Bringing the Magic Back

by Amaranthine Thought

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Adventure
Length: 14696

a thousand years ago, Celestia and Luna slew each other. Five hundred years ago, Starswirl set off to try and find a cure to the curse. And now, six mare are chosen to be Equestria's last chance. If they ever figure that out anyway.

Undergoing heavy rewrites: thank you for your understanding

Equestria is drained of magic. Unicorns can barely levitate, pegasi find themselves straining to move clouds and fly. Earth ponies are weak, and their growth is far less than normal. they are all cursed, such that no pony can go near any other pony not of their own kind.

And it is slowly failing. What remains decays, the magic too thin to continue on. Equestria has one last chance to find harmony, or it will die, and the magic will be gone. It will be hard, almost impossible really, a fool's errand if not for the grave importance of the task.

Six mares are the only ones who can help. And they can do it, should they try. there is really only one problem;

Nopony knows about the decay. Nopony chose those mares but destiny. They need to accomplish a task without knowing it, how to do it, or even that it is something that needs to be done. And they must:

Or everypony will find death when the magic finally fades.

Published 2017-07-17 01:50:06 UTC
Last updated 2022-04-06 19:31:00 UTC

Prologue: Our History

Author's Note

Bringing the Magic Back is undergoing heavy rewriting; pardon any trouble this might cause as we work to bring you a newer, more polished and complete version of this old story. Thank you for your understanding.

Prologue: Our History

Fine hundred years. Five centuries of this strife and separation.

Five centuries ago, we lived in lives of peace and prosperity. Five centuries ago, we feared nothing, and nothing disturbed us.

It is known that the ponies of that day held magic themselves, great magic. Unicorns had spells to cause grand effects with a thought, pegasi flew in the still air and built their homes of the very clouds, and earth ponies grew plants such that the entire land was bountiful, and not one pony hungered. They worked together, commanded their world, but something more was with them.

Two goddesses were with ponies then; twins, the incarnate lights of the sky, come to rule and guide and watch. The sun and moon themselves, taking form to be with the ponies who lived underneath their ever-present light. All of Equestria prospered underneath their grace and guidance, and the world was made a paradise.

It was thought that time would be eternal. It was thought the princesses would be eternal. But it was not to be.

For the moon grew jealous. Ponies slept during her rule of the night, living in the day, and held the sun, the elder sister, in higher regard. This envy continued to grow, hidden and unseen, till the moon could stand it no longer, and attacked her own sister.

Ponies could only watch as the twins’ magic, beyond comprehension, tore the ground asunder and shook the very heavens. The battle seemed eternal, fit to end the world itself, until, at the battle’s peak, they struck one another low, and ponies saw their goddesses, thought immortal, die together.

Ponies panicked, but the worst soon became obvious.

The land touched by their magic wilted, and lost its fertility, causing famine. Earthquakes and ruptures destroyed farms and homes. Winds came that forced even the pegasi to stay on the ground, and storms that challenged their mastery of the sky ravaged the earth.

And the sun and moon lay still, pinned in place in the sky, casting the land in an eternal dusk.

Still ponies worked together, and faced the trials. Earth ponies fought the land’s pains, and grew the food they needed. Pegasi gave their very lives to delay a storm enough to allow others to flee to safe places. Unicorns worked without stop, seeking a spell to see the sun and moon move again.

It took a year for that work to succeed, and the grand weave that commanded the sun and moon took most of the unicorn’s efforts, making them reliant on their kin. But, with that done, the land seemed to finally calm, and allowed the others to support the unicorns and slowly begin rebuilding.

Three were chosen to rule the rest, and each was given something special to signify their office. The twin goddess had brought six artifacts with them when they came; later known as the elements of harmony. The two goddesses used them to channel their otherwise overpowering might to heal, create, and defend ponykind.

Each one received two of the six artifacts. These are those ponies:

Dark Dusk, a purple unicorn, known for his intellect and a vital part of the celestial motion.

Red Apple, an orange earth pony, known for a calm head and capable hooves.

Fluttering Wings, a yellow pegasus of great will who was less chosen than she chose.

Each one chosen to represent their ‘tribe’ as it was once called. Unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies. But even as their outer troubles eased, tensions within began to grow.

Conflict arose between the tribes, each feeling the most important, each feeling the most put upon. Conflicts became commonplace, and soon, the three chosen began arguing as well, often blaming one another for troubles that came.

Try as they might, the unicorns could not master the sun nor moon, and days and nights came at random, or worse, the sun moved closer, causing great fires, or farther, casting biting cold through the land. Earth ponies fought hard to get food, but still, ponies hungered, still the lands suffered. Pegasi fought just as well, but still storms raged across the lands and worsened what was already suffering. Unicorns could help neither, their magic tied up in the celestial motion.

Hate grew for almost a decade before it reached a fever pitch; almost on the verge of the tribes declaring war on the others. But, even as it seemed hopeless, Dark Dusk had an idea.

What happened is written:

Within the place of peace, the still damaged castle of the twin sisters, the chosen ones met for the final time.

Dark Dusk, angry and despairing of peace as the other two argued, looked away from the other two chosen. His downcast eyes caught the glitter of his elements, and a sudden idea came to him.

“Ladies!” he called, stamping his hoof upon the table. “Ladies, please, cease this arguing!”

They did so, and as they looked to him, he continued, “I have an idea, one that might save us all!”

“Yer ideas tend ta stink.” Red Apple said bluntly, watching him with thinly disguised contempt.

“What idea?” Fluttering Wings asked, less supportive of Dark Dusk than directly opposed to Red Apple, casting the red mare a glare.

“The elements!” Dark Dusk cried even as Red Apple opened her mouth to yell at Fluttering Wings, making both stop and hesitate, before they looked to their own elements. “They have power, great power!” Dark Dusk reminded them, “Power that we can use to save ourselves and our kind!”

Red Apple, unsure, asked him, “Alright… But how are we supposed ta use em?”

Dark Dusk hesitated, for none knew how the elements were meant to be used. Only that the twin princesses had done so was known, but Dark Dusk chose hope, however weak, over despair. “Focus your magic into them.” he said, thinking hard, trying to imagine a way, and hoping that just hoping might work.

“I can’t.” Red Apple said bluntly.

Fluttering Wings frowned at the same, “We’re not unicorns.” she near spat, and then added, “And I’m not giving you mine.”, causing sudden suspicion to enter Red Apple’s heart.

Dark Duck held out, and with hope, besought them, “Just try! This might be the only way! The elements can solve everything!”

Red Apple and Fluttering Wings listened, and though unsure and doubtful, looked to their elements and Dark Dusk cast his magic over his, seeking some way to see them work.

Red Apple held onto hers, and glaring into them, simply trying to will them to work. Fluttering Wings did much the same, using the gentle touch she used to manipulate the clouds. Seeing them struggling, his own efforts seemingly useless, Dark Dusk said nothing, but cast a tiny part of his magic to them, trying to have his magic bring theirs out to their elements.

And as he did so, the elements flickered, and a light came from them as they began to wake.

“It’s working!” Red Apple yelled, shocked, but growing joyful.

“Focus!” Dark Dusk yelled back. “Focus on what we need!”

They did so, and at first, they all unified their thoughts to a single goal; the salvation of Equestria from its strife. But even as the elements fully woke, their thoughts sudden diverged.

Isn’t it rather a lot ta have em save everypony, jus like that? Red Apple thought to herself, Maybe that won’t work. All th thins wrong kin be fixed wit a little hard work n know how, if only they listened… If only they would all listen. Her thoughts shifted, and she focused on gaining command of the others, confident that her simple knowledge and common sense would see the day won.

You know, Fluttering Wings thought in turn, Most of Equestria’s trouble comes from those stupid unicorns. Useless and wanting, always, and why? Because of the sun and moon. Pegasi command the skies already… why not the sun too? Get the lazy horns to work while we ’work’ with the skies! She began trying to see her kind granted the power to move the heavens, knowing the influence it would give her kind if they could.

And at last, Dark Dusk fell to his dark thoughts as well. Magic solves everything, and we unicorns have it, while the others don’t. Our troubles… do they come from afar, or from within? Do unicorns fight one another? No. Let us all join together in one great tribe, and with that much magic, we could tame the world! So he began trying to see the rest turned into unicorns.

The elements woke, and they heard the thoughts of their holders. They judged the hearts and minds of those chosen to rule, and found them not only lacking, but actively discordant; an insult against the very existence of the elements of harmony.

So all were judged, and this is the will of the elements:

If pony kind will fight and refuse harmony, then they will find harmony refusing them. Let no pony approach one of another tribe, lest peace be found in the stillness of both. Let all struggle in their lives, let all fight to live, for we leave you, as you have left us. Till harmony be found again, this is the curse of ponykind to bear.

All this was found written on a monolith, standing where the castle once was. The castle itself was gone as if it had never been, and the chosen were still there, perfectly frozen and untouchable around the monolith. The elements were missing, and the curse mentioned proved true.

Should any pony attempt to approach one of another tribe, both would be beset with weakness such that almost no action could be taken, save attempting to wiggle backwards till they were once more separate.

