Reconciliation

Chapter 2: Laughter I

Her beak nearly hit the ground. She couldn’t believe it. Pinkie had thrown a party. Okay, it wasn’t an over-the-top streamers everywhere and blasting music kind of party, but Pinkie had definitely spruced the place up with decorated tables, readily available food and cider. Though it was just the five of them (aside from an occasional customer which the Cakes attended to) the place still felt lively. They were… talking. Not just that, but some of them were even smiling. All except for Fluttershy, and the white one… what was her name, Gilda wondered, Rarity?

Pinkie Pie noticed that the griffon had entered. Standing from her seat, she waved her over. There was another seat at the table next to AppleJack, which Gilda took.

“Gilda! Nice of you to join us!” Twilight announced. She wasn’t wearing any of her princess regalia, which Gilda found kind odd. She’d always imagined Twilight wearing her dress and crown but here she was, bare like everypony (and griffon) else.

“Yeah, thanks for the invite.” Gilda awkwardly replied. She held her wings stiffly folded, limbs tense on the chair. She felt like she was intruding upon this close group.

AppleJack continued talking, it seemed that she had been telling a story. “Ah’ was so glad she was able to be first in line for some cider last season. Always felt bad for the poor girl whenever she couldn’t get any.” she shot a glance at Pinkie Pie, giving a smug half-smile.

Pinkie chuckled, “I have no idea what you’re talking about! But hey, I cut down on it last year! The Cakes say I’ve gotta eat a little less sweets and cider, because apparently it’ll be bad for me in a few years.”

Gilda chuckled. “Y’know, when Rainbow Dash was talking to me about moving here, one of the first things she said was she’d try to be first in line every morning on cider season. She loved the stuff even in Cloudsdale.”

The other ponies chuckled a bit. It seemed they knew all too well about Dash’s affinity for cider.

“Well I’ll be darned!” remarked AppleJack, “she never told me that was one o’ the reasons she moved here!”

Gilda observed the laughing crowd around her. She noticed even Fluttershy had begun to crack a smile at this point, even though the floor seemed to be the topic of her gaze.

“Honestly, dear, is it really of any surprise to you that that would be one of the first things she’d think of when deciding to move here?” Rarity added. She too was smiling. Raising a hoof to her mouth in a ladylike fashion, she cleared her throat.

Wow, this mare can probably make anything seem ladylike. Gilda observed.

Rarity began. “I do remember one late night during cider season, it had to have been three in the morning. I’d heard a rather aggressive knocking on my door. Now, I’d expected it to be AppleBloom or Scootaloo with some insane scheme to drag my sister on at such an unholy hour until I heard Rainbow Dash calling ‘Rarity! Rarity!’” As she impersonated Rainbow Dash, she held a hoof to her forehead and threw herself back, overplaying the melodrama of Rainbow’s calls.

“So I walk out there and she grabs me in a squeezing hug, proclaiming that I was the most beautiful mare she’d ever met, how she loves me so, and…” she again cleared her throat, her eyes darting sheepishly. “Other… things.”

“Ooh! Ooh!” shouted Pinkie. “What kinds of other things?”

AppleJack facehoofed, muttering “Oh, Celestia…” Twilight awkwardly shifted in her seat while Fluttershy let out a soft, barely audible giggle.

Rarity, on the other hoof, simply smiled and said “Perhaps the best way for me to explain is I had to inform her that I don’t ‘swing that way’, so to speak.” And with that, Pinkie’s lips formed an ‘O’, her eyes wide with realization as she slowly nodded.

Okay, maybe she isn’t so oblivious… thought Gilda. She sat back, listening to Rarity as she continued her story.

“I felt sorry for her, I truly did, but I had to keep in mind that she was simply intoxicated. So I took her in and we laid on the chaise lounge,” she looked over the group to reluctantly entreat them, “yes, the one I normally use to faint on. It was quite flattering to hear her talk of how she felt about my looks, quite… odd, for her to press herself so longingly onto me, until we changed the subject to certain stallions…” she gave AppleJack a grin.

The farmpony rolled her eyes, taking a drink from her cider. “Why’s it always gotta be Big Mac?” she complained as she buried her face in her hooves.

The other ponies chuckled. Gilda didn’t get it. Did Dash have a thing for AppleJack’s brother? What?

“Oh relax, dear. We had some talk, but just as we were about to get to the more… shall we say ‘juicy’ bits, she was snoring on the couch and curled up against me. Not wanting to disturb her sleep, and feeling tired myself, I decided to humor her when she woke, and lay with her for the night.”

