The Final Test

"Big Mac!" Apple Bloom called as the four ponies rushed into Sweet Apple Acres. "Big Mac, where are you?"

They rushed through the apple trees, searching for the red stallion. "Big Mac!" Apple Bloom called again.

Suddenly a pink pony with a fluffy purple mane cut them off, anger burning in her eyes. "Don't you think you're a bit old to be asking your brother for help with your chores?"

Rarity recognized Big Mac's wife. Her belly was large and round. It was the first time Rarity had seen her since her pregnancy had been announced.

"Sugar Belle!" Apple Bloom gasped. "Where is Big Mac?"

"You can do your chores on your own," Sugar Belle scolded, eyeing the three ponies behind her. "And you certainly don't need them."

Her eyes fell on Rarity, and her gaze softened sympathetically. "Apple Bloom," she scolded. "You dragged poor Rarity out here? Don't you-"

"We need to find Big Mac," Rarity said quickly before the unicorn could go on. "It's urgent."

Sugar Belle's ears fell back against her skull. "For?" she asked suspiciously.

Fear coursed through Rarity as Apple Bloom stepped forward to face her sister-in-law. If Apple Bloom told her the truth, how would Sugar Belle react? Would she try to stop them? Would she turn Rarity in before she got a chance to get revenge? Would their plan fail before it even began?

"We need to tell him something," Apple Bloom told Sugar Belle. "It's really important. Sugar Belle, we need to talk to my brother."

Sugar Belle hesitated, then jerked her head toward the barn. "He's working on the trees behind the barn," she replied.

"Thank you!" Apple Bloom cried as Rarity let out a breath of relief. The four ponies raced off in the direction of the barn. Rarity hurried up to run beside Apple Bloom. "I thought you were going to tell her the truth," she admitted. Apple Bloom shook her head. "You aren't the one who killed my sister, and besides, the princesses will give you enough of a punishment. 'Specially seeing as you helped kill Celestia's pupil." Apple Bloom looked up at Rarity with a raised brow. "Say, how did the others die, anyway?"

Rarity shuddered and looked ahead. "I'd prefer to only tell that story once, when we have everypony gathered."

Apple Bloom didn't argue. Instead, she led the way to the back of the red barn. A patch of widely spread-out trees did little to hide the stallion who was bucking the trees. Apples fell down into his basket, thudding one after the other. The poor pony looked stressed, like work was the only thing that could take his mind off of it.

"Big Mac!" Apple Bloom cried.

The red pony didn't respond, simply continuing his work.

"Wait here," Apple Bloom instructed quietly before approaching her brother. "Big Mac, can I talk to you?"

"Eeyup," Big Mac replied, moving his basket to another tree.

"We've found something out," Apple Bloom told her brother. "Can you come with us?"

Big McIntosh didn't respond and began bucking apples from the new tree. Apple Bloom shifted her hooves impatiently. "Big Mac, come on! It's really important!" Still no response. "It's about Applejack," Apple Bloom tried.

Big Mac looked a little intrigued, but he still didn't answer. His little sister glared at him. "Big Mac, come on! Is your work seriously more important than your sister?"

"Nope."

"Then what is?" Apple Bloom snarled. "Sugar Belle?"

"Nope," Big Mac replied simply, continuing his work.

"Then why won't you come?" Apple Bloom hissed.

Sweetie Belle hurried over to stand by her friend's side. "Big Mac, I know you've been stressed and struggling to handle the farm on your own ever since your Granny Smith passed and your sister went missing," she said quickly. "And I know you don't like the idea of leaving, but this is really urgent."

Big Mac paused his bucking and stepped away from the tree, eyeing them. His gaze settled on Rarity, his look curious. Rarity hesitated, then stepped forward.

"I know what happened to Applejack," she admitted. "Starlight Glimmer captured all six of us and put us through a series of horrible and deadly tests. There was a spell she used to imprison us. During the first test, the spell killed Applejack when Rainbow Dash tried to attack Starlight."

Big McIntosh froze completely, as though he were suddenly paralyzed. After a few moments, his lips slowly curled back in a snarl.

"Starlight?" he growled. "That traitor killed my sister?" He glared at Rarity. His voice raised to almost a yell. "I thought she was y'alls friend!"

"She is," Rarity said. "Or... she was."

"Then what did y'all do to anger her?" the red farm pony demanded, trotting up to her. "What caused her to murder my sister?" He didn't give Rarity a moment to answer before he screamed, "What the fuck did y'all do?"

"They didn't do anything," Sweetie Belle interjected, placing her hoof on his chest and gently easing him away from her sister. "Starlight was too far gone to be reformed when they found her in the village. She was bitter. That was out of their control."

Big Mac kept glaring at Rarity, like it was her fault that Starlight was the way she was. Rarity forced herself not to wince at the sharp gaze that felt like it was piercing her fur and simply met his eyes. Grief does odd things to ponies.

"How long have you known?" Big Mac demanded.

Rarity drew in a shaky breath and looked down at her hooves. "The entire time she's been missing."

