Act II - 05 - Take a Sad Song and Make It Better

Act Two:

"For What I've Done"

Chapter Five

“Take a Sad Song and Make It Better”:

Rarity set down the pen and gazed on the sketch of the battle suit, the strange emptily feeling in her chest feeling slightly relived. She sighed and rubbed her eyes, taking a look at the clock on the wall. “Wow, it is really that late?” she mumbled to herself, a knock coming from the door.

“Hey, y’all okay?” It was Braeburn.

Rarity turned towards the door, making sure to take the sketch with her, “Hold on…” she opened the door, “Yes dear, quite so in fact, I think I’ve found my purpose. You?” she said, immediately making her way to the workshop.

“Um…” Braeburn said as he turned to follow her, “Well, I just wanted tah check on y’all because y’all came home frustrated and all an’ locked yerself in yer room.”

Rarity stopped suddenly, “do you want to know why I locked myself in my room?” she said, her voice suddenly becoming heavy.

“Um, yeah?” Braeburn replied.

“Well,” she said, sitting down “I was at the party right?” she said, turning towards Braeburn, her voice laced with a mix sadness and anger. “So they ask about my diamond arc, right?” Braeburn nodded, “so I tell them about Kili, the diamond dog—you remember him?”

“Um, I think…” Braeburn said, sitting down next to her. “I take it didn’t go well?” He said. “NO! Of course it didn’t! Hay, Bruce Mane said he didn’t even know that they were capable of rational thought!” she said, now more angry than sad.

“Well, I always thought that Bruce Mane was nothin’ more than a rich playstallion plothole mah self.” Braeburn said.

“Really?” Rarity said, surprised by her normally clean-mouthed friend’s unexpected use of such foul language.

“Hell yeah.” Braeburn said, standing up again. “So besides everypony else bein’ jerks, what else happened to make ya lock yerself away?” Braeburn said as Rarity looked up.

“I was getting to that dear.” She got up again, and made her way to the workshop. “Well, I was in my bed, and I caught a glimpse of my tormentor on the news…and suddenly…” she sighed again. “I knew exactly what to do, as if all the stuff obscuring my thoughts and weighing down my soul had suddenly disappeared.” She entered the workshop and made her way to the table. “And I had the inspiration to make…” she spread the paper with the sketch out on the table. “This.”

Braeburn scratched his head. “Um…what’s that? A robot or somethin?”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “No my dear. Something better…a suit.”

Braeburn turned to her, “excuse me? That’s not like any suit I’ve ever seen.” His eyes narrowed, “ya sure you’re alright?”

Rarity gave him a deadpan look, “Yes. I assure you that I’m perfectly sane.”

Braeburn shrugged, “But how’s a suit supposed tah help ya find yer purpose?”

Rarity beamed, “I’m glad you asked. It’s a battle suit.”

Braeburn gave her a funny look. “A battle suit? As in like Japanese cartoons?”

“Well, yes, if you want to use a rather cliché pop culture reference,” Rarity said, raising an eyebrow. “But it will enable me to finally go and actually make a difference in the world besides just throwing a couple million bits at it.”

Braeburn sighed. “Yer absolutely sure ‘bout this? Cause fer one thing this is gonna cost a bazillion bits ta make and I only know basic tech stuff. I’m a farm pony at heart, not a robot expert.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh dear, I know THAT. I wasn’t thinking you’d help me build it. I want you hire out some help. I’m eccentric, not insane.”

“What’s the difference?” Braeburn said sarcastically. They both laughed. “But seriously,” Braeburn said. “Ya wanna hire help to build this?” Rarity nodded.

“Yes. I just said that. You know I don’t like to repeat myself.” She said, leaning in add some notes to the sketch. She turned looked at Braeburn.

“Fine.” He said, turning towards the exit.

“Thank you dear, you know I can’t get anywhere with my life if you don’t go and hire that pony, otherwise I’ll just spend the whole day doodling.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He said as he closed the door. Rarity sighed and leaned back in her chair. This is for you, Kili, she thought as she returned to sketching, turning up her music.

///////////////////////////////

Sweetie Belle sat in the backseat of the carriage bored to death. “Hey Dad?” she said.

“Yes?” Magnum said, sitting across the carriage, reading a newspaper. “What is it darling?”

“Why are you bringing me over to Rarity’s again?” Sweetie Belle said, putting down her phone.

Magnum sighed. “It’s because I want you to be somewhere relatively safe while me and your mother go on the business trip, remember?”

