A change of destiny

by miiohau


…and the beginning of another.

Later that day in Canterlot the humans turned ponies were sitting at a table in a meeting room waiting for Princess Celestia.
“So, how we going to find the main six?” asked Charity.
“Do we even need to?” asked Sophia. “I mean we have confirmed that the elements of harmony work for us.”
“Don’t need to! Don’t need to!” screamed Charity. “Of course we need to! We need to fix Equestria!”
Brenda put a hoof on Charity. “I know you dislike alternate universe fics but is us holding the elements so bad?”
“YES!” screamed Charity.
“Ignoring the drama queen,” said Libby. “I have a good reason to seek them out. I don’t know about you all but I want to go home but while we hold the elements we can’t do that without depriving Equestria of one of its defenses. And the original six are known to able to handle the elements, or at least they could in the show.”
“Yes home is good but more importantly,” said Alex, “I want my hands back! How am I supposed to hold anything with these things?” Alex stuck out her hooves.
“Use your wings, duh,” said Faith. “That’s what Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash do.”
“My wings aren’t hands!” screamed Alex. “They don’t have fingers.”
Sophia picked up a sheet of blank paper with her hooves and gave it to Alex.
Alex blinked. “How did you do that?”
Sophia shrugged. “How do you fly?”
“I don’t know. They just suddenly decided to work,” replied Alex.
“Getting back on topic,” said Sophia. “I guess there are a few good reasons to seek out the main six. Least of which is the Element of Magic still seems to be modeled after Twilight’s cutie mark.”
Princess Celestia entered the room and sat down. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Now to explain why I asked you to wait until I could meet with you. Frankly, you know things that only highest level unicorns are supposed to know.”
“Your majesty, I don’t think we know any state secrets. It is a kid’s TV show, after all,” said Sophia.
“You’d be surprised. But I speak of your knowledge of what the future holds, or rather what it could hold. That kind of knowledge can be dangerous. Often, when acting on such knowledge, you get tunnel vision, fixing the problems you saw and ignoring everything else. Also such visions can be deceptive, especially in cases such as this where the events leading up to what you saw have already changed.”
“Then how should we proceed, your majesty?” asked Sophia.
“I agree that Twilight Sparkle is and always has been the element of magic. As for the others, well, having backups never hurts. But remember, these mares aren’t the same ones from this TV show. Also remember that you were selected for who you are, not what you know; tread cautiously when acting on what you think you know. Anyways, enough of that dour subject, I believe we have six mares that are needed in Ponyville.” Princesses Celestia picked up a sheet of paper and started reading “Ok, AppleJack is in Appleloosa. Rainbow Dash is a racer on the Equestrian Terra circuit. She’s currently in Fillydelphia attending the Fillydelphia Open. Rarity is in Manehattan working under Glory. Fluttershy works and lives at the Hoofington Mare Shelter. Pinkamena Pie lives with family on their rock farm between Ponyville and Trottingham. And of course, Twilight Sparkle is here in Canterlot at my school for gifted unicorns.”
“When you say mare shelter, are we talking about a place where—“ asked Charity and John simultaneously.
“Battered, beaten or otherwise abused mares can hide from the stallions that abused them. Yes, and for that reason Charity should go alone. Now if there aren’t any more questions, I have royal carriages ready to take you to your destinations. Charity, yours is the one pulled by mares. We’ll meet up at the Ponyville Public Library at sundown.”
The non-royal ponies began to leave.
“John, could you stay for a bit. There are some things we need to talk about.”
“Ok.”
When only John and Princess Celestia remained in the room, she said, “I want to ask you some things, but I sense that you have some questions of your own.”
“Ya, um. Charity, what is she?”
“A pegasus mare. A very happy one as far as I can tell.”
“But she didn’t exist until yesterday.”
“I highly doubt that. Think. Was there a time when you were unhappy with your body?”
“Ya, but I was just being silly. I was born—“
“A colt? As was I.”
“WHAT!!? But you… How can…”
“Or to be more accurate I was born a filly in a colt’s body.”
“How can that be a stallion’s body!?”
“I have Discord to thank for that. He thought it would be funny to turn the prince in to a princess. But John, I understand what you are going through. It, too, took me time to accept that I was happier as a mare than as a stallion.”
“But I’m happy as a stallion.”
“And that’s where we differ, I was a mare trapped in a stallion’s body, but you were a bi-gendered pony trapped in a colt’s body on the cusp of stallionhood.”
“Bi-gendered?”
“It either means you are both male and female or that you have two genders. Both meanings are equally valid in your case. Does that answer all your questions?”
“Ya, except why I was an alicorn.”
“And I am afraid I don’t have any more answers for you than I had three hours ago. So let’s move on to my questions. First is there anypony else that you can think of that could’ve been affected by this changed timeline?”
“Hm. Spike! He’s a little—“
“Green and purple baby dragon?”
“Ah, yes. Well, in the show Twilight hatched him during her test to enter your school for gifted unicorns. He was her little brother/assistant. So I take it he’s already hatched.”
“Yes, his egg spontaneously hatched eight years ago. I was unable to explain it until now, but now I think he hatched when Twilight’s magic went out of control. You were wise to think of him. His destiny is almost surely tied to Twilight’s. I will talk to him later today. Anything else you can think off hoof that we may need to correct?”
“Is Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor, dating your niece Cadence?”
Celestia giggled into her hoof. “They think I don’t know, but yes they are.”
“Is Discord still in the sculpture garden?”
Celestia turned and stared at John. “How Do Know About That!? That’s something only my sister and I know about—“ She facehoofed. “He going to escape isn’t he?”
“Ya.”
“When?”
“I don’t know exactly. It’s not like the show had exact dates on each episode.”
“We will just have to keep a close eye on him. Anything else?”
“Has the Crystal Empire returned yet?”
“No, but I expect it will within the next year or two.”
“Do you know where Star Swirl the Bearded’s last spell is?”
Celestia nodded.
John fidgeted. “I don’t know if I should be telling you this, but Discord planted Plunder Seeds, they should start overtaking the Tree of Harmony and kidnap you and Luna right before the next Summer Sun Celebration.”
“I assume Twilight was able to handle the situation?”
“Yes, she was. I mean, she will. She would have been—“
Celestia raised her hoof. “I understand. Is that everything?”
“I think so.”
Just then there was a flash of light outside the window.
“Sorry, there was more I wanted to talk to you about, but it will have to wait for another time,” said Princess Celestia as she flew out the window.

