Twilight followed after Fluttershy and the filly for a couple minutes and she finally caught up to them as they reached a small exposure located in Whitetail woods. She watched as Fluttershy spread a blanket on the grass for them from a basket that was, more than likely, left there by animal caregiver. Fluttershy laid down near the center and the filly joined her immediately snuggling up to the older mare. They were starting to talk about something so she cast a hearing spell to listen.
"... you Fluttershy. I'm sorry about this."
"It's fine Scootaloo. I understand you've been having such a hard time lately. You can come to me whenever you need anything." Fluttershy covered the filly with a wing and pulled her in closer. "Are you sure that can't talk to someone in your family about all this?"
"No! No... please I... I can't bother them with it. It's hard enough as it is when I keep getting all those looks from them."
"Shh. It's okay dear. I'm sorry I brought it up."
"Thank you. Sorry, it’s like that’s all I'm saying to you lately. It’s just, I don't get many chances to talk to somepony about all of it."
"It's perfectly alright. I hardly get to say what I want to say all the time. I regret it immediately and I feel terrible about it for a long time but, when I do get a chance, the burden lifts."
"Did something happen Fluttershy?"
The yellow mare shifted and lifted her wing over the filly. She seemed to shrink into herself at the question and went from smiling warmly to looking incredibly lonely.
"I... I have a new friend that, until recently, I've tried my best to cheer her up."
"What happened recently?"
"She finally got a reply to something she'd been waiting for a long time. It made her so happy and I was happy that she was happy. It’s just... I can't get it out of my head that all it took was a reply by one pony to get her out of being so sad for so long. I tried so hard Scootaloo. I kept at it for months and then at some point it affected me just as strongly."
The frail mare's body started to shake and tears were welling up in her eyes. It wasn't until Scootaloo got closer and held her hoof that she continued her story.
"Scootaloo, you've told me before that sometimes you think things are hopeless no matter how hard you try. I've told you that you have to keep a positive attitude and continue at your own pace."
"Yea. I still think that way sometimes but I get what you were trying to tell me."
"Well, what if you kept trying and trying at your own pace, trying to do something for somepony else knowing that you had problems yourself to deal with? Seeing that, no matter what you said or did, they never changed? They kept getting worse and worse and when you thought they would never get out of it; they suddenly recover due to somepony completely different?"
"Fluttershy..."
"I'm so useless Scootaloo. I can't even make one of the few friends I have happy. I can't do anything right! I couldn't make a difference at all! I tried to follow my own advice and it amounted to nothing!" The mare grabbed Scootaloo and started to yell as she cried.
The filly did her best to hold onto Fluttershy. She cried along with her knowing the feeling and yet not really understanding.
"I took the time! I went out of my way like I do for so many other ponies! I put myself out there in order to see her smile again! But, in the end, all it took was a single letter from somepony else! I can't take it Scootaloo! I can't do anything right!"
"Stop it! Stop! You can do things right Fluttershy! You've helped me and my dad for so long. You've never asked for anything in return and have always been there for us! You're not useless! You're not unwanted! You can make someone smile!"
They held each other as the sun's light began to fade through the trees. Their cries echoing through the woods and the animals leaving them alone unable to do anything. It was clear that Fluttershy was talking about Twilight. Twilight knew she was the pony that had ignored her and caused her to have these feelings. She knew that, by disregarding her attempts, she led Fluttershy down a road of depreciation and depression. Yet, all she could do was cry and hide.
She hid knowing that, despite her intentions of recovering her friendships, she'd broken a promise to one friend and caused another to doubt her actions as a whole. Applejack came to her mind and what she said kept echoing. The fact that she treated all of this as an assignment was pushed to the front of her thoughts. Rarity had warned her to take their feelings into consideration and yet she persisted in trying to think of solutions to everything.
"Thank you, Scootaloo. I'm sorry that you had to see me like that." Fluttershy said, wiping the tears from her eyes with a hoof and doing the same to the filly with one of her wings.
