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// Chapter 5 - 1/2: The Duo Rejoins 
// Story: To Love a Pet 
// by Creative Charmer 
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	The early morning sun peeked over the horizon, shining its rays of stunning daylight all over the town, showing it to be a bright and joyful day for the citizens of Ponyville.
These very sunbeams also shone on the house of Sweetie Belle, with her still sleeping soundly inside, undisturbed and unaware of morning's arrival. After some time had passed, and the sun had risen higher in the sky, the rays of light moved down from the ceiling onto Sweetie's bed, shining right in her face. When the light touched her face, she began to feel bothered, moving around to get comfortable, but was unable to escape the light beaming down on her.
Finally, Sweetie Belle was forced awake, and she sat up in her bed, still half-asleep. She yawned as she stretched her body and front legs, then rubbed the sleep out of her dreary eyes. She then looked out the window towards the sun, and after a few moments, her eyes sprang open.
"Oh, hey!" she shouted with excitement. "It's morning! That means I can finally see Lester!" Sweetie hopped up out of her sheets, her merriment having pushed out all her feelings of fatigue.
Sweetie Belle quickly jumped out of bed and tidied up her bed, folding the sheets back into place. After that, she trotted over to the mirror, and was astounded by how much her mane had been messed up while sleeping.
"Whoa! Don't want Lester to see me like this!" she then picked up her hair brush. "Good thing Rarity showed me how to get a perfect mane in just a few brush strokes!" Sweetie speedily brushed her mane a few times, then looked at the mirror, only to see her hair was still quite a mess. "But it looks like a still need a few more lessons."

~~~

After finally getting her mane right, Sweetie Belle ran downstairs, where her parents were. Both Sweetie's mom and dad were in the kitchen, with her mom making breakfast and her dad reading the newspaper. Sweetie ran into the kitchen to greet them.
"Hey, mom and dad!"
"Hello there. Sweetie Belle!" her father said.
"Good morning, Sweetie dear," her mother said. "What would you like for breakfast, hon?"
"Sorry mom, but I don't have time to eat breakfast right now?"
"Not eat breakfast?" Sweetie Belle's mom said, as both Sweetie's parents looked surprised by this response. "Why ever not?"
"Because I have to get to the Cutie mark Crusaders clubhouse right away! I just wanted to let you know where I was going first before I head over there!"
"Oh, have you got something special planned?' her father asked, sounding a bit eager. "You gals gonna try and get your cutie marks again?"
"Err...yeah! That's it! We got some new ideas, and today might be the day one of them works!"
"Well, all righty, then!"
"Have a good time, dear!"
"Thanks, mom and dad! Bye!" Sweetie Belle turned around and ran to the front door.
After getting outside, Sweetie Belle closed the door, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew...that was close. I gotta remember not to let them know about Lester. I don't want to risk having to lose him. I know it would hurt him a lot more than it would for me," Sweetie looked rather despondent because of these thoughts, but then abruptly shook her head. "But I can't think about that now! I want Lester to see me happy so he'll be happy, too!" And with that, Sweetie Belle dashed off towards Sweet Apple Acres as fast as her hooves could carry her.