Sweetie Belle of the Ball

by StageQuill

Rating: everyone
Tags: Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Sweetie Belle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 9604

Sweetie Belle is asked to sing at the Grand Galloping Gala by Twilight Sparkle. Can a filly her age, without any real training, live up to the princess' expectations and wow the high-class ponies?

Twilight Sparkle decides young artists should be featured at the Grand Galloping Gala, and asks Sweetie Belle to sing. Which will triumph: Sweetie Belle's voice or her nerves?

And will her friendships survive the monthlong separation?

Published 2013-12-17 01:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2014-01-14 21:14:50 UTC

Ponyville

Sweetie Belle hummed to herself as she trotted along to Sweet Apple Acres. Babs was visiting and Apple Bloom had another idea for getting their Cutie Marks, and Sweetie Belle had to admit she looked forwards to trying out an idea that wasn't one of Scootaloo's crazy ones that usually involved jumping and landing covered in tree sap.

"Sweetie Belle! Hi! Where you going? Isn't it a nice day?" Pinkie Pie hopped up behind the small white filly.

"I'm going to Sweet Apple Acres." Sweetie Belle ignored the rest of Pinkie's questions. Everypony in Ponyville knew that trying to keep up with Pinkie Pie was a hopeless endeavor.

"Ooh! Me too! We can walk together!" Pinkie Pie kept hopping. "Or I'm not really walking, I'm hopping. Or hop-walking. Hop-king? Wopping? Hoppa-walka-acking?" Pinkie attempted to walk and hop at the same time and ended up turning several somersaults.

"Ok. We can- 'hoppa-walka-ack' together." Sweetie Belle smiled. "Why are you going to Sweet Apple Acres?"

"To talk to Applejack, silly!" Pinkie giggled. "And I bet you're going to talk to Apple Bloom?"

"Mmm-hmm. Cutie Mark Crusaders' business." Sweetie Belle said seriously.

"Ooh! Cool!" Pinkie said. "Look! Heeeeeeeere we are!" Pinkie hopped over the fence into the farmyard.

"Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom put down the shovel she was working with and ran to her friend. Babs trotted after her, grinning.

"Hey, Apple Bloom! Hi, Babs! Is Scoots here yet?" Sweetie Belle looked around the farm. "I don't-"
Scootaloo jumped off of the roof of the barn.

"Ack!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, startled. Scootaloo began to giggle at her startled expression. She fell down laughing, making Apple Bloom trip. Soon all four Cutie Mark Crusaders were in a giggly pile on the ground. Apple Bloom recovered first.

"Now." Apple Bloom said, taking deep breaths to calm down. "Don'cha want to hear my idea?"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded enthusiastically. Babs shrugged, like she'd already heard it.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders singing advertisers!" Apple Bloom announced. "Babs says in Manehattan, sometimes ponies sing to advertise places, so why not advertise Sweet Apple Acres?" She grinned, waiting for a big response. "Sweetie Belle, you sing the best. You could sing the main part, and maybe write it, too!"

"Umm... Ok." Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo smiled. "Like... Singing in front of ponies?"

"Eeyup." Apple Bloom said, imitating her brother. "In front of Ponyville! Well, really, in front of Applejack's apple cart." Her ears drooped. "You don't like mah idea? Ah wanted you to sing the main part."

"I do like it..." Sweetie didn't want to hurt her friend, but- "I'm just so nervous when I sing around other ponies that I don't know very well. What if Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tease us?" Sweetie pawed the ground nervously with one hoof. (Nervous, adjective : having or showing feelings of being worried and afraid about what might happen.)

"It'll be fine!" Scootaloo said. "Anyway, I'll be right there. I'm not nervous at all. I'll help you."

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Singing Advertisers, yay!" The four fillies said together, but Sweetie Belle's heart wasn't in it.

"I have the song." Sweetie said.

"Great!" Apple Bloom took it and looked it over. "You came up with this in half an hour!?" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"Mmm-hmm." Sweetie Belle nodded.

"Can I see?" Babs asked, taking the paper. "Wow, Sweetie Belle! This is good!"

"Let me see it!" Scootaloo snatched the lyrics out of Babs' hoof. "Sonic Rainboom, this is totally cool!" Scootaloo said.

"Nopony will make fun of this!"

Sweetie Belle stood in the corner of the playhouse. "Thanks." She smiled. "You like it?"

"Ah love it!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "C'mon, crusaders, let's practice this song!"

"Applejack! Applejack!" Apple Bloom ran toward her big sister. "Ah got an idea for the Cutie Marks Crusaders! So if you agree-"

"Agree to what, now?" Applejack asked the extremely excited filly. "It's not gonna do any damage, is it?"

"Nonononono! We wrote a song- Well, Sweetie Belle wrote it- Advertising our apples!" Apple Bloom got down on the ground.

"So can we please sing it while you sell apples today?" The little yellow and red filly begged, holding her hooves together.

"Lemme see this song first." Applejack said. "It's not like your talent show song, is it?"

"Nope!" Apple Bloom answered. "It's better!" She got off of the ground and trotted off to the Cutie Mark Crusaders' Clubhouse. Applejack sighed and followed. Apple Bloom whipped inside and grabbed the song.

"Here, Applejack!" She said as she came out of the clubhouse, handing the paper to her sister and grinning. Applejack read it over.

"Pretty good song. Ah guess it won't do any harm, and who knows? It might attract ponies."

"Yay!" Apple Bloom grinned and ran into the clubhouse. Applejack chuckled to herself. "See ya later, Crusaders." Applejack called before going to finish her farm work.

"I don't know..." Sweetie Belle whispered, taking a deep breath. She didn't want to show her friends what a cowardly, nervous filly she could be. "Okay, Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

"One, two, three!" Babs said, and began to sing. It sounded stupid, all of a sudden. She became acutely aware of all the ponies in ponyville. Calm down, Sweetie. Calm. Deep breaths.

"What's crunchy and red
And juicy and sweet?" Babs sang.

"What's shiny and good
And so yummy to eat?" Scootaloo sang.

"Just one a day
Keeps the doctor away" Apple Bloom sang.

"Sweet Apple Acres' Apples!" All three fillies shouted happily.

Sweetie Belle's turn. She blushed red and began to hum.
"Sweet Apples, good apples
Buy them- Yes you should, apples-" She gulped. Diamond Tiara smirked at her. The words dripped out of her mind and she stopped, the music Babs had chosen still playing. "Mmmmmm-" Sweetie Belle hummed. The music stopped. Nopony had noticed the filly's mistake but her friends and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

"That song sounded like it was written by a newborn foal." Diamond said loudly. Silver Spoon snickered.

