Belle’s Guardian Prince

Act 2 - Suspicions - Part 2

“How in the blazes are you able to keep a show going after something like that!?” Scootaloo protested, showing her anger, confusion, and admiration at the same time.

“I can’t disappoint my fans! I didn’t know that was going to happen! But that’s no excuse to turn away the creatures that came to see me sing, dance, and paid their hard-earned bits to see me perform,” Sweetie replied, crossing her arms.

“Sweetie has always been a people’s mare,” Pipsqueak said with a small smile on his face. The four ponies returned to an awkward silence as they tried to process everything that had transpired.

After Spike captured Swift Strike and the Royal Guard arrived to take him into custody, the Sweetie Belle had resumed her show as if nothing had happened and it was a total hit. Thankfully, nothing else happened and when the show ended and various reporters and paparazzi had nearly barged through the backstage to ask her about what had happened, Spike had saved the day again by shoving them off and letting them all enter her dressing room.

“Shouldn’t you be called to testify or something?” Apple Bloom suddenly asked. “I mean, that stallion attacked you after all.”

“Spike said he’d handle that part,” she sighed. “Speaking of which, where is he? He didn’t say anything after leading us inside.”

“Now that you mention it, I haven’t heard the reporters, damn carrion feasters, in a while bangin’ at the door,” said the country mare.

“Then we must stay put and wait for him to arrive,” Pipsqueak said before leaning back on his seat. The group didn’t have to wait for long as in just a few minutes later Spike entered the room. Everyone stared at him and followed his movements until he sat down in between Sweetie and Scootaloo.

“So, how did it go?” Scootaloo asked.

“He’s in full custody. After we handed him to the Guard, I ordered a raid on his apartment. I won’t tell you what they found there but rest assured the guy was a complete fanatic. They’re tracing his online history and have already found countless love poems, stories, and botched declarations to you, Sweets. He even had a diary depicting him and Sweetie on several… candid scenarios,” he cleared his throat at the end.

Everyone but Pipsqueak shuddered at the implications, the stallion merely making a sour face.

“That reminds me, how did you do that?” Sweetie began. “You appeared in front of me in a ball of fire. What’s up with that?”

“Oh, that?” Spike scratched the back of his head. “Twilight kinda pushed me to explore my magic fire more. Long story short, I found out some pretty interesting things including that I can pyroport short distances,” he stopped when the three mares looked at him expectantly and bright, curious eyes. Blushing, he continued. “It’s nothing that impressive, really. But it’s pretty handy!”

“Like saving the life of Sweetie Belle here, right?” Scootaloo asked, teasingly.

“Among other things. I was lucky to have come back when I did,” he let out a sigh of relief. “I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you, Sweets,” smiling, he turned to face her. “Can’t have a scar tarnish that beautiful face of yours, now can we?”

Sweetie Belle blushed, her face turning red for a moment before looking away. “Thanks, Spike,” she muttered softly.

While Spike looked at her in confusion, the rest of the ponies had to fight the urge to snicker. Finally, it was Scootaloo who broke the funny yet awkward moment.

“Yeah, yeah. Bravo and all that. But now that the bastard is going to spend a long time rotting behind bars, I guess everything came to a happy ending!” She exclaimed, her wings fluttering about behind her.

“You’re right, Scoots! Heh, sorry you had to end your career as a bodyguard so soon, Spike,” Apple Bloom pointed out. “But hey, you got the big baddie and all is gonna be fine now!”

“Sadly, that’s not the case,” Spike said. In less than a second, the joyful ambient in the room came to a crashing halt as all eyes turned to him. “Swift Strike, as obsessed as he was, isn’t the one responsible for all the accidents and attacks Sweetie Belle has endured until now.” Pulling out the letter he’d kept after stopping him, he handed it over to Sweetie Belle. “He was carrying that when I stopped him. Read it, Sweets.”

