6.3: Rarity trial

‘’It's a farce, truly is a farce. This is without contest the, worst, day, in all my short existence and oh Celestia know I had a lot of especially bad days in my life. *sigh* Come on Rarity you are better than that. You are a grow mare and you're resourceful. Your friends count on you and you know we will eventually find a solution to this, urgh, predicament. So right now this is the time to act like a lady and be in control of yourself.’’

So Rarity did what she had said, sit down and acted in a calm and composed manner.

For a good twenty seconds.

Very soon, her lower lip went to shaking uncontrollably and eventually, she went into a huge bawling where she was crying torrents of tears that were quickly forming a pool.

‘’Whaaaahaahaa, we will die, we will all die, this the end of Rarity, le dénouement. Oh woe is me, the world would soon be deprived of my talent and so many of my fabulous dress will never know the joy to be born. Well, at least I will die young and beautiful and... and what just I am doing!!!’’

Rarity repeatedly slapped herself on the face the point of making her cheeks red.

‘’Now that not the time to be a diva, you are not the one that is the most in danger of dying. My little Sweetie Bell and my parents are the one that could die, I am sure of it. So right now is not the time to be weak but to instead have the heart of a brave amazon. Let Mel come here, I will crush him with my wits and elegance.’’

So to regain composure she sat down again and breathed slowly. At first it seemed to work, but her breathing went faster and faster until it reached a hyperventilating point that culminated in a hysterical scream and the white mare went rolling on the floor.

‘’AAAAAAH, why why why that uncouth must worry me so much with the wait, is worse than torture. It’s driving me mad, MAAAAAD.’’

Her hysteria had reached such a paroxysm that she grabbed her purple hair and stretched them to the limit while making a face that was simultaneously creepy and goofy. But mostly goofy.

‘’WHEN WILL HE SHOW IS UGLY FACE TO ME?’’

The screen appeared before her.

‘’Greeting Miss Rarity, I hope I didn't make you wait too heeeeh!!!’’
…
...
…

Time... has stopped. For both of them. It seems they were so dumbstruck that they had forgotten how to move. The eyes of Rarity, full of dripping mascara, were shrinking in embarrassment and words were stuck in her throat.

‘’... ha... ha...’’

‘’????? Just... what are you doing? A grimace contest?’’

After another few moments of stillness, Rarity darted to the wall behind her and fast as lightning, took out cosmetics from who know where, applied so much on her that she was engulfed in thick cloud of pink smoke and came out of it in pristine condition like if she never had this nervous breakdown. Well, more than she would like she never had.

‘’We both forget what just happen. Understood?’’

‘’Hum... very well. (I am better not mention that more than a thousand have just seen here doing... whatever she was doing.) *kouf**kouf* well that comedic moment was good to alleviate the tension but we must go back to business.’’

‘’Which by that, I'm sure you mean it's my turn to play your sick game.’’

‘’Yes it is. And let me tell you, I could not wait for your turn to come. You kinda are a favorite of mine.’’

‘’Urrk! I think I just vomit a little in my mouth.’’

‘’Hoho, do I disgust you that much? Figure. But I am sincere, you do are a favorite of mine. Call it an affinity between artist.’’

‘’I would like please, that you DO NOT INSULT ME, *inhale**exhale* do not insult me by comparing me to you. *humf* I am a true artist who creates beauty. Compared to you who I only saw doing things that are unspeakable.’’

‘’Ah yes, yes, that is what makes you so fascinating. Some may call you superficial but you are far from that. You are a mare on a mission. On a perpetual mission to find beauty. And with this ideal in mind, you have quickly understood that it can be found in anything. And especially in the heart of others. But you don't contend yourself to just admired it, you find that beauty so fabulous that you generously want to share it to everypony. That the whole idea of your dresses and passion for fashion is it not? Your works of arts are not here to add beauty but to complement, no, more like to act as magnifying lenses that can help to show to all the beauty that is already there.’’

‘’... ... Grrr. Why the one that finally understand me so well had to be him of all ponies. Such a sick joke.’’

‘’But what I consider your best quality is that you don't just admire beauty, you are trying your best to have a beautiful heart. Which you do very well. You never see yourself as superior like the snobbish high society that you admire. You instead always treat other as equal and do your best to act in a noble way. All that because of your wholeheartedly pursuit of your ideal of beauty. And nopony can better understand the pursuit of a ideal as me. However...’’

‘’What? However what?’’

‘’I have a little fear that although you may see beauty, you may be blind to the ugliness inside pony hearts.’’

‘’That so wrong. I do see this ugliness. It is right in front me.’’

‘’Hahahaha, oh Rarity, nopony, not even me, will deny that. But I am speaking about ugliness more subtle. More hidden.’’

Rarity tilled her head to the side because she could not understand about what Mel was talking about.

