Twisted: Four Little Foals

-----Chapter 14: Rarity and the Price----

For the first time that night, the chamber was utterly silent.

Almost every guest at the Gathering had left immediately upon the selection of the Offering. Most did not even stay to witness the cruel display which followed. In typical circumstances, the candidate was always kept unaware of their fate until they were selected. Only then were they informed that they would never leave the Gallery again. For some of the Circle members, this was their favorite moment of the entire Gathering: when the chosen foal realized for the first time that the hell they had endured that night would continue forever.

Typically, at that time, the other foals were pronounced free to go, and sent back to the grounds of the mansion. The offering was forced to watch as the others were allowed to go home, while they remained below. The way each offering reacted to this sight varied. Some would attempt to fight their captors, though this always ended quickly. Others would cry, beg, or try to run. Very often, the foal would be driven into a state of hysterical fear, screaming incoherently until their voice gave out.

All of which led up to the moment when the offering was forcibly dragged into the Gallery, and the huge red door slammed shut, sealing them in. The closing of the door marked the official end of the Gathering, but ponies would typically linger for quite some time afterward, enjoying small talk or relaxing in the chamber, while in the background, a pair of small hooves could often be heard banging desperately against the inside of the Gallery door. Invariably, the sound would grow slower and fainter over time, until finally, it would cease. Some guests preferred not to leave until this occurred: it was the signal of the foal's final resignation.

This year, however, had been different.

The selection had been made quickly, and the usual show which followed did not occur. The four candidates had already discerned the purpose of the offering from the loud arguments which broke out over whether Rarity should be allowed to give an offering at all. Some members demanded that they take all four of her foals, but Blueblood quickly shouted them down.

In an attempt to clear the room quickly, Blueblood had put the Offering to sleep with a quick spell almost immediately after the Circle had made its choice. By the time the foal was placed in the Gallery, most of the guests, including the three other foals, had been teleported out of the room.

Two guests, however, remained.

“Well, Rarity,” Blueblood said with a grin. “Who would have guessed that you would come to this?”

Rarity stood before the Prince, refusing to break his gaze. Outwardly, she was the very picture of composure. She wore a defiant scowl on her lips, and held her head up proudly.

She absolutely refused to give Blueblood the satisfaction of knowing how terrified she was.

“That's quite the smug tone, Blueblood,” Rarity said. “You're rather enjoying standing in judgment of me, aren't you?”

“I enjoy serving the Circle, yes,” Blueblood demurred.

“Oh please, there's more to it than that,” said Rarity. “You're still hung up on what happened at the Gala last year. I can tell by the way you still snarl at me every time I happen to come near you. You'd think a member of the royal family would have better things to do than hold grudges.”

Blueblood frowned.

“Or...perhaps you don't?” said Rarity with a smirk. “After all, Celestia has dozens of nephews. Or are you more of a great great great grandnephew? I imagine the Princess' immortality means she's accumulated quite the extended family. And she must not hold you in very high esteem if you're able to maintain a position in an organization such as this. A proper prince --by which I mean, one who actually mattered-- would never be able to get away with-”

“That's ENOUGH, Rarity!” Blueblood shouted. Rarity responded with a soft smile. She knew she couldn't escape the Circle's justice. But she would go down fighting.

“Oh, of course, darling,” said Rarity, in a mocking tone. “I'm terribly sorry. We were discussing your pound of flesh?”

Blueblood opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of a new set of hooves walking on the hard floor.

Rarity did not recognize the stone-faced gray unicorn who walked up next to Blueblood. He certainly wasn't a Circle member; she hadn't seen him at the Gathering. He wore round glasses had an extremely close-cut mane. His cutie mark was a pair of glasses identical to his own.

“Who are-” Rarity began, but she suddenly found herself unable to speak.

A small black light shone from the gray unicorn's horn. He turned to Blueblood and handed him a small slip of paper.
The Prince read it, then he looked at Rarity and smiled.

“Well, how about that?” said Blueblood. “It would seem that Fancypants has decided to take an interest in disciplining you after all. His attendant here just informed me of what your punishment is to be. Would you like to hear it?”

The gray unicorn's horn stopped glowing, and Rarity sensed that her voice had returned.

“I suppose I have no choice, do I?” she said.

“Rarity, you have failed to properly train a foal in your service, and allowed harm to come to the leader of our Circle,” Blueblood said, his voice shifting to the same official tone he had used to address the congregation earlier. “For these crimes, you are hereby barred from entering the Gallery until the next Gathering in one year's time.”

“....and?” Rarity asked.

Blueblood's smile returned. “That's it,” he said.

