Sweetie Belle groaned as she looked to the clock on her wall. She threw her pillow over her head and tried to pretend that time didn’t exist for a little bit. The clock was telling her exactly the news she didn’t want to hear. It was time to get out of bed.
Well, strictly speaking, it was actually 10 minutes past the time she should get out of bed.
The pillow fell off her face and landed on the side of her bed. She huffed and finally sat up. She combed her fingers through her hair, mumbling in frustration as she felt her bed hair.
She sighed as she flung her legs off the bed and stood up, at least it wasn’t too cold this morning.
She trudged over to her wardrobe and started to rifle through her clothes, deciding on what to wear today. While she had nowhere near the amount of clothes Rarity had, she still had probably more than was standard.
She decided to play it safe and just wear her favourite outfit. She pulled a yellow, knee length skirt up, before putting on a white shirt with pink stripes. She finished the look with a pink jacket and pink belt over the top of them all.
She walked over to her small vanity and had a look at herself, apart from the rat’s nest uptop her head, she was happy with her appearance. She sat down and sighed as she grabbed her hair brush, ready for the fight of her life.
She started to roughly comb the brush through her hair, violently attacking knots. She reached a particularly tough knot, she strained with both hands to push the brush through. With a rip, the knot came out, along with a bit of her hair. Sweetie looked left, then right, before quickly pulling the hair out of the brush and throwing it in the bin.
She knew Rarity would have a fit if she saw how rough she was being with her hair.
She nodded with satisfaction, happy with how her hair now looked. She reached down and opened one of the draws of the vanity, and pulled out a small lock box. She reached into her jacket pocket and retreaved a small key. She unlocked the box and took out her prized possession.
A small black necklace with a brilliant red ruby hanging from it. She put it on and looked in the mirror, happy to have it on yet again. Outside of sleeping and showers, she always wore this necklace, it felt wrong to be without it.
She closed her eyes as she clutched the gem in her hand. She smiled with the feeling of it in her hand, it almost seemed to radiate a warmth of its own.
Sweetie distinctly remembers getting it from her older sister, but Rarity seems to have no recollection of giving it to her. Probably meant she got it cheap somewhere it gave it to Sweetie as some throwaway gift. But Sweetie loved it all the same.
Sweetie slipped on a pair of knee length pink boots before heading down stairs.
In the kitchen she found Rarity already up and about, eating some toast for breakfast, with a knife and fork, of course.
“Morning, Rarity.” She said, as she reached for the cereal on the upper cabinet.
“Good morning, Sweetie Belle.” Said Rarity, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.
“Any news from mum and dad?” Asked Sweetie, grabbing a bowl and some milk from the fridge.
Rarity sighed as she scraped the remains of her toast in the bin, “No, nothing since last time.”
Sweetie began to hum a little tune to herself as she got ready to eat her breakfast.
Rarity’s eyes turned dark. “I guess touring the country’s bowling alleys is more important than their children.” She spat.
“Yeah, I guesh.” Sweetie mumbled around the cereal in her mouth.
Rarity blinked hard before shaking her head. She looked down at Sweetie. “Honestly Sweetie, how many times must I insist you don’t speak with your mouth full!”
Sweetie mumbled an apology, her mouth still full.
Rarity sighed and put her plate in the dishwasher. “Why do I even bother…” She said under her breath. She looked up to the clock hanging on the wall. “We’ll leave for school in 5 minutes, okay?”
Sweetie nodded as she contuined to eat her cereal.
“Well, I must get packed and ready, big day today, auditioning for the musical showcase!” Rarity called as she struts out of the room.
Sweetie finished her cereal and put the bowl in the dishwasher, spilling a little milk in the the machine, she shrugs as she closes the washer’s door and walks out of the kitchen, getting ready for the school day ahead of her.
Sweetie sat in the cafeteria with her two best friends in the whole world, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. She was glad Rarity and Applejack seem to have sorted the differences between them, it meant she no longer had to hide her friendship with Apple Bloom.
It had been a boring day so far at Canterlot High, which was nice. After whatever it was that happened at the Fall Formal, it was comforting for things to be back to a relative normal.
Apple Bloom scoffed as she looked to the table her sister was sitting at. “Ah can’t believe my sis’ and her friends are now hanging out with Sunset Shimmer.”
Scootaloo nodded along as she swallowed a bite of her sandwich. “Yeah, I mean, she was like, the worst bully ever! And now, what, we’re supposed to forget that ever happened?”
Sweetie poked her salad with her fork, not feeling particularly hungry. “I don’t think it's that bad, at least she’s trying to be better.”