------

A little bit earlier, Sophia had just entered the main building of Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns when…
“I’m late! I’m late!” said a speeding purple and white blur that sounded a lot like Twilight Sparkle. “I can’t believe I forgot my nine thirty two magic purge!” Twilight ran past Sophia and out the door. Soon after this a bolt of pure magic went skyward.
Sophia walked outside to where Twilight was putting some kind of metal ring onto her horn. Twilight looked a lot like her cannon self except she wore a white bodysuit and the aforementioned ring, which despite its intricate set of runes, would have looked more appropriate on a prisoner then on a magic student.
“Hello, are you Twilight Sparkle? I’m Sophia Homes.”
“Yes. What can I do for you?”
“Princess Celestia would like you to go to Ponyville and—“
“Stop. I don’t know what my brother has been telling the Princess, but tell her she’s been misinformed. I am much too dangerous to leave this campus, let alone travel anywhere.”
Just then Celestia landed in the courtyard. “Actually, this order came directly from me. And yes, it is an order. Your destiny has been sidetracked enough. I thought our talk last year had helped clear your head of those silly ideas, but I guess I was wrong. So Twilight Sparkle, let me be perfectly clear. You are capable of fully controlling your magic, and I don’t mean with magic restraints, or magic purges or any of the other silly tricks you have been trying. I mean you, on your own, without anything or anypony else helping you. You will be going to Ponyville. You will learn everything this mare and her friends have to teach you, and you won’t hurt anypony.”
“But…”
“I assume you read all the books I gave you.”
“Yes, but what does those old pony tales have to do with—“
“Then I guess you haven’t read my last letter yet. Yesterday was the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration since I banished Nightmare Moon.”
“The thousandth? But that means…”
“Yes, she returned and if you had read my letter and decoded the message it contained, you would’ve known you needed to go to Ponyville to gather five ponies that exemplify the elements and use them to purify my sister. But, because you weren’t there, this pony here had to take your place and cleanse my sister. And that was partly my fault. I had to hide my intentions from the monster that my sister became. But the rest lies on you and your stubbornness. Might I ask what you were doing instead of reading your mail?”
“Um, I was preparing one of the experimental magic rooms to contain any magic surges I might suffer during the Summer Sun Celebration. It was a very magical time, after all.”
“I see. Twilight Sparkle, I trust you understand what you must do now?”
“Yes. Um… I will just go pack and be right back.” Twilight dashed toward the school’s dorms.
“Celestia, what did you mean when you said that you had to hide your intentions from your sister?” asked Sophia.
“My sister’s mastery of divination is unmatched even by me and while I could hide my thoughts from her, there was no way I could hide all my actions. So I had to use the clues I put in place nearly a thousand years ago to try to direct Twilight to understand what she needed. Unfortunately, at the time I wrote those stories I didn’t know that one pony per element was needed for full effect and by the time I did, I couldn’t be sure Nightmare Moon hadn’t already figured out a way to watch me even from inside the moon. I hope that answers your question and helps to explain my actions in the timeline you observed before you arrived here.”
“Wait, couldn’t your whole plan have been ruined if Nightmare Moon recognized Twilight’s cutie mark?”
“It was possible, yes, but remember it’s been a thousand years since she last saw the elements, and I didn’t even let on that someone else was going to wield them or that my plan even involved them or that my plan involved anything or anyone other than her, myself, and an abandoned cave. Therefore, it’s unlikely she was looking for somepony that could wield the elements of harmony.”
“But in the show Twilight sent you a letter about the return of Nightmare Moon. Wouldn’t that set her apart?”
“No, it wouldn’t have. Nearly one hundred ponies sent me such warnings. ‘Predictions and Prophecies’ was covered last semester and the Rise and Fall of the Diarchy was on the summer reading list.”
“And those two things happened to coincide this year of all years?”
“Like I said, plans that were set down years ago, in this case hiring Professor Hidden Lore after he retired from actively seeking the ancient relics of Equestria’s past. He knows both the value of discretion and the need for backup plans.”
“Wait, if they were on the reading list, why did you give the books to Twilight?”
“Because ‘Predictions and Prophecies’ was covered at my School for Gifted Pegasi in Cloudsdale, and while professor Hidden Lore did give a guest lecture at the School for Gifted Unicorns, Twilight unfortunately didn’t attend. Excuse me, I have other matters I need to attend to.” With that Celestia flew off.

