Chapter 10: Clarity Amidst Haze

An enormous and silencing pale gray mist surrounded Twilight and Rarity. The particles of water filled Twilight's lungs as she breathed, giving her some refreshment after the previous confusion. Was the sun still out, or had the moon risen? It was impossible to tell through Twilight's almost peaceful world of fog. She could not stop and rest her legs, though. She had to keep moving forward so that she could escape the heavy rain behind her. She needed to get home before she was left out to get even more drenched than she currently was.

But what was she going to do with Rarity? She had no clue where in New Fillydelphia Rarity was living. Twilight had questions to ask her as well, so it seemed like bringing Rarity to Twilight's house was the only option.

(Why did Rarity ask me who I was? Has she really forgotten me?) Twilight thought as she looked back at Rarity's peaceful face.

(Poor Rarity. Who knows what she's been through? Don't worry, Rarity, you're safe now.)

Twilight could almost smile as she took Rarity with her to a better place. Rarity was with a good friend now.

"I'm starting to get worried about Applejack…" Applebloom said.

"Me too." Sweetie Belle said.

"Do not worry. She will be back." Seltzer Contové assured.

The three ponies were waiting inside the office of the Magic Reinforcement School as they watched the rain assault that which was on the ground. The drops smacked the ground loudly and added a grim touch to the dark shades of gray surrounding the office. What were the pegasi thinking! It's almost as if this wacky weather was caused on purpose.

*Creak!*

The ponies all turned around to see that the office door had been opened. Some pony was entering the building, and it was…

"Applejack!" Sweetie Belle and Applebloom exclaimed.

"Señorita…" Contové said as he dipped his head in respect.

"H-Hi, y'all." Applejack said weakly.

Applejack was dripping wet and looked kind of tired. Either physically, mentally, or emotionally worn out. Or perhaps a combination of those categories.

"Are you okay, Señorita? How did the mission go?" Seltzer asked.

"Uh… well… I dunno, to be honest. I must've gotten knocked out somehow… and I woke up to find the rest of my squad dead by bullets. I feel like I've been hit too… but I can't seem to find any wounds." Applejack explained slowly.

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were now staring at AJ in worry and fright. Applejack eventually turned to notice their expressions through her foggy mind.

"Oh, I mean, don't worry yourselves none. I must've just slipped up and fainted somehow. I'm fine now, so cheer up." AJ said with false brightness.

This actually served to bring minimal relief to the fillies. AJ took a deep breath as Contové gave deep thought to what AJ had said.

"Hmm, this is a strange report. However, you must see that you can't possibly travel through this strong downpour in this shape, let alone bring two fillies with you. I-" But Contové was interrupted.

"I 'preciate your concern, but it's not like I can just stay over here. Once I clear this hurdle, I'll have a nice warm place to stay for myself and these kids. All I could use are some umbrellas or somethin'." AJ said.

Applejack looked around until she saw a metal bin that was holding three umbrellas.

"Like those, for example." AJ pointed to the bin.

"Of course you may use those for tonight. Just make sure to return them when you return here in a couple days." Seltzer said.

"A couple days? Isn't there school tomorrow?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Not with this storm there isn't. My body tells me that there will most definitely be flooding. Take it from a Hispanic stallion: Always listen to your body, eh?" Seltzer advised.

AJ, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle just stared at Contové.

"…I am just pulling your mane. Listen to your heart well before you listen to anything else, unless you've been blessed with intuition. I pray that your journey home will be safe. I would drive you there myself, but I lack a car at this time." Seltzer said.

"Oh, it's fine. Thanks for everything, Mister Contove- I mean, Seltzer." AJ said as everyone took up their umbrellas.

"…For you, Applejack, I can be Mister Contove. You're a good pony; I can feel it." The teacher said.

"Th-Thank you." AJ said with red cheeks.

"Goodbye, you three." Seltzer called.

"Goodbye! Thanks for bringing me here on the bus!" Sweetie Belle called back.

"And thanks for watching us while my sister was gone!" Applebloom replied to Seltzer.

AJ simply turned to Mister Contové and saluted him. Contové, in turn, smiled and saluted back. The three students of the noble stallion were now off into the misty night.

"…That black umbrella happened to be mine. It was a good thing to lend it to them, though, so I have no regrets in my corazón. I must simply wait for a break in the rain." Seltzer said to himself as he took a seat.

(What is that familiar shape up ahead? Could we have finally made it?) Twilight thought.

There was the blurry shape of three house structures. Twilight squinted through the fog, and… yes!

