//-------------------------------------------------------// Rarity and the Quest for the Bright Sapphire Gem -by Eagerelo- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Ch.1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Ch.1 In the afternoon the mailpony slipped a letter under the doors of the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was working on the next "most clever of designs" dress with Spike, until she notices the slipped letter. Rarity was not expecting a note from anypony though she needed to take a break from her work. Using her telekinesis, Rarity opened the paper and began to read. "A Special Gold Silk by next week, who in Equestria needs silk at such short notice, uhh I despise being rushed, don't you agree opal?" The pet kitten rolled its eyes in response. "Spike get your quill ready we have a list to write." Spike nodded in return as he pulled out his scroll and quill, Rarity levitated her supplies neatly near a corner. "Do you think twilight, would mind if I borrowed you for the rest of today? I do need the extra hand." Spike replied "Oh don't worry about Twilight; she wont even know Im gone, she's been to busy practicing a new spell for Celestia. So what do we need?" Rarity put a hoof under her chin before she spoke. "In order to make this special gold silk, I need to go to Canterlot for the Bright Sapphire Gem. Come along Spike, lets head over to the train." Spike and Rarity exit the shop; binging along two saddle bags, sunglasses, and a wagon full of hair products and clothing. "Rarity couldn't we have packed a little bit less?" Spike asked, of course he carried all of the packing. "I mean how is all of this going to fit inside the carriage." Rarity ignored him, she knew of her obsession with her materials, but its impossible to leave home without it. Eventually they made their way to the train, Ponyville transportation was free of any charge regarding travel. The two mares working at the station awed at the huge luggage towering behind the white unicorn. The two workers were aware of Rarity's overstocking issue but the size of this pile up was too much. After some grudging and complaining the luggage managed to fit inside a booth, Both Rarity and Spike are on their way to Canterlot. "Check... check... and check." Spike listed down all the items Rarity needs for her silk. it wasn't much, but the Bright Sapphire Gem is very rare and will be difficult to find. Rarity did plan to stay at the castle but both the princesses were busy on royal duties, so she will need to find a hotel downtown somewhere. It did not take long to arrive at the station, what made the trip longer was unloading the all the baggage. Rarity and Spike walk to the outskirts of Canterlot, they met gazes with many sketchy ponies along the way, this made Spike uneasy. Rarity picked the most suitable place to her standards, and they both settled in the cramped but rather comfy room. "Spike I need you to stay here while I go for a little shopping." Spike obeyed and flipped on the television. Rarity loved traveling through the streets of Canterlot, if she did not have any ties with Ponyville, she would live her life as the fasionable pony she dreamed of bieng. Rarity took her time looking through the shops and stands throughout the streets, the atmosphere of gentle colts and fancy mares made her feel as if she were home. Soon enough she made it to Dragonquill's jewelry store; it was known for holding the most rarest of gems in all of Equestria. Many of the gems grabbed Rarity's attention. The excitement overcame her, every shelves filled with sparkling diamonds, bright rubies, and vast amounts of pretty stones. “I never seen such amazing trinkets and necklaces since I’ve been to the Crystal Kingdom." Rarity thought; her attention lingered towards the store clerk, slowly remembering about the gem. “Oh, your decor is so much more impressive since the last time I came here. Dragonquill you wouldn’t happen to have some Bright Sapphire Gems would you?" The store clerk hesitated "I would certainly like to help, but (edit) already ran out of Sapphire. I have another shipment coming in about two weeks. Could I interest you in some ruby?" "Thanks, but I need that gem for this silk I am making," she sighed. "Well this is only one shop, I'm sure I can find it somewhere else, thanks again for your time." The white unicorn did feel disappointed after she left the shop, but still determined. Canterlot had plenty of jewelry shops, although as many as there were Rarity could not find the gem she was looking for. There was no other choice; if she could not find the gem then the trip to Canterlot would have been a waste. Rarity desperately asked for help finding that gem, she begged, cried, and even pouted to the random civilians of Canterlot. It was now getting to the end of the night, with a good nights rest Rarity will look for the gem again. She headed back to the hotel, as Rarity walked in she sensed great danger.The door hung open and the room was trashed. signs of violence filled around the room. Immediately she called out for Spike. She called repeatedly hoping to hear her beloved dragon again. She investigated the room and found a note laying on the top