Author's Note

Hello, it's Fireflower as always ready to give you another chapter on the way: of course, this chapter contains references to certain subject matters and thusly the reason why this story has been rated M for Mature; of course, you'd already known that far too well so as such, this will be the last time I mention it.

Aside from disclaimers long ago, I'd like to take this time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the halfway region of the story's progress; somehow, the new year will provide us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough.

One last thing before I sign off, I want to let you know that another old friend is also going to be joining the story that I'm sure y'all, remember; in additional, there's also another original character serving as a reminder of whom was lost along the way over the years so to speak of: as such, please don't steal him from me.

Merriment

It was a dark and stormy day but it’d still possessed the light which was hidden away from the eyes of its own observers whom were now running about at this moment in time thereof. The silver linings which could’ve been easily found as the shine in the storm were overshadowed by the outpouring of rainwater which had fell onto the solid ground almost immediately. Some sounds of thunder which had rolled about within the vast stormclouds while the refrained waves of lightning had carved its way throughout with blinding speed and synchronicity. Unbound by the vast spaciousness of the very atmosphere, the cluster of grays and whites with the occasional colors hadst spread further apart all over the lands and waters underneath. Kiloliters worth of liquid had already saturated the terrain, many acreages of it all were gaining the very texture which was now more malleable than even stone and metal themselves. Accompanying the torrent and thunder were the howling winds now moving the grass and trees which had already completed the interactive orchestra for the surrounding environment.

Out of the many buildings standing out and about in the pouring rain, a large one was already residing on the outskirts of a town in the distance. It’d was up tall and proud, reaching on high as at least three stories with a pair of stone chimneys stretching thinner even though they were far apart. The roofing had possessed the style similar to the likes of many residences within the adjacent town, albeit composed of ligneous uniformity here. Hanging over from its very entryway was a big red circle with several pink hearts, sequestered by a sizable white cross fitted inside of the shape. Surrounding it all were such countless windowpanes made of the same material and shape but in various sizes, beaten down by the precipitation. All which had remained out there were but a pair of olive doors resting underneath an awning up in front of a trail cutting into the town’s landscape.

Compared to the outside world at large, the building’s interiors were only a sight cuts above than whatever stones could’ve been thrown outwardly. All of its ceiling were painted in a brownish shading stylized; many of which were all separated into intersecting but otherwise equal lines already. Every single wall within the room was a lighter hue than the brilliant green left out and about in the outside world abaft, so much drier and heated. The beige flooring underneath was interspersed with some set of teal carpeting which had looked like it’d been bought at a bargain before cleansing. Most of the geometric corners near the entrance were occupied by potted plants with an abundant leaves so spacious to cover all kinds of footwear. It’d also be seen by at least one viewer there were many people sitting upon olive colored chairs, either being amongst the well–adjusted or infirm.

Speaking of which, there were at least two individuals found to be sitting firmly inside, both of whom all maiden fair with long hair, bright skin, and green eyes; of course, this was where their commonalities have ended and, in their place, the beginning of their visual differences to compare and contrast themselves as is. The first of the duo was dressed in a jet–black ensemble of a beret, veil, blouse, skirt, socks, and shoes, leaving her mauve tresses and red rose out amongst them; the other was shorter, paler, yet colorful, wearing a dark magenta jacket with matching boots, a striped blouse accenting purple and pink locks, and high yellow shorts.

“Miss Cheerilee… do you think that my sister is going to be okay…?” a small soprano had now escaped from the latter, catching the aforementioned listener’s attention almost instantaneously no less.

The woman in black turned to face her colorful counterpart with an answer in tow, “she has to be: Rarity has only her whole life ahead of herself; failing that, she has you, Sweetie Belle… you and her friends…”

