It was another chilly winter's day, and the sun shone brightly on the town of Clydesdale. The small town was nestled in a valley on the opposite side of the mountain range that held the grand capitol of Canterlot. Not a single cloud was in the sky this fine day and the snow shimmered brightly in the sunlight. The bluebirds in the trees sang their songs cheerfully, without a care in the world.
"Ah, what a wonderful afternoon!" A cream colored unicorn sighed dreamily as she trotted down the road, clearly lost in thought. She smiled to herself as she headed down the road casually, slightly looking down at her hooves as she walked.
"Hey Inkblot!" a tan Pegasus called as she flew by. She quickly turned and started to follow her. Inkblot kept walking, apparently oblivious to the pony speaking to her. The Pegasus slapped her hoof to her face and rolled her eyes.
"INKBLOT!" She yelled, causing the unicorn to jump and dash right into the nearest tree. She cringed as the snow up on the branches above fell upon her.
"Sorry…" The Pegasus muttered sheepishly.
"Oh! It's only you Flashback, Do forgive me, I thought you were Mad Vick back for his revenge for being banished in the Draconic Volcano." Inkblot sighed with relief. The Pegasus smiled a bit and rolled her eyes yet again.
"Uh, no… I was just wondering what happened, you're over an hour late to our monthly girl's day. Dreamweaver was getting worried you were buried in a bookalanche again and needed rescuing." Flashback chuckled.
"I'm so sorry! I got caught up in my writing, and before I knew it, it was already half past noon, and then I got distracted when Cleo got into that viscous battle with the-"
"So you're okay that's good. But really Inkblot, try to spend a little more time in reality would you? Now come on! We agreed we were getting our Manes done today." the Pegasus grinned as she landed and walked with her friend to the local Hair Salon.
Flashback smiled as she slipped into the salon, Inkblot right behind her. A pastel bluish purple Earth pony sat quietly in the corner with her eyes closed, a black Labrador was napping beside her. Its ears perked as the two ponies walked in and let out a little bark at them.
"Is someone there Nights?" She asked softly, her eyes staring emptily around the room.
"Just us Dreamweaver." Flashback called. She had her head stuck up in the clouds again."
"Well that's better than what we were expecting." She giggled as she stood and started towards them slowly, finally opening her grey cloudy eyes. Nights stood and followed her owner.
"I'm really sorry Dreamweaver, I didn't mean to make you wait so long. I just got distracted when Cleo-"
"We know Inkblot." Dreamweaver interrupted with a laugh "Don't worry about it. Come on now, we have lots we can talk about while we get our mane's done." The earth pony smiled gently as they were led off into the back, seeing as Flashback had gone ahead of them.
Inkblot smiled sheepishly as she followed after the earth pony.
"This was so overdue…" Flashback sighed as she leaned back, letting the stylist brush out her dark brown hair. Dreamweaver giggled and nodded.
"Although I'm not sure why you insisted I come along. It's not like I care that much how I look." She teased
"Well we care! Just because you can't see yourself doesn't mean you can't look great! Besides it's our monthly girl's day, you have to come or it's just another simple outing." Flashback explained. "I mean it's not like we can take you to the movies."
"Movies are just so boring… I don't see the appeal."
"That's… kinda the point, you have to see it." Inkblot giggled. Flashback nodded, watching her friend as her light tan and black mane was taken out of its sapphire blue ribbon, her tail soon followed. She eyed the old, worn out silk ribbons. Inkblot had been using those same ribbons ever since they met several years ago, and who knows how much longer before that! They had seen better days, their color was fading, they had several stains and the ends were starting to unravel. There were a couple rips here and there as well.
"Would you like some new ribbons this afternoon?" One of the stylist ponies asked as the other's worked on washing and brushing out her hair.
"No thank you." Inkblot smiled "Just use the old ones please."
The pony nodded and headed off to get the scissors. Dreamweaver sighed, slightly annoyed as they started to brush out her short midnight blue tail. Her mane didn't need that much work, seeing as it had already been cut so short, there wasn't really much of anything to brush or trim. Flashback leaned in and whispered something into the pastel pony's ear. Dreamweaver opened her eyes and looked towards her a bit confused and whispered something back. Flashback smiled and nodded, before saying one last thing and settling back down.
