A Catalyst in Time

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.”