weak or slow. Her flurry of blows was quick, only just guarded by the Nightmare’s shields, “H-hold on LJ, I may have dark magic, but I'm not evil, I swear!”

That only earned a moment's pause as she switched stances, “Possible, but I know one thing, that dark magic can and will turn you evil someday. If you are serious about being Ma’s friend, then stay still and let me do this. My Element of Harmony can save you.”

Rarity knew that no matter what, she could not afford to be a punching bag for LJ. At best she would be turned to stone or something, savable by Twilight or AJ later, but at worst… The Elements could remove her dark powers like they did with Luna and Nightmare Moon. Seeing as her base form is already dead, she will wither away into nothing! That would be the worst possible thing!

“Stop!”

In a desperate attempt to flee, Rarity teleported away, prompting LJ to land face first into the dirt, “Oh come on… Okay, I doubt she got far, that was too panicked to be a well thought out spell, and I know these orchards. I got this.”

Of course, she had to psyche herself up. LJ knew full well what an S class could do when they get serious and can focus. She had to keep the pressure on.

When Rarity blinked back into existence, she found herself back at the apple homestead just beside the corn field. The last thing she honestly expected woul be seeing the Elements being turned against her like this. She was just grateful that this generation’s bearers can’t simply knock her out in one blow. That was good, that meant she had time to think things through, to plan, but… She can’t run from LJ forever.

The Corn field! Applejack must be in there somewhere. She just needed to get Applejack, then this whole mess can be sorted out without violence. With some relief in that thought washing over her, she wandered into the corn field to search for her friend. Upon finding an orange figure in the maze, she let out a sigh of relief and said, “Applejack, we have a bit of a situation. Your daughter is trying to kill me, do you think you can-”

At first she was relieved, then she realized she was just talking to a straw dummy, a scarecrow. Feeling rather silly, she states, “Oh… My bad. I should really open my eyes a little more before I prattle off like that.”

“I’ll say. Talking to inanimate objects is a sign of insanity, you know.”

Rarity blinked out of existence just in time to avoid being cut down from behind by an attacking LJ, “Coward! Why can’t you just let me save you dammit…”

The nightmare popped back into existence a ways away, back in the orchard yet again, “Damn… How does she find me so fast? She is relentless…”

LJ whistled and waved down at Rarity from one of the apple tree branches, “Hey there. Sad to say, you can’t outrun me at the orchard, I know this place like the back of my hoof, and as long as my Element is aware of you, I will always know where you are too.”

She hopped down from the branch and said, “So why don’t we cut to the chase and…”

-blink-

LJ sighed and followed her on a wild goose chase, continuing this same cat and mouse game until they were both laid out on the ground, gasping for air, “What the fuck lady. How do you still do that!?”

Rarity groans, “Pure fucking adrenaline sister… You?”

LJ responded in kind, “Ma says I don’t know when to quit, and I'm inclined to agree… Sorry sugracube, I am stuck on your ass.”

“Don’t call me sugarcube, only AJ calls me that.”

The swordsmare laughs as she uses her sword to stand up again, as well as Rarity’s body as Rarity uses LJ to stand up again, “Fine… You want a boss battle kid? Let's dance.”

The two headbut eachother, forcing them to stagger backwards before they assume offensive positions. Rarity showed no signs of backing down this time, her mane flowing in the breeze as her magic ignited. LJ took a breath to center herself and said, “I’m gonna waltz all over your face.”

That made Rarity blush a little hearing such a bizarre statement come from her friend’s daughter, but she was able to regain her composure in time to block LJ’s flurry of blows, “Oh really? Give it up kid, I’m much stronger than you, and you are not getting past this shield.”

LJ growled as she kept up her assault, “Since when do Heroes back down just because their opponent is stronger?”

Rarity yawned and pushed LJ back with the force of her shield blocking, “Believe me, If I really wanted to, I could have killed you already. So please, stop before I do get serious.”

The swordsmare sheathed her blade, hand at the ready to draw it out again as she prepared her next attack, “Unicorns and their magic… Always making it difficult. Good thing I have just the technique for this! And… Thanks Alter for making direct magical jinxes harder to land while I wear this damn Element.”

“Spirit dragon heed my call… Ryujin no ken wo kurae!”