“That's...no! I mean, um, surely there must be some mistake!” Rarity let out a laugh, in an attempt to hide the nervousness in her voice. “I mean, yes, of course the very least I deserve is a ban from the Gallery, but...certainly a crime of this level at least deserves a censure, if not-”

“No, nothing severe. Aside from the Gallery ban, you remain a Circle member in good standing. Fancypants was quite specific,” said Blueblood. The gray unicorn nodded.

Rarity was beginning to shake. “I..um...let me talk to Fancypants! I'm sure I can make him understand that-”

The gray unicorn shook his head. Though he remained expressionless, the gesture carried an air of finality.

“Please...” Rarity said. She hated using that word. “Please...you know I've worked hard to earn the favor of the Circle. I've done so much for you. Surely I've earned-”

“THE CIRCLE HAS SPOKEN!” Once again, Blueblood's Royal Canterlot Voice overwhelmed the pony he was addressing. “We are done here.”

The gray unicorn nodded slightly in Rarity's direction, then turned and began to walk away.

“DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME!” Rarity shouted. “Do you think I'm stupid? You think I don't know what's really going on? Fancy's taking this personally, isn't he? He's giving me a light sentence so he can take revenge on me himself, without having to go through the Circle! Well, you tell him I'm not fooled!”

The gray unicorn stopped walking. His horn began to glow again.

“Don't think I haven't heard the rumors! The sudden disappearances of Fancy's rivals and enemies. You think I don't know how he intends for this to end? And now he believes he's going to trick me into feeling safe! Well, you tell him that I'm tired of his games! Tell him he's a coward to condemn me without even facing me! AND YOU TELL HIM THAT I WON'T RU-”

Before Rarity could finish, the entire chamber filled with blinding white light. When it faded, she was outside, just beyond the gate to Fancy's estate.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity saw a light shining in one of the windows of the mansion's highest floor. She cocked her head toward it, and as she did, the light vanished.

“Fancypants...” she said. “Damn you...”

“Are you Miss Rarity?” said a voice behind her. In response, Rarity spun around, almost violently.

“What do you want?” she said.

“Um, begging your pardon, ma'am,” responded an Earth Pony in a coachman's uniform. “But I was asked to take a pony named Rarity to the train station this evening. Is that you?”

Rarity sighed. “Yes, that's me.”

Parked on the street behind the coachman, an ornate black carriage was waiting. Three other ponies were already hitched up to it, with space for a fourth. Standing in front of it were three little foals.

One of them stepped forward.

“Sis,” said Sweetie Belle, her sad voice still quiet from Fancy's assault. “What did they do to you?”

“Let's go,” said Rarity. She began to walk toward the carriage.

“Go? But...they didn't really take...I mean, you're not actually going to just leave without-”

“A week ago, Fancy wrote me and asked me to specify what sort of transportation I wanted to the station after the Gathering. I requested a carriage. With four seats,” said Rarity. “What does that tell you?”

Sweetie gasped. “I...I thought what they did was part of your punishment...some sort of awful surprise...but...”

Sweetie Belle felt as if her blood had turned to ice.

“You...you knew...all along...you knew they were going to take one of us...”

“I don't have time for this,” Rarity said, and she walked past her sister as she stood in shock.

Rarity entered the carriage and then yelled to the coachman. “Hitch yourself up! We leave in one minute. Anyone not in the carriage at that time stays here.”

On most days, Sweetie Belle would have at least put up a token effort to resist her sister's ultimatum. When faced with a cruel demand from Rarity, Sweetie would often resist as long as possible, before giving in to the inevitable and going along with her sister's order. Rarity always knew she would acquiesce, and so did Sweetie. But by holding out as long as she could, Sweetie maintained some measure of dignity, at least in her own mind.

But tonight, things had changed. Sweetie Belle thought back to her last act of defiance, and its consequences. Spitting on Fancypants had felt so right, and perhaps it had been. But as much as she wanted to, she could not feel proud of what she had done. Not after she had witnessed the result of her actions.

Sweetie Belle turned and walked toward the carriage. The other two foals were already on board.

*******

There were voices. New ones. They all sounded young.

“Did you hear the commotion out in the chamber? What the hell happened?”

“Oh, you didn't see? A filly spit on Fancypants!”

A room was slowly fading into view.

“Seriously? Oh, man, I can't believe I missed that!”

“She didn't spit on him. She KICKED him. Right in the face! I saw it!”

There were blurry figures...ponies? No, not just ponies...foals.

Everyone in the room was a foal.

“Who...who are...”

The clamoring foals turned around at once.

“Hey, the new one's awake! Hi!”

As the fog of sleep lifted, the room became fully visible.

It was gigantic, beautiful, and terrifying. The walls were polished marble, the ceiling a painted mural, depicting dozens of foals engaged in obscene acts with adults. And in the room itself were countless beds, pillows, and soft chairs, as well as chains, ropes, stocks, a rack, and a massive red door with no handles. A hallway on the far end of the room led away to another, unseen area.

