A farmer and a fashionista. How peculiar that two ponies of seemingly opposite personalities would end up together. One a rough-and-ready girl of the great outdoors who tended to the physical labours of her family's farm; while the other, the most prim-and-proper lady one could meet, a leading fashion designer who weaved intricate dresses to bring out the inner princess of her clientele.
And yet, there lay the common bond. They were both hard working ponies, dedicated to enriching lives, all of which had led up to this point: a moment which could make or break the relationship.
To say Applejack was nervous would've been an understatement. She could barely form a coherent sentence toward Rarity, spending most of the train ride up to Rainbow Falls in silence. When questioned, she excused it as a sore throat, though she doubted this would stand for long.
Indeed, the minute they arrived, Rarity dragged her to the far side of the station and spoke to her softly, yet sternly. “Applejack, darling, I don’t know what’s gotten into you today, though I won’t pry if you’d rather not share. Just remember that I’m always happy to listen.”
Applejack paused, avoiding eye contact “…Thank you, Rarity.” As much as she appreciated the offer, she couldn’t admit to agonising over a proposal. That would make her stomach churning even worse.
“You’re welcome, my dear,” Rarity held up her hoof and kissed it. “I love you.”
Applejack bit her lip, feeling a hot blush rise on her cheeks. Darn it, Rarity. You really know how to lower a gal’s defences. She took a deep breath. “Listen, Rares,” she gulped afterwards. “I love you too, and there’s somethin’ I’ve been meaning to tell ya, even if I don’t quite know how.”
Rarity blinked. Her smile dropped and her brow furrowed. “Whatever do you mean, darling?”
Applejack saw the flicker of worry in her eyes. Smooth talkin’ there, AJ, she thought while resisting the urge to face-hoof. “What I wanna say… Well, it’s something I want all our friends to hear. An’ I have to do it today, ‘cause I know how special this place is to us. I know it’s kinda cliché, but I need you to know that, no matter your answer, I won’t love you any less. Does that make sense?”
Rarity’s expression softened. “I think I do, at least conceptually. Whatever is bothering you must be very important to you if it requires advanced re-assurance.”
Applejack sighed, her shoulders relaxing a little. “I’m glad,” she smiled and kissed her cheek.
So, hoof in hoof, the two re-joined their friends in the athlete's village. Once there, surrounded by the enigmatic waterfalls that gave the area its name, Applejack lead Rarity over a small bridge over the lake's centre and cleared her throat. Already a crowd was already starting to gather, each new pair of eyes only adding to the immense pressure Applejack felt.
It was now or never.
“Rarity,” she removed her hat. She tried to relax and keep an even tone, despite her body’s continued shaking. “We’ve been together two years now, an’ it’s incredible how much you’ve changed my life. You put your heart an’ soul into every dress you make, an’ in doing so, bring out the best in every pony, no matter how big or small, rich or poor. Since we started dating, you’ve shown nothin’ but the most love, care and affection you could possibly give. You've always encouraged me to be the best dang Apple farmer Equestria’s ever seen!
“Because'a that, and so much else, I can’t think of a better pony to represent the Element of Generosity. So, it’s high time I give somethin’ generous back to you.” Reaching into a hidden pouch in her hat, Applejack retrieved a small, velvet-bound box.
Rarity’s eyes went wide. “Applejack!” she gasped. “Does this mean…?”
Applejack pulled the lid of the box up, revealing a diamond ring that looked exactly like those of Rarity’s cutie mark. “Rarity, will you marry me?”
Rarity answered by throwing herself over Applejack, giving her a long, deep kiss on the lips.
“I take it that's a yes?” Applejack chuckled.
“Of course, you silly filly!” Rarity giggled back and resumed kissing.
At that, the crowd exploded into a thunderous chorus of cheers and applause. As always, Pinkie Pie was the one to go especially bonkers for such momentous occasion: banging her front hooves together in a blur of motion as she bounced up and down on the tip of her tail. “This calls for the biggest Pinkie-Pie-totally-called-it-successful-shipping-slash-wedding-party ever!!!”
To accentuate her point, Pinkie pulled the hidden string in her hair, firing four precisely placed party cannons to shower the two lovebirds in confetti and paper streamers.
While Applejack would have loved to keep kissing all day, alas, she had to take a breath eventually. So, she took to nuzzling Rarity’s snout instead. “I love you so much,” she said, her heart hammering in her chest. “What say we go get an advanced seat for the Wonderbolts show, just you and me?”
“I would be delighted to, my darling,” Rarity giggled and planted a light peck on Applejack’s forehead. “But don’t forget your hat!”
Replacing the Stetson with her magic, Rarity moved to intertwine her tail with Applejack's, a gesture that was gladly accepted. Together, they waved to the crowd as they walked, making their way to the far hillside for some time alone.
Two years later, a now fourteen-year-old Sweetie Belle was sitting at her desk in class, her chin held up on one hoof as she idly tapped out a random rhythm with the other. It was Hearts and Hooves Day, and the rest of the class were busying themselves crafting the perfect card for their special someponies. Even those who were single still made them, partly to get out of the boring high school work, and partly to test the old superstitions about finding one’s ‘sacred heart’.
Of course, Sweetie didn’t buy that nonsense for a second. Oh no, there was only one thing on the minds of her fellow teens, not least because they never stopped yammering on about it. If those at the back meshing their faces together were any indication, Hearts and Hooves day was just another excuse to rut.
Sweetie Belle sighed. On days like this, she lamented the loss of her childhood innocence. It would be nice to return to the old days, when love was all sweet and sappy, just like in fairy tales. Heck, when her sister announced she was betrothed to Applejack, she was over the moon! Those two were already inseparable, and the faces they made at each other were just the cutest thing she’d ever seen.
And then came the day when Rarity gave Sweetie ‘the talk’. A quite… detailed talk, if she were to be frank with herself. She had a strong suspicion that it was all written by Twilight, copying a series of textbook pages for Rarity to use. Granted, it had explained the odd bumps and groans in the night when Applejack was staying over, which a younger filly might have presumed to be evidence of monsters in the closet.
Since then, the floodgates were opened. No longer could Sweetie Belle ignore the many innuendos made by her older classmates, or risqué posters which Apple Bloom had sheepishly asked to pin up in the Cutie Mark Crusader’s clubhouse.
And all of this just didn’t sit right with her. Sure, there were days where she needed to… clop… but she couldn’t think of anypony who she’d want to go all the way with, even hypothetically.
The idea of romance, however, was something she’d thought about extensively. She had the perfect mental picture of the kind of pony she’d want to date, encapsulating all the usual perks of creativity, enthusiasm and thoughtfulness with just a dash of good looks on the side.
Sighing softly, Sweetie pulled out her diary and idly began scribbling down her thoughts. Maybe something’s wrong with me? Sex can’t be that bad. I like kissing, I like cuddling. So what if somepony wants to touch me down there as well? All I have to do is sit back and let somepony stick their... She shuddered. Just the thought of any appendage being inserted into her down-there parts made her feel ill. Oh, who am I kidding? Nopony of any gender is gonna want to date me. If I can’t make love, what would we do on our wedding night? It’s like, the one thing every married couple does!
