A Pierced Heart

Chapter 18: Get It Out

Rarity’s stomach growled loudly as she stepped through the door. She dropped a small bag from the pharmacy as she stumbled into her kitchen. She struggled to open the fridge door as another wave of pain ached through her abdomen. She looked about the fridge and grabbed a half-dozen apples before digging into them ravenously. When she swallowed the last bite she turned back to the bag lying by the door. She cast a quick look to her stomach and sighed in relief when it no longer rumbled.

The white mare walked over to the bag and magicked out the one item she had bought at the store. She opened two boxes and levitated out a small white rod from each. Pregnancy tests grasped, Rarity walked up the stairs to her bathroom. The unicorn levitated the first kit down and waited. When she finally started she adjusted the test and the pulled it back up. Her ears pinned back as she stared at the small white panel. A ball formed in her throat when a small plus sign formed.

Rarity grabbed the other test and quickly used it in the same manner, squinting. Her mouth dropped open when another plus sign formed. Rarity ran out of the as the test skittered across the floor. She stumbled on the stairs and nearly tripped as she made her way back into the kitchen.

There she opened up a drawer and pulled out a vegetable chopping knife. She walked back to her bathroom and sat in the tub, levitating the knife over her stomach. Rarity gulped, tears forming in her eyes. He used me, he stole my Pokey and used me to make this... thing growing inside of me. She brought the knife down and stopped it an inch above her abdomen. He’s gone, I have nothing left to live for, not when I don’t know what this thing will do to me.

Rarity turned over a hoof and lay the blade across the crook of her foreleg. She pressed the blade in, and when she felt the metal begin to slice, slid the knife across. A thick trail of blood began flowing out and Rarity sat back in her tub. A smile formed on her lips. I’ll be with you soon my love, she thought.

As grey filled her vision a loud bang sounded downstairs.

“Rarity!” a filly’s voice sounded.

I’m sorry Sweetie Belle. But I can’t let this thing hurt those I care for.

Blackness once more.

*****

Rainbow Dash charged inside the bathroom, breaking the lock. She looked around and when she saw Rarity she yelled, “In here!” before going to her friend. When she saw the growing pool of blood she bit her lip. “EEEA!” she whined, grabbing a towel and pressing it to the unconscious unicorn’s leg as the others filed in.

“Help her!” the cerulean pegasus demanded. Twilight gripped the towel with magic and pressed it to the wound, staunching the flow of blood. “Is she going to be okay? Did she lose too much blood?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight cast a quick glance to the tub and gave a nervous gulp. “I think we may have gotten here just in time.” The lavender mare enveloped her friend in a purple field of magic and lifted her from the tub. She maintained the pressure on the wound as she stepped back and brought Rarity out of the bathroom and down the stairs.

Rainbow floated close behind constantly, a gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach.

*****

Twelve days had passed, and Rainbow Dash was in the Cloudsdale Colosseum. On her flank was the number seventy-six painted on a piece of paper.

“How could you have let her run away! Didn’t you realize how terrified she would be?”

A jubilant cheering echoed as an announcer sounded over the stadium speakers. “And now mares and gentlecolts... I present to you the winner of not one, not two, but three of the Best Young Flyers competition. She’s tried out before, but she’s only shown herself to take her failures and use them to push her to ever greater heights! MY FELLOW AUDIENCE MAY I PRESENT YOU OUR CONTESTANT RAINBOW DASH!” The crowd screamed as the cyan mare stepped out into the open. They might as well had been underwater, such was the muteness of the sound.

“Well how in the whole o’ Equestria was I supposed ta know she was pregnant! She wasn’t even in heat! Maybe you should go an’ ask Twi!”

Rainbow looked over the course with a dead expression. Several black cloud hoops that arched with electricity. Hovering over it all was a massive screen that showed to view of her face.

“What do you mean you don’t know what to make of this? She obviously must have been in heat, it must have just started when she and Pokey were together!”

“That’s not what’s worrying me, the foetus is developing at an accelerated rate. It’s only been two weeks at most since conception and it already looks to be a month and a half in!” Twilight had replied.

“I’m sure everything will turn out fine, we just have to make sure she doesn’t become undernourished,” Fluttershy had offered.

A flare shot up from the central monitor and Dash kicked off the ground. She flew through the first ring just three seconds later and the crowd roared again.

