Just One Mistake

Chapter 2: Depression

“Hi Spike, is Twi still here?” Pinkie Pie said as she trotted in. Her mane wasn’t as poofy as it always was, and it had begun to straighten out. The breakup between the two had made an impact on all of the elements.

“Yeah Pinkie. She’s in her room. The same place she has been for the past four days. She’s probably just staring out her window. Pinkie, I don’t mean to insult you, but she isn’t going to want to talk. I’ve been trying since the fight to cheer her up. She’s just been throwing me out. I’m starting to think she’s going to stay like this…” the purple and green dragon stated, leading the way to Twilight’s room. “Good luck.” he murmured, almost inaudibly.

“Thanks, but I’m going to get through to her! I’m going to show her that things aren’t over!” Pinkie said with a fierce face of determination. She pushed open the door, and was shocked at what she saw, even if she was expecting it. Twilight was sitting up on her bed, her mane going in every direction, and her short fur messed up almost beyond repair. When Twilight looked towards Pinkie, turning her attention away from the window, the party pony used all of her restraint not to gasp. Her eyes were red, puffy, and damp. They had large bags under them, as if she hadn’t slept in days. As Pinkie thought about it, Twilight probably hadn’t slept in days. In the most caring and compassionate voice she could muster, Pinkie said, “Hey, Twilight. I brought you some cookies. I figured you might like them, since you buy them the most often. And if you want, we could have a party! Everypony loves parties!” Pinkie trotted up and placed the cookies down. She sat next to Twilight on the bed and gave her friend a hug.

“Pinkamena Diane Pie, get off of me. I don’t want cookies, I don’t want any parties, and I don’t want to see anypony, you least of all.” Twilight turned her attention back to the window.

At this statement Pinkie’s mane and tail went flatter than it was before. “Okay, so you’re not ready to socialize with other ponies. I could go and get some other friends? Maybe Fluttershy? Wouldn’t it be nice to see her?”

“Pinkie, you’ve done quite enough for me. Leave.” Twilight said.

Pinkie used everything she had to put a smile on for Twilight. “Okay Twilight, I can tell you really want me to leave. But just let me know if you want anything else. I’ll be very happy to help you!” Pinkie turned and left the room. She could tell that she wasn’t wanted, but she didn’t have a clue why. Her mane and tail had fallen flat, and some of Twilight’s depression fed into Pinkie.

As she passed Spike on the way out he saw her. “Pinkie, what happened?!” He exclaimed as he saw her deflated tail and mane.

“Twilight… She’s all mopey, and I don’t like it! I’ll try again later, but she made it clear that she didn’t want to see me… But, I’ll keep trying! I’ll help her get back to the old Twilight!” As she said this, her mane stayed straight, revealing that she didn’t believe herself. Pinkie Pie left the library and headed back to Sugarcube Corner. Once she arrived she headed right up the steps and into her room.

Over the following days, Pinkie attempted to cheer up Twilight at least once a day, as she promised. Every visit ended in the same way and Pinkie’s mane seemed to be even straighter and flatter than it had ever before. It seemed impossibly lifeless. After her eighth failed visit to Twilight, it seemed that her mane had begun to lose its color.

Rainbow Dash was getting food supplies for a long while when Applejack came running up to her. She quickly tackled the rainbow pony and tied up her wings. Applejack used the makeshift leash to drag the resisting pony into a more private area. “So ah’ve heard all about this incident, and Pinkie has made it clear that Twilight ain’t gonna talk anytime soon. So ah want your story.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and attempted to run off, but the strong earth pony held her tight. “Nice try RD, but you can’t out muscle me without your wings!”

Dash sighed. “Fine. I’ll talk. So… How was your day?”

Now it was Applejack’s turn to sigh. “It was fine, Dash. Now come on, cut to the chase. What happened? And ah want the truth.”

“I’d expect nothing less from the element of honesty herself. Did you hear what the CMC did yesterday? Scootaloo told me all about it. It wasn’t very cool.”

“Of course ah heard 'bout it! That’s all that Apple Bloom ever talks ‘bout! Now, what happened, Dash?”

Rainbow sighed. “Alright. But this is not cool. Not. Cool. Anyway, I had to stay late on weather duty to clear up the smoke, just like every other pegasus on the job, right? When I got home Twilight was reading some book and looked like she didn’t have a care in the world, even though I was late! I was thinking that maybe she didn’t hear of the fire. I asked her about it, and she told me she knew all about it, but didn’t care. She said Pinkie calmed her down. She also told me that she went to see if Pinkie was okay before she thought of me. Believe that? Her thoughts went immediately to Pinkie, before me! Oh yeah, and when I mentioned Pinkie, Twilight blushed!” At this point, Rainbow Dash’s wings were straining against the ropes bonding her. They would have flared out if the restraint didn’t exist.

Applejack looked up in surprise. “Are ya sure that she didn’t think about ya at all? It doesn’t sound like Twilight to just forget about any one of her friends, yet her marefriend… Wait…” Applejack said as the last part of Dash’s explanation hit her. “She… she blushed?”

