A Catalyst in Time

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

Chapter 1

Prologue

A long time ago, Princess Celestia, ruler of the kingdom of Equestria, discovered that her Equestria was not the only Equestria. When ever an unusually significant even occurred, an event that completely changed the course of pony history, an alternate universe is created where that event never happened or a pony made an alternate choice. One such event, the successful completion of a Sonic Rainboom by a filly named Rainbow Dash during a race, completely altered the fate of six young mares, bringing them together irrevocably. In another Equestria, Rainbow Dash never did this spectacular feat, and the same six ponies are scattered across the country. With the return of Nightmare Moon drawing nigh, these ponies must somehow be brought together even in the absence of the Catalyst.

Chapter 1

Pinkamena Pie pushed away from her desk. Frustrated, she threw the rocks her sisters had harvested away from her and let out a small sob. She hated this job. Always had. The rock farming business was tedious at best and downright dreadful at worst. At twenty-one, she had to be the oldest blank flank in the history of Equestria. No, scratch that, in the history of the world. Rock farming obviously wasn't her super special talent, but with the death of her parents and the mysterious disappearance of her Granny Pie, it was up to Pinkamena to run the farm. Even though she was the youngest, her sisters Margaret Octavia, also known as Inkie and Maggie, and Blinkimina Marie, or Blinkie, had no business sense. Pinkamena hated it, but she was best equipped to handle the farm. Consoled, somewhat, by the idea that she was better than her sisters even if she was the oldest blank flank ever, Pinkamena brushed her stick straight mane out of her eyes and went back to the account books.

***

Twilight "Nopony" Sparkle drudged through the campus of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Having barely passed her entrance exam, she was still, even after years of study, in the "special" class, which was something like Magic for Dummies. Twilight was nopony special. In fact, she didn't even have a cutie mark. No matter how much effort Twilight put into her studies, she remained the "special needs" blank-flank, with no friends and no future. At nineteen, Twilight had given up on even the slightest hope of becoming anything worthwhile. Through her drudgery, Twilight noticed another pony coming toward her. No, Twi, she probably doesn't want to talk to you. Twilight thought. Her thoughts were confirmed when she saw who it was. Trixie. Celestia's private student. She'd never even look at somepony like Twilight. When Trixie opened her mouth Twilight was surprised into shock.
"Hey Twilight "nopony" Sparkle. Gotten even the most basic spell working?" Trixie sneered. Twilight opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by Trixie's next snide comment "No? Too bad you'll never measure up to Trixie, Celestia's most faithful, devoted, great and powerful student!" The blue unicorn walked away laughing, her pale blue mane rippling as she walked away from a dejected and hurt Twilight.
If I were Celestia's favorite student, I'd be much more humble about it... Twilight thought. Then she laughed bitterly. She was a dismal failure. She'd never be Princess Celestia's favorite student.

***

"Darling, please pass the peas," Aunt Orange commanded politely. Applejack, now nicknamed "Appletini" for the martini glass on her flank, obeyed. In the years she'd lived with her Aunt and Uncle Orange, her country upbringing was fading more and more. Sometimes Applejack thought even her freckles were fading. She was truly a city pony. A lady. Ignoring her relatives' guests, Applejack gazed demurely at her hooves. Delicate, danity, demure. The three D's of being a lady and a city pony. Applejack had them down pat. But honestly, she was miserable. Even though she had her cutie mark, at times even that seemed fake. Like a temporary placeholder until she got her real cutie mark. But she had to stay here. She hadn't once returned to Ponyville. At twenty-one, she was way too old for her brother and Granny to welcome her back.

***

"Alright you Dogs. We have diamonds and gems to find and you all are lazing about. No more insubordination from you. And if I hear of another dog skipping a tooth brushing, bath or manicure, there will be repercussions," bellowed a white unicorn from what looked like a rock dias in an underground tunnel. Before her stood dog-like creatures who walked on two legs and wore diamonds on their collars. They were incredibly rough and tumble, but clean. Queen Rarity liked them to be clean.
The dogs howled or nodded their consent to Rarity's orders and hustled out. Rarity was left alone with her thoughts, for a time. She would join the dogs soon on their hunt for gems, her spells proving more valuable than the dogs' noses. Except when they got too close to the edge of the Pie family's rock farm. Then her horn would invariably drag her to a huge boulder. An image of that boulder resided on her flank, an annoying mystery Rarity had yet to solve. It had all started on the opening night of an Elementary school play. She had designed the costumes, but there had been something missing. That evening, while trying to solve what that something was, her horn and unicorn magic had quite literally dragged her to a mysterious monolithic rock, as it continued to do periodically. There, she was kidnapped by the creatures calling themselves the Diamond Dogs and, unwilling to submit to captivity, subsequently made herself their queen. Once a prim and proper fashionista, Rarity was now harsher, though she still liked her dogs and herself to be clean. She wore her mane down now, not bothering to style it as she once had, letting it fall in waves down her shoulders. She lived in dirt, practically breathed it, but it no longer bothered her. But she always felt as if something was missing from her life. She had no art here. Nothing but the hunting of gems for her dogs. She glanced again at her cutie mark and it struck her as almost an image of and egg waiting to be cracked open, as if the real cutie mark lay beneath it.

***

Fluttershy huddled in the corner of her earthbound cottage, struggling not to succumb to the fear of other ponies she had maintained since nearly dying from a fall as a filly. She'd been caught, but barely, the swarm of butterflies she had landed on buckling under her weight. Since then, the only contact with the outside world had been when the doctors had removed her wings, deeming them unusable and broken beyond repair. Not that Fluttershy minded. She always preferred walking to flying. But the doctor who had treated her had also done some pretty terrifying experiments on her, trying to see if he could prompt her body to grow new wings, another experiment to try and artificially produce a cutie mark. He'd been caught by the authorities before he'd moved on to anything worse, but his experiments had taken hold. Fluttershy now had an unidentifiable cutie mark, something that resembled a mangled butterfly and child-size wings on an adult body, which made her something of a freak on the few times she'd ventured into town. So she stayed in the cottage she'd found near the edge of the Everfree Forest, only venturing out to get food and water, even though by avoiding other ponies, she felt as if she were denying some buried part of her nature. But the fear was too strong. In her heart she knew she wanted to be around other ponies, to help others, but the betrayals of her doctor and, to an extent, Rainbow Dash, her only childhood friend who had inadvertently caused her fall, had caused her to fear ponies with such a deep-rooted fear. Her strange appearance only added to that, since other ponies stared when she went near town. So Fluttershy stayed hidden, wishing to Celestia she had normal wings and a normal cutie mark so she could be normal.

***

Rainbow Dash went to work feeling like she always did: miserable. Not that making rainbows was fascinating, but that race always haunted her, even now, years later and at twenty-two years old. She'd not only lost, miserably, she highly suspected she may have inadvertently caused Fluttershy's death.
The pegasus search party that had gone looking for Fluttershy had never found anything to suggest that the shy filly was alive, nor had they found anything to suggest she was dead.
But Dash was haunted by a nagging guilt, convinced that her one true friend was dead and that it was her fault. The worst part was that Rainbow Dash could have saved Fluttershy had she not been so prideful. Wiping unexpected tears from her eyes, crying was so not her thing, she went back to the drudgery of rainbow making. It was the only thing she was good at anymore besides failing. Once, Dash had wanted to be a Wonderbolt, the best of the best, to fly and race with the best flyers in Equestria. But the death of Fluttershy and her dismal failure as a filly had dashed, no pun intended, those dreams. Rainbow Dash had quit flight school and joined Cloudsdale's weather makers, since she had yet to find her special talent and her flank was bare. But it was only a matter of getting through the days. Who cared if she was talentless? She had nothing worth trying for anymore.

***

Spike the dragon trailed behind Trixie wondering for the millionth time why he couldn't have stayed with the pony who'd actually hatched him. Twilight Sparkle HAD managed to hatch his egg, though he'd had to finish the job himself. They'd then taken her to the lowest level magic kindergarten while Spike was given to Trixie, the protege of Princess Celestia. Also known as the biggest pain in the rump Spike had ever met.
"Come on Spike! I have to try this spell to impress the Princess!" Trixie whined. "For I am destined to be great and powerful!"
"Coming oh Great and Annoying Trixie," Spike muttered. Spike sometmes wished Trixie was more than just his boss. What he really wanted was a friend.

***

Ditsy Doo, known as Derpy Hooves for her strange, walleyed stare, was watching all of this. Though many assumed her eyes were from an accident or injury, she'd actually been born with a rare, unique gift. Ditsy had interdimensional clairvoyance. Now to the laypony, this sounded confusing, even absurd, but this gift meant she could see across both the dimension she currently resided in and into other realities. In this dimension, a single altercation of a single even had completely changed the course of Equestrian History.
In another reality, six ponies had defeated Nightmare Moon, Celestia's imprisoned then escaped sister, transforming her back into Princess Luna with the powerful Elements of Harmony. In this dimension, Nightmare Moon had not yet returned and the dimensional counterparts of those six ponies were miserable. Ditsy intended to change their lives for the better. Gathering up her mailbags and kissing her daughter Dinky on the head, she headed clumsily to the palace in Canterlot with a message for Princess Celestia.

Chapter 2

"Your Royal Highness, forgive me, but I must inform you that there's a crazy lookin' mailmare insistin' on a private audience.She said to say her name is Ditsy Doo. Do you want to me to tell her to get lost?" one of Celestia's private guards was bowing before her throne.
Celestia frowned. Ditsy visited the palace for two reasons and sought an audience with her for only one.
"Is this mare by chance a gray pegasus with crazy eyes and bubbles for a cutie mark?" Celestia queried. The guards nodded in unison. "Admit her and clear out," she ordered.
As a semi-divine alicorn princess, she was one of the few who understood and knew about Ditsy's gift of clairvoyance.

"Your highness, I have...odd news. In the dimensional universe most similar to this one, there are six mares of great importance. They bear the Elements of Harmony as you and your sister once did and have already used them and their unusually strong friendship to defeat and bring back your sister, currently known as Nightmare Moon. In this world, your sister has yet to return, though if the prophecies are right, she is overdue for a visit. But these six mares are still important, though far more overlooked and scattered than they are in the other world. It seems a single event that was meant to irrevocably connect them never occurred in this Equestria and thus none of them are in a place where they have any power, as they are in the other Equestria."

Ditsy bowed at the end of her speech. Celestia said nothing, considering the possibilities and what they meant for the kingdom. "Dee, is it possible that one of these mares is a unicorn by the name of Twilight Sparkle?"
Ditsy bowed again. "Indeed it is."
Celestia smiled slightly. She'd always regretted putting Twilight in the lower-level classes, sensing a lot of potential from her.
"Since I have a mailmare in my throne room, I might as well put her to use," Celestia said finally. A scroll appeared in the air in front of Celestia. "Please deliver this to the unicorn Trixie and the dragon Spike."
Ditsy bowed and flew clumsily from the throne room. Celestia sighed. Though gifted, it seemed that gift caused a lot of physical problems for poor Ditsy.

***

Spike could not believe his luck. Trixie was going to graduate early, as the princess had deemed her ready to be unleashed on the world. As a request, the Princess had asked that Trixie allow Spike to be placed in the care of a student who really needed his help. Twilight Sparkle, somepony whom everypony thought was nopony, but to some-dragon she meant freedom from the tyrannical Trixie. And some instinct inside Spike told him that Twilight was essentially his mom, being the first thing he'd seen when he'd hatched. Even if her hatching was botched, Spike couldn't help but feeling that he was going home.

***

Twilight Sparkle could not believe her luck. A dragon companion? That was more than she'd ever hoped for. Baby dragons made it easier for Celestia to communicate with individual students that had them. Receiving the care of one was a great honor, one Twilight had never expected to receive. Better still, it was the dragon she had rather pitifully hatched for her entrance exam which had to mean Celestia might be taking an interest in her. If Celestia becomes my teacher, perhaps I can improve! Excited by her own thoughts, Twilight began to hop around her room like a school-filly shouting "Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes YEEEES!!!"
"Uh....are you Twilight Sparkle?" asked a boyish voice from the door.
"Heehee...um...yes," Twilight said, embarrassed that her new charge had caught her acting like this.
"I'm Spike, and I'm going to be living with you from now on! You know, helping you with your studies, so uh...yeah," he finished awkwardly.
"Oh duh! How could I be so careless?" Twilight said, suddenly slightly panicked. She moved things around with her magic as she spoke "Here's your bed, your desk, and you have carte blanche on parchment and any book in this room!"
Spike nodded his thanks , and set about cleaning up the mess Twilight had made with her magic, putting things back where they belonged. Twilight noticed this and smiled. There was nothing she craved more than being organized and neat, and Spike would definitely help her with that.

***

"But Pinkamena! I want to go to Canterlot and study music! Not work on this boring old farm for the rest of my life!" Inkie stomped her hooves angrily. Pinkamena sighed. This was another thing she hated about the rock farm. She was in charge and thus her sisters had to ask her for permission to do things they wanted to do. Blinkie was easy, she actually liked rock farming. Maggie Octavia, however, was not. She wanted to go to Canterlot to study classical music. She was an excellent string musician and had even personally received and invitation to go to Canterlot's famous Muleiard School of Music. But Pinkamena had to say no. It wasn't in her nature to refuse such a heartfelt request, but if the rocks weren't rotated correctly, they'd never make a profit for the farm, as they'd never turn into the monolithic geodes that surrounded the edges of the farm. Those rocks were filled with rare gems, and could only grow if the rocks were rotated daily. Pinkamena needed all the help she could get, and Maggie couldn't go anywhere until Pinkamena found someone else to take over.
Blinkie chose that moment to run in screaming "It's those Diamond Dogs again! Pink, they're taking the smaller geodes!"
"Celestia banish it!" Pinkamena swore. "I'm sorry, Inkie-Mags, but we've got to get rid of those dogs!"
Pinkamena and her sisters chased the dogs from the property, recovering all but one of the geodes. That one floated above the horn of a white unicorn with an indigo mane. Her cutie mark resembled a giant monolithic rock.
"Oh, is Pinkamena Diane Pie getting slow?" the unicorn taunted in a voice that must have once been cultured, but now sounded like the voice of a warrior queen: regal and deadly.
"Well sorry, darlings, but this gem is MINE!" The unicorn reared and galloped off with a cry of "Onward" to her dog-like followers.
For a moment, Pinkamena could only gape. That had to have been the semi-legendary Queen of the Diamond Dogs. About a decade or so ago, a filly by the name of Rarity had been kidnapped from Ponyville, supposedly by the Diamond Dogs. Later, the villagers began to see a unicorn that matched Rarity's description leading the Dogs on their hunts. She became something of a local legend. Ponyville's own Rebel Queen. Shaking off her awe, Pinkamena shooed her sisters back to the house.
"I'm going after her, don't follow!" she ordered.
The two started to protest, caught their sister's look, and ran back inside.

***

Rarity was not pleased with her dogs. Those foalish idiots had raided the Pie property like they would anywhere else. Rarity had something of a personal rivalry with Pinkamena, head of the Pie family. Pinkamena was cunning, to say the least, and always stopped the thieves that knew what her farm really grew before they even set foot on the property. The fact that the Dogs had proceeded without the caution Rarity had insisted upon when dealing with the Pie family thoroughly irked her. Rarity expected perfection. She toyed with her geode. She wasn't entirely sure why the dogs collected gems or what they did with them. Rarity hunted them because she liked beautiful things. She suspected the dogs traded them for food, clothing, and other essentials, keeping some for themselves, because, like Rarity, they liked the sparkle. Perhaps they traded them with some race that valued gems over coin. Dragons, perhaps? It was that or they had another sovereign, something Rarity really hoped wasn't true. She liked the dogs' obedience. She definitely preferred the trade idea. She really hoped the dogs wouldn't be punished by anyone but her for this mishap. She continued toying with her geode. It was pretty large, she really ought to share it with her dogs...
"Queen Rarity!" announced a tall dog who went by the name Ruff. He was Rarity's de-facto second in command. "I tried to stop the pony, but she..."
"Queen Rarity, huh! You call yourself a queen? You're nothing but a common thief! You big thieving thievy pants! I want my rock back and I want it back NOW!" shouted a high pitched angry voice, interrupting Ruff's warning.
Pinkamena Pie was standing in Rarity's courtroom. Her rival had made it passed her guards to get here. Rarity was impressed despite herself. Appearing to think it over, Rarity floated the rock in front of her.
"This? Tell me how much you want it, Pinkamena, and I'll consider giving it back."
"I'm not bargaining with you for my own property!"
"Ok. You can have it back." The Dogs stared at her in disbelief. Pinkamena waited for the catch, further impressing Rarity. "On one condition." The Dogs relaxed slightly though they'd surely flip when she named that condition.
"What?" Pinkamena demanded, still completely unfazed.
That mare's got guts, I'll give her that. Rarity thought before saying, "I want to come home with you."
As she expected, the Dogs went crazy. The began clambering, begging her not to go. Pinkamena looked like Rarity had just asked her to kill her first born child.
Rarity raised a hoof and the dogs fell silent. "Let me explain. A pony needs sunshine. As much as I love you, my pets, over a decade in these tunnels is enough to drive anypony crazy. But I cannot return to Ponyville. Too many of them know me as a Queen of Thieves. I wish to live my life among the Pie family for a while, and then I shall move on. Ruff here will lead in my absence and if your very good, I shall return to you."
The Dogs still looked skeptical, but agreed. Pinkamena still looked flabbergasted.
"You actually want to live on our Celestia-awful, Nightmare Moon-would-totally-love-it-there, Sun forsaken rock farm?" Pinkamena said at last.
Rarity nodded. "I have a gift that may be useful. I can find gems with ease."And maybe I can learn why my horn keeps dragging me to that monolith Rarity mentally added. Pinkamena considered it, then nodded.