"What are you two whispering about?" Inkblot grinned. "If you're going to gossip at least include me!"
"Oh it's nothing Inkblot. Flashback just had a question for me." Dreamweaver replied as she turned towards the unicorn. "Just work is all, although I would appreciate it if you had waited till we were done." She sent a slight glare in the direction of the Pegasus
"Heh… sorry, it's just, been bugging me all morning." Flashback muttered slowly.
"Is it that dream where your wings are being eaten by carrots again?" Inkblot asked curiously.
"No it is not!" Flashback snapped defensively. Inkblot just gave her a sly grin.
"…Okay maybe it was. But it was rabid vampire carrots this time…" She grumbled as she looked away and crossed her hooves. Inkblot giggled as the stylist finished trimming her mane and tail.
"That's so much better." She said as they tied the old ribbons back into her hair "It was starting to get a bit unruly."
Flashback watched quietly as they finished on her mane and tail as well, putting her pale brown headband back into place. Dreamweaver stood and shook out her tail. Nights stood and followed the three ponies out of the salon.
"That was certainly refreshing." Dreamweaver smiled
"Agreed. Now all that's really left this time is the sleep over!" Inkblot squealed excitedly. Flashback grinned and rolled her eyes.
"Yes, yes the sleep over. We just need to go home and grab our things. We'll be at your house around seven?"
"That sounds like a reasonable time." Dreamweaver piped in. "Come on now Flashback, we need to make sure you don't pack silly things again."
"I'm telling you we could have used that waffle iron for waffles! Waffles are awesome! Are you ever going to let me live that down?"
"Probably not." Inkblot laughed as she turned "Well I better get on home and prepare the guest room and snacks!"
"See you then." Dreamweaver smiled as she closed her eyes and started to walk off with Nights and Flashback.
Flashback glanced over her shoulder as Inkblot slipped out of sight.
"Alright she's gone. So where are we going then?" She asked as walked beside the bluish earth pony.
"I heard of a store where they sell all sorts of accessories." Dreamweaver replied as she continued down the road. "It's supposed to be on the edge of town near the river."
"I know where that is, but I've never heard of any shop like that."
"That's because none of us ever buy accessories. One of my clients told me about it."
"Well that's a bit weird."
"It was one of the more interesting cases."
"I bet. Well we better get our flanks over there, we have packing to do."
Dreamweaver smirked and gave a bit of a sigh as they walked off to the southern part of town where the river marked the edge of town as it made its way to the sea. The two ponies walked onto one of the shops sitting next to the bridge leading out of town.
"Welcome! What can I help you two with?" A unicorn asked as they walked inside. "Looking for a new saddle bag perhaps?"
"Not today. We're looking for some new hair ribbons, do you have any?" Flashback asked as she walked up to the counter. Dreamweaver pretended to browse the wares, staring emptily at the various racks. Nights sniffed around her owner, as far as the leash would let her anyway.
"Ribbons... ribbons… Ah yes! I just made a few yesterday. Is there any specific kind you're looking for?" The unicorn asked as she started towards the back room.
"Sapphire blue, silk preferably."
"I believe I made a few of that type, just give me a moment and I'll see if I can find them for you."
Dreamweaver walked up beside Flashback and looked towards her.
"Are you sure about this? I mean, she didn't want new ones this afternoon…"
"Maybe she just didn't have the extra bits for them. Writer's don't always make a lot of money."
"I know that Flashback, but maybe she just doesn't want new ribbons…"
"Oh stop worrying Dreamweaver! I'm sure she'll absolutely love this thoughtful gift from us."
Dreamweaver sighed as the unicorn walked out with a couple pairs of ribbons.
"Are these what you're looking for?" She asked as she set them on the counter.
"Perfect! We'll take two please." Flashback grinned as the ribbons were put in a little box and she handed over the bits for them. She took the box and stuck it under her wing before walking out with Dreamweaver.
"Alright then, back home to pack." Flashback grinned. Dreamweaver nodded.
"We better hurry up, it's going to take a while, I can tell." Dreamweaver teased as she led Flashback home. The tan Pegasus rolled her eyes with a small grin as she followed after her friend.
