They’d left Sweet Apple Acres and where heading back to Sugercube Corner. The two had been crying into each other for a long while before leaving. They were happy to be back together but it was still bitter-sweet. Both of them had to speak with Rarity and though neither of them really wanted to… Pinkie and Twilight as well. Even Big Mac.
Fluttershy had a wing around Applejack but not so much in an affectionate way so much as it was to help her walk. Her side had started hurting again this morning where she’d been struck by AJ. When they arrived, the newly reunited couple entered side by side and AJ instantly noticed that Rarity wasn’t where they’d left her. It meant she was awake and that she would speak with her ‘friend’.
The door was already open as the entered, so they hadn’t even made any sound coming in. As expected though, Pinkie came right up to them without even turning to see that they had arrived. She opened her mouth to say something but with perfect timing Twilight called out “Good morning everypony!” cutting off Pinkie as she and Big Mac came down the stairs. She looked surprisingly happy, considering how she’d been when AJ left yesterday.
Fluttershy started to walk forward, dragging AJ along with her seems she still needed a bit of help moving without pain. AJ was glad to do so of course, she was just happy to be so close to her again. It did seem a little odd how brashly Fluttershy had just walked past Pinkie though. AJ didn’t have time to think about it though as Fluttershy called out, meekly “Twilight, could I speak with you? If you don’t mind, that is.”
“Of course Fluttershy. Are, are you ok?” Twilight replied, concerned as she inspected Fluttershy. Her side that was up against AJ had a bright brown-green bruise on it. She hadn’t realised how badly Fluttershy must’ve been hit yesterday. “Um… I can’t really help you with that much. I’m not to well versed in medical no-justu. I'll do what I can but... you should probably see a doctor.”
Fluttershy took her wing off of AJ and furled it back up against her side as normal. It hid most of the bruising and she could walk by herself, it just hurt a little to do so. “That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about but, if you could do anything, I’d appreciate it.” she said as she hobbled towards Twilight.
“Ah need ta talk with Pinkie ‘bout something, be wi’cha in minute, 'k suger?” Applejack said as she started to turn back to Pinkie who stood by the front door still.
“Oh, ok.” Flutterhsy said, soundly oddly welcoming to the idea of speaking privately with Twilight. That didn’t register with AJ however. At least not until she had turned away and started walking, as she heard “Twilight… can I trust you to kee…” she got far enough away that she couldn’t hear what Fluttershy had finished saying but assumed it was ‘keep a secret’. That worried her.
She approached Pinkie who greeted her with a hug. AJ wasn’t sure if it was meant to be an apologetic hug or it was just a normal Pinkie hug but she pulled away from it a bit faster than she usually did. “Pinkie, I need ta ask ya something.”
“Well ask away!” Pinkie chirped. Somehow no matter how dark things where Pinkie always seemed to have to dial cranked up to 11. No that’s not right… her dial was set over 9000. Her minimum was 11. Either way, it took some of the edge off what AJ had to ask.
“You and Fluttershy where together fer months and… las’ night. Me and her where… intimate and well…”
“You were expecting her to do something crazy in bed like I would do?”
“Well… yeah, sorta. But she told me that you didn’t once touch her. Not like that at least. Ah just don’t get it Pinkie.”
“Of course I didn’t. If I had, do you think she could ever go back to boring old you?” Pinkie let out a small short giggles. “No offence.”
“None taken but… ah thought you and…”
Pinkie put her hoof over AJ’s mouth, shutting her up “I knew you to where meant for each other, I told you that yesterday and I meant it. She’s still only ever been with you and as much as I’d loved to have been with her, in a special way, I couldn’t do that to her. I know it’s weird but I love her so much I couldn’t love her.”
“Pinkie... that’s just crazy…” AJ laugh, even though inside she was thanking Celestia with all her heart. Pinkie, in her own way was probably her best friend. All of her group’s best friend. Pinkie did weird stuff but all fo that weirdness was equally as kind. "Pinkie. Ah want you to hit me.” AJ said, instantly putting a hoof to Pinkie’s mouth now, before she could question it. “Remember years ago when ah broke yer jaw? Ah want us to be even. Hit me as hard as ya can.”
