Out of the Darkness...

Chapters

The Aftermath
The Bastard
Uncle Bitters
The Clouds Part...
Pinkie

The Aftermath

Author's Note

To those who have not read the first story:

STOP

This tale isn't meant for you. This is written for those who are veterans of the emotional trauma inflicted on them by getting through the first tale, as difficult as that was.

I wrote that first story as a means of coping with severe anguish in my life caused by the horrible things that were done to someone I love more than I love myself; things I couldn't prevent. Even though I used a fantasy setting with cartoon characters, the basis of the story was from actual events, as was the pain and the other emotions involved.

So...do not read this story until you have read that one...IF you choose...

...and I am deeply sorry for what you're about to experience...

—Whispers

The Aftermath

Sweetie sat on her bed alone, just staring out the window. Beside her, yellow with age and wrinkled from years of being folded, unfolded, and read over and over again, was the letter she and her sister had received from Warden Chains so long ago informing them of that monster's death while in prison. She only took it from her desk drawer and read it whenever she awoke from one of those nightmares, solely to remind herself he was gone and could no longer hurt her or anypony else.

Some years were better than others. When she was still a filly, and the memories were raw, the nightmares happened almost every month. Now that she was a teenager, she only suffered through them a few times a year, but the pain was always the same.

Once, a few months after she and Rarity had been told of the death, there had been a knock on the front door. Rarity had opened it, spoken quietly to whomever it had been outside, then gently closed it and came to her. When she had told her who the visitors were, Sweetie Belle had flown into a rage and ran up to her room, staying up there the entire night. Even now, years later, Sweetie's face flushed red when she thought about her actions that day and how she shouldn't have blamed that monster's daughters for trying to speak to her.

But she knew that if those mares were to appear today, she'd react the same.

And even though Rarity, her parents, and friends were fiercely protective of her, they couldn't save her from everything.

One month after the hospital

It was a still evening at the Boutique. The setting Sun shone brightly through the West windows as the two of them sat together at the dining room table. Rarity had taken the habit of over-preparing far too much food as a method of coping for the horrors her sister had gone through, among other actions. Always a fastidious mare, she now put extra effort into ensuring there were always fresh flowers at the table, not a speck of dust to be found anywhere in her home, and always ensuring her sister had whatever she wanted, though Sweetie never asked for much. Rarity knew in her heart she was doing too much at times, but she couldn't help herself.

As for Sweetie, she had mostly returned to her former self. She laughed often, played, and hung out with her friends as before...but sometimes, there were days she would go without speaking. These were days that would terrify Rarity and her parents, but the therapist assured them this was normal and part of her healing process; it was best to let her be and allow her to tell them whatever was bothering her in her own good time.

Rarity had prepared a special dinner for herself and her little sister as part of a celebration. They had been eating together for some time while she tried to make conversation with her sister. There were times when Sweetie would shut down, so Rarity was still navigating the treacherous waters until her sister was completely healed.

If that ever happened.

"So! How was your first day back at school?" Rarity smiled at her, hoping this wouldn't be one of those times.

Sweetie took another bite of her dinner before answering. "Okay, I guess. I punched another filly in the mouth at recess. I might have knocked out one of her teeth." At her sister's shocked expression, she looked around the table and added, "Are there any more of those sauteed mushrooms?"

Rarity finally found her voice. "Swee...Sweetie Belle! Why in Celestia's Name would you do that?!"

Her sister calmly took a drink of her tea, stared up at her, then said, "Because she called me a 'slut."

"Wha...what?!"

Sweetie nodded. "Uh huh. She said her Mom had heard what had happened to me and told her that sort of thing only happens to 'sluts."

Rarity's face lost color, and her voice became dangerously quiet. "...did she..."

Sweetie nodded again. "So, when she and her friends cornered me in the playground and started laughing in my face about it, I didn't think; I just did it." Then, her eyes brightened. "That reminds me: I need to tell Mom and Dad about a teacher-parent conference with Miss Cheerilee tomorrow."

Rarity was shaking with rage but managed, "Mother and Father are out of town, so I will attend in their stead." Through clenched teeth, she added, "And...what is this filly's...NAME?" Once she told her, Rarity grimly smiled and said, "Of course." She wiped her mouth and stood.

"You will be fine by yourself for about an hour? There's an errand I need to run; I shan't be long!" Sweetie wasn't fooled for a second.

"No."

Rarity did a double-take. "N..NO?! But...but, Sweetie! I will NOT allow..."

"I said, 'no.' I can't have you fighting for me all my life, Sis." Sweetie looked away and sighed. "Besides, she wasn't the only one."

Rarity's heart went cold. "...what do you mean...?"

She looked back up at her sister as her eyes filled with tears. "I mean, I see the way lots of ponies look at me now. I hear them whispering behind my back...I'm...I'm...tainted now, Rarity, unclean, I heard a mare tell another...I may as well accept it...."

"Oh, SWEETIE!!" cried Rarity as she scooped her up into a fierce hug and wept bitter tears. "It's not true! IT'S NOT TRUE!" she wailed as she held her and rocked her back and forth. They cried together for some minutes before Rarity finally put her down and said, "Sweetie, I want you to listen to me very, very carefully: it was not your fault! What that pervert did to you, he did to other fillies, and he paid for it! Do not listen to anyone who tells you differently because they DO. NOT. MATTER. What matters is how you feel about yourself and how much we all LOVE you!" She hugged her once more.

"I love you so much, Sweetie..."

Author's Note:

As before, this tale is based on true events. For those of you who read the first story but didn't read all the comments, there was an exchange between myself and a few readers where I explained that this very thing happened to my daughter once word spread through our community of her sexual assault. I should say "spread through" my ex-wife's community, for she knew decades before I did, and she never told me. My daughter didn't tell me until she was in her twenties, and she also told me how people back then blamed HER for what happened, even though she was only seven years old...

Please be patient. This story will have a happy ending, that I do promise you.

But we still have some rough patches ahead...

The Bastard

At the teacher-parent conference

"Thank you for coming, Miss Rarity!" beamed Miss Cheerilee. She was there with her sister in the schoolhouse, seated across from the teacher in the now-empty classroom. Rarity glanced around the room with the look of a hawk tracking its prey.

A very, very hungry hawk...

"Where are the other parents?" she asked with a frown, "I was led to believe both parties would be attending?" The teacher's smile, which had already seemed forced, now faltered a bit.

"Oh, they'll be joining us shortly!" she assured her, "but I really wanted to spend some time discussing your sister's behavior before they arrived." Rarity's heart began to race as her nostrils flared, but she managed to keep her voice even.

