//------------------------------// // 15 Sisters can be painful, especially her friends // Story: Blood Curse Boutique // by Rarity Belle //------------------------------// The little, white coated unicorn filly galloped as fast her little legs could carry her over the makeshift roads she wandered on. All of them led her to the famous farm where one of her closest friends and fellow Cutie Mark Crusader lived on. “Apple Bloom! Apple Bloom!” shouted Sweetie Belle while she entered the land of the Apple Family. With the sun still weakly shining its morning rays over the skies as the coloring was a calm blue one as they were cloudless as per usual. But the voice was loud enough for any soul to be picked up and the signature cracks within it all indicated it could only be one pony. The ears of Apple Bloom perked themselves way within the house. She had heard the faint echo of the shouting voice. The young earth pony filly looked out of the window from her room and she saw the unicorn coming up to the front door. Apple Bloom launched herself from the sill and rushed over to the front door to open it. She almost knocked her older sister over who had been in bed for a lot longer than she originally planned and stood half asleep in the hallway. “Hey! Watch it!” she yelled after her little sister after the comical balance act was completed. The cowgirl couldn't quite get what was going on and rather didn't found out either. With some inaudible muttering she left for the bathroom. But as Apple Bloom had made it to the door and opened it for Sweetie, there was a white hoof that all of the sudden knocked right on her forehead. It slowly calmed itself down as the eyes of the unicorn filly got opened before the two shot open widely. “Hehe...oops, sorry Apple Bloom.” the unicorn filly spoke in a little embarrassed tone. Sweetie moved her hoof to the back of her head and scratched it under the sounds of a soft and awkward giggle. Apple Bloom started to rub her forehead a little bit in an attempt to calm it down. “Tis alright Sweetie, Ah’ll get over it. Shall we go and wait for Scoots by the fence?” the yellow coated filly replied. The knocking had caused some pounding within her skull but it was nothing she couldn't withstand. Sweetie gave a nod of agreement and Apple Bloom closed the front door behind her to leave. Together they traveled over the land towards the appointed fence. A fence that had seen quite the bit of trouble over the course of its life. “Say, you did fix the fence well after that little incident with those two, didn't you?” said Sweetie Belle after her attention turned itself to her friend. Apple Bloom nodded in agreement before she spoke her reply. “We did yes. Though it still scares Granny a little. Luckily we didn't saw those fellows again, and Mac wants to keep it that way from the sounds of it.” The young earth pony gave off a smile towards the skies in took a deep inhale for the smells of the fresh awoken lands. “Ah never get enough of that.” It truly was a glorious smell and unique to the apple farm. The mixture of grass with apples was truly something mouthwatering. The unicorn filly smiled a little bit at the story. She remembered the tales that Rarity told her about the massive cider battle that had taken place between two brothers and the Apple Family. When they reached the fence, they simply waited on the third member of their group and gently leaning against the face. Time didn't had to progress long before the talks between the two erupted out over everything. Granny Smith was keeping a watchful eye on the two fillies against the fence. She had simply placed herself in her rocking chair in the living room and the scare never truly left her. She was a little bit overly attached to the fence that stood around their land for some reason. Though none could blame her for it as it had been surrounding the Acres ever since day one of its existence. “I keep my eyes on you two,” she spoke in her elderly tone. Though not even two minutes later she had fallen in a light nap. ~~~~                 Apple Bloom leaned against the fence whereas Sweetie just stood next to it. The two of them continued to have their conversation but the unicorn couldn't help it but to notice something. Something that was off about her friend. For on the back of the red maned filly, the hair ribbon looked like nothing. “Uhm, Apple Bloom, your maneband is...” “It is hopeless, ain't it?” Apple Bloom finished up under a sigh. “Ah know, did it mahself this morning but Ah couldn't get it right. You want to give it a try? Your sister being a, what’s Applejack’s word for it again?” “Diva?” Sweetie Belle chuckled in a soft tone. “That’s the word!” Apple Bloom giggled before she lowered herself on her rump. With her head being lower, it would be easier for Sweetie to work with the ribbon and mane. “Well, I can give