Six Broken Ponies: Catharsis

~BlackRoseRaven

Twilight Sparkle stood impatiently in the library, the violet unicorn tapping one hoof against the floor as she tossed her bluish-purple mane, flicking it out of her eyes. It settled slowly over her back, the streaks of dark purple and brighter pink glinting in the beautiful locks as her violet eyes almost sizzled, her horn standing tall and proud through her bangs as she muttered: "Come on, come on."

She fidgeted on the spot, her tail twisting to the side – it was the same color as her mane, down to the same two stripes of purple and pink that ran through it – and almost slapping against her flank, beside the cutie mark that adorned her hip: a symbol of a reddish, six pointed star surrounded by motes of light. She had worked hard to find a time when everyone could show up, and she knew it wasn't guaranteed… more and more, after all, her friends had been late, or simply had stopped showing up when they had plans, part of what had been worrying her for the last while: part of why she had called this gathering.

Then she sighed in relief as the door finally opened… and looking both confused and apprehensive, five female ponies made their way through: a unicorn, two Pegasi, and two earth ponies, their eyes settling on Twilight as she smiled back and forth at them as the last to come through the door asked dubiously, her cowboy hat slightly askew over her blonde-haired head: "Now, Twilight, what's this all about?"

"Sit down, everyone, and I'll explain." Twilight said kindly, and the others looked curiously at the pillows strewn over the floor. The white, posh-looking unicorn pouted a little, and Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes and flicking her head as her horn shimmered, and a moment later, the pillow nearest the female glowed with the same aura before rapidly expanding, and the female gave a pleased little sound as she comfortably settled herself onto this with a sigh of relaxation, curling her hooves beneath her ivory form, her purple, corkscrewed mane and tail both flicking as her sapphire eyes smiled over at Twilight, as bright as the cutie mark of sparkling gemstones on her flank. "Okay. Everyone comfy?"

"I sure am!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, smiling and bouncing a bit on her pillow: pink from head-to-hoof, with a bubblegum mane and bright blue eyes, she beamed across at the unicorn as her messy mane and tail snapped up and down with every leap, the blue and yellow party-balloons cutie mark on her hip seeming to ripple with each movement. "Oh boy, I've been wanting to hang out with you all for so long, I've missed this so much, oh boy!"

"Calm down now, sugar cube, it sounds like Twilight had something serious on her mind, remember?" the blonde earth pony pointed out, before she smiled hesitantly at the female, her green eyes betraying a strange nervousness as they flicked towards the unicorn's… but never entirely rose to meet them.

Her coat was goldenrod, and her straw-blonde mane was pulled back into a tight ponytail, with her tail braided as well, a cutie mark of three apples on her flank: Applejack, the most dependable pony in Ponyville. And on her other side, her magenta eyes focused on the female beside her, a blue Pegasus rested with her front hooves up on the cushion, kneading it nervously.

Her mane and tail were rainbow-colored: appropriate, since her name was Rainbow Dash. Her wings were strong, and yet flicked nervously, as if they longed for the air but hadn't been stretched properly as of late… and Twilight knew they hadn't. She had seen Rainbow Dash walking, actually walking, more than once this week… instead of running around ,or easily gliding through the skies, the Pegasus even more up home there than she was on the earth. On her hip was a cutie mark of a cloud releasing a rainbow-colored lightning bolt… but it had been a while since Rainbow Dash had proved she was as fast as lightning.

Last, but not least, Fluttershy was laying quietly on her pillow, the quiet Pegasus pony only looking inquisitive, her pink, swirled mane falling over her face in a natural, wide bang, her matching-colored tail flicking, her coat of sunshine yellow almost glimmering in the sunlight that shone in through the library windows. Her sea-green eyes blinked slowly, curiously, studying Twilight as the female's eyes lingered on her for a moment, studying the cutie mark of pink butterflies on her hip… and then Twilight closed her eyes, taking a slow, deep breath, before she opened them and gazed silently over them all.

"Everyone…" Twilight began slowly, and then she paused an d glanced towards the door, and it slammed shut firmly, making the others look up with surprise, Fluttershy releasing a small squeak. "We've got to have a little talk."

Immediately, all five of the ponies present looked at her sharply, suspiciously, and Twilight smiled grimly as she looked around at them all, saying softly: "All of you… well, all of us… have been acting… a little odd this last while. It's just been getting worse… and I think we need to… get this out of our systems. All of you… have come close to saying what's on your minds. I know you all have, I know you all pretty well by this point. But you're all scared, too. But whatever it is-"

"Maybe you should mind your own damn business, Twilight, it ain't right to go poking into other people's problems." Applejack said sharply, and then she flushed a bit when Rainbow Dash looked at her nervously, shaking her head quickly and muttering: "Not… not that I have one, I mean, I…"

"Y-Yeah, me neither." Rainbow added nervously, looking back and forth over the others… and Fluttershy blushed silently and looked down as Rarity bit her lower lip, and Pinkie Pie's smile faded into a worried look. "We're fine, right? I mean-"

"I'm not okay." Twilight said quietly, and the five ponies looked up at her, even Applejack seeming surprised as Twilight sat back and closed her eyes, lowering her head and saying softly: "We all have problems, girls. But we're friends… as close as friends can be, right? We're supposed to share with each other…"

"Some things… it's just not proper to share…" Fluttershy murmured embarrassedly, looking away before she whispered: "I'm sorry, I… spoke out of turn… I'm so rude…"

"Now stop that, hun, you ain't rude at all." Applejack said soothingly, then she glared at Twilight almost accusingly, adding sharply: "We are friends, and we are close, but you just can't force stuff like this, it ain't right. It just ain't, 'cause some things you gotta leave secret, and some things you can't change or talk about, and what good does bringing it up do but-"

"But then at least it would be out there." replied a quiet voice, and Twilight looked to the side in surprise to see it was Pinkie Pie that had spoken… but she was sitting quietly, her head bowed, seeming almost… faded, as her mane and tail drooped slightly, losing some of their natural bounce as Applejack halted in mid rant. "You sound almost as scared as me, Applejack. But don't you remember Discord? The only way we got past him was to support each other… to give to each other. Friendship… what is friendship, Twilight? What is it really? I've always wanted to know, I was just too afraid to ask."

