The mind speaks with words, the heart speaks with action.
Snip snip snip
A single crystal needle floated over in front of a lit horn. A line of silver was carefully threaded through the eye before it was given the order, and sent back to perform its rhythmic dance.
The morning sun rose slowly over the mountains of Canterlot—its rays seeping into Carousel boutique. Rarity was seated at the counter, her back to the front door as she worked diligently on an elegant dress. Blue sapphires were woven into a beautiful swirling mix of mulberry and light gray, every hoof-stitch perfectly connecting to create a true rarity.
"She'll... look beautiful." Rarity set the dress carefully on the counter, levitating an already folded note and placing it atop the dress.
Rarity moved around the boutique, her magic tidied up the last of her supplies. The blinds closed, allowing only a small slice of sunlight to cut through and fall upon her muzzle. She turned, looking slowly over the boutique before breathing a heavy sigh. She pushed open the door into the early morning, closing and locking the door behind her.
A chilly breeze swept past her. Rarity's mane tossed into her face as she turned away from Carousel Boutique. The normally active Ponyville now sat silent, like a respectful foal before its teacher. Rarity moved slowly through town, pausing to smell the lovely azure blossoms that grew from her neighbor's small garden. With a quick look and a guilty smile, she plucked a particularly bright flower and placed it in her hair.
I doubt anypony would begrudge me being a little selfish today.
The large white building sat just a bit from the main center of town, the plain double-doors awaiting her decision without judgment. As Rarity placed her hoof upon on the handles, a gruff voice called out from behind her.
"Miss Rarity."
Turning around, Rarity's eyes fell upon an old grey donkey, his ears seeming to droop more than usual.
"Oh, hello, Cranky Doodle." They sat silent for a long moment, Rarity shifting her hooves slightly as she waited. "Is there... something I can help you with?"
Cranky Doodle shook his head, his lips forming into a sad smile. "No, young lady. I heard what happened from Matilda and I just wanted to say a few words before I lost the chance."
"Oh... thank you." Rarity smiled and waited for Cranky to compose himself.
"Many would go to the end of Equestria for their loved ones," he started, his eyes drifting down as a small red tinge crept into his cheeks. "But it's something else to go even further than that. Such a trip might be lonely, or terrifying, Miss Rarity, but..." He looked up into her eyes, and the grandest smile she had ever seen spread across his face, "...you'll never lose faith as long as you remember who your heart beats for."
"That was... beautiful, Cranky. Thank you for that." Rarity bent over slightly and give him a small kiss on the cheek.
"It won't be too long before we chat again."
"I look forward to it." Rarity turned and pulled open the double-doors with her magic and stepped inside.
And froze in place as the sheer number of ponies that awaited her turned their heads in unison to face her.
Slowly, Rarity made her way down the long corridor. The white walls on either side were obscured by the vibrant pastel colors of Ponyville's ponies. Many gave her encouraging smiles as she passed, though more than a few only managed the smallest of smiles as she caught their eye.
"It makes me so happy to see you all here. To me and my sister, to see so many ponies showing their support, it..." Rarity sniffed, fighting back tears as she walked, "...it warms my heart to no end."
A small stamp of hooves sounded out as Rarity approached a large set of oak double-doors. She stopped, hoof held against them, and turned her head back to the gathered crowd. Each one held a small place in her heart: friends and neighbors from Ponyville and Canterlot alike, customers from her many shops, and even the ponies from Hinny of the Hills.
Rarity turned to face them one last time, her dazzling mane swinging around in an elegant twirl.
"It's the friends that I've met that make my life such a gem. I want you all to know that." The brilliant smiles that shone out toward Rarity drew a single glistening tear that traced down her cheek. "Thank you."
She turned and pushed open a second pair of doors, revealing a smaller, more intimate room that held a much smaller assortment of ponies. Seated upon large, lavender cushions, all watching her with mixed expressions, were her five closest friends.
Fluttershy, typically the last to speak, was the first to move. In a flurry of yellow feathers, she had Rarity in a full hug as tears streamed down her face.
"Rarity, please tell me you're not going to... Is there no other way?"
"Fluttershy..." Rarity's eyes found their way past her friend and into Twilight's gaze. Twilight shook her head slowly, Rarity giving a heavy sigh. "I'm afraid not, darling."
"I understand." Fluttershy slumped her head down, her wing brushing a few stray tears from her face. "I'll try to be strong f-for you, Rarity."
Rarity leaned forward and tipped her friend's head up with her hoof. "You are strong, my sweet Fluttershy. You need only to look around if you need reassurance of that fact."
Rarity nudged her gently, and as Fluttershy turned around, her friends all smiled and nodded to her. When she finally turned back to face Rarity, however, the expression on her face made Rarity's smile falter.
