The broom moved swiftly under the couch chasing dust bunnies and scraps of fabric.
Always sweeping along in an orderly meticulous fashion under chairs past the sewing machine stands around the ponykins. The broom continued tripping along at a break neck speeds sweeping the floor.
With timed grace the debris are captured and tossed easily in a trash bin along with that crumpled old Trenderhoof picture that was keeping the dust bunnies under the chase lounge company.
Being able to do all that was needed was a hallmark of a true professional, stack sort trim are minor parts of the job at her home it also involved getting dinner for Sweetie Belle on the off days feeding the puss everyday . The broom finishing its sweeping was laid to rest.
The next weapon of choice was the feather duster over the work benches lose items where moved to their proper places for maximum effect for the organized chaos she needed to work with. Up stares the vanity closed for the week sat with a layer of dust that was soon to be excised from its resting place the duster paused looking at that fire ruby necklace a secret shared but never spoken.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Hissss Meow!" Opalessence called from the hallway it was her time, her feed me or die time.
Opal followed down the stares to the kitchen a box of kitty kibbles pulled out from its hiding shook and rattled teasing the fussy fur ball.
"Fit fit hissss Meow!" 'My wrath is great I require nourishment NOW I shall not wait FEED ME OR DIE!!'
The kibbles fell into the bowl its dry chunky pieces rang out as they bounced after a fall from gravity. "Nom nom nom nom".
A stroke of Opals fur was like stroking soft baby duck fuzz she paused for a moment a smile of kitty fangs returned as a reward for
prompt service unlike the usual claws and fury for a late bowl of dry kibbles.
/)O.o(\
After a long day of school and a short altercation with Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara Sweetie Belle found her sanctuary
the bell rang as she entered the Carousel Boutique "Hello?" she squeaked waiting for a reply.
"The Boutique is not taking any orders today just pickups and Deliveries".
Sweetie smiled "It's me"
"How's school today?"
"Fine Spoons and DT were a royal pain as usual"
"Got some hay fries and other snacks waiting"
"Thanks Spike" she laid her saddle bag by the door and trotted into the kitchen.
Spike was taking care of business in more ways than one as Sweetie sat up to the table and Spike waddled to the mail box
she sorted through the snacks as he sorted through the mail mumbling the findings
"bill bill junk bill payment payment order payment hay fry bill payment junk junk payment Sweetie Belle payment payment".
He plopped next to her and tossed the letter next to the snacks and the rest deposited in the in box for the shops boss.
Sweetie looked at the letter but didn't motion to open it.
"Don't you want to open it?"
"I'm . . . Ah I don't think I want to".
"Why it's from your sister".
"I can't".
"What?"
"No".
"What gives?" Spike picked at some fries.
Sweetie laid the letter down and took a breath putting her hooves to her eyes covering a tear ready to escape.
"Sweetie what's up you can tell me".
"If I tell . . . will you will you keep it to yourself?" She looked to see if any other ears where around "Tell no pony specially my sister?"
"Ah Ok sure thing".
"You won't think it's silly?"
"Nope".
"Dumb?"
"Nope".
"Weird?"
"Na".
"You absolutely positively for sure you wont tell Rarity anything right here right now this very minute now right now?"
"Yeah sure thing".
"I don't like Raritys new Canterlot Boutique".
Spike just looked at the little miss he put a fry in his mouth slowly sucked at the salt then biting down on the morsel his eyes
still on the white filly his next question was a simple direct little quiz of one word.
"Why?"
Sweeties eyes watered worry filled her young features she gripped the letter and cocked her head trembling lips sounding out
a few more words actually a lot more words than the dragons single question.
"It's not why Spike it's where and what if she doesn't come back what if if that other place takes my sister away and she forgets
us here back in Ponyville what if she gets too busy or gets into her moods and no pony helps her or what happens to this place
and I have to go all the way to Canterlot when my folks go on vacation what will happen to Scootaloo or Apple Bloom?
The Crusaders will be split up and how about you don't you have any feelings too?"
q>.>p
Spike took in all the rant and worry from Sweeties little spectacle his calm gaze focused on her. He shook his head slowly
and took another fist of hay fries and softly placed them in his mouth using his tongue to swipe the salt off the tasty treats
before the satisfying crunch. He rolled his eyes in thought humming .
"Ah yeah"
"Well?"
