Look Inside Your Heart Part One.

Chapter 7: Look Forward To The Future.

The ground beneath me began to tremble and jolted me awake. As I opened my eyes a massive crevice formed straight through the middle of the boutique, and plunged down into the earth farther than my eyes could see. I heard screaming from deep inside, "Help!"

"Rarity!" I vaulted off the bed and dived into the darkness. The walls crumbled behind me sending massive boulders my way. "I'm an idiot, she's doomed if she's reached terminal velocity, and I'm not much better off." My thoughts trailed off as I gained speed. "If I go any faster I won't be able to stop, wait I remember something about things like this."

"If two objects are going at terminal velocity each one feet away from the other, how does the second catch up with the first?" My brothers voice sounded in the back of my head.

"The second throws something tied to a rope at the first, the third object falls faster than the others, and the first can grab it." I reached for the knife in my pocket and realised there was no rope. In the corner of my eye I saw a boulder. "That'll work, just fine." I plunged my knife into the rock and pulled it toward me, setting it ablaze I threw it straight down. As it flew faster it grew smaller and a black chain flowed from the knife. "Rarity grab this!" I felt a tug on the chain and spread my wings and pulled it back to me. She came into sight and I snapped the chain and grabbed her. My wings started to vibrate and we shot straight up, barely dodging the falling rubble.

Once I landed on the surface she was unconcious and her life was fading fast. "Rarity wake up. Rarity." Sorrow overran my mind clouding my thoughts, I started to cry but only one tear fell. The tear slowly fell down and landed on her face. Her body started to feel warm, too warm, she was set ablaze in my arms, and reduced to ashes. I jolt awake screaming, drenched in sweat. I stood up and walked toward the bathroom, and splashed my face. Looking into the mirror my reflection changes, to the one of my father's.

"You shouldn't make friends, they only turn to enemies later."

"You're wrong Dad, you never had allies you don't know anything,"

"Your brother, and sister agree with me."

"Don't bring them into this, Scarab never wanted to kill anything, and Chrys is crazier than you." I tried to hold back from smashing the mirror, but I shattered it sending glass shards between my knuckles.

"Know this Cress, They will die, be it by your hand or mine, you choose." His face disappeared from the shards and his last words echoed inside my mind. A knock fell upon the door.

"ça va." Raritty's worry for my well being did nothing to calm my nerves.

"Oui." I lied. "Cauchemarder."

"Nightmares are just that, don't worry dear get some rest, we have a big day ahead of us, Bonne nuit."

"Bonne nuit." Her hoofsteps echoed through the quiet hallway. I picked through the shards and threw them into the trash. Blood now drenching my hands I decided to clean up a bit. I hadn't realised that I slept in my clothes and jacket, and quickly shed the garments. I turned the knob and piping hot water flowed out the shower nozzle. As I stepped in the water ran through my mane and down my back, I couldn't even remember the last time I was so confused. "Will Father really take it into his own hands to see them die? What makes me so special, Scarab was more qualified." After fifteen minutes of thinking the water began to grow cold. I step out and grab a towel that was hanging nearby. I left the room leaving my clothing inside the hamper in the corner. Returning to my room I layed back down, and I was out again.

I open my eyes and find myself inside Ponyville's town hall, hearing familiar laughter. My friends stood beside me waiting for something. I shifted my gaze toward the balcony, Nightmare moon stood horn glowing, laughing maniacaly. "Get her!" Rainbow yelled as they all charged, a bright light flashed blinding me for a moment. After my eyes adjusted I saw nothing, the town was obliterated, beside a smoking crater was left seven skeletons three pegasi, two unicorns, and two ponies. "Why did you survive?" Rainbow's voice sounded behind me.

"You were right." Twilight's sounded sorrowful.

"Why, all the little creatures." Fluttershy was bawling.

"Worst party ever."

"Y'all didn't even try."

"This is the worst possible thing."

"I can see the headline, Murderer Only Survivor Of Massive Explosion." Skies was hysteric. "The first one I trust in years and you let me die."

