Chapters Sweetie Belle's eyes snapped open.
She rubbed her blurry eyes to get her vision, and smiled. She walked over to her bedroom window and yawned, looking out at the beautiful world. The sunrise, casting orange and yellow across the sky, seemed more vibrant than usual.
She saw a small robin roosting on a nearby tree. She studied it carefully.
Everything seemed perfect, friendly.
Then Sweetie Belle remembered something. Something important.
Quick as a flash, the snow-white filly dashed towards her calender. She galloped fast, and could barely see what was in front of her.
She tripped on one of her many pony action figures and landed on the ground with a loud thump . The landing was quite hard, and left a small bruise. Tears welled up in the pained filly's eyes, but she wiped them away. She picked up her purple quill and crossed out February 12th on her calender. It was now, February 13th, the day before February 14th...
Hearts And Hooves Day.
"Hearts And Hooves Day is tomorrow?!" Sweetie Belle shrieked, "I have to get something for Rarity! But... WHY TOMORROW?!"
"Oh, nothing!" she replied quickly, blushing.
"It didn't sound like nothing to me! What was it?" Rarity asked firmly.
There was silence.
Rarity sighed. She checked Sweetie Belle's pink wall clock.
"Go back to bed, darling! It's only six in the morning!"
"But it's already bright outside!" the foal whined.
"Ugh, fine. Just keep your noise level down. I'm trying to get some beauty sleep."
Rarity walked out, sighing for a second time.
Sweetie Belle pulled a very worried face.
"What should I get her?!"
At eight sharp in the morning, Sweetie Belle set out with her pocket money to buy something special for Rarity.
"I have 10 bits," Sweetie Belle looked down into her purple purse, "what can I get with 10 bits?"
Sweetie Belle stopped in her tracks and thought for a moment. It suddenly came to her.
"I have it! I can buy some fabrics for her at the local tailor!"
Sweetie Belle set off for the tailor.
"Now... which way is it again?"
Sweetie Belle felt stupid. She'd been dragged there by her sister constantly to spend hours choosing a perfect fabric, yet she couldn't even remember what direction it was in.
It took forever, but she finally made it to the tailor. However, she then noticed a sign pinned on the door.
'CLOSED DUE TO STAFF ABSENCE.'
Sweetie Belle shouted angrily, suddenly realising every pony was now staring at her. She blushed for a second time and trotted off.
The rest of the day was spent looking for a present to purchase for Rarity. Unfortunately, all of the other shops were out of stock when it came to Hearts And Hooves Day things.
Sweetie Belle felt even more stupid. She should have remembered days earlier, and maybe then they'd at least be a few things left to choose from.
It had been a long day for the filly. Her hooves were aching from all the walking (and rapid galloping) she had done. She stormed into her room, flung herself onto her bed and whined, frustrated with herself. At least it felt nice that she could now rest her aching hooves.
"I need something noooooooow!" she complained.
However, suddenly, the filly had an idea. She jolted up and smiled, hopeful.
"I can make something for Rarity! It will be more thoughtful and won't cost me a bit!" Sweetie Belle grinned at her still full purse.
She sat there, pondering what to create. She wondered about making her big sister a card with paper and crayons, but she later thought it would be too bland and wouldn't be special enough.
'Hmm... Well, Rarity has a lot of dresses that are very dull... Especially her favourite one. I'm surprised that it's her favourite actually...'
Sweetie Belle gasped and grinned from ear to ear.
'I HAVE IT! I'll make it better! Just for Rarity!'
Sweetie Belle jumped up in delight. The plan was perfect.
That night, while Rarity was sound asleep in her bedroom, Sweetie Belle crept inside. She opened up Rarity's wardrobe and carefully took out her big sister's favourite dress.
It had rubys, sapphires and emeralds on it. However, it was nowhere near as sparkly or glamorous as the others, the filly thought.
She crept out of the room with the dress and snuck downstairs. She turned the kitchen lamp on as she lay the dress on the dining table.
"I know what it needs!" Sweetie Belle grinned, "It needs more gems!"
Sweetie Belle vanished and soon came back with a box of assorted gems and some glue. She sprayed glue all over the dress and stuck gems in random places all over it, making it look sloppy.
"That violet colour looks boring too. It needs covering up!"