“I know, it’s just that as much as I have nightmares of what happened to us both, I don’t want to wish this on anyone else at all…” the pale soprano had responded, looking down on the flooring where their feet, alongside all the others, rested upon as they were, “I still miss mom and dad more than ever to this day and I’m starting to forget what they look like now ever since the fire. Not only that, I still can’t help myself but to remember what had happened to them the very last time I’d seen them before here: even though it was quick, the loud noise was enough to scare me into my own room no less, especially knowing the meaning; I couldn’t even imagine the pain they’d have felt, if at all, as soon as their lives were ended, be if by the bullet or the blaze itself. For what it was worth, I could never comprehend what it was like to grow up without even one parent, let alone losing both here; of course, neither did my sister but that was because she was too engrossed in her work, friends, and hobbies to think such things: perhaps, that’s another commonality between us they can see, especially considering how we were sisters all the same. At the very least, I’d believed nothing bad would ever happen to us considering how well–off we were, or rather as Rarity thought: even then, that wasn’t enough to shield me from the teasing Diamond Tiara and her friend, Silver Spoon, had given the three of us; still, no one would ever imagine something like this coming to her home of all places, element or no element so to speak. Nothing much else could be said about what happened before my parents were killed and after the house burned to the ground; everyone whom heard about it remembered all too well, especially considering whom had returned to see it all as it were: I can still memorize the emotional state my big sister had been in the mere second she’d found me in my room like this. Carousel Boutique was caught ablaze because of her pet cat Opalescence locked inside of the kitchen oven of all things here; although I didn’t see it happen, I did, however, remember hearing her screech after the gunshots afore a loud thud made its way: if only Rarity had returned sooner that day, then perhaps we’d have been all saved from the war, before and after in the very least. It may as well be enough for her to know how all that hard work she was quick to take pride in has been turnt to ash like them: all those years she spent bringing in business to and from Ponyville and the friends she’d already made along the way ever since; but, it was nothing compared to losing them both and her pet in the house fire that almost took me with them took. Even though Rarity felt so distant from me, she’d never wanted to let me suffer so greatly in this war–torn world like Equestria; if anything, it might as well explain why she’d ended up trying what Applejack would come up with so later on before the end: broken by tragedy and horror in one life alone was unspeakable to a fault but the real mystery is why would Applejack do it too? Stuff like this isn’t something neither Apple Bloom or I would imagine our sisters would even dare up until then for all we know; even now, I still pity Applejack even more considering what had been done to her beforehand and so does everyone else herein: almost all of her friends are worried sick of her, her family’s been all but destroyed, and even Carrot Top visited her too…”

“Applejack had never left the hospital the last time I’d seen her: she’d injured herself before my own eyes, ranting and raving about what she’d done to her sister the same way Rarity did during her session with Dr. Sevenfold previously; I swear I’m honestly worried about them anyways…” Cheerilee said gently prior to a rumble of thunder entering their ears rather immediately no less.

Afterwards, both females heard footfalls approaching their shared direction, belonging to another light skinned denizen within the premises herein. Unlike the visiting women’s sizable yet colorful tresses, the thin locks matching colors with the tall one’s attire crawled from their owner’s scalp. Compared to both Sweetie Belle and Cheerilee, only one of their eyewitness’ eyes was a solid green on the right; the other was but dark lemon. Here was an enormous snow–white overcoat covering much of its wearer’s body, brighter than their integuments and accompanied by tan boots.

It didn’t take long for the eyewitness to gently speak out to the women in attendance almost instantaneously, “you wish to see miss Rarity…?”

“More than ever…” Sweetie Belle peeped, “how is she: is she okay…?”

“Well the doctors said she’s been causing problems recently: they’d said it was because of that tumor which was found inside of her brain; between the discovery and the surgery, Rarity should be doing fine now that the operation was successful but we had her on sedatives ever since…” the tenor escaped into them both all the same no less.

In any case, the visiting women stood up at long last, the tall one speaking out to the eyewitness in question, “I might as well hope so: her sister as well as most of her friends and neighbors had spoken well of her in the past; come to think of it, who are you by the way…?”

“Doctor Sevenfold, her therapist before she’d snapped again; I was there in the office when it’d happen: another seizure here…” answered the tall tenor before reaching into a rightmost breast pocket within the garment, pulling out a silvery object by its chain, “the worst part about it was that it’d been the seventh Rarity had since her stay in the hospital years ago so to speak of…”

“I’m sorry to hear that: we didn’t realize how bad her condition had deteriorated over time, especially with her recent development; will she be okay, sir…?” Cheerilee had effortlessly replied to the as Sweetie Belle held onto her tightly from the startling statements made and sustained by the titular tenant all the while.

