//------------------------------// // Proud of You // Story: For My Sister... // by TypewriterError //------------------------------// Rarity watched as Sweetie Belle washed a warm bite of cinnamon mash down with a sip of cold milk. She was already looking a lot better. Perhaps she would be alright after all...and she could recover. The device had already been taken out of her ear so, for a while, they were both safe. They could almost be in Carousel Boutique right now, enjoying a good breakfast before spending the day together. Rarity would have asked to take Sweetie Belle out of school for that day. A “family vacation” she would have called it. A vacation with the only family she had left since their parents had died...her only blood relative. Rarity momentarily turned to her bowl and ate a spoonful of mash. It was quite delicious to be honest, but Sweetie Belle soon gained her attention again. She didn’t have much time with her. As soon as the device was set to go into her own ear... Well, for now, she didn’t have to think about it. “Rarity?” Sweetie belle asked, pushing her bowl towards her sister, “Can I have some more?” “What do you say?” Rarity reminded her with a smile. “Please?” Sweetie Belle said and Rarity took her bowl to the stove where a large pot sat, ready with another serving. After it was full, Rarity set the bowl down in front of her sister again and sat opposite her, trying to eat a few more bites. Sweetie Belle... She would have to tell her. She wanted her sister to know from her... The pot of mash was basically gone now into Sweetie Belle’s bowl. He would soon be done working on the device and would come in to... But how to start such a conversation? To tell her sister she was not going back with her? Would Sweetie Belle go willingly? She opened her mouth to start though she didn’t know what to say. “Rarity? How are we getting back?” Rarity looked down at her bowl with a full spoon resting inside. Sometime she and Sweetie Belle were so much alike she could swear she was reading her mind. “Well, Darling, I don’t know how you will be taken back to Ponyville. I assume transport of some kind will take you back.” “Aren’t you coming with me, Rarity?” Sweetie asked, looking up at Rarity, visibly worried. “I’m so sorry, Sweetie Belle...” she stopped while her emotions threatened to voice their opinion, “I’m... I want to go back with you but...” Sweetie Belle is a filly. She’s already lost her parents and will lose her sister too. She’s too young to be going through this. Her older sister could barely go through this! She shouldn’t have to know ordeals like this... She shouldn’t have to cry again. She’s lost too much already... But, she needed to hear this from somepony who loves her. “I wish there was another way...” Rarity choked, wiping a tear away while Sweetie Belle looked on, distress apparent, “I love you Sweetie Belle and this is absolutely cruel and unfair...but, I think it’s what’s best for us.” “Rarity...” Sweetie Belle begged. “Darling, you’ve been strong through all this. But, you’re going to have to be even stronger. I... I love you so much, and I hope to see you again someday. But...Sweetie Belle, I’m not going back to Ponyville with you.” “But, Rarity! Who will take care of me?” Rarity had thought this out carefully last night. “I want you to go to Applejack and the Apple family. Carousel Boutique is yours to take care of. She will watch over you...” Sweetie Belle’s tears stopped her. “I won’t...see you again?” Sweetie Belle sniffed. Rarity could only stare. Resolve built up inside of her and dried her tears. She leapt off the bench she was sitting on and embraced her sister. “I promise, Sweetie Belle. I promise I will see you again someday.” Her heart tore as her baby sister cried into her, holding on tightly. How could she ever force the filly to let go? A door opened behind Rarity and she turned her head slightly. “So she knows. Good. Well, it’s time...” “Don’t you dare take her away from me!” Sweetie Belle screamed. “No, Darling. This is what’s best...” “She’s my sister! Don’t take her away from me” “Hold her...” he commanded somepony Rarity couldn’t see until she moved to hold Sweetie Belle. Bon Bon? So he didn’t kill her... Sweetie Belle was hysterical and beginning to choke Rarity by holding on so tightly. “NOOOOOO!” she screamed in her sister’s ear as Bon Bon ripped them apart, tears flowing from the earth pony’s closed eyes. Rarity trembled and tried to smile as she felt the Pegasus slide the device into her ear. “RARITY!!!” Sweetie Belle continued to call and holler, punching, biting, kicking poor Bon Bon who tried to restrain her. It was too much. “Sweetie Belle! Stop! Just stop!” Rarity shouted over her sister. Sweetie Belle bit her lip. Rarity crossed to be just out of hoof’s length. “Careful...” the pegasus warned. “Sweetie Belle... Sweetie Belle, listen to me. I have watched, with joy, who you are becoming...” Rarity let her tears fall down her cheek but did all she could to keep her voice steady, “I love you so much and I am so proud of you. You’ve grown up so much in the past year alone and... I... I wish I could be there to see how you grow in the coming months... But...for you...you are now at the point in your life where growing up is no longer easy. You are already more mature than many ponies your age because you have survived more than many ponies your age will have to survive in their lifetimes... "You have to be continue to be strong, Sweetie Belle. There is so much I wish I could say to you now...so much I wish I could do to make your life easy. But, Sweetie Belle, you have found yourself learning that life involves pain...” Rarity stopped to choke back memories, “And no matter how much I love you...I cannot give you everything... I cannot... I cannot give you a life without pain. "Please, Sweetie Belle, you are such a beautiful, loving, remarkable filly... That will never change. I will always be proud of you no matter the distance. Please, go with Bon Bon and go to Sweet Apple Acres. I promise: I will see you one day.” A remarkable thing happened as Rarity spoke to her sister. Sweetie Belle cried and allowed the tears to flow...but she listened. After Rarity was done speaking her eyes were still red with tears...but, she closed her mouth and nodded her head slowly. “Well, Bon Bon, thank you for your help. The saddlebags are by the door for you to take. I’ll be watching.” Bon Bon gave him one look and then stood on all four hooves after gently setting a cooperative Sweetie Belle down. Rarity stood where she was and gave her sister what she hoped was a reassuring smile. She would do everything in her power to get back to her. No matter who stood in her way, she would get her family back. Sweetie Belle stood directly in front of her and Rarity could see her urge to rush into a hug again. “I...I love you, Rarity.” she said. Rarity smiled as tears climbed out of the corners of her eyes. And with that, the brave filly turned away and walked alongside the reluctant earth pony. “Tell me, Strike...” Rarity began when Sweetie Belle had disappeared from her sight, “What exactly did you do to Bon Bon that caused her to scream?” “I did only what was necessary.” he said, stiffly. “What was necessary?” Rarity prodded. “When I...hired her, I did more than rent her voice.” Rarity closed her eyes with the realization. “You bought her voice...and when you were done with her...” “I cut her voice out so I could keep what I bought.” There was so much Rarity wished she could say.