“Ah shupposh.” Apple Bloom mumbled around a forkful of spaghetti.
“Oh, did you hear about those new students who transferred today?” Scootaloo asked before taking a bite of her sandwich.
“No?” Asked Sweetie, her eyebrow arching.
“Well,” spat Scootaloo, before swallowing her bite, “I didn’t see them personally. But Twist did, and she says they’re the prettiest girls she’s ever seen! Apparently Sunset Shimmer was showing them around.”
Apple Bloom glared over at the girl mentioned. “Well, Ah hope she wasn’t teaching ‘em any nasty tricks.”
Sweetie sighed as she took an unenthusiastic bite of her salad.
The doors to the cafeteria burst open with a bang, and in walked the three girls Scootaloo was talking about.
They were humming in harmony as they walked in, immediately commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
The girl in the middle started to sing. She was an orange girl with large, orange hair, weaning a purple top with pink leggings. She seemed to be the leader.
Behind her the two other girls were singing back up. One was a pink girl, with purple hair and blue highlights, wearing a yellow top and purple leggings in a punk style. The third girl was a pale blue, with blue hair, dark red jacket and a blue skirt.
The leader was singing about how they should turn the musical showcase into a form of competition.
Sweetie couldn’t help but hum along to the infectious tune, her quiet voice adding to the rhythm of the song.
Everyone in the cafeteria was enraptured by the singing, nodding along with the three girls.
Sweetie closed her eyes as she let herself be taken by the music.
Various students started to argue in the room, screaming about how they’re sure to win the Battle of the Bands. The air seemed to become electric, a power Sweetie didn’t recognise filling the room.
Sweetie breathed in deep, her necklace warming her chest. She didn’t know what this was, but she liked it. It felt like after spending a day walking through the cold, finally having a warm, sweet hot chocolate. Her very essence seemed to be warmed by whatever it was filling the room.
As the song stopped, Sweetie opened her eyes to see the whole room had descended into madness. Groups of students were standing apart from each other, arguing about who was going to win this battle.
Even Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were having a heated debate with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon about who was going to come out on top.
Sweetie felt slightly uncomfortable with all the anger around her. She clutched the ruby resting on her chest and took a deep breath. The gem felt warm in her hands, and the air felt good on her skin. She instantly calmed down, no longer minding the negativity that hung in the room.
Sweetie suddenly felt her arms being grabbed, one by Scootaloo and the other Apple Bloom.
“Come on, Sweetie! We gotta start working on a routine if we wanna win this thing!” Insisted Scootaloo as she and Apple Bloom began dragging Sweetie out of the room.
As Sweetie was dragged out of the room, she noticed that Rarity and her friends seemed to be unaffected with whatever had happened in the room. The six girls looking around with confusion and worry at the other students.
But her attention quickly changed to the three new girls. They looked over the chaos in the room with satisfied smirks, seeming to enjoy the negativity the room was filled with.
As Sweetie was dragged past them, she looked up at them with awe. The three girls looked down to her, their evil smirks turning to genuine smiles. The blue one even giving Sweetie a little wave. But that wasn’t what got Sweetie’s attention.
No, what she was focusing on was the necklaces the three girls were wearing. Small black ones, with brilliant red rubys hanging from them. The same as her’s.
“Do you think she’s ready?” She heard one of them ask before she was dragged fully out the room and down the hall.
The three young girls sat in a quiet corner of the library, two of them buzzing with excitement.
“Alright, girls, we gotta come up with somethin’ that’ll blow everyone away!” Stated Apple Bloom, slamming her fists into the table.
“Yeah, we’ll show them all who’s the best!” Agreed Scootaloo, nodding her head furiously.
Sweetie sat quietly between the two. “I dunno, you two sure? I mean, we weren’t even going to enter the showcase until a few minutes ago.”
“Ah’ve never been more sure of somethin’ in my entire life.” Said Apple Bloom.
“I need to win this Battle of the Bands!” Insisted Scootaloo.
The two girls’ eyes seem to glow a faint green as they speak.
Sweetie Belle didn't notice, and closed her eyes, sighing. “Alright, if you girls are so sure…”
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom rose their hands expectantly, Sweetie sighed before reaching up, the three high five.
“Canterlot Movie Club Performers, yay!” They cried out in unison, Sweetie Belle a little less enthusiastically.
Cheerilee walked up to the trio, a frown on her face. “Now girls, I’m sure you don’t need reminding, but this is a library, and a little quiet would be appreciated.”
Sweetie went to apologise, but was interrupted by Scootaloo.