LJ drew her blade, calling upon a spirit dragon to fight beside her. Naturally, this startled Rarity as her shield was assaulted not only by a barrage of heavy sword swings, but was also getting beaten down by the light green dragon, “Dragon!”

The shield started to crack, little by little until eventually it shattered like glass. With one final strike, the dragon comped down on Rarity and LJ was forced to retreat from the force of the blast. With a grin, she happily paid the spirit dragon it’s summoning pearl and sighed, “You did a great job… Until next time Soba!”

When the dragon vanished into the ether, she sighed, “Damn that is expensive, but it was worth it! Villains like you always underestimate us heroes, and that leads straight to defeat.”

Unfortunately for her, as the dust settled upon the land, she saw an unsettling sight, Rarity was not only still standing, but she was fuming. Her mane was ruined!

“Spirit dragon, huh? You must think yourself clever by bypassing my defences like that. But no more!”

LJ huffed and resumed her previous stance, “Should have guessed an S-class summoned creature alone wouldn’t be enough to win by itself…”

Rarity spat as she roared at her, disappointed that she was now sitting at half her HP and a ruined mane job, “Alright, I’ll admit, no one ever made me lose this much HP before, but you won’t get any more out of me. That was your one chance to put the sword down.”

LJ raised a hand and taunted her with a ‘come and get me’ gesture. Unfortunately she only made the situation worse… The standoff was intense, both of them watching and waiting for the other to make their move so they could end this with one final strike.

Rarity made the first move, her horn igniting in a split second to fire off a spell as LJ recalled her lessons earlier that day. She was squaring off against her master, much like she always had, except this time felt a little different. Instead of using traditional sword swings, he was using the energy projected from his blade to attack her, spirit sword techniques, and her job was to deflect them. But alas, she simply could not get it and was disarmed again and again.

After some time, her master sat down beside her and he stated in a calm manner, “You are trying too hard to fight like me… Use your hands for this, feel the blade in your grasp and trust in it. Hold it tight and never let go. I may be your master, but you will never be able to surpass me if all you do is copy me. Develop your own style and use what you can do to win. Now let’s go again!”

That was what she needed, what she was missing! Now she understood why she kept losing all this time, it just needed a good battle to let it sink in. A pity all that self reflection left her wide open to attack. In the time it took to blink, that sleep spell had hit her square between the eyes.

Rarity sighed as she saw the laid out here twitching on the ground, helpless. She was still mad, yes, but not mad enough to actually launch a serious spell at her. No, she still had enough of her mental faculties to do just that.

The mare must have been more tired by the whole running ordeal than she thought, because merely lifting the swordsmare off the ground was proving to be difficult, much less keep her asleep. With little other option, she resorted to perhaps the most archaic ways of subduing her foe… Tying her up in knots and hanging her from a tree. At the very least LJ should still be asleep by the time she was done, however Jj seemed to prove her wrong, waking up just as it was all over, startling the nightmare pony, “For a small mare, you sure are heavy.”

“I’m not heavy… Your levitation magic is just weak on me.”

Rarity jumped back, startled, “Y-you! You’re supposed to be asleep. My spell shouldn’t have worn off quickly…”

LJ smirked as she struggled against her bonds, “Levitation is the manipulation of matter and magic in other people, right? Well, sucks to be you, I am half equestrian, so even without my element protecting me, your direct magic would only be half as effective on someone like me.”

The sword swinging apple mare groaned as she ‘gave up’ fighting the rope, “I just have one question… What the hell is this you damn pervert! What kind of knots are these?”

Rarity grinned sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof, “Sorry LJ, it's the best rope tying technique I have… Or rather, the one I remember most.”

The nightmare giggled softly and commented, “Should easily be able to keep you at bay. I have had some practice using it on earth ponies…”

With that said, Rarity used a spell to fix up her mane, much to LJ’s chagrin, “Bite me…”

Looking fabulous as ever, her foe struck a pose and let out an evil chortle, “Well now, save that anger for later… Now is the time to have a pleasant little chat, hero~”

“Rarity! What are you doing to my daughter!”

Applejack appeared from the brush, having bore witness to the startling sight before her. Her best friend had her daughter held captive and at her mercy with hardly a scratch on her. And LJ, she looked absolutely drained and was worse for wear.

Rarity spun around, looking absolutely startled to see her friend there, but was even more horrified to see her friend brandishing a sword at her, “I-I swear it's not what it looks like.”