Sevenfold wasted no time whatsoever in speaking freely yet firmly, “if you mean having more time in her clock, then yes although that’s merely the prognosis we’re still hoping for: from what we’d been studying, the observant staff have been baffled by the discovery prior, especially after what had transpired; up until then, we were still convinced that the seizures were just only alone. Otherwise, we would’ve been convinced to give her some medicine for it in the hopes that it wouldn’t be a regular occurrence: at first, some had believed this was just merely out of the blue, especially seeing her blood test shown no preexisting conditions; however, it seems these particular events happened on an average yearly basis, even to the point of random timings as is. To be honest, she’d not shown any symptoms of those who are, and perhaps were, epileptic, photosensitive and otherwise: at least with the photosensitive types, the last thing we’d let them do is sit close to a screen with flashing colors, like overseas; in Rarity’s case, it seems to be idiosyncratic in perspective, especially considering how it lives up to her lamented nomenclature. All that we’ve been doing so far is keeping her from causing trouble for others as well as preventing her own injuries too; come to think of, she seems to be reminding me of what had just happened to Applejack sometime in the very same year: my colleagues said they had to drag her away from the visitors the second they’d found blood beneath both forearms and hands as well.”

“Yeah, I know: I was there that day myself; I’d visited Applejack herself to deliver a letter her sister had written beforehand…” the woman in black said solemnly as another rumble of thunder reverberating about against the solid foundation they were all in, “I couldn’t imagine what it was like for her after all these years; but, back on topic, is it okay if we can see Rarity today, sir…?”

“Of course, ma’am, just follow me to her room right down this hallway on the left; be careful, though: even though she’s sedated, I’d recommend keeping a safe distance all the same here…” the figure in white had stated right before walking away from the chairs both Cheerilee and her colorful correspondent had once sat upon earlier no less.

This was of no surprise anyway, at least to the women in question, as they’d started to follow Sevenfold instantaneously here without a care. It didn’t bother the eyewitness in white since they were already heading out of the lobby just afore another flash of lightning illuminated it. Only then did the volume of people start to become lower than the rest of the town than either individual had taken note of so to speak there. Nevertheless, Sweetie Belle was first to stop herself abaft of Sevenfold as a nearby door stood up in front of themselves even taller than the latter.

Out of the two women in question, the colorful observer noticed some numbers to the right read in radiant red, “112”.

Within only seconds, the otherwise slow beeline had now met its end, already overtaken by a vastly new area that the three had just walked in. The ceiling above them was green as the grass to and from home, yet it was so flat and smooth it was stuck in a two dimensional space frozen up. All throughout the trio were walls predominantly in teal, held up by ligneous panels already left untouched for the memories of nature to be seen. Underneath their feet was some flooring reminiscent of a checkerboard, a finite bicolor series of greens and goldenrod laid out adjacently before. In addition, there were two kinds of heavy objects on both bedsides: one was a wooden drawer with a lamp; the other, some machinery beeping. Speaking of mathematics, a snow–white curtain had been found on the right next to the devices, partitioning off a second set hollow and empty.

All the minimalism was enough to help the trio focus in onto its occupant almost immediately, a lonely maiden resting supine: despite a plum comforter draped over, there were integuments of ivory found deep within her drooping face, matching them; despite being narrowed, both eyes were a steady true blue, currently unaware of their presence to the individual in question no less.

“Oh, miss Rarity, you have some visitors today…” the leader in white chimed in as the chirps had now emanated into the followers’ ears in a matter of seconds, “try and be patient with her: the recent operation has forced us to use intravenous methods to nourish the body and keep its health maintained properly as it should do…”

“Uhh…” a strained gasp escaped from the eponymous occupant, reinforcing the atmosphere the viewers had entered inside of.

It didn’t take much for Cheerilee to go over towards the supine maiden’s side and speak out, “Rarity, can you hear me right now? I don’t know if you can but your sister and I are here for you; we’re all sorry about what had happened to you lately: Sweetie Belle and her friends took the liberty of making you a get well soon card prior to the visitor…”

“Sister… what sister… Sweetie Belle’s… my sister… how come I… haven’t heard… from her ‘til… just right now… whatsoever?” the aforementioned patient wheezed gently as her visitor in black had come into the former’s line of eyesight slowly but surely here, “this must be… a bitter… surprise here… if at all… come to think… of it, who… are you, by… the way, ma’am?”

