Act II - 08 - The Mighty Are Afraid (Revised)

Act Two:

"For What I've Done"

Chapter Eight:

"The Mighty Are Afraid"

Rarity stared into the mirror. She let out a long sigh and walked quietly over to her bed, flopping into it. Her eyes drifted over to the phone by her bed. The words of Braeburn running through her head.

Just a quick call. She thought. Just call them, tell them what you did and then hang up.

She levitated the phone over to her and dialed her dad’s number. It was busy. “Damn,” She muttered to herself as she levitated the phone back onto the hook.

She was exhausted anyways, and her eyelids felt like they were made of lead. Her eyes slowly closed and she drifted to sleep.

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

Rarity walked down the dark hallway. This all felt strangely familiar, almost as if she'd been here before. Suddenly the hallway made a sharp turn, revealing a closed wooden door.

Rarity lifted a hoof and knocked on the door. The knocking sound echoed through the hallway.

"Come in." A male voice said from behind the door.

Before Rarity had a chance to magic the door open the knob glowed a pale silvery color. It opened to reveal a pure white room with a black oak table sitting in the center of the room. Sitting at the table was a large pony shaped figure wearing a black cloak.

"Come. Sit. I've been expecting you." The strange pony said in a male voice, which echoed through the empty room. The voice chilled Rarity to the bone.

"Y-You have?" She stuttered, her own voice echoing and an unsettling feeling beginning to seep into the back of her mind. The room amplified every sound.

"Yes. I have." The pony said. He motioned to the table. "Let us reason together."

Rarity gulped, and slowly walked towards the table, her hoof steps echoing against the walls. She sat down, finally able to get a good look at the pony sitting in front of her.

He was the largest pony she’d ever seen, almost twice her size. He had a horn coming out of his forehead, like a unicorn. He also wore a black hood which covered his face, making Rarity unable to identify him.

"What do you want?" She said, as the strange pony levitated a black teapot and poured them both a glass.

"I want to speak to you of your actions." He said, levitating a black teacup to Rarity, who tentatively took it in her magic.

"Which actions?" She said, taking a sip. It was camomile.

"You know of which I speak. The ones you undertook this very day." The pony said, taking a sip from his teacup.

"Oh. Those." Rarity said, looking down at the table. The table was so polished that she could see herself reflected in the wood. She thought for a moment her reflected image had smiled back at her.

"What caused you to infringe upon my duties?" The pony asked. Whoever this pony was, he apparently thought himself to be important.

"What duties?" Rarity asked, confused, looking up from her reflection.

"The taking of lives," The hooded pony said. "What else did you believe I meant?"

"You mean...."

"Yes. I am Death." The pony said, almost nonchalantly. Rarity's eyes widened and the cold chill of fear fell over her at the realization that she was having tea with Death itself.

"W-why d-do y-you want to s-speak with me?" Rarity said, now completely terrified, dropped the tea cup.

"I want to know what reasoning you had behind your actions." The pony said, taking another sip of his tea.

"W-well," Rarity stuttered, looking around for a way out. The door she had just come through was now gone, replaced by more pure white wall. "T-they ponynapped me, a-and they tortured me" The memories of her imprisonment flooding back. Her fear being slowly replaced by the hatred she had for her captors.

"Is that all?" The hooded pony said, almost sarcastically.

"N-no," Rarity said, her voice halting slightly. "I also meet a friend, a kind hearted diamond dog. Kili was his name. He saved my life."

"Ah, yes. I knew of him. He truly was a kind soul," Death said, pouring himself some cream.

"They killed him." Rarity answered back. “But I guess you already knew that.”

Death nodded. "What of the diamond in your chest?" He asked.  Rarity looked down to the diamond arc in her chest.

"W-well, when they ponynapped me, I was wounded. I and Kili made this to prevent my death. He said it was a gift and that I shouldn't waste it." She rubbed it.

Death was silent for a moment. The silence in the room was unsettling. Rarity looked back at her reflection in the table. It felt almost if  it was watching her, studying her. It was disturbing.

"Was revenge your motive?" Death finally asked. Rarity looked up.

"Revenge? I don't understand." She said, once more confused.

Death sighed. "If you have taken these lives for only revenge, then you are no better than the ones who killed your friend. It is the most futile of all causes."

"But I didn't just kill them, they were killing innocent lives!" Rarity shot back, getting up and turning away. How dare he compare her to those monsters?

"Doesn't that count for something?" she said, starting to cry. Turning back around, she expected to see Death, only instead of the hooded pony from before, there was a demonic replica of herself.

Before Rarity even had a chance to react the demon leapt toward her and everything went black.

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

Rarity woke up in a cold sweat, panting. She shot a glance to the clock next her bed. 5:30 AM. I was asleep that long? She pulled herself out of bed and looked at herself in her full-body mirror. The first rays of the sunrise had just begun to seep through the window.

She looked horrible. Her mane was a mess, and her eyes were all baggy. Not to mention the massive bruise covering her left eye and the bruises on her neck. Spark Plug was right. She did look like she’d been in a bar fight. The ever present glow of her diamond arc light up her features, casting shadows over her face.

Her thoughts drifted back to the events of the day before. Her soul felt torn.

One half of her felt a strange feeling of pleasure about killing that monster. The other thought back to the words the pony told her in her dream.

If you have taken these lives for only revenge, then you are no better than the ones who killed your friend. It is the most futile of all causes. She rubbed her tired eyes with her hooves. The most futile of all causes. The thought clung to her mind like a leech.

A knock at her door distracted her from her thoughts. “Who is it?” she asked, still looking at her reflection in the mirror.

“It’s Starburst Shine.” The voice from the other side said.

Rarity sighed. “Come in.”

The door knob glowed purple and the door opened, revealing Starburst levitating a cup of tea with her magic.

