//------------------------------// // Reconciliation // Story: A Tale Of Ice and Fire // by ZergPony //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle stood outside the barn, Apple Bloom resting on her shoulders. Applejack and her brother Big Mac hurried to their side, anxious for their little sister and friend. Their worries were eased when they saw them both practically unharmed, catching sign of Apple Bloom breathing normally. The fires had now died down. The barn had been burnt badly, but thankfully it still stood its ground. “Sweet Celestia, Twilight! Ah'm so glad you two are okay. What happened in there?” Applejack asked her friend. Twilight Sparkle hesitated. She had been set out to punish, what she thought had been, a criminal. Now she wasn't sure what to think. “Twilight! Answer me. Why did a fire break lose in the barn with you and Apple Bloom inside?” Before the purple unicorn could answer, they were interrupted by familiar voices approaching them. “Twilight, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Big Mac. Are you all okay?” They turned around to see all of their friends in the distance rushing over to them, all with worry hinting in their eyes. Fluttershy, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash had all answered the call and had hurried over as fast as they could. Rainbow Dash was the first one to speak. “What happened here? I was working on my usual, awesome routine when I saw a fire rising up from your orchard.” “Yes we were quite worried when we saw the fire as well. Fluttershy, Spike, Pinkie and I coincidentally met while I was picking out materials for my new fabulous collage.” Rarity said. “Yeah! But the main reason we came was because we were worried about Twilight going after Crimson like a crazy mare, then there was the fire and I was like, ohmygosh and got really really scared, because I thought my friends were hurt, and that made me so sad, but now that everyone is safe, Pinkie is happy again, speaking of happy, have you ever *thump *.” Rainbow stuck her hoof in her friend's mouth again. “That's enough Pinkie.” “Mrmrfl, mirfm, frllilf.” The pink pony tried to say pleadingly. “What is that Ah heard about Twilight chasing after Crimson?” Applejack said while looking questioningly at her friend. “Why would you do that sugarcube? Crimson isn't dangerous or anything, and Ah still need an answer why there was a fire in the barn with you and Apple Bloom in it.” “I was sent by the Princesses to...” She began but couldn't finish. The words were stuck in her throat, constricting her. Had she made a terrible mistake? “Um, girls?” Fluttershy gently interrupted. “If you don't mind me asking, where is Crimson anyway?” “Ah don't know, she was with Apple Bloom this whole...*gasp*.” Applejack's worried face turned into horror. She glared at her ashamed friend, confirming her thoughts. “She's in the barn!? Good gracious girl, why the hay didn't you say something? Everypony come on!” The others followed Applejack into the barn. Twilight stood still on the same spot, unable to move. What had she done? Had she really acted in everypony's best interest? It all came back to her. She hadn't listened to her friends, had taken it on herself again to cast judgement. She was so sure that her instincts were right that she had forgotten to think. I've erred terribly and an innocent unicorn has paid the price for my arrogance and ineptitude. It hurt, but it was the truth. Her friends emerged from the barn, Big Mac supported Crimson on his back. Twilight knew that she had to do. It was far from making amends. She was sure to be shunned for what she had done to the poor thing, but still she had to do it. She gathered herself and went over to her friends. “Give her to me, Bic Mac. I'll heal her.” She said determined. Her friends looked at each other before they nodded in agreement. They laid the cyan unicorn nearby a tree, on thick lawn of grass, to cushion her. She wasn't showing any signs of moving, except for her pained expression and her chest which moved slowly up and down. Good. At least she's breathing. I must have hurt her internally though, she was coughing up blood earlier. “I'm sorry I did this to you.” The purple unicorn whispered before she started channelling her magic. Her powers swept over the cyan mare, working their way into her body. Some ribs were fractured, thankfully they hadn't punctured her lungs or anything else vital. Twilight mended and set them back to their original position. The waves of magic soothed the unicorn's pain, her face relaxed, and expression softened. Applejack however had heard her whispering and came up to her friend, leaning in for her to hear. “It seems to me, that y' have a lot to be sorry for today, Twilight.” Twilight turned around for everyone to hear. “Yes, I have. Everypony. Please hear me out, and