The next morning, Sweetie Belle was up and about, feeling much more perky and pleasant as she waited at the table for her sister to finish preparing breakfast.
"So, sis; did you finish that dress yet?"
In contrast to Sweetie Belle, Rarity looked quite frazzled and sleep-deprived, as she had already been quite tired from staying up to make the dress, and seeing as she was forced to start again, it would seem fit that she be in the weary state of self she is currently within.
Rarity yawned as she took notice of her sister's question. "Yes, Sweetie Belle. It took me late into the night to finish, but I succeeded in doing so, and now it is ideal for my client's tastes," even though she still sounded tired, Rarity still managed a pleasant tone in her voice.
"That's really great! I'm sorry I ruined the first dress you made," Sweetie replied, sounding guilty.
"...yawn...it's all right, Sweetie Belle," Rarity replied as she turned her head back to face Sweetie Belle. "What's important is that I'm finished, and can now focus on other important matters."
"You mean like not burning the eggs?"
Rarity was puzzled upon hearing Sweetie's words, but then quickly turned her head back towards the stove, only to see that the eggs she was frying were indeed burning! Rarity promptly used her magic to remove the pan from atop the stove, simultaneously turning the stove off. She placed the pan on the counter and used a towel as a fan to blow away the smoke.
After completing her de-burning task, the anxious unicorn produced a breath of relief in her attainment. “It appears I am not entirely well as of yet.”
“Maybe you should go to bed,” Sweetie Belle said as she walked over to her sister. “Then you’ll be awake and be able to make breakfast just fine; like me!”
“Right…” Rarity replied with a hint of sarcasm. “Speaking of which, I see that you indeed got a good night’s sleep. Did you not spend time with Opal?”
“…actually, it’s the other way around” Sweetie Belle stated, having reverted back to her saddened state of mind from the previous night. “I tried to be friendly with Opal, but she hissed and swiped her claws at me,” she made a melancholy sigh. “I guess me and Opal just aren’t meant to be friends.”
“Oh, now don’t say that,” Rarity said as she walked over to console her sister. “I know Opalescence can be a bit petulant at times, but deep down she’s the sweetest cat a pony can have,”
“Well, she does a good job of not showing her sweet side to me,” Sweetie did not relent in her melancholy tone, which made her sister feel more concerned for Sweetie Belle’s well-being, as she was now gaining more of an understanding on Sweetie’s predicament. “I wish I had my very own pet: one that would like me and actually want to be my friend.”
“Well, you never know what the future may hold. Perhaps one day you will find the pet that is right for you, just like I and my friends have.”
Sweetie Belle smiled at her sister, feeling comforted by her encouraging words. “Thanks, Rarity. You’re still the best sister a pony can have,” Sweetie hugs Rarity affectionately, as Rarity does the same.
“I’m glad I could help, Sweetie Belle. Now then, I should get back to finishing our breakfast so we may finally eat,” she says as she trots back to the counter.
“Do you want me to help so you’ll get done faster?” Sweetie eagerly proposes, to which Rarity freezes in place for a few moments.
“Actually, I do believe I can handle this on my own, Sweetie Belle; you can just wait—over there in your seat, while I’m over here.”
“Well, if you want just a normal breakfast, instead of a Sweetie Belle breakfast, then go right ahead,” she replies nonchalantly.
“Glad you understand, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity replies, going back to cooking, followed by a confused Sweetie Belle looking back at her, bewildered as to why Rarity did not want one of her breakfasts instead.
After breakfast, Sweetie Belle left Carousel Boutique in search of her friends: Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, so they may try to think up more ideas on how to earn their cutie marks. She traversed through town for a bit before moving towards the woods near Sweet Apple Acres, as their clubhouse in Sweet Apple Acres was the most probable location of the other Cutie Mark Crusaders.
Although Sweetie Belle had her mind on earning cutie marks, she still could not relent her wish to have a pet of her own, despite the fact she did not know what type of pet she would want, or where she could possible find one. Pondering these considerations certainly did not ease the filly’s forlorn heart, and thus she hoped that being with her friends would take her mind off of this whole pet ordeal—at least, for a while.
