Fulfillment

Chapters

old Chapter 1
old Chapter 2
old Chapter 3
old Chapter 4
old Chapter 5
old Chapter 6
old Chapter 7
old Chapter 8
old Chapter 9
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9

old Chapter 1

It wasn’t a tale heard by many. It wasn’t a tale told in the sun, or with smiles and laughs.

It was a tale told when the darkest of nights encroached on the land. When all the light seemed to have been taken from Equestria, foals gathered together long after they should have been asleep and whispered the tale to one another. As a warning.

For somewhere in Equestria stalked a monster. A monster that would come into the homes of unicorns, to rip off their horn and kill them.

It was called Emptiness.

The beast was rumored to be as black as night, with two eyes filled with insanity and bloodlust. And the stolen horns stuck to the body, wherever they might fit. But perhaps the worst detail was what the monster was.

For Emptiness was no beast. In fact, she was a unicorn. Or perhaps, more fittingly, she was once a unicorn.

Emptiness was born without magic. Not one bit. Unable to make her horn so much as spark, even long past the point where the most inept of unicorns could levitate objects.

She grew obsessed with her lack. And one day, simply snapped, and decided that if she could never have magic…

Then nopony else would either.

She went on a rampage in her own home, and her little sister was the first to suffer her madness. Others soon followed.

She came on the darkest night, when the moon was new. She would hunt to find a unicorn, and if they were an adult, they would never have a chance. But if they were a foal, or a filly or colt…

If a child saw her eyes staring at them in the dead of the night, then she would play a game with them. The Game.

The rules were simple. She would stay for a week. And come back every night, and try to get the unicorn’s horn. She was driven back by bright light, but every night it grew harder, as she grew braver and faster and more and more difficult to stop.

So children whispered the story to others, to help protect them. Don’t sleep on the night of a new moon. Stay awake, have a flashlight. Close your curtains, hide under your blankets, and pray that Emptiness might think the room empty…

Because nopony had ever won The Game. But if Emptiness saw you, it was your only chance. If you saw her eyes, you were doomed, just the same as everypony that had played before you…

Unless you won The Game.

Rarity was sitting in her workshop, trying and failing to think of a design. She hadn’t made a single thing for two weeks. She hadn’t even left her home for two weeks. It had been two weeks since… since she disappeared, and Rarity hadn’t recovered.

She might never recover.

A gentle knock came at her door and she sighed. That sounded like Fluttershy, probably coming over to try and cheer her.

She didn’t know why they bothered; she was never going to be happy ever again.

She dragged herself to her hooves and trudged to the door, her coat a touch uncared for and her mane and tail simply… left alone. She looked a very different pony. Not that she forewent caring for herself, it just wasn’t… important anymore.

She opened the door and saw a little white filly with a short, dark purple mane that covered most of her face. Only one eye was visible in the mop of hair.

“Hi…” she said, nervous and fearful.

Rarity stood perfectly still for a moment, and then used her magic to lift the filly up and carried her inside, her face perfectly neutral. Then she shut the door. And locked it. And pulled the curtains shut.

“…Rarity?” the filly asked, upside down in her magic.

Rarity took a few deep breaths. “I know you. Sw… she told me about you.”

“What are you doing..?”

“I want to know where she is.” Rarity said, glaring slightly at the filly.

“I… I don’t really know where Sweetie,”

Rarity’s eye twitched at the mention of the name. “Where. Is. She.” She repeated, practically growling. The filly stared at her in fear.

“I… I don’t,”

“Where is my little sister you brat!” she screamed, and hurled the filly across the room. She didn’t make much of a sound when she hit the wall and Rarity stomped over, enraged.

Rarity stomped hard enough to make the floor dent right in front of her head.

“Tell me.” she hissed, her eyes flashing with hate.

“She’s… she’s gone.”

Rarity froze, anger shifting to shock and horror before slowly turning into a burning denial. “No… no, I don’t believe that!” she yelled, tossing the filly over her and onto the table in the room with another thud.

The filly recovered, and rolled off of it as Rarity approached.

“I. Don’t. Believe you!” she screamed, crushing the table in her attempt to get the filly. The filly squeaked as a few splinters hit her, and as Rarity kicked her, sending her skidding across the floor.

Then she was grabbed in magic once more, and turned to stare into Rarity’s eyes. They were mad, enraged, a touch insane, and a little, just a little, sad.

“Tell me who you are.”

“Gentle Flowers.”

She yelled as Rarity squeezed her. “Where did you come from?”

“I… I…” She screamed that time, and Rarity heard something crack. She didn’t care.

“Tell me everything.”

The filly was crying now, one leg a little limp. “I… I was born in Canterlot, about 310 years ago.”

“What? That sounds… Like a lie.” She began squeezing a little more.

“It isn’t! It really, really isn’t!” the pressure stopped growing, but remained. “I know everything from then, really! The schools taught about Nightmare Moon openly! They tried to teach Earth ponies how to farm the better way! Everypony really enjoyed wearing tall hats and those stupid fluffy collars!”

Rarity hesitated, but she knew that at least a few of the words were true. She kept track of fashion; tall hats and especially the flared collars had been out of style and even make, for a long time.

“Alright… keep going. I said everything.”

“I… I had parents and an older sister. I wore a diaper until I was four. My parents called me their little flower. I went to school properly for four years, ages six to ten. I liked to draw, and I enjoyed reading. I got good grades, not great grades, but I never got a c. I was a good girl.”

“I was ten when… When I met… I met Emptiness.” The filly flinched upon saying that, certain that Rarity wouldn’t believe her. To her slight surprise, Rarity didn’t seem to bat an eye.

“I… tried to run from her, but I didn’t make it. She grabbed me, and told me about her hunt, and… I begged her not to. I begged her to stop before she did something that she couldn’t undo…”

“She… didn’t agree. And for her own reasons, she dragged me away from my home and carried me with her.”

“Emptiness kept me from my family, and I never grew any older. I just got dragged along behind her as she kept… kept killing others. I was alive, but nopony else ever survived her attack.”

“That’s everything. Everything I can still remember.”

“Please… I… everything hurts…”

“You came to Ponyville with her?”

“Yes.”

“… Do you know what happened to Sweetie?”

“Yes. All of it.”

“… Why did you come back here? You should know that I hate you.”

“I know. But… Sweetie asked me to. Her last wish was for me to tell you everything…”

“Last…” Rarity ground her teeth, and simply dropped the filly who screamed when she hit the floor, collapsing. “She… she is truly gone?” she asked.

“…Yes.”

Rarity seemed to be thinking deeply as Gentle wobbled to three hooves.

“… I want to know what happened to her. And if I find that you are in any way responsible for this…”

“Nopony is ever going to find you, ever again.”

“Are we clear?”

Gentle nodded quickly. Rarity took another deep breath, anger competing with sorrow now.

“I am going to get some tea. Get on my couch, and stay there.”

Rarity headed to the kitchen and Gentle began hopping to the couch, wincing every time she moved. She stopped at it, and began trying to climb on it, but with three legs it seemed impossible.

Rarity found her struggling to get on, and she squeaked when Rarity simply boosted her with her magic and yelled as her broken leg, her left hind leg, landed wrong.

Rarity sat down without a single twinge of sympathy, and set down one cup of tea on the nearby table.

“Tell me.” she said, looking at Gentle.

Gentle managed to get into a position that wasn’t painful. “Can… Can I have a cup of tea please?”

“No.” Rarity said with all the warmth and care of an icicle. Gentle nodded, wiped at her tears and tried to start.

“It… It started… about a month ago. When Sweetie learned about Emptiness.”

Rarity hesitated for a second and then her anger came back and she glared at Gentle.

“Are you suggesting that I am responsible for..?” she asked, her voice low and venomous.

“No! No, you helped her.” Gentle said, wiping at her tears and not getting up. “If… If you hadn’t told her, then she would never have been safe.”

“But because you did, she had the flashlight, and saw Emptiness and started The Game. Lots of unicorns never get the chance to play The Game.”

“’The Game’?” Rarity asked.

“Emptiness plays… played games with children.” Gentle sniffled and tried to stop crying. “She showed up on a new moon, and if the child saw her before she got the child, then The Game began.”

“She would stay for a week, and every night try to catch them. They would drive her away with sudden bright light shined into her eyes. It was all a big game to her…”

“Sweetie started The Game because you told her the story. That’s why she wasn’t taken immediately.”

“Then her behavior that week…” Rarity breathed, realizing.

“She wasn’t sleeping at all. If she slept at night, Emptiness would get her. If she slept during the day, somepony might want to know what’s happening.”

“But why didn’t she ask for help?”

“That’s the worst thing she could have done. Emptiness isn’t kind to ponies who help. The Game is only for one. If anypony else tried to help, Emptiness would kill them. Break her own rules. The Game would be over, and The Hunt would start instead. Nopony can win The Hunt, that’s impossible. Nopony won The Game either, until Sweetie.”

“… Where do you fit into this? Sweetie told me about you, at least a little.”

Gentle nodded. “Let… Let me start from the beginning.”

old Chapter 2

I was dragged after Emptiness everywhere. She would just carry me off and then drop me off in some place while she hunted her new victims. Sometimes she just dropped me and left without a word. Sometimes she threatened me if I were to move. Sometimes she was even nice, and smiled, and told me to go play.

At first I never did leave for fear of her. After a few times, I took to wandering around, learning where I was, seeing places and meeting ponies. I soon learned to have my mane the way it is. I… ponies… I’m very shy.

So I covered most of my face up with hair, and tried to pretend I was hidden behind it. It… didn’t work very well. I was still very shy…

But as Emptiness kept taking more horns, a few stayed behind as ghosts. I found the courage to talk to them. We became something like a family, me and the ghosts. I learned how to speak with others anyway…

But it wasn’t until Ponyville that I finally got the courage to try and stop Emptiness from getting another horn. Emptiness dropped me off without a word, and I wandered through the town, trying to spot a unicorn that was tired.

The first day, I didn’t, but Emptiness came back the next morning happy. I asked her why. She told me that Sweetie Belle started The Game. She hadn’t played the game for a while, and was going to enjoy playing it again.

It took me a little bit to find Sweetie. I didn’t know what she looked like, but a few unicorns told me where I might find her. And I did.

I finally spotted her as it was growing late, and she was tired. The normal sign of one of Emptiness’ victims.

“Sweetie?” I called as I went to her.

“Yes?” she said, confused.

“I found you, that’s good. Listen… I… um…”

Sweetie frowned and asked, “How do you know my name?”

“I… I heard some other ponies talking, but listen.”

“Did… I mean were… Did you see… see her last night?” I asked.

Sweetie didn’t have to tell me. The horror in her eyes was enough for me to know. I felt so bad for her… She was doomed. But I wanted her to be not doomed. To be safe. For Emptiness to lose for once. So I took a deep breath.

“Alright… Listen, because this is really, really important.”

“The Game lasts a week. Every night from 9:00 to sunrise. She is very, very good at being quiet and likes to distract you with loud noises. Sometimes she might not be there, but sometimes she will be, so always look everywhere.”

“She can’t touch doors or windows, but she can walk through them. She likes to hide in the room, and wait for you to move sometimes. She won’t ever rush you, but she might run around the house or room from hiding spot to hiding spot.”

“Bright light gets her to leave, but only if it is sudden and shined into her eyes. And no matter what, never ever leave the room when The Game starts. Never go through a door, she will always be on the other side of it. Never ever, ever let anypony else help; she will… do something really bad if they do.”

“And if you have to, turn off every light. She can see in the dark, but not well, and it might buy you a few moments of time.”

“If she grabs you, The Game is over. Did you understand all that?”

Sweetie nodded, fearful and confused. “But how do you..?”

“No time. You need to get home.” I said, heading away from her. “Stay safe, and remember!” I called, and then I left her.

That night Sweetie…

“Hang on, how do you know what Sweetie did during the night?”

“Emptiness told me. I think she knew that I was trying to help Sweetie, and told me everything that happened during every night.”

“She sounds… very strange.”

“She was insane. Very, very insane. Sometimes she was happy and giggling and gave me treats, and sometimes she would try to kill me. There was never any warning whether she would hurt me or help me.”

“But you… helped Sweetie?”

“I tried to. I could only give her hints.”

Sweetie was more prepared that night. She even felt a little bit confident; her nightlight was on, and she had set a lantern under the bed so that she could see the room much better. Her flashlight was by her side, and she sat in the middle of her bed.

Emptiness would have to reach for her, and give her a few precious seconds before grabbing her if she sat there.

She had also moved everything away from the bed, like the end tables. To make sure that Emptiness couldn’t hide near her. Or course, every plan had its flaw, and Sweetie was discovering one of The Game’s worse ways that let Emptiness win.

She was tired. She hadn’t slept much last night, and she was going to have to stay up all night. She kept having a hard time paying attention, and that would get much, much worse later on.

She was awake and alert at the first knock though. Emptiness’ sounds.

Two came from inside the house, and then a third knocked on her door. Sweetie stared at it before remembering my warning.

She saw Emptiness reaching for her from the other side, and flashed the light in her eyes. Emptiness screeched and ran, and Sweetie felt terrified, but she was ready; always look everywhere.

Emptiness left her alone for a few hours, and then scared her by peeking into the room through the door or window. Trying to scare Sweetie into doing something stupid.

Sweetie was good though, and didn’t move. But a loud knock got her to jump and she didn’t see Emptiness enter her closet.

Then there was lots of noise, all around her, making Sweetie try to look everywhere. She got just a glimpse as Emptiness left the closet and slid under her bed, the lantern showing her shadow before it turned off.

She saw Emptiness’ hoof waving at her from the left side of the bed, but when she looked, there was another on the right. She decided that one had to be a distraction; Emptiness wasn’t big enough to be able to do that.

Something made her turn around though, and she saw Emptiness standing behind her, having come up from the back of the bed. She just barely made it, shining her light into her eyes.

And she didn’t stop there. She attacked Emptiness, aiming for her horns, bashing her with the flashlight and screaming as she did so. Emptiness ran, and escaped, leaving Sweetie alone again as she panted in fear and adrenaline.

But she noticed something. She had broken her flashlight in her attack, and it wasn’t working anymore.

She had one chance, and leapt from her bed to smash her nightlight and send the room into total darkness.

Then she almost went under the bed before stopping herself. That would be the first place Emptiness looked, and instead, she got under her pillows and waited. It didn’t take long.

“Hide and seek it is.” she heard Emptiness giggle to herself. Emptiness made sure that she could hear her hoof steps, and after a moment, began singing a song.

“Where are you, little filly… you should know that this is rather silly… I see in the dark, just like it is a day at the park…

“What nightmares lie in your head… I see you, under the bed!”

“No… smarter than you look I see, but you cannot hide from me.”

“Where are you, little filly… you should know that this is rather silly… I see in the dark, just like it is a day at the park…

“Are you standing close, quivering in the dark waiting for me to greet… or are you waiting just for me, shivering under a sheet…”

“No, I see you now, no place to hide from me… it is under the pillow you be…”

Sweetie was terrified, and waited. The pillow was lifted from her and she stared into Emptiness eyes before she paused. And then looked over to the window, and they both saw it.

The first days of the dawn coming through the curtains.

Emptiness faded away and Sweetie stared. She had done it. She had lived another night.

Gentle stopped speaking and gave a little groan. “Only five… more to go…”

Rarity eyed her as she shifted, obviously in pain. But it faded soon and Gentle sighed.

“I remember finding her that morning.” Rarity said. “I was wondering why she had broken that flashlight and the nightlight.”

“She told me that she had a nightmare and she broke one against the other in fear… I didn’t find the lantern though.”

“I had thought she was being bad. I even yelled at her for Celestia’s sake…”

“She kept the secret for your safety.” Gentle said softly.

“That doesn’t make it any better.”

The pair was silent for a moment. Then Rarity looked at Gentle.

“Do you want a drink?” she asked. Gentle nodded, and Rarity went to get a new cup of tea, and gave her it, the filly struggling a little to drink it.

“Thank you.”

“It is nothing. I assume the story continues.”

“It does.”

old Chapter 3

The ‘home’ I stayed in was little more than a clearing in the Everfree. I slept there; if Emptiness found me anywhere else during the night, she would hurt me. She made that very clear.

She was upset when she came back that morning. Angry. Sweetie had hurt her, and she wasn’t supposed to do that. She wanted to hurt something.

The ghosts helped me to hide while she screamed and tried to hurt the ghosts. She couldn’t touch them, but they knew she could hurt me. I left the forest and headed back into town.

If Emptiness was mad, she was going to get much worse. I wasn’t sure what she might do, but I needed to warn Sweetie.

So I found the schoolhouse, and found Ms. Cheerilee. So I made up a story about moving into town recently, and asked if I could join the class. She said yes.

So she introduced me to the class, and by chance, I got seated next to Sweetie. She was exhausted, falling asleep. She wasn’t going to make it another night like that.

“Sweetie, are you alright?” I whispered to her.

“Tired…” she told me. I… I had to help her, so I gave her the… something special.

A purple liquid in a little vial. I call it potion. Sweetie eyed it and I told her, “It will help, trust me.”

She drank it, and she was much better. It woke her up and gave her some energy.

“Thanks.” she whispered back, smiling at me. I smiled back.

“Wait… I think I know that…”

“Sweetie did get a little addicted to it. It’s… strong stuff.”

“Twilight called it some kind of magic.”

“It is.”

“Do you know what it was?”

“… Promise not to hurt me?”

“I… Gentle, I… I won’t. I promise. I might yell though.”

“It’s unicorn horn blood.”

Rarity choked on her own tea. “What?!” she asked, sickened and dismayed.

“Emptiness’ horns bled. A lot. She collected the blood and drank it; it gave her tiny bits of power for a short time. I thought it would help Sweetie, and it did. It gave her the ability to keep awake and moving when she really shouldn’t have been.”

“It gave her a better chance at least.”

Rarity frowned at Gentle, but the sheer… resigned nature of the last comment slowed her anger. Gentle had felt it necessary.

“And the school incident?”

“That’s easier to explain.”

I followed Sweetie out when they let us go play. I wanted to try and talk with her when she was alone, to warn her about Emptiness’ anger.

I soon found that she had two friends, and I couldn’t speak up in front of them. I was too shy and I couldn’t tell them about Emptiness; both would try to help Sweetie even if she told them not to.

They were curious, but Sweetie defended me from their questions. I felt that it was going well until Diamond and Silver came over.

They tried to tease me, but they were… nastier than just that. I had told Cheerilee that I was sensitive about my mane and she told the class. That pair took it as an invitation to touch my mane.

They tricked me, and when one of them touched it, I… panicked. I hit her with everything I had without really thinking what I was doing.

Everything went silent as she collapsed. I had thrown her thirty feet, and she was hurt. I think I might have broken something of hers.

I ended up separated from Sweetie and Cheerilee tried to discover why I had hit her. I couldn’t say anything. She wanted to meet my parents, so I named an address and she let me go, resolving to speak with my parents later.

I couldn’t find Sweetie after that, and the night came soon.

“I remember that.” Rarity said. “I picked Sweetie up since school was let out early, and took her to Twilight, to try and discover what was wrong with her. Her behavior was off and I had… hoped that she was ill.”

“Twilight was the one that discovered your… ‘help’. I had a long talk with Sweetie about… well, bad things.”

