A Ghost Story

by The Music Man

Rating: everyone
Tags: Fluttershy, Adventure, Zecora, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rarity
Length: 11181

Fluttershy meets a ghost that needs her help. Normally, Fluttershy wouldn't mind giving a hoof to a poor soul, but does the soul want a hoof, or everything behind it?

Fluttershy meets a ghost that needs her help to resolve a tumultuous past. Normally, Fluttershy wouldn't mind giving a hoof to a poor soul, but does the soul want a hoof, or everything behind it? She seeks help from Zecora, and (to her surprise) Rarity. In the end, Fluttershy must decide what the spirit really wants. And she will have to stand up for that decision.

Cover Art: HorseJess

Editors thus far: Georg, blawrg, DJPsychOH

Published 2013-02-21 05:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-04-30 06:36:43 UTC

An Initial Fright

"Now you just rest your leg, Mr. Oriole, and you'll be back out there flying in no time, okay?" Fluttershy said. The bird lifted up his head to observe the bandaged appendage, then gingerly touched it with the tips of his wings. Wincing at the resulting pain, he drew back his wings. Fluttershy could only imagine how awful it felt. He looked up at yellow mare, gave a quick nod, showing he understood, and slowly laid back in the makeshift hospital bed. She smiled and tucked him in.

Mr. Oriole was one of a half-dozen birds that had found themselves strung up in a hospital bed. There were at least thirty or forty others that had crashed because of the tumultuous winds that day, but were lucky enough to only receive minor injuries. The birds on the table had crashed into the hardest trees, were flung into sharpest briers and brambles, and fell from the highest heights. After giving each bird one final check, she looked out the window to see the cloud-covered night sky. It had been a long day.

Yawning, she ambled toward the stairs that would lead her to her nice, warm bed. She walked past the couch, noticing that her pet bunny, Angel, had fallen asleep on it.

Usually, Fluttershy would carry him off to bed, but he looked so comfortable snuggled up against the throw pillow that she didn't want to disturb him. Besides, he deserved all the rest he could get. He did find and bring back almost all the birds that now lie on the table, some more than twice his size.

Fluttershy trotted up the stairs, careful not to wake any of them. After quietly shutting her bedroom door, she went into the small master bathroom to brush her teeth, take a quick shower, and then hit the hay. The bathroom resembled her bedroom in many ways: both had a few floral-patterned plates and pictures of friends hung about. There was enough storage for all her things, and all the other furnishings had a clear purpose, like a bed for sleeping, and a bath for cleaning. Rarity would sometimes comment on how bland the room was and that she should do more with it, even offering to help her at times. Fluttershy always said she would later, but never did, simply because she didn’t have the time to decorate.

She grabbed her toothbrush and barely got the cap off the toothpaste when a voice called out to her: "Fluttershy?" The sound came from outside, below the circular bedroom window. Fluttershy put the brush down on the sink, and sighed. Normally when a pony called her name this late at night, it usually meant that they had some emergency that she would have to resolve. Despite it being after hours, she went to answer it.

Opening the window, she noticed an earth stallion situated in her backyard in the cool summer night. His coat was a light-mist beryl, and his mane a little darker, only long enough for it to have some curve. His tail was short and tangled, like Angel’s tail when he refused to have it properly fluffed. His flank showed a glass flask, which was undoubtedly the mark of a scientist. "You heard me!" he said, a gleeful smile covering his face.

"I, uh, suppose I did," Fluttershy said in her usual quiet whisper. "What are doing here at such a late hour? I mean if you don't mind telling me?" She expected an explanation, but all she got was a prancing pony singing, "She heard me, she heard me!" This was a rather strange display for a full-grown stallion, not to mention a weird time to be doing such a thing. She tried calling out to him again, but all he wanted to do was dance and sing about hearing rather than hear. Maybe all he wanted was to be heard, which is a rather strange thing to want.

Not knowing what else to do, she closed the window and went back to brushing her teeth. Normally she would brush Angel's little teeth first, but she just did not have the heart to wake him up from his well-deserved nap. Squeezing just a tiny bit of toothpaste on her toothbrush, she looked up at the mirror. The toothbrush fell from her hooves as she stared. A faint luminescence lit the reflective surface with a tinge of cyan, and the face of the dancing stallion.

Slowly she turned, eyes wide and bottom lip quivering. When she met the reflection, she yelled "G-g-g-g-ghost!" and let out a piercing scream. She found herself making a beeline for the bedroom door when the ghost wisped in front of it with hoof extended to stop her, pleading, "No, wait-" Still screaming, Fluttershy leapt for the circular window, but he intercepted her saying "I don't mean to-" She whipped toward the window adjacent to it, only to find him already in front of it, saying "Look Fluttershy-" but before she could hear any more of him, Fluttershy dove under her bed.

She poked out her head only enough to see the apparition. "P-P-Please, Mr. Ghost, don't hurt my Angel, or my other friends, or me."

The ghost slapped his hoof on his head and, through a grimace, said, "Darn my stupidity and carelessness! I should have been more careful about approaching you. I'm sorry for frightening you like that, but you see, it's been so long since any pony could hear me that the excitement of it all overtook me and caused me to barge in here like some common sneak-thief."

Fluttershy barely heard a word of what the ghost had said, for she had burrowed deeper under her bed, covering her head with her hooves. She had both eyes closed, as if not seeing the ghost would make it go away. A cool wisp brushed against her cheek, and when she opened one eye, there he was, but head only, saying, "I promise I won't-" Before he could finish, Fluttershy screamed and yanked herself out from under her bed so fast that she bashed herself in the corner of the room. The ghost came closer, and all she had left were two thin forelegs to shield herself.

"Please, Mr. Ghost," she begged, "If you would-"

"Fluttershy, I didn't come to hurt you or your animal friends," the ghost said. "Besides, even if I wanted to, I couldn't do them any harm, see?" He passed his hoof through one of the spheres atop a bed post going through it as if the bed were just an illusion. "I came to you for your help, Fluttershy. For some reason that only Celestia knows, you have been gifted with the ability to intercede for me. That being so, you're the only one who can tie a few loose ends that keep me here."

"W-w-what do you mean? Isn't there someone else that can help you?"

"Sadly no, you're the only one I can talk to, and for the longest time I didn't know that, until luck decided to tell me. Remember when that stage unicorn was performing for the town and you were making your way to the front? You bumped into me and apologized. It was only after your friends called your name and you got lost in the crowd when I realized that you were the first pony to see me in years. And now you can help me."

He stepped in closer. She turned her head away, curling up tighter into the corner, wondering what would happen to her. She took a peek at the spirit. His essence seemed to ooze noxious fumes that quickly mixed in the air, and his form became more transparent, letting what little light that was in the room pass through him.