"Indeed?" She spared a glance at Sweetie, then "brightly" asked, "Please. DO inform me of the issue, for I haven't the foggiest notion how my sister did anything untoward..."

Cheerilee sat back as if slapped, then slowly explained, "She...struck...another student, Miss Rarity! Furthermore, I had to take her to the local hospital, where she required stitches!" She leaned forward, staring at both Rarity and Sweetie. "Stitches, Miss Rarity!"

But the white unicorn was unmoved. "As I understand it, my sister was surrounded by no less than four other students, all of whom made their hostile intentions known." This time, it was she who leaned forward. "Surely, Sweetie has the right to defend herself, wouldn't you agree?"

Cheerilee blinked. "I...I apologize, Miss Rarity...that...wasn't the recounting I was told." Just as she was about to respond, the classroom front door banged open, and a mare barged in, followed by a filly and a police pony.

She pointed. "There she is, officer! Arrest her!" But the police pony gave an apologetic look to Rarity, Miss Cheerilee, and Sweetie.

"Ma'am, I'm only here to take a report; we do not have evidence of a crime being committed."

"Evidence?!" she shouted. She yanked her daughter up by the hoof as the filly cried out in pain and pointed to her mouth. "Here is all the evidence you need!" She whirled and struck an accusing hoof at Sweetie. "That...that...harlot beat my baby without provocation!" She turned and glared back at the officer. "She's a menace! I demand that you throw her in the deepest, darkest prison you have and throw away the key! That's where her kind belongs!!"

Ponyville was not known for its criminal element, but even so, its small police force kept themselves fit and ready for duty. This was well, for only the officer's sharp reflexes saved the mare from Rarity, as she had launched herself across the room and was within a hair's width of having her hooves around her throat. He read her face, moved, and tackled her in mid-leap as the other mare fell back, her eyes wide with fright.

"You see? You SEE?!" she shouted. "She attacked me! Right in front of my daughter!" She grabbed her filly and gripped her to her chest as the girl's face began to turn blue. "They're insane! Keep them both away from us!"

Rarity stopped trying to free herself and said, "You can release me, Officer; I give you my word I will not attempt to hurt her again."

The sincerity in her voice was enough for him, but the mare shouted, "What are you doing?! Cuff her! She can't be trusted!" while her filly began to struggle and kick her legs. But Cheerilee had left her desk and rushed up to her side.

"Ma'am, you're choking your daughter! Please! Let her go!" The mare looked down as if surprised she was holding something living and then immediately released her. The filly fell to the floor and inhaled sharply as the color returned to her face, then started coughing. The mare patted her daughter on the back, then glared at Rarity.

"Do you see what YOU made me do?!" She pointed again while shouting at the officer. "Arrest her! Arrest them both! I pay your salary, and I WILL not—" but she was cut off as another stallion entered the classroom.

"Will not...what?" he asked, staring down at her.

Her face blanched as she recognized him, then stammered, "H...Honey! I...I thought you were going to be away for the evening!" Her eyes darted to the others, then back to her husband. "There...there was no need for you to come here...I had the situation perfectly—"

"So I see..." he said, turning away from her and approaching the rest. "You must be Rarity," he looked down, "...and you are the one who almost broke my daughter's nose." He sat down in one of the chairs and said, "I would like to hear your side of the story."

When Sweetie finished speaking, the stallion nodded. "That is understandable. Had that been me, I would have done the same thing." His wife's eyes grew wide.

"Surely you don't believe her?! Over your own daughter?! What kind of father are y—" he held up a hoof and looked his daughter in the eyes.

"Did you call her that word? And did you and your friends gang up on her?" The filly looked up at her Dad, trying to hold his gaze, then her bottom lip trembled, and she burst into tears.

"Yesh! Yesh, I didth, Daddy! I'm THRORRY!!" She held her mouth where the bandages were covering her stitches to ease the pain but kept crying. "Pwease forgith me for lying!" He picked her up and held her to his chest, but as he patted her back, he gave his wife a stern look.

"You and I will talk later." He turned to Rarity and Sweetie. "Your sister drew the blood of my child, and that is not an easy thing for me to forgive." At Rarity's indignant expression, he held up one of his hooves and quickly added, "But, under the circumstances, she had good reason!" They both watched as he bent down and whispered in his daughter's ear. She nodded, then he set her down on her hooves.

Her face completely red, she walked up to Sweetie and quietly said, "I...I'm very throrry, Thweetie...I with NEVERTH call you that worth again..."

Sweetie stared at her, looked at her mother, then back at her. "But, you'll still think it, won't you?"

The filly's eyes grew wide, and she stepped back. "Da...Daddy?" The father frowned but gathered up his daughter, placed her on his back, and turned to leave.

Just before he got to the door, he turned back and said, "I know she's been through a traumatic experience, so I know she's not at fault." He pointedly looked at the teacher. "I'm pulling my daughter out of this school immediately, and we're moving from Ponyville."

"BASTARD!!" screamed Rarity as she rushed forward but was stopped by the officer.

"Let it go, Miss...there's nothing else to be done..."

"Nothing? NOTHING?!" She pointed back to her sister. "That FILTH just told his daughter to apologize, and THEN blamed my sister for EVERYTHING!!"

Her chest heaving, she turned to Sweetie and said, "Just ignore them, Sweetie! As I was telling you, they don't...don't...Sweetie...?"

But the little unicorn was unresponsive. Her eyes were fixed in a thousand-yard stare as she kept her gaze on the place where the stallion and his family had gone. Rarity bent down slowly and waved a hoof in front of her face. "Sw...Sweetie?" Then, she gently wrapped her hooves around her and drew her in for a hug. "...no...oh, no...not again! Sweetie...don't do this...come back to me...come back to me..." Rarity closed her eyes and wept softly as she rocked her silent sister back and forth.

As hoofsteps drew near, Rarity heard a voice begin, "Is...is there anything I can d—"

"DON'T TOUCH HER!!" snarled Rarity up at the teacher. The unicorn's eyes were blazing, and her teeth were bared. Cheerilee stepped back out of safety and looked over at the officer, who seemed to be just as at a loss as she.

But he came forward and asked, "Does...does she need an ambulance, Miss?"

Rarity shook her head as she continued to weep and hug her sister. "Just...leave us alone...this is something that...happens..."

As they sat there for some minutes, Rarity felt a blanket being draped over her shoulders. She looked to see Miss Cheerilee sitting next to her. "We'll wait her out together, Miss Rarity...take all the time you need."

