---Chapter 9: Visitors---

Rarity thought she had seen Applejack angry before.

It was not a common occurrence, but it did happen. Though she was usually the least likely of her friends to lose her head in a crisis, the orange pony had her moments. Even then, her bouts with anger tended to be quick and decisive. She directed a sharp word or two at the object of her frustration (most often herself) and then left it at that. She did not remain upset any longer than she needed to. She saw it as a waste of energy.

As Applejack sat down in front of her that day, Rarity was struck by the realization that she had never really seen Applejack angry.

The fury in the Earth Pony’s eyes was unmistakable. Yet Applejack carried herself in a calm, deliberate manner. Even her greeting had been strangely monotone.

This, Rarity realized, was the true face of Applejack’s anger. She would not scream, or hurl insults, or let her emotions get the best of her. No, it was worse than that. Applejack was completely in control of herself. The cold fury she was radiating had focused her emotions instead of amplifying them.

Whatever Applejack planned to say or do to Rarity, it would have none of the recklessness or confusion of an emotional outburst. It would be deliberate, precise, and direct.

But for the moment, Applejack just stared at her.

“Well then,” said Rarity, desperate to break the oppressive silence. “I imagine you have something to say.”

“First grade,” Applejack said. “That’s how long I’ve known you. Since first grade. Sure, we weren’t close or nothin’ ‘till this last year, but I remember meetin’ you the first day a’ school. I figured ya for a priss. Kept my distance. We ran with different groups, n’ that’s fine. But you were always there. Day after day, year after year. With yer clothes n’ yer fashion n’ yer fancy gems. You made an impression, is what I’m sayin’.”

“Well,” Rarity said. “I suppose that’d good to hear. A lady must always strive to distinguish herself.”

“Thing is, after all those years, you start ta think you know someone. I’ve known ya most a’ my life. Called ya my friend. That ain’t a word I throw around lightly,” Applejack said. “Now I’m wonderin’ if any a’ the stuff I thought I knew about you was true. I keep askin’ myself if that pony I met on the first day a’ school was real after all. Or if she was just another act.”

“Applejack…”

“How far back do the lies go, Rarity?” Applejack said. “Were you ever the pony you said you were?”

Rarity was silent for a moment.

“I remember meeting you in first grade as well,” she said. “I recall thinking your hat was far too big for you.”

“It was my daddy’s hat,” Applejack replied. “He was a good stallion. The best. Always looked out for his kin. Always made damn sure no one hurt his family.”

Applejack paused, keeping her eyes locked on Rarity.

“But you wouldn’t know anythin’ about that, now would you?” she said. Her voice dripped with venom.

Rarity flashed an offended look at Applejack. “I don’t know what you’re impl-“

“Shut the hell up,” Applejack said. “It’s no use lyin’ anymore. Sweetie Belle made a statement to the guards. Everyone in Ponyville knows what you did to her.”

“Now, just a moment,” Rarity said. “Are you certain that Sweetie Belle real-“

Rarity was silenced by Applejack slamming her hoof down on the table. The sound of wood cracking echoed through the small room.

“All these years,” Applejack said. “All these damn years! You were my friend. Sweetie’s best friends with my little sis. An’ I didn’t notice. How the hell didn’t I notice? I’ve let you into my home. I’ve even left you alone with Apple Bloom! An’ now I…I…”

Applejack turned her head toward the wall.

“Sun, it makes me sick just lookin’ at you.”

Upon hearing those words, Rarity was struck with the most peculiar sensation.

She had often assumed that her actions would be exposed one day. In her mind, she had imagined how it would go. She would stick to her mantra, hold her head high. She would face her accusers and sneer at them, taunting them with her lack of remorse.

In her fantasies, she was never caught before she had finished educating Sweetie Belle. Her sister would refuse to testify against her, to the bafflement of the town. The scenario would sometimes end with Rarity being freed. Then she and Sweetie would leave Ponyville forever, traveling Equestria in search of new foals to violate. They were always together, an inseparable pair, encouraging each other to sink to ever lower depths of perversity. Rarity couldn’t count the number of times she had brought herself to a climax with that fantasy.

Other times, she imagined that Sweetie’s silence did not save her, and Rarity would remain in prison. But Sweetie Belle would carry on her good works, preying on the foals of Equestria and ravishing their innocence in her martyred sister’s name. Periodically, Sweetie would visit Rarity in prison, and whisper tales of her perversions into her sister’s ear. And this would be enough to sustain Rarity for the rest of her days.