Sweetie Belle unfolded it and began reading out loud. When she was done, it fell to the table as her hands began to shake. “W-What? I-I never wrote that!” She turned to Spike. “I swear I didn’t write that awful thing!”

Spike raised a hand. “I never suspected it, Sweets. The moment I read it I knew it was fake. That letter was handwritten and that’s your handwriting, right? But it was forged.”

“Totally. Sweetie Belle couldn’t have written that!” Apple Bloom added.

“There’s no way she did something so mean!” Scootaloo vouched.

Pipsqueak nodded. “No one that knows her would believe she had any involvement in this,” he said.

“Awwwwww, you guuuuuys!” Sweetie Belle’s blush returned after hearing the encouraging words of her friends. Their votes of confidence regarding her innocence warming her heart and---

“She’s too simple-minded to come up with something like that!” Said Apple Bloom.

“And what’s with that choice of words? They’re too complicated for her!” Scootaloo added.

“She’s great at making her own songs. But she needs help with almost everything else. This is beyond her abilities,” Pipsqueak assured.

“Wow you guys, please stop defending me,” Sweetie deadpanned.

Spike chuckled. “In all seriousness, you don’t have the maliciousness to do something like that, Sweets. Whoever is behind this is careful and cunning. Swift Strike was just an unwilling pawn or a wildcard in the worst-case scenario.”

“Why is that a bad thing?” Scootaloo asked.

“Because if Swift Strike is an unwilling pawn, then he was tricked with lies,” Pipsqueak began to explain. “Now, he was tricked, obviously, but think about him for a moment. With everything that Spike said about him, I’m willing to bet that whoever tricked that stallion did so without remorse or care of what would happen. And if that’s the case…” Pipsqueak closed his eyes. “Then we’re potentially dealing with a lunatic or even a psychopath.”

Spike nodded. “I agree with Pip. The mastermind behind setting Swift Strike lose is still out there and has grown desperate,” Spike’s expression darkened. “Someone really wants to take Sweetie Belle out of the picture, but I don’t know why. Maybe it’s revenge? Or perhaps it’s due to jealousy? There’s even the chance that whoever is behind all of this is doing it for a sick sense of gratification or gets a thrill out of it.”

“Do you think that’s the case?” Sweetie asked, genuinely frightened for the first time since her near untimely demise.

“Could be anything, really. But the one thing I’m certain of is that the mastermind is out there; planning, plotting, and probably fuming after seeing their plan fail,” Spike sighed. “What I’m more worried about is the desperation of these late attempts. I re-read through the history of the ‘accidents’ you’ve been suffering from the start. I also made sure to include potential scandals and other slander tactics used against you… they have been slowly escalating, Sweets. Someone wants you out of the way and it has gotten to the point that I don’t think they care if you end up dead,” he closed his eyes in frustration. “Worst of all, we have nothing to stand on. No clue. Nothing to give us a point as to who the real brain behind all of these attacks is.”

“What about that crazy stallion? Didn’t the Guards interrogate him or something?” Apple Bloom asked.

“It’s too soon to draw any sort of concrete information. That bastard is speaking nothing but gibberish. The only real information he spat out was that the one that gave him the letter and the stolen pass was a cloaked and masked pegasus mare claiming she was a friend of and was sent by you, Sweets,” he ended with a slight glance at her.

“So we have the word of a crazy stallion obsessed with Sweetie Belle, whatever twisted evidence there is in his home, and the claim of some mysterious pegasus handing him stuff? What are we going to do?” Scootaloo crossed her arms, musing all the ideas coursing through her head. “There’s no way Sweetie can go back out there until we catch this fucker!”

“Honestly? I’d prefer to give this bastard what they want and be done with it,” Pipsqueak said with narrowed eyes. “If all they want is you gone for some reason, then I think you should step down, Sweetie. Putting your life on the line isn’t worth anything,” he said firmly and without hesitation.

There was a moment of silence as no one could really argue against Pipsqueak’s line of logic. The silence lasted for what felt like hours until Sweetie Belle broke it.