"Pinkie…" Twilight began quietly, looking as startled as the others… but then the pony only smiled faintly and shook her head, a tear dripping slowly down the pink pony's cheek, rolling along it… and Twilight hesitated before she said slowly: "This… you don't have to…"

"But I want to. For the longest time, I've wanted to… because you're right. We have to get this out of our systems. We have to stop pretending, and lying, and acting like we're the best of friends in happy world, before it's too late." The equine smiled faintly as she glanced up and around at them all, another tear rolling silently down her other cheek, both quietly dripping to the floor. "You're all my friends, right? I get scared… sometimes… that you aren't."

"What, don't say that!" Rainbow Dash jumped up to her hooves, looking startled, and Pinkie glanced over at her silently, making the female flush as she looked down and muttered: "I… you can be… random and ditzy and… we make fun of you but… Pinkie, I know you're definitely my friend. Remember all that fun we had with pranks that one time? Hell, between you and Gilda, I chose you, Pinkie Pie. Yeah, it helped that Gilda was a complete jerk but… still."

She blushed a little, and Pinkie smiled a bit, raising her head slightly as a bit of the color seemed to come back to her, and Twilight said quietly: "You should have come and told me, Pinkie, I would have been thrilled to have you helping out. I… I know I can be short-tempered with you, but… I never… realized…"

"I know. I don't blame you. I just… can't stop myself. I try so hard to, but I can't." Pinkie said quietly, looking up at them silently. "These urges come over me and it's like electricity, like my body's being puppeted for me, like someone's pulling all the strings… and… and…"

She looked down, closing her eyes tightly, then she whispered: "And there's… voices. Things… that whisper to me. Someone awful, something awful… I feel it inside me, Twilight. I've always been scared of her… I've always been scared of myself. Because I already can't control myself… what if I lose control of that part of me, too? That dark, dark part of me, it's… it's so scary. I can barely put into words what it wants to do to you all…"

She shivered and then hugged herself, whispering: "Maybe it's better that you guys never knew. Better for me, I mean… never knew that I don't choose to be this way, that there's something wicked here, that I could… could hurt you all. I need you guys in my life, you're my friends, but… Twilight's right. Friends… real friends share. They don't hold back because it's easier. Because it doesn't help… and god, what if I did lose control and you guys didn't know? What if I… I hurt you? I'd hate myself. I'd hate myself forever and ever and ever and ever and a day, and… I couldn't… I can't stand the thought of…"

She clenched her eyes shut, sobbing once before she dropped her head forwards, tears flowing down her cheek… and then Applejack and Twilight were both beside her, hugging her fiercely, and Pinkie trembled, half-collapsing against the unicorn as they shushed her and comforted her, the almost-quarrel between the two forgotten as Rainbow looked down… and then, before she knew what she was doing, she laughed weakly and muttered: "You think you're screwed up, Pinkie Pie? Well, I want to be a dude. I even think of myself as a male, not a female. How screwed up is that? I even have… a crush on this… one pony…"

"Rainbow, this ain't no time for…" Applejack looked over her shoulder at her, and when Rainbow swallowed thickly, when their eyes locked, the pony's words fell short as they stared at each other… and then she simply closed her eyes and whispered: "Oh, Rainbow, honey… I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for? It's… my fault. I'm screwed up somehow…" Rainbow muttered, shaking her head slowly… and then she looked up as Rarity shook her head vehemently and stood up, looking across at her and gritting her teeth, and Rainbow growled in return… but then stared in shock at what came next.

"Don't you speak like that, Rainbow Dash, because if anyone here knows what it's like to be a charlatan and a fraud, it's me." Rarity halted, then she walked forwards and shook her head slowly, murmuring: "Look at me, I chose to be that way, trying to live some… life of glamour and putting myself deeper into shame and debt for… for the respect of people I've come to hate. Don't talk like that, Rainbow Dash, because you're not a fake, you did nothing to yourself. And I say if you feel that way, truly… then at least I can never again force you into a silly dress."

She stopped, then smiled faintly, then unicorn reaching a hoof up and stroking under Dash's muzzle, making the blue Pegasus stare in shock. "We're very different people, Rainbow Dash. But we are friends, are we not? All of us here are, connected by bonds that were there from the very beginning… I'm not saying I understand what it must be like for you, for any of you… but… Twilight is right. And maybe what we need is in this very room. Like it always was… like it always has been."

