Just One Mistake

Chapter 4: Encounter

“Rainbow Dash! Oh, Rainbow Dash, darling, I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Rarity called to the cyan pegasus. The white unicorn had searched all over Ponyville and finally found her at Sweet Apple Acres.

“Hey Rarity! I was just getting some apples from AJ. Whatcha need?” the pegasus said as she bit into an apple.

“I need to know if you’ve talked to Twilight yet.” Rarity already knew the answer, but she wanted to ask anyway.

“Of course I haven’t. Why would I?”

“Because, you two need to fix this problem up. Twilight has fallen apart. She needs you, Rainbow Dash. She-”

“She doesn’t need me, Rarity. Twilight needs Pinkie Pie. She’s moved on from me.” Dash said, her vision shifting to the ground as her argument went on. Talking about Twilight brought up memories she would rather push away. But her thoughts shifted. Maybe I do still love her… N-no. No I don’t. Sh-she doesn’t want to be with me. I know it.

“Then why was she crying for you? The poor mare barely slept, she barely ate, and she barely bathed! All because she missed you.”

Rainbow Dash was about to respond when a voice spoke up, interrupting the argument. “Well, shoot, that ain’t what Dash told me at all! She told me that Twilight didn’t care for her at all.” Applejack shot Dash an angry look, turning to face her. “Now y’all weren’t lying to me, were ya?”

“What? No! Of course I wasn’t lying to you! I… I didn’t think she cared…”

“You didn’t think she cared? That unicorn has been bawling her eyes out for the past five weeks, and you didn’t even stop to look at her!” the white unicorn interrupted. “She turned her back on Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and I in her sadness from losing you. And you just go flying about the clouds without a care in the world.” Rarity’s voice was slightly louder than it normally was due to her frustration with the stubborn mare.

Dash tore her attention away from Applejack as she stared at Rarity. “You think I don’t care?” the flustered pegasus began. She moved Rarity away from Applejack so she could talk to the unicorn in private. Her voice was at an angry whisper as she said, “The night that I went and slept in my cloud house, I barely got any sleep. I.. uh… I actually… cried… a little,” The rainbow maned pegasus cringed when she admitted to her crying. “I know it sounds… uncool… but I just… couldn’t help it.” Her facial expression and voice level suddenly changed as she said, “And you better not tell anypony that I cried!” With that Dash turned and led the unicorn back towards where Applejack stood patiently waiting.

“Well… Now ah feel like ah should go and talk to Twilight.” The farmer pony said. “Ah feel terrible about leaving her all sad-like now… Ah’m sorry RD, but you just seemed perfectly happy.” Applejack trotted past the two ponies and into Ponyville on her way to see a certain unicorn.

Rarity turned her attention back to Rainbow Dash. “Darling, I think it would be best if you went and talked to her sometime soon. If you haven’t talked to her by the end of the week, I’m going to tell her exactly what you just told me. Okay? Okay.” The white unicorn turned and trotted into town, leaving Dash to her thoughts in the middle of Sweet Apple Acres.

Applejack strode up to the tree house door and peeked inside. Spike looked up from a book he was reshelving. “Hi Applejack! Nice to see you here. Are you looking for Twilight?” the farm pony nodded in response. “She should be in the kitchen.”

“Thank ya Spike. I’ll be seein’ ya later then.” Applejack said as she walked into the kitchen. “Twilight?” she asked as she entered the room.

“Applejack? Is that you? I haven’t seen you in a really long time.” Twilight stood up from her partially eaten sandwich to greet Applejack. She wasn’t smiling, but neither was she crying anymore. She just was.

“Yeah… Ah’m sorry about that Twi. RD told me her side of the story before anypony told me yours. And the way she told it jus’ made me believe that you didn’t like her and all. Ah wish I coulda been more help, sugarcube. Could ya forgive me?”

Twilight almost laughed. “Forgive you? I was never mad at you!” Twilight wrapped the earth pony up in a hug. “I’m just glad that you came by now. But… I’m not exactly in the mood…” Twilight’s gaze shifted to the ground as she released Applejack.

“That’s alright sugarcube. If you want some space, ah’ll give it to ya. Now y’all stay outta trouble, okay?” the earth pony stated as she turned and left through the way she came. “Hey Spike, how has Twilight been doin’ lately?”

“She’s been getting better everyday,” the purple dragon began. “There was a point where I worried that she wasn’t going to get better, but Rarity really helped her along. I think in another week or so she’ll be the Twilight we know and love.” Spike explained to her.