The tribes chose soon enough. Each went their own way, and never again did a pony see a pony not of their tribe. However, if I have my way, this will soon be false.

Unicorns have built a great home by themselves in this land we took. I’ve lived within it my entire life, but now, after all I have learned, after all I have discovered, the time has come.

I am setting out to find the other tribes. I suspect I might be the very first unicorn to do so, for our border is considered dangerous and deadly, and has proven to be both several times over. But I will go, and I go for more than simple rediscovery of our distant kin.

I go to hopefully find the mentioned harmony, which I suspect is the lost elements. I go to see our curse ended at last.

I go to prove to the elements that we are worthy of them.

May the sun and moon, if they can hear me, guide my hooves and see me succeed.

The book was shut, casting a small puff of dust from its worn and aged pages. For a moment, eyes reread the faded title:

Rediscovering Our Past, by Starswirl.

Then the book was picked up with reverence and care, and placed with the same amongst other, similarly aged books upon a shelf. Other shelves were nearby, with more books, many books. Hooves were mostly silent on a ruined carpet, faded and stained, as their owners went elsewhere.

The wood of the floor was warped badly, from the water that came in with the rain through the broken window and the hole in the ceiling; much of it soft and giving. The wall was cracked, badly, and the ceiling sagged slightly. Elsewhere was little better, as the home, despite its occupant, had long been abandoned and forgotten. Plants forced their way inside, and the structure had long since been giving way, often only held up by the tangles of vines and the odd tree supporting it.

It was silent, till a sudden gentle thump was heard, making the occupant stop before continuing.

Outside the home, a pony darted into the bushes, and then watched with breathless anticipation. They watched not in vain, for they saw a shadow pass near a window, and then the front door to gently, soundlessly open.

They barely managed to keep their voice quiet as a tiny happy gasp was heard, and the small tome left on the stoop to suddenly lift and head inside, the door shutting fast.

Said pony chuckled, before wincing as their delicate side rubbed against the bush. It was painful, but not as painful as it used to be, and the fur was growing back. Besides; the occupant had enjoyed it, and what the occupant enjoyed, the pony enjoyed.

Still, best to start back before anypony began wondering about her. Didn’t want them to try to lock her into a nice windowless room again, did she? Nope.

The teal pony began heading back, taking care to protect her left side, which still showed the signs of a large burn. She smiled as she went, for it was rare she got to visit her friend, not that they had actually seen each other or even talked at all, and rarer still that she got that ever so rewarding happy gasp. And better still, a shorter hesitation before the door opened, which at least seemed to imply a growing trust.

It made the entire ‘jumping into a fire to get that book’ thing totally worth it.

Chapter 1

The great city of Dawn’s Light had been the pinnacle of unicorn culture for a very long time. With the great white spires of the castle and the gleaming city, untouched by dirt, gleaming as if made from gemstone, the city earned its name well; the city’s splendor was often said to rival the beauty of the dawn itself.

The unicorns within lived lives perfectly set and defined, lives far different than those outside the great wall that bounded the city. Lives of culture, art, and thought; few truly worked within Dawn’s Light.

Rarity was one such unicorn, and she adored almost everything about Dawn’s Light. She adored the unicorns that walked the streets, loved to try and finagle herself up the social ladder, and loved to design and create fashion, always in high demand within Dawn’s Light. And always keeping her dream alive, letting herself hope for the best future she could imagine:

To one day marry the Lord of Dawn’s Light.

A high, possibly impossible, task, but Rarity had already climbed high, and was not about to stop. Her life orbited around her work, both her sustenance and her creative outlet, and around her dream. Little else managed to fit itself in, save for the very few times Rarity let herself relax and just spend a day at the spa.

Except in this particular time. She had just recently received notification that her parents had been involved in some accident and had died, or at least assumed dead; the bodies hadn’t been found, but survival looked bleak enough to have all those who had been involved declared dead. She was left alone in the world.

Thus, as befit the social fashion, she forwent her work and tried to think sad thoughts, for she hadn’t known her parents for quite a few years and only dimly recalled either of them. But it was simply not done for a lady to be unaffected by her parents’ deaths, and thus, she was mourning, and would continue to do so until the common time had passed. Even if she had to fake it.

She had, however, taken a minor liberty to describe the problem in just enough detail to possibly elicit sympathy in a note on her door, kindly telling prospective customers and visitors that she was deeply grieved and unavailable.

She lay in her bed, scented candle lit, silk sheets under her, her nightdress, in and of itself a creative work of hers, on, with tissues nearby, a sad book delicately held before her. Her cat, Opal, a fat and spoiled pinnacle of breeding, laid nearby, wondering why Rarity, who almost never went into her room, was now disturbing the cat’s favorite daytime nap spot.

Her doorbell disturbed her bored thoughts, and she paused, before deciding to ignore it. It was not until it kept ringing and ringing such that it implied it would continue until she answered it that she sighed and got up, Opal nigh instantly leaping into the warm depression where she had just been.

She checked that she looked suitably morose in the mirror and disheveled, or rather, just the right kind of disheveled, for she herself wouldn’t be caught dead actually disheveled. Satisfied, she had to remind herself several times to trudge her way downstairs and not to smile at the door, though even said habitual smile was tested as the doorbell kept ringing. Just who was so determined to meet her that they would ignore her tasteful little sign, and be quite so irritating with her doorbell?

Opening the door, Rarity hesitated, seeing no unicorn there. She almost wondered if she was being pranked by some neighborhood colts or something before her gaze went down.

A little white unicorn filly was staring up at her, next to a couple of suitcases. Her mane and tail were purple and pink, and she seemed both sad, and oddly, sympathetic for some reason. There was something dimly familiar about her as well, though Rarity didn’t know why for a few moments.

Then the idea came to her, though it took a few moments and a general assumption that Rarity found reasonably easy to make, considering the filly’s appearance.

This had to be her younger sister, the one whom Rarity had heard about in some of the few letters she had received from her parents. The familial resemblance was there, and the sympathy was obviously because she already knew about their deaths and felt Rarity felt the same sadness she did (which she didn’t, but she at least looked like she did).

The suitcases’ implication was obvious; her parents were gone and Rarity was the only family left, that she knew of at least, and happened to be a fully mature mare. Her heart bled for the filly, and as she desperately tried to recall if she had ever known her name, said, with proper manner containing some sadness, “Come inside, please. I wasn't expecting you, but I’ll get you a drink while you get comfortable.”

“Thank you, Rarity.” the filly said, her voice subdued and sad. She grabbed a suitcase, and as Rarity moved aside, dragged it inside with her before leaving it in the entry and moving to get onto the couch.

Rarity took the other inside as well, and gently shut the door before going to gather a small cup of water which she gave to the filly before sitting next to her, feeling awkward and trying to imagine some way to talk to the filly without letting on that she really didn’t know anything about her.

“I… don’t really remember you.” the filly said after a moment, showing signs of guilt. “My teacher knew you. She’s the one who dropped me off.”

“That’s perfectly alright.” Rarity said, honestly wanting to see her sister not feel so bad and incredibly thankful that she had given her a wonderful way to excuse her own ignorance. “It is perfectly understandable, I mean, we never actually met at all.” Rarity hesitated a moment, and then half-guessed, half-generalized, “Cutie?”

“Sweetie.”

“Sweetie.” Rarity said, nodding. Then she asked, “Are you here to stay?”

Sweetie shook her head, telling her, “Mrs. Gem dropped me off so I could visit. She said she’d come back.”

Rarity nodded, hiding her relief, and glanced at the suitcases before nodding faintly. “So she’ll be back soon?” Rarity asked, guessing that perhaps Mrs. Gem had come by to see Sweetie settled into a boarding school within Dawn’s Light. She even knew one that was well known for taking in children like Sweetie, and Sweetie had likely been placed there so she could at least be near family. Rarity made up her mind to recall to visit every now and then. Maybe during holidays and the like.

“Well, make yourself at home Sweetie.” Rarity said, getting up. “Do try to feel better, darling. Why not go meet Opal, upstairs? Maybe she’ll help you relax.”

Sweetie nodded and headed that way, Rarity watching her go before again glancing at the suitcases. When was Mrs. Gem coming back anyway? Or was the intent for her and Sweetie to get to know each other for a few days and then pick her up to, perhaps, foster a bond between them?

If so, Rarity decided, she wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea. The idea of having the filly live with her long term was nigh unthinkable; her life and work was far, far too delicate for such a circumstance. But short term, she wouldn’t mind offering some comfort, understanding, and maybe some good life lessons. She had a few days before she could stop ‘being sad’ anyway.

Soon into those musings, the doorbell once more rang, and Rarity perked up. Maybe that was Mrs. Gem, here to pick Sweetie up already.

Rarity went that way and opened it once more, to find herself looking back at Mrs. Gem, who, despite being older, was still the old grey mare Rarity had known so long ago. She’d gotten glasses sometime in the intervening years as well.

“Mrs. Gem.” Rarity greeted, almost smiling before stopping herself (ladies in mourning do not smile), “Sweetie said you’d be dropping by.”