Several foals were chained to the walls, or tied to pillars. Some had placards around their necks, as if they were on display.

One read, “Screamer.”

Another read, “Whore, Age Ten.”

A third simply read, “Torture Me.” The pony it indicated was blindfolded, gagged and completely restrained. She was covered in red marks, which seemed fresh.

“Where am I?”

The assembled foals looked at each other awkwardly. And then, with what seemed like herculean effort, they smiled.

“This is the Gallery,” said an older-looking filly. She had a soft pink coat, and a messy, long white mane. She looked like she was an older teenager. Except for her eyes; they looked as if they were decades older. They were terribly weary, but kind.

“Welcome, I guess.”

“Oh...right...I remember now...they chose me...”

“Yeah...” the filly said. “Listen, um...ugh, I can never think of a good way to say this...but, for what it's worth, we're sorry you ended up here.”

There were various murmurs of agreement.

“But it's okay!” the filly said. “I'm Aurora. I kind of speak for a lot of the foals here. Most of them are in some of the other rooms, but you'll meet us all soon enough. The point is, we try to look out for each other around here. So if you need to talk or if you just want someone to be close to you or whatever, just let us know. Or if you'd rather be alone, that's totally cool, too. Whatever you need, right guys?”

Foals began nodding their heads, as shouts of “yeah!” and “welcome!” filled the room.

“The one good thing about the Gathering is that it tires the adults out. They'll probably leave us alone for a day or two, so at least you can relax for a bit. Do you want to tell us your name?” asked Aurora. “I mean that literally. It's okay if you don't want to. I know there's a lot to take in.”

“No, it's okay...” said the newcomer. “I mean, you already told me your name. And welcoming me was really thweet of you.”

Aurora's weary smile grew larger.

“My name is Twist,” said the newcomer. She giggled nervously for a moment, feeling as though she were obligated to say something more. “I'm from Ponyville, and I like to read and make candy. I get good grades in school, and...um, does any of that matter here?”

Aurora hugged her. “Of course it does,” she whispered. “They'll tell you it doesn't. They'll tell you you're worthless. But don't you ever listen. You matter. All of us matter.”

Aurora clapped her hooves together and turned to the others, speaking in a loud voice.“Everypony, we have a new friend! This is Twist! Let's make sure she knows that no matter how bad it gets here, she's never alone!”

The foals who were not restrained stood up. Some needed a moment, as they were still in pain from the Gathering, but eventually, all of them stood. Then, despite their weariness, they began to stamp their hooves on the ground in unison. The display did not last long, but it carried an air of deep meaning.

Twist blushed. No one had ever applauded for her before.

“Wow....” she said. “That's some welcome...”

“This is how we say hi to new foals. The adults aren't the only ones who have rituals.”

“Thank you for welcoming me,” said Twist. “But I won't be staying long. None of us will.”

Aurora cocked an eyebrow. “Sorry, what?”

“It's okay. We're going to get out of here. I can feel it,” said the newcomer, smiling. “My best friend is a dragon. He knowth Princess Celestia perthonally!”

“Well, that's a first,” said a bright blue pegasus colt, snickering. “The ones who go crazy usually don't start to lose it until they've been here for a week or two.”

“Shut up, Peregrine!” said Aurora. “She only woke up a minute ago! She's just disoriented!”

Twist smiled and shook her head. “No, I'm not! I really am friendth with a dragon! Just wait! When he notices that I haven't come home, he'll talk to the Princeth, and she'll come here with him...”

Aurora's kind smile wilted. He slowly brought her hoof to Twist's cheek. “Oh, honey, no. Don't go down that path. I know it's comforting to pretend, but I've seen too many foals delude themselves into-”

Twist's own hoof met with Aurora's, and then gently pushed it away. “It's okay if you don't believe me,” said Twist softly. “You'll thee. We're going to get out of here. He's coming to save me.”

Twist sat down on the ground and closed her eyes. Her smile quivered a bit, but she did not lose it.

“He wouldn't leave me here...”

“Twist...” Aurora said.

“No! I'm not going to stay here. I'm going to go home! In just a few days, we'll all go home! This isn't where it ends for me! I have a future!”

She opened her eyes and saw Aurora looking back at her, deeply concerned.

“I was going to open a candy store...” Twist said. “I was going to make sweets for everyone in town...”

She looked up at the other foals, who were now watching her every move.

“And when I do, I'll give all of you free candy! Okay? As much as you want! Isn't that great? Isn't it?”

Most of the foals looked away awkwardly. No one was smiling anymore.

“I..just...I just...” Twist threw her forelegs around Aurora, who returned her embrace.

