For the better part of her fillyhood, Sweetie Belle wanted nothing but her cutie mark. Now she wanted to be a princess. After learning from Rarity that their librarian friend from down the street was crowned a princess by the Royal Sisters, she hoped one day she would achieve royal status. For several days Sweetie Belle spent her free time reading fairy tales and books about princesses to gather some useful information.
The first thing she learned about being a princess was that she needed a kingdom. In her backyard she, along with her two best friends Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, created a fort out of cardboard boxes and pink and red paint. They had also dug a small moat around her cardboard palace and filled it with water, with the addition of a wooden plank. Henceforth, Sweetie Belle christened her kingdom Belltopia.
The next few days the three fillies spent the time preparing for Sweetie Belle’s coronation. The guest list included Rarity, their parents, half of their class (if any would come), themselves, and of course Sweetie Belle’s stuffed animals.
The miniature coronation began at the stroke of noon. The only attendants out of the guest list were Rarity, her parents, Dinky Hooves, Twist, and the stuffed animals from Sweetie’s room. The ceremonies started off with a symphony of a fake trumpet fanfare by Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “Mares and gentlecolts,” Apple Bloom announced. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders are pleased to introduce to you for the very first time in history, Princess Sweetie Belle!” The white filly emerged from a red curtain behind the audience. She was adorned in a blue dress with yellow lining at the collar. On her head lay a plastic golden tiara and on her back were white wings made of the exact material as her castle. Sweetie walked down the aisle with her head up high as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sang her introductory song:
Here she is,
Princess Sweetie Belle.
Look at her,
Isn’t she great?
We think so too,
Look at her crown.
Sure it’s plastic,
But that doesn’t matter,
It’s Princess Sweetie Belle!
The song ended with golf course clapping from the confused coronation attendees. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo let the newly-crowned Sweetie Belle take her place on their small podium. When everypony was silent, she began her first speech as princess.
“I’m so glad all of you were able to come!” she said with excitement. “I promise I’m going to be the best princess I can be! I don’t think being a princess is that hard, you just have to wear dresses, go to parties, and do some other important stuff. Anyway, I Pinkie-Promise to perform to the best of my abilities to execute the Law of the Kingdom of Belltopia, so help me Celestia.”
Her speech received another round of golf course clapping. The children, and to a lesser extent her parents, did not seem to mind that Sweetie had proudly proclaimed herself princess, but Rarity hid her embarrassment in the guise of a cringeworthy smile.
When the coronation ceremony ended and the attendees returned home, it was time to create the law of the land. The fillies gathered in Sweetie Belle’s room and wrote on a wide piece of paper that was as large as themselves. “Okay, what should be the first law?” Scootaloo asked.
“How about every Friday should be Free Cake Day?” Princess Sweetie suggested. Scootaloo wrote down the first law on the sheet of paper. “Where are we going to get free cake from?” she asked. Sweetie rubbed her chin, the said, “Maybe Pinkie Pie will give us free cake if I tell her I’m a princess now.”
“I got an idea for a second law,” Apple Bloom said. “How about whenever anypony does something bad, they have to spend one day in the pokey?”
“What’s the pokey?” Sweetie asked.
“When Wynonna was a little puppy, we put her in a playpen we called the pokey whenever she acts up, so it’s kind of like jail.”
“Should the jail be my basement?”
“Sure, that would be great!” Scootaloo wrote down the second law into the paper and the girls continued to create more silly laws for Sweetie’s new kingdom. When evening was on the horizon it was time for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to returned to their homes. After having dinner and brushing her teeth Princess Sweetie Belle dreamed about her loyal subjects bowing and praising her.
The next morning after eating her breakfast Princess Sweetie Belle went out into the backyard to check on her castle. It was just like they have left it the day before. While she gazed at her cardboard castle she wondered what are some other important things princesses do. A great idea formed in her mind. She ran back to her room and grabbed her plastic tiara and wings and gathered her friends to meet at the treehouse.
When Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were present, Sweetie proudly announced her first action as princess. “My loyal subjects, I have finally decided what we should do today. I think we should find a prince to rule with me!”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave each other concerned glances. “A prince? Where are we going to find a prince?” Scootaloo asked.
“Simple, we interview every colt in town until we find the right one to be a prince,” Sweetie said. Bloom and Scoots gave each other questioning glances once more. Apple Bloom raised her arm and asked, “Why do you need a prince all of a sudden? Can’t you just rule your kingdom by yourself?”
“But I have to have prince,” Sweetie whined. “In the fairy tales I read, the prince and the princess always lived happily ever.”
