Shadows in the dark

Chapter 28

Rarity stood looking up at the Golden Oak Library silently. Despite all that's happened in Ponyville, the tree still stood. Shadowing her with its large branches while green leaves covered the crown as always. The windows remained unkept and dusty since Spike came to live with her. She and the others often tried to avoid ever going there, not wanting to go through painful memories of their times with Twilight.

The name caused the white unicorn to shudder with fear. The doctors did warn her that she is prone to possible night terrors and/or panic attacks. Which is why they prescribed some medication to help with her anxiety while Trixie had to take medication for her night terrors. Both unicorns didn't like the idea of having to take pills at least twice a day. One in the morning and again before bed. But it did help with their PTSD a bit. But it didn't help Rarity forget her horrid encounter with Twilight Sparkle, or Terror, since her apparent "death".

The look in her eyes was a look she never wanted to see in any pony ever again. If she did, she'd rather much put a rope around her neck. But she never did believe in suicide. Plus she has her friends, family, and Spike to think about. Suicide would be the last thing she'd do. But she couldn't help but wonder every day as to why she would torture her like that in the first place. She said everything so loudly and so fast that she couldn't quite catch what she was saying in some parts.

"Are you grateful for the life you have, Rarity?" she had asked her just before she turned her cut into a gash; which was now a fresh scar once the stitches were removed. Although it was sensitive to things like cold water and such. A Ragged heart shaped scar now surrounded her cutie marks. Just another reminder of the horror she endured in the castle.

Rarity always wondered what she meant when she asked her that question. And when she called her a liar after she answered truthfully. She thought about it during her stay in the hospital and she eventually came up with a reason.

Maybe it's because of what she must've gone through while we were safe and sound at home trying to continue our lives...

Rarity closed her eyes and allowed a tear to slide down her cheek. If only they knew. If only they knew she was alive. Looking back now, it would've been possible for her to have survived the collapse. But when they searched through the rubble, they didn't find her. But obviously Sombra did. Everypony expected him to still be at the Crystal Empire when the Royal Guard arrived. But instead he was long gone. Along with the civilians. It was actually very clever. But if only she and Trixie knew where exactly he was now hiding at. Clearly they were in some sort of mountain range. The Crystal Mountains perhaps? She wasn't so sure. She hasn't been sure since their return.

The weather was rather gloomy today. It was forecasted that it was going to rain later on in the day. Which isn't going to be much help for the reconstruction of both Ponyville and Canterlot. It's been five weeks since the attacks, and both locations didn't even have one building completed. Most of the buildings still stood standing, but with broken windows and doors. Other buildings were nothing but charred skeletons.

The death toll was rather high, unfortunately. A good portion of ponies died. Most of which were Royal Guards and enemy soliders in Canterlot. By now the last of the bodies had been buried, while the Changelings and enemy soldiers were burned. They didn't deserve a proper burial in the publics eyes. New of the attacks spread like wildfire throughout Equestria. Ponies from as far as Manehattan were coming to aid in the reconstruction of both locations. It was a huge relief. But it also made no difference. The damage has been done, and many good ponies have been killed.

Rarity was just having one of those days where she couldn't find herself being able to work. Spike and Trixie had suggested that she went out and have some fresh air now that the stench of death and rotting meat was gone. Rarity took their advice and walked onto the streets of Ponyville for the first time in ages. The entire town itself was still under construction. She was walking when she stopped to look up at Twilight's former home. Thus explaining why she was there in the first place.