“I just wanted to be pretty...”

*******

There was no moon that night.

As the carriage made its way through the Canterlot streets, the steady sound of hooves walking on cobblestones was the only sound audible to Rarity and her three charges. Within the spacious carriage, she sat, her eyes following the light from street lamps and windows. Her expression was utterly devoid of emotion.

No one had said a word since they had entered the carriage.

The carriage began to make a turn, and, with an almost violent motion, Rarity closed the curtains around the carriage window.

She turned and looked at her fellow passengers.

Sweetie Belle had her back turned to her. Rarity had expected this, and she dismissed it quickly. Sweetie would come around. She always did.

Silver Spoon turned her head away as soon as Rarity looked at her. Although Silver tried to hide it, Rarity easily surmised that Silver had been staring at her ceaselessly until that moment. But now she avoided Rarity's eyes at all costs, as if her gaze itself would harm her.

Finally, there was Pip. He made no effort to dismiss Rarity or acknowledge her. He had been looking down at the floor of the carriage the entire time, deeply lost in thought.

But he sensed Rarity's eyes upon him, and turned to meet them.

“Is it...over?” he said softly. “No one's going to hurt me anymore, are they?”

“No, Pip,” Rarity said dryly. “Not tonight, at least.”

“And...” Pip said, hesitantly. “And all those things you said, about me being sick...those were all lies, weren't they?”

Rarity sighed. “What do you think, Pipsqueak?”

“I think...I think I saw some very mean ponies tonight...ones who love to see when foals cry and scream...and I think...I think they're the ones who are sick.”

“As I recall, you weren't crying the entire night,” Rarity said.

“No...some of it felt good...” he said. “But some of it hurt. And even the parts that felt good, felt...wrong, I guess. I think I understood when I met Miss Indigo. Well, not right away, but when I had a chance to think later. Her family looked really happy, and none of them hurt each other. But they also just...didn't care. About anything, except having sex. They just seemed so empty...one of them was going to have a baby, and she didn't even care about being a proper mum to it! All she could talk about was...”

Pip shook his head. “I just want to go home. I just want to be a normal colt....”

He shut his eyes. “I just want to forget.”

Rarity's empty expression had not changed. “Very well, Pip. I've enjoyed using you, but I think you have reached your limit. So yes: I shall release you.”

“Release...me?”

“I have decided to return you to your home. I shall not come to see you again. Nor shall I steal you away in the night like I did before. You will never hear from me or my associates again.”

Pip's expression brightened immediately.

“On the condition,” Rarity said, “that you never speak of this night, or anything pertaining to anything you experienced while in my presence, ever again. You will tell no one. Not your mother, not your friends. You will take the knowledge of these events to your grave.”

“I don't think I would have told anyone anyhow,” Pip said. “I don't want to think about this anymore. Not ever...”

“Good,” said Rarity. Her horn began to glow softly. “Now...promise me. And be specific.”

“Um...okay,” Pip said. “I promise I won't ever tell anyone about anything having to do with Miss Rarity, or her friends, or the things I saw tonight. Is that okay?”

Rarity's horn stopped glowing. “That is fine,” she said. “The spell I just cast is called a Binding Oath. It means that if you ever break your word, I will know. And if that happens, then our deal is broken. And not only will I come for you again, I will personally ensure that you regret ever going back on your promise. The Gallery doesn't just take offerings, you know. It also welcomes donations. Are we clear?”

Pip nodded. “A good colt doesn't break promises,” he said.

“Very well, then.” said Rarity. “Then when you step off the train in Ponyville, I shall leave you in peace. You will be free, Pip.”

Pip smiled. “Really? You mean it?”

“Of course she doesn't mean it.” said Sweetie Belle. Her voice was slowly returning to normal. “Everything she says is a lie.”

Rarity narrowed her gaze as she turned toward her sister. “I am not in the mood for this, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie kept her back to Rarity as she continued speaking. “When we were in the mansion, I told Twist...I told her that the sooner she went along with you, the sooner she would get to go home. And now...”

Sweetie shuddered, in a motion that seemed almost painful. “Now you've turned me into a liar. Just like you.”

“I did what I had to do,” said Rarity flatly. “I needed four foals. I obtained what I needed.”

“And nothing else matters, huh? You don't care about anything else, do you?” Sweetie said. “Nothing but yourself!”

“That isn't true, Sweetie Belle,” said Rarity flatly. “I care about you.”

“THAT'S A LIE!” replied Sweetie, but the exertion of yelling caused her to cough for a moment. After she regained her composure, she continued, in a much softer voice. “All this time, I thought you still loved me. You kept saying you did! I thought my sister still had some good in her. But you were willing to give me away! You let me go there knowing that they could have picked me!”