Pinkie reared back instantly preparing to swing. AJ hadn’t expected her to oblige so eagerly but with Pinkie she had to expect the unexpected. Pinkie swung. Fast! And then barely tapped AJ. “I hope that didn’t hurt too much Applejack. Sorry if it did.” she had to be joking, but she sounded like she meant it too and AJ wasn’t sure if she did or not.
“That’s fine sugercube, we’re even now.” she said as she moved up to Pinkie, pulling her into a hug.
“I mean it, that’s as hard as I can hit you. I mean I could hit something else really hard but I couldn't hit you and harder no matter how much I tried!”
“Thank you Pinkie, it means a lot ta me.” Applejack said, pulling away from their hug. She’d forgiven Pinkie for what she’d done. Or hadn’t done really, but it didn’t matter, they were friends again and that meant, like she said, a lot to her.
The two of them talked about this and that for a few more minutes before Applejack returned to Fluttershy, all worries about what Fluttershy had possibly said to Twilight before, gone and forgotten about. “Good news everypony!” Twilight said as Applejack approached. “Nothing’s broken, Fluttershy only has a bruised rib.” she said it hoping to help her but she didn’t really know how AJ would take it.
“That’s great.” AJ replied, happy to hear it but still somewhat down trodden none the less. “So Twilight… about what Rarity said yesterday. About ma cousins. Ah’m not surprised Big Mac fergave ya but, ah’m not too sure how I feel ‘bout it.”
“I’m sorry, I should’ve told you…? Would that have made it better though?”
“Wow now, ah ain't sayin' ah'm mad or nothin'. Ah'm just... ah don’t know, but ah’m glad you and Mackintosh are still together.”
Big Mac leaned over to Twilight and whispered something, making sure his sister couldn’t hear.Or anypony else either. Twilight turned to him and gave him a small peck on the cheek. “No, not yet, I want Rarity and Dash to be here too.” Twilight said, letting everypony hear her, but not giving it away. Big Mac leaned back, but not before giving her a kiss on the cheek in return.
“What was that all about” inquired AJ.
“It’s nothing. Look, AJ, I know it may have shocked you and I know I’m the group slut but everything I’ve done hasn’t been so bad, for either of us. It’s gotten us where we are now.” she paused and turned to Big Mac. “And I couldn’t be happier. Please. Be happy with me AJ.” Twilight just smiled as she turned back to face her friend.
“Even if ah tried ah couldn't be mad at cha, you know that Twi. And Twilight, you’re not the group slut, that’s Pinkie.” AJ joked, quietly enough that Pinkie couldn't hear her with a small smirk on her face.
“Hey!” came Pinkie, now standing right beside AJ.
“Relax Pinkie, it was just a joke.” Twilight said to Pinkie and giving AJ a subtle look.
“I know it was a joke, that’s why I’m mad! I’ll gladly be the slut if it means Twilight doesn’t have to be!”
“Um… thanks Pinkie.” Twilight sighed.
“No problem!”
AJ laughed and Twilight joined in. Pinkie was already laughing as always and even Fluttershy and Big Mac let out some small sounds of amusement. AJ slowly stopped laughing and so did Twilight, Pinkie of course kept at it long past a point of any actual homur. AJ asked “There is one thing though Twilight, It’s kinda awkward though. You mind if I ask?”
“Sure, but I get to ask you something too.” Twilight replied.
“Sure thing. So… Golden. Did he like your horn?” AJ asked jokingly but honestly wanting to know.
Twilight sighed “Yes…” Twilight looked away, slightly ashamed at that question. Still she had a question to ask too. She turned back to AJ and asked “So… you and Big Mac?...”
To which AJ promptly replied “So you and Shining Armour…” and with that Twilight knew all the details and didn’t feel like pressing the topic. It didn’t help that this evoked one of the loudest laughs either of them had ever heard from Big Mac who quickly quieted himself after a short out-burst.
“So… how did you know?” Asked Twilight.