LJ chimed in, “Careful Ma! Her dark powers have corrupted her!”

Applejack huffed as she looked between the two and prepared to charge, not hearing a lick of what Rarity had to say. At this point she had only one thing on her mind, and she was going to execute it.

Rarity’s screams made a few birds scatter off in the distance.

She didn’t even have the heart to look her friend in the eye as she attacked, and yet the thud that followed was not made by Rarity.

LJ stretched and rubbed her sore body as she stood up, “Thanks Ma… Now stand aside. If we don’t want to hurt her, my Element has to do this.”

Rarity opened her eyes to see LJ getting to her feet and her mother standing over her protectively. However, upon seeing Rarity’s face, Applejack’s expression softened and she dismissed her sword, storing it back in her inventory before putting a hoof on her daughter’s shoulder, “I’m sorry sugarcube, but I can’t let you do that.”

She stepped forward and placed herself between LJ and Rarity, “She’s my friend.”

LJ gasped, “But… Mom? Are you sure it’s her and not some dark monster impersonating her?”

AJ nodded, “Of course… As the former element of Honesty, I like to imagine I can spot a liar.”

She frowned, showing deep disappointment, “Honestly LJ, I am disappointed in you. I thought I taught you better than to assume that a pony is evil just because of their appearances.”

LJ deadpanned, “You didn’t teach me at all though. If it weren’t for Master Kensai and Dawn’s recommendations, I would even be fighting. You… Wanted me to stay away from swordplay.”

Applejack blinked, as if a sudden realization hit her, “Thats… thats right. It always was them, wasn’t it? Everypony else encourages you to fight. I’m sorry.”

LJ continued to rant, really laying it on thick with the gravity of the situation, “So you are saying a good pony can look bad, and a bad pony can look good, right? How am I supposed to know any of this if you don’t teach me? I wasn’t born with the ability to detect lies like other apples, I am not a psychic like Apple Eden. I had to learn this all by myself.”

She gripped her own element tightly and firmly stated, “It's true, I should look into things closer to find the truth, but we don’t always have time for that. In battle where precious seconds can be the difference between life and death, I have to trust my instincts, and when that fails me I let the element tell me who I fight. That’s the one thing you did teach me, that the elements are never wrong. It lets me see the harmony bars of any evil person.”

“Is that so… Then I guess I have been a bad mother then.”

LJ paused, taken aback by AJ’s sudden advance, “Would you kill anypony with one of those bars then?”

The hybrid shook her head violently, “No! We don’t kill mom. We purify them, cleanse them of wickedness. You have seen it before, the dark creatures that have been attacking the barriers around town, the small woodland monsters that lose themselves to the dark that come here from other worlds… Imagine if it were a pony, someone intelligent enough to lie, to hide what happened to them. The effects could be devastating, permanent, deadly… I can’t take that chance now. I have to return them to the light, not just for the sake of the people they hurt, but for themselves!”

“Am I wrong to do this?”

AJ smiled softly and hugged her daughter, “No, you aren’t wrong, but I can’t exactly call you right either. You are fighting for what you believed in, just as I did. I can’t fault you for not knowing, because up until now you have been dealing with absolutes, am I wrong?”

The apple farmer gripped LJ’s blade in her grasp lightly before taking hold of it more firmly, “Mom?”

Applejack let out a sigh and said, “I want you to see something, LJ. The reason I have been so adamant on you staying away from swords and all this fighting. I hoped I never would need to, but you leave me no choice. This is the truth.”

Applejack then did the unthinkable, she forced LJ to strike her on the head. Nothing serious, but enough to make the swordsmare drop her blade in shock.

There it was, forming above her head, the harmony bar that AJ dreaded for her daughter to ever see. Undead Applejack, the truth she had kept buried for years.

LJ backed away, eyes transfixed on the bar, “M-mom… What is that!? When did you...”

Her mother sighed and said, “Before you were born. I have carried this curse for over fourteen years.”

Slowly, the swordsmare asked, “But… Are you okay? That darkness, undeath. That’s too long!”

Applejack sternly retorted, “I’m fine, LJ. Better than that actually. It's because of this curse I am even alive right now… Despite not having technically died, I would without it.”