Rarity looked in the direction of the window, but did not open the curtains.

“You are wrong. I planned for this. You should never have been in any danger of being chosen.”

“But how could you have...no, you're trying to trick me! You just want to make me trust you!”

Rarity looked back at her sister. “You are wrong, Sweetie Belle. Had it been up to me, I would never have even taken you to the Gathering. But you were popular with the Circle, popular enough that there might have been objections to my candidacy if you hadn't come. So I intentionally rigged the vote.”

“You...how?”

“By bringing Pip,” she said. The colt looked in Rarity's direction, then turned away. He seemed determined to ignore their conversation.

“The Circle is more or less evenly divided between ponies who prefer fillies, and those who prefer colts. Most indulge in both sexes, of course, but generally each pony has a preference. In recognition of this, it is typical for a neophyte to bring two fillies and two colts. But it is not a formal rule, merely a custom. I broke that custom. Why do you suppose I did so?”

“I'm not going to listen to you,” said Sweetie. “You're just talking nonsense.”

“No, she's not.”

Sweetie let out a small gasp. For the first time since they had left the Gathering, Silver Spoon had spoken.

The silver filly still couldn't bring herself to look at Rarity. So she addressed Sweetie Belle. Her voice was sad, but she spoke with conviction.

“Miss Rarity isn't lying. I think I see her plan now. It's brilliant, like always,” Silver said. “It's just math. Half the Circle likes colts, so they would have voted for Pip. He was their only choice. The other half would have split their votes between the three fillies. So Pip would have easily gotten the most votes.”

Sweetie turned around. “Pip, didn't you hear that? She was planning to give you to those-”

“I don't care. Leave me alone,” he said, closing his eyes. “I'm not listening, and I don't ever want to listen to anyone talk about this again.”

“But-”

“Please!” Pip cried, covering his ears. “Please, I just want it to be over! I just want to go home!”

Sweetie looked back at Silver. “Fine. You're wrong, anyway. If my sister's plan was so great, then why is Twist the one in the Gallery?”

“Because...because...” Silver hung her head again. “Because...”

“Yes, Silver,” said Rarity. Her voice seemed colder than it had a moment earlier. “Tell us why the plan went wrong.”

“Because...I...Fancypants was trying to...and then I-”

“Because YOU had to interfere!” Rarity said. Silver cowered in her seat. “What were you thinking? An Earth Pony kicking a Unicorn in the face? If you weren't such a weakling, he'd be dead! And then there would have been no stopping the others. They would have taken our lives then and there, Sweetie's included. Is that how you intended to 'save' her?”

“I didn't think...” Silver said. “I just...she needed help...”

“Thanks to you, my plans to skew the vote were thrown into disarray. Many of the ponies voted out of anger toward me instead of in service of their desires. I was just lucky that Twist's admirers carried the day. And even then...”

“Miss Rarity, I'm so sorr-”

Rarity stepped off her seat and stomped her hoof. Silver Spoon fell silent as the unicorn walked over to Silver and placed her face inches from the filly's own.

“Two votes, Silver Spoon,” said Rarity. “That's how close I came to losing the only pony in the world who means anything to me. And all because of you.”

Silver was petrified now, unable to even shake in fear.

“I had everything planned to ensure Sweetie's safety,” said Rarity. “When you saw me in the crowd, I was about to cast a simple spell that would have separated her from Fancy and broken the chokehold. Then I would have calmed Fancy down before any further damage could be done.”

“H-how?” Silver asked.

“Why, by giving you to him, of course,” Rarity said. “It became quite obvious early in the night that he was fond of you. And if someone wants to take some leftover garbage off my hooves, well, he's welcome to it.”

Silver's heart sank. “No...” she said softly.

Rarity scoffed. “You thought you were going to impress me? By making yourself into this repulsive wreck? Look what you've done to yourself! At least before you were somewhat attractive, but now? You're practically bald, you have a black eye, and there's that unsightly wound on your flank.”

“It...it was for you...” Silver said, fighting back sobs. “All of it. The scars were to show that I'd given up who I was before. I tried to impress Fancy because I thought it would help you. All night long, all I thought about was helping you...” She wasn't being entirely honest, but Silver decided it was a bad idea to tell Rarity about the voice that had pressed her on.

She despised the voice now. In Silver's view, it had deceived her into making the biggest mistake of her life: believing in herself.

“Well, you failed,” Rarity said. “You could have pushed Sweetie Belle out of the spell's range, or talked Fancy into releasing her. Or, perhaps, you could have simply trusted your mistress and allowed her to handle this, instead of ruining everything I've spent years working for with your pathetic little attempt at heroism!”

“THAT'S ENOUGH!” shouted Sweetie Belle, doing her best to ignore the pain in her throat. “Silver Spoon saved my life! She...”