“Hello Rarity.” Mrs. Gems greeted with little warmth. “How is she doing? She was inconsolable for a few days, but she seemed better after hearing about you.”

“She’s not crying.” Rarity said, finding it easier to not smile at Mrs. Gems; she didn’t even ask after her, which was rude. “I only heard the news recently myself.”

“I do apologize.” Mrs. Gem lied, “But Sweetie Belle needed a home, and I couldn’t find any unicorn else who was family.”

“That’s…” Rarity began, before pausing and asking, “She’s staying?”

“Yes.”

Rarity blinked and then thought rather quickly. “But my home is not a place for a, I mean, I’m in no condition to care for a young filly.” she corrected, assuming an expression of weary sorrow.

“I know.” Mrs. Gems said without indicating what she might know. “But I will be nearby to help.”

“…Really?” Rarity asked, pleasantly surprised.

Mrs. Gems nodded, and explained, “I retired and bought a place here just before this happened. I can help Sweetie get used to the city and help you out if you need anything for her. I can even drop by and check up on her every week or so, maybe more if I have to.”

“I’m… honestly touched.” Rarity said, momentarily forgetting that she was supposed to be sad and miserable. “I never would have imagined another unicorn to care so much for my little sister. And I never thought any unicorn would think of me to care for a filly, even if she is family. It will be a pleasure to have Sweetie here.”

Mrs. Gem sighed. “In all honesty Rarity… You were my last choice.”

“…I’m sorry?”

“At least two weeks have to pass before I can enroll Sweetie into the Shining Star Boarding School, and every other option for taking care of Sweetie was untenable.”

“…What are you implying?” Rarity asked, frowning faintly.

“Simply put, if Sweetie hadn’t been so distraught, I wouldn’t have come.” Mrs. Gems said. “I would rather have waited a few weeks, so that the Shining Star boarding school would have begun accepting new residents, but Sweetie was so determined to meet you that I was more or less forced to go with her, lest she go by herself.”

Rarity’s mouth hung open as Mrs. Gems spoke, shocked.

“You’re her only family and she wishes to stay with you for the time being. I expect you to do little more than offer her a place to stay and keep her fed, and if anything, given your antics in your youth, I half expect you to somehow fail even that. Hence why I’m going to be cutting into my well-deserved retirement to make sure she’s still alright and ensure you aren’t mistreating her.”

Rarity’s mouth shut with a click, and a firm glint appeared in her eyes as she lifted her head slightly and near glared at Mrs. Gems, who seemed not to care.

“Mrs. Gems.” Rarity began, her voice hard and cold, “I assure you, I am fully capable of caring for a filly, especially my own dearly loved little sister. In fact, I feel capable enough to say that you can have your ‘well deserved’ retirement and never come back to my stoop.”

“I would,”

“If I see you again, you shall find no welcome.” Rarity interrupted. “Leave. I need nothing you could possibly offer me.”

“If you ever do need anything…” Mrs. Gems said, backing away slightly, showing no indication of surprise at Rarity’s reaction. If anything, Rarity half suspected her of doing this on purpose; so she could ditch Sweetie with her, in a socially acceptable manner, instead of disrupting her own life.

“If I was on fire, and you had the bucket, I would sooner burn to ash.” Rarity bluntly said, deciding that, ploy or not, she wasn't going to let Mrs. Gems have anything more to do with her. “Good day, Mrs. Gems.” she finished, and shut the door with rather more force than was strictly necessary.

Rarity huffed, rather upset over the encounter. She had hated Mrs. Gems in her youth and the old grey mare had only gotten worse it seemed. Rarity thought very not nice nor ladylike things about her as she returned into her home, and only stopped doing so when Sweetie, coming down the stairs, having heard the door shut, asked, “Was that Mrs. Gems?”

“Yes.” Rarity told her, “We talked a bit and everything is just fine.” A moment passed before Rarity gave her a small smile, and said, “Welcome to your new home, Sweetie. I am sure we will get along wonderfully.”

Sweetie gained a small smile herself, though she still seemed a bit down yet. “I’m staying here?” she asked, a little depressed yet, but seeming to enjoy the idea.

“Yes. You are.” Rarity confirmed. “Welcome home, Sweetie.”

Chapter 2

“I need a suit for the soiree.”

“Ah, yes, Mrs. Spark’s birthday, was it not?” Rarity asked the stallion present, one who seemed a mite worried. He sat across from her, Rarity herself set perfectly atop her couch, the picture of elegance. “That was in a few days, was it not?”

“Two days.” The stallion told her. “I need it in two days.”

“That isn’t much time to create.” Rarity said, thoughtful, and seemingly uncertain. She looked at the stallion, and suppressed a small grin, seeing him grow worried.

“I really need your help, Rarity.” He said, “They say that you’re the only one who could manage this.”

Rarity near purred under the words, always very happy to hear such things, though she kept her expression uncertain, and her body language guarded, lest the customer realize her relaxed air, and thus see through her ‘uncertainty’.

“I will be very appreciative.” the stallion said.

“I suppose I create something wonderful in so short a time.” she said, gently brushing her mane away from her face with one hoof. Two days was not a lot of time at all for such a thing, much less something of her standards, but what the customer did not know is that she had a suit already mostly made; it would take the work of a few hours to complete it.

“Thank you.” the stallion breathed, obviously relived.

A slight clatter announced the arrival of Sweetie, who did her very best to walk over, a cup of tea balanced upon a small plate atop her back. The stallion looked over, and Rarity gained a slight note of worry, watching Sweetie wobble forward. It would be far from the first time she had dropped the tea.

Sweetie, despite the shaking, managed to arrive at the stallion without spilling a drop, to Rarity’s relief and mild pride, and asked him, “Tea, sir?” As he nodded, she moved to get it off her back, and before Rarity could stop her from even attempting to, she had somehow managed to flip herself, propelling the tea directly into the client’s face and instants later, the plate as well.

“Oh, I am so very sorry.” Rarity began as she got up, grabbing a hidden towel from nearby to begin wiping at the stallion’s shocked expression. “Little accidents just happen sometimes, it wasn't really an expensive cup nor plate, and the tea washes right out with some warm water and lemon.” She continued to speak hurriedly as she got the stallion up, guided him to the door, assured him the order would be done, and got him outside before she finally shut it, sighing.

“Sorry Rarity.”

“That was almost better, Sweetie, but I’d much sooner have you dropping the tea onto the carpet than throwing it at the customer.” Rarity told the sorrowful Sweetie, moving to pick up the shattered bits of cup and plate and moving to get the nearby cleaning materials.

She had become quite adept at cleaning up spills, and even learned a few tricks as for how to clean tea out of things. Not that she would have ever chosen to learn how to do so.

“I don’t know how that happened.”

“I know.” Rarity sighed, starting to clean, and giving Sweetie a kind glance. “Why don’t you go and find me a pencil and my writing pad Sweetie? They’re in my workshop.”

Sweetie nodded, and, eager to amend her mistake, went that way, leaving Rarity alone.

There, Rarity sighed to herself. It had been almost two weeks with Sweetie, and… things had not gone well. the filly was simply clumsy most times, not yet able to use magic, and not having any real grace nor finesse when it came to her hooves.

It had been very hard to deal with Sweetie, and looking back on it, Rarity determined that not much had changed since the very first moment Sweetie had arrived. Her life was simply not fit for a filly.

Honestly, Sweetie was… damaging. The mere presence of the filly had gotten a few of her clients to rethink Rarity’s services, and her behavior and actions had made some leave, a few of which had done so angrily. That stallion had been the only customer she had gotten in two days.

Sweetie took up time that Rarity couldn’t really afford to give her, drove off clients and customers, hurt her reputation, and sometimes drove Rarity up the wall.

And foal sitters in Dawn’s Light were all apparently fully scheduled, and Rarity was nowhere near as important nor as wealthy to have them ‘forget’ an appointment.

Rarity had often caught herself counting days until Shining Star opened its doors for a new batch of residents. Yet, she had resisted the thoughts, determined to keep Sweetie.

Determined to spite Mrs. Gem and prove to the old mare that she could, in fact, take care of a young filly.

Spite kept her up fairly well, but spite did not a good bond make. Still, Rarity thought, as she sighed again, Sweetie hadn’t really done anything disastrous. Sure, she spilled things, but spills came out, and she would learn eventually. One day, she could,

A sudden series of crashes, the cat screaming, and the sound of tearing fabric jolted her from her thoughts. Rarity startled, and looked toward her workshop, already aghast at what she was hearing before rushing that way. She stopped dead in the entrance, gaping.

The room was a disaster. The once pristine workshop was in shambles, with the shelves pulled over, fabric and thread everywhere. Opal was caught in a tangle of silk before the cat destroyed it and tore past Rarity. Sweetie herself was upside down, a little tangled in thread, next to the sole upright thing left in the room; the dummy wearing the suit.

“Rarity, I,” Sweetie began, struggling to get herself upright. “It, it just all,”

One hoof grabbed onto a sleeve of the suit, and Sweetie pulled herself up with a small ripping sound. Sweetie froze, and then looked at her hoof, which held a small piece of black fabric before looking at the suit.