Later that night after everypony got settled into the guest room, and only the sounds of a sleeping pony could be heard, Flashback quietly rose from her sleeping bag and crept over to the earth pony.
"Psssst… Dreamweaver… you still awake?" She whispered softly.
"I'm awake." Dreamweaver replied as she opened her gray eyes and slowly stood. Nights raised her head for a moment. Dreamweaver pet her gently before the dog laid her head back down and went back to sleep.
"Go on and get the box." The Pegasus grinned as she crept over to the night stand where the old worn out ribbons laid. She carefully picked up the old ribbons while Dreamweaver put the box containing the new ones in their place. Flashback smiled and raised her hoof for a high hoof, and waited for Dreamweaver's half. She just emptily stared at her.
"…Is there something on my face or can we go back to bed?" The earth pony asked.
"Oh… yea, let's get back to bed." The Pegasus cheeks flared slightly with embarrassment as she put her hoof back down and went to dispose of the old ribbons before heading back to bed.
The two ponies were both woken the next morning by quite a ruckus coming from the next room. They noted that the room they had been sleeping in was a complete mess. They both got up and Flashback poked her head out of the room, only to see the room had been turned upside down and inside out, with one frantic unicorn in the middle of it. Her hair hadn't been put up either by the looks of it.
"Uh, Inkblot…? Is everything alright?" Flashback asked as she stepped out of the room. Inkblot looked over to her friend a bit panicked.
"No! Everything's not alright! I can't find my ribbons!" She cried in distress, still looking around the room franticly. "I've been looking everywhere for them! All that I could find was that box somepony left with some new ones!"
"… Surprise…?" Flashback offered meekly with a weak smile. If looks could kill, Flashback would be in her grave from the glare Inkblot gave her.
"Where are my old ribbons!" She demanded.
"Y-you don't like the new ones..?"
"I like them just fine and I appreciate the gift." She started slowly "But, my old ribbons belonged to my mother, which she gave to me before our town was invaded by space ponies and slaughtered everyone who couldn't make it into the bunkers before they closed for the next five years!"
She yelled quickly and on the verge of tears. Flashback's ears fell as she looked at her friend, taking a step back.
"Where are my ribbons!" Inkblot demanded again, starting to grow desperate. Flashback swallowed her pride as her ears fell.
"I-I threw them out with the garbage." She responded quietly. Inkblot's eyes widened in shock.
"Y-you… You threw my mother's ribbons… in the garbage?" she gasped in disbelief, barely above a whisper.
"I'm so sorry Inkblot it's just, they were so old and beaten up I thought we'd surprise you with some new ribbons…" Flashback explained quietly as she looked up at the unicorn. Inkblot was quiet as she looked at the tan Pegasus in disbelief. Dreamweaver fidgeted a bit as she moved her gaze between the two mares, feeling the tension even without her sight.
"Inkblot, she didn't mean any harm by it, really." Dreamweaver said as she took a step forward.
"Please, just go. I want to be alone." Inkblot muttered quietly as she turned away from the two ponies.
"Inkblot-"
"Just go!" She snapped as she closed her eyes tightly, fighting back tears. Dreamweaver's ears fell as she looked towards her friend, before calling for Nights to lead her out of the house.
"Come on Flashback, you heard her." Dreamweaver called as she headed out of the house with Nights. Flashback hung her head as she followed after the earth pony out of the house.
The two ponies were silent as they walked down the snowy path, a fresh blanket of snow having fallen during the night. They headed out into the park and took a seat on one of the many benches.
"Well… that didn't go as planned." Dreamweaver sighed.
"Now she hates me." Flashback muttered as she laid her head down. "I can't believe I didn't think of something like that before buying them! I'm such a foal."
"Don't be too hard on yourself now… No one knew how special they were to her."
"There has to be a way to fix this."
"I think you've tried to fix enough for one day Flashback."
"What if I got them back? That would help!"
"But its garbage day…"
"They should still be in the trash can though!" She quickly spread her wings and zoomed off.
"Flashback you can't be serious we won't get there in time. Flashback? Flashback?! Ugh…"
Dreamweaver groaned as she realized she had been left behind.