Uncle Bitters

"How is she?" Applejack, her sister, Rainbow, Scootaloo, and Rarity were seated around Sweetie's bed, where the little unicorn lay sleeping.

Rarity adjusted the blanket up to her chin and answered without taking her eyes off her sister, "We...had a bad night, but she's resting now." She turned sunken, bloodshot eyes at her friends and added, "I...don't know what else to do. Her doctor said we need to be patient with her, but I'm worried for her sanity..." She managed a sad smile as Opalecense hopped up next to Sweetie and started "making biscuits" on her shoulder in the cat way of offering comfort, then gazed at her sister's face. "She thinks she's...tainted...and unclean...and last night's horrible events did not help."

Dash smacked her hooves together. "You just let me catch anypony saying that crap about her!! They'll be picking their teeth out of the nearest wall!!"

"Yeah!" echoed Scootaloo. "If me and AB had been there, that filly would've been missing more than a tooth!"

But Applejack shook her head. "Nun o' that'll help her, y'all..." As they all turned to her and started to protest, she said, "Ah know it ain't whut y'all want ta hear, but trust me, Ah know."

Rarity gave her her full attention. "What are you saying, Applejack? Did...did you have to endure the same...slurs?"

She shook her head again. "Not as bad as Sweetie, on account of it happened away from Ponyville, but there are family members who know about whut happened, an' they know who did it...and they still blame me..."

She looked at her little sister before beginning. Apple Bloom had turned away to the window, propped her front hooves on the sill, and quietly stared out. Applejack sighed. "Ah dun already told Apple Bloom, an' the rest of mah family here knows, but...Ah guess it's time all of y'all knew...especially you, Rarity, if'n it'll help Sweetie."

"It happened when Ah got it in mah head Ah needed to git away from the farm, an' see whut life wuz like in the Big City. Granny and Big Mac were sad ta see me go, but Ah wuz determined, an stubborn, so off Ah went." She nodded in her sister's direction. "Bloom there weren't no older than a baby, an' we had jus' lost our Ma an' Pa jus' a few months afore, so thinkin' back on it now, Ah guess Ah wuz still grievin', an needed to git away..."

"So, off Ah went to Manehatten, where Auntie an' Uncle Orange took me in. The first thing Ah dun wuz ta try an' shed mah country ways, an' talk like them. It weren't easy, an' Ah felt dishonest, but Ah wanted ta fit in, even though mah Aunt an' Uncle told me Ah didn't have to do any of that."

"All wuz goin' okay, until they had a big dinner party, an' invited ten guests, all family. That's when Ah met the rest o' the Oranges, an' that's when Ah met...him. Uncle Bitters Orange, the richest one o' the Orange line. He comes in, all dressed in an expensive lookin' suit with diamonds on his cuffs, a-swaggerin' in like he owned the place, an' fer all Ah know, he probably did."

"First thing he dun is look at me an' ask me mah name. When Ah told him 'Jaqueline,' Ah guess mah voice musta tickled him, 'cause he laffed like he'd heard the best joke of his life! Ah started to git mad, but then Ah saw everypony else laffin' with him, so Ah jus' smiled, an' held mah peace. But all through dinner, Ah thought Ah saw him lookin' at me, an then, Ah thought Ah wuz jus' imaginin' it..."

"After dinner, when we wuz all sittin' in the parlor an' the servants brought drinks fer the grown-ups an' an ice cream soda fer me, he grinned down at me an' told me to "come sit on his lap." Ah didn't want to, but Ah didn't want to be rude, so Ah climbed up on his knee and sat down."

"Now, the only light in there wuz frum the fireplace, so Ah told mahself later that's why nopony else saw whut he dun, but he started...started to...touch mah backside while he wuz talkin' and laffin' with everypony else. Ah wuz gittin' madder an' madder, but Ah wuz also a little scared. The longer Ah sat there, the more he wuz touchin' me, until Ah couldn't take no more and jumped off his lap!"

"Everypony stopped and wuz lookin' at me...an' that...that...bastard...acted like he wuz...surprised!"

"Why, Little Jaqueline...is something wrong?"

"Ah fought down the urge to throw mah ice cream in his smug face 'cause Ah could see the shocked look on everypony else's faces. So Ah said, 'No, Ah'm jus' tired." Ah looked at mah Aunt an' said, "Ah think Ah'm gonna go to bed. G'night all..."

"It wasn't until Ah wuz down the hall Ah realized Ah hadn't bothered to try an' hide mah accent, Ah was so mad."

"The room mah Aunt had given me had a big bed with a nightstand next to it. Ah put the picture of Granny, Mac, and Apple Bloom on it, then went into the bathroom to take a hot bath, 'cause Ah felt...dirty."

"Then, Ah turned off the light, climbed into bed, and fell asleep lookin' at the picture in the Moonlight, an' wishin' Ah wuz back home."

At this point, she stopped, because Apple Bloom had left her place by the window, then came over and hugged her. AJ looked down at her. "You want me to quit tellin' this?" Apple Bloom shook her head and looked up at her as she began to softly cry.

"No...no, they gotta know." She looked over at her friend. "Sweetie's gotta know she ain't alone; she gotta know she kin git through this..." She looked back up. "Yew tell 'em, an' don't leave nuthin' out."

"Mah eyes popped open a few hours later 'cause Ah could sense sumthin' wuz wrong. Ah sat up, an' there wuz somepony sittin' in mah room!

"Ah started to yell, but he shushed me an' said, "Not so fast, cutie...I think you want to hear me out first."

"Ah wuz shakin' 'cause I wuz both scared and angry, but when Ah saw he had the picture of mah family in his hoof, Ah got really scared. So Ah kept quiet."

"He looked down at the picture, smiled, then turned his sick smile at me. "I'm here to make you an offer because I'm a business pony: you do something for me, and I'll do something for you. Sound good?"

"Ah narrowed mah eyes. 'Whut do you want from me?'"

He grinned again, then came over and sat on my bed and said, "Let's not play games with each other." It wuz then Ah saw he wasn't wearin' nuthin' under his bathrobe, an' wuz...wuz...stickin' out of it. He scooted closer and said, "You take care of me like a good little filly, and I'll take care of you." He held up mah picture and added, "And your quaint, homespun family..."

Applejack's face flushed with anger, and she had to stop and take some steady breaths. She kept her eyes on the floor as she said, "Ah wasn't much older than Apple Bloom is here now, but that monster made me do things Ah know grown mares don't like to do!" She glared around the room at her stunned audience, but her anger wasn't directed at them but at the memory. "An' the worst part? That wasn't the only night!"