“No,” she said in a surprisingly firm and resolute tone. “I don’t know who’s behind it or why it’s doing what it’s doing,” she frowned. “I refuse to acknowledge someone capable of trying to end a life as a fellow pony. So, if they want war, then war they’ll get. I won’t back down and disappoint my fans or my teachers just because someone wants to push me aside.”

“You know I’m behind you, Sweetie. If you want to continue I’ll do everything I can to help you!” Apple Bloom cheered.

“Then count me in too, girl-friend!” Scootaloo clapped her hands and nodded.

Pipsqueak shook his head. “I’ll do what I can, then. I find your confidence and courage to be admirable, Sweetie,” he smiled. “How about you, Spike?”

“While I share your sentiment, Pip, Sweetie is her own mare and old enough to make her own choices. If she wants to continue, then I’ll stay at her side, both protecting her and investigating who wants to take her down,” he mused for a moment before continuing. “Speaking of which, I asked you already, Sweets, but I gotta ask again. Are you absolutely sure there’s no one that you may find suspicious,” he raised a claw before she had a chance to open her mouth. “And before you answer, think over it deeply and carefully. You too, Pip. You two are the only ones that may be able to provide us with any sort of clue or start. For example, how in Tartarus did that bastard get a hold of the VIP passes?”

Pipsqueak hummed. “Perhaps someone in our staff managed to get a hold of it in exchange for a hefty price? But whatever the case may be, we’ll have to look into it. Maybe we should stop using the passes altogether for the time being?”

“While tempting, I think it’d be best to structure it and make it so that only Sweets here can hand them over. She would have to tell us to whom and how she plans on handing them, then make sure to triple-layer it with authentication to not just anyone holding a pass can enter. It has to have an ID and the checking process must either go through me or you, Pip,” Spike nodded to himself. “That’ll discourage the mastermind from approaching from that angle again unless we corner it.”

“Then whoever is doing this could be a member of my own staff?” Sweetie asked in a sad tone.

“Unlikely. I don’t know how the passes got out, but it could be through several means, not just someone looking to make a quick bit. Now, think about anyone suspicious. Ex-employees swearing revenge, rivalries, other divas, stars, past relationships, someone you upstaged or insulted, an influential or powerful pony showing disdain. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Noble,” Spike snarled. “Messing with one of my dearest friends will be their last mistake, no matter who that scumbag is.”

With everyone nodding in approval, Sweetie Belle (with a blush across her cheeks) and Pipsqueak began to think of any potential suspect. Minutes passed but nothing came out until Pipsqueak spoke.

“Maybe I’m drawing circles in the air here, but Platinum Record has always talked badly of Sweetie because she didn’t sign with his company,” he offered.

“Neon Lights didn’t take well enough that I didn’t accept his proposal to be an item,” Sweetie said. “Now that I think about it, Suri Polomare is always saying mean things about the outfits Rarity makes for me like I prefer to wear rags than true clothes made by a true professional. And Zesty Gourmand called me a ‘fat tittied cow with no decor like her sister’. Azure Lines did say I would regret not accepting to perform alongside him.”

“The Noble House of Red Solstice has also pointed to the rather… provocative aspects of Sweetie’s attire and the sex appeal. Problem is, they finance small protest and awareness campaigns,” Pipsqueak sighed. “I really wish it wasn’t the case, but sex sells and Sweetie likes to be risque, so win-win.”

“And she’s not selling her body, she’s selling her performances and her voice. And, come on, Sweets has always been frisky and open with herself. Plus I know the Red Solstices well. Pretty powerful, but all bark and no bite. Bunch of hypocrites, too. I’ve been to some of the parties they host and what Sweetie does is nothing compared to what they can pull out,” Spike complained and ended with a sigh. “Okay, sorry about that. They’re annoying but not a threat. We can count them out safely. We can also count out Neon Lights. It was more of a publicity stunt than anything else though I heard he had a crush on you, Sweets.”