Her thoughts turned to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Since starting high school, they were often in different classes to her, though they still regularly met up whenever they could. I wonder if Apple Bloom’s having any success with her love life? Maybe she can offer some advice on why I’m so adverse to sex…
“Hi, Sweetie Belle!”
“Aaaah!” Sweetie nearly jumped out of her seat from the sudden high-pitched greeting. Thankfully, she covered her mouth just in time to muffle a scream, saving her one form of embarrassment. “What the buck, Sparky?!”
“Oh, sorry,” replied Sparky Circuit, rubbing the back of her head. She was a brown-coated filly with a soldering iron for a cutie mark and wore a pair of welding goggles over her wild, purple-dyed mane. “Didn’t mean to scare you. Anyhow, whatcha writing?”
“None of your business!” Sweetie snapped, her cheeks turning bright red as she slammed her diary shut.
“Why? What’s the matter?” Sparky tilted her head, her expression blank. “I thought it was normal for girls to question their sexual preferences.”
Sweetie’s jaw dropped. Sparky had seen what she wrote, and worse still, her loud proclamations of its contents were starting to turn heads. Already, the idle chatter turned to hushed whispers, which she knew had been about her prudishness.
“Sweetie Belle?” Sparky asked. “Are you okay?”
Panic shot through Sweetie’s muscles. She snapped to her hooves, knocking over her desk. “Leave me alone!” she screamed, grabbed her bag and bolted out the door, almost colliding with the teacher.
As she raced toward the front door, she heard Mrs. Frizzle Shine’s voice echo down the hallway: “Can somepony tell me what’s going on here?”
Panting heavily from the long gallop, Sweetie Belle finally arrived at the one place she always felt safe in: The Crusaders’ Clubhouse. Though it was spring, there was still a slight chill in the air. She shivered despite her body warming from the exercise.
Dammit! she cursed internally. I left my coat back at school. Guess I’ve got a lot of explaining to do when I go back on Monday…
Trotting over to the bookshelf, she decided to grab one of her comic books, hoping it would take her mind off the day's drama. Pulling out a copy of Nightmare Rider, she lit the small lantern in the opposite corner to give herself a little warmth and sat down to read.
The first page didn't disappoint. The story opened with the earth pony protagonist, the eponymous Nightmare Rider, sitting in a graveyard while brooding over those that feared his ghastly appearance. Sweetie didn't doubt that, on first glance, a stallion whose head was a flaming skull would frighten anypony. But after seeing him save a runaway baby carriage from falling into a canyon filled with spikes, she wondered why nopony ever gave him a chance!
Even undead ninja assassins from Tartarus deserved a shot at redemption.
After three straight pages of brooding, Nightmare snapped up to greet a mysterious figure, casting a long shadow over him. Now we're getting to the good stuff! Has the head vampire of the Von-Canterstein clan finally caught up with him?
Turning the page with bated breath, the smile on Sweetie's face dropped when her eyes met the advert; which presented a metaphor that was anything but subtle. First, it showed an image of a pony couple making doe-eyes at each other. Next came a streamlined, but extremely phallic looking train steaming into a tunnel with hearts spewing from the chimney. The last panel cut back to the ponies: their manes frayed, their eyes baggy and their hooves filled with screaming foals. The caption at the bottom of the page read: “The baby train has no breaks. Use protection.”
Sweetie Belle cringed, throwing the comic away in disgust. In doing so, she'd flung it at the bookshelf, knocking off an altogether different magazine. Using her magic to replace it, she couldn't help but notice its rather explicit content. It depicted a pony wearing long socks while spreading their legs in a highly suggestive fashion.
And then her friends arrived. “Sweetie Belle, ya in here?”
Sweetie froze on the spot, as did Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. The three girls spent an uncomfortable few seconds staring at each other before Apple Bloom cleared her throat. “Well, um, hi Sweetie Belle...” she said, trying to hold back a smirk. “Didn't expect ya t' find one of my, well, personal magazines.”
“It's not what you think!” insisted Sweetie, once more turning bright red. “It was an accident! I was reading something else and I knocked over yours and...”
“Ha! A likely story,” Scootaloo scoffed, and for it received a swift elbow to the ribs from Apple Bloom. “Ow! What was that for?”
“Not helping, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom sneered through gritted teeth, giving her a disdainful look. “Hey, don't you worry,” she said to Sweetie Belle. “If ya need a moment to, ahem, relieve yourself ‘cause of my mag, we can come back later. We just wanted to check on ya after you ran away from school.”
“I'm. Fine.” Sweetie's eyebrow twitched as she stomped her hoof, crumpling the magazine as she shoved it back against the shelf. “And I wasn't going to masturbate! I'm not that kind of pony!”
Scootaloo recoiled from the ferocity of Sweetie's voice, her previous smirk now vanished. “Sorry, Sweetie. I didn't mean any offence, I was just teasing.”
“Besides,” added Applebloom, hoping to defuse the situation with gentle words, a soft smile and a relaxed her posture, “ain't nothin' wrong with thinkin' about sex. I do it, Scootaloo does it, even Applejack and Rarity do it. It's perfectly normal.”
“But I don't want sex!” Sweetie snapped, looking ready to tear her mane out. “That's the problem!” Why does everypony keep insisting I do?!”
“Hold up a second. Sparky Circuit mentioned somethin’ about that. Is she spreadin' rumours about ya? That ain't like her...”
“Does that mean she was lying, Apple Bloom? 'Cause if she was, she's gonna be in big trouble!” Scootaloo fluttered off the ground and smacked her front hooves together.
“What? Sparky?! Rumours... no! She'd never... would she?” Sweetie's eye twitched. “Uuuuuuugh! Forget it, I'm going home! Don't follow me.”
With yet another chance to relax ruined, Sweetie Belle shoved past her friends and stormed off, leaving them to look at each other with confused expressions.
It was sunset when Sweetie Belle finally got home. Chucking her scarf on the coat rack, she was about to head upstairs when Rarity called for her.
“Sweetie Belle! Is that you?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, Rarity, I'm home.”
“Can you come to the sewing room a moment?”
“Ugh, this is the last thing I need,” Sweetie grumbled, but did as she was asked. Pushing open the door to Rarity's office, she saw her focused on sewing together a string of small pearls around the neck of a blue velvet dress.
“Alright, what's the problem?” Sweetie asked, tapping her hoof impatiently.
“Problem?” Rarity turned around on her stool, the wedding ring on the end of her necklace jingling. Though she faced Sweetie Belle, her eyes were still focused on the dress, slipping it onto a coat hanger and levitating over to the rack with the rest of her day's creations. “Oh, there's no problem, dear. Your friends stopped by for you earlier. They said you’d left school early today, so I just want to check you’re okay.”
Sweetie huffed and sat on a spare cushion. “I had a bad day and need a bit of space, that's all. Can I go now?”
Removing her reading glasses, Rarity shot Sweetie a harsh glare. “Watch your tone! I know you're feeling rotten, but there's no need for such an attitude. I only want to help.”
“Help? Help?!” Sweetie shot to her hooves, sneering through gritted teeth. “I've had more than enough 'help' from everypony today! Why don't you just go and screw Applejack or something and leave me alone!”
Rarity gasped and stood up, looking down at her sister. “I will not have such foul language in this house! Now, go to your room and cool off! I will bring you supper, but you're grounded until Monday morning.”
