Stranger

by Friend


Story

“But you have to go!”

“No.”

“But you have to, you have to!” Pinkie jumps in the air, pleading. “We can go any other day, Pinkie, but I need to watch over my darling Sweetie Belle,” Rarity replies, “....Before she decides to sell my boutique again.”

“Aw, come on-n-n!” Pinkie whines.
“No, and that is fina-”

“Rarity?”

“Oh, Sweetie Belle! Nice of you to come by, are you done looking for your sweets?”

“Yeah!” The white ball squeaks, swinging her large bag open. “Look at all of this candy!”
“Now, Sweetie Belle, you aren’t going to eat all of that in one night, are you?”
“Noo..”
“Then I hope you don’t mind if I keep your little bag, then?”
“No!” Sweetie yelps in despair as rarity’s aura wraps around her sweet delights.
“Now Sweetie Belle,” “Its my candy!” “I’m-” “No!” “just keeping-” “NEIN” “..-Belle..”

With a huff, Rarity swings her glance to the side, as the tiny crusader runs off with her treasures. She drops her head, facing her pink friend.

“Foals these days, Pinkie?”

“I know, aren’t they great?” Pinkie smiles.

“Pinkie, I am sorry that I can’t go with you to greet this… Serenity..? I need to look after Sweetie Belle.”
“She can come too! The more the merrier!”
“Well, that is a good compromise, I suppose..”











“Rarity?”
“Yes, darling?”
“Why do I have to go?” little white whines.
“Because of the last time I left you alone.”
“But I didn’t meean it!”
“Sweetie Belle, you almost had me jailed for treason!”
But I didn’t meeeaaan it!”
“You will have fun, just be nice, “ Rarity quips, “She is new to town and I expect you to help us give her an elegant welcome to Ponyville.”

“Twilight would have loved to come, or Fluttershy, or Rainbow Dash, or.. Or everypony!” Pinkie pie speaks up. “It’ll be great!”

“Okay, Pinkie..” little white reluctantly replies, trudging on.

The three approach a modest, yet charming house at the edge of Ponyville. It looked very clean and unassuming, with only a single light shining through a second floor window. “We’re here!” Pinkie exclaims, bouncing several feet ahead of the group.

A quick knock-knock, and the door pops open before a third can make its call. A pink pony a with silverish pink mane greets them. Her mascara-lined eyes land on the group, and she welcomes Pinkie in. “Hello, nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you!” Pinkie takes her chance to enter the bright and inviting home.
“Yes, nice to meet you too,” Rarity exclaims, as she allows Sweetie Belle to run ahead of her towards the home. The second floor room was no longer lit.

The three were crowded into the living room, talking over a table with a small bowl of crackers. There was a single balloon, bumping along the walls and different pieces of furniture, which she had few of. Pinkie has been parading her new friend, Serenity, with a barrage of questions ever since they’ve stepped inside. It would be rude to interrupt the two, wouldn’t it? Rarity sighed. She feels a tug, and turns to the foal seated next to her. “Sweetie Belle?”
“I need to use the bathroom, Raaarity!” She hastily whispers. Rarity sighs again, and places a hoof on Pinkie’s back.
“Serenity, if you’d please allow Sweetie Belle to use your restroom?”

Serenity says nothing, but just gets up and moves toward the stairs. Little white follows, and now Rarity is down to a single pink pony once again.

“Wow, she really cleaned up the place!” Pinkie looks from the ceiling to the walls. “And to think just yesterday this house was just an abandoned mess!”

Rarity’s eyes light up.

“I can’t believe she was able to do all of this in a few hours! I was sure she just came to town this morning!”

“Um, Pinkie Pie..?

“I guess she didn’t have time to really get a party going! Pssh, what is this? No streamers? No dip? If she needed help she should have asked!”

“Pinkie, what do you mean ab-”

Pinkie starts towards the door, grabbing her saddlebag. “Tell Seren that I will be right back! No! Don’t tell her I’ll be right back! Let it be a surprise!”
‘Wait, P-”

She was gone, and Rarity was all out of pink ponies. She just puts both hooves on the counter, and sighs for a third time. This place is pretty clean, and if not at least spacious, Rarity notices. Hasn’t it been quite a while since she’s seen Sweetie Belle or her host anywhere? “Sweetie Belle? Serenity, dear?”

No answer. Rarity gets up, and moves towards the stairs. She calls out again. “Sweetie Belle, are you alright?”

With only silence greeting her, she moves up the stairs, just now noticing the rickety creaking each step makes on the glossy wooden steps. She reaches the top of the steps, and finds a short corridor of doors. “Serenity, Sweetie Belle, where are you?”

She twists the first door open, but found it locked. She tries the next, and was also denied access. She walks up to the last two doors facing each other, but stops. A very faint sobbing, almost muffled, can be heard.

Rarity moves toward the door on the left which opens to reveal sweetie belle, her back turned and by the window. She slowly approaches, a leg ready to wrap around her little sister.

“Sweetie Belle, are you alright?”

Sweetie Belle continues to quietly sob, ignoring her. Rarity steps closer, resting her leg on her back.

“Rarity?”

Rarity turns around to find a sheepish little white lump smile at her. “Oh, hello, Sweetie Bel-
SWEETIE BELLE??” Rarity jumps whips her head to Sweetie Belle, and then back at Sweetie Belle. Rarity’s back arches slightly, and turns Sweetie Belle over.

Rarity screeches, kicking Sweetie Belle away. Glass shatters, and Rarity races off in a panic, grabbing Sweetie Belle.








Rarity collapses on her sofa, a leg still wrapped around her sister. After a moment, she calms down, and puts the filly down.

“Sweetie Belle..”

“Rarity?”

“Sweetie Belle, are you alright? What exactly happened to you? Did that monster touch you?”

She ignores Rarity, walking away. “Sweetie Belle, where are you going?” Rarity anxiously questions. She continues to walk away, prompting Rarity to give chase.

“I need to use the bathroom Raaarity!”

“Sweetie Belle, this isn’t the time! There could be a serious- Oh my.. I forgot about Pinkie Pie.”
Rarity grabs Sweetie Belle with her magic. “And you stop right there, missy!”

“But I didn’t meean it!”

“We are going to go to Twilight right now, and see what we can do about this!” Rarity drags Sweetie Belle, who resists. “This is not the time to be playing around!”

“Wait, stop!” Sweetie Belle begs. Rarity’s magic falters, and she faces her sister. Sweetie Belle once again walks off, ignoring her sister. “Sweetie Belle!”

“Wait, stop!”
“Where are you going?”
“Wait, stop!”
“What do you want with my closet?”

Sweetie Belle enters the small wardrobe closet, closing the doors behind her. “This is the last straw, Sweetie Belle!” Rarity angrily shouts. “I will not let anything happen to Pinkie Pie because I decided to pander to these silly games!”

Rarity stomps and opens both doors. She loses focus as the lights suddenly shut off. Not even a chance to scream was given as she was sucked into the closet, and doors slowly drift shut.