Chapter XV

Rarity didn’t want Pinkie Pie to help her move in, but Applejack had insisted that they include her and there was no stopping an insistent Apple. As the four of them lugged Rarity’s belongings up the stairs, they heard a crash. Rarity set her box of bath salts on the steps and rushed down to see what had happened. Dash was laying under the mannequin she had been carrying. She smiled as Rarity helped her to her hooves.

“Sorry Rarity, these stairs are really steep.” Said the Pegasus sheepishly.

“Hey no problem Dash!” Rarity said with a smile. Pinkie Pie hung her head down from the next floor.

“Hey Rarity! Why didja move into the clock tower? That’s a funny place to live!”

“Because Pinkie, the clock tower is the cheapest place to live. If you don’t like moving-”

“Are you kidding?! I love helping my friends move!” Pinkie screeched.

“Nao Rarity. Y’want these dresses in the tool room, er, closet?” Applejack called down.

“Hang on! Let me check!” Rarity shouted up the stairwell. As nice as the clock tower was, it kind of sucked to have to move everything four flights of stairs. She sprinted up the stairs and into her room.

It was not a big room, just enough for a desk, a small bed and a table for one. The afternoon light shone through the glass clock face which comprised one of the walls. AJ poked her head out of the closet.

“Where should ah set them dresses?”

Rarity entered her “closet”. It used to house the obsolete tools used to repair the giant clock mechanism. There was a rusted steel bar that stretched across the tiny room, she had hung most of her dresses from that. The rest of the room was filled with a few rolls of fabric and a sweatshop sized sewing kit.

“Yeah, just set the rest of those with the others on the rung.” Rarity said as she looked at the two dresses laying across the filthy footlocker that sat inconveniently at the floor of the room. It was the only thing that they couldn’t remove from the claustrophobic room; the lock had rusted impossibly shut, and the worn black container seemed bolted to the floor.

“Well alraght then.” Applejack said as she hung the dresses. “This is lookin’ nice, ya’ll got a cozy little place here miss Rarity.” Rarity smiled.

“Well, it’s a bit cramped, but it’ll do.” Dash bumbled into the now crowded closet, she was carrying the one mannequin that Rarity could afford to store in the tower. Nearly tripping over Rarity, the blue Pegasus tried to maneuver the mannequin into a suitable resting place.

“Whoa now! Lemme help ya with that!” Applejack said as she steadied the Pegasus’ hold on the bulky white figure.

“I got it, just, here, let me get under it.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack fumbled with the mannequin, trying to find a place to set it.

“Nao hang on, rahght beside the locker, tha’s where we’re droppin’ it.” Pinkie Pie poked her head into the room.

“Hay guys! Is this a closet party?!” She asked excitedly. She entered the now overcrowded closet.

“No Pinkie, it’s not. It’s pretty crowded in here, why don’t you go triple check the cart to make sure we’ve unloaded everything.” Rarity said in annoyance. Applejack laughed.

“’Sides, ah’m pretty sure the only closet party in town is gunna be hosted by Snails.” Pinkie hopped up in the air.

“Yay! Closet party at Snails’! What are you guys bringing?” Rarity sighed, there was no cure for Pinkie Pie.

“Wai don’t ya’ll?” Applejack grunted as she and Rainbow Dash lowered the mannequin to the floor. “Take us bah Sugarcube Corner for some after-movin’ treats? We’re all done here, an’ ah’m cravin’ some sweets.” She asked with a grin. Rainbow Dash smiled too, which (momentarily) made up for Pinkie Pie.

“Yeah! I haven’t been by Sugarcube Corner in a long time!” The blue Pegasus agreed. Pinkie clopped her hooves together.

“Ha! Yeah…just, let me run there now, I’ll get everything set up, we can make cupcakes ‘k?” Rarity nodded.

“Perfect, wonderful! Get everything ready!” She said, motioning to the door.

Pinkie Pie shot out of the room. Applejack laughed.

“Glad t’see that filly is keepin’ good.” They exited the closet. “Y’two should drop by the farmhouse some tahm, we got hot spiced cider, love it when ya try it.” She suggested.

“Is it hard cider?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Hell yeah! Hardest cider in all of Equestria!” Applejack touted.

Rarity walked over to the clock face and gazed at the frosted glass; she had a home.

They had been moving her belongings for two days but the giddy feeling of owning a home again hadn’t left her. She was happy and she didn’t feel guilty or bitter about anything. That was what grace did.

“Rarity! You ready?” Applejack called to her. Rarity turned. She didn’t hide her smiles any more.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

It felt strange locking the clock tower, almost as if she were the janitor or something. But as Rarity turned the key in the ancient lock, she felt another rush of joy; she was locking up her home. She had a home again.

“Nao don’t tell me y’fergot where Sugarcube Corner is.” Applejack ribbed at Rainbow Dash. The Pegasus smiled.

“Nope!” Rarity gave AJ a nudge.

“In fact, Dash has a giant model of Ponyville she’s been working on all summer. It’s incredible, you should see it.” Applejack eyed Rainbow Dash.