***

Applejack started on the dozenth letter home she'd tried to write that afternoon.
Dear Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom (whom I have never met) and Ma and Pa if you are there *scratch that*
Dear Big Macintosh and Granny Smith *nope*
Dear Granny Smith and Big Macintosh and any other apple family pony who might be reading definitely not.

Applejack sighed. Letters were always such a challenge for her. Though she knew her family loved her unconditionally, she also knew that they wanted her home. Though she'd never admit it, Granny Smith was getting too old for applebucking, Big Mac couldn't do it alone, and Apple Bloom, the sister she'd never met, was too young. They needed her.
But Applejack had lost a lot of her strength in the years she'd lived with the cultured Orange family relatives. She'd thought about writing to her Ma and Pa, to try and get them to end their Apple planting crusade and go home. But Applejack had no idea how to find them . She sighed again and tried one more time to write the letter.

Dearest Apple Family,

I am quite well thank you. Aunt Orange took me to see Pony and the Beast on Trotway and it was quite delightful. I imagine little Apple Bloom would love it. I certainly miss Granny's pies, but Aunt Orange says I must watch my figure. I hope to visit as soon and my schedule is free of social engagements.

Yours,

Applejack

There. Nothing to suggest she wasn't happy. Nothing to suggest she was afraid to visit. Perfect.

"Aunt Orange?" Applejack called. "

"Yes, 'Tini, darling?"

"Could you please give this to the mailmare? It is a letter to Sweet Apple Acres."
"Of course. Anything for my favorite niece," Aunt Orange replied, kissing Applejack on the cheek. Applejack hoofed the letter to her aunt and sighed. She wished she could just go home.

***

Fluttershy trembled. There was somepony near her cottage. What if they came inside, thinking it was abandoned? What if they saw her? Fluttershy's thoughts raced, her panic escalating with each passing moment. She whimpered and the door opened. A huge stallion stood in the doorway. Fluttershy began to cry. Oh no oh no oh no.

"Is anypony in here? Ah thought ah heard cryin'," the pony said with a thick country accent. In the dim light, Fluttershy noticed he was quite handsome, in a rustic kind of way. He was a nice red color, with green eyes and a ginger-colored mane. He had an apple half cutie mark, and his eyes were kind.

"Hello there," he had seen her. Fluttershy shrank back. "It's ok. I'm not gonna hurt ya. Come on out." His voice was very soothing. Fluttershy found herself inexplicably calmed.

"Um....hi.." she squeaked.

"What's your name sugarcube?" he asked. Fluttershy had never been called a pet name before.
"It's...Flu...." Fluttershy trailed off, her shyness overwhelming her.
"What was that, darlin'?"
"Fluttershhhhh..." she trailed off again.
"Flutter...?"
"Fluttershy!" she blurted.
"Fluttershy, huh? A very pretty name for a pretty little lady."
Fluttershy blushed. He'd called her pretty! "I'm not pretty," she protested.
"Sure ya are. Mah names Big Macintosh, by the way."
"Nice to um...meet you."
"How long have ya lived in this here cottage?"
"How long?" Fluttershy blinked. She wasn't really sure...the fall...the doctor...birthdays celebrated only by her and her bunny. "I think...twelve years. I fell from the sky and this doctor he um..." she trailed off, inadvertently opening her tiny wings. Big Macintosh's eyes widened. Here it comes, he's not going to be so nice now she thought.
"What in Celestia's name happened to y'all?" he said, genuine concern, not fear or repulsion, in his voice.
"This doctor, who treated me after I fell..." She began, then stopped. She hadn't talked this much to anyone who wasn't Angel Bunny in years. Big Macintosh seemed to notice her hesitation. "Go on sugarcube," he prompted gently.
Fluttershy inhaled and then spoke.
"This doctor who treated me after I fell, he had to amputate my wings, but he wanted to see if he could make my body grow new wings but the test didn't really work so I ended up with filly sized wings on a grown-up body and he also tried to experiment on me to see if he could force my cutie mark to appear and it sort of worked but it looks like a mangled butterfly and i have no idea what that means and I'm not normal and everypony hates me." She began to cry. Big Macintosh put a hoof around her shoulder.
"It's ok, darlin. I can tell you have been through a lot. No pony should ever have what happen to you happen, especially not you. I know y'all probably don't trust me, or anypony for that matter, but you could use a friend. I'd like to take y'all home to mah farm, if ya don't mind. Get ya a decent meal and a warm bed."
To her own surprise, and certainly to Big Macintosh's, Fluttershy nodded. Something inside of her told her to trust Big Macintosh. A glimmer of hope appeared in a future that had once seemed very bleak for Fluttershy.

Chapter 3

Big Macintosh nervously led Fluttershy to Sweet Apple Acres. How would Granny Smith and Apple Bloom react to her? She was extremely fragile. He loved his family, but sometimes they could be honest to the point of obtuse. He'd been walking near the cottage to clear his head after reading Applejack's letter. She wasn't happy, and her fake cheery letters couldn't fool Big Macintosh. But he wanted her to come home on her own terms. He figured her apple-bucking legs were weaker than they once were, but surely she could build up strength again. Shaking his head, he noticed Fluttershy staring nervously at him, probably picking up on his frustration with AJ and thinking it was directed at her. He quickly smiled, trying to reassure her that he wasn't angry with her at all.

"Here we are, sugarcube. Sweet Apple Acres. Home sweet home," he announced as he let her into the house.
Fluttershy gazed around wordlessly. Her eyes had lit up though. Big Macintosh took that as a good sign.

"Granny, it's me! I brought a guest. But be nice, she's really shy."
Granny hobbled over to them and looked Fluttershy over.
"You'll do," she said, the hobbled back over to her rocking chair and plopped back down.
Fluttershy nervously looked at Big Macintosh. "
"She's just old," he said, shrugging.
"I heard that," Granny Smith hollered from her chair.
Big Macintosh rolled his eyes. Then he smiled at Fluttershy. "Now y'all can meet my hellion of a little sister," he said, then whistled. "Apple Bloom, we have a guest!" he hollered.
A little yellow filly bounded down the stairs, her red mane and pink bow flopping behind her.
"Now be nice, and don't talk too much. She's very shy," Big Macintosh warned his sister.
"Hey! I'm Apple Bloom-wow, what a weird cutie mark! I really want my cutie mark, but Big Macintosh says I cain't just make it appear and..." noticing Apple Bloom was making Fluttershy uncomfortable talking about cutie marks, Big Macintosh put his hoof in the filly's mouth. "Hush, Go help Granny get dinner ready." Apple Bloom bounded off. Big Macintosh turned to Fluttershy.
"Sorry 'bout that. She's a bit obsessed with her cutie mark, or rather, lack of one."
"It's...ok..." Fluttershy managed, her first words since leaving the cottage.
Big Macintosh hugged her.
"Let's get ya something decent ta eat," he said and steered her toward the kitchen.

***

Rainbow Dash couldn't believe her eyes. This was the LAMEST thing ever to happen to her, and she'd had a lot of uncool, lame, and loserish things happen to her. The Rainbow Factory was giving her the pink slip and she was being transferred to weather patrol in a dumpy little town called Ponyville. What the hay? She'd been the most devoted worker the Rainbow Factory had. She was never late, she always did her work. What had she done wrong? When she'd gone to talk to her boss about it, he'd told her that she wasn't being fired, they just needed somepony in Ponyville to oversee the pegasi there. Well, she wasn't doing it. She was NOT going to Ponyville. She'd fly away. But that felt like betrayal. Ponyville probably really needed her. But she didn't have any reason to be loyal to Ponyville. She'd never been there, never had any desire to go there. Why? Why her? Why couldn't the company just let her work there without bothering her? She was a loser. A complete and totally loser. And uncool. She wasn't entirely convinced that she was lame, but she was pretty close. Ugg, this was ridiculous. She wasn't going to Ponyville.
Pulling out a piece of parchment, Rainbow Dash scribbled a note to her boss, telling him she was quitting and leaving. She folded it up into a square and flew to the Factory where she slipped the note under his door. Then she flew back to her home to pack a few essentials. Giving one last look at her little house as she slipped her toothbrush into her backpack, she steeled herself, then flew out the front door taking off to the West, letting the setting sun guide her flight. She didn't really know where she was going, but where ever it was, it had to be better than what she'd left behind.
After flying for a few hours, she stopped to take a break. It was a lot harder to fly at night so she knew she should sleep, but her adrenaline was flowing. She hadn't flown this long or this much since that race. She'd forgotten how at home she felt in the air, soaring through the sky. For the first time in years Dash smiled. Maybe she could recover.

***

It was not fair. Twilight Sparkle was a nopony, a nothing, a talentless little snot with no real value. Trixie was powerful. She was the best student in the school, the most accomplished, Celestia's personal student. Spike belonged with her! he was her assistant, not Twilight Sparkle's. Sure, Trixie was graduating, but she'd need an assistant when she became famous too. Angry by the injustice of it all, Trixie stomped around her room, causing the floor to shake. Some of the other students hollered at her to stop. Sighing, Trixie dramatically collapsed on her bed. Somepony was going to pay for this. Trixie would make sure of that.

***

Rarity followed Pinkamena home to the rock farm and began to wonder what had possessed her to make this deal. Ponies need sunshine? She'd lived underground for almost twelve years. Pinkamena had what seemed like a permanent scowl on her face, a stark contrast with her pink body and mane. After about twenty minutes of this Rarity tried to make conversation.
"So, what's it like on the rock farm?"
"Dreary and boring. Why don't you go back to the Diamond Dogs?" Pinkamena said abruptly, making it clear that she didn't really want to talk to Rarity.
Well, you can't really blame her, now can you? Rarity thought to herself. You've been raiding her property for what, five years now?
"We're here," Pinkamena said as they came to an abrupt stop. "You can sleep in the barn until I clear out the guest bedroom, don't touch the rocks or else"
The barn? Well it was better than sleeping in an outhouse.
"Pinkamena? Why is there a white unicorn with you?" asked a monochromatic pony with a pink treble clef cutie mark.
"This is Rarity and she's going to be staying with us for awhile," Pinkamena answered, sounding incredibly unenthusiastic about the whole thing.
"Rarity? As in "queen of the diamond dogs" Rarity?" the gray mare asked.
Pinkamena nodded and her sister fled.
Well, I suppose my reputation proceeds me
"PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!! Why the hay would you bring her here?" A slightly lighter gray colored mare with a geode for a cutie mark stood in the door and glared at Pinkamena and Rarity.
"Because it was the only way I could get my rock back, and she promised to work for us for a time, now, go help Inkie get dinner ready!"
"But..."
"Now Blinkie!"
Blinkie ran from the room. Pinkamena collapsed on a chair. Rarity stood awkwardly.
"If your sisters are Inkie and Blinkie, does that make you Pinkie?" Rarity asked, somewhat amused by this idea.
"Yes, but I hate that name. Only my Granny Pie called me Pinkie and I'm pretty sure she's dead. I don't like to be reminded."
Rarity started to laugh, caught Pinkamena's look, and shut up.
"Pinkamena, can we finish our talk?" came a voice from the doorway.
Inkie stood in the door, her purple eyes concerned and hopeful. Pinkamena sighed.
"Yes. I know you love music and that it is your talent and all, but we really need help on the farm. I can't let you go," Pinkamena said, regret filling her voice.
"WHAT? But...Muleiard!"
"I know, Mags, but seriously...I can't."
The girl had gotten into Muleiard and wasn't going to be able to go because of this farm?
"Wait," Rarity said. The sisters turned to stare at her.
"I can convince the dogs to work the farm for you if you give them a share of your gems."
Inkie or Maggie or whatever her name was looked hopeful. Pinkamena looked torn between throttling Rarity for getting Inkie's hopes up or accepting the offer.
"How much?" Pinkamena asked at last.
"20% of what they harvest ought to do it," Rarity said.
"No. 5%," Pinkamena protested.
So pink pony knows how to haggle
"15%, dear, no less," Rarity said.
"10%, take it or leave it," Pinkamena said.
"Done," Rarity said.
Pinkamena spit on her hoof and held it out for Rarity to shake.
"Ok, that was disgusting," Rarity said, her inner fashionista rebelling. She took the hoof anyway, though she did not spit on her own.
"Now, are you going to escort me back or should I go myself?" Rarity asked.
"It's dangerous out there. I better go with you," Pinkamena said. Inkie groaned. "You just got back!"
"Well, the three of us are going to have to pack, so use the time I'm gone to get your suitcase together, we're going to Canterlot," Pinkamena declared. Inkie let out a whoop of joy and went to pack her suit case. Rarity's, of course, was already packed from the trip from the Diamond Caves. Pinkamena told Inkie to pack just a few things for her. Pinkamena traveled light.

They arrived at the Diamond Dog caves a little over half and hour later. The Dogs were ecstatic about Rarity being back, wriggling with happiness. Holding up her hoof for silence, she gave them Pinkamena's proposition. The Dogs gathered around Ruff, talked it over and agreed.

***

"Now, don't let the Dogs run rampant, I'm trusting you to keep order. Ruff is a good leader, but he doesn't know the farm and has lived most of his life as a thief. It's your job to keep them honest!" Pinkamena instructed Blinkie.
Blinkie nodded, even taking notes. Pinkamena could barely contain her excitement and nerves. I am leaving the rock farm. I am leaving the rock farm. The thought repeated over and over. Her back began to itch. It was her lucky day, if her Pinkamena sense was right. She was worried about leaving her sister in charge with just the Diamond Dogs to help, but something told her that she'd never be coming back to this place. Wiping tears from her eyes, she hugged Blinkie tightly until Blinkie begged to be let go. Sighing, Pinkamena hoisted her knapsack over her shoulder as Rarity and Inkie did the same. Giving one last look at the place that had made her so miserable, Pinkamena trotted off with Rarity and Inkie, toward the carriage station in Ponyville to catch a stage coach to Canterlot.

They were on their way. Away from the rock farm. Never to return. Pinkamena's back itched again. My lucky day.... Rarity was not the first choice of traveling companion, but Pinkamena refused to leave her alone at the farm. Besides, Pinkamena got the feeling Rarity wanted to get out of the Ponyville area.
Inkie was fairly jumping up and down. This was unusual as Inkie was the quietest of the Pie sisters, usually preferring to play her instruments in peace. But the closer they got to Canterlot, the more excited Inkie got.
When they passed through the city gates, Inkie looked at Pinkamena.
"Sis, I don't think I'm going to see you for awhile. I'll find a way to write, I promise, but...I want to tell you now...I don't want to go by Inkie or Maggie anymore. I'm going to go by my middle name: Octavia. A much better name for a musician, right?" Inkie said.
Pinkamena didn't say a word for a moment, then, as the carriage came to a stop in front of Muleiard, Pinkamena scooped her middle sister in a hug, tears flowing. "I'll miss you. Become the next Coltzart, ok?"
"I'll do it for you, sis. I'll miss you too. Write me when you get settled!" Pinkamena nodded, now crying so hard she was sobbing. She'd always been close to Inkie, and now her sister was going out of her reach.
"Good luck...Octavia," Pinkamena said as her sister trotted into her new school and her new life.

Chapter 4

Applejack sat on her bed, trying to convince herself that she wasn't hungry. She'd eaten very little that afternoon and her stomach was rumbling. I could sure go for one of Granny's pies right now. I could probably eat the whole thing! She shook off that thought. She didn't need all those calories. She looked at herself. She was pretty thin. One pie wouldn't hurt...

CRASH!!!

Applejack leaped off her bed, scared out of her wits, to see a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane laying on the floor, Aunt Orange's antique lamp broken on top of her. In her shock, years of ladylike behavior were momentarily stripped away.

