//------------------------------// // And The Roads We Take // Story: Separate Ways // by Eventide Indigo //------------------------------// To: Fluttershy From: Rarity Fluttershy Cottage near Everfree Forest Ponyville Equestria EF2 C4F Dear Fluttershy, You magnificent mare, you! I don’t know how you convinced Pinkie Pie to read the letter, but I can't thank you enough! Twilight has been trying for weeks and weeks, however did you manage to reason with her? I was so worried that I had lost one of my best friends over such a silly mistake, so hearing from Pinkie was like music to my ears. I can’t help but read the letters I am receiving in your voices, it makes me feel as though you are right here with me. With love and endless gratitude, Rarity XOXOXO *** To: Rarity From: Fluttershy Rarity 217 Upturn Alley Canterlot Equestria UC3 R1B Hello… There’s really no need to thank me, Rarity. I got your letter while I was having the girls over for some tea. Pinkie saw Derpy leaving it in the mailbox so she went out to get it and I suppose her curiosity got the best of her. She asked to read it, I said sure. I was a bit worried when her lip began to quiver. I thought she was going to cry! She said it was the ‘most super duper sincerest apology she’d ever gotten in a letter’. I know you’ve been eager to hear from Rainbow and Applejack, so I reminded them to send you a letter and they promised they’d sent it out tonight. I hope they reach you safely. Applejack has been very quiet today. I believe it’s the anniversary of Granny Smith’s passing, the poor thing… Rainbow Dash has been quite busy with her practices. Being a Wonderbolt must be pretty tough with all that training. Twilight seemed rather nervous. She said she couldn’t talk when I asked her about it. All she said was that she ‘needed to talk to Rarity right away’. I wonder what’s so urgent? I hope she doesn’t need to reassemble the Elements to defeat some… oh dear, monster! I’m going to go board up my windows now. Love, Fluttershy *** To: Rarity From: Twilight Sparkle Rarity 217 Upturn Alley Canterlot Equestria UC3 R1B Dear Rarity, We have a bit of a situation of our hooves! You know how I was too nervous to tell Spike that you were moving away, so I decided not to tell him until after he returned from his little vacation in the Crystal Kingdom? Well, he’s returning in under two weeks. What should I do? He’s bound to notice that you’re not around. Should I tell him? When? Even Applejack isn’t so sure about telling him for Celestia’s sake! He’ll be so heartbroken. He’s been sending me letters asking about all of us, especially you. I keep saying ‘she’s good’ or ‘business is booming for her’. Those aren’t necessarily lies, right? SOS! Twilight Sparkle *** To: Twilight Sparkle From: Rarity Twilight Sparkle Golden Oaks Library Ponyville Equestria PR3 T2L Dear Twilight, My, that is quite the predicament! However, there is no need to worry. Spike is a mature adult dragon now and I am certain that he can deal with his emotions on his own. Just tell him the truth. In case things don’t go well, I have an idea… mature adult or not, he’s still my little Spikey-Wikey though. Some things never change. Less than two weeks, you say? That'll be a bit of a squeeze, but I’m sure I can make it to see his return. I’ll see if I can visit Ponyville. May I stay at the library? Sincerely, Rarity XOXOXO P.S. Keep this hush-hush! I want to surprise our friends. *** To: Rarity From: Applejack Rarity 217 Upturn Alley Canterlot Equestria UC3 R1B Howdy! Mighty sorry I didn’t write to y’all earlier, Rarity. I’ve been pretty busy here on the farm since Applebloom decided to pursue her interior design dreams. I’m real happy and all for her, even if her cutie mark didn’t turn out to be as… apple-related as anticipated, but it still puts a lot of stress on our shoulders. Bic Mac is still recovering from his broken foreleg, but he insists on working. Speaking of cutie marks, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are still crusading for theirs? Applebloom’s the only one to have gotten her’s so far and they’re nearly adults! I think we should give them a little push in the right direction. I don’t mean to be rude or nothing, I’m just saying that I hate watching those girls get all in fuss because they didn’t get their mark doing some crazy thing like lion-taming, while the answer is standing right in front of their faces! Tell Sweetie Belle to work on her singing. I have a feeling