------

Libby arrived in Appleloosa and soon found Applejack in the Appleloosa Apple orchard.
Applejack was an orange mare with dirty blonde hair (whether Applejack’s hair was naturally that color or just covered in dirt, Libby couldn’t tell). She wore a cowboy hat and a pair of cowboy chaps that covered her flanks. Applejack was currently adjusting the orchard’s water gates.
“You are Applejack, right?” asked Libby.
“That’s my name. What can I do for ya?”
“Well—“ Great, what do I say? The truth sounds crazy. But I don’t want to lie. Wait a second, there is something that is true that can get her home. “Your family back in Ponyville misses ya and were wondering when you were coming back.”
“Never, that’s when! Wait, don’t tell them that! It’s just how can I go back when I am such a failure?”
“You’re not a failure, Applejack.”
“Yes I am. Who ever heard of a mare my age without her cutie mark? No pony, that’s who!”
Great, what we have here is a catch twenty two. Applejack doesn’t want to go back without her cutie mark, but she needs to go back to get her cutie mark. Libby got an idea changed her stance to more confrontational one. “And what’s so bad about not having a cutie mark?”
“That’s easy for you to say you have your cutie mark.”
“No, it not. Until a couple days ago I didn’t have a cutie mark either,” said Libby. Of course a couple days ago I was human and nobody had a cutie mark but I can tell her that part later.
“You didn’t… ok, maybe I’m not as much a freak as I thought but how can I face them when I ran away.”
“Ran away?”
“Ok, walked away but it the same thing I walked away from what my family has been doing for generations because I wanted to be a city pony. A city pony!”
“And what are you doing here?” Libby waved her hoof over the apple orchard.
“Um.”
“You might have walked away but you also walked back. Now all you have to do is return to Sweet Apple Acres and you will truly have came home.”
“Ok, Ok, I get ya. Just let me finish with these apple trees and say goodbye to my kin. Then we’ll go.”

------

Brenda was heading for the Pie Family Rock Farm, when a light gray mare with dark gray hair covering one eye ran past. A cotton candy pink mare with a puffy raspberry pink mane and a triple balloon cutie mark ran after the gray mare. “Marble, where are you going? This isn’t the way to your party!”
Ok, other than maybe going overboard on partying, Pinkie seems fine, thought Brenda.
Pinkie warped next to Brenda. “Hi. I haven’t seen you before. Are you here for my sister’s birthday party? She was born right after the Summer Sun Celebration and we’ve never celebrated her birthday before. Can you believe that? We’ve never celebrated my sister’s birthday. Well no more! So I invited all her friends, but that was like only five ponies, so then I invited everypony I knew, but that was still like only fifty ponies, so I posted an open invite in Ponyville, and look, there must be over two hundred ponies here. Oh wait here a second, I still have to get Marble.” Pinkie dashed by Brenda.
Ok, definitely a little party crazy and note to self: distract Pinkie after introducing Megumi.
“Metamorphic,” said a mare to Brenda’s left in a monotone voice. Brenda turned toward the voice and saw a slate gray mare with an amethyst purple mane and turquoise blue eyes. She wore a steel blue frock with an onyx black belt. The mare was holding a white rock in her right hoof. Her face was about as emotionally expressive as the rock she was holding. “This is a metamorphic rock.”
“Oh kay. That’s… fascinating. I’m Brenda, what’s your name?”
“Maud. I like rocks.”
“Really, I never would have guessed.”
“Yes, they are fascinating. Like this one. It breaks in a way that makes it perfect for sculpting. However, this one isn’t big enough for that. Or this one, which is resistant to erosion but easy to shape, which makes it prefect for building. Or--”

------

An hour later. “….Sedimentary rocks are formed when fine particles of sand or dirt pile on top each other until they fuse into a sedimentary rock,” finished Maud.
“Not that this hasn’t been fascinating, but I should see if I can find Pinkie. I need to talk to her about something,” said Brenda
“Hi, Maud. I see you met my new friend,” said Pinkie from behind Brenda.
“Yes. We were talking about rocks,” said Maud.
“What kind, sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic?”
Brenda sighed. “All of the above for over an hour.”
Pinkie bounced up and down. “Did she tell you how to tell if there are gems inside?”
“No, that’s the one thing that didn’t get covered.”
“Well, you see, you look at the—“ started Pinkie.
“No! I don’t need to know.”
“Then what did you want to talk about? Oh, oh, I know! You want to talk about the party, or the weather or—“
Brenda put her hoof in Pinkie’s mouth. “Actually I want to talk to you about you moving to Ponyville.” Brenda removed her hoof.
Pinkie tilted her head. “Why would I want to do something like that?”
“Well, because… your friends are there.”
“They are? But I thought…”
“Listen, you should have already been there, but something changed the timeline. And I need you come with me to meet your best friends and become the element of laugher and save Equestria. And yes, you will have plenty of fun along the way.”
Pinkie eyed Brenda suspiciously. “You Pinkie promise?”
Brenda nodded. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
Pinkie blinked. “Whoa. How did you know the promise I came up with just now?”
“Um, this might sound crazy but I come from an alternate world and watched you on TV.”
Pinkie blinked once, twice, then a third time then said “Ok.”Pinkie spun around and yelled. “Mom, I’m leaving with Brenda, I’ll be back for your birthday!” Pinkie grabbed Brenda’s tail with her mouth and galloped toward Ponyville.
“Pinkamena Diane Pie! You get back here this second and tell me where you’re going!” cried Pinkie’s mother, a light gray mare with a slate gray mane and cyan eyes named Cloudy Quartz. Cloudy Quartz turned to Maud and said “Maud, where did your sister go?”
“Pinkie went to Ponyville to fulfill her destiny with Brenda.”
“SHE WHAT!?”
“Pinkie went to Ponyville to fulfill her destiny with Brenda.”
Cloudy Quartz turned and galloped toward Ponyville. “PINKAMENA DIANE PIE! You Come Back Here And Stop Herding With Strange Mares!”
Maud blinked. “Oh, Mom thought I meant Pinkie’s ‘destiny with Brenda’.”