“We’re not going to have a kissing contest, are we?” Scootaloo asked. The girls’ faces contorted into disgusted looks with their tongues out. “Eww! No I just want to see if they’re good enough to be princes, not kiss them!” Sweetie said.
The following afternoon the girls visited the playground and talked to the colts individually about the prospect of being a prince. Princess Sweetie Belle sat on a lounging chair while Scootaloo and Apple Bloom interviewed the potential co-rulers.
The first colt was tall, dark yellow colt with a greenish-blue mane. “And what might your name be?” Apple Bloom asked.
“You know me Apple Bloom, I’m Snails,” the colt said.
“I know just play along. Do you think you have what it takes to be a good prince?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t know much about being a prince. Do princes have to do anything hard?”
“I don’t think so. You just have to sit next to the princess and stuff.”
“... Nah, that sounds too hard. See you at school.”
The next colt to be interviewed was a little bright-yellow colt with a propeller hat and an orange mane. “And what’s your name?” Scootaloo asked.
“Rocky Road, ma’am.”
“What do you know about being a prince?”
“A prince has to tell the princess what to do and stuff, and the princess has to obey his every order.” After he said that he grinned a silly grin. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at each other before letting him go. The next colt was a pudgy little gray one with a soft black mane. “State your name please,” Apple Bloom said.
“Truffle Shuffle, er, ma’am,” the colt said.
“You think you can be a prince?”
“I think so, can the prince eat anything he wants?”
“... Yeah, I think.”
Truffle Shuffle’s interview became a conversation of things he liked to eat, so Apple Bloom had to let him go. Throughout the afternoon Scootaloo and Apple Bloom interviewed every colt in the playground as well as filling Princess Sweetie’s glass with iced tea from time to time. The quest to find an eligible prince for Sweetie Belle seemed hopeless. Some were not too bright while others were just plain rude. Just as they were about to draw the interviews to a close, one more colt approached them.
“Excuse me,” the young colt said. From the sound of his voice he had an accent, and was not from around Ponyville. He was a small pinto colt with a brown mane, and was a tad-bit shorter than the rest of the girls. “Um, were you girls looking for a prince?” he asked bashfully.
“We were, but we given up now,” Scootaloo said.
“Oh… well, I thought I might make a pretty good prince,” the colt said while gently kicking dirt into the ground.
“Yeah, well, maybe next time kid,” Apple Bloom said. She was suddenly stopped by Sweetie Belle, who saw the colt from her lounging chair. Her eyes gazed deeply his, her legs weak, and her mouth dried. The colt stood in front of her like an angel descended from heaven. Everything about him was so… perfect. “Who are you,” Sweetie stammered.
The colt bowed and answered, “Pipsqueak, Your Highness.” Sweetie Belle giggled with pure delight, but she soon gained her composure, even if she were still swept away by the young colt. “You… want to be my - I mean, a prince?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Do you know what a prince does?”
“A prince must always protect the princess and always be there for her, and help rule her kingdom. At least that’s what I read in my adventure books.”
Sweetie Belle tackled Pipsqueak with a hug and proclaimed to the inhabitants of earth with a loud voice, “I’ve found my prince!” On the next day the wedding was held in Sweetie Belle’s backyard in front of the cardboard castle. Her parents, Dinky, Twist, Sweetie’s stuffed animals, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, and Pinkie Pie attended. Rarity could not come do to having a busy schedule of filling out clothing orders on that day, but she send her best wishes (she hoped it was just a pretend wedding). Just like the coronation Sweetie emerged from a red curtain, this time with her prince by her side. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sang the iconic wedding march as Prince Pipsqueak and Princess Sweetie Belle walked down the aisle.
“We are gather here today to unite this mare and stallion in holy matrimony,” Apple Bloom announced to the attendees. “Will you, Prince Pipsqueak, take this princess to be your lawfully wedded wife until death do you apart?”
“I do.”
“Will you, Princess Sweetie Belle, take this prince to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
“Then by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you Prince and Princess. You may k-- uh… shake hooves.”
Sweetie and Pipsqueak smiled at each other and took their hooves and shook them up and down. The small crowd cheered, and Sweetie’s mother and father had tears in their eyes. Pinkie jumped out of her seat and yelled, “It’s time for the reception!” She pulled out her party cannon and an explosion caused a party to appear out of thin air, with tables, snacks, cake, and music.
After the wedding reception ended, everypony went home, included the newly-crowned Prince Pipsqueak. He told Sweetie Belle his mother did not like him being out after sunset, but he promised to come back tomorrow to be a prince for her again. That evening Sweetie’s dream was of Pipsqueak and herself standing on a great balcony overlooking their vast kingdom and their loyal subjects.
