“All I’m asking is for you to be a parent!”
Rarity’s yelling from downstairs roused Sweetie Belle from her slumber. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced at the clock and saw it was early in the morning. So early, in fact, that Celestia’s sun was just peeking over the horizon. Normally, she would just turn over and go back to sleep, but the continued argument ruined any chance of that.
“Rarity, we have another vacation planned, and everything’s already reserved, with a non-refundable down payment,” she heard a familiar voice yell back. “We’re only in town for a few hours, and stopped by to see you before we leave.”
When Sweetie heard her voice coming up from downstairs, her face broke out into a smile. Their parents were back from their latest trip.
When Sweetie first heard they struck it rich from the lottery a couple years back, her mind went through the possibilities. They could get nicer clothes, maybe buy a new house or hire servants. She even imagined them building a large vault, filling it with bits, and swimming in it like a pool.
However, the things she daydreamed about didn't materialize. Instead, her mother got some magic surgery done to her face, and her father used it for more liquor. And they both used it for a long line of expensive trips, the two of them dropping her off at Rarity’s home when they left.
She grabbed a plushie of a small brown pony with a beanie, as well as a plush of a young purple dragon, from her bed. As she left her room and started down the stairs, she heard what Rarity yelled back.
“If you weren’t on your trips all the time, you would see her more! You might have even been there when she got her cutie mark,” she yelled. "You two are gone so much, I had to enroll her in school here rather than where you live."
Sweetie’s eyes went to her shoulder, where her brand new cutie mark was hidden under her purple pajama top, thinking about the mark she finally received with her friends recently. As she thought about the mark, and about showing it off to her mother, she missed a step and almost fell. Grabbing the railing to steady herself, she was able to avoid a tumble and breathed a sigh of relief. Being more careful, she went down the last few steps and creeped to where the opening to the living area was.
Inside, she saw Rarity and her mother standing there, both with their arms crossed, just staring daggers at each other. During all this, her father just watched the action from the purple couch, beer bottle in hand. Her parents both looked like they just left the beach, stopping long enough to throw on some clothing. Rarity was dressed in her work clothes, and Sweetie guessed she was up late working.
“I need someone to keep an eye on Sweetie while I’m in Baltimare, and everyone else I would trust and feel comfortable asking is busy,” Rarity explained. “Applejack and Pinkie are chasing something on Twilight’s map, Granny Smith and Big Mac are making a special delivery, and Fluttershy traveled to visit a friend of hers.”
“What about that princess friend of yours? What’s her name? Twilight something?” her mother asked.
“Twilight’s probably saddled with responsibilities now that she's a princess. You don’t simply ask a princess to solve your problems, even if she is your best friend,” Rarity answered.
Sweetie gasped quietly when she heard what her sister said. The plushies were dropped, forgotten, as Rarity’s last sentence replayed in her mind.
“A problem? Is that what she thinks of me?” Sweetie thought, as she sank to the floor, leaning against the wall. “And why don’t my parents want to take care of me?”
The two mares yelled at each other for a few more moments, but Sweetie barely heard them, her mind still on what Rarity said before. Finally, her mother grabbed her father’s arm and dragged him out the door with her, slamming it behind them. After they left, Sweetie peeked around the corner.
She watched as Rarity slumped down on the couch with a sigh, her hand massaging her forehead. As Sweetie watched, rarity looked up and saw an unopened beer on the table in front of her. As Rarity grabbed the bottle and started trying to pull off the top, Sweetie stood and stepped into the room.
“Rarity?” Sweetie asked
Rarity looked up at hearing her sister’s voice. Putting the bottle down, she asked, ”Sweetie Belle? What are you doing up?”
“I heard you and mom arguing,” Sweetie answered, taking a couple of small steps towards her. “Am I...a-a problem?”
“Aww, Sweetie, come here,” Rarity said, opening her arms wide. Sweetie walked towards her sister, and found herself swept up in her arms. “You’re not a problem, you never are. You’re the best thing to happen to this family.”
“But why couldn’t I just go with you?” she asked.
“Because, Sweetie, I’ll be out on business. I couldn’t spend any time with you, and all you’ll be able to do is sit in the hotel room,” Rarity answered. “I just hope Twilight isn’t too busy to keep an eye on you while I’m over there.”
“I have my cutie mark now,” Sweetie said, as she wrapped her arms around her older sister and rested her head on her shoulder. “I can...*yawn*...take care of myself...”
As she said that, her eyes fluttered shut, and her head leaned against Rarity’s shoulder. As Rarity continued to hug her and gently rub her back, she whispered, “I’ll feel better if someone is keeping an eye on you, and you would have more fun with your friends rather than a hotel room. It’ll also be safer for you to stay here rather than come to the big city with me.”
As she said this, she felt her sister’s breathing slow, and her muscles seemed to relax. Knowing she was falling asleep, Rarity picked her up, carried her up to her bed and tucked her in.
Two days later, Rarity and Sweetie made their way towards Twilight’s crystal castle, which looked absolutely dazzling and sparkly in the light of the midday sun. Sweetie rolled a single suitcase behind her, while Rarity carried a suitcase in each hand.
With few options left to her, Rarity had to bite the bullet and ask Twilight to watch over her while Rarity was gone. Twilight, despite having some personal duties, was more than happy to help. As they approached, they found Twilight and Spike waiting for them.
“Hey, you two,” Twilight said, as she levitated Sweetie’s bag over to Spike. “Can you get this to the guest room, please?”
The young boy grabbed the handle and wheeled the suitcase into the castle behind him. As Twilight turned towards the filly and the mare, all three of them heard the train whistle blow from a distance, making Rarity gasp.
“My train! I’m going to be late!” Rarity yelled, grabbing her bags. “Twilight, take good care of her. Sweetie, be good, okay? I’ll be home in a few days. Bye.”
And with that, Rarity ran full speed towards the train station. Both the mare and the filly watched her go, then Twilight spoke up.
“Sweetie, do you want to come inside and get settled in?” she asked.
“Actually, I...want to meet my friends at the clubhouse,” Sweetie answered.
“Well, okay, but just be back in time for dinner. Spike can make a mean hayburger, and you don’t want to miss it,” Twilight said.
As Twilight went inside and closed the door, Sweetie ran off. But after getting a few feet away, she stopped and looked back at the castle. She hated lying to Twilight. She wasn't going to the clubhouse, nor was she meeting her friends anywhere.
She was going because she wanted to be alone right now.