“What about Fixed Motion? That asshole likes to run his mouth about how you’ll never be a true diva,” Apple Bloom scoffed.

“Or Camera Script! I overheard Soarin saying he had a bone to pick with Sweetie last time he came to visit Rainbow. Though he treated it as a joke,” Scootaloo brought up. After a few more seconds of pondering, she snapped her fingers. “Spotlight Lumina also doesn’t like you one bit. Especially not after Hoity chose you instead of her to try out his new line of swimwear, right?”

“Speaking of that, what about Diamond Tiara?” Apple Bloom asked. “You two are rivals and you’ve won nearly every competition and the role you’ve competed in, right? I mean, in popularity alone she’s right below you, Sweetie.” She crossed her arms and made a face. “I wouldn’t put it past her to be an envious prick.”

“But would she really go that far even if she was jealous?” Sweetie countered with a smile on her face, confusing her friends. “Sure, I like to poke fun at her and she surely pokes fun at me, but we’re not enemies or anything like that. That whole ‘rivalry’ thing is something the media stirred up and our fans ate up. We don’t even act upon it half the time!” She giggled.

“Really!? It’s all made up!?” Scootaloo asked, dismayed. Sweetie nodded. “Dammit! I thought something was going in between the two of you! You know, the epic struggle of the second place striving to shine through the one standing at the top and all that! Do you have any idea how many of my theories and predictions you just ruined!?”

“In a sense, we do have a rivalry,” Sweetie began, ignoring the ramblings of her friend, while Scootaloo lamented herself. “But it’s a professional one. We actually have a great relationship! She’s never said anything truly bad against me. Nothing more than witty remarks at my inability to act or how I can reach a note so high I make speakers short circuit. In fact, remember about eight months ago when that smear campaign was happening?”

“The one depicting you like a slut? Yeah, I remember,” Apple Boom replied. “I also remember that blowing up and you shutting up everyone publicly!”

“Well, Diamond Tiara was one of the first to jump in my defense. But for the most part, we keep to ourselves. We rarely see each other outside competitions, auditions, interviews, parties, or other events like that and we’re always amicable,” Sweetie smiled warmly. “We’re not friends and I don’t think we’ll ever be, but we’re cordial to each other. She’s still a bit of a pompous brat, but she has no motive to wish me harm.”

“I agree with Sweetie regarding Diamond Tiara. Not once has she given us trouble or has become the source of gossip of any sort. We can safely count her out,” Pipsqueak said. “And honestly, where would be her gain? She’s already incredibly famous and successful. Sure, I would be the first to argue Sweetie is easily four times as famous as Diamond Tiara but isn’t Coloratura more famous than Sapphire and Songbird? Yet they work as a unit and have a great relationship between them,” he hummed.

“You planning on a collab there, Pip?” Scootaloo asked, her spirit still down but at least out of her misery.

“Tartarus no! The PR alone would be a nightmare to deal with. Silver Spoon and I agreed to never mingle officially and let things be the way they are now almost since the start of their careers. It has worked so far, I see no reason to change that,” Pipsqueak revealed with a grin.

“Alright, we have a few names and others who are discarded for now. I’ll still dig on Neon and the Reds just to make completely sure there’s no involvement of them whatsoever,” the dragon hummed. “I could make use of Royal Guard assets to make the investigation faster, but it’s possible the one behind your attacks gets word of it and scurries away. Or I could do the investigation on my own, keeping it as secret as I possibly can?” He asked whilst looking at Sweetie Belle.

“Handle it on your own then, Spike. It may be more dangerous that way, but with you at my side I know I’ll be safe,” she said, ending with a wink.

“In that case,” Spike stood up. “I need to contact Thorax and see if he could let me hire two or three Shapeshifters and add them to the security team. Their help would be invaluable in preventing another mess like what was about to happen today from occurring.”