"And you never told anypony?" Big Mac roared, stomping his hoof on the ground. "You didn't think it was important? What in Celestia's name is wrong with you? Six months. Six fucking months, Rarity! You've kept this secret for six months! That's my sister, you son of a bitch!"

"I was mad, too," Apple Bloom told him, blocking his path to keep him from advancing on Rarity. "But Rarity is going to make up for it. She has an idea, but we need your help."

"What plan?" Big Mac snarled.

"We're gathering the siblings of the lost ponies," Scootaloo announced. "And Discord and Sunburst and the princesses. We're going to find Starlight and get revenge."

"How?" Big Mac demanded, snapping his head to look at Scootaloo.

Scootaloo hesitated, and she nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "Uhhh, we're... not entirely sure yet."

"It'll be a joined effort," Rarity told him. "We're going to get everypony, then get an idea of what to do."

Big Mac hesitated for what felt like years before he spoke. "I'll help." He stuck his face in Rarity's, their noses touching. "But you're going to stay the hell away from me the entire time, you hear me?"

Rarity swallowed and nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, I understand," she said hurriedly.

"Good." Big Mac moved away from Rarity. He turned to the crusaders. "Who are we getting next?"

"Zephyr Breeze," Sweetie Belle announced.

The stallion simply grunted. "I'll go tell Sugar Belle I'm leaving," he said. "I don't like the idea of leaving her alone, especially with her carrying my foal, but..."

"She'll be okay," Apple Bloom reassured him.

Big Mac shifted his hooves uncertainly. "Eeyup. Just, uh... wait for me by Sugarcube Corner, okay?"

Pinkie's missing posters flapped about in the wind outside Sugarcube Corner. Rarity looked at them sadly. Pinkie had betrayed her during the first test, but Rarity had forgiven her long before Starlight took her friend's life. And she was grateful that she did.

"We need to find somepony to go to Cloudsdale and get Zephyr," Sweetie Belle pointed out. She glanced at Scootaloo, who simply shook her head. "I still can't fly."

"So we find somepony who can," Apple Bloom said impatiently. "There's gotta be a pegasus around here somewhere."

The yellow mare stood on the tips of her hooves, scanning the town. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle did the same. Rarity simply looked from where she was.

"There!" Sweetie Belle suddenly cried, pointing to a gray pegasus with a yellow mane. She was sitting at a table outside of a cafe, munching away at a tray of muffins.

"Muffins?" Rarity said, tilting her head.

"That's what it looks like she's eating," Scootaloo said, squinting at the mare's tray.

"No," Rarity said quickly. "I mean, her name is Muffins."

"Muffins?" Apple Bloom said, rubbing her head. "I always thought her name was Derpy."

"That's just a mean name ponies used to call her," Rarity explained. "She's a trustworthy pony."

"Then let's go." Sweetie Belle trotted over to the pegasus, who looked up as they approached. Rarity smiled at her. Her crossed yellow eyes always reminded her of the sun on a cloudless day.

"Hi," Sweetie Belle chirped. "I'm Sweetie Belle, and these are my friends Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. You know Rarity, right?"

Muffins's ears fell back uncertainly. "Uh, yes, I think so. You're friends with Rainbow Dash, right?"

"I- I was," Rarity replied. Before Muffins could question her, the unicorn went on. "Do you know who Zephyr Breeze is? Fluttershy's brother?"

Muffins perked up. "I know Zephyr!" she said excitedly. "He's that blue pegasus with the yellow mane!"

"Right," Rarity said, smiling. "Can you go to Cloudsdale and get him? We need to talk to him."

"I sure can!" Muffins chirped, dancing about excitedly.

"Thank you," Rarity breathed. Muffins flapped her wings eagerly, then flew up into the sky. The pegasus disappeared into the clouds. Rarity sat down and sighed, fixing her eyes once more on the poster of her best friend.

Scootaloo looked at the table, then at the cafe. "I'll be right back," she announced, heading inside.

Shortly after she went inside, the sound of hoofsteps announced the arrival of another pony. Rarity didn't have to look to know it was Big Mac.

"This ain't Sugarcube Corner," he said lightly.

"We needed to find somepony to go get Zephyr," Apple Bloom explained.

Rarity looked over her shoulder as Big Mac's eyes fell on the tray of muffins. "Derpy?" he guessed.

"Muffins," Rarity corrected. "Her name is Muffins."

Big Mac glared at her, but instead of saying something mean he simply scratched his chin. "Right. I haven't spoken to her in ages."

"Rarity reassured us that she's the right pony for the job," Apple Bloom told her older brother.

"Of course," he grumbled, looking at the poster that Rarity was sitting by. Respecting his wishes, Rarity got up and moved over to the table that Muffins had been sitting at. She rested her head and front hooves on the table. The white mare sighed, closing her eyes and burying her face in her hooves.

Scootaloo was leaving the cafe just as Muffins returned with another pegasus. Rarity had been staring off into space, trying to keep her mind busy as she waited. When Muffins finally returned, she sat up. Scootaloo smiled at her. She was carrying a basket with a white covering. She cantered over to the gray pony and gave her the basket.