“Fine!” Sweetie stamped her hoof. “I don't wanna be around sex-obsessed freaks anyway!” turning her back on Rarity, she stormed off.
That night, Sweetie Belle tossed and turned in her bed. Though the night air was cool, she still felt stuffy, kicking off the bed covers in the hope that it’d let her relax. It did not. No matter what she did, she still felt wound up from today’s events, with all the different conversations adding to the chaos of her mind.
Sitting up, she used her magic to light her lantern and climbed out of bed. Maybe something around here will take my mind off things. Trotting over to her desk, Sweetie opened the bottom drawer and found something she’d almost forgotten about. Huh, my old jigsaw set. Did I ever finish this? Eh, not like there’s anything better to do.
Tipping the box’s content onto her desk, Sweetie sat down on her chair, pulled it in, and got to work. It was a relatively simple puzzle, only about two hundred pieces or so. On the rare occasions she’d go on long train journeys as a kid, jigsaw puzzles with Rarity were her favourite pastime. So, when Applejack finally proposed to Rarity, she just had to buy a jigsaw depicting Rainbow Falls.
The more she completed, the more she recalled that day. So many non-verbal signs that went over her head seemed obvious in retrospect. Applejack’s avoidance of eye contact, the slight quiver in her voice, not to mention her sudden reluctance to show affection in front of others.
That last memory struck Sweetie Belle as particularly odd at the time. She wasn’t stupid, she’d seen how lovey-dovey Applejack and Rarity could be. Whenever they weren’t working, it was like they were joined at the hip! They’d always be seen together, walking hoof-in-hoof through the surrounding countryside or relaxing at a spa together.
And on the coldest winter nights, they would snuggle up under a warm blanket by the fireplace, kissing. It was a picture-perfect romance, everything Sweetie Belle dreamt of.
Yeah, right, she sighed. Here I go again, lamenting the loss of my childhood innocence. Maybe there really is something wrong with me…
Slotting the last piece into place, she sat there and stared at the completed picture for several minutes. Whoever painted the picture used for this puzzle, they certainly had a good eye for detail. They had perfectly captured every colourful splash from the waterfalls, not to mention depicting the night sky’s constellations with perfect accuracy.
What is it about Rainbow Falls that inspires ponies? Sweetie wondered. I haven’t been there since Rarity and AJ got hitched. Maybe I should go back some time?
A long yawn escaped Sweetie’s lips. The puzzle had done the trick. Pushing her chair out, she stood up, climbed back into bed and blew out the light. As her eyes fluttered closed, she recalled a legend about Rainbow Falls she’d once overheard from a classmate; that ponies who took a dip in the lake would discover their true selves.
Sweetie awoke early the next morning. Despite sleeping fewer hours, she felt quite refreshed. I should wind down with jigsaws more often, she thought as she stretched her limbs. Rolling out, she noticed a small slip of paper next to her door. Picking it up in her magic, she realized it was a note written by Rarity. Her cursive style was unmistakable.
Dear Sweetie Belle, she read. I’ve gone out for the day to run errands with Applejack, so I’m amending your punishment a little. You’re still grounded, but you’re free to move about the house as you wish. I will be back this evening.
“How generous,” Sweetie huffed. Rolling her eyes, she scrunched up the note and threw it over her shoulder. As she was about to head downstairs for breakfast, she paused. In the corner of her eye, she noticed her jigsaw was missing a piece. Never one to leave a task unfinished, she trotted over to her desk, figuring she’d just forgotten the last corner in her tiredness.
But the box was empty. Pulling open her desk drawer, Sweetie rummaged through the contents, but still came up empty-hoofed. Dropping to the floor, she looked under the desk, under her chair and under the bed – almost pressing her nose to the ground like a bloodhound.
“Dammit!” she swore. “I was sure I had all the pieces last night.” Sitting back at her desk, she slumped forward, rested her chin on her hooves and sighed. “I really wanna go back to Rainbow Falls. A new jigsaw would be awesome about now…”
She lingered on that last thought for a moment. What exactly was stopping her from going to Rainbow Falls by herself? Well, money, for one. That, and Rarity’s locked me in the house.
Even so, she couldn’t get the idea out of her head. If only to satisfy her curiosity, she stood up and retrieved her piggybank from beside her bed. Pulling out the bottom, she poured out the contents over her jigsaw. Forty bits, she counted, just enough for a return trip.
That was one obstacle overcome, now she just had to take care of the other. She doubted the backdoor would be unlocked. Opal had her cat flap to get out, and neither that nor the bottom floor windows would be open either. Rarity wasn’t that stupid.
She briefly considered trying the age-old trick of tying blankets together to form a rope, but quickly rejected it. Rarity would notice that in a heartbeat. She practically had a sixth sense for ponies meddling with her fabrics, as Sweetie had learnt the hard way.
The only option left was to use magic. She’d been practicing teleportation spells, but until now, the furthest she’d travelled was across her room. On any other day, this fact would’ve prevented her from taking risks, but now the idea had taken root. Sweetie Belle was going to Rainbow Falls, one way or another!
Using her spare winter coat and sun hat as a makeshift disguise, Sweetie swept her savings into her small coin purse, then pulled open the window with her magic. Immediately she felt the rush of cold air wash over her. She shivered, but was undeterred.
Propping herself up on the windowsill, she looked down and gulped. Here goes nothing… Closing her eyes, Sweetie Belle pictured the ground in her mind’s eye and focused her magic. In a flash, she blinked out of existence and re-appeared a second later – but it wasn’t quite where she’d aimed to be. She’d come up short, two feet above the ground, falling into a thorny bush.
One series of painful extractions and a discarded coat and hat later, Sweetie was on her way. Luckily for her, the now-ruined disguise proved unnecessary anyway, as she didn’t spot Rarity anywhere on her path to the train station. Within the hour, she took her seat in the front carriage, and she was on her way to Rainbow Falls.
Three hours and one change-over in Canterlot later, Sweetie Belle arrived at her destination. The minute the guard unlocked the carriage door, she shot out, galloping through the station to get her first glimpse of the magnificent multi-coloured lakes.
Unfortunately for her, hundreds of other tourists had the exact same idea. Though Sweetie had grown since the last time she visited, she still had a way to go if she wanted to look over other ponies’ shoulders. “Excuse me, sorry,” she repeated as she tried to squeeze past the crowd of elderly ponies. “Pardon me.”
Yet the more she tried to move, the denser the crowd got. Why so many elderly folks decided today was best to visit, she had no idea. As it was, she was getting nowhere fast, and all she got for her efforts were scornful glares. One stallion even yelled at her to “Wait your turn, you little whippersnapper!”
“Alright, alright, I’m going!” It was obvious she wouldn’t see the falls from here, so she would just have to find somewhere else. “So much for finding my inspiration,” she grumbled under her breath.
Turning her back on the crowd, she made her way over to the training grounds. The wide, elevated hoops were hardly an equivalent to the magnificence of the waterfalls, but they brought back vivid memories all the same. Rainbow Dash in her new Wonderbolt uniform, the Ponyville team in disarray, and all the drama that became of it.
Man, those Wonderbolts were real jerks. What the buck does Rainbow Dash see in them?
