//------------------------------// // Mistakes // Story: Sweetie Belle And The Nutcracker // by DisneymlpZeldalover //------------------------------// “My mane’s starting to get knots in it! This is a lot of ponies!” Pinkie groaned, brushing her hooves through her mane. “We gotta keep going!” Applebloom said, helping her grandmother out of her cell. Pinkie’s mane shaped to a key again and unlocked another cell. The snowflake ponies were grateful and walked out. “Scootaloo! You're safe!” Rumble cried. Scootaloo gasped in shock at the hug he gave and he quickly backed away. “Er, sorry…” “Um… I-It's fine.” Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Tender Taps hugged Applebloom who smiled back but looked around. “Where's Applejack?” “Yeah, Rainbow isn't here either…” Scootaloo remembered. “I betcha they already escaped! … you would think Cheese would wait for me, though…” Pinkie whispered. Sweetie Belle opened the door softly and peeked in. The princesses looked up at her with astonishment and confusion. “You’re… just a child…” Twilight breathed in relief. Sweetie Belle slowly closed her jaw at the sight of so many alicorns and gulped. “I-I hope that's okay.” “Are you here to free us?” Cadence asked, standing up, “Or are you a trick by Tirek?” “I'm here to free all of you.” Sweetie Belle said. She felt a gaze and turned to a corner. Princess Luna’s dark blue fur only separated a little from the dark. She merely asked one question, “Why?” Sweetie Belle frowned. “Because it's the right thing to do, of course! And besides, if the story is true, and trust me, it is, then you are the rightful ruler of the land!” “Where did you get that locket?” Luna asked, stepping to her. Sweetie Belle glanced down at it. “I woke up with it… how long has it been now?” She whispered. “What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “W-we've been on this journey for so long…” Sweetie Belle looked up with surprise. “I can barely remember what my house looks like, and my father, and Rarity…” The alicorns looked at her with concern. “I miss my godmother. She's the one that told me the story.” “Who is your godmother?” Cadence asked. The door suddenly opened and a small group of diamond dogs stepped in. Two grabbed Sweetie Belle but her locket responded to her panic. Along with the force of magic, she kicked away. “Get out of here!” Luna yelled. “Get the other locket bearers and get out!” Sweetie Belle tried to protest but a diamond dog lunged at her. She dodged and started to run down the tower steps. She ran past the throne room and to the door. She had to get out! She wanted to go home! She didn't want any more of this! The filly stopped though. “What am I… doing? I can't leave!” Her homesickness had blinded her real mission, to help her friends and save the Land of Sweets. Sweetie Belle put her ear to the throne room door and listened. Nothing… She took a breath in. Button might need her help, and she was willing to protect him, she had made Celestia that promise. The girl opened the door and flinched as it slammed close. She felt her body go ice cold with fear at what she saw. Tirek had backed Button to the fireplace and they stared at her. “Sweetie Belle, what are you-” Button gave a yell suddenly as Tirek flung him to the side. The filly felt herself fall back as Tirek chuckled, walking up to her. “I wondered when you would show your pretty little face again…” “I-I'm not afraid of you!” Sweetie Belle cried. “Oh, but you are, aren't you?” The king laughed. “You're afraid that I'm going to hurt your little nutcracker. You're afraid I'll find all your friends. You're afraid I'll rule forever… and you'll never go home.” The filly felt tears prick her eyes. “Well, you can rest your questioning mind, my child,” Tirek whispered, grabbing her chin and smirking at her. “Because it's all true.” The girl heard the door open behind her and gasped. Armies of diamond dogs marched in holding Applebloom, Scootaloo, their sisters, Pinkie, Cheese, Fluttershy, Discord, and the princesses. All the ponies she cared the most for in this world. “This has to be a dream!” Sweetie Belle whispered through tears, her friends looking at her with a mixture of fear and sadness. “It's not, though.” Tirek sighed. “This is why!” Discord suddenly snarled. Button grunted as he tried to get up on his burnt hoof, part of it gone, a battle scar Tirek had left. “This is why I didn't want to bring you! Because he would win!” Both foals, Button and Sweetie Belle felt their cheeks go pink. “Please, I haven't won yet!” The king laughed. They all turned to him. “W-what do you mean?” Sweetie Belle whispered. “Those pretty lockets are still hanging around our little heroes’ necks, and they can only give them to me once they truly want to.” “Too bad! We'll never want to give them to a monster like you!” Scootaloo growled. “Yeah! Nothing in this land’s gonna change that!” Applebloom added. “You'll find I can be quite persuasive.” The foals looked at him with disbelief. “But before you give me them, I'd like to ask our guest a few questions.” Button gave a growl and attempted to attack but he tripped over. Applebloom and Scootaloo protectively stood in front of their friend. “I won't tell you anything, I don't have anything! But know this, you'll never have our lockets!” The filly growled. “Cute.” Tirek laughed. He suddenly opened his mouth and Scootaloo and Applebloom’s magic suddenly started radiating from them. “No!” Button yelled, trying to run to them. “Stop!” Sweetie Belle sobbed. “Stop! Stop!” He still didn't. “I-I’ll tell you everything!” Tirek stopped and the friends fell to the floor in exhaustion. “Choose your next words carefully, my child, or they're all dead.” Sweetie Belle gave a sigh. “I'll tell you… who sent me…” The king smiled and nodded to the diamond dogs who grabbed