"No, it's not true, it can't be," I fell to my knees from the barrage of accusations. "I don't wanna lose you, I can't lose you, I won't, It's just a dream, this is not happening, it's not happening." I shut my eyes trying to wake up from this nightmare.

"You deserve to die, do the world a favor." I hear a click and open my eyes, staring back at me was the barrel of Skies' gun. "Bang." He pulled the trigger, and the loud sound jolted me to conciousness. I was once again drenched in sweat, my mind reeling from my sudden realization of mortality. "Do the world a favor." Skies' words echoed in my head. I turn my head to the nightstand. and find a note,

"There are some garments inside the armoire, I hope they are to your liking, I have some errends to run, so I will be out for the afternoon. Twilight want us to meet with her later this evening. Feel free to roam around Ponyville until then. Au Revoir, Rarity."

"Generosity, at it's finest." I couldn't help but smile at the trust she had in me. I decided to see what Rarity had chosen for her guest to wear. Inside the armoire I found shirts and pants, blouses and skirts, and head dressings in a menagerie of hues. The pale pink v-neck caught my eye, for some strange reason, I felt compelled to wear it. The next thing to rope my attention was a pair of cyan track pants with rainbow flames, similiar to the ones Dash wore yesterday. I tried them on and they fit perfectly, but as I looked in the mirror it felt like something was missing from the ensamble, but what?

"Jewels!" My eyes dart from side to side, looking for jewelry I somehow knew should've been there. My eyes focus on a large vanity table in the other corner of the room, Amethyst braces, a Sapphire circlet, and Onyx sunshades copleted the wardrobe.

Still something was off, my mane was too short, I took a deep breath concentrated. My mane shot back and fell below my neck. "Perfect." I admired myself in the mirror. "I never knew that I could have so much fun, doing something so benign." I stepped outside as the sun pointed mid-day. as I explored my surroundings I wwas casually greeted by total strangers, most wondering about my outfit, and I pointed them to Carousel Boutique. My stomach began to growl and I felt a little peckish. "Sugarcube Corner, sounds promising," I pulled on the door and held it open for passerbys.

"What a gentlecolt?" A blue mare with a pink mane that looked frosted on said from behind the counter. "How may we be of service?" She was smiling.

"What exactly do you sell here?" A large clang sounded from the other room, and I was soon sandwiched between Pinkie and the floor. "Did anypony see that freight train that hit me?" I was seeing spots, but they were just balloons. "Hi Pinkie, you work here, don't you?"

"Yep, ya hungry?" Pinkie sprang up and landed on a table with cartoony accuracy. The ponies sitting at that table jumped back falling over their chairs. "We got cookies, candy, cakes, pie, muffins, donuts, and sopapillas, Watcha want?" She named the many confections in her usual rapid succession.

"Got any brownies?"

"With or without nuts?" The mare behind the counter asked.

"With."

"Almonds or pecans?" An orange stallion walked out of the kithen with a platter of cookies.

"Suprise me." I watch as they scrambled to prepare for the lunch desert rush. Pinkie bounced back and forth between the tables wiping them spotless in seconds. She jumped behind me and pushed me toward a booth. "Ow Pinkie that's my tail, quit shovin'." She threw me into the booth and darted off.

"Pinkie Pie brownies!" The mare shouted.

"Roger willco, Mrs. cake." Pinkie darted by the booth and a plate of brownies shot in front of me.

"Pinkie Pie the rush is here!" The stallion shouted from the kitchen.

"Consider them seated, and orders taken." Random ponies filed in and Pinkie had them seated in minutes. "We got twenty chocolate cupcakes, twelve banana nut muffins, and thirty chocolate chip cookies, Mr. Cake." She shouted to the kitchen.

"Thank you Pinkie Pie, muffins up." Pinkie darted into the kitchen and ran between the tables leaving muffins in her wake. "Cookies out the oven." Pinkie ran back through the shop, delivering each pony who ordered half a dozen. "Cupcakes baked." In a pink flash the cupcakes appeared on the tables. With no more customers in need, pinkie stopped at my booth and sat down.