"Or one of Fluttershy's pet slugs." Sweetie Belle felt tears prick at her eyes. A flood of misery and embarrassment swept up into her throat like an ocean aiming to choke her.
(Slug, noun: chiefly terrestrial pulmonate gastropod that are found all over Equestria where they can find moisture.)

Diamond Tiara and Sliver Spoon gave a final howl of laughter and flounced away. Apple Bloom looked concernedly at Sweetie Belle.

"Aw, Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom said. "Those fillies don't know anything. It was just a little mistake, is all. You're the best singer in ponyville!"

"Equestria!" Scootaloo added.

"Everywhere anyplace!" Babs gave her part.

"See, Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom said.

"Thanks." Sweetie Belle frowned, gasping around the lump in her throat. "I'm not that good. I- I need to go." Sweetie hung her head so her friends wouldn't see the tears and ran. She didn't know where she was going until she burst into Carousel Boutique, numb with misery and her face messy with tears.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaimed as the distraught filly slammed into her. "Really, I am quite bus-" She stopped scolding as she caught a glimpse of Sweetie Belle's face. "Why darling, whatever is the matter?"

Sweetie Belle sniffed. She was glad she'd gone to Rarity's and not her parents, who had a no-drama-tolerance policy after their elder daughter had tantrummed and celebrated her way to independence. Rarity settled Sweetie onto a couch in the back room while Sweetie Belle poured out the whole story while her sister wiped her tears with a lace handkerchief.

"Those awful, spoiled brats!" Rarity exclaimed. "Oh, Sweetie Belle." Rarity gazed dramatically at the ceiling. "Their parents will definitely hear from Rarity!" She shook her head. "Sweetie, don't listen to them. You have a lovely voice." A tear dripped down Sweetie Belle's cheek. Sweetie Belle turned and buried her face in a pillow.

"If anyone would know, it would be me. I have actually been out of Ponyville."

"So has Diamond Tiara." Sweetie Belle's voice was muffled.

"Darling, I have gone to Canterlot on the invitation of Princess Celestia herself. I made gowns for a royal wedding, helped to save the Crystal Empire, and am close, close friends with a princess. Has Diamond Tiara done that?" Sweetie Belle didn't say anything. She turned over to look at Rarity. Rarity rolled her eyes.

"No, she has most definitely not! Believe me, Sweetie Belle, your singing voice is absolutely superb." Rarity stood up and flicked her tail. "Now, darling, I need to finish a suit I was recently commissioned to make. And with what just happened, I may forget to remove a pin from Mr Rich's coat." Rarity levitated her red glasses to her face and pranced out of the room, leaving Sweetie Belle thinking very hard on the couch.

What Rarity had said- The points she'd hit- They made sense. Diamond Tiara hadn't done anything nearly as amazing as what Rarity had. Neither had Silver Spoon. Rarity was so much more beautiful- and talented- and famous- than anypony in Ponyville other than Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Princess Twilight Sparkle.

And Sweetie Belle- Well, Sweetie Belle was Rarity's little sister. That felt a lot better than being some rich spoiled little filly would. Sweetie Belle tossed her mane back. She smiled.

But she'd been embarrassed in front of everypony in Ponyville! The smile slipped off of her face. She really couldn't sing. She'd messed up, and the song had been awful. Rarity had done cool things, but Sweetie Belle hadn't.

Sweetie Belle buried her face in a pillow again. She didn't deserve to have a sister who did amazing things, even if said sister was the most annoying pony ever. Her couldn't do anything. She didn't even have a cutie mark! She was the most pathetic creature ever. Pathetic (Pathetic, adjective: pitifully inferior or inadequate ).

The boutique's door opened and the dainty bell tinkled to announce a customer's arrival. Sweetie sat up.

"Rarity?" Princess Twilight Sparkle called from the front room.

"Darling!" Rarity called back from upstairs. "Be right down! I'm pinning this suit, and it's terribly important I pin- just-right... You can come to the back room, if you'd like."

Princess Twilight Sparkle came into the room where Sweetie Belle hid. Sweetie Belle rolled off the couch to kneel, making Princess Twilight Sparkle laugh.

"Sweetie belle, you're my friend. You don't have to do that." Sweetie changed to a sitting position on the ground. "I'm glad to find you here, actually. This concerns-"

They were interrupted by a sigh from upstairs before the sounds of trotting hoofsteps of Rarity coming downstairs.

"Twilight!" Rarity exclaimed, obviously delighted, throwing herself on and hugging her friend. "I haven't seen you since the coronation. Oh, how have you been? Do you need a dress for the upcoming gala?"

Twilight laughed again. "The gala is what I'm here to talk to you about." Twilight said. "And Sweetie Belle."

"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity repeated, bewildered.

At the exact same time, Sweetie Belle wondered aloud, "Me?

"Yes!" Twilight smiled, flapping her wings with excitement. "I thought you might want to sing at the gala this year!"

"What?" Sweetie Belle and Rarity shouted together. Sweetie Belle was vaguely aware of Rarity covering her unladylike slip-up, but Sweetie Belle didn't care. Her eyes went wider. she felt herself go white, then blush, then go white. Not that anypony could tell when she went pale, under her coat. she shook her head to clear it.

"Yes!" Twilight said again. "Celestia and I had the idea to showcase young talent, and you have a beautiful voice, Sweetie Belle." Twilight smiled expectantly. "Will you?"

Sweetie gasped. she hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath.

"But I can't sing!" She said. "I'm worse than a newborn foal!" A tear trickled down her cheek. Rarity facehoofed.

"That awful Diamond Tiara insulted Sweetie Belle on her singing earlier today." Rarity told Twilight.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle." Twilight flapped one wing nervously, then the other. "You have a lovely singing voice!" Twilight smiled.
"Remember your comedy act in the talent show? The best parts of that song were when you were singing!" Rarity nodded in agreement. "Sweetie, why don't you sing for me and Celestia first, and we can tell you, honestly, what we think."

"The PRINCESS?" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "I'd mess up I'm not good I I" Twilight thought she was good? She was a princess and Diamond Tiara was just- "I... Okay."

"Oh, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaimed, scooping her sister up. "Forget Filthy's suit, I have got to make you an outfit to sing in! One for the princess, one for the gala... Oh Sweetie Belle, I am so, so, so proud of you!"
Sweetie Belle didn't know what to think.

"Wait!" Twilight said. "Rarity, can you- Will you have time to make our dresses as well? Luna, Celestia and Cadance want gowns as well..." Twilight stopped as Rarity blushed bright red and dropped Sweetie Belle.

"WHAT!?" Rarity clapped her hooves to her face. "Oh, OF COURSE!" She began to run around the boutique. "Oh, my, gold will bring out Princess Celestia's eyes nicely, and Cadance would look lovely in it as well..." She picked up bolt after bolt.
Sweetie Belle rubbed her back where Rarity had dropped her. "Um. Twilight, What song should I sing? When?"