“Drugs?”

“How do you..?”

“I’m three centuries old. I know a lot.”

“Ah… right. But yes, those. Sweetie was evasive and unwilling to tell me anything at first. I managed to get her to tell me that you gave them to her and I warned her not to go near you again.”

“Twilight went to try and discover your parents, and I wanted nothing more than to return home and rest after a rather hard day. Sweetie begged me to stop by the store, to buy a new nightlight and a few flashlights and lanterns.”

“For the life of me, I didn’t know why she was so desperate. But I relented. I warned her that if she broke them again, I wasn’t going to buy new ones for her, and she agreed.”

“I should have been more observant. I could have done something.”

“Emptiness would have killed you and Sweetie if you did.”

“I meant… support her. Let her sleep during the day, kept her from school… I could have done lots of things to keep her as safe as possible.”

“Of course, hindsight is perfect. I didn’t and now, I never can. The night went poorly?”

“It did.”

Sweetie had two flashlights, and had relit the lantern under her bed. She felt… more prepared for Emptiness.

Emptiness was mad. She terrified Sweetie with her mad laughter, screaming in the house, breaking stuff. She kept whispering how she was going to love ripping her horn off.

Sweetie had to fend her off dozens of times. It was a little harder too; you were the one who put the room back together. Gave Emptiness lots of hiding places.

It was at midnight that Emptiness decided to find her revenge. She slowed trying to reach Sweetie, and began tearing the room apart. Pulling the drawers of the dresser out, going into the closet and ripping things apart, breaking Sweetie’s bedside table…

It was a message. ‘Don’t hurt me, or else’ so to speak. And it was revenge as well...

Emptiness made sure that everything she did could have been done by Sweetie. To pin the blame on her. And it worked too.

“Celestia take it…” Rarity murmured, staring at the floor. “That… I…”

“If it helps, Sweetie didn’t really blame you.”

“I punished her for that. I even made her promise to come right home after school, so I could keep her in her room for a while. I was so mad and confused…”

“She just had that… understanding on her face. And I never knew why.”

“I thought… I… I was a horrible big sister.”

“Sweetie didn’t think so.”

“How didn’t she? I think so.”

Gentle nodded slowly. “But Sweetie knew why. She was protecting you. She wanted me to tell you that she never hated you, and that you never had to say sorry.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. She was very insistent about that. And… I forgive you.”

“For what darli… Oh… I… Oh dear, I… I never…”

“It’s fine. I’ve been hurt worse. And if Sweetie can forgive like she did, then so can I.”

Rarity was crying, actually seeing Gentle for the first time. Her anger was gone, and she saw clearly. The leg at an odd angle, the pain in her eyes, even if it was kept from her voice. She had done that. She caused that in anger and grief.

She reached out, and her pain grew worse when Gentle flinched at her touch and moved away.

“I’m fine.” the filly said quickly, pushing her hoof away. “Don’t… don’t touch me please. Let me finish.”

old Chapter 4

I found Sweetie again fairly soon the next morning. She was alone, and I think she was looking for me. When she saw me she headed over and I noticed her tension.

“Are you alright?” I asked, terrified for her.

“I’m O.K… Can we go somewhere private?”

I nodded, and the pair of us retreated into an alley.

“Last night… she acted weird.” Sweetie told me, looking around to make sure that we were alone.

“She was mad, really mad. You hurt her, and she is never hurt. She didn’t… she didn’t do anything to you, did she?”

“She ruined my room.” Sweetie told me, sighing. “Rarity, my sister, got really mad…”

That was better than I had feared, but it was still bad. “It’s going to be fine Sweetie, you can do it.” I said, “It’s going to get worse though.”

“She’s going to try and get to you more. Her time is running out, and she is going to start… turning invisible.”

Sweetie looked dismayed, and I quickly added, “But when she’s invisible, she always makes noise and can’t see where she’s stepping. She can trip on something or bump into something. You’ll hear or see that, and she can’t grab you when she’s invisible.”

“But… when she’s invisible… she can walk through walls.”

“… Gentle..? Can I really do this?” Sweetie asked me, her head held low and her voice uncertain.

“You can do this Sweetie. I… I believe in you.”

She grabbed onto me, and I resisted my first impulse to shove her away. She needed something to hold onto right then.

Then she let go and wiped at her eyes. “I think I’m going to need more lights.”

“Get some more, just recall; sudden.”

“Rarity won’t buy any more and I can’t get any myself.”

I made a choice. My reputation was worthless. There was no reason to keep myself in the good graces of anypony anymore.

“I’ll get you some.” I said. Sweetie thanked me, and we parted ways then, determining to meet again later on.

So I went and stole a whole bunch of flashlights, knocking the shop owner unconscious in the process. He saw me, but that didn’t matter. I had what I needed to help her.

“That was you? You were the thief? I… suppose I can see why you went that far…”

“That was just the start.”

I thought about stopping there, but I figured I would need more. I went and stole a lot of stuff. Things for Sweetie to spread over the floor to trip Emptiness, tiny glow sticks for her to see by, even a mattress for her to stuff under her bed so Emptiness couldn’t hide under it.

I… Really, half of the stuff was mostly useless, but I wanted to help. And if I’m being honest…

I got her a few gifts. A few things to… to cheer her up. One of the best was… was a necklace. She loved that thing.

I gave her another flashlight and another potion, in case she needed it. She drank it right there and told me that she felt ready.

Emptiness came to me before night fell. She wanted to know what I had done. I didn’t tell her.

She exploded with anger, and broke my leg. My… my left hind leg. I think she might have killed me if I hadn’t begged her not to…

She left me like that, crippled in the woods, as she went to go and play.

Sweetie was more prepared that night, but Emptiness still managed to surprise her. Moving faster, and getting to know how Sweetie would react to noises or the lack of noises.

It started with the usual peering through the door and window. And then trying to get into the room, Sweetie stopping her most of the time. And then she got worse.

The invisibility let her get very close without Sweetie seeing her, and let her get into the room to hide somewhere. It didn’t always work, but it worked often. And she broke the first flashlight.

She threw a rock at Sweetie, and Sweetie used the flashlight to defend herself. She only just got the second before Emptiness had her.

That was when the cat opened her door; you hadn’t shut it properly and nopony had noticed. Sweetie was confused and Emptiness became thoughtful. It was not a good thing when Emptiness thought.

Emptiness pretended to be you, and called “Sweetie!?” from downstairs. That was a tactic that worked often for her.

Sweetie didn’t move. And Emptiness grew upset again, and Sweetie discovered the last part of The Game.

The first was just fighting Emptiness. The second was fighting the lack of sleep.

The third was that Emptiness would try to destroy their spirit, and turn others against them.

“The… the dress, the card…” Rarity murmured in horror, moving a hoof to her mouth.

Gentle just nodded.

Sweetie had to endure Emptiness taunting her as she destroyed your creations and her things. Telling her everything she was doing, everything that she hoped that you were going to do to her when you woke up.

She couldn’t take it, and headed out with her flashlight ready. She had to stop her; Emptiness was going to destroy something irreplaceable.

She was threatening to rip apart a card. A rather important card.

She confronted her downstairs, and ran from her, Emptiness tossing things aside to try and get her. Sweetie was fast, and kept blinding her, but Emptiness had too many things to hide behind.

In the end, Emptiness broke that flashlight too, and Sweetie was trapped. She would have had her, but Emptiness was petty.

She stopped, and took the time to rip that card in half. She did so slowly and deliberately, and wasted her time. She let Sweetie live.

She left just as the sun rose, Sweetie sitting amongst the destroyed creation room. The card torn in half in front of her. I believe that is when you found her, wondering why the cat was making so much noise.

Rarity couldn’t respond. She was sobbing and Gentle simply stopped speaking to allow her to try and recover.

After a moment Gentle sighed.

“She didn't hate you, or even blame you.”

“I…”

“She knew that everything you did was because of Emptiness.”

“I hit…”

“She never even felt like she had to forgive you.”

“I hit my own sister…”

“It is what Emptiness liked to do. She breaks more than just a body. She is very good at blaming others for her destruction.”

“I hit her as hard as I could… I thought…”

“She never, ever blamed you for anything you did.”

“I thought that she was… denouncing our bond. I… I told her to go away. I didn’t want to see her again… I just… just kept… kept looking at the destruction and feeling… so angry with her…”

“She went to Twilight, and told her that she was having problems and stayed there.”

Rarity wiped at her eyes, her tears slowing but her regret almost tangible. “I know. Twilight told me. We had… a very bad argument over that. I said a few things I… I shouldn’t have.”

“… Have you two spoken since?”

“No. She never came, and I never left. You truly are opening my eyes Gentle. And I hurt you in my anger… I… I’m so sorry… Gentle?”

Rarity saw Gentle shudder at her words, the filly suddenly growing fearful of her. She looked away from Rarity, curling slightly as if to defend herself.

“Gentle, what’s wrong?” she asked, noticing that her concern was met with fear or even terror.

“It’s… it’s nothing. Nothing.”

“Let me continue.”

old Chapter 5

I woke the next morning with Emptiness staring down at me.

“I hurt you.” she said. “I… I never wanted to… I’m sorry. I’ll fix you.”

The potion is strong stuff. And Emptiness knew how to use it well. She was… kind and caring as she fixed my leg, drinking lots of potion to allow her to heal the bone. Making sure I was alright.

Then she hugged me, told me that she… that she loved me and promised that she wouldn’t do it again.

She did that a lot. She would hurt me and then fix it, whispering that she loved me. Pain and agony being inflicted in a sudden rage, only for her to calm again, and act so sorry and help me recover. That was the pattern. Hate, pain, sorry, healing, love, promise not to again. She did it every time she hurt me.

I went back to the town, finding that I was wanted by a lot of ponies. They were fairly mad, and for good reason. I had to sneak about, trying to find Sweetie.

I found her waiting in that same alley we had been in before. I saw that she had been crying, and hurried to her, worried that she had been hurt by Emptiness.

“Hi Gentle.” she said, smiling, “I did another one.”

“Sweetie, what happened?!” I asked, concerned. She took a breath and looked away.

“Emptiness… destroyed some things. And something really important. She tricked Rarity and now, Rarity doesn’t want to see me again…”

She sniffled at that. “Sweetie, you can fix it.” I told her. “Just wait the week, and then you can tell everypony the truth. She’ll be gone then.”

“You… You really think so?”

“I know so! She always does that. She claims a victim and then leaves, always. Emptiness is predictable that way.”

“She was pretending to be my sister.”

“She told me. You should never go after her Sweetie…”

“I had to. But I don’t think I have to worry about that anymore. Will Emptiness do anything different in a library?”

I hesitated. “I… don’t think so… maybe she can hide behind a shelf, but not if they’re against a wall. And she shouldn’t destroy books either, she likes books… maybe you can even use them to trip her when she turns invisible.”

“The nights are getting brighter; maybe you can see better without a light too.”

“What if I’m in a room with a sleeping pony?”

“I… Don’t. Just don’t. Maybe Emptiness would ignore them, but if they wake up, she’ll kill them.”

“How about a dragon?”

“A dragon? In a library?”

“Just a little one, his name is Spike.”

“The same thing… Or not. Dragons aren’t like ponies, but she’ll still try to kill him.”

She sighed.

“If it helps, Emptiness will make sure that other ponies that are asleep elsewhere in the house stay asleep. They will wake up if you make too much noise though.”

“Twilight sometimes doesn’t go to sleep, and I’m with her right now.”

I worried about that, but I soon thought of something. I gave Sweetie another potion, and told her how to use it differently.

If she boiled it, it put nearby ponies to sleep and was mostly undetectable. And she could boil it with a candle; simple and easy.

“Three nights to go.” I said, smiling. “The last one is going to be real bad, but I’ll tell you that later.”

“I can do it.”

“I know you can.”

She ran off, waving back at me, and I waved as she went. That’s when I turned and saw Diamond Tiara staring at me. She looked smug.

“I knew it. You’re working together with her. Afraid of Emptiness, huh? I bet I can do something about that…”

I found courage, and stood in front of her, blocking her way.

“As for you…”

“HELP!” she screamed suddenly, “I found the thief! Help!”

That was far from the easiest escape I ever did. The ponies after me were mostly rushing to her aid rather than my capture, but they still tried to stop me. Several recognized me and voiced their complaints about my thievery.

I weaved under their legs and ran, and some blue pegasus kept dive bombing me. She nearly had me several times. I ended up escaping by going into the bakery, having that pegasus slam into the confections and then slipping away in the resulting mess.

“That was Rainbow Dash I think.”

“Is she blue and reckless?”

“Very.”

“Then yes, that was her.”

I was still worried about what Diamond might be planning for Sweetie, so I stayed as night fell. Being very, very careful so that Emptiness didn’t spot me. I followed after her that night, and saw her pause, regarding the library.

I saw something enter the library, and worried. As Emptiness headed forward and climbed up the side, I went to a window and peered in.

I do know that the story of Emptiness had a chance to be known by ponies other than unicorns. But even then, I didn’t really believe what I was seeing.

Diamond was in the building, creeping around. I wasn’t quite sure what she was doing, and she wasn’t hard to see in the darkness.

I saw Sweetie hiding under some stairs, watching her with confusion. And then I saw Emptiness at the top of the stairs, watching her. I got really, really worried that she was going to stop The Game.

Diamond eventually stopped fumbling in the dark and stood still.

Then I saw her spot Sweetie. “Emptiness, she’s over here!” she said, waving a hoof around.

Neither I nor Sweetie knew how to respond to that. Emptiness did.

She walked past Sweetie’s hiding place without Diamond ever seeing her until she was right in front of her.

“Twilight? Is that…”

“Never did I see such... such stupid evil.” Emptiness said, snatching Diamond in one hoof and holding her struggling form up.

“You think you can intrude in The Game? You think you can help me? Your heart is a dark thing indeed for you to try and help me…”

Diamond probably couldn’t breathe; she didn’t respond at all.

“This sin is my own. It is not something to be picked up by anypony else. Accept your punishment.”

Emptiness threw her against a shelf, and went to her as she recovered, picking up a heavy book as she went.

I eventually had to stop looking. Emptiness was… merciless.

It took a long time for Diamond’s screams to finally stop. And when they did, I heard Emptiness speaking to Sweetie.

“I won’t count this one. She was trying to hurt, not help. Tonight, I’ll leave you be. Tomorrow, we begin in earnest.”

I started when she exited by the front door and came to me. I waited for her to do something, but instead she only huffed.

She threw the unmoving form of Diamond in front of me.

“Grab her. She’s going to come with us.”

I didn’t question it, and grabbed her bloody form. She was still breathing as I dragged her after Emptiness. I had seen Emptiness kill a lot of ponies, sometimes in some… disgusting ways.

The time Diamond spent with her was the worst things I ever saw done to another living thing. Emptiness tormented her, taking great, great care in her experiments so she wouldn’t die.

Do you know what happens when an earth pony is forced to drink unicorn horn blood until they literally can’t stomach any more? I do. I might never forget.

Diamond’s screams still haunt me. Emptiness took care not to kill her and I think she enjoyed inflicting pain. Diamond sometimes… sometimes begged me to kill her. It only took one night for her to reach that point.

Rarity looked ill as Gentle finished speaking. Gentle coughed, and rasped for a moment, trying to find her breath. Rarity didn’t notice, too occupied with horrible mental images.

Gentle recovered and sighed.

“I think she was trying to scare Sweetie. She was likely looking for some revenge for Silver’s injury, but I don’t know. The true reason can’t be known anymore.”

“Is she…”

Gentle nodded and Rarity shook her head. “That… poor filly...”

“She was vital in the end. She made it possible for Sweetie to save us.”

“How?”

“That’s… I’ll get to that. It’s not… not…”

Gentle coughed again, and Rarity watched her in concern. Concern that turned into fear when she coughed blood.

“Gentle, are you..?”

“Fine! Just fine… I…”

“You are not fine. I… You are badly hurt, let me help...” Rarity reached toward Gentle only to stop midway.

“No! Stay away! Don’t… don’t touch me… Please…”

Gentle wiggled away from Rarity in terror, and Rarity felt miserable. She had caused Gentle’s pain, and she was beginning to see why Gentle was so terrified of her.

In her sudden rage, she had hurt her badly. And then, she recovered, grew to know the filly better, felt… closer to her. She was possibly the only pony who knew and had been near Sweetie during her… last hours. Gentle had kept her little sister as safe as she could and Rarity felt indebted to her.

And Rarity had been doing things that were so very similar to what Emptiness had done to her. Hurting her and then saying sorry and trying to help…

She had never had the filly’s trust, but she had accidently made sure that she might never have it.

Worse; Gentle was obviously hurt far worse than the filly was letting on. A broken leg was one thing, coughing blood was another.

But what could she do? Any indication of care after her anger reminded the filly of Emptiness. Rarity struggled to figure something out, some way to get the filly to allow her to help. And then it came to her.

She sat up again, and took a drink of her tea, moving away from Gentle. Gentle watched her in faint confusion as she took a breath and dispelled any indication of concern from herself. It was hard, but she managed.

“Continue.” she said, not even looking at Gentle.

“Wha… what?”

“Keep telling me. The story isn’t over.”

Gentle watched her carefully, looking for anything that said she was doing something. Rarity didn’t move at all, focusing on her tea.

“… Alright. I will.”

“Go ahead. I’m waiting.”

“I’ll tell you everything.”

“Do try to stop coughing. It is distracting.”

“Fine. No mistakes.”

“That’s better.”

old Chapter 6

Emptiness had cleaned up Diamond’s blood. Twilight never knew what had happened that night. Sweetie was relieved at that.

I think Twilight tried to discover what was happening, though I don’t know how. I do know that Sweetie had to put her to sleep two times, and the last night, she had to lock Spike in the closet.

I met Sweetie only once more before the last two nights, and told her the last step Emptiness would take.

Active destruction.

Emptiness would break things in between her and her target, and often throw things for an added distraction, or even injury. Sweetie needed to take care that Emptiness couldn’t find things like knives, or heavy objects.

Something that Twilight took objection to, considering Sweetie then buried all her knives.

I gave her three more potions, all that I could take from Emptiness. This was her last chance. Her last two nights, and then, she would win. And Emptiness would leave, and she could tell everypony what happened. We were… optimistic if nothing else.

The first night, Twilight never noticed Sweetie boiling some of the potion, and Sweetie tucked her away in her study, exiting out into the main room where she made her preparations.

Scattering books and glow sticks around, and taking shelter under the stairs. It was her best place to hide; the bedroom was too small and too easy to get into for her to be safe there.

The first night, Emptiness did her best… or worst if you think of it that way.

Sweetie had been smart choosing her spot; Emptiness had a hard time getting to her, and the stairs creaked if she stepped on them no matter how quiet she tried to be. The open nature of the room and the lack of entries forced her to try and walk the distance to her, allowing Sweetie more than enough time to spot her and blind her.

She was quite upset at that. Really, really upset, and in the end, Sweetie was perfectly safe, though the room wasn’t. Emptiness had torn books to shreds in her attempts to reach Sweetie.

Sweetie knew Twilight, and hid from the purple mare when she did stumble awake. She knew she had been drugged. She knew something was wrong, very wrong.

Sweetie hid in the high reaches of the tree for the entire day, avoiding Twilight, and eventually, other ponies out looking for her. Nopony found her, and when night came again, she acted quickly.