“Spark Plug told me to give you this.” She said. She set the cup of tea down on Rarity’s vanity. “I heard you went on a mission today.” Starburst said, stepping closer to Rarity. “I heard it went well.”

Rarity let out a sigh. “Yes. I guess you can say it did. As well as nearly being strangled to death can be.” She paused. “Why are you here, Starburst?”

Starburst shifted on her hooves. “Well, I had come back from taking Sweetie Belle to the park and I heard that you were nearly killed today. You also look like you’ve been in a bar fight.”

Rarity shot Starburst a dirty look. “Yes. Thank you for reminding me.”

“And you also seemingly killed somepony while out there. That must be tough.” Starburst replied, still pressing the issue.

“Yes. Yes it is.” Rarity muttered, turning away and walking up the vanity. She levitated the tea cup, taking a sip. It was chamomile.

“Well, I just want to say that you shouldn’t feel guilty.” Starburst said. Obviously this was an awkward subject for her.

“And why shouldn’t I?” Rarity said, avoiding Starburst’s reflected image. “Wasn’t it a life nonetheless?” She took another sip of her tea.

“Well, if my knowledge is correct, that griffin you killed was an incredibly evil individual. I don’t really think that you should feel guilty, I mean, I honestly think he got off easy.” The strangely dark words Starburst was saying made Rarity feel uneasy.

“Starburst,” Rarity said, looking up into the vanity mirror where Starburst’s reflected face greeted her. She looked awfully relaxed for somepony who just said something so dark and cold. “So basically what you’re saying is that he deserved to die?” Rarity asked.

Starburst thought for a moment. “Yes. Yes he did.” She replied, her voice suddenly serious.

Rarity sighed once more, looking back down at the assortment of beauty products sitting on the vanity. “Well, if he deserved it, why do I still feel like some kind of monster.”

Starburst sighed. “Well, would you rather get some kind of pleasure out of it?” she asked matter-of-factly.

“No.” Rarity said, looking back into the mirror. “I just feel like I lost some of my soul today.”

Starburst was quiet for moment. “Well, if you can believe it, that’s actually a good thing.” Rarity turned towards Starburst.

“How can that be a good thing? It’s tearing me apart.” Rarity replied, tears beginning to form in her eyes. “How can this pain I’m feeling be good?”

Starburst quiet for a moment. “Well,” She finally said, “This means that you have a kind soul. I’ve seen how you treat your sister, and I can tell that you still, deep down, love her as a sister. I also can tell that you feel sorry for the lives you took, and yet you also know; deep down, that what you did was good. And there’s no taking away from that. Yes, in a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to stoop to such violence to achieve your goals, but we don’t live in a perfect world. Our world is flawed and broken. There was no other way to solve this problem. You know that. Any money you could send would just end up in those monsters’ pockets. You did a good thing today. It had to be done.”

Rarity simply sat there, dumbfounded at Starburst’s words. “Wow,” she finally managed to say. “That’s amazing. Where did you learn to think like that?”

Starburst chuckled. “Well, my grandfather was a war vet, from the Civil War. And he would always give somepony a version of that speech whenever they talked dirty about the war.”

Rarity was quiet. She then let out a sigh. “Your father sounded like a wise pony.” She slowly got up, and walked over to her nightstand, where her phone sat. “Not like mine.”

Starburst walked up to Rarity. “What makes you say that? From what I’ve heard from Braeburn your dad’s a pretty nice stallion.”

Rarity scoffed. “He’s nice. Not wise. The only reason he was able to afford half the stuff he had was because Grandfather was incredibly rich.”

“Oh. I see.” Starburst said. “What about your mother?”

Rarity’s eye twitched involuntarily at the mention of her mother. “Do you really want to know?”

“Yeah. I do.” Starburst answered.

Rarity sat down on the bed, pulling out a box of cigarettes. “Think of the most unemotional and heartless pony you can think of, and then, multiply that times ten. That will give you a rouge idea as to how horrible of a mare that pony is.” She lit up a cigarette.

Starburst was quiet for a moment. “That’s…pretty bad.” She said, “But, please, listen to my advice, if you want to make any sort of headway in helping the world, you can’t do it without your family. I mean, you already know that Braeburn and Spark Plug will help you, but without family, I truly think that you will fail.”

Rarity snorted. “When did you suddenly become an expert on the dynamic of families?”

“I didn’t say I was an expert. I know this is a fact. Many times, when I felt alone in this world, my family was there for me, to pick me up and help me on my way in life.” Starburst replied, sincerity in her voice. This pony was getting on Rarity’s nerves.

“Look.” Rarity huffed, turning to look at Starburst. “I know you just want to help me, but I personally want to work these things out by myself. Alone. Without you. Can you please go?”

Starburst shrugged, indifferent. “Fine. I still think you should call them.” With those words, she turned and walked out, closing the door behind her, leaving Rarity alone with her phone and her thoughts. Rarity stared at the phone. Everypony had told her the exact same thing. “Call your parents” They said, “Patch things up.” They said. Rarity sighed. No other way to get them off my back I guess. She thought.

She levitated the phone, and taking a deep breath, dialed her father’s number once more. She opened the night stand by her bed and pulled out a box of cigarettes and light one up, puffing away in an attempt to brace herself for any potential disasters.

“Hello, this Pearl Belle, who is this?” A chill went down Rarity’s spine. The last pony in the world she wanted to pick up the phone had been the first to answer it.

“M-mother, i-it’s me, Rarity.” She forced the words out of her mouth.

“Oh.” Her mother said, in her characteristic unemotional manner. “What do you want? What foolishness have you done this time?”

Rarity suddenly felt angry. Why did her mother automatically assume that the only reason for Rarity calling was something foolish?

“NO. No it isn’t. Where’s Dad? I want to speak with him.” She spat into the phone.

“He’s busy with important things.” Pearl answered, just as venomously. “How is my daughter doing?”

Rarity huffed. “She’s fine. Now let me talk to Dad. NOW.”