"Why are you always putting everypony else first?" Fluttershy whispered, fresh tears cascading down her face. "Don't be so selfish with your tears, Rarity. You're allowed to cry too, okay?" The last word was emphasized with a wet sob as the pair hugged once more.
The sound of pink hooves walking—not hopping—caught Rarity's attention. Pinkie Pie stood before her, her hair a flat mush of its usually puffy self.
"I... I was going to throw you a going-away party, Rarity, but I..." Pinkie Pie sniffed as she moved forward and wrapped her hooves around her friend.
"I'm going to miss you, Pinkie Pie," Rarity said as she rubbed a hoof through Pinkie's mane.
"Promise you'll throw me a party when we meet again, okay?"
"Of course, darling." Rarity squeezed the pink pony firmly, who gave off the smallest squeak in response.
"Cross your heart?"
"Hope to fly."
"Yuh know," Applejack interjected, "we're gonna hold you to that, sugarcube." Rarity smiled across the room at Applejack, who promptly lowered her hat over her eyes. "Now don't yuh start with all the mushy stuff with me now, yuh hear?"
Rarity couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped her. "Of course, Applejack. Y-You of all ponies would understand, after all...."
"Yer dang right I understand." Applejack looked up, her eyes stern yet compassionate. "I'd do the same in yer horseshoes, Rarity—" Applejack closer her eyes for a moment and nodded to nopony in particular. "—in a heartbeat."
The pair crossed the room and then embraced each other briefly, Applejack's hat falling backwards towards the floor. It was caught in a gentle, violet glow and was held before a somber Twilight. She turned it over in her magic, her eyes weary and exhausted.
"I tried, Rarity, I really did...."
Rarity placed a comforting hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "I know, darling. How many days has it been since you've slept? Two? Three?"
A little smile crept over Twilight's face. "A-Actually it's been over a week now."
"Spike still hasn't left the library, has he?"
"He won't talk to anypony. It's not your fault, Rarity. He's just...."
"I hope he finds somepony that can return his feelings one day."
Rarity's eyes began to water as she pulled Twilight into a hug.
"He really does care about you — we all do," said Twilight.
The pair held each other for a long moment, neither wanting to break from each other.
Rarity sniffled. "I'm so lucky to have had such wonderful friends."
Twilight sniffled several times before she was able to speak. "I'll keep looking, Rarity," Twilight promised after they parted. "This won't happen to anypony else—not if I can help it."
Rarity gave a thankful nod before a small shift of movement caught her eye. Rainbow Dash was laying on a cushion on the far side of the room, her head facing out a window as she pointedly ignored the ponies in the room.
"Never changes, does she?" Rarity said with a gentle shake of her head.
"She's taken it the worst, Rarity. I don't think she'll open up to anypony but you." Twilight gave Rarity a small nuzzle before turning back towards Fluttershy and the others. "Don't be too rough on her, alright?"
Slowly, calmly, Rarity walked towards the sulking rainbow until she was only a pony's length away. A frazzled multicolored mane hung limply atop her drooping wings. She stiffened as Rarity moved her hoof gently towards her, the flash of a bloodshot pupil looking out from the corner of her eye.
"Rainbow..." Rarity began, but stopped when Rainbow turned her head away with a harrumph. The white hoof fell back to the ground, lightly tapping the tiled floor as Rarity closed her eyes. She nodded to herself and then spoke up, her eyes open and filled with a soft fire. "At least... this is one race I'll beat you in."
Rainbow Dash slowly turned her head, water trickling down her face as she faced Rarity with wide eyes.
"That's... that's not funny."
Angry wings flapped as she pushed her snout against Rarity's. Rainbow Dash hung in the air, her eyes narrowed as she pushed a hoof against Rarity's chest.
"Why would you say something like that?" Rainbow said as she had scrunched up her face.
"Darling, this isn't a time for sulking. We must live life to its fullest and... without regrets."
Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, her eyes darting to the watching gaze of her friends and then back to focus on Rarity.
"Y-You aren't allowed to say things like that!" Rainbow dropped out of the air and stomped a hoof. "You're leaving... forever and you're just... " Rainbow scuffed her hoof against the floor, looking down briefly as she seemed to refocus her thoughts. "How can you be so calm about all this! How can you be sure of yourself?"
Rarity pulled the poor pegasus into a firm hug, sniffing as she gently brushed Rainbow's ragged mane.
"Stay strong for your friends, support them in whatever way you can—even if you have to fake it..." She whispered into Rainbow's ear. Rainbow shook in her friend’s grip, Rarity giving her a gentle, affectionate nuzzle. "What would you do, Rainbow, if it was one of us? Wouldn't you go to the ends of Equestria and back for them?"
A moment passed, then Rainbow Dash gave firm nod.
"Of course I would."