“Oh yeah.” Sweetie Belle said, “But last time I was there she was all mean.”

“Well, dear,” her mother said. “Just because she’s being an unpleasant and intolerant child is no reason you should be one back. You’re better than that. That’s why we’re having you stay. To watch and learn how not to be one.”

“I don’t get it…” Sweetie said. “If she’s a child how could I learn not to be a child?”

“Because,” Pearl said. “I believe that you should see that that’s not the way to live. Understand?” She said, sounding slightly irritated.

“I still don’t get it.” Sweetie Belle, said, feeling confused.

“Don’t worry honey,” Magnum said, glancing over his newspaper. “She’s your sister. That’s why we have you stay there.” He gave Pearl a dirty look. “And since she’s your sister, we know you’ll be safe and sound, no matter what happens.”

“Oh,” Sweetie said. “Okay. I just hope she’s not all mean.”

“It’s okay honey,” Pearl said. “Whatever happens while you’re there, remember this, ‘what ever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger’”

Sweetie Belle sighed. “Okay mom.” She slumped back into her chair, turning to watch the world go by outside her window.

“Oh, look, we’re here.” Magnum said, as the carriage pulling up to the driveway of Rarity’s palatial estate.

After the carriage came to a halt, Magnum leaned forward to look at Sweetie Belle. “Now remember honey, if something goes wrong, feel free to call me and I’ll come and get you okay?” He reached over to hug Sweetie Belle, who opened her arms and gave him a tight hug.

“Love you Dad,” she said.

“Love you to dear. Remember stay safe.” He said, opening the door and walking her to the door.

Magnum pushed the doorbell, Sweetie Belle holding her backpack and small suitcase. Nothing. He pushed the doorbell again, and this time a sound came from behind the door, “hold on there ya!” the familiar voice said. The sound of locks being fumbled with mixed in with a couple of muttered curse words, and the door finally opened to reveal Braeburn, covered in grease, his eyes tired and baggy, as if he’d been up all night.

“Oh, howdy there, Magnum, Sweetie, what ya doin’ here? ‘nother business trip?”

Magnum nodded, “Yep. We’re about to break a deal with Hex Corp and Mane Enterprises and they called me in for the meeting. Sorry for disturbing you though.” He said apologetically. “Would you be so kind as to watch Sweetie Belle for us while we’re in Manehattan?”

Braeburn nodded. “Yeah, sure. No prob. I’m sorry fer lookin’ so tired, but I was fixin’ the car, blown head gasket and all.” He smiled; Sweetie Belle noticed he seemed to be hiding something.

“So how’s Rarity been doing?” Magnum said, Braeburn turned to him.

“Huh? Oh! Fine, just fine and dandy, takin’ into account what she’s been through the last six months.” He said, rubbing his eyes, obviously very tired from working on whatever he was working on.

There was an awkward pause between the three, as if each was waiting for the other to say something. The silence was broken by the sound of faint shouting. The three turned to see Pearl leaning out of the carriage window, giving Magnum a dirty look and shouting something indistinctly, causing Magnum to blush slightly.

“Well. Time for me to go,” he chuckled, “you how mares are.”

Braeburn gave him a rather un-amused look. “Yup. They’re all a little crazy.” He said with all the enthusiasm of an undertaker at a birth.

Magnum leaned down and gave Sweetie Belle a quick kiss on the cheek. “Bye hon.”

“Bye Dad.” She said as Magnum reached a hoof out to Braeburn.

“Braeburn” he said, as Braeburn shook his hoof.

“Magnum” he said, still half-asleep. “I’ll be sure tah take good care of her.” He said, giving Sweetie Belle a tired smile.

“Good!” Mangum said, letting go of Braeburn’s hoof and running over to the carriage and driving off.

Sweetie Belle and Braeburn watched the car drive off before Braeburn looked back down at Sweetie Belle, “Well, let’s get ya all set up, right?” he led her into the house, which was just as big as she remembered it, with its walls covered in various paintings and such.

“So…” Sweetie Belle said, her eyes taking in the house. “How’s Rarity?” Braeburn walked into the kitchen, grabbing the coffee pot in his mouth and pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“Good, good.” He muttered, taking a sip of the coffee.

“So where is Rarity anyways?” Sweetie Belle said sitting on the chair in front of the counter.

“In the workshop. Workin’, like always.” he said, checking his ePad. Sweetie Belle sat there, watching Braeburn drink coffee and wondering why everything seemed so quite.