Twilight looked at Sweetie Belle. "Any song, Sweetie Belle. As for time... Would three days from now work for you?"

Sweetie Belle nodded, suddenly nervous. Twilight smiled back. The princess disappeared and reappeared in rarity's path. Rarity screamed and dropped all of her fabric.

"Calm down." Twilight said, sticking her hoof over Rarity's mouth to silence her. "There's a studio for you at the castle. Can you catch the train in three days?"

Rarity nodded, grinning her face in half, loose strands escaping from her perfect mane and tail.

"Apple Bloom! Babs! Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle gasped as she ran into the Cutie Mark Crusaders' Clubhouse. "TwilightcametoRarity'sandinvitedmetosingatthe Galaaaaaaaaaaa!" Sweetie Belle collapsed on the ground, panting.

"What did she just say?" Apple Bloom asked Scootaloo.

"No idea." Scootaloo answered. "Sweetie Belle, are you all right?"

Sweetie Belle stood up. She took a deep breath. "Twilight came to Rarity's and invited me to sing at the GALA!" She said again, screaming the last word, her cheeks red and eyes huge.

"Ohmigosh!" Scootaloo shouted. "THE Gala?"

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!" Sweetie Belle screamed, long and loud. Babs, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo covered their ears.

"Congratulations!" Babs said, inching away.

"Diamond Tiara'll be jealous." Scootaloo said smugly.

"What if I mess up?" Sweetie Belle asked, in an abrupt change of mood. "I'm terrible in front of ponies!"

"You have an amazing voice!"

"BUT WHAT if I mess up?" Sweetie Belle cried with a Rarity-worthy hoof wave.

Scootaloo groaned.

Sweetie Belle poked her head out of the window. The train bounced over a bumpy bit of track, and she looked up at Canterlot, which looked closer than ever. She didn't travel much.

"Sweetie, please stop humming. You're frazzling my nerves." Rarity grumped, redoing the last few stitches on Celestia's headdress. She'd messed up when the train had gone over a bump. Sweetie Belle stopped humming.

"Rarity, look! The castle!" Sweetie Belle stared. She'd been there in the Winter, and hadn't seen its full splendor (Splendor, noun: great brightness or luster : brilliancy; Magnificence, pomp).

"Sweetie Belle, I've seen it before!" Rarity struggled with gold trim that kept coming loose from the hat. Sweetie Belle pressed her face against the glass. She could feel her eyes going wide.

The castle sat high on the mountaintop. No, that wasn't it- It looked like part of the mountain. Flags waved from the highest turrets and towers. Square flags, pointed flags, long flags, short flags, blue, red, white, gold, green.... And the ponies, flying in the air around it and walking in the light coming through huge windows facing the train. Sweetie Belle could even see- Was that Celestia, on the highest turret, watching the day?

Sweetie Belle's stomach twisted when she realized she would have to sing in front of everypony there and more. A tight feeling crept into her throat. She slunk back to Rarity and curled up on the seat. Rarity ignored her. Princess Celestia's headdress was giving her trouble and she hoped she didn't have to start over. Her little sister's nerves were unimportant at that time.

Canterlot Palace

"Rarity- Here's where you'll stay. There's a studio adjoining." Twilight Sparkle said. (Adjoining, adjective: touching or bonding at a point or line.) She gestured to a door and opened it magically. Rarity's eyes almost popped out of her head.

"All that for me?" Rarity exclaimed. "Oh, Twilight-"

"Calm down." Twilight stopped Rarity before Rarity could start kissing Twilight's hooves."Why don't you go get settled." Rarity tossed her mane and retreated into her room. Twilight turned to Sweetie Belle.

"Your room is right next to Rarity's. The two rooms are connected by a door." Twilight opened the door to the room and ushered Sweetie Belle in. Sweetie Belle nodded to Twilight and gasped at the room.

It was round, which struck Sweetie Belle as odd. Carved into the wall were comfortable-looking chairs, a piano, and a bed. A huge four-poster with a lavender canopy covered in some sort of design.

The carpet was gold with pastel flowers and vines, as was the wallpaper. Sweetie Belle halted in the doorway, staring.

Twilight passed the awestruck filly and went in. "Is it a bit much? I decorated it for you." Twilight held her head proudly. "I read a dozen books on decorating and decided to give it a try. Any unicorn should be well rounded."

Sweetie Belle smiled in amusement as she recognized the last phrase as one of Rarity's. "I LOVE THIS ROOM!" Sweetie Belle hopped in and ran around it, taking everything in.

"I'm so glad you do!" Twilight grinned happily. "It's soundproof, too, so you can practice singing."

There it was. The reason Sweetie Belle got to stay in this room at the palace pulled the filly up short. Her throat tightened again. "Okay," She squeaked. Twilight barreled on.

"You'll sing for the princesses- including me- tomorrow at four. Is that good?" Sweetie Belle nodded. Twilight trotted to the door. "Well. I'll leave you to practice. Your bags should come up soon." Sweetie Belle nodded again and Twilight left, closing the door behind her. Sweetie climbed up onto the bed and saw the canopy design more closely. Music notes. A spiraling pattern of half notes, quarter notes, full notes, assorted rests...

Sweetie belle shook her head. Why was she so nervous, she wondered. It wasn't like before. She'd have a month of rehearsal with professional guidance, professional live music, and the princess' patronage. Not just one day of practice with other fillies, an adapted record soundtrack and nopony sponsoring her.

She'd be fine. Time to practice to see what Princess Celestia thought.

Sweetie Belle had decided on The Heart Carol for the Celestia song. It was simple and classic (Classic, adjective: judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind; a work of art of recognized and established value).

She jumped onto the floor and nervously began to practice.

"Sweetie Belle! May I come in, darling?"

Rarity tapped elegantly on the door to Sweetie Belle's suite.

"Come in!" Sweetie exclaimed. Rarity magicked the door open and walked in.

"Sweetie, your mood seems to have risen wonderfully. Shall I do your mane and pick an outfit for your concert?"

"It's not a concert, Rarity. It's a one-song evaluation. Just to see how good my voice really is." Sweetie Belle trotted over to her big sister. "How are you going to do my mane?"

Rarity took a brush from Sweetie Belle's nightstand. "Oh, casually. Perhaps- No, no, your mane and tail are quite fine as they are. You do take such wonderful care of them." Rarity finished brushing. "But perhaps..." Rarity opened a bag she'd brought into Sweetie's room. "Oh, yes, this hat will do wonderfully." Rarity placed the silver beret on her small sister's head. "Oh, you look darling! Adjust the angle- Oh, perfect. I must send a photograph to our parents!" Rarity dashed into her own room and took out a camera. "This was in my studio, with a note saying to use it for portfolio pictures and the like. This is fashion related, so- Smile, Sweetie!" A bemused yet amused Sweetie Belle smiled for the camera.