Gilda burst into laughter, the other ponies stared, Twilight chuckling nervously. “That’s classic Dash! She did that exact same thing to me, and plenty of other girls at the academy.”

Rarity seemed to be in disbelief. “Are you implying she was not drunk that night? Because I most assuredly smelled the cider on her breath.”

“Oh don’t get me wrong, she definitely would’ve been drunk. But she’s not a stupid drunk… most of the time. She’s almost as good with her liquor as a griffon. But plenty of straight mares that she liked she’d do that just to get an excuse to cuddle.” Gilda chuckled, then let out a sigh. “For such a toughie, she sure knew how to play the sympathy card.”

The other mares snickered, realizing Rainbow Dash’s cleverness. Rarity still seemed taken aback, “That sly…” she murmured good-naturedly.

Gilda looked down into her mug of cider. She’d rather have heard that from Dash herself, that would’ve been a good story… Rainbow always tried getting what she wanted, even if it was practically impossible. This was nice. If only Dashie were here to see it… she thought. Gods, if only. This would’ve been so nice to be here with her, having a rockin’ good time.

Images flashed. Rainbow Dash: hanging. Rainbow Dash in her coffin at the viewing, wearing that beautiful dress. The scent of flowers, the church organ, the song, the bright cemetery─

Gilda’s mind was forced back into reality upon hearing Pinkie’s shrill voice. “Ooh! Cupcakes are almost ready!” The pink mare stood from the table, trotting onward to the kitchen.

“You feelin’ all right, darlin’? Looked a bit lost for a sec.” AppleJack observed, putting a hoof to Gilda’s shoulder.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I gotta ask Pinkie about something.” Gilda quickly got up from the table, following Pinkie Pie into the kitchen.

When she entered the kitchen she saw Pinkie remove the tray of cupcakes from the oven. “Hey, Pinkie, can I ask you something?” inquired the griffon.

“Okey dokey! Ask me anything!” Pinkie jubilantly responded.

Gilda leaned on the counter, an inquisitive look in her eyes. “Earlier today, all of you were mopey and depressed. No offense, but you yourself looked like hell. And now, you’re all just… you’re all able to just sit around and laugh and have a good time.”

“Yep! Oh, are you not having a good time? Is something wrong? I can help─”

“No, it’s not that! I’m having a great time, too,” she took a deep breath, carefully working how to put it. “but you seemed to put a lot of work into this. I mean, how…?”

Pinkie set the tray down on the counter, putting a hoof to Gilda’s beak, giving her a warm and genuine smile. “Sometimes, no matter how bad things get, all you’ve gotta do is smile. I know it’s hard for someponies, but that’s why I’m here!” Pinkie removed her hoof from Gilda’s beak, letting out a giggle. Gilda smiled back.

“Thanks.”

§

It had gotten to be later into the night. Eventually they relocated to Pinkie Pie’s room at the request of the Cakes, as they had to clean the shop for tomorrow. They’d watched a movie, and the five friends gossiped about the happenings in and out of town while Gilda sat and listened, focusing on their words. She couldn’t be alone with her thoughts.

She noticed Fluttershy yawn. Gilda checked her watch. 11:30pm. Damn, I’ve been here this long? she remarked.

“Well, I think I’m gonna be heading back to the library.” Twilight stated, trotting over to Pinkie and giving her a hug. “This was great. Thank you so much, Pinkie, for doing this. I think… no, I know that this is what Rainbow would want us doing.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, Twi! Just doing what I always do. For Dashie, y’know?” Pinkie reiterated, this time almost sounding a little lost. “For Dashie…” her mane began to deflate a little, she buried her head in Twilight’s chest, tears welling in her eyes. The usually jubilant pink mare let out a single sob, then parted from Twilight, taking a deep breath, mustering a smile. “For Dashie.”

Twilight put a hoof to Pinkie’s shoulder, offering a tender smile. “Take care, Pinkie. And you’re welcome to come over to the library─ castle,” she corrected herself, “anytime you like.”

With that, Twilight and Fluttershy trotted out of the room. Gilda herself suddenly felt exhausted, and let out a loud yawn as she stretched her arms. “Whew! I’m beat. It’s been a long day, flying here from Cloudsdale and doing all this…”

Rarity leaned in, a look of concern in her deep blue eyes. “You don’t have to fly all the way back to Cloudsdale now, do you? That must be dreadful after today!”

“Yeah, no shit.”