“Ah didn’t…”
~ ~
They were less than a minute away from Sugercube Corner now and they’d talked about who Gilda knew most of the way there from where ttheir two groups had met up. All of them had had a good laugh Gilda's her expense when she’d brought up the name of the last guy she’d been with and it turned out to be none other than Fluttershy’s older brother Butterscotch. What are the odds of that… seriously?!
Rarity also come to the conclusion that Gilda, having named Octavia ‘Octopus’ and Scootaloo ‘Scthuloo’, that she had a thing for tentacles… she had to wonder what Gilda’s nick name for Dash was but she didn’t want to ask with what she had said to them yesterday. There was still some tension between Gilda and herself, but they both seemed to be similarly minded in a way and they quickly put most of the insults aside. Now any words that where slung where just good natured jabbing.
Rarity was a bit hesitant to go inside the store and was only forced in when Gilda had called her a ‘Scootaloo’… a chicken. The joke needed explaining, which was always a sign that the joke sucked… those two seemed oddly close and she had to wonder why that had shown up together... oh… she should’ve seen it earlier but it was probably a good thing she hadn’t.
As they entered the bakery, Pinkie immediately rushed over and greeted them all yelling “You’re back!”
Gilda instantly replied “We are? I didn’t notice.”
That joke also went over-head as Pinkie said “Oh, well good thing I told you then!” to which Gilda just sighed…
Spike went over to Twilight and Gilda followed Octavia over to the mare’s two nieces. Ven saw the griffon and he knew who it was. “You the one that took them away from us!” she said in an aggressive way that only a little foal could get away with towards Gilda. She'd only really thought that Dash had left Pinkie, but never considered how her kids must've felt about their mother being gone.
Those feelings where cut short though as Ace added “Yeah, you took our tortoise away! Give us back Tank!”
Gilda could only smirk and think to herself ‘Little brats… to think I almost felt sorry for them.’
Scootaloo was staying with Gilda as they walked in and went over to the foals as well but was quickly called over by Applejack. “Hey, Scootaloo. Ah need ta talk wi’cha fer a moment.” to this, Scootaloo went over to her and Rarity followed. She needed to speak with AJ as well after all. “Rarity” AJ said with an edge to her voice. She then removed her tone then spoke to Scootaloo “Look, what you heard about Applebloom yesterday. Please, don’t tell her. Ah… want to let her know ma self. So would ya…”
“Relax, AJ. I get it. Won’t say a word ta her.”
“Thanks… and Rarity… ah don’t wanna talk ta ya right yet.” she said, knowing Rarity was about to try saying something. AJ didn’t know what to say back to her. Pinkie and Twilight had both been easy to smooth over things with but she hadn’t really been mad at them. Rarity on the other hoof... she still felt like she hated her right now and in all honesty, she did.
“I understand, Applejack, I…” Applejack put her hoof to her mouth, then moved it away not a second later with a slight grimace to her expression. Rarity just nodded and let Applejack walk away with Fluttershy in toe. Rarity turned to Twilight and expected much the same reaction but instead was greeted with… a smile? “Twilight. We should talk. I…”
She was cut off instantly by something she hadn’t expected at all. “I forgive you.” Twilight said.
Rarity was stunned. “You… forgive me? But everything I said…”
“I know. And it hurt me. But, I forgive you. It’s all in the past. What you said and what you did. It’s alright. And honestly, I have to say sorry to you too. You were right. I always thought that you were somewhat… promiscuous. And I made assumptions about you. So, I forgive you, can you forgive me?”
“Of, of course I can!” Rarity almost yelled as she rushed up and hugged Twilight. She was so glad that her friend forgave her. It just meant so much. She even ignored the pain of her bruised face against Twilight’s neck, but eventually she had to pull away. A combination of her pain and what had just transpired made her want to cry, but she controlled herself for the most part.
“Great." Twilight added. "Now that that’s said, I gotta add this. Prince Blueblood, congrats on turning him gay by the way. I bet he loved your horn...”