"Sweetie Belle!" The guard announced as Sweetie Belle entered the throne room. Rarity had steered her there at precisely four 'o' clock. Sweetie Belle's older sister had galloped away to finish Princess Luna's shoes promptly afterwards. The doors to the throne room opened and Sweetie Belle entered on four shaky legs. Her hooves felt cold and clammy and her stomach flopped with every step. Her throat felt tense.

"Hello, Sweetie Belle." Celestia said from her throne. Sweetie Belle knelt, like she had when Rarity was younger and they'd played together. Excellent kneeling lessons (Kneeling, verb: To be in a respectful position on one's knees). "Please stand." Celestia smiled at Sweetie Belle when she stood, kindly looking her in the eye. "What would you like to sing, Sweetie Belle?"

"The Hearty Carol." Sweetie said loudly, her chin up. She took a deep breath and began to sing.

When she sang, she'd found that once she got rolling, it had a calming effect. Thank Celestia for that. When she'd hit the last note, she looked nervously at the princesses. Had she sang well? She bit her lip nervously.

Princess Luna began to stomp her hooves first. Celestia and Twilight joined Simultaneously. Sweetie Belle grinned in spite of herself.

"Sweetie Belle, that was wonderful!" Celestia told the filly. "Will you sing at the Gala?

"Yes!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed excitedly. No doubts poked at the corners of her mind when she said that.

"Great!" Twilight said excitedly. Luna caught Sweetie's eye and simply smiled. Sweetie Belle bounced up and down in excitement.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Sweetie Belle said, grinning.

Celestia stood and walked towards the excited filly. Sweetie Belle stopped stock still mid-jump. Celestia laughed gently and helped Sweetie Belle up when she fell.

"Sweetie Belle," Celestia said, "Why don't I walk you to your room?"

Sweetie Belle's eyes went wide with excitement. "Okay!" She squeaked happily.

Celestia walked at a stately pace that Sweetie Belle could keep up with despite having shorter legs. The guards stood at attention as they passed and Celestia nodded regally to them.

Sweetie Belle stared up at the elegant mare that almost every filly in Equestria idolized.

"Sweetie Belle," Celestia said in her lovely, soft, soothing voice, "you know you do not have to sing at the Gala if you would prefer not to." Celestia looked ahead as they walked.

Sweetie Belle nodded. "I- I can do it." She said. Celestia was talking to her one-on-one. Wow. Princess Celestia. Sweetie Belle looked up at the beautiful mare, with nothing but adoration and awe in her mind.

Celestia nodded. "As long as you know you can always back out if it makes you comfortable."

"Okay."

Celestia smiled kindly again. "You are a lovely, intelligent, talented filly, Sweetie Belle." Celestia looked at the pastel-colored filly. "I'm sure you and your friends will all find your talents soon. I always knew my destiny, from the time I was new born. Never underestimate being able to learn what your talent is over time, Sweetie Belle."

Sweetie Belle looked into Celestia's eyes. Princess Celestia was telling her about her foalhood.

"I'll try, Princess." Sweetie Belle said in awe. Celestia stopped in front of Sweetie Belle's door.

"Here you are, Sweetie Belle."

"Thank you, Princess Celestia." Sweetie Belle said, bowing her head respectfully. Celestia smiled again and magicked the door open for the filly. Sweetie Belle backed into her room and Celestia gently shut the door.

"Princess Celestia talked to ME!" Sweetie Belle squealed once inside her room. "ME, SWEETIE BELLE!"

Sweetie Belle jumped around the room. "Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay!" She ended up panting on the bed. "Calm down, Sweetie Belle. You have a job to do." The filly settled down and, flicking her pink-and-lavender tail, began to plan her song list or 'repertoire' (Repertoire, noun: a stock of plays, dances, or pieces that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform).

"Scoots! Babs! Ah got a letter from Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom burst into the playhouse late, especially considering that she lived on the property. "Ya know, since she's at the palace n' all."

Scootaloo crowded Apple Bloom. "Can I see it? What does it say?"

"Don't get your tails in a twist. Ah didn't open it yet." Apple Bloom put the letter on the clubhouse table. Scootaloo opened it.

"I'll read it!" Babs and Apple Bloom nodded and looked at Scootaloo as she read.

"'Dear Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Babs,

Hi from Canterlot! I wish you guys were here. I haven't gotten too lonely because I've been constantly practicing singing or being fitted by Rarity (She waaaaaay overdoes it) but you guys would be great to have around.

I sang for Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Princess Twilight. They actually liked it! They did! I can't believe it.

Then] Princess Celestia walked with me and talked to me alone after that! She said it's good to learn your fate for yourself and she knew what she'd be her whole life. I guess, but... I still want my cutie mark.

I have a really nice room to stay in. I'm staying in a really nice room. You'll see it when you come to the Gala (I get five guests. I'm inviting my parents and you. Twilight gets unlimited guests so I'm sure Applejack and Rainbow dash will be invited. She says if Babs wants anypony to come, Babs'll get one or two guests).

So, that's about it... Write back! Please! Please write back.
I miss you.
Love, Sweetie Belle.'" Scootaloo finished. "She really crossed out a lot. I wonder why. Seemed fine to me."

"She's Miss Dictionary Grammar freak." Apple Bloom said. "Ah miss her too."

Babs' eyes were wide. "I get to go to the Grand Galloping Gala? And I can take my sister?" she said. "Wow." She shook her head, trying to grasp it. "All the other fillies in my class will never believe it."

"They will if you have photos!" Scootaloo said happily. "I'm going to the Gala! With Rainbow Dash! And The WONDERBOLTS!" Scootaloo had a blank, happy expression on her face.

"Yeah! This'll be great!" Babs grinned.

"Woo-Hoo!" Apple Bloom crowed.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders debutantes!" Babs exclaimed. The other two fillies stared at her. "What?"

'C'mon, sleep!' Sweetie Belle told herself. 'Practice tomorrow! Celestia said she got a real Manehattan actress and singer.' Sweetie Belle rolled onto her stomach, then her back. That wasn't comfortable enough, so she tried her side. The bed felt fine. Sweetie Belle just couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts.

Since dreamland was miles and miles away, she decided to take another course of action. Was Rarity awake?

Sweetie Belle got out of bed and tiptoed to the door. Not a single floorboard creaked. She plonked her head down on the floor at the bottom of the soundproof door and listened hard. She heard- muffled, coming through the floor- the sound of mannequins being moved, bolts of fabric dropped. Rarity's organized chaos of working noises.

Sweetie Belle knocked on the door. The sound rang out through the room, unnaturally loud in the silence. Nopony answered, so she tried the floor at the bottom of the door. At that, the door opened to show a flustered Rarity standing in a spot of bright worklight.

