The Rarity and Gearbox Chronicles

Our story begins just before the Royal Wedding between Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. Rarity and the rest are just walking through Canterlot.

Rarity: “I see you all there in a minute, I need to do something.”

And all the other ponies nodded to her and they went to the castle. Waiting for the wedding to get started. While walking through the streets Rarity heard a desperate voice coming from an alley. “No, this doesn't do it, how will I ever get ready for the wedding, how do I ever get this oil out of my mane?”

Rarity“Well excuse me sir, allow me to help.”

Desperate voice: “Well, what do I have to lose, the name is Gearbox by the way, and your name was?”

Rarity: “My name is Rarity. A pleasure to meet you Gearbox.”

Gearbox: “Same here Rarity”

Rarity took a good look at him. Gearbox was an Alicorn, an ALICORN, with a white coat, a brown mane and tail, and goggles. His cutie-mark appears to be 2 gears. Rarity didn't bother about asking what an Alicorn is doing in these parts. She found it, unladylike to ask.

At the spa, Gearbox manes lost much of the oil but still not enough.

Gearbox with a voice about to burst into tears:“I always end up in such a panic before about these things. I'm so pathetic.”

Rarity with a calm and relaxing voice: “It will get out of your manes, don't worry about it. And you are not pathetic. It isn't everyday that you go to a royal wedding right?”

Gearbox, with a little unrest in his voice: “I know, but it's meeting royalty. You and the others have all met them at least once before. I haven’t seen Celestia nor Luna before! What if I mess it up? I will never be able to show my face again...”

Rarity: “Stay with me, everything will be alright then, and remember, both of them are quite normal. Remember the party for Princess Celestia at SugarCube Corner? How she pulled that little joke in the Cakes?”

Gearbox: “I remember, but I couldn't get in, it was way too crowded. And now I am going to her niece’s wedding!”

Rarity: “As I said, stick with me and everything will be alright. You can also stay with Applejack. But what ever you do, do not, and I repeat do not stay with Twilight. It is her brother who is getting married, so for her it is even worse.”

Gearbox: “Yeah...man, I'm having a complete Fluttershy moment over this, I will stick with you and help me not to make a fool out of myself.”

Rarity: “I will make sure you don't do that. Just remember, be yourself. Don't pretend that you are a pony you are not. A lesson I learned the hard way.”

Gearbox hugs Rarity and says: “Okay, thanks for everything, this is a great help.” *realizes he hugs Rarity* “Oops, I'm sorry, I was kinda caught up in the moment.”

Rarity hugged back and says, “It is nothing darling. I am alway happy to help a friend.”

Gearbox, with pride in his voice:“You are right, this isn't the time to break down, this is a time to show everypony that i'm not just some mechanic who can do a bit of engineering, but that i am a pony who can show devotion to his nation!”

Rarity: “That is the spirit Gearbox.”

When the two were done at the spa, they went shopping for clothing for Gearbox. Rarity found a store, and Gearbox got a perfect tuxedo. It fitted him like a glove. You know what they say: The clothes make the colt. They made one last stop at a jewelery store for a perfect present. They found it. A tiara. But not just any tiara. The most wonderful one a pony can ever see in his or her life. Rarity check if they had everything, and went to the castle. Where the rest was waiting.

Applejack:“Well hello, and you are?”

All the other ponies started to wonder as well. Gearbox introduced himself to them all.

Rainbow Dash, with a teasing voice: “Hey Rarity, was this what you had to do earlier?”

Rarity: “Well no Rainbow. But let's say that what I had to do was being replaced with helping Gearbox to get ready for the wedding.”

Gearbox: “About the wedding, when does it start?”

On what Pinkie replayed: “Well, we don't know really. But I have heard that when the bells start ringing it is time to go inside.”

And after she said that, the bells in all the towers started to ring. Everypony went inside, but Rarity and Gearbox stayed outside for a little.

Gearbox: “Rarity, thanks again for the preparation advice, I wouldn't have gotten here without you. You are the best friend I have ever had. That is no lie. Sorry if it sounded a little weird. Nerves.”

Rarity, but the further the sentence progressed, her voice got darker with every word she sayd.: “It is nothing darling. As I said, I am always happy to help a friend. But remember this, my heart belongs to Spike, we can still be friends though.”

Gearbox: “Wait, why did you assume I have a crush on you, when I said you were a friend?”

Rarity: “I, I don't know... It just came out of my mouth.”