“I thought you just forg… oh, haha, touché.” Rarity laughed. It was more good natured mocking… she hoped. But from what Twilight had said she was sure it was. Something about Twilight just seemed to radiate cheer at the moment and Rarity couldn’t figure out why. “Twilight dear, you’ve spoken to her already. Applejack that is. Do you think she’ll forgive me too?”
“I can’t say Rarity.” Twilight paused, looking to Big Mac, hoping he could say something. His look only backed up what Twilight had said; he didn't know either. She turned back to her and said “There’s only one way to find out, Mac.” and pointed towards Rarity then Applejack. “I’ll tell you though. Applejack seems happy to be back with Fluttershy but... Fluttershy’s just… I shouldn’t say.”
“No, it’s quite alright. Keep it secret, I rather don’t trust myself right now either.” Rarity said as she turned to see the two of them talking with Pinkie. Fluttershy had a bit of hesitance standing on her left side. “I’ll speak with them, but could you grab Pinkie away from them dear?”
Twilight nodded and called for Pinkie. Not that she needed to as Pinkie was already in front of her before she’d even said ‘Pink’ yet. Rarity walked over to the two, who were heading towards her in-turn. Fluttershy was definitely limping, she must’ve been hurt by something. Rarity didn’t really know what happened after she was… knocked out? she assumed.
“Guess we have ta do this don’t we?” AJ asked. She had walked slowly to match Fluttershy’s hobbling pace. Or perhaps to delay speaking with Rarity for even a second or two longer.
“I don’t know quite where to start Applejack.”
“Look, Rarity.” AJ paused. She knew what she needed to say but didn’t want to “Ah… have ta thank you. What you did was horrible but if it weren’t fer you, ah wouldn’t be back with Fluttershy.” she said as she turned to face Fluttershy. Fluttershy leaned into AJ at those words. Rarity was still amazed at how much her friends had accepted what she’d done.
“And I’m glad to be with you too, Applejack.”
“So… you forgive me too?” asked Rarity. She was still amazed at how much her friends where dealing with what she’d said and done.
“I can’t forgive ya, Rarity…”
“Please, Applejack, don’t say ‘you have nothing to be forgiven for.’ I…”
“Ah had no intention of saying that.” AJ replied, bluntly. “What you did was unforgivable... that's why ah can't forgive you Rarity, ‘least not right yet. Honestly, ah don’t even consider you a friend no more. Ah still wanna kick ya square in the side’a your head!... But even if ah do, that wouldn’t help. Ah’d just wanna keep hittin’ ya an' it wouldn't solve nothin' between us.”
This was more what Rarity had expected. But there was hope. AJ had said ‘not yet’. Rarity would just give it time, it would heal all these wounds. “I’m sorry you hear that… I. Fluttershy… are you alright?”
She wasn’t. She was crying quietly but the expression on her face, though half hidden against Applejack’s side, expressed intense pain. “I… no.” she whimpered. Applejack quickly noticed it as well. She’d pressed up against her saw rib. AJ pulled away from here revealing a full view of Fluttershy’s bruised side to Rarity. It was a hideous dark-green, Rarity’s most hated colour and it was almost a polar opposite to her yellow coat.
“My! What, what happened to you Fluttershy?” Rarity inquired.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just…”
“Sugercube… ah… ah don’t want you ta have a child. You couldn’t take it. This is killing you. You can’t imagine how painful givin’ birth is. And… and ah shouldn’ta said that in front of everypony else, should ah?” she face hoofed… so stupid. Especially not in front of Rarity; she was bound to ask what Fluttershy thought about Applebloom. AJ started thinking of how to avoid letting her say anything.
But to her surprise, though almost obviously in retrospect, Rarity instead asked. “Please, Fluttershy. What happened?” It was almost a worse question AJ thought. “How did you get that dreadful bruise?”
“It where your fault Rarity!… ah… did it…”
Rarity didn’t understand for a moment what AJ had said. It just seemed too extraordinary to be true. But AJ had struck her yesterday and had already spoken of beating her again today. It was completely possible that AJ had lashed out at Fluttershy, or at least Rarity thought so in that moment. “How. Could you?”