it a try,” the young unicorn answered before she moved herself behind the other filly. Not much later did Sweetie position herself over Apple Bloom’s back and with her front hooves she gently took out the ribbon. “Can’t promise it will look any good though.” “Anything’s better than what Ah did to it,” the earth pony filly replied. “Alright then, here goes...” Sweetie spoke up and she then pulled the knot out of it. Almost instantly did all of the mane just drop itself. It was a sight that wasn't seen by all too many and Sweetie found that it looked rather lovely. “You thought about taking it out during the evening? Your manestyle like this is wonderful!” she spoke up with the occasional voice crack. Apple Bloom on the other end removed a strand of hair out of her eyes and was genuinely surprised that her friend purposed it. She had never even considered the thought for that single and simple of red colored fabric made her who she was. “Ah've never considered it, Sweets. But might do it,” she replied before her eyes closed themselves. The filly wasn't in the mood to discuss the subject with her and just wanted to get it over with. And so, in silence did Sweetie continue with the job of fixing the ribbon. It was a teasing little job but in the end and through a miracle, she had managed to get it. With the ribbon finally being tightened up, Apple Bloom’s signature looks had returned to her. “And, done.” Sweetie spoke as she removed herself from Apple Bloom’s back with a prideful smile. “Is it good again?” the earth pony filly asked as she rose back up on her hooves. The little unicorn gave a nod to the question and Apple Bloom was utterly relieved at it. So relieved even that she just hugged her friend. Sweetie let out a light giggle before she wrapped her own forehooves around her friend. “Thanks Sweets,” was whispered within her ears. “You’re welcome.” ~~~~                   After a couple seconds did the two of them break the hug and Apple Bloom leaned against the fence again. Her little back was against it and her forehooves acted for a pillow behind her head. She lowered herself in such a manner that her behind sat on the ground and she could cross her legs. Not a very lady like pose, but the Apples weren't from that kind of wood. “But Sweetie, don’t ya think it is strange?” she asked all of the sudden. The question was coming out of the true blue for Sweetie Belle and she hadn't even the slightest of ideas about what her friend was talking. “That what is strange?” the unicorn filly asked with a curious twinkle in her eyes. She lowered herself on her behind to sit on the cold ground. “Well, the whole thing with yar sister, not able to visit her whenever ya want and such.” The young unicorn allowed a sigh to leave through her nose at the words she heard. “It has been over two months since we discussed it, Apple Bloom. I have gotten used to it by now to be honest,” she replied in her usual happy tone. But the sitting position wasn't one she truly enjoyed. Thus her hind legs were tucked against her body and she made an awkward looking hop. In the little moments she was airborne, her tail was placed between her behind and the still cold ground to act as a pillow. A smile occupied her face after she had spoken her words and her eyes went looking down the roads. “What... what did you do?” Apple Bloom spoke up confused as she watched the whole scene. “Ground’s cold, so I made a pillow,” beamed Sweetie. “Al... right,” the earth pony replied before she shook her head a couple times. “It still doesn't sound right in mah ears though.” Apple Bloom brought out bluntly as she was a filly of family. A family that did everything together when they could and no exceptions. Sweetie was of course raised in an entirely different environment and it was something that clashed against one another from time to time. Just as Sweetie wanted to reply there were the sounds of galloping and panting from somepony that could be heard within their ears. Both of the fillies perked them up to hear what it was as their eyes looked over the roads. And soon enough became the source of the sound visible and revealed itself to be an orange pegasus filly with a purple mane. A pegasus filly that galloped towards them. “Here I am!” she spoke up through her panting. Though the running filly pressed on her breaks a little late and she slipped right past the other two. Two sets of eyes followed her before she came to a standstill. The pegasus filly opened her eyes again and looked around before she shook her head a couple times. Then she turned herself around in order to face the other two fillies. “Not the best stop, but gotta do,” she said in a cocky tone before she joined the other two. “Morning Scoots, where is yar scooter if Ah may ask?” Apple Bloom asked after she took notice of the missing object that the filly always had