She gestured to Rarity behind her, who was busy snacking on an apple and listening to her tale, “We are both in the same boat. You would be surprised how much you can survive when darkness is involved… All our injuries, our failures, they could and would catch up to us in an instant if it were taken from us.”

LJ was stunned, “So If I were to have harmonized her… She would have-”

AJ nodded slowly, “You would have killed her, LJ. There is nothing left for her to revert back to.”

This shattered LJ, to the point of her falling to her knees as tears began to fall, “I nearly… I almost…”

“I didn’t want that to happen!”

Rarity tried to comfort her, “At least you understand now, right? You were only doing it because you wanted to help me. It’s okay, I should have told you sooner too. Maybe then you would have-”

It fell on deaf ears, “No… Please don’t cast the blame on yourself, this was always on me. I wasn’t listening to you from the start. And even if I did, I still would have fought you to prove it. I… Just never thought the Elements could kill anyone.”

LJ grasped her element and wept, “I went too far this time. My hot headedness nearly got someone killed, and I was too blind to see it. I am not worthy of being a hero.”

Rarity waved a hoof, “Now hold on, you don’t have to stop being a hero, you just… you’re still learning. That’s okay!”

Applejack remained silent, unable to look at this display. She was hiding her face with her hat so no one would have to see her cry as well.

LJ grabbed her sword off the ground and said, “Rarity, you are Ma’s friend right? How often do we Apples change? I’ll just make the same mistake again later, and next time I might not have anyone to stop me. It’s better this way.”

She looked down at the Element around her neck and closed her eyes, her mind seemingly made up, “Equestria is full of ponies out there. Ones more loyal than I am, ones that are smarter than I am, ones that are better fit to be a hero.”

The swordsmare gave up her sword, throwing it far away, “I don’t deserve this blade. May it choose somepony more worthy.”

With that said, she changed her gloves to better fit her new role, “For me, I’ll just be what Ma wanted from the start. A simple farmer.”

She started to wander off, but AJ had seen enough of this pity party. Readjusting her hat, she asked, “Are you just going to leave? Do you really think you can just walk away from this?”

LJ turned back to face her mom and gestured to herself, “No… I can’t, can I?”

Applejack shook her head and placed a hoof on her daughter’s shoulder once more and said, “Even if you do walk away now, I know you will come back. For the longest time you wanted to be a hero, and the day you got your cutiemark I knew full well that was your destiny, but I can’t let you do it for the wrong reasons. You still want revenge for your father’s death.”

LJ gulped.

“When the element chose you, I let you go. I believed that you would grow strong, strong enough to be safe should any more villains come around, but I was an old fool who thought that your desire for revenge could be tempered. But instead of making you stronger, it only clouded your mind. It made you eager to fight, willing to direct your anger and frustrations at anyone and everyone. You will fight again, you will make mistakes again. But not if I put that fire out here and now. I told you about myself, but if I want to be sure you will take the right path going forward I have to tell you about your father. I will tell you how he died.”

Applejack withdrew and took out a very old looking sword, one that LJ was very familiar with, “This sword? It belonged to the one who killed your father. And I was the one who held it.”

“I killed him.”

Rarity gasped, “No!”

LJ was too stunned for words. No… It couldn’t be true could it? Why did applejack kill her own fiance? It just couldn’t make any sense to her. Her mind could not comprehend it.

Applejack continued solemnly, “This curse belonged to him. You are marked by death, letting you return to life at any special bonfires around the kingdom. However, as much as a gift that may sound, it comes with a heavy cost. Your memories, your soul, your sanity, it all escapes you as you lose your ‘life’ time and time again until there is nothing left and you become hollow.”

It was dark, and it was raining, the clouds only parting ever so slightly to allow the moonlight to filter through. The dark hand gripped their blade tightly as the fog gate locked the orange haired woman inside the arena. She looked on in horror as faulty beams revealed the face of her opponent, the one whom she dreaded to face.

The man she was to marry stood before her snarling like a beast. Her heart sank, blade shaking in her grasp as she squared up uneasily. It was not supposed to end like this. They were supposed to make it out of here together!

Sparks flew as blades clashed, curses filling the air in a one sided exchange. It's not fair! Since the day Applejack landed here, her hopes, her dreams, they had all been crushed mercilessly by this unforgiving world. Yet another was dashed under heel as her blade was knocked away, leaving her at the mercy of her beloved.