"GOOD GRAVY GIRL!! WHAT THE HAY ARE Y'ALL...I mean, good heavens what ever are you doing?" Applejack realized she'd reverted back to her country accent, and quickly switched back to her cultured Manehattenite speech.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I was flying and sort of ran out of steam. I'm the worst flier in Equestria...I'm such a loser," the pegasus said.

For some reason Applejack felt incredibly sorry for this pegasus lying on her floor.
"Don't worry about it, dear. I'll replace it," she said.

The pony looked relieved, and exhausted.

"What's your name, dear?" Applejack asked.
"Rainbow Dash, pegasus failure of the century," the pony introduced herself, looking away.
Applejack felt another twinge of pity for Rainbow Dash.
"Alright, Rainbow Dash, you look like you need a place to stay the night. Let me go talk to my Aunt and Uncle."

And with that Applejack swept out of the room.

"Of course she can stay, as long as she doesn't break any more of our furniture. If she stays longer than a week she must be taught how to be a lady, of course, but she can stay for now," Aunt Orange said when Applejack questioned her.
"Thanks Aunt Orange, I appreciate it," Applejack said, and went back into her bedroom to tell Rainbow Dash.

"Alright, if you refrain from breaking anymore furniture, you can stay, though they don't want you here longer than a week," Applejack explained to the multicolored pegasus.

Rainbow Dash let out a whoop. "Thanks, you're the best! What did you say your name was again?"
"I didn't. It's Applejack, though my Aunt and Uncle call me Appletini for this," she said, gesturing to her cutie mark. Rainbow looked away. It was then that Applejack realized that Rainbow Dash was a blank flank, one of the oldest blank flanks Applejack had ever seen.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up a sore spot!" Applejack said quickly.
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "It's fine. Doesn't really bother me. Hey, wait, when I first crashed in here, I totally heard you talk in a country pony accent. What happened to that? I liked that voice better!"
Applejack looked stunned. That slip was her first in twelve years and the pony she'd said it to liked it?
"Um...well, I speak like this now, that accent was a slip from my days in Ponyville," Applejack explained, careful not to slip up again.
"Oh, Ponyville....right..." for some reason Applejack couldn't fathom, the mention of Ponyville seemed to depress Rainbow Dash.
"So, where are you from, dear?" Applejack asked, eager to get out of the awkward silence that had followed the mention of her hometown.
"Cloudsdale. I used to work in the Rainbow Factory, but...well...I don't wanna talk about it," Rainbow Dash answered. Applejack decided not to push it.
"Hey Applejack?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yes?"
"Can I call you AJ?"
Applejack's breath caught. She hadn't been called AJ in years.
"I...suppose," Applejack said.
"Cool, hey look, it's getting late, I guess we better hit the hay," Rainbow Dash answered.
"Yes, I suppose..." Applejack said.
"Night, AJ!"
"Goodnight, Rainbow Dash," Applejack said, suddenly filled with homesickness upon hearing her nickname, even if it did come from the lips of a stranger.

***

Twilight awoke suddenly when Spike belched loudly. Thinking her new friend was being an obnoxious boy, she got out of bed to scold him, then realized he held a letter. From Princess Celestia. For her. Twilight nearly fainted.
"You've got mail, Twilight!" Spike announced.
Twilight levitated it from Spike's hands and read aloud.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I would like to thank you for taking on the responsibility of caring for the baby dragon Spike. I am beginning to believe that I may have been sorely mistaken in your ability. You have great potential, Ms. Sparkle, and I would like to help you reach your full potential. All though it may seem suspicious if I become your personal mentor immediately, I would like to send you on something of a personal quest. You see, there are magical relics known as the Elements of Harmony that Equestria may need soon. I am giving you a guide, but her appearance is strange. She will be at your door soon. I wish you luck.

Her Royal Highness

Princess Celestia

Twilight read and reread the letter. A quest to find ancient magical relics? If somepony had told her last week, heck, yesterday, that she'd be going on a private quest for Celestia she would have thought they were playing a sick prank on her. Now she had a baby dragon, a quest for lost magic, and Princess Celestia's trust. Her life was getting better and better.

A knock sounded on the door.
That must be my guide Twilight thought. She opened the door. In the doorway stood a gray pegasus with a blond mane and bubbles for a cutie mark. Her yellow eyes went in opposite directions, giving her a very strange appearance. Twilight paused. This was supposed to be her guide?
"Um....hi?" Twilight said nervously. She wasn't really used to interacting with ponies,especially not strange, walleyed ponies, as she'd spent most of her life friendless and alone.
"You must be Twilight Sparkle, correct? I am Ditsy Doo, your guide for your quest. Do not be put off by my appearance. I am a very useful pony," the strange pegasus said.
Twilight just nodded.
"Now, I'll need to you pack your saddlebags immediately. I've brought you a map of Equestria. Celestia has reason to believe that the book containing the information you need to know about the Elements is in your personal library," Ditsy instructed. Twilight magically called her bags to her, stuffed some essentials in the bags, and began rifling through her book shelf.
"What book, what book?" Twilight said frantically.
"Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide," Spike said. Twilight blushed at not looking for the obvious title, and stuffed the book in her bag along with Ditsy's map.
"Ready?" the gray pegasus asked. Twilight nodded. She was as ready as she'd ever be, even though she'd only had about two minutes to pack. She nodded to Spike.
"We're going on an adventure, Spike!" she said, looking forward to the next day for the first time in years.

***

Pinkamena stared around Canterlot, having never seen a city this big in all of her life. She couldn't help but be impressed as she noticed the buildings made of pure marble, adorned with amethysts and garnets. Not precious stones, but pretty none the less. Pinkamena noticed Rarity looking around as well, though the unicorn was trying a lot harder NOT to be impressed.
"So, where are we going from here?" Pinkamena asked.
"I don't know, I thought this was your trip. Aren't you planning to return to your farm?"
"No," Pinkamena replied, and realized how very true this was.
"Then I don't know, perhaps we should...WAHAHAHA!!!" Rarity exclaimed, then was bowled over by a gray pegasus.
Pinkamena blinked, not entirely sure what to do.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I probably shouldn't fly, but I was searching for...things...and had to fly ahead of my traveling companion," the mare said. It was then Pinkamena noticed the pony's eyes. They were pointing in opposite directions.
"Ditsy!" a voice said from behind the group as Pinkamena was helping Rarity to her feet.
A purple unicorn trotted up beside the gray mare, a baby dragon on her back. "I told you not to fly ahead!"
"Sorry, I saw something I needed to be in the air to understand," Ditsy said. Pinkamena and Rarity were completely bewildered by this. The purple unicorn seemed a little uneasy as well.
"It's a long story," said Ditsy. "Sorry, 'bout that. Flying isn't really my thing."
"Really, I never would have guessed," Rarity remarked, rolling her blue eyes.
"Ok, so now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's get back to our adventure," the purple unicorn said.
"Wait!" Pinkamena said. "What's your name?"
The unicorn sighed. "I'm Twilight Sparkle, the dragon is Spike, and the crazy eyed pegasus is Ditsy Doo, now if you'll excuse us..." Twilight tried to push past Pinkamena, but the pink earth pony was having none of it.
"You said you were going on an adventure, what kind?"
"Pinkamena, please stop harassing the poor girl, obviously she has places to go and people to see," Rarity interjected, trying to pull Pinkamena away.
But Pinkamena could not shake the idea that she was supposed to go with Twilight and her strange companion. Probably Rarity too.
"No! I...want to help," Pinkamena spit out.
Twilight stared. Spike stared. Ditsy...uh...a pony couldn't really tell if she was staring.
"Um...thanks but..." Twilight began.
"No, really, I want to go, I don't want to go back to my rock farm and I don't really have anywhere else to go," Pinkamena said, almost pleading.
"Sorry," Twilight said, and began to walk off.
"Leave it be, Pinkamena," Rarity said, almost gently. "I think you frightened her."
Pinkamena tried to shake the feeling that she was supposed to go with Twilight Sparkle. But she couldn't, she really couldn't.
"We're going to follow her," Pinkamena declared, ignoring the look Rarity was giving her.

***

Rainbow Dash woke in a soft bed, in a strange room feeling groggy. She couldn't quit remember what had happened the day before...there was something about flying for a long time, then crashing, then...the orange earth pony, Applejack, the strange country-Manehattenite. Rainbow Dash looked around the room for the pony.
"AJ?" she called when she didn't see Applejack anywhere.
"In here, Miss Rainbow," she said.
Rainbow Dash pulled herself out of bed feeling her joints crack as she did. Oops. Guess she really did over do it yesterday, the adrenaline rush being only enough to sustain her for that one day, not to keep her from overextending and being sore the next day.
She hobbled into the living room and pulled herself up into an armchair.
"How are you this morning, Rainbow?" Applejack asked.
"Awful, I feel like I flew straight at a griffon and then hit a manticore on the head then barreled through a window." \
"Oh dear, I ought to get you something for the pain," Applejack said.
Something about AJ's voice really irked Rainbow Dash. It just seemed so...forced.
"Nah, I'll be fine, I'm used to it. I'm a terrible flier so, you know, I crash all the time. Hey Applejack?"
"Hmm?"
Could you do me a favor?"
Of course, dear."
"Could you talk in your country voice, just for a little while?"
Applejack inhaled sharply.
"I...I'm afraid not...yesterday was slip up, nothing more," Applejack said. But Rainbow Dash noticed that the earth pony didn't meet her eyes, and her lips were puckered strangely, in a terrible poker face, probably the worst Dash had ever seen. She was lying, and she was terrible at it.
"Oh, ok then," Dash said, deciding to pretend she fell for it.
They sat in awkward silence for a moment. Then Dash broke it.
"Tell me about your family," she asked, thinking that it would be a safe topic. Apparently not as Applejack's eyes watered slightly and she looked away.
"I mean, if you don't want to, that's fine," Dash said quickly, afraid she might have brought up a sore topic.
"No, no, It's fine. It's just that...I haven't seen my immediate family in a long time. Aunt and Uncle Orange are really the only family I have contact with right now, outside of the occasional letter home. They don't even go to family reunions," Applejack smiled slightly, as if remembering an occasion at a family reunion that may have caused the Oranges to stop going.
"Aunt Orange is my mother's sister Clementine. My mother, Apple Crisp, married into the Apple Family, the family with most of the apple trade," there was just a touch of pride in Applejack's voice as she said this, not arrogant, but true pride in her family's accomplishments."My father, Appleseed, or Pony Appleseed as he likes to call himself, travels Equestria with my mother planting apple trees and helping my cousins with their orchards. At home, I have an older brother, Big Macintosh, and a younger sister whom I've never met, Apple Bloom. They live with our Granny Smith, my father's mother. They run Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville."
Applejack's eyes began to tear up. Rainbow Dash, suddenly uncomfortable, put a hoof around her new friend's shoulders.
"Hey, don't cry, you'll totally mess up your make up or whatever, and that would be so not cool."
Applejack managed a weak chuckle.
Rainbow Dash felt a huge wave of guilt as Applejack cried on her shoulder. Applejack loved her family, even if she was far away from them. She was clearly loyal to even the sister she'd never met, and took pride in her family's accomplishments. Dash was running away from a job transfer to the very town AJ had been born in. More guilt washed over her as she remembered that Ponyville was located almost directly below Cloudsdale, making her think of Fluttershy. It was then that Dash realized that she wasn't running away from her job, but running away from the awful memories surrounding Cloudsdale. That shamed her. She always thought she was pretty loyal to her few friends and her job. But she'd betrayed that by running away.
Applejack finally stopped crying and managed a weak smile.
"I just..." she began
"Miss them, I know," finished Dash, thinking of Fluttershy, a pony she had always thought of as a sister.
"I want to go home, but I'm..."
"Scared," finished Rainbow Dash.
It was then that Rainbow realized that she had to help Applejack. Her new friend needed her, and she suspected that she needed Applejack too. Maybe together they could help each other better than apart.

Chapter 5

*Note: this chapter contains language*

Chapter 5

Rarity was trying her hardest to get Pinkamena to give up her bizarre stalking of Twilight Sparkle. Rarity had never heard of a pony stalking another pony they had just met because they had a "feeling" they were supposed to. It was downright creepy. Rarity had to admit though that in some instances, Pinkamena had a preternatural sense about future events. She'd explained to Rarity the other day that she got "twitches" that told her certain things, and that sometimes she got more than one twitch, that also foretold an event. She called those "combinations". Rarity didn't quite understand, but living with the Dogs had taught her to use any tools available. Pinkamena's "Pinkamena Sense" was a tool that could be useful. Especially while they were following Twilight's party, as that Ditsy Doo seemed incredibly accident prone.
Pinkamena had set up camp outside of the Canterlot hotel the purple unicorn and her friends were staying for the night. Rarity was complaining.
"Why can't we stay IN the hotel? It's OCTOBER. It's COLD," Rarity protested, pulling the spoiled queen act she used frequently with the dogs. She had discovered early on that incessant chatter, whining and crying, drove the Dogs nuts. Rarity rarely whined or cried, but complaining and talking she could do.
Pinkamena however, had sisters, and was completely unfazed.
"We're out here because we can't monitor them in there," Pinkamena explained. "It's easier this way, and it's less likely that we'll lose them. There's only one exit."
Rarity stomped her hooves. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want to leave Pinkamena. So she settled for angrily ranting.
Finally, Pinkamena lost her nerve a little.
"Shut up, Rarity, I'm not one of your Diamond Dog slaves that you can order around. I'm my own pony. If you don't like it, fine, leave and get your own hotel room. I'm sure you have money from all the gems you've stolen and found. "
Rarity shut up after that. It kind of hurt to think that Pinkamena didn't want her around, but it was understandable.

Suddenly, a vaguely familiar voice came around the corner.
"So I told him that he couldn't tell a dropped bass from a canary. He didn't really like that, stupid son of a bitch," the voice said.
"DJ, you'll say anything, won't you?" said an unfamiliar voice.
"Pretty much, so long as I actually believe it," the familiar voice said.
Rarity concentrated on that voice, trying hard to remember it. Then it clicked. Her sister, the one who she was forbidden to refer to as her sister because of a falling out that sister had had with her parents. Her famous sister, who went by the DJ name DJ Pon-3, alias for her real name, Vinyl Scratch.

"Pinkamena, we have to go somewhere else!" Rarity said.
"Rarity, I told you..."
"No, I know one of the people coming around the corner, she's not going to be happy to see me..." Rarity said.
Too late. Vinyl had come around the corner. The white unicorn with blue streaked hair cut in a straightened, choppy style stopped short.
"Rarity?" she said, taking off her sunglasses, which she was wearing even though it was nighttime. Her red eyes bored into Rarity's blue one. "Is that really you?"
Rarity could only nod.
"You're fucking alive and you never contacted me? Never thought your sister might be worried? Heck, I heard you might have been taken in by the Diamond Dogs, but I left before I knew for sure," Vinyl said, anger and relief both creeping into her voice.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Vinyl, I couldn't risk contacting you, especially after I found out what happened between you and mom," Rarity tried to explain.
"I don't give a flying fuck. You should have tried. You left me all alone with that heinous bitch and didn't even try to get back to me, you only care about yourself. All those times you told me that YOU cared when mom would yell and call me names and tell me how worthless I was and that YOU had my back were nothing but a bunch of lies!" Vinyl said, the anger overpowering the relief.
"It's...not like that!" Rarity said, though she knew it certainly seemed that way.
"You're selfish. You wanted the Diamond Dog's gems and you wanted power," Vinyl said. "Come on, Rave Bracelet," Vinyl turned to the other pony with her, who was standing their flabbergasted "We're leaving!"
"Wait!" Rarity called, but it was too late. Vinyl had already taken off down the alley, out of hearing range. Or if she could hear she pretended not to.
Rarity felt terrible. Vinyl was right. She was selfish. No matter what she told herself when she shared gems she found with the dogs, she wasn't really generous. She was only generous when it benefited her. And somehow, that stung. She felt as if she had gotten away from what really mattered most in her life.

