A Silver Sky: Four Little Ponies

--Chapter 2: Friend--

“Well, of course I have.”

Twilight Sparkle staggered backward, as if Rarity's response to her accusation had been a physical blow.

With Spike gone, Twilight had finally worked up the courage to confront Rarity in her own home. The evening after Rarity returned from Canterlot, Twilight had entered the boutique, only to find it empty. Just as she had done that terrible day when she first had overheard Rarity with her sister, Twilight had made her way to Rarity's living area, calling out the white unicorn's name as she went.

She had found Rarity lounging in a chair in her parlor, with Sweetie Belle sitting on the floor nearby, applying a pink crayon to a coloring book.

“You could have knocked, darling,” said Rarity. She seemed slightly annoyed, but not frightened. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Rarity, listen...” Twilight hesitated. Rarity had once been a dear friend to her, and those feelings were not easily extinguished. The purple unicorn decided that it was pointless to deny those feelings. She knew they would try to hold her back, and she knew it would be difficult to fight them.

Instead, she would simply talk over them.

“I know what you've been doing to your sister!” she said. Twilight spoke as loud and as quickly as she could. She had to get the words out before her emotions could stop her.

Sweetie dropped her crayon. She looked up at Twilight, then looked back at her paper. Then she picked up her crayon again, as if she was determined to ignore what was happening.

“Don't try to lie or talk your way out of it!” Twilight continued. “I heard things...in your house...so I know! I know you've been abusing Sweetie!”

There. She had finally said it to Rarity's face. Not to a royal guard. Not to the princess. To her.

Twilight's words had outraced the surge of conflicting emotions she was feeling. No matter what happened next, she could never take them back.

Rarity, however, did not seem nearly as concerned. She simply looked Twilight in the eye, smiled, and said, “Well, of course I have.”

Twilight had expected lies, deception, or perhaps a desperate attempt to flee. The one thing she had not expected was a casual confession.

Seeing Twilight off balance, Rarity took the opportunity to respond in more detail.

“It's true, Twilight. What you heard me doing to my sister that day was exactly what you thought it was. I did it. I enjoyed it. As a matter of fact, I have been partaking of Sweetie Belle for, oh... how long would you say it's been, Sweetie?”

“Sis, please don't involve me in-”

“I asked you a question, dear. Come over here and answer me.”

Sweetie reluctantly stood up and walked to her sister's side. “I think it's been about three years...” she said. She looked at neither Twilight nor Rarity.

“There you have it, darling,” Rarity said. “Now, was there anything else you wanted?”

Twilight was in shock. “H-how can you be so casual about...”

“It's who I am, darling," said Rarity. “It's who I've always been.”

Images flashed through Twilight's head as she processed the full meaning of those words. Rarity. Her friend. Making a dress for Twilight on her birthday. Attending her very first sleepover. Helping Twilight during the Winter Wrap up. Laughing with her. Talking with her. Helping Twilight feel like she belonged for the first time her in her life...

Rarity. Her friend.

“Who you've always been...” said Twilight, looking down at the ground. “So..all this time...our whole friendship...was it a lie?”

“Oh, not at all, darling!” Rarity said, sounding genuinely upset at the accusation. “The fashion diva you met at the Summer Sun Celebration was the genuine article. Yes, I had my...private indiscretions...but I kept my dalliances with Sweetie in a separate sphere. I didn't let those two lives touch. It worked...for a time.”

“How can you talk about what you've done to her like it's nothing? What happened to you?” Twilight demanded.

Rarity looked away from Twilight.“Well, I suppose we happened, darling. The six of us, and all our little adventures. After the Nightmare Moon escapade, the Parasprite invasion, that business with Discord...fashion began to feel so dull. The rush of power I felt from bearing an Element of Harmony....well, I suppose it's enough to make anypony feel a bit more...adventurous.”

“I don't think it was just you who felt that way,” said Twilight. “I had a theory...”

“Oh, of course you did,” said Rarity, rolling her eyes.

“This isn't a joke!” Twilight cried. “For a long time now, I've had a theory that being an Element of Harmony has a price. When I think of how the six of us changed over the year we spent together...it's like all of our personal traits became...amplified. Pinkie became more manic. I became more obsessed with organization. And all of us became more mentally unstable. I mean, I nearly lost my mind over being late to send the Princess a letter! So I guess...I was hoping that...”

“You were hoping you could blame my behavior on the Elements?” Rarity said. “Oh, darling, that is honestly very sweet of you. If only life were that simple...”

Twilight hated the look Rarity was giving her. It was indistinguishable from the look of restrained amusement which had been so typical of the friend she had known.

But now Rarity's smile faded. “The truth is, this side of me existed long before the Elements came along. So I'm afraid I can't agree with your charming hypothesis, darling. I don't think the Elements changed me. Though I will admit, I did change. Facing down dragons, Changeling queens and chaos spirits is bound to have an effect on a lady, after all.

“After the six of us had shared a few of our little adventures, I found that I had become so much braver. More confident. And with that, the line between those two sides of my life began to blur. I had sequestered my true nature for so long, but somewhere inside me it just began...crying out. It was tired of being confined.”