“Well that’s just great! Ah’m so glad ta hear that she’s gettin’ better! Ah jus’ wish that ah coulda been here ta help her out more…” the farm pony said as she got ready to leave. “Ah guess ah’ll be back soon. Okay? Bye, Spike.”

Spike waved a claw in response, “Bye!”

Applejack turned and trotted out of the library and onto the streets of Ponyville. “Well that coulda gone a lot worse…” the farm pony muttered to herself. She trotted off back towards her farm.

Rarity burst into the tree house at nearly a full gallop, stopping only long enough to open the door and ask Spike a question. “Spike! Where is Twilight?”

“Uh… In her room, I think.” Came the surprised dragon’s response.

“Thank you darling!”  Rarity raced up the stairs, pulling a brush out of her bag as she went. “Twilight, I’m here!” the white unicorn called out in warning right before opening the door. “Ah, good to see you again Twilight. Guess what we’re doing today?” Without missing a beat, Rarity continued, “Today we’re going outside. You’re going to go talk to Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. It’s been three days now, I know you can do it.”

“Whoa, what? Why the hay would I want to go outside? I’m fine in here!” Twilight said in surprise to her door being flung open and Rarity striding through it with little warning.

“Watch your language, young filly.” Rarity said in a semi-joking tone. “Now, it looks like you aren’t quite ready to go. Good thing I brought my brush!” Rarity began stroking Twilight’s mane into place. “I would take this time to think what you’re going to say to the two of them.”

Rarity was silent for a few moments, giving Twilight the opportunity to speak. “Why are you doing this, today? Why not yesterday or tomorrow?”

“Why am I doing this? Well, I was sitting at home last night, trying to go to bed when I realized that Pinkie and Fluttershy must be dying without having been able to talk to you. I remember only seeing Fluttershy twice in the past couple weeks, and I have only seen Pinkie when I went into Sugar Cube Corner. So I figured it would be best for them if you went and talked to them.”

“I guess so… I was pretty harsh on them when they were last here… Sure Rarity. I’ll go outside. But you have to stay with me the whole time.”

“I planned on it, darling.”

Fluttershy sat in her cottage when a mouse came limping up to her. “Oh, you look hurt,” the caring pegasus stated while examining the mouse. “But… That will have to wait, if that’s okay with you. My friend is sad and alone and I’m trying to figure out how to solve it!” The mouse crossed his arms and looked at her, giving off some angry sounding squeaks. “I’m sorry but I really have to think this through. Here, take this and it might help.” Fluttershy winged over a pill to mouse. She retracted her wing as soon as the mouse took the pill from her, then sat there thinking. What if Twilight was to come outside with Rarity and I? That might work. Maybe the three of us could go to the spa. Or we could go to some restaurant? She just really needs to get out of her room… Suddenly a knock came from the door, and the yellow pegasus jumped with a squee and hid behind the couch she was previously sitting on.

Muffled words worked their way through her wooden door. “Fluttershy! Oh, Fluttershy! Are you home? If you are, please open up dear. It’s me Rarity. I have someone here who said she needs to talk to you!”

“Oh…” Fluttershy whispered. She walked to the door and opened it up. “So who needs to see me?” the pegasus stated while looking at the fashion designer. Her gaze shifted to the violet unicorn standing next to Rarity. Instantly her face turned to one of extreme joy. Her wings fluttered as she was slightly lifted off of the ground. “T-Twilight! Oh it’s so good to see you! Please, come in, both of you! Twilight, it’s so great to see you outside of your room! Are you feeling any better?”

Twilight looked at Rarity. The other unicorn’s response was to nudge Twilight. The violet unicorn spoke up. “Hi, Fluttershy. I do feel much better than when you last visited me. I have to say that I was really mean when I spoke to you. And I’m really, really sorry about that…”

“Oh no, no, no. You weren’t mean. You were just sad. I understand. You look much better now. You sound a lot better, too.”

“Thank you for understanding, Fluttershy. I do feel better, but I’m not quite back to the way I was before.” Twilight walked over to Fluttershy and gave her a quick hug. “Goodbye, Fluttershy. And Rarity, I’ll be outside.”

“Okay, dear. I’ll be right out.” Rarity waited until she heard the door close. “She still really misses Rainbow Dash. We need to find someway to get Rainbow to talk to her again.”

“I agree with you, Rarity. But how are we going to do that? Rainbow is perfectly happy, and I don’t want anypony being not happy anymore.”

“We’ll figure something out, I suppose. But right now, I have to go and take Twilight to Pinkie Pie. Wish me luck.” Rarity gave a light, almost nervous, laugh at the end. The two mares exchanged hugs before Rarity took leave. “Farewell, Fluttershy.”