She tricked Spike into going into the closet, and when Twilight tried to get him out, she got her to sleep again. Then she drank the last of the potion for herself.

The final night was coming, and Sweetie was determined to win. If Emptiness thought she could break things, then Emptiness would find Sweetie more than willing to fight back.

It was the last night. Her last trial, Emptiness’ last chance. And neither side was going to let the other win.

Sweetie took the shredded paper, and covered the floor. Hiding marbles and nails under several spots. Reinforcing her hiding spot, nailing boards to the staircase to give her a shelter that she could see and shine her light out of. She trapped every shelf so she could pull them down and hid more lights in the room just in case she would need them.

She told me it was more like a battle than the normal game of cat and mouse.

Emptiness ran at her, trying to make the distance, throwing books and rocks at her. And Sweetie tossed them back at her, shining her light in Emptiness’ eyes as Emptiness slipped on marbles and stepped on nails.

They were screaming at each other, Emptiness’ threats and Sweetie’s taunts. Sweetie even used the boiling potion against her, which got her very upset.

When Emptiness managed to rip a board from her hiding place, Sweetie tried to drop a book shelf on her. The first missed, but the second didn’t.

For a moment, everything was quiet. The shelves were very heavy, and Sweetie thought that she might have killed Emptiness.

And then Emptiness threw it off of herself and screamed, no longer caring about anything but getting Sweetie, several of her stolen horns broken off. That’s when Sweetie used her trump card.

She had hidden a knife, and kept it. And when Emptiness ran at her, she let her, and when she reached for her, she stabbed her foreleg. Emptiness screamed and pulled away, stumbling, limping. But then she recovered, and ripped the knife free and turned on Sweetie with it.

Sweetie didn’t really care. Sweetie was ready for her.

Sweetie had another knife.

She forwent her flashlight, and slashed wildly at Emptiness, the larger mare an easier target. Emptiness didn’t bleed, though she felt pain.

Emptiness was larger and faster, but Sweetie was smart, and had more tricks. In the end, every bookshelf was pulled down, the stair’s banister broken when Emptiness tripped on marbles, and everything had slash marks, paper covering everything.

And then it was over. The sunlight came in through the window, and Emptiness faded away with a cry of denial and rage.

Sweetie sat amidst the destruction, panting. She was gone. The sun coming in through the window felt surreal after the long and violent night. She heard Spike thumping in the closet upstairs, heard birds singing in the morning.

She had done it. Seven nights of fear. Or more like five. At the library, Sweetie had been certain that Emptiness would not win over her. Determination fueled her, and anger; Emptiness tried to take her from her family, her friends.

And she would not allow that. The thought gave her the bravery to stand firm and do what she felt was necessary without fear. Those last two nights she hadn’t felt afraid at all.

But it was over. She did it. She had won The Game. She was safe.

That’s when Emptiness grabbed her.

“What!? But…”

“We should have seen it. I mean, she even told us all. The Game. A game. It wasn’t real; The Game never mattered.”

“Emptiness didn’t care about bright lights. She didn’t care about the sun, or any of her rules. She made a choice to play, but when the game ended, she would have what she was after.”

“The Game ended, Sweetie the very first victor. But life continued, and Emptiness was still alive. And she wasn’t about to let her hunt end in failure.”

“Twilight woke up from the screams. Emptiness took great pleasure in drawing out her pain as she claimed her underserved prize. Twilight ran to help, but only found the destruction, Emptiness’ echoing laugh, and a pool of blood. Sweetie’s blood.”

Gentle stopped, choking and gasping. She coughed more blood, and wheezed, unable to find her breath again.

Rarity picked her up in her magic, and when Gentle turned to see her, she didn’t see hate, or love, or even sorrow.

She saw apathy.

“The tale continues, does it not?” Rarity asked the confused filly.

“Y… Yes.” she managed, still coking a little.

“Well, I won’t ever hear the rest of it with you like this. You’re going to get better, and finish. Understand?”

Rarity saw understanding blossom in Gentle’s eyes. It wasn’t hate, nor love. It was nothing like Emptiness, who only cared when she felt like it, hate and love blurring together over the long years.

It was forced apathy. Rarity was keeping herself in check, and in that control, Gentle understood.

Rarity wasn’t what she feared. She was nothing like Emptiness, who never had control.

She cared enough about her so much that she was willing to not care about her at all. A control that overcame any love or anger.

Gentle hesitated for a long moment, barely breathing, and her breath raspy. Then she decided.

“Rarity…”

“Yes?” she asked, heading outside with the filly in tow.

“H… Carry me. Please.”

Rarity paused just before exiting and turned to see Gentle. She saw fear, but she also saw a hope. Gentle was trusting her, at least a little.

She nodded, and carefully deposited the filly on her back. Then she left her there, and said nothing as she left. And with every time she didn’t care, Gentle trusted that she wouldn’t do anything to her. It was… relaxing to the filly.

Rarity nearly bumped into her friends when she opened the door and gasped in slight surprise. Only Twilight was missing, and after hearing of the final night, wasn’t surprised.

Twilight must be impossibly busy trying to put the library back together again.

“Rarity, we…” Fluttershy paused, noticing Gentle.

“What th… Rarity, what happened?”

“Who’s this?” Rainbow asked, “And why is she like that?”

“Her leg…”

“Now is not the time girls. I need to get her to the hospital and quickly.” She passed them and they followed in a mixture of curiosity, surprise, and concern for the filly.

“But who is she?” Applejack asked, matching her pace. “An why is she so hurt an why do ya seem so… uncarin? Aren’t ya worried fer th mite?”

“She is Gentle Flowers. And I don’t care. I don’t have a single twinge of sympathy for her. She can make her own choices about what she wants or needs, and I am not going to do anything.”

Her friends gaped in shock, but Rarity smiled. And she felt Gentle grip her just a little tighter.

old Chapter 7

Gentle woke to sunlight streaming through gossamer curtains. Birdsong could be heard, and a gentle peace surrounded her, white walls around her. She stared at the light for a moment, confused. Where was she?

Then she recalled. Rarity had carried her to the hospital. And at some point during the trip she must have fainted.

She groaned; she hurt, but the pain was much, much less than before. Her chest didn’t have that stabbing sensation anymore, and her leg was in a cast. Her barrel was wrapped in bandages, fresh and clean. Though… something was wrong, and she wasn’t quite sure what it was.

One ear flicked up upon hearing ponies talking nearby, coming closer.

“It is possibly the most horrific thing I have ever seen.”

“It does sound real bad. An ya really think it happened like that?”

“The trauma is indicative of that. In all honesty Applejack, The filly shouldn’t even be alive. That kind of injury is simply not survivable, though she is recovering very nicely right now.”

“Well… Hey. I think th mite’s awake.”

Gentle moved her head and saw Applejack standing next to Nurse Redheart. Redheart left, but Applejack headed over.

“Nice ta see that yer up. We were right worried about you.”

“…Who are you?” Gentle asked.

“I’m Applejack, pleasure ta meet ya Gentle!” She smiled, and then hesitated.

“An if ya don’t mind… what th hey happened ta you?”

“My… my leg?”

“I was kinda more worried about yer horn.”

Gentle blinked, and one hoof went to her forehead. Her mane was gone. She felt bandages up there instead.

“I mean… unicorns… whoa!”

Gentle heaved the blankets over her head, nearly hyperventilating. Her mane was cut! Somepony had stuck a bandage there! Somepony saw that her horn was gone!

“Calm down! It’s jus fine!”

“It’s not fine!” Gentle yelled from under the blankets.

“An why not?” Applejack asked, making Gentle hesitate.

“… Because… Because you’ll… everypony will hate me.”

She didn’t see it, but Applejack gave her a look. “Listen; there ain’t nopony here that’ll hate ya because ya got some… bad injury. It don’t even look so bad.”

Gentle didn’t say anything for a long moment. And then she carefully peered from under the blanket at Applejack.

Her mane had been cut after she had been brought to the hospital. Her horn was gone, and the wound hadn’t healed. That had been discovered fairly swiftly, and the type of injury was simply… unbelievable.

By every appearance, it had been ripped off of her, not cut, and recently considering it was still bleeding. Unicorns did not survive horn trauma like that. And yet, Gentle had. It was a true mystery to the doctors that had tried to care for her, particularly when they added in the other injuries.

“…Really?”

“Well, ya should probably leave th bandages on till it stops bleedin, but otherwise, nopony’ll care.”

“…Where’s Rarity?” Gentle asked.

Applejack frowned a little. “She’s at her home. I don’t know what’s wrong with that mare these days. Didn’t visit ya once either…”

“How long have I been here?”

“Bout a week.” Applejack said, “But yer doin real good. Recoverin jus fine.”

“Oh, right. I got a letter from Rarity for ya.”

Applejack handed her a little folded note, and Gentle opened it and read:

I don’t think I can say sorry; I feel I have done too much, inflicted too many… memories. But I think I might understand your fears, and it is with that in mind that I’m telling you this:

I am not going to do anything unless you ask me nicely.

I won’t do anything to you that you tell me not to.

And I won’t do anything to you that you don’t tell me to.

You are in control of yourself. For good, for bad, in health, or in pain.

You get to make the choice from now on.

Because I won’t. And I’m not going to let anypony else either.

But I do want to hear the rest.

And thank you for everything you did for her.

Rarity

Gentle blinked, and Applejack, reading over her shoulder frowned.

“That no good…” she muttered. “I was wonderin about that.”

“Wondering about what?” Gentle asked, still staring at the note, reading and rereading it over and over again.

“Somepony went to th mayor an made certain that ya were rege… called a mare, an not a filly. An now I think I know who.”

“Yer doin much better, but now, everypony’s hooves are tied. Even fer adoption or other kinds o help yer gonna need.”

“Everypony?”

“Yep. Even Twilight’s. I should know, I went an checked.”

Applejack was upset over that. She couldn’t believe that rarity would be so… apathetic toward a filly and gone to such length to make sure that other ponies couldn’t help her either.

Gentle on the other hoof…

She felt… happy.

Three centuries of being dragged after Emptiness. Never having a choice. Never being allowed to do anything that Emptiness didn’t want her to do or being forced to do something, be that something she wanted, or something she hated. Never once being able to control her own life.

And Rarity had given her control. Even in her concern and sorrow and care, she had given Gentle her fate and walked away. And made sure that nopony else could do something for her. For good, or bad, Gentle got to choose.

It was the greatest gift Rarity could have given the filly.

Gentle, looking at the note, knew that she could trust Rarity. Rarity felt horrible for hurting her, and yet, Rarity wasn’t going to do anything more about it.

Unless Gentle asked.

She noticed that she was crying, and wiped at her eyes, Applejack noticing soon.

She frowned a little more. “It’s alright. She’s… jus a little messed up right now. Her little sister’s been missin fer a while an she’s jus overcome wit… somethin.” she finished, eyeing the note.

“I… I spent almost two weeks in fear…” Gentle said, sniffling. “Hiding. Watching. Terrified that… that I was going to be trapped again.”

Applejack looked confused as Gentle sighed, mostly speaking to herself.

“I should have gone quicker. I should have knocked on that door the very first day. Sweetie told me… but I was too afraid.”

“But now… now I don’t have to fear. Because she’s gone forever, and nopony is going to take her place.”

“Especially not Rarity.”

Gentle gave a tiny giggle, and then stopped, shocked. She hadn’t laughed once in three centuries. And then the thought that she hadn’t brought another giggle, and then she just collapsed in laughter, happy and joyful, Applejack wondering what was going on.

A great horrible fear had been taken from her by Sweetie. She had removed the pain and suffering of three centuries. She had taken the chains of Emptiness from Gentle.

And now her sister had demolished its shadow and was trying to heal the bruises.

Gentle was free. Finally free of Emptiness, and the horror that the mad unicorn had given her. It was like the long night had ended, and she was finally, finally standing in the light of day.

She no longer feared.

She eventually calmed, and smiled at Applejack who still looked baffled.

“When can I go and see Rarity?” she asked.

Applejack started. “Ah! Um… I think th cast kin come off in two or three days.”

Gentle nodded. Two or three days. She could wait.

After all, it was her choice now.

old Chapter 8

Rarity was busy in her home, making something. It was slow going, but she was determined to finish it.

She had never made anything like it before, but she was going to make it perfectly. Not one flaw. She had already had to restart three times, but she wasn’t going to stop until it was done, and done perfectly.

The finest of her materials. The absolute best of her stitching and embroidery. All of her emotions. All her own work, and only her work, even when somepony else might be able to do it better.

It was a tapestry. A tapestry of Sweetie Belle. The finest of memorials that Rarity could make by herself.

She heard a knock at her door and hesitated. If it was one of her friends, then she might not answer; there had been a few too many arguments as of late.

But she decided to go and see. She would eventually smooth things over with them. She was certain of that.

She opened the door, and saw a young filly. With white fur, and a dark purple mane that had been cut to almost nothing, with bandages around her barrel and walking with the aid of a simple support tied to one hind leg. Another bandage was wrapped around her forehead, the center of it a little dark.

“Hi.” she said, smiling at Rarity.

“…Do you want to come inside?” Rarity asked, making no indication of what she wanted.

Gentle nodded, and Rarity let her inside.

“I never finished the story.”

“You didn’t.” Rarity said as Gentle struggled to get on the couch. She watched for a moment, and then Gentle stopped and looked over at her.

“Can… Can you get me up?” she asked.

Rarity nodded, and with the greatest care, lifted the filly up and deposited her on the couch. Then she sat down, not close at all.

Gentle watched her with a tiny smile.

“Can I have some tea?” she asked. Rarity smiled and left for a moment to return.

With one cup. That she gave to Gentle.

Gentle giggled. “Rarity!”

“What?”

“… I want to show you the end. I can tell you the rest of the story on the way there.”

“Lead the way. I will follow.”

After Sweetie’s horn was taken, Emptiness brought her back with her. She was…

I kept her alive as best I could. Tried to stop the bleeding, used potion to try and heal her. I did keep her alive as Emptiness gloated about her stolen victory. I was mad, enraged at her, but I was helpless. I was always helpless against her.

She controlled me, and I knew it.

After claiming a new victim, Emptiness sorted her horns. She changed them often; there were too many for her to wear all of them. She would take a few hours to choose new ones, and it was as I was caring for sweetie that Diamond looked at us.

She was… bloated and…

“Please don’t.”

“Alright.”

Diamond was hurt, really badly. I had thought she had just… stopped thinking altogether to escape the pain, but when she saw Sweetie, I saw… She started thinking again. Feeling again.

“Swe… Know… he… help.” she choked at me, the first words she had spoken since Emptiness had taken her. I turned to see her, and she was staring at me. Determined. Ready, though for what, I didn’t know.

“Help… me… st… stan… stand.”

I wondered, but went to her, and struggled to lift her for… reasons. I did get her to her… hooves though.

She nodded at me, and then turned and stepped toward Emptiness. I wondered what she was doing.

She just slowly walked forward, and then, with all the strength she could muster, she grabbed Sweetie’s horn, and threw it at us.

I grabbed it, and Emptiness glanced over.

She stepped forward, only for Diamond to grab her and stop her.

It was still early enough. I had been healed by Emptiness often enough that I knew what to do. I turned away and splashed potion on Sweetie’s head. Then I stuck her horn back on, and hoped.

She stirred as Diamond screamed. I saw her… fighting Emptiness. Grabbing her legs, tripping her, and biting. It wasn’t doing anything to Emptiness, but it was stopping her for a few moments.

Emptiness was getting very upset, and then, as I watched, Emptiness killed her. Stabbed her with a horn and shook her off of her leg.

Then she turned to us just as Sweetie was getting to her hooves, her horn back where it should be.

Sweetie blinked at Emptiness, saw Diamond, and then looked at me. I tugged her away from Emptiness, but she didn’t move on her own.

“You won’t escape.” Emptiness said. “I’ll find you again. I’ll take your magic again.”

“Run Sweetie! She can’t find you in the forest!” I yelled, but Sweetie wouldn’t move, staring at Emptiness.

“I’ll never stop my hunt.”

“Sweetie!” I said, trying and failing to push her away.

“If I run, she won’t stop.” Sweetie said, and touched my shoulder, stopping me. Her eyes were… understanding and slightly sad.

“She’ll only get more. More ponies will suffer like I did. Like you did.”

I was shocked. How did she know? “… How..?”

“I… I just do. It’s in my horn. It’s time for this to end.”

Then Sweetie turned to look at Emptiness. She nodded, and walked toward her, her horn starting to gently glow.

Emptiness was surprised, unmoving as Sweetie went to her. I could only stare. Then Sweetie looked up into her eyes, horn still glowing, and glowing brighter. I think her eyes were glowing too.

“You want magic. But you can’t take it, it doesn’t work like that. You can steal it from others, but you’ll never have it yourself.”

“What do you know?” Emptiness said, glaring. “Centuries of work will succeed. It will work.”

“No it won’t. Magic can’t be stolen.”

“But it can be given.”

“And you won’t ever take it ever again.”

“Because I’m going to give you mine.”

Emptiness’ eye widened, and Sweetie touched her with her horn. And everything went white. A blinding light.

When I could see again, Sweetie was surrounded by white. Like an aura. I saw the ghosts race into it, laughing as they went and vanished into it. And I saw… I saw her, like she used to be. Emptiness was… she wasn’t always black.

I saw her look at me. She was crying. But her eyes were sane. They weren’t mad. I… I hadn’t seen her eyes, her real eyes, for three centuries. I couldn’t say anything. I don’t think she could say anything. If she had… it would only make things worse. She turned away and disappeared in the light without a sound.

“Diamond!” I heard Sweetie call. It was like she was far away even though she was right there.

“Diamond, this way, this way!”

For a moment I saw Sweetie reach out and pull Diamond Tiara toward her. Diamond was sobbing, rubbing at her eyes with one hoof, but she was normal. Like she used to be.

“It’s fine. It’s over, there’s no more pain. No more pain.” Sweetie said, patting at her. Diamond looked up at Sweetie, still crying. Sweetie hugged her and then gently pushed her away, “That way, go that way. I’ll be right with you.” Then she looked around.

“Gentle!? Gentle, can you hear me?”

“Sweetie?” I asked, confused and crying. I… I sort of knew what she was doing.

“I… I hear you Gentle. Listen to me. I need you to do a few things for me.”

“Sweetie, what are you doing? Come… come back.”

“I can’t Gentle. But listen to me, and promise me that you’ll do this for me.”

“Everything needs to end. And it won’t end until everything is buried. The right way too, not just dumped somewhere. All the horns, Emptiness… and me and Diamond.”

“Go back and tell Rarity what happened. Tell her everything. Every night, and everything that you know. Tell her that Emptiness is gone, and that she’s never going to come back… that… that I’m never going to come back.”

“And tell her that I don’t hate her! That I’m not mad at her.”

“That I love her just as much as I always have. And make sure she knows it!”

“I, I will!” I yelled.

Sweetie nodded, and I saw two of her. One turned to walk into the light, and one fell and collapsed on the ground.

And then the light was gone, and I was alone. Diamond and Sweetie’s bodies lying on the ground, unmoving.

Emptiness, lying on the ground, unmoving.

I didn’t know what to do. I was alone for the first time in centuries. Truly alone.