“Thatta fact? Well, maybe ah’ll just drop by that cloud a’yers sometime and check it out.”

“Well, I don’t live on the cloud anymore. I live out in the prairie.” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Oh, didn’t know that.” Applejack said in embarrassment. “Whut didja do with the cloud?”

“Sold it to a Pegasus that just moved here.” Rainbow Dash replied.

They walked toward Sugarcube Corner. Rarity looked around at the business and shops that flanked them.

Rarity didn’t hate Ponyville anymore. She had forgiven them. Grace was like that, grace let go of hate. The grand re-opening of the Straw Purchase had been attended by twenty two ponies. She had received numerous compliments on the authenticity and style of her work. She didn’t hate them anymore; Rarity could scarcely believe it.

The leaves on the trees were brilliant swatches of red, orange, and yellow and they crunched like pretzels underhoof. Fall was here.

“So Applejack, have cider sales picked up? I mean, it’s fall and all, do ponies buy more during this season?” Rarity asked the farmer. Applejack cocked her head.

“Can’t say really, this is our first year doin’ anythin’ distilled. It’s picked up a lot from Las Pegasus. Not shure whut the hell they’re doin’ out there, but ah guess it involves booze and lots of it.”

“Scootaloo is out there.” Rainbow Dash added.

“Well wai don’t ya’ll go out and visit her some time? That filly sure as hell loved ya Dash. Maybe a nice weekend out in Las Pegasus would be a good way to get out.” Applejack suggested.

“Oh, I could never do that.” Rainbow Dash said quietly.

“Besides, I still have to find a way to repay you for all of that painting you did.” Rarity said with a grin.

Rainbow Dash smiled.

“Oh that’s ok Rarity, I was just glad I could help.”

“Well, I’m going to find a way to pay you back, just you wait.” Rarity said as they reached Sugarcube Corner.

They walked inside, the front end was empty.

“Pinkie?” Applejack called. Pinkie poked her head out of the kitchen.

“Hi guys! Come on in!” She called cheerfully. The three ponies shuffled into the kitchen. Pinkie Pie had gotten out all of the various ingredients and tools necessary to make cupcakes. “I think we can each make one.” She said carefully.

“Heh, getting money savvy are ya?” Applejack joked as she poured some flour into the bowl.

“Hehe yeah. Getting money savvy.” Pinkie agreed. Rarity didn’t care, she really just wanted to get back to her new home, there was still much unpacking to do.

For about twenty minutes, the four ponies scooped and measured a miniscule amount of batter into the silver bowl and then ladled it into four small cupcake shaped containers. Pinkie Pie shoved the tray into the oven and shut it.

“Y’don’t make cupcakes at yer’ bakery do ya Rarity?” Applejack asked as she scraped her teeth with a toothpick.

“Nope, just Northern stuff. Nothing edible, sometimes I have trouble believing we’re still in business.” Rarity chuckled.

“Are you doing anything else besides the bakery? Any new jobs?” Rainbow Dash asked. Rarity shook her head.

“Nope, just baking bread.”

“With Applecrisp!” Sugarcube stood in the doorway of the kitchen. Nopony had even heard her approach.

“Sugarcube!” Pinkie Pie said in surprise. “W-what are-” The pink pony swallowed, she had evidently not been expecting her cousin. “You doing here? You went home last week!” The yellow pony skipped into the room.

“My parents said I could stay with you for another month! Isn’t that great?!” Pinkie Pie embraced her.

“Of course it is! But, I thought your parents wanted you-”

“NOPE!” Sugarcube released Pinkie Pie. “We get to hang out for whole nother month!” She turned to the group. “Say! Have I met all of you ponies?” She asked the mares. She pretended to not recognize Rarity. “Hmmmm, I think I’ve met you before.” She said in mock uncertainty to the unicorn.

“You hit me with a chair.” Rarity replied flatly. Sugarcube giggled.

“Oh yeah, that was you!” She looked Rainbow Dash over. “I don’t ever think I’ve met you, my name is Sugarcube!" Rainbow Dash smiled.

“I’m Rainbow Dash, nice to-” Sugarcube turned to Applejack.

“And you!” Applejack flicked her hat and grinned.

“Ah’m Applejack, ah run-”

“Of course I know who you are! Applecrisp says to say hi!” Applejack snorted.

“Nao when did ya’ll see her?”

“We were just at the Alone Star, Mr. Cake-” Pinkie twisted the dial of the oven and it dinged.

“Cupcake time!” She cried. It was always a schizophrenic conversation with those two, Rarity thought in irritation.

“Oh fun!” Sugarcube said, flouncing over to the oven. “I love cupcakes!”

There were only four cupcakes, Rainbow Dash offered hers to Sugarcube, on the admission that she “Did not like Cupcakes.”

They iced the cupcakes, Rainbow Dash and Rarity attempted to draw Ponyville on their cupcake. Applejack cursed her poor art skills and made a basic apple atop her cupcake. Pinkie Pie stuck her tongue out of her mouth and tried to include eveypony’s Cutie Mark on her cupcake. Sugarcube just slathered white frosting on hers and called it done. A ding from the front door punctuated their work.

