A Catalyst in Time

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.