Sweetie Belle walked away for a second time and came back with a pot of bright pink paint and a paint brush. She dipped the brush into the paint and spread a thick layer of it everywhere on the dress, making it look very messy indeed. Sweetie Belle stood back and admired her work.
It looked a mess. The wet paint was dripping onto the table and some of the gems were slipping off. It looked more like a squished cake than a dress!
Of course, Sweetie Belle didn't think this. She dragged the now wet and heavy dress up the stairs, leaving a trail of pink paint and gems behind. She placed the dress back on it's hanger and some of the paint started to drip onto the wardrobe floor.
Sweetie Belle closed the wardrobe carefully and went back to her room, not making a sound. Snuggling up in her warm bed covers and feeling relieved, she closed her eyes.
"Happy Hearts And Hooves Day, Sweetie Belle!"
It was February 14th at last. Sweetie Belle and Rarity were in the filly's room. Rarity held a small present for Sweetie Belle. It was wrapped in purple paper. She levitated it to Sweetie Belle, who grabbed and opened it. It was a small, violet teddy bear.
"I love it!" Sweetie Belle squealed with delight and cuddled Rarity, "Thank you! I have a present for you too!"
"Oh, good. I was starting to think that you had forgotten about me!" Rarity joked, adding a short laugh.
Sweetie Belle put her new teddy on her back, blindfolded Rarity with her pillow case and walked her sister back into her own room.
Sweetie Belle opened the wardrobe.
The paint that had fallen off the dress was all dried up at the bottom of the wardrobe. Sweetie Belle took the dress off the hanger and placed it on Rarity's bed...
Then Sweetie Belle took the pillow case off Rarity's eyes...
Rarity glanced at the dress and screamed in shock.
"My dress! My beautiful dress!" Rarity picked up the ruined dress and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Do you love it?!" Sweetie Belle asked hopefully.
Rarity turned to Sweetie Belle. Her face was red, her face twisted into a glare, which gave Sweetie Belle the answer before Rarity began talking.
"NO! I DO NOT LOVE IT! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!" Rarity burst out, "LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO MY MASTER PIECE!"
"I thought it would make you happy." Sweetie Belle squeaked and stepped back a little.
"HAPPY? WHAT, COMPLETELY RUINING IT? TURNING IT INTO A DRIPPING WRECK? LITRALLY!" Rarity just noticed the paint on the wardrobe floor and she pointed at it.
"I'm... sorry... Rarity..." Sweetie Belle felt pricks of tears in her eyes.
"SORRY?! SORRRRY?! GAAAAAAAAAAAAH! YOU SHOULD FEEL MORE THAN SORRY MISSY! RUINING MY DRESS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!"
Sweetie Belle began weeping. Rarity stomped out of the room. Doing so, she snatched the teddy bear off Sweetie Belle's back and took it with her. Sweetie Belle ran into her room and slammed the door.
"AHHHHH! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THE STAIRS, SWEETIE BELLE?!"
Sweetie Belle stayed in her room for the rest of that day. She didn't want to leave the safety of her room, and risk getting yelled at again by her beast of a sister.
She peered out the window constantly and saw the ponies of Ponyville together, putting their arms around each other, pulling each other into hugs and smooches, and walking together in their own perfect world.
Sweetie Belle couldn't help but sob. She had tried so hard to make Rarity happy. Nothing she ever did seemed good enough.
Rarity didn't even offer her little sister any food. That evening the filly was so hungry she resorted to looking under her bed for food.
She found a half eaten Hay Bar. She had no idea how it got there, let alone how she forgot about it, but she began to chew on it.
It was sticky, and tasted quite stale, making the poor filly want to spit it out, but she was so hungry she could have eaten glass.
Suddenly, a moth flew out under the bed, making Sweetie Belle jump in fear. It was a large moth, and it enchanted Sweetie Belle with it's huge wings, as it flew around for a few minutes and then glided out of Sweetie Belle's open window.
Sweetie Belle walked over to the window and dangled her arms out of it, laying her head on the windowsill as the moth disappeared from sight.
A tear rolled from her green eye. She wiped it away and looked out at the scenery.
The sunset was shades of orange, yellow and red. Birds were flying into the trees to roost for the night.
Sweetie Belle smiled bleekly at the beautiful scenery, yet it didn't do much to relieve her sadness.