***

Fluttershy felt as though she'd known the Apple Family all her life. Big Macintosh was fast becoming a friend, and Fluttershy really enjoyed spending time with Granny Smith and Apple Bloom too. In the three days she'd spent with them, they'd made her happier than she could remember being, not once saying anything cruel about her wings or her bizarre cutie mark. Even Apple Bloom had laid off talking about cutie marks around Fluttershy, knowing that even the most innocent comment could hurt the sensitive pegasus' feelings. Fluttershy had also found that the farm animals adored her, though they weren't overly fond of her pet bunny, Angel. Of course, Angel wasn't very nice, so it was completely understandable. Angel especially didn't like Big Macintosh, apparently thinking the big work pony was out to steal Fluttershy away from him.
But despite her bunny's antics, Fluttershy was happy. The only time she was scared was when a strange pony came to the farm. She could handle the Apple Family, but she still wasn't comfortable with others.
Fluttershy was feeding the pigs when she heard foot steps behind her. Panicking, she turned around to see Big Macintosh behind her, and relaxed.
"Sorry if I scared ya," he said.
"Oh no. I'm fine. I was just scared that you were somepony not in the family," Fluttershy said.
For some reason Big Macintosh looked troubled.
"Are you ok?" Fluttershy asked.
"Eeyup," he replied, though he didn't really seem to be listening.
"Ok....if you say so," Fluttershy said, wondering why he seemed upset.
After a moment of silence, Big Macintosh spoke up.
"You know, y'all'er so good with animals, I bet y'all 'ed be good with kids too."
"Kids? Oh no, they'd all be scared of me," Fluttershy said.
"Apple Bloom ain't scared of ya," Big Macintosh said.
"She's...different!" Fluttershy protested.
"Cheerilee, one of the town's teachers, is looking for a playground monitor, I bet you'd be good at it," Big Macintosh said.
"I can't! I'd have to be around ponies other than you and Apple Bloom and Granny Smith!" Fluttershy protested.
"Y'all need to get out and about, I just thought that children might be a good place to start. You're a nurturing soul, sugarcube, it'd do you good to be able to see that not all ponies think you're a freak."
"But...I can't I just can't!" Fluttershy said, beginning to tear up a little.
"I'm sorry, sugarcube, please don't cry. I don't want ta push anythin' on ya," Big Macintosh put his foreleg around Fluttershy and pulled her into a hug.
Fluttershy suddenly felt something she hadn't considered before. She snuggled closer to the big stallion. He was so warm...
What was she doing? She couldn't let a pony get that close to her! She'd be hurt again! She'd trusted and been burned and would never trust again! But Big Macintosh was the pony who had made her life better. He would never betray her.
As if he had heard her thoughts, Big Macintosh kissed her forehead and said, "I never would hurt you in anyway, Fluttershy."

***

Trixie paced the halls of Celestia's palace. Celestia had approved her for graduation, and she had perfect grades, studied hard, was the star magic pupil of the palace. But she wasn't happy. Her mother wrote her every month to ask if she was famous yet. To ask if she was going to use her magic to further the career her mom had picked for her. Trixie didn't want to be a performer, though she wouldn't mind being famous. She wanted to be a great scientist, and discover magical advances. But her mom had placed tremendous pressure on her and Trixie was afraid of defying her pushy, angry mother. Today's letter was opened with trepidation.
Dear Trixie,

I heard you had your dragon removed from your care(straight to the criticism as usual).I for one am very displeased that you allowed this to happen. Are you no longer Princess Celestia's favorite? I heard the dragon was given to that incompetent you told me about, Twilight Sparkle. You are a disgrace, Patricia Valeria Lulamoon! I am ashamed to call you my daughter. You better do what I want or I'll be more than disappointed.
-Mom
Tears welled in the blue unicorn's purple eyes. No "Love" just Mom. Trixie wished her dad was still alive. He may have been the only member of her family that actually cared about her. Her older sister was the "perfect" sister, accomplished in performance and magic. Her mom had once been a beauty queen and dancer who had used her minimal magic to accent her performances. She was determined that Trixie was going to go into show business even though Trixie really at heart didn't want to. Well, she did like being the center of attention, but she wanted to be more.
This is all Twilight Sparkle's fault she inwardly grumbled, though she knew the purple unicorn wasn't directly responsible for her downturn. Trixie wanted a scapegoat and she'd be banished if she didn't think Twilight was the best one. Resolved, Trixie stomped off to her room, determined to pack and follow Twilight Sparkle.

***

Big Macintosh watched Fluttershy play with Apple Bloom and wish he could convince the pegasus to at least interact with Cheerilee and the town children. She was so good with animals and with his little sister that he couldn't believe she wouldn't be good with other kids. Of course, children could be nasty, but he couldn't bear to see Fluttershy shrinking from everypony but him and his family. She was the kindest pony he'd ever met, but she couldn't use that kindness with her fear of other ponies hanging over her head. I want to help her, and I've only know her for a few days. That fact alone spoke to Fluttershy's kindness and fragility. Every time he looked at her he felt an overwhelming urge to protect her, a feeling he usually reserved for his sisters. Big Macintosh knew what it was like to be shy and quiet, though he had a feeling Fluttershy's shyness went beyond simply being introverted to being anthrophobic**.

"Um...Big Macintosh?" Fluttershy's voice said behind him.
"Yeah, sugarcube?" he answered.
"I...I think I want to reconsider socializing with children, I want to apply to be Cheerilee's assistant."

***

Ditsy Doo knew Pinkamena and Rarity were following their party, but she chose not to tell Twilight. They were supposed to eventually meet up so it was necessary to let the pair follow them, and Ditsy knew that Twilight would flip if she knew the pink earth pony and the white unicorn were stalking them. Pinkamena's extra sense let her know that for some reason she was meant to follow Twilight, and she was savvy enough to do it silently and expertly. Being from a rock farm, Pinkamena had stalking experience, having to stalk the Diamond Dogs to get them off her land. Likewise, Rarity was a master at getting around obstacles, though her constant complaining was likely to give the pair away. Fortunately, Pinkamena had gotten Rarity to shut up.
Suddenly, Ditsy's vision shifted.
EMERALD! What was I thinking? Let me get you some RUBIES!, Rarity said.
Quick! Before she decides to dye my coat a new color, a pankied Twilight Sparkle grabbed Spike and ran out the door.
Ditsy sighed. This event had already happened, but she could see through time as well. When she saw visions like this, it was usually a warning of things to come in her own universe. This vision meant to her that Rarity and Twilight were destined to meet soon, and if they didn't, it could be disastrous. Yes, to the average pony this seemed like guess work, but Ditsy Doo had long ago learned to refine her vision and interpretation. The unfortunate side effect is that she often began to wander aimlessly when she was seeing her visions, thus flying or walking into other ponies, given most ponies the impression that she was, well, Ditsy. An unfortunate side effect of this was that few ponies actually listened to what she had to say. The only exceptions were Princess Celestia, her daughter Dinky, and her brother, who was actually the Wonderbolt co-captain, Soarin. Twilight trusted her only because Princess Celestia had told her to, and Spike didn't trust her at all.
So for now, Ditsy was keeping her visions to herself. She would work as a guide and behind the scenes to bring the Six together. Until they trusted her, she would keep her visions to herself.

***

The moon was the coldest place she'd ever been. Not just physically, but emotionally. A pony once known as Luna had been imprisoned there for 1000 years. But her escape was drawing nigh and soon the world would know her vengeance. For a thousand years she had plotted, stewed and raged inwardly, being unable to do anything more. Being imprisoned IN the moon was certainly different from being imprisoned ON the moon. She was nothing but a shadow, but she was conscious. This made her sister's betrayal and punishment all the more torturous. She would blot out Celestia and her sun, and the land of Equestria would bow to her will. Nighttime Eternal. Just a few more weeks and she would be free. She could feel the humming of the stars as they called to her. They were coming for her. The many deities and semi-deities that guided these burning suns were shifting their bodies into position. Soon, her day would come, and all ponies would tremble in fear of the name Nightmare Moon.

*note: please excuse Vinyl Scratch's language in this chapter. I know many of us would like to think that all of the ponies never curse, but I make an exception with Vinyl. Her lifestyle is one that leads to such language. Also, the idea that she is Rarity's sister was slightly debunked in Sisterhooves Social, but my sister and I have developed a story in which Rarity's parents (mostly her mother) disown Vinyl and completely forbid their other two children from having contact with her or referring to her as their sister*

Chapter 6

Rainbow Dash had an idea. AJ's fake cultured accent was getting on her last nerve. So...she was going to scare the orange earth pony into talking in her "country" voice.
But the thing was, it was hard to sneak up on a pony in the Orange Family's penthouse. The building was a restored historic home, so all of the floors creaked. Dash didn't really trust herself to fly without breaking something, so that was probably out of the question.
She was contemplating what to do when she noticed a closet sitting across from the bed. Perfect! I'll hide in there and scare Applejack when she comes to bed. She'll probably wonder where I am, but not long enough to keep her from getting herself ready for bed. This was going to be so awesome!

Well, maybe scaring Applejack after AJ had been so nice to her wasn't very, well, nice, but Dash had to make sure that Applejack's accent wasn't just a one time slip. She had a feeling that Applejack had been lying to herself for a while. Rainbow Dash had decided that it was her duty, as a good friend, to get Applejack to admit the truth to herself, even if it meant a harmless prank or two.

Stepping into the closet, Dash closed the door behind her, laughing to herself. Living the last couple of days with Applejack had renewed a little of her old spirit, though she still didn't think of herself as a good flier. But a prankster? Though she hadn't pulled one in years, pulling one on Applejack was going to be fun.

Dash had been waiting in the closet about five minutes when she heard Applejack's voice from the hall.
"Goodnight Aunt Orange, I shall see you in the morning."

Rainbow Dash waited a little longer, hearing Applejack getting into bed, getting comfortable, reading a little, then turning off her light. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash began to feel a little guilty. Was it really fair to pull a prank to get AJ to use an accent she'd worked so hard to get rid of? Thinking Applejack was asleep, Rainbow Dash started to change her mind, and opened the closet door slowly, so she could get out unnoticed.

Unfortunately, or perhaps it was karma for intending to scare Applejack, the earth pony was not asleep.

When Dash stepped out of the closet. Applejack shrieked, leaped out of bed and said, loudly, "Holy Celestia Almighty! What in Pete's sake is that? Hoo doggie, if that's a ghost like ah think it is, I swear to Celestia I ain't gonna be happy!"

Rainbow Dash couldn't help herself. She giggled. Applejack clapped her hooves over her mouth, realizing what she'd just let slip.
"Rainbow Dash, that was quite uncalled for!" she said, giving her best impression of being dignified, though she was shaking.
"You have to admit, that was pretty hilarious, Miss "I don't talk like that anymore"!" Rainbow said, chuckling that her idea had been confirmed.

"I don't talk like that!" Applejack protested. "The fact that you've made me slip up twice in just a few days doesn't mean anything!"

"Uh-huh. You probably have to concentrate really hard not to talk like that!"
"Do not!" Applejack said, a slight country lilt creeping into her voice.
"You did it again!" Rainbow Dash said. "You've probably been struggling to keep from talking in that accent ever since you got here!"

"Well, yes, but..."
"No buts! I noticed that you're a really bad liar, Applejack, and the biggest lie you've been telling is the one you're telling yourself."
To Rainbow Dash's astonishment, Applejack broke down and began to cry.
"Hey, I didn't mean to make you cry!" Rainbow Dash said, hurrying over to her friend to comfort her.
"It's not, ain't, isn't your fault," Applejack sobbed. "You're right, I have been lying to myself. I don't know if I can stop. I just want to go home!"
"Maybe you should go home then," Rainbow Dash said softly.
"Only if you come with me, I cain't, can't, do it alone," Applejack said, equally soft.
Rainbow Dash felt a rush of guilt. Going home with Applejack would mean going to Ponyville, the place she had been trying to avoid. But then, she'd been feeling pretty guilty about avoiding Ponyville as it was.
"I'll go with you," she agreed.

***

Twilight couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. She was jumpy and nervous and it didn't help that Ditsy kept wandering off to "look at things". The pegasus was supposed to be her guide, but no. The brainless filly wandered all over the place. Now that they were actually on the road, going who knows where, Spike wasn't making it any better. Every little broken twig was someone trying to attack them, every frog croaking was a unicorn trying to cast a spell on them. It was beginning to get on Twilight's last nerve.
"Can everypony just please RELAX!" She yelled, her frustration getting the better of her. "Spike, every little noise is not somepony trying to kill us. Ditsy, please either explain WHY you're wandering off or stop doing it! It's driving me CRAZY!"
Spike looked embarrassed, Ditsy was unfazed.
"Twilight, you're not ready to know what I'm doing. I will tell you that it's important, and that Celestia trusts me," the pegasus said.
Slightly taken aback, Twilight dropped it. I guess if the Princess trusts her I should too, Twilight thought.
"Um, then...where are we going?" Twilight asked.
"Well, our ultimate destination is Ponyville, but we might not be going directly there," Ditsy said.
"Ponyville? We're walking to Ponyville? Can't we at least catch a stage coach or something?"
"Not yet...you have to...nevermind."
"Well, I think we've been walking enough for today," said Spike from Twilight's back.
"Spike, you haven't done any walking! You've been riding on my back this whole time!" Twilight protested.
"I know, and my backside is killing me! Can't we set up camp?"
Twilight sighed, but she supposed Spike was right.
"Ok, let's set up camp," Twilight said.

From a distance Twilight suddenly heard a voice.
"Pinkamena, this is outrageous and driving me crazy! If you do not explain to me NOW why were are following them, I am going to shout and give us away!"

Twilight and Spike looked at each other. Wasn't Pinkamena the pink earth pony who had randomly stopped them in the streets in Canterlot the day before they left?
Twilight motioned for Spike to keep quiet and began sneaking up the hill toward the voice. Fortunately, the voice, Twilight guessed that it belonged to Pinkamena's white unicorn companion, kept talking.
"We have been following them aimlessly for days and where are they going? PONYVILLE! The exact place we left from! I would have thought that you would not want to go back!"
Now that they were closer, Twilight could see them, and hear Pinkamena's quieter responses.
"Rarity, I'm not running away from Ponyville, I'm getting away from the Rock Farm, you're the one who's afraid to go back to Ponyville," Pinkamena said.
The white unicorn, Rarity, didn't seem to have an answer for that, so she settled for stomping off...right toward Twilight and Spike. Panicking, Twilight didn't have time to react. Rarity nearly walked straight into Twilight.

The white unicorn turned almost as pink as her traveling companion.
"Pinkamena, we have a problem!" Rarity called.
Twilight suddenly regained her senses.
"So you two have been following us?!" Twilight exclaimed.
"No, Pinkamena has been following you, I've been following Pinkamena," Rarity clarified, glaring at Twilight.
"WHAT? She's been following us? WHY?"
"Celestia's horn, I don't know. She just says she feels like she 'has' to!"
Twilight pondered this. Another pony or two to slow her down more? It seemed absolutely preposterous, especially since Pinkamena had basically been stalking her.
"That's ridiculous, there's no reason for her to just 'know' she has to follow me!" Twilight said, rolling her eyes.
"She has something she calls her 'Pinkamena sense'. She gets twitches and they tell her things. I think this may have been one of her twitches," Rarity explained.
At this Twilight outright laughed
"A supernatural sense that tells her when things are going to happen? Are you serious? That's ridiculous!"
"It sounds strange, I know, but it really seems to work," Rarity countered.
"Oh please! Twitches that predict the future? It's just a bunch of mumbo jumbo!"
"Well, I know it seems that way, but I'll use whatever tools I happen across, and Pinkamena's sense just happens to be a tool I can use. If she thinks you can be of use, well, I'll go with it."
Twilight rolled her eyes. Mumbo jumbo could never replace careful study and scientific method! But it seemed she didn't really have a choice. Pinkamena and Rarity had followed her since they'd left Canterlot. It was a lot less creepy if they traveled with her group instead of behind.
"Fine, you two can join us, but don't expect it easy. This is a quest for the Princess. Not a party!"
Rarity nodded, then went back to her own camp to collect Pinkamena.
Twilight sighed. This was going to be a long journey.