“Ah… it was yur fault it happened!”
Rarity was taken aback for a moment before she gently pushed AJ aside and stood between the two “You hit her didn’t you? No matter what I did, no matter what happened, she could NOT have deserved it! You think I’m unforgiveable?! What you… what you did is WOSRE!!!” Rarity yelled, grabbing the attention of most present. The rest soon followed, seeing where the others were looking.
Rarity was sure AJ would be defensive, maybe even violent but was grateful when she saw AJ at least showed remorse “Ah know…” she said as she lowered her head in shame. She wanted to say something more but couldn’t.
Rarity turned to Fluttershy “Are you ok deary?” as her horn started to glow. She knew some medical magic, more than Twilight at least, though Twilight probably knew why it was usually called medical no-jutsu instead of medical magic. Working with needles and sowing machines all day, Rarity had had to learn these types of spells. After a second passed Fluttershy was about to say something but Rarity blurted out, cutting her off “Oh dear… that’s quite a fracture.”
“A fracture?” asked Fluttershy “Twilight said it was just a bruise. It’s not too serious is it?”
“A hair-line fracture, it will heal. But… Fluttershy are you truly happy to be back with AJ?” Rarity said, loud enough that AJ could hear. If Fluttershy had something to say, Rarity wanted AJ to hear it as well. “Twilight said something had been bothering you. She didn’t say what but I can assume what it was.” Rarity finished turning to AJ, giving her a look.
AJ looked back at Rarity, concerned that what she had said was true. Worse yet was the possibility that after everything that Rarity had done yesterday to ‘fix’ her relationship, she was now about to tear it all back down. That fear was cemented when Fluttershy said “Well… there is something… but I don’t want to say.”
“It’s ok Fluttershy, I understand. You don’t have to say it, I understand what you feel. My father used to beat my mother… and me… It always horrified me to see him in those states and I feared he may someday harm Sweetie Belle too. If Applejack is beating you, you shouldn’t stay. I… I never thought she could do that but…”
Fluttershy’s pain disappeared for a moment “Be-beating me? No!” the pain returned quickly after but for that moment she had conveyed a look of both confusion and concern. “She never hit me. She couldn’t.”
“But she said she… and your side…” Rarity had just made a huge mistake... she’d just accused that pony she’d been trying to apologise to of bludgeoning one of the most innocent ponies around and the one whom she loved. Wait… “But how did you get that injury then?”
“She, she got it protecting you…” Applejack said, now crying. She’d been so happy to be back with Fluttershy but she didn’t know something was wrong. Even if Rarity had been wrong in her assumption of what happened between them, Fluttershy had still said there was an issue and for the life of her, AJ didn’t know what. “I was ganna kick ya head in Rarity. Ah may’ve even killed ya had ah did. But Fluttershy jumped in front of you. And ah’m sorry, ah’m so sorry Fluttershy. Ah really am… ah’m sorry Sug!”
Fluttershy stood there, not moving. She slowly started to cry too, as a brief word escaped her mouth, quieter than even her usual low-toned whispers. Rarity heard it but couldn’t make it out, assuming it was just a whimper. AJ took a step closer and Rarity moved out of the way to let her through to her lover.
“Ah don’t know what the problem is but ah’d do anything for you. You know ah would. Please, just tell me what it is and ah’ll fix it, ah promise!”
“You can’t…” Fluttershy said. AJ looked down for a few seconds. She was about to turn away when Fluttershy pulled her into a tight hug. AJ rose to meet Fluttershy’s gaze. They stared at each other for a moment before she finally closed their eyes and slowly lent in for a tender loving kiss. After a moment they parted lips. “You can’t fix it because you already did… you called me ‘Sug’ again. I love you Applejack!” she said as she kissed her once more.