Just then Rarity came in, “Oh. Hello Sweetie Belle. Fancy seeing you here” She said, her voice betraying her obvious frustration at the sight of Sweetie Belle. “And why are we being graced by your wonderful presence? Did Mother think I need another example of how to properly live or something?” she said as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

“No.” Braeburn said. “She’s here cause yer Ma and Pa where needed in Manehattan. That’s why.” He said, putting his cup in the sink, giving Rarity a dirty look and then giving Sweetie Belle a sympathetic look. “I’ll be in shower and then mah office, workin’.” He said as he left the kitchen, leaving Rarity and Sweetie Belle alone.

Rarity sighed, “Ugh. Well, whatever reason you’re here for, please follow one simple rule.” Sweetie Belle sighed as well.

“Don’t go into the workshop, no matter what, it’ll kill your muses or something.” Sweetie Belle said, rolling her eyes. Rarity nodded.

“Good. Just stay in the living room, watching TV, and everything will be fine.” She walked out of the kitchen and left Sweetie Belle alone with her bags.

///////////////////////////////

Rarity huffed and closed the door to the workshop behind her. She whipped out another cigarette. “Why is she even here! Couldn't they just leave her with a filly-sitter or something? Nope. Had to send her HERE. Again.” She sat the table where what-looked like a half-finished robotic arm sat along with a pile of doodles and sketches. The metal arm was part of her grand design, the battle suit she would use to extract her own brand of justice upon all those who had wronged the innocent.

So far work had going splendidly, with her and Braeburn making surprising progress on building the suit, with Braeburn’s basic knowledge of mechanics (“All those years on the farm.” He would always say). They had reached an impasse however, when it came to building the repulsors for the suit. No matter how hard they had tried, they had to admit they knew nothing of advanced technology like this. She doodled various ideas for ways to create a way to fly, but so far nothing.

“Stupid little filly…always getting in my mane…damn, why won’t the muse’s cooperate…” she continued her ramblings when a knock came at the door. Rarity rolled her eyes. “Ugh. WHAT?! Who is it?” she huffed, turning around in her chair.

“It’s me, Braeburn. Can I come in? I think I figured out our problem.” Rarity opened the door with her magic, forgetting her frustrations.

“Really?” she said, sounding like a school filly about to get candy. “Excellent, what’s the problem?” she said, ready to set to work.

“Well,” Braeburn said, pulling out his ePad and putting on his reading glasses as well, “ya know how ya told me to find somepony to help with building the suit?”

Rarity nodded. “Yeah?”

“Well,” Braeburn continued. “I’d like you to meet Spark Plug.” Braeburn stepped aside to reveal a rather young looking brown unicorn mare with a spark plug cutie mark.

“HI!” the pony suddenly shouted, extending a hoof in greeting. “I’m Spark Plug!”

Rarity reached out a hoof. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

The pony shook her hoof rapidly. “Thanks! I’m really happy to be working with somepony as famous as you!” she then looked over Rarity’s shoulder at the table.

“Wow! Is that what you want me to work on!” she ran over to the worktable, and levitated the half-assembled arm. “Wow. You guys built this yourself?” Spark Plug looked back at Braeburn and Rarity. Rarity nodded, slightly dazed by the hyper-active pony.

“Um, yes. Yes we did.”

Spark Plug looked at the arm again. “Wow. Pretty good…” she thought for a moment. “For amateurs.”

Rarity huffed. “Well thanks a lot.”

Spark Plug put down the arm. “Well, I think I can make something out of this. You said you wanted a repulsor unit that could carry your weight? I think I can do that.” she said, sitting down at the worktable and levitating some screwdrivers, popped some headphones into her ears and set to work on the arm.

Rarity grabbed Braeburn’s tail with her magic and dragged him in a corner of the workshop. “Braeburn, who is this pony?” she whispered.

“Spark Plug.” He said. Rarity rolled her eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant. I want to know stuff like where you found her, her credentials, criminal records. Stuff like that.”

Braeburn huffed.  “I found her at Canterlot University. She’s has a collage degree in robotics. She’s shooting for a doctorate.”

“And?” Rarity said, shooting Spark Plug a quick glance.

Braeburn sighed. “And no. She hasn’t had any arrests of any kind. She’s a model student.”

“Then why is she so weird?” Rarity said, once again glancing at Spark Plug who was bobbing her head to whatever music she was hearing on her ePod.

“Wadda mean?” Braeburn said, yanking his tail out of Rarity’s magical grip.