Twilight smiled faintly at this as Pinkie opened her glimmering eyes, tears still falling from them, but a true, small smile bridging her muzzle for the first time in weeks… and then they glanced up as Fluttershy stood slowly, trembling a little before she whispered: "We all carry shame, don't we? Mother always told me… that… that we had to punish ourselves for it… and that I would never have real friends because I was worthless. But… look at you. Talking so openly… sharing it instead of…"

Fluttershy closed her eyes… then she silently sat back and leaned backwards, flushing as she spread one lower leg back to expose her underbelly… and the welts of cuts and scars and maiming, as she turned her head away, mane falling over her face. "Mother told me… this is how we deal with our pain. Taught me to… punish myself-"

And Twilight and Applejack were both knocked sprawling as Pinkie Pie leapt away from them, tackling Fluttershy onto her back and making the female gasp as she glared down at her and shouted: "Then don't you ever listen to her again, because we're your friends! Every day I was worried that I didn't have any too, but… but I do! We do! You're not worthless, don't you say that, don't you ever say that…"

The female collapsed on top of Fluttershy, burying her head against the side of her neck, and beginning to sob heavily again… and Rainbow Dash and Rarity dropped by her next, hugging the two fiercely as Applejack and Twilight scrambled forwards to do the same, the six clutching each other, tears streaming down their faces and mixing with the rainfall of one another's sorrows and joys, misery and blossoming hope.

Finally, they broke apart, Pinkie embarrassedly pulling Fluttershy up to her hooves as she smiled weakly… and finally, Rainbow Dash glanced at Applejack, clearing her throat and saying awkwardly: "So… what's your beef?"

"Oh, you know. I just want to sleep with my brother and I've been making money in Manehatten spreading my legs for rougher folk." Applejack said finally, looking back and forth with a flush and a weak grin… and then she yelped in surprise when Rainbow Dash hit her hard across the face, gritting her teeth and stumbling to the side with a curse before the Pegasus tackled her firmly to the ground.

They scuffled for a few moments before they were finally dragged apart, Rainbow Dash cursing in Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy's arms as Twilight yanked Applejack away with telekinetic force, flopping her down as she bled from the nose and mouth, hat laying crushed on the ground as she wiped slowly at her face as Rainbow shouted: "Dammit, Applejack, you're better than that! What would you do that for? I love you, I don't want to see you… I… I mean…"

She stumbled to a halt, dropping her head forwards and breathing hard, clenching her eyes shut as she trembled a little… and Applejack smiled faintly as she slowly climbed to her hooves and shook her head slowly, saying quietly: "Rainbow… boy or girl, you're a dream come true. Ain't like I ain't given thought to it myself, you know. You and me together… I do like that idea. But… Big Mac, well…"

"That's almost as screwed up as me wanting to be a boy." Rainbow Dash muttered, and the two glared at each other… then finally laughed awkwardly and smiled hesitantly, before Rainbow suddenly lunged forwards and stole a quick, chaste kiss, making Applejack's eyes widen before the Pegasus turned beet-red and lowered her head, muttering: "Don't get used to that, though, I'm mad at you now. I didn't even know that you'd… well…"

"Yeah, well… we can deal with those problems later." Applejack said quietly, glancing awkwardly away before she looked over at Pinkie and Fluttershy, the two resting against one another. And then the female halted before her eyes roved to Twilight, giving her a silent apology as she asked quietly: "What… should we all do, though? We're… we ain't in pretty shape, any of us."

Twilight looked quietly over the group, and then she said softly: "First of all… we need to be willing to talk openly and honestly with one another. We need to trust one another, remember that we're all friends here, and that we do want to help each other…" Twilight stopped, then drew her eyes over the group, murmuring softly: "I'd do anything for you all. And I know that we can face any challenge together. But that's exactly it: we need to work together. Just like we did to retrieve the Elements of Harmony… just like we did to defeat Discord. We brought down two of the mightiest enemies Equestria has ever faced; if we can deal with those outside forces, I know that together, we can deal with our own… internal problems, too."

The other five nodded hesitantly, and Twilight studied them all before asking quietly: "Who wants to go first, then?"

"I will, because… my problems aren't exactly the most extravagant." Rarity smiled awkwardly, blushing a bit and stepping forwards as the ponies arranged themselves in a rough circle… and Twilight smiled softly as Rarity swallowed thickly, looking back and forth and saying quietly: "I always thought… I needed… money, and to be well-known in the fashion world to feel… comfortable. To feel like I had reached my destiny, and achieved something in life. But more and more… I feel like perhaps those weren't simply pipe dreams, they… were nightmares.

"Oh, it looks so glamorous from the outside, yes. But the more I saw of it, the more I realized… that was far, far from the truth." Rarity shook her head slowly, grimacing a bit and lowering her head forwards. "Now, standing here… I have to wonder whatever possessed me in the first place to want to continue with this charade despite knowing what… a terrible, awful mess that the fashion world has become. I want integrity, and I want originality, and I want to design beautiful clothes for beautiful ponies, not… continuously be cheated, and always find myself sinking ever deeper into debt because they don't wish to honor their side of the bargain and know they have the clout to bully my shop around." She stopped, then looked down and laughed quietly. "Besides, it isn't like it's going to be a problem or a choice much longer, anyway. The boutique is too far in debt… 'tis but a matter of time, and I'll have to sell it all off."

"Well, hell, sugar cube, I don't think any of us are about to let that happen." Applejack said quietly, and she blushed a little as she glanced down and mumbled: "If… you don't mind where most of the money came from… I got some cash I can give you."

"Yeah, me too!" Rainbow Dash added enthusiastically, nodding firmly a few times. "And I can always make a little extra delivering packages… being the fastest flyer in the sky has some advantages, you know."

She smiled a bit as she jumped up, flapping her wings and hovering in the air for a few moments… and then she blushed and dropped quickly back down to her hooves, looking oddly embarrassed even as Fluttershy spoke up quietly: "I have some money I can offer too, Rarity… mother always gave me… quite a bit." She stopped, looking down and closing her eyes as she murmured: "Money isn't love, after all, is it?"