‘’What I mean is that nopony is perfect. We all have flaws. But it not always obvious and not always with bad intends. Without even knowing, we constantly hurt each other with little acts, words or even just with simple way to be. Even to our love ones, oh no no no no, especially with our loves ones. There are the ones with whom we lay our bare self and they lay their bare self to us too. Which means that they are at their most vulnerable while we show of all our sides to them. Including our ugliest ones.’’

‘’Are... you trying to teach me something? Because what you are telling me look more like common sense.’’

‘’Oh it is common sense but the point that all are missing is, how, deep, you can hurt somepony. That even the purest of ponies can so naturally stab somepony right at the heart.’’

‘’Look, I had tried to be polite and to let you express yourself but now I am lost. What are you trying to tell me?’’

‘’I am telling you... that the heart that you find so beautiful is a gem far less polished than you think. And I am afraid that your veneration of beauty makes you completely blind to it.’’

The screen disappeared and the wall in front of Rarity opened up itself to reveal a dark corridor.

‘’Now go Miss Rarity. Your trial awaits ahead.’’

Dead silence was now the only companion of Rarity. Although she had wished so much that he shut his trap, she was now finding that silence so oppress... no let's not exaggerate, nothing can be worse than to hear the rambling of that lunatic, she was thinking to herself. But now she knew the only thing she could do was to advance forward into that creepy corridor. Even if she was scared to death. So she took a deep breathing to calm her nerves.

‘’Be brave Rarity.’’

And with that small self-encouragement, she entered the corridor and walked through it at a slow pace. She was on high-alert since she was sure Melancholia will unexpectedly throw at her a trap or something like that.

She had not even walked a dozen of meters than a screen, showing Mel, appeared on the wall at her left, making her jump in fright. Feeling obfuscated, she didn't even deign to look at him and she just continued on her path with unmasked disdain. But as soon a she was out of his view, Mel just made the screen disappeared and reappearing right at the left of the fashionista, again and again, like he was following her which in a way, was exactly that. And it irritated Rarity to no end to the point where it was making her right eye twitching.

‘’Now that is stalking. Can you not leave me in peace? What do you want?’’

‘’Don't make that face, I just want to have a casual conversation.’’

‘’Too bad, because a lady like me has nothing to say to a degenerate criminal like you.’’

‘’Ouch! Okay, that is justified. But I was really hoping that we could do small talk on everything and nothing. Wait, I just found a subject! What if we are talking about Spike.’’

The hooves of Rarity came to a complete stop.

‘’... Hun! Sp, Spike! Why are you bringing him?’’

‘’Weeeeell I don't mean to be intrusive but I could help to notice the obvious... very obvious hints that this little dragon has romantic feelings for you.’’

That, Rarity did not take it well. First it was a delicate subject to think and even more so to speak, second it was very outrageous, even for him, to openly discuss about... that, and finally, it was the last thing that Rarity was expecting Mel would throw at her so she was taken by surprise and could no longer think straight. Her blue pupils were moving nervously and her throat was becoming dry, though she could not tell why she was reacting so strongly.

‘’Wh, wh, what's the big idea goujat, you can't just speak freely about the private and personal feelings of somepony else in front of... *gasp* in front of thousands of ponies! How, how could you sink at that level! My Spikey-Wikey is a pure and innocent dragon and you dare play with his feelings!’’

‘’Oh don't worry, in my town, the little crush of that dragon is a well know fact since a long time. It's even went to the point where it is one of the favorite subjects of discussion in Happy Town.’’

‘’AND THAT IS SUPPOSE TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER! (Ooooh dear, oh dear, in Celestia name, please make that Spike is not watching us right now.)’’

But it was then that Mel smile grew slightly larger.

‘’But the important part is, you just admitted that you already knew that Spike had romantic feeling for you. And very serious ones by the way. I mean, he is not very good at hiding it, even a blind pony could see it from miles away. You knew it from a very long time are you. Even you couldn't deny it.’’

The white unicorn felted suddenly nervous and looked away from him.

‘’Hum, I, heu, I don't know what you're talking about.’’

‘’But the strange part that I had always found curious is that even though you clearly knew for all this time, you have never neither respond nor deny his love for you.’’

She did give him no answers but instead, silently bitted her lips.

‘’Now Miss Rarity. Why do you think we are talking about him?’’

‘’Instead for being dreadfully rude, I don't see any other... o... ther...’’

At that moment, the heartbeat of Rarity grew faster and faster until it reached an alarming speed. And she slowly turned her head to face the pony that she had called with many pejorative names... and understood that they were not doing justice to the true evil he was.

‘’It's... not my family or Sweetie Bell that are in danger. There are no bombs in my boutique or in my parents' house. The one dear to me that is in danger is... Spike!’’

‘’Ah, finally. It sure took a long time for you to understand.’’

