05 Butterflies [Audio]

[strengthinkindness]

Guys...I-I think...I think Rarity's gone...a-at least...one of them is, anyway...

I-I...I can't find her...a-and when I tried calling her scroll, I...I-I didn't get anything...

She's gone...

[But please, someone tell her that she's wrong.]

Comments

[humanesqueheartstrings]

Want me to go look at her store? I'm nearby.

[strengthinkindness]

If...you wouldn't mind...

[She's been there a few times already, but maybe Rarity's been back since then.]

[humanesqueheartstrings]

All right. I'll go check. Be right back.

[And a few minutes pass and Lyra returns.] Sorry, she's not here.

[strengthinkindness]

Mm...yeah...

[She thought as much. She just hoped it wasn't true.]

[humanesqueheartstrings]

I'll see if she left anything for her friends though, that okay?

[strengthinkindness]

...Mm...

[Sorry if she's a little despondent. No matter how many times this happens, it's always hard for her.]

[mostloyalpony]

Aw, geez...you sure about that, Fluttershy? You know how she gets when it comes to her designs.

[strengthinkindness]

M-Mm...I-I tried...calling her scroll a few times...Sh-She...She would have picked up eventually...

A-And I-I checked her store...a-and Lyra did too...sh-she's not there...

[vis]

[stormbroken]

Flanks and fetlocks... right at the turn of the month...

[Sorry, Fluttershy, feel free to ignore the mare cursing to herself under a facehoof.]

Did you happen to know which Rarity?

[vis]

[strengthinkindness]

[It's all right, she's not paying too much attention to it.]

N...N-No...I'm sorry, I'm...I-I'm not sure which one...

[vis]

[stormbroken]

...Great. So it could be the one that already disappeared once before...

[...Or it could be the one that is actually useful in a fight. Flare keeps that second sentiment to herself.

Then again, having overheard the gossip... she can deduce this pretty easily.]

Where was she staying last you knew?

[Because only one of them wasn't dating Zettahelping Zetta recover from the attack on Cálice.]

[vis]

[strengthinkindness]

A-At...her shop...at the Carousel Boutique...

[vis]

[stormbroken]

[Despite herself, Flare lets out a slight sigh of relief. She wasn't as close to the native Rarity as she was the Dame. In fact, they never really talked at all.

That was actually probably a bad thing on its own. Hn, something else to put up on her speculation list.]

...Well, looking on the bright side, she's been through this before. She vanished once, and came back... so there's no saying she won't come back again. You just gotta hold out faith, yeah?

[vis]

[strengthinkindness]

[She sniffles a little.] R-Really...? Th-That's...happened here too...?

[How many times could Rarity put her through something like this?]

[appletastic]

Drat. I hope that monster hasn't got her.

We'll get her back, Fluttershy. Someway.

[strengthinkindness]

[She doesn't say anything, the only answer Applejack will get is a soft sniffling sound.]

[appletastic]

[Applejack's heart starts to hurt. She sighs.]

You need me to swing by?

[strengthinkindness]

...M-Mm...

->>> action

[appletastic]

I'm coming.

[Sure enough, there's soon a worried Applejack easing a fluffy blanket over Fluttershy.]

C'mon, let's get you comfortable. No use if you catch cold.

[strengthinkindness]

[She shivers; she hadn't realized she was cold until she huddles into the blanket.]

Th...Th-Thanks...I-I'm...sorry about all the trouble...

[weaponizedgems]

Oh Darling.

Then I guess my native counterpart has disappeared once more.

[strengthinkindness]

[While she's still so happy to see a Rarity, it doesn't change the fact that one was still missing.]

M-Mm...that's...what I've been told...

[weaponizedgems]

[Sadly, she knew exactly how Fluttershy felt. It was strange always seeing the others and knowing they weren't hers.]

I'm sorry for your loss darling, I truly am. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.

[strengthinkindness]

[She hesitates for a moment; this was a different Rarity, she knew that much. But how different?]

C...C-Could we...maybe meet up somewhere...? I-If...that's okay...

[Maybe spending time with a Rarity would make losing one hurt a little less.]

[weaponizedgems]

It is perfectly fine Fluttershy. Just tell me where you would like to meet and I shall be there.

[She smiles slightly, completely understanding. Dame Rarity may be similar to her counterpart in several ways, but there was plenty to tell them apart once one got to know her.]