The second kiss latest a bit longer. They finally parted once more and AJ was going to say what Fluttershy wanted to hear “Ah love you t…” she was cut off by Fluttershy putting a hoof to her mouth. A look of sorrow on her face after the moment they had just had. AJ saw it in her... she knew exactly what Fluttershy was thinking. She pulled Fluttershy’s hoof away and said “Ah mean it! It may sound like ah’m just saying it because it’s what you wanna hear, but believe me… ah love you Sug. I love you, so much…”
~ ~
Dash had lain there for at least five hours now. She’d woken up at 6 and hadn’t been able to fall back to sleep. From what she’d heard coming through the door, Gilda was already back. Dash couldn’t just say she’d talked thing over with Pinkie and just leave with Gilda liked she’d planned, the two had probably already talked. She didn’t know what was going to happen when she went down stairs. It was completey possible Pinkie would be waiting right out front of that door for Dash.
Luckily, as Dash opened the door, Pinkie wasn’t standing there. In a way she was disappointed as much as she was relieved. She walked a short distance through the hall way to the stairs. Peering down them she tried to survey the store before going down herself. Surprisingly, things seemed calm.
Octavia was talking with Rarity as they played with the kids. Rarity was levitating around the dolls she had made for them. Gilda and Scootaloo where talking with AJ and Fluttershy. Hopefully the two orange mares where keeping things civil between the two winged ones; Gilda never did like Fluttershy. Lastly: Big Mac, Twilight and Spike where talking amongst themselves. What was kinda weird to Dash thought, was that Spike was sitting on Big Mac’s back the way he did Twilight’s back when he was younger, though that behemoth of a pony could easily carry him even now.
Twilight caught a glimpse of Dash’s head poking down from the stair case and Dash saw that she did. They knew she was up now so she might as well come down at last. “Rainbow!” called Twilight. “You’re finally awake.”
“Yeah, I’m up.” she said as she trotted down the stairs. Most of the ponies took notice of this and Dash was still expecting Pinkie to rush over to her and do something. But she didn’t. It was bitter-sweet once more to not have Pinkie obsessing over her. This would probably be the last time she would see her friends for a long time again, she’d at least say goodbye to them this time… before ditching them again.
She walked over to Gilda and the other three. She hadn’t really thought that Twilight wanted to talk to her or how excited she had seemed when she had saw her at the top of the stairs. “Hey Gilda. Think we could leave soon?” Dash asked. She felt alright now and would probably be able to fly pretty well for a while but soon after she’d really start to need Gilda’s help getting back to Cloudsdale.
“Well that depends, did you even speak ta her like I told ya to?” Gilda didn’t need Dash to answer, she knew Dash and she knew that Dash was a coward at heart despite how brave she always acted. Dash’s face didn’t change but her lack of response confirmed it. “Uh!... I ask you ta do one thing and you can’t even handle that… you’re pathetic you know that?”
“What?” came Dash. She’d never heard Gilda say anything like that. At least not to her.
“Give her a break G.” Interrupted Scootaloo.
“Look, all you told me to do was to come back here. And I did. I just wanna get outta here and go home.”
“Tss… well I don’t know where home is for you ‘cause you sure as hell don’t live with me anymore.” Gilda said, puffing herself up to full weight, trying to convey as much authority as a landlord as possible. Dash didn’t quite get what she meant for a moment. It only just hit her as Gilda started again “I’ll bring ya stuff down, except that turtle of yours… I'm keeping him.”
“Um, he’s a tortoise” Fluttershy added quietly.
“Whatever. The less stuff I have at that place that reminds me of you the better. Coward, liar, and a terrible friend!” Gilda yelled.
Dash was mortified. How could Gilda say this to her? But she wasn’t wrong. Dash just accepted what she said. That was, until Pinkie barged in between the two ‘friends’. “Now hold on just a minute Miss Grumpy-Feathers! Dashie is not a coward, Dashie is not a liar and Dashie is a great friend. My best friend!”
“Pinkie…” Dash let out. But she didn’t hear it as she continued to challenge Gilda’s statement.
“Anything you have to say to Dashie you have to say to me too!” Pinkie stopped and looked at Dash for a moment who just stared back at her before she turned back to Gilda. “Well? What do you have to say? Are you going to apologize?”