Something came from behind the throne of Mel, something climbing its back while making disturbing sounds that in no way could come from something alive. Once it displayed its full appearance, Rarity could not help but to take a step back. It indeed was not alive but looked like a creepy bug, no worse, an oversized bug walking on four legs and with two protuberances that could pass for mandibles. And Rarity nearly gagged when she noticed that you can see with clarity the mechanical innards inside it. To say that this machine was poorly imitated life would have been generous. And the fashionista had none for what she was now considering the most ugly, grotesque... and menacing thing she ever saw.
And just like a true bug, that machine creepy-crawled all the way down to the armrest where Mel, without even looking at it, caressed the thing with care.

‘’Impressive is it not. Those weapons are another gift from the ancient civilization that I affectionately named Spider-bot. I had sent one just this one by mail to Spike. And yes before you ask, I have installed a bomb into that bot and I can make it explode in any moment.’’

‘’It.. it can't be!’’

‘’My bot had already taken care of him and took him to a isolate wing of Twilight castle where he is now unconscious. My bot should at least be in less than a meter from him.’’

‘’You.. you are lying! There is no way he can be taken down that easily. Spike is clever. Once he sees those, those things, I am sure he will quickly understand how not safe they are. Then he will get rid of that abomination or get the farthest possible//

‘’Oh I have also write a letter saying that thing was a gift from you.’’

‘’He... had no chance!’’

‘’So you better hurry up and go do your trial. Well unnnless...’’

Mel raised his hoof and smashed it on the Spider-bot whom he had once shown care just a few seconds ago. The arachna automaton was now no longer more than a pile of junk crunched by the gray appendage of his master. It was emitting electrical sparkles and one of its legs was pathetically moving in spasms.

‘’Unless you prefer that this number one assistant no longer assists anyone. Forever.’’

She did not lose time, she went galloping like a crazymare while shouting ‘’SPIIIIIIIIKE’’ at the top of her lungs. She was already on edge but the treat of Melancholia was the coup-de-grace and she was now running on full-panic mode. But it didn't take long because before she knew it, she was now in an open room cover in a pitch-black darkness. She stopped her track and she could hear the opening behind her closing itself, snuffing the last trace of light and trapping her in this darkness black as ink. Afraid and in choc, the only thing she could do was to make a pathetic moan.

She just stayed there, unsure of what to do. When she decided to take a step, a projector light came from above, lighting something in front of her. Getting closer as she enters inside the cone of light, she saw that it was a sort of little monolith made with the same white material that... well that everything in this forsaken place was made and that Rarity was starting to consider the epitome of dull. That monolith also has a screen, a glass one this time, at the height of the unicorn head.
But then she noticed that this screen was showing something and upon closer inspection realized that it was... Spike!!! The poor dragon was lying body and face against the floor. She throws herself at the screen, her eyes nearly touching the glass. It was barely noticeable but Rarity could see light breathing patterns coming from him. That mean…

‘’(Spike is alive! Oh thank Celestia.)’’

Reassured, Rarity resumed her breathing, realizing only now that she had stopped it in the first place. She then tried to find hints about where he was. The room where Spike was was being dimly lit but she recognized the crystal wall and knew it was a room of Twilight castle although she didn't recognize the room specifically. The castle of her friend was huge and there was a lot of vacant rooms that were uses for nothing.

To her joy, she saw Spike moving one of his clawed hand and she also heard him do a grunt.

‘’He is waking up!’’

‘’Ha, perfect timing. I wouldn't have to give him a brutal awakening.’’

A holographic screen appeared behind the monolith, showing Melancholia looking from high at the white mare.

‘’Oh leave me alone you//

‘’Silence Rarity. This is where your trial begins. Right now, Spike cannot see us or heard us. So you’d better listen to me attentively because I will not repeat myself.’’

Mel held out his right hoof to his side and a holographic display materialized at just an inch of the tip of his hoof.

‘’What you are seeing is from the point of view of the Spider-bot. All I would need would be just a little push and boom, the bot explodes, bringing Spike with him. Even though dragons are impervious to flame and heat, the shock-wave of the explosion, which is known to be worse than the explosion, would be more than enough to pulverize every ounce of this little boy.’’

‘’Nooooo! No please don't do that. I do everything you want.’’

‘’Perfect, perfect. Here how we will proceed.’’

He was smiling at her in an inscrutable way and Rarity was wondering how in Equestria is it possible to speak of death and murder and yet act like if you have a nice conversation with an acquaintance. What madness was possessing him she was asking herself. He did not once move his arm from its precarious position, even when he continued to speak.

‘’Soon a screen will come from the bot. Then Spike will be able to see you and hear you and both of you will be able to communicate and talk to each other. What I want of you is for you both to have a conversation.’’

‘’What?! I, I don't get it?’’

‘’And I want you to speak about a specific subject and that you make him do something. Do that for me and I promise that I will deactivate the bomb and the bomb will be shut-down forever. But fail to comply and I initiate the explosion myself.’’
‘’... And... what do you want me to do?’’

‘’Don't worry. I just a little thing that will ask little effort of you and will have little consequences. Whaaat I want you to do is to make Spike

admit is love to you

... ... ... She... was not sure to have heard right. No, thinking more about it, she must surely not have heard it right, right? There is no way it could be true.