***

Fluttershy swallowed nervously. She couldn't believe she was doing this. It went against everything she'd ever done for her entire life. Not that she didn't like kids. But this might be a bit much, diving into this so soon. She'd met the teacher, Cheerilee, yesterday, and she seemed really nice, and it helped that she was going to be in Apple Bloom's class. But the class had about nine fillies and colts, and Fluttershy wasn't really used to dealing with more than two or three ponies at a time. She stood at the front of the classroom, behind Cheerilee, and tried really hard not to panic. Apple Bloom came in first, having arrived at the school with Fluttershy when Big Macintosh had dropped them both off that morning. Following Apple Bloom and chattering happily was a cutie mark-less pony with a cream colored coat and a poofy red mane. She had a slightly overlarge nose and purple-framed glasses. Behind them came two earth ponies who held themselves with arrogance, a gray pony with blue glasses, her light gray mane done up in a braid and a pink pony with a lavender and white striped slightly curly mane.
As the rest of the class filtered in Cheerilee called for order
"Ok class, today I have a very important announcement to make!" the magenta colored pony said, her voice just barely above normal volume. The class quieted down instantly. Fluttershy was impressed.
"Today we have a guest who is going to be helping me in class for the next couple of weeks. This is Miss Fluttershy and I would like you all to be respectful and kind to her," Cheerilee explained. "Fluttershy, why don't you tell us a little about yourself?"
Fluttershy gulped. "Um...Miss Cheerilee? I don't really want to..."
"Just tell us one thing so we can remember who you are," Cheerilee said, softly encouraging.
"Um..ok. My name...is Fluttershy...and I...." What can I say? "I am...um...good with animals," she finished lamely.
"Wow, what a weirdo, whispered the pink pony with the lavender and white mane to her friend. "I mean, like, look at her totally weird wings and cutie mark."
Fluttershy looked down. She was afraid of this.
Fortunately, Cheerilee heard the filly's remark.
"Diamond Tiara, is there something you'd like to share with the class?" the school teacher asked.
"No, Miss Cheerilee," Diamond Tiara said, rolling her eyes.
"Then I expect an essay on why you should respect others on my desk tomorrow," Cheerilee said.
"Thank you Miss Fluttershy," Cheerilee said. "Your desk is the smaller one near mine."
Fluttershy took a seat and set about learning the names of the fillies in the class. This class was currently all fillies, though Fluttershy saw in Cheerilee's grade book that two colts by the names of Snips and Snails were absent. The yellow-orange filly with the orange mane was Noi. The blue filly with the archery cutie mark was Archer Crossbow, Diamond Tiara was the arrogant filly who had called her out. The only non earth pony in the class was a unicorn named Sun Glimmer, who had a yellow mane and a blue coat. The pale pink filly with the cupcake cutie mark was Cupcake. Diamond Tiara's friend was Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom's friend was Twist. The blue filly that looked similar to Cupcake was Tootsie Flute. A small class, to be sure. She could do this. Good with animals, good with kids.
For most of the morning, Cheerilee handled the students and Fluttershy handled paperwork. When recess rolled around, Cheerilee turned the class over to her.
"I'm so glad you're willing to take the class for lunch and recess. I need time to plan, and lately I just haven't had any," the teacher told her, smiling. "Just be firm and let them know who's the boss and it'll be fine."
So Fluttershy took the kids outside for their recess and lunch period. At first it went pretty well. Most of the class were decent kids and because Apple Bloom knew Fluttershy, they listened to her. Trouble came when Diamond Tiara decided she was bored of playing hopscotch with Silver Spoon and decided it was time to exercise her bullying skills; on Fluttershy.
"So what does your cutie mark even mean? That you're good at ripping apart butterflies?" Diamond Tiara asked, the picture of innocence. "And what happened to your wings? Did they just...not grow with the rest of you?"
"Um...well... I don't really know what my cutie mark means. It's sort of artificial..." Fluttershy tried to explain. Diamond took the answer and used it as fuel for her ridicule. "So...you're, like, a fake flank?"
"Um...not exactly...no.." Fluttershy tried to say.
"Like, that's SOOO totally weird! Hey Silver! Like, Miss Fluttershy has a fake cutie mark!"
"Like, no way!" the gray pony responded. Soon both fillies were hurling barbs at Fluttershy, trying to make her lose her cool. Fortunately, Apple Bloom saw what was going on.
"Y'all two need to back off! Fluttershy is an adult and deserves yer respect! Why don't y'all pick on somepony yer own size!" the fiery apple filly challenged.
"Like...I dunno...you?" Diamond Tiara said, turning to Apple Bloom.
At this Fluttershy felt a small surge of rage.
"Now wait just one minute young lady!" she said in an uncharacteristically confident voice. Diamond Tiara appeared taken aback by this sudden display of assertiveness.
"You have no right to go around picking on other ponies. I have half a mind to talk to your mother after school and tell her what you've been up to. Now, you and Silver Spoon are going to go back to your hopscotch game and leave the other fillies alone. Do you understand me, young lady?" Fluttershy's eyes grew wider and more intense. Diamond Tiara appeared almost frozen to the spot, then she fled.
"Wow, Fluttershy! That was amazin'!" Apple Bloom said. "Y'all just stared at her and Diamond Tiara just ran away like a scaredy filly!"
Fluttershy wasn't entirely sure what had just happened. One minute she'd been cowering, afraid of what a little girl was going to say to her next, the next she was defending Apple Bloom. As scared as she was of, well, almost everything, it seemed that when somepony she cared about was threatened , something awakened inside her that prompted her to defend them. If that was the case...then maybe she wasn't such a scaredy pony after all.

Recess and lunch passed without anymore incident. Cheerilee called the ponies in for one last lesson before their parents picked them up. After the lesson, Fluttershy waited outside for Big Macintosh. He was delivering apples in town today and had promised to walk them home. At last, he showed up.
"Sorry, ladies, got tied up at the Cakes'. Seems they checked the wrong box on the order form and wanted 3 dozen of EACH kind of apple, not 3 dozen mixed. How was your first day Fluttershy?"
That was Big Macintosh, always kind and considerate. Fluttershy smiled up at him. "I had a little trouble with a filly named Diamond Tiara, but I got her to see I was right. Other than that, I actually really enjoyed it. Cheerilee is super nice and most of the fillies are sweethearts," Fluttershy said.
"Fluttershy stared down Diamond Tiara! Diamond Tiara was makin' fun of Fluttershy so I told her ta stop because Fluttershy is an adult and should be treated with respect, but then Diamond Tiara decided she was gonna pick on me instead, but then Fluttershy got mad, and started lecturing Diamond Tiara and tellin' her she was gonna talk to her mother, and all that, and then she STARED and it made Diamond back off! It was amazin'!" Apple Bloom cut in.
Fluttershy blushed. "It wasn't that cool, Apple Bloom," she said modestly.
"Yeah it was! You really showed her who was boss!"
"It sounds like ya both had a pretty good day," Big Macintosh said. Fluttershy and Apple Bloom nodded.
When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom ran off to do her homework, leaving Fluttershy and Big Macintosh alone.
"Thanks for setting this up for me, and convincing me to do it, I was so scared but you really believed in me and that helped," Fluttershy told the big stallion.
"Y'all needed it. And yer good at it. Sugarcube, you're an amazin' pony, ya know that?" he replied.
"I...am?"
"Eeyup. You're kind, talented; don't think I haven't heard y'all singin'; and beautiful," Big Macintosh told her.
"Beautiful? I'm not beautiful. I have freaky wings and a weird cutie mark..."
"Those things don't matter. You're beautiful, and that's that."
Fluttershy was certain her face was a lovely shade of pink. No pony had ever said anything like that to her. Granted, she'd been in hiding for twelve years, but even before, nopony had even thought to tell her she was pretty, let alone beautiful.
"That's...so sweet, Big Macintosh," she said at last.
"I ain't saying anythin' that isn't true," he said. Then he kissed her check and went into the barn. Fluttershy kept her hoof on her cheek where he had kissed her for a very long time afterwards.

***

Chapter 7

Pinkamena felt a small sense of victory. Despite the fact that Rarity was the one that had essentially talked Twilight into letting them join her party, the fact that they had ended up with the unicorn's traveling group was Pinkamena's victory. I just hope I know what I'm doing. She thought. She had never doubted her Pinkamena sense, being as she'd had it all of her life. But she didn't know why it worked and sometimes that made it harder for other ponies to accept it. Twilight fell into the most extreme version of that camp. She was ardent that all of the predictions Pinkamena made were coincidences. Logical minds tended to react that way to her sense.
The only problem with that was that Twilight completely mistrusted Pinkamena's word. Anything Pinkamena said was met with distrust from Twilight. It probably didn't help that Pinkamena had stalked Twilight before joining her. Looking over Twilight's shoulder, Pinkamena noticed that the purple unicorn was writing a letter. Curious, Pinkamena read it, though she sort of felt this could be considered rude and inappropriate.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I have been joined on my journey by two travelers, an earth pony by the name of Pinkamena Diane Pie and a white unicorn that calls herself Queen Rarity. I have no idea who these two are supposed to be, but Ditsy Doo seems to think that they have something to do with our journey, though she has not said so outright. Is this just my imagination or are these two more than just an annoyance? I'm not really used to dealing with strangers so any advice you could give me would be welcome. Also, the pink earth pony, Pinkamena, seems to think she has some kind of preternatural sense. This seems ridiculous to me, but should I trust in it for this quest?
Sincerly,

Twilight Spakle

So Twilight was unnerved enough by Rarity and Pinkamena that she felt the need to write to the Princess herself about it? How odd. But then, Pinkamena wasn't one to judge odd, she'd lived her life on a rock farm.

"What in Equestria are you DOING?" Twilight asked suddenly realizing that Pinkamena was staring over her shoulder.
"Just reading the letter to the Princess you were writing," Pinkamena said calmly, totally unfazed by Twilight's gaping.
"WHAT? I may be completely socially inept, but at least I know it's rude to read over somepony's shoulder!"
"Well, duh. You were writing about me, so I might as well see what you were writing," Pinkamena said calmly.
"Arrgh! Why did I get stuck with these crazy ponies!" Twilight grumbled and stomped to the other side of the camp to give Spike the letter to Celestia. Pinkamena didn't smile or laugh. She wasn't at all fazed by Twilight's reaction to her snooping. After all, she had been writing about her and Rarity.

***

Applejack was panicking. She was planning to leave with Rainbow Dash that morning but she wasn't packed. And she hadn't said anything to her aunt and uncle. What if they wanted to stop her from leaving? Would her will hold up if her aunt said no? She was already having second thoughts about going back to Sweet Apple Acres. What if Granny Smith and Big Macintosh didn't want her there anymore? What if she wasn't good enough for them? What if she'd changed too much in the past few years and they didn't love her anymore? Ok, all of this was beginning to get ridiculous, but she was in full out panic mode.
"AJ?" Rainbow Dash called from the living room. "Are you packed? Your aunt and uncle want to say goodbye!"
So Rainbow had taken it upon herself to let Aunt and Uncle Orange know they were leaving for Ponyville together? Applejack felt a flood of relief and a tremendous amount of gratitude for her friend. She should have known that Rainbow would understand her loyalty to her family and her inability to leave without first notifying her aunt and uncle.
"Applejack, darling?" her aunt called.
"Coming, Aunt Orange," Applejack said, carefully controlling her voice, almost afraid that Rainbow Dash would catch any amount of her old accent that she let creep in.
Applejack looked at the obscene amount of clothing she had stuffed in her saddlebags. Clothing? Why the hay did she need clothing? Most ponies kept to maybe the occasional accessory, to keep the sun out, but only wore clothes if they needed to impress somepony, like the society ponies her aunt and uncle were friends with. Applejack had been so focused on the little details in her life she'd forgotten how to be practical. Her mother used to say to her when she was a very little filly "Applejack, sometimes ponies cain't see the apple orchard for the trees, but y'all need ta remember that whilst details can be important, they don't mean nothin if y'all cain't see the big picture." Applejack took all the clothing out of her bags, and instead packed a blanket, a small canvas for a tent, and, out of the recesses of the closet Rainbow Dash had hid in the night they'd decided to leave, her grandpappy's hat, a gift from her Granny the day she'd left Sweet Apple Acres.
"Applejack, darling, I just wanted to tell you what a pleasure it's been to have you with us. We know you haven't been truly happy and we apologize for that. I hope you find happiness when you return home. Tell your brother and your grandmother that we said hello," Aunt Orange said, wiping tears from her eyes as she spoke.
"Thank you Aunt Orange, Uncle Orange, I....I'll..." Applejack broke up as her eyes welled with tears. She wrapped her hooves around her aunt's shoulders in a hug. "Thank you for everything. I'll tell Granny and Big Macintosh y'a...you said hi..."
The Orange couple nodded. Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash. "I'm all packed except for food and money. I'll grab some non-perishables from the kitchen and we'll be on our way."
Rainbow Dash nodded. The two pony friends grabbed the last items they needed and headed out on their first big adventure.

***

"Tons of FUN?" Rarity said, as Spike showed her his collection of bugs. "Collecting bugs is fun?"
"Yup, look at this one, it's a butterfly, but when I found it the wings were torn off, and lying on the ground. I put it out of it's misery," the baby dragon explained.
Rarity choked back a gagging noise. This was not her idea of fun. But Spike was a sweet little guy, and really seemed to have taken a liking to her, and she hated to seem cruel. So she endured his boyish ways. She wasn't a complete snob, after all. And spending time with Spike gave her a sense of peace after the things Vinyl had said about her in Canterlot. She knew what it looked like. Their mom had been unfairly cruel to Vinyl, especially compared to how she treated Rarity. And Rarity had been the one to leave. Granted, she was dragged away by her magic and the Diamond Dogs had kidnapped her, but she'd never made a move to contact her sister or come home. She was, selfishly, happier away from the constant fights. So she was trying to make up for it now, with Spike.
"And I also brought snacks!" Spike announced reaching into his pack to pull out a gorgeous baby blue sapphire. Rarity gaped at it. "A baby blue sapphire?!?" she said, her voice going hoarse.
"Yeah! They're totally delicious. The only gems tastier are opals and fire rubies!" Spike said.
Rarity just stared. She loved baby blues. They were her favorite gems, after, well, opals and fire rubies.
"Do you have more than one?" Rarity nervously asked.
"Yeah!" Spike said, pulling out another. Then he noticed Rarity staring.
"Um...would you...um...like one?"
The white unicorn's sapphire colored eyes lit up. "Would I? Oh, Spike, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever given me!"
"Ah, it's no big, you like them so much, and I've got two. I'll have one for a snack and you can have one, for...whatever you use gems for," the baby dragon brushed aside her thanks, but his face said that he appreciated the chance to do something for her.
Tucking the sapphire into her bag, she kissed Spike's cheek. "Thank you, Spike."
Spike blushed and ran off to see what Twilight was doing. Rarity stayed where she was, quietly thinking about the gift her friend had just given her. Nopony had ever given her anything, not since she'd left home, unless she pushed or asked for it. The Diamond Dogs weren't her friends, they were just her subject. Maybe, in Spike, Twilight, and Pinkamena, she was finally finding some real friends.

***

Spike touched the place where Rarity had kissed his cheek. He usually fell for more conventional beauties, ponies with style and grace. But Rarity was, well, a rarity in that she was both tough and beautiful. He was really glad Twilight had let her join their little adventuring party. Yup...really glad.

***

Trixie growled in frustration. Her tracking of Twilight Sparkle was not going as well as she'd hoped it would. She couldn't properly cast a tracking spell. Nopony would give her straight answers when she'd questioned them about the unicorn. Oh she was with a dragon and a gray pegasus that seemed a little...special if ya get my drift was the only useful thing she'd gotten out of the innkeeper. I think I saw a pony of that description go thatway...or maybe it was that way. It was enough to make anypony scream in frustration. Trixie was not a patient pony. Finally, she'd managed to get a lead that would lead her to her rival, and by then she was a good three days behind the purple unicorn and her party. To make matters worse, her mother had apparently figured out how to track Trixie while she was on the road and had sent her another nasty letter.
Patricia,

I hope you're on the road pursuing your career and not just wandering around aimlessly. Your father would be ashamed of the way you've been acting the past couple of months with your schooling and wandering and pandering around. I hope you're happy with yourself, young lady, because I'm certainly not.
-Mother
It was enough to drive anypony crazy. And Trixie was determined that she would do SOMETHING to make her mother forget this crazy performance notion and maybe for once support what Trixie wanted to do with her own life. The only thing standing in her way was Twilight Sparkle. Frustrated, Trixie attempted to cast the tracking spell she'd failed to do to find Twilight. This time...it worked. She let out of shout of triumph and her horn proceeded to show her the direction she needed to take to find Twilight.