(Yes! There's my neighborhood! We made it, Rarity! Just hang on a little bit…)

Twilight ran to her house as fast as she could without dropping Rarity. She quickly got under the porch of her front door and saw a message written on paper taped to her door. She decided that she should get Rarity inside before she read it, so she took the note with her as she unlocked the door and took Rarity inside. She laid Rarity gently on her couch and put a blanket on top of her.

"You're safe now, Rarity. I have you now, just like I have Fluttershy." Twilight whispered gently.

Twilight then took a look at the note. It read:

'Dear Twilight, this is a message from Fluttershy. I apologize for boldly taping this to your door. Please don't hate me. Anyway, I have a surprise for you at my house. Pinkie Pie and Spike were also invited. Don't worry, though. If you can't come, I understand too. If you're too busy, then I'm sorry for-'

But at this point, Twilight Sparkle just laid the paper on a nearby table.

(Too busy my flank! After all of this madness today, how could I pass up an opportunity to be with you again, Fluttershy?) Twi thought.

Then Twilight turned to Rarity once again.

"…Wait for me. Get better soon, Rarity." Twilight said just before she went out the door.

*Ding dong!*

Twilight had just rang the doorbell at Fluttershy's house. A couple seconds later, Fluttershy opened the door.

"Oh, Twilight! I'm so glad you could make it! Please come in!" Fluttershy said as she let Twilight in.

"Twilight! Y-You made it!" Spike exclaimed.

Spike then jumped up from his seat on the table and grabbed Twilight in a hug.

"You're alive! Oh, thank Celestia!" Spike rejoiced.

"Well, it's good to see you too, Spike." Twilight said in a way that reminded her of her old self.

Spike released Twilight at this.

"Of course she's alive, silly! She's only the main character of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic as well as this fanfic!" Pinkie Pie spoke up.

"Oh, Pinkie!" Twilight said with emotion as she went over to hug Pinkie Pie as she was still seated.

After this, everybody found their seats around a square table.

"Yay, this is going to be so fun! So, what are we here for, anyway?" Pinkie asked.

"You mean you don't know?" Twilight asked.

"Nope, none of us know what this surprise will be. We just came here." Spike said.

They all turned to Fluttershy for an answer.

"Um, well, I was worrying about you guys all day, to be honest. I kept wondering about whether anything bad had happened to you guys. I care about my friends, and I couldn't just let you be by yourselves after a hard day, so I bought flowers for all of you and prepared some vanilla cake for us to… Twilight, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked.

Twilight was crying for some reason.

"Oh… Fluttershy!" Twilight said as she rushed over to Fluttershy and gave her a long and heartfelt hug.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry…" Fluttershy said during the hug.

"…I love you, Fluttershy. You're the most thoughtful and kind pony in Equestria." Twilight Sparkle said through even more tears.

At this, Fluttershy shed a few tears herself through a loving smile.

"Good, Scootaloo's asleep. The operation is about to climax." Rainbow Dash said to herself.

She had been waiting in her house with a digital clock next to her. She turned to look out her window.

"This sector of the city seems to have been covered in fog like it was supposed to, and that rain's a killer. Let me just make sure…" Rainbow Dash went on as she looked at a map on her tablet computer.

Rainbow smiled at what she saw.

"Yes, this is perfect! The set up was flawless! See, Twilight? You may be able to make a fake you, but can you change the weather of a whole city to something so dreadful in less than a day? I didn't think so! The Celestian Resistance Force is made up of the best of the best…"

Rainbow then put on a black robe and deployed the hood.

"…And I, Rainbow Dash, am it's leader!" Rainbow proclaimed as lightning struck the ground outside somewhere and thunder boomed across the land.

Then Rainbow opened the front door and shut it behind her just before she took off into the chaotic night. She flew up above the city and joined a formation of pegasi as its leader. There were three other such formations all heading to the same destination. Wait, there was another formation heading this way. It was a formation of Nightmarian soldier pegasi!

"A Nightmarian intercept squad!" One pony in Rainbow's formation exclaimed.

"They're probably here to avenge their friends in the Nightmarian Weather Control after they got knocked out of the sky earlier! It's no biggie, we can take 'em! Spread out and get them from all sides! Watch the turbulence!" Rainbow ordered.

"Yes, Rainbow Dash!" The team all replied.

All of the pegasi on Rainbow Dash's team all spread out, but Rainbow Dash continued flying forward at the enemy formation. She soon rammed into the pony at the center of the enemy squad before anyone could react. The other pony fell backwards in surprise, but then used his wings to stabilize himself. Rainbow then came down at him with a rear hoof to the head. He went hurling down until he hit the asphalt of a road below.

"See ya!" Rainbow Dash called.

Rainbow's allies also knocked down the other Nightmarians. The group then reformed formation and continued toward their destination.