Which then fell apart for ill-defined reasons.

Sweetie stared at it, and then slowly looked back at Rarity, who had gone perfectly still, her eyes staring at nothing in particular.

“I… sorry, I… can just… go to my room… sorry…” Sweetie murmured, gently tiptoeing over before slipping past Rarity, trailing a few threads behind her as she then hurried away.

Safe upstairs, Sweetie shut her door and sighed. She’d upset Rarity lots of times before, but she had never just stood there before. Maybe it wasn't so bad? Maybe she wasn't really upset with her?

A sudden yell came from downstairs, followed by what sounded like angry, incoherent crying, making Sweetie quail and move away from the door, making a weak determination to maybe avoid Rarity for a while.

It was a few hours later that a knock came to Sweetie’s door, making the filly startle a little.

“Sweetie?” Rarity called from beyond, “Are you there?” She had an odd tone to her voice, and Sweetie wasn't sure what it meant.

A few moments passed before Sweetie asked, “Are you still mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you Sweetie. May I come in?”

Sweetie weighed her odds before she called out, “Yes.”, hoping that Rarity wasn't upset or mad still. She didn’t sound like she was, but she did sound weird.

Rarity entered the room, and Sweetie watched her, finding Rarity’s face fairly neutral, and difficult for her to read. She walked over to Sweetie calmly, and Sweetie looked up at her, wondering what she wanted.

“…Sweetie, I’ve come to a hard decision.” Rarity told her. “I simply cannot have you in my shop any longer.”

“…O.K.” Sweetie said, unsure, looking away, a little distressed, but feeling that that wasn't so bad. “I can just stay upstairs then…”

Rarity shook her head. “Shining Star Boarding is accepting new residents tomorrow.” Rarity told her, Sweetie looking back to her, confused. “I’m going to be taking you there to sign you up, and you’ll be living in the dormitories there.”

Sweetie looked at Rarity with wide eyes, almost shocked. The sight of Rarity’s face, regretful yet determined, told her that she wasn't going to have a voice in the matter, however.

“I want you to pack your bags, and be ready to go by tonight.” Rarity said as Sweetie drooped, a twisting sort of pain wiggling in her. She climbed off the bed, and dragged one suitcase out from underneath it, before listlessly moving to the dresser, tears appearing in her eyes.

Rarity watched her sadly start taking things out, and gave a soft sigh. The sight distressed her, but…

“This is for your own good, Sweetie.” Rarity told her, simply watching as Sweetie began packing, doing so rather poorly. Out of habit, Rarity’s horn lit to straighten and sort the clothes she was packing as she continued, “I simply cannot provide you what you need, and you’ll be better served by unicorns who have a talent for teaching and caring for fillies.”

Sweetie didn’t respond outside of a morose nod.

“I’ll visit you often.” Rarity said, trying to cheer her, not having anticipated Sweetie’s reaction and feeling terrible for the filly. “You can come and visit during the holidays.”

Sweetie only nodded again, before she gave a sad sniffle and wiped at her eyes, still trying to pack. The sound and motion cut at Rarity’s heart, but she remained determined.

This was for Sweetie’s own good, she told herself. She simply had neither the time nor the patience to deal with Sweetie. Her life simply did not have the space for a growing filly. And she knew that she was far from a good caretaker; though Sweetie had enjoyed ‘scavenging’ for her breakfast and lunch and sometimes her dinner, Rarity knew that simply wasn’t right.

She continued to watch Sweetie pack, almost unconsciously helping her to do so, fighting against her own tears for a while, until she finally broke, just a little.

“…We can spend all day tomorrow together.” Rarity said, giving way slightly, trying to not have Sweetie so devastated. “We can walk around Dawn’s Light and just enjoy the day.”

“…Alright.” Sweetie murmured, not appearing much better for Rarity’s offer. Rarity watched for a few moments longer before she finally left, leaving Sweetie to finish, mostly to spare her heart.

This was for her good, she remined herself as she exited the room, pausing in the hall as she gently shut the door behind her. Sweetie would be far better served by ponies with a talent for teaching, and grow up to be a fine young mare under their tutelage.

One day, she would come back, and she could live with her then. Rarity could teach her all her lessons, the sewing, the cooking, maybe a little seduction and social manipulation. It just couldn’t happen then.

She nodded, sighing softly, reaffirmed. Right up until she heard Sweetie sob, and her newfound determination near broke. She hurried away, again telling herself that it was for Sweetie’s best, that she had to do this. That Sweetie didn’t have a place in her home or shop, that Sweetie would be far happier and better off in the school.

Again, she firmed herself, even if she did so weakly. She knew it was right. It had to be. It had to be, or Rarity was a monster.

Chapter 3

Rarity had gotten little sleep that night. She woke tired and worn, and made breakfast earlier than she normally did so. Sweetie came down later on, dragging her suitcases behind her, looking as depressed as a filly might.

Rarity near teared up at the sad sight, but again, she resisted. Again, she held onto her beliefs, trying to tell herself that Sweetie would adapt quickly, and be just fine.

Breakfast was eaten in silence, Sweetie eating listlessly, to Rarity’s minor worry.

As they finished, Rarity stood, and walked to shed her nightgown nearby, and shake herself slightly, checking the mirror. A sad mare looked back at her as she touched up herself with some magic, doing a far quicker and frankly worse job than she normally would. Finding the sight acceptable, she turned back to gently call, “Let’s go, Sweetie.”

Sweetie climbed out of the chair, and had her head low as she trudged towards her suitcases.

“No, no, leave them.” Rarity said, making Sweetie look up to her. She knew that if she were to bring the suitcases, whatever happiness they might possibly find would only be dampened or even ruined. “I’ll pick them up later. Let’s go.”

The two sisters headed out into Dawn’s Light, Rarity leading the way as Sweetie trailed after her. The sky above was cloudy and grey, almost as if echoing the emotions of the pair as they went.

Normally, Rarity was perfectly able to find things to do in Dawn’s Light. In fact, she had forgone sleep several times before, just so she could experience more. She knew some places she could take Sweetie to; she had spent part of the night imagining this trip.

But then, she wandered aimlessly, unable to think of anything, and unable to overcome the sadness that draped over them. It felt pointless to go anywhere, or to do anything, yet, the idea that she should cut this short and head to Shining Star soon felt even worse.

She found herself reaching the gardens eventually, pausing outside. The gardens of Dawn’s Light had sometimes been a perfect spot for her to rest, and escape the bustle of other places. The nature here, tended day and night, was normally a calming, relaxing sight, and sometimes an inspiration.

“…Go and see the flowers, Sweetie.” she said, sighing softly again. “Stay in view; I’ll be right over there.” She finished, gesturing towards a nearby bench, and heading that way, Sweetie watching her go before heading off.

Rarity near collapsed onto the bench, staring up at the grey sky and trying to get her mind in order. Struggling to try and regain her earlier determination, or to at least try and dispel the misery she felt. She had a duty to try and make this day happy for Sweetie…

Rarity shut her eyes, and took a deep breath, gently wiping at her eyes as she tried to find some peace.

Sweetie meanwhile, wandered along the beds of flowers, staring at them mostly sightlessly, consumed by her own thoughts.

She was going to leave today. Off to the school. Rarity had said she would visit, but… It wouldn’t be the same.

No more living with family. No more being near Rarity, watching her work and design. No more sleeping in a giant bed, secure in the knowledge that her big sister was nearby. No more caring for Opal. No more helping Rarity handle customers. No more of those weird lessons Rarity kept trying to teach her. No more sewing practice. No more happy times or fun memories with her big sister.

She wiped at her eyes again, taking a slightly shuddering breath, finally stopping by a bed of roses. The bed reminded her a little of Rarity’s own bed; her sheets had roses printed on them.

A faint sunbeam shone down, not that Sweetie noticed nor cared.

“…Are you alright?” a soft voice asked her. Mature, and feminine, it sounded like it came from above her, as though whoever was speaking was looking down at her.

“No.” Sweetie said miserably, wiping her eyes. She still didn’t notice the sunbeam, and didn’t turn around. “I’m sad.”

“…What has happened, little one?”

“I made my sister really mad.” Sweetie said. “And now she doesn’t want me near her anymore, and is sending me away to a school.”

“Now, I don’t think she doesn’t want you near her.” the voice said, soothing. “Has she told you that?”

“No, but… but she’s sending me away and I don’t want to go.” Sweetie said, sniffling, tearing up again.

“…We all wish that something was not.” the voice softly told her, sounding a little sad itself. “That we could change was is, to not have to face what we find ourselves facing. But we cannot; we can only face them as best we can. I am sure that your sister isn’t sending you away because she doesn’t want you; she wants you to learn and grow, as all fillies must.”

“But, but I want… I want to stay.” Sweetie managed, starting to cry again. “She’s the only family I have left…”

The voice was silent as she cried. It wasn't until she slowed again, trying to wipe her eyes with wet legs did it speak again.

“…Take this.” it told her softly, a golden rose descending in front of her. It seemed to glow slightly, encapsulated within a golden aura, and Sweetie gently took it, finding it without thorns.