"I've always thought that if I could somehow resolve the wrongs I committed, that I would be able to leave. But it has been a long time, Fluttershy, so long that I thought this place as my prison, and all I could do was hope that whatever supernatural force that kept me here would end this dreadful torture, this solemn abyss among the living not fit for the dead. For years I've been alone; an abandoned soul aimlessly wandering the earth with no other to speak, no friend to converse with, without the simple touch of grass under hoof, or of another.

"Now I do have another, Fluttershy, and it's you. You're my only chance to get out of here, or at least, take solace in my loneliness." He stooped down his head, leveling his eyes with hers. "You're my only chance." Extending what was a hoof, he tried to divide her forelegs that protected her face, but she slapped the menacing essence away. He pulled back his hoof, and his head in shock. He stared at her, eyes widen in utter disbelief. Fluttershy could barely believe that she had hit him.

He lolled his head in despair and turned away. It looked as if he was still absorbing the force of the blow and the rejection. He let out a sigh, then said, "I know now that my time has not come. Besides, I don't deserve your help after all the things I've done."

As the phantom began to step away, she lowered her forelegs and turned toward him. His head had fallen below his shoulders as he sauntered out of the room. Fluttershy picked herself up off the floor and watched him for a while. She could feel herself huffing and puffing as her lungs caught up with her racing heart.

Picking up her hoof, she found that it had turned a flushed red because of her unthinking swipe. She looked back over at the spirit who slowly marched toward the threshold of her doorway. You're my only chance. Her hoof slowly put itself down as her eyes remained fixed on the ghost who stood at the precipice of her bedroom door.

She never thought that a ghost, something that imparted scars, broke bones, and even caused the living to go insane, would act like this. When she imagined loose spirits, she thought of them as stalkers with gnarled vestiges, limping gaits, and laughter more jarring than that of hyenas, all determined to terrify any that crossed their way. He, however, looked like anypony. He didn't deserve her harsh treatment; all he had done was ask her for help.

He stopped and glanced back at her, a short frown crossing his face. His eyes gave her a solemn stare, and they then closed as his head drooped and turned back. Slowly, he picked up each leg, letting his hoof sway carelessly forward. It silently hit the floor.

"Please don't leave," she said, "You're not terrifying. You just startled me a little, that's all. I couldn't bear to know that I was the only one that could help you and I didn't. I know I would hate to be all alone without anyone to talk to."

He stopped, and slowly turned his head just enough to look at her. "So you will help me out of this predicament?"

Suppressing all desire to bolt for the window just a few feet away, she nodded. A gleam shot across the specter's face, and before either of them knew it, he had thrown his forelegs around her neck. He hugged her tight, and the cold ectoplasm pressed against her flesh, his essence like glacial mud, absorbing all warmth wherever it touched. She could swear that it would penetrate her skin and take over if he hugged any tighter. Maybe this is how ponies became possessed; they agreed for a ghost to stay and then the ghost would have the power to take over and make them go crazy.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Fluttershy," he said through tears. "I always knew this day would come, when I would have the chance to right my wrongs, and that somepony like you would provide the way."

The ghost pressed tighter. Fluttershy looked down and saw that the ghost's essence grew brighter wherever it touched. She tried to twist out of his clammy grip, but he only clutched tighter. The effulgence seemed to grow dimmer, as if it were sinking in. She had to think quick. "Uh, Mr. Ghost, you wouldn't mind if... if... if I got some sleep now, would you?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yes, yes, of course," he said, letting her go. Fluttershy fell to her haunches, but quickly got back up. "And by the way, my name is Ion, not ghost," the ghost said. "I wish you only the sweetest of dreams, Fluttershy." He left, floating out the door. She thought she caught a sly smirk come across his face, as if he had plans for whenever she woke up. The instant he was out of her sight, Fluttershy ran to the bathroom mirror to see the state of her body. Her neck was still the same sun-yellow color as before, but when she parted her downy coat, she found a number of scars interlaced on her neck. She then frantically searched her shoulders and arms. More scars. Every piece of skin the ghost had touch now had inexplicable scabs covering them. It was as if the ghost shoved her into a thorn patch, and she could only wonder what would have happened if he "hugged" her any longer.

Immediately she darted to the window and flung it opened. The night air whooshed in, brushing her sweaty coat with cool wind. She extended her wings, letting the warmth from being huddled-up against her body drip from each feather. Most pegasi would have instinctively jumped, letting their wings carry them off into the sky, but Fluttershy had to stop and make sure she did it right, or else she could fall to the ground, even if it was only a few feet down from her window.

She remembered her instruction: leap and simultaneously thrust her wings down so gravity wouldn't take her. It wasn't a hard concept; even the smallest pegasus could do it. She drew herself back. All she needed to do was flap hard when she leaped. Her muscles tensed, preparing for action. She lowered her head, ready toss it forward when she pushed off.

There was a moment of hesitation. She would have to surrender the house to the ghost. Worse, she would have to leave him with her animal friends for a while. The thought of leaving them alone stung, but she had to go get help, or else who knows what could happen. She faced the window.

Everything was ready, yet she couldn't go. She was prepared to leave, but she felt a sinking feeling in her gut that kept her from takeoff.

His words ran through her head. She could see his face as he said them. He looked so sad when he recollected his forlorn past, and so happy that it could have come to an end. She was his only hope, and she was just going to abandon him. Her head turned toward the door. Her legs relaxed. Her wings folded in.

It was possible that she could have been mistaken about him trying to possess her. Maybe he had truly been glad to see her and couldn’t hold back. He would seem like the kind of pony to do that. Maybe this was all a simple misunderstanding. Besides, she didn’t know much about ghosts, so how could she tell that he was trying to possess her?

She walked to the mirror, and inspected her scars once more. This time she did it more slowly and carefully, observing each bump, length, and intersection. If he had hugged her any longer, what would have happened? Would the cuts start to bleed? Would her own soul be pushed out and replaced by his?

If she stayed and helped him with whatever he wanted, perhaps he would be able to go on to wherever ghosts went when their tasks were complete. If that’s all she had to do, she would be willing to help. Then again, the way for the ghost to complete his task may involve giving up her body. Maybe for good. If that happened, who would make sure that the badgers had enough food, wake up the birds so they could get their worms, direct the bats to the best places for insects? And what about Angel bunny; who would take care of him? Just then, she remembered a certain zebra that probably could help her in this tight situation.