"SWEETIE Belle." Rarity almost yelled but stopped herself. She'd learned her lesson about sisterly anger. "What are you doing up so late?"

"Um... I can't sleep." Sweetie Belle scratched one front leg with her other. She looked up at Rarity.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Come in. I need to work, though, you must realize. The Gala is in a month, and I am the first ever dressmaker for the princess' Gala dresses! They usually appear only in their coats. It must be perfect! Even Cadance will be there, in one of my creations! And your gown- And my friends'- Even Apple Bloom, Babs and Babs' sister, a pony I have never met!" Rarity shut the door behind Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle trotted into the room and curled up on the bed to watch her sister gallop around the room, levitating dressmaking supplies with her horn.

Over the course of the next hour, Sweetie Belle saw a bodice grow from a pile of fabrics and spools of thread. Rarity chalked out where she'd cut the fabric. The magically operated scissors cut perfectly straight lines and curves.

Sweetie Belle watched as her big sister stitched and embroidered, quickly and effectively. Sweetie Belle thought drowsily that nopony in Equestria could make clothing as good as Rarity. The room, her sister's galloping around the bedroom where she kept her dressmaking supplies (She'd decided everything should be in one room. The studio, she made into a temporary sitting room), the comfortable palace bed, the general atmosphere all contributed to a dreamlike feeling. Sweetie Belle unconsciously hummed to herself as she slowly dropped off to sleep.

Rarity almost didn't admit it to herself, but she liked having her sister watching her work. She felt a quiet companionship between them as she frantically worked. She'd never made fourteen extravagant dresses in one month, and four of them were for royalty! Yes, Twilight had mostly low expectations, but still. Somehow, having another pony in the room kept her calm and collected, however frantic her movements seemed.

Every so often, Rarity glanced at the curled-up form of her little sister on the bed. At first, Sweetie Belle's wide green eyes were alert, watching her every move as she worked on the bodice for Twilight's dress. After a while, Sweetie Belle's eyelids began to droop, her head to dip. Within an hour, Sweetie Belle was fast asleep, breathing evenly, looking so sweet and innocent.

Once Rarity had finished the bodice, she allowed herself to take time to sleep. She didn't want to disturb Sweetie Belle, so she simply moved her into the normal sleeping position and crawled in next to her, covering them both with the blanket. Sweetie Belle woke briefly as Rarity moved her.

"What, Rarity?"

"Shh, darling. You can stay here. It'll be like when I was your age and you were a teeny, tiny, little filly. A baby."

"I remember that." Sweetie Belle fell asleep.

"Hello. Are you Sweetie Belle?" The pale blue and yellow unicorn mare at the door asked. Sweetie Belle nodded. "I'm Stagelight Glow. Your musical directer, sort of." Sweetie Belle stood back so the mare could enter. "Call me Stagelight," The mare added.

"I'm Sweetie Belle." Sweetie Belle said, and instantly felt ridiculous.

"So I've heard. So- Have you ever had lessons?"

"No..."

"Can you read music?" Stagelight asked.

"Mmm-hmm." Sweetie Belle said. "And play piano."

Stagelight looked surprised. "No lessons?"

"No lessons. I just- figured it out." Sweetie Belle shrugged.

"Mmm." Stagelight nodded, interested. "Let's see how high you can go."

Dear (rest of the) Cutie Mark Crusaders,

I had my very first singing lesson today! I have a really pretty teacher. Her name is Stagelight Glow and she lives in Manehattan. Babs, do you know her?

Anyway, I chose the song I'm going to sing! The 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' Theme Song'! It's really good, Scoots, and makes me think of all of you.

I might not have a lot of time to write, if today is any indication (I like that word). I have been doing so much singing!

I miss you. Three weeks until the Gala!

-Sweetie Belle

The Cutie Mark Crusaders stared at the letter Derpy had delivered.

"I do know her." Babs said, surprised. "Barely anypony in Manehattan know each other. But what a coincidence. I know her."

"That was a short letter." Scootaloo said.

"Well, she said she's awful busy." Apple Bloom said. "She says she misses us." Apple Bloom picked the letter up in her teeth and put it with the first they'd received.

"You're doing great, Sweetie Belle. You have a wonderful memory for lyrics and pitch." Stagelight praised her pupil. Sweetie grinned. If a Manehattan singer thought she could sing, then she definitely could sing! Who cared what Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon thought. Sweetie Belle even half-hoped they'd get invitations to The Gala, just so Sweetie could see their faces when Celestia thanked her onstage and everypony loved her song. All nervousness had fallen away, and Sweetie couldn't wait for her performance.

"Can we go over it again?" Sweetie asked.

"One more time." Stagelight looked at the clock on the wall. "I need to go back to Manehattan for a few days and the train leaves tomorrow. I'll be back in a week." Stagelight looked at Sweetie.

"Is everything okay?" Sweetie asked nervously.

"It's all fine. My friend has a very important job ceremony." (Ceremony, noun: A formal religious or public occasion, typically one celebrating a particular event or anniversary.)

Sweetie Belle smiled. "Okay! Let's sing again!" She hopped up beside the piano and played her starting note. Stagelight laughed and hummed with her pupil.

"Sweetie Belle! Your tea is today!"

"Tea?" Sweetie Belle poked her head above her covers.

"To stir up interest for your first performance!" Rarity said. "We want everypony to know about it!"

"First?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Oh, Sweetie, don't you know you'll be doing one before the Gala as well? One the day before." Rarity pulled her sister out of bed and set about brushing her mane. "A few elite Canterlot citizens will be having tea with you today to spread the word!" Rarity finished Sweetie's mane, twirled her around, and stuck a hat on her head. "Come, darling."

Sweetie Belle trotted after Rarity to a palace sitting room. They stopped at the door. Rarity opened it with magic and stepped in, Sweetie Belle following her.

"Sweetie Belle!" Twilight called from the corner of the room, where she was eating a small tea cake. "Rarity!" Twilgiht rushed to them.

"Hi, Twilight." Sweetie said.

"Everypony, this is Sweetie Belle, the fillly who will perform for us."

Suddenly, Sweetie Belle was flocked with elegant canterlot citizens, asking her questions.

"What style of song do you have?" An old mare with an extravagantly styled mane asked.

"Um- mine?" Sweetie answered uncertainly.

"Oh, how witty she is!"

"So sweet!"

"Do you take lessons?" A pale green stallion asked.

"Yea- Yes!" Sweetie Belle answered. "A Manehattan singer teaches me. But I never took them before-"

"Have you been in Canterlot before?

Sweetie nodded. "My sister-"

"How did you get the chance to sing at the Gala?"

I was singi-"

"Have you sang in public before?

Have you met the princesses?"