There was a moment of silence on the other side. “Very well. If that’s what you want.” Her mother put the phone down. Rarity sat there fuming and waiting. She heard someone fumbling on the other side. “Hello, this is Magnum Belle.” her father’s voice came from the other side. “Who is it?”

“It’s Rarity, Dad. I wanted to tell you something.” She replied, taking a deep breath.

“I know! I mean did you see that pony on the news?! Whoever that is, they’re a maniac.” Magnum said on the other end, cutting her off.

“W-what are you talking about? What pony?” Rarity said, suddenly confused.

“Wadda mean ‘what pony’? It’s all over the news! Where’ve you been? Turn on the TV!” Her dad was practically shouting now. Whatever it was, it had him excited.

“Okay, okay, hold on.” Rarity looked around for the TV remote. “Stupid thing.” She muttered under her breath. “Where is it? Ah! There it is.” She found it under her pillow. How it got there was beyond her.

She turned on the TV to the first news station she could find, ENN. “Okay dad, I’ve got the news on. What is it you wanted me to see?”

“It should be right there, first story.” He said, still apparently very excited by whatever it was.

As if on queue, the television the reporter turned from the normal stories of celebrity gossip and politics to about how the local rebel forces in Griffinheim ran around terrorizing citizens. However, the reporter said, it seems that something had come to interrupt the status quo.

The realization hit Rarity like a freight train. Had somepony found out about what she had done so soon? The report then showed the grainy footage of some terrorist’s camera.

The pending execution was interrupted however by a thunderous boom that caused the diamond dog holding camera to whirl the camera around to behold a sight that gave Rarity a strange mix of pride and fear.

From a cloud of smoke emerged a purple and silver robotic suit of armor. The armored pony then proceeded to rain fire upon the diamond dogs, causing the dog holding the camera to duck for cover. Various sounds of chaos came from out of frame. Then a computerized voice said something that nopony could make out, then there was another explosion of noise and chaos and the image cut to static.

The news reporter came back on screen and stated that the Equestrian Government denied any involvement in the attacks.

“Well? Did you see the report?” Her dad’s voice brought Rarity out of her shock-induced trance.

“Um yeah, Dad, I saw it.” She plopped back down onto the bed, her eyes still fixed on the television.

“Amazing isn’t it? What was it you wanted to tell me?” Her father replied from the other end.

“Um, yeah, about that thing on the news…” Rarity took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. She thought. “I’m that pony.”

Her dad was quiet for a moment. “What pony? The one on the news? You’re kidding right?” He obviously didn’t believe her. She could make out her mother asking for the phone. Her worst fear had been realized.

“Hang on honey, your mom wants to talk to you. Remember, be nice.” Her father said on the other end.

Rarity braced herself for what was coming.

“Rarity? Are you there? What were you telling your father?” her mother sounded uncharacteristically emotional.

“Um…well…” Rarity hadn’t expected this. “…I’d like to say that I am the pony on the news.” She said.

There was no response. The only sound was her mother’s breathing on the other end. It made Rarity feel uneasy. “What.” the sudden sound of her mother’s voice spooked her.

“Excuse me?” she asked, not quite able to grasp what her mom meant by that.

“What do you mean; ‘you’re the pony in the news’? Do you simply expect me to believe, that you, a foolish, vain, frivolous mare would go and suit up in a robotic suit to shoot terrorists? What kind of a fool do you take me for?”

Rarity took a deep breath. “Put Dad back on.” She said, doing her best not to explode in a rage.

“Not until you tell me what you told him. Magnum, put the cider back! What have you done now?” Pearl’s voice was stern and cold.

Rarity, out of habit, nearly said ‘Nothing!’ But she caught herself. “Dad’ll tell you. I—”

Pearl cut her off. “Rarity Victoria Belle, don’t you dare hang up that phone,” Pearl said in a voice so glacial any defiance in Rarity melted.

“I was just telling him that…what I said was…I…” Rarity stuttered, unable to think of a response.

““I-I-I-I-”where did all the money we spent on that finishing school go? Cigarettes? I bet you’re smoking one now. No, I’m sure you are, I can smell that rancid stench from here.” Pearl practically sneered.

“Mom, I didn’t call to discuss my smoking!” Rarity said, her voice rising. She shot a quick glance at the opened box of cigarettes by her bed.

“Since you don’t seem to deign it worthy of divulging what you wish to discuss I’m just jumping to the next logical conclusion.” Pearl spat back.

Rarity let out a long sigh. “Mother, I just wanted to tell Dad not to worry—”

“That you’ll be dying of lung cancer in five years?” Pearl asked, cutting her off again. This was getting frustrating.

“Do you want to know why I called or do you just want to bitch at me for half an hour?” Rarity growled, her patience rapidly running thin.

Pearl snorted. “Only if you can take time out of your demanding schedule for your bitchy nag of a mother.”

Rarity’s patience was at an end. “At least I do something with my time instead of lounging around my rich husband’s house where my biggest worry is if I’ll have to fire my fifth maid in two months for making my latte too sweet!” She yelled into the phone.

“Oh and what great and mighty works are you performing you glorified sock darner?” Pearl shot back, her voice dripping in sarcasm.

“For your information yesterday I spent my day thwarting the terrorists all your husband’s money couldn’t buy off!” Rarity shouted, huffing and puffing on her cigarette. Looking for all the world like an angry dragon.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Finally Pearl spoke. “…What?” her previous sarcasm replaced by confusion.

“What?” Rarity replied, equally confused at the sudden change in her mother’s tone.

“Rarity what in Tatartus are you talking about?” Pearl asked, obviously confused.

Rarity was shocked. What did she think she was talking about, the laundry? “Did you see the news today?” she asked, completely baffled at her mother’s seemingly massive lack of perception.

Pearl huffed. “Rarity, what does—”

“Did you see the new today, Mother?” Rarity asked, pressing the issue.