She looked out the window toward the Everfree Forest. At night, beasts as big as houses, with sharp claws the size of swords and venomous fangs, thirsting for little ponies, came out looking for an easy meal, something like a little pegasus who had trouble flying. She always had trouble flying, but looking back at her wings reminded her she was a lot stronger now, and she had the stare if all else failed.

Readying her flying stance, and with a running start, Fluttershy flew out and headed toward Zecora’s.

Author's Note

I know this is only a start, and has yet to proven itself as a satiable story, but I want to know, how do you like it? Do you know what's going to happen next? Who do you think are the important characters? Was anything confusing?

Anyway, I'm really excited about this story because it is the first time I'm working with any of the mane six. I hope I got Fluttershy characterized right. If not, tell me where I went wrong, or just down-vote.

Oh, and please rate this story. I don't need an explanation why you rated it like you did, just to know if this is the kind of stuff you like or not.

Getting Help

Fluttershy landed at the entrance to the bewitched Everfree Forest. Most never set hoof in there, fearing the mighty beasts and legendary creatures that called this place home. She, however, entered these woods often but only out of necessity. The forest contained exotic herbs that she used as medicine to care for her sick animals and was also home to Zecora, a zebra who knew much about strange and peculiar things. Hopefully, strange and peculiar included ghosts.

As she walked into the forest, she could not help but constantly twitch her head toward every skwak and groan that emitted beyond the surrounding trees. At this point, other ponies would fear being attacked by wild animals, only because they did not know how to treat them right.

Most ponies didn’t realize the real problems about this forest were the apathetic plants that thoughtlessly infect creatures for just touching, and the witches that performed forbidden magics. This is why she twitched her head about.

Thankfully soon, Fluttershy found herself at the edge of the clearing in front of Zecora’s hut. The hut was decorated with ever-changing bottles, which hung from its wide-reaching branches, along with a few of the masks Zecora kept around her home. Zecora hung the bottles so that the potions inside would absorb the little light that peaked through the canopy. The masks were there to protect and bless the hut, although Fluttershy never understood how such creepy masks could do such a thing.

Fluttershy was about to step into the clearing when a movement inside the hut frightened her into hiding in a nearby bush. A strange pony dressed in a jet-black velvet cloak step out of the door, heading toward the thicker part of the forest. On its back hung two seltzer bottles tied together with silky-black ribbon. Both were filled with a light-brown fluid. Flutteshy had seen Pinkie-Pie use those kind of bottles in elaborate pranks to spray ponies, or herself, whenever she wanted to make others smile. This pony, however, probably wasn’t smiling.

Zecora stepped out after the cloaked figure and said, "Despite the fact I help you well, the place you go at night you still not tell." The cloaked pony turned around and whispered something back, something Fluttershy could not hear.

"I know this secret place you want to keep abstruse, I was just curious if you now would share the truth," Zecora responded. With a little scowl, she added, "On that potion you do rely; are ghosts the reason why?"

The disguised pony just turned around, the back of her cloak drifting up just enough for Fluttershy to catch a glimpse of the pony's ivory-white hooves and the tip of a curled purple tail.

"Rarity?" Fluttershy whispered to herself. What was she doing out here in the deep, dark, treacherous forest this late at night? No pony, no matter how strong or skilled they were, came here in dark or day unless they had good reason.

And ghost? Rarity didn't believe in ghosts. Every time Rainbow Dash told a ghost story, Rarity would roll her eyes, saying she couldn't believe what incredulous and far-fetched tails ponies made up. This cloaked pony out here couldn't be Rarity, could she? She had the polished white hooves, and glossy purple tail, and flowing velvet cloak (which she had seen hanging in Rarity’s closet before) that could have only belonged to Rarity, but it didn't make any sense for her to be out here. With almost a magnetic attraction, Fluttershy tailed what probably was her best friend deeper into the forest.

They traveled through some of the thicker parts of the woods, where the only thing guiding them was a faint trail. If Fluttershy had not seen the cloaked mare take it, she would have completely missed it herself. The trail lead out of the forest and wound past thick areas of brush, thinning as it began to turn upwards, making it harder to hide from the occasional glances of the cloaked pony.

Suddenly, the landscape consumed the cloaked pony, with only a rustle of brush as any clue to where she went. Fluttershy quickly ran up to the spot where she last saw her, and carefully lowered her hoof into the brush. Instead of her hoof hitting a sloping uphill, she found it dangling. She stuck her head in and saw a faint light fading into the cramp, clandestine cave. Not wanting to have to venture it in the dark, Fluttershy quelled her fear and quickly went after the glow.

They descended further and further, Fluttershy staying just at the edge of the effulgence. The walls of the narrow cave and deep roots of the tree above brushed against her head, some roots low enough to hit her snout.

Her ears pressed down against her skull, trying to subside the echoed sound of growling and moaning that the cave made. The only thing keeping her from running back was her self-assurance that it was nothing more than water or wind. But these thoughts became more and more false the deeper and deeper they went in.

As they descended, the noises became less frequent, which would have been a comfort, had they not became more distorted. Fluttershy pressed her hooves firmly to the ground and kept her wings tightly against her sides so she wouldn't end up jumping whenever an erratic noise decided to sound. She bit her lower lip to keep any of her own sounds from escaping. Then everything grew bright and warm.

The tight, coal-black cave changed into a glittering onyx palace. A stream of brilliant, white diamonds stretched across the cavern floor, each and every one of them reflecting the light from a lava fissure that lay in the middle of the stream. The diamonds were sporadically laid along a stream and, even though their placement seemed random, there was a pattern in them, almost as if some mighty magician had deigned this one spot in all of Equestria to be of perfect beauty.

They called to her, and for the first time in her life Fluttershy wanted a jewel, just to touch it, to hold it, to have a part of the perfect beauty Rarity had hid away. She took a step in, but the sharp sounds of a mining spell broke the reverie, keeping her in the dark of the cave that lead in. The noise startled Fluttershy away from the bejeweled cave, but she soon stuck her head out at the same time Rarity stopped mining.

Rarity had taken off her hood, and placed a bejeweled eyepiece in her eye. Aside of her laid a small pile of diamonds, which she began inspecting each one carefully, checking for qualities that only she knew. This was strange; usually Rarity came back at least a small cartload of gems, saying she would have to sort them out later for the good ones. When she got around to sorting the gems, she used blindingly bright light and a magnifying glass as big as Fluttershy's folded wing to do so, not the dim light of lava and a small loupe.

Rarity's eyes lit and a staccato "Ah-ha" came from her mouth. She pulled one particular gem with a circular shape. "This one will make for a perfect rose-cut broach," she declared to herself, pocketed it in her cloak, and continued inspecting the other jewels.