Everything looked so free, just like the moth.
"I wish I could be free like that," she whispered.
Suddenly, that gave filly an idea.
She could be free.
She would run away !
Rarity would be sorry, and the foal would never have to be the victim of her constant shouting and complaining anymore. But she couldn't stay in Ponyville, no. Rarity would easily catch her.
She would go somewhere else... like Canterlot.
It was perfect.
That night, Sweetie Belle found her purple rucsac under her bed. She packed as much as she could cram into it. Her purse, her blanket, and she even packed a picture of her, Scootaloo and Applebloom in the clubhouse together. Just something to remind her of them.
She managed to pack more, but the rucsac was almost bursting by the time she was done.
Next, she crept downstairs into the kitchen, being careful not to make a single sound. She packed;
She was ready. She gazed around her house for the final time. She stared down at Opalescence sleeping soundly.
Sweetie Belle ran a hoof down the cat's crisp white fur.
"Goodbye..." she whispered, before she opened the door.
She ran outside into the inky darkness, ready to begin her journey.
It was very dark, hard to see and cold outside. Sweetie Belle could hear crickets chirping in the long grass. She knew where she was going.
The CMC Clubhouse.
She had to do something.
Sweetie Belle knew the way like the back of her hoof. Even in the cold darkness, Sweetie Belle ran all the way there, the wild wind blowing in her mane.
Sweetie Belle pulled out her small notepad and pencil, and began writing.
Dear Scootaloo and Applebloom, I am sorry that I couldn't tell you this in person, since I did this in the middle of the night... but... I have ran away from Ponyville. Don't fret. I want to teach my rotten sister a lesson. I tried to make her favourite dress it look perfect for her... But she just yelled at me! So, I'm going to teach her a lesson. Don't come looking for me. I'll never forget you. I promise! Well... see you soon. Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie Belle left the note in the middle of the CMC Clubhouse.
She walked outside and closed the door, then proceeded to gallop away into the darkness once more.
Sweetie Belle headed towards the train station, the darkness making it hard to see. She kept on going the wrong direction, or even very nearly bumping into large objects.
The going was hard for the small filly. It didn't help that it was bitterly cold.
She suddenly felt terrified- like turning back, but Rarity's ungratefulness that day pushed her forward.
The freezing cold kept on biting at Sweetie Belle's fur.
The strong wind blew her mane and tail around like crazy. She saw her breath trail up into the otherwise empty air.
A trip to Canterlot cost 5 bits, so she had enough.
She arrived at the train station. A small light cast a dim glow on it. She checked the train schedule.
Next train to Canterlot- 4:00AM
Sweetie Belle checked the white clock on the wall-3:30AM
She sighed with relief, sat down on a seat and waited.
Everything was going smoothly, but the wind was howling. Freezing cold, the lonely foal pulled out her blanket from the rucsac and wrapped herself up, which worked like a charm. Warmth cradled the filly as she closed her eyes, suddenly growing tired again.
However, after a minute she heard a creaking sound. She opened her eyes, and was shocked to find a grey pegasus with a long, slightly messy blue mane and tail sitting on the seat next to her.
Sweetie Belle jumped back, startled. The pegasus seemed surprised by her sudden movement and jumped back herself.
"Oh, oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you..." she apologized.
"Um...It's ok. I wasn't even asleep," Sweetie Belle replied.
Then, there was silence.
Uncomfortable silence. Just the two staring at the empty track as the wind raced on, throwing their manes around like ragdolls.
After a minute of this, the pegasus shifted in her seat awkwardly and opened her mouth again.
"Um... if you don't mind me asking... are you here all by yourself at a time like this? Where are your parents? How old are you ? Where are you going?" she asked quickly.
Sweetie Belle's heart sank. If she told the truth, would the grey pegasus march her back to the boutique? She gulped, imagining Rarity's rage if that happened...
"I'm... homeless. I always have been. My parents died a long time ago, and I have nowhere to go. I'm 13," Sweetie Belle finished her lies. In fact, she even lied about her age, making herself older. She was actually 11.
The mare next to her gave a small laugh.
"Oh, come now. I know that's a lie. You don't look anywhere near 13. That blanket looks brand new, as does that rucsac. You're lying to me, aren't you?" she chuckled.