“Goodbye, Rarity! ” Fluttershy said with a wave of her hoof. “Oh, and good luck!” She called out as an afterthought.

Pinkie Pie pulled a cake out of the oven and walked it over to the counter for decorations. Her mane was flat against her head as she went about writing silly little messages on the cake. Why did Twilight say it was my fault? What did I do? Is Twilight any better? I should go talk to her. But I don’t want her to get angry again. What should I do? Once she focused back on the icing on the cake she realized that she messed up the spelling of “Birthday.” Pinkie hadn’t thrown a party in a month, her mane had been flat since that one visit with Twilight, and her coat color was a greyish-pink. The Cakes had noticed Pinkie’s discomfort, but whenever it was brought up the pink pony would either ignore them or leave the room. She only came out of her room to work in the bakery, and she hadn’t left the bakery since her last visit with Twilight.

A bell ringed at the door and Pinkie said, with no emotion in her voice, “Hello, and welcome to Sugar Cube Corner. How may I help you?” As she looked up her facial expression changed to one of delight and surprise. Rarity stood next to Twilight, who was wearing a sheepish grin.

“Good afternoon, darling. Twilight wanted to come and talk to you.” Rarity said, as happy as could be.

“Rarity… If you could give us a moment alone… Thanks.” Twilight said almost inaudibly as Rarity backed out of the store. “Uh… Hi, Pinkie. I just came to tell you that, um, I’m so-” the violet unicorn didn’t get the chance to finish her apology. A certain pink earth pony threw her hooves around the unicorn, nearly cutting off her air supply. The pink party pony’s mane seemed to inflate a little bit at the sight of Twilight Sparkle.

“You’re here! And you aren’t in your room! Which means that you left your room, which means you’re feeling better, even if it is just a tiiiny bit better!” Pinkie said as she let go of the near-suffocated unicorn.

“A little. It was mostly Rarity’s doing. Like I was saying… I’m sorry Pinkie. I know Dash breaking up with me wasn’t your fault. I just… I was so hurt and confused at the time. Looking back now I really regret yelling at you.” At these words Pinkie’s mane seemed to poof up a little bit more, and her coat had returned to its full pink. Twilight looked into Pinkie’s eyes. “Please, I hope you can forgive me?” The party pony bounced around the violet unicorn. With every bounce she seemed to return more and more to her old self.

“Of course I forgive you, you silly filly. What was I mad at you about? Oh well! It doesn’t matter! All that matters is that I’m happy, you’re happy, Rarity seemed pretty happy, so it looks like we’re all happy! And that makes me even happier!”

Twilight held a hoof out stopping Pinkie mid bounce. While the party pony was suspended in mid-air, Twilight said, “I wouldn’t quite say that I’m happy. I’m just… better.”

At these words Pinkie dropped to the floor. “Oh… Well, I’m happy that you’re better then. See! There’s still a reason to be happy!” The violet unicorn couldn’t help but smile.

“Well, Pinkie, I guess I’m going to head home now. Bye.” Twilight gave Pinkie a quick hug before passing through the doorway to meet up with Rarity. The pink party pony watched the two walk away from the sweets shop. But one thing was still on her mind. Dash still didn’t get a cupcake… Twilight didn’t say so, but maybe Dash really wanted a cupcake…

Rarity and Fluttershy walked next to each other to Rainbow’s cloud home, “Now, darling, just tell her that I have something planned for the three of us. Then we’ll bring her to Twilight’s library.” Rarity said as she briefed Fluttershy. The white unicorn stayed on the ground as the pegasus began flying up to the cyan pegasus’ abode. Rarity had to urge Fluttershy up there, but eventually she got the shy pony’s agreement. Fluttershy landed on the fluffy, white landing in front of Rainbow’s door. She raised her hoof and knocked.

“Who is it?” a muffled voice asked through the cloud door.

“Uh… Fluttershy,” The yellow pegasus mumbled quietly.

“Who? Oh, I know who. Hi Fluttershy!” Dash exclaimed as she opened the door. “Did you wanna come in?”

“Um… No…” Fluttershy said from behind her pink mane. “I actually um… Wanted you t-to come down to the ground. I brought Rarity along. She said she uh… Had s-something planned for the, uh, the three of us.”

“It’s not a spa trip is it?” the cyan pegasus questioned, suddenly looking worried.

“N-no of course not! Rarity knows better than that! She wouldn’t tell me what it was though…” Fluttershy managed to pull off the lie.

“Uh… Sure I guess I can come with.” Rainbow stepped out of her house and followed Fluttershy down to where Rarity was waiting.

“Good morning, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity said as the pegasi landed.