There was a moment of silence. “Yes.” Pearl replied.

“The story about Griffinheim?” Rarity asked again, making absolutely sure they were talking about the same thing.

She was greeted by silence.

Rarity took this as a sign to continue. “That thing they’re calling a weapon—that was me. It’s a suit and I was in it. All that shooting, explosions and dead terrorists…I did that.”

There was another awkward pause. Finally Pearl spoke. “Rarity, put Braeburn on the phone.” She sounded worried.

“What?” Rarity asked, not expecting that response at all.

“I need to speak with your assistant—”

“What for?” Rarity demanded.

“I want to know what medication your psychologist has you on. If it’s that Soma—” Pearl replied.

Rarity blinked for a second. “Mom, I am not on drugs! I am totally sane! I mean, sober! Clean—it’s clean—I’m clean!” she said, facehoofing.

Pearl began to speak slowly. “Rarity I want to speak with Braeburn—”

Rarity cut her off again. “No! There is nothing wrong with me and I’m telling the truth! That was me on the news today, all those things, I did them!” tears starting forming her eyes.

“If this is some attention grabbing ploy—” Pearl said sounding increasingly indignant.

Rarity simply blinked, unable to comprehend what her mother just said. “You think I value your attention so much I’d dive into a warzone?”

“Stop it!” Pearl shrieked. “Stop it right now! I’ve borne your disrespect, your disobedience, your depravity but I will not play this demented, narcissistic “heed me” game with you!”

That was it. Any patience Rarity had for her mother was now dead. She exploded. “Do you think I am so desperate, so pathetic that I’d stage some elaborate, deranged fabrication just to get you to notice me? I gave up trying to get to convince you I was worth your concern years ago! Your attention means nothing to me—you mean nothing to me! You’re not my mother! I’ve never had a mother and I will never forgive you for taking that way from me! NEVER! So you know what, let’s get this straight once and for all: I hate  you and I know you hate me, I don’t care what you think and you don’t care what I do, so from now on you only have one daughter, the only one you want! Don’t call me ever again, don’t come to my house ever again, because from this moment on to me you don’t exist! Buck you and your bucking ePhone that you couldn’t put down for two seconds when I was in a hospital with a hole cut in my chest!”

And with that she slammed the phone against the hook with all her strength until it smashed in half. She started to sob uncontrollably. All the pent up rage, anger and sadness came pouring out of her, like an endless waterfall.

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

Sweetie Belle tossed the rubber ball again. Ever since Rarity had started going and fighting bad guys, she felt left out. She tried to help Spark Plug with fixing the suit, but she always ended up just standing there for six hours, occasionally handing over a wrench or a screwdriver. Spark Plug was nice though, so it wasn’t a total waste.

She’d spent time with that new pony, Starburst Shine, which wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t very fun either. Starburst always seemed to be hiding something.

All that didn’t matter however, because Sweetie Belle was too busy trying to combat the armies of boredom. By throwing a rubber ball at the wall of her room and trying to catch it. This had been going on for about half an hour and Sweetie Belle was just about sick of it.

“Ugh! I’m so bored!” she threw the ball once more in frustration, which bounced off the wall and proceeded to hit her in the face.

“Ouch.” She rubbed the spot where the ball had hit her. “Why doesn’t Rarity let me help? She promised.” She groaned and rolled over in her bed, tangling herself in the covers. Ever since Rarity came back from her mission, Sweetie Belle had been practically banished to her room. Whenever she asked why, Rarity would always say “Because I say so.” Or “You’re too young to understand what I’m talking about”

Sweetie Belle groaned again. “I’m not too young. I’m twelve! I’m a big pony!” she whined to herself. Suddenly it hit her. The best idea she’d ever had. Well, except maybe for chocolate cookie-flavored bubble gum, but this certainly would be a close second.

The plan was flawless. She’d build her own suit. That way, next time Rarity wanted to go kick bad guy flank, she could come and help too! It was perfect!

So Sweetie Belle jumped out her bed, and ran over to her door. She quickly opened the door and ran down the cavernous hall to Spark Plug’s room. She heard music coming from behind the black door.

“Hey! Spark Plug, can I talk to you?” Sweetie Belle asked, knocking on the door. Nothing. “Please.” Sweetie Belle said, putting on her cute voice.

There was the sound of papers rustling and somepony grumbling. The door knob glowed dark blue and the door opened to show a somewhat annoyed looking Spark Plug.

“Wadda need Sweetie Belle? I’m in the middle of some good Pony Floyd.”

Sweetie Belle looked down, embarrassed. “Sorry. I wanted to talk to you about something.”

A smile grew on Spark Plug’s face. “Really? Okay. Come in.” She dropped her annoyed look and her horn glowed again, and the music decreased in volume. Sweetie Belle walked in.

Spark Plug’s room was messy, the total polar opposite of Rarity’s hyper-organized room. All around where piles of papers and sketches and various tools and action figures, some in boxes and some just lying around. On a table sat a stereo system. Next to it was a disorganized pile of various CDs. On top was an all black CD case with a prism refracting a rainbow printed on it and music continued to play quietly in the background.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk about Sweetie?” Spark Plug sat down her drawing table and began to sketch again.

“Well, I kind of feel left out by everypony.” Sweetie Belle said, as she looked around the room. She also noticed that Spark Plug’s wall was completely covered in old posters of various old rock bands Sweetie Belle didn’t know the name of. She also had a small refrigerator in the corner by her bed and on top of that a coffee maker.

“Really? Why?” Spark Plug asked, still focused on drawing. Her horn glowed and the fridge by her bed opened and a bottle of cola levitated over, which she opened and took a sip from.

“Well, it’s just that everypony else around here has something to do.” Sweetie Belle said, having grabbed a small fan and beginning to play with it. “I mean you help Rarity with her suit, Braeburn does business stuff and Starburst talks to reporters.” She continued to turn the small fan on and off.