But that was a fantasy.

Rarity felt the world fall out from under her as she processed Applejack’s words. She felt no pride then, no sense of superiority. She did not even feel anger at Sweetie’s betrayal.

She looked at her oldest friend’s face, and felt nothing but shame.

“For what it’s worth,” Rarity said. “I have never touched Apple Bloom.”

Applejack looked back at Rarity. “Don’t you ever say her name again,” she said. “I hate the idea of you even thinkin’ about her. N’ you probably have, haven’t you? In your mind, you’ve probably thought about-ARGH!”

Applejack picked up her hat and threw it across the room.

“Guard told me there’s a magical barrier keepin’ us apart,” Applejack said. “Lucky you.”

“I really never touched her, Applejack,” Rarity said. “I’ve even refrained from…thinking…about your sister.”

“Now why the hell should I believe that?” Applejack said.

“Because Sweetie Belle asked me not to,” Rarity replied. “It was her birthday last year. You remember the party. I kept promising to get her something extravagant, like I always do, but she asked me not to get her anything. Instead, she took me aside and asked me to make her a promise. She said all she wanted for her birthday…”

Rarity’s voice cracked a little on the thought of her sister. She composed herself and continued.

“All she wanted was for me to promise that I’d never touch her friends…” she said. “Your sister and Scootaloo. She said being a Crusader was what she did to distract herself. She was scared she’d lose that sanctuary. That place where she could forget…”

Rarity covered her face as she began to cry.

“The one place where she could forget about me…”

Applejack slowly rose from her chair. She walked to the corner of the room where her hat had landed, put it back on, and returned to her seat.

“Now?” she said. “Now you feel bad for her? Why didn’t you feel bad for her all those years you spent hurtin’ her? Why didn’t you cry for her then, huh? WHY DIDN’T YOU GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HER THEN?”

“HOW DARE YOU?” Rarity stood up, slamming both fore hooves down on the table, surprising both herself and Applejack in the process. “Perhaps I was hard on my sister, but don’t you dare insinuate that I don’t care about her! There is no pony in this world who I have ever loved a fraction as much as I love her. Yes, I have caused her pain. But always with purpose, with meaning. She would have understood someday. She would have been better for it. So don’t you dare sit there and presume to pass judgment on me!”

“Better fer it?” Applejack shot back. “You’re outta yer freakin’ mind!”

Rarity’s shame wasn’t completely gone. But she decided she wouldn’t give Applejack the satisfaction of seeing it. She wiped away her lingering tears, and donned a practiced, superior expression.

“I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” she said. “After all, it’s got nothing to do with apples, rodeos or digging in the dirt.”

“That’s it, take yer little shots,” Applejack said. “You think I ain’t used to it? Ponies’ve been makin’ fun a’ me since I was a foal. Callin’ me a bumpkin n’ a dumb hick. I’m used ta it. It comes with the accent. But, hell, at least my accent’s real! No one else in yer family even talks the way you do! I remember you left for summer vacation one year, came back talkin’ all fancy in the fall. You think anyone was fooled? You think we didn’t all know it was a damn act?”

Applejack shook her head. “Tarnation, Rarity,” she said. “Was there ever anythin’ real about you?”

Rarity let the question hang in the air for a moment. Then she dismissed it.

“How are the others?” she asked.

“How the hell do you think?” Applejack said. “Dash left a note on ‘er door, said ‘went to Cloudsdale.’ I rightly don’t know if she’ll ever come back. Fluttershy keeps blaming herself. She keeps sayin’ she should have noticed somethin’, some tiny sign. Poor girl always did beat herself up fer everythin’. I’ve been comin’ to her place every day, tryin’ to calm her down. Hasn’t been easy.”

“I see…” Rarity said. She found herself avoiding Applejack’s gaze. “And Pinkie?”

“Right. Pinkie,” Applejack said. She took off her hat and reached inside. Taped to the inside was a sealed envelope. Applejack took it out and placed it on the table.

On the front of the envelope, written in messy, childish handwriting, were the words: TO MY FRIEND.

“She wanted you ta have this,” Applejack said. “Her hair was all straight when she gave it ta me. She was real quiet. Didn’ even know that girl could be quiet.”

“Well, I suppose I should thank you for bringing this to me, then,” Rarity said.

“I did it fer Pinkie, not you,” Applejack said.

“Well, then, you’ve delivered your message,” Rarity said, “Was there any other reason you stopped by?”

Applejack closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. When she opened her eyes, they looked remarkably calm.