"No, it's not. But we love you, Fluttershy, and we'll really protect you, okay?" Pinkie Pie said quietly, hugging her tightly, and the sunshine-yellow Pegasus smiled faintly, closing her eyes and nodding firmly once as the pink pony glanced up, adding quietly: "Me too, though… and… this… this is awkward to ask, but… if someone helps me out at the store, makes sure I don't… lose my lucidity, we can earn more that way. Mrs. Cake likes to take the day off now and then, after all, but I… I need a babysitter."

She stopped and flushed a bit, and Rarity smiled faintly at this, saying quietly: "You're too generous, Pinkie Pie… all of you are. I… I really can't…"

"Yes you can." Twilight said firmly, and Rarity blushed a bit as she smiled over at Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie, Rarity and I would be more than glad to watch out for you at the shop, and… I'll start researching into this right away, too. I'm… Pinkie Pie, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be Twilight, I understand." Pinkie smiled warmly at her, reaching up and brushing away her tears before she looked towards Rarity, saying quietly: "Besides, you'll be doing us all a favor too. You're a really good designer, Rarity… remember when you made those beautiful dresses for us? You're always so generous… why don't you let us be generous to you, too?"

"Generous… you wouldn't say that, Pinkie Pie, if you knew some of the things I've done for this fame. Some of the… silly, awful thoughts I've had." Rarity murmured, shaking her head with a quiet laugh… and then she blushed a bit when Pinkie lunged forwards and pressed their sides together, smiling faintly and closing her eyes.

"Not if you knew the kind of thoughts I have, Rarity. Besides, it's not what we think that matters, it's what we do, right?" She leaned back after a moment, gazing at the unicorn affectionately. "It's not like I have a better use for any of my money, anyway, since I get all the sweets in the shop for free."

The unicorn smiled faintly, her sapphire irises glimmering brightly… and then she closed her eyes and bowed her head forwards, murmuring: "You truly are a wonderful friend, Pinkie Pie. Truly better than any of us deserve… and I feel that I should apologize too. None of us have treated you… fantastically. I think, in a way, we're… all to blame for what's happened to you, how you must feel and… I can only imagine how strong you must be to deal with this, and to… actually talk to us about this. To have been the first one to have spoken up when, well… we all should have been speaking up a lot sooner."

"I don't think it's anyone's fault, though… pride, and… well, fear." Twilight looked back and forth over the group, her eyes soft as they gazed up at her quietly, Fluttershy silently rubbing at her stomach as Rainbow Dash and Applejack half-leaned against each other and Rarity and Pinkie Pie sat side-by-side. "And I think that despite how close we all are, we're also all guilty of forgetting that we are all friends here. We have people inside this group we tend to look to first… we have… ways we got used to treating each other, and values we assigned based on personal preference, forgetting that every friend here should be important… that we've all been through a lot together, and we all have our strengths as well as… our weaknesses."

"I'm glad you're around, Twilight." Pinkie smiled up at her, gazing at her quietly, and Rarity nodded after a moment with a faint flush on the unicorn's features as Applejack smiled wanly and Rainbow Dash laughed a little, while Fluttershy only lowered her head… but her eyes stayed almost reverently on the female. "I think we'd all be a whole lot worse without you."

"I just push, that's all. With how… weird everyone's been acting, I knew if I dragged you all together, something had to give. I'm just glad that you had the courage to say what was on your mind, Pinkie, to start… this process." Twilight said quietly, and Pinkie smiled and perked up a bit more before the violet unicorn's eyes moved to Rarity. "I'll help you organize out your expenses and debts after this. We'll get it all taken care of tonight and paid tomorrow so the interest doesn't build up anymore, I'm sure we can work it out. But you know, Rarity… if you know something's bad for you…"

"I think I understand, Twilight…" Rarity glanced down with a blush, lowering her head and murmuring quietly: "I've come to understand it's not about what I want… it's about what I need. And what I really need are my friends… when I'm not attempting to drag my business into the high-fashion world, it does perfectly fine, after all. And I honestly don't want to leave Ponyville. Not when you're all here… not if it means leaving behind my family, too."

"Family…" Fluttershy murmured quietly, and she nodded slowly and glanced up at Rarity, saying quietly: "You're very lucky. They're a little odd, but very nice people."

"Yes… I think I learned that a little late, though." Rarity smiled a little over at Fluttershy, and then she nodded and rose her head, saying firmly: "But all of you… it's only proper that I do everything I can for all my friends as well. All of you have had such an awful time and here I am, blinded by my own greed… 'tis most unladylike. It makes me feel just like those leeches from Canterlot, and if this is what it means to be some high-fashion designer, then I most certainly do not want to be one."

The others shuffled awkwardly at this… and then Pinkie Pie looked up, saying quietly: "I get scared there's no real way to fix me, though… I mean, I was sent away from the rock farm because I was so… different. Because of everything that was… wrong with me. And I can't describe the voices or what's in the mirror…"

She closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly as she shuddered a bit, and Twilight looked over at her softly before she walked forwards and touched her shoulder with a hoof, saying quietly: "I'll help you, Pinkie. It may take a long time… but I know we can find an answer. And if friends are what you need to help you, then we'll all be there for you, right?"

"Right." Rainbow Dash nodded firmly, then she hesitated and looked down, lowering her head and murmuring: "Except… I think… I'm in the same boat as Pinkie. I… I mean, look at me." She laughed awkwardly, standing up and flexing her body as she posed for a moment, but her expression was almost ashamed, almost contemptible, as she murmured: "Beautiful, perfect female form. Slender, lithe… and… I…"

She halted, lowering her head and trembling a little, and then she glanced up with a blush when Applejack wrapped a front leg around her shoulders and smiled faintly at her. "Come on now, Rainbow. Look around you, everyone's screwed up here, this ain't no place for shame… especially when you're talking to the queen of it right here. I think… I think you'd make for a very handsome boy, though, if you want the honest truth. I already think you're pretty… pretty handsome."

