“Goodbye dear sister.” Rarity stepped out the door, and looked back at Sweetie. Sniffing back her tears, Sweetie forced a smile onto her face as she waved goodbye, Opal hugged to her chest. Rarity turned, and headed to her room. The clock ticked forward, and Sweetie turned her attention toward the tree and milk. Placing the tree down, she poured a bit of milk into a cup, and placed it on the other side of her room.
11:59…
12:00…
12:01…
Wait…that wasn’t right. Sweetie moved to rise, and stepped over to the book Twilight had even her. She cast the spell. It told her it was Monday. Pausing: she then looked to the bottle of memories. Still there.
Slowly walking out of the room nervously: she peeked into her sister’s room to find Rarity had cried herself to sleep. Quietly and gently: she poked her awake. The sleepy eyes didn’t really register much at first.
“S-Sister? What day is it?” The sleep faded from her eyes as Sweetie spoke, and they slowly dilated. A sudden choking hug was next as Sweetie was thrust onto the bed, and into the arms of her crying sister.
“S-Sweetie Belle! It’s Saturday!” Exclaimed Rarity.
Ba bump.
Slowly: tears began to form in Sweetie Belle’s eyes as she began to get overwhelmed with emotion. A jumbled mess of words escaping her before she launched into an ugly and loud cry. It echoed around the room as her pain and anguish echoed out. A shivering and jostling body held by warm arms as the two cried.
Raw emotions billowing out like waves in a tsunami: wrecking all. Sparking magic controlled by nothing as the two cried long into the night, and passed out together. The morning came with exhaustion as the two didn’t bother getting from the bed. Even to answer the door. A cry from downstairs.
“Rarity! It’s Twilight.” A hoarse voice echoed out from Rarity as she wobbled to her feet, and moved downstairs. The two talked before ascending to see the dozing filly in the bed. Twilight nodded, and big her farewell. With that business done: Rarity returned to the bed and curled back up with Sweetie Belle.
And so the weekend passed.
Sweetie looked to the report on what Starswirl had been found guilty of, and looked to her toy of Opalescent. Rising from her seat: she walked over to her sister. Their gazes met and a sigh escaped Rarity. Slowly reaching into her saddlebag as she procured two tickets to Sweetie’s surprise. A warm smile between the two a moment later.
“Let’s go see this ‘Starswirl’.” The train ride was long, but not long enough for them both. The quiet path to the prison and deeper down below. To the very depths. Celestia led them quietly and stopped in front of the cell containing the cat. Beginning very simply at first: Sweetie began to shake violently at the sight.
“This…This is the cat that caused me so much pain? The cat that caused my friends to turn to ash in front of my eyes!?” Tears and furrowed brow: the shaking ceased as Sweetie slammed her hoof violently into the reinforced magical barrier and metal bars.
“WHY!” She cried out, “WHY DO THIS TO ME! What did I ever do to you!?” Her voice a steam now. Anguish on dismay as her eyes blazed with a fury that didn’t match her child form. The longer Starswirl took the louder and more violent her outburst became. Yet the cat took its sweet time slowly looking over: and standing. Slow and measured steps over to the bars.
“Meow,” it responded. Eye twitching: Sweetie screamed, and had to be dragged away by Rarity as Celestia and Starswirl watched her go. And then Celestia herself left. The cat then sat down, and licked his paw. Cleaning himself off as he gazed into the distance.
‘Be what may I am regretful for ruining that filly’s life,’ he thought despondently. Turning to curl up on a corner, and close his eyes.
‘But no answer I give will satisfy her. No: it is more no answer would be worthy of the anger she feels. Perhaps when older. Perhaps then. But not now.’
“This time you will answer me, Starswirl.” The mare walked in with a yellow friend beside her. Sweetie walked up to the bars as Fluttershy shivered slightly. The cat turned and rose, sitting in front of them with a bored expression.
“Meow.” ‘You cannot even understand me.’ And yet: to his shock Fluttershy translated his words verbatim.
Sweetie gave a mocking smile, “How about now? Talk!” Her hoof slammed against the bars. But the cat was unimpressed.
“’Alright then, tell me. Do you know how poor your magic is? Very. You are the only fily born since my death that has such a low potential. That meant you were the best one to house the power required. The lower the potential: the greater room for growth.’” Meowed the cat simply. Loweing her head, Sweetie’s mouth turned downward.
“….I was just born with the right level of magic?” Her voice shaky, and unsure.
“’Correct’” Responded the cat simply. It was really no hard feelings: maybe she would understand that.
Turning: Sweetie began to walk away, and called out to Fluttershy.
“Let’s go home: we’re done here.” The two left quietly, and Starswirl was once more left alone. A soft breath escaped the cat as they curled back up. A cough escaped them, a small bit of blood leaking. And then finally: they breathed no longer. A small eye opened eight times within a wriggling hive of eggs.
It was time.
Returning home, Sweetie resumed her life. A part of her smile no longer as bright. Songs more heavy, and haunting. Despite her trying to move on: it all came back to those weeks. Even with her friends having long since made up. Even with Snips and Snails to support her: a part of her soul was missing.
The loops might not have taken her life. But they took her heart. While she would recover with time: Sweetie would still have days where her mind was just in another place. Another time. Waking up to a room and wondering if it was truly the weekend. Maybe it was too late to move forward.
Maybe the weekend had never truly come, and her life was a looping of time.