The Orb of Revelation

Chapter 5: The Distance We Traveled, Under the Ruse of Your Lie.

Applejack galloped through the streets, carrying the dead weight of a mare on her shoulders. She failed to notice the pegasi scrambling up above, or the rain starting to fall. She had a goal. Ponyville hospital was the other way, but there was somepony she needed. No, that the fool on her back needed.

“Rarity!” Applejack bellowed at her door. “Get the buck out here! It’s Twilight!” Rarity didn’t need any words as she threw the door open, and pulled Twilight onto her own back, taking off for the medical facility, Applejack close on her hooves.

Only once they had arrived did Rarity allow herself the second for air she desperately needed. But as the medics took the mare, Rarity found she was missing an important piece of information, what had actually happened. Thankfully, Applejack was there.

“Doc, Ah’m telling ya, she just up and passed out,” Applejack told the doctor. “She was here yesterday fer low blood pressure.”

“Got it!” The doctor yelled as they transferred Twilight to a gurney, and drew an IV.

“Oh my love!” Rarity wept, fighting against Applejack to be next to her love. But Applejack held her at bay as the lavender mare was wheeled into the ICU. “No! Let me be with her!”

“Ah can’t Rarity!” Applejack struggled, holding the white mare around her shoulder and barrel. Rarity caught Applejack in the snout, but the orange mare did not let go. “Ya would only get in their buckin way Rares!”

“She needs me!” Rarity spat, and this time it was no accident when her hoof met the orange snout.

“Ya fool! Yer the reason she’s in here!” Applejack spat back at her, specks of blood flying from her busted nose and mouth. Three medics ran over to subdue Rarity while they took Applejack back. But Rarity put up no more fight, as she sat on the cold floor, unmoving.

“It’s all my fault...” Rarity slowly spoke, and shook as she began to cry. Not her loud, dramatic cries for attention, but quiet tears, that fell only for the lavender mare she loved, and hurt. “I knew about her heart condition, but I still made her do it. I pushed her too far. I- I hurt her.”

The staff worked around her, all they needed to see was the color drain from her coat. The now gray mare wept, and blamed herself for her lovers pain.

“Applejack!” Rainbow cried as she ran up with Fluttershy not far behind. “I saw you as we scrambled. What happened?”

“Twilight collapsed. Anypony seen Spike and Pinkie?” Applejack asked, looking between the two.

“Her place, both of them,” Fluttershy answered. Applejack tried to run off, but a cyan hoof stopped her.

“Whoa there farmer. You’re not running around town with that busted up snout. You’ll suffocate. I got ‘em.” So Rainbow lived up to her name, and dashed off to fetch the last two friends. This left Fluttershy and Applejack behind, as they walked over to the neigh unrecognizable Rarity.

“Rarity, are you alright?” Fluttershy asked.

Rarity just sat there, staring at the floor, crying. “Rarity?” Applejack barked. “Fluttershy’s talkin to ya. Be nice and at least acknowledge her.”

“Why? So I can hurt another of my friends?”

“What?” Fluttershy asked.

“Rarity and Twilight did it again, and look what happened to Twilight,” Applejack snorted, though the act caused her pain. “Ouch.”

“Serves you right,” Fluttershy said turning on the orange mare. “You know full well that Twilight was equally involved. Rarity didn't force Twilight, she merely offered.”

“But still, I should have known,” Rarity cried.

“How could you have?” Fluttershy asked, putting a leg around Rarity’s shoulders. “You are only guilty of loving Twilight too much.”

“I- thank you Fluttershy,” Rarity sniffed, a touch of color returning to her.

“Not a problem,” Fluttershy smiled.

“Well shoot, Ah’m sorry Rares. Ah was just angry and scared. Ah shouldn't a said those things.”

“No, you were right too Applejack. I should have exercised some control. Or at least stuck around. I should have been there for her,” Rarity nodded. “And so I will be. From this day forth, whatever Twilight needs, are my needs.”

“We’re here!” Pinkie exclaimed, as she slid into the room with Spike on her back. Her mane was heavy with rain. “Rainbow Dash got pulled up for Cloudbusting duty. They have no clue where this storm is coming from.”

“Oh dear? Do you think this storm has anything to do with Twilight? She passed out right as it began,” Fluttershy asked.

“That may be Shy,” Applejack nodded. “Granny’s knee’s ache when one’s a comin. Maybe Twilight’s heart did, er somethin...”

“Oh that’s absolutely ridiculous,” Horse M.D. spat. “Would you all like to know the medical reasoning?”

“Doc, how is she?” Applejack asked.

“Please...” Rarity begged.

“She’s tapped out,” Horse nodded. “She’s almost completely out of magic. And for a unicorn, no magic means no life.”