"Good, the winds didn't trouble you guys at all! The only thing nightmarish about these Nightmarians is their flying skills!" Rainbow teased, resulting in chuckles from her team.

By day, Rainbow was regrettably just another student at the Magic Reinforcement School who had trouble approaching her old friends. However, at night, Rainbow Dash reached her full glory as the leader of a terrorist group with the goal of taking down the Nightmarian Empire! When the sun hid, the Rainbow could rise through the moonlight! It made Rainbow feel alive again! She couldn't help but smirk with a certain fire in her ruby-colored eyes. She had great power now, and she would use this power against all Nightmarians to make them pay for taking away her past!

"How much longer, sis?" Applebloom raised her voice through the heavy rain.

"It can't be too long. It's not like I live at the other side of the city, anyway." AJ replied.

"I think I'm g-getting hypothermia! It's so c-cold!" Sweetie Belle said through her shivering.

"What's hypothermia?" Applebloom asked.

"It's when your body is so cold that it's unhealthy. Don't worry, Sweetie Belle. We're gonna-" But Applejack looked back to see Sweetie Belle on the floor.

Applejack ran to Sweetie in worry.

"Sweetie Belle! Are you okay! Say something!" AJ yelled.

"…I-Is the time near… my lord?" Sweetie said unconsciously as though she was dreaming.

"Hold on, Sweetie! I'm gonna get you home! Come on, Applebloom!" Applejack said as she grabbed Sweetie Belle and ran.

AJ almost slipped on the wet floor on several occasions, and Applebloom actually did slip one time. The rain was too loud for AJ to hear it, though, so she kept running as Applebloom had to get up by herself and catch up with her sister. After minutes of torture, they finally made it through AJ's door. AJ laid Sweetie Belle down on the sofa and began to check for a cold or a fever as well as any other conditions.

"…That's weird, I can't seem to find anything wrong with her. Is she just that tired?" AJ said and then thought about what to do.

"…She can sleep on my bed." Applebloom said, though she was still sore.

"That's mighty noble of you, sis. Just what I'd expect of a member of the Apple family." AJ said through a smile that was held back by concern for Sweetie Belle.

Applejack then turned and followed up with Applebloom's offer. She tucked Sweetie in with care and affection.

"Rest up, little filly. I pray that there really will be no school tomorrow; we all need a break. Good night." AJ whispered as she leaned down to give Sweetie Belle a goodnight-kiss on the cheek.

AJ headed back to Applebloom only to find her already asleep on the couch.

"Jeez, they're dropping like parasprites, the poor things. I guess retiring early will be just what we all need." AJ said as she yawned and went to get a blanket for her younger sister.

"Oh, I think I get it now. So that's how you met that Seltzer guy." Twilight Sparkle said.

After the long hug Twilight gave Fluttershy, they both stopped crying and began to have a good time. The vanilla cake was delicious, and the flowers were absolutely beautiful. Fluttershy had just told the story of the bus stop incident from Chapter Six.

"Yes. He was a sincere and good pony. He was nice to you guys, right?" Fluttershy asked.

"Not only was he nice! He also had a funny accent! Oh, oh wait…" Pinkie Pie said as she put her hooves over her mouth in an attempt to not laugh uncontrollably.

"Here we go again!" Spike said.

"Fun…fun…" Pinkie let out.

"Do you mean the word 'funny'?" Fluttershy suggested.

"FUNNY!" Pinkie burst out as she laughed like a mad-pony.

Under ordinary circumstances, Twilight Sparkle might have rolled her eyes dismissively at this pink pony's randomness. However, these were not ordinary circumstances, for such a thing never exists in… THE TWILIGHT ZONE!

"Bada ba bum!" Spike added his sound effects.

At this, however, Twilight gladly rolled her eyes.

Later on, sadly, it was time to go. Besides, Twilight couldn't leave Rarity waiting. What if she developed a fever and needed magical treatment? As long as Rarity was under Twilight's roof, it was Twilight's responsibility to care for her. Thus, she couldn't prolong this any further.

"I'm so glad you could make it, Twilight. I hope that this get-together helped you feel better." Fluttershy said with her angelic voice.

"Of course it did, Fluttershy. This meant the world to me, and these roses are perfect." Twilight said while holding her roses.

"Okay, let me know if I can help you with anything, Twilight." Fluttershy said.

"The same for you. Good night, Fluttershy. Ready, Spike?" Twilight asked, but Spike was not there next to her.

Twilight looked to see that Spike was still inside.

"Spike! What do you think you're doing?" asked Twilight.

"Y-You know what's a funnier word than funny?" Spike said while trying to contain his laughter as Pinkie was next to him doing the same thing.

"D-Discombobulate!" Pinkie and Spike exclaimed together and laughed.