This was her big secret? One of her many jewel caves, half of which she had shown to all of her friends? It was kind of a disappointment to say the least, but Fluttershy was glad that her secret wasn't anything serious, like black magic, poison making, hexing, or anything like that.

In fact, now it seemed silly to follow Rarity down here, especially after knowing she wanted to keep this place a secret. Maybe Rarity was just going to surprise everypony with a fantastic new cave she found, and maybe Fluttershy would build up enough courage to see come along with them.

"Evening ma'am," said a soft voice from one end of the cave. Both Rarity and Fluttershy turned their heads to see where the sound came from. There stood a mare who was beryl-colored throughout, with a long, messy mane and matching tail. Fluttershy coward back in the cave. This was why Rarity wanted to keep the cave a secret; this cave was resident to a ghost!

"Or if it is evening at all," the ghost continued. "I've been here so long that I have forgotten all time of day, I don't even have the luxury of getting tired to hint at how long I have been here. I've missed the sight of the sun, the trees, the skies, the warmth that-"

"Then why do you not simply leave the cave? The exit's right there," Rarity interrupted, pointing toward Fluttershy's direction.

The ghost's head shot up, surprised at the apathetic reaction. Nevertheless, it continued. "Because I'm trapped, trapped here by some unnatural, unkindly force that forces me to stay in these dark depths," the mare said with a hoof on her forehead. "I must be trapped down here for the evils I've done in the past, for abandoning my friends for these opulent diamonds, that I do curse. These glowing, luscious, precious diamonds. These diamonds sparkle so beautifully when you hold them up to the sunlight, and make you a sight no stallion can..." The mare stopped herself, shook her head, and said, "I hadn't a friend in the world to talk to, nor the feel of fresh wind or air. Please, will you help me out of here?"

"So these diamonds are fettering you here, are they?" Rarity quickly pulled out three gems from the pile and hovered them around in a circle. The ghosts eyes seemed drawn by the gems, and her mouth creaked open, almost spilling out her tongue.

After shaking her head to clear the expression, the ghost said, "Yes, those cursed things that do keep me from enjoying other things of the world. If I can find a way out, then I can finally have rest, but I need you agree to help me, then I... can..." The ghost's voice trailed off as Rarity slowly sunk one of the diamonds into the pool of lava. The jewel cracked and sparked as the hot earth ate away at it.

"Well then I guess the only answer is to get rid of these wretched carbuncles, even though they would have made a fabulous brooch, or ring, or necklace," Rarity said as the next jewel plopped into the lava. "Or earrings, or tiara, or bracelet." The source of such natural beauty finished consuming its own creation “Which would look absolutely marvelous on any wedding dress, or an old-style houppelande, or an exotic sari.” The ghost dumbly stared at the red-hot pit that ate the jewel.

The ghost shook her head again, and responded weakly, "Y-yeah, I guess that would make-"

Then Rarity shoved the last of the three poor gems in. "You know, legend has it that the gems on Princess Celestia's necklace and crown came from this very stream because of how perfect each and every gem naturally were. The stonecutter, Bead Sparks, who's eye for gems is still unmatched today, refused to cut any diamond from this stream. When asked why, he said because he had never seen any jewels so perfectly edged before in his life.”

Rarity took the rose-cut diamond out of her cloak. "And I guess this will have to go as well," she said, then she floated it above the laces of her cloak. "It would have made a most excellent accessory to any gown. I was going to have this set in a golden, burnish setting, with flowing wires surrounding this magnificent rock. Oh, it would have looked so beautiful as the centerpiece of a shawl, the crown jewel of any ball gown, but since it's keeping you here." The ghost face now turned to horror as she saw the precious stone precariously hovering over the all-consuming pit.

"No, wait!" the ghost instinctively cried.

Rarity just smugly looked upon the spirit, letting an airy snort as she slowly shook her head from side to side. She carelessly tossed the gem into the lava. "Tell me, what's your favorite drink?" she asked.

"What?" the ghost responded, rather confused.

"Mine is root beer," Rarity continued while taking one of the seltzer bottles slowly off her back, allowing the other to land softly on the floor. "It has such a unique taste that I simply admire. It is not like all the other soda, which merely copy flavors that are already perfect in their original form. Cherry, strawberry, orange, they all try to be like their real counterpart, which deprives them of that je ne se qua that root beer has." She cradled the bottle in her foreleg, compassionate passing her cheek over the glass surface.

"I s-suppose," the ghost said, stepping away from Rarity.

Rarity fixed her eyes on the ghost. "You know what I like most about root beer?"

The ghost, too frightened to answer, gave a stiff shake of her head.

"This." All at once, Rarity lifted her cheek, tossed the bottle in the air, and caught the trigger on her hoof. The bottle hissed, letting a thin stream of soda flow out, followed by a tormented scream. Flutterhshy turned away from the dreadful scene, keeping one curious eye squinted at the horrific sight. Every point the soda touched turned its green essence into a pus-yellow ectoplasm, which quickly evaporated into steam. Fluttershy closed the other eye.

After a few seconds of what seemed like an eternity of screaming, Fluttershy finally dared look at the result. Both spirit and soda had evaporated into the air, leaving no trace of the unfortunate being. Rarity was replacing the bottle back on her back and didn't seem at all phased by what she just did. Flutteshy, however, stared in disbelief. Did she just see what she thought she saw? Rarity killing a ghost? How was that even possible? How could someone so kindhearted and self-less as Rarity do such a thing? She never even gave the unfortunate specter a chance to explain herself. How could Rarity be so cruel?

Just then, Rarity shouted, "Who goes there?!" Fluttershy broke from her trance and bolted for the exit. A light and the sound of galloping hoof steps soon chased her as she dodged past the rocks and roots that cluttered the cavern. The voice of Rarity yelled, "Get back here you good-for-nothing sneak!" several times during the chase, but Fluttershy heeded none of these words. Soon, the pegasis burst out of the cave entrance. She extended her wings and got a foot off the ground before crashing into the brush below. Hard. Being in too much of a state of panic, she couldn't focus enough to get more air than that.

Glancing back, she saw a light coming from underneath the bushes. She scrambled to her hooves just as Rarity emerged from the cave. Picking up a hoof-ful of dirt, Fluttershy flung it behind. Rarity gave off a gasp of pain, telling that the dirt had hit its mark.

Fluttershy ran two times faster, her legs carrying her at an unnatural speed. She took shelter behind a tree, and heard Rarity shout, "You think you're clever with your dirt trick do you, you dastard? You think by getting me a little dirty I'll give up? Well, I'll have you know I have a few tricks of my own."

Peaking out enough just to see the tree line, Fluttershy caught a glimpse of a blinding searchlight hovering over the forest. Rarity had always been good with luminescent spells.