I spent two weeks in the forest fearing that something was going to happen to me. I felt vulnerable and afraid. It took time for me to build the courage to go and visit you.

I should have gone the first day.

You know the rest.

Gentle finished as she and Rarity headed through the Everfree, and soon, they came upon a small clearing.

The scene was just as Gentle had described. The untouched forms of Sweetie and Diamond near each other, and the black mass of Emptiness nearby. It was like they had just died seconds ago, not weeks.

“She saved us.” Gentle whispered.

Rarity walked to Sweetie, and stared down at her.

She had a smile, and looked like she was sleeping. They all did. Even the simply monstrous form of Emptiness.

In the sunlight she was… horrible. Large gashes covered her, open wounds that only showed that she was black inside and out. Her fur was a matted, tangled, mess, the horns stuck to her the only color she had. They did nothing to help her appearance and only made it far worse.

They no longer bled.

Rarity didn’t truly notice, still staring at Sweetie. After a moment Gentle carefully walked next to her.

“She’s truly gone.” Rarity said. “I know that. I mourned her already.”

“But… thank you Gentle. I… I needed to see this. I needed to see her, one last time. Even if it is only like this…”

Rarity ran one hoof through Sweetie’s mane, a few tears in her eyes.

“You were a real little hero Sweetie. For a week, you fought. For a week you kept us all safe at such a heavy cost…”

“I won’t let it end so quietly. You aren’t going to be buried in the woods with only us to mourn you.” Rarity raised her head and stared up at the sky above.

“I am going to make everypony know what you did for us all. Everypony is going to know this story. No matter how long it takes.”

“I’m going to get you a statue, a glass window, or maybe even a star. Maybe all of them. Nothing too great for… for my tiny hero.”

“I’m… I’m so sorry that it ended like this.”

Rarity closed her eyes, and for a moment, just a moment, she might have heard something. Like somepony screamed to be heard from an unimaginable distance.

I love you Rarity!

Rarity smiled even in her tears, her eyes still shut. “I love you too Sweetie. I’m going to miss you.”

Rarity felt Gentle lean against her, and after a moment she glanced down at the filly. She seemed lost, and sad.

Rarity gently, carefully hugged her, and after a moment, Gentle grabbed onto her, crying her own tears. They stayed that way, looking at the fallen forms for some time, both with their own thoughts.

The nightmare was over.

And all that was left was to bring it into the light.

old Chapter 9

Gentle was walking behind Rarity, only faintly struggling with carrying Sweetie on her back. Rarity was ahead of her, Diamond on her back and Emptiness floating near her, held aloft by her magic.

The unicorn was very heavy, and Rarity struggled not to let any part of her touch the ground.

The pair exited the Everfree, and it wasn’t long before somepony saw them on their slow walk.

The first screamed at the sight of Emptiness. A few others didn’t even notice her, and instead focused on Diamond and Sweetie, screams of a different nature for those sights.

Rarity and Gentle, the filly trying to hide behind Rarity from the crowd, reached the center of town with possible everypony in Ponyville watching in silence born of total shock. Fear and sorrow were dominate, but confusion and anger were also present.

What had happened to the fillies? What, or who, was the pony Rarity carried with her? Why was she covered in horns? A few suspected they knew.

The mayor was speechless, and Twilight herself was having a hard time finding words as Rarity slowly dropped Emptiness and turned to the crowd.

“It wasn’t long ago that I feared for Sweetie’s safety. As you all know, she and Diamond Tiara had vanished a little more than three weeks ago, and a few know that she was behaving oddly during the last days she was with us.”

“Rarity, what happened?” Twilight finally asked, becoming the voice of the crowd.

“What happened was that a monster decided Sweetie was going to be its next victim. You see her now, right next to me.” Rarity glanced at Emptiness, and lifted the unicorn again, standing her up so that she could be seen clearly.

“The tale is rare, but her name was Emptiness.”

“The… the horn hunter…” Twilight whispered, horror competing with curiosity. “She’s real…”

“She was all too real. Sweetie was forced to play her ‘game’.” A few ponies in the crowd, mostly unicorns, seemed to know the story, and flinched.

“Even I never knew. Never suspected. Emptiness tormented her for seven nights. She destroyed things important to me. Ruined your library, Twilight. Killed Diamond Tiara right in front of Sweetie. For that matter…”

She scanned the crowd and spotted Filthy Rich. He was nearly white, and had fainted. She sighed.

“Well… Sweetie won her game. The first pony to do so as I understand it.”

“And Emptiness took insult, and took her horn anyway when Sweetie finally felt safe. Attacked her in the morning light in revenge for Sweetie’s win.”

She glanced at Twilight for a second, her face sad, Twilight’s horrified.

She had finally discovered the cause of that horrible scream, and what happened to Sweetie. And for all her life, she wished that she had remained ignorant.

Then Gentle took a deep breath.

“Diamond saved Sweetie, and Emptiness killed her for it.” she said. “And Sweetie figured out what Emptiness always wanted, and then led her away.”

“And all that’s left is the ashes.”

Twilight shook her head. “Then… it’s over. Everything’s done. The monster’s dead. Nothing to save. Nopony to help.”

“Just… just two tiny heroes that gave their lives for us…”

She looked to the mayor. “Mayor Mare, I will need to contact the Princess for this. Would you mind helping everypony form a line, so that respects can be paid and final words can be said?”

The mayor started from her daze.

“O, of course Twilight.”

There were many tears. Some anger. Rarity and her friends actually had to protect Emptiness’ body from those who wished for some revenge for their loss and anger.

If anything, Filthy Rich might have sobbed more than Rarity had over his daughter’s death. She was his only daughter, and he found little comfort in that she had died a hero.

It took the entire day to settle things enough to allow everypony to say their piece, and give their consolation, or cry, or scream.

Rarity returned to her own home soon after, exhausted. It had been a long day and the funerals needed to be planned. Even for Emptiness.

She didn’t even notice Gentle trailing after her until she sat down and found the filly next to her.

“Gentle?” she asked, confused. Why was the filly still there?

“Um…” Gentle fidgeted for a moment. “Sweetie… Sweetie told me to tell you everything, and I… I haven’t just yet.”

Gentle looked uncomfortable and worried. Rarity watched her for a moment, taking care not to pressure her in any fashion.

Then Gentle sighed. “Re, remember when I said I met Emptiness when I was ten?”

“Yes.”

“And that I had a sister? An older sister?”

“Yes…”

“Well… Emptiness… she started her hunt with me.”

“Started her…”

Rarity realized something, and gaped.

“Darling… is… was she your,”

“No! Emptiness is not my sister!” Gentle snapped, angry suddenly. And then she sighed and drooped.

“Emptiness… my sister died and turned into her.”

“When she grabbed me all those years ago I could still see her. Her eyes were still hers…”

“When she told me her plan to steal the magic, I begged her hot to. I said that she would become something horrible if she did.”

“I begged her to stay my sister. She… didn’t listen.”

“My sister died the moment she ripped my horn off. She turned black and her eyes became mad and she became Emptiness.”

“But she is not my sister. Emptiness is somepony else. She just used my sister as a way to come to life.”

“Gentle…”

“My sister died when she took my horn. But she never left until Sweetie took her away. I…”

“She made the choice to become Emptiness. She wasn’t forced to do anything… when I saw her that last time, we both knew the same thing. She could never say sorry. It would never be true.”

“She was crying, but we both knew; if she had the chance, she would have done the same thing all over again.”

“Do… do you understand? Emptiness isn’t my sister. But my sister became Emptiness. They aren’t the same pony. They are separate… like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly… the same life, but different… forms.”

Gentle sighed, hanging her head.

“And now I’m free. You even made sure of that. I don’t have to listen to anypony ever again. I can have my life as my own.”

Gentle walked away, and Rarity followed her to the door, and held it open for her. Gentle took a few steps outside, and then paused in the light. She looked out into a world that seemed so… big now. She could do anything she wanted, go anywhere she wanted. And it was all so... overwhelming.

She looked back. And despite all of Rarity’s control, she saw the desire to say something in her eyes.

“You know…” Gentle said, turning back. “I can do what I want now.”

“You can.” Rarity said.

“And I… um… don’t really have any place to go to… or a place to stay… So…”

“Can I… can I live with you?” she asked.

Rarity beamed for a second before slapping herself and simply nodding. Gentle giggled again and went to her, and looked back up at her.

“But on one condition.”

“What might that be darling?”

“That you become my older sister. I… I might be really old, but I’m still a filly.”

“I’m not ready to make all my own choices. But I am ready to make one:”

“For good, for bad, in health, or in pain… I want you to be responsible for me. To tell me what to do, and how to live properly, and give me chores, and yell when I’m bad, and praise me when I’m good... To treat me like… like your own little sister.”

“But I’m not going to do anything unless you ask me nicely.”

“However, I won’t do anything to you that you tell me not to.”

“But… I do think that we should get rid of not doing anything for each other unless we ask. I thought that was a little silly.”

“I… I would love to Gentle. I would love nothing more.”

Gentle grabbed onto Rarity as the unicorn wiped at her tears.

“I thought about my name too. Flowers is… not me anymore.”

“What do you think of… of Gentle Belle?”

“I think I can say everything in a single sentence.” Rarity said, hugging the filly.

“Welcome home, Gentle Belle.”

Chapter 1

It wasn’t a tale known by many. It wasn’t really written down at all, and it wasn’t spoken of often by any but the unicorns. For the tale was theirs to have.

Theirs to fear.

They whispered it to one another when the new moon was near, those that knew it telling those that didn’t. Mostly spread by children, who whispered it to one another when their privacy was assured. Only rarely did a pony not a unicorn hear it, but the tale was not something spoken of in confidence, nor told for amusement.

It was spoken of in seriousness, and told as a warning.

The tale went like this:

Long ago, there had been a unicorn named Emptiness. And she was special; she was born without magic. Not a single mote of it. Unable to even make her horn spark long after when the ineptest of unicorns could levitate things.

This lack nagged at her, and she grew obsessed with her lack. Until, one day, she snapped, and decided that if she couldn’t have magic…

Then nopony else would either.

Her family were her first victims, and ever since, she has stalked the nights of Equestria, seeking victims, seeking unicorns.

So that she could tear their horns off, and kill them.

She was said to be black as night, with two red eyes filled with insanity and bloodlust. She wore the horns of her victims on her, stuck wherever they might fit, trophies of past kills.

She would come on the darkest of nights, when the moon was new. Silently drifting through towns, she would peek into windows, checking the occupant inside. If she found an adult unicorn, she would enter their home, and kill them. But if she happened to see a foal, a filly, or a colt, instead of adult…

If a child saw her eyes staring at them in the darkest of nights, then she wouldn’t rush inside to kill them as she would an adult.

She would instead play a game with them. The Game. The rules were simple:

Emptiness would return every night for a week, and each night, she would try and take the child’s horn. But she feared bright light, unable to stand it shone into her eyes. Yet, each night, she would grow braver, faster, more and more difficult to stop.

Unicorn children whispered the tale to each other, to help keep them safe. Don’t sleep on the night of a full moon. Stay up, keep a flashlight under your pillow. Close the curtains, hide under the blankets, and pray that Emptiness might think the room is empty…

Because nopony had ever won The Game. But if Emptiness saw you, looking back was your only chance. If she saw you, you were doomed, just the same as everypony else that she had seen before, but maybe there was a chance. Maybe you could survive her:

If you won The Game.

When the knock came, Rarity gave a small sigh. She put away her work, such that she could even all it that, and got up, tired, worn, deciding to leave the frustration of trying to create something to answer the door.

Fluttershy, she guessed as she got up, or maybe another friend; come to try and cheer her no doubt. She didn’t know why they honestly bothered; unless something dramatic changed, she felt like she might not smile ever again.

As she trudged to the door, she paused to take stock of herself in a mirror. Her eyes looked tired, her face worn. Her coat a touch uncared for, her mane and tail long lost their curl. She didn’t forgoe caring for herself, but… it didn’t really matter to her anymore.

She brushed her hair away from her face, heard the little knock again, and said, “I’m coming.”, as she went to her door. She opened it up, for a moment seeing nopony there, and feeling confused.

Then a quiet sound had her look down, to find a filly there. A small, white filly with a long mane of deep purple hair, dirty and tangled. She looked up at Rarity, a single eye visible in the mop of mane that hid most of her face.

“…Hi.” The filly said, nervous, a little fearful.

Rarity stared at her for a few moments. Then, without a word, caught the filly in her magic, picked her up, and carried her inside.

“R, Rarity…?” the filly asked, more nervous, floating as Rarity shut the door behind them. And then locked it. And pulled the curtains closed. “What, what are you,”

“I know you.” Rarity interrupted, staring at the floating filly. “Swe… she, she told me about you. You knew her, correct?”

“Y, yes.” The filly worriedly answered, still levitated in front of Rarity.

“…I want to know where she is.” Rarity told her.

“…S, Sweetie?” the filly asked.

“Where is she?” Rarity asked, doing her best to not leap to any conclusions and do something she’d maybe regret to the filly in front of her. As silence stretched, her patience, thin already, wore, and she repeated, “I asked you where my little sister is, brat.”

“…Sweetie, Sweetie’s gone.” The filly told her, making Rarity pause. “Passed on; no longer with us.”

Rarity stared at the filly with wide eyes for a moment. Then she glared, and anger flared.

“You, you liar!” Rarity screamed, tossing the filly hard into the far wall. She grunted as she hit, and again as she landed on the floor. As she recovered, Rarity slammed her hooves down on either side of her, and she looked up into Rarity’s enraged face. “Tell me the truth, now!”

“She, she’s gone!” the filly yelled, terrified.

“I said THE TRUTH!” Rarity roared, the filly trying to dodge, only for Rarity’s hoof to stomp, hard, on her left hind leg. The filly screamed, her eyes shutting tight, tears appearing, Rarity breathing a little hard, glaring down at her. “The truth, nothing but the truth, and the whole truth.” Rarity repeated, levitating the pained filly up again. “Tell me your name.”

“G, Gentle Flowers.” The filly managed, her voice pained, blinking teary eyes.

“Where did you come from?”

“I, I was born in Canterlot.”

“Why did you come to Ponyville?”

“I was brought here.”

“Brought here by who?”

“By Emptiness.” The filly answered, before screaming as she felt squeezed suddenly; her broken leg included.

“I. Said. The. Truth.” Rarity warned, letting her grip ease again, Gentle shaking.

“That, that is the truth!”

“…Do you have a family?” Rarity asked.

“Not, not anymore.”

“Anymore?”

“…I, I used to have parents, and an older sister.” The filly began. “And everything was fine, until… until Emptiness came. She grabbed me, told me about her hunt, what she wanted to do, what she was going to do. I, I begged her not to; pleaded with her, but, but she didn’t listen. She, she killed my family, but took me along with her.”

“…And if I chose to believe this, why would the horn hunter do this?” Rarity asked.

“I, I don’t know why.” Gentle told her. “I, I just knew she wouldn’t ever let me get away from her, dragging me after her on her hunts, for so long; years and years passed, hundreds even, but I never grew any,”

Gentle screamed as Rarity squeezed her as hard as she could; mid crush, the scream changed somewhat, Rarity feeling a change, but she hardly cared. When Rarity ceased crushing, Gentle’s breathing was pained, and rough.

“Another lie and I,”

“The, the flag was different back then!” Gentle abruptly yelled. “We, we sang songs at school to it, and the flag only had Princess Celestia on it! Rich ponies wore tall hats and huge collars and ruffled leg bands! I, I’m not lying about how long I was with Emptiness!”

Rarity’s rage gave way before Gentle’s yells. Utterly unbelievable as her claim was, Rarity took an interest in historical fashion. Tall hats came in and out of fashion, large collars the same, but ruffled leggings were the fashion of long, long ago. The equestrian flag has both alicorns on it, but she was aware that there had been a version with just Princess Celestia on it, once upon a different time.

Perhaps a filly might be able to learn about that themselves, but the chance was vanishingly unlikely. Even less so if she tried to imagine that Gentle Flowers came to her door to weave some complex lie.

“…Why, why did you come to my door?” Rarity asked, her rage ebbing, but not gone.

“S, Sweetie told me to.” Gentle told her. “It was her last wish that I tell you everything.”

“Her last…” Rarity breathed, shutting her eyes as she grimaced. Without a word, she dropped Gentle, who yelled in pain as she hit the ground. As Gentle trembled, Rarity took a slow breath, barely feeling a twinge of sympathy for the pained filly, and then asked, “Do you know what happened to her?”

“Y, yes.” Gentle managed, her voice pained. “I, I know what happened; ever since Emptiness arrived here with me, and started playing with Sweetie.”

“Playing with,” Rarity began, anger growing back.

“Emptiness played games with children.” Gentle swiftly interrupted her, and Rarity hesitated. “She’d just kill the adults, but she’d play her game with children. The Game.”

A moment passed. Then, with enough delicacy to not harm the filly more, Rarity levitated her up, carried her to the couch, and laid her on it. As Gentle gave her a faint look of confusion, Rarity told her, “Stay there. I’m going to get a drink and then I’ll hear what you have to say.”

“Can, can I have a,”

“No.” Rarity said with all the warmth and care of an icicle, Gentle flinching at her tone. She stayed in place, only shifting a little to try and find some way to rest that didn’t feel painful, and Rarity soon returned. As the unicorn took a seat nearby, she simply told the pained filly, “Tell me about this ‘game’ you mentioned.”

“The, The Game.” Gentle said, wiping at her teary eyes. “If, if Emptiness saw a unicorn child, and the child saw her staring at them, she’d start playing The Game with them. She’d come every night and try to take their horns, but sudden, bright light would make her go away for a little while. Every night, she’d get braver and faster and harder to stop, each night only ending with the sunrise; if they lasted a full week, they’d win.”

“Then, then Sweetie’s odd behavior…” Rarity quietly murmured, remembering.

“She wasn’t sleeping at all.” Gentle told her. “If, if she did, Emptiness would have gotten her. If she slept during the day, ponies would want to know why she was, but she couldn’t tell them anything.”

“Why, why not?” Rarity asked, confused. “Why didn’t she tell me that, that this was happening to her?”

“Because The Game had rules.” Gentle responded. “If anypony helped Emptiness’ victim, and she found out, she’d stop playing The Game, and hunt instead. And if Emptiness hunted Sweetie, she’d also hunt any unicorn that happened to be in the same place she was in.”

Rarity was silent at that, and after a moment, Gentle continued, “Nopony ever had a chance if Emptiness hunted them. The Game could be won, but nopony had ever won The Game either. Not until Sweetie.”

Rarity gently picked up her tea. She took a small sip, and then stared at it before looking at Gentle and asking, “What did you do that week?”

“Let, let me start from the beginning.”

Chapter 2

Emptiness carried me with her everywhere she went. She’d sometimes drop me off so she could go and hunt, but she’d always come back for me. Sometimes, she’d tell me to stay put, but sometimes she wouldn’t say anything, or sometimes tell me to go have fun exploring where I was. It never mattered what I did though; Emptiness would get mad at me for staying when she told me to or for moving when she told me to, or be alright with me moving when she told me not to or staying put when she told me to explore.

At first, even if Emptiness told me to explore, I wouldn’t go near other ponies. Because… I… I was very shy. But then I started having my mane covering my face, and I started hiding behind it, sort of, to help me be braver; but… I was still too shy to approach anypony.