Sweetie Belle gave up on verbal answers, nodding or shaking her head instead. Then the chattering crowd fell silent and bowed. Sweetie turned to see Princess Celestia behind her.

Sweetie knelt.

"Sweetie Belle is a very talented filly. I have decided to sponsor her performance" Celestia told the Canterlot elite. They gaped. This Sweetie Belle must have talent, to be sponsored by Princess Celestia herself. Celestia nodded and walked to her sister, who was at the pastry table choosing a cake. Sweetie Belle took advantage of the fact that the other ponies were still in shock at the fact that the princesses would attend a humble tea and trotted over to Twilight Sparkle. Rarity was in the middle of two stallions, laughing coquettishly. Twilight, on the other hand, had managed to fade into the scenery, princess or no.

"Twilight, hide me!" Sweetie said urgently. "To many questions!" Sweetie crawled under Twilight and hid there. Twilight looked at the filly. "Calm down. It'll be over soon." The alicorn levitated a cake down to where Sweetie Belle was hiding. "Here. This is delicious."

Sweetie Belle reached out. "Yum!" She said.

"Come out." Twilight said. Talk with me. People won't interrupt us unless we ask them to. I'm a princess."

Sweetie Belle crawled out and stood up. "Stagelight is really nice."

"The mare we hired to teach you? Yes, I thought you'd like her." Twilight looked at the clock. "Five more minutes and this'll be over." She said. "So, do you like the room?"

"I still love it!" Sweetie said. "And Rarity won't let m,e tell you much, but your dress is amazing!"

Twilight smiled. "I can't wait to see it. Your sister is so talented. Both of you. Your parents must be proud."

"They are!" Sweetie said.

"How are the other crusaders doing?" Twilight asked. Sweetie Belle tilted her head.

"Fine, I think. Their last letter didn't say much."

"Mmm." Twilight said. "When are they coming?"

"To- Tomorrow, I think." Sweetie Belle told the princess.

"You didn't send them the tickets and information?" Twilight raised her eyebrows. "It says the day after tomorrow."

"Oh! I didn't know I was supposed to..." Sweetie Belle's eys widened. "I forgot to even send them a letter lately!"

Twilight looked at Sweetie with slight alarm. "You forgot your friends?" She said, horrified.

"No, I- I've been so busy-" Sweetie Belle said. "Look! The tea's over. I'll go write to them and send them the tickets." Sweetie dashed away. Twilight sighed.

Dear Sweetie Belle,

It's been a week. Why haven't you written any letters? Are you superduper busy?

We miss you. Applejack got a letter from Rarity detailin all the stuff she's been doing.

Rainbow Dash did too! It was all dresses and stuff.

How's Stagelight? My sister said she's in Manehattan for something.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon teased us for being blank flanks the other day and Miss Cheerilee caught them and it was hilarious! Miss Cheerilee was so mad at them that she made them stay in at recess and write sentances about how they wouldn't do it again.

We miss you!

We really miss you!

Love,

Apple Bloom
Scootaloo
Babs

THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS

p.s Please Please please write back if you can we miss you!

Dear Apple Bloom, Babs and Scootaloo,

I'm really busy. Miss you!

Tickets enclosed.

Love, Sweetie Belle

"That letter was really short." Scootaloo's ears drooped.

"She said she was really busy..." Apple Bloom didn't sound as if she meant it. "Ah mean, she must be. Really busy. She said she misses us."

"She didn't use proper grammar all the way through." Babs noted.

"It's gettin' closer to The Gala." Apple Bloom said staunchly. "She must be practicin' all the time now."

"I guess." Scootaloo said. What she meant was, 'I hope.'

"Let's pack up."

"Stagelight!" Sweetie Belle threw herself on her teacher as the mare entered the room. "I practiced so so so so so much while you were gone!"

"That's great!" Stagelight extricated herself from Sweetie Belle's hug. "Today, after our warm-up, you'll practice with the orchestra.

"THE ORCHESTRA?" Sweetie Belle's eyes almost popped out of her head. "YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!" She jumped up and down, then contained herself. "Let's start warming up!"

"Stagelight hit the staring note on the piano. "Ahhhhhh"

Sweetie Belle could feel her heart swell as she walked into the theater where she would rehearse and, later, perform. The stage was made of a deep, glowing brown wood, and the red velvet curtains reflected light and seemed to shine. The orchestra sat in a half-circle below the stage, in the pit. Sweetie Belle walked elegantly up to the stage and climbed on. The stairs were made for full-grown ponies, not fillies and colts, but she scrambled up, glad for the times when Scootaloo made her climb crazy trees and such. The memories of her friends gave her a quick pang of homesickness, but she brushed it off. She'd see them soon enough. This evening, the train carrying her friends would pull in to the station.

"Hi, everypony! I'm Sweetie Belle!" Sweetie Belle told the orchestra. She tapped the mic. "This is on, right?"

"Yep!" Stagelight said from the orchestra pit. "I'll be here the whole time. Why don't you start?"

Sweetie nodded and took a deep breath. The orchestra began to play. She'd modified the song to make it more of a show tune than a rock song.

"When you're a younger pony
And your flank is really bare-" She began and let the song sing itself. That's what it felt like for her; She wasn't singing the song, the song was singing itself through her. As she finished, she looked out over the empty audience.

Almost empty. In the back, she saw-

"Babs! Scoots! Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle shouted, forgetting the mic was on. The amplifiers squeaked and the other ponies in the room winced and covered their ears. The other Crusaders laughed and ran up to the stage.

"Sweetie Belle!"

"How are you?"

"Great! The palace is wonderful, and-"

"Excuse me?" A mare in the pit stood up. "This is rehearsal for the Grand Galloping Gala, not playtime for fillies."

Sweetie nodded. "Okay. Hey, why don't you guys go sit with Stagelight?" She turned away from her friends, towards the microphone. The three fillies trotted confusedly off the stage and into the pit, next to Stagelight Glow.

"Okay Sweetie, start again."

Before The Grand Galloping Gala

Author's Note

So! Sorry for the delay. I've been really busy (School, rehearsing for an after-school theatre camp, writing my own original material, annoying siblings, holidays, laziness... etc.) so even though that's a terrible excuse, please don't hate me. Please comment! Feel free to give me feedback and tell me every little thing that you think sucks so I can make it all better. I'm sure a lot will suck in this first draft.

*Nervous happy face*

Before The Grand Galloping Gala

Scootaloo laughed at her own story. "So then, Diamond Tiara-"

"Sweetie Belle! We need to test your mic!" Sound Board bore down on the other fillies. "Get in the audience, you three. This isn't a playground!"

They cowered back, looking to Sweetie Belle for help, hoping for her to tell the grumpy stallion that her friends could stay with her.

Sweetie Belle shrugged. "You guys should go sit in the front row. I saved seats just for you!"