“And let that thing grow inside of her? We have to get it out of her!”

“NO!” Twilight had yelled. “I refuse to believe that Rarity would want to do that once she wakes up. Pierce almost died trying to save her. The least we can do now is make sure their child makes it. Even if Pierce is still comatose”

“If Chrysalis had taken Shining Armor’s place instead, and did this to Cadence, would you still be trying to save that thing?”

“This is completely different!” Twilight had screamed.

Rainbow Dash passed through the second ring, an arc of lighting graced the tip of her wing as she barrel rolled to get through the third. Her face was the epitome of singular determination.

“Fine, I’m leaving, let me know when you realize you can’t risk your friend’s life for some science project!”

Dash blitzed through the last ring and pulled up. A cone of pressure built around her as she went higher and higher. In her mind images flashed before the mare’s eyes. Rarity flying up to the sun, her wings burning up. Falling, chasing. The strain in Rainbow’s wings built up as she pushed herself through the final inch. A cascade of brilliant hues washed her mind and the sky as she let her wings fold, performing a backflip and then spinning in a freefall.

Flying over Ponyville, shattering the door to Carousel Boutique like a dragon’s fist. Getting into the bathroom too late. Blood spreading. Should have been faster, needed to be faster.

Rainbow opened her wings and used them to push herself towards the stadium at a breakneck speed. The cone formed again and she pushed against the air resistance.

Should have saved her.

Another blast of color washed over the crowd and the all stood on their hooves, stomping merrily.

*****

“Alright folks, the expert’s opinions are in, and they’ve decided on who this year’s new Wonderbolt member will be... RAINBOW DASH!”

The arena shook with the sound that emanated out from the lungs of thousands of eager fans. The cyan mare walked up to the podium with a flat expression. She lowered her head to let the medal be hanged upon her neck. When she lifted her face the spectrum-maned mare smiled sheepishly. Waved a hoof once and walked off without a word.

“... There you have it folks! Rainbow Dash! Modest even in victory of the highest honor!”

*****

In the Ponyville hospital, Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were waiting around Rarity’s bed. The violet mare looked at the various machines Rarity was connected to. Fluttershy had extended a wing over Rarity in the lone comforting gesture she could offer. Pinkie Pie held a hoof of confetti as she looked at the pale unicorn.

“Blood pressure, heart rate, everything has stabilized. She’s off the breathing tube and chews reflexively.” Twilight turned to her friends. “She’s probably going to wake up soon, I just wish I had been there for her before.”

“It’s alright Twilight, you tried the best you could,” Fluttershy cooed.

“And it wasn’t enough!” Twilight exclaimed. “In trying to save Pokey for her I neglected her own condition! I lied to the princess; she may have forgiven me, but that doesn’t change the fact that I deliberately misled her!” The lavender mare turned to her bed-ridden friend. “Rarity, I’m so sorry, but I didn’t want to force the issue with Pokey! I wanted you to come to terms with it! I should have just told you right away.” Twilight shook her head at the last sentence.

“Tell me what right away?”

A gasp from Pinkie Pie was all the fore-warning before a cloud of confetti showered the room.

“OHMYGOSH RARITY! You’re awake! This is fantastic news because now we can tell you that Pokey was really a changeling all along but he really does love you, which is why he attack that other changeling that attacked you!”

The white mare’s eyes fluttered open and she yawned. “Whatever are you--” Rarity cut herself short and looked down at her belly. She shook her head and dragged herself so she was leaning against the headrest. “Oh no,” she expressed, “bedpan, BEDPAN!”

Twilight levitated over a bedpan which Rarity grabbed in her hooves before proceeding to empty her stomach into it.

When the unicorn lifted her head she shivered. “Twilight? Am I really?”

“Yes, the foal is visible on ultrasound now.” In response Rarity’s lip quivered nervously before Twilight continued. “It seems to be developing quickly, but apart from that you should be fine. Princess Celestia brought over one of the best doctors from the Canterlot Hospital’s Maternity Ward. If something happens, then you’ll be in the best hooves possible.”

Rarity looked down at her stomach and began to sob. “I’m such an idiot!” she moaned. “Pokey loved me! And right when he needed me most I--”

Fluttershy embraced Rarity in a hug, interrupting her descent into despair.