"Consider this a thank you," Scootaloo told her. Muffins happily took the basket. "Thank you," she said, her voice slightly muffled by the handle of the basket grasped in her mouth.

The pegasus happily trotted over to the table while Rarity got up to greet the new pony.

"Little bubble over there said you wanted me," Zephyr said, pointing to Muffins. He eyed Rarity, smiling at her flirtatiously. "Why, if it isn't the Rares herself. I'm surprised to be hearing from you. I thought you'd be too busy searching for your friends and my sister."

"Have you been looking for her?" Rarity said, a little snappier than she'd originally intended.

"When I can," Zephyr replied. "Work tends to get in the way a lot."

"Muffins!" Muffins cried. Everypony turned to looked at her. She'd pulled off the top of the basket, revealing the treats inside. "My favorite kind, too! Thanks, uh, what's your name again?"

"Scootaloo," Scootaloo replied with a smile. "And you're welcome."

Sweetie Belle looked at the still half-full tray and the basket of muffins. "Uh, are you sure that's not gonna give her a bellyache?" she whispered to Scootaloo.

"Muffins isn't stupid," Scootaloo replied confidently. "She'll know how to space it out."

Zephyr rested his arm on Rarity's shoulder and leaned against her, pulling Rarity's attention back to him. "So, what'd ya need me for?" he asked, smiling at her.

Rarity swallowed and pulled away from him. "We need to talk to you."

Zephyr stumbled a little, but he caught himself before he could lose his balance. "Uh, alright," he said, wrinkling his nose in confusion. "What's up?"

"It's about your sister," Rarity said slowly.

Zephyr finally seemed focus, his eyes widening with intrigue and surprise. "What happened? Is she okay?"

Rarity swallowed, then told Zephyr the story she'd told several times over already.

"Starlight?" Zephyr breathed. "Wha- She killed my sister?!"

"No," Rarity choked out, her voice hoarse. "I did."

Zephyr's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?" he snarled.

"It was the test of honesty. We- we had a choice. We could pick Chance and let fate decide who would die, or one could pick Choice and let the other pony die, or we could both pick Choice and both die. We agreed to pick Chance, as it was the only way we'd be able to live with ourselves. But at the last minute, I... picked Choice."

Rarity flinched at the look on Zephyr's face. It was pure hatred and fury, a look she hadn't seen on any of the other ponies.

"You murdered my big sister?" he spat, tears beginning to escape his eyes. "You betrayed her! How could you?" He lunged at Rarity. Before she could react, Zephyr pinned her down and stuck his face in hers. "She was the only pony who had faith in me!" he cried. "She's the reason why I began to believe I could do whatever my mind was set to. I didn't have any hope or believe in myself. She was my hope. She was my belief! She was everything I needed to make it, dammit! And you took her away from me!"

He spat on Rarity slightly as he screamed at her. She squeezed her eyes shut until he was finished. "Zephyr, please," she breathed. "Just listen."

"You better make this worth my time or I'll rip your tongue out," he snarled, keeping Rarity pinned beneath him.

Rarity gulped and drew in a shaky breath. "We're going to get revenge," she explained. "But I need your help."

"Help?" Zephyr barked, laughing. "You came to me for help? After you killed my sister? I want nothing to do with you! You don't deserve my time!"

"I can't take on Starlight alone," Rarity protested. "So I'm gathering the ponies who will be the angriest about my friends' deaths. We're going to punish Starlight, and then I'm leaving my fate in the hooves of the princesses."

Zephyr looked over at Big Mac. "I assume that's why you're here?"

"Eeyup," Big Mac replied.

Zephyr looked back at Rarity. She met his furious gaze. "I'm not asking for forgiveness or your friendship," she said softly. "I'm asking for your help in avenging your sister."

Zephyr hesitated, then stepped back and let Rarity get up. "Fine," he spat, wiping off his hooves like touching Rarity had given him germs. "I'll help."

"Thank you," Rarity breathed.

"I'm not doing it for you," Zephyr growled. "I'm doing it for Fluttershy."

Sweetie Belle bounded over to Rarity, blocking Zephyr off from her. "Where are we going next?" she asked.

"I think it'd be best to go to the rock farm next," Rarity replied. "And then we can go to Canterlot."

Zephyr shot one last look at Rarity before cantering off toward the train station. The others followed. Rarity fell behind, watching them go. All of these ponies hated her, even her own sister, so how much help would they really be? Afterall, no pony would listen to somepony they hated. Her hope slowly withered a little, like a petal falling from a rose. She just had to have faith.

"You look sad," Muffins said suddenly, drawing Rarity's attention to her. The gray pegasus reached into her basket and pulled out a muffin, presenting it to Rarity happily. "Do you want a muffin? They always make me feel better."

Rarity smiled and took the pastry from her gratefully. "Thank you, Muffins," she said, resting it on her nose like she'd often seen Pinkie do. It was a little hard to balance, but Rarity soon got it to stop wobbling and sit still.

"You're welcome!" Muffins chirped, drumming her hooves on the table a little in joy. "Good luck, Rarity."

Rarity dipped her head a little in thanks, then raced off after the others before she lost them completely.