“But we gotta practice for the Battle of the Bands, and all the other rooms are taken!” Explained Scootaloo.
Cheerilee’s eyes lost focus as she stared off into the distance, her eyes taking on a faint green glow. Sweetie gasped as she saw this, but her friends didn’t seem to notice.
“Yes, a Battle of the Bands, I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Said Cheerilee, her voice monotone.
Her eyes refocused on the girls infront of her, a soft smile on her face. “Well, if it's for the Battle of the Bands, then that’s alright then. Good luck girls!”
“Thank you, Miss Cheerilee!” Called Scootaloo and Apple Bloom in unison as their teacher walked away.
“Uhh, didn’t you tow think that was a little weird?” Asked Sweetie, watching their teacher walk away.
“What was weird?” Asked Apple Bloom.
Sweetie tapped her fingers together nervously. “Well, she was right, we should be quiet in the library, but she seemed to suddenly change her mind…”
Scootaloo waved her hand dismissively, “Ah, forget her! We got permission to be as loud as we want, and I wanna be loud!”
Apple Bloom nodded along, “Yeah, this is perfect!”
Scootaloo reached into her bag and pulled out some paper and pens. “Let’s get started then! I reckon we’ll win this if we go all out!”
Apple Bloom cocked her head. “Whadda mean by that?”
Scootaloo smirked as she started scribbling on the page. “Well, I think most people are gonna just sing, yeah? Maybe some music? We’re going to do more though, we’re going to sing, dance, and have our own set!”
Scootaloo proudly held up her drawing, showing a poorly done representation of the three girls on a stage. “And I’ve already got a song idea, some I’m going to be lead singer!” Stated Scootaloo.
Apple Bloom nodded along, “Alright then, I wanna do the dance moves then!”
Scootaloo pointed to Sweetie, “That leaves you to do the costumes and set design.”
Sweetie held up her hands protectively. “Oh, I don’t think so girls, I don’t think I’d be any good…”
Apple Bloom shook her head. “What are ya talkin’ about? Yer sis’ is really good at all this design stuff, Ah’m sure you’ll do awesome!”
Sweetie Belle sighed and hung her head in defeat. “Alright then.”
Scootaloo clapped her hand on Sweetie’s back. “That’s the spirit, let’s get started then!”
Over the next twenty minutes, the girls work on their parts of the performance, Sweetie Belle a little less enthusiastically than her friends.
The girls were getting a little frustrated with their lack of progress. Scootaloo found writing a song to be a lot harder than she thought, and Apple Bloom couldn’t work on any dance moves without a song to dance to.
Sweetie began to hum a little tune to herself as she tried to get some inspiration.
Apple Bloom slammed her fists into the table, “Come on, Scootaloo, y’all trying to make us lose?” She growled.
Scootaloo jumped, surprised by this sudden outburst. “I- uhh…” She stammered.
Sweetie Belle failed to notice this happening as she began to sing quietly to herself, the lyrics unintelligible and unimportant.
Scootaloo’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Oh yeah, and what are you even doing? Sitting around, twiddling your thumbs?”
Apple Bloom leaned right up into Scootaloo’s face. “Actually, Ah’m waiting for yer slow butt to get into gear!”
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom continued to bicker and argue as Sweetie continued to sing.
Sweetie was completely lost to the world around her, fully taken by the music. She felt the same warmth and electricity in the air that she did in the cafeteria when those girls had been singing. She kept singing, loving the feeling of power that was suddenly flowing through her. It felt like she could run 500 miles without breaking a sweat. She wondered how she’d ever been without this feeling before.
The school bell suddenly threw Sweetie back into the real world. She stopped singing as she jumped in her chair.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom blinked and shook their heads, before looking away from each other, embarrassed.
“Uhh, sorry Apple Bloom, don’t know what came over me just then…” Apologied Scootaloo.
“Yeah, sorry Scoots, Ah don’t actually think that…” Added Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Belle smiled a warm smile, feeling full and calm. “Come on girls, we don’t wanna be late for class!” She said, standing up.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom mumble in agreement as they pack their bags.
“Hey, y’all girls wanna come to my place after school? We can work in the three house!” Suggested Apple Bloom.
Sweetie shook her head. “Sorry Apple Bloom, but Rarity and I are going out to dinner tonight, there’s this new place on the pier she’s taking me to.”
Apple Bloom deflated a little as they make their way out of the library. “Alright then, what if Scoots and Ah do it without ya? Ah really don’t wanna fall behind.”
Sweetie shrugged, “Yeah, alright. I can design the stage and costumes later.”
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom run on ahead of Sweetie, excited to get class over with so they can continue to work on their routine.