“You know. Weird. Strange. Odd. Not Normal.” Rarity said, looking back at Braeburn.

Braeburn sighed. “Everypony says she’s just like that. But she’s also a genius. And willing ta work fer us.”

Rarity sighed. “Alright. Fine. So she’s a genius, but does she actually KNOW what we want to use the suit for? Or did you not tell her?”

Braeburn rolled his eyes. “Yes. Yes I did tell her ‘bout the suit.”

Rarity started to calm down. “Okay, did you get her to sign that contract we drafted up?”

“Yes. She told me that ‘that’s the coolest thing ever.’, signed it straight off and swore not to tell anypony. Good enough for ya?”

Rarity sighed. “I guess.”

“Good.” Braeburn said, “Can you go and help her now? I couldn’t fill in on everything ya know. So go and fill her in.” Braeburn said, walking away, exiting the workshop.

Rarity sighed, turned and walked over to Spark Plug. “So…” Rarity said to the head-bobbing unicorn. “Need to be filled in?”

Spark Plug continued to head bob. “Layla…ya got me on my knees Layla…I’m begging darlin’ please, Layla…” she sang along with her headphones. Rarity rolled her eyes and magically yanked the headphones out of Spark Plug’s ears.

“Hey!” Spark Plug whipped her head around, obviously angry. “Oh. Miss Belle! Sorry, what do you need?” she said, suddenly calming down.

“My dear, I love to hear music while I work as much as the next pony, but my number one rule is that I need to be able to communicate with you while we work. Okay?”

Spark Plug nodded her head rapidly. “Yeah, yeah, sure! What did you need anyways?”

“Well, Miss Plug…” Rarity began.

“Call me Sparky!” Spark Plug cut her off.

“Sparky?” Rarity asked.

“Yeah. Miss Plug is my mom.” Spark Plug said, turning back to her work. “So, what did you need?”

“Well, Sparky…” Rarity said, remembering to use her nickname this time. “I think I need to brief you on what we’re up to in building this.”

“Oh don’t worry! I already figured it out.” Spark Plug motioned to all the doodles and sketches littering the worktable. “You know, you should start keeping these on a computer. That way you won’t lose any important information.” She started writing down various calculations and muttering something about weight ratios.

“Well, if you already know all that, how can I help you?” Rarity said, doing her best to sound courteous.

“Well, I do need to know how much you weigh.” Spark Plug said, still doodling and sketching.

“Excuse me?” Rarity said, offended that somepony would want to know something so personal as her weight.

“Yeah, your weight.” Spark Plug said, turning to look at Rarity.

“But why?” Rarity said, hoping to be able to duck out of telling this odd pony such information.

“I need to know your weight so I can probably calculate the amount of power I’d need to sufficiently enable your AND the suit to fly and muster the speed you want.”

Rarity blushed slightly, embarrassed that she hadn’t been able to figure that out herself. “Oh. That. Well, I’m…” she whispered the number into Spark Plug’s ear. Spark Plug held back a giggle and nodded. “Promise not to tell Braeburn?” Rarity said. Spark Plug nodded.

“Of course not! I’ll keep it strictly mare to mare!” she turned and input the number into her calculator, and smiled. “Oh good! Only needs half the power I’d thought it’d need! Cool!” she started sketching some designs on the paper. Rarity looked over her shoulder. Spark Plug dropped the pencil. “You know, I kinda work better alone.” She said, looking at Rarity with a somewhat deadpan look.

“Oh.” Rarity said, knowing the feeling of wanting to work without somepony looking over her shoulder telling her how or how not to do something. “I understand.” She turned and started towards the staircase leading up to the door.

“Don’t worry though!” Spark Plug said as Rarity walked up the stairs. “I’ll call you and Braeburn when I’ve got the design down!”

Rarity stopped at the top of the stairs in front of the door. “Oh! Spark Plug, you know I have a stereo system installed in here, you can use it if you want.”

“Okay!” she heard Spark Plug say from the workshop. “Thanks!” suddenly music started to blare over the speakers and Rarity left the workshop.

///////////////////////////////

Spark Plug kept her promise, practically living in the workshop, and by the end of the week, had already come up with a design for the repulsors. Rarity had been eager to test it, but Spark Plug had insisted that she couldn’t until Spark Plug had tested them herself. Rarity reluctantly agreed and another week passed before they were allowed back in the workshop.

“Well, here it is.” Spark Plug said, wearing the gauntlet which was wired into several large batteries.

