“You said it Rarity, this would be one hell of a trip,” Rarity’s father commented.
Rarity’s parents sat together at the dinner table in her home and curiously observed the two nearly identical Raritys sitting at the other end. Cloak-Rarity had spent several hours washing up, grooming her coat and styling her mane for this visit, she was almost perfectly restored to the once beaming fashionista she once was. However, as she sat beside Rarity the tiny differences between them became apparent. Cloak-Rarity was a bit thicker from having to bear two foals. The stress of being part of the rebellion, and the lack of sunlight for three years, had somehow made her mane duller and less vibrant. Most striking was that her eyes were very distant, the toll of losing everypony she loved and the guilt from her part in them were easy to read.
“And that is really the most amazing story I’ve heard. Even beats the whole thing with Nightmare moon and that time with the changelings,” Rarity’s father continued.
“So now you have another daughter and you skip over the whole hard part of raising her!” Rarity said.
“But that’s the best part Rarity! You have to have foals of your own to see that!” Rarity’s mother countered.
Cloak-Rarity agreed but remained silent.
Rarity’s mother continued, “this mare we didn’t raise ourselves. Her parents from her timeline did.”
For Cloak-Rarity it was extremely painful to hear her own mother essentially disown her. So much of her life had changed that she had to have some anchor, something that was truly constant in both worlds, only her parents fit that description.
“But I am your daughter and you did raise me!” Cloak-Rarity blurted, “up until three years ago the timeline was the same. It only split when I changed the events of the summer sun celebration. But before then, Rarity and I were the same pony, and you were my parents.”
Rarity’s parents glanced at each other, they did not outright reject her claims but needed a bit more to be sold on the idea.
Cloak-Rarity continued, “I broke the tip of my horn when I was six and I cried for three days because I didn’t believe you when you said it would grow back. I ate the entire bowl of cookie dough when I was three and you found me sleeping in it. Mother, one time when I was ten I took one of your dresses to ‘improve’ it but it turned out to be a disaster and I was so scared but you said it was alright. Father, I tried to make you a new gem-encrusted hat once and you absolutely hated it. But you wanted me to smile so you wore it for a whole week before claiming some noble stole it from you because it was too pretty. You still kept it all these years and kept bringing it out to hold when you missed me after I moved away to Ponyville.”
“But it really did get stolen! Right father?” Rarity asked.
“Yes! That thief really did take it from me!” Rarity’s father asserted nervously.
“No, father didn’t like to wear it, so he made up that story. But he kept it to remind him of me... I mean... us... until last year when he gave it back to me so I could sell the gems and get money to raise my foals.” Cloak-Rarity explained to Rarity.
Rarity glanced back at her father to see a twitch in his eyes that revealed the lie.
“YOU STILL HAVE IT?!” Rarity nearly shouted realizing it was not stolen and in this timeline he never gave it back.
Rarity’s father grinned nervously before finally relenting. “Yes, Rarity, I still have it.”
“He brings it out every time we talk about you.” Rarity’s mother added.
Rarity thought she was supposed to be angry, but realized her father kept the hat because he loved her more than he hated the design. It was Rarity’s turn now to smile and tear up a bit.
Cloak-Rarity continued, “Mother, father, I know it’s going to take some time to process this, but I really am your daughter, I just have different memories for the last three years. I’m still Rarity.”
There was a long and awkward silence when she said she that final sentence. Her parents glanced at each other several times, trying to reconcile having raised one daughter but ending up with another one. Fitting this into their worldview was not going to be easy.
“You’re going to need a new name, we can’t just keep calling you Rarity.” Her mother finally explained.
Cloak-Rarity’s eyes welled up in tears, she had her parents back. They accepted Cloak-Rarity even if they had trouble understanding her origin.
“Yes of course. Would you like to give me a new name?” Cloak-Rarity asked eagerly.
“How about Jewel? We originally wanted to call you that before deciding on Rarity.” Rarity’s mother explained.
“Jewel would be lovely, it goes with my cutie mark,” The newly minted Jewel said.
“Looks like we have three daughters now. When Sweetie Belle comes home from school we’ll have to update our family photos,” Rarity’s father said.
Jewel giggled and gave her parents a hug.