“Byron… Please.”

Her pleas fell upon deaf ears as another swing came inches from taking her head off, followed by another she rolled out of the way of, but not completely unscathed. Orange strands… Just a hair's breadth separated what could have been a fatal wound and completely missing its mark.

Applejack watched as her orange locks scattered to the wind, fragments of a whole that would surely be only the start. Backed up into a corner with more ferocious swings of a blade, the swordswoman resorted to one thing she still had since she came to this nightmare realm of darkness and death, really strong legs! As Byron raised his blade up again to strike, Applejack exploded forward and kicked him in the gut, knocking the wind out of him before she nicked his blade from his grasp and ran it through his chest, “Forgive me…”

She had dealt with hollows before, seen how dark and twisted they were, but her beloved's last words hurt her far more than any blade ever could. Not even him going hollow hurt this badly.

“Thank you…”

As the undead crumbled to dust in her arms, she wailed, breaking down as the remnants of his soul clung to her like stink on a skunk. The curse he bore, the strength he had left, she inherited it all. Her tears fell to the ground, dancing with the rain before pooling darkly upon the ground. She saw her own face, and it was as dark as his. She may be alive, but by no means did she feel like it.

It's not fair. It never was. She sat up against a wall and clutched her legs tightly and cursed this day. But her pain did not end, not even as a familiar voice came to her aid. If only she came an hour ago. Twilight, what took you so long?

“And that is the truth behind the death of your father. So, do you still want revenge?”

Applejack growled softly as she kept her blade up, making her intentions very clear. However, LJ was too terrified to move, much less fight. She gritted her teeth, shouting in response, “I can’t! How can I… I can’t fight you mom.”

With that declaration thrown out, Applejack put her blade away yet again and said, “I hate to say this, but this is your punishment for your recklessness. The life of a hero is not full of sunshine and rainbows. There is heartache and pain waiting for you, not just physically, but also mentally. I hope that next time when you pick up a blade, when you are ready, you will remember that.”

Broken, LJ nodded and wandered off, leaving Applejack and Rarity all alone. Rarity put a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder and asked, “Was all that really necessary, darling?”

Applejack shrugged softly and said, “I’m not sure. All her life I have been trying to protect her from this harsh reality, but in the end I am doing nothing but hurting her. With a whole lot of power comes a heck of a lot of responsibility. Being an Element bearer only adds to that. It was unfair to her, and to myself trying to hide that.”

She turned back to her friend and stated, “We may not have needed to fight as often, but we know what it was like to have our friends, our families, even our enemies lives in our hooves. In this age, her cutiemark will call her to fight again, it's her destiny and neither of us can avoid it, but hopefully now she can have a better outlook on it all. Who knows, perhaps taking a break will help her see beyond the glory and fame and see what really matters.”

Rarity smiled and said, “I’m sure she can do it. Just give her time and I’m sure she can make you proud.”

Applejack chuckled softly and said, “She already has…”

A lone figure watches the two form the bushes, growing more and more agitated as they talk amongst themselves, cursing the fact that LJ was unable to finish the job. That was when the wooden crystal sword LJ had discarded floated next to them. A final gambit to end it all…

Despite not being an Element bearer, there were ways to bypass such limitations, such as using magic to levitate it just out of range as to not override its current energy storage. It still had LJ’s energy inside it, and with a little bit of clever telekinesis.

The sword wooshed off into parts unknown before returning to deliver all its Element payload. The sword was drawn to the other bearers, and as such drew upon their magic, and when it returned it had all it needed to deliver one final strike against Rarity while her guard was down.

The small being smiled wickedly as Applejack panicked, trying to heal the unconscious Rarity, but it was too late. That sword was planted firmly between those cheeks of hers and was not going to go anywhere anytime soon.

‘A little crass, but whatever gets the job done, right?’

In a flash of light, it was over, Rarity had been brought to harmony, prompting the figure to utter, “Finally. It's about time.”

But when the light died down, disappointment would be present on their face, “What…”

Even Applejack was surprised, oblivious as to who or what just did this. All they know is that their friend had been harmonized. Rarity’s coat was once again a dazzling white. This dark nightmare had become a lightmare before her very eyes, “Rarity, is that you?”

The taller mare looked at herself, looking just as bewildered, “What just happened to me?”