But... but that was indeed what she had heard. At first, she did not fully understand what it means but... quickly it dawn on her what she will have to do and what it will imply. And as she realized with a painful clarity what cruelty he was forcing her to do, she felt her heart being squeezed tight by feelings of fear, remorse and... other sentiments she couldn't describe. She took many steps back in fright and looked at her tormentor with the look of a child that had just learned that one of her relatives had died.

‘’No! No no no no no no please not that, all but... but not that!’’

‘’Hum, curious. Why do you react like that? Isn't suppose to be a simple task? Why are acting like it must make you feel guilty, huuuuum?’’

‘’No I am serious, ask me anything else. It's... it's just too cruel and it will hurt him so much. Why are you doing that? What are you winning ?’’

‘’You will see. But if you want him to live, you will have to do as I say and to do it seriously. I suggest you that you go right on the heart of the matter with him and to lay bare your feelings.’’

‘’But//

‘’I will have my eyes on you. If you fail to make him admit his love for you, that I find that you are stalling for time or that you are derailing the subject of the conversation, I will make as your Spikey-Wikey go bye-bye.’’

Rarity was becoming so anxious that she was hyperventilating. But Mel didn't give a damn.

‘’Wow, I nearly forget to say the most important part. You, are, strictly forbidden to tell Spike that he is in danger and to give him the reasons as to why he must admit his feeling to you. If I hear the slightest allusion, mehehe, seriously, do I really need to say it.’’

‘’I... I can't do that.’’

‘’You are the star of that show Miss Rarity. It's up to you to decide which it will be best to break. His life, or his heart.’’

‘’*gasp*’’

‘’Are you ready? Theeen, action.’’

At first, the first sensation that was coming back to him was a faint throbbing pain in his skull. But it did not stay faint for long. It grew more and more pronounced to the point Spike felt that his brain was constantly being hit by a sledgehammer. That in itself was fine, along he was not capable of coherent thoughts to give meaning to this hell of a headache. But unfortunately, the part of his brain governing that function decided to turn on, and he could understand in full clarity the headache that was assailing him. His first full-sentenced thought was:

‘’(Uuugh. What a pain in the asHEAD!! Yes that, what a pain in the head, that what I wanted to say.)’’

He tried to move his arms but found he had difficulty to make them so. Not just them but all his body felt numb like it was made in jelly. Even his eyelids would not open. For Spike, they felt as heavy as tons.

‘’(Okay, this is a little alarming. Why I am on the floor and what had happened to me? Did I hit my head on something? Yet as an assistant I am used to receiving things on my head and I am generally fine. Let's... let's try to remember what had happened. I was... doing my chores, right, and then... I think the mailmare gives me a package from Rarity and... THAT RIGHT!!!)’’

It all came back to him. The package, the strange sculpture and more importantly, how it could not have been Rarity who had sent that. Then he had the vague notion that something had just attacked him and the fear of danger was enough to make disappear his lethargy and he jumped screaming in fright. Once he landed on his knees, he quickly looked around his surroundings. The room he was devoid of any furniture and was dark except for a widow casting the light of the pale moon on the floor and on the little dragon. It was like Spike was on a safe island of light, surround by a menacing sea of blackness.

‘’Heh, this is an unused room of the castle. How did I get here, I don' remember ever coming here? Did I sleepwalk? No, that absurd. Alright Spike, Twilight always say that you have to think things rationally. So if I could get here on my own then that means that something must have... ... wait! What if the thing that had attacked me is the one that had brought me here! AND WHAT IF IT IS STILL HERE!!’’

As if it was a signal, Spike heard strange and unnatural noises. Then from the shadow came the Spider-bot, walking under the moonlight just before Spike. The young dragon had never seen something like this nor than he had any idea what that thing, clearly not alive, was. But he understood that this machine was bad news and flew away from it while looking at it with fear.

‘’Gyaaah! Ge, get away from me or, or, or I, I turn you into ash.’’

But the automaton didn't move and instead kneels before him. The upper part of the machine open-up, bizarre contraptions came from it and assembled together to form what was like a screen. Then, the black surface was soon replaced by buzzing static. Spike didn't understand what was before his eyes and he was close to run away like a scary little bat. But the static changed now showing the last thing he was expecting to see. The screen was now showing//

‘’Rarity!’’

There. Just there was the most beautiful pony with the most beautiful heart and one look at her blue eyes was enough to fill the world with light. As cheesy as it sound, that was genuinely how Spike was seeing Rarity and in one instant, all his fear and even his headache had disappeared because just looking at her was always making everything better. Although he knew it was not wise, he landed in front of her with the most innocent smile.

‘’Rarity! Rarity, I can't believe is you. Gosh it is so good to see you.’’

‘’It's... good to see you too. Tell me... are you... hurt?’’

‘’Well I wouldn't call myself in tip-top form but I guess I am not hurt. But I had no idea what just happen to me. Actually I still have no idea what is happening.’’