Sweetie Belle locked eyes with her sister.

“She did more for me tonight than you've ever done.”

As soon as she said it, Sweetie Belle felt guilty, though she wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was the way Rarity's confident expression seemed to have been shaken, ever so slightly. For the first time she could remember, Sweetie Belle wondered if something she said had actually hurt her sister.

Rarity took a small step back. “You don't mean that, Sweetie Belle,” said Rarity, but her words sounded hollow somehow, like she didn't believe them herself.

Before Sweetie could respond, all four ponies were jolted slightly as the carriage came to a stop.

“Ah,” said Rarity. “We're here. Silver Spoon, get the door.”

Her spirits lifted slightly by having been given an order from her mistress, Silver stood up and walked to the door. But the handle would not budge.

“It's stuck...” she said. “I can't-”

She noticed a faint blue glow around the handle.

“Miss Rarity...” she said. “Are you holding the door shut?”

Silver's spirits dropped again. Was this some new punishment? Was Rarity now resorting to petty bullying and cheap tricks to humiliate her?

Rarity walked toward Silver Spoon, positioning herself directly in front of the foal.

“It's a shame about that scar,” she said. “You know, I actually had a branding iron prepared for you for when we got home. The symbol I had in mind was the stylized 'R' from my fashion line; far nicer than that hideous X. But now it will go to waste...”

“Well...” Silver offered, “Triage only cut the cutie mark on my right flank. When we get home, if you wanted, you could still mark the other one...”

Rarity smirked. “'When we get home,' you say...”

A burst of magic drew the curtains apart from the window.

Outside, there was no train station. Instead, Silver saw a filthy, littered street, dotted with condemned buildings. On a nearby bench, a ragged-looking pony was asleep. Nearby, another warmed his hooves by a fire he had set in a garbage can. A third pony appeared to be passed out on the sidewalk.

“Where...” Silver said.

“I asked the coachman to make a little detour,” Rarity said, as her mouth curled into a frightening smile. “This is the poorest, most run-down area of Canterlot. I think the neighborhood has a proper name, but it's colloquially known as Dead Weight Alley. Would you like to know why?”

Silver wanted to answer, but somehow could not bring herself to speak.

“Because this is where the dead weight of society ends up,” Rarity said. “The ones who hold the rest of us back. This, Silver Spoon, is where Canterlot throws away its living garbage.”

Rarity's horn shone, as the door to the carriage swung open. Silver looked out at the filthy street before her. Then she turned to face Rarity, and fell to her knees.

“Miss Rarity...please! Not like this...” she said, now shaking in terror. “Please...I love you! Without you I'm nothing! Please...I promise I can do better! I'll do whatever you want!”

“Silver Spoon...” Rarity said.

Silver was screaming hysterically now. “BEAT ME! TORTURE ME! CRIPPLE ME! WHATEVER PUNISHMENT YOU THINK IS FAIR, I'LL TAKE IT! BUT DON'T SEND ME AWAY FROM YOU! MISS RARITY, ALL I HAVE IN THE WORLD IS YOU!”

“Sis...” Sweetie Belle shook her head in disbelief. “You can't...you wouldn't really...”

“You ruined my life with a kick, Silver Spoon,” said Rarity. “Allow me to return the favor.”

“MISS RARITY, PLEA-”

Silver's cries were cut off as Rarity's kick collided with her midsection.

For Silver, time seemed to move in slow motion. First came the pain. It barely registered. Then, the sensation of falling.

In Silver's mind, she remembered seeing Rarity for the first time. She remembered the pain Rarity had given her that first day, the brutal, uncaring violation that had endeared the foal to her mistress. She thought of the warmth she felt just from being near Rarity. She thought of the fear and admiration her mistress inspired. She thought of the unequaled physical pleasure she had given Silver, combined with equal measures of pain. And above all, Silver remembered the uncommon but absolute joy she felt on those occasions when she would wake up, sore, bruised and weary, in her mistress’s embrace.

And now, Silver thought, she would never feel that embrace again. Silver Spoon fell only a few feet from the carriage unto the street below. But to her, it felt like a fall of a thousand miles.

Silver landed on the dirty ground, and time returned to normal.

“Remember our agreement!” Rarity shouted to the carriage pullers. “GO!”

The carriage began to pull away. Rarity slammed the door shut.

“Sis, STOP! We have to go back!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “You can't just leave her here!”

“It's done, Sweetie Belle,” said Rarity. “It's done.”

It took Silver a moment to fully process the reality of what was happening. Once she did, she got to her hooves and began to run after the carriage.

“Stop! Miss Rarity, PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME ALL ALONE!” Silver screamed at the top of her lungs as she chased the carriage. “I'M NOTHING IF YOU LEAVE ME! MISS RARITY, STOP! PLEASE! I LOVE YOU! LET ME COME HOME WITH YOU! PLEASE!”