“Magic?” Applejack recoiled. “Then it ain't her heart?”

“Did I bucking stutter? You, yellow one, you look smart, translate to the stupid one-”

“Hey!” Applejack yelled.

“-Twilight’s magic has been siphoned by a parasite. If we don’t stabilize her fast, she’s done for.” Horse finished, looking even more cross with the group.

“Oh my? A parasite!” Fluttershy cowered, not liking the stern pony’s gaze. “Wait, what kind of parasite steals magic?”

“Well, seeing as I’m not a flipping unicorn, I have no idea,” Horse sang. “Try poking around her home. See if you can find it th-” He was cut off again, as Spike belched a letter into existence. “Oh great, now the scaly one is putting in it’s two bits.”

“Hey, be nice to Spike,” Pinkie growled, coming nose to nose with the doctor as Rarity read the letter.

“Dear Twilight Sparkle, I have urgent news from the Crystal Empire. Cadence just sent you a dangerous magical artifact. We need it back here to restore the Empire, maybe all of Equestria! Hurry, many lives are in your hooves. Celestia. P.S. Don’t use the damn thing... What the hay does this mean?”

“The orb!” Spike exclaimed, and tore off out the door, heading to the library.

“Spike! Wait!” Rarity, cried, getting to her hooves and trying to follow Spike, til a hoof stopped him.

“Whoa little lady, we need you!” Horse corrected. “You’re going to Jump start Twilight.”

“What? Me!?” Rarity asked. “I shall not let her down!”

“Spike?” Pinkie yelled, bursting into the library.

“Over here!” Spike hollered back, hefting the orb out of the stand.

“What are you-”

“This thing! It’s the artifact Cadence sent! We have to get it out of here!” Spike growled, waddling with orb as he got it outside. “Come on Pinkie! We can do this! To the train!”

“Spike, that’s the long way,” Pinkie softly said, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “Here, I have a better plan. Rainbow Dash!”

“What?!” Rainbow yelled from above as she fought the wind. “Little busy here!”

“This thing is the cause!” Pinkie yelled. “It has to go back to the Crystal empire!”

“What? That’s Twilight’s crystal ball thingy?!” Rainbow yelled back, unable to hear.

“Oh for the love of,” Pinkie swore. She reached into a knot in the Library’s bark and pulled out a giant megaphone, and repeated her last order. And that it was, as Rainbow came down and took the ball, having Pinkie strap it down real fast, and taking off again, flying north as fast as she could.

“There we go,” Pinkie smiled, though she noticed Spike looked miserable. “Hey, you’re my hero Spike.”

“Thanks,” Spike nodded, looking gloomy.

“You acted bravely to protect Twilight, and were more than ready to make any sacrifice needed to help her get better. I’m proud of you.”

“I know," Spike said, though he looked no better.

“Then what’s the matter?”

“You’re standing on my tail...”

“Oh, I’m sorry Spike,” Pinkie blushed, and pulled away her offending hoof. “Here, hope this makes up for it.” She said as she leaned in and kissed the dragon on the cheek. He instantly perked up, though the cold water pouring over them didn't help any.

“You got it?” Horse asked as he connected Rarity’s horn to Twilight’s.

“Yes. No. I don’t know!” Rarity stammered. “But Twilight needs me, so I cannot fail!”

Horse watched in his usual way while Rarity’s horn began to glow. He took out a bag of sunflower seeds, and began watching as if he was at a show. Till one mare tried to talk to him. “Ya know, I got mah Masters from Canterlot U in agriculture.”

“Great, you’re almost impressive,” Horse chided.

“Top of mah class. Summa Cum Laude,” Applejack added, trying to act nonchalant.

“Ooo. Am I supposed to be impressed?” Horse snapped at her.

“No. Yer supposed to be thankin me,” Applejack smirked.

“What the buck for?”

“Fer them seeds y’all are eatin. Ah’m the one that got Sunny Days fields growin again after that over fertilization mix up.”

“You mean when the sewers backed up?”

“Same thing now,” Applejack nodded.

“Really? Are you that arrogant that you think anypony freaking cares that you made seeds grow?” Horse asked, rounding on the mare.

“Everypony does care, cause without me, there’s no food. But Ah ain't bein arrogant, just honest.”

“Your full of yourself” Horse laughed dryly, shaking with rage, or coming down, it was hard to tell.

“Darn tootin.” Applejack smiled

“You’re nuts,” Horse sighed, “Why do you care if I think you’re stupid, which I still believe you are?”

“Now that’s the fun part. Ya see, Ah’m real hard headed too. Been that way fer as long as Ah can remember, and Ah refuse to let some old jackass push me around.” Applejack smiled again.