Sweetie Belle's heart skipped a beat. The grey mare had seen through her lies.
She suddenly felt stupid to lie about her age like that. Some ponies didn't even think she was 11. Some looked at her and thought her to be 9 or 8!
She turned away from the pegasus, but was then surprised to feel her grey hoof on her shoulder.
"You can tell me the truth. I may be a bit odd, and I'm sorry if I'm being nosy..." the pegasus went quiet for a moment, "but I won't bite if you tell the truth, I promise!"
Sweetie Belle turned back to the pegasus, and her warm smile made the filly feel a little bit better.
She took a deep breath.
"I... I ran away from home. Please don't tell anypony!" she pleaded.
The pegasus looked confused.
"Why would you run away?" the mare calmly awaited Sweetie Belle's answer.
The foal stayed quiet.
Eventually, the pegasus gave up, and looked forward to the track again.
A tiny white mouse scuttled across the floor. The two ponies watched it carefully as it sniffed around, scratching the floor with it's pink claws, until it dipped into the darkness. A little while later, it returned with a small lump of cheese, and proceeded to squeeze back into the small hole it came from.
"So... where will you go now?" the pegasus asked suddenly.
"I... I'm planning on going to Canterlot."
The pegasus sat up, her expression plastered into a smile.
"Me too! I'm meeting my sister there!" she declared, until her smile faded, and she slumped back down.
After a while, she spoke again.
"Well... if... you don't have anywhere to go... I guess you could... stay with us? I understand if you don't want to... I've been quite nosy, and a bit rude to-"
Sweetie Belle grinned. Hope filled her body.
Somepony had invited her to stay with them. She would probably go crazy in a life on the run alone. Now, she didn't have to be alone.
"Yes! Thank you so much!" Sweetie Belle yelled, making the grey pegasus jump slightly.
They simply sat there, talking. Sweetie Belle discovered pegasus's name was Storm Star.
Before they knew it, the train had arrived. They hopped on, and Sweetie Belle fumbled for her purse.
"Oh, I'll pay for your ride if you like." Storm Star pulled out her large blue purse and handed the stallion 10 bits. Sweetie Belle thanked her greatly.
They sat together on the train, Sweetie Belle still snuggled up in her blanket as the train jolted and began to move.
Storm Star smiled down at the filly as she gazed out the window, up at the stars in the sky.
Sweetie Belle felt loved. She had a new friend, and a place to stay, and a whole new life to look forward too.
She was excited, and she smiled bleakly as her eyes drooped.
She let sleep take her once more.
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.
Sweetie Belle lay in the small bed, staring at the white ceiling.
The day had passed in what seemed like a blur. She'd actually enjoyed herself.
Her and the pegasus sisters had eaten pancakes for breakfast in a small café. The sisters had let her have as much syrup on them as she wanted. Whenever she had pancakes at Rarity's, she'd always pour the syrup on Sweetie Belle's pancakes, usually quite a small amount.
They had gone shopping, and Sweetie Belle was allowed to pick out something. Whatever she wanted. She went with a violet scarf, which did a great job of keeping her warm in the cold wind.
Whenever her and Rarity went shopping, she would hardly be able to pick out something she wanted. And when she did, half the time Rarity would find something wrong with it.
"Sweetie Belle, the colour is hideous!"
"The fabric that's made out of looks so cheap, darling..."
And in the evening, they ate at a large restraunt and had hay burgers with fries, and she was even allowed dessert.
Lastly, they went to see a show. It was beautiful, and the actors were beautiful. Everything about it was beautiful.
Then, Blood Moon had rented a room in a large hotel, and this was where Sweetie Belle currently was, in the white sheets of the bed.
Something didn't feel right.
As much as the day had been perfect, and she had enjoyed herself, it didn't feel right.
She didn't know how to describe it, but the day had seemed almost too perfect.
And she was beginning to miss Ponyville.
She missed the boutique, the cutie mark crusaders and the clubhouse.
A part of her was starting to miss Rarity, but the other parts of her remembered Hearts and Hooves day.
She twisted and turned in the bed. Even that didn't feel right. It was too big, and it was cold, and Blood Moon was in the bed next to her.
Everytime she looked at that mare, she felt frightened, and her heart sank.
She wondered what was happening back at Ponyville.
