Destinies Intertwined

Fluttershy held a brown sack of food in her hand, containing lunch for two certain Changelings. The officer was leading her to their cell. “This is weird…” The officer mumbled.

“Um...what is? If you don’t mind my asking…”

“Huh?” The cop turned around. “Oh...well, I just think it’s weird you of all people is bringing a changeling lunch.”

“Why?”

“Well, you did seem to kick some Changeling flank in Canterlot during the invasion…”

“Oh...well, I’m not sure how much I did...and they weren’t the same changelings these are…”

The officer chuckled, “Yeah...right.”

“I know they aren’t.”

“Sure...Sure…” The officer opened the door to the Changelings jail cell.

Both changelings looked at the visitor. “Oh, hello Ms. Fluttershy,” Lyra greeted.

The officer left and locked the door behind him.

“Hello, Lyra...Um…” She held out the bags to her. “I brought you some lunch…”

“Oh...you didn’t have to do that.” Caramel said.

Fluttershy’s cheeks began to burn a bright red, “W-well… I couldn’t just let you starve.”

“They feed us, but thank you.”

“That was food,” Lyra asked, “I thought it was floor cleaner.”

“It might as well have been, and please don’t tell me you cleaned the floor with it..."

“...Maybe…” Lyra looked back at the bags “So...what is it?”

“Um… They’re sandwiches.”

"Oh...thanks." Lyra opened the bag and took the sandwiches out, "Do you want one?"

“N-No, they’re for you two.”

"Are you sure?"

Fluttershy nodded.

Lyra sighed, "Okay...I just feel bad eating in front of you..."

“I already ate.”

"Oh... Okay…"

“But I did want to check on you. If you don’t mind that is…”

"Oh...well, I think Mel's okay, I'm still a little ticked about his girlfriend."

Fluttershy swallowed, 'He has a girlfriend?'

Caramel intervened, “Well, wouldn’t say girlfriend…”

"Then what was it? After all... You were living together for a while..."

“But she’s my employer.”

"Maybe... But what about when I caught you two kissing in her kitchen?"

”Huh?”

"Remember when Bon Bon and I were over for supper? Carrot Top was getting some dessert and she asked for your help, you went with her and you were in there for about twenty minutes. Bon Bon got concerned and told me to investigate, since you ARE my brother, and when I peaked in you two were...well, kissing. Quite passionately I might add."

“Oh… Not who I was thinking about. I thought you meant Applejack. In my defence though, she set me up for it.”

Fluttershy twitched, there were TWO girls? And one of them was one of her best friends?!

"Well, any way, I'm glad you dumped Carrot Top. She was real annoying."

“Ya think?”

"Um...I have to go... Enjoy your sandwiches." Fluttershy bolted out of the room, covering her eyes so no one would see her crying.

******

Minty placed the last of her shirts in the middle drawer of her large chest of drawers. She slid the drawer closed and grinned. 'Thats done, what's next?'

She looked at her to-do list and looked underneath "Put clothes away" to see "Pack everything for trip to Twilight's."

'Okay, first I need to pack some clo-' Minty looked at the chest of drawers. "Oh come on!"

"Minty," Her mom called outside her room, "Are you alright?"

“Yeah Mom,” she answered.

"Do you need any help?"

"No... I'm good."

"Okay..." Minty's mom left.

Minty began to take clothes out of her drawers and stuff them into her bag. She made sure to pack a few spares, just in case an accident occurred, which usually did in Minty's case. But when she came to putting in shirts, a thought crossed her mind, 'Is it any colder there? Could call Twilight again...but she might be busy...being important and all." Minty sighed, 'I'll just bring some clothes of each, just in case.'

Minty went back to her dresser, grabbed some warmer clothes, and packed them into the suitcase. The next thing she knew she had to bring was a box of tissues, in case the subject of "him" came up. 'She might have her own tissues, ya know.'

Minty took out the tissue box, but then, 'But what if she only has a few?'

She set the box back in her bag. 'But what if she's allergic?'

"Come on Minty, you're being silly, no one's allergic to tissues...right?"

Minty left her room and went looking for her mom, or possibly her dad, whichever she saw first.