‘’It's... fine. Trust me... everything... will be fine.’’

‘’I... look, it's not that I don't believe you but, but is just that everything is strange. Where are you? What is that... that thing that is showing your image? Is it an invention of Twilight because it does not like something she will make? Did it was really you that had sent it? And why are you speaking to me through that thing? And... ... Rarity! What happened to you?!’’

Spike became alarmed when he saw than Rarity was in pain. She was not showing it but Spike know her well, he could guess with just one look how she was truly feeling. And right now she was in so much distress. And not like her usual dramatic tantrums. Rarity was the type of mare to be very open and verbal when she was not well. However... she seems to be in a pain so great that she could not express it. Quite the contrary, she even seems to hide it in an obviously fake smile... even though her blue eyes were crying.

‘’Rarity, what's wrong, why are you like that? Did something bad happen to you? Is there something I can do for you? Rarity, tell me what wrong. Rarity. But talk to me please!’’

‘’... ... Spike... there is... something important... that I want you to do... for me. And I am sorry but... I cannot explain... why I want you to... to do it. But... believe me, it's... something important.’’

‘’Of course Rarity, you can ask me anything. You know I will always do everything in my power to help you.’’

‘’(No no no no no please, stop being so kind. And stop looking me with these eyes. You only make things harder.) Spike... I want you to... ... I want you to... ... I... I wan, wan, want you to... to...’’

It was so hard for her to say the words. Her lips did not want to stop shaking... even when tears came streaming over them.

‘’... to... please admit your love for me, right here right now.’’

...
...
…
‘’Heh!’’

Spike could not believe what he was hearing. To say he was shocked would be light to the intense confusion he was right now since his mind went to a complete blank. Before he realized, his hands had become sweaty.

‘’Rarity! Why... are you asking me this? No... no come to think of it I'm must surely have heard wrong//

‘’Stop that, I am serious! I cannot explain why but I need you to do it. You have to trust me.’’

‘’Heh! Hey hey hey hey, you cannot be serious, it has to be a joke, right. Right? I mean how can you know in the first... ...!!!’’

He had tried is best to keep his composure. He knew that this moment would one day arrive but... today he was just not prepared and tears softly came pouring from his eyes even before he noticed them.

‘’You... knew then. Ah, I see. You knew from all this time. Haha, well of course, you won't ask me if you don't.’’

‘’Spike?’’

‘’I mean, I'm not stupid. I kinda knew that... I was not that good to hiding it. Yeah come to think of it, it seems rather obvious. A young dragon that is always awestruck each time he sees his favorite pony. Who always accept in a heartbeat to help her each time she is in need. And who also constantly sing her praises at the slightest opportunity. ... Wow, hehe, when you say all that then it is no wonder everypony noticed it, even a blind pony could see clear as day. That... nearly funny with a little hindsight. I feel really dump haha.’’

‘’(Please don't make that face. I'm so sorry.)’’

‘’But I really how could I do any other way? You... are you. So generous, always thinking about other, always seeing the beauty in everything. Please don't laugh but in my eyes, you are a true angel. Even your quarks and flaws I can't help but to find them beautiful. I admire so much that I guess I have to express it one way or another as corny as that sound.’’

‘’(Oh Spike, I am none of those things.)’’

‘’So yes in a way I knew you could not help but to notice it. But... you have never shown any sign of it. I mean here I am, always following you like a puppy but you never seem to be aware of my feelings. I know it was childish to think like that but I couldn't help but to think that maybe, just maybe, even if all could see my feelings for you, you Rarity was the only one that could not read them. Yes, it is dumps but after weeks and weeks, you have never shown any hints that you know. Well, there was that time when I became giant but even then we have never discus it after. So I went to truly believe that without truly believe it but also genuinely believe it. Confusing, I know.’’

‘’It's... not your fault. You have never done anything wrong.’’

‘’Rarity... please I need to know. Did you really knew from all this time and you just... never told me?’’

Rarity lips went to shake uncontrollably. She knew she had to tell the truth. But it was so hard, more than she anticipated it.

‘’... Ye, ye... yes. Yes. That right. I knew it. I knew it since day one. Like you say, it was impossible to miss. I am still remember it well. I could nearly see the hearts in your eyes and you were so awestruck it was hard to believe. But... I am really sorry to say that but at that time I did not really take it seriously. I had... saw that as just a childish crush and so not to be impolite I had made like I didn't notice it.’’

‘’Oh! ...Ah. Yes, I figure has much. I mean if I could have looked at myself, even me I wouldn't have taken myself seriously.’’

‘’Please Spike that not what I mean, I//

‘’But... but...’’

Spike had tried his best to keep his composure until now. To show to Rarity that although it was harsh, he could take it. But he was at his limit and started to tremble. And his crying intensified because more tears were added to the mix and they were more than tears of sorrow. Ones filled with a sentiment that Spike didn't want to feel against her, but could not manage to contain.