***

Rainbow Dash watched Applejack nervously. The earth pony had become increasingly quieter as they traveled farther and farther away from downtown Manehatten. Rainbow Dash was worried that AJ might either change her mind or start wondering why Rainbow herself was just as silent.
"So uh...the Manehatten pegasi sure did a nice job on the weather today..." Rainbow Dash commented lamely in an attempt to break the awkward silence.
"Yup." Applejack said, not looking at the sky, Rainbow Dash, or anything other than the ground.
"So...uh...yeah..." Rainbow Dash said, realizing that the comment had gone nowhere.
It was silent for what seemed like hours.
"Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked suddenly.
Rainbow Dash answered before even thinking about where this might lead. "Yeah AJ?"
"What happened that has you so scared of going to Ponyville? I mean...if you don't want to tell me...that's fine...I just...thought...maybe..." AJ trailed off, going back to looking at the ground.
Rainbow Dash swallowed her fear and gritted her teeth. Applejack was going to wonder about this regardless of what she said, so she might as well tell her friend the truth.
"I...well...I better start from the beginning. I grew up in Cloudsdale, and I was always a pretty good flier, even as a filly. I flew before most of my classmates. My best friend was...not as good at flying as I was. She was always a pretty weak flier and...well...the other kids teased her about it. I was always there to stick up for her, except this one time she was trying to catch up to me and some of the bullies cornered her. I flew back to help and they challenged me to a race. I thought I was the awesomest thing since sliced bread, so obviously I accepted. When the race started, Flut...my friend was standing on a cloud holding the flag to start the race. I sort of...accidentally knocked her off her cloud. I thought about going back to save her...but I was too intent on the race. I ended up losing, pretty miserably too since I attempted to fly way faster that I was actually able to, maybe even fast enough to do the famous Sonic Rainboom...something no pegasus has ever been known to do...most think it's an old pony's tale...and maybe it is...but I got launched way out of the race track. My friend...she was...knocked from the sky...fell down below Cloudsdale, which is almost directly above Ponyville in actuality, it looks a lot farther away on the maps...we think she landed a little outside of the town...nopony ever found her or her...body. But I can't shake the feeling she's dead, and that it's my fault. And then...just before I met you...I was transferred from my job in the Cloudsdale Rainbow Factory to Ponyville's weather patrol. I threw sort of a fit I guess, and quit and just flew and flew. It wasn't until recently that the reason I didn't want to go to Ponyville was because of the memories associated with Cloudsdale and Ponyville and Flutt....my friend."

Applejack looked at her. A tender expression crossed the orange earth pony's face, almost sisterly affection. In that moment, Applejack's accent completely took over.
"Rainbow Dash, what ever happened that day....whether your friend lost her life or not...y'all ain't ta blame. Y'all were racin' to defend your friend's honor and that is the most commendable thing anypony can do. Y'all ain't lame, a loser, or uncool. Y'all're one of the best ponies Ah've ever met and Ah know that what ever challenges y'all face, y'all will overcome."
Rainbow Dash stared at the friend she'd made only days ago who had somehow become a friend she couldn't live without. For a moment they both just sat in silence. Then she spoke up. "Fluttershy...that was her name..."

Chapter 8

Fluttershy struggled with herself. She knew she was falling for Big Macintosh but she was really, really afraid of letting anypony get that close. He had been kind to her, what if he didn't feel the same way? He called you beautiful she thought. Nopony had EVER called her beautiful. Ever. So that had to mean something. Didn't it? She didn't know how relationships of any kind worked. How was she to know how to gauge what Big Macintosh felt for her, if anything. Ok, she knew he was her friend. Nopony rescued a stranger from the forest, took them home, and encouraged them the way he did for her unless they felt some kind of friendship toward them. Right? Maybe she should wait for him to make a move. Or maybe it was better to just stay friends. She hadn't known him for that long after all. She should learn how to be friends before she learned how to love.
"Fluttershy?" a now familiar deep voice said. "Are you alright?" Big Macintosh came up behind her.
"Oh, um, yes," she said lamely, cursing, not for the first time, her incredible shyness.
"Y'all did a great thing with the fillies and colts at the school. Miss Cheerilee wants y'all to become her permanent assistant. I think it'd be good for ya, if y'all wanted to do it, I mean."
Fluttershy considered it. Yes, it would mean a bit of work, but she really did like the school kids.
"Ok, I...I think I'd like that," she said at last. Big Macintosh just nodded.
"Um...Big Macintosh?" she said as the big stallion turned to go back to work.
"Yes, darlin'?"
"I...um...well...I...thank you, for everything," she said, "Not, that...well...it's not..."
"I know what y'all meant sugarcube, and you're welcome. Oh, by the way, Miss Cheerilee would like to see y'all at the school today. I think she wants to go over what your job is gonna be." And with that the big stallion left her, leaving to go work in the orchards his family took so much pride in.
Fluttershy took a deep breath, realizing that her breath had shortened while Big Macintosh was in the room. Did he notice? Maybe he'd say something and....then what? She wasn't brave enough to say anything to him. She'd suffer in silence until he made a move.
"Ok, Fluttershy, stop mooning over Big Macintosh and go up to the school to talk to Cheerilee," she said outloud.
She forced herself to walk to the school by herself, though it made her nervous to be around so many ponies. Finally, she reached the school house and saw Cheerilee waiting in the playground.
"Hello, Fluttershy, I'm so glad you came, and I'm so glad you took this job with me. Some of the other teachers have assistants but none of them are as good as you," the cheerful schoolteacher said, patting Fluttershy gently on the back. Fluttershy blushed. "Oh, I'm not that good, Miss Cheerilee," she mumbled, made nervous by the praise.
"Of course you are! The kids love you and even Diamond Tiara listens to you. And I have to say I like having lunch and recess to myself. I just don't get enough planning time in these days." The schoolmare beamed. "You're a blessing from Celestia, Fluttershy! Oh, but before I get too much into praising you, I'm going to give you an outline of what being my assistant will entail. You'll get here when the students do or a little before, and your morning will be paperwork and keeping an eye out for discipline problems that I might miss. You'll take the kids for lunch and recess and you'll be in charge then. After lunch, you can go home or stay and get a head start on paperwork. That's really all. The students will be expected to treat you like they would any other teacher and you'll be paid the same salary as the other assistants and be expected to follow the school's code of conduct. You'll have teacher workdays and holidays off. Any questions?"
Flutterhsy shook her head. "Good! You start tomorrow!" Cheerilee beamed. "We're going to have two new students and Snips and Snails should be back, so you'll have a few more students to deal with, but it'll be alright. Students tend to follow other's examples and since the other students all respect you already, these four will too."
Fluttershy nodded, slightly nervous. More students? Good with animals, good with kids. It would be fine. The other kids loved her. The new kids would too.
Good with animals, good with kids...

***

Twilight was getting incredibly frustrated with her group's slow progress. Ditsy, whom Twilight was getting incredibly close to calling by her somewhat derogatory nickname "Derpy", kept leading them all around, occasionally chasing random "feelings" in one direction, then backtracking, then ending up going a different direction. Twilight didn't consider herself particularly talented, but she knew that this was just ridiculous. To make matters worse, Rarity kept loudly complaining about their slow goings, Pinkamena took everything with the same ultra serious expression, and Spike was starting to noisily voice his suspicions that Ditsy had no idea where she was going in the wally-eyed pegasus's hearing, though the gray mare seemed to ignore him. Twilight was beginning to think that none of them were ever going to get anywhere.
"Stop!" Ditsy shouted. Twilight managed to collide with Pinkamena's rear end. Pinkamena gave her a look that could melt rock.
"We need to go this way! We're not supposed to run into the others until we arrive in Ponyville!" the pegasus said. Twilight rolled her eyes at the pegasus's confusing words. Why couldn't the crazy pony just say things straight out? Pinkamena, however, nodded. Rarity groaned.
"Does this mean that we can stop walking around in circles?" the white unicorn asked, a tiny hint of a whine creeping in to her usually hard voice.
"Yes, Miss Rarity, it does," said Ditsy unfazed by the unicorn's complaining.
A collective cheer rose from Twilight, Rarity and Spike. Pinkamena, as usually, stayed grim and Ditsy's unfocused eyes betrayed none of her feelings.
So the day continued with them actually going toward Ponyville, a journey that took about two days on foot, if one stopped to include breaks. Though with Spike, Twilight suspected that journey might take a little longer considering that the baby dragon had a tendency to fall asleep rather suddenly the moment he was tired.
"So, Ditsy...when do you think we'll be in Ponyville?" Twilight asked, hoping that the pegasus could give her a straight answer for a change.
"Before tomorrow night, if you carry Spike," Ditsy answered. "Unless something comes up and we have to divert our course."
Twilight sighed. She had no doubt that "something", if it happened would be one of Ditsy's random wanderings or one of Pinkamena's twitches. She kind of felt like she was following random events to nowhere.
"Twilight?" Ditsy said. Twilight turned. "There's something I need to tell you, and no matter how unbelievable it seems I think you need to know."
"Ok?" Twilight asked wondering where the hay this was going.
"I have a strange magical gift. My eyes allow me to see into other dimensions and other realities, through both space and time. If I wander off aimlessly sometimes it's because I'm seeing a vision that's important the the journey. I don't think I we need to do anything else before we get to Ponyville, but if I see something that changes that we may be changing course."
Twilight stared at Ditsy. This crazy, ridiculous and, well, ditsy, pony had some kind of special visions?
"Oh...well, that uh...explains a lot..." Twilight said not really sure how to respond. "I mean...if you're serious."
"I am. Ask Princess Celestia."
Twilight had to hesitate there. If Ditsy thought Princess Celestia herself would back up her tale then there's no way the pegasus was pulling her leg here. Twilight nodded at Ditsy.
"Good, now let's keep going. Don't mention this to the others, I'll tell them on my own as I see fit. I think Pinkamena already knows anyway."
Twilight was left alone after that to muse over what Ditsy had just told her. Well, she did suppose it explained a lot. It was weird and she really didn't know what the significance was. But it did clear somethings up. But why was Ditsy telling her first? She wasn't a leader, not really. Rarity and Pinkamena were WAY more important than she was...right?

***

Rainbow Dash walked over the hill with Applejack. Ponyville. They had arrived at last. What Rainbow had assumed would be sort of a backwater was more of just a small town, busy enough that it didn’t seem dumpy, slow enough that it didn’t seem too rushed. In short, Ponyville was perfect. People noticed you, said hi, congratulated one another on a job well done. Was this really what she had been running from? No, she reminded herself, I’ve been running from the awful reality of what I did to Fluttersy. AJ had tried to reassure her several times that Fluttershy’s fate wasn’t her fault, and to some extent Dash bought it. But Rainbow still hadn’t quite moved past that day, maybe she never would.
“Mah family’s home is at the end of Ponyville, we own a lot of land…” Applejack trailed off. Although she had regained her accent and her country charm, AJ was still really nervous about coming home to her family. Rainbow Dash got the impression that Applejack’s family meant the world to her and to have them reject her was her ultimate fear.
The pair walked through Ponyville, Applejack pointing out the stores she remembered from growing up, though like any town, Ponyville was expanding.
“And here’s Sugarcube Corner, Ah wonder if the Cake family still runs that place. And there’s the town hall, Ah’ve never seen that store, Quills and Sofas? That’s an odd combination. I wonder who’s idea that was, and over there…” Applejack kept up a slow but constant stream of conversation as the two wound their way to Applejack’s home.
Finally, the two of them reached what must be Applejack’s farm. AJ came to a halt.
“There she is. Sweet Apple Acres. Ma home.” The orange earth pony’s green eyes filled with tears. “Come on Rainbow, Ah have to introduce y’all to ma family.” She set off at a run. Rainbow Dash was momentarily stunned, and had to use her wings to catch up with her friend.
“Granny! Big Macintosh! Apple Bloom! It’s me! Applejack! Ah’m home!!!” AJ was calling. Rainbow Dash saw a green head peak out the window of the house.
“Applejack? Is that you? It is you! This old head ain’t dreamin’! Big Macintosh, get yer flank out here! It’s Applejack!”
Dash watched as red stallion appeared from behind the barn. She quickly saw why they called him “big” Macintosh.
“AJ!!” he yelled. And galloped straight toward her friend. The older mare, who must be Applejack’s Granny Smith, had made it down the stairs and was hobbling toward Applejack. A small filly, with a big pink bow, was hanging back, but as soon as Big Macintosh tackled Applejack, she joined the fray, landing on top of Granny Smith as the four ponies created the biggest display of family affection Rainbow Dash had ever seen.
“Alright, you three, stop crowdin’ me, I have a friend I need to introduce to y’all!” Applejack said. She galloped toward Dash, just as the pegasus was thinking she ought to leave the family in peace, and dragged her by her wings toward the family.
“This here’s Rainbow Dash, and if it weren’t for her I’d still be livin’ miserably with Aunt and Uncle Orange!” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash blushed.
“Ah…it wasn’t that big of a deal,” she said, but the Apple Family was already embracing her in a friendly hug, adopting her as one of their own with out a second thought.
“So yer my big sister?” little Apple Bloom asked AJ.
“Yessiree and I’m sure sorry I wasn’t here for y’all,” Applejack said, removing the hat she’d taken to wearing on the road.
Apple Bloom didn’t really seem to mind that Applejack hadn’t been there. She'd instantly decided that Applejack was the best sister ever.
Big Macintosh, who didn't seem one to say much, quietly began to slip away from the women. Rainbow Dash noticed, even though AJ didn't, and followed the big stallion, curious what he was up to.
He led her to a barn, behind the house, that was slightly hidden from the main road.
“Hon, y’all can come out. I’d like ya to meet ma sister Applejack and her friend. I know y’all don’t like strangers, but AJ is family,” the stallion said to someone in the barn.
“Um…ok…I guess I can meet your sister,” a strangely familiar voice said. Rainbow Dash tried hard to place it and couldn’t.
Then a pale yellow pegasus emerged from the barn. Rainbow Dash gaped. No. It couldn’t be. It was impossible! But the pegasus looked so much like her childhood friend that there was only one pony it could be.
“Come on Fluttershy, let’s get ya to the house,” Big Macintosh spoke proving Rainbow Dash’s suspicions.

***

Somewhere in the throng of her family’s hugs, Applejack realized that Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash had disappeared. Now where in the world of Equestria could they have gone? Applejack wondered.
Apple Bloom saw Applejack looking around “He’s probably goin ta get the friend who’s been livin’ with us!” Apple Bloom said. Applejack stared at her sister. Big Macintosh was incredibly kind, but friends? The ponies around town liked him, but he usually kept his distance. He was incredibly quiet and incredibly smart, despite his good ol’ boy attitude. All of those things made it hard for him to relate to other ponies. So the idea that he’d brought home a friend who was now living with the family was, while not impossible, certainly hard to imagine.
“She’s kind of fragile, sometimes, but she’s super cool so be really nice to her ok?” Apple Bloom was saying.
“She?” Applejack was startled from her thoughts.
“Big Macintosh’s friend! Her name is Fluttershy!” Apple Bloom said. Applejack blinked. Wasn’t that the name of the friend that Rainbow Dash had lost all those years ago? Maybe it was a coincidence. Or maybe she’d heard wrong.
“What did you say her name was?”
“Fluttershy! She’s real shy, but she saved me from Diamond Tiara so she’s totally cool!” Apple Bloom rambled on about an incident in which Fluttershy had rescued her from a bullying filly’s torment. Applejack wasn’t listening. Rainbow Dash was going to flip.
“Ah’ve gotta find Rainbow, ‘scuse me, be right back!”
Oh please let her find RD before she found Big Macintosh and Fluttershy. She wasn’t sure if Rainbow was going to be able to handle this on her own.
Finally, Applejack caught a glimpse of a rainbow colored mane, hiding beside the lesser used family barn. Applejack tried to call out but stopped cold when she heard her brother’s voice.
“Hon, y’all can come out. I’d like ya to meet ma sister Applejack and her friend. I know y’all don’t like strangers, but AJ is family.”
An unfamiliar voice answered, “Um…ok…I guess I can meet your sister.”
Applejack was frozen, unsure of how to signal Rainbow Dash of what was going on before Big Macintosh gave it away.
“Come on Fluttershy, let’s get ya to the house.”
Too late. As Big Macintosh and Fluttershy headed toward the house, Applejack saw Rainbow frozen in her tracks, seemingly shocked into stand still. Applejack went to her friend.
“Did y’all see that?” Applejack said, though she knew full well that her friend had seen what had just happened.
“Yeah…I can’t believe…Fluttershy….ohmygosh, I have to get back up front!” A burst of speed sent the pegasus flying toward the house. Applejack sighed. For somepony who claimed to be a poor flier, Rainbow Dash could certainly fly fast when she wanted.