------

Meanwhile Princess Celestia was visiting her ward, Spike. Spike was an eight year old purple dragon. Green spines went from the top of his head to the end of his spade shaped tail.
“Mom- I mean Princess- I mean-“ said Spike.
“Spike, how many times do I have to tell you, you can call me Celestia. But, as much as I enjoy our talks, I’m here because I have a job for you. There’s a group of, let’s call them very special ponies, in Ponyville that could uses the skills of a scribe and messenger.”
“Celestia, are you sending me away?”
“Of course not. It’s just that I have reason to believe that your destiny lies with this group. Because, you see, one of their number is responsible for your birth. Her name is Twilight Sparkle. She experienced a magic surge when she gained her cutie mark. During that surge your egg hatched. In a way, you could call her your mother.”
“Twilight Sparkle!? You mean the one pony disaster!?”
“Spike! You know better than to listen to gossip. None of that was her fault.”
“She turned her family into plants!”
“Yes, and the royal mages fixed them. She was eight years old. It wasn’t her fault.”
“She has explosive outbursts of magic every day.”
“Yes, she has a problem with magic buildup, but that’s because she’s overtaxing herself with those foolish magic purges of her’s and, if she would stop doing them, her magic would settle down in a few weeks.”
“But she’s always wearing that…”
“Spike! Yes, Twilight has her problems, but nothing a good friend or twelve can’t help her with. Will you at least come with me and meet her?”
“Fine,” said Spike with all the emotion of a child being told to eat his vegetables.
“Good. Fellow me to the carriage.”

------

Megumi entered Glory’s fashion studio in Manehatten. Dresses of all kinds and shapes hung around the shop. There were dresses with wing holes. There were dresses that went all the way around the barrel and dresses held on only at the neck. There was even was a dress designed for a pony of Princess Celestia’s stature.
“Welcome to Glory’s Glories, where everything is fashionable, trendy and made to order. I’m Topstitch. I will be your tailor today. Do you want to look around or do you already know what you want?” said a green mare with a cinnamon brown mane and a sewing needle cutie mark.
“Um, actually I’m here to see Rarity.”
“Oh. Just a moment.” Topstitch walked to a door in the back of the shop.
A minute later a very light platinum gray mare with a curly amethyst purple mane walked out. The mare’s cutie mark was of three light cerulean diamonds. Her tail was the same shade of purple as her mane and styled into a corkscrew. She walked with a grace and elegance all her own. The mare’s eyes were a deep, almost jewel like shade of blue. She was Rarity. “What do you need, darling?” asked Rarity.
Um, Ponyville move need element harmony.
“We need to move Ponyville because of harmony elementals? Have you tried Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns? I hear they have some of the biggest heads in Equestria. Surely one of them knows about harmony elementals with all that space.”
Megumi giggled.
“Now what do you really need?”
Megumi fidgeted. “Um, you are needed in Ponyville to take up the element of generosity.”
Rarity blinked. “Pardon? What made you think of me for such a task?”
Megumi tapped the bottoms of her fore hooves together. “Because you embody generosity.”
Rarity laughed. “Me, generous? That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I may have been that naive a long time ago, but I have long since learned it’s everypony for herself in this world.”
“But…”
“Look for another pony, Darling. I have neither the desire nor the qualifications to participate in your little project. And may I recommend trying some place less cosmopolitan, where a pony can hold such ridiculous notions as generosity.”
“But…”
“Good day.” Rarity walked into the back room.
Well that went as well as oil based paint on water color paper. I’m just too shy. Maybe I should ask princess Celestia to-- No, I can do this!... Maybe. I can do this, I’ve just been going about this the wrong way. I just need something to convince Rarity to return to Ponyville. Or somepony! Sweetie Bell! She got Rarity to go camping. She surely can get Rarity to come home. Now all I have to do is ask one of guards to get her one of the big, tall, important royal guards. Megumi approached one of the guards hooked to the royal carriage outside. “Um, can you, um, go to Ponyville and get a filly named Sweetie Bell? If you don’t mind?”
Corporal Iron Horseshoe of the EPU Transport and Escort Division, relaxed his stance, trusting his partner to spot any trouble. “And what should I tell her parents this day trip is for? Miss Nakamura.”
“Oh, right. They will want to know that. Tell them it’s to get their elder daughter to come home.”
“Ok.” Corporal Iron Horseshoe unhooked himself and flew off at top speed.