“…It’s pretty.” Sweetie said sniffling, still sad, but finding the rose a happy thing regardless.

“Go and give it to the stallion underneath the willow.” the voice told her, a soft touch gently pushing her head to see some unicorn standing underneath the hanging branches. “Do so, and I am sure that you will find your sorrow ending.” it finished, the sunbeam fading away.

“But, but why,” Sweetie started, finally turning to look behind her, only to stop.

No unicorn was behind her, to her sudden confusion. She blinked, and got up, peering around to see if any unicorn was nearby, only to find herself mostly alone; the nearest unicorn to her was the stallion under the tree.

She looked at the rose again, and then at the stallion, getting up and heading toward him, intent on giving him the rose, like the voice had told her to.

Nearer, she saw that he wore a big cloak, one that covered him up like one of Rarity’s dummies when she put the dust cloth on them. She wondered how he even saw with that on, seeing as how his face was obscured as well, and neared him. The tree itself had a small circular bed of dark blue flowers around its trunk.

His head turned to look at her, and she offered him the rose, telling him, “This is for you.”

“…Thank you.” he said, surprised, the rose gently rising from her grasp. “It’s beautiful.”

Sweetie nodded, watching him. “Why are you all covered up?” she asked him, curious when she might not normally have been.

“I… I have a condition.” the stallion answered her, seeming uncomfortable.

“A condition?” Sweetie asked. “What sort of condition?”

“N, nothing you would want to know about.” he told her quickly.

Sweetie advanced on him when she normally wouldn’t, curiosity driving her; the voice said that giving him the rose would make her sadness go away. Did it mean she should get to know him better?

“Why not?” she asked him, the stallion backing up. “Just a peek?”

“N, no.” he stuttered, continuing to back away from her. “Look, just,”

Sweetie saw him nearing the flower bed, and darted forward, yelling, “Look out!”

He yelled in turn as she grabbed onto him, seizing onto one hoof. His cloak fluttered to her at her pull, and she was momentarily blinded by it, letting go of him to try and get it off of her.

“You nearly stepped on the…” she began, only to trail off as she got the cloak off of herself, seeing him without it, his eyes wide and fearful.

“Please don’t scre,”

Sweetie screamed as loudly as she could, near throwing herself backwards and flailing in blind terror, the cloak tangling her legs. Other unicorns looked at her scream, saw the stallion near her, and they screamed as well, a panic swiftly happening as unicorns ran.

Sweetie screamed again as the stallion swiped at her, snatching his cloak back, Sweetie sure he’d just tried to grab her. Moments after, however, something yanked her backwards, away from him.

Rarity then got in front of her, shoving Sweetie behind her before rearing up, her horn flashing dangerously, her eyes glaring with near murderous hate as she screamed, “Get away from my little sister!”

The stallion gaped at her, before a shout came, and his head whipped to the side, to spot a pair of guards rushing, spear first, towards them. He then ran in the other direction, leaving Rarity to pant, glaring after him as the guards ran past her after him.

Then she looked to Sweetie, curled up on the grass in a small, trembling ball, and hurried to her.

“He, he’s gone.” she breathed, starting to relax.

“I touched him!” Sweetie screamed, making Rarity pale.

“May, maybe you missed?” she quavered, trembling herself, staring at the terrified Sweetie.

“I felt his fur!”

Rarity swallowed, closing her eyes for a moment before she reopened them, fearful, but determined. “Back home, quickly.” She said, getting Sweetie to her hooves. “I have lilacs there, now, quickly!”

The pair ran as the clouds above darkened. Rarity kept slower so Sweetie could keep up, but Sweetie kept tripping, still terrified far too much to properly run at all. Each time she tripped, she grew more afraid, and Rarity more distressed and fearful.

Eventually, Sweetie cried like a newborn foal when she tripped again, unable to move anymore from terror. Rarity turned back, seized onto her and threw her onto her back, using magic to keep her there as she ran as fast as she could as the rain began.

She burst into her home, slamming the door open, and near flew up the stairs into her room. There, she tore the covers off of her bed, throwing the cat into the air, and piled them onto the floor in a roughly circular shape, before she carefully put the still sobbing Sweetie in the middle.

Then she ran and began tearing drawers out of her dresser like a mad mare, trying to recall where she had put the lilacs. Only for the last drawer she looked in to reveal a bundle of dried sticks and some dark brown debris.

“Dread Steed’s horn.” She cursed under her breath, turning back to Sweetie and trying to sound calm as she told her, “I have to go get some more lilacs, I’ll be right back!”

Sweetie and Rarity both screamed as thunder boomed, and as Sweetie’s cries grew worse, Rarity girt her teeth and plopped her pillows atop the sobbing filly, yelling, “I’ll only be moments, be brave Sweetie!”

She leapt down her stairs and ran through the still open door into the storm outside.

Sweetie grabbed onto one of the pillows, and sobbed into it, trembling in terror. She flinched at each howl of wind, and screamed with each crack of thunder, Opal hiding under the bed, a puffed-up ball of confusion and fear. Sweetie kept trying, and mostly failing, to be brave like Rarity had told her to.

How could she, when she knew what was happening to her?

Rarity returned in a minute, a time period that to both ponies felt like forever, carrying a flower shop’s worth of lilacs with her, sopping wet, rushing back.

She threw the flowers at Sweetie, who desperately grabbed hold of them. The instant she did so, she began calming, still crying, still shaking, but no longer so terrified as she had been.

Rarity gave a great sigh, and began to spread the flowers around, just in case, as Sweetie slowly began to breathe a little more normally. “Did, did anything happen?” she asked a little breathlessly as she did so.

“The, the house kept, kept shaking.” Sweetie weakly told her, still badly shaken, but now feeling safe once again.

“Then I made it just in time.” Rarity breathed. “Thank the sun…”

Sweetie spotted Rarity moving towards the door, and suddenly screamed, “Don’t leave me!”, making Rarity startle, and turn to Sweetie, who was tearing up again at the mere thought.

“Sweetie, Sweetie, I’m never leaving you alone like that ever again.” Rarity said, hurrying to her and carefully leaning down to hold the trembling filly. “You’re my precious little sister, Sweetie. I’m sorry for ever forgetting that.”

Sweetie pressed her face against Rarity, still having a slight death grip on the lilacs, taking even more comfort in her presence, and her words.

“…Forget Shining Star. You’re going to stay with me. I can’t believe I ever thought… but you’re safe, and nothing bad happened. You’re safe now. You’re safe.”

Sweetie pressed against her a little harder, wanting to speak, but unable to find her own voice. Crying again, but for different reasons than before.

Rarity held her a little longer, until she felt Sweetie regaining control of herself, before she pulled back. Sweetie looked up at her with teary and emotional eyes, and Rarity, her own a little teary, told her, “Let the lilacs do their work. I’m going to unpack your things and get cleaned up.”

Sweetie nodded, curling up with the lilacs as Rarity left, gently shutting the door behind her. She shifted, and fearfully peered at her hoof, the one she had grabbed the stallion with, before taking great solace in that it was as white as it always had been, sighing and curling up into a slightly more comfortable position.

Rarity gave a soft sigh once free of the room, and headed to her bathroom, thinking about what had happened.

To even imagine that something like that could happen in Dawn’s Light. How had that stallion even made it into the city, she wondered as she entered the room. There were guards, and gates, and all that, but there he had been, right in the park, where any filly could have wandered up to him.

Just like Sweetie had. And if she had followed her first instinct to leave with every unicorn else when the screams came… if she had not somehow recognized Sweetie’s voice screaming…

Rarity shuddered, throwing such dark thoughts away. She had recognized Sweetie’s voice, and she had made it in time. She hadn’t even had the faintest intention of even going near the stallion, intent on just pulling Sweetie away as fast as she could. Up until she saw him swipe at her.

She hadn’t even known she could be so angry. Nor so brave as to stand up to something like that, willing to actually fight it for her little sister’s sake. She gave some thanks that the guards had shown up in time to chase him off as she stepped into her shower.

Even if she had fought him and managed to incapacitate him, she would have either touched or been touched. Just like Sweetie had.

The sheer shock when Sweetie told her that she had had been the single worst one in all Rarity’s life. She had almost thought she was going to watch her little sister… then she had become resolute to save her. The fear that lanced through her with each of Sweetie’s cries as they ran, the terror that grew alongside determination…

She shuddered as hot water washed over her, relaxing her. Perhaps worse than finding out that Sweetie had touched him was to discover that her emergency lilacs had long since desiccated away to nothing in a drawer. The feeling that she had already run out of time, offset by the burning determination to save Sweetie.

Her legs wobbled as she sighed again, taking solace in that she had somehow been quick enough. She had never run so far nor so quickly in all her life, but she had somehow obtained the lilacs before Sweetie… before anything happened. She didn’t regret a single moment of those runs.

Save for, perhaps, robbing the flower shop of the lilacs. She had even damaged the door when she had used it to turn around instantly in the storm, grabbing every lilac she could see before running off again. She’d return later to pay for the flowers and damage, she decided. The shopkeep would understand.