“Well, that’s okay, you’re young. I’m sure you’ll find something to do around here.” Spark Plug took another sip from her bottle of cola. “You helped me fix the suit.” She said, crumpling up a piece of paper and tossing it in the overburdened waste basket.

“Yeah, but that was BORING.” Sweetie Belle moaned.

Spark Plug straightened out, and turned to look at Sweetie Belle. “Boring? Why?” she asked, looking quite confused. “How can building the most advanced piece of technology in Equestria be boring? That’s crazy talk.”

“Well, to you it might be fun, but to me it’s boring.” Sweetie Belle noticed that Spark Plug suddenly looked dejected. “It’s not you, you’re fun!” Sweetie Belle smiled. “But it’s just that all I did was stand there and hand you screwdrivers and stuff.” Sweetie Belle said, having dropped the fan.

“Oh. I see. Well, what do you want to do?” Spark Plug said, getting up from the table and walking over to Sweetie Belle. “I mean, if it’s THAT boring for you, I’ll try and find something for you to do.”

She lightly tapped Sweetie Belle on the head.

“Well, actually, I kind of had an idea in mind.” Sweetie Belle said, looking up at Spark Plug.

“Really? What’s that?” Spark Plug asked.

“Well,” Sweetie Belle said, taking a deep breath. “I’d like a suit like Rarity’s.” she said quickly.

Spark Plug simply blinked. Her pupils shrunk to the size of pinpoints. A somewhat creepy smile spread across her face. There was an awkward silence.

“Nope.” She finally said the smile now impossibly wide. “Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, never, never, never, never!” She spun on her hooves impossibly fast and scampered back to the desk, beginning to draw furiously and gulping down her cola.

“Why not?” Sweetie Belle moaned, dropping her shoulders.

“Because I have a good thing going with your sister, and I don’t want to jeopardize that.” She turned to look at Sweetie Belle. “And you’re only 12. I can’t give a 12 year old filly a piece of advanced and, not to mention, dangerous piece of technology. You could get hurt.” Spark Plug said, taking another shot from her soda bottle, looking obviously quite stressed.

“But Sparky, I’ll be careful I promise. PLEASE?” Sweetie Belle went into full blown cutie-pie mode.

Spark Plug took a step back. She hadn't expected to be hit by such a withering assault of cute. Must resist cuteness. She thought. Must not succumb to cuteness.

“PLEEEEEASE?” Sweetie Belle begged, making the most adorable sad puppy face in the known universe.

Spark Plug’s will put up a strong defense against the armies of cute, but it was no use. The white flag of surrender flew up the flagpole. She groaned.

“Ugh, fine. I know I’ll regret this in the morning.” She tossed the now empty bottle of cola at the waste bin. It bounced off the massive pile of papers.

“Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Sweetie Belle squealed, jumping up and down. “I’m going to be a superhero!” She suddenly stopped jumping. Her eyes went wide.

“Oh! I just thought of something!”

Spark Plug winced at the thought. “What is it?” she moaned, hoping it didn't involve something more dangerous than her in a robotic suit of armor.

“I just realized that I can get cutie mark because of this!” Sweetie Belle squealed, jumping up and down. “Then I won’t be the only blank flank in my class!”

“You’re the only one left in your entire class?” Spark Plug said, somewhat surprised.

Sweetie Belle nodded, looking quite depressed. “Yeah. They always call me blank flank.”

Spark Plug felt a lump form in her throat. She’d also been picked on in school, for being a nerd. So she knew how it felt to be bullied.

She sighed. “Okay, just promise me one thing Sweetie Belle.”

“Oh sure! Sure!” Sweetie Belle said, suddenly happy again and nodding her head rapidly.

“Don’t tell Rarity about this, please? Last thing I need is her to totally go postal on me and try and strangle me.” Spark Plug said, putting a hoof on Sweetie Belle’s shoulder.

“Of course! I want to show her myself! It’ll be a surprise!” Sweetie Belle suddenly hugged Spark Plug. “Thanks SO much Sparky!”

Spark Plug nearly gagged, the hug was so tight. “That’s great Sweetie Belle, you can stop choking me now.”

“Oh sorry.” Sweetie Belle let go.

“It’s okay, you’re a little over eager. That’s okay.” Spark Plug said, as she turned off the radio, which had been playing the whole time and made her way into the hall. She turned to look at Sweetie Belle, who was still standing in the room.

“Well? You wanna help? You can help me design the suit if you want.” Spark Plug said.

A smile ten miles wide grew across Sweetie Belle’s face. “YOU WILL!!! THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST DAY EVER! SWEETIE BELLE THE SUPERHERO YAY!” She bounded out of the room and followed Spark Plug down the hall and into the workshop.

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

Braeburn sighed as he picked up the remote control and flicked on the TV in front of his bed. It fell on a news station, where the reporter prattled on and on about the latest figures in the economy and such. Eventually the reporter moved on to a different topic.

“In international news, there are more reports of the mysterious drone attacks on various terrorist headquarters. Sources in the Equestrian Military say that they are not to blame.”

That’s when Braeburn first heard it. It sounded like tools. At first Braeburn ignored it. His room was right next to the workshop, much to his own chagrin. But it was probably Spark Plug just tinkering on some suit parts or something.

And that’s when his ears were greeted by the most terrifying sound in the known universe. Sweetie Belle. Talking. In the workshop. With Spark Plug.

His pupils shrank to the size of pin points. What in the name of all that was good in the world was Sweetie Belle doing in the workshop. Without Rarity? Impossible. He instantly threw himself out of the bed and went flying for the workshop in full gallop. He fumbled with the door.

“Oh damn it. Why’d ya have tah lock it.” He muttered as he sloppily tried to unlock the door. Stupid hooves. It was moments like these he wished he was a unicorn.

Suddenly the door knob glowed dark red and the sound of locks tumbling greeted Braeburn’s ears.