"Let's go Nights, back to Inkblot's." She sighed as she started to run back to her friend's house.
When she arrived Flashback had gotten there just a little while before her, and the trash cart was long gone. Dreamweaver pulled up beside her friend, a bit out of breath.
"Darn it Flashback don't fly off without me!" Dreamweaver scolded.
"I'm sorry but I was sure I could get here before the trash cart came by. It couldn't have left too long ago, I bet if we hurry we can still find it!"
"And where do you suggest we even start? It's not like I can see it."
"Well they usually start as far from the dump as possible and move towards it. All we gotta do is head towards the dump."
"Very well then, don't run off without me this time or I'm going home."
The two ponies quickly ran through the streets of Clydesdale, desperate to find any trace of the cart that held the ribbons. All they found were empty bins and tracks that eventually led them to the Clydesdale Dump."
"Ugh what is that horrible smell?" Dreamweaver grumbled as she put her hoof to her nose.
"The dump…" Flashback whimpered in response, staring at the week's piles of trash yet to be delt with.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Flashback asked, quickly losing hope. Dreamweaver paused and looked down towards her canine companion.
"Nights. She could try to sniff them out, I don't promise any results though."
"It's better than nothing." Flashback muttered and looked down at the black canine as she scratched her ear.
"I'm sorry girl, go find Inkblot's ribbons." She sighed. The Labrador looked up at her and started to whimper and whine, pawing at her master's side.
"No ifs ands or buts! Go!" Dreamweaver ordered and stomped her hoof. The dog whimpered a bit before scampering off.
"Go on and follow her Flashback, I'll wait here."
The Pegasus nodded as she took off and followed the canine from above. After several minutes of the canine zig zagging through the snow and the garbage Nights hesitated in a pile of trash and started to dig through it.
"Did you find them girl?" Flashback asked as she landed beside the dog, her eyes scanning over the mess for the ribbons. She started to dig with the canine until what seemed like hours, the remains of the ribbons were found. They had taken quite a beating on their trip over and were in several small pieces, hardly fit to be called ribbons anymore.
"Well, so much for that idea…" She grumbled disheartened as her ears fell. "Come on Night's, let's get back to Dreamweaver."
She gathered the pieces the best she could before walking back to the earth pony.
Dreamweaver had sat down near the entrance to the dump, waiting patiently for their return. Nights barked as she ran over, tail wagging as she licked her face. Flashback hovered above her.
"Did you find them?" She asked as she stared ahead.
"Yea, in pieces…" She replied sadly. Dreamweaver's ears fell a bit.
"Oh, I see." Dreamweaver sighed and paused for a moment. "Maybe we should just head home, it's been a long day." The earth pony offered as she stood.
"If you don't mind…"
"Flashback I don't mind. Besides, it's partially my fault for not stopping you in the first place. Now come on."
Nights took her place beside her owner's side as the two ponies headed back to Flashback's apartment in the market district. The sun was slipping down below the horizon, and the dark shadow fell over the valley. The moon slowly rose over the mountains to take its place in the dark sky. She slipped in and turned on the lights for her friend. Flashback walked in as well and sighed.
"I don't know what to do…" She muttered quietly as she put the scraps down on the table.
"Try taking a step back from the situation for a moment, and come back to it a bit later. Maybe we'll have an idea of what to do then."
"How much later? The longer we wait the worse this is going to get! Already she's probably never going to speak to me again!"
"Well getting frustrated and upset over it isn't going to fix anything now is it?"
"…You have a point…"
Nights barked up at them as she sat herself down on her cushion in the corner.
"Can I get you anything?" Dreamweaver offered. "I just went shopping recently."
"No thanks… I don't think I can eat right now…" Flashback sighed as she sat down.
"You haven't eaten all day, you should eat at least something."
"I'm not really that hungry Dreams."
"Flashback…"
The Pegasus looked up at her friends face, stern yet full of concern. She sighed in defeat and gave a slight smile.
"Alright you win…" She exhaled as she stood. "I'll have an apple."
"Well, it is better than nothing." Dreamweaver sighed with a smile as she grabbed her one and set it down on the table carefully.