"The next morning at breakfast, Ah tried to act like nuthin' wuz different, cuz Ah didn't want nopony to know whut happened. Just about everypony that had bin at the dinner party had stayed the night...even...him. Ah could hardly eat Ah felt so sick jus' bein' in the same room with that...thing...but Ah had to keep up mah act. But when Ah met mah Aunt's eyes, Ah knew...Ah knew she wasn't fooled. Even though Ah sat as far away from him as Ah could, her eyes kept shiftin' from me to him the entire time while he kept laffin' and jokin' about nuthin'...so Ah waited until after the meal an' caught her alone."

"Auntie Orange!" Ah called out to her once Ah caught her out in the hall, but she shook her head and darted into a dark room. Ah followed her in, where she checked to make sure we wuz alone afore lightin' a candle an' shuttin' the door."

"Ah stared up at her, while she couldn't look me in mah eyes. That made me angry. "Why didn't you warn me?!" She flinched as if Ah had slapped her, an' if'n Ah wasn't less thi'n half her size."

"She struggled to speak, then said, "You...you don't understand how things are supposed to be here, Jaqueline! When Bitters wants something, he gets it!" She started crying when she whispered, "...no matter who it is..."

"Ah sat down carefully because of the pain in mah filly parts and looked at her. "He did the same to you, didn't he?" She nodded.

"When I was your age. He didn't stop until I got older." She finally looked at me, and her face was covered in tears. "That's why my husband and I have never had any children. My husband isn't an Orange, so he doesn't know our..."Family History"...and I've never told him...he...he thinks I'm infertile."

"Ah stared back at her. "That...that's horrible! How kin you live like this?!"

"Her smile was as bitter as a lemon. "I told you: it's how things are."

"Ah stood an' began to pace the room. "Well, it ain't 'how thangs will be fer ME!' Ah ain't stayin'! That bastard ain't gonna lay 'nuther hoof on me agin!"

"Her eyes got real big, an' her voice shook. "You...you can't do that, Applejack! He wants you, and even if you run away, he'll find you and do worse!"

"Ah stopped mah pacing an' glared up at her. "You knew. You knew whut wuz gonna happen to me when Ah sed Ah wuz comin' ta visit, an' you didn't warn me..."

"She turned away from me and covered her face with her hooves as she started to break down. After a few minutes, she whispered, "I can't even apologize to you, for there's nothing I can say to make up for it." Then, she took her hooves away and dared to face me. "But, all I can offer is this: if you do everything he tells you to do, he might give you and your family a huge sum of bits; enough so your farm won't have to worry about bad harvests or paying the mortgage for several years..."

"Ah glared at her. "Yer tellin' me Ah gotta be his little whore on the chance he might save our farm?!"

"She shrugged. 'I know it's horrible, but think about it: he's already had his way with you, and I'm sure he told you the same thing he told me..."Do something for me, and I'll do something for you," correct?' Ah frowned, but Ah nodded."

"Then she dun somethin' completely unexpected, sumthin' that made mah blood run cold. She frowned, wiped her face, an' said, "Besides, why should you be any different? You're no better than me; why shouldn't you be used the same as I was?"

"Ah backed away from her, then threw the door open and fled the room."

Applejack's jaw was clenched, and her chest was heaving as she said, "That sweaty, bald bastard come into mah room fer three more nights afore Ah couldn't take no more. Ah couldn't think of no way out...an' thought about...endin' mahself. Ah wuz too ashamed to go back to the Farm, cuz of the things Ah done with him an' the things he made me do, so Ah wuz jus' settin' at the window watchin' the Sun come up, an' judgin' the distance from the window to the cement sidewalk below when Ah saw a rainbow shoot across the sky in the direction of...Home..."

"Ah felt a tinglin' on mah hip, an' looked down to see...this!" She pointed at her cutie mark. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked up at her friends. "Ah felt...a new strength course through me, an' Ah knew where Ah belonged!"

"Ah marched outta that room, an' into the livin' room where all of 'em were sittin'. Ah walked right up to that rich bastard, looked him in the eyes an' said, "You ain't gonna touch me ever agin, you pervert! Ah'm leavin', an' don't you EVER come near me agin!"

Everypony froze, an' Uncle Orange said, "Pervert?" He looked at Bitters an' said, "What's she talking about?"

That disgusting bulk sneered an' said, "She's just a lying little tramp." Then he grabbed my shoulder an' growled, "And you're not going anywhere!"

Ah tried to break free. "Yes, Ah am! Let me go!"

Mah Uncle Orange got to his hooves. "BItters! Let her go!" he yelled.

"Quiet!" he snarled. Then he looked back at me. "I guess I have to teach you what happens to little fillies who don't know their place..."

Applejack had to take a moment to compose herself, and Apple Bloom was openly sobbing. After some time, she sighed and continued. "The doctors told me later the ponies that found me in an alleyway said Ah wuz barely alive by the time they rushed me to a hospital. Ah never did find out whut happened to Uncle Orange, but that bald bastard disappeared after almost killin' me. Seems he went too far this time, an' even with all his wealth an' connections, 'child murder' wasn't sumthin' everypony wuz willin' to turn a blind eye to." She sighed again. "Even to this day, there's ponies whut don't come to our reunions, 'cuz they say Ah'm the slut that "led him on" an' made him do the thangs he dun...'cause when he left he stopped payin' fer all their houses an' mansions an' whatnot, so Ah guess they hadda blame somepony."

All the rest were weeping as well, and then they heard, "That's worse than what I'm going through."

Rarity spun around. "Sweetie! How long have you been awake?" She sat up and gently patted the cat.

"Right around the time Opal started giving me her attention," she smiled. Then she looked at the farmer. "What about your Aunt?"

Applejack scowled. "Ah haven't spoken to her in ages...but Ah don't hate her. She's...damaged, an' Ah feel sorry for her, " and here she looked down at her sister, "...but she ain't EVER gonna be alone with Apple Bloom."

"EVER."

Author's Note

Even though my real name isn't known to FiMFiction readers, there's enough of my private information available for the Moderators of this website to piece together my actual identity. For this reason, and to protect this person's privacy, I'm not going to be specific when I tell of the person Auntie Orange inspired.

I've known this person for over twenty years. I knew she had a sibling who had been molested, but I didn't realize until she unintentionally showed me signs much, much later that she'd gone through the same thing.

With the same person. For years...

This is the part that is both sad, and sickening: she made excuses for her abuser and even tried to maintain a relationship with him...and would become ANGRY if anyone spoke against him.

More disgusting? EVERYONE on that side of the family knew. They. Knew. And NO. ONE. TOLD. ME.

So, there are people I used to know with whom I no longer speak, or visit.

