Prologue
Another miscarriage. That's what Rarity was told when her parents came home. Her mother had told her that her body was actually too weak for childbirth, and that she shouldn't expect any younger siblings. She was so excite when she learned that she was pregnant, but Rarity knew better.
Originally Rarity was supposed to have a twin brother. He was going to be named “Elusive”, but there were complications and thus only one twin could be rescued. She'd always wondered what it would be like to have a twin, and even now she did miss him, which was odd because they'd never met.
As the twelve year old filly sat in the living room, she heard her mother crying in the kitchen. She was loud, embarrassing, and a terrible cook, but she was the sweetest pony you'd ever meet. She always smiled, but right now she wasn't smiling. She looked miserable.
“Mommy,” Rarity said walking over to her despondent mother and hugging her, “It's alright, Mommy. I'm okay being an only child.”
“Oh sweetheart,” Rarity's mother, Cookie Crumbles, said embracing her tiny daughter, “You're so strong willed, you know that? I know you're going to be fine. It's just…”
“Mommy, did… you want another child…?” Rarity asked slowly looking up at her mother.
“I'll admit, the idea of giving you a baby sister was truly appealing,” Cookie Crumbles said sadly, “You're so independent now, I'm sure you'd be a wonderful big sister. And…” she started tearing up, “I'm sorry honey, could I have some time alone?”
“Yes Mommy,” Rarity said elegantly bowing to her mother before running up to her room. Her mother didn't stop crying for the rest of the night, not until she'd gone to sleep.
Rarity on the other hand couldn't sleep at all. She kept thinking about the child that would never be born. Her name was going to be “Sweetie Belle”. Rarity couldn't have her twin, but what if she did have a little sister? She could teach her make-up, make all of her outfits, it would be almost like being a mother herself.
Also, what of her mother? What if she never smiled again from this? What if she just gave up on everything?
Rarity got up and walked over to her window, looking up at the night sky. She wondered, if she made a wish hard enough on the right star, would her wish come true? She saw a shooting star fly by. That was perfect.
“I don't care about me,” Rarity prayed to the star, “I just want my Mommy to be happy. I wish that Mommy could have another daughter, and that I could have a little sister,” after she was done, she turned to go back to bed, but stopped when she noticed a bright light shine behind her. She looked to see something fall from the sky and crash into their backyard.
Rarity ran outside to investigate. She had to go out deep into the forest that connected to their backyard to find it, but eventually she found a crater, and inside was something metallic. She approached it, and noticed that whatever it was, it was moving a bit.
“Is that… some sort of robot…?” Rarity asked. Equestria didn't have much in the ways of machines, but fantasy was always a thing. It looked burnt up and badly damaged, but she could see the semblance of a hand. She was afraid, but she approached it, and a white light shot out of the mechanical entity at Rarity, and she noticed a light slowly going down her body.
SCANNING BIOLOGICAL ORGANISM
COLLECTING NECESSARY DATA OF VITALS, ENERGY PATTERNS, AND PHYSIOLOGY
REPLICATED ALL ENERGY PATTERS
REPLICATION COMPLETE
SENDING ORDER TO RESET PARAMETERS
NANOMACHINES WILL BEGIN REPAIRING THE UNIT USING SCANNED LIFEFORM AS A BASE
“What… in the world…” Rarity asked trembling, yet she was unable to take her eyes off the metallic being lying in the crater. There was a bright flash, forcing Rarity to have to cover her eyes. She was alarmed when she heard an odd sound coming from the crater.
Crying.
She looked into the crater again, and was shocked. No longer was there the mysterious metallic entity lying in the crater. Lying in its place was a tiny infant! It had a light gray coat that almost looked white, and from where she was, it looked like its mane and tail were light purple and pink, and Rarity could tell that the infant was a filly, and a unicorn like her.
Rarity slid down into the crater and approached the little infant picking her up, “Shh… it's okay, little one,” Rarity said in a comforting tone, “You're safe now.”
The little infant filly stopped crying and opened her eyes. They were bright green, and full of emotion. Instantly Rarity fell in love with the infant, and found herself unable to hold in her tears. When the little filly held her tiny little hands out, Rarity held the infant close to her hugging it. She didn't know what was going on, but somehow, her wish had come true. She had a little sister now.
Meaning her mother had a daughter.
“Rarity!” her father, Hondo Flanks, cried out from outside of the crater before sliding inside. Rarity turned to her father with a tearful smile.
