Bad to the Belle

(Author's Note: Not done with this one, I thought I could breathe easy when I got this far, but now that I'm here, there's a lot that still needs to get done, like the issue of where Sweetie Belle's cutie mark came from (I never even said that there WAS one I believe, but trust me there is, I'm just dumb and never mentioned it), What Sweetie Belle's hiding from Cloudchaser, The further investigation of Rarity's/Sweetie Belle's Parent's death. Aaaaand I still need to keep tabs on Rarity. This is going to get interesting)

“Well this is the place,” Cloudchaser motioned at a small building with a hoof.

“Looks pretty cozy for a two story building...” Sweetie Belle commented, gawking at the building.

“Yeah, It looks bigger on the inside,” the pegasus pulled the door open, the bells rang as she held it for her friend.

“...Thanks,” Sweetie Belle nodded, entering to the sound of a stallion's voice booming from the back.

“Inkie Pie could you get that one? I've got my hooves filled with a client right now,” it called out.

“Sure thing Piercy,” a mare answered back, soon trotting into the front room to meet the duo. Sweetie Belle didn't know what to say. She waited for Cloudchaser to say something, but she was equally speechless. “What can I do ya for?” the black colored mare asked them, eying them up. Cloudchaser soon spoke up.

“We're here to see pierce, we need to talk to him,” the duo took a seat.

“He's busy right now... But I'll see what I can do,” the mare could read the desperation in their eyes. She retreated to the back room as Cloudchaser and Sweetie Belle exchanged glances of uncertainty. A few moments of silence passed before a blue unicorn stallion appeared from the back, he wiped his sky colored mane aside with a hoof. Adjusting his mane left him unguarded from a hugging lunge Cloudchaser took after him, nearly toppling him over.

“Pierce! I haven't seen you in almost a year!” Cloudchaser exclaimed, almost near tears.

“Cloudchaser? Is that you? I almost didn't recognize you with that mane-due of yours!” Pierce returned her embrace, glad to see an old friend. “How've you been?”

“It's a wild story, but we kind of need a place to stay,” Cloudchaser retracted, glancing back up at Pierce, who was a little confused.

“What happened?” The stallion grew concerned with the matter.

“Sweetie Belle and I kind of ran away,” Cloudchaser tried to sugar coat it.

“Wait... Sweetie Belle? The Sweetie Belle?” The stallion focused his attention on Sweetie Belle. The white unicorn felt a little awkward from how worked up Pierce got.

“Uh, yeah...” Sweetie Belle scratched at her mane, wondering what the big deal was.

“I'm a fan of your sister's work! How is she anyways?” Pierce asked, eager to know.

“Let's not worry about that now,” Cloudchaser interrupted, “we both need a place to stay.”

“...Usually I don't take in runaways, but for you fillies, I'll make an exception... On one condition,” Sweetie Belle didn't like where this was going.

“What is it?” Cloudchaser didn't waste any time fooling around.

“You two help out around the shop, you know, clean off the tools, polish up the merchandise,” the stallion listed.

“We can do that, no trouble at all, right Sweetie Belle?” The pegasus glanced over at her friend, expecting a nod.

“Uh, sure,” Sweetie Belle was just expecting a makeover, not begging for a place to stay. Then again, this is killing two birds with one stone, why question it, she thought. “But what about our identities?” She had to add.

“Oh, um...” Cloudchaser tried to search for the words to say.

“I could fix you up with something... But that's gonna take some extra work,” Pierce's generosity sounded less enthusiastic.

“We'll do it!” Cloudchaser offered, not knowing what the circumstances were.

“Do what?” Sweetie Belle glared at Cloudchaser, having no idea why she would be running her mouth off.

“Well...” Pierce thought about it for a few moments, “seeing as you'll have a new coat and mane colors, you two can go out and advertise for me. You know, pass out fliers, spin signs, all that other good stuff,” Pierce's face beamed at the idea.

“Deal!” Cloudchaser nodded rapidly with a grin to match. Sweetie Belle couldn't argue with that kind of offer.

Looks like our life's already paved for us now, the white unicorn thought to herself, still holding some doubt about it all.

“Great! Inkie will take care of your coats and manes then, as for where you'll be sleeping, you two won't mind sharing the couch would you?” Pierce smiled sheepishly, not willing to part with his bed.

“Not at all!” Cloudchaser spoke for the both of them again. Sweetie Belle decided to throw in the towel and just let her pegasus friend do all the talking.

“Then it's settled! I'll go and tell Inkie to get the bathtub ready then,” Pierce trotted into the back. Sweetie Belle's cheeks flushed as confusion poured in. No one told her a bathtub would be involved with dyeing coats.

