The Cutie Mark Crusaders ran from their clubhouse, past the main part of Sweet Apple Acres, all the way to the town of Ponyville. It was clearly a great day, for almost everypony was walking around, a smile on all their faces. The streets were filled with fillies and colts, mares and stallions, all of them busy doing their daily rounds. Carts of hay and other assortments were being hauled while other ponies went in and out of stores and shops, tending to their everyday lives.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo continued to race each other down the road, one trying to outdo the other. All the while, Sweetie Belle trailed behind, appearing to be lost in her own thoughts. She didn't know what was happening to her, or why it was happening at all, but something was building up deep inside of her, something that she hadn't felt in her entire life.
Surprisingly enough, Sweetie Belle managed to keep up with her fellow Crusaders, as the three of them entered the doors of Sugar Cube Corner. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard her two friends beginning to bicker with one another.
"I totally beat you!" said Scootaloo, as she pointed a hoof at Apple Bloom.
"Yeah, right," said Apple Bloom, "Ah clearly came in before you!"
Glaring at one another, both of them said in unison, "Sweetie Belle, who won?"
"Oh...um...huh?" asked a startled Sweetie Belle. She hadn't really been paying attention to anything, let alone who won their race. She hadn't even been paying attention when the two of them asked her the question.
As a result, all Sweetie Belle could say was, "Oh...um...YES!"
Trying to keep her composure, she walked in between the two fillies, her eyes closed and a smile across her face. As she approached the counter, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shot each other confused glances.
"Is something wrong with Sweetie Belle?" asked Scootaloo.
"Ah don't know," said Apple Bloom, "Maybe we should ask her."
"Sure, but after we order our treats," said the Pegasus pony, "Because I'm starving."
With that said, the three fillies walked up to the counter and began deciding what they wanted to snack on. Before any of them could even fathom a thought, they were almost scared to death as a pink pony, seemingly, bounced out of thin air and stood by their sides.
"HI GIRLS!" shouted the pink party pony.
"Oh, uh, hi Pinkie Pie," said a nervous Apple Bloom, "Where did you come from?"
"Duh, I do work here, you know," said Pinkie Pie, a smile on her face, "I'm here all the time, you silly filly!"
Scootaloo rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, what can I get for you and your friends," she asked the three fillies.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at each other and said, "A dozen cupcakes!"
"Okie-dokie-lokie! You're in luck, for I just made a fresh batch this morning. I think you girls are going to like these, especially YOU, Scootaloo!"
With that, Pinkie Pie bounced off behind the counter and into the kitchen. As Scootaloo and Apple Bloom watched her bounce away, they noticed Sweetie Belle was already sitting at a table, waiting for them. As the two ponies approached the table, they noticed the Sweetie Belle was staring out the window, a worried expression on her face.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle," said Scootaloo, as she sat down, "Are you alright?"
"Huh?" asked Sweetie Belle, as she was pulled from whatever trance she was in.
"You haven't been yerself since we left the clubhouse," said Apple Bloom "Is somethin' botherin' you?"
"No," said Sweetie Belle, as she smiled a weary smile, "I've just been...well...thinking, that's all."
"What about?" asked Scootaloo.
"Oh, it's nothing important," Sweetie Belle fibbed.
"Come on, Sweetie," said Apple Bloom, "You can tell us!"
Sweetie Belle looked around nervously. Truth be told, not even she knew what she was thinking about at that moment. One thing was certain, though: being questioned by her friends wasn't helping at all. She tried to think of something to get them off her back. Almost immediately, an idea came to mind.
"I was just thinking of ways to earn our Cutie Marks," she said, smiling nervously, "Yeah, that's it! Ways to earn our Cutie Marks."
Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "How is that 'nothing important'?"
"Well..." began Sweetie Belle.
Before she could answer, and much to Sweetie Belle's relief, Pinkie Pie returned with a plate of cupcakes in her mouth. She set it on the table and smiled.
"Hope you girls like these," said Pinkie Pie, a wide grin on her face, "I just made them this morning! Wait, I said that already!"
Scootaloo's eyes widened with surprise and joy as she gazed upon the rainbow cupcakes with rainbow-colored frosting. Apple Bloom was also taken aback by their beauty. Sweetie Belle didn't pay much attention to them; she was just relieved that she was able to avoid talking to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom at the moment to notice.
"These look delicious!" said Apple Bloom.
"They almost look like Rainbow Dash!" exclaimed Scootaloo.
Pinkie Pie only stood there, a huge grin still across her face. They both took the hint that she was waiting for them to try the cupcakes. Without hesitation, both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom took a cupcake and bit into them. They tasted positively delicious!
"This is really good!" said Apple Bloom as she took another bite. Scootaloo only nodded in agreement.
Pinkie, satisfied that her friends were satisfied, bounced off to the kitchen to help the other patrons with their orders.
As the two of them munched on their baked goods, Sweetie Belle only sat and stared at the cupcakes in front of her. She wasn't hungry, mainly because her thoughts were racing through her head. Strangely enough, she felt her heart race and the feeling beginning to intensify every time she looked at Scootaloo. Did she have something to do with it, or was it a strange coincidence?
"Um...Sweetie Belle?" asked Scootaloo, snapping her out of her trance again. It was only then did Sweetie Belle realize that she had been staring at Scootaloo. Nervously, she turned her head, trying to hide her blushing cheeks.
"Are you sure everything's alright?" asked Apple Bloom, "It's not like you to be so quiet like this. If something's botherin' you, you should just tell us!"
"I'm fine, trust me," said the nervous unicorn. Sweetie Belle thought for a moment. She needed help, she needed to talk to somepony about this; somepony that she could really trust with something like this. Fortunately for her, she knew exactly who to talk to.
"Hey, guys," said Sweetie Belle, "I just remembered, I promised my sister that I'd help her with some...um...things...around the Boutique today, so I'll have to catch up with you guys later."
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shot each other unsure glances and then looked back at Sweetie Belle. Before anypony could say anything, Sweetie Belle got up and began trotting over to the door. The two of them watched as she trotted to the door and walked out of the bakery. However, they noticed that, once she had left the building, her trot became a gallop and had disappeared from sight.
Again, the two of them exchanged unsure glances at one another.
"Something's definitely wrong," whispered Scootaloo, "First of all, Rarity would never ask Sweetie Belle for help around the boutique. Secondly, why would she just run off like that?"
"Maybe we should check up on her," suggested Apple Bloom, "You know, just to make sure she's okay and all."
"And we will," said Scootaloo, as she shoved another bite of cupcake in her mouth, "But first, let's not let these super delicious cupcakes go to waste!"