As she reached the top of the hill, she noticed something off to her right. It was a small stream of rainbow-coloured water, trickling through an easily missed channel beneath a blanket of low fog.
“Aha!” Sweetie exclaimed. “If I follow that stream, I’ll make it to the top of the falls! I’ll get the perfect view from there.”
Without a second thought, she sprang into a gallop, headed straight toward the stream with a single-minded focus. The fog on the ground was thin, making it easy for her to follow the stream’s path. Unfortunately, it had also obscured a warning sign, informing guests that this area was off-limits due to unstable ground.
Sweetie was almost at the top of the next hill when the earth gave way. Before she could react, the ground beneath her hooves collapsed, plunging her into darkness.
Sweetie awoke with a gasp, sitting bolt upright. “Ugh, where am I?” she said once she’d caught her breath. The area around her was pitch black, but where her sight failed, her hearing picked up the slack; the faint trickle of water jogging her memory. “Wait, am I still in Rainbow Falls, or is this just a dream?”
Patting the ground around her, she felt the cold, yet soft moistness of soil beneath her hooves. At least I got a soft landing. Standing up, she cast a small illumination spell on her horn’s tip.
“Princess Luna!” she called. “If this is a dream, I’d like to wake up now.” Silence. “If there’s a friendship lesson I need to learn, can you tell me now so I can get it over with?”
Still no reply. The most she got were the echoes of water dripping in the distance. Guess I’m on my own. Adding more power to her spell, Sweetie hoped to find an exit to wherever she was soon. Spending the night in a dank underground cavern while awaiting rescue was not her idea of fun.
Just as she felt the extra magic flow through her horn, the cavern reacted, bursting into life with the brilliant glow of amethyst crystals. It wasn't just a single cluster, either: the entire cave, from the ceiling to the floor, was covered in the stuff!
Sweetie's jaw dropped. Were she not lost in an unfamiliar location, she would've thanked her lucky stars for finding such a beautiful place. Rarity would go crazy over a place like this! she marvelled, only to invoke a fresh twinge of guilt within her gut. Maybe I should've left a note or something. Rarity's probably worried sick about me!
Sweetie sighed, her head drooping. She is gonna be so mad when she finds out where I've been. Looking back to the way ahead, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the surface of a large crystal. Here she was, standing in a cold puddle, her fur covered with mud and her mane dishevelled. “I'm such a mess,” her voice echoed. “Why did I even bother coming to this stupid place, anyway? It's not like I’ll want to have sex with somepony because of it.”
She turned her attention back to the task at hoof. “Now, how do I get out of he—”
Sweetie's attention snapped back to the crystal. Her reflection had moved its own, facing into the tunnel. Before she could question what was happening, the mirror-Sweetie bolted, dashing away into the caverns without her.
“Hey, wait!” she took off after her reflection, or rather, one of them. Every crystal in this tunnel was bright enough to be reflective, yet only one image seemed to jump from surface to surface, always several steps ahead of her.
Only when the real Sweetie Belle ran out of breath did the reflection stop. “What… what’s going on?” she huffed and collapsed to her haunches. If this was a dream, Princess Luna was making damn sure it felt realistic.
Staring at the solid wall of crystal on her right, her reflection turned away from there and shimmered out of existence. “No, no, no!” she cried, slamming her hooves against it. “Don’t go! Don’t leave me here, please…”
Looking to the opposite wall, she saw it there, as normal as an everyday mirror. What am I doing? She noticed the tear stains down her cheek. I shouldn’t be crying over some stupid reflection! What am I, six?
“Hi, Sweetie Belle!”
A familiar voice once again made her jump. At first, she didn’t know where it had come from, until she glanced back at the crystal that contained her runaway reflection. It took a moment for the shapes to form clearly, but once they did, she gasped.
It wasn’t just her reflection that Sweetie saw, but that of Sparky Circuit. In fact, she could see the whole class from this perspective, though she could only hear the visions of Sparky and herself. It was almost like a fly-on-the-wall movie made of her life, broadcast for her eyes only. She had no idea how this was happening, but she found herself captivated by the sight nonetheless.
Just as before, the mirror Sweetie stifled a scream. “Sparky, what the buck?!”
In hindsight, she knew this wasn’t her best move. She didn’t think for a second that Sparky was a bad filly, she was just a little too intrusive with her curiosity at times – with this scenario as a textbook example. She felt guilt’s pang again. When had she become such a sensitive pony? Then again, it was hearts and hooves day, and the less said about her history with that holiday, the better.
So, she sat there, watching the event play out just as she remembered. But when the mirror-Sweetie bolted out of the room, the vision didn’t follow her. Instead, it zoomed in on Sparky. Watching her expression fall only added to the regret Sweetie felt.
When the teacher arrived back in the classroom, Sweetie could finally see what happened after she left.
“Miss Frizzle?” she asked, raising her hoof. The colour had drained from her face, and her raised hoof was already shaking. “May I use the outhouse for a minute?”
Frizzle sighed and rubbed her temple. “Alright, go ahead.”
In stark contrast to how Sweetie had left the classroom, Sparky stood up in complete silence and trotted out the door. This façade of calmness didn’t last long, however. The minute she entered the outhouse, she slammed the door shut and curled up into a ball. Holding her head in her hooves, she began to sob violently.
Sweetie felt a chill run down her spine. Just when she was questioning how sensitive she was, here was the pony she’d snapped at, having a full-on meltdown in a school outhouse. Even if she had seen it at the time, she doubted her ability to express her shock.
A minute later, there was a knock on the door. “Sparky? You in there?” came a familiar voice.
“Leave me alone!” she cried, an all too familiar response. “I’ve hurt enough ponies today.”
“Sparky, you ain’t hurtin’ nopony,” said the voice, now unmistakable as belonging to Apple Bloom. “Please, talk to me. Maybe I can help ya out.”
After a moment of silence, Sparky tentatively opened the door a crack. Her ears were still flat against her head, and eyes red, but she’d stopped rocking back and forth. “I’m sorry, Apple Bloom,” she said, her voice quiet. “I’m such a bucking idiot! I wanted to be friendly to Sweetie Belle, and now I’ve upset somepony again! Why did I have to go and open my big damn mouth?”
“What did ya say to upset her?” Applebloom asked, sitting on the grass in front of the outhouse door, smiling gently. “It’s okay if ya don’t wanna talk about it.”
“W-well,” Sparky began. “Sweetie was in class and I saw she weren’t looking so happy. She was scribbling something in her diary, and I asked what it was. I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear! It’s just, y’know how ponies our age talk about sex, right? I only spotted a bit of it, but she was writing about that.”
“Writing about sex?” Apple Bloom blinked.
“Sort of,” Sparky sniffled. “It was more like, how she didn’t understand it? Like, it scared her, or something? And I thought, since I question my gender so much, and how everypony talks about sex, her fears were, normal, right? But then she got mad at me, and I realised I’d screwed up again.”
Sweetie Belle sat in stunned silence. This was a side to Sparky she was completely oblivious to!
One fact more than any other stuck out to her. Could Sparky be one of those transgender ponies I keep hearing about? She had to admit, the image in her head of transgender ponies was very different to how Sparky looked. Beyond her welding goggles and occasional fancy hats, Sweetie pegged her as just another filly. Looks like I’m ignorant about a lot more than just sex…
Returning her attention to the vision, Sweetie saw Applebloom embrace Sparky in a tight hug. She still sniffled every now and again, but she was otherwise calmer.