She stepped out of the shower, and dried herself off. To think that it had taken nearly losing Sweetie for her to realize just how much the filly meant to her. The sheer pettiness that had driven her to imagine that Sweetie would be happier away, and that she herself would be happier without, only seen for what it was when she had seen Sweetie helpless before that stallion.

Forget the rumors, forget the dropping sales. Sweetie was staying with her, and if her life couldn’t fit the filly, then Rarity would change her life so it would. She had more time now anyway; time she would use to be a better sister to Sweetie, to care for her precious little sister as she should have from the very first day.

She went to grab the luggage, and took it back into Sweetie’s room. She had barely begun to think again when she hesitated, looking at some of Sweetie’s outfits with a discerning eye as she began to unpack.

Then, with some care, she slowly put them back, an idea coming to her. A wonderful, beautiful idea.

Rarity had never made clothes for children before. She had made it a point not to, in fact, finding that immature minds lacked the capacity to appreciate her creations and designs, much less to understand the nuances and subtleties of them. She had felt it a waste to do so at all, and had occasionally refused to make something for grown unicorns who thought that clothes were just clothes.

However, the idea of making Sweetie a wardrobe all her own creations appealed. She recalled that Sweetie had always loved to be involved in the designing process, and that the filly enjoyed dressing up as well.

Rarity smiled, picturing it. Sweetie, her precious little sister, the best dressed filly in all of Dawn’s Light. She could already picture two, maybe three, outfits for her, and Rarity nodded to herself, determined to make that a reality.

She went back to her room, and reentered to hesitate, finding Sweetie at peace amongst the lilacs, sleeping, exhausted after her terrible fright. She smiled at the filly, used a touch of magic to cover her with the same sheets she lied atop, and went to her own bed, taking a few extra blankets from underneath it to cover it and then her as she climbed within.

She looked at the sleeping Sweetie, and smiled again as sleep swiftly took her.

Outside, in the storm, a number of unicorn guards patrolled the streets, while others searched the alleys. Trying to find the stallion from before. But they couldn’t; he had been chased, but the guards chasing him had sworn he had turned into an alley and just vanished. And since teleportation was blocked in the city, he couldn’t possibly have escaped from the heart of Dawn’s Light in that manner.

Yet, it seemed he had, though most felt he had somehow slipped away and was still nearby, hence the patrols. The only traces left were his cloak, fallen in the same alley he had ducked into, and a single golden rose that had laid atop the fallen cloth.

Chapter 4

Sweetie found herself walking amidst clouds. They swirled in her wake, and billowed up as she moved forward, simply walking ahead with little purpose besides that it was better than standing still.

She kept going until she saw green ahead, and she found herself leaving the clouds out onto a circle of grass in them. Six flowers bloomed there, three pairs of kinds, six different colors; white, purple, blue, yellow, pink, and orange. They had no pattern as to their placement, beyond that each pair was nearer each other than to any other flower; white and purple, orange and pink, and blue and yellow.

Sweetie hesitated, seeing the clouds at the edges turn a dark black, and begin contracting in. She backed away from them, watching as the ring of grass grew smaller and smaller, until a small stair appeared in the center, step by step leading up.

Sweetie took it, seeing another patch of grass above her, and looked down, to see the clouds swallow the last of the green below, a sort of gaping hole there then. She frowned, and headed up, wanting to get to the top, and get away from the hole.

She reached it, and stepped onto it, hesitating as she suddenly found herself in its center.

The same set of flowers grew here, but they were arranged very close around her, almost as if huddling around her. As she saw that, again, she saw the clouds blacken, and watched worriedly as they again began contracting inwards. Her worry increased as no stair appeared as they kept nearing her, only for her to hesitate, seeing the flowers around her start to glow, each in their own shade at first, until the glow seemed to take on their combined colors.

Brighter and brighter, and when the dark clouds met the glow, they slowed, and then stopped, billowing almost violently against the glow. Sweetie watched as the glow pushed back, shoving the clouds back a little, and revealing grass underneath them. Then it suddenly radiated outwards, and Sweetie gaped as they not only destroyed the black clouds, but the outer white ones as well, the ring of grass soon reaching away to beyond where she could see.

She looked down, and found the flowers gone, and that she herself floated high above the ground. She yelped, wiggling in the air, until she saw Rarity far below, standing on a road; a dirt path split from the cobbles, both heading in different directions. The dirt path went into a woods which looked eerie and dark, but the other path, the cobble path, simply stopped. A great void yawned not feet from its start, and she saw Rarity look between the pair once before she happily trotted down the cobbled path.

“Rarity!” Sweetie yelled, trying to warn her sister as she reached the edge of the void, seeming as if she didn’t notice it at all.

Then she blinked, and abruptly found herself on that same path with Rarity. Confused, she looked, and found a signpost in the split, with two different signs upon it.

One was designed well and even colorful, declaring the cobbles to be Dawn’s Light. Sweetie looked, and to her confusion, didn’t see the void she had before, but instead saw Dawn’s Light sitting at the far end of the cobbles, high atop a hill, the sunlight shining behind it, just like she remembered how she had first seen it herself.

The other was just plain wood and looked ill-cared for, declaring that the dirt path led to Ponyville. It descending, wandering and meandering down a long slope to a tiny town bordering the dark and eerie wood she had seen before. But that time, a decrepit mansion shrouded in mist rose from the dark trees.

“Ponyville is a terrible, tiny place.” she heard Rarity say, and she looked to see her sister sneering at the tiny town below. “Home to no unicorn of culture or manners. My home is Dawn’s Light.” she added, looking up towards the city with a happy smile. “And it always shall be.”

She took a few steps along the path before she looked back at Sweetie. “Aren’t you coming, darling?” she asked.

Sweetie hesitated, recalling the void, and finding the cobble path almost untrustworthy. Yet, as Rarity smiled at her, it seemed stronger, larger, Dawn’s Light shining across the land like the sun itself. She looked back at Ponyville, and the woods seemed darker, the mansion smaller, the sight more fearful. She heard something growling in the woods, and she stared as dark eyes watched her from the darkness under the trees.

“Come on Sweetie.” Rarity called, Sweetie looking back to her, Sweetie worried and concerned, Rarity giving her a comforting smile. “Let’s go home.”

Sweetie spared a last glance back at Ponyville before she hurried after Rarity, following her sister closely, worried and a little fearful. Rarity hadn’t seen the void before… it didn’t look like it was there now, but was it really not?

The pair kept walking, and Sweetie slowly began to relax, thinking that everything was alright again. Only for her to see the land before them begin falling into nothing, Rarity stopping, giving a gasp of shock.

Sweetie stared, watching the destruction racing towards them, and saw Rarity stumble, and fall into the void. Sweetie leapt at her, just managed to grab her hoof, only for the land she was upon to fall as well, the two sisters screaming as they fell into the abyss below.

High above, she saw the moon watching them fall.

Sweetie woke with a frightened gasp, startling awake. She stared, blinking in the sunlight that streamed through the window, finding herself amongst the sheets Rarity had piled up, tucked into the same, lilacs scattered all around her. The rest of the room had been mostly straightened up, other than the scattered flowers and the sheets Sweetie laid within.

She slowly relaxed again, but found her dream vivid and easy to recall. Confusing, worrying, and a little frightening.

But it was just a dream, she told herself as she slowly got out of the makeshift bed. And dreams aren’t real. Just a dream.

She left the room, to hesitate as she smelled something. Something good. She wandered downstairs, following the scent, to find Rarity in the kitchen, happily cooking.

“…Rarity?” Sweetie asked, finding the sight a little weird; Rarity had never made breakfast before. She just grabbed some raw flowers to eat and was off in her workshop, normally before Sweetie woke up.

“Good morning Sweetie.” Rarity greeted cheerfully, looking back at her. “Did you sleep well?”

“…Sort of.” Sweetie said as Rarity took, to her surprise, hayburgers off the stove. A favorite of Sweetie’s, but Rarity had made it a point to not have any ‘unrefined’ food in her home. “Hayburgers? But I thought,”

“You did ask for them.” Rarity interrupted, setting them down and gesturing Sweetie over.

“But you said,”

“Sweetie, I said lots of things.” Rarity again interrupted, brushing at Sweetie’s mane. She smiled at the confused Sweetie, and told her, “Things are going to change. Eat your breakfast, Sweetie, and then come into the workshop with me.”

Sweetie nodded as Rarity nuzzled her and then left, Sweetie staring after her.

A short while later, she went to the workshop, and saw Rarity working again, and asked her, “What did you want?”

“Could you go stand on the platform for me Sweetie?” Rarity asked, not looking up just then. “I’m almost ready.”

Sweetie, wondering, did so, watching Rarity. Then she stared as Rarity turned around, holding a dress. Her surprise turned into something approaching awe as Rarity began holding it against her, its size a good fit for her.

“Is, is that?” Sweetie asked, staring, not quite ready to believe it.

“It’s your soon to be finished new dress.” Rarity told her, beaming at Sweetie. “Now, hold still so I can get this just right.”

Sweetie was happier than she’d been in a long time in the following days. Rarity made good on her determination, making her two new dresses in short order, and changing her life to better care for Sweetie. Being there to make her meals, spending time with her, struggling to find something Sweetie could do with her.

