Chapter 35: Forgiveness
Sweetie and Ash walk into the boutique followed shortly by Rarity. "It's been a long couple days, you two should get some rest."
"What about Mom and Dad?" Sweetie asks.
"I will go tell them we are back once you two are settled." Rarity says. "But I wouldn't expect too much."
"What do you mean Rarity?" Sweetie asks.
Rarity sighs. "I had some words with our parents before I came after you." She looks to the floor. "Let me talk to them before I tell you everything please?"
Sweetie looks unsure but Ash puts a hoof on her shoulder. "Come on, Sweetie. You'll deal with everything better after you've had some rest anyway."
Sweetie nods. "Good point." She yawns. "Let's go take a nap."
"That's a marvelous idea." Rarity says. "Can I trust you two to stay here until I return?"
"Guard's honor." Ash says as he and Sweetie head upstairs.
Rarity looks at herself in one of her mirrors and sighs. "I suppose there's no time like the present." She leaves the Boutique and walks to her parents home where she knocks on the door.
Cookie Crumbles opens the door. "Rarity, I'm surprised to see you after the conversation between you and your father."
"While I admit father and I did have unpleasant words I felt that I should tell you both that Sweetie and Ash have returned to Ponyville."
"So why did they run off?" Hondo asks as he steps up behind Cookie.
"They ran off to try and help Ash recover his memory." Rarity answers.
"Did it work?" Cookie asks.
"Yes, in fact he has fully recovered his memory."
Cookie gasps. "And he and Sweetie?"
"Couldn't be happier together."
"I'm so glad to hear that." Cookie says.
"Did they say why they didn't tell anypony where they were going??” Hondo asks.
“That’s sort of our fault.” Rarity admits. “They sort of overheard us talking about how Princess Celestia wanted us to keep them in Ponyville for their own safety. They figured that meant that if they told us we wouldn’t let them leave, so they ran off.”
“Oh.” Hondo says as he looks to the ground.
“I figured that I would at least tell you that she was back.” Rarity says. “Even if you don’t want her anymore you have the right to know.” With that she turns to leave,
“Rarity.” Hondo says causing Rarity to stop in her hoofsteps. “Please let’s talk.”
Rarity sighs and turns around. “Only for Sweetie’s sake.”
Hondo nods. “That’s exactly what we were thinking”
“I’m listening.”
“I said somethings I probably shouldn’t have, and from the sounds of it you were right,” Hondo admits. “There is no reason to separate the two of them.”
Rarity sighs in relief. “I’m glad you two feel the same way.”
“Did you tell Sweetie what was said?”
Rarity shakes her head. “I told her that we had had words before my departure, which I’m sure that she figures were about her leaving. She’s not a little filly anymore.”
“No, she’s not.” Cookie says. “She’s practically a grown mare,”
“I wanted to apologize.” Hondo says. “I just wasn’t ready for her to grow up so fast. Your first coltfriend lasted a couple days, and you left him before you even had your first heat. Now Sweetie’s with this colt, and I’m just overwhelmed.”
Rarity nods. “I understand. Perhaps I was a bit hasty to defend them without knowing the reasons for their actions.”
“You did the right thing.” Cookie says. “We should’ve just waited to hear their side of the story before we made up our minds, but we’d already made up our minds while they were gone.”
“You’re our parents, it’s your job to protect us, nopony can blame you for doing what you’re suppose to do.”
“Be that as it may we’d like to come and talk to both them.” Cookie says.
“We want to know who’s really dating Sweetie since he has his memory back.” Hondo says.
“That sounds quite fair.” Rarity says “Perhaps you can stop by the Boutique for dinner? The two of them were just laying down for a nap when I left the Boutique, and I don’t want to wake them.”
“That sounds reasonable enough.” Cookie says.
“Good, then I’ll go shopping and get something to make for dinner.” Rarity says as she walks off.
==========
Later that evening after they’ve all eaten dinner. “So Rarity says that you went to try and recover your memory.” Hondo says.
“I did.” Ash says. “And the trip was successful.”
“So, then what should we refer to you as?”
Ash grins. “Ash Fall. That’s my name.”
“I thought that’s just what you were using since you couldn’t remember your name.”
“My birth name was Steel Blade, but Princess Luna changed my name.”
Honda and Cookie look at him shocked. “You met with Princess Luna?”
“And Princess Celestia.” Sweetie adds. "Though the meeting was mostly with Princess Luna since Ash was actually one of the Night Guard.”
Hondo and Cookie look at each other and say at the same moment. “Night Guard?” Then they pass out landing on Rarity’s fainting couch.
“Well.” Rarity says as she holds the couch in her magic. “That went about as well as I expected.”
“Can we have dessert now?” Sweetie asks. “Or do we have to wait for Mom and Dad to wake up?”
“Pinkie Pie made a strawberry cake with vanilla icing, I see no reason to let it sit simply because they were overwhelmed by the news.” Rarity.
“Yeah!” Sweetie and Ash say in unison.
“Good thing I had Twilight check to make sure you weren’t pregnant or we’d probably break them.” Rarity says as she marches into the kitchen to get the cake.
Sweetie blushes. “Hey, I know how to be careful!”
Rarity comes back out pushing a cake on a trolley. “Indeed, you were obviously very resourceful and very careful.”
Sweetie nods. “I’ve seen how much trouble you, Mom and Dad had raising me. I’m sure not ready to do that myself.”
Rarity cuts the cake with her magic; places slices onto plates and then levitates the plates onto the table. “I have to say that’s very good thinking Sweetie.”