Rarity was basking in the glow of completing her first dress, while a confused Applejack looked on. As she admired her work, Twilight Sparkle levitated the Element of Generosity from the large box that Spike carried, clipping it around Rarity's neck.
Rarity’s eyes shot open, a flood of memories filling her mind as the Element restored her cutie mark to normal—no longer the rainbow-lightning of Rainbow Dash’s, but the familiar three gems.
Rarity started to recover from the shock; Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash smiled to each other, knowing exactly what she had just gone through. Realizing her true self, Rarity said, “Oh my, what a terrible dream I had.” She looked around at the boutique, a messy clutter, cobwebs in the corners, and Applejack’s travesty of a fashion line polluting her dress forms. “Or maybe I’m still having it...”
The day before...
Rarity walked out to the edge of town, taking a look at the sky. A few wisps of clouds drifted lazily by.
“Hmm, this should be no problem,” Rarity said to herself. Focusing her magic into her unicorn horn, she concentrated on one of the cloud formations, bending the water vapor to her will. The cloud shivered and after a brief hesitation, started to twist and contort under Rarity’s control. Within minutes, the cloud had been stretched out into a long, flowing ribbon, but Rarity continued to drive her magic into the cloud. The cloud ribbon bent and stretched on its own, tying itself into a billowy bow floating in the sky.
Rarity released her spell and admired her work. “There, another perfect formation!” She turned toward another loose cloud and began to conform that one to her design.
A small, timid voice spoke up. “Oh, they look beautiful, Rarity.”
Rarity had completed the second cloud, this time stringing it like a banner from the first one. “Oh, why thank you, Fluttershy. I do admit they look good, don’t they?”
“Oh yes. And it sounds like the birds like it too,” Fluttershy said as she came to stand next to her friend. “But, they don’t really serve any purpose that way, do they?”
“Of course not, but I must stay in practice,” Rarity replied while she continued to work a third cloud into another bow. “We’re due for some of those nasty thundery ones tomorrow, and I’ve always had trouble with those.”
“Oh, like that one time that—”
“Yes, yes, you don’t have to remind me.” Rarity directed the third cloud into place with the other two. The completed ensemble was an elegant puffy white bunting that hung low in the sky. “I’d really rather not repeat that. I certainly wish Cloudsdale would answer my requests to get one or two of their pegasi to help me here. This is a job that not one single mare can do on her own!"
Fluttershy patted her hoof on Rarity's side. “Oh, you’ll do fine, Rarity. You really shouldn’t worry about it.”
“I’ll try, dearie. Speaking of that, how’s the planning for that big party you have planned?”
Fluttershy frowned. “Oh, not so well.” She pointed her hoof to her saddlebags. “I’ve got all the party supplies, but I simply can’t figure out what to do for entertainment. The band that I asked had to cancel at the last minute. And my party cannon isn’t working, I had to sent it back for repairs.”
Rarity had turned her attention to another set of clouds. “That’s too bad. Maybe you could ask that one unicorn, you know, the one with the blue mane, what was her name?”
“Vinyl, but she was coming as a guest, and I would hate to ask her to perform instead.” Fluttershy scratched the back of her head with a hoof. “I’ll figure out something. I hope. I’ve had luck in the past, but it's really hard to be spontaneous when you have a lot of ponies looking at you.”
Rarity had completed another fancy cloud formation, and turned to look at Fluttershy. "Just relax, Fluttershy. Maybe a good trip to the spa is what you need."
"I don't know," Fluttershy said, looking down and shuffling a hoof into the dirt. "I feel I'm just not the right fit for the fun they want to have. Big bashes, loud music, lots of food...it just isn't my style." She turned away from Rarity, and spoke barely above a whisper. "I've been thinking of moving back to Cloudsdale. The pegasi there don't seem to expect big loud gatherings, just someone to help them cheer up once in a while."
"Nonsense, Fluttershy!" Rarity retorted. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with your style. It is simply a more refined one, and takes some getting used to. Don't let any pony tell you otherwise."
Fluttershy sighed, "I know you're right, Rarity. I really haven’t decided yet. This big party had me so panicked.” She thumped a hoof angrily at the ground. “Oh, I wish my party cannon was working. That always cheers the crowd up."