“You- I,” Horse stammered. He had one last card up his sleeve, the fact that every pony to ever date him ended up hating his guts, and usually trying to kill him. “Wanna go out sometime?”

“Love too,” Applejack smiled. She was going to make this fool regret challenging her.

“I’m old enough to be your bucking dad,” Horse growled, losing ground.

“Ah know. Ah like em older. They’re happy with a kiss on the cheek,” Applejack smiled.

“Saturday it is then,” Horse growled, shaking Applejack’s hoof angrily. He was not about to be outdone in stubbornness by this damn mare.

“Gah!” Rarity screamed in pain, her body unable to produce the needed charge. “No! I cannot fail!” Rarity screamed as her magic neared its peak. “With Celestia as my witness, I Shall Not Let You Die My Love!” What happened afterwards is still the stuff of legend. Some say Rarity’s eyes glowed pure white as her love powered her magic to new heights. Some say it was Celestia entering the room, Spike having just written back to her to tell of Twilight’s condition. But either way, the spark worked, and Twilight’s life was saved.

“So what exactly happened Princess?” Twilight winced as she tried to drink some water.

“Well my student, it appears Cadence sent you a vital piece of the Crystal Empire. The regulation crystal for the tower.”

“The one with the crystal heart at the base, right? Where all the magic of the crystal ponies is sent all over-”

“Yes my student,” Celestia laughed, “That tower. As it turns out, that crystal regulates the amount of magic that flows through the city, and thus to the rest of Equestria. As long as it was in the city, there were no problems, because of its ability to resonate with any other crystal, and absorb the magic that way.”

“Oh wow. I had no idea I had something so important,” Twilight softly revealed. “So how did it allow images to be seen from one crystal to the next?”

“We’re still working on that one. You may have discovered a new invention for getting information out in a visual format,” Celestia smiled.

“Wow. So what happened with the crystal anyways?”

“Rainbow Dash carried it most of the way back, and Spike wrote to me to tell me that it was on the way, and that you had fallen ill trying to use the device. I had the Wonderbolts meet her halfway, and together they were all able to get the orb back to the Empire, and back in its seat at the top of the tower. Turns out your brother knew just where is was supposed to go, having stepped in that hole a few times.”

“Ah. So Rainbow Dash is a hero again, huh?” Twilight groaned.

“Yes. She’s resting in the Empire, and should be heading back shortly. I heard from Pinkie Pie that Miss Dash and Miss Fluttershy are dating?”

“Yeah, that was... unexpected,” Twilight laughed.

“And you and Rarity as well?” Celestia asked with her eyebrow raised.

“I can-” Twilight began, till Celetia stopped her.

“The device you used drained your magic every time you were near crystals Twilight. This affected your heart, your body, and your judgement. Rarity’s house is full of crystals.”

Twilight wanted to say how incorrect this was, but then she realized. She let Rarity talk her into a relationship while standing next to the vase. She had fallen for Rarity while watching her in the orb. She had sex with Rarity after a dinner surrounded by crystal ware and the vase again. And it was that same tableware that was present when Twilight’s vision failed. And she was using the orb when she fainted, and nearly died. Almost every room of Rarity’s house had crystals, except one.

“The orb used you because you gave it it’s first touch of magic. It thought you were the empire, and was trying to increase the output. That’s why your magic got weaker around the orb,” Celestia explained. “It pushed so much magic it made a light based copy of you even.”

But Twilight was focused on one thing. “So are you saying I never loved Rarity?”

“Yes. We knew this would be hard for you to explain, so we took the privilege to tell Rarity,” Celestia whispered as she sat on Twilight’s bed. “She’s an amazing girl. She understood that you were affected by the magic parasite, and says she would still like to be your friend, if you can forgive her. She’s just down the hall, checked in after nearly killing herself to save you”

“I need to see her Princess,” Twilight begged, looking up at last.

“Of course my student. I’ll call your-”

“And could I get some daisies to take to her?” Twilight asked.

“Heya Rarity,” Twilight said with a smile as she was pushed into Rarity’s room.

“H-Hello Twilight,” Rarity smiled in return. “I guess the princess told you about the magic parasite. I understand, it was powerful magic, that nopony could have ever predicted. I don’t blame you darling.”

“Thanks. Nurse, could you leave me by her bed?” Twilight asked her care giver.

“Of course deary. I’ll leave you two alone. Sounds like you have a lot to talk about.” So Twilight was left against the white mare’s bed, as she laid her hooves on the soft bedding.

“I brought you these,” Twilight said, holding up the flowers.

“Oh thank you Twink- Twilight,” Rarity forced a smile.

“So you really loved me, huh?” Twilight asked, setting the flowers in Rarity’s lap.