------

This had been an interesting day for Sweetie Bell: first she met Nightmare Moon in pony, then the leaser of her family’s dress shop had apparently gone bald overnight and was leaving, and now she was on her way to Manehatten to bring her sister home. Why the Crown wanted her sister back in Ponyville was apparently classified. The Corporal that Sweetie was riding landed next to another royal guard and a black maned mare. “Miss Bell. This is Megumi Nakamura. She is the mare in charge of getting your sister to Ponyville.”
Sweetie Bell looked at the blushing unicorn mare. “You work for Princess Celestia?”
Megumi tapped her hooves together. “I guess, it’s more of a cooperative thing.”
Corporal Iron Horseshoe cleared his throat. “Maybe, we should get to why you wanted Miss Bell.”
“Oh, right. I need to, um, use your, ah, sisterly wiles to convince Rarity to return home.”
“Fine. But I want a chocolate hay bar,” said Sweetie Bell.
Megumi looked toward Corporal Horseshoe. “It’s a candy bar. It’s popular with fillies.”
“I guess it’s ok. As long as your parents agree, I will get you one,” said Megumi.
“Yes! Now where’s Rarity?” asked Sweetie Bell.
“In there.” Megumi pointed to Glory’s Glories.
Sweetie Bell ran inside and screamed “RARITY!”
Rarity poked her head out of the back room. “What the—Sweetie Bell!?”
Sweetie Bell tackled hugged Rarity. “Big Sis!”
“Sweetie, what are you doing here?”
Sweetie let go and made huge puppy dog eyes. “Big Sis, when are you coming home?”
“Sweetie, I’m not. I live here now.”
“But I-I don’t see you a-anymore,” said Sweetie.
“Please understand, my work is here in Manehatten.”
Sweetie put her forehooves on Rarity. “But you gotta come home, You gotta.”
“But-“
“Please.”
“But-“
“Pretty please.”
“But-“
“Pretty please with a cherry on top.”
“Sweetie Bell! My work is here! This is my home now.”
Sweetie ran out of the shop and straight into Megumi. Sweetie stepped back and rubbed her right hoof over her left. “I tried but…”
Megumi sighed. “I don’t suppose you have any ideas?”
“Hm. She’s staying here because of her job right?”
Megumi nods.
“Well, the leaser of Carousel Boutique left town after that incident with her hair. What if we offered Rarity her own shop?”
“Your family owns Carousel Boutique?”
“Well, it’s technically Auntie Sparkler’s, but Mom and Dad have been managing it for her ever since she moved out here.”
“I couldn’t help but overhear. But Sparkler’s old shop is available?” said a white mare. The mare had an elegant royal purple mane with a sapphire blue stripe that swept around one side of her face. Her cutie mark was of a silver five-pointed star with a violet tail that sparkled as she moved. “I’m Glory, the owner of Glory’s Glories and friendly rival of Sparkler.” Glory turned to Sweetie bell. “You wouldn’t happen to be Sparkler’s niece and Rarity’s sister, Sweetie Bell, would you?”
Sweetie nods.
Glory turned to Megumi. “And you are?”
Megumi Nakamura,” said Megumi softly.
“And why are you two talking about Sparkler’s old shop in front of my establishment?”
Sweetie stepped forward. “We’re trying to get my sister to come home because…” Sweetie turned to Megumi. “Why are we trying to get her home for anyways?”
“Um, because Princess Celestia and the others thought it was a good idea,” said Megumi.
“Princess Celestia! Why does Princess Celestia care about a designer in my employ?”
“Um, I am not sure I can say. It may be a state secret. Sorry.”
“So if Rarity went to Ponyville, would she have time to operate Carousel Boutique in addition to her work for the Princess?”
Megumi nods. “Yes, the job would take very little of her time but would require her to be in Ponyville.”
“Just a second, I will go tell Rarity the news.” Glory walked into her shop.

------

Thirty minutes later. Rarity walked out of Glory’s glories and over to Megumi. “So you represent the crown? And this project you’re working on is under her authority?”
“Sorta. She knows about it and supports it, but my friends came up with it.”
“Hmm. I will go with you, but I can’t guarantee I will be able to use this, this generosity thing.”
“Oh thank you!” Megumi grabbed Rarity’s hoof. Megumi let go. “Sorry.

------

Alex and Faith were walking through the Fillydelphia racetrack when Faith spotted a cerulean blue mare with a windswept rainbow mane and tail. She wore a deep sky blue vest which left only one of her wings visible. Her legs had the muscles of professional race horse.
Faith ran towards Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash!”
“Hey there, kiddo. I’m guessing you want an autograph?”
Faith shook her head. “We’re here to bring you to your destiny.”
Rainbow Dash blinked. “My destiny?”
“Uh huh. You need to go to Ponyville and become the Element of Loyalty.”
“Element of what now?”
Alex finally caught up with her sister. “Faith, You’re confusing her. But my sister is right. The fate of Equestria could rest in you coming to Ponyville and taking up the mantle of the Element of Loyalty. I don’t understand it all myself but you are one of six people—“
“Ponies!” said Faith.
“Six ponies, whatever, that are destined to wield a rainbow shooting super weapon.”
“The Elements Of Harmony Aren’t A Weapon! They’re the most powerful magic known to pony kind!” Faith’s eyes landed on Rainbow Dash’s Lighting Bolt cutie mark. “That’s your cutie mark!?”
“And what’s wrong with her cutie mark?” asked Alex
“It’s the wrong one, that’s what! It supposed to be a rainbow colored lightning bolt and cloud!”
“So she doesn’t have the same cutie mark, big deal.”
“It Is A Big Deal! It Means Her Destiny Is Messed Up!”
“Ah, ya we already knew that.”
“No, not her destiny, her Destiny!”
Alex turned to Rainbow Dash. “Are you following any of this?”
“Sort of. Listen, kid, your cutie mark is what you make of it, it doesn’t define who you are.”
“That wasn’t what you said when you had Fluttershy’s cutie mark,” said Faith.
“That because… Ok, now I’m officially lost. What’s the kid talking about?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Let’s put it this way. My little sister is familiar with an alternate version of your life. Wait. Different cutie mark? Sis, what was that story you were telling me on the way here? Something about Rainbow Dash helping the others gain their cutie marks?”
Faith nodded. “Ya, Rainbow Dash performed her first sonic rainboom, which scared the animals, startled Twilight, led Applejack home, made Pinkie Pie smile, and broke the diamond filled rock, which led to the others gaining their cutie marks.”
“Sonic what now?” said Rainbow Dash.
“How can you not know about the Sonic Rainboom!? You invented it!”
“Except this version of her didn’t. I think we found where to start looking for what went wrong with the main six’s destiny.” Alex handed Faith 5 bits. “Here, why don’t you get us some snacks while I talk to Rainbow?”
Faith dashed off without saying a word.
“Rainbow, I don’t think my sister noticed, but you only have one wing.”
Rainbow sighed. “One of my wings had to be amputated when I was a little filly.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I got cocky. I was racing and going faster than I should’ve been and I crash-landed in a forest. Both my wings were messed up pretty bad. They managed to save one but the other… I’ve been stuck on the ground ever since.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s ok. It happened a long time ago.”
“So, about moving to Ponyville?”
“Sure, it’s a while before my next race. It could be fun to hang out some place new.”