"I hope you'll help look after Sweetie Belle for me." Rarity pulled away from Rainbow, watching her blink before answering with a nod.
"You can count on me, Rarity."
The door on the opposite side of the room opened. A light-grey unicorn in a doctor's coat stepped out and addressed the room, all eyes already locked in his direction.
"We're... we are ready for you now, Miss Rarity."
The stark white hospital room barely fit the six ponies in addition to several medical unicorns. They spread out around two medical tables that were tilted slightly towards them. A pony lay on the left, covered by a pink, cotton blanket that covered everything but her face. Her mane looked disheveled and her face slightly hollowed, the shapes of the bones showing through her fur.
"Oh, Sweetie Belle." Rarity trotted between the beds and gently stroked her sister's cheek. "How is she doing?"
The same unicorn from before stepped forward, a tag identifying him as doctor Life Spring.
"Her condition has deteriorated significantly. We've got to keep recasting spells to help her heart along, but they've grown weaker over time as her heart continues to fail."
Twilight turned to face Life Spring. "I've tried to find something, anything else we could do, but..."
Life Spring shook his head slowly, closing his eyes in resignation. "Medical magic has only come so far, Princess Twilight. If we'd had more time, maybe we could have found another possible candidate. Unfortunately, Rarity is not only the closest match, but she's taken good care of herself."
Rarity smiled at the compliment, but didn't move from her sister's side.
"It's might seem like a big decision," she spoke softly, brushing Sweetie's mane with her magic. “But really, I wouldn’t be able to live without… “ Rarity turned and planted a soft kiss on her sister’s horn, “...the bell of my ball.”
“We understand, Miss Rarity, but we still must still confirm this. Is this truly your decision?” Life Spring asked, his expression stern, but understanding.
Rarity moved away from Sweetie Belle and onto the bed next to her.
“Honestly, I gave my heart to my sister a long time ago. This is merely a formality, darling.”
Her friends stepped up as she settled herself in comfortably, Rarity doing her best to smile up at them.
“I’m going to miss all of you so much. I… I don’t want any of you feeling bad over this, understood?”
They all nodded, Rainbow Dash in particular giving her a determined smile. Rarity held her hooves up and the circle of friends hugged one last time. They held one another for a long moment, and, as they broke apart, Rarity gently held onto Fluttershy’s hooves. She left out a soft eep, turning back to face her friend.
“Yes, Rarity?”
“Would you… grace me with your wonderful voice one last time?”
Fluttershy looked only momentarily uncomfortable before she nodded, and stepped closer. She sat next to Rarity, holding her hoof as a unicorn on the opposite side prepared a needle.
“We’re administering the anesthesia now, Miss Rarity.”
Rarity nodded, but didn’t turn away from Fluttershy.
“Go ahead, darling.” She reached up and brushed strands of pink mane away from Fluttershy’s face.
Fluttershy breathed deeply as a silver liquid began to seep from a hoisted bag down into Rarity’s leg.
“H-hush now, quiet now. It’s time to l-lay your sleepy head.”
Rarity’s eyelids began to droop, her gaze watching her friends that sat across the room. Applejack held her hat in her hooves, her head tilted down. Rainbow Dash fought valiantly against the wave of tears as Pinkie Pie gripped her in her hooves, balling like a small filly. And finally Twilight, who sat in silent reverence of the moment.
“Hush now, quiet now. It’s time to g-go to bed.”
A smile crept across Rarity’s muzzle as her hoof fell from Fluttershy’s mane. A lone, azure orchid came loose from Rarity's mane and drifted toward the floor.
Dearest Sweetie Belle,
If you are reading this, then I know I’ve made the right decision. I spent the past week putting my affairs in order, because from the moment the doctor gave us the grim results, I knew what my decision would be. I know it might be too much to request that you not be angry with me, so I won’t ask. Just know you are the most important pony in the world to me, and that will never change.
I have left the carousel to you, along with a large sum of bits for whatever you might need. I’ve also asked Rainbow and Fluttershy to look after you, in the case that you don’t want to return to live with our parents. I know that, whatever future you decide to pursue, I know you’ll succeed fabulously.
You’ve always been so generous with your heart, Sweetie Belle. You showed me, even after I was named the embodiment of generosity, the true meaning of the word. You were an inspiration to me in so many ways, and I could never quite find a way to express my gratitude. Please don’t let this weigh too heavily on your mind, darling. Your friends, my friends, our friends, will help you through, you’ve only to ask. Keep me in your heart and remember all the good times we’ve had together.
I love you, Sweetie Belle, and I always will.
Your best big sister forever, Rarity.
Author's Note
Procrastination is magic. Submitted for the contest twenty minutes before the deadline 
Special thanks to my prereaders, I love all of them, really, even as I threaten them with violence.
Hope y'all liked this story, I know I enjoyed writing it.
