The Silver Pony Slippers
Chapter 12: The Lesson Learned
It was just before nine o’clock when Twilight Sparkle and her friends finally left Canterlot Castle to catch the late night train back to Ponyville. Each of them was feeling rather content and good of themselves having been successful in performing a good deed. It wasn’t until they left the busiest streets in Canterlot, still alive with activity at night before Twilight spoke.
“I’m glad we were all able to pull together to accomplish this,” said Twilight. “I’m so proud that you all came together to reach a goal despite the little spat that happened yesterday in Ponyville.”
“It wasn’t too much trouble,” said Rainbow Dash. I always knew we had it in the bag.”
“Oooh, what bag? Where?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“Never mind,” answered Rainbow Dash.
“It really is too bad that we had to go through that before,” said Rarity. “But we already learned that Friendship isn’t always easy, but I do believe that we’ve a learned something valuable from this experience.”
“I have an idea on what it could be,” said Twilight. “But you say what you had in mind first.”
“Well it’s quite simple really,” said Rarity. Everypony stopped walking to listen to her. “You should never allow a physical item to come into your life and destroy your love for a friendship.” Said Rarity.
“Yep, that’s exactly what I had in mind.” Said Twilight.
“Gee Rarity.” Said Applejack. “I recon you said that just perfect. When we get home we should write that down exactly like that in our Friendship Journal.”
“Sound’s nice,” said Fluttershy.
“Totally all rights,” said Pinkie Pie.
Rarity turned to Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie, I’m really, truly, sorry that I yelled at you. I said some really hurtful things that I really didn’t mean and all over something silly. Can you forgive me?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t know.” said Pinkie. She was pretending to act serious but she just couldn’t hold it in, and her face exploded into a smile. “Of course I forgive you. Only a true friend would use their wish for a friend, and I can’t wait to get a bite out of that cake. But can you forgive me?” asked Pinkie. “I said some things too that I didn’t mean, and I could have been a little more careful when I was in your shop.”
“Oh, I do forgive you Pinkie,” said Rarity. “And please accept my gratitude for spending your wish for my sake. Thank you very, very much.”
“Oh, and by the way, here’s your crown,” said Pinkie as she pulled the tiara that was hidden in her mane and gave it to Rarity.
“Still friends?” asked Pinkie.
“Till the end!” answered Rarity.
Pinkie Pie and Rarity met each other with a hug.
Applejack then turned to Fluttershy. “On that note, I sorry I called you a thievin vermit earlier. I didn’t have all the facts, and I had no idea what was going on.”
“Oh, that’s OK Applejack.” Said Fluttershy.
Rainbow Dash then spoke to Applejack and Fluttershy. “I didn’t do too well either. I’m sorry I called both of you thieves. And you too Rarity. That wasn’t awesome no matter how you look at it.”
“We all forgive you,” said Rarity.
“Sure thing Sugar Cube,” said Applejack.
“If it makes you all feel better,” said Fluttershy, “I probably wouldn’t have done any different.”
Everypony stopped what they were doing and looked at Fluttershy with facial expressions that mixed confusion, surprise, and disbelief.
“Or, maybe not.” Said Fluttershy.
The ponies couldn’t help but giggle at that. After a few seconds even Fluttershy saw the humor in what she said. Spike couldn’t contain it, and burst out laughing.
“Oh, sorry” said Spike when he realized everypony was looking at him and quickly stopped.
“It’s ok Spike,” said Fluttershy. “Oh and Rarity, when we get back home I’ll return the 30 bits you gave me for the slippers.”
“Thank you,” said Rarity, “but keep it all, I insist.”
“But Rarity,” said Fluttershy, “they weren’t mine to sell.”
“That may be true,” said Rarity, “But I want you to keep the bits so you can buy yourself something wonderful. Besides, I was probably just going to spend them on something unimportant anyway.”
“Well, if you say so,” said Fluttershy. “Thank you Rarity.”
“Isn’t it wonderful how we all can come back together as friends, make up, admit what we did wrong, and everything turns out just fine.” Asked Twilight.
“You are so right Twilight,” said Pinkie. “Me and Applejack went on a road trip not to long ago where we and the whole Apple family leaned that. It was fun.”
“It’s true.” Said Applejack.
“Sure is,” said Rainbow Dash, “Even if it’s a little sappy.”
The ponies resumed their walk toward the station.
“One thing I don’t quite get,” said Rainbow Dash, “Is if the shoes came off my hooves while I was doing a sonic rainboom, shouldn’t they have be spread out all over the place? I mean how did they all end up in the same haystack on Applejack’s farm?”
“That was also in the book I read to you,” said Twilight. “At the very bottom of the passage it said that the silver pony slippers have a special connection that keeps them together. Even if their owner lost them, each slipper would remain close to the others until they returned to their owner. So two of the slippers wouldn’t end up on opposite side of Equestria.”
“Well that makes sense,” said Pinkie Pie.
“That also explains why the slippers all ended up in the Zebra country when Princess Luna lost them in that tornado years ago.”
“The tornado.” Said Rainbow Dash who suddenly realized something, “Oh, that’s what Zecora was talking about when she said the shoes fell from the sky.” The she realized something else. “Huh, what do you know? I actually figured out something Zecora said.” Everypony laughed.
“Well that’s another adventure, and another friendship problem resolved.” Said Twilight.
“Um huh.” Said Everypony. Then they all burst out laughing all over again.
“You know something else?” said Twilight, “I’m sure somewhere a wise, old mare is laughing.”