------

Charity’s chariot landed in front of what looked like a large house. Charity went up to the door and knocked. A minute later a brown middle aged earth pony opened the door and asked, “I’m Stardancer. May I help you?”
“Ya, is there a mare named Fluttershy here?”
“Yes, there is. She is currently in the back caring for the center’s animals. But a word of warning: she has a justified fear of stallions, even the mention of them can—“
“RUBY!” screamed a voice that Charity recognized as Fluttershy’s.
Stardancer rubbed her head with her hoof. “What is that little filly doing this time? Come on, we better go see.”
Charity followed Stardancer out to the back of the shelter. She saw Fluttershy on the roof, apparently afraid to come down. Fluttershy was a yellow Pegasus mare with a carnation pink mane. On her flank was a trio of pink butterflies that looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there, but couldn’t leave (because they were actually part of Fluttershy). Fluttershy was holding a yellow unicorn filly with rose pink hair held with a black headband.
“I’m guessing the little unicorn is Ruby,” said Charity.
“Yes, that would be Fluttershy’s little trouble maker. That little filly wants to watch everypony work so she can find her special talent and earn her cutie mark.”
“Fluttershy’s, but she’s—“ Suddenly the phrase ‘justified fear of stallions’ ran though Charity’s head. “She wasn’t.”
“I’m afraid so. Why, if I ever had gotten my hands on the stallion that done it, well let’s just say he wouldn’t have any need for a mare anymore!”
Charity flinched at what the older mare was threatening but couldn’t blame her. Charity flew up to the roof and landed next to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, would you let me take Ruby down?”
Fluttershy slowly nodded and released her tight grip on Ruby.
Charity laid down on the roof and let Ruby climb on. “Now hold tight.” Charity felt Ruby wrap her fore hooves around her neck. Charity choose a gentle glide path down to the ground, stopping only when her passenger decided that hopping down to the ground from one and half mare heights was faster and was caught by her speeding mother.
“Ruby, don’t do things like that! You could’ve broken a leg!” said Fluttershy.
“I’m sorry, Fluttershy. If I’d known she would do that I would’ve strapped her to my back,” said Charity.
“It’s not your fault. Ruby doesn’t know her limits sometimes.”
“How can I know my limits? Mom won’t let me test any of them,” pouted Ruby.
“She just doesn’t want you to be hurt,” said Charity.
“I wouldn’t have been hurt. The worst that could’ve happened is that I sprained my hoof.”
“Should I be worried that she seems to speak from experience?” asked Charity.
“Yes, very worried,” said Fluttershy. “And that’s not the worst that could’ve happened, Ruby. You could’ve landed badly and fractured a bone. You don’t want to be stuck in bed for two months again do you?”
“No.” Ruby pouted.
“Anyway, Fluttershy,” said Charity, “I am here to extend a personal invite from Celestia to move to Ponyville, I’m sure with your skill with animals and Ponyville being on the edge of the Everfree Forest you could find a job.”
“Ponyville! As in outside where they are, no I couldn’t. I mean I’m honored but…”
“Please, Fluttershy. There a cottage on the edge of town you can use, and I’m sure there will be a mare or five willing to get you anything you might need from town. Please. Equestria needs your help.”
“Please, Mom can we go?” asked Ruby with the biggest puppy dog eyes Charity ever seen.
“Ok, but could we maybe go at night when they are asleep?” said Fluttershy.
“No need. I came by royal chariot pulled by female guard ponies.”
Ruby started bouncing. “There are female royal guard ponies?”
“Yes, there are, and if you are good and stay inside the carriage you can watch them as the transport us to Ponyville.”
Ruby zipped around the shelter for a second before returning. “They’re pegasi.”
“How did you think they were going to fly us though the air?”
“FLY!” screamed Fluttershy.
Oh, right. Fluttershy is afraid of heights, thought Charity. She said, “How can you be afraid of heights? You lived in Cloudsdale, where if you fell you’d—fall onto a cloud! Is that it? You’re afraid of hitting the ground?”
Fluttershy nods.
“Stardancer, can you secure Ruby to the chariot while I see if I can find a suitable cloud.”