"It’s the least I could do. I'm sorry I yelled at you."
Twilight tried to stay quiet while still listening to them. The only problem was that her magic was wavering at the thought of continuing. She released the spell and sneaked away as the two continued to talk about something. She crawled through the brush silently until she reached a distance far enough to walk. As she came out of the bushes, she noticed that the sun had gone down.
"I should stop by the market. I still have some time to get stuff for dinner. I'll apologize for being late."
Alone she walked, distancing herself from the woods and going over the bridge to town. She stayed silent as she passed the houses with soft lights and the square with ponies out to enjoy the night air. As she came to the market; she noticed that most of them were beginning to pack. She went around gathering ingredients for dinner; pleading with each owner to let her buy despite the time. She did all this trying to ignore the constant replay of the conversation she'd heard. The one showing one of the consequences of her actions and how heavily they affected one of her friends.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
"You should be."
Twilight turned around at the reply to find Rarity looking at her. The unicorn walked closer but dropped her anger in place of concern.
"Darling? Why are you crying? I mean, I might be angry at you for being so late but I'm not that angry about it."
"No, sorry Rarity. I was just thinking of something else. It’s not about this at all, I am sorry about being late though."
“Well, what were you crying about then? Did something bad happen?”
“No. It’s not that… well not really. I don’t know, maybe it did.”
"You can tell me whenever you're ready. I'll listen to you.”
"It’s just… Rarity? Am I a horrible pony?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Am I a horrible pony?”
“Twilight, darling, why are you asking such a question? What makes you think you’re a horrible pony?”
“Tell me the truth Rarity. Was the time I locked myself away and the time I ignored all of you girls make you hate me? Was the fact that what it took, in order for me to go outside and talk to you girls again, a letter, make you think all you did to help was worthless? Am I really just horrible pony?”
“Twilight! Snap out of it!” A resounding slap echoed through the air and the few remaining ponies in the market turned at the source of the sound.
“Rarity…” Twilight said as the food she’d bought hit the ground.
“Twilight. I admit that, while the combined efforts of all of us didn’t get you out of your depression and a letter did, cause me to be slightly perturbed; I do not hold a grudge against you. There are times when I have trouble getting over even just a passing bad remark of the work I do but I don’t hold a grudge.”
“But…”
“I did my part as a friend and tried to get you to see what you were doing. We all did and at some point it just took somepony else to make you see it. I have some rather nasty feelings about it, that much is true. However, I do not hold a grudge nor has it affected me in a negative way. I’m simply happy that you are outside and talking to us again. I’m happy that I have my friend back.”
Rarity pulled the bookish mare closer and hugged her. They held each other for a quick minute and separated as Twilight gathered the fallen food.
“Thank you, Rarity. I’m sorry about that.”
“Think nothing of it dear. Though, the things you’ve done with Applejack is an entirely different matter. I have already said my thoughts on the subject and would rather leave it at that. I did want to go and visit Fluttershy today but seeing as to how late it has gotten. I think it would be best to try tomorrow.”
“Fluttershy… Tomorrow… Yea, you’re right.”
“Excellent. Here, let me hold the bags to make up for slapping you.”
Twilight laughed as Rarity covered the bags in her magic and hovered them overhead. The purple mare turned to walk towards the boutique only to stop when she noticed Rarity still waiting and looking around.
“Rarity? What’s wrong? Aren’t we going back?”
“Oh, we’ll catch up dear. You can go on ahead.”
“We?”
“Me and Sweetie Belle.”
“Oh! You brought her along?”
“W-What are you saying Twilight? She’s been with you this whole time.”
"..."
"Twilight?”
Rarity closed the distance between them as Twilight started to sweat and looked around the area. She kept looking around as she searched only to be stopped by a hoof pulling her head straight ahead.
“Twilight! Where is Sweetie Belle?! Where is my sister?!"