Rarity watched Sweetie Belle and Pipsqueak play in the backyard from her bedroom that late-morning. She found it strange that her little sister’s new dream was being a princess when up to this point she was worrying about not being the last one in class to get her cutie mark. Why has her goals changed all of a sudden, she wondered.
Although their voices were muffled from the other side of the window, Rarity heard giggling and laughter coming from the two children. Pipsqueak had a blue cape on his back and a silver crown made of paper mache and Sweetie Belle still had her blue dress and plastic tiara. Despite her initial reactions, Rarity wanted to be happy that her younger sister found a fantasy world to call her own, but she found this situation all too surreal.
As she prepared for another busy day at the Carousel Boutique she found her parents in the kitchen. Father was reading the local newspaper while Mother was washing the dishes. “Good morning Rarity,” Mother said. “Going to work?”
“Indeed I am,” Rarity replied. “Those clothes aren’t going to make themselves… as much as I really them to.”
“Your mother and I are heading off for another business trip in Las Pegasus,” Father said. “We’ll be leaving this afternoon. You’ll be able to look after Sweetie Belle while we’re gone, right?”
“Of course, I always do. I’d be a terrible sister if I didn’t.”
Just as Rarity was about to make her way out the door Sweetie Belle and Pipsqueak entered the kitchen with their silly costumes and bright smiles. “Hi mom, hi dad!” said Sweetie.
“And hello to you, Princess Sweetie Belle,” her father bowed. Her mother soon followed, much to Rarity’s bewilderment. The newly-crowned princess and prince of the household bowed back to them. “Hello Miss Rarity,” Pipsqueak said bowing to her. Rarity bowed in an awkwardly fashion and smiled. “So how is my little princess?” Mother asked.
Sweetie used her best imitation of Canterlot royalty and responded, “I’m quite well, as is Sir Pipsqueak. Today is a marvelous day.” Sweetie Belle and her parents, as well as Pipsqueak, began to speak and imitate Canterlot nobility, arousing Rarity’s confusion even more. After a few minutes of pseudo-royal speak Sweetie and Pipsqueak return to the backyard with juice boxes.
“Mother, are you sure about Sweetie Belle with her new… princess obsession?” Rarity asked approaching her mother.
“What do you mean, dear?”
“It’s just that… all this time, Sweetie was focused on getting her cutie mark and finding her special talent. Her fascination with being a princess is random at best.”
“Rarity, Sweetie is just a little filly. You know how they are with princesses. It’s just a phase all fillies go through and in the end she’ll grow out of it.”
“Besides, I remember a certain unicorn who wanted to be a princess when she was a filly,” Father said winking at Rarity. “On her fifth birthday she wished for a castle and her knight in shining armor.” His words caused Rarity’s white cheeks to turn crimson.
“Anything that will take Sweetie’s mind off of forcing her cutie mark to appear is fine by all accounts,” Mother said. “If you ask me, she needs more time to be a filly and have fun and play make-believe.”
Rarity put her hoof under her chin, then turned her head to see her little sister and Pipsqueak sitting at the backyard table, laughing with each other and drawing on a huge sheet of paper. She put more thought into her parents words, and thought this was the best thing for Sweetie Belle, that maybe her new obsession came at the right time in her life. Seeing Sweetie act like the child she was supposed to be instead of watching her moping around about her cutie mark was a novelty of sorts.
Out in the backyard Sweetie Belle and Pipsqueak held a conversation about the activities they believe Canterlot royalty and nobility engage in. If Sweetie wanted to be a proper princess, then she must play the role right. “I was thinking we could have a dance, or a ball,” she suggested. “Like the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“That would be fantastic!” Pipsqueak said. “But where are we going to have the gala? We need a big hall for something like that.”
“Hmm… maybe I can ask Miss Cheerilee if we can use the school gym for it,” Sweetie answered.
“And we’re also going to need music, food… oh, and guests, lots of guests.”
Sweetie wrote the gala ideas on the sheet of paper, then began tapping the eraser on the table. “I know Pinkie Pie will help us plan the gala if I ask her, but where am I going to find guests? The only ponies I know are my friends, my sister and her friends, and the kids in our class.”
“They should be enough,” Pipsqueak said.
“I know, but if our party is going to be like the Grand Galloping Gala, then we have to have at least two hundred ponies to arrive.”
“Maybe we can send out invitations to everypony in town,” suggested Pipsqueak. “That might work. Nopony will come to a party if they’re not invited.”