“Sweetie Belle might not know ya, but I do,” Applebloom continued. “And I know for darn sure that you wouldn’t hurt a fly. The only thing is, diaries are usually for the author’s eyes only. They’re for ventin’ thoughts they ain’t comfortable sayin’ out loud.”
“I wish I wasn’t so stupid…” Sparky sighed. “I should’ve known diaries were private.”
“Hey now, that’s enough o’ beating yourself up, k?” Applebloom pushed Sparky back a little to meet her gaze. “We all make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean we’re stupid or anythin’. It just means some of us learn social cues differently than others. No shame in any o’ that!”
Sparky nodded slowly. “I just wish I didn’t screw up so much. I want to be friends with Sweetie Belle, not scare her away!”
“Listen, once school’s done, I’ll go talk to her,” she patted Sparky on the back. “She’s probably just havin’ a bad day, is all. Once Monday comes, I promise this will all be water under the bridge.”
“Thank you, Apple Bloom.” Sparky returned her hug and the vision faded out.
“Oh, Sparky…” Sweetie sighed. “When I get out, you’re the first pony I owe an apology.”
As Sweetie got up, a new vision sprang to life in the mirror before her. “Oh, come on!” she groaned. “Haven’t I been guilt-tripped enough?” Begrudgingly, she sat back down to see what this second vision had in store. Given how transformative the first was to her image of Sparky, she figured this would hold some importance as well.
Sure enough, the image of Sparky returned. This time, she was standing in front of her bedroom mirror, her mood in stark contrast to the last vision. She had a bright, hopeful smile on her face, and clapped her hooves excitedly over the small collection of clothing and accessories laid out on her bed; most of which were undoubtedly from Rarity’s young fashion line.
First, she dressed herself in a dark red shirt and bow tie, then attempted to comb back her messy curls into a neater style. At first, her mane seemed to hold, as did her smile. But all too soon her curls popped back into their usual state, and her expression dropped.
Stripping off the shirt and tie, she tried on a bright blue bandanna with a skull and crossbones symbol, adding to it a small, chrome-coloured chain necklace. But after several seconds of fiddling to tie the bandanna properly, she once more gave up and cast it aside.
This time, what stood out to Sweetie was how most of her outfits looked masculine. In fact, she only tried on one feminine outfit: a yellow dress with matching bow. This lasted two seconds before she pulled it off and threw it on the floor.
She is a mare, isn’t she? Sweetie wondered, recalling how, in the previous vision, Sparky mentioned that she was questioning her gender. Maybe this has something to do with her being trans?
After several more failed attempts at finding a satisfactory outfit, Sparky slumped back down onto her bed, hugging a small teddy bear between her hooves. “I hate this,” she groaned. “I dress like a filly, I feel wrong; I dress like a foal, and that doesn’t fit either! How in Equestria am I gonna find something I’m comfortable with?”
Dropping her teddy, Sparky ran her hooves across her face, then down the length of her body. Then she spread her legs, to which Sweetie hurriedly cover her eyes. She didn’t know why or how the crystals were giving her a front-row seat to another pony’s genitals, but it made her feel dirty regardless.
When she dared to peak out, Sparky was lying face-down on her bed. “I’m so broken,” she lamented. “If what my mom says is true, my parts are ‘girl parts’. So, why don’t they feel like they fit half the time? My body should be different, but I don’t know how!”
Then Sweetie Belle heard a knock at Sparky’s door. “Sparky! It’s time for school!”
That must be her mom.
“I don’t wanna!” Sparky replied, hiding under the bed covers. “I’m sick of ponies calling me a girl all the time!”
Her mother pushed the door open and stepped into the room. She was an elder mare, looking at least sixty years to Sweetie, and shared both the coat colour and mane style as Sparky. “I’m sorry you feel like this, Sparky,” she sat next to Sparky’s bed and rubbed her hoof across her child’s back. “But I have to insist that you go to school. You’ve used up your sick days for this month.”
With a dejected groan, Sparky slipped out from under the covers, then reached for her welder’s goggles and backpack. “Okay, I’m going.”
Once again, the vision faded, leaving Sweetie Belle alone with her thoughts. Maybe there’s more to this whole sex and gender thing after all? I mean, I’m a girl, no doubt about that. But if there are more genders than just mare or stallion, maybe there’s more sexualities than just gay or straight?
Sweetie could have easily spent hours processing what she just saw, but when her own reflection returned, it wasn’t eager to stick around. “I guess you’ve got more to show elsewhere, huh?”
By this point, she no longer cared if she was going crazy; her sanity was worth the price of greater wisdom. The long tunnel twisted and turned as it rose on a gentle slope, the crystals twinkling as Sweetie galloped past. Eventually, her reflection came to a halt in front of a shallow rock pool. In its centre, a small waterfall cascaded down from the roof above, in front of which was a thin sheet of crystal that conformed perfectly to its surface.
“Wow!” Sweetie exclaimed. Dipping her hoof in the water, she found it to be at a pleasant temperature, much higher than she’d expected from water in this climate. In addition, this water was crystal clear, unlike the natural rainbows that fell into the larger pools above ground. So, since her reflection had stopped here, Sweetie took the opportunity to clean some mud off her coat.
Soon enough, however, a new vision rippled to life. This time, the image focused on Apple Bloom as she practiced her buck ball skills. She’d reached the tenth consecutive kick up, when a yell from Scootaloo caught her attention.
“Get away from me, creep!”
“Aw, come on, Scootaloo. I thought ya liked a little bit of the old ‘snip snip’ action!”
“What in Equestria is goin’ on here?” Applebloom stomped her hoof, grabbing the attention of both Scootaloo and her harasser, Snips.
“I dunno what’s gotten into him,” Scootaloo’s expression twisted with disgust and her wings flared. “But Snails won’t stop hitting on me, no matter how many times I say no!”
“Listen, doll, just drop the act will ya?” Snails wiggled his eyebrows and grinned at Scootaloo, making both girls shudder. “I saw those dirty magazines you’ve been hiding. So why don’t you drop the act and admit you want some serious ‘D’?”
“I… don’t know what you’re talking about!” Scootaloo shuffled uncomfortably on the spot, holding her wings tight against her body. A crowd was starting to gather, and all eyes were on her. “I never look at that stuff.”
Snips puffed out his chest and forced a haughty laugh. “Yeah, right! You think anypony’s gonna believe a crappy lie like that?” he leant forward and pushed himself right into Scootaloo’s face. “I’m on to you, little slut. I know all about the little games mares like you play. I learnt from the best! So, let’s cut to the chase, shall we?”
“Not gonna happen, pal!” Apple Bloom shoved Snails away and glared at him. “You wanna know the truth? Those are my magazines and I asked Scootaloo to keep ‘em for me.”
Snails held Apple Bloom’s gaze, still grinning despite the sweat trickling down his face. “Oh? S-so you want some of—”
“Buck no!” Apple Bloom snapped, barely holding herself back from decking Snips. “Why would anypony wanna do it with a walking slimeball like you?”
The crowd gasped, with many cheering at Apple Bloom’s epic put down – Sweetie Belle included. This more than anything felt like a movie, only without the popcorn.