“I’m Cheerilee, your sister’s schoolteacher, or rather, former schoolteacher; we came here to visit ‘cause of what happened to you: the doctors told me of your surgery to remove a tumor…” the titular traveler introduced herself to the supine maiden gently, reaching into the blouse’s confines slowly to pull out a hot pink envelope almost instantaneously so to speak of no less.

Rarity couldn’t do much as it’d landed near her side atop the wooden object all the same as she’d spoken to her visitor in black, “surgery…? I didn’t… know that I… would’ve been… in such a… desperate… need for it… I’d truly… seen myself… as the one… and only… epitome… of today’s… physical… health back then… after all… I still have… a girlish… figure now…”

“Maybe before, but looks are skin deep: you having a discrepancy is proof of that; of course, you should’ve remembered that…” Cheerilee replied soberly as Sweetie Belle had joined the former in watching the frail maiden in bed without bias or fear therein, “you were once the Bearer of Generosity itself back then, something that made your family proud of you but let’s not get in it. Applejack knew this all too well before the war broke out anyway and the less said about what happened to her, the better as is; after all, we’d all suffered immensely before and during the war, even Princess Celestia endured it personally at the tail end of it: she’d watched her adopted niece, Cadance, die afore her very eyes in front of many, including her would–be husband there.”

“Oh, Celestia… I’m so dreadfully… sorry to hear all… that; it must be quite… a shame to learn all… of it from you, ma’am… it seems she can’t… catch a break, forgive… me for saying it…” Rarity sighed tirelessly as her true blue eyes were now treated to the sight of her sister entering the former’s blurry viewpoint all the same.

In any case, it was now Sweetie Belle’s turn to speak to the frail maiden now that she’d taken the stand nearby the latter no less, “Rarity… I don’t know if you can remember me; I don’t know what I might do without you: I don’t want you to die at all. You’re still my sister all the same and I don’t think I’ll go on living or dying knowing that this is the place you’re also staying in with Applejack; her sister also feels the same way as I do and we can’t pretend that all is well because of what had happened to all of us seven years ago. The Social should’ve been enough to remind us of the fact that we’re family and the only ones left in this world right now here: I’d already accepted long ago the reality that mother and father are no longer with us but that doesn’t mean our lives must end; as a matter of fact, I’d already forgiven you for trying to kill me all the same, just like she’d done to her sister not too long ago. Princess Celestia had sat that standard to save her sister and you were one of the key elements to her success since the fateful day: all of your friends had also made something of themselves after when Nightmare Moon had been defeated to save all of Equestria; your recent memory of saving all of us from you–know–who should’ve been enough to remind us all of how precious you are. Still, it pains me to learn of the condition you’re in right now, despite the success there is in the operation recently nevertheless: even though they tell me that you’ll live, I’m still being reminded of the fact how fragile life is, especially from your own view; please, don’t forget all the good times we had together in our lives, before all of this, before the present, before their…”

“Sweetie Belle, you’re so… delicate and daft… about the world now… even though you’d survived… you’re still fragile…” the eponymous occupant had only wheezed without warning whatsoever, raising a finger towards her sister gently as is, “mother and father… sheltered you too much… because they’d came to… terms about what had… become of me back then. I couldn’t wait to… grow up and make a… name for myself then… before you were born… the rainbow had shone… the way before me… just as I was this… close to giving up… on my hopes and dreams… all too soon no less… and right on the cusp… of youth so to speak… even now, I still do… pity today’s youth… ignorant of the… bloodstained pasts prior… just like them afore. Even now, I’d failed… to see it clearly… what our dear Princess… Celestia here… knew too well prior… what consequences… would come of it all… had any of us… lost to Nightmare Moon… but I was blinded… by my vanity… seeing it all like… it were but trinkets… to be added on… to the clothes I’d made… rather than only… responsibilities… to be honest here. Now, I see what our… once great nation has… now become – a mere… shadow of its own… former self made flesh… gone are the days where… both Crown and Country… were respected and… loved enough to be… left alone as we were… now, the cruelties brought… in from the outside… world has forced us all… to see our very… own problems from deep… within us all! I only wish that… I had truly cared… for you too, sister… your innocence and… future; instead, I’d… used you and now I’m… used – now I, too, am… a shadow of my… former self made flesh… without a future… I pray that someday… the good people of… Equestria will… be freed once more… a nation stained by… the lifeblood of the… innocence cannot… stand along evil. Aside from all that… I only regret that… I shall not live to… see it fall to our… feet and underneath… themselves as it were… even today, my sins… against you have caused… greater pain than… what that man had done… you personally… along our parents… you needed someone… to help you the most… yet rather than… being the one, I’d… tried to kill you…!”