"Thanks." She took it and took a bite of the apple quietly. Dreamweaver sat on the opposite side of the table and nibbled at her apple. Both ponies ate in silence, seemingly stalling for more time to think, or avoiding discussing the issue further. But an apple will only buy so much time, and soon nothing but the cores remained. Flashback stood and disposed of the cores with a sigh.
"I'm going to turn in for the night, I'll catch ya in the morning Dreams." Flashback muttered as headed off towards her bedroom.
"Sleep well." Dreamweaver offered, though she doubted either of them would get much sleep this night.
Flashback slipped into her room. She let out an exasperated groan and kicked a spare pillow across the room in frustration as she made her way over to the window.
"Luna help me, I really messed up this time." She prayed as she cast her gaze up to the night sky and the Princess's moon. She stayed there for a while, just looking up at the stars as if they had the solution to her problem. She eventually tore her gaze away and slipped into bed, hoping to get at least some sleep tonight.
"Flashback sweetie it's so good to see you!" a warm voice chuckled as Flashback walked into a familiar old sewing room. An elderly pegasus mare stood over a table littered with many different pieces of cloth. The entire area was in a sepia color scheme, like one of her photographs.
"It is good to see you to Nana, it has been too long." Flashback smiled as she nuzzled the elderly mare affectionately "Do you need any help on this blanket?"
"This is no ordinary blanket sweetie, it's a quilt." Nana explained as she picked up a small blue dress.
"This is my play dress from when I was a filly, why do you still have this? It's totally ruined." Flashback asked as she watched her Nana work.
"So I could add it to my quilt. It may not be fit to be worn anymore, but it can become part of something else. With a lot of different things, it can come together to make something new." Nana smiled, starting to cut a square from the dress. Flashback looked over the pieces that had already been sewn into the quilt.
"All of these… are things I had as a filly?" She questioned. Nana simply nodded and smiled.
"I was hoping to surprise you with a finished quilt on your next birthday, but I'm afraid, it won't be finished…"
"What do you mean? Nana is something wrong?" Flashback questioned as the elderly mare slowly sat down, coughing.
"You already know Flashback. But I promise, not matter what happen I'll always be there for you…"
The elderly mare gave a small, pained smile as a tear formed in her eye.
"No Nana, don't… don't go…" Flashback whimpered, tears quickly forming, and struggling to breathe properly as the room started to darken and move away from her, taking her beloved Nana with it.
Flashback sat up with a gasp, looking around her room wildly, as if expecting to be returned to the sepia room. Her heart soon calmed and she took a deep breath.
“It was, just a dream.” She said aloud, mostly to convince herself. She quickly pulled herself out of bed, least it try and pull her back into another similar nightmare. The tan Pegasus wandered into the kitchen with a groan as she sat at the table, rubbing her head. Dreamweaver was already awake and was working on making breakfast. Her ears twitched at the sound of the hoofsteps behind her.
“Flashback is that you?” She asked as she turned away from the stove, towards the sound.
“Morning Dreamweaver…” Flashback muttered.
“Are you alright? You sound, worn out.”
“I didn’t sleep very well.”
“Lack of sleep or..?”
“Bad dream.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Can it wait till I’ve woken up a bit?”
“It’d be best to talk about it as soon as possible. The longer you’re awake, the less of your dream you are likely to remember.”
“But I’m hungry!”
“Breakfast can wait a few minutes. I just want to help.”
Flashback let out a defeated sigh as Dreamweaver turned the stove off and sat at the other end of the table.
“So, just to remind you, this is how it goes, you tell me everything you remember from your dream, no details spared.” Dreamweaver reminded as her eyes closed, as usual during one of her interpreting sessions. “Please remember that none of this is concrete fact and is only one explanation to what was seen in your subconscious.”
“We’ve done this, how many times now?” Flashback blinked as she looked at the earth pony across from her.
“You know I have to say it. So begin when ready.” Dreamweaver crossed her hooves patiently. Flashback leaned back in her chair and exhaled.
“It started when I walked into my Nana’s old sewing room. She was there, sewing like she always used to. She was working on this blanket of some sort, there were all these different pieces of cloth in it. She, pulled out an old torn up dress of mine and cut a square out of it, added it to the blanket. She told me… it could become part of something new. She said she wanted to give it to me birthday but she couldn’t finish it, and then she was gone and I woke up.”
