Destinies Intertwined

Rarity, who was laying on the couch, heard a knock at the door. The alabaster unicorn sighed and got up to answer it. She opened the door and was nearly pushed over by Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash?! What in Equestria’s gotten into you?”

“I need...advice.”

“Advice? Um… Okay. What’s on your mind?”

“W-well...I-” Rainbow’s cheeks started to turn red, “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

“What could be a bad idea?”

“Well… no offense, but you’d probably blab it the first time you got the chance.”

Rarity placed her hands on her hips, “I beg your pardon? Have I ever gossiped about anything personal?”

“Well… does Zecora count?”

“I never started that, and we all did it.”

“Still, you were part of it.”

“Well this time will be different.”

Rainbow sighed. “Well, I already blabbed to Fluttershy and Gilda already, so they already know.”

“So who is it that you don’t want to know?”

“The guy I have- A guy…”

“Yes…”

“I have a… Um…” She sat down. “I have a crush on Spike.”

Rarity swallowed, “For how long?”

“A pretty long time…”

“I see… Honestly I’m a bit surprised, I didn’t think you were attracted to men like him… And...I have to confess I was never sure if you were even attracted to men in general…”

“That’s because I was raped by one at one point.”

Rarity’s jaw dropped, “You were?”

“Yes… After that, I was too scared to even begin dating…”

“Well...I’m sorry that happened… What happened to the man who did it?”

“He was sent to prison.”

“Is he still there?”

Rainbow shook her head. “His parents bailed him out.”

“Oh...what happened to him after that?”

“Beats me, I moved to Ponyville after the trial.”

“I don’t blame you, with that monster on the loose.”

“Yeah, but, I guess on the bright side, I wouldn’t’ve come here if it hadn’t happened.”

“And you wouldn’t have wielded the Element of Loyalty.”

“Yeah… Got a point there.”

“But have Fluttershy and Gilda…” The name still brought a bad taste to Rarity’s mouth. “Have they said anything?”

“Yeah, they said that I needed to shake it off,” Rainbow Dash answered.

“I’m not sure you can forget something like being raped, but I think they wanted you to move on.”

“Well...maybe, but that’s real hard, I...I CAN’T do that.”

“Then...will you let us help?”

“I- I… Um… Well…”

Rarity stood up, then went over to Rainbow and gave her a big hug. “There’s no shame in asking your friends, Rainbow, it’s what we’re for.”

Rainbow sighed, “Rarity?”

“Yes dear?”

“You girls...you...you mean a lot to me…”

“Because you mean a lot to us.”

******

Pinkie Pie placed the cupcake tin, which held some cupcake mix, in the oven. She then set the egg timer to fifteen minutes and bounced merrily to the front counter. She noticed from the corner of her eye Applejack walking into the Sugarcube corner. "Hiya Applejack! How are you?"

“I’m good, Pinkie,” Applejack answered

"So do you want something to eat?"

“I was thinking of gettin’ somthin’ for Spike and Applebloom.”

"Oh? How come?"

“Well, they were getting along pretty well buildin’ one of Applebloom’s ARMO sets, whatever they are.”

"Ooh! Which one?"

“I don’t know. I think it was that big one.”

"Which big one? Gabba the Hut's boat? The Temple of Bad fortune? The-"

“I think it was a carrier as she put it.”

"Oh! The AT-AS and Carrier?!?!?!?!?? That's super pricey, must've saved a long time for it! Like super duper extra long!"

“Yeah, but as long as she’s happy. Anyway, got anything with gems?”

“The cakes did make a sapphire cupcake one time, but that was only for his birthday.”

"Hmm, think you could make a cupcake version?"

“I could try. Just make sure he knows that the gemstones are just candy.

"Yeah, I will. Thanks, Pinkie."

“No problem. And for Applebloom?”

“I guess an apple turnover.”

"Okey dokey! Would you like something?"

"No thanks, I already had somethin’ from here: a cherry pie.”

“A cherry pie?”

“What? A girl needs more than just apples.”

"I guess, but I'd never get tired of your apples!"

"Shucks, Pinkie, that's nice of ya to say," Applejack blushed.

“It’s true.”

"Well, you make pretty darn good food, yourself."

“Aw… Thank you Applejack.”

"Your welcome, Sugarcube." Applejack gave Pinkie a pat on the back.

*****

Celestia slammed on the brakes to the Mercedes and it hurled her and Luna forward. Luna’s eyes were as wide as dinnerplates and extremely bloodshot while her mane was a complete mess. Celestia didn't look much better. "I found that much easier in video games," Celestia noted.

Luna glared at her sister. “You should have thought about that before giving me a heart attack,” she scolded.

"Well...you could've said 'no'."

“It was against my better judgement… After all, you did insist.”

"Still, you could have."

“Aren’t we here on business?”

"Oh, thanks for reminding me," Celestia's horn began to glow, and after a bright flash of light her hair was brushed, makeup on, and instead of the civilian clothes, she was in a bright red dress, complete with heels.