“I’m not sure if I believe you about promisin’ Sweetie you wouldn’t touch my sister. But that doesn’t matter. I know she’d tell me if anythin’ had happened,” Applejack said. “Here’s what I really came ta say.

“These last few days, I keep thinkin’ about how safe I thought this town was. Granny was sayin’ how we ain’t had a real serious crime ‘round here in ages. Not since Bumper Crop. So I read up on him. N’ I gotta tell ya, it scared me.”

“Well, it was a rather grisly crime,” Rarity said.

“That ain’t what’s scary about it,” Applejack said. “What scares me is how much it made me wonder. Not about what drove him ta kill. Ain’t no point in thinkin’ that way. But I got strong legs, same as he did. An’ I kept wonderin’, how did it feel, ta crush another pony’s life out with those legs? Ta just kick n’ kick until there ain’t nothin’ left ta hurt? I don’t know. I don’t ever wanna know. But the question just keeps poppin’ back in my mind.

“An’ here’s the thing, Rarity: Every time I think about this, I picture you.”

Rarity suddenly felt beads of sweat forming around her horn.

“I know I can be feisty sometimes. But I ain’t ever wanted to hurt anybody,” Applejack said. “But you. I want to hurt you.”

“B-but you can’t,” Rarity said nervously. “The barrier-“

“Even if it wasn’t there, I wouldn’t do it,” Applejack said. “You can’t hurt anyone, locked up in here. There’d be no point in doin’ it. Least, that’s what I tell myself.

“But I will defend my kin, Rarity. I will protect the ponies I love. So here’s what I came to tell you: There’s a chance you might still beat this rap. That’s fine. If the law decides to set you free, I won’t object. But if you ever set hoof outside this prison again, you get the hell outta my town, you hear me? Don’t care where you go. You run, n’ you never look back.

“Cause I really don’t wanna know how it felt fer Bumper Crop to do what he did. But if I ever see your face in Ponyville again, I promise, I’m gonna find out.”

Rarity was shaking.

“I don’t care if that means I end up gettin’ thrown in here,” Applejack said. “My little sister is gonna sleep safe at night. You got it?”

Rarity felt paralyzed. As much as she tried, she could not open her mouth to speak.

“YOU GOT IT?” Applejack repeated.

With great effort, Rarity nodded.

“Fine,” Applejack said, standing up and putting her back hat on. “Then we’re done here.”

She turned, and began walking toward the door.

“W-wait!” Rarity said.

Applejack stopped, but did not turn around.

“You were a good friend, Applejack,” Rarity said. “Thank you.”

Applejack said nothing. She opened the door and walked out.

There was a faint shimmer in the air, indicating that the barrier had been broken. Rarity reached across the table for the letter.

“I’ll be taking that,” said a voice behind her. The guard picked up the letter before Rarity could respond.

“All correspondence to prisoners has to be checked. Security, you know.”

“O-of course,” Rarity said.

“If it’s clean, you’ll get it day after tomorrow, assuming your next visitor doesn’t bring any letters,” the guard said.

“I have another visitor?”

“You’ve got two more. One a day. Aren’t you little miss popular?” the guard replied with a laugh.

“Who are they?” Rarity said. “Am I allowed to know?”

The guard laughed louder. “Oh, don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t ruin the surprise.”

*******

In a small but opulent study somewhere in Canterlot, three ponies sat around a circular table. Triage, Equestria’s premiere surgeon, placed a newspaper on the table in front of her two companions.

“You see the latest?” Triage said. “Sweetie Belle made a statement. There’s no way Rarity’s getting out now.”

“Then we go to Plan B,” said Hoity Toity. “It’s our only option.”

“Goddamn waste of time. She’ll never agree to it,” Sapphire Shores replied. “Look, I want to take down that shitbag Fancypants as much as any of us, but Rarity was clear in the letters she sent us. If she gets caught, we’re supposed to find a way to provide for Sweetie, not try to help her.”

“That’s because Rarity was thinking too small,” Triage said. “Besides, she doesn’t know the other piece of recent news about Sweetie Belle. Providing for her is out of the question now.”

“You’ve got a point there,” Sapphire said. “So what, we go to Plan B against Rarity’s wishes? She won’t be happy about that.”

“Oh, let her complain,” Hoity said. “We can still persuade her to our cause. The fact remains that she’s the only one who can rally the others. We need her.”

“Fuck it, we’ll do things your way then,” Sapphire said. “But there’s still the tiny little issue of how we go about getting her out of the slammer.”

