Behind the Bleeding Veil

The car crash happened at 3:35am London time. Rarity was pronounced dead on the scene at 4am. Her parents got the phone call at 8:30pm their time. It's funny how time zones work. Later, Ms. Geisel would tell a friend that when she heard what time Rarity died, she immediately felt like calling her and telling her not to go out because it was only 8:30 here so the accident wouldn't take place for another seven hours. Anguished minds do not work very well.

It was Mr. Geisel who answered the phone. The police officer was formal and to the point. As soon as she had established that it was Rarity's dad whom she was speaking to, she simply stated the facts - car crash, dead daughter, and then what did they want to do with the body. It wasn't that she was purposefully trying to be mean; only she had a job to do and a bunch of blubbering and crying wouldn't accomplish anything. The parents would have time to grieve later and by the time they had collected the remains, she would have already made another ten of these type calls.

Mr. Geisel for his part, kept saying "Rarity's dead," over and over. Sometimes it sounded like a question, sometimes a statement, sometimes a curse, and sometimes like a religious mantra. Mrs. Geisel covered her mouth to silence the scream that was rocketing out of her soul, through her throat when she had heard her husband say those damnable words the first time. It did help, but not enough. Sweetie Belle heard the cry from upstairs.

Sweetie had been living in a near catatonic state since Apple Blooms murder (as previously mentioned). The muffled sound of her mother's cry had drawn her out of her room and to the stairs. As she descended she could hear her parents crying, wailing more like it. It was enough to make her utter her first words in nearly four years, "Mother, what's wrong?"

Mrs. Geisel cried out in anguish and went to the couch and collapsed. Mr. Geisel slowly made his way over to the grand staircase where Sweetie stood. It was a cruel twist of the knife that what would have been a joyous occasion any other time was linked to such a great tragedy. He hugged Sweetie as tight as he could and held her for a bit. He then stepped back a bit and put his hands on her upper arms.

"Honey, there . . . there was a c-c-c-car accident tonight. Rarity, she was in, it involved, um, ah, she was hurt. She . . . she . . . she was; honey, your sister was killed in a car accident." As he spoke, his mind felt like it was tearing itself in two. Here he was, explaining to his youngest that her sister, his daughter was dead when he himself couldn't even comprehend it. It seemed wrong, all wrong, too wrong.

Sweetie looked at him blankly. Her face was utterly devoid of emotion (so much so it looked artificial, like a mannequins face). She nodded once, but said nothing.

"Honey?" Mr. Geisel said, searching his daughter's blank visage for signs of any emotional distress. Maybe she would go back to not speaking. Maybe she would shut down completely. He didn't know but looked for any clues or hints.

Her face never changed as she replied, "Everyone dies Papa. It's just a matter of when." Her voice was emotionless as her face. Mr. Geisel tried to hug her again but she pulled away and started back up stairs. Mr. Geisel watched with a deep unease as she made her way up. Something was wrong, very wrong.

As soon as she got to the top of the stair case, she went to the railing and shouted down, "See Papa, everyone dies," and rolled over the top railing. Both Mr. and Mrs. Geisel screamed in horror as Sweetie fell like a rag doll down to the ground. She hit at the base of her shoulders with a dull thud and a sharp crack. She didn't die but she would be paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of her life (which wouldn't be that long, but more on that later as well).

It would be two days before Mr. Geisel would be able to start making the phone calls. Even then it wasn't because he was ready but because Fluttershy had called him and asked if he had heard from Rarity because she couldn't get through to her. He broke the news to her about Rarity's death and Sweetie Belle's failed suicide attempt and how his wife, Fluttershy's adopted mother was currently in a mental asylum. Once he had broken the news to her, he felt compelled to finally call everyone else.

Most broke down when they heard the news. Adagio shed a few tears but was mainly composed which was a good thing for Sunset, who was absolutely broken. Quick phone calls were made between everyone, each agreeing that it was time to come together again and bury the hatchet; only Fluttershy could not be reached.

The funeral was at 8am on Saturday, February 24, 2018; almost a week after the accident. Because of injuries sustained during the crash, it would have been closed casket regardless, but after a week (nearly), biology had made a closed casket necessary even without the fact half her face had been ripped off. Mr. Geisel greeted everyone as they came in. He was the only one there. Mrs. Geisel and Sweetie Belle were still in their respective hospitals. All the original group and Scootaloo sat together, talked, cried and reminisced - all save Fluttershy who sat alone and refused to see anyone. The girls and Flash decided not to push things before the service but would try and talk to her after.

As the services started, they kept looking over at Fluttershy. She sat stone still with a black veil covering her face so none could see it. There was something off about her. Twilight and Sunset picked it up immediately but all the others (with the exception of Scoot) could feel it too. Looking at her felt like standing next to an opened refrigerator; a slight chill, barely noticeable but still there. More than that, there was a unease, like a strange wave length, radiating from her. Twilight and Sunset kept exchanging worried glances at each other.

After the funeral home services, after the casket had been removed and everyone else had left for the grave sight, Fluttershy remained, standing beside and looking down at where the casket had been. The girls had remained behind as well to talk to her. Flash, Adagio, and Apple Jacks girlfriend all left. Sandra was a bit confused as to why everyone was staying behind but Flash and Adagio made up an excuse and walked her out so the others could be alone. With great care, the girls made their way up to Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy," Twilight began to speak with great care and trepidation but was cut off before she could finish.

Fluttershy's voice was as hard as stone and cold as ice. "I'll say this once and one time only; fix this."

Once again Twilight and Sunset exchanged troubling glances. It was Sunset who spoke next.

"Honey, we . . . ," but like with Twilight, she was cut off.

"This is not a discussion. I'm not asking. I am telling. You're gods - fix this!" Her voice was even but a boiling, seething rage bubbled and stewed beneath.

"We can't," Twilight said sadly but bluntly. "It's against the rules."

Fluttershy gave out a high pitched laugh that rode the line between hysterical and maniacal. "Against the rules? What rules? The rules you made?"

"Fluttershy," Sunset said as she tried to put her hand on Fluttershy's arm but she pulled away, "we're not the actual goddesses. We have their powers, we're their avatars, but we aren't actually them. It's hard to explain but it's true. We don't set the rules. Honestly, I don't even know if they do. Not all of them at least."

"Well how fucking convenient. Well, who does then huh? Can you tell me that? I'm not the Mystic anymore so you got to tell me. And tell me really well too, because I want an explanation. I want an explanation for all this. For Rarity, for Sandal, for all of it. Death, pain, suffering, I want to know why; why we all have to suffer and die, why there's so much injustice and nothing makes sense. So, if it's not you who can tell me, tell who can." Fluttershy's voice crackled with an energy that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

"We don't know," Twilight said with genuine regret. "You know as much as we do. First came the Black Gods of Death, then the Goddesses, then finally the multiverse. They all just appeared out of nothing. There might not be anything else."

"Nnnnoooo," Fluttershy softly yet defiantly drew out. "That answer's not good enough. No. I will find who ever or what ever is out there. I will find my answers, with or without you and you can't stop."

Before anyone could say anything more, Fluttershy stormed out of the funeral home. The girls all turned and looked at each other. Something bad was about to happen.