“Twilight, please, don’t,” Rarity began to cry. “It’s hard enough already, and now-”

“Read the card,” Twilight asked of her friend. Rarity began to cry as she took the card off the flowers, and opened it slowly, shaking a tad.

“Rarity,” The white mare read aloud, “I know I was under attack by the crystal, but there is something I need to tell you... That’s it, the card is blank after-” Rarity began, lowering the card to see Twilight looking into her eyes, a smile on her face.

“There was no crystal in your bedroom, my little Rare Bear,” Twilight said as she pulled herself over to Rarity to sit nose to nose with her. “I still love you if you still lov-” Twilight never got to finish her speech, as Rarity dove right in for a kiss, one so wonderful, it made Rarity’s mane and tail poof out like Pinkie’s. But Twilight would never bring that up, lest she embarrass her love.

“So Rare Bear,” Twilight asked when the nurse knocked on the door, “Wanna be roommates for the night?”

“I would love that Twinkle.”

The two laid next to each other, their beds as close together as the hospital would allow. Twilight was drifting in and out of sleep, though she finally noticed what sounded like Rarity crying.

“Rarity?” Twilight slowly asked, opening her eyes but too drained to sit up. She could see a sketch pad in Rarity’s lap, that showed a beautiful wedding dress design. “Is that for Pinkie’s sister?”

“No my love,” Rarity smiled, knowing she had been caught. “It’s for me. I drew this years ago, and touch it up every so often.”

“Oh. It looks amazing,” Twilight smiled.

“Thank you my love. But it was all a waste now.”

“Why do you say that Rare Bear?”

“Because my love,” Rarity began to cry. “You can’t have two mare’s in wedding dresses! They would clash! Neither bride could feel like that most spectacular mare she is on her wedding day!”

“Really?” Twilight asked.

“Really!”

“Rare Bear, I’m not going to say I’m ready for marriage, that’s still a huge step for us. But I’m sure when the time comes, if anypony can design two gorgeous wedding dresses for one wedding, it’s you.”

“I know, but that’s not the real issue!” Rarity sobbed.

“Then what is?”

Rarity flipped the page, frowning as it revealed another beautiful wedding dress, this time more suited for... Oh... “How long ago did you design my wedding dress?”

“Three months ago,” Rarity cried. “They are both design perfection! I cannot change them!”

“Really? I think that if anypony can make that work, it’s you beautiful.”

“Darling, you are too much,” Rarity smiled as she whipped her eyes with her free hoof.

“You too good looking,” Twilight muttered as she drifted off to sleep again, followed closely by her love.

“I love you Twinkle Twinkle, my little Star,” Rarity giggled as she rolled with Twilight in the field.

“I love you, my Rare Bear... I got nothing...” Twilight admitted, giggling softly. “You fill me with too much happiness to think straight.”

“Well good,” Rarity laughed, kissing Twilight’s nose.

“Ah there you are Twilight!” Luna called, sprinting towards them. “I have been most excited to play thee again! Shall we play chess tonight? Or my favorite, Mareo Party 7!? Or Mareo Kart racing!? Super Smash Ponies?! Starcraft?! Magic the Gathering?! Oh I have so many choices, why not all of them?!”

“Your majesty, I do believe you are in the wrong dream,” Rarity corrected to Twilight’s surprise.

“No she’s not! Her and I played last night. How would I forget something like that unless...” Twilight gasped as she looked to Rarity, the reality dawning on her as well.

“Twilight, I think we’re both real here...”

“I think we are. I thought I was just dreaming...”

“How can this be?” Both mares asked, looking to the Princess of the Night.

“Rarity, didn't you save Twilight’s life this evening with your magic?” Luna asked, knitting her brow. “I assume that you two now share a weak psychic connection, that you two can only access whilst you slumber,” Luna shrugged. It wasn't the craziest thing she had ever heard, but still new to her.

“Oh,” Both mares nodded.

“So we have our own little world here, where no pony can interrupt us, present company excluded,” Twilight smiled. “Please, I really need this right now.”

“Need what, Lady Twilight. I shall fetch it for you,” Luna offered.

“No Princess, that would be my job,” Rarity giggled as she pulled Twilight on top of her, grinning madly. “And then maybe we’ll switch.”

“Oh? Oh. OH!” Luna conceded. She had taken a minute, but she finally understood what these two meant. She blushed, as she hurried away. “I live for the night, but respect my right of dream watching. There are some things, beautiful as they may be, that require the respect such beauty holds.” The mare of the night returned to the real world, where she would find a friend to play her games with. “Maybe Miss Derpy and Time are off their sleep cycle again, they are the best at Mareo Party. And Miss Derpy always has tasty snacks.”