“Got it covered,” Triage said. “I hired a professional. A magical specialist. Supposedly the best there is.” She turned toward a nearby open door. “You can come in now!”

There was no response.

“I said, you can come in no-“

A loud crack rang through the air as a cloud of blue smoke exploded from the door. The three ponies began coughing as the gas filled the room.

Triage shielded her eyes from the fumes as she ran to open the nearest window. It was a few minutes before the room’s inhabitants could see each other again.

When they did, they noticed that there was now a fourth pony in the room.

“What the fuck was that?” Sapphire yelled, ignoring the pain in her throat. “What kind of moron sets off a smoke bomb in a tiny room with the windows closed?”

“Hmph,” said the fourth pony, holding her nose in the air. “The Great and Powerful Trixie can’t help it if none of you can appreciate a good entrance.”

*******

“My goodness, Rarity,” said Indigo Dream as she sat down on the visitor’s side of the table. “You look dreadful.”

“I didn’t sleep well last night,” Rarity said.

“Oh? Are we burdened with a heavy conscience?” Indigo asked in a sing-song tone.

“Please,” Rarity scoffed. “What do you take me for?”

“Honestly? I take you for an ignorant bumpkin who stepped far beyond her bounds,” Indigo said. “I always said it was a mistake to let someone from outside Canterlot join the Circle. I’ll admit, you provided a lovely colt at the Gathering, but I think you’ll agree that the evening’s conclusion proved me quite correct.”

Rarity had been pleased to see Indigo Dream walk through the door minutes earlier. Unlike Applejack, this was a pony with who she had never considered a friend. Indigo could not hurt her emotionally. And after a minute or two of talking, it became clear that Indigo had come to taunt her.

Rarity relished the opportunity to take out her frustrations on Indigo. It had been too long since she’d engaged in the fine art of verbal sparring.

This is how a lady does battle, she thought. Game on.

“And here I thought you had me arrested merely because you’re Fancy’s spineless lackey,” Rarity said. “It’s good to see that the fabled Dream dynasty still has some autonomy left. I’m sure your children will make fine mages once day, if they ever stop humping each other long enough to pick up a book.”

She leaned back in her chair, awaiting Indigo’s counter.

Indigo chuckled. “Great mages are born, not made, dearie. The second my beautiful children entered the world, they already possessed more magical ability than most unicorns can gain in a lifetime of studying.”

Rarity’s smile widened. She knew exactly how to return this volley.

“Really? Is that why the Princess’ personal student is a unicorn who happens to be obsessed with studying?” she said. “Wasn’t there a time when the position of personal student of the Princess always fell to someone in your clan? One would almost think your family was on the decline…”

Indigo’s expression told Rarity that she had hit her target.

But her opponent’s scowl turned to a smug smile within seconds.

“Ah, yes, Twilight Sparkle. What a dull little unicorn,” she said. “Certainly booksmart, but the poor girl is naïve and trusting to a fault. I can see why Celestia favors her. She’ll believe anything.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. Where was Indigo going with this?

“I told her that Sweetie Belle was ‘traumatized’ after the arrest. Haven’t let her near the girl since. Which is a lucky thing, since Sweetie keeps shouting ‘She’s innocent, Silver Spoon’s alive,’ every chance she gets.”

Upon mention of her sister, Rarity abandoned the game. Indigo wasn’t just here to gloat.

“I knew it. Sweetie didn’t make that statement, did she?” Rarity said.

“The law says that minors only have to make their statements in writing. Protect their identity and whatnot. And I know enough about your indiscretions to create a credible report myself. As you can imagine, a nine year old’s signature is pretty easy to forge,” Indigo said. “All Sweetie’s been trying to do this whole time is go outside so she can tell the guards you didn’t kill anyone. Which is why I’ve been keeping her under house arrest at your old place. ‘For her own good,’ of course. Your gullible purple friend has a lot of pull in this town. I told her I was an expert in these sort of cases. A few words from her and the guards were handing me all sorts of authority.”

Rarity closed her eyes. She didn’t betray me after all, she thought. Oh Sweetie, my love, thank you.

“You look rather calm,” Indigo said. “Did you not hear what I just told you?”

“I heard it all,” Rarity said. The game was back on.

“So, am I to assume that Fancy has Silver Spoon?” Rarity asked. “I doubt he’d be stupid enough to frame me for her death unless he knew she wouldn’t turn up.”

“Yes, she’s at his mansion. He treats her like his little princess. It’s all rather asinine.”