***

Fluttershy nervously followed Big Macintosh to the front of the house. She was ok with the Apple Family she knew and would doubtless be ok with Applejack, if she was anything like Big Macintosh remembered her. But Applejack had brought a friend, a stranger, somepony Fluttershy had never even heard of. That had all of her senses on hyper drive, her shadow kept startling her.
“Come on sugarcube, it’s just yer shadow, nothin’ to be afraid of,” Big Macintosh comforted. Fluttershy didn’t respond, she was too busy trying to remember how to breath.
Finally, they reached the front of the house, where Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, an orange pony that must be Applejack, and an oddly familiar looking stranger stood with their backs to Fluttershy and Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh cleared his throat. The four turned to look at the two of them.
“Applejack, Miss Rainbow Dash, this is Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy gaped. Rainbow Dash?
“R-r-r-rainbow Dash?????” she choked.
“Hi, Fluttershy, good to see your alive…” the cyan pegasus said nervously.
“RAINBOW DASH!!!” Fluttershy shouted, uncharacteristically loud. She threw herself on her old friend, any betrayal she might have felt long gone.
“I can’t believe it’s really you! I thought I’d never see you again, after I fell and they didn’t find me, I kept expecting you to come looking for me but you never did! Omigosh I’ve missed you so much!!!!”
“I’ve missed you too Fluttershy, I was…so sure you were dead,” Rainbow Dash said, tears in her magenta eyes. Fluttershy realized that she was crying too. Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom looked confused, Applejack was wiping away tears of her own. Granny Smith had somehow fallen asleep. Fluttershy laughed a little before squeezing Rainbow Dash around the shoulders, then let go. Big Macintosh’s look said he’d want an explanation later, but she felt she owed it to the Apple Family to give it now.
“Um…everypony? This is Rainbow Dash, she was my best friend before I fell from Cloudsdale. I haven’t seen her in twelve years.”
Rainbow Dash smiled. “I still can’t believe you’re alive. I’ve spent the last twelve years blaming myself for your death and now…”
“Oh Rainbow Dash, that accident wasn’t your fault at all! There were tons of other pegasi there and none of them raised a wing to help me!” Fluttershy said earnestly. “You were the only pony there sticking up for me! Never, ever blame yourself for the things that happened that day and…after.”
It was then that Rainbow Dash noticed her wings and her cutie mark. “What…happened?”
Fluttershy took a breath. “I managed to land on a swarm of butterflies, but they buckled under my weight and I still landed on the ground. My wings were broken beyond repair and the doctors that found me thought they’d have to amputate them. But this one doctor wanted to try this experimental treatment on me, but it caused my wings to be permanently child-sized. And he also messed with my cutie mark, trying to artificially make it appear, so it’s sort of messed up looking. Oh Rainbow, please don’t blame yourself for these things!”
Rainbow Dash and the Apple Family were silent. Then Rainbow Dash spoke up. “That…worm-eating…son of an Ursa Major! What happened to him? Did he go to jail? Did he get the death penalty? If he’s still alive I’ll track him down for hurting my friend!!” A spark had reappeared in her eyes, something that Fluttershy hadn’t even noticed had been missing from her friend.
“He was caught, Rainbow, and I think he’s still in prison. Don’t track him down or anything, please!”
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m just glad you’re alive.”

Chapter 9

Rarity was NOT pleased with all the walking the traveling party was doing. Why couldn't they just take a train or a carriage? They would have been in Ponyville days ago. It didn't help that Twilight was always sulky, Pinkamena was always so utlra-serious. Spike, while amusing in his continued devotion to her, was a little jumpy and sometimes had a tendency to do really disgusting things, and Ditsy Doo...Ditsy was the worst. Wandering around aimlessly, like she was leading them to a new place when really they'd walked around in circles until yesterday, when they'd finally started heading towards Ponyville. With each step closer to the little town, Rarity only got more and more irritated, her nerves returning to her. She even snapped at Spike when he'd tried to get her to look at his bugs again. She'd had just about enough of it.
"How much longer?" Rarity complained. "My hooves are getting sore! I would really like to know when we hall be arriving at our shared destination!"

Ditsy ignored her, Spike and Pinkamena shrugged. Twilight, however, seemed incredibly put-off. "Stop whining Rarity, we'll get there when we get there!" the purple unicorn snapped.
Rarity gasped. Whining? She most certainly was not whining! "Whining, I beg you pardon Miss Twilight, but I am not whining. Do you want to hear whining?" Pinkamena and Spike glanced at one another and shook their heads vigorously. Rarity ignored them. This was for Twilight. "Thiiis is whiiniing! Owwww! My hooves are getting sore, when are we going to get there? We've been wandering for days and I'm SO HUNGRY, when are we going to stop for food?!?" Rarity whined deliberately. Pinkamena rolled her blue eyes. Twilight winced. "Ok, ok, I get the point!" the other unicorn said.

"Good because I most certainly do not need somepony telling me that I'm whining when I clearly am not!"
This time it was Twilight's turn to roll her eyes. Rarity stuck her nose in the air, putting on her most imperious air. Pinkamena spoke up.
"Oh shut up and stop it Rarity," said the usually quiet pink earth pony said. "We'll get there when we get there."
Rarity was a little bit stunned. Though Pinkamena wasn't the nicest pony in Equestria, she wasn't mean. Nor would she say something she didn't really mean. Maybe I did overstep my bounds ever so slightly thought the white unicorn. She blushed.
"I suppose I did over react. I'm not used to...dealing with ponies that don't jump to obey my every move."
"It's ok, Rarity, we still love you," Pinkamena said, her face uncharacteristically soft, though there was still no hint of a smile.
Slightly taken aback, Rarity stared at Pinkamena. "Thank you Pinkamena, I appreciate it.":
Pinkamena just nodded. The group fell into silence and went back to their walking. Suddenly, Ditsy Doo stopped, causing all of the other ponies to slam into her.
"We're here!" announced the gray pegasus, beaming like a child.
"We're...here?" Rarity said, aghast. How could they...they WERE here! A town was just barely visible at the horizon. Rarity began to jump up and down gleefully, relieved to finally be in a town! Even if it was Ponyville, where she'd sworn never to return. Twilight grinned, Spike hopped of Twilight's back to do a victory dance, Ditsy just held her smile, and even Pinkamena cracked a small grin. Finally, they'd reached their destination. Where they were going from here was another story, but they were here.

***

A small white unicorn filly waited in front of a broken down old dress shop that used to belong to her grandmother. The shop had fallen into disrepair as neither of her parents cared about making clothing. Apparently she’d once had a sister who’d loved fashion and had wanted to be a fashionista. But Rarity had been dragged away by her own magic as a filly before Sweetie Belle had even been born. Apparently she’d been seen leading a gang of diamond dogs, but Sweetie’s parents insisted she was dead. Sweetie Belle didn’t buy it. She wasn’t completely brainless.
“Sweetie Belle!” a familiar voice called. An orange Pegasus sped up the hill on a scooter toward Sweetie Belle.
“Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle replied, her voice cracking.
“Sweetie Belle, there’s totally a group coming toward Ponyville and one of them looks like your long lost sister or whatever!” Scootaloo announced.
“WHAT?” Sweetie Belle squeaked “Well, what are we waiting for? We gotta go see! “
“Well hop on!” Scootaloo said, gesturing toward her scooter. Sweetie Belle obeyed.
The pair of fillies sped toward the town square and just managed to meet the traveling party. Sweetie Belle gasped. There was no way that the white unicorn with the dark purple mane wasn’t Rarity, her long lost sister. She looked just like the pictures.
“RARITY!” Sweetie Belle yelled before she thought it through. Scootaloo elbowed her, but it was too late, the unicorn had already seen and heard Sweetie Belle. She fixed the filly with a slightly cold blue eyed stare.
“Who are you?” Rarity, it had to be her, asked.
“Um…” Sweetie Belle was suddenly incredibly nervous. How was she supposed to inform this pony that she was her sister?
“She’s your sister,” Scootaloo interjected, obviously getting tired of all the questions. The other ponies, well, except the weird gray one with the crazy eyes, stared at the orange pegasus filly. Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “She was born after you got dragged off or whatever.”
Rarity seemed stunned. She looked at Sweetie Belle, her look cold and unforgiving, then her face softened.
“What’s your name, little sister?” Rarity asked. Sweetie Belle leaped up ,excited that the sister she’d secretly idolized her whole life believed her…well…Scootaloo…when told that Sweetie was her sister.
“Sweetie Belle!!!” she announced.
“Well, then Sweetie Belle, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Rarity said, her words formal but her tone loving. Sweetie Belle’s eyes filled with tears. She had a sister, and that sister was back in Ponyville. Rarity introduced her to her traveling companions, Twilight Sparkle was the serious looking purple unicorn, Spike was the baby dragon, Pinkamena was the even more serious looking pink earth pony and the weird gray pegasus was Ditsy “Derpy Hooves” Doo. Happily, Sweetie Belle followed their party to wherever they were going preparing for a lifetime of catching up with her new big sis.

***

Rainbow Dash smiled at Fluttershy, happy to have her old friend back. She still kept biting her tongue, thinking she must be dreaming, but nope. She was awake, her oldest friend was alive, her new friend was also by her side and she’d found something she’d never expected to have again. Friends so close they were like family. Friends she could count on and friends who would count on her. She hadn’t realized how much she’d really missed having friends she could protect. It sounded weird, even in her head, but she felt a fierce loyalty to Fluttershy and Applejack both.
“So…where have you been all these years Fluttershy? Big Macintosh said you only just started living here,” Dash asked her shy friend.
“Oh um…well…I um…was living alone in a cabin near the edge of the Everfree Forest with no one but my little animal friends to keep me company,” Fluttershy said, smiling awkwardly at the end of the sentence.
“Oh man, Fluttershy, that’s awful.”
“Oh not really, I mean, I guess it was kind of lonely…”
“Yeah, I know what you mean.”
Rainbow Dash smiled at her friend. Then she heard a knock at the door. Granny Smith, who had been snoozing nearby jumped up with a snore, then fell back down in her chair, still sound asleep. Applejack and Big Macintosh were working in the field, Apple Bloom was out playing with her friend Twist. Fluttershy started shaking.
“It’s ok, Shy, I’ll get it,” Rainbow Dash said, heading toward the door. Fluttershy hid as Rainbow answered the door.
“Um…hi?” Dash said as she opened the door. I really didn’t think this one through, I should have waited for one of the Apple Family. A gray pegasus floated at the door, her eyes not focusing on anything. “Hello Rainbow Dash,” the pegasus said, then she smiled.
“Holy Celestia! Who are you and how do you know my name?” She asked, bewildered.
“Not important, other than that my name is Ditsy Doo, though some ponies call me Derpy. I’m not sure I like that name though.”
“Ok Ditsy…” Dash said still confused. “What do you need with Applejack’s family.
“Oh I’m not looking for Applejack’s family, as nice as I’m sure they are. I’m looking for three ponies that I believe to be here. You, Fluttershy and Applejack.”
Dash just stared at Derpy. What was up with this weirdo? “Ok, listen, I’m not buyin’ this. I don’t know how you know our names but I do know none of us wants whatever it is your selling, ok?”
“I’m not a salespony, Miss Dash, I’m more of a prophet, I guess.”
Now Dash was really confused. “A what now?”
The gray pegasus sighed, clearly not wanting to tell Dash her next piece of information.
“I see visions of other realities, something happened in one that should have happened here but didn’t. It was supposed to bring together six ponies, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkamena “Pinkie” Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and you. But it didn’t and now it’s up to me to collect the six of you before Nightmare Moon comes back, but I can’t tell you why you’re important.”
Rainbow Dash just stared. Her? Important? What kind of horse crap was this pony spouting?
“I think you have the wrong pony, uh…whatever you said your name was,” Rainbow Dash said, looking at the ground.
“No, I don’t, and your lack of self-confidence is never going to get you to the point where you need to be,” Derpy said, her eyes going to either side of her head again.
Rainbow Dash was unnerved by this strange pony, but couldn’t help feeling that she was right, whoever she was.
“Alright…you can come in.”

***

Apple Bloom stood listening from the hall. Everypony thought she was out playing with Twist but Twist had gone home hours ago. She’d been eavesdropping on the conversation between Dash and Ditsy Doo since the rainbow-maned pegasus opened the door. Apparently Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and her sister who she barely knew were somehow special. Apple Bloom wasn’t surprised, but she wasn’t about to be left out of this either. If Applejack was going to go on an adventure, she wasn’t going to be left behind. She was a big pony, and she would follow her sister and her new friend Fluttershy and even Dash, whom she’d only known for about a day, wherever they went.

***

Scootaloo stood dumbfounded at the outskirts of Ponyville. Sweetie Belle had found a sister she’d idolized all her life and left Scootaloo alone. While she wasn’t surprised, she was used to ponies ignoring her, she was a bit hurt that her best friend would leave her alone like that in favor of a stranger. Shrugging, she headed toward town, nearly running over a cyan colored pegasus with a rainbow mane.
“Hey kid, watch where you’re goin’!” the unfamiliar pegasus snapped.
“Sorry…” Scootaloo said. She looked up. The pegasus was in deep thought, she could tell, and had the most amazing physique for a pegasus flier Scootaloo had seen. The filly was a huge fan of the Wonderbolts sports team and studied vehemently of what would make her the best possible flier she could be when her wings finally grew in. Looking at this stranger, she saw all the things she’d learned made the perfect speed flier. Lean body, well -muscled legs, sleek wings that were of average size. Scootaloo grinned at the stranger.
“Hey, are you an athlete?” Scootaloo asked “What’s your name? Are you from Ponyville? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here!”
“Uh…no,” The pegasus answered to the first question. “I’m not an athlete at all, I’m a bad flier, to be honest, my name is Rainbow Dash, though it should probably be Rainbow Crash…I’m from Cloudsdale…who in the hay are you?”
Scootaloo stared for a minute at Rainbow Dash. Bad flier? Impossible. She was WAY too cool looking to be a bad flier, and she had all the right body type for a speed flier. “My name’s Scootaloo. And there’s no way you’re not a good flier. I’m a Wonderbolts fan and I know all the best moves and body types that make good speed fliers.”
Rainbow stared back for a second. Scootaloo just smiled. She liked this pony on sight.
“No, I’m a pretty bad flier,” Dash said, but she didn’t sound convinced. “I’ll show you.”
The cyan pegasus took off, kicking off the ground with pretty good form, though from what Scootaloo knew of the Wonderbolts, she could tell Dash hadn’t practiced.
Watching, Scootaloo saw Dash do a loop and a barrel roll, though it looked like these things were instincts rather than practiced. Then the pegasus went to land, and tripped.
“See?” Dash said. “Bad flier, kid.”
“No way!” said Scootaloo, “You just have to keep your head up when you land, and you’ll be fine. It’s just your landing that needs work. Well, that and your confidence I guess, though I’m not one talk, I can’t even fly yet. I don’t even have a cutie mark or anything.”
Dash looked away, Scootaloo followed the other pegasus’s magenta eyes to her cyan flank. There was nothing there. Scootaloo gaped, then quickly closed her mouth, and chose not to say anything.
“Well, catch ya later, you’re not bad. For an adult,” the filly said, and took off on her scooter, wondering why Dash had no confidence in her pretty obvious skill.

***

Pinkamena rummaged through the maps and coordinates Princess Celestia had given Twilight, hoping to find what the point of the journey was, though she could find nothing there. She wasn’t surprised. Ditsy Doo was out, and Pinkamena was certain that Ditsy was the key. She knew there was something going on, she could just feel it. But she wasn’t certain what it was, and it frustrated the pink pony. Grumbling about the others, Pinkamena decided she would explore Ponyville. She knew there was a sweet shop around here somewhere and she did love confections.
“Now Pinkie, don’t eat so much cake!” Granny Pie said, smiling at her favorite granddaughter. “But Granny! It’s so delicious! Can I have another slice?” a small pink filly asked, grinning widely at her favorite relative. Granny laughed. “No, no, Pinkamena Diane, I think you’ve had quite enough.” The gray-haired, pink pony took the plate from Pinkamena, then began tickling her, Pinkie giggled. “Stop it Granny!” Both of them laughed, as Clyde, Pinkie’s father, looked on disapprovingly.
The memory faded, and Pinkamena felt a small smile on her face. She missed those days when she could smile, at least when her Granny came to visit. The rest of the time there was no smiling or laughing. Just miles of rocks. A tear trickled down her face. She wasn’t this serious pony she had to act like all the time. She wanted to be able to have fun. Shrugging, Pinkamena took off for a walk, hoping to find the sweet shop.
Deep in thought she didn’t realize she wasn’t paying attention until she nearly crashed into a rainbow-maned pegasus.
“Celestia’s mane!” the pegasus swore “What is up with ponies today? I’m going to wake up bruised tomorrow.”
“I’m very sorry, ma’am,” Pinkamena said, flustered. This pony seemed rather upset.
“It’s fine, it’s nothing I’m not used to,” the pony said. “Name’s Rainbow Dash, who’re you?”
“Pinkamena Diane Pie, ma’am. “
“Pinkamena Diane Pie ? That’s a really long name. Don’t you have like a nickname or something?”
Pinkamena paused. Here we go with the nickname thing. She stared at the rainbow-maned pegasus. The other pony was unfazed. Pinkamena sighed.
“You can call me Pinkie Pie, I guess,” she said. Rainbow Dash broke into a grin.
“Sweet. You can call me Dash, Pinkie! Hey, are you from around here? I was trying to find that sweet shoppe my friend Applejack showed me.”
“No, but I was going to the sweet shoppe too. Would you like to come with me?” Pinkamena said.
“Sure thing Pinks,” Dash said. “Hey, do you like pranks?”
“What??? Well…I do like a good practical joke…” Pinkamena began, though her face stayed the same blankly serious face she usually wore.”
“Awesome. Wanna see a good one?” the pegasus asked.
“Um…sure…”
“Watch this!”
Dash flew up to a nearby cloud and lowered it behind an unknowing passerby’s head. Then, without warning she kicked it. A small clap of thunder sounded, causing thelarge pony Dash had targeted to jump and wheel around. Seeing the grinning Rainbow Dash, the stranger started to laugh.
“That was pretty funny, Miss Dash,” the large red stallion said with a strong country accent and a chuckle. “Y’all really got me.”
“Hehe, thanks for being a good sport, Big Macintosh!” Dash called as she waved goodbye to her new friend.
Pinkamena watched the whole thing, not realizing that she’d cracked a smile until the grinning Dash returned. Then, she busted into a high pitched giggle.
“AHAHA! That was absolutely hilarious!” Pinkamena said, cracking up. “Ahahaha! His face!”
“Hehe, wasn’t it? I wouldn’t have struck you as the type, but you’re pretty funny, Pinks.”
“Heeeheee, you too Dash. I like you…would you…wanna be friends?” Pinkamena said grinning more than she had since her Granny Pie left.
“Sure, Pinkie, that would be awesome. Guess we better go find that sweet shoppe, huh?”
“Yeah, totally.”
The pair trotted off looking for the shop, Pinkamena actually feeling light and happy for one of the first time in years and laughing harder than she had in her whole life.