She stopped, clearing her throat awkwardly as Rainbow glanced at her, blushing deeply… and then Applejack shook her head and added quietly: "Listen, Twilight. It ain't that… I don't wanna change, it ain't that I don't get what I'm doing is… ain't the best thing, but… all the same, it's a compulsion. D'you understand that? And I know it's only gonna settle if I talk to Big Macintosh but… I don't know if I can ever do that. I… he means… he's so…"

Applejack lowered her head, closing her eyes… and then she looked up as Rainbow pressed against her side, murmuring softly to her: "We'll figure it out, AJ, you and me together. But you're better than-"

"But I ain't!" Applejack said roughly, lowering her head and clenching her eyes shut. "I don't get why everypony thinks I'm the greatest thing this side of Equestria, I really don't. I just do my work and that's what I do, and I ain't… I ain't interested in showboating to everyone or looking like the best of the best or being some role model! I gotta watch my steps all the time, 'cause if I put one hoof down wrong, I get all kinds of people whispering about how I'm not the most responsible of ponies anymore and it just drives me crazy…"

"I think you're the best thing in the world, AJ. You're brave, and beautiful, and… strong and… well… real pretty…" Rainbow glanced over at her awkwardly, then she cleared her throat and looked away when Applejack gave her a soft look. "Well I… it's true. So… so there."

"Rainbow, you don't count. You… got feelings for me, that's different." Applejack replied finally, and she blushed a little as she leaned down and gave Rainbow a quick kiss on the side of the neck, murmuring: "But thank you."

Rainbow brightened visibly at this, her wings twitching as she straightened a little… and Twilight smiled faintly before her eyes finally roved to Fluttershy, who was quietly standing in the background, only watching them. Finally, Twilight approached her, and the female blushed quietly as she lowered her head, whispering: "I find… I feel… lightheaded. Like everything I believed in… might have been a lie. The punishments…"

"None of us have them, Fluttershy." Twilight said gently, sitting back, exposing her underside as she rubbed a hand down her body and looking quietly at the Pegasus… and Fluttershy nodded, lowering her head quietly as she flushed deeply before she closed her eyes. Twilight studied her for a few moments, and then the female looked up almost pleadingly… and Twilight nodded after a moment as the others gathered around, leaning forwards and touching her shoulders quietly with her front hooves. "Just tell me what you want."

"Yes, Fluttershy, we're all here for you… to help you." Rarity added quietly, and Rainbow Dash and Applejack both nodded as Pinkie Pie walked around the group and nuzzled her gently, the Pegasus smiling faintly as she nodded again. But she was still quiet and reserved, and when she opened her eyes again, they locked on Twilight.

Twilight looked back down at her, then she nodded slowly after a moment and said quietly: "Okay. Fluttershy, why don't you stay here a minute… Rarity, if you go and get your accounting papers, I'll be right over to help you. Pinkie, you're free to wait for me if you want, we can spend the day together. Rainbow and Applejack, you… you two look like you can help each other most right now."

The ponies looked around at them all, and then Rainbow Dash laughed a little, saying in a faintly-amused voice: "You're such a control-freak, Twilight. But… I guess you're right, huh? AJ, you… wanna come… with me?"

"Yeah. I think I do, Rainbow." Applejack said softly, and she smiled a bit over at Twilight, saying quietly: "But we'll all come back here later tonight, how about that? Now that it's all out in the open, we can… take time, talk and think a little, come back here tonight and… maybe we'll all be able to share a little more."

Twilight nodded after a moment with a smile, and Rarity blushed a bit as she looked at her, saying quietly: "Thank you, Twilight. Honestly, thank you. You're a good friend."

"I'll just wait outside… you'll… come get me, right?" Pinkie Pie looked up with a faint smile, but when Twilight met her eyes and smiled comfortingly back, she relaxed slightly, nodding and looking relieved as Fluttershy blushed a bit. "Thanks… I… thank you."

The ponies lingered a moment longer… then finally, they headed towards the door, Rainbow Dash and Applejack pressed almost side-to-side, followed by Rarity, and last, the strangely-lucid Pinkie Pie, who closed the door quietly behind herself… and then, alone at last, Twilight looked at Fluttershy, and Fluttershy silently strode over to the female and curled herself almost like a child against her, whispering: "I always thought my mother loved me, Twilight. I did. I want to believe that she did, but… these wounds… these punishments that none of you bear…"

"It's going to be okay, Fluttershy." Twilight hugged her instinctively, pulling her closer… and the Pegasus closed her eyes, curling up a bit against her, small and trembling and scared, in need of comfort she couldn't find anywhere else. But being in Twilight's embrace soothed her, her trembles beginning to die out as Twilight rocked quietly with her, her eyes closed as she murmured softly: "I won't let anything happen to you. You're a wonderful, beautiful pony, and I'm lucky to have you as a friend. We all are."

"I think you'd make a wonderful mother, Twilight… you wouldn't hurt me, or make me punish myself, or make anypony believe they were worthless…" Fluttershy curled tighter against her, whispering in a voice that was both craving and embarrassed: "Be my mother, Twilight. Just for a little while. Let me pretend…"

Twilight blushed quietly at this request, not answering with words… but instead, curling Fluttershy closer… and the Pegasus smiled radiantly as tears slipped down her cheeks, making herself small and tiny, more comfortable in Twilight's grasp than she had ever been anywhere else as she breathed quietly in and out. For almost ten minutes, they sat like that… and finally, Fluttershy quietly looked up, then leaned up and kissed Twilight's cheeks with an embarrassed murmur of: "I… I don't want to go back home. Mother bought me that home…"

"Then you can stay here for now, Fluttershy, that's fine." Twilight replied gently, gazing quietly across at her as they both stood… and she smiled a bit as their eyes met, gazes lingering for a few moments before she added quietly: "Maybe you could even help me. Spike won't be back until later, but it would be really nice if you could look for some texts… medical texts, and texts on pony psychology. I don't think Pinkie Pie is unfixable… I don't even think Rainbow Dash is unfixable."

