Sleeping Belle

3
"Alone at Last"

The two were finally alone. Without Button's chatter and chomping all that could be heard was the ticking of Rarity's clock on the wall and the drip of her faucet. It was otherwise silent.

Rarity looked at her sister, who's eyes and attention were focused on breakfast. They sat silently for a moment as Sweetie Belle chewed, not even glancing up.

"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity said, her voice almost echoing in the sparse kitchen. "Are you... okay, Sweetie?"

The filly glanced up, a sheepish, embarrassed smile on her face. She nodded rapidly.

Rarity smiled back.

"Do you know what happened last night?"

Again, Sweetie nodded. "I... um fell asleep."

"It looked like you might've fallen asleep coloring, dear." Rarity replied, rather matter-of-factly. "Not fully dressed yet. It's good to know you were having fun."

Sweetie Belle shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Uh, Rarity. Did you, um, really...?"

The mare nodded.

"I did what I had to do, Sweetie. You were asleep, so I took care of you. You slept through the whole thing... it was quite awkward, but over with fairly quick. Button did open his eyes briefly, though I think-"

The filly's pupils became pinpricks as she took a breath, eyes already tearing up.

"He did!?"

Holding up a hoof, Rarity smiled.

"Yes, yes, he did, but, a-hem... he was not entirely awake. I think he might've seen what I was doing, but it didn't make any sense to him, so he went back to sleep. Would you rather I let you risk wetting the bed and perhaps even Button Mash?"

Sweetie Belle frowned.

"No, but..." She took a breath. "I, uh- well..."

"Sweetie." Rarity set her fork down and took a breath. "I'd do anything for you. You and I agreed you'd need to wear protection to bed, and I know you wish you didn't have to, but we cannot pretend it doesn't happen. It's... just what some young ponies experience growing up." She smiled. "You will outgrow it, dear, hopefully sooner than you think. If you haven't in a couple months, though I will have to try to make you a few undergarments out of rubber that should hopefully look less... obvious than what you have now."

"You can do that?"

Rarity nodded.

"I can, and have tried a hoofful of times for ponies with special needs, but with little luck. To be fair, it is time-consuming and I have little experience at it. If I don't get it just right the protection is void... but I will set aside the time to master it for you. You are my sister, after all."

The filly smiled again. In response Rarity sighed.

"Now, tell me, Sweetie Belle, and please be truthful... did you not wear it last night on purpose?"

For the third time Sweetie Belle shifted in her seat. She nodded, unable to look into her sister's eyes.

"Sweetie Belle... that is not good."

The filly looked up and bit her lip, her face red with embarrassment, her eyes a tiny bit wet again.

"Thanks, Rarity," she said plainly.

Rarity blinked twice. Despite all that had happened over the past nine hours she was still perplexed.

"Thanks for what, Sweetie...?"

"For, um..." Sweetie Belle looked away, putting a hoof to the back of her neck and blushing. "Putting that thing on me. I kinda woke up, well... really soaked. I could barely walk to the bathroom to take it off it was so swollen."

"Well then!" Rarity grinned at her sister, who shrunk even further back in her chair. "I'm glad I did. Anytime, I guess, Sweetie Belle! Though I'd greatly prefer you do it yourself."

Again, Sweetie Belle blushed, putting a hoof to the back of her neck.

"Well, um, yeah... me too. Totally."

Both ponies looked at each other silently for a moment. Each slowly cracked a smile, then giggled, and finally laughed. The sound of their laughter echoed throughout the entire house. The whole ordeal had ended, this was their final release of energy. Sweetie Belle could easily stay embarrassed, but like her big sister she found herself laughing it off.

Upstairs Button Mash exited the bathroom, ready for the day. He drifted downstairs and looked into the kitchen, scratching his head at the two young ponies overcome with laughter.. "Girls... I just don't get 'em."

And he wouldn't. At least not for a very long time.