“Please, do anything you believe is necessary, Spike,” Pipsqueak said, nodding his head.

***********************************************

“You have got to be shitting me, Tiara!” Cozy Glow barked angrily. “Why the fuck am I getting punished for something I didn’t do!?”

“Shut up, Cozy!” Diamond Tiara replied, pulsating veins marked on her forehead nearing their popping point. She walked angrily with Snips and Snails at her sides, Silver Spoon closely behind her, and Cozy Glow suspended in the air, held aloft by the combined magic of her two lackeys as they carried her.

“I have to agree with Cozy, DT. She didn’t do anything,” Silver Spoon tried to interject but the enraged pink mare wasn’t hearing her.

“I don’t care!” She snarled. “I don’t feel like fucking these two idiots so I have to do something else to vent my frustration!”

“But why punish me!? It was your plan that failed, not mine! All I did was your delivery and forging the damn thing!” Cozy screamed back as she tried to fight against the magic holding her, but it was useless. “Let go of me, you maroons!” She cried in rage, but even she knew it was futile.

They had arrived at Diamond Tiara’s mansion a day prior to Sweetie Belle’s concert. The maids and butlers were given two days off because their mistress was in a really good mood, but most importantly it meant they were all alone to enjoy the downfall of the pretty alabaster unicorn on live television.

The concert began and Diamond Tiara was on the edge of her seat, she too had been smiling, waiting to see what would happen; hoping for a true shitstorm to occur. Everyone held their breaths when the silhouette of Swift Strike came rushing against Sweetie Belle… and then everything went to shit when a ball of fire appeared in between the two ponies only to reveal the next second none other than Spike himself taking down Swift Strike and pinning him against the floor.

Time had frozen for them and she could practically feel the fire burning inside Diamond Tiara’s blood up until she exploded after Spike gave his announcement. Diamond Tiara raged, screamed, and, despite not being the strongest earth pony ever, she still managed to punch a hole through her couch. Not to mention that the moment her eyes landed on her, she knew she was fucked.

What I was hoping to be a night of kinkiness has come around to bite me in the ass! Cozy thought as she desperately tried to get away. She didn’t fear Diamond Tiara, but the mare was unpredictable when angered and right at that moment she was ready to blow a casket.

Opening the door to the one section of her basement no one was allowed to even glance at except herself, Diamond Tiara led her companions inside. Flicking a switch, a dominatrix dungeon appeared before them. Usually, a place to have fun, it now looked anything but to the magically bound pegasus.

“Silvy, hand me a sturdy rope,” she requested a bit more harshly than usual. Silver Spoon sighed and went to the rack holding several types of ropes. Picking a few small packs of white ones she returned to her. “Thank you, Silvy. Now, Cozy Glow, ready to receive your just punishment?”

The pegasus in question narrowed her eyes for a moment before her lips twisted into a defying smirk. “If that’s the way we’re gonna play, then I’ll dance. Come on, do your fucking worst, bitch!” Maybe it was thanks to the less lightly ambient of the room, but her eyes reflected an eerie glow. “You fucking failed again to take that slut out, so go cry on a corner for all I care! Just remember, Tiara, that once I push that nuisance out of the way, I’ll be your Empress and you’ll be nothing but a mongrel licking my toes!”

“Is that so?” Diamond replied with the same level of smug authority as Cozy had used. “Oh boys!”

“Yes, my most beautiful mistress?” Snips asked.

“Here!” Snails replied.

“Take these ropes and make sure the empress is safely secured to her new throne!” She ordered, tossing the rolls in the air for them to catch with their magic. She took a backseat whilst enjoying the show of seeing her two faithful lackeys tear away the pieces of fabric covering the pegasus’ body. She would’ve preferred to see her squirm, but she didn’t even attempt to fight back against the two unicorns currently undressing her.

“I’m angry that my plan failed, yes,” Diamond Tiara began, scowling. “But you know what’s worse? That overgrown lizard is now protecting her! He’s her damn bodyguard!”

