Sweetie Belle
The Day They Parted
“You sure you have everything packed Sweetie?” Rarity’s voice echoed from downstairs. Another few suitcases magically flew down the stairs, joining the mass of others that stacked up by the door.
“I think I have everything now sis.” Sweetie Belle trotted down the stairs. She had grown a lot from the small Cutie Mark Crusader she used to be. Her curly mane had been grown out, now matching her sister’s. After getting her cutie mark as a designer like her big sis, Sweetie spent her time and effort designing new dresses for mares, and even outfits for stallions, colts, and fillies. Nopony should be excluded from looking good. A motto Sweetie had adopted for her inspiration. With her current level of fashion expertise, Rarity figured it would be best to send her sister off to the fashion school up in Canterlot. As great of an opportunity, this was for Sweetie Belle, leaving for Canterlot would mean she wouldn't be in contact with her friends for some time. Six years worth of time, just for the schooling itself. Additional time would be spent out on fashion streets. It would be a while before Sweetie Belle would see or speak to her old friends. Even if they went to Canterlot.
With the last of her bags being stockpiled onto the carriage, a familiar voice approached Sweetie. "Hi, Sweetie Belle. Going somewhere?" She turned away from the carriage and met eyes with her close coltfriend, and inner circle known interest, Button Mash.
"Oh hey, Button." She broke eye contact for a moment. She hadn't told him about her plans. Yeah... I got accepted into a big fashion college in Canterlot... I won't be coming back to Ponyville for several years..." Sweetie looked back at Button, expecting to see a look of sadness on his face. Instead, he just smiled at her.
"So you're going to be a fashion expert just like your big sister. You go girl. I for one still need to figure out what I'm doing with my life. Mother wants me to go out and make something of myself, other than playing video games. But I don't know..." Seeing Button looking upset about how his life was going made Sweetie chuckle. Not because she didn't care, but because even though he said he wasn't sure of his life course, he would find some way to incorporate video games into it.
"I wouldn't think too much into it Buttons. I know you'll figure something out. Heck, by the time we come back here, we both could be famous in our own rights. We can talk all about it then." That snapped him back to his senses.
"It's a deal. Would it be too much for us to at least stay in contact? I know it might be hard, being that you'll probably be busy with school and all, but it would be very nice to be able to talk to you. But I understand if you-"
"Button Mash!"
"Huh? What?"
Sweetie put a hoof on Button's shoulder. "No matter how busy I get, I would never forget to write to my friends. Especially not you. I promise. So long as you don't get too absorbed into your gaming." She gave him a sly grin and kissed him on the cheek, whispering into his ear. "Consider 'that' an answer to the question you've kept asking yourself." Button didn't know what to say and just stood there as she trotted onto the carriage and rode off towards the train station.
He shook off his blush just long enough to shout over to Sweetie. "I promise to write as well! Promise." He couldn't tell if Sweetie Belle heard him as her carriage rounded the corner and vanished.
That would be the last either of them truly spoke to each other for years. Sweetie Belle sent the occasional letter to Button Mash, who did return the favor for a while. However, as his professional gamer life began starting up, the frequency of his responses grew less and less often, building a wedge between the already distant relationship Button Mash and Sweetie Belle had.