Sweetie Belle continued her trotting towards the farm—until she suddenly halted in place. Something had caught her ear: a sound emanating from off the path. The noise was that of rustling leaves, and as Sweetie Belle ventured off the path towards the noise, she was able to pinpoint its source much more easily. The noise was not coming from the trees above, but rather from the bushes below. Sweetie had her eyes locked onto a small group of bushes directly in front of her, and not only could she hear the rustling sound, but she could clearly see the bushes gradually juddering around.
“Hello? Is someone in there?” Sweetie received no response, but the bushes ceased their shaking, so it was apparent that what or whoever was in there had heard her question. “Whoever’s in there, you can come out. You don’t have to be shy: I’m a nice pony,” she stated with a pleasant tone.
At first, the bushes remained motionless, but soon after they began trembling once again, and Sweetie Belle grew more curious as to who it is that is concealed within the shrubbery. Sweetie Belle took a few steps closer to the bush, moving slowly so as not to startle the cloaked being inside. She moved her head close to examine the bush, then suddenly moved back quickly in alarm at the sight of a tiny brown protrusion that had just poked itself out of the bottom of the bush.
Sweetie Belle had walked back two feet away from the bush, still unknowing of what it was she was currently seeing. The protrusion stirred a bit, and then it extended a bit more out of the shrub, revealing that it was actually the front part of a small animal’s face, with the animal staring directly at an astonished Sweetie Belle.
Though startled at first, Sweetie now looked upon this creature a more positive outlook. “Come on, little guy. It’s okay; I won’t hurt you,” the animal stared back at Sweetie belle for a few moments, and then began moving out of the bush, taking one slow step at a time. “That’s good. Come on, come on. Keep coming,” Sweetie continued her encouraging of the animal to emerge from its shrubbery hideaway.
Upon its full appearance from outside of the bush, Sweetie Belle saw that this shy animal was a young male porcupine. He stared indifferently at Sweetie Belle, who stared right back at the prickly fellow. Sweetie Belle had never met a porcupine before, but she thought that now was the perfect time to introduce herself to one.
“Hello there, little guy. I’m Sweetie Belle,” she took a step forward as she said this, and in response the timid porcupine stepped back a bit, wary of this pony who was still unknown to him. Sweetie stopped moving when he had done so, seeing that the little guy was still a tad frightened of her. She felt troubled in knowing the porcupine continued to contain fear of her within himself, but she still retained her confidence that she could win over this animal with her kindness and friendship. “Hey, you don’t have to be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you. I’m as nice as a pony can be. My name even has “sweetie” in it!” The porcupine appeared to be unwavering in his doubt of the filly’s intentions, but gradually he began to step towards Sweetie Belle, still keeping with his cautious frame of mind. Sweetie Belle was happy to see the porcupine was warming up a bit to her, but not wanting to scare him again, she, as slowly as the porcupine, began moving her hoof towards him. Closer and closer the two progressed to meet one another, until the porcupine ceased moving, right before he had reached Sweetie Belle’s hoof. He stared back up at Sweetie belle once more, who was smiling warmheartedly at the furry creature. As he watched her smile, he felt a sense of trust from the filly’s positive expression, and now thought that there may be nothing sinister hidden behind her kindly exterior. With these thoughts brewing in his mind, the porcupine gently moved his snout towards Sweetie Belle, touching his nose to her hoof at long last.
Sweetie Belle was overcome with elation. Her resolute compassion had finally gotten though to her new little friend, and now that he trusted her enough, it was time to implement new the tactics to gain a true friendship between the two.
Sweetie Belle carefully moved her hoof up above the porcupine’s head, making sure not to move too fast so he would not be startled away. She looked at his face, which did not display any form of fright or alarm, showing he truly trusted the filly, which made things much easier for Sweetie Belle. She then placed her hoof down on the porcupine’s back, and, with much caution, began stroking his back, making sure to only stroke against the quills on his back, so she would not prick herself on his many needles. Sweetie Belle felt a new sense of enjoyment that she had not felt before, as she had never obtained the opportunity to stroke an animal like this, mostly due to Opal’s refusal to accept the filly’s affection.
Sweetie Belle suddenly became fearful that the porcupine might react the same way as Opal did, so she peered down at his face to see how he was taking to her gentle petting. The porcupine looked to be smiling pleasurably, enjoying the feeling of being stroked so gently, as he had never had anybody do this to him before, and he was loving every second of it. In turn, Sweetie Belle felt quite comforted in knowing that her new porcupine friend enjoying her kind treatment of him.