“So you let that side of you take over...” Twilight said sadly.

“I wouldn't put it like that,” Rarity said. “What happened was far more simple: I gained the courage to finally stop pretending. So little by little, the Rarity you knew just faded away, until she was nothing but a mask. And then one day...I took the mask off.”

Sweetie Belle stood beside her sister, still looking away from both of them.

Rarity smiled again, but this time her smile was unfamiliar to Twilight. There, written on her face, was the cruelty she had expected earlier. Twilight wasn't sure why she had been searching for it. It hurt just to look at.

“So to answer your question again, my dear: of course I touch my sister. Look what a beautiful little child she is...how could I not? And when you leave here tonight...I'm going to touch her again.”

Rarity looked Twilight right in the eyes. She held Twilight's gaze as she rubbed her hoof over Sweetie's back, petting her like an animal. As Twilight looked on in horror, the white unicorn's hoof drifted down Sweetie's back, then continued on, reaching under her sister's tail until she touched her cunt. Sweetie whimpered and shut her eyes, humiliated.

“Well?” Rarity asked, still smiling at Twilight. “Aren't you going to stop me?”

As a younger pony, Twilight Sparkle had always been rather discriminating about the quality of her reading material. The appearance of certain overused phrases was enough to get her to throw a book across the room in frustration. She was particularly annoyed by nonsensical idioms: seeing time fly. Running like the wind. A broken heart.

And yet, there it was. On that terrible night, Twilight Sparkle was forced to accept that yes, hearts really can break. There was no other term for the feeling in her chest at that moment.

Twilight's horn erupted in violet light. Her eyes glowed white-hot.

“I could stop you right now...” Twilight said. Her voice was a whisper, yet somehow it filled the entire room. “You know I have the power to.”

“Really?” said Rarity, “And do you have the power to stop the likes of Discord all by yourself? Or Nightmare Moon? Or whatever catastrophe befalls our little kingdom next? The Elements don't work unless all six are united. You know this. Without Generosity, the Elements of Harmony are nothing but a pile of rocks.”

“I'LL FIND SOMEONE ELSE!” Twilight roared.“YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO CALL YOURSELF ONE OF US!”

The room began to shake. Sweetie Belle covered her head in fear, but Rarity calmly got up off her chair and began walking slowly toward Twilight.

“Oh, but I am one of you...” Rarity said. “I saw the Sonic Rainboom and received my Cutie Mark just as you did. The six of us are bound together, Twilight. It doesn't matter if we like each other or not. That's why Discord altered our personalities when he tried to diffuse the Elements. He could have just as easily tricked us into disliking each other, but he knew that wouldn't be enough. All that matters is that some trace of the generous pony you knew remains intact. And seeing as how I was playing with my sister years before I learned of the Elements, I'd say that's quite likely.”

Twilight scowled. Rarity's smug tone disgusted her. She knew what had to be done.

“You've read the scrolls,” Rarity said. “You know how the magic works. Six ponies, and only six, in each generation. The next group of Element Bearers won't be ready until we are old and gray. Right now, there is no one else.”

Twilight shut her eyes. The spell was primed. Rarity was right in front of her. All she had to do was think. Then it would all be over. Sweetie would be safe, and so would all of Ponyville's foals.

It would be instantaneous, and there would be no pain. It would be a far better end than Rarity deserved.

Just one little thought...

“Let me assure you, darling,” Rarity said. “There is only one way I will ever stop. But we both know you don't have it in you. And even if you did, you wouldn't. If you kill me now, you doom Equestria.”

Rarity chuckled. “But please, go ahead. I certainly am not nearly powerful enough to stop you. If your petty need to lay me low matters more to you than the survival of all of ponykind, then feel free to fire off your spell.”

Rarity could see the doubt creeping across Twilight's features.

“And then,” Rarity continued, “When the gates of Tarterus burst open, or the Griffons invade, or some other cataclysm assaults our fair land, you can explain to Princess Celestia why there are no Elements of Harmony to save us all in our darkest hour. I'm sure she'll commend your noble deeds, even as Equestria burns to the ground.”

“YOU'RE JUST BLUFFING!” Twilight's voice echoed through the room unnaturally. Sparks flew from her horn. “YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY KNOW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL HAPPEN!”

“No, I can't...” said Rarity. “But neither can you.”

The white unicorn let out a smug laugh. “Are you willing to risk it?”

Twilight's eyes opened again. They were even brighter now: two tiny suns.

“YES!” she said. “THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE...THE PAIN YOU'VE CAUSED...IT HAS TO STOP! NO MATTER WHAT! AND IF THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO STOP YOU, THEN SO BE IT!”

“But...” Rarity said, with a hint of concern in her voice. “You're not a killer, Twilight.”

“I'M NOT SURE WHAT I AM ANYMORE,” said Twilight. “BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE. AND I'VE PUT DOWN MONSTERS BEFORE.”

Small lightning bolts were now flying from Twilight's horn.