------

An hour later Charity, Fluttershy and Fluttershy’s pet, a big black bat with white eyebrows and two fangs named Fluffy, were on a speeding cloud powered by Fluttershy’s wings, following Ruby in the royal carriage. Originally Charity had been pushing the cloud, but found her wings weren’t yet ready for long distance flight yet, so she took a break on the cloud, letting the royal guard pulling the carriage go ahead. But Fluttershy decided she was more afraid of what could happen to her daughter (Or what trouble said daughter could get into) than falling off, so she started powering the cloud forward with her wings while hugging it from above. Charity joined in as soon as her wings recovered. Soon they were descending toward Fluttershy’s new home.
As soon as the carriage touched the ground, Ruby jumped off and started exploring her new home.
Private Pansy (she was named for the founder and with her family’s military tradition it was likely at some point that she would be a private) unhooked herself and followed the filly. It wasn’t the first time is she had ended up as a glorified babysitter. At least this time it wasn’t a diplomat, or a noble, or Prince Blueblood.
Charity and Fluttershy disembarked the cloud. Meanwhile Fluffy went inside and found a nice rafter to nap on until sunset.
Charity cleared her throat. “Fluttershy, um, There’s something I think you need to know about me. Celestia told me she thinks I’m bi-gender, which means I’m a mare as well as a stallion.”
“You have both…” Fluttershy pointed to Charity’s backside.
“No. I’m physically a mare, but I didn’t start out like that. I was born a colt, but I had a magical accident. And well, I gained a female body.”
“I don’t understand. Wouldn’t that make you a mare?”
“Why would…? Oh, John’s still around, I’m just here now too.”
“John?”
“My male side. Maybe it’s easier to show you. Come on. He’s at the Golden Oaks Library. Oh, and don’t worry, I will be beside you the whole way, and he knows to keep his distance.”
Fluttershy looked down and thought. “Ok.” Fluttershy raised her head and said “Ruby.”
Ruby ran from inside the cottage. “Yes, mother.”
“We’re heading to the library now.”
“Library? Ugh, do they at least have Daring Do?”
Charity stepped forward. “I’m sure they do, and even if they don’t, Alex’s little sister and Spike are your age and should be there soon.”
“Spike?” asked Ruby Rose.
“A little baby dragon.”
“Baby Dragon!” chorused mother and daughter together. Ruby put more emphasis on ‘dragon’, while her mother put more on ‘baby’.
Ruby ran ahead. “Mom, come on.”
Fluttershy looked at Ruby and then at Charity with concerned eyes.
“Don’t worry Fluttershy. Spike is the kindest gentlest dragon you ever will meet, just don’t tell him that.”
The two older mares followed the filly, correcting her whenever she went the wrong way.

------

Thirty minutes later they arrived at the Golden Oaks Library. Inside, John was on the far side of the room.
“Fluttershy, meet my male half, John.”
John bowed. Wait a second. Did I just? Well I guess a little formality could help Fluttershy be comfortable around me. But I just instinctively did it.
“H-Hello,” said Fluttershy.
Meanwhile Ruby spotted something very important. “You’re a unicorn!”
John stood up. “Uh, ya. Don’t tell me you’ve never met another unicorn before?”
Ruby looked down and swung her left forehoof. “Not any willing to teach me magic.” Ruby looked straight at John with the biggest puppy dog eyes he had ever seen. “Please teach me magic.”
“I can’t. I sort of need to learn it myself.”
Ruby’s eyes returned to normal and she looked away. “Nightmare Moon’s Sharp Teeth!” Ruby swore.
Fluttershy stared at Ruby and her mouth hung open for a second. “Ruby, where did you learn such language!?”
“From Trixie.”
“I will have to have a talk with Miss Lulamoon when she’s in town again. Ruby. we don’t swear, especially about N-Nightmare M-Moon and her pony gobbling teeth.”
John and Charity stepped toward Ruby. “Your mother’s right. You shouldn’t swear by Princess Luna’s dark side. It could hurt her feelings,” said the twins in such perfect sync that it sounded like one pony talking out of two mouths.
Ruby looked between John and Charity. “Cool. Are you the shadow pony?”
“The what?”
Fluttershy shivered. “Ruby, don’t you d-dare. The s-shadow pony is just a story. One Firefly shouldn’t’ have never told you.”
“Aw, but it’s a good one. You should’ve seen the faces of the other fillies when Firefly was done.”
“Ghost story?” asked Charity.
Fluttershy nodded rapidly.
John stepped back. “Anyway, the meeting should start soon. Are you ok with me down here or should I head upstairs?”
Fluttershy jumped back and glued her eyes to John. “U-Upstairs, please.”