“Daddy, look!” Rarity cried as softly as possible, showing her father the infant. His eyes widened when he saw her.
“W-what in the world…?” he asked.
“What is it?” Cookie Crumbles asked from outside of the crater.
“Um… well it's-”
“Mommy Mommy! Look!” Rarity cried happily, climbing out of the crater and giving the little filly to her mother, “It's a baby! A tiny baby filly!”
“By… the Gods…” Cookie Crumbles said, tearing up as she held the tiny child, “Hi there sweetie…” the baby made a pleased sound when she heard that name, and reached for Cookie Crumbles smiling, “Did you like that? Being called “sweetie”?”
“Cookie, we don't know anything about where this child came from,” Hondo Flanks said.
“She came from the stars!” Rarity said, “She's here because I wished for her for Mommy!”
“Rarity, that just doesn't-”
“I'm telling the truth!” Rarity cried adamantly, “I wanted her for Mommy, and the Gods sent her down from the sky!”
“Hondo, we're keeping this filly.”
Both Rarity and Hondo Flanks turned to Cookie Crumbles, who was now completely enamored by the little infant in her arms.
“Cookie… are you sure…?” Hondo Flanks asked.
“I am,” Cookie Crumbles said, “I don't know where she came from, but I do know that this is our daughter, and Rarity's baby sister,” she held up the baby smiling at her, “Welcome to the world… Sweetie Belle.”
Apathy
“You're breaking up with me?!”
Sweetie Belle crossed her legs and ran a hand through her mane looking away seriously, “Comet, please don't make this harder than it has to be.” she begged.
“B-but, I don't understand!” the young colt sitting across from her said, “Did I do something wrong?”
Sweetie Belle sighed, “No Comet… you didn't,” she closed her eyes pained, “You're… you're fine.”
“Then what's wrong?” Comet asked desperately, “Maybe we can work this out together.”
“N-no, I… I've been thinking about a lot lately, and well…” she took a deep breath, “Excuse the cliché line but… it's not you… it's… me.”
Comet sat back frowning in a way that looked confused, “I don't get it.”
“I know you don't, and I'm not going to waste time explaining it,” Sweetie Belle said as an act of finality, “You're a wonderful colt, Comet, and one day you're going to make a mare extremely happy, but… I just can't do this anymore.”
With that, she rose up, leaving money for their food, and then walked out of the restaurant. She knew that Comet would be upset, and probably try to call her later, but she made her decision. She stopped and felt out her emotions, saddened by what she noticed.
“Nope,” she sighed, “Still nothing.”
As she walked through Ponyville, she thought about her life and everything in it. She had no reason to be sad about anything, and she lived a happy life. At age sixteen, she'd blossomed into a truly lovely filly with a nice attractive build. Her sister made all of her clothes, including the short white dress she wore today that accentuated her curves, and coordinated her high heeled boots to match it perfectly. While her mane stopped just past her shoulders being not too long but not too short, her tail had grown super long, to the point where it almost touched the ground.
But if she should have been so happy, why did she feel so empty inside?
She stopped at the bridge, and looked at her reflection in the water. After a second, she jumped up to stand on the edge of the bridge, and looked out at the water. It wasn't super high up, so she couldn't die, but she'd probably get seriously hurt if she did fall.
“Would that make me feel something?” Sweetie Belle asked no one in particular, holding her arms out and closing her eyes. She imagined herself higher up, and allowing herself to fall. Would that make her heart flutter? Would seeing her life flash before her eyes help her see that life had true value to it?
“Sweetie Belle?! What in tarnation are ya doin?!”
She opened her eyes and saw her best friend Apple Bloom walking over to her. Teenage years had been really good to Apple Bloom, who now wore a yellow shirt and blue daisy duke shorts along with her boots. As an Earth Pony, she had a fuller figure than Sweetie Belle, most of that being muscle now thanks to working on the farm.
“I wasn't going to jump,” Sweetie Belle said getting of the edge as her friend approached her, “It wouldn't have even killed me if I did.”
“That ain't the point,” Apple Bloom said, “It's dangerous bein up that high. What are ya doin here anyway? I thought ya had a date with Comet.”
“I broke up with him,” Sweetie Belle said rubbing her arm. Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle wide eyed.
“What?! Why'd ya do that, Sweetie Belle?” she asked, “He seemed like a nice colt ta me.”
