What Lies Within

(Author's Note) I began writing Part 2 before I came to realize that my story's framework was falling apart.  The characters' motives and traits were simply conflicting with their show-designated characteristics; while I strongly believe in fan interpretation of hidden personalities within the FiM characters, I was pushing it too far.  I was, at the time, a relatively young brony (meaning I had been exposed to the show only a short time prior to writing).  I have grown a lot since, and I will move on to different stories and projects.  So, before I say goodbye to this first story of mine, I will publish the beginning of Part 2 (it the only part I wrote after Part 1) and reveal, through summary, the plans I had for the rest of the story's plot.  I am really just honoring my efforts up to this point by doing this; this story will fade away to nothing more than a reminder of how I once was and how much I have learned since.

Part 2:

It was as if Rarity was racing against fate, her eyes trying to close before the light beyond the curtain could grow noticeably, but destiny seemed to proceed regardless of the desires the white unicorn was realizing for the first time.  Rarity's eyes shot open and her glowing horn flashed brightly as Rainbow Dash found herself launched backwards through the still-raising curtain.  Despite most of the magical light encountering the thick fabric, just enough persisted through to the audience to dazzle them momentarily, giving Rainbow just enough time to recover from the unexpected repulsion before turning to face the viewers, including a small silver-haired stallion in the front row.

   The designer sunglasses that Hoity Toity frequently wore allowed him briefly witness the position both mares were in before the magical outburst.  He may not have been squinting and rubbing his eyes like everypony else, but he was stunned nonetheless.  Toity knew good fashion when he saw it, but there were other motives for his planned endorsement of Rarity.  His fantasies were shattered by that fleeting glimpse of the two mares, rendering him temporarily oblivious to the confusion emanating from the crowd as they beheld the ridiculous outfit.

"That can't be one of Rarity's designs!"

"Wait, it is!  I remember seeing that dress at the last show Hoity Toity attended."

"Didn't she learn from that humiliating lecture he gave?"

Dash simply had no time to contemplate what had just happened between her and Rarity as she was startled to hear disapproving whispers among the audience.  The murmurs slowly grew into loud criticisms as it became clear the show wasn't some kind of joke.  Dash, not knowing the first thing about fashion, still grew furious as the crowd continued to insult the dress and, by extension, insult Rarity.  Rainbow gritted her teeth and controlled herself, for her friend's sake, when Toity's amazement transformed into jealous rage towards the cyan pegasus.

The enraged stallion shouted above the condescending voices, his words dripping with a malice that surprised everypony.  "Has that white foal gone bucking insane!  I'd never have thought somepony as refined as Rarity would ever stoop so unbelievably low!  That disgusting fillyfoo--"  Hoity Toity found his tirade cut short as a seven-colored blur knocked him flat on his back.  Rainbow Dash stood over the dazed stallion and screamed at him, her eyes ablaze with a furious energy the likes of which a even sonic rainboom could never ignite.  "You say another bucking word and I'm gonna take those broken glasses and jam them up your broken nose!"

The crowd was completely silent as Rainbow Dash addressed the ponies staring at her.  Dash's wings had ripped through her dress and were now flaring menacingly as she continued to shout.  "I don't know a bucking thing about fashion, but no dress Rarity has or ever could make deserves to be criticized by the likes of you ponies!  You care nothing for her when all she ever cares about is everypony but herself."

Rarity had used the flash of her magic to quickly retreat further backstage, and was about to run when her friends words rang in her ears, particularly the part about caring for others.  In an instant, she realized that even if Rainbow had been able to tell that her dress was horrible, she would have still gone out on the stage and defended her.  Just as she was doing now.  Dash was always loyal to her friends, exactly as her element signified.  Her own element, on the other hand, was nowhere near accurate .  She had willingly manipulated Rainbow Dash into humiliating herself just to have an excuse to stay in Ponyville.  She had been about to kiss the blue mare whose feelings were based on a selfish lie.  And she was the reason Rainbow was now standing over Hoity Toity, whose face was now covered in blood from his twisted nose, shouting praise for her at the top of her voice.

As these thoughts raced through her mind, she noticed Rainbow Dash turn to head back to the stage, the crowd silently parting before her.  All activity in the still reeling mind of the white unicorn focused immediately on being anywhere but her current location.  Without any time for second thoughts, Rarity ran from the scene faster than she had ever moved before in her life.