"…Uh, yeah. I guess you can stay here for a couple more minutes, but come back soon. Goodbye, all." Twilight said and left.

"Bye!" They all replied.

And so Twilight briefly traveled through the rain until she reached her porch again. She opened the door and prepared to check on Rarity as she entered in.

"Rarity? Are you okay?" Twilight asked, but when she walked to the couch, no one was there. Even the blanket was gone.

(Could she have woken up already?)

Twilight looked in virtually every room in the house… except one. That room was her own bedroom. Twilight anxiously opened the door…

"Ah, Twilight Sparkle! I never would have guessed that you would be the next recipient of His Blessing." A familiar voice said.

Twilight opened the door fully at this and looked at her old friend. There was Rarity, alive and making herself comfortable on Twilight's bed. Aside from that last part, Twilight was glad to see her old friend.

"Oh, Rarity! You're finally up!" Twilight said with emotion as she rushed over to Rarity for a hug.

Right when Twilight was close, however, Rarity jumped in the air and flipped over Twilight as she landed on the carpet behind Twilight safely.

"It's nothing personal, but I would prefer it if you didn't. It was quite hard to fix my mane after all of that neglect from the Nightmarian military. I need to keep it intact for a while. I must say that I am impressed with your hairbrush, Twilight. Do tell me where you got it when we have free time." Rarity said.

"H-How did you do that, Rarity?" Twilight didn't expect Rarity to flip in the air like she just did.

"Rarity? You're still using that name? My dear Twilight Sparkle, you must realize that we are in the middle of something big here. While we are in this, would you kindly just use my codename R.R.? Thank you." Rarity- I mean R.R.- said.

"R.R.? Why? What exactly are we in right now, besides this storm?" Twilight asked.

"Did you not say yes to accepting His Blessing? Are you telling me that you have no clue what this means?" Rarity was a bit surprised at Twilight's cluelessness.

"His Blessing? Who's blessing?"

This just made Rarity put a hoof to her face. This is known as a Facehoof among Bronies, FYI.

"Oh, very well! I see that I shall have to point you in the right direction, as well! No matter, I am the fashion goddess Rarity." Rarity said vainly.

"Why do that, Rarity? Don't you have Sweetie Belle to look after?" Twilight went on, but this actually made Rarity stop for a second.

"…Sweetie Belle is still alive?" R.R. asked.

"Of course she is! I saw her at school just earlier!"

This made Rarity smile, interestingly enough.

"…Good, then she survived the alterations."

"What!" Twilight had just about enough of how cryptic R.R. was being.

"…You've had a long day, Twilight, so you should really get some sleep to clear your head. However, I've had a much longer day, so surely you wouldn't mind lending this bed to a pony recovering from trauma, would you?" Rarity requested.

"But we have Spike's room, as well. I'd be glad to-"

"Don't be silly. My cat is in need of that room." Rarity interrupted as her cat stepped forward.

(How did she have her cat with her all this time?) Twilight wondered.

"This delicate feline has to sleep on a bed or else its poor little spine will be sore. You don't want that to happen, do you, Twilight?" Rarity was stepping out of line.

"No, but couldn't the two of you just cuddle?" Twilight suggested an alternative.

This made Rarity visibly twitch.

"Why don't you just cuddle with Spike every night? Explain that!" R.R. retorted.

"Um… boundaries." Twilight said while blushing.

"Exactly! Why should I have to adhere to any standards less than yours after what I've been through? I shouldn't! I mustn't by my own dignity! My dignity, Twilight! Don't you"-

"Fine! You can sleep as you wish!" Twilight burst out.

"Thank you kindly, dear!" Rarity said with a smile as she pushed Twilight- along with the cat- out of her own room and slammed the door.

The cat moved to get a good place in Spike's bed as Twilight just frowned and went to the general bathroom to get ready for bed.

At that time, all was quiet at Applejack's residence. All of the lights were off and every pony was fast asleep. Every pony except Sweetie Belle, in a sense. Ever since she fainted, her god had briefed her on tonight's mission. Now that those with potential had been given their Blessing, it was time for the obsolete to be stripped of their power. The inefficient would have no place in the new world.

"It is time, my angel. Awaken yourself to my voice." The mysterious voice contributed to reality again.

At her master's call, Sweetie Belle's eyes shot open. The saccharine filly would be off to atone a failure through damnation, for her lord has found beauty in a new song.

And this song would start a war.

Author's note:

Just as a quick acknowledgment, I am really happy that so many people seem to appreciate my story. A writer creates art for the purpose of having an audience, and if you readers who are my audience are enjoying my work, then I must be doing something right. Thank you all for the support! ^_^