“Okay. A few questions then if I may?”
“Ask away Dreamweaver, Celestia knows you will even if I said no.”
“First thing, tell me a little bit about your Nana? Were you two close?”
“Very close, she practically raised me as a filly since my dad was always traveling due to work.”
“And what happened to your Nana?”
“She... got really sick, and since she was so old she never recovered and passed away. I was old enough to take care of myself by that point so my dad didn’t bother coming back to look after me.”
“I’m sorry for your losses. If I may continue though, you said your Nana was sewing a blanket made of many different pieces of cloth? Can you remember if there was anything special about those pieces of cloth?”
“They were all mine from some point or another in my foalhood, some I had worn out, others I got too big for. Why have you figured something out?”
“I’ll explain in a moment. Now what about the one dress, anything that made that specific one stand out to you?”
“It was blue. Everything else was… in sepia, mostly brown tones like in some of my photographs.”
Dreamweaver nodded and paused for a moment, thinking over the information. Flashback fidgeted a bit, trying to remember if she missed anything, and if she could fill her growling stomach soon.
“Are you ready for my interpretation of what your dream is trying to tell you?” Dreamweaver asked. Flashback nodded and looked at her expectantly. Dreamweaver waited for a moment.
“Oh! I meant yes, yes I am.” Flashback stuttered a bit, cheeks flushing in embarrassment from forgetting, yet again that the pastel pony couldn’t see. Dreamweaver chuckled a bit.
“Okay. Here, is what I think. Your Nana came to you, to comfort you like she did when she was alive, by guiding you to an answer to a problem. The cutting of the old dress, to make a new blanket, is suggesting doing the same. Make something new out of something old. The variety of cloth is suggesting more than one. The color blue, is the hint to what the problem is. The last bit of your dream ties in with the memory type style that your dream took on, and is telling you something else. Perhaps there was something she really did want to give to you before she passed on but it was left unfinished.” Dreamweaver explained and reopened her eyes. Flashback was quiet, thinking hard about the information.
“The ribbons.” She finally stated “Remake the old ribbons into new ones, in several pairs and present them as a new gift back to Inkblot.”
“That’s the vibe I was getting from it as well, but again it could mean other things.”
“I don’t think so in this case. Do you think that accessory shop could do something like this?”
“I don’t see why we can’t ask.”
Flashback’s stomach let out a rather large growl.
“After we eat of course.” Dreamweaver giggled. Flashback grinned as she got up and went to continue making breakfast.
After breakfast the two ponies and canine made their way to the accessory shop with the scraps of ribbon they had. Flashback led the way into the shop and headed up to the counter. The unicorn from before looked over at them.
“Welcome back! What can I do for you two today?” She asked cheerfully.
“Can you make new ribbons out of old scraps?” Flashback questioned as she set the box holding said scraps on the counter. The shop owner opened the box and looked inside at the remains.
“You weren’t kidding about scraps. I’m afraid there isn’t enough material here for me to make ribbons out of.” The mare sighed “I’m sorry.”
“What about using parts of it with new material? Can you make a few pairs like that?” Dreamweaver asked.
“I suppose I could, but it would take some time. Come back after lunch and I should have the results.” The mare replied as she took the box.
“Thank you, it is very much appreciated.” Flashback beamed as she nudged Dreamweaver and headed out of the shop. Dreamweaver followed after her with Nights.
“So what do you want to do till lunch?” Flashback asked, looking over at the earth pony.
“Honestly, I’d like to check on Inkblot, but I highly doubt she is taking any visitors right now. I’ll leave the choice to you.” Dreamweaver replied with a sigh.
“I’m drawing a blank; I was hoping you had an idea.” Flashback admitted.
“Well there are some other things on my mind, but it can wait.”
“We have nothing better to do. What is it?”
“It can wait Flashback, this is hardly the time to deal with it.”
“Oh come on! Just tell me and we’ll do it later then.”
“You know what they say about cats and curiosity Flashback.”
“Yeah. So? Tell me anyway.”