“Yeah! Her face was all red when she talked about her, and then it got even redder when I asked her about Pinkie! Then I asked her if she didn’t think about me. She said that she didn’t think of anypony else or me after talking to Pinkie! I spent all night long thinking about what I should do. I was, and still am, so angry. One thing could have gone wrong I could have gotten really hurt. Really hurt! Not that it would have mattered. I mean I would have been fine later, but still that unicorn didn’t give me a single thought!” The rope seemed as if it would burst at any second.

Applejack gave Rainbow a confused look “Well now, that just ain’t right! If ah had a special somepony, and a fire broke out, well shoot, ah’d do whatever it takes to make sure they’re okay!”

“That’s what I’m saying! Now will you please untie me?”

“Oh, sorry sugarcube. Ah forgot about the ropes!” Applejack quickly untied the pegasus and expected her to shoot off into the sky.

“Hey, thanks for listening to me, AJ. I guess I kinda needed to talk to somepony.” With that, Rainbow shot off into the sky, just as she had predicted would happen.

“So… Pinkie tried to steal Twilight away from Dash? That’s not right. Some ponies…” Applejack walked out of the area she had pulled Rainbow into and headed off for her farm. On her way, she crossed paths with the library. She was about to head in, but thought of all that Dash had said to her. She instead decided to continue towards her farm.

Fluttershy walked into the Ponyville Library. This was her third attempt at comforting Twilight. Each time Twilight would start yelling and Fluttershy would leave right away. This time she decided that when she started yelling, she would stay through it.

“Back again, Fluttershy? It’s weird. I’ve seen you, Pinkie, and Rarity. But Applejack hasn’t stopped by at all. Strange, huh?” Spike said as he pointed up the steps, where Twilight would be. It wasn’t necessary, but he still decided to do it. Fluttershy nodded in response to his gesture and hurried up the steps.

Fluttershy knew what was on the other side of the door. Once she opened it, as she had given up knocking after the first time, Twilight would be sitting on her bed. Her mane would be a mess, her tail no better. Her fur would have wild patterns that seemed impossible to create with such short fur. Her attention would be turned to the window, and her first word would be something like, “Leave.”

The shy pegasus pushed open the door, and saw exactly what she was expecting. “H-Hi, Twilight.” Fluttershy said in her quiet, caring voice. While Fluttershy said this, she was staring at the ground. She was unsure if she should be looking at Twilight or not.

“Fluttershy, how many times am I going to have to tell you to go away? I don’t want to talk to anypony.” Twilight said, deadpan.

“I know you don’t want to see anypony, Twilight, but you need to see somepony. This isn’t good for you. Staring outside of your window won’t help you at all. Twilight your friends all miss you!” Fluttershy had a look of shock on her face after she said this. Her own words had surprised her. She had looked at Twilight for a moment but quickly returned her attention the ground.

“Rainbow Dash doesn’t. She was the most important pony in my life. She’s gone now. How could I get her back? No, I don’t think she would want to come back. Listen to me, dreaming.”

“Twilight, p-please come outside with me. I’ll… I’ll get Rarity. I’m sure Applejack would enjoy it, but she’s probably busy on the farm. The three of us could go to the spa together! You love the spa. You’ll feel so much better after it!” Fluttershy took a seat on the floor. Fluttershy was almost helplessly pleading.

“No, Fluttershy. I don’t want any spa treatment. I just want to sit here. Ah, I remember the day I met Rainbow Dash. She dumped me into a puddle, then tried to clean me up with a cloud, which only soaked me more." Twilight began, small blush creeping across her cheeks. "Ah then shy dried me off, making my mane look like Pinkie’s in a way. I looked mad, but I knew I loved her right then. She just… had that look.”

“I remember that day too. The first day you came into town. Twilight, please come with us! I’m sure Rarity won’t mind a spa trip, and I need one! It will be fun!” Fluttershy continued to plead with the unicorn.

“Fluttershy, it’s time for you to leave. I want no company but my thoughts.”

“O-okay. So you don’t want to go to the spa? We could think of something else. What do you want to do?”

“Nothing.” The single word cut through the air. Fluttershy could tell that Twilight was getting angry now, but the violet unicorn’s attention was never once taken off the window.

“Surely there is something you want to do.”

“Of course there is. I want to go spend the afternoon in the park with Rainbow Dash, but that isn’t happening." Twilight sighed and shook her head. "Now… Get. Out.” The last three words had even more anger behind them than before.

“Twilight, I’m not leaving until you agree to come out.” Fluttershy was gathering her confidence. She now had her eyes locked with Twilight’s whose attention was grabbed in her last statement.

“GO AWAY!”

Fluttershy squeaked at her friend’s outburst, even if she expected it. After a few moments she said, “No… No!” The first barely audible the second nearly shouting. “Twilight Sparkle, you will come out, we will go to the spa, and the three of us will have fun.”

“No, Fluttershy! I will never have fun again. NOW LEAVE!” The whole sentence almost brought Fluttershy to tears, even in her confident state. Fluttershy decided now would be a good time to leave.

“O-okay, Twilight. B-but you really should come out. I know you don’t want to because you-you’re sad that Rainbow Dash got mad, b-but you shouldn’t let that ruin your life. Have a nice day, Twilight.” Fluttershy exited the room and quietly shut the door.

