Conflicting Love

"Ug, how can that brute possibly make a castle so dreary and unstylish? Somepony needs to teach him how to make things more fashionable," Rarity complained as she walked through a dark hallway. "I hope that Sweetie Belle isn't alone in this dreadful place at least."

She peered around a corner to see another hallway that looked exactly the same as the one she was already in. "Is everything in here the same? Talk about tacky." Looking closely she could even see one of her floral ribbons that she had left on the ground as a way for the others to find her.

"I've been going in a circle? But how is that possible? I went left and right in a pattern so how can I end up back where I started?"

She stopped as she heard an echoing laugh fill the dark hallway. "Discord you brute, show yourself."

"Oh and what fun would that be? It really is quite humorous to mess with you ponies though."

"Yeah, humorous," Rarity said through clenched teeth.

"Hey it's just a harmless prank, nothing to get angry over. In fact how about I give you an apology gift for making you go in circles?"

"And what would that be?"

"Well if I told you then it won't be a surprise now would it? All I will say is that you will simply find it smashing."

The moment he finished his sentence, Rarity heard a loud boom in the next hallway. She knew that whatever it was that she probably shouldn't go to it but curiosity got the better of her as she slowly walked toward the hallway. She took a deep breath before she looked into the hall to see the most strangest gift that she had ever seen. "A boulder?"

She heard Discord feign a gasp of surprise. "How could you possibly be so rude as to forget his name? After all, you named him. Tom meet Rarity, Rarity meet Tom." He once again began laughing as Rarity glared at the boulder.

Rarity used her magic to levitate the boulder and slammed it into the floor as hard as she could. She repeated this pattern over and over putting all her anger into each slam until the boulder was nothing but a large pile of rubble. She started breathing heavily trying to calm herself down until she noticed something metal inside of the rubble. She used her magic to move some of the pieces covering it and saw her necklace, the Element of Generousity.

"I told you it would be smashing."

Rarity rolled her eyes at his choice of wording as she picked up the necklace. She noticed that the gem that resembled her cutie mark was dull and gray just like she herself had been the last time Discord had been free. "Let me guess it doesn't work?"

"Don't you like my thoughtful gift? Well your little sister would have," Discord said with a sinister chuckle that sent chills up Rarity's spine.

"Where is Sweetie Belle?"

"Oh you know she's here, there, and everywhere these days. But I guess I would be willing to bring you to her but I will want something in return."

It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to know that he was talking about her element. "You expect me to give you one of the Elements of Harmony? The only means of stopping you? Forget it, I'll find her on my own," She said as she started to walk off.

"Go ahead but you'll just keep going in circles over and over again. Plus you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to poor little Sweetie Belle would you?"

That stopped Rarity in her tracks as she glared even harder around her. "If you touch her I'll tear you to pieces."

"Ooh I'm scared of the pony who makes dresses. Whatever will I do being the spirit of chaos? I don't stand a chance," He replied sarcastically.

Rarity wasn't sure what she should do. On one hoof she needed to keep her little sister safe while on the other hoof she needed to save Equestria. "... If I give my element to you, will you promise that you won't harm her?"

"Really? You would be willing to give me the only thing that can stop me or any future threat to Equestria just to protect your little sister?" He asked though it sounded more like a statement.

"I would be willing to give up my own life if it meant protecting my little sister. She is one of the most important things in the world to me and I will not let anyone harm her, even if I have to get hurt myself to do it," She remarked not noticing her necklace glowing.

"You know I think you should hold onto it instead. You have more use for it than I do. Oh and FYI, when I said I don't turn ponies into stone I thought that harming them would fall into the same category. You'll find Sweetie Belle in good time but for now she is needed elsewhere."

Rarity looked back into the hall and noticed a door that was slightly opened. Taking the opportunity to get out of the endless circle she ran right to it and shut it behind her. Once inside she saw Applejack lying on the floor. "Applejack are you alright?"

Rarity walked over to the farm pony and saw that she appeared to be sleeping with a goofy smile on her face for some reason. "Applejack wake up right this instant." Nothing. "Applejack if you don't wake up right now we'll never find Applebloom."

That did the trick as Applejack's eyes shot open instantly. "I'm awake, I'm awake, I was just resting my eyes that's all."

"You actually fell asleep while trying to save your sister?"

"Look I don't need a lecture right now, I've hardly slept at all the past few days. I only meant to rest my eyes for a minute but I guess I was more tired than I thought."

"So what were you dreaming about?" Rarity asked.

"Pardon?"

"Well I saw that you had a smile while you were asleep, one that I always see Spike having whenever he's helping me at the Boutique. So what's his name?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Applejack said stubbornly.

"Oh don't be coy, you can tell me. I promise I won't say a word."

She looked at Rarity noticing her element. "You got your element?" She asked in an attempt to change the subject.

Rarity looked down with a surprised look. "Wait it was dull and gray earlier."

"Discord did say that we had to use them to their full potential, so I guess you expressed true generosity."

"I guess so. Well let's not waste anymore time. We need to find the others if we're going to stop Discord," Rarity said as they headed down the corridor. "But you're telling me about this pony you were dreaming about once we get out of here."

"I don't like anypony alright? I bet it was just Discord making me have those dreams again."

"Applejack you know that there's nothing wrong with liking somepony right?" Rarity asked concerned for her friend's avoidance of the topic.

"I said that I don't like anypony so it doesn't matter."

Rarity looked like she would protest but decided to just end the conversation seeing that Applejack wasn't going to tell her anything. Stubborn as usual. She obviously likes somepony though why she's afraid to admit it I have no clue.

Applejack meanwhile was really starting to get annoyed with everything that was happening. First Spike and now Rarity have accused her of liking somepony when both times she had been thinking about Applebloom. I don't like Applebloom. I don't like Applebloom. I don't like Applebloom... right?