“Surely he knows that Silver only has eyes for me,” Rarity said. “He can’t possibly think she’s loyal to him now.”

“I’ve told him this countless times, my dear, but he just won’t listen. He’s utterly smitten with the self-hating little brat.” Indigo rolled her eyes. “Stallions.”

“Well, Fancy has his pound of flesh, but I do hope you realize that you can’t keep my sister silent forever,” Rarity said. It was time to move in for the kill. “Unless you’re planning on settling here in Ponyville, you’re going to have to let the poor dear into someone’s care eventually, and then she’ll come running here with testimony which will free me. Frankly, this whole revenge plan was rather poorly thought out, wouldn’t you say?”

Indigo brought her hoof to her mouth and snorted. “Oh yes,” she said. “You…you’ve really got us pinned to the wall, dear!”

Rarity’s smile vanished as Indigo burst out laughing. It was a moment before she could speak again.

“I’m sorry! Hee hee hee, I’m sorry! Ooohhh, how uncouth of me to come here and laugh in your face!” she said. “But my goodness, you really are a thick one, aren’t you? Did you really think that imprisoning you was the point of Fancy’s little scheme?”

“What exactly are you getting at, darling?” Rarity asked, trying to keep her voice level.

“You do remember when I told Twilight I needed her testimony, right?” Indigo said. “You probably thought I meant for your trial, didn’t you, you dumb country hick?”

“Your voice is starting to grate on my nerves, Indigo,” Rarity said. “Get to the point.”

“We’ve built up enough bad sentiment for you in this town that you’re sure to be convicted even without witnesses,” Indigo said. “All I needed Twilight for was to testify at the adoption hearing.”

Rarity felt her blood turn to ice.

“Adoption?”

“Oh my, yes,” said Indigo. “It just went through today. Expedited due to unusual circumstances. Twilight kindly vouched for me, the esteemed child welfare expert. So as of about an hour ago, I am Sweetie Belle’s legal guardian.”

Rarity’s chair fell to the ground as she got to her hooves.

“That’s right, dear,” Indigo said. “This is Fancy’s revenge. Sweetie Belle belongs to us now. After I leave here, she and I are getting on a train to Canterlot. My children are so very eager to meet her. Of course, her magic is no doubt so inferior that she’ll never be anything close to their equal, so the kids are thinking of treating her as a cross between a slave and a housepet. And it goes without saying, dearie, that you are never going to see your sister again.”

Rarity raised her right forehoof and sent it flying in Indigo’s direction. It recoiled against the barrier, just inches from Indigo’s face.

“Temper, temper,” Indigo said. “Oh, and of course, sooner or later Sweetie’s Uncle Fancypants will be paying her a visit. I’m sure he’s quite eager to pay her back for all the trouble she caused him at the Gathering.”

In her mind's eye, Rarity saw an image of Sweetie Belle, convulsing, gasping for air, while Fancypants looked on, smiling.

Rarity screamed.

“I’ll kill you…I’LL KILL YOU!”

She began slamming her hooves against the barrier. It felt like punching concrete. She didn’t care.

“DON’T YOU LAY A HOOF ON MY SISTER!” she screamed as her hooves began to bleed. “I WILL DESTROY YOU, DO YOU HEAR ME? I’LL GET OUT OF HERE, I’LL FIND FANCY, AND I’LL BURN HIS MANSION TO THE GROUND WITH YOU BOTH INSIDE IT!”

“Oh guard, help!” Indigo yelled in her best damsel-in-distress voice. “The child killer’s lost her little mind!”

A guard burst into the room from the door behind Rarity. In one swift motion, he tackled her, bringing her to the ground.

“LET GO, LET GO!” Rarity screamed, thrashing helplessly on the ground as the guard cuffed her hooves together. “That bitch has my sister! Don’t let her leave here!”

“Don’t worry, Rarity,” Indigo said as she walked to the door. “I’ll tell your sister goodbye for you.”

She opened the door, then turned back to Rarity.

“Game, set, match,” she said. She shut the door behind her as she walked out of the room.

Rarity’s screams could no longer be heard by the time Indigo entered the waiting room. There, Sweetie Belle sat on a small plastic chair, staring in the direction of the visitor’s room.

“Is my sister okay?” Sweetie asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” Indigo replied. “She’s not your sister anymore.”

[Next: Diamond Tiara’s visit/Great and Powerful/The offer]

Author's Note

The author's notes for this chapter can be found
here.