The Chaos Factor

“So, you think somepony saved you from them?” Octavia asked.

“Yes! I couldn’t have done that.” Quiet Ocarina replied. “They were too... Mangled.”

“Well, I’m not one to doubt you, but that’s a little strange.” Octavia said.

“Well thanks, that makes me feel SO much better about myself.” Ocarina retorted.

“That’s not what I mean. I believe you, but not many other ponies would.” The gray mare said, trying to calm her down.

“Right.” Ocarina said, “One more thing?”

“Yes, Rina?” Octavia asked.

“Does the name Cyber Burst mean anything?”

“Hmmm,” She thinks, ”No, never heard that name before.”

“Please mom, Cyber Burst, that name could be the key.” Ocarina pleads on her knees, “It doesn’t have to be related.”

“Hmmmmmmm...” Octavia mumbled, deep in thought, “Wait.”

“What is it?” Ocarina lighted up, “Do you know it?”

“...Rarity.” Octavia said, “In the old days, when the war was still going on, Rarity mentioned a friend of hers by that name. He was an adventurer, but he’s retired now. Rarity said that he could do some of the strangest things.”

“Thank you!!!” Ocarina hugged Octavia, kissing her repeatedly.

“It was nothing, seriously.” She said in between kisses, “Rarity might still be in touch with him.”

“I’ll go to Rarity next then.” Ocarina pulled away and runs out the door, only to pop back in, “Umm. Where does Rarity live?”

“Rarity owns the Carousel Boutique, it’s a custom clothing shop near the library.” Octavia explained.

“Thank you again!” Ocarina said right before she whizzed back out the door.

Octavia just chuckled, “The energy in that kid.”

“Rarity?” Rain Whisper called into Carousel Boutique. “Are you in here?”

“Yes! Of course darling!” Rarity called from upstairs in a hurried tone. “Just... give me a moment.”

“What’s wrong?” Rain Whisper asked, walking up the stairs slowly.

“Uh, nothing, my dear!” Rarity chuckled, “Nothing at all!”

Rain Whisper knew how Rarity could be and rolled her eyes, opening the door to reveal Rarity with a pair of scissors above her mane.

“What are you doing?” Rain Whisper asked.

“Taking care of this once and for all!” Rarity shouted, snipping a single tiny piece of hair from her mane, then bending down and glaring at it. “Grey hair... my worst enemy... you are no match for Rarity!” she said, striking a pose as she said her name.

“All of that was just over a grey hair?” Rain asked flatly.

“What do you mean ‘Just a grey hair?’” Rarity asked. “Those things are dreadful!”

“Yeah, sure.” Rain Whisper said. “Anyways, I need to ask you something.”

“What is it darling?” Rarity asked, looking at Rain.

Rain Whisper took in a breath and spoke. “I like a pony, but I don’t really know how to tell them.” She said, “I thought, ‘cause you’ve been with other ponies, you could tell me how I’m supposed to do it without messing up.”

“Oh, darling, you’ve come to the right pony.” Rarity said with a proud smile. “Now, the key to any stallion’s heart is-”

“It’s... not a stallion...” Rain Whisper said with a blush.

“It’s a mare?” Rarity asked, seeing Rain’s blush, “Sweety, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, if that is what you are comfortable with, who is anypony to judge you?”

“I don’t know... It’s just... I don’t know if she likes me the same way...” Rain said, rubbing her other leg.

“Well why wouldn’t she?” Rarity asked.

“Because she’s my best friend...”  Rain said.

“You mean Quiet Ocarina?” Rarity asked, writing everything down in a notebook with her magic.

“...Yeah...” Rain said, sitting down.

“You’re afraid she only likes you as a friend?” Rarity asked.

“Yes, and I’m afraid if told her, it would ruin our relationship.” Rain said, trying not to look Rarity in the eye.

“If you two truly are friends, she wouldn’t let that happen, or let you think that.” Rarity said. “My advice is just to tell her how you feel.”

“And what if she doesn’t feel the same way?”

“You aren’t supposed to think like that until it happens, no matter how much you think you are prepared, you really won’t be when it comes time to do so.” Rarity said, “Don’t rush it though, try to show her that you care before you tell her.”

Rain Whisper hugged the mare in front of her, “Thank you Rarity.”

Rarity blushed, “It was my pleasure, darling.”

