Runaway Sweetie

Sweetie Belle didn't know how long she'd been asleep, but the train had jolted suddenly, startling and waking her.

She, for a second, didn't even know where she was. Was she in her bed in the boutique? Were the goings on yesterday and last night simply a dream?

It took a moment for her to clear her vision, and then she realized that she was still on the train, wrapped up in her blanket as Storm Star snoozed next to her. This definitely wasn't a dream.

Light was now pouring through the windows as the great Sun rose in the sky once again, and when Sweetie Belle looked closer, she could see the silhouette of a pony flying in line with it.

It was Celestia, raising the Sun. They must of been very close to Canterlot now.

Storm Star still hadn't woken up. She lay slumped on the train seat, eyes tight shut but not making a sound as fresh sunlight shone on her grey fur.

Sweetie Belle then wondered if Rarity had realized she was gone yet. Would she be worried?

She suddenly felt a pang of guilt. What if Rarity was worried about her? What if she had made a huge mistake leaving Ponyville?

However, the white filly then rolled her eyes. Why would Rarity be worried about her? She had defiantly showed her hatred towards her the day before. She'd probably be celebrating with her friends, sipping glasses of pink lemonade and dancing with them in the sunlight.

Anger filled her heart once again, and she didn't realize she was punching the seat with her hoof in frustration.

This woke Storm Star up. Sweetie Belle could now see her eyes were a dazzling crystal blue. She stopped punching the seat as Storm looked down at her.

"Something wrong?" the mare asked.

Sweetie Belle shook her head quickly as she stuffed her blanket back into her rucsac, realising how hot it was.

"I think we're almost at Canterlot," she announced, changing the subject.

Storm Star squinted and peered out the window.

"Oh, yes. I expect we'll be there in about 5 minutes. We're meeting my sister at the station. We can get some breakfast too. I'm starving, aren't you?"

Sweetie Belle was hardly listening. She was looking down at the ground, her ears slightly drooped.

Her thoughts were now turned to Applebloom and Scootaloo.

Now that her heart was set on never returning, Sweetie Belle realised that she was no longer part of the CMC.

She wouldn't be able to find her true talent, and get her cutie mark with them now.

Would she even find her true talent without them? They had tried what seemed like everything, and just when they thought that they had done everything, Scootaloo would always come up with another plan.

Now, she didn't have Scootaloo with her. Would she even be able to think of anything else alone?

And then there was Applebloom. Always giving her advice, and being a great friend to her.

Now she didn't have either of them to help her out. She would have to try and find her cutie mark herself.

She recalled the day they first met, at the party, where they first formed the club.

Tears formed in the foal's eyes as she knew she'd now never see them again.

She was no longer a crusader.

"Hey, are you alright?"

Sweetie Belle was snapped from her thoughts as she turned to Storm Star again.

The filly nodded, wiping her eyes speedily. Storm Star looked at her suspiciously, unsure she was being truthful, but didn't say anything else until a couple of minutes later.

"We're here."

Indeed, the train halted to a stop, and ponies were now stepping off the train into the fresh air.

Storm Star took Sweetie Belle by the hoof and lead her through the large crowd of ponies at the station. She squeezed past a wrinkly old stallion wearing a top hat and worn brown shoes.

"Hey, watch where your going, you dozy mare!" he yelled.

"Oh, piss off you!" Storm Star shrieked back. She then turned to Sweetie Belle and clasped her hoof over her mouth.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to use such language in front of a filly like you," she said, still slightly tense.

"It's ok. I've heard worse," Sweetie Belle replied, shooting the pegasus a smile as they carried on forwards.

She felt slightly taken aback herself. Were the ponies of Canterlot usually that rude? She suddenly hoped that Storm's sister wouldn't be aggressive like that.

The Sun had now vanished, shrouded by grey clouds. There now wasn't even a patch of blue sky in sight.

The fresh air felt astonishing. Sweetie Belle had just spent a few hours in a crowded hot train, many other ponies sitting around her. The coolness of the breeze felt beautiful against her fur as it blew past slowly.

She was too busy enjoying the relief of the cool air that she didn't realize they were now in the heart of Canterlot. She almost bumped into a fancily-dressed stallion.

Luckily, Storm Star suddenly came to an abrupt stop, smiling.

"There she is!" She pointed her hoof towards a pony under a building in the distance and waved.

The shade had engulfed the pony, so she simply looked a pitch black silhouette under the building.

The pony stretched her wings, and within a second, she had taken off in the sky.

Her flying was quick, and swift. Sweetie Belle looked up and now saw the mare's full colour.

Her body was a vibrant sky blue. Her mane and tail were tar black, crimson tips on the ends.

She dropped. Sweetie Belle flinched, scared the pegasus was going to crash on top of her.

However, the mare landed perfectly in front of them, baring a grin.

Her grin.

It terrified Sweetie Belle.

Her teeth were sharp.

The filly had never seen anything like it.

She also had part of her left ear completely gone. Had she been attacked by something?

"Hey, sis!" she spoke.

Her voice was completely normal, but Sweetie Belle still couldn't get past how eerie this mare seemed. She was half tempted to ask about the teeth and the ear, but she kept her mouth tight shut as Storm Star talked.

Then the pony noticed the small unicorn.

"And who is this?" she asked, peering down at her.

Sweetie Belle began shaking slightly. Storm Star noticed and wrapped her wing around the shaking filly.

"Blood Moon, this is Sweetie Belle. I found her alone at the Ponyville train station. Decided to let her come with me. Sweetie Belle, this is my big sister, Blood Moon."

Blood Moon? Even her name made Sweetie Belle fearful.

Blood Moon held out her blue hoof. Sweetie Belle struggled to find the confidence to shake it, but after a few seconds, she managed.

"What's wrong?" the blue pegasus asked, aware of her shivering, "are you scared of little old me? I don't bite!"

She gave another full grin, baring more of her razor sharp teeth.

'Was she born with her teeth that way?' Sweetie Belle wondered.

"Oh, I think she must be cold!" Storm Star said quickly, "it is quite cold out here, after all!"

"Oh, yes. Let's get into somewhere nice and warm. Would you two like to join me for breakfast?"

"Would we!"

Storm Star grabbed Sweetie Belle's hoof, and without the filly's answer, the three headed off towards a café.