"I know you're in there; there's no use in hiding," Rarity growled as she cast her light about. "I'll find you, and when I do, I’ll chop off your snout for sticking it where it shouldn’t be."

Fluttershy pressed tightly against the tree. Rarity was right; she shouldn't have been sneaking around, and she shouldn't have thrown dirt in Rarity's eyes. She was her friend for crying out loud!

The light ran over the edge of the forest, its end coming closer and closer to where Fluttershy hid. Maybe she should just give herself up, apologize for following her into the forest, and throwing dirt in her eyes. Maybe Rarity would forgive her. But then again, Rarity wouldn't have taken dirt to the eyes lightly, nor would she take trespassing or secret breaking.

The pegasis pressed tighter against the tree, her whole spine in contact with its bark. And what about killing that ghost? If Rarity could callously do that to a desperate spirit, then there is no telling what she might do to her if she caught her. Worse, Fluttershy feared what she might have to Rarity.

The light split in two as it passed her by. Thankful the light didn't catch her, she heaved a sigh of relief, soon followed by a gasp and hoof covering her mouth. "There you are!" shouted Rarity, sending Fluttershy deeper into the woods before the light could touch her.

She ran harder and faster than she ever did before. She could feel her legs get stiff, and it was becoming harder and harder to breath. She couldn't run forever. She needed a place to hide. Zecora's hut would be the best. She usually stayed up late at night and would be willing to help her. Anyplace else in the forest wouldn't be safe. Rarity had a keen ear and would be able to hear her heavy breathing.

After dodging trees and bounding over many shrubs and rocks, Fluttershy soon arrived at Zecora's house. She leapt for the door and without hesitation banged on it, yelling, "Zecora! Open up, please, open up!"

"What is the matter-" Zecora answered but was interrupted when Fluttershy burst in. "-Justifying this clatter?" The zebra finished, then stilled her swaying earring as she closed the door.

"You have to help me. Rarity's chasing me," was the only answer Fluttershy gave. Zecora cocked an eyebrow until another knock sounded from her door. The neck-ringed zebra opened it and found none other than the pony in question.

"Evening Zecora," Rarity said between her huffing and puffing. "I was wondering if you noticed any pony pass by your..." Rarity stopped when she saw Fluttershy inside the hut. Immediately, Fluttershy curtailed her heavy breathing, trying to take deep, inconspicuous breaths. "Evening Fluttershy. Might I inquire what you are doing here so late?" Rarity ask.

"I...I," Fluttershy stuttered.

Quickly, Zecora picked up the conversation. "One of her animals got sick, so she came to me to help its pains lick." Rarity turned her head toward the pegasis with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. T-that's it. One of my squirrels ate a bad seed, and I'm all out of any stomach medicine," she said, careful to keep her head up and eyes fixated on Rarity to make the lie more believable. The unicorn's brow went down to form a scowl, with both eyes narrowed.

"Yes, a terrible tummy ach, which would make any lesser quake," Zecora added, then turned to Rarity. "If you don't mind my query, what would make you so weary?"

Rarity took a second to gain her composure. This, however, was impossible, seeing that her entire ensemble had been ruined by the chase, the worst of it all being the dirt that had ruined her eyelashes and shadow. She answered, "A thief. He came into my home and tried to steal some of my jewels. Luckily he was clumsy and woke me up in the process. When he saw me he left the majority of the gems and ran, but had some of the better ones stuffed in his shroud. I was trying to see if I could catch him."

"In your pursuit I will give assist, to find the culprit and have him desist," Zecora offered. With a quick jerk of her head, she indicated that Fluttershy should do the same.

"I guess I could help too," Fluttershy said.

"No, no, that's quite alright,” Rarity replied. “The thief is probably too far gone by now. Besides, I can make due without a few gems.” She was about to say something else, but Zecora piped up before she could.

"If you will let my thoughts be ample, why do you wear that strange mantle?" These words sounded more like a prying remark than a question.

"I thought that I would be able to sneak up on the thief easier if I wore something darker than my fur," Rarity responded. "While white is beautiful and radiant, it does have its drawbacks."

"And those bottles that do bauble?"

"I had no time to take them off," Rarity immediately replied. "Now I hate to leave so soon after I just arrived, but it is late, and a lady does need her beauty sleep. Good-bye Zecora. Good-bye Fluttershy; I hope your animal friend gets better." After Zecora and Fluttershy gave their adieus, Rarity left the small hut, putting her cowl back over her head.

Zecora shut the door and then faced Fluttershy. "Now tell me what plight truly brings you out tonight."

"I...I" Fluttershy said her eyes contracting and hooves shaking.

"What, my dear? Please be clear."

Fluttershy took a second, then said, "I was helping one of Mr. Oriole get to bed, when after brushing my teeth a ghost appeared, and then he chased me and asked for my help, and hugged me. I didn't know what to do so I came here but found Rarity going to a cave, and there was a stream of diamonds, and another ghost and she... she... Then Rarity chased me all the way here and now I'm not sure what to do or where to go or-"

A comforting hoof found the hysteric mare's shoulder, ending the babbling. "Breath in and out, dear child; do this so your thoughts will mild." Following her advice, Fluttershy took a few deep breath while Zecora pulled out a small throw-pillow she kept for guests. "Now that you're calm, sit and rest; all of these problems we will address." Fluttershy took a seat, but found it hard to think that she could find rest.

Zecora sat right next to her, putting a fore leg around her shoulders. "Let us take things one at a time; what first thing caused this night begrimed?"

Fluttershy took another breath, then began. "Well, a ghost came to me and asked for my help. When I agreed, he hugged me. I think he might have been trying to possess me, or he could have just been glad that he finally had somepony to talk to. I didn't know how to tell, so I thought you might know something. Then I saw Rarity out here and followed her to a cave where... where..." Fluttershy stopped at that. She herself couldn't believe it or understand it, but she would have to say it in order for Zecora to help her.

"Where I saw Rarity kill a ghost."

Zecora leaned back a little at this. "How a ghost she could kill? Is this not against nature's will?"

Fluttershy nodded. "I never thought that was possible either, but she sprayed it with one of her bottles, and it screamed an awful scream and turned into vapor. I just don't understand why she would do it. All the ghost need was for somepony to help her. I mean, even though she is a ghost, she doesn't deserve to be treated like that. No pony, no matter how different should be treated like that."

Fluttershy look to Zecora. "I just don't know why she would do it. Rarity's not heartless, or ruthless, or merciless, or cruel, or anything. Or at least, I never thought she was cruel."

