Convergence Series: Journeys

by TheGreatEater


Chapter 2: At the Boutique

Rarity met Pinkie Pie expecting the deflated mane and tail. Wrapping her in a hug she let Pinkie Cry on her shoulder as she comforted her. As the sobbing gradually turned into silent tears Rarity stepped back.




“Rarity we failed Twilight as friends. We knew that she might be lonely after we stopped writing and visiting. While we’ve been happy with the success we have as her friends we haven’t been there for her as a friend should be.” Pinkie said while wiping tears from her eyes.




“I know Darling. We should have put more effort into making time for a friend who has been put through just as much of a change as any of us. But what matters is that we are going to be here for her now. Now why don’t you go over to the boutique with me, Fluttershy is getting the others.”




Agreeing to Rarity’s request. Pinkie Pie and Rarity walked over to the Boutique waiting for the others to arrive. It didn’t take to long before a flustered Fluttershy walked in with Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack carrying a Keg of Apple Hop’s 150 proof Whiskey as well as 5 large mugs.




“So everypony we were drinking Cider when Flutters came here and we thought we might as well share some of the good stuff while we sit here talking.” Rainbow Dash filled each of the mugs with Whiskey and Apple Jack gave them each one.




They each sat in their own heads thinking about the past while sipping their drinks. Each waiting for the others to start saying something. The silence growing as thick as the drinks in their hooves.




Rarity remembered the day of the spell clearly. She had remembered spending 13 years as a showmare, well not the full 13 years. Like the rest of them it was the moment where she gained her, or more accurately Rainbow Dash’s Cutie Mark. The raw freedom of going fast, so fast that she could run away from her pain and problems. Where no one could catch her. The feeling of wind rushing through her Mane as she went so fast that with her magic that she went near weightless as she broke the sound barrier.




She remembered the day when she found that those experiences were all fake when she met Twilight, nearly destroying the market place like Rainbow Dash would have been normally want to do with her newest stunt. Meeting seeing a distraught Twilight Sparkle, only to learn that all of that had been a lie do to magic. She remembered helping Rainbow Dash through a race that ended up with them both doing a dual Sonic Rainboom. Then getting helped by Apple Jack. The feeling of joy at learning that all she ever dreamed of having, she had as well as the fulfillment that came with creating something new.




She remembered the last half a year as she had to struggle with conflicting memories as the spells destiny that was imposed upon her made her remember a life that wasn’t her own. As well as the experiences of those conflicting life. While she at least had a new appreciation for Rainbow Dash and all the hard work she put into her body, and she still found herself loving the feel of the wind in her Mane as she ran. She felt a little bad that a part of her was angry at Twilight for having to struggle to separate two different lives.




As the months passed on she spent more time with Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack when they weren’t busy. The former one for exercise and to keep her body in shape, the latter one for her experience as a Manehatten designer which opened up an entirely new clientele, if she played her cards right she was going to be able to hire help for her large orders so that she could have more free time rather than work herself ragged.




Fluttershy was remembering the freedom that her Element of Laughter self had. The freedom from fear, worry, and insecurity. How much she missed the feeling of being filled with such joy for life that she needed to spread that joy to others. It wasn’t about the parties, nor was it about the socialization. No it was about that connection she remembered feeling when a pony smiled. Whether it was from simply having an open ear for them to vent to, a smile to brighten their day, or simply being their to help them. It was a wonderfully intoxicating feeling.




She saw the same things that Pinkie did with everypony as the ones she used with her animal friends. But now that she had returned to her old self, she has noticed that old fears and insecurities cropping up. She was ashamed to say that she was angry at herself, ashamed that even though Rainbow had experienced her life and told her that she was stronger than she gave herself credit for. After asking her to be more outgoing and self assured like the changed her was, she just couldn’t keep that promise as much as she wanted to.





So these last few months she had been throwing parties for her animals, trying to build up courage to make a party with Pinkie Pie for ponies. Showing Rainbow Dash that her faith in her was well placed, but success had been slow going. Although Pinkie loved the idea for animal parties, she was so much better than Fluttershy at those things, even if her animal friends seemed to enjoy hers as well.




Apple Jack remembered that day that her world was turned upside down. She woke up the day after Twilight cast Startswirl the Bearded’s unfinished spell remembering an entire lifetime where she never left Manehatten until a few short years back. Well not the full lifetime, but she remembered being a clothing designer. A fashionista that made beautiful, elegant, and practical business chic clothing. Everything from formal wear to business suits, bordering the line between functional and extravagant. But filled with a fear of returning to Sweet Apple Acres, filled with shame that she abandoned her baby sister family. A life where she ran from her problems rather than returning to the farm.




She still woke up every now and then filled with the need to design something, to the point she bought a new sewing machine to create things every now and then. Apple Bloom and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders loved the clothes she made them for school, all though Scootaloo seemed to really love hers since she rarely saw her without it as if it was the only pair of clothing she ever received. Which was a silly thought, even though she had never seen them she was sure Scootaloo’s parents would have at least one pair of nice clothing for special occasions.




Apple Jack was glad that after she explained what happened to her body, now much weaker than her original body, was going easy on her. Allowing her to get back into shape rather than expecting her to do what she was used to doing. A part of her was angry and Twilight even though she knew it wasn’t her fault. But having a mind and body of a designer, and the regained memories as who she really was, was maddening. It felt as if nothing made sense anymore and she was forced to regain what she lost.