“What’s the batteries fer?” Braeburn said, causing Spark Plug to roll her eyes.

“For the power, duh!” she said, smacking her forehead. “One problem however.” She said, looking at the gauntlet.

“What’s that?” Rarity said, she herself studying the gauntlet. “Well,” Spark Plug said, levitating the batteries onto the worktable. “No matter how many batteries I hook up to this thing it just can’t get the power you’ll need to do any of the stuff you want to do.”

“Yer sure?” Braeburn said. Spark Plug nodded.

“Yup. I’ve got it hooked to seven batteries so far and all I’ve been able to do is make it glow. That’s it.” She said, twirling a pencil with her magic.

“Y’all tried to hook up ta Rarity’s diamond arc there?” Braeburn said, pointing at Rarity’s chest. Spark Plug facehoofed. “Duh. Why didn’t I think of that! It was so obvious! Come here you big lug!” she got up to hug Braeburn, forgetting for a moment that the gauntlet was still wired into the heavy batteries. “Whoop!” the wires tightened suddenly, causing Spark Plug to slip and fall on top of Rarity, causing them both to get tangled in a mess of wires and cables. Spark Plug’s front leg still in the gauntlet.

“Y’all alright?” Braeburn said, rushing over to help them up.

“Yeah, sure, sure, just fine dear.” Rarity said, fixing her mane with her magic, “Well, before anything else happens, we should try and test that idea of his, shall we?”

Spark Plug nodded. “Yup. I think we should.” They both walked over to the table and unplugged the wires from the batteries and took the gauntlet off Spark Plug’s leg.

“Alright, let’s hook this baby up.” Spark Plug said, levitating the cables and connecting them into Rarity’s diamond arc, causing a brief power drain.

“Whoa. Didn’t expect that…” Rarity said, getting slight woozy, the power eventually evened out as the enchanted rock adjusted to the power needs of the repulsor.

Rarity held a hoof out, “Alright, then, let’s test this.” The repulsor started to glow and emitting a high pitch whine, sending pins and needles through Rarity.

“Yer sure ya should be running that much power through it?” Braeburn said, quickly glancing at the power read outs on Spark Plug’s laptop.

“What’s to worry about Braeburn? It’s only a guidance system, what’s the worst that could happen.” Spark Plug said. Suddenly a burst of energy exploded from the repulsor, sending Rarity flying backwards into a pile of mannequins. “JEEZ ARE YOU OKAY!” Braeburn said, both him and Spark Plug stumbling over the table and running over to the frazzled unicorn.

“That. Was. TOTALLY AMAZING!” Spark Plug said, laughing and giggling like a school filly. “I totally didn’t know it was that powerful! Simply amazing!” Rarity said, dusting herself off and trotting over to the table.

“Well done Sparky!”

Spark Plug held her head up with pride. “Thanks. That’s what I do.”

“Y’all didn’t answer my first question, y’all okay?” Braeburn asked.

Rarity turned, “What? Yeah! I’m fine! One thing though, I noticed that when I was powering up, it caused a brief dip in power, making me dizzy. Can’t have that now can we?” she said, fiddling with the gauntlet.

“Yeah, you’re right…” Spark Plug said, helping Rarity with the gauntlet.

Braeburn looked at the wall. “Well, look what it did to the wall over there.” Spark Plug and Rarity turned to see the opposite wall blackened and charred with a few inches of the wall blown away.

“Wow. It did that?” Spark Plug said, leaving Rarity with the gauntlet and walking over to the destroyed wall. “Didn’t expect that either.” She reached out and touched the wall.

“It seems we now have a means of self-defense as well now my dear.” Rarity said, looking at Braeburn and smiling.

“Yeah that…and a completely destroyed wall.” Spark Plug pointed to the charred wall. Rarity looked back at the wall.

“Oh, yeah. Well we can fix that easy, just new plaster or…” She trailed off as she caught a glimpse of Braeburn, who was looking quite worried. “Hey,” she said gently, finally taking off the gauntlet and walking over to Braeburn. “Don’t worry, I’ll be safe. I don’t want to die doing this either, don’t worry.” She gave him a hug.

“Yeah, I don’t want die either.” Spark Plug said, also giving Braeburn a hug.

“Well, what about Sweetie Belle? She’s here ya know. Are ya goin’ tah tell her ‘bout this?”

Rarity sighed. “No. She doesn’t need to know about this. What you don’t know can’t hurt you I always say.” She walked back to the table and began to tinker with the gauntlet again, not saying a word.