Sweetie felt a little awkward as she sat across from Rarity in the fancy restaurant. She had worn her nicest dress, a simple pink dress with a few frills in the skirt teamed with a yellow belt, but she still felt very underdressed.
Rarity sat across from her in a lovely, deep blue evening gown, matching, elbow length gloves on her hands, and tastefully done makeup.
It also wasn’t helping that Rarity seemed to be very distracted, always looking out the window and into the distance.
“Are you alright, Rarity? You seem a little distracted.” Asked Sweetie bluntly, tact had never been her strong suit.
“Hmm?” Absentmindedly replied Rarity, before her focus snapped onto Sweetie. “Oh, I mean, yes dear, I’m perfectly fine.” Insisted Rarity, a small smile on her face.
“Are you sure? You don’t look fine.” Stated Sweetie, as she looked around to see if a server is coming with their food yet.
Rarity crossed her arms in frustration. “Alright, fine, I’m a little nervous about those new girls at school, I don’t think they’re very nice people.”
Sweetie tilted her head, thinking about the three girls. Their pretty faces, their confident stance, the electricity in the air, the glowing, red rubies on their chests. Sweetie reached up and grabbed the ruby currently sitting on her chest.
“I dunno, they didn’t seem too bad to me…” Mumbled Sweetie.
Rarity hurumphed. “Well, they suggested this silly ‘Battle of the Bands’,” she said, making quotations with her fingers, “And now the whole school seems to be tearing itself apart.”
Sweetie thought about the cafeteria, the electricity in the air, the warmth, the power…
“I don’t think the Battle of the Bands is that bad of an idea.” Said Sweetie, looking down to her ruby.
Rarity looked intensely at Sweetie Belle, seemingly looking for something, before sighing. “Yes, I suppose you would…”
Before Sweetie had a chance to ask what Rarity meant by that, a server came with their food. Rarity thanked the server as Sweetie looked intently at her food.
Upon her plate sat a lightly cooked fish on a bed of salad. The fish still had its head and skin, looking almost raw. Usually, this kind of fancy food made Sweetie uncomfortable, but the fish looked like the most tasty thing she’d ever seen.
Rarity smiled as she saw her sister’s excitement at the food. “Well, why don’t we dig in-”
Rarity didn’t get a chance to finish before Sweetie picked up the fish with her hands and took a large bite out of the side.
Rarity looked on in stunned silence as Sweetie Belle devoured the fish like a wild animal.
Sweetie couldn’t stop herself, the fish was the single most delicious thing she’d ever eaten. She couldn’t help but wish it was a little less cooked, a little juicer, even raw. Her sharp teeth easily tearing the once carefully prepared fish apart.
Sweetie Belle almost wanted to stop, almost felt disgusted as she chewed and swallowed the head of the fish. But she couldn’t bring herself to, it was too tasty.
Rarity was too stunned to say anything, her mouth flapping uselessly like, well, like a fish.
A soft humming was heard from outside the restaurant on the pier. Suddenly a smack was heard as a woman slapped a man across the table from her, then the whole restaurant descended into madness.
Patrons started to argue with each other, people shouting at servers, the servers screaming at the chefs and telling management they quit, and chefs throwing food at each other, as the further sound of discord could be heard also coming from the pier.
Rarity looked around in a panic, recognising the work of sirens instantly. “Sweetie, we have to get out of here-” She began to say before looking down at Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie Belle was sitting calmly with her eyes closed, humming along to the tune, her ruby glowing.
Rarity’s eyes grew wide with panic and understanding, before that realisation seemed to escape her mind, her eyes narrowing with anger. “Honestly Sweetie! Eating at such a place with your bare hands! Uncouth doesn’t even begin to describe it!” She shouts.
Sweetie ignored her, humming to the music and eating the hatred that was pouring from everyone in the restaurant. Her eyes still closed and still humming along, she stood up and made her way towards the door.
Rarity’s eyes flashed green as her focus left Sweetie Belle and suddenly changed to a server next to her table, she pointed down to her food. “What do you call this? It’s simply unacceptable…” Her voice faded into the general noise as Sweetie made her way out the restaurant and out onto the pier.
Her eyes opened as she reached the source of the haunting music. The three new girls at school were standing in the dark at the end of the pier, their rubies glowing bright with power, much like Sweetie’s.
The three girls looked at Sweetie and smiled. Not the smug smirks that seemed to usually adorn their faces, but warm, genuine smiles.
“Hello, little one.” Said the lead girl, smiling as she stepped towards Sweetie.
