Grow Up

by Manes

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Drama, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity
Length: 1574

Two simple words from a friend causes Sweetie Belle to take action to change who she thought she was...

"GROW UP!"

Sweetie Belle was happy being the joyful young filly that she was, but things soon get turned upside down when two words from a friend changes who she thought she was.

Now, Sweetie Belle must find out who she truly is behind the smile, or be lost forever...

This is a What if story? So this one isn't canon with the original.

Published 2014-05-09 02:50:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-10-30 06:04:25 UTC

Grow Up

“Ugh!” Scootaloo groaned as Sweetie Belle placed a pink top hat on the pegasus’s purple mane. A pink dress, with yellow and blue lines, and a pink bow tie on the back was the dress. It was so tight Scootaloo couldn't even get it off. “I look so girly in this! And why is this thing is so tight!”

“Yer’ not the only one partner.” Examining the blue dress she was wearing, Apple Bloom groaned at how weird it felt on her. The feeling of the dress getting tighter made her whimper. “Why is this so tight on meh?”

“You think yours is bad? Just look at mine!” Scootaloo shouted, as she lifted up the dress to show Apple bloom the white material under it. “I look like I belong inside a history book!”

Sweetie Belle pouted. “You’re supposed to act like you have class.” She brought the cup to her lips and took a fake sip before placing it back down. “Rarity always says that.”

“I don’t like tea, it tastes nasty and it’s too hot.” Scootaloo crossed her forelegs and huffed. “Where is Celestia anyway? I feel like you’re lying to us.”

“Ah have to agree.” Rubbing the back of her neck, a nervous smile crept onto her face. “Not the lying part though. Tea parties are kinda.. ”

“What?” Sweetie Belle asked, staring at Apple Bloom with wide eyes. “What are you trying to say, Apple Bloom?

Apple Bloom sighed. “Ah gotta be honest with ya, Sweetie Belle. Tea parties are kinda—”

“Boring,” Scootaloo finished.

“SCOOTALOO!”

“I can’t pretend anymore!” The hat Scootaloo wore was slammed hard onto the wooden floor as she took it off her head. She raised her hind leg in the air and forced it down onto the small hat. At that moment, Sweetie Belle’s heart was shattered. “This is so not me!”

“What?” Apple Bloom asked, hinting an irritated tone as she spoke. “What are big kids suppose to do then?”

“Not this!” Scootaloo rolled her eyes and forced out a laugh. “This isn’t what big kids do, Apple Bloom!

“But she’s our friend, Scootaloo! It shouldn’t matter!” Apple Bloom shouted. “Or have you forgotten that?”

“Tea parties aren’t for fillies our age, Apple Bloom, and you know it.” Sweetie Belle felt a sudden pain in her shoulder as Scootaloo pushed past her and walked out. “You’re too old for this, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle watched as the angry pegasus stormed out the clubhouse, her heart crushed into little pieces as Scootaloo’s last two words will forever rang inside her ears. “Grow up.”

“I...I thought she was my friend...” Tears began trailing down the filly’s eyes as she choked with every word that escaped her mouth. “I thought she would like tea parties because I made them.”

“Sweetie Belle, Ah can’t say that you liking tea parties isn’t right.” Sweetie Belle turned her at the sound of her friend’s voice, it was filled with concern and sadness. “But don’t you think... tea parties are kinda getting old and boring?”

Sweetie Belle slapped Apple Bloom’s hoof off her shoulder, her tears drying off her face as she felt her anger boil up inside. “You heard Scootaloo! TEA PARTIES ARE FOR LITTLE GIRLS! SO YES I THINK IT’S GETTING OLD AND BORING!”

Sweetie Belle ran away before Apple Bloom could say anything. Apple Bloom watched as the crushed filly ran through the rain all the way home with her head down. She started crying as she came to realize what she lost: her two best friends.

Rarity hummed a tone as she stirred the chopped up carrots she put inside the hot soup she was cooking for dinner. Standing near the stove, Rarity levitated a bottle of salt near the pot and sprinkled some into it for extra flavor. “Where is Sweetie Belle? She’s supposed to be here.”

Feeling something brushing against her hind leg, Rarity looked down to see Opal walking up to her. “Hello, my little Opal.” Rarity picked the cat up and snugged her. “Do you know where Sweetie Belle could be?”

Opal stared long and hard at Rarity, showing no emotion as usual. “You’re right, I’m worrying too much.” Putting the cat back down on the floor, Rarity resumed cooking dinner. “She is probably out blithely crusading with her friends.”