EVER

The Clouds Part...

Just then, there was a knock on the front door of the Boutique. Rarity scowled. "Can't ponies read?! I know I put the 'Closed Until Further Notice' sign on the door!" Getting grudgingly to her hooves, she muttered, "Please excuse me, everyone," then stomped down the stairs. They all winced, expecting to hear a burst of invective as she threw open the door, but instead, they heard...silence. All exchanged puzzled looks, then turned to the bedroom door as they heard hoofsteps approaching.

Then bowed to their knees as the One majestically entered the room.

Sweetie sat up in her bed. "Pr...Princess Celestia?!" She started to get up and join the others, but the Princess motioned for her to lie still.

"Please, my little pony, remain comfortable." She smiled down at the others. "And all of you, please, rise....this is an informal visit." Despite her assurances, Rarity was as flustered as her first day of sales.

"M...May I get you anything, Your Highness? Tea, perhaps, or maybe some sort of confection?" Celestia shook her head.

"No, thank you. It is gracious for you to offer, but I would like to spend some time with your sister." She turned her radiant smile once again at Sweetie. "Would you care to take a walk with me, dear?"

Sweetie's eyes grew big. "A...walk? Ju...just the two of us?" She looked around at her friends and sister. "Sure!" All bowed again as the little unicorn scrambled off her bed and joined her Monarch as they made their way down the stairs and then out of the Boutique. Celestia's Guards, in their golden armor and each armed with long, wicked-looking halberds, snapped to attention and took up flanking positions as the two exited the building. These were two Celestia had specially chosen for this occasion, for they were the two of the most enormous Guards in her garrison, standing almost as tall as she.

A subtle nod over her shoulder was signal enough for the two to fall back far enough to allow her and the filly some privacy, as Celestia turned to Sweetie and said, "You have the most remarkable teacher, child."

"I do?" Sweetie's eyes grew big. "I mean, I like her, but what do you mean?"

Celestia spared a glance at the crowd of ponies beginning to form as they made their leisurely way across Town. "Did you know she temporarily closed the school yesterday?" Sweetie shook her head.

"No, Your Highness...why would she do that?"

Celestia smiled down at her. "Because apparently, she took the midnight train to Canterlot and slept outside my throne room in the hopes she would be able to speak to me..." She paused, then added, "...about you..."

Sweetie stopped as her face went crimson. In a small voice, she stared at the ground and said, "...what...what did she tell you about me...?"

Celestia halted as well and sat next to her. Her voice was gentle as she replied, "Only that the other children were being especially harsh with you because of...what happened to you...and that your sister and parents are worried about you."

Sweetie looked up at her as her eyes grew wet. "You...know about what happened?" Celestia sadly nodded.

"Yes, dear. I followed the trial most closely." She placed her hoof under her chin. "You were quite brave, speaking in court against him as you did. I was and am very proud of you." She took her hoof away and waited as Sweetie looked off in the distance and sighed.

"My sister and I got a letter from the Warden a few months ago, telling us he got killed in prison." She looked back up at her Ruler. "I shouldn't feel happy about that, but I do! Am I a...bad pony, Your Highness?"

"No, my dear, you are not. Somepony like that was bound to come to a bad end. One might even say his fate was...inevitable..." A grim smile passed quickly over Celestia's face, which went unnoticed by the filly as they resumed their stroll. All around them, ponies were gathering in groups of two or greater, whispering together and pointing in their direction.

Sweetie put her head down and laid her ears back. "Ev...everypony is...looking at me..."

Celestia kept her head high, and her expression imperial as the heavy sound of her massive Guards' hooves marched in lockstep behind them. She looked around at the gathering crowd and said, "Such was my intention, my little pony..."

The filly looked up at her. "Your...Highness...?"

The Solar Monarch smiled down at her subject. "All will be made clear, Lady Belle." As they neared the Market Square, the place was already bustling with shoppers, as it was a Saturday and, therefore, one of the busiest selling days of the week. Cries of "Princess Celestia!" along with scattered "...look who she's with!" and a few, "I can't believe it!" were heard among the crowd of shoppers and sellers as the retinue marched into the Square as all hastened to bow and show obeisance.

These last remarks caused the Alicorn to turn her head in the direction of the speakers and order, "You two there. Come forward." The mares she addressed blanched, then on shaking limbs, made their way through the crowd until they stood shivering with their heads bowed before their Ruler. She stared down at them, and her eyes held no pity.

"What is it you find 'unbelievable?" The Guards joined her on either side, unholstered their weapons, and slammed them as one into the cobblestones hard enough to smash the stones and cause a miniature shock wave to reverberate throughout the Square. Windows shook, and a few unsecured flower vases on a nearby stand fell over and crashed onto the street. At the two mares' continued, terrified silence, Celestia looked out over the crowd and said, "Lady Sweetie Belle has come to my personal attention; anypony that speaks ill of her will find me most...displeased..." She looked down. "Is that understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness!" they both squeaked at once.

She held them in her gaze a moment longer, then quietly said, "...begone..." They practically fell over each other in their haste to leave, forgetting any purchases they'd made in their mad scramble to be out of Celestia's Presence.

Sweetie watched them go, sighed, and said, "They'll still think of me the same, Your Highness..."

She nodded. "I know." She turned her smile on the filly. "But from this moment forth, they will not dare to speak ill of you, even amongst themselves." Her smile turned predatory. "I...have that effect..."

Sweetie dimpled at her. "I...don't know what to say, Your Highness...thank you...it means a lot..." But Celestia shook her head.

"Do not thank me yet, dearest." She scouted her gaze until she spotted a certain high-end jewelry shop. "There is yet one more task I must needs perform."

"What was that shaking?!" The mare turned to her husband and held onto the counter just as some displays started falling over. He looked up from his place behind the counter and gave her a sour look.

"I have no idea, but as you can see, I'm with a customer..." He turned to the mare, smiled, and said, "Miss, I do believe this necklace will suit you, and as we will be leaving Ponyville soon, we are offering a discount to our most loyal customers!"

"A slight discount!" his wife added.

The customer blinked. "Oh, really? I wasn't aware you were moving. Do you...no longer enjoy living here?" The stallion started to open his mouth but was cut off by his wife.

"That is not your concern!" Then she smiled and lowered her voice. "But if you must know, it's because of a certain tramp and her sister!" She exchanged a look with her husband and said, "They both attacked me at the school when I was defending my child from her, so in order to protect our daughter, my husband and I decided it would be best if we moved away." Her smile grew. "Surely, you would do the same!"