‘’Even so... even so it does not mean that my love for you was superficial. Sure, I admit, at first it was just because I was thinking that you were the most beautiful mare, no, the most beautiful creature I had never seen. I still think that. But then, I quickly realized that you were much much more than that. That... it was your heart that was making you so beautiful. You see quality in everyponies and want to find the best way to display it at the light of day and you have such a creative mind that came with bright ideas to the point it makes me feel a little jealous and the way that you always put other above yourself and so, so much more reasons that I can't find words to describe. What I mean to say is that it was with you that I understood the true meaning of beauty. So much that I wanted to be always close to you and... even become somepony as noble as you. Or at least a bit closer.’’

Before this declaration, the unicorn, shocked, covered her mouth with both hooves and cried some tears. She knew that the young dragon was in admiration before her but she didn't imagine it was that intense. But he did not end there.

‘’But if there is one thing you cannot do and that is saying that my love is just a childish crush. That the one thing I won't allow you to do.’’

Spike founded himself surprise to be able to talk like that against her, but the words were just coming out without he could do anything.

‘’My feelings are the real deal. I love you so much that sometimes its hurt. So I don't understand how can you ask me to... tell you everything just like that. It's, it's beyond me, I can't, I just can't.’’

‘’No Spike, don't go away! If you do that you will...’’

Realizing with horror what she had nearly done, she looked up and saw Mel waving his hoof in scolding manner while making a silent ‘’tut tut tut’’. Also his other hoof was waving dangerously in front of the activation display. Rarity felted trap in a corner as she saw that there was really only one way to save Spike no matter how she did not want to do that. She had to stab Spike heart. And her own too.

‘’Spike it is not what I mean. It is true that at first I thought that it was just a crush but then... I quickly realized that you were truly in love with me. Your eyes that were shining each time you see me was telling me enough. But... but what were you expecting me to do? You are a child Spike. And I am an adult. It is impossible to me to reciprocate your feelings, I cannot do what I cannot do. Spike, I... I... (you have to say it at last). I cannot and I do not love you. I really try but... I simply cannot.’’

A... heavy silence was all that was given like answers. Spike eyes were looking downcast but even hidden, tears were still pouring from them. The young dragon then fell on his knees.

‘’But I knew it. I knew from the beginning that I had no chance. Of course I am a child and of course it was impossible. I was not deluding myself contrary to what everypony was thinking. But still I was enjoying being in your presence and that was enough for me. Sure, more time I was spending with you and more I was falling in love with you. But still, it was nothing more than a fantasy. Really, just a fantasy. But... there were times where I couldn't get you. Where you seem to reciprocate without truly reciprocate. At those times I could not help but to have hope... for then be haunted by doubts that I misinterpret you. Again and again. It's a really painful rollercoaster you know. And now you are telling me that you knew for all this time? Then why Rarity, why...’’

‘’(Nonononono, please don't ask that question, don't ask the question I am so ashamed of.)’’

‘’Why did you never confirm me that it was impossible?’’

‘’Because...’’

This was too much for Rarity. The guilt made her not even be able to look at him in the eyes.

‘’Because I... was enjoying the attention.’’

‘’Huh!’’

‘’I... am somepony who has always craved attention. And to have a young dragon who is always awestruck at my presence just felt good. It boasts your self-esteem to be so adored. It was too much for me to resist. Please, don't ever think that you were just a tool to me because there is nothing more far from the truth, you are an irreplaceable friend and I do really think you are an incredible dragon. But you are right, I voluntary keep things ambiguous all for that I can still bathe in your admiration and like the foolish of fool it is only now that I realize how cruel it was.’’

‘’... ... You mean... that really what it was! I... find hard to believe. Did you... really put me into that kind of limbo for that reason?’’

‘’I did not have bad intentions, I swear! It's just... with time it had become natural. It had come the point where I was doing it without even noticing. When something becomes daily, you hardly question it. (Oh Celestia, it sounds even worse said out loud.) I swear to you if I had even known that it was hurting you I would have said outright that I could not love you but not once it came to my mind that I was doing you harm. Not once. But I still did it and that's the painful truth.’’

Spike was so dumbfounded to hear that confession the he fell on his butt he looked up with a distant gaze in his puffy eyes.

‘’Wow. Did I really see nothing? Then I changed my mind, I really was delusional. Guess I am more dumb than I thought, heheh.’’

‘’Spike. I am so so so sorry but right now there still something I need you to do for me. I know it is selfish of me and that I don't deserve it, I know it is cruel to ask you that and even more not to give you explications but you need to trust me on this. Even *sniff* if it is the last time you have to do that.’’

‘’It's... really important for you?’’

‘’Yes. More than you think.’’

Spike lowered his head to look straight at Rarity. Seeing him both smiling and crying was splitting in two the heart of the unicorn.

‘’Everything for you my sweet Rarity.’’

Spike took a deep breath. Even if right now he was so angry at her... turning down one of her request was something that he was not capable of. So even if the hardest he had ever done, even though he was still in tear, he gathered his strengths and gave to his love a beaming smile showing all his white canines.