------

Awhile later the main six and the humans turned ponies were inside the Ponyville Public Library.
Just then Princess Celestia and Spike walked through the door. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting long.”
Everypony in the room bowed.
“Please. That’s not necessary. I’m here for you.”
Ya, and you need the elements and Twilight Sparkle up and running as a safety net, thought Sophia.
“Now why doesn’t everypony introduce themselves.”
The instructions went smoothly until Ruby introduced Fluttershy as her ‘mom’.
“MOM!?” said Brenda, Faith, Libby, Sophia, and Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy blushed.
Rainbow Dash struggled to form words. “But she’s… But we were in flight camp together, so you’re… How the hay does a seventeen year old mare have a seven year old filly?”
“Not by choice,” said Ruby.
Everypony stared at Ruby.
“What?”
“How the hay do you know that?” asked Applejack.
Ruby rolled her eyes. “I’ve been around battered mares and therapists my entire life. I know what rape is.”
Fluttershy blushed redder.
“What is Rape?” asked Faith.
“Mom will tell you when you are older,” said Alex.
“Is it like where babies come from or the sounds from mom and dad’s bed—“
“YES!”
“Spike, why don’t you introduce yourself,” said Princess Celestia.
Spike shook himself out of staring at the beautiful white unicorn whose name meant ‘blessing of the middle village’ in Japanese, but Spike thought it sounded better in its native tongue. Spike bowed to his love, Megumi Nakamura. “Watashi wa supaikudoragon, Canterlot no kyūtei no byōtōdesu. Anata wa, utsukushī mujitsu to kyōryokuna joseidesu.
Megumi blushed.
“Um, in Equestrian, please,” said Rainbow Dash.
Spike rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’m Spike the dragon, ward of the royal court of Canterlot.”
“And I’m Celestia Sunbringer and I like feeling the first rays of dawn on my coat. Now as to why you are all here, there has been a change in time. Because of that change new heroes were required to wield the Elements of Harmony and save my sister. But these heroes come from a far off land, a land that they wish to return to. In the land they come from we were naught but fiction. So they gathered the heroes from the story they knew. And this is where the rest of you come in. You are those heroes.”
“So, I’m going to save Equestria. COOL!” said Ruby Rose.
“Um, no,” said Charity. “That’s your mother’s job. You didn’t exist in the timeline we saw. But who knows what’ll happen when you’re older.”
“Aww, I was hoping to get my cutie mark saving Equestria.”
“Don’t worry little one, your cutie mark will come in time,” said Princess Celestia. “Is there anything else that needs to be discussed before we finish?”
Alex stepped forward. “Ya, I think me and my sister identified where and how the timeline changed. When Rainbow Dash was racing the bullies teasing Fluttershy she crash-landed instead of doing a sonic rainboom. Does that seem right to everyone?”
“Um, how does somethin’ in Rainbow’s past affect us all?” asked Applejack.
“Because her rainboom led to you gaining your cutie marks,” said Faith.
The main six blinked.
“Listen, it was through a series of coincidences. It will be easier if we just ask some questions. Rarity what happened with the rock your horn led you to?” asked Charity.
“Oh, that old thing, nothing. I suppose it’s still up there.”
“So how did you get your cutie mark?”
“It was just after I had moved to Manehattan with my Aunt Sparkler. I was working on my first piece when my horn pulled me toward a jewelry store where I found the perfect bracelets to compliment to the dress I was making. I ran back to Sparkler, and together we bought those bracelets and finished that dress. The next day a filly bought that dress and I gained my cutie mark.”
“Twilight, what happened with the exam to get into Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns? The first one if there was more than one.”
“Um, I, ah… I failed OK! The only reason I got in was because I was too dangerous to leave untrained!”
Princess Celestia stepped forward. “Is that what you think?”
“I turned my parents into plants. What else could it be?”
“Twilight, you passed.”
“But I didn’t hatch the egg.”
“Actually you did, but that’s beside the point. That was a test of character. It was to see how the student reacts when faced with something they can’t do. Didn’t they explain that when you were accepted?”
Twilight scratched the back of her head. “They may have but I was sort of mana depleted and loopy at the time.”
“Moving on. Fluttershy, what happened after the racers knocked you to the ground?” asked Charity.
Fluttershy spoke in a voice so quiet that any sound would’ve drowned it out. “I played with the animals for a while until one of the camp counselors found me and we went back up to camp.
“And you didn’t get your cutie mark?”
“That happened later. Well, I… I sort of snuck down to the ground then he… after that I hid in the Everfree Forest. The next day I found an injured ursa minor, I helped it and my cutie mark must have shown up sometime after that because the next time I looked butterflies were there.”
“Wait, you lived in the Everfree Forest?”
“For 2 months.”
“Applejack, um, when was the race anyways?”
“August 8, 991 afternoon,” said Rainbow Dash.
“So what happened to you the afternoon of August 8, 991?”
“You expect me to remember what happened on a random date eight years ago?” said Applejack.
“Ooo, ooo, I know, I know, I was rotating the rocks from the south field to the east field,” said Pinkie.
“How the hay do you know that?” said Applejack
Pinkie shrugged. “It’s what my family does that time of year every year.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t return home around that time, Applejack,” said Charity.
“Nope.”
“And I’m guessing you didn’t throw your first party around that time, Pinkie?”
“My first party was earlier today, silly,” said Pinkie.
“Earlier today? Pinkie when was your first smile?”
“Why it was today. See there was this column of light that exploded into rainbows just before sunrise.”
“Column of light? Sunrise? Are you telling us your first smile was just after we cured Luna?”
“Fate works in mysterious ways, my little pony. But in this case I don’t think it was just fate. The elements acted out your will, your full will. And while they couldn’t reach out and heal everypony they could give Miss Pie something to smile about,” said Princess Celestia.
“So what now? I mean I’m going to help run Sweet Apple Acres, but how do I handle these here elements things?” asked Applejack.
“You need to embody the virtue you represent. For Applejack, honesty, Rarity, generosity, Fluttershy, kindness, Rainbow Dash, loyalty, Pinkamena Pie, Laugher, and finally Twilight Sparkle, you are the element of magic,” said Celestia.
Suddenly Cloudy Quartz dashed inside the tree. “Pinkamena Diane Pie Stop This At Once And Come Home!”
“Mom? What’s wrong?” asked Pinkie.
“Pinkamena you’re too young to go forming herds with mares you hardly know.”
“Mom, what are you talking about? I’m not herding with anypony.”
“You’re not? Then what are you – We need to teach that girl to choose her words more carefully. So, what is the destiny your sister was talking about?”
“Being the Element of Laugher and making friends, silly.”
“Mom, what’s herding?” asked Ruby Rose.
“Um, well, it’s…” said Fluttershy.
“It’s an archaic term for family coming from an old earth pony tradition,” said Twilight.
“Artwhatic?” said Ruby.
“Archaic, it means an old or outdated term for something.”
“But if it’s outdated why is Pinkie’s mom using it?”
“Because it refers to a specific kind of family. Your mother will tell you more about it when you’re older.”
“No, the kid’s right. If Pinkie was with Brenda she wouldn’t have been herding, she would’ve…” said Rainbow Dash.
“RAINBOW!” said Twilight.
“What? I was going to say dating. She would’ve been dating Brenda.”
The ponies started to leave the library and go their separate ways. Ruby was dragging her mother because Spike wasn’t as cool as she thought he would be.