“This is it Sweetie Belle!” Cloudchaser faced her friend, happy as could be.

“I know...” The unicorn still was unsure about staying here.

“Come on now! It won't be too bad! I'll do most of the work if I have too! I always wanted to work at a tattoo shop!” Cloudchaser was riled up with excitement.

“It's not that,” Sweetie Belle started as Inkie Pie trotted towards the front, “I'll tell you later tonight,” the unicorn kept her voice low as the dark earth pony entered.

“So who's first to get their coat dyed?” Inkie Pie said with a smile, raring to fulfill what her ink drop cutie mark means. Cloudchaser's hoof thrust into the air instantaneously. Relief poured into Sweetie Belle as her friend volunteered.

“Me, me, me!” The pegasus cheered as she almost began to bounce.

“You with the wings!” Inkie nodded at Cloudchaser, the gesture bring the pegasus right by her side.

“You can come along too,” The earth pony spoke to Sweetie Belle, waving a hoof for her to follow.

The unicorn was silent as she slid off the chair, walking towards the dark mare carefully.

“Oh come on, I don't bite!” Inkie chuckled a little, soon guiding the duo up stairs. “So I never got your names and apparently both of you are staying with us for quite a while,” Inkie eyed them up with a fake suspicion, her grin giving her away.

“I'm Cloudchaser!” The pegasus answered as Sweetie Belle remained quiet.

“Cloudchaser, I like that name,” Inkie commented as they began their ascent. “What about you?” the dark mare glanced back at the unicorn.

“...Sweetie Belle,” She tried not to mumble.

“Rarity's sister?” Inkie asked, having heard young unicorn mare's name before.

“Y-yes,” Sweetie Belle was nervous about how famous she really was... Or at least how far her sister's fame brought her. She never tried to ride Rarity's tail into fame, but she guessed there was just no way to avoid it.

“Piercey likes to keep up to date with her fashion line, it's the only reason I know about her... Anyways, I'm Inkie Pie, I assume you know about my sister seeing as you live-”

“Lived,” Cloudchaser corrected.

“Lived, in Ponyville,” Inkie rolled her eyes at herself, poking fun at her own foolishness.

She has a sister, I know I've heard 'pie' before, but where... Pie, pie, pie... Pinkie Pie! That annoying freak who's friends with my sister! Sweetie Belle put the pieces together.

A rhythmic knock tapped upon Rarity's door. The white unicorn groaned, being awake from her sleep tore her away from her dreams.

“Who would dare wake me up at this hour,” Rarity strained her eyes, searching for a clock. With ever curtain being closed and all the lights being turned off, the dimness of the room proved to be a challenge. “Uugh,” Rarity grumbled as she grabbed for a pillow, placing over her head to cancel out the noise of the door.

Eventually her guest gave up with knock and tried the door. Rarity prayed that it was locked. Unfortunately for her, Spike hadn't locked the door before he left, giving Rarity's new visitor full access to the boutique.

“Surprise!” Pinkie Pie's obnoxious party voice echoed across the dark room. Rarity pretended to be asleep, maybe if the pink earth pony saw her snoozing, she would perhaps give up and go home. But that wasn't the case as Pinkie Pie searched Rarity out and greeted her with an extending party kazoo, just far enough to tickle a sneeze out of the what unicorn.

There was no escaping this one, Rarity's cover was blow, now she had to deal with Pinkie Pie whether she liked it or not.

“Good morning Rarity!” Pinkie cheered, “Or good afternoon is more like it, but it doesn't matter really!”

“Pinkie Pie, I'm trying to get my sleep...” Rarity grunted between gritted teeth, trying to hold back her anger.

“You've been asleep practically all day silly!” The pink earth pony commented, “you should have started your day already!”

“I don't wish to start my day right now,” Rarity hid her face behind a pillow, away from Pinkie's eyes.

“Oh come on Rarity! Today won't be so bad!” Pinkie Pie tore the sheets off the sofa, exposing Rarity's body to the cold room. The unicorn only replied with a cold shiver. She longed for her warm sheets as her body shook violently. Pinkie Pie instantly noticed her dilemma... And her pungent mess that soaked the cushions.

That poor pony didn't even get up to use the potty, Pinkie Pie frowned, knowing she was going to need some help with this one.

“Just go away, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity wasn't in the mood for her shenanigans. Pinkie Pie's smile came back as she put the ideas together in her head.

“How about I'll get a nice warm bubble bath ready for you?” The pink pony offered, willing to do it anyway if she refused. Rarity groaned in response as Pinkie left to fill up the bath tub.

With Pinkie Pie out of the room, Rarity actually had some space to think, and instantly her thoughts reminded her why she was sad in the first place. The unicorn buried her face further into her pillow in a desperate effort to escape them. The metallic squeak of a knob being turned caused Rarity's ears to draw back a bit. The sound of running water wasn't too far behind either... At least it was relaxing to listen too.