‘’I... love you. I always did.’’

Now that the deed was at last accomplished, Rarity looked up at Mel who answer her with a approved nod. With a swing of his hoof, the virtual display disappeared and at the same time, the spider-bot in front of Spike retract itself and became once again a harmless white polyhedron. Though Spike was too busy crying to even notice it.

The only thing filling the dark room was the quiet sound of Rarity sobbing. And it was nothing like her usual outbursts, no, the pain in her heart was too deep to be fully expressed. She felt that now she had done something irreparable and that because of that she had lost a dear friend forever. Self-loathing was submerging her. Loathing for never having realized how selfish she has been. Loathing for not having treated his friend like he deserved it. When she opened her eyes, the screen before her was shut-down, its black surface reflecting the image of a sad mare.

That was when the heart of Rarity exploded with rage.

Furious that this tragedy without name was allowed to happen, she putted all her hatred at that image she could not support looking. Screaming like a banshee, she went to hit with an insane strength over and over on her reflection because it was a hideous repulsing ugly offensive revolting foul gross loathsome thing that was not allowed to exist.

‘’WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, WHAAAAAAAAAAAAH’’

Losing her mind, she went to hit faster faster and faster without even be able to notice the pain in her hoof or the bleeding until at last the glass of the screen broke. Cracks were spread in all its surface like a spider web, distorting her reflection into a grotesque image of herself. In a way, she was finding it... fitting.

The holographic window showing the stallion who just doesn't know how to read the atmosphere appeared behind her.

‘’Revolting is it not. It is always the awful things we do without even realize it that shock us the most to the core.’’

‘’... ... It... was not supposed to happen like that. That discussion would have eventually happen one day but not like this. Not, like, this.’’

‘’Are you sure it would have happened in the first place? You have said it yourself, you didn't realize you were hurting him until I forced you to confront it.’’

Rarity turned around to face him, showing her wet and apologetic face.

‘’I did not want that to happen. I was not trying to be mean//

‘’Of course. Of course you did not have any bad intentions.’’

Mel head went down in a somber way.

‘’It is sad but it happens so often. So many ponies, who are good and who do good, manage to yet be harmful for those that are close to them and that without notice it. So you see, what you did was not special. It's just how life work.’’

But then he smiled with cruel glee.

‘’But that does not make it less bad is it not. Does not make the consequences less real. After all, an innocent sin is still a sin. But you already knew that.’’

Rarity, faced against this verbal assault could not help but to do a fearful hiccup.

‘’Now Miss Rarity, after all this, are you still convinced that your heart is so noble and beautiful as you were thinking?’’

‘’...’’

‘’Hum, no response! Then let me ask you a question. Do you think it was the first time you have hurt somepony without realizing it? And do you think it will be the last? And do you think it only applies to you? That other, no, that all on this planet do not sin without being aware and without being able to do to anything about it? We have all many flaws which means they have to be some we cannot be aware, it is just impossible to look at the entirety of our soul. And that is why it is impossible not to hurt. To live is to hurt.’’

The unicorn didn't want to hear anymore words because she felt that more he was talking, more the colors of the world were fading away.

‘’That, Rarity, is the ugliness I was talking about. The one that we are all stuck with, that is nether corrupting, hidden or overwhelming but that is, simply, is. I hope that with that lesson you will now learn to take out your pink glasses. Farewell Miss Rarity.’’

And just like that, he disappeared, leaving the white mare alone with her misery. In a last moment of defiance, she pulled all the anger that was left in her and shouted at the top of her lungs toward the dark ceiling.

‘’You monster! Curse you Mel. CURSE YOU. And... curse meeeee. ... Curse... me. Hurk!’’

A violent nausea came through her and she vomited all the contents of her stomach.

‘’Bluurrrrrrrrghurkh... urkh*kouf*... *kouf**kouf* Forgive me, Spi... .’’

Having no more strength in her, she staggered blindly since her vision had gone blurry until she had hit a wall, fell and remain leaning on it. She was finding the cold sensation on her cheek a little comforting. Because she was feeling so miserable that she had no motivation to get up. She just wanted one thing. To go back home, to sneak into her bed and to curl up in her blanket like a cocoon for days. Where she could quietly and silently crying in peace.

Wanting to find back a little but at least just a little bit of hope, she tried to think about the dresses that were waiting for her to be complete, the ideas that she was impatient to give life and the customers that will soon be overjoyed to receive her craftsmareship, what she always found to be her biggest reward. But then something had hit her. A realization, or rather, a grim question.

‘’(Does I am still worthy to create beautiful things?)’’

Rarity trial
The ugliness inside all of us

Happytown: Somewhere in the outskirt

So many had just seen the torture Rarity had been put through. But there was one soul that had taken it particularly bad just like he did for the two previous mare. From the little monitor on the grass, Dust the Diamond Dog had been witness of the valiant fights of those ponies. Fights that have until then always ended in tragedy. And this was leaving him sobering and hyperventilate without control, his paw covering his mouths since he could not find words to describe... the unspeakable before him.