“Uh, isn’t it afternoon, Rarity?” Dash said as she glanced up into the sky, checking the Sun’s position. “Well, good afternoon! So what are we going to do?”

“You’ll see soon enough, dear. I have to go and make sure everything is ready. Fluttershy will take you where you need to go. Isn’t that right, Fluttershy?”

“Oh, um, yes. It is.” Fluttershy said. Rarity galloped ahead once she was satisfied the yellow pegasus knew what to do.

“So, Flutters, are you sure you don’t know what we’re doing?” the cyan pegasus asked, her wings fluttering from anticipation.

“I’m absolutely sure, Rainbow. She didn’t tell me anything about it, except where to go. And she made me Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony, since it’s a big surprise.”

“A Pinkie Promise? Oh. Then I’ll stop asking questions.” Rainbow stayed quiet and followed Fluttershy’s lead for the duration of the trip.

Rarity ran into the tree house yet again. “Spike, come here, please!” the pony’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Fluttershy and I got Rainbow Dash on her way here now. I need you to help me make Twilight presentable, and then I need you to stay out of the library until after the two are done, or I say otherwise okay?”

“Wait, what? Rainb-”

“Shhh!” Rarity cried, putting a hoof over his mouth. “Yes, Rainbow is coming and I need your full cooperation on this! Thank you so much darling!” Rarity pulled Spike into a quick hug. “Now, please go get Twilight. Tell I’m here for her.” Rarity pulled out her brush again, along with some fur, mane, and tail cleaners that didn’t require a full bath. As soon as Twilight came down next to Spike, Rarity ran up and pushed the other unicorn into a chair she had set up. “Spike, please start brushing down her mane, thank you!” the white unicorn called out. She started using the products she had brought with her. “Okay, now Twilight, Rainbow Dash is coming. You need to keep your mind together for this. This conversation may be the most important one you’ve ever had. Okay?”

Twilight’s face instantly lit up. “What? Dashie is coming? Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! I don’t know what I would say to her! She’s going to hate me forever! What if she flat out refuses to talk to me? What if we just stand there staring at each other, and then she just leaves? ”

Rarity put a hoof to Twilight’s mouth. “Shhh. It’s okay. Trust me, it’s going to go a lot better than you think it will. Just keep as calm as you can. She’s not going to be used to having you around and talking to you. It will start off awkward. But just talk to her. Things will get better from there, darling. I’ve gotten you this far, haven’t I?”

“I guess you have…” the violet unicorn agreed, her tone and body relaxing slightly.

Spike finished her mane and tail, and Rarity soon finished cleaning the unicorn up. “Okay, dear. You’re done. Just act natural when she gets here. You’ve done this for three years. You can do it one more time.” Rarity packed everything up and stored it away. “Okay Spike, time for you to go.”

Spike gave Twilight one last hug and whispered some words into her ear before leaving.

“You’re going to be fine. Just stay calm.” Rarity gave the nervous unicorn one last hug before leaving her alone in the library.

“Okay, you can open your eyes now.” Fluttershy said.

Rainbow opened her eyes and gasped, taking a step back. “The library?! Why are we here? This is where she lives, and I don’t want to talk to her!”

“Who? Twilight? Oh, no, Rarity made sure she was out. She told me this was the only building big enough.” Fluttershy gave a small nod with a sheepish grin, hoping the pegasus would buy her story.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay… if you’re sure Flutters… I guess I will believe you.” She pushed open the door which led to a poorly lit room. As soon as her eyes adjusted to the difference in light she wildly looked around the room. Her eyes locked onto a pile of lavender fur sitting in a chair. “What?!” the cyan pegasus exclaimed. She turned around to run out the door, but Fluttershy shut it closed and held it tight. “You tricked me!”

“You need this!” Fluttershy responded. “But I um… hope you’re okay with it…”

Rainbow Dash turned around to face Twilight who sat only ten hoof steps away.

Twilight shifted her position as her eyes darted between Dash, doors, and bookshelves. She kept her voice steady and as confidant as she could. “Hi, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight said.

A/N: So.... The fourth chapter is finally out... Sorry for the wait i got really busy really fast. I'm not sure when the time will come for me to be able to finish this story. I do plan to finish it eventually, though. This chapter only underwent one basic edit between myself and my friend, so let me know anything that you feel could be improved and i'll fix it (within reason, of course). I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and i thank anyone who still is reading this. I apologize greatly for the huge delay in chapter posting, and i fear that there will be another long pause. If i don't get any other chances it will be out by Thanksgiving at the absolute latest. If it isn't then I'll shun myself.

Keep Calm and Brony On, everypony!

~Wyvern1998