Gearbox with a disappointed and little angry voice: “Look, I have a habit of speaking my mind okay. If I DID have a crush on you, which I never will of course, this would be a whole lot more awkward than it already is. So I have to move again, because I can't find anywhere in the whole of Equestria where people like me!”

Rarity: “NO, please, stay. I didn't want to scare you away.”

Gearbox, with a lot of anger in his voice: “I’ll just  read all about this stupid wedding tomorrow in the paper.”

Rarity's eyes started to fill up with tears, she looked to the beautiful sky and asked herself: “Me and my big mouth always.... always gets in trouble thanks to it.... what have I done.... if there only was something I could do.... but what!” Fluttershy came out to see what took the two so long and saw it all. She also had tears in her eyes.

Gearbox:“Fluttershy? No please, don't cry... It is not your fault... I'm sorry you had to see this...”, Rarity looked down to Fluttershy: “F-F-Fluttershy? If you hate me for this... I understand... It could have been... a wonderful... friendship... and I had to blow it...”

Fluttershy with a calm and kind voice: “No, no, no, it still can be Rarity. Gearbox, give her another chance. You will see. If you need me, I will be inside.”

Rarity sniffed and wiped the tears away “What do you say Gearbox? Fresh start?” And she reached out her hoof to shake those of Gearbox.

Gearbox: “Okay, fresh start” And shaked Rarity's hoof. “You go in Rarity, I will see you soon, I need some time to think.”

Rarity: “Sure Gearbox, take all the time you need.”

While the minutes passed away Gearbox repeats the one line over and over: Pull yourself together, you can do it, it is just like any other wedding.

From behind a calm yet familiar voice is heard: “Of course you can do it. Just remember, be yourself.”

Gearbox, a little confused: “Wha-, Rarity!Where you here the whole time?”

Rarity: “No, I was taking a walk through the castle for some ideas, and I heard somepony whispering and I saw you. Don't worry, I only caught the last part.”

Gearbox: “I have been a little uneasy about earlier.” The only thing Rarity could say was: “Just let your mind speak...”

“I just wanted you to know that you were the most generous pony I know and even though that's your element that can't just explain it and you've got me through hard times physically and emotionally and...”, the more Gearbox talked, the more gibberish came out, until he fainted. “Somethings are best left unexplained darling”, said Rarity while she brought Gearbox to the Castle Hospital. After a while Gearbox comes by. “I missed it didn't I?”, asked Gearbox. “I'm afraid so. Everypony went. But I stayed to keep an eye on you. Everypony was surprised it was me who stayed.”, said Rarity with a calm voice.

Everypony else comes in the room and talked about the wedding. About the moment Princess Cadence got her gift from Rarity and Gearbox. The fact Applejack told the whole story, that everypony had to wipe tears away after it. And the wonderful wedding itself. Which walked without a problem. When everypony left. Gearbox needed to tell Rarity something. “Let your mind speak dear.”, she said. “Well, I saw something. Something bad. Just darkness. For a while. But then , out of nowhere, Discord walked up to me, and said ''Wake up. I'll be needing you soon.'' But what I saw next scarred me forever. It was like when Ponyville was under Discord's spell. But darker somehow... more ominous. Instead of the normal maniacal giggles, there was screaming. And...Rarity... we couldn't find Spike anywhere.”, after Gearbox said it, he passed out again. Rarity called for a doctor, but in her mind, everything was set on what Gearbox said. This is not good, not good at all. If Discord is in the loose once more... Gearbox heart faded away. “Stay with me, stay with me, whatever you do. Don't leave me here. There is a whole world of opportunity waiting for you!” A under breath voice was heard, not loud, but loud enough to understand it: “No... I can't... let her...be.. alone...I can't! I WON'T, DISCORD! I WON'T!” “YOU. STAY. WITH. ME. You hear me?! Fight against it. You must fight it! You are the only pony who can make a difference you, FIGHT AGAINST IT!”, said Rarity with tears in her eyes. Gearbox under breath voice was heard again: “She needs... to be... happy...”