The door opened to reveal Spark Plug, her mane slightly frazzled and spots of oil on her hooves.

“Oh hi Braeburn!” She said, making the absolute worst fake smile Braeburn had ever seen.

Braeburn’s eyes narrowed. “Whadda doin’ in there?”

“Oh, you know. Stuff.” Spark Plug gave a forced laugh.

“What kinda stuff?” Braeburn asked, sensing Spark Plug was lying.

Spark Plug’s eyes darted about, almost as if she was searching for a good excuse. “Oh…you know…tech stuff.”

“Then why’d I hear Sweetie Belle in there?” Braeburn asked.

Spark Plug’s brown coat became noticeably pale. “What Sweetie Belle?” her eye twitched.

“You know exactly what I’m talking ‘bout Sparky. I heard her.” Braeburn said, attempting to step into the workshop.

Suddenly Spark Plug jumped in his way. He rolled his eyes. “Now Sparky…let me through.” He growled as he put a good effort into pushing the reluctant unicorn out of the way.

“NO!” she shouted. “I mean, no.” she said, regaining her composure. “You can’t. There’s no Sweetie Belle in here.” She said, making a point of blocking the doorway.

“Sparky. Stop. Let me through.” Braeburn once again pushed against the struggling mare.

“NO! THERE IS NO SWEETIE BELLE! THERE NEVER WAS A SWEETIE BELLE! SWEETIE BELLE’S JUST A MYTH!” Spark Plug yelled, jamming her legs in the door frame in a last ditch effort to prevent the earth pony from breaking through.

Of course, Spark Plug was known for her brains, not her brawn and her legs gave way sending both her and Braeburn flying down the staircase.

They landed in a tangle of legs. Braeburn was the first to get up and was greeted by his absolute worst nightmare.

Okay, not his absolute worst nightmare ever, that would be if diet sodas completely replaced normal sodas. But this was certainly a close second.

In front of him stood Sweetie Belle, completely incased in a filly sized version of the suit, only her head exposed. Her face was the very portrait of shock.

“Oh….hi Braeburn….how ya doing?” she said, awkwardly waving, as if hoping he hadn’t noticed the suit.

Braeburn just stood there, mouth agape. Spark Plug walked up next to him, head hanged low. “Sorry…she made me do it.”

Braeburn just turned his head, mouth still hanging open. “Wadda mean made ya do it?” he asked, completely and utterly bewildered.

Spark Plug blushed slightly. “Well…” she started to say, walking in front of Braeburn. “It’s just, she gave me the puppy eyes and…” she looked towards Sweetie Belle, who was now looking down, obviously embarrassed.

Braeburn couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Yer tellin’ me that this little filly here strong armed ya into building a suit with her magical cutie powers?”

Spark Plug nodded. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”

Braeburn groaned and facehoofed. “I can’t believe it. Sparky how old are ya?”

Spark Plug blushed harder. “About twenty-five.”

Braeburn groaned again. “Twenty-five? Yer an adult mare Sparky. Yer tellin’ me that a twelve year old filly magically made you build her a mechanical suit of armor with her magical cutie face as ya put it.”

Spark Plug nodded. “Yeah. When you say it like that it sounds kinda ridiculous. But I’m serious. It’s like she’s a wizard or something!” She motioned towards Sweetie Belle.

“That’s cause it is ridiculous.” Braeburn said, walking towards Sweetie Belle, determined to put a stop to this madness before anypony got hurt.

“No Braeburn please.” Sweetie Belle said, her ears dropping down next to her head. “This is all I’ve got.”

She gave Braeburn the sad-puppy look. Instantly, Braeburn’s will was put to the test. The pure withering assault of cuteness that was Sweetie Belle rained fire down upon the walls of Braeburn’s free will.

He blinked and shook his head in a vain attempt to rid his mind of the cuteness. He reached towards one of the many tools that lay scattered about, making a point to avoid the cuteness. That’s when Sweetie Belle let out the most pitiful whimpering sound in the universe. Instantly, thoughts of baby puppies, alone and starving in some Faust-forsaken cardboard box on the side of the road came to mind.

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Braeburn let out a frustrated groan.

“Oh goldarn it Sweetie Belle!” he tossed the wrench he had picked up away, unable to bring himself to disassemble the suit.

Sweetie Belle instantly dropped the sad puppy routine. “Does this mean I can keep the suit?!” she squealed.

Braeburn groaned. “Ugh. Might as well. Heaven knows I’ll need to explain’ ta the company were a couple million dollars went.” He shot a dirty look towards Spark Plug, who shrunk away.

“Please don’t be mad at Sparky.” Sweetie Belle said, once again making the sad puppy face. “It isn’t her fault. It’s mine.” She tried to step off the pedestal she was perched on, forgetting the fact that the suit was completely wired into the desktop computer. Her leg tugged on one of the half-dozen cables which sent her flying off the table and dragging the computer down with her.

“Oh snap.” Spark Plug said, once again turning pale. “That was my costume computer.” She whimpered, as if the computer was a dear friend that had just died a horrible death. Which wasn’t far from the truth.

“Sorry.” Sweetie Belle said, blushing. “Got all tangled up.”

Braeburn sighed, No use freakin’ out now I suppose. He thought. “That’s okay Sweetie Belle, happens all the time.” he walked over and beckoned to Spark Plug who ran over and began to help try and detangle Sweetie Belle from the gorgon knot of computer cables and wiring.

“Please tell me that Rarity knows ‘bout this.” He said through his teeth as he tugged on a knot, hoping that it would come loose, shooting a quick glance at Sweetie Belle and Spark Plug who both blushed again.

“Oh come on now!” Braeburn spat out the cable and facehoofed. “Yes tellin’ me ya didn’t tell nopony else that yer were buildin’ this here suit?!”

“Well…” Spark Plug shrugged. “You could say it didn’t come up in conversation.” She grinned sheepishly.