The customer's eyes grew wide. "I...didn't hear about this! When did this happen?!"

"Two days ago," replied the husband, "so if you have a child attending Miss Cheerilee's class, I'd advise you to caution them around a filly named Sweetie Belle."

The customer looked from one to the other. "Sweetie Belle?! You mean...the sister of the mare who runs Carousel Boutique?!" Her brow furrowed. "But...I don't understand...she's the one who was in the news a few months ago after those horrible things happened to her!" Her face grew more concerned. "You...say she...attacked you?"

"Not just me, but my innocent daughter first!" smiled the mare. "All my sweet filly did was to tell her the truth, that she's a slut, and that she probably deserved what happened to her." She looked at the stallion before adding, "My husband thinks I went too far and shouldn't have been so blunt with my daughter, but I feel she needs to know the truth about other ponies, or else she might end up like them!"

The horrified customer took a faltering step back, staring openly. "Wha...what kind of pony ARE you?!"

"She IS a slut!" yelled the mare. "Everypony knows she must have loose morals or acted provocatively for a grown stallion to do those things to her! That sort of thing never happened to me, and it certainly would never happen to MY daughter!"

The customer stared at her as her face began to turn green. "...you...you're crazy..." she whispered. But before she could turn and flee, the door opened. When she saw who it was, her eyes grew large, and she fell to her knees. The other two hastened to come from behind their counters and fall to their knees as well.

"Princess Celestia! Such an honor!" cried the mare. She raised her head. "May I be so bold, what brings you to..." her voice trailed off as she read the look on her Ruler's face. Then, her own face lost color as a little filly stepped out from behind her. The mare dropped her eyes and began shaking as her husband beside her did the same.

The Princess spoke. "What is your name, my little pony?"

"D...Daisy Mae, my Princess," said the customer.

"You may leave. Be well." As the customer quickly left, Celestia turned her attention back to the shop owners. "I believe this child is known to you both, am I correct?"

Neither dared to raise their heads. "Y...yes, Your Highness...she is..." stammered the mare. There was a loud commotion as several display cases fell over with a crash of glass and scattered gems, necklaces, and other fine apparel as the two giant Guards shouldered their way in and assumed positions to the left and right of their Monarch and the filly.

"My apologies..." said Celestia, while never taking her eyes off the two shopkeeps, "...you may send the bill for repairs to the Crown." But they both remained silent, not daring to speak. She stepped closer. "It has come to my attention, my...personal attention...that certain, shall we say, unsavory terms have been used by yourselves to describe this child." She leaned down, put her hoof under the mare's chin, and slowly raised her head until they were eye to eye. "IS THIS TRUE?" The mare strove mightily to keep from soiling herself in front of her Monarch but did not possess the strength to speak, only weakly nodding her head. Celestia released her and stepped back.

"You disappoint me." She looked at the husband. "You both disappoint me." She then sighed and closed her eyes. "This child has suffered one of the most horrible acts a child can endure, and you both have added to her misery." She opened her eyes and looked sternly at them both.

"I will NOT forget."

"There is one more thing I wish to tell you, dear," said Celestia. She stood next to her chariot as her Guards had hitched themselves back to the harnesses, awaiting the order to ascend back to Canterlot.

"You've already done so much for me, Princess! I can never pay you back!" squeaked Sweetie.

She smiled. "You are such a treasure! But no, this isn't just for you; it is for Ponyville and possibly all of Equestria. The Summer Sun Celebration will be coming soon, but this time, it will be a special occasion! I am therefore sending somepony very dear to me, one I've been training for many years. I do hope your sister and your friends will welcome her!

"Ponyville?! Never heard of it!" Twilight bustled about her quarters, checking and rechecking to make sure she had every book she'd need for her..."temporary" journey. But as soon as she'd throw something into a bag, Spike would take it out. She finally noticed. "Spike!! What are you DOING?!"

He sighed. "Twilight..all you need is the list...Celestia's got us fixed up in a Library, so we don't need all these books..."

She huffed a few times, then relaxed. "You...you're right." Then she turned and trotted to the door. "Come on, Spike! The sooner we get to Ponyville and get done with all that nonsense, the sooner we can back to some REAL work!"

"...like making some friends, I hope," muttered Spike.

Pinkie

"Hmm? What?" Cheerilee sat up groggily in her bed as the knocking on her front door continued. She had spent the entire previous day waiting to speak to Her Majesty and had been finally granted an audience after all the nobles, high citizens, and military personnel had their briefing. The talk with Celestia took many hours, as Her Majesty wanted every detail Cheerilee knew concerning Sweetie Belle. In the end, Cheerilee had been offered a chariot ride back home, to which she'd blushed and graciously turned down, as she felt she was "just a simple teacher, and what would her neighbors think if they saw her riding in one of the Royal Chariots?" So, she'd caught the last train, dragged herself home, and without bothering to prepare a meal, had stumbled to her bed.

When she opened the door, she hardly recognized the mare standing there. Ever since she'd known her, the fashionista had always been meticulous in her makeup and was truly the envy of just about every mare in Ponyville. But even though it looked as though she'd made some effort with her appearance, there were dark circles under her eyes that no amount of cosmetics could conceal. And though she knew the source of her anguish, Cheerille was still stunned at the change. Rarity's eyes were bloodshot from crying, and it looked like it had been days since she'd slept...Cheerilee's heart went out to her, having some idea of her pain through her own struggles. Beside her was her sister, looking much better than the teacher had last seen her, all smiles and bubbly as she beamed up at her. "Miss...Cheerilee? May...we come in?" asked Rarity.

"Of course, of course!" She stepped back and threw her door open wide, sleep forgotten. "Please! Make yourselves comfortable!" Though she tried to hide it, she barely suppressed a yawn as her impromptu guests made their way in and settled themselves on her couch. Rarity's face fell.

"Oh...my! Did...we wake you?"

Cheerilee waved this off as she took out her teapot and set it on the stove. "Please, don't worry about it! I shouldn't be sleeping in the middle of the afternoon anyway, but I had such a long night I couldn't help myself." She took out some biscuits and put them on a tray, then brought them over to her guests. "Now, how can I help you two?" she asked as she seated herself.

Rarity fidgeted with her hooves and looked away as her face flushed, then said, "I...I want to apologize for my outburst the other night...I know you were only offering your help, and I was horrible to you!" She looked up. "Please...forgive me."

Cheerilee's eyes grew soft. "There's nothing to forgive, Miss Rarity. I cannot imagine the pain the two of you have gone through...are still experiencing...and I would do anything I could to help."