"There could be quite a few reasons why she did what she did, even though this justification from us is hid," Zecora said. "Now about your ghost, what is your plan? What will you do with this spirit that all things began?"

Fluttershy hung her head. “I don't know. He says he needs my help, but I don't know that for sure. And I don't want to hurt him, but I don't want him to hurt me."

Zecora placed a hoof on her chin and gazed at the ceiling for an answer. Zecora always did this whenever Fluttershy came to her with a difficult question and before she gave the right answer. Hopefully, she knew something about ghost that would help her fix this whole mess. She did know a lot of things that other ponies wouldn't think you could know about, and hopefully ghosts were no exception.

Zecora turned back to Fluttershy. "Go to Rarity for the help you seek; she will know what to do with this situation bleak."

"What?"

"If my thoughts are right, this encounter is not her first fight. She probably knows more about spooks, and any of my knowledge could she rebuke." Zecora put her foreleg around her shoulder again. "Go to her and of her knowledge query, she will make the situation less blurry."

"But what about Ion?" Fluttershy asked.

Zecora furrowed her eyebrows. "The ghost? The one your house is host?" Fluttershy nodded. "If I know this mare, than good judgment she bears. She will know how this problem to mend, and whether or not this ghost to end."

End. That was a better word then "kill." Maybe the potion didn't kill the ghost but sent it to the underworld. But that was a fate worse than death. Nevertheless, Fluttershy needed to do what was best for her if it came down to it, and only Rarity would know how to do it.

"O-Okay." Fluttershy stood up. Slowly she went over to the door. Looking back, she said, "Are you sure you can't help me?"

"Experience of ghost I have not, and my advice may be as bad as rot. I've only heard what Rarity has seen, and my information may be unclean. Go, and give her your ear, as you would a princess or emir."

"Alright," Flutershy said.

Zecora went to the door to open it for her. "I wish you well in enduring this assay and hope that you will have peace remade."

Talking and Walking

Fluttershy’s hoof paused in front of the door of Rarity's home. Did she really want to risk Rarity finding out that she followed her to the cave and threw dirt in her eyes? She could always go back to Zecora and ask for some of the potion that Rarity used.

But that would mean if Ion was trying possess her, she would have to spray him and watch him writhe and scream as the fluid consumed him. To be responsible for that kind of pain and suffering would be more than she could bear. Nevertheless, if it came down to a question between her and him, it would need to be her.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t come down to that.

Fluttershy took a deep breath, raised her hoof, and knocked on the door. She heard the sound of snapping make-up boxes, and soon the door opened.

"Oh, hello Fluttershy," Rarity said when she saw the familiar pegasis at her door.

"Hello, Rarity," Fluttershy responded. "I'm sorry for coming here so late, but I need to ask you a favor, that is if you don't mind."

"Not at all." Rarity opened the door wide. "Please, do come in. I wouldn't want to be rude and keep you on the door step." Fluttershy took a quick glance at Rarity. Here eyes were now clean of all make-up, making them look rather bare. She had a mild smile she wore whenever greeting company. It was not that she was insincere, rather, she was just being polite.

Fluttershy entered into the ground floor dress shop, filled with racks of clothes, a few changing rooms, and even a couple of vanities. One vanity had Rarity's personal make-up stuff spread along its table. The only time they weren't there was during business hours. On the vanity was a wipe stained with blue, black, and dirt.

Rarity returned to the vanity, levitated a hoof-mirror and some wipes to a table in the middle of the room, and began fixing herself up. "You'll have to excuse me," she said, "that hooligan who tried to rob me threw dirt in my eyes and callously ruined my beautiful face. But it’s nothing that can't be fixed. Besides, I would have to take it all off anyway before going to bed. Now what is it you need, darling?"

Fluttershy rubbed one hoof behind the other. "I didn't really visit Zecora about advice on how to cure a stomach ache."

"Oh?" Rarity's cloth hung in mid-air.

"I went to her to see if she knew anything about how to get rid of a ghost. She said I should go to you," Fluttershy said.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why would you want to know about such a thing?” Rarity said with one eyebrow cocked.

“Because there is a ghost in my house.”

"Oh." Rarity carefully folded the cloth and placed it on the vanity table.

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Fluttershy, I don't know how to tell you this, but ghosts don't exist."

Fluttershy drew her head back and furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that they're made up, fictitious, not real. Quite frankly, I'm surprised that you believe in them."

This made no sense whatsoever. Fluttershy not only saw her speak to a ghost, but... end one as well. Maybe Rarity didn’t want to talk about it, but she did need her help. "Well, I did see one in my house. It's hard not to believe in something that you've seen"

Rarity put a hoof to her forehead and slowly shook it side to side. "All right, suppose you did see a ghost. What would I, of all ponies, be able to do about it?"

Fluttershy opened her mouth, but quickly stopped. There was no way she could say anything without Rarity catching on to what she did.

"See? Nothing. I would be completely useless against such a specter." Rarity made her way around the table and sat next to Fluttershy. "I think Zecora sent me here to comfort you; to tell you that there is no such things as ghosts."

Fluttershy turned her head away. There could always be the possibility that there was no such thing as ghosts.

"I’m sorry, but it is as simple as that, there is no such things as ghosts," Rarity said.

Fluttershy sighed. "I know."

"Good. It's silly to believe in spirits and ghost and things like that. Most ponies would think of you as... unstable. Besides, ghost are such-"

"But then how do you explain what I saw?" Fluttershy asked, head turned toward Rairty.

"Well Fluttershy, the mind is tricky; you could have been seeing things. Or maybe you just had a bad dream that was so real that it seemed like you saw a ghost."

"But this didn't feel like a dream. He chased me around the room after all." But maybe her mind was playing tricks on her, and maybe Ion wasn't real. "You don't think I'm seeing things, do you Rarity?"

"No, darling, I don't think you're seeing things," Rarity cooed.

Fluttershy didn't respond. She wished she hadn't said that. Ion was real and she did see him. How else could she explain what happened between Rarity and Zecora, or the events at the cave?

"Look, how about you stay here with me tonight," Rarity said, going over toward one of the drawers. "We could make this whole ordeal into a fun, relaxing slumber party! I just bought this fabulous facial kit that would take those frown lines right off your face, and I don't mean to be rude darling, but your hooves could use a new coat of polish." Rarity smiled at her.

"I would love to, but I have to be back at my cottage before sunrise to administer morphine to a few of my patients," Fluttershy said.

"Can't Angel do that?" Rarity asked.

"I had to lock-up the pain killers after he recovered from the bear mauling."

"Oh my," Rarity said, hoof covering her mouth. "I hope the little darling didn't get hurt too bad."

"Don't worry, Harry eventually recovered from the insults."