Braeburn deadpanned. “Did ya tell Starburst Shine?” he said, desperately hoping against hope that they had at least told her about this.

The looks of embarrassment on their faces told him otherwise. “Okay, I take it ya didn’t.”

They both nodded.

“Of course. Had to be me ta be the first ta find out ‘bout this. Couldn’t be a maid or a janitor, had ta be me. Perfect.” He grumbled. “Rarity’s gonna kill ya when she finds out ‘bout this ya know.”

They both nodded again.

“We were kinda hoping to break it to her with something like a party or something.” Sweetie Belle said as Spark Plug helped her detangle another knotted up piece of cable.

Braeburn leaned in to help. “Here ya gotta find the load bearing cable and tug on that. Once that goes…” he tugged on a cable and the knot instantly detangled. “the whole thin’ loosens up.” He said.

“Wow. Where’d you learn that?” Spark Plug said as she levitated the pile of wires off Sweetie Belle, who was still in the suit.

“On the farm. I am a farm pony after all.” He said with a touch of pride.

“Well, do you promise not to tell Rarity?” Sweetie Belle said, looking up at him, once again employing the sad puppy face of doom.

“Ugh. Fine. As long as ya stop makin’ that there face. It’s creepin’ me out.” Braeburn replied. “Just as long as YOU promise not ta take this thin’ out for a test drive. Goodness knows the last thin’ I need is ya to accidentally fly into a building or somethin’.”

“Oh of course! I promise!” Sweetie Belle replied, bringing Braeburn in for a bear hug, forgetting that she was in a robotic suit.

Braeburn’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull the hug was so tight. “Okay…please…lemmie go…yer chokin’ me…” he gasped.

“Wha? Oh, sorry.” Sweetie Belle said, realizing her mistake and instantly letting Braeburn go. “You okay.”

Braeburn slumped down, coughing and wheezing like a pony in a nursing home. “Yeah, just need some air.” He gasped.

“You need some water?” Spark Plug said, looking a little worried.

Braeburn shook his head, and took a deep cleansing breath.

“No, I’m good.” He cleared his throat. “Now, how do ya expect to hide this little development from Rarity huh?” He looked at Spark Plug and Sweetie Belle.

“Well, we were kinda hoping that since she’s been busy lately, and since your or Starburst are usually the ones handling stuff like this, that you’d help by, I don’t know, keeping her out of the workshop.” Spark Plug replied, sheepishly.

Braeburn rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll figure out a way to keep her out of the workshop. How ya goin’ ta eventually tell her? Send her a text sayin’ “Hey Rarity, built my own suit. Can I tag along?””

Sweetie Belle nodded. “That sounds like a good idea!” Spark Plug and Braeburn both looked at each other.

“Actually, that sounds like an excellent idea.” A fourth voice said, causing the three ponies to jump.

“Who’s that?” Spark Plug said, levitating a wrench like a club.

“Relax, it’s just me.” A familiar purple unicorn said as she walked into the workshop.

“Oh, hi Starburst.” Spark Plug quickly dropped the wrench, which landed on Braeburn’s hoof.

“Ouch” he shot her a dirty look. “What were yer droppin’ that.”

“Well, it seems you’ve managed to have some fun without me.” Starburst said with a smug grin on her face.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about Starburst…” Spark Plug said, stepping in front of Sweetie Belle. “No idea at all.”

Starburst’s eyes narrowed. “I saw the suit. Subtlety is not your strong suit.” She leaned to look around Spark Plug “Hi Sweetie Belle.”

“Hi Starburst!” Sweetie Belle waved, forgetting that they were supposed to keep this a secret.

“Well, no use hidin’ it from ya.” Braeburn said, looking at Spark Plug. “She knows.”

Spark Plug sighed and stepped out of the way as Starburst walked towards Sweetie Belle.

“I’m totally going to get fired aren’t I?” Spark Plug moaned.

“No, you’re not.” Starburst replied. “Your knowledge is too valuable. That’s why Rarity hired you right? You’re good with machines?”

Spark Plug nodded, obviously happy that she wasn’t going to get fired.

“Good. So, who authorized this little escapade?” Starburst said, looking at the only other adults in the room. “Because you seriously can’t expect me to believe that you were coerced by a twelve year old.” She said sarcastically. Both Braeburn and Spark Plug nodded.

Starburst’s eyes widened. “Seriously? She made you do this?” She pointed at Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah. It’s like she’s got magical wizard powers.” Spark Plug said.

Braeburn nodded. “Yeah, once she does the sad puppy face, yer doomed.”

Starburst gave Sweetie Belle a funny look. “Well, okay, so she magically made you do this, do you plan to inform Rarity about this?”

The three guilty ponies shook their heads.

“Okay then.” Starburst whipped out a notepad. “That means I’ll have some more flanks to cover for, but okay.” She jotted something down and closed the notepad. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Braeburn held up a hoof. “Wait just one second there. Yer just gonna accept this as something normal? This is a twelve year old filly wantin’ to run ‘round in a robotic suit to go and shoot terrorists. Isn’t that the least bit crazy in yer mind?”

Starburst shook her head. “Oh, I assure you, this isn’t even close to the weirdest thing I’ve seen or heard.”

Spark Plug raised an eye brow. “Really? This isn’t?”

“Nah, not even close.” Starburst said, turning to make her way out of the workshop. “As long as Rarity knows about this I’m good.”

Sweetie Belle winced. “Well…that’s the thing…”

Starburst froze. “What’s the thing?” she said, turning slowly.

“Well, she kinda, sorta hasn’t found out about this yet.” Sweetie Belle said, blushing.

Starburst’s eye twitched, her previously calm veneer instantly being replaced by one of paranoia and fear.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DIDIN’T TELL HER?!” She suddenly exploded, running over and shaking Sweetie Belle like a rag doll. “YOU HAVE TO TELL HER! YOU CAN’T JUST DO STUFF LIKE THIS!”