“Wait? Who’s Sweetie Belle?” Spark Plug asked. Braeburn turned to Spark Plug.

“She’s Rarity’s little sister.”

“Oh.” Spark Plug said.

Braeburn walked over to Rarity. “Hey, why wouldn’t ya tell her? I mean iffin y’all got killed, Celestia forbid, wouldn’t you want her ta know that at least ya died fer a reason?”

Rarity sighed again. “Braeburn, I really don’t want to talk about that now.” She said, turning away. Braeburn walked up next her. “Look, I know this kinda of a touchy subject fer ya, but really, I need to know what ta do iffin that happens.”

Rarity sighed. “Braeburn, I think we should handle that bridge when we come to it, but, since your insisting, if I do die, I don’t really care if you tell her. What good would it do for her anyways?”

Braeburn sighed. “Well, if it happened, at least she’d know that ya didn’t die doin’ somethin’ pointless and foolish right?”

Rarity’s eyes started to water, Braeburn’s concerns striking a chord in her. “Well…maybe…” she said, focusing on the gauntlet in front of her. “Now, please dear, enough talking about death, I’ve nearly experienced anyways and I don’t want to think about it.” Braeburn nodded.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean tah offend.” He looked down at his ePad “well, I guess I’ll input that data on the computer upstairs.” He said, typing on the ePad, and walking out.

Spark Plug stood there, an awkward look on her face. “Well, I guess that’s my cue to leave.” She turned and followed Braeburn.

“Hey.” Rarity said as Braeburn made his way to the door. “Sorry for reacting like that before…I’m just a little tired, sorry.” Braeburn nodded.

“It’s okay. I understand. Been feelin’ a little testy mah self.” With that he and Spark Plug left the room closing the door, leaving Rarity to tinker and process her emotions.

///////////////////////////////

The next two weeks continued rather slowly, with Sweetie Belle being her normal distracting self. Rarity spent most of the time in the workshop with Spark Plug, steadily building the suit, with Braeburn handling both Sweetie Belle and acquiring the materials under the pretext of Rarity designing a special line of dresses and various other excuses.

Rarity sat in the workshop, strapping the repulsors to her forelegs and hind legs. “Okay then.” She did her best to walk over to the center of the workshop. “Note to self: Need to practice walking in boots, they’re rather heavy and throw off my balance.” She said into the microphone she was wearing on her head.

In the center of the room was a camera on a tripod, set up by Spark Plug to record the various tests that had been going on in the workshop. Spark Plug stood in front of the camera. “Okay, it is 14:30,” she said, glancing over at the clock on the wall “and this is repulsor Test Number 14, at 20% power. Here we go." she said, Rarity’s horn lighting up, turning the gauntlet's on. "Alright, initial power up requires magic as in previous tests. Boosting power to 20% capacity." Spark Plug said, looking at the computer screen in front of her. The gauntlet revved up, sending Rarity flying into a nearby wall.

“DAMN!” Spark Plug said, running over to Rarity. Rarity had hit the wall hard and fell to the floor with a thump

“Well...” Rarity coughed. "Well, 20% is certainly too powerful..." she rubbed her head.

"And remember to wear a helmet next time." Spark Plug said, helping her up.

“Yes. That too.” Rarity said dusting herself off and Spark Plug walked over back in front of the camera.

"Okay," Spark Plug said, regaining her composure for the camera, "since 20% was too powerful, we're going to try it at 10%. Hopefully that will not result in any further potential concussions." Rarity powered up the repulsors once more. "alright, here's 10% power." Spark Plug said, watching the computer screen. The repulsors once again sent Rarity flying to the wall, slightly gentler however.

Rarity huffed. "well, that didn't work as hoped." She rubbed head. "Forgot the helmet darn it." She walked over to the work table, and levitated a bicycle helmet over and put it on.

She once again walked in front of the camera, doing her best to smile, trying to ignore her growing headache. "Alright...one last try. We're going for 1%. Hopefully that will not result in yet another close encounter with my wall." she sighed, powering up the gauntlets once more. This time, instead of launching her into the wall, she was lifted up into the air.

“YES! Score!” Spark Plug said, hopping up and down.

"Well let's try to steer this then shall we?" Rarity said as she tilted her legs a just a pinch. Instead of gently banking like she hoped, Rarity suddenly went flying to her left

"Whoa!" Spark Plug shrieked, ducking to avoid Rarity’s exhaust.