When the two brothers came out of the ruin with the prize of their quest, they were worried to be seen by ponies so they went through the forest knowing they will meet no one there. After an undetermined period of time, they found a small clearing although the dark silhouettes of the trees around them was making this place nerve-wrecking since because of the clouds, there was no even a bit of moonlight to cast away the shadows.

But Dust could not pay attention just like during the whole trip he could not pay attention at none of his surroundings. Because his thoughts were all preoccupied by the five mares, scratch that, seven mares that were now in the clutches of this loony pony. Mares that he and his brother had hurts and throw right at his hooves. He did not want to do that but he has been pressured no stop by his big bro and so in the end he had given in. But now he was submerged by guilt and could not stop to think and think and think about those ponies and about what will happen to them. It had become an obsession, so much that he could feel his head splitting in two.

It was then the he remembered the monitor he was holding. He gaze at it with a mixing of fascination and dread.

‘’(That right. Melancholia had said that with that monitor we could see what he foresaw showing to all Equestria. Then maybe I will find answers about what he will do to them. But... Dirt will not be happy.)’’

He was not stupid, he did have try to put some distance to the deed he had done and if he knew what was the fate of those mares then it will become more difficult to detach himself. But he realized he probably won't be able to sleep well so the harm was already done. Besides, if he didn't satisfy his curiosity he probably go crazy. He clicked on the well-hidden button since he knew how those machines work. The screen lit-up and was showing the infamous countdown. Dirt noticed was his brother was doing and he was clearly disapproving his action.

‘’Bro? What are you doing? Don't tell me you will really listen to Mel and watch his... his show or whatever he calls it! Hey bro, bro, are you out of your mind!’’

‘’I'm sorry, I know it's not wise but I can't do any other way. I need to know what he will do to them.’’

‘’No, what you need to do is to forget those mares ever existed. Seriously Dust, what good it will bring you to know?’’

‘’None, I'm sure of it. But it changes nothing, I need to do that if not, I will lose my mind.’’

‘’Listen me well. Our lives have been execrable for years and we have worked hard for that we can finally find peaceful days. And now we can finally have them I won't let you spoil them with guilt. You throw away that thing and we going the hell out of here NOW. UNDERSTOOD.’’

Dirt had always been the most clever of the two and the one that had always protected his little brother. That why Dust was always following his lead and thrusting his decisions.

But not this time.

‘’No big bro. I will stay here and watch that show. It is no use arguing.’’

‘’Wha!! You speak to me with that tone! Now you will//

‘’It is, no, use, arguing.’’

Dirt was shocked and did not knew what to say. The authority that his brother was using was one he didn't recognize and for the first time in his life, he was scared of him. So he reluctantly leaves Dust to watch the show that was just about to begin.

And watch it he did it from the beginning to now. And what he had seen was far worse than he could have imagined. First, he learned that without knowing he had planted bombs in so many places and that Mel was using pony lives as blackmail against the Mane 6. Which would not have been possible without him and his brother help. This was making the weight on his shoulders much more heavy. So much he could no longer move.

Mel had given to the two brothers a lot of background information on those six to study. It had helped them to apprehend them but in consequence, Dust and Dirt were knowing them more they had wished. Those mares were in a way no strangers. And when the diffusion had begun, Dust had only needed a few moments to understand that those ponies were possessing the purest of hearts in the whole world. They did not deserve that torture, was what Dust was thinking. Forget that, he wouldn't even wish that to happen to his worst enemy.

Dirt, him, was more watching his beloved brother from the side and he could feel his pain like if it was his own. He had sworn that he will protect him and he felt like he was failing that job. At that moment he genuinely did not know what to do. Except asking himself the question that was haunting him for days.

‘’(How did we have come to this?)’’

Author's Note

Finally done. And I am very proud of it. But you don't know how hard it was. This trial is actually the very first that I have imagined but gosh, how much I have hesitated to write it. I mean, we are talking about Sparity, one of the oldest and most know shipping of the fandom. (And also a favorite of mine. And I just went to say this shipping cannot be possible!!! I am weird.)
I had to work days for this chapter to be painful and dramatic while making it credible, also making sure that the characters of the show stay in characters even though they go to a breaking point and make sure it is philosophical enough to change the perception of the readers, that is to say you.

Let me tell you, it has been true murder. So, how did you like that chapter? Oh I hope it has been uncomfortable.

Anyway, now that we have done three trials on six, I think it's time for a little break since I know otherwise it would have been too much. The next chapter would entirely serve as a backstory. But be warned, there will be a lot Diamond Dogs speaking like actual Diamond Dogs. Oh boy. Hope you will like it.

* Can you believe that I had completed that chapter, just a few days before came the dragon dropped episode? Life can be strange sometime. Oh well, I still find my version of their relationship better.