The first idea had been to simply take Sweetie along when she went out. Sweetie adored wearing the new outfits after all, though she never had a real chance to; Rarity was adamant that a mare had to have a reason before wearing something special. But going out was some reason, and Sweetie being overjoyed in her new outfits was something special.

Rarity had been happier than she’d been in a long time in turn, seeing her sister prancing around the art exhibit, uncaring of the paintings, but loving the attention she got, telling every unicorn that her sister had made it for her with some pride. At first, Rarity had thought she had finally figured out something she could do with Sweetie, though she was worrying how she was going to find a new income for them. That swiftly eased, however.

The day they had come back from the art exhibit, a unicorn had dropped by. To ask after Rarity’s service as a tailor, but not for him.

For his daughter.

And before Rarity could even say anything, he had added that he was willing to triple any price she cared to ask for.

Soon after, Rarity found out why. No reputable tailor in all of Dawn’s Light worked with children. If one wanted to have their children well dressed, one would have to literally ‘buy’ a tailor, and those rich enough to do so tended not to share.

However, Rarity was a reputable tailor, who now worked with children, and who didn’t ‘belong’ to any unicorn.

She found herself a little overworked, but overjoyed at the same time. Better than simply finding her a new income source, the new work wasn’t really taking time away from Sweetie, because Rarity had finally found something for her to help with.

Sweetie loved modeling the outfits, helping Rarity determine how they would look on actual ponies. And she loved showing off in front of new clients, and even if she clumsy, most found her cute.

A week passed, and Rarity had found a special client.

A duchess of Dawn’s Light came to her shop to ask her to make something special for her daughter’s birthday. An actual duchess, in her shop, a unicorn not normally even seen outside of either their mansions or the castle itself. Coming to Rarity’s shop, to acquire her services, for her daughter’s birthday.

Which was the crowning glory atop it all for Rarity, for such a thing had her rise ever higher in Dawn’s Light. Up into the nobility themselves she was nearing, and the duchess, Duchess Gold, had been more than willing to allow Rarity into her own social circle in exchange for her services after her daughter’s birthday had been such a sensation due to Rarity’s dress. Which in and of itself, rekindled the long dream Rarity had once had; and it wasn’t so absurd as it might otherwise appear.

It was long known that the lord of Dawn’s Light had not married. Unicorns had long since wondered why, and many an idea had been theorized, though none was certain why he had not done so, seeing as how he had his choice of any mare in the whole of the city, and likely beyond.

Herself, Rarity had always imagined that he was waiting for the right mare. And she had never had so great a dream than to discover herself that mare:

To live a fairytale romance, marry the Lord, and thus become the princess of Dawn’s Light.

A dream still far and away, but a great step had been taken with Duchess Gold. She had spent years trying to enter the highest circles in Dawn’s Light, and now, at long last, she finally had. She was close enough to see her once silly dream become something possible. High enough to just maybe finagle her way into Duchess Gold’s good graces and the nobility’s approval, and make her way into the castle proper.

And that she did. She made friends with Duchess Gold, and though she found the nobility at odds with one another, she was a veteran at handling such delicate social interaction. As Sweetie was watched by Soft Petal, a filly watcher introduced by Duchess Gold herself, Rarity would spend days and nights working her way into the highest circles of Dawn’s Light, and step by step have them accept her as a part of them.

A month later, and not even in her wildest dreams could Rarity have anticipated what happened.

Duchess Gold chose to invite her to the Grand Remembrance. The Grand Remembrance happened alongside the Great Remembrance, a time when unicorns would remember their ancestors, the ones who had tamed the land and more or less made the unicorns’ home: Arcanum. A time of self-reflection and pride in those that came before you, the unicorns who had built it all. Lots of unicorns held special celebrations, and quite a few were quite picky about who could come.

But the Grand Remembrance was special. The most prestigious and greatest event in Dawn’s Light, it was the celebration held by the Lord himself, and those invited had never been any unicorn save the nobility themselves, and so rarely that it was nigh unheard of, a unicorn not nobility. That Duchess Gold had chosen to invite Rarity not only proved that she had successfully made friends, but also implied that Duchess Gold felt that she, Rarity, should be one of them. That the Duchess felt that the Lord himself would approve of her.

No greater compliment could exist in Rarity’s mind. But even more important, she finally had her chance. There, at the Grand Remembrance, she’d meet the Lord of Dawn’s Light himself, Prince Blueblood.

And there, she’d get a chance to have him take note of her. Rarity had no illusions that she might somehow gain his love, or even his real attention, in a single night. But if she could just make enough of an impression that he recalled her would be a great first step.

The first step up the long stairs to him taking her hoof, and taking her to the highest heights a unicorn could possibly hope to attain.

It was nigh dizzying how swift she had risen, almost like she was just dreaming the whole thing, but Rarity knew it was somehow real. She spent an entire week preparing for the event, doing her very all to ensure she would be prepared for the party, and be as perfect as she could possibly make herself be.

When at last the day came, and the hour grew close, she prepared with care and diligence. As she did so, she checked her preparations with Sweetie.

“There’s food in the fridge, just in case?”

“Yes.”

“Opal’s fed and alright?”

“Yes.”

“You know I’ll be gone all night?”

“Yes.”

“You know where the keys are, and where to go if anything happens?”

“Under the satin in the workshop and just down the street to Clever Clover’s bookshop.”

“How many knocks before you answer the door?”

“Three then two.”

“Does my mane look alright?”

“Yes.”

“What about the outfit?” Rarity asked, turning around, wondering, a little self-doubt entering her mind as she tried to find some flaw.

“It looks beautiful Rarity.” Sweetie told her, having already done so some dozen odd times. Her older sister’s nerves were a little weird, but Sweetie was determined to help her sister, even if she didn’t really know how. “You look beautiful.”

“Alright, alright.” Rarity breathed, taking a calming breath. “Broach, on, necklace, have it, tasteful bracelet, on, enchantments, done, am I missing anything?”

“Your purse.”

“Right.” Rarity said, grabbing it. “Alright… that’s everything then.” she sighed, trying to gain some peace. She was ready, Sweetie was prepared, Duchess Gold would send the carriage soon, Sweetie’s foal-watcher should have shown up by now, but Bright Bloom, Soft Petal’s sister, had said she’d be late. Hence the rhythmic knocks thing; Sweetie didn’t know Bright Bloom, but no unicorn would knock like that, alerting Sweetie that it wasn't her foal-sitter.

The sound of a carriage outside disrupted her wondering if she had told Sweetie who her foal-sitter actually was, before she decided that Sweetie knew and she hurried that way, telling Sweetie, “Be good!”

“I will! Good luck!”

Rarity left, shutting the door behind her, and looking at the carriage, here to pick her up. As she had swiftly learned by watching the duchess, she said nothing to the unicorns driving it, nor the one who held the door open, and simply got inside. There, she sat, feeling nervous and giddy as the carriage left, rattling away on the cobbles, and carrying Rarity towards the Duchess’ home, to first meet with the duchess, and then leave with her to the castle itself.

Chapter 5

Sweetie waited for a short time when the knock finally came. She counted three, then two, and went to the door, opening it to find a blue unicorn outside, with a white and teal mane. She noticed a slightly broken bajo strapped to her back as she simply walked inside, startling Sweetie a little as she looked around, smiling.

“Nice place.” She said, looking back to Sweetie.

“Are, are you who’s supposed to be watching me?” Sweetie asked her, finding her forthrightness a little disarming.

“I’m watching you.” She said. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Sweetie Belle.” Sweetie told her, wondering. “What’s yours?”

“Lyra. Lyra Heartstrings.” Lyra told her, wandering farther into the boutique. “Love the decorations. Makes me feel like I’m in a shop.”

“The, the front is a shop.” Sweetie told her, following after her.

“That explains that then.” Lyra said, sitting on the couch with a frankly strange manner; she sat upright and leaned back, rather than forward, spreading her front legs out, rather than keeping them close. Sweetie stared as Lyra relaxed, wondering how she managed to sit like she did at all; it was uncomfortable just looking at her.

Lyra patted the spot next to her, getting Sweetie to climb on with her, sitting normally a little away from her.

“So, why don’t you tell me about you?” Lyra asked her.

“…Like what?” Sweetie asked, confused.

“Like what you like, stuff you do, things like that.” Lyra told her, smiling at her.

“Well… I like helping Rarity design dresses.” she said a little hesitantly.

“Who’s Rarity?”

“She’s my older sister.”

“Nice.” Lyra said, smiling. “Family’s always fun. Do you have anything to eat around here?”

“The, the kitchen’s over there.” Sweetie said, point that way. Lyra nodded, getting up and heading that way, Sweetie watching her go before starting to wonder about her. She seemed a little… strange.

An odd sound came from the kitchen, and Sweetie glance back that way, wondering what that was. After a moment, she smelled something burning, and hesitantly went that way, wondering what was happening.

She stopped and then stared, seeing Lyra by the stove, happily watching a pan filled with flames. “F, fire!” she yelled.