of the hotel’s bed. “Bring us the Bright Sapphire Gem, or you will never see your friend again.” The rest of the note had a sentenced spelled with missing words. The code will not be hard to crack, although all Rarity could think about was Spike. How will she break the news to Twilight? Who are these ponies and and why do they want the gem? How is Spike, they better not have hurt him. Rarity wanted to panic, but Spike is out there somewhere. ”I’m so sorry Spike; I should have let you tag along with me instead of making you stay in this dreadful place. As Celistia’s witness I will get you back Spike no matter the cost!” Author's Note This is just a tiny experiment im working on for now. this may have plenty of spell errors and grammar derps, but I promise to fix any issues regarding this fic //-------------------------------------------------------// Ch.2 //-------------------------------------------------------// Ch.2 Then she saw, scratched against the walls, a trail of spikes claw's. Rarity followed the tracks out of the hotel room leading towards the nearest open window. She coolly, calmly inspected the area in great detail, and heard sounds coming from the outside. Running down the hotel's entrance, the bandits held tied to their backs. Rarity moved quickly though the hallway, adrenaline pumping throughout her body. The chase had began, the bandits now aware of its pursuer, led Rarity into the shady alley. Before Rarity could catch up to the bandit holding spike, she was tackled to the floor by someone twice her size. Her struggles were no match compared to the strength of the stallion. She considered using her magic to free herself, with deep focus, Rarity levitated a large rock and smashed it down on the ponies skull. The stallion slumped on its side, exposing floating parasprites circling around his head. Nearby bandits that heard the crash, rushed to the scene, and spotted the white unicorn. The knocked out body lay awkwardly on top of Rarity, she was not strong enough to push the body off of herself. She watched in horror as the bandits tied her up, they pushed a cloth to her mouth, making the mare slightly hazed and light headed. Rarity's last fainted thoughts pictured the bandits gently placing her on a cart carrying her away. Waking in a haze, Rarity struggled to stand on her hooves, she observed her surroundings. She thought how this dungeon was similar to the diamond dogs when they captured her. The floor was wet with discolored mud, the walls were bricked, and the ceiling trickled dark brown water down to a puddle. The unicorn felt helpless, she needed her friends more than ever, but she couldn't let Twilight know that Spike had been captured, the dragon would not be allowed to go gem hunting with her again. Rarity would have to escape with Spike on her own. She remembered the note the bandits left behind. "Bring us the Sapphire Gem, or you'll never see you friend again" Rarity thought aloud. " What did they want with the gem, and how did the bandits know I was looking for it? I assume they know something about the Gem as well." Rarity looked past the iron door through a small opening big enough for a food tray to enter in. She spots a ring of key's by the cell's door. "Silly brutes, don't they know a unicorn has magic powers" Rarity snorted as she levitated the key to the lock, eventually unlocking it to free herself. Rarity knows better than to just barge outside exposing herself to all those nasty ponies, she needed a plan. "These ponies are not familiar with magic, I have the upper advantage with my spells, or I can seduce them." Rarity thought of the foreign stallion she used to buy her clothing, take her to expensive tricks, and fancy restaurants. their relationship could have lasted longer if she did not find out the other mare he went out with at the same time. "The Irony" Rarity huffed. If she was going to have any chance of getting out of there she is going to catch one of the bandits alone. Author's Note I want to apologize in advance for not posting stories sooner. I have been busy with school, work, the usual drill. This chapter is incomplete but will be completed soon, in like two days soon. I have another story called Lifeless Soul coming out but it needs editing. I hope to finish that story in a short time. Thanks guys for looking at my stories, and I love you all //-------------------------------------------------------// Ch.3 //-------------------------------------------------------// Ch.3 The Guard sat lazily on his chair, wondering when his next lunch break will be. There was a rock tossed to his side, he heard the noise, but did not pay much attention to it. "This place gives me the creeps, darn rats are always making a noise." He said talking to himself as he layed his head against the brick wall, falling into a snooze. The white coated mare locked eyes on her target, she eases towards the guard hoping not to alert him of her presence; a hoof falls into a puddle making Rarity lose her balance and trips to the floor. "You!" the guard yells in surprise, "How did you get out?! It's that horn of yours isn't it? Well how about I go ahead and hack it off." He reaches for his saddle bag hooked on his side, and pulls