Minty's home was VERY large, one of the biggest and nicest in Canterlot, but considering her mother was a successful singer before becoming an even more successful writer, AND her father had inherited a lot of money from his deceased parents.

And if that didn't make Minty feel insecure, her brother was a prince, and her sister, not only a magic protégée and Princess Celestia's personal student, but she had saved Equestria in one form or another several times!

And she was just plain, regular, sock-collecting Minty. An earth pony in a family of unicorns to boot, some days she wondered if this was really her family, and if maybe she was adopted.

But she had never considered that possibility, till meeting her ex's father for dinner. ‘No, stop thinking about that! He’s just some racist dumbbell… You’ll find someone else.’

“Minty?” It was Night Light, Minty’s father, “Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah,” Minty said.

Night Light placed a hand on Minty’s shoulder, “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay… Do you need anything?”

“Um… Yes.”

“What?”

“Uh… Is Twilight allergic to tissues?”

“No… Why do you ask?”

“Just…wanted to make sure…”

“You aren’t allergic to tissues, are you?”

“N-no… Might develop one though…”

“Ah… Remember, I’m here if you need to talk about Artemis...”

“I remember...I just...don’t want to right now…”

“Okay… I understand. Just please understand that we want you to find someone who cares more about you than what kind of pony you are.”

“I know…”

Night Light smiled at his daughter, and gave her a small hug. “So… Are you excited about your stay with Twilight?”

“I am, but at the same time, very nervous.”

Night Light raised an eyebrow, “Why would you be nervous?”

“Do you know how long it’s been since the last time she was here?”

“Didn’t you see her at Shining’s wedding?”

“Yes, but not for an entire weekend.”

“Well...I’m sure it will be fine; she’s still your sister, and she loves you.”

“Well...yeah…but...she’s a celebrity!”

Night Light chuckled, “But she’s still a pony like you, what’s the big deal?”

Minty didn’t respond.

“Besides, I think you’ll find you two have a lot more in common than you think…”

“Other than being related and Cadence being our babysitter...I got nothin’.”

“Well, you’ll see. But you forgot something right off the bat.”

“What?”

Night Light pulled Minty into a large hug, “I love you, Twilight, and Shining the same; You’re all my favorite.”

Minty hugged her father, “We love you, too.”

*****

Gilda was doing a practice flight around Rainbow’s house. Since giving birth to Garuda, Gilda didn’t think it was a good idea to practice her moves, or even fly at all. So now that he was asleep in a safe place under Rainbow’s watch, she decided to do what she had been meaning to do for a long time. Needless to say though, her skills were a little rusty.  She couldn’t even execute her simplest tricks correctly. And after only twenty minutes, she was getting tired.

Gilda fluttered down to the ground and collapsed on her back.  She was breathing heavily.

Suddenly, Rainbow appeared above her, holding a sports drink. “Is everything okay, Gilda?”

Gilda looked at the blue pegasus. “Ye- yeah… Just warming up.”

"Yeah... Figured, so I brought ya this." She handed the sports drink to Gilda.

Gilda grabbed it. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

Gilda sat up and took a sip. "Oh, and thanks again for letting me and Garuda stay for a bit."

“It’s no problem.”

"Well... I know it's not easy for you; taking in a dweeb like me, not to mention Garuda..."

“Well, as long as you’ve changed, I don’t have any problems.”

"Thanks..."

“You know… We could use one more person on the weather team if you’re interested.”

"You mean..as a job?"

"Yeah."

Gilda nearly choked on her sports drink. But something occurred to her. "Would it pay enough for me and Garuda?"

“Well, it should be enough to get you back on your feet, but if you want to find a place to live, it will take a while, maybe even a few months..

"Well...it sounds good...but...could you put up with me for those months?"

“Hey, I’m putting up with you right now. That’s a start, right?”

“Well, I guess… But… Who would watch Garuda if we both end up on the same shift?"

“Hey, Fluttershy’s great with kids. She might be able to do that.”

"I guess...but doesn't she have a job?"

"You know...I have no idea. Which is kinda sad, since we've been friends so long..."

"You've never asked?"

"No...never came up... Hmm...