“Gearbox, what ever you do, don't give up, keep fighting, hold your thoughts! Of me, of everypony you just met! Please, stay with me!”, with even more tears in her eyes, all the other ponies have gathered in the room by now except Twilight. “Listen...Rarity...I don't have much time... you need... to... run... Keep her happy, Spike... do what I couldn't...”, after these words Gearbox lost his  consciousness again. “I will not leave you like this Gearbox. Fight against it, Discord may not win!”, the tears started to walk all over Rarity's face. Gearbox under breath voice is heard one last time: “He won't... if you fight... you need to... Spike can only be saved by one pony... and that p..pony... is you.” Twilight comes in running: “Spike is gone!” “No, no, no! Please...I beg you.... stay with us... I won't lose another friend!”, said Rarity while crying. Gearbox mouth opened, but instead of his under breath voice, another voice was heard. One that they know all too well. Discord. “You can't save him or Spike Rarity... Nopony can... *maniacal laughter* The only way you can is to beat me, and that is, well... impossible. Prepare for chaos ETERNAL!” This made some wires snap in Rarity's head and she goes into mental meltdown state: “No, no, NO! NO! I can not, and I will not believe it! This can not be happening. Gearbox, if you can hear me. Fight him off! Not for me. But for Lyra. You told me how much you love her. FIGHT FOR HER! FIGHT HARDER THEN EVER BEFORE! DISCORD! I WILL FIND AND DEFEAT YOU!”

For some time it was quiet, but Applejack broke the silence: “Rarity... there's nothin' we can do sugarcube. *everypony silently, solemnly agrees* we'll help you fight Discord. He will never win as long as we're all together.” “I think your right Applejack... But still, keep fighting for Lyra! And after this is done, I will make sure you 2 get married in a marriage you deserve. But please, fight against it!”, said Rarity in the hope of Gearbox coming back. Twilight said: “Rarity, the heart monitor... *Rarity finally noticed the heart monitor beeps have deteriorated to one long continuous beep*

Rainbow Dash: “I'm sorry... I just don't know what to say...”

Fluttershy *tears streaming from eyes*

“No...this...no, I WON'T BELIEVE IT! This can't be... we just met each other... we started fresh again... I helped him.... and now its all... gone... NO, I will not accept this. This can't be happening right here, and now, Doctor, check everything. I need to be sure about this!

Pinkie: *Hair is in 'Pinkamena' style* “He... he would have wanted you to have these.” *hands Gearbox’s goggles* Mane 6 (except Rarity, for obvious reasons): “We'll fight for him. Together.”

Rarity sees the goggles: “What Pinkie... *gets furious* DISCORD, COME HERE AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN! And you *starts pumping Gearbox chest* you need to come back here! I will not leave this room until I have you back!” *gets tears in eyes because of the goggles*

Some strange beeping is heard across the room and everypony looks at monitor.

“Whaaaa- What happened... Somepony explain please?”, said Gearbox with a confused voice. Rarity explains all what happened. But during the explanation Gearbox faints again. The doctor is called and he stands for a mystery. Princess Celestia and Luna both come in. Luna recognizes Gearbox. And says that she was the one giving him access to the wedding. When Gearbox finally wakes up again, the monitor still shows him as dead, yet he is alive. The doctor is just as confused as the rest. Gearbox asks if he can unplug him, and the doctor does it. “Spike isn't gone. Not yet. We can still rescue him. Keep in mind I just said we couldn't find him. From what I saw when I was asleep, Spike's soul is frozen in the heart shaped crystal he gave you, as most of your happy memories with him are intertwined with it.” “That gem. That gem is in my room in the castle!”, Rarity had a little eureka moment. Gearbox said: “But there is one last thing. I got a riddle from Discord: At the end of all this, you will have to make a choice. And this choice will break your heart.” “Knowing Discord, it can mean anything. But I have the feeling either you have to make a choice between me or Lyra. Or I have to make a choise between you and Spike.”, said Rarity after some time thinking. “Let's not waste anymore time, and go straight to my room... In the far side, in the highest tower of the castle... Why did I choose that room again...”, Rarity added.

Once by the room, the gems was just laying there. A little bit too convenient. “This is too easy. If Discord knows the crystal is here, he would have taken it already, unless...” Discord appeared and says: “Very good, Rarity, very good. Now for your choice. Spike is in here. Tell me to free him and I'll do it. But at a price. Gearbox goes in instead.” “DISCORD! I knew it came down to this! What will you do to Gearbox if I hand him over! And don't you dare to lie!” Rarity said with a lot of anger in her voice. Discord continues: “Or you can stay with the *mocking tone* 'dashing young stallion Gearbox' and I'll make your life happier than it ever was. But then Spike stays where he is. Your choice.” Rarity had no idea it would come down to this. She never thought about it. Choose between Gearbox, a stallion she just met, or Spike, the dragon who has a crush on her. Gearbox said she should choose for Spike. But she couldn't make the call. Not for both of them. She can't live with the fact that one is gone forever. While the others of the Mane 6 entered, they found Rarity frozen. But she was deep, deep in thought. “RARITY, CATCH THIS!” yelled Twilight as she threw the Element of Generosity, Rarity snapped out of it, catched the element, and placed it around her neck. “Wait! It's a trick! If Rarity defeats Discord, it'll be just like choosing Spike. We can't win either way.”, said Gearbox after some thinking. On what Discord answered: “SO our little Gearbox isn't full of nuts and bolts after all...” Gearbox said he had no regrets if Rarity choose for Spike instead of him. This brought her back into the frozen status. Deeply in thought. She started mumbling: Who to choose? I can't live with the fact that one is gone forever. If I choose Gearbox, I lose Spike, but if I choose Spike, I lose Gearbox... That. Is. It. Gearbox was ready to free Spike and offer his own soul up. “Discord, I have made up my mind.” ,said Rarity. Gearbox stopped to listen. “I made my choice, and I choose you, Discord.” Everypony was shocked when they heard it. Everypony started to ask why. Why Discord? Why not Spike? Why not Gearbox? “Let me explain. I can't live if one of the two is gone, I simply can't. That is why I choose Discord. So both of them can still be here.”, said Rarity.