“Oh yeah? Well you’re… you’re a…” Snails stuttered.
“Yeah, I like porn, an’ that’s okay!” Apple Bloom continued, filled with righteous fury. “It’s nopony’s business but their own. What’s not okay is you treatin’ us like your personal sex toys! Now, for the last time, stop botherin’ Scootaloo and buck off!”
The crowd erupted in a thunder of cheers and applause, with Apple Bloom hoof bumping Scootaloo. “Woohoo! Go Apple Bloom!” Sweetie cheered and shot to her hooves, nearly slipping on the wet stone.
“Fine!” Snails huffed, his face now beat red. “You wanna be a snooty little skank? Be that way! But don’t blame me when you catch blue waf—”
“Excuse me?” came a voice from behind Snails. Just by the look on his face, Sweetie could tell who it was.
“Oh, erm, Miss Frizzle,” he chuckled nervously. “How nice to, um, see you?”
“My office. Now.” Frizzle looked down at Snails with a ferocious scowl, pointing back toward the school building. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”
“Yes, Miss Frizzle…” His head hung low, Snips marched back inside.
As Frizzle walked him off, Diamond Tiara stepped out from behind her. “You okay, Scootaloo?” she asked with a gentle smile.
“A little creeped out, but I’ll be fine,” her posture finally relaxed. “Were you shadowing Miss Frizzle this whole time?”
“Call it a skill I picked up from my bully days.” Diamond’s smile grew into a grin, then she turned to Apple Bloom. “Gotta admit, I’m impressed with how you stood up to Snips. Not many ponies would openly admit to enjoying smut!”
“I prefer the term erotica, thank you very much,” Apple Bloom put on her best fancy voice. This got a giggle out of her friends, including Sweetie Belle.
“I never knew she was such a good voice actor!” Sweetie said. “She sounds just like Rarity. Guess it’s a skill she picked up from Applejack.”
“Seriously though,” Apple Bloom continued. “I’ve long stopped carin’ what other ponies think of me. Besides, it’s kind of a hot topic around here, even if ponies don’t say it as loudly as I do.”
“That reminds me,” said Diamond, her expression dropping a little. “Where’s Sweetie Belle? I’ve not seen her anywhere today, so I thought she’d be with you.”
Sweetie felt her gut clench. “I guess the fun part’s over, huh?”
“She ran out of class today,” Apple Bloom explained. “Somethin’ to do with what Sparky said to her, and she ain’t doin’ so hot now, either.”
“I wanted to talk about that before,” added Scootaloo. “Before Snails got in my way, that is. Think we should check on her after school?”
“Yeah, but I think it should just be us two,” Apple Bloom looked back to Diamond Tiara. “No offence, Di. It’s just a sensitive topic, and she’s a lot more reserved than I am.”
“None taken,” Diamond said, though by the way she bit her bottom lip, Sweetie knew she felt a little dejected about it. “Just keep me informed, okay? I care about her as well.”
“Of course,” Apple Bloom smiled and nodded. “You are an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader, after all.”
The shrill ringing of the school bell put an end to that conversation. “Well, we'd better get back to class,” said Scootaloo. “Thanks again for the save, Diamond!”
As Scootaloo and Apple Bloom turned to leave, the scene faded.
Sweetie Belle stood up. “I can be a real pain in the flank, sometimes,” she muttered with a sigh. She'd hoped the second vision would alleviate some of the guilt, but all it did was make the burden heavier. While just minutes before she was cheering on her friend’s memory, all she felt now was the cold, hard stone beneath her hooves. “My friends... they misunderstood me just like I did for Sparky. If I'd just listened to them instead of storming off, maybe we could've cleared the air.”
Like clockwork, her reflection returned. But this time, Sweetie didn't follow as it scampered off. “What do you want from me?!” she screamed as she stamped her hoof in the water. “I get it! I'm a jerk! My friends... my sister... they're better off without me!”
Her reflection stopped, its ears pricking up. The mirror-Sweetie turned around and trotted back toward her physical counterpart. Sitting in front of her, it then did something she didn't expect. She talked. “I know how you feel.”
“Like shit you do!” Sweetie snapped, her voice almost cracking. “You're not real! You're just some stupid illusion conjured by a magic cave.”
“I'm not just a reflection of you, Sweetie Belle,” mirror-Sweetie answered in a soft voice, her posture relaxed. “I'm a reflection of your friends, and of everypony who's ever walked these halls.”
“Then how did you expect me to react?!” Sweetie averted her gaze, her eyes welling up with tears. “I already hate myself! I'm a broken, prudish, overly sensitive bitch who assumes the worst about my friends. The visions prove it, and I've had enough! If I could be fixed, why haven't you shown me how?!”
“I can't tell you that,” she answered in the same dry tone. “I can only show you what has been, so that you might know yourself better.”
“Then, I am hopeless...” climbing ashore, Sweetie collapsed and shut her eyes tight. “Look at me. I'm lashing out at my own reflection, that's how pathetic I am. I can't take much more or this.”
Mirror-Sweetie reached out and touched Sweetie's hoof. “When I said that I am you, I meant it. I am the potential you have for kindness, partly towards others, but more so to yourself.”
“What do you mean?” Sweetie asked in a weak voice.
“If you were truly malicious inside, that is what I would be – as I would be for your friends. But I am not. I am kind because you are kind. Nopony is perfect, and it can take a long time to figure ourselves out. Even after her ascension, Princess Twilight Sparkle still had a long way to go to fulfil her potential.”
“I guess that's true...” Sweetie sat up and opened her eyes, though she didn't look at her reflection. “I mean, me and the girls—Applebloom and Scootaloo—we spent a lot of time as kids trying to find our cutie marks.”
“You have so much to learn, so much room to grow, Sweetie Belle,” Mirror-Sweetie smiled. “What you take away from here, only you can decide. That's why you'll want to see this final vision.”
Slowly, Sweetie looked up to meet Mirror-Sweetie’s eyes. For a moment, she remained still, collecting her thoughts along with what was said. “Okay,” she soon said, wiping tears. “I'm ready. Please, show me what's next.”
Mirror-Sweetie hopped to her hooves. “Right this way!”
Following her, Sweetie Belle spent the next ten minutes traversing a series of zigzag pathways that lead her up and over the small waterfall. At the end of this, the path turned into a spiral, descending slightly before rejoining the underground rainbow river.
She had no idea what to expect from this final room, but already her mind was filled with wild speculation. She imagined all sorts of grand designs that would take Rarity's breath away, from rainbow whirlpools raging below a clear crystal floor, to clusters of chandelier-like stalactites between curved crystal walls.
But nothing could have prepared her for what was in the final room. When she stepped out of the tunnel, her jaw dropped. It was a huge cavern, covered from floor to ceiling with not just amethysts, but all manner of gemstones arranged in every pattern imaginable. Spirals, helices, pyramids and rectangular shapes looked to Sweetie like a hidden city of gemstones, blending into one another with their immaculate radiance.
And at the far end of the cavern, there hung the largest crystal mirror she'd seen in her life. As she wandered closer, she noticed that it was not a single sheet of crystal, but rather a mosaic, made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny shards. Each one shined with its own individual shade, but none were static in their colour. They changed constantly, transforming the gradient like ripples across a rainbow lake.