“Sis, don't do this! She'll die out here!” Sweetie shouted. But Rarity simply walked over to her seat and sat down.

Sweetie desperately looked in Pip's direction. But the little colt was huddled up in his seat with his eyes closed, still holding his ears. His pained expression, however, revealed that he could hear everything. He rocked back and forth, trying to shut the world out.

Frantically, Sweetie ran to the door and flung it open. Silver saw this, and gave a happy gasp.

“Yes! Please, let me come home!” she yelled.

“Sis! Make them stop now, or I'll jump!” Sweetie said.

Rarity looked at Sweetie and smirked. “Go ahead, dear,” she said. “If that's what it takes to calm you down.”

“I'm not joking!” Sweetie said. “I'll prove it!”

The little unicorn took a moment to steel herself. Then she jumped.

She did not leave the carriage. Instead, she remained suspended in midair, held fast by her sister's magic.

“No...no! Sis, let me go!”

Silver's legs were beginning to fail her. She fought past her exhaustion as best she could, but she could tell she was reaching her limit.

“Miss Rarity, please take me back!” she shouted. “All I'll ever want in my life is to be with you! Don't leave me alone!”

She heard a voice yell back to her from the carriage. But it was not Rarity's.

“You're not alone, Silver!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “I won't forget about you! And I'll always be your friend!”

“Sweetie...?” Silver said, shocked.

“You saved me!” Sweetie yelled. “And now I'm going to sa-”

The door slammed shut before Sweetie could finish.

“Enough,” Rarity said. Sweetie tried to open the door, but it was once again sealed shut.

“SWEETIE! SWEETIE, COME BACK!” Silver shouted, as she exerted the last of her strength to keep running. “TALK TO YOUR SISTER! ASK HER TO FORGIVE ME! SWEETIE...”

Silver Spoon was running out of breath.

“Sweetie...I'm sorry...” she said, unsure if she would be heard. “All this time...I made fun of you, and I was mean to you...but you were never worthless...or stupid...or any of those things I called you...you were a better pony...than I ever was...”

A sharp pain shot up Silver's left foreleg.

“Please look after Miss Rarity...” she said, now speaking too quietly for anyone else to hear her. “Tell her I understand. Tell her I know I deserve this for letting her down...tell her how much I love her...”

It was over. Silver Spoon collapsed as the carriage sped away into the night.

“Tell her I'll be right here...” she said. “So please...ask her to come back for me someday...”

It was a warm evening in early autumn. There was no breeze in the air. The leaves in Canterlot were only beginning to change their colors, and it was proving to be a very warm season.

But for Silver Spoon, there was no warmth. She had never felt colder in her entire life.

--- epilogue 1---

“Spike? You're still awake?”

Twilight Sparkle rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she stepped out unto her balcony. The rain had finally stopped, and the night sky was now clear and beautiful.

“I couldn't sleep,” Spike said. He was sitting on Twilight's favorite outdoor reading chair, looking up at the stars.

“Worried about tomorrow?” she said.

“It's just happening so fast, I guess...” Spike said. “I didn't think I'd have to leave so soon.”

“It's just bad timing,” Twilight said. “Stygian's letter said that after tomorrow, he won't be in Equestria again for another half year. I didn't realize he was returning to the dragon homeland so soon. If you don't go now, you'll have to wait.”

Spike sighed.

“But, you know, I don't want to rush you,” Twilight said. “If you'd rather wait, that's okay...”

“No, I think this is what I need right now,” Spike said. “I guess I just...I was hoping she'd come back by now.”

“Don't worry, Spike,” Twilight said. “If Rarity has Twist, I'll get her back.”

“What if she doesn't, though?” Spike said. “Looking back, Twist was always...she was always kind of sad. She always felt like she didn't belong, you know? What if she just couldn't take it anymore? What if she did run away?”

“But you said she went to Rarity's, right?”

“The last time I saw her, she was leaving with Sweetie Belle,” Spike said. “I mean, maybe Rarity is...like that...but Sweetie? Do you really think she'd just trick Twist like that?”

“No...” Twilight said. “But maybe Rarity forced her. And I've seen...I've seen her be very protective of her sister.” The hesitation in Twilight's voice told Spike that there was more to that statement. But he decided it wasn't the time to pry.

“Maybe,” Spike said. “I just hope...I just hope Twist comes home...”

“The moment she does, I'll write you a letter,” Twilight said. “I guess it'll take longer to get to you than yours will take to get to me, but it'll get there.”

“Thanks, Twilight,” Spike said. “I'm glad you figured out how to alter the charm on my flame breath. I'd rather send letters to you than the Princess anyway.”