Dreamweaver sighed as she stopped and looked towards her friend.
“Did your Nana leave you anything when she… passed on?” The blue pony asked bluntly. The Pegasus’s wings extended in surprise as she turned to the earth pony.
“I… she… excuse me?” She asked, stumbling over her words a bit. Dreamweaver sat till her friend sorted through her thoughts. Flashback folded her wings back and looked away a bit.
“Well, she left me this chest that had been in her sewing room. It’s been up in the attic for the past four years, I… haven’t been able to bring myself to open it.” Flashback responded quietly.
“I see. I’d like to have a… ‘look’ at this chest after we deliver the ribbons if that is alright.”
“Y-yeah… it’s no problem. I mean, it’s about time I opened that old thing…”
“That’s settled then. How about we grab some coffee while we wait?” Dreamweaver offered continued walking down the path way towards town. Flashback let out a little grunt but followed the Earth Pony towards the coffee shop.
It was half past noon before the two ponies finally made it back to the accessory shop. The mare behind the counter looked up at them.
“I’m sorry, I did the best I could but I was unable to remake the ribbons.” She said apologetically. “No charge.”
“O-oh… Thank you anyway..” Flashback muttered as her ears lowered and she took the box she was handed. “What do we do now?”
“How big are the scraps exactly?” Dreamweaver asked
“Not very big, they are horribly frayed. Why?” Flashback asked.
“I have an idea. May we go see that chest now?”
“Now doesn’t seem like the best time…”
Dreamweaver just smiled toward her friend. “Trust me. I think this will work.”
Later that evening as Celestia’s sun began to set behind the horizon, Dreamweaver knocked on the door to Inkblot’s home.
“Inkblot, its Dreamweaver. Please answer the door.” She called. After the sounds of shuffling for a few minutes the door opened.
“Dreamweaver now really isn’t a good time…” A saddened yet irritated Inkblot answered.
“I know I’m very sorry for the incident yesterday, but please, allow us to try and make it up to you.” Dreamweaver insisted remorsefully. Inkblot paused for a moment before opening the door.
“Very well… be careful, The Bats of Tok trashed the place…” She muttered as she stepped over piles of books around the room. Dreamweaver nodded towards the clouds and the Pegasus flew down to the ground before following her cautiously inside with a package. Inkblot cast the tan pony a glare as she stepped into her home but kept silent otherwise.
“We brought something for you.” Dreamweaver stated as she offered the remains of the ribbons to the unicorn. Inkblot levitated the remains out of the box and her eyes began to tear.
“You came here to insult my mother’s memory even more by bringing me shredded remains?” She choked.
“No, we didn’t. We came to add them to a new memory. The threads are still mostly intact. They can be used.” Dreamweaver explained as she offered the other package Flashback had brought in. Inkblot hesitantly opened it and pulled out its contents.
“An old quilt?” she questioned.
“The last quilt my Nana worked on, she left it to me to finish. I was, hoping we could add your mother’s ribbons to the quilt, and that maybe in time we can finish it together as friends. I know it doesn’t make up for my thoughtlessness or my disregard for your personal things but this is all we could think of to try and make it up to you.” Flashback explained, trying to pick her words carefully. Inkblot looked at both of them as her expression softened.
“This way they can still carry on. Your mother’s memory will be honored on this quilt forever.” Dreamweaver added. Inkblot’s gaze switched between the tattered ribbons and the quilt before smiling slightly.
“I… I’d like that very much.” She muttered quietly, a couple tears escaping her eyes. “Thank you, you two.”
Flashback smiled as she hugged her friend tight, tears escaping her eyes as well.
“I’m sorry I was such an idiot Inkblot. I never meant to hurt you.” She sniffled. Inkblot hugged her back. “It’s going to be okay now. Let me go get the needles… I know they are around here somewhere...” She said wiping her eyes and going to go find them.
By the end of the night, Liberty Record’s name was inscribed with the blue remains of the ribbons on the old quilt along with her cutie mark of an old scroll. With that act those three pony’s friendship had been saved. Two old things had combined to make something new, and with each new experience, they would add a new square onto the quilt. This is their bond and this is the quilt that brought them back together, The Quilt as it would soon become known as.