“That’s a great idea!” exclaimed Sweetie. “But we have to spend all day making those invitations.”
“Maybe Apple Bloom and Scootaloo can help us. Then the four of us could deliver them to everypony.”
Sweetie and Pipsqueak finished consuming their juice boxes and ran inside the house straight to into her bedroom to make further plans for their gala. A rush of excitement ran through Sweetie’s body as she thought about the wonderful things that awaited her in her new life as a princess.
That following afternoon Sweetie Belle called her friends for a mandatory meeting in her backyard. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and of course Pipsqueak were all present. The princess began the meeting by standing proudly in front of her cardboard castle to make her proclamation. “Here ye, Here ye! For I, Princess Sweetie Belle of Belltopia, have a very special announcement,” she said with her best royal accent. “On the night of Saturday on the Eighth of June I and my fair Prince Pipsqueak will host the upcoming ball! All are welcomed!”
“... A ball? You mean like what they have in Canterlot?” Scootaloo asked.
“Why of course. Isn’t that a marvelous idea?”
“Sure, it’s just that… how are we going to do this? Where is it going to be held?”
“If we are lucky, then the ball is going to be held at the school gym,” said Sweetie. Apple Bloom raised her hand and asked, “And what about stuff like food and music?”
“Simple, I’ll just have to persuade Pinkie Pie for party favors.”
“And how are you going to convince Miss Cheerilee to use the gym to hold the ball?” Scootaloo asked. “Also, how are you going to pay for this stuff? It sounds like this is going to cost a lot of money?”
“And the date,” Apple Bloom added. “June 8th… that’s four days from now. How are we going to all of this in four days?”
“... Didn’t I just said I’ll ask Pinkie Pie for party favors?” Sweetie asked. “For heaven’s sake, she carries a party cannon with her everywhere, even to situations where a party is not called for.”
“Oh yeah…”
“Anyway, Scootaloo is right about convincing Miss Cheerilee to let me use the gym to hold the ball. Just asking her won’t be enough, so I think we should offer her something special, like a gift.”
“What does Miss Cheerilee like besides school?” Apple Bloom asked. Although their teacher was not a hard pony to please, finding a gift to offer her was no easy task. None of her students have ever seen her outside of school but only a few times. “What about hats?” said Pipsqueak. “I think I saw Miss Cheerilee buy a hat once.”
“I think Rarity likes hats too,” said Sweetie. “In fact, I think all mares like hats. It’s so weird.”
“How about a nice, big ‘ole homemade apple pie from Granny Smith herself,” Apple Bloom proudly suggested. “That’ll convince her real good.”
Sweetie took account of all her friends suggestions. Then, she remembered something deep within her memory of an incident involving a certain stallion that almost got them into trouble. “How about we offer her… Big Mac?”
The stallion’s name reached the little ears of Apple Bloom, who quickly stood up to defend her elder brother’s honor. “Oh no you don’t, missy! I ain’t getting my dear brother mixed up in our antics again, not after last time! You can just forget it!”
“Please Apple Bloom?” pleaded Sweetie. “It’s only just for the ball. I promise we won’t use that love potion again.”
“Nope.”
“How can we know Miss Cheerilee even likes Big Mac?” Scootaloo asked. “It’s only been a year since that Hearts and Hooves incident.”
“Miss Cheerilee likes Apple Bloom’s brother?” Pipsqueak asked.
“We’re not really sure, it’s a long story,” Scootaloo replied.
“I never want to relive that nightmare again!” Apple Bloom said. “You don’t know how long I’ve been trying to rid my brain of that schmoosty-poo and puddin’ pie and huggly-bear and stud muffin and all that lovey dovey hoo-ha!”
“What’s a stud muffin?” Pipsqueak asked.
“Apparently that’s what Big Mac is!”
“Look, if we can have Miss Cheerilee and Big Mac go out on a date with each other, then maybe we might have a chance to hold the ball on the gym.” Sweetie smiled at her small group of would-be collaborators, waiting patiently for their approval. “I know it’s going to work, trust me.” Apple Bloom held her soft glare at Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo was doubtfully gazing at the grass below her. Since Sweetie had her heart set on having this ball and using this one night to feel like somepony special, none of them had it in themselves to deny her wish.
Apple Bloom gave a defeated sigh and said with her down, “I’ll see if I can Big Mac to go out with Cheerilee.” Sweetie gave Bloom a teethful grin and turned to Scootaloo, who then said, “And we can always help you make those invitations.”
“Thanks girls, and Pipsqueak, you guys are the best.”
“But who are we going to invite?” Scootaloo said.
“Anypony we can.”