Immediately, she checked her magic, and like before the sun still obeyed her command, and yet…

“I’m white again… And my head, it feels clearer then Its been in heard. I don’t feel the urge to conquer the world anymore”

Applejack asked flatley, “What?”

Rarity seemed to be ecstatic, “This is amazing, it seems the Elements didn’t remove my dark powers, it just made them light. No negative effects whatsoever!”

The farmer hummed softly, “Strange… I thought the elements would destroy the darkness in us and kill us, but I never considered the idea I might have been wrong.”

Rarity laughed, “Then I guess your daughter was right then?”

Applejack deadpanned, “Nah, she is still wrong. Even if it wouldn’t have killed you, she shouldn’t have taken the risk. We’re just lucky it worked out alright. Although, that sword… I could have sworn she threw it the other way.”

In a sing-song kind of tone, the lightmare hugged her friend and said, “Who cares, what matters is that we can purify you too. What about you?”

Applejack shook her head in the negative, “Nah, I’m fine. Besides, only LJ and her friends can use the sword anyway.”

“But isn’t the curse dangerous for your sanity?”

Applejack fired back, “I haven’t died yet, and don’t plan too. Besides, I want to live a little longer anyway. Got you back in my life, and my daughter has plenty left to live. I wanna be here for ya’ll.”

She huffed, puffing out her chest as the sword rested on the ground beside them, “‘Sides, I've been dodging death for years, and Ponyville got nothing that can kill me anyway.”

Rarity would beg to differ, but opted against it, shuddering as she recalled just how bonkers LJ was, and supposedly the others may be stronger than her.

A growl rumbled through the air as the two realized something. Rarity hasn’t eaten anything yet today. With a soft blush of embarrassment, Rarity asks, “Sorry, I haven’t eaten yet… Do you mind getting lunch with me? All this excitement has left me rather hungry.”

Applejack shook her head again, “Sorry Rares, I got some stuff to do today, but I can see ya later if you want. Twilight’s place, right?”

Rarity nodded and hugged her friend tightly, nearly sucking the life out of her in the process, “Of course! Stay safe, darling. I am so glad to have been able to see you again after so long.”

Applejack hugged her friend back and picked her up, showing a surprising amount of strength left in those old bones, “Same to you Sugarcube. And don’t worry, I don’t plan on dying on ya anytime soon, Pinkie Promise. ‘Sides, I think Spike would enjoy a good roll in the hay with us one of these days anyway.”

That made Rarity blush even harder, “Oh darling, stop, before I do something we’ll both regret…”

“That a threat or a promise?”

The two shared a laugh over that before it was Rarity’s turn to leave, leaving Applejack alone with her thoughts.

Or at least, she thought she was alone. The cloaked figure from before was throwing a tantrum in the bushes, “Dammit! Why won’t you die already…”

With a defeated sigh, they said, “Alright, fine… Lets just take it from the top. Not like I haven’t failed this a thousand times. Maybe there will be something in town that will make this easier?”

With a blink, the figure teleported away, prompting Applejack to shiver, “What was that?”

She looked around briefly before she sat down in her spot, contemplating life and everything else. Once she was certain she was alone, she held aloft a flickering flame in her hooves and started to talk to it, “Raising a hero isn’t all it’s choked up to be. I think I am starting to understand where all those old comic books were coming from.”

“If only you were still here with me Byron. Maybe then I wouldn’t have been such a big failure as a mother today. Not only has my plans to keep her safe backfired, but my plan to fuel her rise as a hero too… You would have known what to do.”

She held the soul flame close to herself and sighed, shedding a few tears as the light danced upon the ground, “You were so close to the paradise you were looking for most of your life. If only I wasn’t so weak, you wouldn’t have lost your sanity over me. Then Twilight would have found both of us. Now here I am, safe and sound and you…”

She let out a long sigh and said, “I know you did it for the both of us, for me and our unborn child. You were a true hero. I promise I will do what I can to raise her to be a strong hero, like you. No more running away. No more hiding the truth from her.”

She placed him back in her inventory with a soft smile, “Rest well my love. One day, I will join you, until then, I have some apologizing to do. And to let our daughter know that I don’t always know best.”

Author's Note

Just who is this strange figure that seeks Rarity's death? What are the limits of Rarity's new life? Find out next time on Chaos future: The death defiant!