Sweetie, confused by all this, stood stock still.
The orange girl got down on her knees, looking Sweetie right in the eyes. “My name is Adagio, this here is Aria, and this is Sonata.” She explained, pointing to the other girls.
The blue girl, Sonata, waved enthusiastically to Sweetie. While the pink girl, Aria, snorted and looked away, keeping up her tough girl attitude, but Sweetie couldn’t help but notice the little smile that found its way onto Aria’s face when she thought no one was looking.
Sweetie suddenly refocused on the girls in front of her, looking at their necklaces. Instinctively, she reached for her own.
“Your necklaces…” Sweetie asks, “Who… who are you guys?”
Adagio smiles down to the young girl. “We’re the Dazzlings, and you,” she booped Sweetie on the nose, “are Sweetie Dazzle. Welcome back, little sister.”
Sweetie suddenly took a step back, reeling. “No… no, that’s not right, I have a sister, Rarity, and two parents and a house on Ponyville Drive…” She said quietly, looking at the three girls in front of her, her hands falling away from the gem on her chest.
Adagio reached for Sweetie’s ruby, and for the first time in years, someone other than Sweetie touched it. “Come on, Sweetie, remember.”
Sweetie looked into the other girl's eyes, before reaching for the other girl's gem, instinctively grabbing a hold of it.
She remembered being young, very, very young. Sitting in a basket of weeds, the ocean waters all around her. She remembers waking up in a strange world, a place she didn’t understand, a body she didn’t recognise.
She remembered three faces looking at her, her three… sisters looking down at her. Saying something she was too young to understand and giving her the necklace she would carry for the rest of her life. She remembered sitting in a basket in front of a house, being taken inside by two creatures she’d never seen before.
She gasped as she jumped back, letting go of Adagio’s ruby.
Her eyes darted between the three girls, confusion and panic in them, but also recognition. “I… I remember…” She stammered.
Adagio smiled as she walked back to her two other sisters, the three of them standing by the edge of the pier. She beconned Sweetie.
Sweetie, acting on autopilot, shakely walked over. As she got close, Aria and Sonata dived off the end of the pier and into the water.
“Are you ready to reawaken, little sister?” Asked Adagio, gesturing over the edge of the pier.
Sweetie nervously looked into the cold, dark waters below, before looking to Adagio. “I- I don’t-” She stammered.
Adagio smiled at her. “Welcome to the family, sis’.” She shoved Sweetie off the end of the pier.
So great was Sweetie’s surprise, she doesn’t even have a chance to scream as she plummeted towards the ocean below.
With a splash she landed in the water. She expected to find herself suddenly blinded, to be cold and choking under the seas. But her ruby pulsed with warmth, and she found herself comfortable with her surroundings.
No, not just comfortable, it all felt so… right.
Behind her she heard a splash, Adagio landing in the water just behind her. The orange girl’s ruby pulsed with a power Sweetie didn’t know, but somehow recognised. As the pulse travelled over the girl’s body it changed from human to something else. A creature with the rear end of some kind of sea serpent, the front half of a horse. Her whole body is covered in golden scales, with fins for aquatic travel.
In her mouth were multiple rows of sharp teeth, and on her chest sat her ruby. Not on a necklace, but a part of her.
“Oh my god, you’re soo cute!” Sweetie heard a voice call from behind her.
Sweetie swiveled around to see what she assumed is Sonata swimming up to her. Sonata grabbed Sweetie’s hoof and kept her still while she inspected her body.
Wait, hoof?
Sweetie looked down at her own body, to see white scales covering a serpent’s tail. Pink fins running along her body, and white hooves sprouting from around her ruby. Her long, forked tongue ran over her teeth, finding them to be razor sharp and to have multiple rows.
“I- I don’t- what-” She stammered out, speaking in a language she didn’t think she’d ever heard before, but came to her as naturally as breathing.
Sonata giggled as she pulled on Sweetie’s hoof. “Come on, lil’ sis’! There’s so much we gotta show and teach you!”
Sweetie couldn’t find anything to say as she’s dragged away. She was scared as she’d ever been, she’s confused and lost. She didn’t know what was happening or why, but she did know one thing.
Swimming under the ocean, in a little school with these other creatures, nothing had ever felt more natural.
Author's Note
Welcome to the family, sis.
As I said eariler, I wrote this or the Original Pairings Contest, but after writing it I thought I should probably read the rules, only to find that this story doesn't actually fit them. I like it though, so here we are.
Loosely Inspired by luckboys121's Sunset Heritage and Lapis-Lazuli and Stitch's Twilight's Treecastle of Terror