Spike took a breath raised a brow and motioned Sweetie to follow him up stares she ended in front of Raritys vanity.
He smiled and said "Look".
Sweetie Belle looked at the vanity on it the mirror with her worried reflection watching her every move.
"All right Spike if this is something stupid I'll tell Rarity all about your silly crush and you'll never hear the end of it".
"Sweetie Belle what dreams do you have when you get out of school?"
"Dreams? Like with Luna?"
"Na the things you want to do in your life the things that make your future, Like Twilights dream of being a great mage or
Pinkies being the super duper party pony, or Rarity wanting a dress shop in Canterlot.
"But what if that dream takes her away?"
"It could with some ponies but not with Rarity she has plans" Spike smiled "What does Rarity say about her home?"
Sweetie looked at the reflection her eyes hung low "Home. . .Home is - Home"
she paused thinking till a glimmer of red caught her eye. The fire ruby sparkled as she moved.
Sweeties reflection smiled a Pinkie Pie sized smile "Home is where the heart is".
='.'=
Spike retreated back to the kitchen followed by Sweetie the evening meal disappeared along with the hunger of the day
even the sun gave out leaving the moon to crawling through a cloudless sky.
"Rarity gave me instructions to lock up at night I guess it's too late for you to get home now Twilight has room at the castle"
They finished cleaning the dishes and tossed out the hay fry takeout containers, no need to keep empty stuff anyways.
The bell at the front door rang as some pony entered the boutique.
"Sorry we're closed . . ." Spike was cut off as Opal hissed, Then Sweetie Belle screamed and to Spike all the world went black.
Spike awoke with an aching head and a cold icepack pressed along his spines Sweetie was looking down on him waving a
hoof in front of his eyes "I'm sorry about knocking you off your chair-You ok Spike?"
"Been better" he moved his claws to get up but another hoof held him down.
"Who's that?"
"Who else would it be my precious scales I still call this boutique my home Sweetie Belle didn't you receive my letter?"
"Oh the letter! we got too busy cleaning up to get to opening it up" she went to retrieve the unopened post.
Rarity tended to Spikes injury watching her little sister prance back the letter held in her magical grasp.
"Well are you going to open it? It is addressed to you".
Doubt crossed Sweeties face till Rarity gave her a reassuring smile with a burst of magic the cover shredded revealing . . .
"Tickets to the Equestrian knights concert! You're the bestest sister a sister can ever have!"
Sweetie pounced on her bigger sister giving her the biggest Harry bear hug possible trampling Spike who just grunted a little peep.
Rarity pulled Spike up to a three way hug his eyes full of hearts and his face full of that dopy smile when he's full of that
sweet sappy marsh mellow goodness.
"Spikey tell Twilight thank you for letting you take time off of your busy schedule to care for everything here at the boutique
are you well enough to get back to the castle?"
She gave him a peck on the cheek as he stood up on his own.
"Yeah I'm fine anything for you Rarity". His voice soft as a cloud his heart humming like a dragon air ship launched on a
special mission Spike floated out the door on course and at minimum ludacris speed.
q-.-p
After the Cutie Mark Tsunami passed Sweetie read the letter a wave of relief was a welcome sign.
"So you're staying here?"
"Yes Sweetie dear that's why I hired a manager my dream of having a boutique in Canterlot has just started but I can't
just leave my friends and home." She paused "And you still have your dreams to find".
"Does Spike have a dream?" Sweetie put on her sneaky look "Do you dream of your precious scales?"
Rarity face went blank her white fur pinked out looking for a way out she bolted up the stares with out saying a word.
Sweetie giggled trotting noisily up the steps. "Rarity are we still going to the concert?"
Rarity gave no reply.
"Rarity is Spike invited too?"
The door cracked open "None of your business now get to bed".
The older sister closed the door she laid back snuggling under the sheets, before she pulled her sleep mask down she
took one last peek at the dust free fire ruby on her vanity covering her eyes she smiled
"We all have our dreams sometimes more than one if we are lucky we get to share our dreams".
"Rarity likes Spike Rarity likes Spike"
"SWEETIE BELLE . . . BED NOW!"
Somewhere in another palace a cry was heard through a crystal castle the uncontrolled sobs of a broken heart
"Shining Armor! How could they forgot to name a dress after me. . . am I not a princess too?"