Rarity passed off a rather confused glance. "Well then how about we have a sleepover at your place?"

"But what about..." Fluttershy stopped herself.

Rarity shook her head. "You're still scared of the ghost, aren't you? Fluttershy, once we get there I guarantee that there will be no ghost."

Fluttershy had to looked away. Amidst all the talking, she was almost convinced that none of what she experienced was real. She knew what she saw. She knew what she felt. She knew Rarity could help her if she wanted to. It was dumb to pretend otherwise. It was time for her to assert herself.

Fluttershy stood up and fixed her eyes on the unicorn across from her. "Rarity, I know I saw a ghost. It wasn't a dream or me seeing things or anything."

"I know you did, dea-"

"I really did! I really did see him, and heard him, and felt him. Now are you going to help me or not?" Fluttershy said scowling.

That last phrase struck the walls like a hammer driving a nail in a single blow. Fluttershy’s entire demeanor, voice, and even her personality changed. Her stance became wide as if she was about to attack the next thing to twitch, and her wings were lifting from her sides.

Rarity had to step back. Fluttershy was usually never this blunt with her. She had always been telling Fluttershy that she needed to know when to assert herself, but she never thought Fluttershy would do so on her friends. Hopefully she wasn't relapsing back into the pony that Mr. Will made her to be.

Nonetheless, this whole situation was getting out of hoof, and Rarity needed to end this. "I'm going to be direct with you, Fluttershy. You have to stop saying that. The more you say something, the more you think it is real no matter how fake it is."

"He is not fake, I saw him!" Fluttershy said, voice getting louder.

"He simply does not exist, Fluttershy," Rarity said. "Now I want you to say that he does not exist."

"No I won't, because that is a lie." Her slight scowl turned into a grimace.

"No it is the truth. Your ghost doesn't exist. Say it!"

"No, because he does!" Her wings fully extended.

"It only exists because you are making it so."

"No, because it is!"

Rarity felt her stomach lurch. "You are only making the situation worse for yourself!"

"Why won't you believe me?!"

"Fluttershy please! Just listen to yourself raving on like some mad pony!"

Rarity covered her mouth, not believing the words that escaped her lips. Fluttershy demeanor reverted to less than her normal self as she sank back into her seat. Her words must have punctured the poor pegasus’s heart. Ironically, her advice had caused it.

"I'm-I'm sorry," Rarity said.

"No, you're right.” Fluttershy turned her whole body away. “I am a mad pony."

Rarity stepped close. "If anypony is a mad pony right now it's me. I am mad for not believing my best friend." Fluttershy let herself fall to the ground.

"Fluttershy," Rarity said, putting her hoof on hers. "You're not mad, not in the—" She felt rough marks. "What are those?"

Fluttershy limply looked at them. "Scars. I think I got them when Ion tried to possess me."

"Ion who?"

"The ghost."

"Oh, my," Rarity said. "Oh, my." She suspected that Fluttershy might be somewhat unstable, but she didn't think it went that far.

Fluttershy looked up. "What is it?"

"Here, let me just heal those wounds for you," Rarity said, lighting her horn.

"No, it's fine, it's just-"

"Really, I do insist. Besides, it’s not a bother at all." Soon, her effulgence surrounded Fluttershy's hoof, and after some straining, the scars shrank to nothing. "See, all better now,right?"

Sitting up, Fluttershy looked at her hoof, turning it over to see each side. "I guess so."

Rarity got up and started putting her make-up things, a few pincushions, scissors, and any potentially dangerous object away. "Now darling, please do tell me more about this ghost," she said, not daring to turn an eye away from her.

Fluttershy furrowed her brow. "I thought that you didn't want me to say anything more about ghosts."

"Well, um, I just didn't want you to believe in something that wasn't true, but this is undeniable evidence that you have seen a ghost. Yes, I would be impolitic if I did not listen to you," Rarity said. "You said his name was Ion? What did he do?"

"He told me he was lonely, I said I would help him, and then I think he tried to possess me. Or maybe he really was just happy to have somepony to talk to," Fluttershy replied.

"How did he give you those scars then?"

"I'm not too sure. They just appeared after he let go of me."

"Was this ghost holding anything in particular, something that could have giving you those scars?"

"No. He said he couldn't touch anything, only me."

“How long has this been happening?”

“Only tonight.”

Rarity sighed in relief. She had gotten to Fluttershy early on, and with any good fortune, could help her before she could hurt herself any further.

"Here's what I can do for you," Rarity said. "I'll go down to your house and give that ghost a piece of my mind. He'll be out of their before you know it, especially after I give him my fair two-bits." Hopefully that would be enough until she could get Fluttershy to see a psychiatrist.

"But what if he needs our help?" Fluttershy asked.

"All right. If he needs help, we'll help him." Rarity opened the door. "Let's go."

Fluttershy got up, but didn't go. She just stood there, eyes shifting around at different objects in the room.

Fluttershy's eyes stopped wandering. "What about your potion?"

Rarity's heart stopped. Somepony finally discovered what she sought to hid, and no matter what she did, it would find its way out. Soon her reputation, her business, her life would be ruined. She could already hear the whispers and gossip about the crazy fashion designer who hunted ghosts. It was only a matter of time.

She closed her eyes and let her head hang. "You did follow me to the cave, didn't you?"

Fluttershy only gave a stiff nod. "I'm sorry for throwing dirt in your eyes."

"That's alright. You were scared and only reacted," Rarity said in a dull tone. "I forgive you, but you must never tell anypony what you saw, and you must never under any circumstances go back into the cave."

"Okay."

She marched past Fluttershy. So ghosts did exist beyond Heart Rot Cave. This could mean she would have to deal with them more often and might have to have a second job that could ruin her first.She sighed. There could be a lot of repercussions because of this, but she would have to deal with those later. Now she had to deal with the situation at hoof.

Without another word, Rarity left the room to get the potion, slamming the door shut behind her. After the sounds faded, silence took hold. All Fluttershy could do now was stand there quietly, waiting for the door to open again.

Rarity probably liked her less now. If she kept doing things like this to her, there was the possibility that she would no longer want to spend time with her. There was a possibility that Rarity would no longer be her friend.

Fluttershy didn't have to wait too long until Rarity returned, a seltzer bottle hung over her back by a ribbon and stone weight. Her lips were drawn back tight, and had an emboldened scowl on her face. "Let's go," she said through the stone expression. This time, she didn't wait at the door for Fluttershy to follow.

Fluttershy almost went into a gallop just to keep up with Rarity’s quick but stiff gait, which was different from her usual, almost skipping step. Evenmore, her neck was bent low and in line with her back, instead of straight up and proud, and her eyes were fixed on Fluttershy's cottage, even though it was still well out of view.