“I can't wait to read them,” Twilight said, hugging her friend. “You're going to have such an amazing time with the other dragons. This won't be like the time you ran away to join the migration. These dragons are supportive. They won't judge you just because you grew up among ponies...”

“I know,” Spike said, smiling. “You don't have to reassure me. I'm actually really looking forward to it...I'm just not looking forward to leaving you.”

Twilight smiled softly, and pointed toward the heavens.

“Do you know what I like about the stars, Spike?” Twilight said. “They belong to everyone.”

As the train sped down the mountain, Sweetie Belle looked out her window. The lights of the city were vanishing in the distance, and the stars were coming into view.

“Can she see them too?” Sweetie said to herself.

There were no stars in Dead Weight Alley.

Silver Spoon was lying on her back in the middle of the sidewalk. She didn't care who saw her, or what they might do to her. She felt as though she might never move again.

Silver had never seen a sky without clouds or stars before. The city lights had consumed them, leaving only a strange, false glow which robbed the heavens of their beauty. But Silver knew they were still there somewhere.

“Look up,” she whispered. “Please, Miss Rarity, look up. Right now. Wherever you are, we can look for the stars together...”

“I've forgotten what they look like,” said Aurora.

“Really?” asked Twist. “You don't know what a star looks like?”

Aurora laughed quietly. It was lights-out time in the Gallery, and most foals were fast asleep. But Twist and Aurora had stayed up talking. Aurora sensed that Twist needed it.

“No, silly. I mean I don't remember any of the constellations,” Aurora said. “I used to love to look at them every night. I'd keep star charts and everything. I always figured that would turn out to be my special talent, but...”

It was then that Twist realized that Aurora had no Cutie Mark. She was the oldest pony Twist had ever seen without one.

Aurora continued, “I've been in here since I was seven years old...I've forgotten all of them...I haven't seen the sky in ten years...”

Twist hugged her new friend, and smiled. “You know what I like to do when I'm thad? I like to pretend.”

“You should be careful about that...”

“No, listen...” Twist said. “I used to look at the stars with my friend...”

“The dragon?” Aurora said, trying her best not to giggle.

“Yes, the dragon,” Twist said. She took no offense at Aurora's tone. “We'd count them together thometimes, on this hill we liked to sit on. We did it just a few days ago...hey, Aurora?”

“Yes?”

“Close your eyes.”

Aurora complied.

“There's no roof here,” Twist said. “We're outside, on top of a hill. And there's not a cloud in the sky. No moon, either. Just stars, as far as you can see. And there's a group of stars right above us, eight of them, and one of my friend's books say it's supposed to look like a dog, but it doesn't look like one to me...”

“Canis Major...” said Aurora. She spoke in tones of hushed joy.

“And there's another one, I think it's a lion? And over there, if you turn your head a little, there's one that lookth like a dipper. A big dipper! I forget what that one's called. But that's not important. What's important is...they're everywhere. All the stars. All around us, above our heads. They never left. Can you see them yet?”

“I...I...” tears were beginning to come from Aurora's closed eyes. “I can see them all...”

“And right in front of uth is the brightest star of all. And that's the one that they say is always in the same plathe in the sky. So if you follow it...you'll always come home.”

“Twist...” Aurora said, grasping her new friend's hoof. “Thank you...”

“There's a really smart pony in my town,” Twist said. “And she told me once, that her favorite thing about the stars, is that they belong to everyone. And if they belong to everyone...that means no one can take them from you. No matter how hard they try to hide them from you...”

“They're still there...” Aurora said. “They're still there, and they're mine...”

“So don't be sad, Spike,” said Twilight, hiding her own sadness as she held her friend close. “You and me, we'll share the sky no matter where we are...

“...until the day you come back home.”

*******

I get it now. I know what my mistake was.

I realized it as soon as I told Sis that Silver had done more for me than her.

It hurt her. I saw it in her eyes. I made her sad.

Which means that she still loves me.

And I hate to say it, I don't want to even think it, but...that gives me an advantage.

This is what you've done, sis. You've made me see love as a weapon.

This can't go on. I can't keep trying to save you. Not after what you did tonight. It has to end. I owe it to Silver Spoon...

I owe it to Twist...

Twist...I'm so sorry...I can't ever take back what I did to you.

But I can stop her. And I think I finally know how.

Because tonight, when I looked at Silver Spoon chasing that carriage, I realized something. I heard her screaming out how much she loved my sister, even after the horrible thing she'd just done to her, and it all made sense. I knew my mistake.

I've been trying to save the wrong pony.

I love you, sis. I always will. But I'm going to stop you. And I'm going to save her.

Even if I have to become like you to do it.

[TWISTED CONCLUDES IN THE NEXT CHAPTER]