Rarity gasped for air. Her head was finally above the mud, she rapidly spun her head around looking at her surroundings. All Rarity could see was the sea of mud, trailing off into the distance. She looked up, she could see a giant hole in the wall way above. It had been the hole Spike had dropped her from. However, the hole wouldn’t do Rarity much good now, as it was too high to reach. Rarity continued to look around, and that’s when she saw it; a small ledge to the right of the mud pool. It was just big enough to fit Rarity. Rarity desperately swam against the currents of the mud, pushing against the force of it. The force of the mud deeply pained the burns on Rarity’s flesh, but she pushed on. She finally made it to the ledge, and used all of her force to pull herself out of the mud, finally collapsing on the ledge. Rarity sighed heavily, then again, and again, the heavy breaths continued. Rarity could feel the mud coating her fur, the mud stinging her burns. Stinging her horn…. Wait, that didn’t make sense. Spike never burnt Rarity’s horn, in fact the pain was less a stinging and more… an electrical shock. Wait, the metal horn protector, the one Spike had used to prevent Rarity from using magic. Without thinking, Rarity let out a blast of magic from her horn. Rarity heard a metal clink behind her, and turned around to see the horn protector lying on the ground. Mud had been logged in the control center relinquishing it of its use. The mud and technology mix had resulted in electrical sparks, the thing that had alerted Rarity to its existence. Being able to use her horn changed everything. The ability to use magic would be infinitely helpful in escaping the caverns. Rarity once again looked up at the hole in the wall, she could see a small section of the sledgehammer. Spike had left it there, but was he still in the dungeon? Rarity listened, she could hear what sounded like Spike trailing off. She heard footsteps, and something large being dragged, the footsteps trailed off. Seeing her opportunity, Rarity used her magic to gently levitate the sledgehammer out of the hole, and down into the mud caverns. It was only when the sledgehammer had been brought all the way to Rarity that it occurred to her that Spike might notice its absence. It also occurred to her that her initial plan of smashing the wall behind her open would also alert Spike to her presence. As Rarity looked around, a lightbulb suddenly went off in her head. Once she had opened the pathway out, Rarity could place the sledgehammer at the bottom of the wall with the hole. Spike would simply think it slipped and the noise would be chocked up to the sledgehammer landing. All Rarity would have to do then was put the rocks back in place to cover up her newly created hole. With no time like the present, Rarity pulled the sledgehammer back, and swung at the wall. The wall didn’t immediately shatter, to Rarity’s dismay. She rapidly swung at it many more times until it finally shattered. Rarity tried to take a moment to catch her breath, but she heard footsteps coming from the dungeon. She quickly flung the sledgehammer into the bottom of the wall with the hole. She then ran into her newly created pathway, and once inside, quickly used her magic to place all the shattered rock bits back to where they were. Hoping it was enough, Rarity finally took a sigh of relief, and a moment to catch her breath. With that over, Rarity still had a cave to navigate, so she used her horn to illuminate her dark surroundings, and walked forward.
Hell. This must be what hell feels like, Rarity thought. It had been about two days since Spike had first taken Rarity to the dungeon and she was still wandering the caves. She hadn’t slept, drank, or eaten since. As Rarity aimlessly wandered around she encountered something beautiful. The pathway finally ended, and stairs led to a wooden door. Rarity would’ve ran up the stairs with all her might, but she didn't have the stamina. So, she could only slowly trudge up the stone staircase, and finally push open the doors with her horn. It was finally over, she was finally out, if she had the strength, Rarity would scream with joy.
Rarity was not met with sunlight, but rather a dark cloudy sky, and harsh winds. Despite the stormy weather, there was no rain to quench Rarity’s thirst. The wooden door had let Rarity out into a field just outside of Ponyville. Rarity was certain she wouldn’t make the walk back to her boutique, so she walked down the hill and decided to ask the nearest house for shelter.