“As if. Why would I apologise to her? She’s to scared ta even talk to you. She’s been a horrible friend ta me, barely speaking ta me for a decade and then only comes to me when she needs help! And lying? Ha! She’s been lying about everything for years. Not gay my hide, destroyed that ponies think she is? Then she just happens to turn out ta be gay? What a shocker that was… that little les deserves some pony like you. Some crazy slut.”
What Dash saw now was a first. A first for everypony present. She and the others had all seen how Pinkie’s mane would flatten and go straight from its natural curly state when she was sad but this was almost the exact opposite. It had hardened, sharpened, pointed and spiked out. None of them had seen this before, likely nopony had, not even her sister. In fact this was most likely the first time it had ever happened to her mane. The change was instant as she struck Gilda across her beak.
Dash, AJ and Twilight had hit others in the past. Rarity had struck a few of her former suitors and even Fluttershy had once kicked another pony in anger. But never Pinkie Pie. She’d always been so happy about everything. Cheer was all she knew, even in her darkest moments she’d never really hated anypony. To see her strike Gilda… ‘Does she really care that much for me?’ Dash wondered.
As if reading Dash’s mind and answering her thoughts, Pinkie burst “You can say whatever you want about me. But how dare you say that about Dashie?!” Pinkie yelled as she stared at Gilda who had taken the hit well. That didn’t mean it hadn’t hurt as her face was already starting to redden on to right side. Gilda had just held herself well is all.
“You really wanna go Pink-Squeak?!” Gilda squawked and took a step forward. Pinkie didn’t back down but didn’t come at her either. Gilda just sighed at that dumb pony. “I’m outta here. Should I send your stuff here or just dump it through the clouds?”
“You better send it all here Miss Grumpy-Feathers!” Pinkie hissed… literally. She turned herself towards Dash who was just sitting on the ground now. Her neck was held up but her head was pointed down. She was quietly sobbing, though no tears where visible yet. “Dashie… would you like to move back in with me?” Pinkie said with hopeful-fear in her voice. Her spiked-out mane had disappeared already and had only lasted a mere few seconds after she’d struck Gilda.
Dash didn’t answer. Probably didn’t even here the question. Pinkie just trotted up top her slowly and sat beside her. Resting her head against Dash. She jerked at the sudden contact before reluctantly leaning in against Pinkie as well. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Dash felt a tear roll down her side… but it wasn’t her own. It was Pinkie’s. Dash spoke up “I… I’d like that Pinkie…” as she put an arm around Pinkie… her wife once more. “I really would...”
“Gilda…?” came Scootaloo “What the hay was that?” she demanded! Gilda looked at Scootaloo and then at the two ponies laying against one another. Gilda winced, the pain from the kick was finally getting to her Scootaloo thought.
“It was… my exit. See ya’s!” She said dismissively as she turned and quickly went out the door. As soon as she was outside she spread her wings and quickly took off. But Scootaloo hadn’t gotten her answer. She immediately chased after the gryphon. Gilda was faster than Scootaloo but that served more to Scootaloo’s advantage as she was far enough behind that Gilda didn’t know she was being followed.
When Gilda finally landed Scootaloo was only a few seconds behind her. She didn’t even touch down before she had yelled to her “What the hell was that Gilda?!” as she landed and quickly got into her most authoritative stance. Gilda didn’t even look at Scootaloo though. And just kept facing away.
“D-dash once said ta me… that th-the most painful thing she ever did was stop be-being my friend…”
“Are… are you… crying G.?” Scootaloo asked as she walked towards her. No longer angry but concerned and confused. She got to her side and saw Gilda had a stream pouring down her face. “But… why did you say that all then?”
“I had to!” Gilda yelled as she turned to meet Scootaloo’s eye. “She loved that pink bitch! I had to do it for her! I-I… I know how she felt back then… when she stopped being my friend… I loved her, I still love her! And if she doesn’t hate me then she’ll lose all of her other friends…”
“Gilda…”
“Scootaloo!” roared Gilda. As she lunged at her. Scootaloo braced to be hit hard but instead Gilda wrapped her arms around her and just sobbed into her mane.