"You always have so much hope… it amazes me. It's a wonderful quality." Fluttershy said softly, lowering her head with a blush… and Twilight smiled a little, making the Pegasus's heart flutter. "I'll be glad to help out."

"Thanks. I really appreciate that." the violet unicorn reached up and gently brushed Fluttershy's mane back, making her blush a bit, and Twilight offered a smile before she turned away and headed towards the door, calling over her shoulder: "Help yourself to anything around here, don't be shy… I'll be back soon."

Fluttershy only nodded, gazing radiantly after the female… and Twilight smiled as she faced towards the door, pushing it open and stepping outside to find Pinkie Pie sitting beside the doorway and gazing up at the clouds… and she smiled when she looked at Twilight, looking more like her normal and jovial self as she bounced a bit on her hooves and said eagerly: "So we're really going to spend the day together, you and me?"

"Yes, Pinkie, we are." Twilight said softly, and she smiled at her when Pinkie bounced towards her and gave her a quick hug before hopping away with a bright look over her shoulder. "I really do want to help you… I want to help everyone, but… I know that I've always been a little… short-tempered with you, Pinkie. And I feel like I can help you… I know it'll be hard, but something inside me tells me this isn't something impossible to fix."

Pinkie Pie nodded a few times, skidding to a halt in front of Twilight and gazing at her warmly, their eyes meeting as she replied: "Twilight, you just saying that helps me a lot. Feeling so much more confident in the fact that I have friends… it really helps a lot. It really makes me want to smile, and smile honestly… it makes me want to sing but…" Pinkie blushed a bit as she lowered her head quickly. "I'll… hold it in for now."

Twilight only smiled, however, gesturing to Pinkie and saying quietly: "Well, you can at least hum then on the way to Rarity's. I promise to be more patient, Pinkie Pie, I do."

And Pinkie smiled brightly, nodding rapidly and beginning to hum a bright tune as she bounced along beside the violet unicorn as Twilight strode purposefully towards the boutique, her head proudly raised, a smile on the unicorn's face.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash sat quietly together in an orchard, not talking much as they gazed down into a creek, side-by-side. The earth pony's roughed-up hat was discarded, and Rainbow was fidgeting back and forth, obviously not knowing what to say before Applejack glanced to the side and asked quietly: "So… you really don't see me as just some… tramp now?"

"Nah. We… all make mistakes, AJ. I guess… I understand, in a weird way. It's a physical thing, right? And you were… I mean, you…" She stopped, looking at her quietly for a few moments, and then she asked finally, almost blurting it out: "Why don't you just go talk to Big Mac, anyway? It's… screw what everyone else thinks. If you love him, you love him. No big deal."

"No big deal? Sugar cube, he's my brother!" Applejack retorted immediately, and the two glared at each other for a moment before she softened and glanced down, shaking her head quietly and murmuring: "Besides, I got… Apple Bloom to think about, too. What would it do to her… and worse yet, what if Big Mac said… was disgusted by it? What if he… he didn't…"

She closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly… and Rainbow Dash stepped up beside her, reaching up to nudge her muzzle upwards and meeting her eyes as she said quietly: "AJ… it hurts me to say this, but… I really wanna see you happy, and… you gotta at least try, otherwise… you're gonna be tortured like this forever. You're never gonna find closure, so you gotta at least try. Hell, I didn't think you were scared of anything…"

"But I am, I'm real scared." Applejack murmured, closing her eyes and laughing faintly. "More scared than I've ever been, more scared than when we raced through the Everfree Forest to find the Elements of Harmony, more scared than when Discord tried to ruin our friendship and throw Equestria into chaos. Ain't it a sin, Rainbow? Ain't it wrong, on every level?"

"Yeah, well, I want to be a guy. Ain't that even worse? At least you've got a lot of reasons to feel that way about Big Mac…" Rainbow Dash shook her head with a faint laugh, and Applejack swallowed a bit as she glanced up in surprise. "I mean, he's always… there, isn't he? And I know he does so much for you, and for your Granny… or watching Apple Bloom, or working all those acres of field by himself. He's been wonderful to you. He's big and strong and handsome… besides, since when do you care about sin and religion?"

"Since… I dunno. I was brought up mostly by Granny, and Granny's always been the churchgoing sort, when she used to be able to go, anyway…" Applejack stopped, shaking her head slowly. "Maybe it's that, maybe it's just… bred into me, without me even knowing. Maybe I am scared of going to Hell for it, or maybe I'm just scared that if Big Mac says no, or I end up… disgusting him, driving him away… that'll be Hell, Rainbow."

Rainbow smiled a little at her, closing her eyes and nodding silently… and Applejack studied her quietly as she lowered her head a bit, breathing softly. Then the female smiled faintly, the earth pony stepping forwards and nuzzling her quietly as she whispered: "I'm sorry."

"No, it… don't be."Rainbow replied gruffly, shaking her head quickly before she looked up at Applejack quietly. "I want you to be happy. But I… I do… care… I mean, I really like… I… you're… special to me."