But as Emptiness hunted, some of her victims stayed behind, following after her as ghosts. And I got used to them and started talking with them. We even became something like a family, me and the ghosts; all of us bound to Emptiness together. I learned how to talk to other ponies, how to not be so shy, be braver about Emptiness; but I never really did anything about it.

It wasn’t until Emptiness brought me to Ponyville that I made up my mind to do something against her. Emptiness hunted only on the new moon, when the night was darkest, but she’d spend time outside places and spy, to make sure that her hunt wouldn’t be pointless.

She was happy to see unicorns in town, but she got excited when she noticed that several were children. She hadn’t played The Game for a while, and told me that she would purposefully start it with one of the children, so she could have some fun.

I made up my mind that she wasn’t going to win her game again; I’d find her victim, and tell them all the rules she didn’t talk about, tell them all her secrets, all her methods, and make sure she’d finally lose for once.

Once Emptiness told me that she’d found her new victim to play with, I went out the next day, hoping to find her chosen victim before the next night. I got really lucky that some ponies had noticed that Sweetie was tired, and mentioned that she was a unicorn and her name. But it took me all day to find her, despite ponies telling me where she’d last been; the sun was setting by the time I finally spotted her, headed back home.

I called for her by name, and she looked over as I came.

“Y, yes?” she asked, confused.

“I finally found you.” I told her, relieved, tense for the late hour. “Listen, I have to tell you something Sweetie.”

“Wait, how do you know my name? I don’t know you.” Sweetie said, suspicious, stepping away from me.

“I, I heard it from some ponies.” I told her, and asked her, “Listen, did you see… did you see Emptiness last night?”

Sweetie didn’t have to answer; her eyes told me that she had. “How, how do you,”

“Alright, listen, because this is really, really important.” I interrupted. “You met her eyes last night and she left you alone, but she’s not gone; you just started The Game with her, and you’re going to be playing it with her.”

“The Game lasts for a week, and Emptiness will return every night a couple of hours after sunset, come into your house, and try to take your horn. You don’t hide or run from her; you stay put, and have a bright light with you, like a flashlight. When Emptiness comes for you, you shine it in her eyes, and she’ll run away for a little while. If you prevent her from grabbing you until sunrise, you’ve won that night, and she won’t return until the next one.”

Sweetie stared at me as I continued, telling her, “Locking doors won’t keep her out, and she’s fast, way faster than you. Find a place to say, and stay there all night; the less you move around, the less Emptiness can surprise you. You won’t hear her or see her really; she can hide behind anything, and move from hiding spot to hiding spot, getting closer and trying to make sure you don’t expect her.”

“She’ll make loud noises to startle you and distract you, but she’ll sometimes be there and sometimes she won’t be; don’t let her trick you into focusing on a single spot. And stay quiet: once she gets close enough, she’ll reveal herself, and that makes a sound you can hear if you’re listening and it’ll always tell you where she is if you hear it. You can only flash her eyes when she’s revealed; not any other time, only when she’s fully come out of hiding. Don’t waste batteries trying to see her, it’ll just make it harder to see her when it’s important.”

“H, how do you know,”

“If your flashlight runs out, you’re only hope is to try and hide; Emptiness can see in the dark, but not well, and will take her time searching for you. And you can’t tell anypony about her!” I added, ignoring her half-finished question, Sweetie frowning a little at me. “If anypony tries to help or do something, you’ve forfeited The Game and Emptiness will just kill you and anypony else in the house with you.” Sweetie looked scared when I said that, which told me she’d take my warning seriously; which was really important. Lots of unicorns before made that mistake.

“Did you understand everything?” I asked.

“Y, yes. But, but how do you know all that?” Sweetie asked. “Who even are you?”

“…My name’s Gentle. It’s getting dark; you should hurry home. Find the most open spot to stay during the night; Emptiness can appear even from places nopony could normally fit.”

“But how do you,”

“Get home, and good luck!” I told her, turning to gallop away; I had my own place to get back to, before Emptiness noticed I was missing and came to find me.

That night, Sweetie,

“Wait just a moment, just how do you know what Sweetie did that night?” Rarity interrupted, frowning at Gentle.

“Emptiness told me.” the filly responded. “Every morning, she’d return to me and tell me everything that happened every night of The Game.”

“…Do you know why she would?”

“She was insane.” Gentle bluntly said. “She’d be happy one moment, mad the next, pleased by one thing only to be enraged by the same thing the next day. I could never guess what she’d feel about anything. I just got a little warning if she got mad; and most of the time, it didn’t matter, because I couldn’t escape her.”

“That’s…” Rarity began, before hesitating. After a moment, she resumed, saying, “She is much worse than her tale mentions.”

Gentle didn’t respond for a moment. Then she resumed, “That night…”

Sweetie listened to me well, because Emptiness found her sitting in the middle of her bed with a flashlight. She’d placed a lantern underneath it, to try and keep Emptiness out of there, I guess, and moved everything away from the bed so Emptiness couldn’t hide behind them. Anyway, Emptiness didn’t have much chance that first night; her bed was too big to just reach and grab her easily from the sides, giving Sweetie extra seconds to blind Emptiness.

But Sweetie was already discovering one of The Game’s cruel tricks that let Emptiness win. She’d already not gotten much sleep the previous night; and now she couldn’t sleep at all.

Even then, she was tired, and as the night wore on, her concentration and focus slipped.

Emptiness didn’t come as early as she could have; she arrived at midnight, and seeing Sweetie’s efforts, started trying to scare and distract her. Peering into her window, knocking on the door and walls. Sweetie was scared; especially when Emptiness opened her door, and smiled at her from outside.

But Sweetie remembered my warning to not let Emptiness trick her, and stayed silent enough to hear Emptiness revealing herself the first few times, always getting her with the flashlight in the first second, Emptiness screeching with each shine and fleeing.

But time wore on, and Sweetie’s reactions grew slower; as sunrise neared, Emptiness scared Sweetie by going under her bed. Letting Sweetie see her shadow before she turned the lantern off, and making the bed shake.

Emptiness almost got her; coming up from behind the bed where it was against the wall, but Sweetie remembered my warning, and turned to blind her. But she didn’t stop there, and as Emptiness flinched from light, Sweetie bashed her head with her flashlight.

Emptiness left again, and Sweetie found she’d broken her flashlight. It wasn’t working anymore. So she leapt off her bed, smashed her nightlight, and ducked into her closet, hoping hiding could save her that last bit of time before sunrise.

Emptiness noticed her missing, and the new dark room, and felt very pleased with how The Game had turned against Sweetie, who’d upset her when she’d hit Emptiness with the flashlight. But since it was an early night, she just stepped in, and started singing as she searched for Sweetie, making up a rhyme on the spot, just to scare her:

“Hide and seek you want to play, a poor choice of game, I have to say. I see in the dark, and know this tactic well, many foals before you chose just as unwell. The search will take little time, and then your horn is going to be mine.”

“Let’s begin by looking under the bed. Are you beneath it, hooves over your precious little head? Hm, no, you’re not there, it’s just dust and some empty air.”

“Next we look up top, and pray that I don’t find you in that spot. Those sheets seem empty, curled, flat, and if I find this your magic trick, I won’t make it quick you brat. Ah, yes, you aren’t there, and so my rage you are spared.”

“You’re cleverer than most, played my game well, but you’ve made a mistake; so few places you’ve left yourself to dwell.”

“That closet door changed from when I saw it last, and I now know where you hid so fast. I’m coming now, you’re running out of time; I’ll find you, and then your horn will be mine.”

Emptiness opened the closet as she finished, and saw Sweetie staring at her with wide eyes, shaking in fear. But even as Emptiness smiled, she stopped, and looked back, to see the sun’s first rays coming through the window.

She’d spent too long gloating, and Sweetie watched her fade away like she’d never been.

Sweetie had won night two of The Game: if Emptiness had found a window open, or a door unlocked, she’d go inside and start The Game the first night, but she hadn’t, so she let Sweetie have the first one.

“And that meant Sweetie only had five more to go…” Gentle finished, giving a pained groan, shifting uncomfortably.

Rarity watched the filly shift in place, her hind leg catching her eyes the most; it seemed to be broken. After a moment, Gentle seemed to find a position comfortable, and gave a relieved sigh, Rarity picking up her tea.

“…I remember finding her room that morning, and asking her what had happened to it.” Rarity said, staring at her drink. “She told me she’d wanted to try something new, but I saw her broken nightlight. She’d tried to tell me that it was a nightmare she had, but what nightmare would make a filly run across the room to crush their nightlight?”

“I was mad at her for lying, then yelled at her because she wouldn’t tell me the truth.” Rarity finished, dour.

“She kept it secret for your sake.” Gentle said, breathing slowly.

“…That doesn’t make it any better.” Rarity sighed, leaning her head back to regard the ceiling. A moment passed, and then she looked down at Gentle again.

“Do you need a drink?” she asked, and Gentle nodded. Rarity went and got her a cup of water, and noticed the angry look Gentle had before it vanished as she saw. Rarity didn’t comment, passing the filly the drink and sitting back down as she drank.

Gentle panted a little once she was done, clutching the cup to herself. After a moment, she said, “…Thanks.”

“It was nothing.” Rarity dismissed, neither pony looking at each other. “I assume the story continues?”

“It does.”

Chapter 3

When Emptiness returned that morning without a new horn and frustrated, I knew Sweetie had won the night. She told me to come to her, and I did, worried she’d kick me, but she didn’t, and just told me what had happened that night.

She was happy to play The Game again, and more so because Sweetie was playing it very well. But she wasn’t completely happy and was planning to get some revenge for Sweetie hitting her with the flashlight; She didn’t tell me what she intended, but I knew she had lots of ways she could make things worse for her victims and stay within the rules of her game.

Then she told me that she was proud of me for going near other ponies, and asked if I’d made any friends. And then said that I didn’t have to tell her about it, but that she would be very angry with me if I did something she didn’t approve of.

Not that that mattered, since her approval changed all the time.

Once she was done and resting, I left and headed straight back into town to find Sweetie. I had a lot more to tell her about The Game, and had to warn her about Emptiness’ anger, and what that could mean for her. And give her something.

I found her in school, and somehow managed to convince one of the adults that I was new in town and wanted to sit in with the class. It was really hard to stand in front of everypony and be introduced to them, but I got seated next to Sweetie, which made it easier.

Just seeing her, I knew she wasn’t going to make another night. She was practically falling asleep on the desk. I shook her a little until she focused on me, and quietly, as the teacher spoke, asked her, “Sweetie, are you alright?”

“Tired…” she weakly told me, and I worried for her. I knew I would find something like this, since The Game made it near impossible to get any sleep. But I had a solution for it.

I gave Sweetie a tiny vial, and told her “Drink this, it will help.” Sweetie tried, and I had to help her drink it, but she swiftly perked up, and was soon alert and awake again. I was actually kind of surprised that it worked so well.

“Wait, what exactly did you give her?” Rarity asked. “Because… Sweetie was behaving rather strangely later on.”

“…It’s a special liquid.” Gentle said. “And Sweetie would have acted oddly because it’s strong stuff.”

“But what was it?” Rarity asked.

Gentle didn’t answer, looking away for a moment. Without looking back, she said, “If you promise not to hurt me.”

“Gentle I… I, I won’t. No matter what you tell me, I swear that I won’t even touch you.” Rarity promised, taking a deep breath. “I may yell, however.”

“…I call it potion normally, but it’s really unicorn horn blood.”

“…What?” Rarity asked, blinking.

“Emptiness’ stolen horns would bleed the day before the new moon. Bleed a lot of colorful, sparkling blood. She’d spend all day licking it up and collecting as much of it as she could into little vials. It gave her jolts of power that didn’t last very long, but it’s what enabled her to play The Game the way she did, and let her have magic for just a little time. She was always happy when her horns bled."

Rarity felt sickened and dismayed, and Gentle finished, telling her, “It’s strong stuff, but it did more than I ever thought it would to help Sweetie. It kept her awake and aware despite that she wasn’t sleeping at all; Sweetie got a little addicted to it though, and I guess you must have noticed.”

A moment passed, and then Rarity asked, “Emptiness would just let you,”

“She had hundreds of vials of potion.” Gentle interrupted. “She never noticed me taking a few of them for Sweetie, or she never cared.”

“…School ended early that day. Do you know why?”

“That’s a lot easier to explain.”

I stayed with the class, because I was really hoping to tell Sweetie more about The Game before the next night. But I never got a chance to then; the teacher noticed Sweetie’s sudden alertness and paid a lot more attention to me and her both.

But we were let out later on, to play for a while, and I’d hoped to get Sweetie alone. But she had two friends, who were quick to approach me.

They asked me all sorts of questions I couldn’t answer, and I… I was too shy to face them both like that; particularly when both said they’d noticed me give Sweetie something.

Sweetie defended me though, declaring me a new friend and telling them that I was really shy and didn’t want either of them asking me so many questions. They both backed off after that, and introduced themselves; I thought it was going well, up until two other fillies approached: Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

I knew they were bullies the moment they came near. I saw Sweetie worried, so I decided to face them and defend her like she had me; after all, they were nothing compared to Emptiness.

I upset them, because I didn’t care what they said. So what if my mane was a mop, what did I care that I didn’t have a cutie mark? But then I called them four eyes and sparkle head and got them too mad. Silver tried to grab at my mane and I… I panicked.

I yanked her leg and then threw her. Through the school house wall.

Everything went quiet after. Then Diamond started screaming, and then everypony started screaming. I tried to run but the teacher grabbed me and other adults hurried to help Silver and calm the other children.

The teacher kept me with her and I managed to tell her that I hadn’t meant it and that I’d done it because she’d grabbed my mane. So she talked to me about right and wrong, and then wanted to know who my parents were, so she could talk with them about it. Except I couldn’t tell her that, or where I lived; she just got more and more frustrated and angry with me until I just made up an address to give her.

By the time she finally let me go, it was late, and Sweetie was gone. I couldn’t find her before the night came.

“That would be because I came to pick her up from school, once word had gotten round.” Rarity told Gentle. “That was the first time I heard about you; the filly that had seriously hurt Silver Spoon. I’m surprised you didn’t hear Diamond’s screams; she was demanding that you get chained up in some dungeon at the top of her lungs to more or less everypony.”

“I heard yelling; just not what about.”

“I tried to take Sweetie home after, but she stopped me and asked me to buy her a new flashlight and nightlight. I hesitated, but she got so insistent that I gave in to her, though I warned her that if she broke these new ones, I wouldn’t get her any more. That was when I noticed her behaving oddly; Sweetie throwing a tantrum like a two-year-old only to then be apologetic and sad and then tense and serious when she was looking at flashlights.”

“So I took her to the doctor, wondering if she was ill, and he told me that Sweetie was not sick but most likely under the influence of… well, nothing good.”

“Drugs?”

“How do you,”

“I’m three hundred and fourteen years old.” Gentle interrupted. “Almost all of it was spent away from ponies, but the ghosts came in all kinds and they taught me a lot about the world.”

“Ah… well, yes. Between him and I both, we got her to admit that you’d given her a special drink. I just forbade her from going near you again, and took her straight home afterwards to get her to drink as much as I could get her to, since the doctor said that would help.”

“And then she threw another fit when I put her room back together.” Rarity sighed. “…I should have been more observant. Noticed that Sweetie wanted me to empty her room of everything except her bed which she wanted in the middle of the room. Something was off, but I just… I just thought she was being bad and yelled at her. If only I’d realized.”

“Emptiness would have killed you and her both if you interfered.”

“I’m sure I could have done something for her.” Rarity said, leaning back. “Keep her from school, let her sleep during the day… of course, hindsight is perfect. I didn’t notice then, and I can’t do anything about it now.” She finished, sighing heavily. “…I assume the night went poorly?”

“It did.”

Emptiness was much more active that third night; Sweetie had to fend her off a lot more than she had before. Emptiness hoped to wear her down, but the potion kept her alert and awake, though it was harder. The room was put back together, and Emptiness had way more places she could hide and emerge from.

Her revenge against Sweetie was petty and mean. She’d try to scare Sweetie’s fur off, laughing insanely, revealing herself just to startle her, whispering what she’d do when she grabbed her. But then she started to tear the room apart; pulling the drawers out, breaking small objects, scattering stuff all over the floor, yanking the curtains down.

That was more than just her upsetting Sweetie. Emptiness made sure she didn’t do anything that a filly wouldn’t be able to, to ensure that Sweetie would get blamed for it. Talking as if Sweetie had just done that, giggling while she destroyed things.

“Celestia…” Rarity breathed, staring at the floor. “That… I…”

“Sweetie didn’t blame you.”

“I was so mad and confused. I… I made her clean it up herself and then had her stand in a corner for hours and tell her she wasn’t getting dessert for a week. And she didn’t say a word, didn’t object at all; she just… just had this look of understanding, and she didn’t tell me I was wrong, didn’t give me a fight about anything. Not even when I took her new flashlight away.”

“…Sweetie wanted me to tell you that she forgave you.” Gentle said, Rarity looking down at her, Gentle not looking up. “That she didn’t hold anything against you.”

“…Truly?”

“She insisted on it. And… and I forgive you too.”

Rarity was silent at that, watching as Gentle, with extreme care, shifted her left hind leg. A terrible feeling grew in her as she heard Gentle give a pained whimper, and more so, hearing her breathing sound pained a moment.

Gentle’s obvious pain had Rarity feel a sharp pang of horror; she’d done that. She remembered the feeling of Gentle’s leg giving way, the effort it took to magically squeeze the filly. The cold indifference that she’d felt before.

But like melting ice, it was giving way, and Rarity only then truly became fully aware of what she’d done. The actions she’d taken in what she could only hope were complete insanity, because otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

Even then…

What had she done?

“…I, I’m sorry, Gentle.” Rarity said, growing teary as she watched Gentle so obviously pained.

“It, it’s fine, I’ve been hurt worse.” Gentle dismissed, not looking at her, stopping to move since it wasn’t helping. “And… and if Sweetie can forgive like she did, then so can I.”

“Gentle…” Rarity murmured, tears flowing form her eyes. She carefully reached towards the filly, and the sharp regret and guilt grew worse when Gentle startled away from her.

“D, don’t touch me!” the filly snapped, Rarity pulling her leg back, silently crying. “I, I’m fine.” She obviously lied. “Let me finish telling you everything.”

“I, I can refill your cup if you want.” Rarity offered, doing her best to pull herself back together. Gentle didn’t say anything, but let go of the cup, letting Rarity take it.

Once she’d gotten a new drink, Gentle continued the tale.

Chapter 4

Emptiness told me what had happened and what she’d done; she was much happier that morning than she had been before. I was relieved that she hadn’t gotten Sweetie, and felt angry with her; once Emptiness let me go, I went back into town to find Sweetie, more determined than ever to make Emptiness lose.

I found Sweetie soon enough, and she was looking for me just like I was looking for her. Once she saw me, she hurried to me, and I noticed that she didn’t seem to be doing well.

“A, are you alright?” I asked her.

“We need to talk.” She told me, and she led me into a little alley, where we hid behind some trash cans. Sweetie checked to make sure nopony was nearby and then told me, “She tore up my room last night. My sister, Rarity, got really mad at me…”

That was better than anything I’d feared, but I still felt terrible for Sweetie. She then continued, asking me, “You’re alright though, right? You’re not in too much trouble over Silver, are you?”