Chapter 10

Twilight groaned as she had to listen to Rarity talk to her new found little sister, just hanging around this park.She wanted to do something productive, like find Ditsy Doo and wring her neck. They were here. Now they were supposed to be doing some kind of epic quest for Princess Celestia, but noooo. Pinkamena and Ditsy had wandered off. Rarity was talking to this filly and totally actually listening to her. Spike was asleep and she was stuck here doing absolutely nothing. It was driving her CRAZY and she was pretty sure that the rest of this party was crazy too. "Fine, they don't want to get things done, I'll have to do it myself!" she said out loud. Spike woke up at this declaration. "What? Who? Huh?" the dragon stammered.
"Come on Spike!" Twilight demanded. "We are going to the library to find out WHY we are here and WHY I have to put up with all these crazy ponies!"
"But I like Pinkamena and Rarity! I mean, Pinkamena's a little crazy if you ask me, and Ditsy is just completely nuts, but I thought they were our friends!"
Twilight halted.
"Friends? Spike, we've known them for a few days...how could they possibly be our friends?"
"Oh come on Twilight. You've gotta stop being so serious all the time. There's nothing wrong with making friends with ponies you don't know very well. That's why you become friends, so you can get to know them."
Twilight glared. She hated it when Spike made so much sense.
"Well, that's not important! For now, I'm going to the library!"
"Shouldn't we find Derpy first? She knows what we're doing and maybe she could direct your research better!"
"No, Spike, I know what we're looking for. I've figured it out!"
"Uhh....you have?"
"Yes...I will....um...tell you when we get there..."
Twilight barely saw Spike roll his eyes and shrug. "Ok...I mean, whatever you say Twilight."
The pair set off toward the library without telling Rarity where they were going.
Spike trotted along behind Twilight, his stubby legs making it hard for him to keep up with her deliberate canter. Twilight didn't notice, she was angry and frustrated and by Celestia's Mane she was going to get answers, banish it!
Finally the pair arrived at the library, which was a beautiful tree that had been magically carved out to act as a building. It was Twilight's kind of place, with two balconies for stargazing, or reading and several large windows. And it was a library.
"Come on Spike, let's see what we can find!"
"Coming Twilight!" Spike said, then muttered something less pleasant to himself.
Twilight ran into the library, a puffing Spike behind her. The library was beautifully lit, if a tiny bit dusty, and a tiny old unicorn stallion stood on rickety legs, an open book with a quill laying across it was his cutie mark, he sported a bowtie and glasses, his mane was curly and pure white. His pale blue coat did nothing to hide his wrinkles and knobby knees.
"Hello? Who's there?" The old stallions squinted through his bifocals, the glasses clearly not strong enough for an old pony who must be nearly blind.
"Um...hi...my name is Twilight Sparkle...and..." she stopped. She realized she had no idea what she was looking for.
"Twilight! I'm so glad to see you!" the old pony said. Twilight stepped back.
"Um...I don't know you...you see..."
"Oh, I'm sorry...the Princess told me to give you this book," the old stallion said, shakily levitating a book toward Twilight. Twilight nervously took it.
"Elements of Harmony, A Reference Guide. Why would I need this?" She asked.
"Dunno. Ask the Princess. But she wanted me to make sure you read it, Missy"
"Um...Ok..." Twilight opened the book, with her magic...and it fell to a page on it's own.
"There are six elements of harmony, but only five are known, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the Elements of Harmony is the ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, located in what is now..." Twilight gasped. "The Everfree Forest? But what does this have to do with me? Why does Celestia want me to know this?"
"Don't ask me, sweetie. I'm just an old bookworm about to retire," the old pony said.
"Retire? But...this library! It's so beautiful! All the books and, the balconies and...oh and everything! What will become of it?"
"Well, if you like it all that much, Princess Celestia said to let you live here!"
"Me? Live here? But...I'm from Canterlot and I was going to go..." she stopped. Other than her family, was there really anything for her in Canterlot? She was a student of Celestia, but that was recent and still bewildering...she had no friends there...she'd never needed them...
"Um...Ok...I'll...consider it..." she said.
The old stallion nodded and then went back to his chair...where he quickly fell asleep. Twilight set her book down and began to read.

***

Princess Celestia paced around her chambers. Her counterpart in the "Sonic Rainboom" timeline had informed her that Princess Luna was already back in that world. The Summer Sun Celebration was right around the corner and Ditsy still had not managed to get the six together and where they needed to be.
Nightmare Moon was going to come back to a world that was unprepared for her.

"My sister...if only I could save you myself," the princess murmured.

While she was lost in her thoughts, a letter appeared in front of her in a flash of green flames. Spike.

It was about time.

"Dear Princess Celestia," the ruler began out loud.

"I am almost there. The six are all in Ponyville now, and I'm trying to bring them together. Twilight has received your offer to take over the library and hasn't come out of the library since. Rainbow Dash has run into Miss Pinkamena Pie and seems to be bringing out the latent laughter in her, Applejack and Fluttershy are with the Apple Family, and Applejack is remembering why she should have come home, while Fluttershy is attempting to overcome her crippling fear of others and is making friends with Applejack's brother and the neighborhood school teacher. Her kindness toward the Apple Family has made her almost an honorary member. Rarity is my next mission, she's meeting her young sister, Sweetie Belle, and I hope that makes her lose the rock hard exterior somewhat.

Give my regards to my brother,

Ditsy Doo"

Princess Celestia sighed. She hoped Ditsy could do it in the time required.

Or Equestria might not see day for a long time.

***

Rarity sighed a little. Her sister, one she hadn't even known she had, was the most talkative pony she'd ever met, and certainly more talkative than her traveling companions. Of course, they had years of things to talk about, but Rarity was getting impatient.

"Sweetie Belle, dear, I really must..."

"And then mom said that you used to love fashion, so I got her to buy me a sewing machine just for me!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. "And you're just as amazing as I imagined only even better because you're a queen and a cool rogue pony!"

Rarity was momentarily stunned. This pony had known her all of an hour, and she was raving about her. How could anypony give anypony else such an instant chance?

Her heart softened ever so slightly. She supposed she could donate a little more of her time to her sister.

"And one year for Nightmare Night I dressed up as you in your theif costume and all my friends said it was the best costume ever! And..."

Rarity smiled. Sweetie Belle could talk all she wanted. And not because the tiny squeaker was stroking Rarity's ego. But because she honestly seemed to look up to Rarity, and Rarity hadn't had someone look up to her without fear...ever.

The unicorn was listening to every word her sister said. It was a strange relationship they had, since she was someone listening to a stranger, someone she'd never met, and yet had they had a connection. In Equestria, family bonds often extended beyond being related to somepony, not always, but often. Your family served as your first friends, and even if you didn't know them Rarity had to suppose that there was still magic in being blood related.

"And then Scootaloo said that I'd never meet you that you probably were dead or something and she was WRONG!" Sweetie Belle said, then hugged Rarity's leg.

"I'm so glad I was right!"

Rarity smiled. "Me too little sister...me too."

Somewhere in the distance, a wall-eyed pony smiled.

***

Trixie was finished with Twilight Sparkle. All she had been doing for hours was just reading in some boring old library in a pitiful little town called Ponyville. Even Spike was getting bored, she could tell, he walked outside the library three times just to sit on the stoop and sigh.

Which gave Trixie an idea.

Spike had been taken from her by Twilight...it was only fair that she took him back...oh Trixie loved this plan, Trixie loved this plan very much.

***

Spike was bored out of his mind. Twilight had been reading in the Ponyville Library for hours and to the baby dragon it felt like days. He'd napped three times, gone to sit on the stoop four, eaten twelve not very good quality crystals that had been lying around, and caught his scales on fire accidentally. Which had only earned him a small reprimand from Twi. Ugg...
He went back outside, trying to enjoy the beautiful day instead of dealing with Twilight's reading some more.

And then everything went black. He tried to yell for help, but he only got a familiar and not very welcome laugh in the process.

Trixie.

"Don't worry, Spike, Trixie won't hurt you, Trixie is just getting back at Twilight for stealing her life!" the blue unicorn said.

Trixie's magic had silenced Spike, so responding would do him no good. He just sat in the bag Trixie had put him in and hoped Trixie was telling the truth about not hurting him...and hoped that Twilight finished reading soon and helped him out.

***

Applejack had no idea where Rainbow had gone, but Fluttershy muttered something about a strange pegasus talking to her.

"Consarn in..." the orange earth pony muttered.

"Hello Applejack!" an unfamiliar voice said.

"Gah!" she shouted. "Who are you?"

"My name's Ditsy Doo," a grey pegasus mare with funny looking eyes said, as she walked up next to Applejack. "And before you accuse me of trying to sell you something like your rainbow maned friend did, I have to tell you...go to the library and bring Fluttershy. You'll meet a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle. She has something important to tell you."

"Uh....ok?" Applejack said, more than mildly confused.

"I know it sounds weird, but please do as I ask ok?" the mare pleaded, a note of childish innocence that hadn't been there before in her voice. "I'm on a tight schedule...and I really don't want to have to tell the Princess that I just didn't know what went wrong."

Applejack had to believe this pony...she liked to believe that most ponies were honest and something about this mare demanded trust.

"Uh...ok, Ah'll get Fluttershy then...hope Ah don't scare her too much with the prospect of takin' her some place new..."

"Thank you Applejack," Ditsy said.

"Your welcome, Ditsy Doo."

***

Pinkamena hadn't laughed this much in years.

"And then my mom pushed me off a cloud, and told me if I wanted to fly so bad I could just fly!" Rainbow Dash said. "Of course, there was a cloud underneath me, but I panicked and instead of flapping both of my wings, I flapped one, and crashed head first into a cloud. That's how I earned the nickname "Rainbow Crash", though bullies later used that one to pick on me, my parents called me that teasingly."

Pinkamena giggled a little bit.

"Tell me a story about your family, Pinks," Dash said.

Pinkamena paused. She didn't like talking about her parents...but she could talk about Granny Pinkie Pie and her sisters.

"Well, growing up, my parents didn't really understand me, so I always really looked forward to my Granny Pie's visits. She was both my namesake and the only one who really got me. My whole world was gray until she came to visit, and I don't mean that metaphorically. I lived on a rock farm, my family's coats were all varying shades of brown or gray. But when Granny Pie came, everything turned into a rainbow of colors, even though she was all pink like me...one time...I was trying to go to bed, and I kept seeing monsters and ghosts everywhere. Granny came into my room while I was hiding literally completely under my pillow. She then told me the best remedy for ghosts...and I've never really forgotten it....was to laugh at them. I've giggled at the ghostly ever since...even when I almost stopped laughing for good I never stopped laughing at things that scared me. I know it's kinda dumb..."

"No it's not dumb," Rainbow Dash interrupted. "I think it's kinda cool. It's like...a little bit of your Granny Pie follows you everywhere...in a like, not creepy and weird kind of way."

Pinkamena smiled at Rainbow Dash, "Yeah, I guess that kind of is how it is, huh?"

Then something weird happened...her mane lost a tiny bit of its stick straightness. Instead of being a curtain of pink hair, it had the slightest wave to it, as if it were curly, but wet.

"Woah....that was..."

"Super duper weird..." Pinkamena finished Rainbow's thought.

"Yeah...kind of looks cool though," Dash said. Pinkamena smiled slightly at Rainbow Dash.

They sat there quietly for a moment, enjoying a rare moment of silence for both of them and enjoying having a friend that was truly a friend.

That moment was interrupted by a gray mare with doodle eyes.

"Hi, before you freak out, I'm not selling anything, and yes, you're important, Rainbow Dash, you too Miss Pie," she said.

"Not you again!" Dash grumbled. "I was having fun..."

"You can have more fun in the future, but right now I want you to listen to me," the gray mare instructed.

"First, if you don't remember my name is Ditsy Doo and you and four other ponies are extremely important to the fate of Equestria," Ditsy began hurriedly, directing her comments at Pinkamena. "Second, you need to go to the Ponyville Library, where our traveling companion Twilight has something important to tell you. Third, if you see Rarity, bring her with you."

Pinkamena felt a tingle...Ditsy was right, there was something important going on and Pinkamena and Dash had to be there for it.

"Come on Dashie," Pinkamena instructed. "We have somewhere important to be."

"What? You can't believe this weirdo!" Dash protested.

"I traveled with her and yes, she's a little weird about her delivery and her tendency to chase bubbles. But she knows things, and so do I, so you're coming with me if I have to drag you by your tail!" Pinkamena commanded, a pout forming on her face.

Dash did what she said and they headed for the Ponyville Library.

***

"Um, I'm so very sorry Applejack but I just can't go out. Not to meet a bunch of ponies I don't know, even if some of them are you, and Rainbow Dash. I just couldn't," Fluttershy said, hiding behind her mane.

Applejack started to give up. And that's when he came into the room and once again pushed her a little farther.

"Ya can and ya will," Big Macintosh said. Applejack looked stunned. Fluttershy could only squeak.

"Ah know it don't seem like it's that important, Shy, but y'all've gotta come outta yer shell, at least a little. Ah'm a shy pony too. Ya have to've noticed Ah don't talk so much, not even around mah family. It ain't cause I can't or cause I'm stupid, it's cause I'm shy. But Ah don't let that stop me from doin' mah best ta be kind ta folk and help 'em out. Yer the kindest soul anypony could ever hope ta meet, but y'all don't let 'em meet ya. It's time ya do somethin' with that kind heart of yours and go to this library meetin' thing," he said.

"I love you Fluttershy, I've never loved anypony as much as I love you."

Fluttershy gaped. She knew she was gaping. And probably blushing. Her face had to be the same color as her mane...and Applejack was there and...oh my goodness he loves me...

"I...oh Big Mac..." she stammered.

"It's ok, sweetheart, Ah know Applejack is here...now go. Go to tha library and Ah'll be waitin' for ya when ya get back an' then we can talk."

She nodded, and walked over to the still staring Applejack.

"Ok, I'm ready. We'll go to the library."

***

Apple Bloom heard it all. Including the part where Big Mac admitted to loving Fluttershy, which she did a victory dance about, and definitely the part about the secret meeting in the library. Which she was absolutely going to.

"Ah'm a big pony, and Ah ain't gettin' left out of this one..." she said to herself as she left Sweet Apple Acres to cut through the forest to the library. The old cottage where Fluttershy used to live held a shortcut to town almost nopony knew about.

She headed that way as fast as her short legs could carry her, and that's when she saw something she probably shouldn't have.

"Hopefully Twilight has found my note by now and Trixie's revenge shall soon be complete!" said a strange blue unicorn. She was talking to a...baby dragon! That was tied up and gagged!

Now that just wasn't right.

"Hey! What do y'all think yer doin'?"Apple Bloom said, and ran for the unicorn, not really thinking about...
Magic. She got caught in the unicorn's magic.

"What is this? A earth pony foal charging a full grown unicorn? Trixie finds this absolutely ridiculous! Well, Trixie guesses she'll have to keep you with the dragon since Trixie can't have anypony finding out about her plans..."

"Ya won't get away with this! Mah big sister and Fluttershy'll mmmmhmmmph!" Apple Bloom said, as she was gagged and bound next to the dragon. Trixie blind folderd her, then loaded her into a cart to be taken to Celestia knows where. Apple Bloom tried really hard not to cry.
Ah'm a big pony...and big fillies don't cry