“Something wrong?” Lyra asked, glancing at her.

“It, it’s on fire!”

“Yeah! That’s how I know it’s cooking.” Lyra told her, Sweetie staring in utter shock at her. Lyra eyed the pan for a moment, and then suddenly picked it up and flicked it into the air. She then caught it and swiped it over two plates and leaving behind two sandwiches, before tossing the pan into the sink, where it sizzled.

“Perfection!” she sang happily, finishing two sandwiches. “Flame roasted rose is just the best!”

“But, but they’re going to be bur…” Sweetie began, before Lyra offered her one of them. It looked fine; lightly toasted, and not at all burnt like she thought it would be. “…nt?”

“Do you like songs? I like songs.” Lyra told her, levitating the two plates after her as she headed out of the kitchen, Sweetie trailing after her. “You even have a stage!”

“That’s not a,” Sweetie began, before Lyra hopped atop the platform and pushed the dummy off the same. With a flourish, she held up a banjo that had seen better days, and adopted a sitting position that Sweetie couldn’t figure out.

Lyra stummed a few notes, the sounds mildly discordant, before she started singing. Sweetie stared, listening; Lyra’s voice wasn't exactly beautiful, the sounds nothing like anything she’d heard before, but the song…

It was the most ridiculous thing Sweetie had ever heard.

She smiled, and noticed the sandwich nearby. She looked at it and then picked it up and began eating, enjoying herself. It wasn't long before Sweetie was singing along, Lyra’s songs catchy and easy to remember.

A few songs later, and Lyra told her, “You have a beautiful voice, Sweetie!”, making the filly blush a little.

“Thank you.”

“Do you have the time?” Lyra asked.

Sweetie hesitated, and then glanced at the clock. “…It’s almost eight.” She said.

Lyra nodded, thoughtful. Then she asked, “Want to go exploring?”

“Exploring?”

“Yeah! Today’s Remembrance, after all, and there’s some really fun places we can go see!”

“You, you’ll take me?” Sweetie asked, growing excited.

“Sure! Ready to go?”

“Y, yes!” Sweetie said. She hadn’t ever done anything like that yet. Normally, the filly watchers wouldn’t let her do it anyway, because Rarity had told them not to. But if Lyra offered, then Rarity had to have said she could!

The two left, Sweetie eager and excitedly following after Lyra as the two headed off into the new night.

Rarity was still a little awed over it all. The carriage that had taken her to Duchess Gold’s home had been fine, but the Duchess’ own was mostly made of gold. With seats of the finest velvet and dark wood that complimented both the red and gold color. It even floated by itself; one the greatest feats of magic Rarity had ever seen before.

And now, it floated along the cobbles of the city’s ‘high’ district, where the nobility of Dawn’s Light lived, and carried her and the duchess towards the great castle, where the Grand Remembrance would be held.

But she kept herself in check, despite feeling almost giddy. Watching out the window, and being near enchanted by the many colorful lights of the castle, lit for the Remembrance.

“You seem very happy.” She heard the duchess remark, and she smiled as she looked back to her benefactor.

Duchess Gold was a yellow unicorn with a golden mane who less wore her finery than was a part of it. She had perfect grace and regality, and in many ways, Rarity was trying to imitate her, the very picture of unicorn nobility in her mind.

“I am. A year ago, and I never would have dreamed that I would be attending Dawn’s Light’s greatest celebration.”

“You have prepared yourself very well; better than some of the nobility, I feel.”

Rarity smiled softly, and looked down and away, as befit a modest mare.

“…Do you know why I have invited you, Rarity?” she asked.

“I would not guess at the duchess’ mind.” Rarity answered, keeping herself fully aware of her station still. She was invited, sure, but she had no title, and Duchess was second only to Lord. Friend or not, there was a proper way of things.

“It has been… a while, since things have changed in the castle.” The Duchess told her. “And I feel that you would be a very welcome wind of change.” Rarity blinked, and Duchess Gold finished, “When the time is correct, I will request that our Lord grant you your own title: A seat for a baroness has sat empty for some time.”

Rarity was speechless, staring at Duchess Gold.

“Of course, this hinges on your ability to meet and impress the others.” The Duchess told her. “And ultimately, to win the approval of our Lord. The more nobility that finds you acceptable, the more will support my suggestion, and the likelier that our Lord will grant you the title. But it is he that will make the final decision.”

“I, I, I am… I don’t know what to say.” Rarity said, shocked. She’d anticipated that this party was an opportunity for her.

She had not anticipated that Duchess Gold would be actively attempting to get her titled.

“Of course, I expect that you will show proper gratitude, and assist me.” The Duchess told her, Rarity hesitating. “There have been some… worrisome decisions as of late, and having another voice on my side, even brand new, would do wonders for helping the unicorns of Dawn’s Light, and even all of Arcanum itself.”

“Of, of course, Duchess.” Rarity said, bowing her head again, her mind working quickly. The machinations of nobility were partly unknown to her, but they weren’t all that different from the delicate web of high society either.

Every hoof extended sought to gain from doing so. Rarity dearly wanted to ask what the Duchess was planning, though she kept her mouth shut anyway.

Getting a title was exactly what would let her enter the highest circle of Dawn’s Light without the Duchess’ invitation. She did not dare to question it, lest the Duchess decide that she wasn't the right mare.

This was her greatest, biggest chance ever, and she would do anything to ensure that it did not fail.

She looked out the window again as the carriage floated through the outer gates, the pristine and decorated lawn coming into view. Magical lights illuminated the edges of the path in beautiful shades of blue, orange, and yellow, and after a moment, the carriage pulled to a gentle stop before the castle gates, their golden gilding brilliantly illuminated.

Duchess Gold stepped out, and Rarity followed, taking a brief moment to look up at the beautiful, shining towers of the castle that rose so high over her. Then she followed the Duchess towards the grand gates, where a few other ponies had gathered.

“Duchess Gold.” An older stallion greeted, bending his head just slightly.

“Duke Strong Heart.” The duchess greeted, slightly tipping her own head. “A fine Remembrance this night, is it not?”

“Truly so.” The duke answered. “They have exceeded last year in their preparations this time, I feel.” He glanced at Rarity, and then asked, “Is that the seamstress you have spoken so highly of behind you?”

Rarity kept herself, despite that her mind was reeling from hearing that. “Her name is Rarity, Duke Heart.” The duchess told him. “And remember: I have approved her.”

“Of course, of course.” The duke said. “A fine choice, I am sure.”

The duchess only nodded, and Rarity firmed herself. She had to make the best impression. She stepped a little forward, and took a graceful curtsy, one she had practiced many times before. “I greet the duke.” She said, keeping her head down.

“Very proper, I see.” he told her, Rarity only then standing back up, keeping her face bright, with a small smile; the proper form of happiness. “I hope you and Duchess Gold enjoy yourselves this night.”

Duchess Gold walked past, and after a moment, Rarity followed her, the two entering through the gate.

The inner hall was massive, with a long red carpet and made of pristine white stone. Guards stood in shining silver armor, standing tall and perfectly still, lining the hallway. Duchess Gold didn’t even glance at them, and Rarity followed suit, keeping a few paces behind the duchess.

A unicorn waited as they came to the end of the hall, standing next to the large doors there. “Duchess Gold.” He greeted, bowing his head. Rarity noted his horn lit for a moment, and then the duchess told him, “Rarity is my guest this night. My respected guest.” She added, to Rarity’s interest, the stallion looking at her, his face kept perfectly neutral.

“Then, pardon, my lady.” He said, his horn lighting. Rarity wondered why before she startled suddenly, feeling a magical touch across all of her. “May I introduce you?” the stallion asked the duchess as Rarity stared, trying to figure out if she should say something or not.

“You may.” the duchess said, and the stallion nodded, walking through the doors.

“Is, is that normal?” Rarity swiftly whispered to the duchess, hearing the stallion announcing them.

“Any new unicorn must be inspected.” The duchess whispered back. “Ignore it.”

Rarity nodded, feeling a little unsure all the same. Duchess Gold suddenly moved forwards, and she followed suit, and was unable to not stare at the room beyond.

It was truly massive, the ceiling rising high above. Three massive chandeliers hung overhead, shining with magical lights, and the far wall had several massive windows in it, looking out over the city, glittering in the dark night.

The castle did not have windows when seen from outside.

The walls were beautifully carved, and parts of them had grand tapestry covering them, tasteful plants set where they would complement the whole design. On the far end of the room sat a massive table, a throne set in the center, looking towards the room. Just behind that, a curled set of stairs swept up to a double door, where a massive portrait of the Lord hung.

Several tables were set about the area, holding fine food, servants drifting about the room, bearing flutes of wine. Little magical things flitted about, spreading a sparkling mist behind them, and making the ceiling and lights seem to shimmer. Gentle music came from nowhere in particular, filling the room.

The nobility of Dawn’s Light was here, unicorns in the finest silks and clothes, speaking with one another quietly, spread about the room in small groups.

A swift count suggested that there were enough to at least mostly fill the massive table’s seats. As Duchess Gold walked away, Rarity readied herself.

She had many very important unicorns to meet and win the approval of.