Was anypony missing her?
Had the CMC received her letter?
Was anypony looking for her?
Sweetie Belle rolled in her bed uncomfortably, conjuring up more questions.
It seemed like forever, but at last, the filly grew tired, and closed her emerald eyes.
"OI! WAKE UP!"
Sweetie Belle opened her eyes, shocked and terrified as Blood Moon screamed in her ear and pushed her.
The blue pegasus pushed a little too hard, and sent Sweetie Belle rolling off the bed and into a heap on the floor.
"Come on! Get up! Don't be such a lazybones!" Blood Moon yelled, no apologetic actions or tone whatsoever.
Sweetie Belle stood up slowly, dazed by such a sudden awakening, and with her still blurry vision, was just able to stumble over to her rucsac. Picking it up and slinging it on her back, then wrapping her new scarf around her neck, she followed Blood Moon down the stairs into the dining room.
Sweetie Belle checked the clock on the wall.
7:30AM
Why were they up so early?
It was, predictably, quite quiet. Only a few other ponies were there, helping themselves to cereal, toast, bowls of strawberry yogurt and lots of tea.
Storm Star was already there, sat on a table and waving slowly to the two ponies.
However, Sweetie Belle noticed her eyes right away.
She had dark circles under them, and her crystal blue eyes seemed to have all the life plucked from them and overpowered by faint red.
The two ponies sat down at the table, tea and buttered toast waiting for them.
"Thanks, sis."
She then turned to Storm Star, who was simply stirring her tea with a metal spoon, only taking dainty bites from her toast once in a while.
"Storm," Sweetie Belle began after a little while, "are you ok? Your eyes... You look very tired, and you're barely eating."
Storm Star gave a bleak smile.
"I'm fine dear. I just-"
"She had a bad dream last night, is all," Blood Moon interrupted, her toast now leaving no trace besides a couple of small-scale crumbs, "took her ages to get back to sleep."
Sweetie Belle looked back at the grey pegasus, who gave another smile.
"Eat up, darling," she said quietly, "you say I'm not eating much but you haven't touched your toast!"
"Well... if your tired... we could go back to the hotel room. I'm still a bit tired mys-"
"No ," Blood Moon shouted suddenly, a few ponies turning to stare at her in disapproval.
The mare cleared her throat, and waited for everypony to cease looking at her before she spoke again.
"What I mean is, we're going somewhere very special today."
Sweetie Belle became curious.
"Where?" she asked.
"It's a big surprise!" Blood Moon finished before continuing to drink her tea. Sweetie Belle was surprised the cup didn't crack due to her pointy fangs gripping onto it.
Sweetie Belle didn't eat all her toast. She was still quite full due to the food she ate the day before, and she was busy observing Storm Star and her unusually quiet behaviour.
The three stepped outside. The air was a lot colder than yesterdays, and Sweetie Belle felt relieved that she had put on her scarf before she left the hotel.
They headed left and began trotting towards... a taxi cart. It was in the middle of the street. Luckily, only a few ponies were up at such an early time, even fewer walking past.
It was being pulled by two pegasi, and a unicorn was sitting inside. However, this unicorn didn't look fancy or well dressed like the other ponies in Canterlot.
This unicorn had dusty fur, so stained by dirt that it's original colour was unrecognisable. One of his hooves looked slightly deformed, and his cutie mark was simply a black splatter.
Sweetie Belle couldn't help but be frightened by this unicorn.
Where were Storm Star and Blood Moon taking her? She would have asked, until the unicorn began speaking.
"Eeey', it's my old favourites again, Storm Star and Blood Moon! And who is this?" The old stallion pointed down at Sweetie Belle, who niw felt more than a little anxious by his appearance.
"Black Splatter, this is Sweetie Belle. We'd like to take her to Cloudsdale, if you please,"
"Cloudsdale? I can't even walk on clouds!" Sweetie Belle panicked. What were they even going to do in Cloudsdale?
"That's lucky I'm here then, missy."
The unicorn winked as he shot Sweetie Belle with a blast of grey magic. She now had auras around her hooves, and it became obvious that he had cast the cloud-walker spell.
"Well, now that your little 'dilemma' is over, you three had better hop on. We have a quite a long way to go!" Black Splatter declared.