out a cleavage makeshift knife and points it into the air; looking at the white mare he stops to stare at the eyes of her helpless state. Immediately she squeals in fear. "Please! I didn't mean any harm, don't hurt me. I just wanted to talk, that's all!" She never felt so afraid in her life before, she couldn't help but stare at her assailants eyes and burst into tears. Both ponies stare awkwardly at each other for a few moments, eventually the guard lowered his weapon and spoke to beak the silence. "You got a lot of nerve to sneak up on me, do you think I am an idiot?! What did you think you could have done?" his anger rose as he looks at the mare. She stares dumbly at the guard unable to speak from her fear, losing patience he picks her up from the floor. "You like escaping from your cell? Well lets see if you can escape from this." He roughly ties Rarity up ignoring her shrieks and shouts, and drags her towards the cell block; after an annoying struggle the guard shoves the mare back into the cage. The Guard slams the steel door, leaving Rarity to sob. Rarity calms herself after the whole scene as she mumbles in thought. "Well that could have gone smoother." She bashed herself internally for acting like a statue, she could have escaped instead doing nothing was all she was good for. After a long wait in the cell, a door opened close by; sounds of hoofsteps entered the cell room and stopped at Rarity's cell. The guard spoke behind the cell door, surprisingly in a calm tone. "I'm taking you to our counsel to decide your fate." He opened the cell door and entered the room, in his hooves were steel chains; he wrapped Rarity with the chains with no hassle. Rarity couldn't move as if cold blizzardous winds shot down her spine and left her paralyzed. Rarity felt shivers as the guard locked chains on her, that pony could have killed her at any moment he wishes. Shoving the white mare to the front, they walked past the cells to the cave. Torchlights lit the hallways as they traveled deeper into the downward sloped cave. It was not long until they reached a opening which held a small podium and a circular patch of ground surrounded by muddy water. Rarity was sat in font facing the podium, soon enough ponies entered the room taking seats nearby; Rarity noticed the stallion she knocked out with the rock back at the hotel. The guard took his seat leaving Rarity alone feeling stares glaring all around her. She was scared but more in awe of how well organized these brutes were; the mutters and hushed tones filling the room made Rarity feel more enclosed around her surroundings. If this kept on she would probably lose her mind. After what seemed a life time a pony stepped out of the group walking to the front of the podium. The room fell silent, waiting patiently for the trial to begin. " You, we call upon this pony for one simple demand. We search for the same jewel the Bright Sapphire gem; we have observed that horn of yours, that sorcery is something we have never seen before, we have also seen you use this witchcraft to find gems. If you have the power to find gems then you are more than capable of finding what we want." Rarity wanted to shoot back at the pony in anger. She thought these ponies were insane, gems are not to hard to find here in Equestria, did they really have to use violence as an ultimatum? "Your friend has told us about you; he has also told us about your friends. If what he says is true then I want to know more about pegasi and unicorns, Where Ponyville is and more about the land of Equestria." Rarity was skeptical, Equestria is impossible to miss, were did these crazies come from? There was a long silence, Rarity was not sure how to answer back, but in order to save Spike she is going to have to cooperate. "I'll answer to whatever you ask." Rarity filled in the blanks to what knowledge the bandits had. Meanwhile some ponies brought Rarity a small meal. Soon Rarity understood the situation the bandits had. They came from a land known as Montrotere, a land deep in the heart of darkness. The inhabitants were savage, unknown to the modern world of Equestria. The land was in need of help, ponies and creatures alike were violently stealing from one another. The city spiraled into utter chaos leaving any sign of sanity behind. The pony at the podium was an elderly, he looked sick and did not seem like he would live much longer; though he had the most strength out of all the ponies, Rarity admired secureness and leadership this pony possessed. "We will offer you a deal, lady Rarity; if you take our request to find the gem we will free your friend. But on the conditions that you will be monitored by our guards at all times, and you are not allowed to leave back to Equestria until we have the gem in our hands. Do you accept?" Rarity took some time to think about her decision, she could not leave Spike alone with these ponies, although they had some sense of decency they would not show the same kindness to Spike as they did to Rarity if she were to disagree. There isn't a way out of this deal either, she did not know here way out of here, and these ponies will lash out at her brutally if she tried to escape. "Where do I start?" Rarity asked anxiously