up the two other fillies. The girl gave a gasp. “Put them down! I-” “They can either be breathing or not in the guards' arms… your choice.” The filly bowed her head in shame. She couldn't do anything… She felt a force suddenly and realized her golden locket was pulling her to Tirek. The King let her fall in front of him. She looked away from his greedy eyes as he stared at the locket. “Most don't remember this locket. No, this one wasn't to ever come to the Land of Sweets…” The King glanced at Luna, “but that didn't work, did it?” “Let my friends go! Now!” Sweetie Belle cried. “It's alright, honey,” Fluttershy whispered. “We're going to be fine.” “It's amazing what lies grown-ups tell children to ‘protect them’.” Tirek laughed. “Be quiet, you big bully!” Rainbow yelled. “You've got none of the princess’s power yet!” Applejack added. Tirek waved them off and grabbed Sweetie Belle’s chin in his hand. She was forced to look at him. “Tell me, who sent you here?” “I-” “Tell me, now.” “I don't know. Nopony sent me and if somepony did, than they like to keep quiet about it.” Sweetie Belle growled, turning away. Tirek’s devious smile faded. His eyes flashed with fury. The silence was then shattered. He slapped Sweetie Belle so hard that it still stung long after, tears involuntary racing out, she was shaking. “YOU LIE!” “I-I don't!” Sweetie Belle cried in panic. Tirek stepped closer and the girl felt her heart pound. The creature stopped walking to her suddenly and gazed into her fearful eyes. The king started laughing. “Oh, you're such a fool! Such a fool, Tirek… Of course…” Sweetie Belle tilted her head. “Of course…” Tirek repeated. “Oh, how utterly stupid I was!” Pinkie looked Sweetie Belle in the eyes. “He’s going crazy!” “Now’s your chance, Sweetie Belle.” Discord suddenly said, staring at her. “Go to Button, and give Luna’s magic back! Quickly!” Sweetie Belle ran to Button when Tirek wasn't looking. The girl gasped softly as she saw his leg. “Oh no… I’m so sorry…” “It's fine.” Button whispered. Sweetie Belle stopped him from standing and put his hoof around her shoulder. They stood shakily and Tirek turned to them, apparently finished laughing at himself for some reason. Button grabbed his sword but felt a hoof on his locket. “We have to give the power back…” “But it can protect-” “We will protect each other.” Button closed his open mouth and slowly nodded. “I... I believe you.” Sweetie Belle then yanked his locket off as well as her own and opened them. She fell back from the impact and into the wall. Her breathing sped up as the ginormous amount of power surged away from the lockets. The filly struggled to open her eyes and saw Applebloom and Scootaloo had done the same, knocking all of them and their guards into the other wall. Sweetie Belle felt her gaze drawn to a pair of eyes that seemed to be standing out the most. They were Princess Luna’s, and they had a look of absolute fear. “What have you done?!” She cried. The magic suddenly surged into her horn and her eyes drew color in them once more, but then she screamed in agony. Tirek was sucking the power away! Then, Sweetie Belle realized what the Princess’s plan was at the start. She hadn’t given away her magic so it could be returned, she had given it far away, so it could never, because he would steal it in a heartbeat. “NO!” The girl screeched, running to help the rightful ruler. “No! No! No!” Tirek saw her in the corner of an eye and waved his hand, still draining the alicorn. The poor filly flung back into the wall and watched in horror as Luna fell to the floor. The sound seemed to resume from a somehow muted position. “Aunt Luna!” Cadence yelled, racing to her. Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow, and Fluttershy followed her. Discord looked at Button with an apologizing glance before transporting to help. Applebloom and Scootaloo ran to Sweetie Belle, who was crying. Button limped to her and once they were in each other’s embrace, they both fell to the floor, with tears in their eyes. “This wasn’t supposed to happen…” The filly whispered. “We were supposed to win….” There was a tremoring laugh but the children didn’t bother to see who it was. “Why hasn’t she come yet?!” Sweetie Belle looked up. “Who?” Tirek looked at her and grinned. “You really don’t know….” “Know what, Tirek?” Button growled. “I should’ve guessed the moment I saw the lot of you together, but you especially, little dancer…” The king whispered, circling them. “You all have that same look about you… shining in your eyes….” The cruel centar bent down to look at them. “Bravery, loyalty, nobility… and innocence.” He looked straight at Sweetie Belle with the last word. “They’re all qualities she has herself! The brave little heroine sent by her should as well...and this is why you were so very easy to catch.” He suddenly grabbed Sweetie Belle and started draining her magic! “Let her go!” Button yelled. The king didn’t stop though. “Please!” Applebloom sobbed. “Don’t!” Scootaloo screamed. “TIREK! LET HER GO!” A voice suddenly boomed. The king smiled and let the girl fall. Sweetie Belle opened her eyes and realized how high she was. She gave a cry but someone scooped her up before she hit the ground. The filly felt a hoof lovingly brush a curl from her eyes. Opening them, she saw her precious godmother smiling weakly through tears. “G-godmother?!” She whispered. “I’m sorry…” Celestia said back. The girl fell into Button’s arms when her hooves touched the ground. “Finally, Queen Celestia, we meet again,” Tirek said. “Queen? W-who are you?” Luna gasped. The alicorn turned and couldn’t help herself but to smile. “You already know.” Her horn suddenly glowed and the ponies in the room gasped as memories came flooding back. “Sister…” Luna whispered. The true ruler of the Land of Sweets nodded.