“That’s the next important detail Rarity. Pokey’s still alive,” Twilight answered. “If you can walk, we can go see him now. He’s still comatose in a low energy state. Do you want to see him?”

Rarity gave a determined nod.

*****

Darkness visible, that was Pokey's world as he ambled alone in his own mind. Rarity had rejected him, and now the changeling was left in some quasi-animate state from which there was no guidance. Even tracking the passage of time was impossible for the changeling. He always seemed hungered but not drained, in a perpetual state of unease. The only sense that Pokey had of what was happening were the occasional ambient energies he could sense from the outside. Low levels of love, one was familial. Maybe Sweetie Belle understands? Pokey thought to himself. But there was not enough energy for him to find his way out. So the changeling marched onwards, thinking that by chance he would stumble back amongst the living.

I can't believe I waited so long to tell her. At least I saved her from Snaggle. But now she hates me for something I... am? am not? Pokey finally ceased moving and sat on the ground and looked around. The changeling closed his yellow, compound eyes slowly, laying his head down. Before the last sliver of his vision was shut out, a flash caught the corner of his eye. The changeling glanced over to see a pulsing light in the distance. He then felt a familiar presence. Could it be? Pokey ran towards the pulsing glow as he felt Rarity's love for him once more.

*****

Pokey lifted up his head and gasped. Looking upon him was Rarity, tears streaming down her velvet cheeks as she pressed up to him.

"Pokey... I'm sorry!" Rarity cried into Pokey's shell. the changeling lifted a hoof to his love as he took in the sights around him. He was in a bright white room surrounded by the Elements of Harmony and Sweetie Belle. In all other circumstances Pokey would have been terrified, but the relieved and caring expressions on each face set his mind at ease as he lowered his muzzle to Rarity's ear.

"I already forgave you."

Rarity sobbed on Pokey, love and pathos flowing freely. "But... how?" she asked.

"Rarity, in the short amount of time I've known you, I've come to understand who you are, what drives you. When you saw me at first for what I really was... am... you thought you had lost me, you thought that I had used you and betrayed you. In a way, I had, and for that I'm truly sorry, but I know that what I feel for you, and what you feel for me is real. I could never condemn you for doing what you did when things happened the way they did." Pokey finished speaking, and looked over to Twilight who had coughed. Rarity lay against him and was silent, tears still flowing but the sobs having ceased.

Twilight spoke, "Pokey, I hate to bring this up now but, there are a lot of things we all need to go over."

The changeling smiled and lifted a hoof to his horn, the sharp edges had smoothed as the black protrusion had begun the slow process of regenerating. "Very well, I can't very well go out in my present condition."

“First, you should know that Rarity is with foal,” Twilight said. Pokey’s jaw slackened as he looked at Rarity. The white mare lifted her head and nodded in confirmation of the fact.

“Well, anypony else feel like this elephant in the room needs to be addressed?” Rainbow Dash asked irritably.

“Ahem,” Twilight coughed. “That is an issue, Pokey, we know very little about how reproduction like this would work. Rarity’s foal is developing at about three times the normal rate. So I have to ask, do you know how changeling’s normally... er, operate?”

“So it’s a foal, not a larva?” Pokey asked earnestly. When the group nodded, he continued. “Let me think, normally a queen selects a drone to be her king, sort of a male concubine, they stay together for a night, and about a month later a clutch is laid.”

“A month? A clutch?” Rainbow Dash questioned, taking a step towards the changeling.

Twilight lay a hoof on the cyan pegasus. “We know from the ultrasound that there is only one foal, and the development isn’t going that fast.”

“But what if it speeds up! What if it starts draining Rarity?” Rainbow asked anxiously.

“Then we’ll decide what to do if that happens, but for now there’s no indication of danger,” Twilight answered.

Rainbow took a sharp intake for breath and a hard expression planted itself on her face. A few seconds later she looked to Rarity and Pokey. When the blue mare’s face softened she let out one word: “Okay.”

Pokey looked around the room and noticed various monitors and high-tech equipment.”Where am I?” he asked.

“Ponyville hospital,” Twilight answered. “Princess Celestia is going to want to see you now that you’re awake now.”

Pokey sighed. “Me, a changeling, going to see the di-monarch of Equestria, she has every reason in the world to be angry at me for what I am and have done.”

Rarity nuzzled into Pokey’s chin. “We’ll get through this,” the white mare declared, “together.”