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// Prompt #470-Reconciliation 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
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“I’m sorry.” Those were the first words out of Applejack’s mouth once the palaver over what the elements had done to Twilight Sparkle had somewhat faded. Though in theory, those words could have been directed at anypony in the room, Rarity knew they were focused at her. After all, it had been Applejack who had taken on Rarity’s cutie mark. It had been Applejack who had nearly forced the closure of the Carousel Boutique. Rarity knew that logically, she should be angry with Applejack. She had nearly forced Rarity out of business, and given that Rarity had not managed to assess how many of the...dresses Applejack had sent out, the damage had likely already been done. 

But all Rarity could feel was a sense of sympathy for the apple farmer. After all, Rarity was not the only pony in the room who had nearly lost everything. Applejack was not the only pony in the room who had almost made a mess of somepony else’s life. Rarity looked around the room, the other four ponies in various states of feeling sorry for themselves. Even Pinkie Pie was glancing over at Applejack, worried about how the farmer would react once she realized how close to ruin she had come with Pinkie on the orchard. Realising that Applejack was still waiting for her response, Rarity cleared her throat.

“Applejack, dear. What kind of friend would I be if I couldn’t forgive you?”

“Rare, I nearly drove ya out o’ house and home.”

“And I thought that I could manage Ponyville’s weather better than its manager. I think that we all have something to be sorry for today?”

A round of nods rippled around the room, and Rarity continued, “But as...disastrous as today was, I do not think that it was entirely wasted. Perhaps each of us has come away richer, at least mentally. I know I certainly have a much greater appreciation for what Rainbow Dash does, and if she ever catches me complaining about the weather again, she will have one carte-blanche prank on me.”
Rainbow, despite her despondant mood, grinned at Rarity’s statement.

“You sure about that, Rarity? I know you can’t resist complaining that it’s ‘too hot, too cold, why can’t the weather ponies ever get these things right?’” At Rarity’s nod, Rainbow’s grin got positively maniacal, “great. I’m gonna hold you to that, Rarity.” Rarity gulped.

“And...I guess I learned that maybe Fluttershy knows what she’s talking about when she says that kindness is the best way to get something to trust you.” And so it went on, each of the five friends admitting that while they knew all along that each of them had their special talents, those talents were harder than they looked, and each promised a favor or help to the other. Before they knew it, the sun had set, and they sat around, just waiting for either Princess Celestia to come investigate, or for Twilight to come back from whatever the elements had done to her.