“Nice day my plot.”

As a few ponies before her had, Rarity strode into the public library. She had failed miserably yesterday at helping Twilight, but today was different. Today was new. The white unicorn sat down with Spike and had a fifteen-minute talk with him. If she couldn’t cheer up Twilight, at least she could always make the purple dragon happier. It gave her confidence. Rarity decided to try something new, and had brought a brush along with some other things to help Twilight look better than she had since this whole fiasco began.

After she finished her chat with Spike, she trotted up the steps leading to Twilight’s room and walked right in. Twilight was in the same position, staring out of the same window, only after five days with no washing or brushing she looked worse. “Oh, darling, this just won’t do! Surely, if you got a bath and brushed your mane you would feel considerably better! Here, let me help.” The unicorn used her magic and moved the brush towards Twilight’s destroyed mane. Before it reached its mark, however, the brush became enveloped in a violet aura and was thrown right back at the owner. The unicorn managed to stop the brush before it hit her.

Twilight looked right into Rarity’s eyes. “Rarity, I know you’re trying to help me, but I don’t need it and I don’t want it,” she said with a completely serious face, the same face she had been wearing for five days straight.

“Okay, dear. I’ve given you your choices this whole time. Now it’s time that I get a say. How about you go get in the bath?” Rarity walked into the unicorn’s bathroom and began running the water for her friend, and added some bubbles to the water. She trotted back into Twilight’s bedroom. “Darling, you MUST come into the bath. I’ve already gotten it ready for you.” The beautiful unicorn went and checked on the water while Twilight stayed silent.

Once the tub was full enough and the perfect temperature, Rarity came out. “Hurry dear! The bath is the absolute perfect temperature! It’s amazing! Oh you simply have to get in.”

“No.”

Rarity stared at her friend. After thinking for a minute, she decided to get things done. The white unicorn trotted up to Twilight’s bed and stared at her. She had used this voice with Sweetie Belle many times, and it always worked. “Twilight Sparkle, you look hideous and sitting here moping about will not get you anywhere soon. You will get into that bath. You’ll be happier now than later, as it will be too cold later.”

Twilight was very angry at the tone of voice Rarity had used on her. All of her built up sadness came out as rage in her words. “SHUT UP! Mother of Celestia, help me! Would you please just BE QUIET! And STOP bossing me around! ‘Twilight you will do this, Twilight, darling, do that.’" Twilight stopped to take a breath when she saw Rarity’s expression.

The white unicorn was expecting her outburst to happen, but she didn’t think that Twilight would be that harsh. A tear slipped down her face, but she knew that she had to stay strong.

“Rarity, I-I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened… Please… Please forgive me. I can’t lose another friend. I-I couldn’t. I just… Please!” For the first time in five days Twilight felt bad for someone other than herself, and for the first time in five days Twilight got out of bed.

“Darling, I couldn’t stay mad at you while you’re like this. Or at any time. Now please, go get a bath. You’ll be feeling better soon. I’m going to go talk to Spike. Get in the bath, and once you finish call for me. I’ll be up before you know it. And here, use these.” Rarity handed Twilight several shampoos and conditioners, along with a very expensive bar of soap that she had pulled from her saddlebags. True to her word, the white unicorn left the room, her eyes still teary from her friend’s outburst. She went downstairs and had another conversation with Spike.

“Rarity? What happened?! I heard a lot more yelling than I normally do when someone goes up there.” It was then that he saw that Rarity was almost crying. “It was that bad?”

“No… Not bad… just… unexpected. But no matter. Twilight should be in the bath now. If all goes well she’ll call for me in a little while.” Rarity enjoyed talking to Spike. He helped take her mind off of things.

After about twenty minutes had passed, Rarity heard someone call her name. “Well, thank you for the tea and conversation, Spikey-Wikey,” she said, rubbing the scales on his head. Spike fainted. The unicorn ran up the steps and into Twilight’s room. The violet unicorn had clearly been in the bath, as she was soaked. Rarity brought over a towel wrapped in a blue aura and dried Twilight off with it.

“Rarity, you were right, I feel much better after that. And I’m so sorry for snapping at you, it’s just-“

Twilight couldn’t finish her sentence, as Rarity had cut her off. “Darling, it’s quite alright. You didn’t actually think that one little snap would drive me away while you’re like this? You forget that I have dated before, and I thought that I would never get better. But look at me, Twilight! I’m fine!” As she spoke, Rarity had pulled out her brush and brushed down the unicorn’s mane.

In ten short minutes Rarity had made Twilight look like herself again.

“Thank you so much, Rarity.” Twilight said to her. “But… I’m still not ready to leave. And I’m still not happy. I may look like myself, but since Dash left… I haven’t felt the same…”

“I understand dear. I know what it feels like and I will be back soon.” Rarity said as she left the room. “Where’s my Spikey-Wikey? Spike, give Twilight some room for the rest of the day. She needs to be alone for a little while. If anypony else comes by, please tell them to leave and that I said so. Thank you so much!” The unicorn gave Spike a quick hug and headed back to the Carousel Boutique.