This was already enough to make Sweetie stare in wide-eyed wonder, but of course, there was still a vision to experience. “Wait,” she said before her reflection dissipated.
“Yes?” Mirror-Sweetie replied.
“I don't know who, or what, made you,” her expression softened. “But thanks all the same. I do feel a little better about myself.”
“That is what the Halls of Reflection are for,” Mirror-Sweetie returned the smile as she faded into the mosaic.
In her place, the image of Rarity sprang forth. She was pacing back and forth outside the Sweet Apple Acres barn, muttering something that Sweetie couldn't quite make out.
“Okay, Rares,” Applejack called as she bucked the last bale of hay into place. “Chores are done. So, tell me, what's on your mind?”
Rarity gulped, took a deep breath, and trotted into the barn. “Well, you see, darling,” she began, “I know how much you've had your eye on me, and I certainly do reciprocate those feelings. But…”
“But?” Applejack prompted, her posture tensing.
“But I feel the need to inform you of a specific fact about myself before we can commit to a full relationship...”
Applejack blinked. “I'm not sure I follow. Do ya not wanna go on a date after all?”
Rarity warded off the comment with her forehooves, looking slightly taken aback by the implication. “Oh, no, no, nothing like that! I do want to go out with you! It's just that, well, there's a certain... aspect of a romantic partnership I don't feel would be, shall we say, satisfactory.”
Applejack’s brow furrowed. “Rarity, I know you want everythin' to be of high standards, but trust me, whatever the problem is, I'll do my best to accommodate.”
Rarity looked away. “Do you promise?”
“Pinkie promise,” Applejack took hold of Rarity's hoof. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
That got a small giggle from Rarity, but her expression changed little overall. After several seconds of silence, Rarity shut her eyes tight and said in a quiet voice, “I'm Asexual.”
Another moment of silence. “Beg your pardon?”
Rarity's shoulders dropped and she hung her head. “I'm sorry, Applejack. It's not that you aren't attractive—quite the opposite—nor do I find sex disgusting. I just don't have any desire for it. I anticipate you'd want to sleep with me after a date, and, well, I don't want to mislead you...”
Sweetie Belle leant in. Even though she knew the result, the anticipation of Applejack’s answer only thickened the tension she felt.
“Rarity,” Applejack squeezed Rarity's hoof. “Just let me this straight. You wanna date me, so long as we don’t have sex?”
“Well… I guess I could do it, if it made you happy. I’d just, well, usually prefer not.”
To that, Applejack cleared her throat. “Well, I’m not the kind of mare to pressure somepony into anything. So, if that's the only problem, you've got nothin' to worry about.”
Rarity's body sprung up like a jack-in-the-box, tackling Applejack to the ground as she smothered her in kisses. “Thank you, Applejack!” she squealed, her voice breaking as she cried tears of joy. “I love you, so very, very much!”
“Whoa there, Rarity...” Applejack tried to push her off, but it was no use. She was caught Rarity's Equestria-renowned cuddle trap.
“You have no idea how happy this makes me!” though her voice was muffled by her constant nuzzling of Applajck's cheek, hearing her sister express such joy filled Sweetie's heart with pride.
“What's goin' on in there?” came the voice of Granny Smith, having just returned from market. “Applejack, didn't I tell you that the barn is no place to be makin' love like that? It ain't hygienic!”
For a moment, Applejack’s gaze remained locked with Rarity’s, but could only hold it a moment before they both burst into laughter.
“Hey! Safe sex is no joke, ya hear?”
“Naw, Granny, that's not what we're laughin' at,” Applejack said once she could catch a breath. “It's just ironic, 'cause Rarity just told me she's asexual!”
“Oh. Well, ain't that the darndest thing,” Granny shook her head. “I guess I'll give you lovebirds space all the same. Don't worry about chores, you just enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you, Granny,” finally relenting, Applejack leant in and hugged Rarity back. “'Cause I've got a date night to plan.”
The final vision ended with Applejack and Rarity locking lips, while Sweetie Belle whistled and applauded. “Wow,” she commented. “I guess I'm not so broken after all. I'm just like Rarity, asexual!”
As she spoke those words, a loud boom ushered in the violent quake of the cavern around her. Sweetie Belle shot to her hooves. She snapped her head left and right, trying to find the quickest way out before the whole place collapsed.
Then she noticed the source of the quake. It was the giant mirror, rolling off to one side to reveal a series of flickering crystal lights and, at the end of it all, the pale shine of moonlight. At long last, Sweetie’s journey was at an end.
“Sweetie Belle!”
When Rarity had returned from her errands on Saturday evening, Sweetie Belle had vanished. The only clue to her whereabouts were the torn remnants of her winter coat she’d left behind. Rarity, Applejack and Sweetie’s friends had searched all over Ponyville for her, to no avail.
But now, with the help of Princess Luna and the ticket office at Ponyville Station, they had homed in on Sweetie Belle’s last known whereabouts: Rainbow Falls. Thanks to special school exemptions delivered by Princess Luna, Sweetie’s friends could rejoin the search efforts and cover more ground.
“Sweetie Belle! Can ya hear me?” Applejack bucked a heavy stone out of the way. She’d been checking every nook and cranny she could think of, hoping to find some hidden pit or crevasse Sweetie could have slipped in to. “Any luck yet, Sparky?”
Sparky shook her head. “No, but I think we’re getting warmer. The meter’s at about forty percent saturation, which is sixteen percent higher than average.”
“Right…” Applejack said, cocking an eyebrow. “Exactly how does that gizmo ya made with Twilight work again?”
“Oh, it’s actually very simple!” Sparky beamed, ever eager to infodump about magic-based technology. “It stores a tiny amount of magic in this vial—Twilight’s, to be specific—then it runs that magic through the sensor at the top, reverses the polarity of the neutron flow and converts the contrasting data into electricity measured by this meter.”
Applejack nodded along, pretending to understand.
“More importantly,” added Apple Bloom, “Are we any closer to findin’ Sweetie Belle?”
“I can’t say for sure,” Sparky kept up a hopeful smile as Applebloom’s expression fell, “but the magic of Rainbow Falls is much higher than Ponyville. If Princess Luna is right about the faintness of Sweetie’s dreams, then she’ll be where the magic interference is strongest.”
“I don’t care what that device does!” Rarity snapped, her voice as ragged as her mane. “Just make sure you use it properly! I can’t waste anymore time in our search.”
“Hey! Sparky’s helpin’ the only way she knows how!” Appelbloom shot back. “It’s not her fault Sweetie ran away!”
“That’s easy for you to say! You’re not her—”
“Now hold on an Apple buckin’ minute,” Applejack interjected, pushing her way between the two. “We ain’t gonna find Sweetie sooner by fightin’, so let’s cool it, okay?” She then turned to Rarity and placed one hoof on her shoulder. “Listen, Rares, I know better than anypony what it’s like to stress over siblings. But, as hard as it is, I think you could do with some rest.”
“B-but, she could be starving!” Rarity protested, her knees shaking. “Or injured, or worse! All because a stupid little fight I instigated. I just… I can’t sit back and let her freeze to death! Sweetie Belle! If you’re out there, please say something!”