“What? You’re mad she’s got a freaking adopted bastard son of a whore protecting her and you don’t?” Cozy laughed. “I love your maliciousness, talent, and how you’ll do fucking anything to achieve your goals. You and I have that in common, Tiara~ But you know what I hate about you?” She spat aiming at the diva’s face, but she was too far away and it landed a few inches in front of her feet. “Your pettiness and your cowardice. You’re willing to do anything, yes, but you’re held back by your damn perched owl telling you stupid bullshit about stupid things like ‘morals’ and ‘the value of other creatures lives’!”

“Shut up, Glow!” Silver Spoon shouted, whatever empathy she harbored thanks to the unjust treatment the pegasus was going through evaporating as soon as those words left her mouth.

“I wonder what beautiful things you could come up with if only you were to ditch that pesky mosquito buzzing next to you!” Cozy smirked darkly.

“I said shut it!” Silver yelled again but her eyes were fixed on her girlfriend. She didn’t see any external change so far but she could almost hear the gears turning inside her head.

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll even manage to do something that will impress me~” Cozy ended with a laugh.

Diamond Tiara immediately walked towards her. Cozy was ready for a hit but instead, she grabbed her jaw and forcefully kissed the pegasus. It didn’t last for long but both mares moaned into the kiss. Breaking it off, she stepped back.

“I made a promise, wench,” Diamond smiled. “However, that promise only extends to Sweetie Belle. But to answer your question, no. I’m not jealous she’s got Spike as her lapdog. I bet she convinced that dimwitted fool by shaking her ass at him. Nor am I that angry my plan failed in that spectacularly miserable fashion. I’m mad because of what his presence means, you dolt. Now my two loyal dogs are going to be useless. If Spike sees them, I’m done for,” she sighed. “I still have a few tricks up my sleeve but direct confrontation is not one of them.”

Smirking, she snapped her fingers which was the signal her two hench ponies were waiting for. They moved Cozy to a bolted chair and began tying her to it. “I have my father’s genius and my mother’s wickedness, for better or worse. That she has a joke Prince as her bodyguard changes nothing. If anything, it only points out how privileged that slut is!”

Cozy listened to Diamond Tiara run her mouth while she was secured to the chair with not only rope, but also cuffs, bracers, and belts handed to the two bumbling idiots by Silver Spoon herself.

“I still have plenty of tricks up my sleeve and I’ll do anything within my power to remove her as the most prominent rising star in Equestria and take my rightful place under the spotlight. The place that rightfully belongs to me and that she cruelly stole. I will not give them time to rest and I’ll attack whenever I can, perhaps hoping against hope that one of my plans may work. They’ll be on edge, wary, and tired and they’ll make a mistake sooner or later and that’s when I’ll strike in full,” smiling, she nodded.

“What are yo--mffdghhh!? Drroommm Teegaaaa!” Cozy began but was cut short as something blocked her mouth and began to scream against the gag ball so rudely inserted into it.

Approaching the bound mare until she was in front of her, she leaned down so that their faces were mere inches apart. Kissing her nose, she continued. “I won’t break a promise I made to the only pony I truly care about,” with that said, she pulled back and walked to a nearby table, searched through several objects for a few minutes, then came back. “Perhaps you need to see for yourself how cruel I can be to those that fail me?” She asked with morbid glee.

Cozy didn’t hear her words, not entirely anyway, as her mind was focused on the objects her employer was carrying.

“You’re going to spend the night here, Glow. Alone. If I were you, I’d reflect on my actions and how I got to that position,” smirking, she brought up one of the objects. “Unlike vibrators and dildos, these beauties here have a more shocking effect. I’ve tried them myself and the line between pain and pleasure is rather blurred, let me tell you~,” putting emphasis on her words, she opened and released the small clamps making a clicking noise.