Sweetie Belle turned, giving her full attention to Sound Board. "Testing- Testing-" Scootaloo back at Sweetie Belle, then at Apple Bloom. She felt her ears droop.

Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo and Babs. "Come on. Let's go find our seats."

Scootaloo glanced back at Sweetie Belle and opened her mouth to call to her friend, then promptly shut it and turned to Apple Bloom. "Okay."

Scootaloo followed the apple cousins dejectedly back to their seats. Why would Sweetie Belle ignore them like that? She was always the one who made sure everypony was okay, the one who never wanted to leave anypony out. She was like her sister, the Element of Generosity, in that way; Even when Scootaloo had become obsessed with flying during the Flag carrying audition, and Apple Bloom was willing to turn her back, Sweetie Belle had hesitated. But now- What had Canterlot done to Scootaloo's friend?

Apple Bloom turned to Scootaloo as they settled in her seats. "Ah guess the stress got ta her" Apple Bloom said, as if she had read Scootaloo's mind. Scootaloo sighed.

"She doesn't seem too stressed." Scootaloo shot back, slouching into the velvet seat.

"Maybe she's pretending.." Babs said halfheartedly.

"Yeah! Maybe the stress is gettin' ta her so much that she's pretending that she's fine!" Apple Bloom suggested brightly. Sound Board shot her a 'be quiet' look.

"You fillies'll have to leave if you don't be quiet!" Sound Board told them. The Cutie Mark Crusaders huddled in their seats, again looking to Sweetie Belle, who shrugged. Babs blew her hair out of her face in a small puff. Sound Board turned and put his hoof to his lips in an angry 'shh' gesture.

"Can I sing now?" Sweetie Belle asked. Sound Board nodded and climbed back to the tech box. Stagelight Counted off.

"One. Two. Three." The orchestra started to play. Sweetie Belle counted eight beats and began.

"Sweetie Belle! Stay still so I can do your mane properly!" Rarity said sternly. Sweetie Belle stayed still, trying not to wiggle. "Okay."

The thought of singing in front of Canterlot's finest citizens filled the filly with excitement. Her stomach didn't have butterflies- it had whole pegasi flying around in there. Was she nervous? She felt like she should be. Maybe there was a little nervousness floating around in her brain- But she was mostly excited.

"Who's going to be in the audience, Rarity? I forgot." She hadn't really forgotten. She just wanted to hear her sister recite all the famous names and voices who would be watching her in an hour.

"Oh, darling- Sapphire Shores, for one. And you simply cannot forget Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee! And in the Royal Box, the Princesses- but you knew that." Rarity started braiding the other side of Sweetie Belle's mane. "And Photo Finish!" Rarity twirled Sweetie Belle and began pouring glitter on her mane and face. "You are going to shine tonight in a Carousel Boutique original!" Rarity proclaimed happily. "Do remember to tell ponies about me if they ask you where you got your dress."

"I will." Sweetie Belle answered. "When do I sing?"

"Soon, Sweetie." Rarity stopped primping the little filly and stood back. "Perfect. You are a wonderful model." Rarity told Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle grinned, knowing that was high praise from her sister.

"Thanks, Rarity. I love you." She tried to nuzzle her older sister, but Rarity stopped her.

"Don't muss your mane and dress." Rarity said. Sweetie Belle nodded. "I love you too, darling. I'm sure our parents will be very proud tonight."

Sweetie smiled. Stagelight poked her head into the dressing room.

"We're opening the house. Be quiet and ready." She winked. "Break a leg."

Sweetie Belle nodded. She was too excited to think of anything but the performance.

Rarity looked at Sweetie Belle and slipped out of the dressing room.

Sweetie Belle looked at her hooves. They shook slightly. She remembered her Ponyville performance and took a deep breath. 'The princess are more important than Diamond Tiara. The princesses like my singing' Sweetie Belle thought. She took another breath.

Sweetie Belle heard the curtains open and polite applause as Stagelight Glow stepped out. A 'tap tap' of a microphone being tested rang out.

"Is this working? Okay! Hi everyone!" Stagelight began. "The crowd applauded politely. "We're all here today to hear a very special filly, handpicked by the princesses themselves, specifically Princess Twilight Sparkle, to perform at the Grand Galloping Gala. This is her first performance in front of a large audience, and I'm sure you'll agree that she has a very special talent, even without a cutie mark. Presenting- Sweetie Belle!"

The crowd applauded politely again. The applause got louder as Sweetie Belle walked out on stage, and she could hear her friends in the front row cheering louder than anypony else. She smiled at them. The applause died down.

"Hello everypony." Sweetie Belle said into the face mic that Sound Board had attached. The mic pack itched slightly under her dress, but she couldn't scratch it. "Thanks for coming. I guess I'll start singing now."

The music started. Sweetie Belle's hooves were sweating. She looked to her friends in the front row for encouragement and began to sing. The smiled at her supportively.

As Sweetie Belle sang, she loosened up. A warm feeling spread through her- Not the kind of warm feeling she had felt when she was embarrassed by Diamond Tiara. This was a good feeling. She broke eye contact with her friends and looked out over the audience. The lights hid most of the audience from her, but she tried to make eye contact and to connect with other ponies. Her voice rang through the theater. There was a moment of silence as she finished the song. She gulped. Had the fancy ponies not liked it?

Then the applause started. This wasn't the polite, snooty applause of before. This was full-on, eardrum-shattering, floor-breaking applause. This was the kind of applause that famous ponies that Sapphire Shores got for their songs. Sweetie Belle bowed, unable to conceal her grin, and left the stage. The curtain closed.

"Encore! Her singing has such magics!"

"I do agree. Encore! Brava!"

One by one, the audience of fancy ponies began to shout. Stagelight appeared behind Sweetie Belle.

"What do I do?" Sweetie asked, panicking. "I only prepared one song!"

"You sang the Heart Carol beautifully." Stagelight whispered. "Now go on and sing!"

Sweetie Belle nodded. She took another deep breath and went out onstage. The moment she stepped out, the audience went dead silent.

"Um... I'm going to sing the Heart Carol now."

The music for the Heart Carol filled the theater and Sweetie Belle began to sing. She got the same feeling of warmth for this. She looked out over the audience, but didn't noticed her friends trying to catch her eye and smile until the end. She looked at them briefly and then looked away at the rest of the audience. They all needed attention more, right? Her friends knew her all of the time. She sustained the last note for a long time, longer than tradition called for, and the crowd went wild. They applauded louder than a hundred Pinkie Pies. Sweetie Belle bowed and left the stage. The curtains closed. Stagelight gave her a wide grin.

"That was excellent."

Sweetie Belle was too happy to speak.

After the performance, Sweetie Belle was ambushed by her friends.