“He is nice,” Sweetie Belle said distantly, “He's too nice to have a pony like me as a fillyfriend.”
“That don't make any sense,” Apple Bloom said wrapping an arm around Sweetie Belle and guiding her through Ponyville, “Why would ya say somethin like that about yerself?”
“Because it's true,” Sweetie Belle pouted, feeling on the verge of tears, “He doesn't need an unfeeling mare like me in his life…”
Apple Bloom frowned, “Know what? Let's head ta Sugar Cube Corner and get you a milkshake,” she suggested, “My treat.”
“You don't have to do that…” Sweetie Belle said turning away.
“Yer right, I don't,” Apple Bloom said guiding her friend off toward the direction of the pastry shop. Sweetie Belle gave a frustrated groan, but followed her friend either way.
* * * *
Sweetie Belle sat down and waited as Apple Bloom ordered two milkshakes, and then came to their table to sit down.
“So, talk ta me,” Apple Bloom said, “What's goin on with ya.”
Sweetie Belle sighed, “I don't know, okay?” Sweetie Belle said taking her milkshake and sipping it, “I'm just… I don't know.”
“Let's start from the beginnin then,” Apple Bloom said, “How are ya feelin?”
Sweetie Belle thought about it for a second before speaking, “I guess… apathetic is the word I'd use.”
“Apathetic…?” Apple Bloom asked sipping her milkshake as she listened to her friend.
“It's like, nothing matters anymore,” Sweetie Belle said, “I'm sixteen now, going on seventeen, and I feel like I'm wasting my life. Nothing excites me anymore, and I keep having this sick feeling deep inside that I'm…”
“You're…” she motioned for Sweetie Belle to continue.
“That I'm just… alone,” she admitted somberly, “Like something deep down inside of me is telling me that I'm different than other ponies.”
“Well, everypony is different,” Apple Bloom shrugged, “That's what makes us unique. Ah mean, even our Cutie Marks are slightly different.”
“I know, but I mean on a deeper level,” Sweetie Belle continued, “Like… maybe something at the fundamental level, what makes us… us.”
“Not sure I follow,” Apple Bloom said with a thoughtful frown, “Like, yer thinkin yer somethin… other than a pony?”
“Yes, no, I don't know…” Sweetie Belle scowled to herself, “Forget it, okay?”
“Sweetie Belle, ya know that I'm yer friend, right?” Apple Bloom asked taking Sweetie Belle's hand, “No matter what, even if you were somethin weird, I'd still love ya.”
“Would you?” Sweetie Belle asked looking up at Apple Bloom, “Even if I were something really strange?”
“I don't care if yer a timberwolf,” Apple Bloom said with a smile, “Yer my best friend, and I'm gonna stand by ya no matter what.”
It wasn't much, but it did put Sweetie Belle's heart at ease a bit. “Thanks, Apple Bloom. You know, lately you've become really dependable. Almost like a big sister.”
“Aw shucks, really?” Apple Bloom asked rubbing the back of her head blushing, “I'm jus' tryin ta look out fer my friends.”
“Well, you're doing a great job,” Sweetie Belle said, “Kinda like Applejack, you know?”
“R-really?” Apple Bloom said blushing, “Thanks. That means a lot ta me. I've been spendin a lot of time with her, trainin an' stuff.”
“Training? With what?” Sweetie Belle asked, leaning forward to give her friend her undivided attention.
“Applejack's been teachin me Earth Pony Kick Boxin,” Apple Bloom explained, “It's a fightin style that uses the full strength of an Earth Pony, meanin ya gotta be able ta channel yer magic all through yer body.”
“Is that how Applejack is so strong?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Eeyup,” Apple Bloom said proudly, “I'm gettin there. Mind ya, I ain't quite as strong as Applejack is quite yet, but that's alright.”
“I'm sure you'll get there,” Sweetie Belle said, “You're an Apple to the core, right?”
“Damn right,” Apple Bloom said with a confident smirk, “I'll become the strongest pony alive, so I can protect everyone.”
That was good, Sweetie Belle thought to herself. Apple Bloom had a dream, something she was striving for. She had a reason to live, and would push forward until she made it to that point. Sweetie Belle didn't have that though. She was just cruising along through life.
After a while of talking, Apple Bloom checked her watch, “Shoot, I need ta head back home and help with dinner.”
“That's okay,” Sweetie Belle said, “I'm going to stay here for a bit and then head home.”