“I'm sorry Gearbox, Spike, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy for everything. But that is my final decision.”, said Rarity with tears in her eyes. Gearbox couldn't take it anymore and charged at Discord, only to get caught in a bubble. “Well, I didn't saw this one coming. Now, now, now Gearbox, you need to calm down, then I let you free. *Gearbox start yelling at Rarity why* Rarity... Rarity... Rarity... Now Gearbox if you would kindly shut your mouth and let me finish this, I would appreciate it. *Gearbox holds his mouth* Where was I, Oh yes... Rarity... You found the escape in my game, nopony ever figured that one out. And therefore, I can't believe I say this. I shall free Gearbox, and release Spike. You see, there are always more options then you are giving, and you made the right one Rarity.” Once Discord said it, Gearbox started to think, this isn't like Discord at all, there has to be a catch of some sort. “Oh, I hear you thinking Gearbox and you are right. There is a little catch. She still broke the rule of my game. And that shall not be going unpunished!”, said Discord. “NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!”, was all Gearbox could say and started to twitch. “Oh for goodness sake, I'm not trying to take over you! But her!” Discord points to Rarity, then start laughing evilish. Rarity is frozen from fear of what might happen next. Gearbox passed out.

Discord paid a little visit to Gearbox mind. Explaining his plan to take him over and use him against Rarity. But Rarity stopt Discord by her yelling at him, which gave him strength to overcome him. “Remember just before the wedding? When she said you could be friends. That was I! Now, if you will excuse me. There is something I want to show you. And you don't want to miss it.”, said Discord in a very evil tone. “No, rather kill me than watching that.”, said Gearbox while the tears were coming. Rarity is still frozen of fear. “Now this should be an easy one.”, said Discord. He takes a dive into Rarity, but is bounced right off. Everypony looks like they have seen a ghost. “What.. A deflection spell? But how..?” asked Gearbox. “No, I have seen deflection spells before and I go around them, this is something different.”, said Discord. Rarity unfreezes and says with a lot of anger: “NO. PONY. TAKES. OVER. MY. BODY! Discord, you messed with the wrong pony.” During this Gearbox pulled himself to the gem to set Spike free, and being locked up himself forever. But is stopped by something, something powerful. He looks to Rarity and sees fire sparks going through her manes and tail. And all the sudden. Rarity's manes and tail burst into a hellish fire. “Has anypony seen her like this before?”, Discord asked scared. Everypony said no, and Discord was preparing for the worst. “Gearbox, leave that gem alone. What ever you do, don't touch it. I beg you. I'm going to have a couple words with Discord.”, Rarity said in a last attempt of changing Gearbox his mind. “Rarity, he loves you more then I do, I couldn't never make you happy. I can make nopony happy.. not in 1000 years...”, said Gearbox with tears coming in his eyes. “JUST LEAVE IT!” yelled Rarity to him. She stopped time to make sure Gearbox doesn't do anything stupid. Only Discord and herself could move.”So you like to go into some ponies mind. Let's see if you like it.!” Rarity enters Discords mind. While in his mind, Gearbox appeard. The real Gearbox. He askes why she couln't let him go. His was nothing, a nameless piece in a greater game. He was a bad stallion, and made his share of mistakes. Rarity tried to to explain it all. Once Gearbox enterd her life, she cared about him. As much as Spike. She simply can't make the choise, between the two.