"You did great!" Scootaloo squealed. Babs blew a strand of hair out of her face and nodded, smiling.

"Ah can't wait 'till Diamond Tiara finds out 'bout this!" Apple Bloom grinned.

Sweetie Belle smiled back. "Thanks!"

A wave of ponies pushed her friends aside.

"Miss Belle, may I have your autograph?" a unicorn levitated a paper for her.

"Do you have a pen?"

"Over here, Miss Belle!" A dozen cameraponies cried. Sweetie Belle tried to look in all twelve directions at once, blinded by flashbulbs everywhere she looked.

"Miss Belle, how does it feel, having so much success as a filly?" A newspaper reporter pushed to the front of the pack.

"It's really-"

"Who made your dress?"

"My sister, Rarity. She-"

"Autograph?"

More and more unicorns levitated paper and pens. Pegasi dropped from above, and earth ponies pushed the rest of the ponies in the group. Evidently, not only high class ponies had come. Or, maybe even high class ponies could behave like fools sometimes.

The Grand Galloping Gala

The candlelight glinted off of the shining satin ribbons looped over the marble columns in the Equestria ballroom. Sweetie Belle checked the clock. It was thirty minutes to eleven. That's when she would sing. It was an exciting night; Not only did she get to sing, she got to stay up extremely late.

"Diamond Tiara must be so jealous!" Scootaloo said, looking around. "This is totally awesome!"

"Ah know, right?" Apple Bloom munched on an apple tart. "Ah think even mah sister's tarts taste better here!"

"Well, she does use all expensive Canterlot ingredients- Except for the apples." Sweetie Belle answered.

"C'mon, let's go outside for some air!" Babs suggested, and the other three fillies agreed. Even Sweetie Belle.

Outside, the moon glowed brightly. Luna's silhouette shone against it, as she faithfully watched over the night, even on a night such as the Gala.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders took deep breaths in the crisp, clean air. There was a sophisticated taste in the air that Ponyville didn't have. Sweetie Belle drank it in. Apple Bloom decided she preferred the earthiness in the air of Ponyville.

"Come on!" Sweetie Belle gestured with her hoof. "This party is part outside, too!"

Indeed, the Gala spilled out onto an outdoor dance floor, with lights strung in the trees. There was an are in the corner that was roped off from the rest of the outside area, with golden posts and velvet ropes. A sign on the rope loudly proclaimed that area to be for 'VIPs'.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders ignored the VIP area and headed straight to the dance floor. Pinkie had obviously asked Princess Celestia to add this little touch; It was nothing like the indoor ballroom and had Pinkie written all over it. The lights, the music, the confetti that spewed out of thin air every few minutes could not be anypony but Pinkie Pie's design.

As the Cutie Mark Crusaders danced, they noticed that the ponies in the VIP section were looking at them and whispering. After the song ended, a white unicorn stallion beckoned them over. Sweetie Belle recognized him as Fancy Pants, the pony that her sister was constantly talking about, and her heart skipped a beat.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders trotted over to the VIP section nervously.

"You are Sweetie Belle? The charming filly who performed yesterday?" Fancy Pants ignored Apple Bloom, Babs and Scootaloo.

"Yeah." Sweetie Belle answered. Fancy Pants unhooked the red velvet rope.

"Come in here as my guest!" Fancy Pants invited Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle looked at her friends. They shrugged, not wanting to stand in the way of Sweetie's success, but not wanting her to leave them. Sweetie smiled and trotted into the VIP section. Apple Bloom sighed.

"I took lessons for a month before the performance. Well, more like rehearsals. I've never had actual lessons." Sweetie Belle said earnestly. She sipped her hot chocolate as daintily as she could and nibbled at a tea cake.

"Remarkable." Fancy Pants said. "Quite remarkable."

"And you're such an adorable little filly, too!" Fleur Dis Lee added. she lifted a hoof and waved over a pony walking around with a camera. "Photographer! Over here!"

The pale green earth pony, barely more than a colt, started over, but was pushed aside by a blue mare.

"I will take this picture! It has the magics!" Photo Finish twirled her hoof and her assistants rushed to set up her equipment. Fleur Dis Lee posed by Sweetie Belle, who smiled and tried to look like she knew how to do this. The flashbulbs went off. "Filly- Tell me, Who are you wearing?"

"Carousel Boutique." Sweetie answered, proud of her sister.

"It also has the magics!" Photo Finish proclaimed.

"Give me a turn with the filly!" Sapphire Shores walked through the sea of lesser ponies watching the impromptu photo shoot and taking her place on Sweetie Belle's other side. Sweetie Belle felt like she was in a dream. How could this be real? More flashbulbs went off, and they probably would have gone on forever had Stagelight Glow not appeared and taken Sweetie Belle backstage to get ready.

"I can't wait to hear what you have ready tonight, honey!" Sapphire Shores called after the filly and her mentor. "You've got a lot of talent!"

Backstage, Rarity confronted Sweetie Belle loudly.

"Where have you been?" Rarity sighed dramatically. "You cut it so close, darling! I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time, and then where would we be? Your career- Ruined!"

"Relax, Rarity. Your sister seems to have a business sense, actually. I had to drag her out of the grasps of a sea of reporters, Photo Finish, Fancy Pants, Fleur Dis Lee and Sapphire Shores!" Stagelight threw out the names casually, then chuckled at the astonished look on Rarity's face.

Rarity's mouth dropped open.

"Photo Finish said my dress had the magics!" Sweetie Belle piped up. "She took a gazillion photos of me with Fleur Dis Lee and Sapphire Shores." Rarity went whiter than she usually was.

"Darling, do you know what this means? If a sea of reporters was there, as you say, everypony in Equestria will hear that comment! Oh, Sweetie, think of what this means!" Rarity continued to babble as she touched up Sweetie Belle's makeup.

The minutes leading up to Sweetie's final performance passed quickly. Before she knew it, she was onstage.

This time, she knew how it would go down. It was only by the end of the song that she realized that her friends weren't in the front. They looked shunted into a back corner. Sweetie Bell felt a slight twinge of remorse. They looked so lonely. Still, they cheered her on as loudly as ever.

After this performance, like the last, the audience exploded in applause. Sweetie Belle took a bow and descended into the audience. This time, she was prepared for the ambush. She managed to talk a lot about her dress. Seeing her friends at the back of the group, waving frantically, she tried to communicate to them through hand gestures that she would talk to them later. They didn't seem to understand.

"How delightful that was." Hoity Toity said to Sweetie Belle as she followed Rarity out of the room. "Do visit me again."

"I will!" Sweetie Belle called over her shoulder as Rarity bustled her up to bed. She passed her friends on the stairs.

"Night!" They called to her.

"Good night." Sweetie Belle mumbled tiredly. They could barely hear her. She shut the door on them and then all they could hear was her snoring.