A Catalyst in Time

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.