Sweetie Belle couldn't bear the thought of riding on the taxi cart with two freaky ponies. She gulped, and was tempted to turn back. However, a blue hoof pushed her up into the cart, and Blood Moon followed quickly, grinning.
"Sorry!" she laughed, even though she barely sounded like the meant it.
Storm Star was last, walking on slowly and hanging her head as she sat down.
"Let's go then!"
Black Splatter gave a signal, and the two pegasi pulling the cart then began to gallop, and within a few minutes of running along the wide path speedily, they opened their wings and the taxi cart was airborne.
It was at most a one hour trip, but it seemed like forever in Sweetie Belle's eyes.
She was between two of the scariest looking ponies she had ever seen. What's worse is that the unicorn would peer down at her with his eyes from time to time, which seemed dead from any colour, and Blood Moon would constantly look down at her and give her a fanged grin, which made the nervous unicorn filly all the more uneasy.
Storm Star's gaze steered well away from the direction of any of them. She stared from the taxi cart into the distance. Sweetie Belle was able to have a glance herself.
The view was stunning . It was mostly green trees and paths, but you could see every single town, big and small.
Even Ponyville.
Looking down at that place made Sweetie Belle's heart sink, and she turned away.
At last, they reached Cloudsdale. The pegasi pulling the taxi landed swiftly, right outside the Rainbow Factory.
Sweetie Belle's heart sank even deeper when she had to get out from the cart. She slowly stuck her hoof out and placed it on the cloud.
It didn't phase right through as expected, instead sinking in slightly like a cushion. She dropped from the cart. The clouds felt warm and soft, which was a comforting sensation on her hooves. However, it did little to ease her confusion and nervousness.
Blood Moon glided off after her, and the taxi, with Black Splatter still inside and the pegasi still attached, turned around and flew out of sight.
"What...what are we doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Well, for a special treat, we thought you might like a tour of the Rainbow Factory! It's been a while since we've had someone stay with us, and we thought you'd like it!" Blood Moon replied, smiling.
Storm Star still wasn't making eye contact with either of them. She simply started trotting towards the rainbow factory, followed by the two other ponies.
The place was amazing. Vibrant colours flying all around, ponies working as expected, and as the three trotted on, Sweetie Belle began to feel less uneased and more excited .
Until they walked up some stairs, and turned into a small hallway.
At the end of this hallway, was an elevator, and right next to the elevator, was a code-pad.
Blood Moon charged to it, and began pressing the number keys, in a long but elegant pattern.
After a minute of this, giving Sweetie Belle a good idea of how long this code was, the elevator opened.
Sweetie Belle suddenly felt petrified. What was going on?
She wanted to turn back, but Blood Moon pushed her forward, and she was locked in the elevator with the two pegasi.
At long last, the door opened.
This couldn't be the Rainbow Factory.
How could this of been the Rainbow Factory?
Ahead of them, was a dark room, with a grey receptionist mare, wearing a black tie.
The three ponies walked into the room, Sweetie Belle being pushed along by Blood Moon, too scared to make a step alone.
The receptionist noticed them.
She grinned.
"Ah, Storm Star, Blood Moon! I'm guessing this is another one of your friends ?"
'Another one?'
"Yup! Would you care to show her the first step of our tour?"
'What's happening?'
The receptionist nodded, and she pushed a button.
Immediately, the right wall began to shake, and a hole emerged from it.
'What's the hole for?'
Sweetie Belle found herself being pushed to it by Blood Moon. Her heart was beating rapidly, sweat trickling down her forehead. It smelt repulsive, but that was the least of her worries right now.
"Young filly, would you like to slide down this tunnel, and you can begin your tour," the receptionist stated.
'No.'
"What's wrong, Sweetie? You scared of going down there?"
'Someone help me!'
"Don't worry. Let me-"
'NO!'
"HELP YOU!"
Sweetie Belle was shoved down the hole by Blood Moon, and, screaming, she disappeared quickly into the darkness.
It had been such a blur. One moment, Sweetie Belle had been standing there in the reception.
The next, she'd been violently pushed into the hole in the wall, and all she could do was scream as she slid into the embrace of the pitch black.
She didn't know how long she was sliding, but she was so shocked and busy shrieking that she didn't care.
Then the sliding stopped.