“Excuse me, ladies?” A mail pony had trotted up the road into town, his saddlebag loaded down with a heavy parcel. “I’ve got a special delivery to make to Ponyville, to a ‘Twilight Sparkle’. Princess Celestia said it was imperative. Do you know where I can find her?”
“Oh, she’s right in the center of town, you can’t miss her,” Rarity said, pointing with a vague hoof towards town, having returned to focus on her cloud-weaving.
“She’s in a large tree, the library just a block away from the town hall,” Fluttershy offered. “Just keep on this road, you can’t miss it.”
The stallion tipped his cap. “Thank you, ladies. I appreciate the help.” With a nod of his head, he continued into town.
“That seems rather ominous,” Rarity commented. “I wonder what was in that package.”
“I don’t know, but I hope it doesn’t interfere with my party tomorrow,” Fluttershy said.
“Fluttershy, are parties the only thing you think about?”
“Y’all sure that’s where it’s supposed ta go?” Apple Bloom looked up at her step-sister sitting on the barn roof, her eyebrow raised.
“Of course it is! Water chutes are supposed to go along the edges of roofs, right?” Pinkie Pie said, holding the U-shaped metal piece precariously against the roof of the barn in one hoof, and a nail in the other. She reached down to grab the hammer with her mouth, and then carefully aimed to strike the nail.
Her yelp echoed across Sweet Apple Acres.
“I dunno, you want me to go get Big Mac? He had those up lickity-split, last time we had to change ‘em.”
Pinkie stopped suckling on her hoof, “No! I mean, I can do this myself! I just need to get this nail right. Besides, the doc said he still needed bed rest after pulling his back.”
Apple Bloom looked at the sun as it started to drift low into the horizon. “We still need ta collect the apples from the south field before night fall. At least that’s what Granny said.”
“Yes, yes, I know!” Pinkie got to her feet, taking up the pose of an old frail pony. “‘You all better clear the south field if you know what’s good for you!’” she mocked. She looked back at the chute. “Oh, it’s not going to rain any time soon. Let’s go take care of those apples.”
Pinkie jumped off the roof, landing with a bit of a stumble on the ground.
“Ya could have just jumped in the hay pile,” Apple Bloom said, pointing to the nearby stack.
“Well, now you tell me!” Pinkie exclaimed as she walked over to the cart and worked herself into the hitch. “We got all the barrels loaded up?”
“Yes, P.P., we’re all set!”
The two trotted away from the main barn to the edge of the orchard near the road into town. The season had been stressful, in no small part to some difficulties with Rarity’s choice of weather patterns, but more on the workload that Pinkie had on her shoulders. One whole field of apple trees they passed had to be abandoned, letting the trees wither away on their own. Smaller patches of desolation were scattered about Sweet Apple Acres. “Sure wish Big Mac would get better,” Apple Bloom commented as they passed the leafless trees.
“You and me both,” Pinkie said solemnly, then quickly changed the subject. “So how is the cutie mark crusading going?”
“Oh, not so well,” Apple Bloom said. “We were supposed ta go try today to get our marks for gem collectin’ with Applejack, but Sweetie Belle said her sister's too worried about makin' a bunch of new dresses before this big fashion critic arrives. Applejack's not even started 'em, it sounds like. And Scootaloo said that Rarity was far too busy with the weather to take her place.” She paused for a moment. "I don't know what Scoots sees in Rarity, she barely gives her the time of day, always obsessed about the weather. It's not like Rarity's a great flier like those Wonderbolts."
“Oh, that’s a shame. I’d love to help but you know all the chores Granny’s got for me, I’m stuck here on the farm all day.”
“Don’t worry about it, we’ve found somepony else, and instead of gems, we’re goin’ to try for bubble-makin’ in a few days!”
“That sounds like fun! Maybe if I get done early, I can join you,” Pinkie offered.
“I dunno, Granny sounded like if you didn’t get a good supply of apples ta sell by tomorrow, we could lose the farm,” Apple Bloom said with concern.
“Pfft, Granny’s always too worried about this. I’ll get it done.” Pinkie stopped the cart by a grove of apple trees. “Here we are!”
Apple Bloom started pulling the baskets out of the back of the cart while Pinkie eyed the various trees. “This should be easy, these are just ready to drop," Pinkie said, placing a hoof against one of the tree trunks.