“Don’t worry about me.” I told her. “You’ve done three nights so far; there’s four more to go, and it’s… it’s going to get worse. Her time is starting to run out and she’s going to start turning invisible.”

Sweetie looked dismayed, and I tried to make it better, explaining, “But when she’s invisible, she can’t see where she’s stepping and she won’t grab you when she’s invisible. She won’t make her normal noise if she is invisible, but if you put something on the floor to make noise or trip her, that’ll make sure she can’t surprise you.”

“She’s going to try more and harder too; she won’t be so slow in her grabbing attempts, and she’ll reveal herself faster too. She’ll also make it darker, and harder to see.”

“Gentle… can, can I really do this?” Sweetie weakly asked, her voice uncertain and fearful.

“The Game normally doesn’t last longer than three nights.” I told her, trying to encourage her. “And most that play it don’t know everything you do; you can do this Sweetie. You’ll beat her.”

Sweetie smiled at me, and moved to hug me. I resisted my first impulse and let her. I knew she needed something to hold right then, and awkward and uncomfortable it was, I knew nopony I’d be more comfortable with touching me than Sweetie.

She let go soon, and wiped at her eyes, and told me, “I need more lights.”

“You have time; get some more.” I told her. “Brighter the better, but remember, it must be sudden.”

“I can’t get anymore; Rarity won’t buy any more, and I don’t have any money myself.”

“Then I’ll get you some.” I told her, surprising her a little. “I’ll drop them off behind your house, and you just need to come and pick them up there, alright?”

Sweetie nodded, and we parted ways. I found the shop and… well, I robbed it. I stole some flashlights and when the owner saw me I flung one at his head and escaped.

“You, you’re the Ponyville little thief?” Rarity asked, surprised. “I, I suppose I can see why you did that, however.” She quickly added, thoughtful.

“That was just the start.”

I snuck back into that shop a couple of times to get more stuff for Sweetie, and only stopped once I had a good number of flashlights and lanterns and a ton of glow sticks. I dropped that off like I said I would, but then I had more time and figured I’d go and get anything Sweetie might need to have. So I went back into town, and got her a lot more stuff; bells to scatter on the floor, marbles for Emptiness to trip on, anything that would either make noise or make it hard for Emptiness to get to Sweetie.

Honestly, I got carried away; lots of the stuff I stole was mostly useless. One more so than the rest:

I found Diamond wandering some store, and snatched her tiara. A little revenge for bullying Sweetie and me, and I figured it made as good a thing to not want to step on as anything else.

As the day grew later, I waited to meet with Sweetie as she got stuff, to tell her where I’d hidden most of it and give her another potion to drink. She drank it right there and told me that she felt ready.

When I went back, Emptiness was waiting for me. She knew I’d stolen stuff, and wanted to know why, and what I’d done with it all. I didn’t tell her.

She got really mad at me and kicked me around a bit before she broke my leg. My… my left hind leg. Then she left me and went to go play, angry. I think that’s why that night went so horribly.

Once the fourth night arrived, Emptiness would start using what magic she got from drinking potion. Turning invisible, darkening the room, using brief illusions to frighten and distract.

Sweetie was ready for most of it though. She’d spread paper on the floor and some bells so Emptiness couldn’t easily sneak up on her. More bells were set on the edges of her bed, so she’d always hear Emptiness when she got close, and she had two good flashlights, one with her, the other placed under her pillow to hide it.

Emptiness was not happy with all that. Angry because of me too. She wasn’t playful at all, unlike the previous nights. Sweetie was alert and wake because of the potion, but Emptiness did her best to distract and scare her; she even got Sweetie to fumble her first flashlight, but she got her second as Emptiness snatched the first.

Then Emptiness started her newest tactic; she pretended to be you. But Sweetie saw through it every time, staying put and ignoring her. This frustrated her, and Emptiness decided that then was the time that Sweetie discover her worst tactic; the second worst part of The Game.

The worst part of The Game was lack of sleep. Emptiness had many tricks and ways to gain an advantage over her victim. She’d scare their fur off, she’d distract them.

But the worst tactic she had was that she would destroy their spirits, and turn other ponies against them.

“The, the card…” Rarity breathed, her eyes wide as a hoof went to her mouth.

Gentle only nodded.

Sweetie didn’t have to fight Emptiness in the latter half of the night. She had to instead endure her ruining her home, hearing Emptiness tell her everything she was doing as if Sweetie was doing it. Sweetie managed to stay put, but then Emptiness found something, and she got up and headed out with her flashlight, unable to not try to do something.

Because Emptiness had found a card. A rather important card.

Out of her bedroom, Sweetie was much less safe, but Sweetie was careful to pay attention and did her best to keep her back to the wall and furniture, so Emptiness couldn’t badly surprise her. But Emptiness had many things to hide behind, and nothing to alert Sweetie to her being invisible.

Sweetie managed to get to the card, and tried to keep it safe. Emptiness should have had her, but Emptiness was as cruel and petty as she was insane.

She took the card from Sweetie, and tore it in half. Purposefully wasted her time knowing that what she did was worse than just taking Sweetie’s horn. She let Sweetie live, scared the cat senseless, and left Sweetie alone.

Gentle stopped as Rarity sobbed into her hooves. For a few moments, the only sound was Rarity’s sobbing. Then Gentle sighed.

“She didn’t hate you, she didn’t blame you.”

“I, I…”

“She didn’t tell me to forgive you; she told me to tell you that she had never held anything against you.”

“I hit… I hit my own little sister.” Rarity managed, crying as she remembered.

“Emptiness did more than steal horns and kill. She loved to break spirits too.” Gentle sighed.

“I hit her hard as I could… I, I thought… I thought she’d completely denounced our bond; torn the card in two just like she had our relationship.” Rarity said, her crying ebbing. “I, I told her to leave, and, and didn’t want to see her again… I, I just kept looking at, at the destruction, and feeling be, betrayed and so, so angry with her…”

“Lots of unicorns playing The Game would give up.” Gentle told her. “Let Emptiness take their horns without a fight, leaving their homes to ensure that Emptiness wouldn’t also take the horns of their families because they couldn’t stand it anymore. A lot of the ghosts hated her the most for making them hated by family and friends alike.”

Rarity sniffled, and wiped at her eyes. “…Twilight came soon after she left; Sweetie had gone to her. We… we had a very bad argument. I… said a few things that… that I shouldn’t have.”

“…A friend?” Gentle asked, guessing.

“She… she was, once.” Rarity answered. “To think I’d so clouded my eyes with anger that I’d… I’d not just have that terrible argument with Twilight, but… but so hurt you.” she said, looking down at Gentle.

“…”

“Gentle, I, I’m truly, deeply sorry.” Rarity told her. “I promise you, I will make it better, I’ll…”

Rarity trailed off as Gentle shuddered fearfully suddenly, the filly giving a pained whimper at the motion. Even after, Gentle tried to move away from her, clearly pained to move at all, yet, trying.

“G, Gentle?” Rarity weakly asked, her expression almost horrified, her hooves going up to her face again as Gentle looked at her.

She was clearly in pain, her breathing hurt and rough. But more so, the filly looked at her with clear fear, suspicion, and anger, all of them mixed together.

Rarity’s tears returned, seeing that, but Gentle shut her visible eye, took a hurt breath, and just said, “I, I’m fine. This is nothing. Let me continue.”

“Gentle…”

“Let me continue. This next part is important.”

Chapter 5

I woke that morning to find Emptiness staring down at me.

“I hurt you.” she said. “I…I never wanted to hurt… I’m sorry. I’ll make it better.”

Potion is strong stuff, and Emptiness knew how best to use it. A little on my leg and lots for her so she could magically mend my broken bone. And she… she kept telling me that she was sorry, and was gentle and careful as she worked.

Once she was done, she picked me up and hugged me and… and told me that she loved me and that she’d never hurt me again.

She’d do that a lot. It happened all the time. She’d get really mad out of nowhere and really hurt me, only to quickly calm down, tell me that she was sorry and fix it. It was a pattern she never broke: anger, hate, pain, sorry, tears, healing, love, promise to be better.

I left her soon after, and went back into town. I found that a lot of ponies were looking for me; recognizing my mane and realizing that I’d stolen a lot of stuff. So I had to sneak around town, hiding, hoping I could find Sweetie without having to ask anypony, which is how I’d been managing to.

I found her the same alley we’d met within before. I noticed that she’d been crying, and that she was hiding herself for some reason as I went to her. I sort of surprised her when I called, “Sweetie?”, but she seemed happy to see me.

“Gentle I, I did another one.” She told me, her eyes red, and though she smiled, I noticed the mark on her.

“S, Sweetie, what happened?” I asked her; Emptiness had told me what she’d done, but I didn’t know what came of her destruction.

Sweetie’s smile slowly faded, and after a moment, she told me, “She broke a lot of things last night. And she tricked Rarity; she, she doesn’t want to even see me anymore.”

I got mad as Sweetie sniffled; Emptiness had done it before and she was doing it again and I knew that there was little that I or Sweetie could do to beat her favorite tactic.

I tried to encourage her, telling her, “You only have three more nights; just three nights, and you’ll be free of her. And, and then you can tell everypony what really happened.”

“…You think they’ll believe me?”

“I know they will; Emptiness can’t hide all her tracks, and if you’re alive at the end, you can point them all out to everypony. You just have to hold out, Sweetie.”

Sweetie nodded, and she seemed better as she took a breath. Then she asked me, “Does Emptiness do anything different in a library?”

“…Not really.” I told her. “It’s still the same rules and still the same tactics. She can’t hide in a shelf though, and won’t climb up anything to jump down on you. You could use the books to try and trip her up, but a library isn’t the best place to try and fend her off; you’ll have to watch your back and front, and that’ll slow you down.”

“What if I’m in a room where somepony else is also sleeping?”

“…Don’t. Emptiness won’t and maybe can’t wake them up, but you can, and if they wake up, The Game is over. Even if they’re not a unicorn, Emptiness will kill them if she sees them.”

“What if they’re a dragon?”

“A, a dragon?” I asked, confused.

“Just a little one, about this tall.” She told me, holding a hoof up. “His name’s Spike, and he lives with Twilight in the library.”

“I… I, I really don’t know.” I told her, baffled by why a tiny dragon was in a library in town and trying to figure out how Emptiness would react to one. “But, but it might work the same as with a pony, so you shouldn’t be in a room with the dragon either.”

“What if somepony doesn’t go to sleep until late or even stays up all night?” Sweetie asked.

“Same thing as if you woke somepony up.”

Sweetie looked concerned at that. Then she told me, “Twilight sometimes doesn’t go to sleep until really, really late.”

“Well… you can always use the potion.” I told her, and then informed her how she could use it differently:

Boiled, it would put nearby ponies to sleep really quickly, and deeply asleep too. She could dance on Twilight as she wouldn’t wake up if she got her with it, and potion could be boiled with just a candle. She just had to drip a drop on a candle, light it, and get away before she got affected by it.

“Just a drop?”

“It only takes a little, but it needs to be close; it won’t put a whole big room of ponies asleep.”

“Does this work against Emptiness?”

“…You shouldn’t try, in case you get put to sleep instead.” I told her. “Besides, you’re only going to have enough of this stuff to finish the nights. I can’t give you much more than I have.”

I noticed the longing look Sweetie gave the potion she had; but she shook it off quickly, and asked, “Three more nights?”

“Three more nights. Emptiness won’t be much worse that she was last night; keep focused, keep alert, and blind her good.”

Sweetie nodded with confidence. “I’m going to prepare.” She told me. “Thank you, Gentle.”

“You can do this, Sweetie.”

Sweetie hugged me real quick again, and then hurried off. I watched her go, turned to leave, and found Diamond blocking the other way out of the alley with a cat’s grin.

“I knew you were working with the blank flanks.” She said. “Think you can hurt my friend and steal my tiara, and get away with it? Oh, no, you’re going to get a nice, dark, wet, rat filled dungeon and get your own special chains to wear. And the blank flanks aren’t going to get away with it either.”

I glared at her, thinking she was about to attack me, but no. She instead screamed at the top of her lungs, “HELP, help, I found the thief! She, she’s attacking me, help, help!”, rolling onto her side while she kept screaming.

I turned and ran as ponies reacted; even if she was lying, I was a thief and I wasn’t about to be listened to. Most ponies were too surprised to react to me quickly, but if I wasn’t small enough to go underneath most ponies, I’d have been in real trouble. But this blue pegasus started chasing me, and she just wouldn’t get shaken like everypony else.

She almost got me several times, and I only lost her because I ran into this place that smelled really, really nice. She was right behind me, but where I could get underneath the stallion holding the really big cake, she couldn’t. I got out the back in the chaos and found a nice empty box just my size, and used that to hide.

Then I stayed in town, despite ponies searching and the night coming soon. I was too worried about Sweetie, unsure what Diamond might do to her, and so I stuck around, finding the library and hiding where I could keep an eye on the rather odd place.

I never saw a library that was also a tree.

Once night came, and the streets were empty, I noticed something heading to the library. Too small to be Emptiness, whatever it was went to a window, opened it, and climbed inside.

I hurried to the same window, terrified that the library was being robbed and that Sweetie was in danger of having Emptiness stop playing The Game. Using the box to let me peek in, I… I didn’t really know what I was seeing, at first.

Somepony was sneaking around the place, but they had this black cloak covered in colorful, limp spikes made out of cloth. Dim light helped me see color, and I saw Sweetie, nestled underneath a curling staircase, a lantern left in the middle of the room, along with lots of marbles covering the floor.

Whoever it was seemed to notice her too after a moment, and adjusted the weird cloth. It stepped into the light of the lantern, and then it yelled, in a weird voice, “There you are! I’ve come for your horn, Sweetie Belle! Fear me!”, fluttering the weird cloth thing.

“D, Diamond?” I heard Sweetie ask in complete shock.

“N, no, I’m Emptiness, the horn hunter, here to take your horn!” what I then realized was Diamond, wearing a black cloth covered in colorful cloth spikes, parading around near Sweetie.

The story of Emptiness did have a chance to be known by ponies other than unicorns. But seeing Diamond, dressed up like that, I really didn’t know what to think, and I think Sweetie was the same.

But then I saw Emptiness. Standing at the top of the stairs, looking down below. I think Sweetie was trying to get Diamond to go away, but Diamond kept being loud and I was terrified that Emptiness was about to call The Game off. More so, as she silently descended the stair case.

Sweetie saw her and froze, but I think Diamond didn’t notice until Emptiness was right next to her.

“T, Twilight, is that,”

Emptiness grabbed Diamond and I heard her choke as she was held up. “You dare pretend to be me?” I heard her hiss. “You think you can intrude in The Game, and make a mockery of me?”

Diamond grabbed at Emptiness’ hoof, struggling, but she didn’t make a sound; I think Emptiness was choking her.

“You’ll suffer for this.” Emptiness growled. Then she threw Diamond against a shelf, and went towards her, taking a big book from a near shelf as she went.

I couldn’t keep watching. It took a while before Diamond stopped screaming, and the thuds and thumps continued for a while after that. then I heard Emptiness speaking:

“I’ll leave you be tonight; I’m in no mood for games. But next night, I’ll stop going easy on you, and play in earnest. Try not to disappoint me.”

I startled when she came out of the same window Diamond had gotten in from. I just stared at her as she looked at me; waiting for her to get mad and kick me or something, but she didn’t.

She just threw Diamond at me, and then told me, “Grab her, and follow me.”

I didn’t question her or disobey; I’d never heard her sound so angry before. I grabbed Diamond, got her on my back, and hurried after Emptiness.

I’d seen Emptiness kill lots of ponies before. Rarely, she’d kill a pony not a unicorn, and Emptiness had always been brutal and merciless alike.

But she’d never done anything so horrible as what she did to Diamond. I, I thought that Emptiness abusing Diamond to the point of death only to bring her back just to do it all again was the worst thing ever. I thought Emptiness would just forever hurt and heal Diamond, until the terrifying anger she showed finally stopped.

But then Emptiness forced Diamond to drink potion until she couldn’t force anymore into her.

The things that did to her… I, I might never forget.

Diamond got to scream a few last times, and then she stopped making any sounds. Her eyes had been dull when Emptiness abused her, but then they were empty; like they were made of glass. She didn’t react to anything anymore; she could barely even breathe, but Emptiness was satisfied, and finally let her be.

Rarity looked ill as Gentle spoke, though hearing Gentle’s pain coughing slowly recaptured her attention. By the time she looked, Gentle had stopped, and took a somewhat rasping breath.

“I, I think she had wanted to scare Sweetie. But I don’t really know what she intended or why she’d done it; nopony can know anymore.”

“…Is she… gone as well?” Rarity asked.

Gentle nodded, which had Rarity close her eyes in mild grief. “That poor filly…” she murmured.

“She was important in the end; if she hadn’t of been there, Emptiness would still be alive.”

“Was she? How?”

“That’s for… later.” Gentle said, her voice pained. “I, I’ll get… get to…”

Gentle coughed again, and Rarity watched in sharp concern as the filly coughed more, each cough clearly agonizing her. Then her worry turned to sharp fear when Gentle coughed blood.

“Gentle, are you,”

“F, f, fine!” Gentle managed, her coughing ebbing, though the filly shook in clear pain. “I, I’m fine…”

“You are clearly not fine.” Rarity told her, greatly concerned. “Gentle, please, let me,”

“N, no!” Gentle yelled, heaving herself away. Another cough produced more droplets of blood, “S, stay away from me!”

Rarity had never felt so terrible as she did, watching Gentle cough and heave, droplets of blood scattering in front of her. Even as it stopped, Gentle watched her with deep suspicion and fear, and Rarity knew why.

Because she’d acted just like Emptiness had before.

In sudden rage, she hurt the filly; acted uncaring and cold towards her. But that terrible, numb rage had slowly left her as Gentle told her the true story of what had happened that strange, deeply upsetting week. Rarity had realized what she’d done, and deeply, dearly wished to make it up to her.

Just like Emptiness had, she’d hurt her, then told her sorry, and wanted to make it better…

She might never have had the filly’s trust, but her own actions seemed to have assured her that she’d never have it.

Even if she ignored that though, Gentle was clearly hurt worse than she first imagined. Coughing blood was a serious indication of something very bad.

But what could she do? Any attempt at apology only furthered her resemblance to the horn hunter, any desire to help only made Gentle fear her more. Even if she forced it, Gentle would just think Rarity the same as Emptiness, and Rarity could not accept such a result. So she struggled, trying to think how she could break free and make Gentle rethink herself.

And then it suddenly came to her.

Rarity took a breath, sat straighter, and then took long and slow breaths. Dispelling any care or consideration she felt towards Gentle; it was hard to do so, but after a moment, she managed it.

As Gentle watched her, she picked up her tea, and without even looking at her, told her, “Continue.”

“…Wh, what?”

“The story isn’t over, is it?” Rarity asked, looking at Gentle, and Gentle stared back confused, seeing no emotion in Rarity. Then she frowned a little, glaring just a touch; silently challenging Rarity.

Rarity didn’t respond at all, beyond asking her, “Will you continue now?”

“…I, I will.” Gentle said, still suspiciously watching her.

“Go ahead then; I’m listening.”