She had reached the end of the long slide, and rolling at full speed, the small filly crashed into a wall, the impact leaving a large, cruel bruise on her forehead. She yelled out helplessly in agony as she clutched it.
As soon as that had happened, the wall began shaking violently again, and the hole was once again shrouded by a layer of metal wall, so Sweetie Belle couldn't climb back up.
Panicking, and standing up, she peered all around her.
All that was there was a tiny candle attached to the wall, the light it was giving so small that the opposite side of the room was still completely black.
Sweetie Belle began to search frantically for a way out, close to tears and her breathing raspy.
A door, a window, a passageway...
There were none.
Nothing but a bare floor and walls, with so much dirt on them it looked as if they had never been cleaned. Sweetie Belle lifted up one of her hooves, to find a whole sheet of dust and dirt weaved within the once crisp white fur. Now, it was more of a dirty grey.
She was empty. She didn't know what to do. Desperate, she tried kicking the walls, throwing balls of dirt at the ceiling in the slightest hope that they would break. Of course, all she left was a few more stains on the ceiling.
Now stripped of any remaining hope, she slumped down under the candlelight, trying to stay strong.
"There has to be a way out. I mustn't cry, I can't cry. I ...I..."
A tear rolled down her face.
Once that first tear broke free, the rest followed in an unbroken stream. The filly bent forward where she sat and pressing her hooves to the cold metal, she began to cry with the force of a pony vomiting heavily.
She didn't know how long she stayed there, tears trickling down her face and staining her fur, but she didn't care. She couldn't even find the courage to stop them. She just howled in misery and pain, her head still stinging, the room cold and uncomforting.
Before she knew it, she had made a small puddle in front of her, which was still continuing to expand.
She wanted to go back to Ponyville. She shouldn't of trusted those two mares. Rarity was always giving her talks back at home telling her never to trust strangers.
Rarity.
Sweetie Belle hadn't realised until then how much she needed Rarity. How much she should have stayed with Rarity...
And how much she loved Rarity.
All of the times they had enjoyed together. Rarity had always tried so hard to take care of her. They had laughed, and had fun...
And she had ran away from it all.
Sure, she could be shouty at times. And a drama-queen, and even a little oblivious.
There were bad times.
But now Sweetie Belle faced it.
She loved her big sister so much.
And she always would.
It took what seemed like an eternity, but at last, Sweetie Belle cried herself out. Wiping her deeply bloodshot eyes, and smoothing her tear-stained cheeks, she curled up away from the puddle, trying to keep herself warm as she came to realisation of how cold the room was.
She had no idea what was going to happen next. Would she stay trapped in that tiny room forever and starve to death?
Some horrible thoughts then struck the filly.
Were they cannibals? Would they rip her up, her heart still beating, and feast on her flesh?
Were they going to torture her?
All these thoughts raced through Sweetie Belle. They made her scared, no, petrified . The most petrified she had ever been.
They also filled her with adrenaline, and desperation.
Pumped with new determination, she galloped over to one wall, and began slamming into it as hard as she could.
"LET ME OUT!" she cried, "LET ME OUT!"
She continued to do this for what seemed like forever, in hopes that somepony might just hear her, and indeed let her out.
She did this for a while. She was sweating, and slamming into the hard wall was hurting her side, but she ignored it.
Until at last, her breathing began to get heavy, and she was slowly giving up again.
"LET ME...OUT. L...Let me..."
The tired filly collapsed to the floor, her energy now completely drained. She lay there, inhaling, trying to get her breath back.
She waited.
Nopony came.
The tears returned, and she soon found herself sobbing in another puddle of tears. It seeped into her fur, but she didn't even try and move away.
'Does it even matter anymore? ' she wondered.
Her side began to ache terrifically, and trying to ignore it, she began to think of Ponyville again.
All the adventures she and her friends had together.
Even the less successful ones, she admired. She would give anything to go back to the way it was then.
And Rarity.
Sweetie Belle glanced over to the cold darkness at the end of the room, and it filled her with memories.
She hated the dark when she was little.
But before she went to bed every night, Rarity would always read her a bedtime story, and that seemed to make everything ok.
She remembered Rarity reading them. How she sometimes did voices to match to characters, which always made Sweetie Belle giggle.
The lonely filly gave a small smile, as she remembered Rarity kissing her on the cheek as the story finished.