“Ready with the basket here, Pinkie,” Apple Bloom said, balancing an empty basket on her head.
Pinkie backed herself up to the tree, “Okay, here we go!” She pushed her weight onto her forehooves, lifting her rear legs off the ground and then kicked them backwards, missing the tree completely and falling on her face.
Apple Bloom winced. “Ya okay, Pinkie? That looked painful.”
Pinkie sighed heavily as she struggled to her feet. “Just, uh, a bit off on my aim. Nothing to worry about.”
“Excuse me!” a voice called off from the edge of the farm.
Pinkie and Apple Bloom turned to the voice. A mail stallion stood just outside the fence at the side of the path that led past Sweet Apple Acres, holding his cap in his hoof. “Hi there! Can I help you?” Pinkie asked cheerfully.
“I must have gotten all turned around. I’ve got an express delivery from the Princess for a ‘Twilight Sparkle’, and I was told to go right to the center of town. But I must have missed a direction or something, and ended up here.”
“Oh, gettin’ lost around here is easy ta do,” Apple Bloom said.
“Yeah, you just need to go that way, maybe about half a mile,” Pinkie offered, pointing her hoof down the path. “You’ll see a bridge and that’ll take you right into the center of town. Twilight should be in her library. A big tree, you can’t miss it.”
The mail pony nodded. “Thanks for your assistance, ladies. Have a good day!” He waved as he replaced his cap and trotted off in the direction towards town.
“Twilight’s getting a package, hmm?” Pinkie rubbed her chin with a hoof. “I bet it's something magical and she’ll show us all tomorrow!”
“She’s always gettin’ somethin' magical from Princess Celestia, Pinkie,” Apple Bloom reminded her step-sister. “Now haven’t we better get back to collectin’ these apples before Granny finds out we’re just lazin’ about?”
Pinkie grunted “Oh, you never let me have any fun, Apple Bloom.”
Applejack trotted at a fast pace through town pulling a cart full of fabric and sewing supplies, picked up off the last train from Canterlot for the day. "'Scuse me, comin' through," she called ahead to ponies in her path, who stepped out of her way as she lively made her way home.
Applejack just passing by the large fountain that was a gathering point for residents to catch up with each other. She began mumbling to herself, “Okay, AJ, ya gotta make a whole line of dresses before Hoity Toity arrives. Yer boutique’s on the line, so ya gotta give it yer all—”
“Ow! Watch it!”
Applejack’s concentration was broken as she ran into another pony, knocking them to the ground. “Beggin’ your pardon, I didn’t see ya—Oh, hey, Rainbow.”
Rainbow Dash lifted herself off the ground with her wings, her balance slightly off from the loaded saddlebags she wore. “Applejack, how many times have we told you to watch where you’re going?”
“Sorry, Rainbow, just worried about makin’ these dresses and all. I didn’t hurt you or anythin’?”
“Nah, don’t worry about it,” Rainbow said, dusting herself off a bit, then took a look at Applejack's loaded cart. “That’s right, Hoity’s coming this week, right?”
“Tomorrow, in fact. This is mah big chance to make it big, but one bad review, and I might as well close up shop. And I’m more nervous than a chicken in the middle of a pack of timberwolves!”
“Hey, you’ll do fine! You always manage to capture that...,” Rainbow took a moment to recall the words, “‘charmingly rustic’ nature of Ponyville, right?”
“Yeah, but that was last season. I dunno what the elite of Canterlot are lookin’ for now.” Applejack pointed back to her cart. “I just spent a small fortune on gettin’ some of the best fabric, but I’ve still tryin’ to come up for some type of inspiration.”
“Oh, I’ve got time, I could help out,” Rainbow Dash offered.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Are ya sure? Isn’t tomorrow when yer takin’ in all those Everfree animals to help protect them from the flock of cockatrice?”
Rainbow Dash waved the concern off with an uneasy hoof. “Easy-peasy. I’ve got plenty of food for them right here, shouldn’t be a problem.”
“But ya barely can control that bunny of yours, Angel?”
“Well, yeah, that’s true,” Rainbow rubbed a hoof on the back of her neck. “But it shouldn’t be that hard to watch over a lot of other animals, right? Just have lots of food, and they’ll just eat out of my hoof. And any others, I'll just chase down," she said, flexing her wings to demonstrate.