Time seemed to pass by as Rarity let herself relax to the sound of the bath being drawn up. Before she knew it the water stopped flowing and Pinkie Pie was already by her side.

“Up and at 'em sleepyhead!” The pink pony pulled Rarity to her hooves by her front hooves. The unicorn fought Pinkies attempt, but her undernourished body didn't have the strength to stand her ground. It didn't take long before Rarity lost the fight, practically letting Pinkie Pie drag her to the bathtub.

Being led to the tub, Rarity gawked at the bath. It's mountain of bubbles had intimidated the poor unicorn. She didn't fight as Pinkie Pie helped her inside. The water's warmth soothed Rarity's body in all the right places and for a moment, her troubles slipped away...

“You just sit right here and have some fun while I go clean up the blankets!” Pinkie Pie smiled at Rarity who closed her eyes, tuning out the pink earth pony. Pinkie Pie hopped off, not bothering to close the door behind her. Rarity didn't notice, she refused to open her eyes as she leaned back a bit. Her head remained above the water as she slowly began to let herself sink. Before the water ran above her snout, the unicorn took a deep breath before letting the rest of herself fall in.

She sat there for a few moments, the idea of drowning herself bouncing back and forth in her head. It felt so right, with both of her parents deceased, and her sister gone and missing, what other motivation was left to drive her? Her friends were all pretty busy with their lives as well, only able to spare a moment with her when she absolutely needed their help. And she needed their help very often having to cope with Sweetie Belles antics, which proved to make all the get-togethers very informal, leaving little room to actually have fun.

Rarity exhaled a little, air bubbles sounded off as they rolled up to the surface. She couldn't hold her breath for much longer.

“Rarity?” A suppressed call rang through the water... Rarity questioned if she was crossing over, “where'd you go?” the voice answered again. The unicorn didn't want to waste her breath with words, her lungs were already starting to burn.

“Rarity!” It shouted this time as Rarity could feel another entity diving into the water. A pair of hooves grasped the unicorn's waist. The touch shook her from her daydreaming. Her eyes opened inside the soapy water as she accidentally inhaled some of it. The hooves brought Rarity's top half out of the water swiftly, with no concern of splashing water everywhere. Pinkie's hooves were still wrapped tight around the unicorn, not willing to let go.

“You know you can't breathe underwater!” A startled Pinkie Pie reminded Rarity, who was already coughing up a storm.

Rarity would have smacked Pinkie Pie across the face if she weren't hacking up what she took in. But she couldn't afford to get in trouble like that, at least while living. Once the water was out of her lungs, the unicorn gave her excuse on her attempted suicide.

“...I, I was a little tired, t-the water was so warm and soothing, I just thought it wouldn't hurt to close my eyes!” Rarity feigned her panic, hoping she was convincing.

“Oh Rarity, I'm just glad I came to check in on you in time!” Pinkie cried, releasing her friend from her embrace, “Don't do that to me ever again, okay?” Rarity was heartbroken to see Pinkie Pie all worked up over this. Maybe she did care for her after all. But it didn't fill the hole Sweetie Belle made in Rarity's heart.

“O-okay,” Rarity replied hesitantly, unsure if she was able to withhold herself from trying it again if she had the chance.

“Pinkie Promise?” The pink pony proposed, trying her best to smile beyond the tears.

“...Pinkie Promise,” Rarity sighed, as she crossed her chest then eye with a hoof. She knew she'd probably break it along the way, but it didn't matter right now as long as she told Pinkie what she wanted to hear.

“Thank you,” Pinkie Pie's smile grew larger as she found reassurance in her friend's words. “How about we get you ready for the rest of the evening then?” Pinkie asked, helping Rarity out of the shower.

Rarity only nodded, hoping she would be going right to bed.

Inkie Pie pulled the bathtub lever, filling up the tub, “How you like your water Cloudchaser?”

“I'd rather have it too warm than too cold,” the pegasus chuckled.

“I'll try my best,” Inkie gave no promises as she twisted the knob that decided the temperature, “While the tub's filling up, we can go pick out your new coat color,” The dark pony waved the pegasus over.

“Oh gosh! The moment of truth! I don't think I've decided yet!”

“That's alright, you've got time,” She glanced over to the unicorn, “You wanna watch the water for us Sweetie Belle?”

“Sure,” it gave Sweetie Belle some time to contemplate her new conditions.

“Great, just turn off the water when it's a little over halfway,” Inkie informed, leading Cloudchaser out of the bathroom.

“Gotcha...” The unicorn sighed once the others left the room.