She stopped, looking lamely at her, and then she shook her head quickly and laughed awkwardly, glancing off to the side. "Life's a pain, isn't it? I just wish… everything could work out right. Everything could be different. God, AJ, I'd do anything for you. I would. And I don't think there's… I don't think there's anything at all wrong with you."

Applejack blushed quietly at this as Rainbow lowered her head, and then she slipped closer, pressing their flanks together as they rested side-by-side, Rainbow letting herself half-fall against the female as Applejack murmured: "And I don't think there's a thing wrong with you, Rainbow. We both just got unlucky, I guess… but… maybe if we keep moving down this long dark tunnel, we'll find some light somewhere, eventually. We… we always got each other, don't we?"

"You'll always have me, AJ. Always." Rainbow murmured, closing her eyes and curling herself a bit closer… and the two smiled faintly as Applejack let her head rest overtop the blue Pegasus's, their eyes closing as they rested quietly, comfortably together.

Finally, they parted, blushing a bit as they studied each other… and then Rainbow Dash smiled a little, saying quietly: "We better head back, right? Otherwise Twilight might start freaking out when things don't go according to plan."

"She can be a little touchy 'bout that sort of thing, yeah, but at least she always means well." Applejack replied with a bit of a smile of her own, and the two climbed to their feet before they traded a short hug, the earth pony murmuring: "But we got all the time in the world afterwards to figure things out."

For some reason, this gave Rainbow Dash the hope she wanted, as she gazed up softly at the beautiful female… and then Applejack picked up her hat and pushed it back onto her head, and she gestured to the Pegasus as she began to walk into the field, and Rainbow quickly followed after her with a smile.

The walk back to the library felt too short, the two lingering for a moment outside to gaze at each other, and then trade a short embrace before they stepped inside… and found Twilight with Fluttershy cuddled up beside her on a cushion, gazing at her raptly as Pinkie Pie bounced happily on her other side, and Rarity stared in shock at the unicorn. "-can't see how you managed that!"

"Oh, it's just a matter of accounting for the differentials in the equation…" Twilight glanced up, then smiled at Applejack and Rainbow Dash as the two entered, looking curiously at the four. "Glad to see you two made it back. Have you eaten yet? I'm sure I've got some food around here somewhere…"

"I ain't too hungry, thanks. But what's all this, Rarity, you look like you just won the lottery or something." Applejack tilted her head curiously as Rainbow Dash walked forwards to stand by Pinkie Pie, watching as the female bounced up and down but otherwise contained her eccentric bounciness surprisingly well.

Rarity glanced to Twilight, but the violet unicorn was already back writing, humming a little once more as her horn glowed and directed a quill expertly over the sheets, and the female replied warmly: "Twilight's working out a payment plan for me… I don't know how she did it, but she already reduced the payments I need for my boutique in half! I really… don't know what to say, it's like a miracle… I won't have to take out another loan, and if I get an extension I don't have to borrow money from anyone here-"

"Oh shucks, Rarity, we ain't lending you the cash, we're giving it to you." Applejack said firmly, and Rarity blushed at this, looking surprised as the earth pony smiled at her and stepped forwards with a bit of a nod. "You're neat and ordered and gosh-darn perfect all the time but… I still like you, Rarity, and you're still my friend. I won't stand by with a friend even in a little bit of need and… it's a good use for some bad money. We'll get your debts paid off in full tomorrow so they don't start stacking up again. Would be a shame for Twilight to do all this work just to have you end up in debt again, after all."

The ivory unicorn smiled a little… and then Twilight glanced up from the papers with a soft smile, saying quietly: "Well, Rarity's agreed to let me help her with some of her spending habits, too… and I already sent out some letters to Canterlot as well, to classmates who might be interested in buying a dress or two from Rarity's boutique. That way, after we pay off the initial bills, she'll have possible customers coming in to give her money she can put towards next months' bills… planning ahead is essential, after all."

"Yes, well… if I was any good at dealing with the business aspect of the boutique, Twilight, I wouldn't have been so far in debt to begin with." Rarity replied, giving her a quietly-entertained look. "I'm a designer, not a mathematician."

"Egghead." Rainbow Dash muttered, but it was good-natured, and Twilight only rolled her eyes amusedly before she laid the quill down and straightened up, gazing affectionately around at the group.

They were gathered here again… they had shared their problems, their fears, their pains… and yet the feeling of their bond was tangibly-stronger for it. Twilight Sparkle gazed over her five friends, knowing they had many problems yet to face in the future… and yet she was confident they would rise to meet them all, as she asked quietly: "How's everyone doing?"

"I feel… like the other-me's gone back into the darkness for now. I feel a lot safer, safer than I have in weeks." Pinkie Pie said warmly, nodding fervently as she looked back and forth. "And it's… hard to keep myself tied down a little more, but the fact that I know you guys aren't going to abandon me now… it makes me feel… it makes me feel a lot safer. It makes me feel like I don't have to push so hard and it makes everything easier."

"I'm scared as hell, but I'm gonna talk to Big Mac tomorrow, when I get a chance to." Applejack stopped, glancing at Rainbow Dash and adding quietly: "And… I'd… really like it if you could come with me, Rainbow. And maybe you too, Twilight if… if you really ain't disgusted by me."

"I'm not, Applejack. Not at all." Twilight said softly, gazing at her quietly, before she glanced at Rainbow Dash as the Pegasus blushed and nodded, pawing a hoof at the ground slowly. "Rainbow, I… I was thinking about when I gave Rarity wings. That was from a family of spells called 'polymorphic transfigurations.' If you're okay with it… I'd like to ask Princess Celestia if she can send any other spells along this line to me. I can't promise you anything… at most I can tell you that maybe I can make you for maybe a little while, I can… change your… you know. But I could let you experience that and if… if it really feels right to you… we'll figure out how to give you just what you need."