She barely missed the wall. She let out a sigh of relief as she stabilized as best she could. "Alright..." She said to Spark Plug “Remember to add some stabilizers in the suits systems. That should compensate for the banking problems." Spark Plug nodded and started to jot stuff down on her notepad. Rarity hovered into the center of the room, once again in front of the camera.

"Alright. Let's cut the power." Spark Plug said. Rarity cut power to the repulsors and fell like a sack of bricks.

“You okay?!” Spark Plug said, running over to Rarity.

Rarity chuckled to herself. "Yes. I’m fine.” Spark Plug helped her up. “Well, overall I'd say that went positively swimmingly."

///////////////////////////////

Sweetie Belle stood in front of the workshop door. Rarity and Braeburn had both said that she shouldn't be there, but the way they were acting made it obvious that whatever was going on being that door was something totally worth checking out. Her horn lit up causing the doorknob to glow light green. It wouldn't open.

"Drat. Probably enchanted." She muttered to herself. She looked around in a nearby potted plant. Maybe the key was hidden somewhere. Nothing. She sat on her haunches. Then something poked her. "Ouch!" she said, getting up and checking behind her to see if she could see whatever had pinched her.

She noticed a lump in the carpet. Duh, she thought. Of course she'd hide it there. She turned and pulled up the small welcome mat, wondering why anybody would have a welcome mat in their house, but that's Rarity for you, she thought, always freaking out over dust and dirt. She lifted the welcome mat up and be held her prize, the key to the lock. She giggled to herself as she levitated the key into the lock and tried to turn it. The key stuck. "Oh come on!" she huffed, trying to move the stubborn key.

Suddenly the door unlocked and opened, sending Sweetie Belle falling flat on her face. She shook her head, "Ouch. Stupid door." she muttered to herself. She suddenly noticed voices coming from somewhere in the workshop. It was Braeburn, Rarity and somepony she’d never heard before. Sweetie Belle pinned herself to the wall, hoping that they hadn't noticed that she had just broken into the work shop.

"Ouch!" Rarity said. "Not so tight. It's suit, not a corset."

"Don’t worry." Braeburn said. "Why don't ya just levitate the gosh darn thing on? It's like a gosh darn jigsaw puzzle."

"Well, we want to try this way first. That way, in case if we have to help her out we know how to put it on manually. Better safe than sorry." The unknown pony said.

"Fine. Whatever. Did ya take my advice 'bout making sure nopony can put it on but you?" Braeburn said.

"Yes of course dear. Last thing I need is Sweetie Belle accidentally putting it on while I'm out somewhere and getting herself killed." Rarity said.

Sweetie Belle wondered what in Equestria they could be talking about, it sounded like a suit of some kind, but Sweetie couldn't picture what kind of suit. She leaned around the corner and her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Braeburn and a brown unicorn pony were helping Rarity strap on what looked like a metal glove. Rarity was dressed in what looked like to Sweetie Belle a robotic suit of armor from a Japanese cartoon. Rarity's mane was tied up in a tight bun, and Rarity and the brown unicorn’s horns both glowed as they tried to help Braeburn with the glove.

Sweetie Belle gasped and then clamped her hoof over her mouth. Rarity suddenly looked around.

"What was that?" she said, letting the metal glove out of her magical grasp.

Sweetie Belle ducked behind the wall, hoping that they hadn't seen her.

"What was what," the Braeburn said, apparently still fiddling with the metal glove. Sweetie Belle started to sneak back up the stairs, trying to be as quite as possible.

“Hmm. Maybe it was a mouse or something…” she heard the other pony say.

“Yeah, probably.” Braeburn muttered.

Sweetie Belle finally reached the door when the other pony spoke again.

“Okay,” she said. “She’s all nice and tight. Try it.” The sound of rockets suddenly emanated from downstairs, catching Sweetie Belle’s attention. She did a 180 and ran as quietly as possible down the stairs and peered around the corner once more. Her jaw dropped at the sight before her eyes.

There Rarity stood, or rather floated, a couple of feet in the air, supported by what seemed to be rocket boots. Braeburn simple stood there smiling and the other pony was glancing every so often at a computer screen, muttering something about input to output ratios.

Sweetie Belle could no longer contain the strange mix of curiosity and excitement that had been building inside of her the entire time, and she ran out into the middle of the room, "WOW RARITY! That's awesome!" she shouted jumping up and down.