“W-w-well, I-I-I’m g-g-going t-t-to t-t-tell h-h-her e-e-eventually” Sweetie Belle stammered as she was shook back and forth.

Starburst suddenly stopped shaking Sweetie Belle. “You sure? You absolutely sure?”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “Yes. I promise. Just, just let me keep the suit. Please?” she once again employed the weapon of mass-destruction that was the sad-puppy look.

Starburst stared back at Sweetie Belle, seemingly undeterred by the sad puppy look. She took a deep breath. “Sweetie Belle.” She said slowly and deliberately. “You have to promise that, no matter what happens, you tell Rarity about this. Understand? I’m not joking, this is a very, very serious thing your getting into. Do you understand?”

Sweetie Belle noticeably withered under Starburst’s sudden seriousness. “Y-yes, Starburst. I promise.”

Starburst leaned back. “Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.” She got up, helped Sweetie Belle get up and gave her a hug. “There you go, see. Was that so hard to promise?”

Sweetie Belle shook her head. “No. Sorry for scaring you guys.” She turned to look at Braeburn and Spark Plug, who standing there looking concerned. “I didn’t mean to get you trouble Sparky.”

Spark Plug shook her head. “Nah, that’s okay. I’m pretty sure this has happened to somepony other than me.” She walked over to give Sweetie Belle a hug. “Just not about robotic suits and such.”

Braeburn shrugged and walked over. “And before ya start apologizin’, I forgive ya too.” He hugged Sweetie Belle as well.

“Um, not to ruin a nice soft moment, but this is getting kind of sappy. You can stop hugging me now.” Sweetie Belle said, feeling slightly uncomfortable by the sudden attack of hugs.

“Huh? Oh, sorry.” Spark Plug stepped back, followed by Braeburn and Starburst.

“Yeah, that was kinda awkward.” Braeburn said, straightening his Stetson.

“Well, Sweetie Belle. Are you just going to stay in the suit all day?” Starburst said, patting Sweetie Belle on the head.

Sweetie Belle looked at herself. “Oh yeah, right. Can you help me out here?” she looked at Starburst.

“Sure.” Starburst’s horn glowed and the suit disassembled.

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

Meanwhile, night had fallen across Canterlot, and three ponies where stalking around on the grounds of MagiTech Labs. They dodged behind bushes to avoid the security searchlights, eventually ending up in front of a large window that lead into one of the many labs.

“Hey, Lock Pick, come here.” One of the ponies, the leader of the group, one Fine Focus, a large dark blue unicorn pony motioned to his comrade. A dark green unicorn pony trotted over.

“Yeah?” Lock Pick whispered in a nasally voice. “Why are we here again?”

Fine Focus groaned. They had warned him about Lock Pick’s short term memory loss, but he had blown them off. He leaned over to whisper into the unicorn’s ear.

“We need you to pick the lock for the window. We’ve gotta guy inside who says that he can give us some tech so we can sell it.”

Lock Pick nodded. “Why are you telling me this?”

Focus facehoofed. “Because you keep forgetting.”

“Oh….okay.” Lock Pick whispered back.

“Can you just pick the lock now?” Focus grumbled, his patience wearing thin.

“Yeah, yeah, sure, sure.” Lock Pick levitated a small black bag from his saddle bag and opened it. Inside there were several dozen lock pick-related devices. He shot a quick glance at the lock to the window in front of him. He pulled out a lock pick and proceeded to pick at the lock.

After a few moments of tinkering the sound of pins tumbling inside greeted the waiting ponies ears. ‘CLICK’ went the lock and the window popped open.

“There ya go boss.” Lock Pick said, grinning a toothy grin.

“Excellent.” Fine Focus rubbed his hooves together. “Light Bright. Come here.”

A thin blue unicorn with ridiculously frizzy hair with a light bulb cutie mark trotted up.

“Yeah? Wadda need?”

Fine Focus pointed to the window. “Light it up.”

Light Bright nodded and his horn began to glow. Suddenly a beam of light shot out from his horn like a flashlight and into the window.

“Okay boys, let’s go.” Fine Focus said as he clambered as quietly as possible, before motioning for the other two ponies to follow.

“Okay, I’m gonna make sure their none of those annoying lasers to trip.” He whispered to his two minions, nodded. He cast the spell, his magic glowing a dark purple. The network of security lasers revealed themselves, primed and ready for one absentminded hoof to fall and set the whole system off.

The three ponies quietly tip-toed through the maze of wires, looking around for something to steal. Fine Focus made his way for a large gun which was sitting on one of the labs many desks, half-disassembled.

“My precious.” He whispered, as he tenderly levitated the weapon into his saddle bag.

Meanwhile, Light Bright tip-toed through the laser minefield, looking for something to pique his interest. He found it in a large helmet, which was labeled: “Experimental Magic Enhancement Helmet for Ground Troops”. He grinned. His boss had always picked on him for not having powerful magic, “just a bunch of fancy fireworks” he would always say. Well...we'll see about that. Light Bright thought as he levitated the helmet off the desk and into his saddle bag.

And that’s his ears were greeted by the deafening sound of the laboratory’s alarm system going haywire.

He swung around to see Lock Pick, white as a sheet, standing by one of the tables with what looked like a laser gun from a comic book held in his magic. He had managed to trip a laser with one of his hooves. Typical.

Fine Focus leapt towards the window. “LET’S GET OUTTA HERE!” he yelled, forgetting that he was a thief and thereby shouldn’t make himself known. Both Light Bright  and Lock Pick dropped what they were doing and turned and ran wildly for the window leaping out as just as the automatic anti-thief laser guns started firing.

The three thieves scattered off, panicked, leaving the window open.

Author's Note:

My friend, A-Phoenix-in-Avalon helped in writing this. The fight between Rarity and her mom is completely her own, all I did was add descriptions. That's it. So go and give her due credit.