Rarity took a tentative step back, knowing it would make no difference. Her smile vanished as she realized she had miscalculated. Rather than intimidating Twilight into leaving her alone, Rarity's approach had just enraged her further.

From the look of Twilight's horn, Rarity estimated that she had perhaps three seconds left. She shut her eyes.

Ten seconds passed, and she was still there.

Rarity forced herself to open her eyes, afraid of what she might see.

Before her, Twilight Sparkle stood in shock, her eyes normal, her horn rapidly losing its glow. Sweetie Belle held on to Twilight's foreleg desperately. She was trembling.

“Stop...” she said. “Please...please don't hurt my sister...”

Twilight's eyes widened. “But...Sweetie...I'm trying to protect yo-”

“Leave her alone!” Sweetie shouted. “Don't...don't you dare hurt my sister...or...or I'll never forgive you! Just go away!”

Twilight felt sick. Was it possible to feel your heart break twice in one night?

“Sweetie...” she said. “You're confused. I'm doing this to help you...”

Sweetie Belle let go of Twilight's leg, but otherwise did not respond.

“Come with me, Sweetie...” she said. “Let me take you someplace safe...”

Without a word, the foal turned and walked back toward her sister. Sweetie's steps were wobbly and tentative. But she did not look back.

“No...” Twilight said. “Sweetie, she's just going to hurt you again!”

“I know you just want to help, Miss Twilight,” Sweetie Belle said, as she took her place beside her sister. “But she's my family.”

“But, Sweetie-”

“I love her.” Sweetie Belle said. Her voice was steady, but her eyes seemed like they were holding back tears.

“Is this what you've been reduced to, Twilight?” Rarity said. Her confident tone had returned. She kept her eyes fixed on Twilight's.“You come into my home, accuse me of the most disgusting acts imaginable, and then try to deprive my sister of her only family?”

“Accuse you?” Twilight said, flabbergasted. “You just confessed!”

“Did I, now?” said Rarity. “I don't recall any confession. Do you, Sweetie Belle?”

“I...I didn't hear anything...” said Sweetie quietly, biting her lip in frustration.

“Well, it would appear that it's my word against yours, darling,” said Rarity. “And from what I understand, your word doesn't carry the weight it used to in this town. Don't think I don't know about the other attempts you've made to discredit me. First you tried to get the local guards involved. That went nowhere.”

Twilight was fuming. “Just because you have powerful friends doesn't mean you're inno-”

“THEN you appealed to Celestia herself. And she told you to let the matter drop.”

“I...I don't know why the Princess won't listen to me...but whatever the reason, it doesn't change the fact that I know what you've done! So don't complain about being 'accused' when you just confessed right in front of me!”

“Ah, but it doesn't matter if you know what I've done,” said Rarity. “It matters what everyone else believes. You came here tonight because you were out of options. Because all your suspicions, all your paranoid theories about my activities, had driven you to act delusional. You broke into my home, attempted to murder me, and then tried to kidnap my sister.”

“That's not what happened!”

“It's what the royal guards will believe happened,” said Rarity. “I WILL see to that, darling. Or you could leave without a fuss right now. Turn around, walk out that door, forget your little crusade to bring me to justice. The next time the Elements are needed, I'll be there to play my part. Peace in Equestria will be maintained, and that will be that. Or, you can persist, ruin your reputation, and be branded the village lunatic, all while failing to ensnare me. Either way, I win.”

Rarity turned and walked back to her chair. She sat down and once again locked eyes with Twilight. “It's your choice, dear.”

“You...you...” Twilight stammered.

“Yes, darling?”

“You...you were my friend.” Twilight said. Whatever anger her voice had carried before was gone.

Rarity's expression changed. She had not been expecting this. Almost involuntarily, she found it difficult to look at Twilight anymore. She turned her head to the side.

“I was so happy this last year...” Twilight said, as she turned away from Rarity. “I thought the six of us would be friends forever...I thought...oh, dear Celestia...”

She took a moment to collect herself before she continued to speak.

“I failed you, Rarity. We were supposed to learn to become better ponies together, and look! Look at what you've become...” Twilight's horn began to glow again.

The purple unicorn took one last look at her former friend and then shut her eyes. Then, with a bright purple flash, she was gone. The last words she spoke before vanishing echoed through the room.

“I failed you both...”

A small black burn marked the spot on the carpet where she had teleported.

“Sis, I...” Sweetie began.

Rarity got up from her chair, and stared at the place where Twilight had just been standing, with a saddened expression on her face. “Thank you for what you did tonight, Sweetie Belle,” she said, without looking at her sister. “Do whatever you like until your bedtime. I don't think I'm in the mood to partake of you this evening after all.”

Sweetie looked at her sister and gave her a silent nod. Then she picked up her crayon and book, and walked to her room.

Please, please... Sweetie thought. Please let Twilight notice what I was doing. Everything depends on it...

Rarity would not go to bed for some time. Instead, she stood in that room, staring at the black spot on her floor. For the first time since she had begun her descent, she felt regret.

[NEXT: Twist on display/Sweetie plans/Fancy's first move]