“Do I need to remind ya when you nearly let that bear get the better of you?” Applejack asked, jokingly.
Rainbow angrily stared at her friend. “I thought we weren’t ever going to speak of that again!”
Applejack laughed. “Just teasin’ ya, R.D.”
Rainbow landed on her hooves and frowned a bit. “Well, I am a bit nervous. There’s so many more animals that I’m trying to protect than last time, and I barely was able to do that with minimal damage to my cottage.”
“Just be calm and don’t let them critters get ta ya, okay? And if anything' gets broken, me and P.P. will just come by later ta help fix up."
Rainbow Dash nodded. “Just gotta show them who’s boss. I hope.”
“Er, excuse me, ladies.” A voice broke up their conversation. “I’m awfully sorry to interrupt, but I need some help.” The two turned to the mail stallion standing nearby, a saddlebag bulging with a large package.
“What can we do ya for?” Applejack asked cheerfully.
The stallion looked relieved “I’ve been trying to get to a ‘Twilight Sparkle’, got an important package from the Princess for her, but I keep on getting turned around here in town. Do you know where I can find her?”
“Oh, you’re nearly there,” Rainbow said, pointing down one of the roads that left the fountain area. “Just there, see that big tree? That’s Twi’s.”
Applejack nodded. “And if she’s not there, just ask fer Spike, he’ll help ya out.”
The mail pony looked relieved. “Oh, thank Celestia! I’ve been looking for her place for hours.” He tipped his cap to the two. “Thanks for your help!”
“Don’t mention it,” Applejack replied.
The two watched the stallion trot off in the proper direction. “Ya reckon Twi’s getting another book of spells from the Princess?”
Rainbow nodded. “I hope this doesn’t turn out to be a major disaster like the last time she got her hooves on a magical device.”
The celebration of Twilight’s coronation had been running for several days, and finally was winding down. This may have been the first time Twilight had a chance to talk to her friends in private, without hundreds of admirers hanging around, much less having to wear the royal finery. They were all sitting around at a secluded Canterlot cafe, drinking various fruit ades, talking about the last few days.
“You all really remember that happening?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
The other five all nodded in unison.
“Clear as day, Twi,” Applejack offered.
“It really all felt like a bad dream, yet it was all so real,” Rarity said.
Fluttershy sipped at her drink. “It’s like I have two sets of memories. The good ones, and then, well, those...” her voice trailed off.
Twilight listened, her curiosity piqued. “You and everyone in Ponyville it seemed.” She rested her head on her hoof. “I wonder how far of an influence that had.”
“Twilight!” the other five scolded her.
“Oh, right, right,” Twilight grinned sheepishly.
“But it was rather odd, when I went back to the boutique that night, it was like it never happened. Those...” Rarity fought for the right word, feigning a smile at Applejack. “...unusual dresses that Applejack had made were just gone like they never existed.”
“And it’s like Sweet Apple Acres was fertile as the day I was born. Not a single dead tree, beggin’ your pardon, Pinkie,” Applejack said, pointing to her friend.
“Oh, I’m not insulted, AJ! I may be good on a rock farm, but an apple farm is a completely different story,” Pinkie replied with a smile.
Twilight sighed. “I really must apologize to you. I never really knew what that unfinished spell was going to do.”
“Hey, you had no way of knowing,” Rainbow said. “It sounded like the Princess didn’t give you much warning.”
“And if you never tried the spell, the Elements would have never been switched, and you’d have no reason to try to finish the spell, and you would have never become an alicorn princess!!” Pinkie rattled quickly.
The other five gave Pinkie a strange look. “Uh, right,” Twilight muttered.
“Hey, ya fixed it all up, and got Ponyville back ta normal! That’s all that matters.”
“And you’ve shown how much our friendships mean to each other, darling!” Rarity offered in her sing-song voice.
“Oh, girls!” Twilight smiled with tears in her eyes. “Group hug!”
The six ponies gathered close to each other, nuzzling against one another.
A cough came from nearby. The six mares turned their heads to the source.
“Um, excuse me,” the mail stallion said, looking embarrassed for interrupting the group. “Is one of you ‘Twilight Sparkle’? I’ve got a package here from the Princess to give her.” He indicated a rather heavy-looking package that loaded his saddelbag down.
Five sets of hooves rushed to silence Twilight before she could answer.