Sweetie Belle's POV

"See you tomorrow Rarity!" I giggled, putting the finishing touches on my eyelashes: the most perfect rhinestones I'd ever SEEN!

"Oh, very funny Sweetie Belle!" my less than amused sister replied. Stomping all four hooves in my room she stood impatiently. "Your curfew is five forty nine, remember?" she tested.

"It's five forty five!" I complained. Her lips curled into a sleek smile and her eyes shut from the grin.

"Perfect! I won't have time to miss you!" I swear, she's worse than dad! She acts like I'm going to a rave, and not prom.

"Rarity!" I whined.

"Please, Sweetie belle!" my sister complained, hooves over ears. "DO stop that infernal noise! For goodness sakes, you're almost a fully grown mare. Show some class, dear."

"Me? Show class? Well!" I stood from my vanity and strutted in front of my sister. "How dare you insult my posh and lady-like manner? If anything, I am THE most gorgeously perfected young mare in all of Ponyville. Nay: all the LAND!" I satirically proclaimed. "Now, excuse me while I find my shoes."

"You saved your shoes for LAST?!" Rarity was obviously appalled. "Sweetie Belle, you're only harming yourself. You know as well as I, shoes are the building blocks of outfits. Of course, this outfit is only the most IMPORTANT of your life!"

"Here they are," I grinned. I pulled my mother's vintage heels out of the closet and stared a moment before slipping them on. They're perfect. My small moment of serenity is almost instantly shattered by my sister's piercing voice.

"TAKE THOSE HIDEOUS MONSTROSITIES OFF YOUR ANGELIC HOOVES THIS INSTANT!" she shrieked. Why does my sister have to be so anti-mom's wardrobe? She has some really popular clothes from when she was in high school.

"Rarity, come on! They're priceless vintage shoes! It means a lot to mom that I'm wearing them to prom. They're what she wore you know!"

"Yes, I DO know. In fact she tried to get me to wear them to mine too, but I've learned a lot since those days. I simply told her I didn't want to wear them and had to listen to her cry and plead for months. Now that I'm older I've realized the proper way to handle such a situation. She pleaded that I wear her wedding dress, but instead Opal "accidently" poured bleach on its entirety and had to stitch my own."

"How did you manage to get Opal to do that?" I asked.

"She-...never mind that now! The point is: you cannot wear those shoes!"

"We're here!" cheered a voice from the living room. Spike must have let every pony in.

"Oh pumpkin pie! Everypony's here!"

"Urgh, I've told him time and again: don't refer to me as edible objects," Rarity growled.

"Rarity, can y'all help me with Apple Bloom's dang dress? I can't get this darned thing tied!"

"Apple Jack, it's not supposed to tie. It is a zipped dress with a ribbon backing. The ribbons are solely there to hide the unsightly fashion faux pas."

"I thought y'all bought a dress! Not a darned contraption," Apple Jack sighed. Rainbow Dash was flying around snapping pictures of Scootaloo, then Apple Bloom, followed by me.

"When you guys are our age, I'm totally blackmailing you with these," she taunted. Apple Jack's hoof slammed into the back of Rainbow's head.

"Now, let these fillies be! They're goin' ta prom, just like EVERY other normal gal ought to!"

"Yes, and every respectable young lady must remember their class, am I correct?" my sister aimed at me.

"Yes," I groaned in annoyance. "Now let us go! We've got cheese and fruit to chip away at ever-so-daintily."

"Y'all can eat however daintily you want, but I'm starved!"

"Everypony will be granted sustenance after we take pictures!" Rarity demanded. I scoured the premises with my eyes. I don't see Shadow yet! How can I take pictures without my date?

"I can't believe y'all are makin' me take Big Mac ta prom!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"He's chaperoning!" Apple Jack deflected. "Ain't like you had a date. You're too young ta be worryin' about silly little colts." The annoyed look on Apple Bloom's face said it all.

"Sweetie Belle!" panted Shadow, coming on the scene. "I'm so sorry I'm late." Rarity's eyes narrowed and her eyebrow twitched, cuing Spike to place a hand on her back.

"Happy place," he cautioned. "Growing up is a part of life, remember?"

"Shadow." Rarity cleared her throat in attempt to regain composure. "Would you please stand next to my sister so I can take your picture?"

"Y-yeah, sure," Shadow smiled. He stepped up to me and reached to put a hoof around my shoulder: only to have it swatted.

"Not that close! Any closer and you'd be standing on top of her!"

"Rarity!" Spike warned. In an exasperated sigh, Rarity held her camera up. In a moment, her anger dissipated.

"Sweetie Belle.." she began. "You look...brilliantly stunning." I heard her voice break, and it really touched me. Standing behind that camera was a grown married mare. She had a husband and a kid of her own, but she still had room for me. All of my life we've been there for each other, and it's just nice to know I still mean so much to her. Even after all the new editions.

"Say cheese you two!" Apple Jack's voice boomed. Our attention captured, all our heads turned to the action. Big Mac in a TUXEDO, was taking his picture with Apple Bloom. Rainbow Dash lay, laughing hysterically on the floor. Scootaloo and I tried not to laugh, in respect from our friend, but who could really blame us? I mean they're in formal attire for Celestia's sake!

"I'm glad y'all think this is so funny!" Apple Bloom huffed. "Let's just get this over with!" she grumbled.

"Now, I don't see what is so wrong with goin' to the prom with your big brother!" Apple Jack defended.

"That's why ponies make odd stories about our family!" she yelled out on the way to the carriage.

"I guess we better get going..." I decided out loud to break the tension.

"Sweetie Belle, let them go on. I've got one thing left to tell you."

"I'll save you a seat," Shadow smiled, honoring Rarity's request.

"Thanks, Shadow," I giggled. He's just such a charming stallion...

"Sweetie Belle," Rarity began the second he was out of sight. "I know that tonight is a night of beauty, and possible pressures. I just want you to know that no matter what anypony tells you: you don't HAVE to do anything. You do realize that, don't you?"

"Yes," I promised. "Rarity, don't worry." I pleaded, "Everything's going to be perfect: I'm not going to screw up tonight."

Author's Note

XD So if Sweetie had listened to Rarity, how different would things have gone? Why don't we see if Sweetie can manage a happily ever after this time :D