When the two parted, Rain Whisper went back down the stairs and opened the door to leave.

Quiet Ocarina smashed her lips directly into Rain Whisper’s as she was walking in the door. They both stood in silence for a moment.

“Ummm...” Ocarina said, shuffling her feet, “I need to talk to Rarity.”

“Oh, uh, sorry.” Rain said, blushing from the contact.

“I’m right here Ocarina, didn’t mean to interrupt you two though, I saw you coming.” Rarity said from the stairs.

“What the hell, Rarity, Why didn’t you say anything?!” Ocarina shouted.

“You two were so cute when you were embarrassed.” Rarity said with giddiness.

“Shut up.” Ocarina said, then remembered why she was there, “Wait, don’t shut up, are you still in contact with Cyber Burst?”

“Why yes, why does that matter?” She asked.

“I need to find him!” Ocarina stammered, “He could be the key to everything.”

“The key to what?” Rarity asked.

“EVERYTHING!” Ocarina shouted.

“Ok. He lives in Canterlot, at Sweet Apple Acres. The co-founder, actually.” Rarity explained.

“Thank you!!!” The blue mare hugged Rarity, then ran out the door, “C’mon Rain!”

Rain Whisper stood in place for a few seconds then looked at Rarity, who winked at her and shooed her off.

Rain Whisper quickly followed her friend, catching up to her rather quickly.

“Where exactly are we going?” Rain Whisper asked.

“Well, first, we’re going to my house,” Ocarina said, “Then, we’re going to the train station!”

“Alright then, let’s go faster!” Rain Whisper exclaimed, grabbing her friend by the side and teleporting to the front of her house.

Just as the two landed from the teleportation spell, Rain Whisper held her head in one hoof.

“Ouch, I probably shouldn’t have done that...” Rain said, rubbing her temple.

“So I guess we’re not doing that to the train station?” Ocarina asked

“I’ll try, but we might be ripped to shreds in the space-time continuum.” Rain Whisper said.

“I was just kidding, I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” The blue mare said, “Now, I need to get something.”

Quiet Ocarina walked in the front door of her house. Octavia was nowhere to be found. She walked into Octavia’s room to find the pendant on the bed with a note.

I expect you’ll want this for your trip.

Sorry I couldn’t say goodbye, I had

a concert to perform. I love you as

much as I’d love my own filly.

                                            -Octavia

Ocarina placed the note to the side and picked up the pendant, the metallic string too small to fit on her neck. She tried to fit it onto her hoof, where it fit perfectly.

“Thank you, mom.” Ocarina said as her tears welled up, but none fell.

She walked back outside with the pendant securely on her leg.

“You might want to hold on.” Rain Whisper said as magic built up around her horn.

“I said I was kidding, don’t kill yourself.”

“And you know I don’t take kindly to doubts.” Rain said. “Now grab on.”

“Fiiine” Ocarina said, placing a hoof on Rain Whisper’s shoulder.

With a flash of light, the two mares vanished and reappeared at the train station, where Rain Whisper almost fell over from dizziness.

“Told you I could do it!” Rain said triumphantly.

“Sure sure. Let’s go!” The earth mare said.

The two mares walked to buy their tickets. The train would come in ten minutes, which gave them time to talk.

“So. You ever been to Canterlot before?” Ocarina asked

“Once, with my mom when I was younger for her to talk to Luna.” Rain said, “What about you?”

“A few times, for my Mother’s concerts.”  She said, “Not much besides that.”

“What’s it like now?” Rain asked.

“Well, the Castle is still the same.” Ocarina explained, “Actually, Canterlot was one of the lesser destroyed cities of Equestria, so it’s pretty similar to what it was before”

“Oh, that’s good.” Rain said, scraping her hoof around awkwardly, thinking about what happened at the Boutique.

“So, ummm. Why were you at Rarity’s?”

“I, uh... we were talking about somepony.” Rain replied quickly.

“I bet that pony is something special.” Ocarina said, “Oh, look, the train’s early.”

The train pulled into the station, few ponies stepping off because of the time.

“You have no idea...” Rain Whisper mumbled as they both got on the train.

“...She’s just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world.” Ocarina sang, “She took the midnight train going anywhere!”

“What song is that?” Rain Whisper asked, “I’ve never heard it.”

“I-I don’t know.” Quiet Ocarina stammered, “It just came to me.”