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// Sweetie Belle Feels Determined 
// Story: Stage Fright! 
// by Ezn 
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Chapter Three: Sweetie Belle Feels Determined

It was Saturday morning, three days after the emergency Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting, and Sweetie Belle was pacing around Rarity's kitchen restlessly. Since then, she'd been seeing Rarity every day to practice her singing, and she still hadn't told her she couldn't do the audition.

In fact, they had been practicing for the audition late into the previous evening, so Sweetie had even ended up sleeping over at the Boutique. Although she had almost told Rarity she didn't want to participate many times during the practice, and every practice before then, she simply hadn't been able to bring herself to actually say it.

"Try this song, Sweetie," Rarity would say, and then she'd levitate a wordsheet in front of Sweetie's face and play the piano all at once. "Yes, yes, you sing it beautifully!"

And then Sweetie would smile and sing and enjoy herself and forget all about the audition – for a few minutes. And then she'd remember it again, and say, "Rarity..." but the look of pride in her big sister's eyes made her lose her nerve every time and just start singing another song. Saying that she didn't want to do the audition anymore would mean no more singing practice, and then she probably wouldn't get to spend time with her sister for weeks.

But continuing with the practices would eventually mean she would have to do the audition. "I have to tell Rarity that I don't want to do the audition any more," Sweetie said to herself. "Maybe she'll be sad, but I just don't think I can take it."

As if on cue, Rarity burst into the kitchen. A piece of paper was floating in front of her face, held by her magic. Her sleep mask was still over one eye, making her look, Sweetie Belle thought, a little like a very fashionable pirate. Maybe it would be easier to tell a strange pirate pony that she couldn't do her audition.

"Sis!" Sweetie said, completely failing to imagine saying anything to a strange pirate pony. "There's something –"

"Oh, Sweetie, there's no time!" Rarity wailed, wiping a hoof across her brow. "I misread the pamphlet Sapphire Shores gave me – the auditions aren't next week, they're right now!"

Sweetie just stared at her sister. Had Rarity misspoken? Had she misheard?

"But fear not!" Rarity exclaimed, narrowing her eyes in determination. "If we hurry, we can still make it there! Don't worry, Sweetie, your sister Rarity will get you there on time!"

No, there had been no misspeaking or mishearing, only misreading. Now was the time to say something – Sweetie Belle knew she absolutely could not put it off any longer. Bravely, she began, "Um, about that –"

"Oh!" Rarity rushed out of the kitchen before Sweetie could finish. "I almost forgot something!" she called back.

Moments later, Rarity returned, horn glowing. Sweetie gasped as she saw Rarity float something small and shiny into view. It was a little silver dress that glimmered and sparkled in the sunlight coming through the window. It looked, Sweetie Belle thought, just like a dress Rarity had spent hours and hours making for her to wear at the audition.

"I thought it would help if you had a beautiful outfit to complement your voice, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said, confirming her suspicions.

Sweetie's mouth hung open in shock. Limbs shaking, she slid it over her head and onto her body. It fit just right, and was as comfortable as it was beautiful. That Rarity had somehow found the time to make it, even with her busy schedule, meant there was no way Sweetie Belle could back out of doing the audition now. That was a certainty.

"Th-thank you, Rarity," Sweetie Belle said, wishing she could have been able to wear the dress at another time. "I-it's really pretty. I love it!"