I will explain what I discovered. Today I got a mission from Princess Celestia. It was about a light that had been seen descending into the Everfree Forest. Spike and I set out to find the source, our journey taking us to a glade, where it was supposed to have been. Yet it wasn't.” Twilight took a deep breath and continued. “I tracked the source back to Ponyville, first was Fluttershy's cottage, where I made my first mistake. I didn't heed Fluttershy's warning. I was so absorbed in my task that I forgot to listen. My second mistake was at the bakery. I heard about what had happened there, and I thought that whatever I was set out to find, was dangerous. Pinkie also tried to call out to me, but I darted off to the orchard before she could finish, and there was it that made my third and most regrettable mistake.” They were now all looking at her intently. “I saw a cyan unicorn fitting the description I'd gotten from Fluttershy, holding Apple Bloom tightly. In my fatigue from running almost all over Ponyville and my determination to get rid of the intruder, I did not think straight. I attacked Crimson unprovoked, and I hurt her.” Apple Bloom stirred from hearing her explanation. “Twas mah fault. Crimson protected me from a hay bale, after I had tinkered with our new machine, which I wasn't supposed to. I'm sorry sis, brother.” Applejack and Big Mac comforted their sister, telling her that it was also their fault for not making sure that it wasn't shut down before leaving it unattended. They others were now staring at her in shock. Never had they imagined Twilight being capable of hurting somepony else in this way. “What I did was monstrous, and I don't expect to be forgiven. I thought I was acting in everypony's best interest, and I was afraid if I tried to solve it with everyone, it would end up like it had been at Shining Armor's wedding. Every since we came back from Canterlot I have been busy studying shielding magic, in case if we were ever attacked by the changelings again.” Yeah they remembered that. How they had all thought that she was overreacting. She had been kind of obsessed with that event, but they never knew it still haunted her. “Sugarcube.” Applejack started. “We're yer friends. Y' know y' can always come and talk to us. Y' shouldn't shoulder everything yerself. Today you made a huge mistake, but I know you will do your best to set things right.” “It's partly our fault as well. We failed to pick up how you were feeling. You were holed up in the library for days. I for once had no idea you were still going on about that. I was so swamped up in my work, that I merely...forgot.” Rarity said. She looked apologetically at her friend. “And I was so busy tending to my animals and helping Rarity that I forgot to pay you a visit as well. Then Crimson came along, and well, I had to help the poor thing out.” Fluttershy said. “Don't talk about being busy. After we came back I've been up to my ears with orders, now that the Cakes are on vacation with the twins. I didn't even have time to plan any parties! I was lucky Crimson came along when she did, things could have gotten pretty ugly is she hadn't used her magic.” Pinkie looked horrified. “Just think of how long it would take to fill the orders if the bakery burned down! Anyway, I'm sorry for not seeing how you were doing Twilight.” “Well, uh, I was busy, as well, yeah, busy preparing my routine and teaching Scoots. So yeah, I'm sorry too.” Rainbow tried unconvincingly. “You have nothing to apologize for. The blame is entirely my own. I neglected sleep and barely ate anything. No wonder I was such a wreck, still it's not an excuse for what I did.” “Hmph, I tried to tell her several times that she should eat and sleep but would she listen to me? Oh no, she would...ouch.” Applejack had whacked him lightly on his head. “Ah think she knows now Spike, don't be rubbin it in now, y' hear?” Applejack turned to Twilight. “Ah think that the best thing to do now is just to wait for Crimson to wake up. Y' have some real apologizing fer her to hear, and maybe y' should lay down for a while to think about it.” Twilight nodded and complied. She laid herself on the ground, waiting for the unicorn to wake up from her resting, bit was interrupted by Pinkie. "Just one little detail." She said while looking at her friends. "If it's true that Crimson did have something to do with that light in the forrest, what does that mean exactly?" The six friends watch each other, then at the unconcious and now seemingly peaceful-looking blue unicorn laying on the grass. o.O.o The shadow lurked behind one of the bigger apple trees in the vicinity. It observed them carefully as it had been ordered to. Its ragged-looking ears perked up as it got a new set of orders. It was to abandon its current task and head into the Everfree Forest. It complied without