As Rainbow Dash made her way back to the stage, she thought about what she would say to her friend.  A whirlwind of scenarios played out in her anxious mind.  She thought of reassuring Rarity that the opinions of those snobs were worth nothing since they obviously didn't know beauty when it was right in front of them.  She thought of apologizing for ruining the show by losing control.  She also thought of apologizing for trying to kiss her when she was obviously on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

This last thought made Rainbow flinch.  She would never seriously try to manipulate a friend for her own gain, it was just that she had wanted to do whatever she could to comfort the distraught mare.  She hoped that Rarity would forgive her, but her hope vanished as she glimpsed the white unicorn turn and run as she approached.  Rainbow instantly flew after her, deciding without any hesitation that she needed to at least have the chance to speak to her friend, even if it meant not having the time to plan out what to say.  She didn't have time to work her way free of the heavy dress that weighed her down as she soared after Rarity, and Rainbow could barely keep up with the frantic unicorn as she ran with no apparent destination in mind.  Dash was forced to continue the chase on hoof as the white unicorn plunged into the Everfree Forest that they had just reached, but the cyan pegasus soon found herself lost among the dark trees.  Regardless of losing sight of Rarity, Dash kept searching, resolved to find her friend no matter what.

***

The mirror surface of the moonlit lake was disturbed by a drop of rain, then another, and soon there was a continuous pattern of miniscule droplets falling all around.  It was a very particular kind of rain; only a few drops fell here and there, though their impact could be distinctly felt.  Rarity turned to look up at the pale, moonlit night sky, the rain mixing with the tears that had collected on her face for what felt like hours of staring at her reflection in the water.  The patches of dirt on her coat began to slowly turn into mud, yet her mane continued to retain its intricate style.   Deciding she had endured long enough, Rarity shut her eyes tightly...and thrust her entire head into the frigid lake.

The cold was unbearable, but she forced herself to keep her head submerged until her lungs were screaming for oxygen.  After a few agonizing moments, she lifted herself up gasping for air.  her hair was now a curtain that reached nearly to the ground.  Despite shivering uncontrollably, the white unicorn felt a slightly better, and began to think about finding her way back to Ponyville.  She'd completely forgotten about her initial intent to clean the mud and leaves from her coat, and considered how events might play out now that she had betrayed her friend who had a crush on her.

***

***

***

Maybe I should have this last part be in the Author's Notes section, but I sort-of started this epilogue-thing with author's notes and would like to end it the same way...but not in the author's notes section.  If you don't understand, oh well.  I am now going to summarize the rest of the plot for this story.  If there are plot holes (I'm sure there will be) I might have patched them had I actually written the rest of the story, whereas telling you the last parts in short will be less clear.  I will start off with a very detailed summary due to the abruptness of Part 2's impromptu end, but after a few paragraphs I will speed up the process.

***

Rainbow Dash finds Rarity as she is turning away from the lake.  She asks what she is doing, and Rarity says she needed some air and is returning home now.  RD asks why she needed to get some air in the dangerous Everfree forest, and then asks her why she doesn't bathe away the mud and leaves clinging to her in the lake before going back to ponyville.  Rarity acts surprised and then looks herself over.  She realizes that she doesn't care about being clean anymore because she feels too dirty to ever be pure again.  RD is puzzled by these harsh words, but can tell that her friend truly means them.  RD hangs her head in shame and apologizes for making an advance on her when she was clearly unsettled by the anxiety her show was causing her.  Rarity laughs gratingly and says, that she has no idea how RD still hasn't seen the way she was using her.  She humiliated RD in order to remain with her friends and to maintain their opinions of her as the generous and hard-working pony who had high ambitions.  RD says that she didn't realize this truth because it is obviously not true.  Her friend is far to generous and kind to such a thing.  Rarity laughs again and says that RD doesn't know her at all; nobody does.  RD walks forward and puts her hoof on Rarity's shoulder.  Rarity stops laughing and turns away, ready for scorn and anger.  RD states plainly that Rarity's words were a lie spoken as they were, because her friend, the element of generosity, is still a normal pony, prone to mistakes as much as anypony else.  RD continues, saying that Rarity's explanation lacked any mention of the inner turmoil she was obviously experiencing.  RD says that as long as she is ashamed of her actions, she is forgiven.

Rarity continues to look pained and says that there is more that she deeply regrets.  She says that she perceived RD's infatuation from the beginning and undoubtably knew tragedy was guaranteed should she not immediately discourage it.  Yet she did nothing to end the growing relationship because she couldn't bring herself to do it.  She had started to fall for her boldness and adorable antics.  She let RD come so close to kissing her, and that gave her manipulation a new level of cruelty.  RD gasps audibly and Rarity looks up into her friend's surprised face with tears streaming down her own.  "I've torn both our hearts in two, and I can't see a way for them to ever be whole again!"

"You might not, but I sure as hell do.  I might not know you as well as I thought I did, but what I have learned tonight isn't so hopeless as you think.  I may have not seen how you were suffering, but what I can see is a way for two halves to make a whole."

And then, RD leans forward and kisses the bleary-eyed mare, lifting her face up to level with hers as the rain falling around them seems to stop.  Time itself freezes as all thought, confusion, and lamentation is erased for a moment.  The moon shines through a break in the clouds to illuminate the clearing, the lake, and the two lovers whose hearts beat in rhythm.  A broken heart may be repaired by one of similar damage, and both lives are renewed when all is done.