“Rarity, look at me,” Applejack sat down and held Rarity’s head between her front hooves. “Me and the girls have it covered. If we can’t find her tonight, we’ll bring Twilight and the others for a full search party tomorrow. She can’t have gone far without somepony noticin’ her.”
“I… I…” Despite every instinct telling her the opposite, Rarity knew Applejack was right. “Thank you, Applejack,” she said as her hind legs gave out. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Applejack replied and gave Rarity a small nuzzle, gently rubbing her back.
“Hey, AJ?” asked Scootaloo in a soft voice. “Shall I help Rarity back to the cabin? You’re better at reading the landscape than me.”
“That’s very kind of you, Scootaloo,” Rarity answered wirily. “But I can make my own way back. Just, keep me posted on how the search goes, will you?”
“Of course,” Scootaloo gave a sympathetic smile, though by the way she shuffled her wings, Rarity could tell she was just as anxious.
“Sweet Celestia!” Spark’s loud exclamation grabbed everypony’s attention. “Guys, guys, over here! You’ll definitely want to see this!”
Once more, Rarity jumped to her hooves, re-invigorated by the hope of a breakthrough. “What? What is it?”
“It’s my magic meter. The needles going crazy, and the readings are off the charts! I’ve never seen a saturation level this high!”
Suddenly, the ground was rocked by a volatile shudder. Just ahead of the group, a large chunk of soil and rock slid open, revealing a series of stone steps descending underground. With bated breath they watched, until, at long last, Sweetie Belle emerged.
“Rarity!” At the sight of her sister, Sweetie all but leapt into Rarity’s waiting arms.
“Oh, my dear Sweetie Belle,” Rarity cried as she hugged her tight. “I missed you so much!”
“I missed you too, Rarity,” Sweetie Belle returned the hug.
“What happened? Your coat’s all muddy! Are you hurt?”
Sweetie shook her head and smiled. “No, I’m okay. A little bruised, but nothing a hot bath won’t fix.”
“Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sparky cried in unison, forming a group hug around Sweetie.
“Oh, hey… Sparky,” Sweetie said. “I’m sorry I acted so snooty toward you.”
“No apologies needed,” Sparky’s ears remained flat against her head. “If anything, I should be the one apologising. It was super rude of me to read your diary to the class like that.”
“To be honest, I really did over-react,” Sweetie rubbed the back of her head once the group hug broke. “I was just feeling so confused and frustrated over my own sexuality, it put me on edge. That’s why I came here. It’s the place where Rarity and Applejack got married, so I thought it’d answer a few of my questions.”
“And? Did it?” Scootaloo’s expression was wide-eyed. “What did you discover?”
Sweetie Belle took a deep breath. “Everypony, I have an announcement to make.” She left a moment’s pause to ensure everypony was listening. “I’m asexual.”
“Ugh, I shoulda known!” Apple Bloom gave herself a harsh chuckle. “Guess I kinda dropped the ball on that one, huh?”
“Nah, what you said wasn’t a problem,” Sweetie waved in dismissal. “I agree with you, there’s nothing wrong with sex. I just don’t like nor want it, that’s all.”
“So, um…” Scootaloo began, crossing her front hooves and blushing. “Does that mean we can’t, like, talk about sex around you or anything?”
“It might be a little awkward,” Sweetie replied, “But I’m much more secure about myself now. You talk about whatever’s comfortable, so long as the place is appropriate.”
“Actually, y’know what?” Sparky puffed out her chest. “I have an announcement to make as well. I’m genderfluid! I’m still cool with female pronouns, but on most days, I’m neither a filly nor a foal.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right!” Sweetie clapped her hooves together. “I almost forgot to mention; Sparky, I saw you were struggling to find gender neutral clothes. Want us to help?”
Sparky tilted her head. “Wait, how did you know that?”
“Well, it’s kind of a long story, but I was in these huge underground caverns that were, get this, filled with magic crystals!”
“Hold up, I think I know that place!” Apple Bloom said.
“Yeah, me too!” added Rarity. “I distinctly recall finding a cave like that. It was some years ago, but it gave me the courage to come out to Applejack as asexual.”
“I think I’ve been there as well,” Sparky rubbed her chin.
“Indeed, you have.” From out of the night sky, Princess Luna landed in front of the group. “It is good to see you are safe, Sweetie Belle.”
“Princess Luna? How do you know about that place?” asked Sweetie.
“That’s because I created it, my dear,” Luna chuckled. “It wasn’t long after Twilight and her friends cleansed me of Nightmare Moon. I felt so lost in my own guilt and personal anguish, I constructed the Halls of Reflection using a single branch from the Tree of Harmony. Just like with me, it served to guide lost ponies within their hour of need, allowing them to reflect on the lives of whom it imprinted on.”
“So, that’s why I saw memories of Rarity and my friends?”
Luna nodded. “Though I had never intended it to be used by others, I’m glad it has brought some guidance into your life.”
“Yeah, I guess it has,” Sweetie Belle bowed. “Thanks, Princess Luna. I guess this makes two times you’ve helped me out of a jam, huh?”
“Ah, yes! I do recall,” Luna chuckled.
“Hey, not that I don’t enjoy reminiscing,” Applejack shivered, “but it’s gettin’ mighty chilly out here. Think y’all could head back someplace warm?”
“Well, we’ve missed the last train back to Ponyville, so I suppose we should turn in,” Rarity agreed.
“You can do so if you wish,” replied Luna. “But I must inform you, there is another reason I have come to Rainbow Falls this day.”
“Oh! Oh! I know what this is about!” Sparky threw her hoof up, eager to be noticed.
“Go on, Sparky. You may tell them.”
“Tonight’s the spring equinox! That means, fireworks in advance of the Lunar Festival this weekend!”
“Wow! Looks like I got out at the perfect time, huh?” Sweetie Belle turned to her sister. “I know you’ve been super worried about me, and I promise I’ll stay grounded when we get home. But can I please stay up and watch the fireworks tonight?”
“Don’t worry about it,” she ruffled her mane. “I’m just happy put all this drama behind us. In fact,” Rarity turned back to Applejack and winked, “I can think of nothing better than watching fireworks with our loved ones.”
“Aww, shucks, Rarity,” Applejack blushed. “You always know how to spoil a pony, doncha?”
“Well, some ponies are worth spoiling, don’t you think?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Sharing another brief kiss, Rarity and Applejack led the way back towards the campgrounds, tails once more intertwined. Now reunited, the children were not far behind, although Sweetie did have one last request to ask of them. “You two go on ahead. I wanna have a private talk with Sparky.”
“Oh? Do I hear wedding bells ringing?” Scootaloo snarked, and once again, got an elbow in the ribs. “Alright, alright! I’m going already.”
“Well, I walked right into that one,” Sweetie Belle giggled and turned to Sparky.
“Um, did I do something wrong again?” Sparky asked, her ears held flat against her head.
“Nope!” Sweetie beamed. “In fact, I wanna get to know you better. I’m still not sure which genders I’d like to date, but maybe if I learn more about this whole ‘non-binary’ stuff, I could figure it out?”
Sparky perked up. “Well, you’ve come to the right enby!”
Listening carefully as they walked, Sweetie Belle found herself wondering how it’d feel to hold tails. Luckily for her, Sparky wondered the exact same thing.