with her. It was perhaps her trademark in more than one way. For the orange filly had a handicap that prevented her from soaring through the skies like a true pegasus. “Uhm, I kinda, broke it on the way,” replied Scootaloo as she scratched the back of her head. Sweetie let go a small giggle in response to it. “What’s so funny, Sweetie?” “Oh, nothing Scootaloo, just a little inside joke,” the unicorn filly replied as she managed to calm down. “Well, maybe Applejack can repair it later. For now, what is the plan, Crusaders?” Apple Bloom spoke. She let her eyes fall on both of her friends. It was done because she wanted to knew what they would do. Though also a little bit in order to prevent a fight from erupting between the unicorn and pegasus. “Hmm... We can of course go swimming with Rainbow Dash,” purposed Scootaloo with a gleeful smile. Her grayish purple rimmed eyes looked over the other two crusader, just waiting for their approval. Her mind simply got filled with the thought of her and Rainbow racing through the lake. The little pegasus was a true fangirl from the cyan mare and the other two Crusaders knew that all too well. Maybe even a bit too well for their liking. And it didn't even came as a surprise to the two of them that the offer was made. Sweetie simply rolled her eyes as she wasn't in the mood to reply. “And ya truly think Rainbow will do that with us?” Apple Bloom asked with a questioning look on her face in the direction of the orange filly. And then the dream of Scootaloo was just gone. Broken into pieces like it was nothing. But she wouldn't go down that easily, even if she knew the earth pony was right. ~~~~                 The two fillies broke in a small argument with each other as Sweetie wandered off a little in her mind. All of the sounds around her faded as she was drifting off in her own world, completely forgetting the one she actually lived in. From the moment she was awake she had the feeling that she had forgotten something. But she just couldn't place it what it was, or where it could be. Seconds had gone by and the argument was only getting fiercer and fiercer between the earth pony and pegasus. Yet the eyes of Sweetie shocked open and she was brought back into the real word. A world where she spoke up without any form of thought. “We need to go the boutique!” “Huh?” both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said in choir. They stopped their pointless argument almost right away. The two sets of eyes turned their attention over to the white unicorn filly and they tilted their heads, bashing them against one another. “Outch!” Apple Bloom yelped. “Owha!” Scootaloo managed to bring out. Both of the fillies set their heads straight again before they rubbed the sore spot on their own skull with closed eyes. Though their curiosity had been sparked for the young unicorn and she was given their attention. “Speak up, Sweetie Belle,” said Scootaloo. She grew a bit more curious about the words that her friend said. A small moan left her that got turned into a chuckle after she removed her hoof from the impact zone. “Ya, tell us.” Apple Bloom replied impatient. She did the same action but also shook her head gently from side to side in order to see if everything worked as it should. “There are a couple things I still need to get there. I forgot some things to take back home, plus we can surprise my sister. I’m sure she would love to have us over on this morning,” said Sweetie in a gleeful tone. After which a smile formed itself on her lips. “Yeah sure ‘bout that?” the earth pony asked as she remembered the rules of Sweetie’s coming by. The very rules they had been talking about not even half an hour before. “So no crusading this morning?” the pegasus filly said in a saddened tone. The words were followed up by a sigh that left through her mouth. “I am sure of it, Apple Bloom. And Scootaloo, we can always go crusading in the afternoon right?” Sweetie replied with the smile still visible. “I suppose,” said Scootaloo with another deep sigh. “You two coming then?” “Just what do ya need to get than?” Apple Bloom was so wise to ask her. Sweetie stood up again before she would answer the question. “Oh, just a couple things. Mostly some toys that need to be going back.” While it was partially true, she also needed to get a plushie of hers. A stuffed up animal that looked like Starswirl the Bearded had been guarding her side almost every night. Apple Bloom released a small groan at the words in a manner as if she didn't trust them but soon afterward she gave a nod. Scootaloo followed suit and together they started on their journey to the Carousel Boutique. Once again did they found themselves wandering over the still quiet land roads and streets of the small town. But they weren't silent. For they were talking about their cutie marks as always. That what they would be, how they would get them, when they would receive them and so on. It was a cute sight to see the three of them walking walking and discussing. Only a select few ponies were granted the sight as they passed them in silence in order to go somewhere they had to be. ~~~~                 The three fillies reached the boutique and all of them gazed upon it. But from the lot was it Sweetie who let go the deepest sigh of mixed emotions. The building had truly lost its natural charm and vibe over the course of the months. Even though it still looked the same, there was something eerie about it. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo simply shivered a little bit at the sight. “Now, where did she left it..?” the unicorn filly spoke in a whispering voice. Within seconds her eyes turned from their gaze and she started to look for something. “Left what?” the pegasus asked with a raised eyebrow. “The key, Scootaloo,” replied Sweetie Belled before she flipped the doormat over. And there it laid, the very key to the Carousel Boutique itself. “Found you!” she spoke in a chuckling tone. The white filly picked it up and placed it in the keyhole. Under a gentle hum of her own magic she turned it over. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were dumbstruck when they saw Sweetie performing a magical trick and they both blinked. The door got then unlocked with a soft click. The young unicorn pushed the door open further with her hoof while maintaining great care. The other two fillies were on the tips of their hooves. None of them knew just what to expect on the inside of the building. The door listened to Sweetie’s commands but struggled against her under some soft screeches from the hinges. The green eyes of Sweetie peeked themselves further inside and started a little bit around before she spoke in a whisper. “Nothing... I think she is still asleep.” “At this hour!?” Apple Bloom yelled in the same tone. “Rarity has gotten an odd habit when it comes to sleeping. She sleeps for most of the day and wakes up in the late afternoon, mostly going until deep in the night,” said Sweetie as if it was the most normal case in the world. “She does wha now?!” Apple Bloom replied shocked but the unicorn was already inside and waiting for the other two to come in. “Shall we, ladies?” spoke Scootaloo with a grin and they both went inside as well. It was the pegasus who closed the door behind them with a small thud. She tried to make the least amount of sound possible if the words of Sweetie happened to be true. ~~~~                 They all three were inside, their eyes peeled over everything that would be seen through the closed curtain but everything appeared to be normal. The rolls of fabric were still nicely sorted together with the needed equipment, a couple unfinished dressed could be seen in the working area of the unicorn. As for the living room, everything was appearing to be alright as well. Some glasses stood there that possibly had been from the past night, but nothing out of the ordinary. As last did their eyes went through the main shopping area and once again there was nothing to be seen. There was nothing with the exception of the silence that had taken over the building. “Seems all fine to me, shall we go upstairs?” Sweetie asked before she trotted over to the hallway. The very hallways where the staircase was housed to lead them up and further into the bowels of the building. The other two fillies pulled up their shoulders to each other and tried to find their way in the darkness for it. After they had bumped into a couple things and muttered against the other and themselves, they did eventually reach it only to see the tail of Sweetie disappearing on the top floor. Apple Bloom was the first that went on the stairs and hoped not to make a sound as she went up them and carefully reached the end of them as she took it step by step. But close behind her was Scootaloo who seemed to be near the end of her patience. She couldn't stand the slow pace of the filly before her and was more than glad when they did reach the top. “Next time, I go before you,” she said before she turned herself into the same direction in which Sweetie went. “Sweetie, where are ya looking for if I may ask?” Apple Bloom asked again. She didn’t like it, but she was the last to catch up with the two. She leaned against the doorway of the filly’s bedroom and had a clear view inside of it. “Some things that I left here, mostly for school,” the unicorn fillye answered while she opened the curtain carefully. With the light that made its way into her room she used it as a lamp and started to look for the desired items. Apple Bloom knew the answer was different from the first time she asked it but she wasn't in the mood to question it. It was not like Sweetie was trying to take over Equestria or something the