Rainbow looked up with a deep blush, trembling a bit… but the others were gazing at her with kindness, with affection… and then Applejack wrapped one of her front legs around her shoulders and squeezed her gently, and she lowered her head and whispered: "Thank you, Twilight… and… thank all of you, you guys. Talking about this… it's really, really hard, and I thought that being here, with all you… knowing and… being open about it, it would hurt, it would… it scared me… but… now that we're here, it feels easier. Now that you're all… supporting me, I… geez, maybe I am a girl after all, I'm tearing up here…"

She smiled weakly, then blushed deeper when Applejack kissed her cheek, before Twilight looked down at Fluttershy, who looked tenderly back up at her. "For the next little while, Fluttershy's going to stay here with me, too, so… I can help her through things a little. Of course, we appreciate visitors too."

The shy Pegasus nodded, looking up at the unicorn with relief as she gazed back down affectionately: Fluttershy needed guidance and love, to understand she wasn't a failure, or worthless… and, despite the fact they were the same age, a figure in her life she could look up to and take care of her, and the Pegasus had immediately put Twilight in this role. And maybe it was her messiah complex, or maybe it was the fact that it was almost impossible to say no to Fluttershy's adorable, beautiful features… but the unicorn didn't mind at all. In fact… she liked it, probably more than it was healthy to admit. But it also wasn't exactly something Fluttershy wanted to advertise, so she would respect that too… she thought that Pinkie Pie knew, but as they had all learned, Pinkie was a lot sharper than she let on.

Twilight looked back and forth over them all… and then she glanced to the side, a large piece of blank parchment pulling itself free as she said softly: "Well, then maybe you all can help me draft a letter to the Princess… I think she'd really be interested in this, and I think we've all found out… something important today. I know it seems childish sometimes… but ever since I learned what friendship was, and how important it is in a pony's life… I've really come to understand that it has a power and meaning all its own."

The others glanced back and forth, not even Rainbow making a joke as they traded hesitant smiles and soft looks… and then Twilight closed her eyes for a moment as the quill floated into the air and dipped itself into the nearby inkwell before her violet irises opened, and she smiled as she said warmly, as the quill began to quickly write what she dictated: "Dear Princess Celestia… I am glad to inform you that today, my friends and I learned a very valuable lesson on the magic of friendship. It came from a multitude of very painful, very difficult lessons we all endured… but I know that all of us are so much stronger for it."

She stopped, and Applejack glanced up with a smile, saying quietly: "We learned that sometimes, you gotta 'fess up to all your friends. That you gotta share what's on your mind, even if you're scared of losing them… but a real friend ain't never gonna turn their back on you in your time of need, and a real friend won't run away when you ask for help… even if it's help to make up for… awful mistakes you've made."

"A real friend doesn't just help you achieve your dreams… they're there to help guide you, to stop you from doing anything silly, to comfort you when things go wrong, and to help you out of any holes you fall into or dig yourself. A real friend tells you what you need, and helps you get it… and doesn't let you chase what you want when they know it'll hurt you in the long run, hard as it is to stand up to someone you care about." Rarity continued calmly, flicking her mane with a soft smile across at Twilight.

"A friend never doubts your worth… is always there for you. A friend makes sure that you know your own value, even when you doubt it yourself… and your friends will always stop you from doing anything that hurts yourself, whether it's physically or emotionally." Fluttershy said softly, gazing up tenderly at the violet unicorn. "No matter how you were raised, or what you've been forced to believe by others… a friend will show you that you have value."

Pinkie Pie smiled softly at this, picking up easily in a warm voice: "And a real friend will reach out to you when you're in trouble… will show you that you don't have to act a certain way for them and all they expect from you, is that you be yourself. That even if you have problem controlling yourself or stopping yourself from doing certain things… they'll work with you to help you. They'll be patient with you, maybe even more patient than you might expect… and even if you don't always get along, they'll still try their hardest to fix what's bothering you."

"Friends don't judge you, even when you say something really dumb or want something really weird… in fact, if you're honest with them, if you tell them you know it's right for you and explain yourself… you might be surprised to find out they'll reach out to you, to help you get that special something you've secretly always needed." Rainbow Dash added, gazing down at the floor, before her eyes roved up to look at Applejack as she smiled softly. "And you have to remember, most of all, that when you really care about someone… you can't selfishly hog 'em all to yourself. You gotta let the Pegasus fly if it wants to fly."

Twilight looked over the group, her eyes warm as she took in the gathered ponies… and then she said quietly: "It's a sad truth in this world that no matter what, sometimes you can't save everyone. But if you stay true to your friends, and keep them by your side… you can at least always make sure to protect them as much as possible, and help them along the way. Signed, your student, Twilight Sparkle, and your humble subjects, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy."

The quill flicked as it finished signing their names… and then Twilight closed her eyes and smiled as the parchment rolled closed and she sealed this with a ribbon, saying softly: "Yeah. I think the Princess will find this letter to be just as important as I do. Thank you, everyone… for sharing with me. For helping each other. For helping me."

Applejack looked up curiously at this as Pinkie Pie tilted her head, Rarity asking inquisitively: "Help you, darling? How so? Why, it feels more like you were the one who helped all of us today."

But Twilight only smiled at this, gazing back and forth over them as she said softly: "Maybe. But without you all in my life… nothing would feel worthwhile or complete."

And with that, she looked over them affectionately as her five friends gazed warmly back, six ponies gathered together, bound tightly forever in the bonds of harmony and friendship.