It had been three long years since those weeks had looped. Years of time to forgive and forget the hurt her friends had brought. The weeks like a crazy dream she had woken up from. Given time all wounds heal. All wounds forgotten. Now working with her sister: assisting with deliveries and earning bits in a part time job.
Their friendship was distant these days, but she still enjoyed what time she saw of them. And the red haired bright smile of the pony in the door was no exception this day. Stepping in the two shared a warm embrace, and then stepped back.
“Apple Bloom! How’s farm work treating you?” Smirking: Sweetie tiled her head in bemusement as her friend groaned loudly. Ears folding back: she grumbled under her breath for a moment.
“Terrible, horrible. Can you believe its Zap Apple season again already?” She fell to her knees with silent prayers to Sweetie.
“Pleeease. Can you come help me? Scootaloo will be there and-“With a hoof cutting off Apple’s words: Sweetie brought her friend back into a hug.
“Of course.”
“You know. Did we ever talk about that one weird week where Sweetie skipped school?” A swift kick to a tree sent apples flying into the net of magic below them. Careful of the shock that could come from them.
“…Well not really.” An orange filly carried away a basket as she glanced over. Gaze curious as she slowed, and stopped. The three shared a glance.
“Ah hahaha,” laughed Sweetie in embarrassment as she put the apples in the basket. “Not my finest moment, but I was still a kid you know?” The others smiled. Well: Scootaloo smirked.
“What do you mean -was-. You’re still a kid from where I’m standing.” Waltzing over as she messed up her friends mane. Smiles on their faces: happy and free.
So much had happened.
What was a couple of weird weeks years ago compared to everything since?
“…right…it was just a dream…” The door clicking closed as Sweetie returned to her home. Stepping up the quiet path to the kitchen as her hooves met the tiles. The sound reverberating around her. Gaze going left, and then right. Fridge opening, and then closing. Water preciously gulped down. Finally: the window. Eyes gazing to it.
“…..” Fresh memories resurfacing as she thought over those days. Vague yet clear. Time that had happened. And yet every pony she talked to denied it was even possible. Only the legendary Starswirl had even touched time magic.
Closing her eyes, and shaking her head: she turned and scaled the stairs to her room. A swift fall onto the bed and a moment of rest soon greeted her. Yellow eyes watching her in the darkness. Before they too closed. Notes still hidden in a box under the bed. Worn with age: but still sporting words in her handwriting.
Rolling to her side: magic swiftly pulled it out as she opened it and went through it in desperation. Searching for something. Anything. Concrete proof had to be in here. Why had she ordered those books? Why had she made notes?
“I know, I know;” her soft whispers echoed as she pulled out a note that had been placed on her bed as she’d prepared for the final stroke of midnight. Slowly: calm returned to her form. Seeing it in plain writing. A sigh escaping her.
“It was real. It was real.” Satisfied: she packed the box away, and moved to get some rest. The next morning at the crack of dawn: she awoke to smoke. Chaos. A fire.
Everything burned down. Everything gone.
“….But…” Sweetie softly whimpered.
A voice: “Real no longer.” Wild glances around revealed no source. Lifting up her sister’s cat: soft tears began to gently fall from her face. No matter what. She wouldn’t forget. It had been real. Her proof was gone. But her memories still existed. One day: she would find answers!
“…Forget.” A voice again. From below. Looking down: she met the eyes of the cat. And
“Sweetie Belle?” A voice woke her up, and she looked to her sister. They both embraced. Quietly picking up the pieces of their lives slowly but surely. Rarity’s cat had vanished. They feared the worst. Oddly: there was a nagging feeling in the back of Sweetie’s mind. As if she was forgetting something.
Yet her mind couldn’t think of anything. Was it sparked by seeing her friends? They’d talked about the week she’d played hooky and-
“A-ah.” Holding her head in pain: a massive headache hit her.
“Maybe you should get some rest…it’s been a long day.” Rarity spoke. They would be staying with Twilight for the immediate future. As Sweetie closed her eyes to rest, and the days passed by: the feeling abated and the headaches became but a faint memory. No longer haunted by nightmares of a time that never was.