“Oooh! A customer! Pinkie, do you want me to tell them to leave?” Sugarcube piped up.

“Oh no no! I’ll go take care of them!” Pinkie said quickly as she sped out of the kitchen. Applejack chuckled.

“Tha’s party pony for ya, kin’ never sit still.” She remarked.

“You got that right.” Rarity said as she mindlessly shaped city hall out of pink frosting.

“So miss Sugarcube, whut did Applecrisp say about me?” Applejack asked the yellow pony with a casual and unconcerned air. Of course Applejack had to know.

Sugarcube put a frosting coated hoof to her chin.

“Hmmmm, well, she said you have no heart, which is funny ‘cause you can’t live without a heart. And you should go somewhere I’ve never heard of.” Applejack snorted.

“Tha’s about raght.” She said, taking a bite of cupcake. “Nothin’ new ah see.” She said, a few crumbs trickling out of her mouth.

“Oh! She also said she’s pretty sure you text Braeburn, I dunno what text means though, I didn’t ask her, Mr. Cake said we had to go.” Applejack stopped short at this.

“Whut?” She asked in a low voice. Sugarcube frowned and rubbed the frosting into her chin.

“It was something like text, maybe fax, or sex or something, it didn’t make a lotta sense.” Sugarcube took a bite of her cupcake. “Whatever it is she says you do it a lot.”

Applejack crushed the cupcake she held. Frosting squirted out of her hooves and splattered the countertop. The farmer pony glowered at the stupid yellow pony as if she were Applecrisp.

“She’s one t’talk.” AJ said in a voice so low it was almost a growl.

“So, uh, Applejack, you’ll never believe this but Rainbow Dash, she painted that whole menu at the Straw Purchase. It was incredible, I fell asleep-” Rarity tried to change the subject as Pinkie burst back into the room.

“Ok! I’m back!” She said gleefully. Applejack wiped her hooves.

“Thanks fer havin’ me Pinkie, much obliged. Ah gotta be getting’ back to the farm nao.” She adjusted her hat. “Rarity, lemme know if ya need any more help on the house, ah’ll be around the rest a’ this week, then ah’m headin’ up to Cantorlot t’see Applebloom.” She cleared her throat and looked around awkwardly. Nopony said a word. “Welp, ah be seein’ ya’ll.” Applejack walked out, leaving a gap in the group.

“Bye!” Pinkie called to her, she turned back to Rarity and Rainbow Dash. “Well, what do you guys want to do?” Rainbow Dash smiled and gave Pinkie Pie a hug.

“Thanks so much for having us Pinkie, I have got to go home, it’s getting late and I need to be in bed soon.”

“Oh…ok.” Pinkie said a little quieter. Rarity didn’t hug Pinkie, but sort of shuffled off with Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, I gotta walk Dash home, she’s um, it gets dark fast.” She explained.

“Ok.” Pinkie said softly. Rarity forced a smile.

“Thanks for the cupcakes, and helping me move. I can pay you if-”

“You’re my friend Rarity.” Pinkie said hopefully. Rarity sighed and forced another smile.

“Yeah, I guess that’s right.” Rarity and Rainbow Dash left the sweets shop. As the door closed Rarity heard Pinkie Pie asking Sugarcube how much longer she was staying. She was glad to be out of Sugarcube Corner.

“God, thanks for getting me out of that.” Rarity said with a laugh as they walked down the street. Dash looked over at her.

“What do you mean?” Asked the Pegasus.

“That excuse, having to go to bed. I couldn’t have thought of something like that.” Rarity said with a grin.

“I really have to go to bed.” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Oh.” It was about eight, Rarity had no idea why Dash would be going to bed at this early hour. “Well, do you want me to walk you home still?” The unicorn asked. Rainbow Dash smiled.

“I’ll be ok.” The shy Pegasus walked down the street. Rarity watched her for a moment, then turned down her street. Nine months after the Blast and Dash still didn’t make any sense.

Rarity made her way home. She was happy, even if things were still different. She unlocked the door to her tower and climbed the lengthy staircase. She was happy, grace did that to her. Going back still happened, but it was less pronounced now and more often than not she felt sorry for Rainbow Dash or the other ponies who had been hurt as opposed to just thinking about herself. Rarity entered her room.

“Well, I guess I’m home.” She declared to the empty room. The white unicorn sat down at her desk and stared at the milky white glass before her. She had come a long way, she had money, her depression was starting to lift, and she had friends. The Blast hadn’t won.

Someone knocked at the door and the noise echoed through the brick tower. She grunted and made another journey down the stairs.

“Hey! Just wanted to make sure you had directions!” He said with a flirty smile.

“Yes of course!” Rarity answered. He blushed, which made him that much cuter.

“Well, ok then, see you on Wednesday!”

“Yes Wednesday!” She agreed. The dragon bowed and trotted off. Rarity sighed and closed the door. She was also in love.