Rainbow Dash had hardly spoken to Rarity in years. Aside from obligatory Friendship Council meetings, they had hardly even crossed paths. And up until now, Rainbow thought it was reasonable. Rarity was the mother of the stallion who caused her daughter’s death. She had defended him even though it was clearly his fault. Rainbow had no reason to forgive or even associate with either of them. Or so she thought.
 
Now, she was standing on Rarity’s doorstep, her daughter’s words playing through her mind:
 
“Roy had no part in my decision to do this, so please, please don’t blame him.”
 
“Let your friends be there for you like they always have been.”
 
“Hold on to the family and friends you still have. Stay loyal to those you love”
 
She had failed at that. Completely, utterly failed. But she had to apologize, like Paint would’ve wanted her to. She had to make amends and stick by her friends and family, for herself, for them, and for Paint. It was the loyal thing to do.
 
So with a deep breath, Rainbow Dash shakily lifted a hoof and knocked on Rarity’s door.
 
”Coming!” A familiar, sing-songy voice called from inside. When the door finally opened, Rarity gasped softly, eyes widening in surprise.
 
”Rainbow Dash.”
 
”Hey Rares…” Rainbow trailed off, shuffling her hooves awkwardly. This was the first time she or Rarity had voluntarily crossed paths in years, and boy were there a lot of unresolved issues. One could cut the tension with a butter knife.
 
“I’m not unhappy to see you, darling, but…what are you doing here?”
 
Do it for Paint, Rainbow thought to herself as she swallowed the nervous lump in her throat and forced herself to look the unicorn in the eye. “Rarity, it’s been awhile. And…I think we need to talk.”
 
Rarity’s expression was one of knowing as she nodded and stepped aside. “Of course. Come in.”
 
Rainbow slowly trotted in after her, taking in her surroundings. The place had hardly changed at all. Sure, it seemed bigger, like Rarity had done some remodeling, but overall it was the same boutique with the same frilly dresses that Rainbow paid no mind to. And Rarity was the same too, just with a few more grey hairs. And everything was quieter. It was a lot less welcoming.
 
”Sit down, darling,” Rarity gestured towards a couple of chairs in the corner and seated herself in one. Rainbow followed suit and sat in the other one, dreading what was to come next.
 
”What did you want to talk about?”
 
”W-well,” Rainbow cleared her throat, “I know it’s been awhile since we’ve really talked to each other. And…we didn’t really end well.”
 
Rarity coughed. “No kidding.”
 
”But I just wanted to say I’m sorry, Rarity. I shouldn’t have blown up at you like that. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you…or Roy. You…you have no reason to forgive me, but I mean it. I’m sorry.”
 
Rarity blinked in surprise, taking it in for a moment. “Apology accepted, I suppose, but this is a bit…odd. It has been 10 years, why are you apologizing now? Why not earlier?”
 
The nervous lump in Rainbow’s throat grew bigger. She didn’t have a prepared speech for this. How could she explain to Rarity everything she’d been going through and still be forgiven? But she did have one thing to help her explain everything.
 
”I got a letter…from Paint.” Rainbow pulled the envelope out from under her wing. “Somepony dropped it off a couple days ago. But it’s her hoofwriting. I think she wrote it just before she…”
 
”Oh my goodness,” Rarity’s cold resolve started to break. “I had no idea.”
 
”Yeah,” Rainbow nodded. “It was really a wake-up call for me. All these years I’d just tried to forget about it that I…I didn’t realize how much I was hurting myself and everypony around me.” She began to choke up. “Lightning and Firework don’t visit anymore. I don’t have a relationship with my grandkids. I don’t know how Soarin put up with me. And you and the others…I…I pushed you all away. Especially you!” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I was supposed to be loyal and I failed! I failed my own child and she…she probably HATES me now!!”
 
And with that, Rainbow buried her head in her hooves and cried. She didn’t want Rarity to see this. Admitting her wrongs was hard enough; she didn’t want to fall apart too. Not like this.
 
But to her surprise, she felt two warm forelegs embrace her. Rarity’s forelegs.
 
”Shhh, darling, Paint does not hate you.”
 
”S-she should.”
 
”No, Rainbow.” Rarity pulled away to look at her. “You’re her mother. She will always love you. But she doesn’t want to see you spend forever grieving, darling. You cannot go on with this attitude.”
 
”I guess,” Rainbow sniffled.
 
“I know how hard it is, darling,” Rarity began to choke up herself. “What you’re going through is unimaginable, I…nopony could deal with this. I know it feels impossible to stay strong, I do understand. But you have to try. Paint would want you to.”
 
“It just hurts…so much.” Rainbow whimpered. “I can’t take it.”
 
”I know it feels that way, darling. Not a day goes by where I don’t miss her too. And Roy, and the children. You are not alone, Rainbow Dash. You never were.”
 
The two mares leaned into each other’s embrace, both crying softly. Finally reconciling, finally healing, from everything that had torn them apart in the past. Finally friends again, as they always should’ve been. And for Rainbow Dash, it was one more step on the road to forgiveness.