like. At least she didn't hope that. ~~~~                 Scootaloo on the other end was having a set of different plans and her impatient mind didn't want her to wait for Sweetie to pack her things. Instead she made the decision to venture a little on her own through the upper floor. The young pegasus left the bedroom with a couple hops and she walked around on the second floor. Though her eyes became fixed on one door in particular. The door at the very end of the hallway, was the door that the most of her attention. Little did she knew just what was behind it. Before she was there and thus could discover what was behind it, she had to take a peek in all of the other doors present at the floor. Most of it just resulted in her finding the bathroom, inspiration room, a guest room and a storage room. Nothing of true interest though all of the rooms had one thing in common, their curtains were always closed. Having peeked through all those doorways did Scootaloo stood before the very door that sparked her attention the most. The door that had awoken her burning curiosity. Her hooves reached for the knob with a gentle and slow motion. A pair of hooves turned on it and it let go an unusual click. A click that was unique to that door alone. The ears of Sweetie perked up and her whole head rose up as soon as she heard it. “Oh no, no, no, no,” she whispered and without thought she stormed out of her room. She galloped through the doorway and almost knocked Apple Bloom to the ground. But time to argue the event was not given to the earth pony. Sweetie Belle was on her way to the door. Her green rimmed eyes fell on the scenery but it was already too late and she gulped audible. Scootaloo had opened the door that was leading to the bedroom of the ivory unicorn mare herself. The door to her sister’s private residence, a room not even Sweetie was allowed to go in except when given permission by Rarity herself. “No, no, no, no,” the young filly spoke in a whisper. She turned again into galloped and ran over to her friend. When the pegasus was within her range, the unicorn filly just tackled Scootaloo to the ground in the hardest way possible. It was something that she never did under any given circumstances. But the one they were in, was a major exception. “What the hay Sweetie!” Scootaloo spoke out loud before she got a hoof crammed up into her mouth. A hoof that belonged to the young Sweetie Belle who wanted her to stay silent. “Shh. Don’t want to wake up my sister,” the unicorn filly whispered almost with no sound in one of the ears of the pegasus. Scootaloo rose her head up in an odd manner before the ears perked up from a sound. A sound that was the snoring of the unicorn had entered her ears and her eyes grew small. She understood just what she had done. In the den of the lion they were with the only exit being the door to the hallway. ~~~~   The set of purple rimmed eyes of the orange coated filly turned themselves over to the bed. She let go a loud gulp before some moaning came from it. Moaning that was followed by an unseen moment from their position. Both Sweetie and Scootaloo were as silent as the grave. They were even afraid to breath. They both thought that any sound too much could possibly wake Rarity up and that was the last thing they would be needing, a cranky sister that would be shouting at them. The moaning died down again but was followed by the sound of the mouth that opened and closed a couple times. Only after that did the snoring kick back into the walls of the room. Both Sweetie and Scootaloo assumed that the mare was vast asleep, or at least asleep again. Sweetie Belle removed her hoof from Scootaloo’s mouth with care and offered a hoof to pull her up. The pegasus filly took it and was pulled up as the other filly whispered to her. “Never, ever, do that again Scootaloo. Rarity doesn't like to be disturbed in her sleep, and given the odd sleeping habit, I am not taking my chances anymore.” Though just as Scootaloo wanted to answer, it was Sweetie who got tackled by something and was knocked to the ground herself. The unicorn filly looked over to what or who it was and noticed Apple Bloom who stood on top of her. “Ya knocked mah head to mush this morning and knocked me aside like nothing without a word. Consider this yar payback, Sweetie Belle,” she spoke up while she looked down into the emerald green eyes of her friend. “Get off of me, Apple Bloom!” Sweetie spoke and pushed the earth pony filly off of herself. “And now just leave her bedroom.” She rose back up on all four of her hooves and shook her head to set the world straight again. “Oh Tom, w-what are you... doing?” Those words suddenly took their turn through the room in the voice of the elder sister. All three of the fillies looked up and didn't dare to speak as much as one world or even breath through their mouths. “Hmhmhm, it