“Alright,” Apple Bloom said unsure, “Now, are ya gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, I will be,” Sweetie Belle assured, “I won't fall off any bridges while you're gone.”
“Better not,” Apple Bloom playfully scolded, “I'll see ya later Sweetie Belle.”
“See you, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said, watching as Apple Bloom left. She really blossomed into a strong filly. Sweetie Belle was proud of Apple Bloom for that. Too bad she herself didn't have anything like that.
“So, you too, huh?”
Sweetie Belle jumped a bit at the new voice. She turned around to see who it was, and was surprised to see an old friend sitting there with her own milkshake. A gray filly about her age with a silver mane tied in a loose braid, wearing a fancy silver and white dress that stopped at her knees, silver high heels, and blue glasses.
“Oh, Silver Spoon,” Sweetie Belle said, “How long were you sitting there?”
“I've been here since you two sat down,” Silver Spoon said, rising up and walking over to where Apple Bloom was sitting previously, “So, you broke up with Comet?”
“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said, “It just… didn't feel right.”
“I can relate,” Silver Spoon said leaning forward a bit toward her own milkshake, “He was nice, but he seemed kinda boring to me.”
“Boring?” Sweetie Belle asked raising an eyebrow.
“That's what it was, right? He bored you,” Silver Spoon inquired looking at Sweetie Belle intently, “That's why you're dead inside. You're bored with life, right?”
Was she bored with life? It certainly seemed like that might have been part of it, but…
“I can tell,” Silver Spoon continued, “You have the same look in your eyes as me.”
“How could you be bored with life?” Sweetie Belle asked, “You're rich.”
“Oh yeah, big whoop,” Silver Spoon rolled her eyes, “I'm rich, so I can get whatever I want with the snap of a finger. Sweetie Belle, the rich life is boring. The only pony I actively spend time with is Diamond Tiara, and she loves the rich lifestyle! I want something new, something exciting. Something that will make me feel alive!”
“Make me feel alive…” Sweetie Belle thought to herself, “Yeah… that sounds like me a bit. I do feel like I'm dead inside all the time. Also, I have this feeling that…”
“That you don't belong in your world,” Silver Spoon said for Sweetie Belle, “That for some reason, everyone else is moving, while you just stand still.”
“And what's worse, I can't tell anypony about it,” Sweetie Belle said looking away sadly, “No one would understand how I feel.”
“Of course not,” Silver Spoon looked away darkly, “They look at your life and see how wonderful it is, and are shocked that you'd have the audacity to feel like you want more. That you need more.”
“Need to feel…”
“Alive,” both fillies said at the same time, and slowly turned to one another.
“I like you, Sweetie Belle,” Silver Spoon said, “You're like me.”
“I… didn't expect anyone to really get me,” Sweetie Belle admitted, “You're actually pretty deep, Silver Spoon.”
“Ponies underestimate my intellect,” Silver Spoon pushed up her glasses, “I have a genius level IQ, I just rarely get to use it.”
“That's a shame,” Sweetie Belle said, “You're way deeper than ponies give you credit for.”
“Glad someone appreciates my intellect,” Silver Spoon smiled pridefully, “Maybe you have a hidden side to you as well. A side of you that no one appreciates.”
“I doubt it,” Sweetie Belle said somberly, “There's nothing special or remarkable about me.”
“I don't believe that,” Silver Spoon said taking Sweetie Belle's hand, “Ponies like us are always remarkable. You just need to know how you're special.”
“How… I'm special…” Sweetie Belle said to herself thoughtfully.
“It's getting late,” Silver Spoon said, “We should probably head home.”
“Shoot, you're right,” Sweetie Belle said looking at the clock, “At this rate, I'm not going to make it home in time. Rarity's going to kill me.”
“I know a shortcut through the Everfree Forest,” Silver Spoon suggested, “It's on the outer edges, so it'll be safe. I use it all the time.”
“Really?” Sweetie Belle said, “Thanks. Could you walk with me?”
“Naturally,” Silver Spoon said as if it were obvious, “I wouldn't let you walk through there alone. Let's go.”
Sweetie Belle nodded and rose up after Silver Spoon, following her out of the shop toward the Everfree Forest. She didn't think she and Silver Spoon would bond like this, but they seemed to have a lot in common. That made Sweetie Belle happy. Sure she broke up with Comet, but maybe she and Silver Spoon could bond a bit more.
Maybe they could be apathetic to life together.