Of course the sudden appearance of the overly excited filly sent Rarity, Braeburn and the other pony into conniptions. "SWEETIE BELLE?!!!" Rarity shrieked, her legs swinging wildly, sending various trinkets and papers flying, with Braeburn and the other pony ducking to avoid getting burned by the rocket exhaust from the boots.

Sweetie Belle simply stood there trying to take in the slightly absurd image of Rarity trying her best to regain control of her suit and simultaneously screaming at Sweetie Belle ever chance she got. "WHAT THE BUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Sweetie ducked as Rarity narrowly missed burning her as she flew over.

"I'm sorry!" she shouted over the din of the rockets.

Rarity regained control and cut the power, dropping to the ground with a metallic thud. "Sorry?!" she shouted, stomping over, her heavy boots making loud metallic stomps with each step, Sweetie Belle flinching with each step. She loomed over Sweetie Belle, her normally beautiful face contorted into a bizarre mix of confusion and anger. "Why in Equestria where you slinking around in here?!" Sweetie Belle shied away, hoping that maybe Braeburn would be more understanding.

"Yeah!" Braeburn said, climbing out from under the work table, looking equally angry. His face however showed concern as well, "Y'all could have killed us and yer self!”

“What are you doin' here anyways?" the new pony said, as Rarity continued to huff and puff like an angry dragon.

"Well I getting bored, and you've both been acting funny lately and I wanted to see what you guys were doing..."

Rarity huffed. "Well then, young mare, how did you open the lock I enchanted?" She said through clenched teeth.

Sweetie Belle bowed her head. "I used the key under the dust mat..." she said, mentally preparing for the upcoming browbeating. Instead Braeburn and Rarity facehoofed, while Braeburn said "I told you." and Rarity responding with "I know, I know..." they then both sighed.

"Come on, now Sweetie," Braeburn said. "Yer grounded."

Sweetie Belle moaned. "What? Grounded? Why?"

Braeburn gave her a dirty look. "Ya nearly got yer sister and I killed as well as yer self. Ah think that’s reason enough." With that he took hold of Sweetie Belle's hoof and started to lead her out of the room, looking over his shoulder at Rarity. "I'll be back tah help ya guys take that off as soon as ah get Little Miss Trouble Maker in bed, alright."

Rarity nodded, "Sure whatever..." she said.

“Wait!” the other pony said. “Why do you have to ground her? She was just being curious.”

Rarity huffed. “Ugh! She’s always doing this! Always barging in on stuff and ruining things!”

“That’s because you always keep her out of it.” The pony said, walking over to Sweetie Belle. “If you constantly keep something away from somepony the more they’ll want it, my dad used to say.” The pony looked down at Sweetie Belle. “Hey, look, your Sweetie Belle right?”

“Yeah.” Sweetie Belle said. “Who are you? I’ve never seen you here before.”

The pony laughed. “I’m Spark Plug. Nice to meet you.” She reached out a hoof and Sweetie Belle shook it. “I’m here to help your sis build that cool suit she’s wearing. You wanna know why she’s wearing it?” This caught Sweetie Belle’s attention. “YEAH!”

Spark Plug smiled, then leaned down and whispered in Sweetie Belle’s ear. “She’s using it to fight bad guys!” Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened.

“NO WAY! Really?!” she said, looking at Rarity.

Rarity rolled her eyes and let out a huff. “Yes.”

Sweetie Belle started to jump up and down. “AWESOME! MY SISTER’S GONNA BE A SUPERHERO!!!!”

Spark Plug held a hoof up. “But.” She said, magically holding Sweetie Belle down. “You gotta remember not to tell anypony about this? You got that? Only you, me, Braeburn and Rarity are allowed to know, okay?”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “Yes! Yes of course! Does this mean I can help you guys?”

Braeburn, having seemingly calmed down from before leaned in as well. “Of course. Ya’ll can help us by holding getting’ the tools and stuff. Y’all just remember ta knock from now on, okay?”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “Yeah! Sure! Sure!”

“Alrighty then.” Spark Plug said. “Now it’s late.” She said, looking up at the clock. “Time for you to go to bed, okay?” Sweetie Belle reluctantly followed Spark Plug and Braeburn up the stairs and to Sweetie Belle’s room.

"*Hey Jude, don't make it bad.*

Take a sad song, and make it better.

Remember to let her into your heart,

Then you can start to make it better"

-Hey Jude by The Beatles

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Spark Plug is my sister/editor, a-Phoenix-in-Avalon's idea. Hope you all like her.