"Rarity, what are we going to do when we get there?" Fluttershy asked.

"We are going to spray the ghost and be done with it," she said.

"But what if he needs our help?"

"He doesn't need help." Rarity twisted her eyes toward Fluttershy. "All he needs is a one-way ticket to the underworld." She continued marching with Fluttershy barely able to keep up.

This wasn’t like the patient, kind Rarity that Fluttershy had known, not in the slightest.

"I really think we should make sure that he doesn't need our help before we do anything like that," Fluttershy said.

"Don't fool yourself into thinking you can help him," Rarity said, still marching. "Ghost aren't ponies anymore."

"But don't we become ghost when we die? What makes him so different?" Fluttershy asked.

"This is your first ghost, and I don't expect you to really know anything after only a short encounter. Trust me, you don't want anything more than a short encounter."

"Why?"

Rarity only gave a sharp glance back.

Fluttershy kept her lips together. Obviously Rarity didn't want to talk, but it wasn't right for her just to want to end Ion. She needed to give the former stallion a chance. Then again, with the way Rarity had been acting, Fluttershy doubted he stood any.

"Please, let me talk to him, just in case he needs our help," Fluttershy said.

Rarity stopped. "You don't understand, do you?"

Normally, Fluttershy would have stopped and left it at that. But these were no normal circumstances. "I understand that we need to at least give him a chance. I understand that if he needs help, we need to help him. I understand that he is a pony-"

"He was! He was a pony!" Rarity shouted. Fluttershy shrank back. She didn't want to get into another argument with Rarity, not with how close she came to slipping last time. But she couldn't let that fear stop her.

Fluttershy took a deep breath. "Rarity, it is not right that you just want to end him without giving him a chance. I don't care if he is a monster, a beast, or a ghost, he deserves at least a chance."

Rarity turned her head away, as if to gather a response from what was on the ground next to her, and then she shared. "Let me tell you a little something about ghosts, seeing that you have never really known one," she said, trying to keep her voice stable. "They're all liars who only spew out webs of heart-touching lies about how they need to tell a long-lost lover they're sorry, how they have been tortured for decades without relief." Her voice started to crack.

"But they don't care about that,” she continued. “They don't care about any of that. All they are are lying, selfish cads who don't give a rat's end about others, especially when it comes to the most important thing in this whole world we take for granted until we almost lose it. They don’t care about that. They don’t care about their victims as they steal the most important thing in your life, all so they can satisfy their beastly pleasures with your body!"

Her eyes started to well up, and she turned away.

"Rarity?" Fluttershy said, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

"I'm fine," she said, forcing back her tears. She continued walking.

Silence. It made the separation between her and Rarity larger, although they were mere feet from each other. Fluttershy had only seen what Rarity had experienced: abuse. It made anything, animal or pony, snap at their closest friends and seclude themselves in the darkest recesses, ashamed. She had only pushed her there, her and her greedy desire to be more assertive. She needed to say something to numb the wound.

"H- How did you're fashion show go?" Fluttershy asked. Hopefully this would do it.

"Fine," Rarity replied.

Fluttershy let the first statement sink in, then continued, "Did you get any referrals?"

"Only a few from some start-up, ready-to-wear companies."

"Do you think you'll take them on?"

"I have my own business and don't need little up-starts to get me started. But I said I was open for freelance work if they wanted it."

"Have any of them called you back?"

"Just one from Clydesdale. They're interested in buying a few of my designs."

"You think this will be your big break?"

"No. This show was small time compared to any of Canterlot's. In fact, the only pony there that came close to a celebrity was Lime Light, and she barely has anything going for her, besides a relatively unnoticeable singing career."

"But it still got you some notoriety though."

"I suppose, but any event will do that."

Rarity's fierce stride reverted back to its lighter step. Her head was raised up and that stolid line across her face turned back into lips. Talking about fashion always did that to Rarity.

"So how is Opal doing?" Fluttershy asked.

"She's a little better since I got her that cat-post," said Rarity. "Honestly, the ponies who made that thing had no eye for furnishings."

"Did you set up those walkways yet? Cats really like having high-up walkways where they can see everything. It makes them feel powerful."

"I can not say that I have. Right now I am short on bits, and I'll have to wait until I can sell more designs."

"But what about the royalties you get from all the other designs?"

"Most are out of vogue so I don't receive much, if any at all."

"It must be hard living between payments."

"Yes, my financial situation often fluctuates more than my needle, but 'tis the life of any fashionista, and I am more than willing to live it."

"Oh Rarity, that's so brave of you."

Rarity tittered and blushed a bit. "You flatter me too much, darling. It's not a brave thing exactly, it is simply part of the life I live."

"I know, but things that are a part of life can be the hardest part of living sometimes."

"Yes, but you do learn to deal with it."

The glow around Rarity had returned. Fluttershy had almost forgotten the flowing tones only Rarity knew how to produce and was glad she hadn't driven them off forever. Because of the nature of her calling, Fluttershy seldom heard the voices of other ponies, the only exception being her best friend's. She would not want to lose that for anything.

The buildings started to fade away, and they could see Fluttershy's cottage off in the distance. Rarity lost her glow.

"Here's the plan," Rarity started. "We go in, I spray the little cad, and pretend this little incident never happened." They both approached the door. "We aren't going to have any problems with that, are we?"

Fluttershy only turned her head away in response.

"Don't tell me you still want to try and reason with that thing," Rarity said.

Fluttershy nodded.

"Fine! You go in there and you'll see just how evil those things really are! Don't say I didn't warn you."

Rarity turned her back to her. Fluttershy reached for the door, then stopped. "Rarity? You'll still be out here just in case things go wrong, right?"

The unicorn glanced over her shoulder, only enough to say, "Yes, I will be here when things go wrong."

"Thanks," Fluttershy said. Then, out of nowhere, Fluttershy walked up to her friend and let her head sink into the crook of Rarity's neck as she moved it slowly across the warm veins. Rarity twitch in surprise and then turned away, but it was alright. The wound Rarity had would take time to heal, but would need somepony to nurse it. Somepony that wouldn't mind her wincing at the pain.

"I'm sorry you had to go through what you did, but I just need to make sure," Fluttershy said.

She let her head stay still for a while, listening to the beating of Rarity's hardened heart. It wasn't fast, but still not at rest. She could only imagine the things that made it beat so troubled.

Slowly, Fluttershy lifted her head. She wished that she could give more to her friend, but what her friend needed was something she did not have. Nevertheless, there were other matters for her to tend to, namely another being that might need her help. What that help would be she didn't want to think about.