Suddenly AppleJack chimed in. “Tell ya what, why don’t y’all come along with me to Sweet Apple Acres? We got a guest bedroom y’all can use for the night, or longer if that’s what yer hankerin’ for.”

Gilda was shaken. She barely knew these ponies, and they invited her to this party, to stay over for a few nights? “I think I’ll take you up on that, AJ.” she replied.

§

Gilda and AppleJack walked side-by-side down the streets of Ponyville. They’d all said their goodbyes and walked Rarity to her boutique, and now it was just the two of them making their way to Sweet Apple Acres.

She looked over to the earth pony mare next to her. “AppleJack…”

The startled mare looked up at the griffon. “Huh? What is it?”

“Why did she do it?”

AppleJack let out a sigh, staring forward at the orchard ahead of them. “Ah can’t tell ya that. Ah’ve honestly got no idea why she’d do such a thing.”

They were in the orchard now. AppleJack leaned against a tree, removing her stetson and holding it to her chest. “An’ it hurts. Ah’m more angry at her than Ah’ve ever been an’ it hurts.” She set her stetson on the ground, her breaths increasing in pace. She let out a yell as she powerfully bucked the tree she’d been leaning against. “Ah would’ve been there for her!”

Another buck.

“Ah would’ve listened! Ah would’ve helped!”

Another buck.

“Tain’t fair!”

AppleJack stopped, panting. She carefully picked up her stetson and brushed it off before placing it back atop her head. “Ah’m mighty sorry ‘bout that.”

Gilda stared at the Earth pony before her. Aside from Pinkie Pie, AppleJack had been the most cheerful and unsolemn that whole night until now. “You’re right, it isn’t fair.” Gilda remarked. The two continued walking towards the farm house. “I don’t know whether or not I can forgive her. I just… I’m sad, but I’m pissed, y’know?”

“Darlin’ Ah know perfectly well.” She took a deep breath. “Ah’m glad Pinkie pulled through on this. She told me ‘bout her plans for it a few days before the funeral, obviously she needed my help with the cider.”

Gilda was surprised. A few days before the funeral? That would mean… “Wait, so she told you this only like, a day or two after you guys got the news?”

AppleJack nodded, letting out a weak chuckle. “Yep. That mare sure is somethin’...”

Gilda was almost speechless. “How does she…?”

AppleJack looked up at Gilda, “If there’s one thing Ah’ve learned from Pinkie it’s that sometimes, when we wanna do anything but smile, is when we need t’ smile the most.”

§

The two had made it to the farmhouse, and AppleJack showed Gilda the guest bedroom, which was only right across from the second floor bathroom and right next to AppleBloom’s room. The rest of the Apple family had been asleep for the past few hours, AppleJack explained that they usually go to bed early to get up for the morning chores.

The bedroom itself was nice; it had a comfortable straw bed, homely white and pink design scheme to it, and a nice white rug that really tied the room together. It also had a makeup station with drawers and a mirror.

Gilda stood in front of the mirror, inspecting her appearance. She definitely needed to preen, she hadn’t done so since early this morning before her trek to Ponyville. She learned in, staring her own reflection in the eyes.

“This is your fault.”

Gilda was suddenly jarred. She’d been pointing at the mirror, as though her reflection was talking to her. She stared back at her reflection inquisitively. “How’s it my fault?” she asked herself.

The mirror Gilda snickered. “Wow, you really are that stupid. If you hadn’t acted like such a bitch the day she first invited you to this backwater town, she wouldn’t have jumped into a fucking noose.”

“No, it’s not my fault. We got back in contact, we─”

“Oh, give me a break!” her reflection chided. “You were her best friend, the one she confided in. And what did you do? You made both yourself and her look like an ass.”

Tears were starting to form in the corners of her eyes. “She had Fluttershy! She knew her longer than she knew me!”

“And because of you, she couldn’t bring herself to trust Fluttershy. She couldn’t confide in anyone because she knew they could turn. And it’s all. Your. Fault.”

With a snarl, Gilda stormed away from the mirror and to the lightswitch. She could hear the voice still in the back of her heard. ‘Don’t try to run from it.’

“Fuck you.”

She flicked off the lights, and flopped onto the bed. Breathe in, breathe out. She shook with each breath now, burying her head in the pillows. “It’s not my fault,” she moaned. “It’s not my fault, it’s not my fault!” she yelled, her voice muffled by the pillows. She didn’t even bother holding it in, the tears streamed down her eyes as her breaths became sobs.

“It’s not my fault…”