question and carefully made its way to the forest, the night cloaking its visage. o.O.o “I think she's waking up girls.” Crimson slowly opened her eyelids. She had been hearing a lot of familiar voices talking around her and keeping her from sleeping. Her body ached horribly all over, but it was out shadowed by the agonizing pain in her head. She felt like it would split in two, and that was an understatement. With great effort she could finally focus on the different forms talking and trying to get her attention. “Hey Crimson! Can you hear me?” A blue blur called out to her, slowly turning into a familiar sight. Rainbow Dash. Crimson gave out a small cough before she hoarsely responded to her friend. “Rainbow. What are you doing here?” She asked weakly. “Same as we all are dear.” Another familiar voice spoke to her from the corner of her eye. “We are all worrying for you of course. Honestly. Why did you feel the urge to pull of a stunt like that?” Crimson felt a concerned hoof on her face. Crimsone recognized the voice immediately. The white unicorn's regal tone could never be confused with another. “Rarity?” You're here too?” Before she could ask anything else she got hugged by three other ponies. “I'm so glad you are okay Crimson. Seeing you passed out in the barn was awful, just awful!” Fluttershy said in between her tears. “And I'm happy one of my new best friends wasn't hurt.” Pinkie hugged her closely, almost putting her in a new danger, by choking her in her arms. “Ah'm glad yer alive. Y' saved me in there.” Apple Bloom couldn't contain her tears and started bawling. “And Ah can't thank y' enough fer saving mah little sister.” Applejack put a grateful hoof on Crimson's shoulder, tiny tears moving down from her eyes unto her freckled cheeks. They helped the cyan unicorn to stand up. Crimson felt very wobbly, like she had been running for hours without stopping. She was glad that they were there to support her. “There's somepony here as well who owe y' a big apology as well. “The orange mare turned to face the ashamed – looking pony farther away. “Well, Twilight?” Twilight Sparkle hung her head as she slowly made her way to the unicorn, supported in the middle of her friends. She let out a heavy sigh, emphasizing her unjust actions. “Miss Crimson Stripes. I, Twilight Sparkle, protege of our ruler Princess Celestia, offer my most sincere apologies to you.” Crimson got startled in fear, as recognized the voice of her perpetrator from earlier, she tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. Twilight continued talking, before Crimson could muster anything coherent. “I attacked you unprovoked and without knowing who you really are or what your intentions of coming to Ponyville were, and for that, I am deeply sorry.” Crimson met the purple look and gazed into her eyes. She wasn't so frightening now when she was not screaming and threatening her like a lunatic. She nodded in confirmation to Twilight, acknowledging her apology. “W-what I would like to know.” She began carefully. “Is what drove you to such an extent as to harm me in such a way.” Twilight bit her lip, knowing she would have to explain her mission to this outsider. She owe her that much and more. She began explaining about the letter from the princess, what had happened when she didn't find anything in the forest and her discoveries in town. Crimson listened intently to the purple unicorn's story. She was appalled to hear about the mysterious light that had descended into the forest, and presumably in the location where the blue pony had awoken. What could it mean? She noted an increasing of fear in Twilight's voice as it came to an end. She hung her head again when she was finished. Feeling a little better the blue pony carefully broke from her fellow friends, she looked them over and nodded to herself. “You really care deeply for your friends, don't you, Twilight Sparkle?” Crimson managed a strained, yet genuine smile towards the lavender unicorn. Twilight raised her head again, confused by the blue unicorn's choice of words. She recollected herself quickly. “They mean everything to me. I couldn't stand if they got hurt in any way. That's why, when I witnessed the scene at the bakery and you holding Apple Bloom, I snapped.” Twilight continued. “Not very long ago our nation stood in front of a huge threat. I suspected it, but didn't have any valid proof at that time, neither was my explanation for the threat credible. Sadly it escalated without me or my friends being able to handle the situation. Many ponies got hurt in the process, especially our princess.” Twilight shed a tear when she remembered the vulnerable state of her teacher. “In the end, it was neither I or my friends who solved the ordeal, but my brother and his bride Cadance.” “How exactly did they manage to accomplish something you and your