Bon-Bon stirred a spoon through a warm pot of soup. “Dinner’s almost ready!” Bon-bon called. Just then, Bon-Bon heard a knocking on the door. “Lyra! Could you get that?”
“Sure thing!” Lyra smiled and got up off the couch.
Lyra walked over and opened the door. On the other side was Rarity, all covered in mud, and burns. She was shaking and her fur was stained with tears.
“Oh my god!” Lyra shouted “It’s Rarity!”
Bon-bon immediately dropped her spoon, and ran over.
“Oh my goodness, it really is you!” Bon-Bon said “Ponies put up missing flyers and everything.”
“W-water” Rarity croaked “p-please.”
“Oh, of course!” Bon-bon rushed off, as Lyra helped Rarity inside.
Rarity sat at the kitchen table, and Bon-bon brought over a bottle of water. Rarity quickly picked up the bottle and downed the entire thing.
“I-I’ll get you another!” Bon-bon chuckled.
Lyra brought over a bowl of Bon-bon’s soup “and here’s some food.”
Rarity quickly slurped the soup up and when Bon-bon brought over the second bottle of water, down the hatch that went too. Rarity let out a large yawn.
“Before I ask you anything else…” Bon-bon began “how long has it been since you’ve slept?”
“About two days.” Rarity yawned
“Oh my word, you poor thing.” Bon-bon stood up “Nevermind my questions, let’s get you to bed. You can sleep in the guest room.”
Rarity was too tired to give any objections, so Bon-bon led Rarity to the guest room. The second Rarity hit the sheets, she was out cold.
Rarity’s eyes slowly opened, she had regained her senses. As she stood up she could feel the mud crusted on her.
“Ew” Rarity shuddered.
Now fully awake, Rarity remembered why she was there.
Rarity came tumbling down the stairs, spotting Bon-bon, Lyra, and Mayor Mare in the living room.
“You’re finally awake!” Bon-bon smiled, “It’s around four in the afternoon.”
“Sorry about the unexpected company.” Lyra gestured to Mayor Mare “We figured we should let someone in power know you were okay.”
“It’s more than alright.” Rarity said “You two saved my life, I am eternally grateful. But, there are more pressing matters to discuss. Where I have been for the past few days.”
So, Rarity explained the whole thing. She explained the friendly lunch where the gang was knocked out. She explained Spike’s dungeon, him taking out all her friends, or Pinkie taking herself out. Rarity described how she escaped, and the long journey throughout the caverns. Her escape and journey to them. The three ponies in the living room were too stunned to speak.
“Sweet little Spike did all that?” Lyra said.
“Turns out he was that sweet.” Rarity sighed
“And to think, we all put missing posters up for him just like the rest of you.” Bon-bon said “Wait, what about Applejack? You said you didn’t see her die.”
“Unfortunately I believe the implication is all too clear.” Rarity said “Now, has Spike been seen around town.”
“Not that I’m aware of.” Mayor Mare said.
Rarity contemplated her next move. “Well, that means he’s likely still in his little dungeon. But, he could come back for more ponies, or find me. I know I’ve already demanded so much from you two, but would it be too much trouble for me to stay here just one more night? For safety's sake.”
“No problem!” Lyra said “You saved Equestria! We owe ya’ a little protection!”
“Just one night?” Bon-bon inquired, “What will you do for safety past that point?”
“Well, given that Spike could pose a sizable threat,” Rarity explained, “tomorrow I shall depart on the Ponyville express for Canterlot. There I shall inform the princesses of what has happened.”
“Good idea!” Mayor Mare said “I’ll warn the rest of Ponyville to watch out for Spike!”
And with that, Mayor Mare ran out the door. Rarity turned back to Bon-bon and Lyra.
“Oh! There is one more thing.” Rarity said
“Yes?” Bon-bon smiled
Rarity looked down at the mud crusted on her hooves “May I use your shower?”