"Goodnight Sweetie-Belle. I love you, darling," she'd always say.
Still releasing waves of tears, but smiling at the same time, Sweetie Belle closed her eyes.
"Goodnight Rarity," she whispered.
"I love you too."
Author's Note
I would very much appreciate it if you would take the time to like/dislike this story, and if you have some extra time, maybe even review it? All feedback is appreciated- positive or negative. Thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Trapped
Sweetie Belle opened her eyes, greeted to the uninviting darkness of the tiny room again.
She had fallen asleep. She questioned how . Had she cried herself to sleep? In this freezing, dark, terrifying prison? It seemed impossible, especially with the fear that had struck her before.
She was famished, and parched. Her mouth was drier than it had ever been.
How long had she been asleep? What time was it?
Is this real? She questioned suddenly.
The slightest hope came to her that this was all a dream. A disgusting nightmare tricking her into thinking she really was conscious, and really trapped in this room with no escape.
Wake up.
She waited, but nothing happened. She tried pinching herself, but nothing happened besides a sharp pain running up her leg.
She was still damp with tears, and she was covered from head to hoof in a thick layer of dirt. Her astonishing white fur had become an ugly dusty grey.
This wasn't just a nightmare. This was a living nightmare. She was indeed awake, and hope left her heart as quickly as it had foolishly entered.
Her scarf was still wrapped around her neck, although it was now tarnished and ruined, and was no longer any use.
'They brought me this scarf. '
That fact pumped anger into the filly, and she pulled the scarf off and threw it as hard as she could onto the floor, stomping on it.
"How was I stupid enough to trust you?! " she shouted, her eyes becoming misty.
She turned away.
Then she looked to the wall.
Her rucsac was there, leaning slumped on the wall. She had completely forgotten about it, and when she caught sight of it, she smiled.
She galloped over to it and zipped it open. The food she had packed was still there, calling her name.
She tore open some hay bars and wolfed them down as quickly as she ever had. She sucked on the straw of an apple juice carton. It tasted a lot better than bitter tears, and immediately washed her dry mouth with moisture and relief. Indeed, it was a refreshing feast.
When her ravenous hunger was satisfied at last, the small filly lay on the rucsac, taking in the scent of it and cuddling it close like a stuffed animal.
It still smelt just like the boutique. Strong perfume, and a slight musty smell due to being stored under her bed for a while. It even had a couple on tiny white hairs remaining on it from Opalescence.
It was the only thing left that she had from her home left. She held it protectively, and so tightly that the zip began to drag backwards slightly. Drawing it back again, she rested her head on the soft fabric.
It made her feel somewhat, that she was safe.
That she was loved.
And for a slight moment, everything was ok.
But then, that moment ended.
Immediately, the ceiling began to shake. A shocking bolt of fear struck Sweetie Belle. Abandoning the rucsac, she galloped into the corner, cowering in fear as the ceiling opened.
Blood Moon and Storm Star were looking down at her from a metal platform, along with many other ponies, and none of them looked friendly.
The room looked so high up. There were platforms and machinery everywhere. Ponies activating switches, and pressing buttons. But the most concerning part was that the whole place reeked of... flesh . No, not just flesh, rotting flesh. It made Sweetie Belle want to vomit the hay bars she had just eaten. Yet she managed to stay solid- her stomach, anyway. The filly instead, was crying, shaking, as fresh tears trailed down her already damp cheeks. She wanted to run- but there was nowhere to run.
She screamed out in desperation.
"What are you going to do?! What do you want?!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs.
Blood Moon let out a haunting cackle, before pointing up to a pony on a higher platform.
"This is what happens to little fillies that trust strangers!" she let out another echoing laugh, "start the machine, Wooden Toaster!"
Sweetie Belle swore that her heart stopped beating. Everything froze into place for a split second.
But before she had any time to react, to scream, to do anything at all, a claw shot down into the room, and almost crushing her with it's dangerously tight grasp, it plucked her out of the room and swiftly carried her to a machine.
A large machine. A terrifyingly large machine. And attached to it was a metal table with cuffs welded on, and another claw with a sharp blade tied on... which looked like in only a press of a button, it could fly to the table, piercing anypony trapped on it in the chest...
Sweetie Belle screamed.
This was it.