Humming happily, Diamond pulled a cotton swab and used it to rub a warm slimy substance over her clit and nipples. When she was done, she used the clamps to pinch at them. One for each nipple and two down below, the first holding the flesh around her clit, exposing her pearl to the second clamp.

“HHrrrrmmmmpppphhh!” Cozy screamed through her gag but couldn’t do much else. She could barely move her head as the rest of her body was too tightly secured to the chair. Next, she watched her employer move behind her before she felt the pressure of a plug push against her tail hole, entering with ease after a few seconds. “Ffffeeeggg Yyuuuuhhh!” She cursed, her eyes rolling back a moment later as a current of electricity coursed through her body. Not long after that, she began to drool uncontrollably through the gag ball forcing her mouth open.

“But I’m not without mercy, Glow,” Diamond continued. “If you endure until tomorrow morning without losing your mind, I’ll let you in my bed for the next two weeks. Call it my punishment for the foiled plan,” she giggled. “Don’t be a stranger~”

With that said, Cozy could only watch through blurry eyes how the other four ponies left her alone in that secluded room. With a final metallic clang, she knew she’d be spending the night tied to that chair and in Diamond Tiara’s basement. As electric shock after electric shock rocked her body and she wailed in an experience that granted her more pain than pleasure; her mind foggy thanks to the mixing sensations of pain, pleasure, and electricity, the face of the one responsible for her current suffering appeared on her mind.

She couldn’t think about anything, her thought unfocused and hazy but her hatred was real and burning bright through her agony. As an orgasm was forcefully yanked from her convulsing body, only the name could form in her mind.

SWEETIE BELLE!

**********************************************

“And the surprises don’t end there, folks! A week ago Prince Spike announced publicly he was Sweetie Belle’s new bodyguard, right after saving her no less! But it seems his announcement was met with some criticism that has only grown.” A mare said.

“Indeed it has. Several theories amongst the fans say that the entire attack was staged from the get-go, though Royal Guard evidence and the official report dictates otherwise. Despite that, another popular theory is that Prince Spike himself is doing this to increase his fame!” A stallion countered, ending with a chuckle.

“As if. If I wanted to get famous easily, I would’ve entered a romantic relationship instead of being a mere bodyguard of somepony. And guess what popular theory number three is? Ding ding ding, romance~ yup, that’s right, folks. Rumor has it there is more than meets the eye between them. What do you think?”

“Could be, could be. However, keep in mind that Melodious Star, our precious Sweetie Belle and Prince Spike have been friends since before his rank was recognized by our beloved Princess Celestia. Honestly? I believe the theory about all of Sweetie Belle’s ‘accidents’ have been attempts against her life and Spike finally moved in to help his friend.”

“Well, whatever the truth is the fact remains that Sweetie Belle’s popularity has entered into a dangerous bridge. I guess we will have to wait and see how this develops, don’t you think?”

“I’ll say! Sweetie Belle’s manager has informed us that a few sweeping changes to their staff and functions have been implemented. What exactly, we don’t know. However, given the recent events, I can’t blame them. In other news, the Pink Tide herself, Diamond Tiara, has announced her newest role for an upcoming theatre role of all things and that a new album is on the works!”

Spike stopped listening to the news after that and turned the television off. Looking down, he saw Sweetie Belle gently snoring while resting her head on his lap. Apple Bloom was leaning against his free shoulder, also asleep, and Scootaloo was on the other couch, splayed all over it.

Sweetie Belle had proposed a slumber party of sorts at her apartment in the morning. Her fellow Crusaders had decided to put their work on hold and come to act as guard mares for their friend, rarely leaving her side and making sure to give her all the support she needed. It had been a fun, albeit improvised, occasion but he didn’t mind, he was used to that kind of thing.

The dragon couldn’t help but smile and blush and he poked one of Sweetie’s cheeks and she sighed adorably.

“Sleep tight, Sweets,” he whispered and closed his eyes.

Part 2 - Act 2 End

Author's Note

Special thanks to anyone that read this!