“I’ll tell you everything.”

“Do try to breathe carefully; your coughing is ever so distracting.”

“F, fine. No, no mistakes.”

“Much better.”

Chapter 6

I only met with Sweetie each time before the last two nights, and told her the final tactics Emptiness used in The Game.

Emptiness would start throwing things for distraction or injury; Sweetie had to get rid of any sharp or dangerous objects that Emptiness might use against her. She’d sometimes attempt to grab with her eyes closed, and Sweetie had to dodge instead of using a light against her. Emptiness would further her illusions and make fake versions of herself; Sweetie could tell because the illusions had no shadow and were somewhat see-through. Emptiness would also get faster, and Sweetie had to react faster in turn.

She just had two nights to go. Two nights to win, and then she’d win The Game, and Emptiness would finally lose, and Sweetie could tell everypony everything.

That first night, Emptiness did her best, or worst. But Sweetie had been very clever.

Her chosen place under the stairs gave her a lot of safety from thrown books, and forced Emptiness to have to grab at Sweetie from where Sweetie would see her, while being big enough to let Sweetie dodge a blind grab. The library itself was big and open, and Sweetie covered the floor with marbles and books, so Emptiness struggled to get anywhere.

She was angry when she came back, but she wasn’t enraged; she had her last night, and she’d never, ever lost the last night.

That’s because last night, Emptiness’ rules changed. She’d do all she could to reach her victim, and she’d do whatever she needed to do to make that easier for her.

Sweetie told me that if Emptiness was going to go all out, then so would she. And she did.

Sweetie told me that Twilight had realized that something had forced her to sleep the last night, but whatever worry or precautions she might have taken, Sweetie did it again, and she probably did it early too, considering her preparations.

Sweetie completely covered the floor in marbles, and then covered all that in paper, ripping up books to get enough. She took a bookshelf completely apart to then use those boards to reinforce her hiding spot under the stairs. She set lanterns to illuminate every dark corner she could find, making sure her own was the only dark spot left.

The last night was more of a battle than a game.

Emptiness would try to run at Sweetie across the floor, clearing it and tossing things at Sweetie. But Sweetie had a backup, and as Emptiness made clear paths, she threw screws in the way instead; and after a while, started throwing the books back at Emptiness.

Emptiness was really mad at that, but it didn’t hold her back for very long. Frustrated with Sweetie’s safe spot, she stopped to rip boards off of it to give her more space.

Which had Sweetie yank on something, and a nearby bookshelf dropped.

Emptiness dodged the first as it crashed to the floor.

She didn’t dodge the second.

The bookshelves, filled with books still, were very heavy; I can only guess how Sweetie got them to be traps themselves. For a moment, it was quiet, except for something banging in the upstairs closet; but then Emptiness threw the shelf off of herself, shrieking. Angrier than she’d ever been before, she went at Sweetie again, and that’s when Sweetie really surprised Emptiness.

Sweetie didn’t shine a light in her eyes, or try to dodge her.

Sweetie took out a knife and stabbed Emptiness’ reaching hoof with it.

Emptiness didn’t bleed, and she… she didn’t feel pain like anypony else does, but she did feel pain. She yanked back, and tore the knife free, screaming terrible threats against Sweetie as she did so. But Sweetie was ready, Sweetie had prepared, and Sweetie was now chasing after her, instead of Emptiness after Sweetie.

With a second, bigger, knife.

Emptiness was faster, and stronger, and she’d killed lots and lots of ponies before. Normally, Sweetie wouldn’t be any different than unicorns that had been much, much more dangerous than a filly with a knife.

But Emptiness had never had a foal chase after her before. And she’d never fought in a library filled with paper hiding marbles and hidden boards covered in nails. A library where Sweetie had made every shelf ready to come down at a moment’s notice, and they did, one after the other, shaking the whole building, making the area even more treacherous.

Emptiness still fought back though. Kicking hard to stun and hurt, but Sweetie was careful, and stayed only close enough to Emptiness to attempt slashing at her hooves. Too far to strike out at well, too close for Emptiness to recover, and most of the time, when she moved back, she’d be blocked by fallen shelves or slip on more marbles or step on more nails.

The stair’s banister broke when Emptiness tried to get on it, and Emptiness suffered the most, but she kicked Sweetie a number of times too. But no matter how often she hit Sweetie, Sweetie wouldn’t back off, wouldn’t stop slashing at her, wouldn’t ever be stupid enough to get close to Emptiness no matter how helpless or vulnerable she appeared to be. By the time the night was over, the library was a disaster of paper, marbles, broken wood and debris, most of which had slash marks on it.

As the light of the rising sun streamed in through broken window, Emptiness faded away, screaming in denial and rage. And then it was over.

Sweetie dropped her knife, and sat amidst the destruction, staring up at the shining light that filled the library. Waking birds chirped and sang outside, something was still thumping in the closet upstairs, and it must have seemed surreal.

She’d done it. She’d won all seven nights. And that last night, she hadn’t been afraid at all; she’d done what I and all the ghosts had wanted to, and went up against Emptiness despite everything. Refusing to fear her, refusing to let her win, refusing to give her even a chance to recover from the first shock of Sweetie actually stabbing her.

It was over, and she’d done it. She’d won The Game, and Emptiness had finally, after so, so long, finally lost. Sweetie took a deep breath, and finally relaxed.

That’s when Emptiness grabbed her.

“W, what!”

“We should have realized it. I mean, she even told all of us. The Game. The Game. It wasn’t real; The Game never mattered.”

“Emptiness didn’t care about sunlight or bright lights. She didn’t have any rules. She made the choice to play, but when the game ended, even if she had lost, she wasn’t about to just forget about what she really wanted.”

“And so The Game ended and Sweetie was the very first winner. But Emptiness wasn’t gone, and when Sweetie let her guard down, she grabbed her in the morning light.”

“She took a lot of pleasure in taking Sweetie’s horn. Enough that, even though there was another unicorn in the house, Emptiness left, leaving only the destruction of last night, her echoing, insane laughter, and a pool of blood. S, Sweetie’s blood.”

Gentle coughed again, and then a few more times. Then she wheezed, coughed, and choked, briefly feeling unable to breathe, but the sensation slowly faded.

She didn’t have the strength to really startle when Rarity lifted her up in her magic, and she looked only to just stare.

She didn’t see anger, or hate, or love, or sorrow.

She saw apathy.

“There’s a little more to this story, isn’t there?” Rarity asked, not a single hint of any consideration coming from her.

“…Y, yes.” Gentle wheezed, her throat hurting, the filly still staring.

“Well, I won’t hear the end of it with you like this. You’re going to get better, so you can finish. Do you understand?”

Rarity only saw Gentle blink, and didn’t see suspicion, or fear as the filly stared at her.

And Gentle did understand. Rarity wasn’t what she feared; she wasn’t like Emptiness. Even if she had seemed to be just the same as the horn hunter, Rarity was proving otherwise to her right then.

Emptiness had never controlled herself. She’d never held back any emotions, she’d never stop whatever she decided to do. But Rarity did.

Rarity had enough control that Gentle couldn’t see a single hint of sorrow or care for her. Not a single sign that Rarity even wanted her to get better, save for that she wanted to hear the last of what Gentle had to tell her. It had been so obvious before that Gentle couldn’t deny it; a control that overcame any emotion Rarity felt.

She was nothing like Emptiness.

Gentle slowly breathed as Rarity held her, her breath weak and a little pained. Then she finally decided, and lightly nodded in answer to Rarity, and looked at her again.

As Rarity made her way to the door, continuing to levitate Gentle, Gentle weakly asked, “R, Rarity…?” which had her pause.

“Yes?” she asked, stopping near her door to regard Gentle, still showing no sign of care.

“…Y, you can carry me.” Gentle told her, unsure, worried, but wanting to test.

Rarity watched her, didn’t respond at all. And then she gently laid Gentle on her back. Gentle made a little whimper of pain, as even that hurt, but Rarity didn’t respond. Gentle looked up to find that she hadn’t even looked back.

Gentle, for the first time she she’d knocked on Rarity’s door, relaxed.

Rarity left her home and nearly started, finding her friends there, Fluttershy having just been about to knock. Only Twilight was missing, and after hearing what had happened two weeks ago, Rarity understood why:

Twilight must be impossibly busy getting the library back together. That also helped explain why it had been Fluttershy, and not Twilight, who told her about Sweetie’s disappearance.

Earlier, Rarity had imagined that Twilight hadn’t told her because of their earlier argument; it had just sealed the numb hate she’d suffered from for so long.

“R, Rarity, we came to…” Fluttershy began, hesitating, leaning a little as she noticed Gentle.

“I’m afraid it will have to wait, darling.” Rarity sighed as the others noticed in turn, the unicorn gently pushing past them. “I have an unexpected patient for Dr. Light at Ponyville General.”

“W, wait isn’t that…?” Rainbow hesitantly asked.

Pinkie didn’t say anything, a little surprised; perhaps notably, she seemed much more controlled and calmer than her normal self.

“What, what’s going on Rarity?” Fluttershy asked, following her quickly.

“Who is she?” Applejack added. “Why’s she so hurt an why do ya seem so… uncarin? Ain’t ya worried fer her?”

“Honestly, Applejack, I don’t care. I don’t have a twinge of sympathy for her at all, in fact.” Her friends gaped at that, and Rarity finished, telling them confidently, “I’m just getting her to the hospital because she can’t herself. Once I drop her off, I’ll not do a single thing more for her, and spare her not a single extra thought.”

Her friends looked at one another in varying states of shock, and Rarity just continued on, calm and controlled.

And she felt Gentle gripping her a little more.

Chapter 7

Gentle woke a little groggily as sunlight bathed her. She blearily blinked at it, the bright light streaming through gossamer curtains, confused. Then she looked, and saw white walls and white sheets; it took a few moments more for her to realize, and remember:

Rarity had carried her to the hospital, whatever that was; she must have fallen asleep at some point, and she was now inside of it.

Remembering that had her remember the earlier pains she felt, but though she did feel a little achy, the sharp stabbing in her chest and the dull thud in her leg were gone. Her leg was actually all bound up in a cast, though Gentle didn’t know what it was. She carefully reached for it, felt at it, wondering what it was and how it made her leg not feel hurt anymore.

One ear flicked up as she heard voices, and she paused, listening:

“… worst thing we’ve ever seen before.”

“Yeah. But she’s alright?”

“She is stable and recovering, but I cannot over stress just how shocking this is. Her injuries should have been fatal, yet, it hasn’t been for her. It’s miraculous.”

The door to the little room she was in opened, and two ponies came in. One wholly unfamiliar, a red earth pony wearing a white hat and shirt, but the other was a little less so, an orange earth pony with long blond hair, wearing a completely different hat than the first.

“Ah!” the red one said, noticing her stare. “Good, you’re awake!” she chirped, heading over, the orange one following. Gentle didn’t respond, but that didn’t seem to matter as the pony told her, “I’m nurse Redheart,”, kneeling to not be looming over her, “and there’s a few questions I’d like to ask you. Will that be alright?”

“…S, sure.” Gentle said, feeling a touch awkward.

Nurse Redheart nodded, Gentle noting how the other pony moved to stand at the foot of the bed.

“What’s your name?” Redheart asked.

“Gentle Flowers.” Gentle answered, wanting to leave but the thing on her leg seemed made to make sure she couldn’t. She didn’t feel comfortable, less so since Nurse Redheart was behaving rather oddly to her.

“Now, are you in any pain?”

“No.”

“That’s great!” Nurse Redheart chirped. “Now, do you think you can tell me just what happened to your horn?”

“My…?” Gentle slowly asked, a hoof reaching up, the filly suddenly freezing as she realized she didn’t feel mane up there.

“Oh dear.” Redheart said as Gentle suddenly yanked the sheets over herself, the filly clearly a little panicked. What happened to her mane! Why was there a bandage on her head!

“Whoa there, filly.” Applejack said, moving to Redheart’s side. “Yer nice n safe now, tain’t nothin ta be scared of.”

“Applejack is correct, Gentle; you’re safe now.”

“W, what happened to my mane!” she demanded from underneath the blanket.

“It was shortened so we could get to your injury, Gentle.” Redheart said in a calm, explanatory tone. “It will grow back.”

Gentle didn’t care about her mane; she cared that somepony had seen the she was missing her horn. But something was a little strange, she considered after a moment. Neither of them sounded shocked or horrified.

So, cautiously, she peeked back out, and didn’t see any hint of shock, horror, or pity. That helped her calm a little more.

She didn’t know that both, when they first learned about this, had reacted exactly how Gentle thought they might. Near everypony would though:

By all appearances, Gentle’s horn had been torn off of her, not cut, leaving a frankly horrifying wound on her forehead. That Gentle had apparently survived this happening to her was a complete mystery to the doctors at Ponyville, made only stranger when they added in her other injuries.

“…Y, you don’t care?” she tentatively asked them.

Redheart shook her head and Applejack told her, “Course not. We jus care that yer doin better an gettin healthy agin.”

“Which you are.” Redheart supported.

“How, how long have I been here?”

“You’ve been sleeping for a few days now.” Redheart told her. “Now, can you tell me what happened to your horn?”

“…No.” Gentle said, looking away, certain that they would try to force her. A quick thought wondered just how hard the thing on her leg was when she heard whispering, and looked to see Redheart and Applejack quietly whispering to one another. She couldn’t hear much, but they sounded like they were having an argument.

Something about ‘rights’.

After a moment, Applejack tossed her head up to groan at the ceiling, and Redheart placated her with, “It’s outside of my hooves, I’m afraid, Applejack.”, before she turned back to Gentle.

“It’s your right as a patient to not have to tell us or anypony else what happened to you, Gentle.” Redheart told her. “My last question for you is if you are allergic to anything, or feeling, in any way, strange or weird right now?”

“…The thing on my leg, a little.” Gentle told her.

“Your cast?”

“That feels a little weird. Why’s it there?”

“It’s to support your leg so your bone can heal properly.” Redheart told her. “Think of it like a protective cover, making sure nothing hurts your leg.”

Gentle nodded, staying silent, despite that she had more questions. But she didn’t want to tell either Redheart or Applejack much of anything about herself.

She’d only gone to Rarity because it had been Sweetie’s last wish.

Thinking about that, she asked, “W, where’s Rarity?”

She noticed the frown that flitted over Applejack’s face as Redheart answered, “I can only presume her home. Why do you ask?”

“…I wanted to know.” Gentle answered.

"Well, it is interesting, because Rarity has left a letter for you.” Redheart told her. She reached over to a small table, got the letter resting there, and passed it to Gentle. Gentle unfolded it, and read:

Gentle, when you read this, I will not be there. I won’t come to visit you either.

I don’t believe that ‘I’m sorry’ has any meaning for you anymore. I feel I know why, and feel that you are right to think that way. So I won’t tell you that. But, if I have come to understand you, understand your fears, perhaps there is something I can say that will have meaning to you:

You’re free.

You’re free of your past, you’re free of me, you’re truly free. I’ve even guaranteed it:

Nopony is going to be able to force you anymore. You’ll get to make your own decisions, control your own life, go your own way.

This isn’t a gift though. You’re going to be solely responsible for yourself. In good, in health, in bad, in pain, you’re going to be free, and unless you want it, nopony is going to be able to help or harm you. Your life is your own; in all its pain, in all its good.

It’s up to you to decide what to do with it now.

Thank you for coming. You changed my life, and I feel happier and calmer now, thanks to you.

And thank you for everything you did for her.

May your life be good, and the sun always shine down on you.

Rarity.

Gentle finished the note, and noticed the little frown on Redheart as she read, and the deeper one on Applejack, the mare looking away.

But she felt… happy, focusing on the note again.

Centuries she’d been dragged after Emptiness. Centuries of pain and fear and fake love and blood and insanity. Never allowed to escape, never allowed to have peace, never allowed to defy the horn hunter. Never, not even once, really in control of her own life.

But Rarity had just given her control. Despite all her emotions, she gave Gentle freedom, made sure it stuck, and then walked away without looking back. Gentle was fully on her own, fully in charge of herself.

It was the greatest gift Rarity could have given her.

“It’s alright, Gentle.” She heard Redheart say, and she flinched as the mare wiped at her face. She was crying a little, Gentle realized as Redheart told her, “Things are very complicated right now, but we can fix them.”

“…Fix them?” Gentle quietly asked, looking at her, and Redheart nodded.

“It’s a big, complicated thing, but Applejack is very willing to help you through it, and get you the help you need.” Redheart told her, Applejack giving her a small smile.

Gentle glanced at the note. Then, slowly, looking back at Redheart, she asked, “…What, what if I don’t want it?” and both mares hesitated. “What if I don’t want any help?”

“Listen, Gentle, yer gonna need it.” Applejack told her, blinking in some surprise. “Yer jus a filly, ya can’t be on yer own.”

“Applejack’s correct, Gentle.” Redheart added. “I assure you, she has the best of intentions and wants nothing more than to help you.”

“…You can’t make me accept it, can you?” Gentle asked, starting to smile.

“…Gentle, you’re going to need help in this big world.” Redheart told her, ignoring that question. “We’ll be here to help you understand and make sure you make the right choices.”

“I don’t want your help.”

“Gentle, please, listen to rea,”

“No.” Gentle interrupted, smiling more as she was Redheart and Applejack both looked dismayed. “No, no, no.” she repeated, giggling, to freeze.

She hadn’t laughed since before Emptiness took her.

That thought, along with the angry look Applejack gave Redheart, saw her start to laugh. And laugh, and laugh, and laugh, while two mares argued over her, totally unable to do anything to her if she didn’t agree to it.

Sweetie had freed Gentle from Emptiness; finishing what had seemed an eternal nightmare, brought an end to centuries of fear and pain and horror.

Rarity had terrified and hurt her, but now, now she had destroyed Emptiness’ shadow, and in place of chains, she’d given Gentle wings.

It was like a long, long night was finally over, and at long, long last, she knew the warmth of sunlight again.

Her laughter ebbed as Applejack left, mad, and Redheart lingered, frustrated. “…Miss Nurse?” Gentle asked, still chuckling a little.

Redheart startled a little, and shook off her apparent frustration before looking at Gentle. “Yes Gentle?”

“When can I leave?”

“…The cast comes off in a few days, Gentle.” Redheart sighed. “Are you sure you don’t want,”

“I’m sure.” Gentle said, and Redheart gave a heavy sigh. Gentle ignored her after, smiling at the brilliant skies outside the window.

A few days. She could wait. It was pretty nice there. Besides:

It was her choice now.

Chapter 8

When the knock came, Rarity paused her work, and got up to answer the door. She needed a little break anyway; her work was proving quite difficult. She hadn’t ever made anything like it, after all.

She hoped that the knocker wasn’t a friend. Their relations had been… stressed, as of late. Some more so than others. Things were rather… complicated, but Rarity was never short nor cross, no matter how heated things got. After all:

It was all her fault anyway. But hindsight was perfect; she’d made the mistakes, and now her only real option was to accept them and try to make sure they didn’t permanently damage her friendships. Or public figure.

Surely time would see this turmoil pass by, Rarity hoped, taking a moment to check herself in the mirror. A touch frazzled; likely the frustrations over work, she guessed, smoothing them over with a quick hoof.

But what rewarding work it was.