Rarity managed a smile. "That is the other matter. The Princess told Sweetie of your mission to speak to her...for her...and I can never repay you for that gesture." As Cheerilee was about to reply, the tea kettle began whistling. While preparing the tea and retrieving her best cups for her guests, Cheerille asked, "Was Her Majesty able to do anything to help? I'm afraid I was asleep the entire time she made her visit, so I don't know anything beyond her telling me she would come to Ponyville and "Take matters into her hooves."

"She was wonderful!" burst Sweetie. As her teacher set the tea service down, the little filly was bouncing on her seat. "You should have seen the looks on everyponies' faces when they saw me walking with her into Town!"

Cheerilee smiled as she took a sip of her drink. "Did it help? Are you feeling better now?" Rarity gazed fondly down at her sister as she continued to beam while finishing the story.

"I'll say! Even though I know it didn't change how those ponies think of me, I don't think I have to worry about any more whisperings behind my back or the other kids being horrible to me...she made THAT clear!"

Cheerilee looked off into the distance and sighed. "That...unfortunately...is a side of my job...of a teachers' job...to have to properly govern our students in a way that doesn't interfere with the parents' wishes...while at the same time, limiting unruly behavior." She sighed again and looked at Rarity. "There was only so much I could legally do to prevent your sister from being bullied, and the truth is, some children come from homes where the same level of discipline you and I expect from anypony is simply...not the same." She then turned her attention to the filly. "Even though you were right to defend yourself, I would have preferred it if you had not injured another child." She looked up at Rarity, then back to Sweetie. "I hope that doesn't happen again..."

Before her sister could reply, Rarity said, "So long as she isn't threatened, it won't happen again." She looked down at her. "She has been through enough trauma...she doesn't need the actions of other unruly children to add to her problems."

Cheerilee quickly nodded. "Of course, I understand." She looked up. "So...have you heard from Pinkie?" ---and instantly regretted her question once she saw their faces.

Rarity scowled. "Pinkie has been...distant ever since she heard about what happened to Sweetie." She turned her puzzled frown on the teacher. "I do not understand her. As bubbly and as welcoming as she normally is, I thought she'd be one of the first to offer comfort, but once word of the trial became public, nopony has seen her."

Cheerillee nodded again. "We've all been worried about her, for you are correct: this isn't like her." She drew a deep breath. "Perhaps it's just me, but things just aren't the same without her around, especially at Sugarcube Corner. The food simply isn't...as good."

Rarity forced a smile. "I do hope she's in no danger." She stood. "Well, we've taken up more than enough of your time, Miss Cheerilee. Thank you once again for all you've done!"

"It was my pleasure," she smiled as she walked her guests to the door. Then she looked down at Sweetie and asked her sister, "May I?" Rarity paused as she read her face, then smiled.

"May your teacher offer you a hug?" Sweetie grinned then wrapped her hooves around her teacher.

"Thanks again..." she whispered, and then, with a final wave, opened the door and made their way out. Cheerillee watched them from her door as they trotted away, then closed it and headed back up to her bedroom.

Just before she drifted off to sleep once more, her final thought was about the missing Party Pony...

Months earlier

In the dead of night, a certain mare tossed and turned in her bed, trying to come to terms with the nightmare her life had become. To make matters worse, even though Canterlot was the Royal Capital and, therefore, safer than most cities, she could not shake the feeling she was being watched all day by somepony or something malevolent.

Finally, she sat up and switched on her light, then gazed sadly down at the now-empty spot next to her. She reached out a hoof and touched his pillow, then picked it up and held it to her chest. It still had his scent, so if she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine him being in the bedroom with her, smiling that same grin that had caught her interest when they'd first met more than a decade ago.

She smiled to herself as she recalled how dashing he had been and how, even though he wasn't a soldier or a fighter, she'd still thought of him as the bravest stallion she'd ever known and how much she still loved him.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she thought about all the horrible things ponies were now saying about him...things that just couldn't be true! How could he have been capable of such...evil...and show no sign? She thought about those fillies he'd supposedly...touched...then immediately thought about their own two little girls. If it is true he committed those crimes, and she didn't know...could he have done the same to Candi and Melodi?

She left her bedroom and silently made her way to the twins' room. Opening the door carefully so as not to wake them, she stood for some time watching them sleep...and trying to read their faces. Surely, if he had done something to them, wouldn't it show enough that she could see? Her twins were the same age as the filly from Ponyville...so it was possible. She closed their door and slipped down to her knees. It felt as if her entire world was falling apart at the seams, and nothing was certain anymore. How could he even be accused of such horrors, let alone stand trial for them?

She thought about the first night she'd gone to the hospital and how terrified she'd been once she'd seen him. His face was...covered in bandages, as well as his body. When the doctors had informed her of the state of his injuries, she'd nearly fainted and had to sit down before she fell down. When she asked what had happened, the doctor hesitated, then said, "he'd been in a fight with another pony." She remembered becoming furious and demanding to know who it was that had nearly killed her stallion. But...the doctor wouldn't say; he only directed her to speak to the police.

And that was when she'd discovered the reason why he was in traction...and she was glad she had left their children with her sister for the night.

She'd returned to his room and sat watching him as he lay unconscious, trying to reconcile the horrors she'd just been told against the husband she thought she knew. She had stayed by his side the entire night and well into the morning, praying he'd wake up and feel well enough to speak to her. But, aside from his breathing, he gave no sign he was alive. Even so, they had been married for almost ten years, so there were still things about him she knew.

Such as the fact he'd been pretending to sleep for the past few minutes.

She'd heard the change in his breathing and thought she'd seen a telltale gleam of the one eye that remained uncovered. She frowned, then slowly made her way out of the room. It gave her pause to realize he'd seen her sitting there but hadn't wanted to speak to her...but she still wasn't ready to believe the worst of him.

...yet...

That was over a month ago. She'd been to see him twice, and each time, he'd offered her an excuse less believable than the other. And now, the trial was wrapping up, and it looked like he wouldn't be seeing the outside of a cell for a very, very long time. She still didn't know what to tell their daughters, but she knew she could not shield them from the truth for much longer. Ponies were talking, and she endured many a dark look each time she left their home. Her only comfort was she was sure, or as certain as she could be, that he hadn't molested his own children. She and her sister had sat down with them and asked, as gently as they could, "If Daddy had ever done anything to them that made them feel...dirty...or disgusted?" When they both showed genuine confusion, she peered intently into their eyes and saw they had no idea what she was asking. She had burst into tears and left them there with her sister, as she was both overjoyed and intensely angry. HOW could she not have known what kind of monster she'd married?!