***

(Author's Note)  I deeply regret not structuring this addition to Part 2 properly, but I am going to let it remain as such in the interest of finishing this summary before I hit another writer's block.  I really do want to move on.  This would have been the end to Part 2, and I will now summarize part 3 at a much more rapid pace.

***

After the time-stopping kiss, the two talk further of forgiveness as Rarity continues to feel undeserving.  RD reassures her that she still loves her, that truly loving someone is accepting both their flaws and their virtues, and that together they can end this day with the beginning of a new one.  A day of open romance, followed by many more, but these plans are cut short as the two return to Ponyville in the early hours of the morning.  Just as RD is commenting on their good fortune regarding the lack of monster's they'd encountered while in the forest, two police ponies arrive and arrest RD for the assault of Hoity Toity.

At RD's trial, Twilight (as RD's attourney) presents a defense case claiming that Hoity Toity strongly provoked RD, but it is obvious that money has been involved in the influencing of the judge and jury.  During a recess, Hoity Toity approches Rarity and asks to speak with her privately.  Rarity glances at her worried friends who are busy trying to comfort their forlorn rainbow-maned friend before agreeing to hear him out.  Toity tells Rarity that his bribery will ensure RD remains in prison for the rest of her life, but he will drop the charges if Rarity agrees to come live with him in Canterlot and work for him and, perhaps from time to time, be his partner in more than business.  Rarity is shocked and about to slap Hoity Toity with all her might when she sees her lovers face gazing over at her.  RD gives her a sad smile, and Rarity seems to collapse inwardly.  She morosely agrees to the blue stallions's terms and court resumes.

Before the jury presents their verdict.  Hoity Toity announces that he is dropping the charges against RD.  The cyan pegasis cries out in surprise and looks towards Twilight who is just as confused.  She then looks back at Rarity who is seated on the bench behind her with tears in her eyes.  As everyone is leaving the court room, RD asks Rarity why she is crying, and Rarity decides that she will not keep any more secrets from her friend and lover.  She tells RD of Toity's bargain, and RD's face contorts with anger.  The pegasis leaps into the air, ready to charge after the blue stallion who had just exited the building along with everypony else, but Rarity halts her with a glow from her horn.  RD yells at Rarity to let her go while the still glassy-eyed unicorn floats the rainbow mare into the judges chambers and locks the thick wooden door after managing to say between sobs that she is forever grateful for all that RD has done for her and that she will be forever remembered.  RD shouts and tries to break the door down, but everypony has already left the mostly unused courthouse. Rarity forces herself to hear RD's angry outbursts and pleading outcries as she walks out of the building, hating herself more with every step.  Hours later, with all of her bags packed, Rarity leaves her boutique to meet Hoity Toity at the train station.  On the way she leaves a note on Twilight's door telling her where RD is and saying goodbye.

Night falls around the train as Rarity watches Ponyville fade away amongst the rolling hills through a window.  The heavy clouds that still lingered in the sky reminded her that she was the reason they had not been cleared by the rainbow weather pony she had fallen in love with and then betrayed for a second time.  Hoity Toity leaves Rarity to be alone for the train ride out of respect for the life she is leaving behind forever.  Weeping in silence, Rarity looks up at a noise on the window pane.  She simply stares as RD flies silhouetted against the moon just beyond the glass.  She has a look of worry and relief on her face as she matches the train's speed.  Rarity, still shocked into a daze, opens the window to let her love in, but RD immediately grabs her hoof and pulls her out into the night air.  Rarity screams in surprise as RD rapidly increases her altitude.  Rarity feels sure, for a moment as she dangles in the air way up above the shrinking ground, that RD has come to get even with the mare who betrayed her time and time again.  But rather than let go, RD pulls Rarity up into an embrace and gently kisses her.  She pauses her ascent to become once again lost in the hooves of her lover.  Once again, Rarity is left in wonder at how undeserving she is of such a kind and forgiving mare.

As the two fly back to Ponyville, enraptured by the night that now seemed more beautiful than ever, Rarity apologizes deeply for her betrayal.  RD quickly says that Rarity merely kept her from betraying herself.  She would have not held back had she managed to get a hold of Hoity Toity and Rarity had given her the time she needed to cool off.  Rarity says that RD should not have rescued her because Toity will not sit idly by.  RD says confidently that he dropped the charges and has no power over them anymore.  Rarity then fully realizes the sadness she had resigned herself to before her radiant savior came to her rescue.  She gazed up at the pegasis whose embrace she was safe in as they flew through the moonlight sky towards the lights of Ponyville...and kissed her for what felt like the first time.  This was the first romantic affection the unicorn had initiated with her cyan lover, and she finally believed that their love could possibly mend the fractures in their hearts.  Fractures that she had caused and been forgiven.  If there was one way she could repay her dearest friend, it would be by loving her as long as she lived.