friends could not?” Crimson asked. “Well it's kind of complicated. Let's just say that love is a powerful thing.” Twilight smiled meekly. Love, huh. Crimson thought. “The thing is.” Twilight continued. “I have never felt so powerless like that before, and I knew that had to take matters into my own hooves, if something were to threaten the lives of my friends again. I can't rely on my brother to solve every little thing that turns up. He has enough to deal with, upholding the law in Equestria. I thought I at least could do the same, in Ponyville.” “It's a shame though,” Crimson said. “That you feel it necessary to suffer alone, when you have such strong and wonderful friends at your side.” “Yeah, that's right! This girl gets it,” Rainbow Dash chimed in. “It's not fair for you to do everything on your own, Twilight. Just talk to us and we'll figure things out together, yeah?” Everyone else agreed with this, and encouraged their friends to confide in them, next time she suspected something was wrong. Crimson became a little envious of their friendship. They were all true friends. Her heart started aching terribly, as if she was trying to remember something painful. “Twilight Sparkle?” She said solemnly, after she calmed her heart. “Y-yes?” She managed to say, now looking directly into the eyes of the cyan pony. “I forgive you,” Crimson added a little smile to reassure the purple unicorn. “What? I-I,” Twilight stammered, chocking back tears. “I-I don't deserve your forgiveness.” “Well that is too bad, I already gave it to you, without any choice of a refund,” Crimson playfully let out her tongue, making everyone else laugh. “Guess you'll just have to deal with it. Even if you hurt me I now understand that you were only looking out for your friends, therefore, I forgive you, so don't say you don't deserve it." Crimson face became serious. "I do however have a wish I would like for you to grant me.” “W-well, what is it? If it is in my power I shall certainly do my best to make it come true.” Crimson turned around to look at Fluttershy and Rarity, grimaced, then turned back to Twilight. “Teach me how to levitate those frickin' table utensils!” o.O.o It was now way past any pony's bedtime. Everyone was exhausted from the event that had transpired this evening. Crimson and Twilight agreed to meet the next day, when they were both rested enough. Crimson was eager to talk about any details regarding her awakening in the Everfree Forest. They all went their separate ways back home. Rainbow made sure to escort poor Fluttershy home first. Crimson still having trouble moving on her own, was supported by the Apple siblings. They all insisted that she stayed at their house for the time being. They moved quietly as not to wake Granny Smith, whom had fallen asleep earlier after dinner. They wouldn't mention any major details when she would ask about what happened to the barn tomorrow. The old mare's heart was very frail, even though she never quite showed it. Applejack, Apple Bloom and Big Mac ventured upstairs to the guest room, with Crimson supported by their bodies. Crimson blushed as they pretty much tucked her in like a little child. She wasn't that exhausted, honestly! “Erm.” She cleared her throat. “Um, I guess I'm in your care then, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Big Mac.” “Eyeup!” Big Mac responded, as he always did. “That y' are sugarcube. Don't y' worry now, an' get plenty o' rest.” Applejack smiled at her. Apple Bloom launched herself into Crimson's embrace for another hug. The filly clinging to her like a band aid. “Thanks again for saving me. Hope y'll sleep well tonight and that y will be back on your feet tomorrow.” Kid, please stop. If you get any sweeter, you'll make me collapse from sugar coma. Crimson thought to herself. “You have some sweet dreams yourself, kiddo.” She ruffled the little filly's mane playfully. “Good night everyone. See you tomorrow.” Applejack put out the lantern illuminating the room and they all went to their separate rooms for the night. Crimson sighed as darkness embraced her fatigued body. Sleep would probably come fast for her, even if she had a lot on her mind. How did she survive in the barn when it was on fire? She remembered praying for strength but then everything blacked out and next thing she remembered was waking up outside. She thought back to Twilight's story. Why did my heart ache so horribly when she told me love saved the day? Crimson tried to supress a yawn but failed. Guess I shouldn't over think anything tonight. I am just too worn out. I can worry about these things after I have gotten some proper shut-eye. Tomorrow would be a new day. A day where she would talk to Twilight Sparkle about her thoughts on magic and perhaps learn something useful spells, and maybe, just maybe unlock something about her blurry past.