“Please… don’t exert… yourself so much… Rarity… you still got a whole life ahead of you…” the woman in black shushed the frail maiden tensely as the beeps increased in frequency around themselves no less.

The aforementioned patient turned away and sobbed, “I used to have a dream of having my own boutique selling garments of the highest fashion; now, I’d become a nightmare to my own sister, an orphaned girl witness to the murder of our parents: who would even dare to think of buying that stuff like it from someone with my past in particular – a homeless would–be sororicide…?”

“You know, Rarity, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were in a similar situation as I was, tortured by grown–ups in front of our kin…” Sweetie Belle replied to the frail maiden, staring at the latter’s bandages overtaking much of the few mulberry strands remaining, “sold as a slave by a man who killed her grandma and flayed in front of her mentor before being stabbed in the brain no less. After that, we didn’t know what would happen next to all of our families, especially Apple Bloom since it was her home too: we’d all seen nothing but darkness in our eyes, like the world had given up on us like we didn’t exist anymore, kids at a young age; but, then there was hope, a second chance at life awaiting for us as soon as we’d slipped out of the mortal coil generally. Now, all I can think about is what became of our friends at school and in the neighborhood since the war had ended already here: Cheerilee already told me the reason why she and her sister have taken me in afterwards, something Rainbow understood; I also know of Zecora’s decision to do the same with Apple Bloom, knowing what had happened to her by and large so to speak of. Getting my voice back from the ordeal wasn’t easy to deal with, especially considering how much has changed into the mix; seeing and hearing the news about your friends and mine had already brought me to tears more than once, especially Twilight: she’d watched her sitter, Cadance, get burnt alive in front of her whole family amongst the audience before the attack. Zecora wasn’t the only one whom had tried to comfort us as soon as the war died down, nor was Apple Bloom truly alone either: Peppermint Twist–a–loo ended up the hospital because she’d tried to kill herself with a stolen gun after hiding out at our club; I guess we should’ve paid more attention as to what could’ve been done to prevent all this had we not been under so much stress. However, the medical staff said there were plenty of survivors resting easy inside the premises despite all that had happened: I know for a fact that she’d have been left well enough alone after everything taking place since the killing spree had started; who would’ve guessed our classmate from school would become so vengeful after what she’d seen being done to Applejack no less? Only then, all these faces – friends, family, neighbors, and the like – have made me realize how much everyone’s still suffering; even now, I still thought of you and felt sorry that you’re in the hospital instead of me in spite of our last memory together as is: that diagnosis was enough to drive me off to tears again, all because of how sudden it was despite the fact it’d been caught. Until they say you can leave, I’ll still find a way to visit and comfort you so you won’t ever have to feel alone again like before: I don’t want to be on my lonesome either and you’re my sister at the end of the day yet I can’t let you go live like this any longer; you still have a reason to live out of perhaps many and I’d hate myself if anything happened to you after this point in time…”

“Oh, Sweetie Belle…” the titular tenant teared up.

After a few minutes, it was now time for the frail maiden’s sister to back away while sighing sadly anyways, “I guess this is goodbye for now: we’ll see you again soon; in any case, I hope you get well soon, sis…”

At long last, Sweetie Belle had left the room followed by Cheerilee and Sevenfold, the latter of which closing the door abaft them; afterwards, Rarity was alone again naturally, something she’d wanted much like what had remained for her prior so to speak: the envelope, on the other hand, begged to differ since it was a new arrival, not that she’d paid attention to it now nevertheless.