Another knock had her hurry a little, and she opened the door to hesitate, and then look down. Looking back up at her was a small white filly with a short purple mane. A bandage was wrapped around her head, the center of the forehead a little dark, her left hind leg supported with a small splint.

“…Hi.” She told Rarity, smiling up at her.

“…Hello.” Rarity responded.

“…Can I come in?”

“If you want to.” Rarity said, moving back inside herself. Gentle followed her, and kicked the door shut herself.

“I never finished the story.” Gentle said.

“No, you didn’t.” Rarity acknowledged, watching as Gentle moved to the couch, to then struggle to get up. After a moment, she stopped, and looked over at Rarity.

“…Can you get me up, please?” she asked.

Rarity nodded, and with great care, levitated the filly up onto the couch. Gentle smiled at her again, and then asked, “Can I have a drink?”

Rarity just nodded, and left for a moment before returning.

With one cup, that she gave to Gentle.

Gentle giggled as she took it. “Rarity!” she said, taking a sip.

“What?” Rarity asked, giving no indication of anything odd as she took a seat on the couch herself.

“…You don’t have to act like that anymore.”

“I have no idea what you mean.”

Gentle chuckled again, finishing the drink. She set it aside, and then got off the couch, Rarity watching. “…I want to show you the end.” Gentle told her. “I can tell you the rest while we walk there.”

“Do you want me to come?”

“Rarity!”

“I’m coming, Gentle, I’m coming.”

Emptiness took Sweetie back with her after she took her horn. Sweetie had impressed her, and Emptiness always did that with unicorns that impressed her. She was… she said she was proud of Sweetie, but lamented that she was just a child with a little horn; too little to be placed on Emptiness’ head.

Sweetie was still alive when Emptiness brought her back, and I did everything I could to try and keep her that way while Emptiness talked about the ‘great battle’ the two had had. I was so, so mad at her, but I couldn’t do anything against her. I was always helpless against her.

She controlled me, and I knew it. I shook in rage, knowing that she would soon tell me to leave with her, and hating how she didn’t say anything as I used potion to try and heal Sweetie. She was letting me do it, and I knew she was letting me do it, and I hated her for it.

Because Sweetie had impressed her, Emptiness took some time to sort her horns; she had way too many to wear all of them, and because Sweetie’s horn was small, she needed to select a new set to wear so she could also wear Sweetie’s horn. I don’t know how she decided what looked good, but she seemed to always know, even if every way just made her look horrible.

It was as she did that and I cared for Sweetie that Diamond stirred. I thought she couldn’t anymore, since she was,

“Please don’t.”

“Alright.”

I thought Diamond had died sometime the last night. But she started… moving and making noise and her eyes focused again.

She, uh… She was having a real hard time speaking at all. “Sw, swa, swe,” stuff like that, until she finally managed to say “Sweetie.” Then she focused on me.

“H, hel, help m, me, me s, st, stand.”

Since Sweetie didn’t seem to be dying right then and Diamond was… well, not dead, I went to her and helped her up. It wasn’t easy since… it was hard to get her standing again, but I was curious.

Then she sort of nodded at me and went towards Emptiness. And then she grabbed Sweetie’s horn, and threw it at us. Emptiness noticed, frowned, but Diamond… grabbed her, stopped her.

I’d watched Emptiness attach her stolen horns countless times; I knew what I had to do. I grabbed Sweetie’s horn, splashed potion on her head, stuck it back where it belonged, and really hoped it would work the same way it did with Emptiness.

And it did. Sweetie groaned, woke back up, her horn back on her.

“Sweetie, Sweetie, you have to get up, now.” I told her, looking to see Emptiness… fighting with Diamond. Diamond was losing.

“Gentle…?”

“Sweetie, get up!” I told her, trying to get her to her hooves, but Sweetie seemed really dazed and weak. I turned and saw Emptiness kill Diamond, and shake her off. “You, you have to run, right now!”

“I can’t run.” Sweetie said, startling me. I looked at her, and saw her look tired.

“Correct.” Emptiness said. “You can’t escape.”

“Sweetie,”

“If I run, she won’t stop.” Sweetie interrupted. “It has to end now, before anypony else suffers like I did; like you did.”

“Your horn is mine.”

“H, how…?” I weakly asked her, stunned, but Sweetie didn’t tell me.

“It’s time for this to end.” Sweetie said, taking a breath, and then she turned to face Emptiness. Her horn started to glow, and she stepped towards Emptiness, and Emptiness stood still, watching.

“You know your fate.” Emptiness said, but she seemed uncertain, confused as Sweetie approached her.

“Your hunt is only for one thing.” Sweetie said. “And it’s not horns; it’s magic. You’ve always wanted your own magic. And you think you can steal it from others by taking their horns, but it doesn’t work like that.”

Emptiness’ eyes grew wide for a moment, but then she glared. “What, what do you know!” she yelled, and for the first time ever, I heard her sound uncertain, doubtful. “Holding yourself over me with your precious magic, telling me that my hunt is in vain!”

“Well it is.” Sweetie said, her horn slowly growing brighter. “You could take every unicorn’s horn, and drink all the blood you spill, and you’ll never know it. You’ll never know the magic inside of you, because magic stolen can’t be your magic.”

Emptiness looked truly insane then. Yet, despite the look of madness, she held still as Sweetie talked to her. But then that look changed to surprise, and then shock as Sweetie finished, her horn glowing really bright:

“But magic given can be. And you will know the magic inside of you.”

“Because I’m giving you mine.”

And Sweetie touched Emptiness with her horn.

Everything went white; a blinding, brilliant white.

When I could see again, I saw Sweetie, surrounded by the white, her eyes closed in peace and calm. And I saw… I saw her like she used to be. Emptiness… Emptiness wasn’t always black.

She was looking at me. She was crying, but her eyes were sane. Normal. I hadn’t seen those eyes, her real eyes, since before Emptiness took me. I couldn’t say anything, and she didn’t say anything. If she had… it would only have made it worse. She turned and walked away into the brilliance without a word.

Then Sweetie opened her eyes, and looked around and yelled, “Diamond! Diamond, this way, this way!”

Sweetie seemed to reach out, and pulled Diamond to her. She was sobbing, rubbing at her eyes, but she was normal; like she used to be.

Sweetie hugged her, and told her, “It’s alright, it’s over. No more pain, no more pain.” When she let go, Diamond looked at her, and Sweetie encouraged her, “That way, go that way; I’ll be with you soon.” and Diamond walked into the white too.

“The rest of you too! Come on!” Sweetie yelled, and the ghosts rushed to join her. Laughing and yelling in joy and they ran into the light. And once they were gone, Sweetie looked around, and yelled, “Gentle! Gentle, can you hear me? Are you there?”

“…S, Sweetie?” I asked, my eyes teary. I… I knew what was happening, even if I’d never seen it before.

Despite that I’d spoken softly, Sweetie heard me. “Gentle, that’s good. Listen to me; I need you to do some things for me.”

“S, Sweetie, what, what’s going on?” I asked.

“…It’s over Gentle. It’s done.”

“Can… can you stay?”

“…No. I can’t. Listen, Gentle; things are over, but they’re not ended, not yet. It won’t be ended until everything is buried; all the horns, Emptiness… and me and Diamond.”

“I,”

“You have to tell Rarity everything! Tell her about Emptiness, and what really happened, and everything you know! Tell her the truth of last week, and that Emptiness is gone forever. And that… that I’m not going to come back.”

“…I will, Sweetie.” I promised her.

“And tell her that I don’t hate her! That I never hated her, and I was never mad at her! That I love her as much as I always have; don’t let her think otherwise, please!”

“I, I will!”

Sweetie nodded, and sighed in relief. Then I saw two of her:

One turned and walked into the white too, and the other fell, and collapsed on the ground.

Then the white was gone, and I was alone. Diamond and Sweetie were lying on the ground, unmoving.

Emptiness was lying on the ground, unmoving.

I didn’t know what to do. I was alone for the first time in hundreds of years.

I spent two weeks hiding in the forest, fearing having to go back into town. I felt vulnerable and afraid of everything. It took a lot of time for me to build the confidence to finally go and knock on your door, and do what Sweetie asked me to.

I should have done it the day Sweetie took Emptiness away.

Gentle finished as she led Rarity through the Everfree, and she said the last as the two came upon a small clearing in the wood.

It was just as Gentle described. Despite two weeks having passed, the scene was silent, and nothing seemed amiss; as if this came to an end moments ago, instead of weeks.

Rarity went to Sweetie, and looked down at her still form. She almost seemed to be sleeping. So did Diamond; even the monstrous Emptiness.

Illuminated by sunlight, the two filles seemed innocent and at peace, but Emptiness was a terrible thing. The same sunlight revealed gashes in her, revealing that she was black inside and out alike, her fur and hair a tangled, matted mess. The only color she had were the many horns on her body; so obviously out of place that they only worsened her appearance rather than aiding in any way.

They seemed loose, many fallen around the horn hunter.

Rarity ignored her though, focusing on Sweetie. Gentle slowly walked to stand next to her, and looked up into the unicorn’s sad face.

“…She’s truly gone.” Rarity said after a moment.

“…She saved us.” Gentle whispered.

Tears appeared in Rarity’s eyes, a hoof going to ever so gently run through the filly’s mane. “…You were a true hero, Sweetie. For a week, you fought, for a week, you suffered so very much, just to keep me and so many others safe…”

“I, I won’t let this end quietly.” Rarity said, lifting her head to the sky. “You aren’t going to be buried in the woods in secret. This story, your story, will be heard by everypony; your sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

“I’m going to make your memorial the greatest thing I can.” She said, crying as she looked back at Sweetie. “I’ll get you a statue, a glass window, maybe even a star. Nothing, nothing too great for, for my tiny heroine.”

“I’m just so sorry that it had to end like this.” She finished, whispering, head lowered as tear dripped down.

For just a moment, that silent moment, Rarity might have heard something. Sort of like somepony screamed as loud as they could to try and be heard, their voice distant, weak, just on the edge of hearing:

I love you Rarity!

Rarity smiled, even in her tears. “I love you too Sweetie.” She murmured, brushing at Sweetie’s mane. “I’m going to miss you.”

Gentle leaned against Rarity, and Rarity looked, to see the filly looking sad as well. Carefully, she sat down, and even more carefully, she put a hoof around Gentle, who wiggled a little closer to her. They stayed that way for a time, each with their own thoughts, in that silent glade.

The nightmare was at long last over.

And all that was left was to bring its remains to light.

Chapter 9

Gentle walked with Rarity back towards Ponyville, the pair bearing the remains. Gentle carried Sweetie on her back, only somewhat struggling to do so, while Rarity had Diamond on her back, and Emptiness levitated behind her.

The monstrous unicorn was heavy, her collection of horns more so, but Rarity made sure to not let any part of her touch the ground.

Their walk into town was first met with curiosity, then apprehension, and then fear and shock. Ponies screamed as they saw Emptiness, stared in utter shock at the still forms of the two fillies. Gentle stayed near Rarity, but nopony had any time or ability to notice or really care about her.

Rarity walked all the way to town hall, where a speechless Mayor waited them, and, to her surprise, Twilight Sparkle. Rarity didn’t look to her much though; she had much else to focus on right then.

She came to gently lay Emptiness on the cobbles, and turned to face the crowd that had followed the pair.

“On the last new moon, our little town was chosen as a monster’s next target.” She began. “A few of you know her already,” she continued, looking at Emptiness, “and you all now see that she was no mere frightening story to tell at night.”

“The, the horn hunter… she’s real?” she heard Twilight breathe behind her, glancing to see Twilight staring at Emptiness with wide, shocked eyes.

“All too real.” Rarity answered, looking back at the crowd. “Before you is the body of Emptiness, the horn hunter; the nightmare of unicorns all throughout Equestria. She came last new moon here, and here she found my little sister, Sweetie Belle, who saw her eyes that terrible, dark night. And so, Sweetie was pulled into the horn hunter’s terrible game.”

“Even I never knew, never even guessed.” Rarity continued. “For Sweetie was forced to keep the truth secret, lest Emptiness come to kill everypony she cared for. So she played The Game, and she suffered not just Emptiness, but even me. For I, ignorant of the truth, had Emptiness manipulate my opinion and thought, and turn me against my own sister. Emptiness destroyed things important to Sweetie, important to me; she even ruined the library, when I, thinking the destruction was Sweetie’s doing, drove her away.”

“But Sweetie, despite everything, kept fighting. She won The Game, the first to ever do so; possibly the first to ever give Emptiness a defeat. And for her victory, Emptiness attacked her in the morning light, and stole her away, to torture her. And if not for the heroic action of Diamond Tiara, Sweetie would have perished then, but another of the horn hunter’s many victims. Diamond gave Sweetie the chance to finally bring an end to Emptiness, and the two gave their lives to end her at long last.”

“The evidence lies before you; are there any who would doubt me?” Rarity finished, daring anypony to suggest otherwise. Nopony did, the crowd shocked, horrified, and silent.

“…It, it’s over, then.” Twilight weakly said, her gaze caught by Emptiness yet, her tone a little empty itself. “It’s… done; there’s nopony to help, nopony to save… Nothing to do…"

“Dear Mayor,” Rarity asked, causing Mayor Mare to startle a little, and stare at her with wide eyes, “I’d ask for your assistance helping to organize funerals for our heroes, as well as something for the horn hunter, and her many horns.”

“Of, of course, Rarity.”

The bright sun that day felt grey and hollow in Ponyville. The shocking truth spread through the town and not a single pony was not affected by it. A great many hurried to see for themselves, to stare in shock at the fallen fillies, and most to offer condolences as fewer grieved.

Filthy Rich had broken over his daughter’s body. His only daughter, the knowledge that she had died a hero did little to ease the agony of losing her so suddenly.

The fillies had a wake to end them all, a much more somber Pinkie Pie helping put together the calmest, most respectful party she’d ever thrown. The story found horror and respect alike; two fillies had come together and brought an end to a nightmare. Even the solar princess came soon, to pay her own respects to the two fillies that had ended a long nightmare.

Rarity had to hide Emptiness. A number of ponies felt that such a peaceful, quick end wasn’t good enough for the horn hunter, and if they had been allowed to, they would have destroyed the body of Emptiness. Their number included Rainbow Dash, who became quite heated at Rarity for it, only calmed by the Princess Celestia, who warned her, and everypony else, that their anger towards the dead Emptiness would only keep the nightmare alive in a sense.

Respect those that gave their lives, she declared, but let the horror they defeated fall into nothingness; it was gone, and to think of it still would only darken hearts that found nothing to hate.

It lasted the whole rest of the day and then the night alike. It was the next morning that things started finally calming back down, and Rarity went back to her home, satisfied with the end, and exhausted from having to make sure everypony knew the correct story.

Even if it wasn’t the ‘true’ one, it was the better one.

Things would continue later; the funerals had to be held, Emptiness likely needed to be buried in secret, and the many, many horns each merited their own burials. Those, though, would be interred in Canterlot, where Princess Celestia had assured Rarity that Sweetie and Diamond would receive their own glass window to honor their sacrifice.

But it was done for right then, and Rarity returned to her home in exhaustion. Yet, she went into her creation room, to ensure that her labor wouldn’t be left out.

Once that was safe, she came back out to find Gentle waiting for her.

“G, Gentle?” she asked, blinking, heading to her. “Why are you still here?”

“Well… Sweetie told me to tell you everything, and I promised I would.” Gentle told her, the filly fidgeting a little. “And I… I haven’t told you everything yet.”

Rarity blinked. After a moment, she went to take a seat, Gentle following her; she helped Gentle up, but made sure to not pressure Gentle in any way.

“…So, so you remember what I said about when I first met Emptiness?” Gentle asked.

“…Your family?” Rarity asked, and Gentle nodded.

“And do you know the story behind Emptiness?”

“I do.”

“…W, well… Emptiness… started her hunt with me.”

A moment passed, Gentle watching Rarity carefully. For a moment, Rarity seemed confused, before her eyes grew suddenly, and a hoof went to her mouth.

“Was, was she your sis,”

“N, no!” Gentle yelled suddenly. “Emptiness was never my sister!” She said, mad, but then she sighed and looked sad. “…My sister died and turned into her.”

“When she grabbed me that day, I could still see her. Her eyes were still hers, even when she told me what she was going to do. I, I tried to tell her that she was making a choice that would turn her into something horrible. Tried to convince her that things were alright, that she could let go, that we could find another way, that her not having magic never mattered, that we’d all love her no matter what.”

“I begged her to stay my sister. But she didn’t listen.”

“Gentle…” Rarity murmured, shaken by the thought.

“My sister died the moment she took my horn. She turned black and her eyes turned mad and she became Emptiness, but Emptiness isn’t my sister. She’s somepony else; she just used my sister as a way to come to life, but my sister never really left. Not until Sweetie took her away. And I…”

“She made the choice to become Emptiness.” Gentle said, her tone a mix between angry and sad. “She didn’t have to do it. She didn’t have to make that choice. Nothing forced her to do it. When I finally saw her after so long… s, she was crying, but we both knew:”

“She could never say sorry. It wouldn’t ever be true.”

“Given another chance, she’d just do the same thing all over again.”

A moment passed, and then Gentle asked, her tone concerned, “Do, do you understand? Emptiness isn’t my sister. She became Emptiness, but they aren’t really the same. Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly; the same life, but two different forms.” Rarity only nodded, not trusting her voice.

“…And now, I’m free.” Gentle said, slipping off the couch. “You even made sure of it.” she continued, heading towards the door, Rarity getting up to follow her. “Nopony gets to control me anymore. I get to make my own choices now. I’m finally free.”

Rarity opened the door for her, and Gentle paused at the threshold. She’d known her freedom for days by then, but it was really only then that she really noticed:

She was alone; out on her own in a world that… that looked just so big now.

She looked back, and saw Rarity behind her, holding the door open for her. For many, there was nothing to see, but Gentle saw something in how the unicorn held the door, how she stayed silent even as she stood in place for so long.

“…You know…” Gentle said, turning to face back at Rarity. “I can make whatever choice I want to now.”

“You can.” Rarity confirmed.

“And… I don’t really know anypony out there… or have a place to go… or stay… So… what do you think about me staying here?”

Rarity smiled a moment before she scrunched her face up and forced herself back to neutrality. “That would be fine.” She managed to say, her tone neutral.

Gentle giggled at that, and told her, “But I have a condition.”

“And what might that be?” Rarity asked, and despite all her control, Gentle heard the little desire.

“Well… I’m three hundred and fourteen years old, and I know a lot of stuff. But… but I’m still a filly. I don’t think that I’m really ready to make all my own choices just yet. So, if I’m going to stay here…”

“I want you to be in charge of me. To teach me how I’m supposed to make all my own choices, but also to tell me what to do. To give me chores to do, to yell at me when I’m bad, to praise me when I’m good, to be there for me to run to if I get scared or need help. For you to… to treat me as if I was your little sister. What do you think?”

“Gentle I… are, are you sure?” Rarity asked.

Gentle smiled at her, and didn’t technically answer her. She instead went and hugged her, a wordless confirmation that had Rarity tear up. More so, as Gentle told her, “I trust you; and I want to know the pony that Sweetie loved so much myself.”

“…I, I have just one thing to say.” Rarity told her, gently hugging her back.

“What?”

“Welcome home, Gentle.”