"Tia...isn't that a bit much?"

“We’re here on business. Have to look professional now, don't we?”

“True…”

"And Eclipse and Solaris might be here..."

“Maybe.”

"It'd be a shame if they saw you like that..."

Luna’s horn immediately lit up. Soon, her clothes were replaced with a black dress with heels. Her hair was brushed and makeup was on. "Better?"

“Much.”

"I still don't believe this will work, how can we possibly be taken seriously in these?"

“Will he believe some princesses who look like they have just been on a wild ride?”

"Perhaps, but he might get the wrong idea, or think we're just a couple of air heads who flirt with the next cute boy they see."

"Then we'll show him we're more than meets the eye."

"Right..."

Both Princesses emerged from the car and headed over to Khai's table.

Khai looked over to see the princesses. He stood up and bowed. “Greetings, what brings you here?”

"We're here to discuss your attack on our people, Khai," Celestia frowned

“Oh, that…” Khai stood up. “They were not supposed to start their mission until I give the signal, and it was supposed to have been to break Qrong and Urbi out..”

"But why not wait for us to release them," Luna asked.

“It was a contingency and they were supposed to wait. Now it seems that they’ve blown it.”

"How do we know you didn't order it?"

“Because you must know that I am not like the changelings you’ve known.”

"How can we be sure? The changelings we encountered could mimic any form." Celestia explained.

“Our goals are different. All we want is to coexist peacefully.”

"If that's true, you have an odd way of saying it."

“Two of our people were arrested for a crime they didn’t commit. How would you react if that were your people?”

"I would try and get them out legally, and if all else failed, I'd release them myself."

“So why is there a double standard here?”

"Well, you haven't givens a lot of time, and your people were spies, were they not?"

“Our people were trying to capture a spy, and my men acted without my permission. I will deal with my men about what happened, but you have to understand that I am not leaving without my people. As for the spy, you can have her. She would have been given either a life sentence or a death sentence under our custody anyway.”

"We'll release your people, and give you the spy. And..." Celestia sighed, "I’d be willing to discuss peace...but not in Equestria."

"Really? And where might that be?"

“Buckridge. It’s a privately owned ski resort, so no one should be able to disturb us.”

"Very well, but I would request that my wife and brother-in-law may accompany me.

"Only if some close friends of mine can."

"Deal. When should we meet?”

"The first Friday of next month, the third."

“Alright. See you then."

*****

Twilight entered Spike's room, where said dragon was laying on his stomach on the bed with no shirt. "This won't hurt, will it," Spike asked.

Twilight sighed, “You will feel a little tension, but it shouldn’t be too bad.”

Spike swallowed, "Fine...just-" Spike belched and a letter came out.

“Okay… that was weird…” Twilight picked up the letter and read it.

Dear Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student,

I and my sister will be going to the Buckmount Ski Resort in Coltenburg for a peace conference, on February 3rd, I would like you, your friends, and Spike to accompany us. You all need some R&R and I think this will be a good way to get it.

I’ve enclosed eight tickets, in case there is someone else you want to bring.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

Twilight’s eyes widened as the letter fell out of her hand.

“Twi? You okay,” Spike asked

"Oh. Um... Yeah."

“What’s the letter say?”

"Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are going to a peace conference and are inviting us."

“Really? Where?”

"At the Buckmount Ski Resort in Coltlenburg."

Spike’s eyes widened, “Whoa! I’ve never even heard of it…”

“It’s a ski resort Princess Celestia visits on occasion, I went there when I was twelve, it was real fun.”

“Sounds good to me, when are we going?”

“February 3rd.”

“Couple weeks, huh? Guess I’d better plan on what to bring.”

“Yeah, I will, too. It just concerns me because your wings will still be growing.”

"How bad could it be?"

"I'm not sure, but the cold might not be good for them."

“How so?”

"Well, they could freeze, and you don't know how to operate them, and I read that dragons like to be in warm climates for the duration of their puberty."

“Oh yeah… So I’ll just stay inside. It’s not a big deal.”

"But that doesn't feel fair to you, we'll be off having fun and you'll be stuck inside."

“I know, but I can’t just stay home when Celestia’s expecting all of us.”

"Would you want to stay home?"

“I don’t know. I could stay home, but then what if I get that pain again? And what if the other girls are disappointed that I don’t show up?”

"Well, I think they'd understand, and I could always stay here."

“No, I can’t ask you to do that. You’re her favorite student. You two are very close.”

"And you aren't? I'll take you being healthy and knowing you're safe over time with Celestia any day."

"Thanks, but I'd rather you be happy than miserable."

“Spike, it’ll be fine.”

"Look, I could just stay with the Apples, and I could help them out on the farm."

“Are you sure?”

"Yeah...I'm positive, you enjoy yourself, okay?"

“Okay. I’ll just let Applejack know when I see her.”

"Thank you."