That feeling made her feel lower than low. Especially after Twilight not only apologized, but got the farm listed as a Historical Monument. Ensuring that they would never loose the farm, as well as not just a government stipend to take care of the farms needs, but the ability to get more helpers to take a load off from Apple Jack’s and Big Macintosh’s shoulders. What happened she new was an accident, but one that changed all their lives. Apparently it had also changed Twilights, probably more so than their own from what she had read in the letter.




Rainbow Dash looked at everyone waiting for someone to break the silence drinking heavily from her mug. Still riding the buzz from her earlier drinks and now pushing the limits to being totally tipsy. She remembered her having Fluttershy’s Cutie Mark as if it was her own. While she did the best to ignore animals now she still felt like she could understand them, but most importantly she understood Fluttershy more. The insecurity, the fear, the worry about doing the wrong thing around her friends. The feeling like animals were the only safety she could have. But she also knew the hidden strength that Fluttershy had, having watched her in her Party loving self. She knew how outgoing and strong she could be, and made her promise that she would try to keep that side of herself.




She knew that she was trying, but it still hurt to see her closest friend fall back into her old ways. Although she was a little proud that at least she was trying to be the self she could have been with her animals. She was glad that after explaining everything to the Wonderbolts they let her stay on although she was put through her paces until she felt that her wings would fall off. But she had grown so far from Twilight seeing that she was secretly angry at her for what they all went through. Were still going through. Although no one ever told her, they had just all grown more distant as the month passed. And to her that made her a horrible friend, she was supposed to be the Element of Loyalty, but she couldn’t bring herself to talk to and fully forgive Twilight over something that she knew wasn’t her fault.




Pinkie Pie sat looking at everypony she compared to all of them had it the easiest. She had memories of being a family with the Apple Family when Apple Jack never came back and she wondered there from what she now knew was a fake memory. But she remembered working on the farm, the feeling of accomplishment when tasting the fruits of her labor. The feeling of doing a good, hard days work and then winding down at the end of the day. She remembered using her unique view of the world to be everywhere doing multiple jobs at once building a strong body while bringing increased profits to the farm.




Now she knew those things never happened, but she now had the body of that lifetime as well as the Cake Family and memories of them. She still loved going over to the farm and helping out. She had been going over there so much lately that she was basically a regular work member. She slightly smiled at remembering the argument she had with Big Mac about payment, namely that she refused to get pay from it. Saying that she enjoyed helping out when she wasn’t busy with the Cake’s store. They eventually settled on that she would get a few apples and when it was made some of the Apple Family Cider that they had in reserve. She agreed to this and had been working with them on and off ever since.




She remembered after seeing how sad that Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack were she got some altered PGH to increase their muscle mass so that they could have the bodies that they were used to. It was good to see them happy, but she was sad to know that Twilight needed them. But none of them was there to help till now. She was just going to have to make sure that she got the best party ever. Although ever since the incident as she called it, she had noticed that she talked in less of a run off manner, but more to the point as well as easier to understand. Hopefully that was all for the better.




“Listen up everyone, are we going to drown ourselves in alcohol or are we going to start saying what’s on our minds? Twilight’s going to need us more than ever.” Rarity yelled into the silence.




“You’re right, ah think we all need to open up and say what we want to say. Ah’ll admit that ah was a might bit angry at Twilight. Even though we all forgave her after it happened. Ah don’t think that any of us thought that the changes and gettin’ back ta normal would be as hard as it has been. But I feel bad about that ‘cause ah know that nothin’ that happened was Twi’s fault.




Ah think that when she gets here we’ll need to let her know how sorry we are for not bein’ there like she was for all o’ us when we needed her. Ah don’t reckon we’ve been as good friends as we should’ve. At least not myself.” Apple Jack said her voice carrying a slight slur.





“I agree with you AJ we weren’t there for her when she needed us. We’ve been awful, I’ve been awful. I’m supposed to be the Element of Loyalty, but I let myself pity myself. When I should have been looking out for my friends. I’m sorry to all of you, especially you Flutters. Your my best friend, but I’ve been putting off the love of animals I picked up from you. Stuffing it down all because it dragged up memories of a side of myself I don’t like. Although that doesn’t mean I don’t like you -”




“Rainbow, I think we need to take away your drink and give you some coffee. You’ve had a bit to much darling. And don’t sell yourself short, we all could have done more. We all had a hand in growing more separate. No one's to blame, we just need to be there for Twilight and make it up to her some how. ” Rarity cut off a crying Rainbow Dash who was now crying on Fluttershy’s shoulder as she wrapped a wing around Rainbow Dash. Whispering comforting, sweet nothings into her ear.





“Well I got to go get ready everypony. I’m going to throw her an awesome welcome home party. Thanks for the drink AJ and Dashie.” She trotted over to Rainbow Dash and placing a hoof on her shoulder said, “Everyone makes mistakes Dashie, we’re your friends and forgive you. Take care, and don’t cry.”





Walking out she softly closed the door. The rest of them sat falling back into silence waiting for things to calm down. Before starting to discuss what they were going to do the next day. After all tomorrow was going to be a big day.