that her angelic voice ain’t just some coincidence. It’s mark-worthy, I tell ya! I’ve been trying to make Zap Apple jam lately, but the darn batches don’t taste the same. Ain’t as good as Granny Smith used to make them… Rainbow said she’s sent her letter and y’all should expect it mighty soon. Again, I beg your pardon for not writing sooner. Ponyville hasn’t been the same since y’all left. I never knew I could miss somepony so much. Ain’t it tough being up there in Canterlot all alone? Or have you found some new fancy friends? Don’t go getting all prissy on us now! Y’all did enough of that from the start. Applejack *** To: Rarity From: Twilight Sparkle Rarity 217 Upturn Alley Canterlot Equestria UC3 R1B Dear Rarity, You are most welcome in the library! Oooh, this is so exciting! I can’t begin to explain how anxious I am for this little reunion. The girls will be delighted. Are you sure I shouldn’t at least tell Pinkie Pie? She would be so helpful in planning your ‘welcome back for a brief period of time)’ party. This is going to be wonderful. I can’t wait to see you again! Your Faithful Friend, Twilight Sparkle *** To: Applejack From: Rarity Applejack Sweet Apple Acres Ponyville Equestria PV2 CH4 Dearest Applejack, Darling! It’s so wonderful to hear from you again. I can’t believe it’s only been a few months, as it feels like an eternity. I still regret ever moving away. What you said about ‘getting prissy’ reminded me of the fact that I haven’t mustered the strength to cavort with anypony around here! I hardly step out of the boutique, I’m so busy. I look like a wreck! I’ve counted not one, but two wrinkles! Two! I’m getting dreadfully old, Applejack. Look at me, I’m practically middle-aged! It’s all a downhill slope from here. I believe I’m having my mid-life crisis. Oh, I’m too young to be old! I’d rather die than look all old and crippled. Can anypony save me from this Tartarus? I really need to see you girls or I fear I may lose what remains of my sanity. Your old, old, old friend, Rarity XOXOXO P.S. Regarding Sweetie’s cutie mark, I may just do that, I always thought singing might be her talent, but she always denied it. *** To: Rarity From: Rainbow Dash Rarity 217 Upturn Alley Canterlot Equestria UC3 R1B Hey, it’s Rainbow. Sorry I haven’t written to you in forever. Wonderbolts practices and shows have been really eating away at my free time. I hardly ever get to fit in a nap! Scootaloo tried out for the Wonderbolts today and she did better than anypony anticipated. Except for me, of course. I always knew she had it in her. I’m surprised she doesn’t have a cutie mark in speed like yours truly! Are you ever going to come back to Ponyville and visit? I’d like that. All the girls were worried that you’d move on, but I have faith in you. Also, what the hay happened? A couple weeks back Pinkie Pie got super angry at you! What the hay did you say to make her so furious? She growled every time you were mentioned, like some weird dog or something. It was freaky. Ha! being a Wonderbolt is the life. I’m crashing on Spitfire’s couch tonight. That was one crazy party. Soarin really likes his pies. See ya! Rainbow Dash *** To: Rarity From: Applejack Rarity 217 Upturn Alley Canterlot Equestria UC3 R1B Land sakes, Rarity! You’re probably just getting wrinkles from stressing out so much. Go to your fancy spa and relax a little. And y’all ain’t middle-aged! Not even close. You’re what? Thirtysomething? That ain’t old at all! So, you’re right, you are too young to be old because you ain’t old! How do y’all think that’d make Fluttershy feel? She’s the oldest of all of us. Ah swear, if you complain about being crippled or wrinkly one more time, I will come down there and force y’all to look in a mirror! Y’all ain’t even old enough to have a midlife crisis scientifically. Call it a quarter-life crisis at the very least. Your friend, Applejack *** To: Rainbow Dash From: Rarity Rainbow Dash 18 Weathervale Drive Ponyville C1W V28 Dear Rainbow Dash, It’s so wonderful to hear from you! You’re a tad late to the letter-writing party, but it’s a welcome change. Ah, it must be luxurious to cavort with the highly-esteemed Wonderbolts, no? I bet these Canterlot ponies would be interested in knowing a friend of a Wonderbolt. Yes, I am planning on visiting sometime… not for a while though. There’s are some complications. Spike is returning from his vacation tomorrow, I hear? It’s a shame I can’t make it… Sincerely, Rarity XOXOXO