She stopped stirring when she heard the door being slammed from the other room. Trotting into the living room, Rarity smiled as she saw her little sister standing at the front door, soaked and wet from the rain, but safe at home, nonetheless.

“Sweetie Belle, I—” Sweetie Belle ran upstairs until the sound of another door being slammed could be heard from where Rarity was standing. There she stood at the front of the steps, confused and worried. “Oh dear... I guess I should go talk to her.”

Slowly going up the stairs, Rarity could hear a faint sob getting louder and louder as she reached the top of the stairs. “Sweetie dear, is everything alright?” She placed her ear on the door so she could hear Sweetie Belle’s voice.

No response. Starting to get worried, Rarity softly pushed the door opened. A loud creaking sound rang in Rarity’s ears as the door finally reached the wall behind it. “Sweetie Belle, are you in here?”

Sweetie Belle had shoved everything she had on her dresser onto the floor. Tears still stained the filly’s face and pure anger burned in her eyes. She grasped the things that fell on the floor and threw them into a trash bin near her bed. “Sweetie Belle, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing.” Sweetie Belle turned around to face her sister, black eye liner remained wet under her eyes. A sniffle would interrupt her every time she spoke. “I’m okay, I’m just throwing out some stuff.” Turning around, Sweetie Belle gave Rarity a fake reassuring smile. “I’ll be done in a couple of minutes.”

“Sweetie Belle, you don’t look too good.” Rarity sat down near Sweetie Belle and placed her hooves on filly’s cheeks, making Sweetie Belle turn to face her. “Tell me the truth, young mare.”

“Scootaloo was right. It’s time for me to grow up.” Sweetie Belle looked down and sniffed a little. “I’ve been acting like a baby and didn’t even know it.”

“Scootaloo said what?!” Rarity stared at Sweetie Belle, shocked. “What did she say, Sweetie Belle?” She was waiting for an answer, while Sweetie Belle remained quiet and kept her head down, avoiding her sister’s gaze. “Sweetie Belle, what did she—”

“SHE TOLD ME TO GROW UP!” Fresh tears began to fall from her eyes. Sweetie Belle felt herself being pulled into a hug, Rarity forelegs were wrapped around her. “I’LL SHOW HER!” Burying her face in Rarity’s chest, Sweetie Belle resumed her sobbing into Rarity's coat.

“No, you’re not. You’re going to keep doing what you love, do you hear me?” Rarity said, looking into Sweetie Belle’s eyes.

Fresh tears were still trailing down the filly’s eyes. It pained Rarity’s heart to see Sweetie Belle like this.“You’re not going to change, all because of what somepony said.”

Sweetie Belle wiped her tears away. “Yeah, but—”

“Uh huh.” Rarity shook her head, a smile formed on the mare’s face. “No more ‘buts.’ Never change because of what somepony else said; keep doing what you love until you say stop.”

Lifting Sweetie’s chin up, Rarity smiled down at her little sister and Sweetie Belle gave a weak smile back. “Do you understand, Sweetie?”

Sweetie Belle sniffed a bit and nodded. “Thanks for cheering me up, big sis’.” she said, hugging her big sister tightly. “I love you.”

A single tear rolled down Rarity’s cheek as she hugged her little sister back. It warmed her heart to see Sweetie Belle smiling again. “I love you, too.”

Author's Note

Just a little one-shot I wanted to share.

All Forgiven (Unedited)

A Knock from the front door caught Sweetie Belle’s attentioned. She ran to the door and opened it. A purple mane pegasus with a orange coat stood outside staring down at the floor. “Scootaloo, what are you doing here?”

Scootaloo rubbed the back of her neck. “Maybe my outburst was too over the stop.” Sweetie Belle cast an angry glance at her, making Scootaloo chuckle nervously. “Listen, Sweetie Belle. I was wrong and uncool for what I said. You shouldn’t change who you are because I don’t like it.”

“You said some mean things to me.” Sweetie Belle crossed her forelegs. “You really hurt my feelings.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Scootaloo said, her tone getting a little loud. “I was having some issues back at home. So I took my frustration out on you and I’m sorry.”

“Why didn’t you tell me or Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle asked. “We would have thing everything in our power to cheer you up because that’s what friends do for each other.”

“I know.” Closing her eyes, Scootaloo felt something wrapped around her body. She opened her eyes to find Sweetie Belle hugging on her. “Forgive me?”

“Yeah I forgive you, you big chicken.” Sweetie Belle said with a giggle. “But you’re going to my next party.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, uttering words as she followed Sweetie Belle inside. “Oh joy.”

Author's Note

I couldn't end the story like that. I had to make a scene with them being friends again.