“Now you listen to me, if you say it over yourself that you fail, you will fail over and over and over. Never say that of yourself, that you fail. Always give your best in any situation what so ever!”, said Rarity to help out Gearbox. On what he said: “Not this one. I'm the cause this time. It's my fault for us even being here. If i hadn't been in Canterlot when Discord tried to take me over THIS WHOLE THING WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!” “It is not your fault Gearbox. Even if you weren't here, Discord would have found somepony else to take over.” “I suppose so... now where is he.”, said Gearbox, with a look of killing something in his eyes. “No, stay away! Don't come near me!”, Discord begged. “There you are. YOU. JUST. MADE. THE. BIGGEST. MISTAKE. OF. YOUR. LIFE! I will not hurt you, I only want to hear the truth out of your mouth.”, Rarity said angry. Her manes went from a Hellish Fire too little sparks. “Thats good Rarity, keep calm while in his mind”, Gearbox said. “Allright, allright I tell you the truth! I wanted to take over the Princesses, to create chaos all over Equestria, but during the progress, I found that you are far more powerful then they are. So I throw a little game together to see what your capabilities are. I swear, that is it. The whole truth. Please don't hurt me!”, said Discord with a crying voice. “Discord, I give you a chance... come with us peacefully, and we will not hurt you... fight, and be prepared to be destroyed. And... what is that!”, Rarity said. Discord and Gearbox looked at each other with same look on their faces, what is she doing.

She pointed to Discords memory lane and it was one big mess, but she started ordening a bit. Discord felt the chances and started crying in pain. “MAKE IT STOP! My wonderful chaotic head! Why? Why are you doing this? I will do anything you ask! JUST MAKE IT STOP!”, Discord asked in his pain. “No way, this is impossible, this can't be!”, said Rarity. She showed a memory to Gearbox. “Oh, my, sweet, Celestia. This can't be true.” “Discord, what is your answer to this”, Rarity dropped a memory right before Discord, who was still in pain, but took a look at the memory. “But.. how... I thought...I thought I forgot this a long time ago. I own you an explanation for this. I wasn't always like this... This chaotic... I once ruled over Equestria, with Luna, and Celestia at my sides. But I became more chaotic with the years. Until I ended up like I am now. They imprisoned me in stone to keep me away from everypony. This memory must be 10.000 years old. We were young, playing together...*starts having tears* This memory, makes so many more come back. What happened to me.... Rarity, Gearbox... I beg the both of you. Help me... I want it to be as in this memory...” “What do you think Gearbox? Should we help him?”, asked Rarity. “Well, I still don't like him, but I think he means it.” Rarity nodded and decided to give Discord a chance. Once out of his mind, Discord made Spike normal again. And Spike got the scare of his life seeing Discord. “Let me explain. Discord wants to chance. He wants that it is like old times. With the two of you princesses.”, Rarity explained.

“Then we shall give him a chance what about you sister?”, asked Princess Celestia. “I would love it. To be it as old times. It has been far too long””, answered Luna.  Discord made apologies to everypony what happened, and they all accepted it. But the biggest thing, they accepted Discord. Twilight: “But that is all fine and such. But how, how did Rarity's catch such a heavy fire?” “Twilight, I don't know, and I don't want to know it either.”, Rarity reacted.

“Well, I guess I'll just head on back to the garage, devoid of anything interesting to do...”, Gearbox said, a little disappointed, on what Princess Celestia reacted: “Gearbox, you have shown some great courage today, when all hope seemed lost, you still fought back. You said you didn't do much, but you made the difference for today, if you didn't fought of Discord, I'm sorry to bring that up again, then all hope would be lost and didn't we end up here, but somewhere else. Gearbox, I would like to give you a job as the Royal Castle's Chief of Engineering, what do you think Luna? Discord? And above all, what do you think of it Gearbox?” Almost with no hesitation: “I'll take the job!” Princess Luna: “It's the least we can do.” Discord: “That seems a very good reward for the good man.”

“Aww you guys you're making me blush.”, said Gearbox, and he indeed blushed.

Rarity: “You deserve it Gearbox. And I think somepony is waiting for you. *points at Lyra*. Go on, and remember, be yourself.” “Ok then, I guess I'll see you guys later.”, said Gearbox.

Everypony nodded. Rainbow Dash: “Go get them tiger!” Gearbox brohoofs rainbow dash.

Rainbow Dash brohoofs back.

Gearbox and Lyra have a pretty good relationship. Discord got all of his thought in order and was proud to rule again next to Princess Celestia and Luna. And Rarity? She never wanted to enter that state of mind again where her manes would get caught on fire. But you never know what is going to happen next.

Written by, Gearbox and Rarity, 4-21-2012