“I… I know how you feel. I had to leave my friend once when I was younger to. It hurt so much… but we’re friends again now. I’m sure you and Rainbow can…” at the mention of Dash’s name Gilda’s weeping became even stronger. “Gilda… would you like to come back to my place again? I can make that seed you like.”
“I… I’d like that Scootaloo…” she said, still pressed into her mane. Scootaloo wrapped her front hooves around Gilda in turn. “I really would…”
~ ~
How could such a terrible day end so well? This morning she was sure everypony would hate everypony else but now all Twilight saw around her was the love that all her friends had once shared with each other. Even AJ and Rarity where being civil, though mostly because Fluttershy and Pinkie had forced them to play nice and talk. It was amazing! And they were all gathered, it was the perfect time now. “Everypony! May I have your attention?”
They all turned to her and she motioned for Spike to join in with the crowd rather than stand next to her. Big Mac still stood beside her and though they hadn’t rehearsed anything, he knew immediately what Twilight had called their attention for. Without any hesitation her turned to Twilight and began what he had been waiting and hoping to say since what she had asked of him earlier that morning.
“Miss Twilight. Ah love you. You’re the only mare there is fer me and ah would greatly ‘ppreciate it if you would do the honour of letting me make you ‘Misses Twilight’.” he leant down and looked up at her “Will you marry me?” he asked, not needing an answer, but wanting to make the moment perfect for her.
“I will” she replied as she leant down and gave him a long kiss. It was a perfect moment for her and it only got better as her friends started to cheer. Even Spike cheered; Big Mac’s new son. They ended the kiss and stood back up. It seemed silly but she had to wipe a tear away… not from herself but from Big Mac… he’s such a softy.
“Well congratulation Sis!” called Applejack. She was indeed Twilight’s sister now. So was Fluttershy.
“Yay.” simply added Fluttershy.
Both Pinkie and Dash yelled in unison “Ya-woo!"
Rarity simply smiled at the couple. Spike had a 'look' he gave to Big Mac. It wasn’t angry, happy or any other thing else Twilight had ever seen from the dragon. “Spike?” She asked.
“Oh um… I just wanted to say… I couldn’t think of a better pony to marry my mother.” Twilight’s heart exploded… twice. The look he had given Big Mac was of respect. She’d always thought of Spike as her son but she never knew that he too thought of her as his mother. “Twilight, are you alright?”
She noticed she was crying. Nothing could make this moment happier for her. “I’m fine Spike… I’m perfect.” She said wiping away her tears as she walked over to him. She hugged him and Big Mac soon joined. Nothing could ruin this moment. Nothing...
“Everypony!” called Pinkie and they all looked. Pinkie turned to Dash, a smile on her face, bigger and brighter than normal. “Dashie. I love you… you’re the only mare for me, and all that other stuff Big Mac said. But I know I’ve made mistakes and hurt you. I just hope you can forgive me. I’ve learnt something; you’re all I need to be happy. I don’t want anypony else. I want it to just be me and you. We’ve been together for so long and I’ve always considered you my wife and I hope you have felt the same. But we never truly got married. So Dashie, will you marry me?”
“Pinkie…”
“No more of my parties like that. I never want any other pony than you anymore. I’ve hurt you doing that in the past and I never want it to happen again. I want to make things right, make you an honest mare. So please, Dashie. Will you marry me?” Pinkie’s tone begged though her smile remained as cheery as it could.
“I… Pinkie… I feel… numb.”
“Oh…” Pinkie sighed, disappointedly.
“No, I mean I… my legs feel weak.”
“I know how you feel. My knees are trembling and… I feel empty without you…” she said closing her eyes and looking down.
“Pinkie… my heart…”
“Oh Dashie… that’s so romantic…”
“No… Pinkie! My heart!” Pinkie felt the severity of her tone. She opened her eyes and looked up. Dash was clutching her chest and her face was dulling. She didn’t stay upright for a second longer as she collapsed to the ground.
The last thing Dash saw was Pinkie standing over her and as her eyes closed, she heard echoing away into the distances “Dashie?... Dashie!.........”
“DASHIE!!!”