"So how're the brownies?" She said between breaths. I looked down at my plate, realizing I hadn't even touched them I picked one up. The sweet dark chocolate, mixed perfectly with the salty almonds and pecans, but there was another faint flavor I couldn't quite name. "My special recipe, Dark and milk chocolate, almonds, pecans, and my secret ingredient," Her eyes shifted left and right and leaned in close. "Habanero juice." She whispered in my ear. Our mouths both turned to smiles and we laughed for a few seconds.

"I'll take three sheets of this, Mrs. Cake do you deliver?"

"Yes but that's a little extra, Deary." Mrs. Cake said as she picked up the money left by the patrons.

"Pinkie put in the order, how much ya want for 'em?"

"Twenty bits plus tax." Pinkie stood up and darted off to clean up from the rush. I sift through my pockets and realize I don't have any money on me. "Don't got enough that's okie dokie lokie, I'll open up a tab, fifty bit limit, I trust you'll pay us ASAP." Pinkie's smile never left. "Where and when ya need it?"

"Is tonight at Twilight's to much to ask, two for me and one for you guys."

"No, I'll bring them later after the dinner desert rush." Pinkie shuffled through the kitchen cabinets for ingredients.

"Thanks Pinkie, see ya later." I left the plate on the counter. "Thank you for the place to sit down and eat, you two seem like nice ponies, may I ask your names?"

"My name is Cup Cake." The mare said smiling. "You seem pretty nice too, here." She held out a cupcake. "On the house."

"Thank you,"

"My name is Carrot Cake, you must be new around here, but I can tell Pinkie likes you alot, and if she likes you that much you're part of the family." His smile and warm words made my heart rise.

"I'll be back to pay my debt soon." I headed out the door, I tossed the cupcake into the air and swallowed it whole, paper and all. The pure chocolate made me shudder. Moments later I ran into Rainbow Dash, or she ran into me. Rainbow using me as a bobsled we skidded across the grass. I lifted my arms from around her, she was out cold nose dripping blood, after a few seconds her deep red eyes opened and she stared into mine. "Hi Rainbow."

"Oh uh sorry, bout that," Her cheeks where flush red, she flew backward and held out her hand to help me up. "Nice threads, dude, ya get those from Rarity." I took her hand and regained my hooving. "So, get any sleep last night?" I shake my head. "You too huh, I was swamped with work,"

"Lazy?"

"No, I just hate wasting time I could be training." Her face returned to the same shade of red.

"Hey, the Wonderbolts want somepony who can commit." Her ears perked up and her eyes widened.

"I can commit, I can do anything, any time, anywhere." I knew I struck the right nerve.

"If Spitfire looked at your record right this second, what would she see? A filly who dropped out of flight school, was kicked out of flight camp, Cloudsdale weather pony with multiple allegations for being a delinquent, not to mention shirking work to train for the Wonderbolts. Hmn that doesn't sound like Wonderbolt material, does it?" I stare deep into her red eyes awaiting an answer.

"Uh,"

"Exactly what I thought, as you are now, you aren't a Wonderbolt, but you still have time to make yourself better, and I can help." Her eyes started to tear up. "Hey, it's okay." I pulled her in close for a hug, and she cried buckets.

"I wanna be a Wonderbolt so bad, but you're right, I don't deserve to be one," She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tight. "I just wanna be somepony important." She squeezed me tighter.

"It's okay, it''s okay Dashie." I pet her back, and her wings wrapped around me. "You'll be fine I'll be with you every step of the way, okay."

"Promise?"

"Cross hy heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake, in my eye." I began to tear up, this touching moment reminded me of so many times with my brother. "Pinkie Pie Swear." My quivering lip forced a smile, and I cried a bucket or two. momemts later we ran out of tears and let go of each other. "look at that brave face." I slowly wipe her tears away, her coat felt like silk, and her smile softened my heart. "You'll make a fine Wonderbolt someday Dash,"

"Thanks Cress you're awesome." She leaned in and planted a big kiss on my cheek. "Seeya later, thanks alot for listening." Rainbow dashed off and left me to ponder what had just happened.