She went down the stairs to the kitchen, intending to prepare something hot to drink, when suddenly...she stopped. That feeling of being watched came over her again. Standing in her darkened living room, she looked towards the windows to see if somepony was there, but saw nothing. The curtains were drawn, and the only light came from the Moon shining in from outside.

She was just about to light her horn when she heard a quiet voice say, "Don't scream." The mare startled, spun in the direction of the voice, and let out a blood-curdling scream. The voice said, "Now you've done it..." as the sound of a door being opened upstairs was followed by the yells of frightened children.

"Mommy! What's going on?!" as frantic hoofsteps could be heard rushing to the stairs.

"Don't come down here!" she yelled while backing away from the intruder. She looked around quickly for anything she could use as a weapon, then levitated a flowerpot and heaved it at the voice. Her aim was off as the pot crashed into the far wall, missing her target. Before she could grab something else, the lamp next to her husband's easy chair clicked on. The frightened mare stared speechless at the one revealed.

A pink pony with sunken eyes and her mane hanging straight down, nearly covering her face, sat watching her with a dark expression.

"Who...who are you?! And what are you doing in my house?!"

The pink pony didn't answer right away. Instead, she turned to the end table next to her chair, picked up a framed picture, and held it up. She pointed. "This is your husband...and you are Mrs. Slide Rule..." She then turned the picture to herself and stared down at it. "Your kids are cute," she looked back up at the mare and added, "...what did he do to them?"

Despite the situation, Mrs. Rule's face became flushed, and her nostrils flared as she growled through gritted teeth, "I don't know who you are, but you have no right to come into our home and make accusations!" She pointed to the door. "Get out! Get out, and don't ever come back!"

The mare dropped the family portrait and said, in a low voice, " ...you knew..."

"Wha...what?"

The mare gripped the arms of the chair as her eyes began to blaze. "You. Knew! You've known for years what he was and the things he did!" As Mrs. Rule was about to protest, the mare held up a hoof. "Don't bother lying! I can tell! My Pinkie Sense is never wrong!"

At this last, Mrs. Rule felt her heart go cold with a renewed fear. "You're...crazy...what are you talking about? What's a..."Pinkie Sense?" The mare closed her eyes tightly and hung her head.

"It...it doesn't matter! What matters is I should have stopped him; I should have known what he was the moment he set hoof in our town!" She opened her eyes and looked back up. "Then...he wouldn't have had the chance to...to...do the things he did to my friend's sister..." The mare then gripped her own head and muttered, "I should have stopped him..."

Something clicked. "You...you're from...Ponyville?" She turned at the sound of little hooves on the stairs, only to see her children staring with huge eyes at the stranger.

"Mommy? Who is that?" one asked as she pointed. The unicorn backed away and spread her arms to shield her fillies.

Still facing the stranger, she whispered, "Somepony who is leaving...now, go back upstairs and lock yourselves in your room." When she felt them hesitate, she shouted, "Do as I say! NOW!!" Both children screamed and then bolted back up the stairs, followed by the sounds of a door being slammed and locked. Mrs. Rule lit her horn.

"I don't know what you think you're doing, but know that I will kill you before I allow you to hurt my babies..." Even though she was at least half the size of the pink mare, she lowered her head and began to advance as she poured more magic into her horn, making it shine and pulsate with the offensive spell she was forming. "Now...GET OUT," she snarled.

The mare lowered her arms and faced her. "...you KNEW..."

"LIAR!!" screamed Mrs. Rule, "I didn't know! I had no idea what he was doing, or I would have dealt with him myself!"

Still, the mare stared at her. "I...don't believe you."

"I DON'T CARE!!" then rushed her.

"WHY, Pinkie?" Her sisters and parents stood outside of her jail cell, staring in at her. Her mother and sisters were crying as her father repeated his question. "What was thine thinking, daughter? Why didst thou attack that mare?"

Pinkie faced away from them as she whispered, "Because somepony had to. She's a part of her husband's crimes, and all I wanted was for her to admit it." Igneous exchanged a look with his wife, then frowned.

"No, Pinkie...she isn't. She was willing to talk to me and told me everything: how she realized it was thou who had been stalking her that day, how thou broke into her home and confronted her in front of her children, and the fight that followed." When Pinkie turned her bruised and battered face to him, he added, "Thee couldst have killed each other, and to what end? Some misguided sense of...retribution?"

Pinkie hung her head and began to weep. "You...you don't understand, Father...it's my fault he was able to get to Sweetie..." She looked back up at her family as her eyes filled with tears. "My Pinkie Sense should have warned me about him, then I could have warned Rarity...I failed, Father...I failed."

"No, Pinkie, you're wrong," said Maude. "We've known you all of our lives, and we know how you can sense things before they happen...but this time, you weren't meant to know. It wasn't your fault."

"But...but...Sweetie...and those other fillies..."

Maude stomped a hoof. "NO, Pinkie...you can't blame yourself." She stepped closer to the bars. "You are not the protector of Ponyville; you're a baker who is fond of parties and making ponies happy." As Pinkie gazed sadly at her, she added, "I know you're hurting, but the real criminal is behind bars, awaiting sentence. It's not up to you to "make things right." As she hung her head again, her father spoke up one last time.

"Once thine sentence is over, I wish for thee to come home with us; thee should not return to Ponyville until thou art healed... of body...and mind."

"We will take care of thee, daughter," her mother tearfully added. "Thou art in sore need of rest and comfort, and that is best while in the bosom of thine loving family."

It was several weeks before she felt well enough to return to Ponyville, and within that time, word had reached her of Rule's final fate. Like Sweetie, she felt conflicted upon hearing this news; on the one hoof, she was happy he would never harm another child, but on the other, she was sad to hear of his death, especially one so brutal.

But the tears she wept that night were more for herself, as part of her innocence was gone...

"Pinkie!" cried Mrs. Cake. "You're back! Where have you been?" It was a beautiful sunny morning as she opened the entrance to the Shoppe, only to see their adopted daughter standing on the threshold.

"I had something I had to do...and made some mistakes, but I'm better now...much better." Pinkie said with a sad smile, "May I come in?"

"Of course!" she said as she stepped back from the door. Calling over her shoulder, she yelled, "Carrot! Look who's back!"

Her husband popped his head from around the corner with a dot of flour on his nose, then grinned. "Welcome back, Pinkie!" He came around the corner and held a pink apron out to her. "Ready to get back to work?" She beamed up at him as her mane >poofed!< back to normal.

"I sure am, Mr. Cake!" As the first customers of the day began to file in, she pronked over behind the counter and greeted them with her usual smile.

"Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! What can I get you?"