has been just such a long time since we last did it, how about tonight? Or even better, right now?” “Is she..?” Apple Bloom managed to speak out loud enough for the other to hear. “Afraid so,” replied Sweetie in the same tone. From the bed came the moaning of the unicorn which increased while she continued to speak within her sleep. All sorts of cute nicknames did their turn as one name kept being called. The name of Tom. “Who is this Tom anyway? I don’t know anypony named like that.” Scootaloo whispered as they had been listening the whole time. Needless to say, they were quite disgusted by it. “I think...I think it’s a rock,” spoke Sweetie carefully. Upon hearing the revelation, the other two fillies had to do their utmost best not to erupt out in a deafening laughter. The two had heard a true lot in their lives, but that had to be the best thing of it all. “Hmmm, right there, y-yes...s-shove it up, hard,” the mare spoke up as all three of the fillies just froze in their doing and all got the same face. A face that irradiated utter disgust. But it was Apple Bloom who said the words that were on their minds. “Oh Celestia why...” “C-Come on girls, w-we have to go,” whispered Sweetie. She had heard enough and she just wanted to leave. Apple Bloom agreed with it and was the first to make her way over to the door. Scootaloo however, didn't listen to her friends and had made her way over to the desk of the unicorn where she mumbled some words gently within herself. “What could be in all of these...” Without much thought following up did she just open all the drawers. Each of them revealed some personal belongings of the mare of the house and nothing that could help either her or her friends out to get their cutie marks. Helping them to get into trouble however, it did. “Scoot, w-what are you..?” Sweetie said while her head was peeking at the pegasus filly from a distance. She blinked in utter disbelief at the whole sight. “Trying to find something of interest, maybe something that will help to gain our cutie marks!” the filly replied in a soft tone. “Ah don’t think Rarity does have something like that,” spoke Apple Bloom before she had made her way back next to Sweetie and heard what Scootaloo said. “Speaking of her,” the orange filly replied as she closed all the drawers and gazed upon the locked one. “What could she have stored in here..?” “Girls, I think, we have to leave, now. L-Let her sleep. She needs it,” plead Sweetie in fear of what might have happened next. But what would happen next would change the lives of the three fillies forever. ~~~~                 Scootaloo left the drawer and allowed her eyes to fell upon the bed where the unicorn was sleeping, without much thought a question felt her mouth. “Sweetie, how deep does your sister sleep usually?” Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked to each other in disbelief of the question before Sweetie replied. “I, I think deep, for she didn't woke up yet, and after what happened, I would have been fully awake. The only real thing she wakes up from instantly is the smell of smoke.” “Good,” replied Scootaloo and in an instant had she hopped on the bed with the help of her wings. The other two fillies gasped in utter fear of the daring act and Sweetie tried her best to bring the pegasus on different thought. But it didn't do anything for the fact that she just went her own way. As she always had been doing and it always got her -if not all of them- in trouble. The purple irises had found their rest on the white unicorn mare who was still vast asleep in the bed who didn't even minded the constant flapping of the wings from the pegasus as they were used to make the filly even lighter. She still released moans of a secret pleasure every few seconds while she continued to whisper nicknames for the elusive Tom. What really happened was that Rarity had a wet dream for the first time in months and she using it to the fullest extent. But all of the sudden there was a hiss that left the mare which was followed up by an evil laughter as her head fell off of the pillow and rested against the mattress. Scootaloo looked dead terrified after the events had happened and the hoof of the mare reached for the pillow, she grabbed it and placing it closer to her. But as it occurred there was something that could be seen at the very end of the re-positioned pillow, something that looked like a key. Quick with her hoof did the filly snatched the object and hopped off of the bed, letting the unicorn sleep further. “Are you insane!” was the only thing Sweetie could whisper against her friend as she had landed back on the floor of the bedroom. “Why? Nothing happened right?” Scootaloo replied before her eyes fixed themselves over the key. “Hmm. Could this be..?” Sweetie shook her head deeply as the young pegasus made her way over to the desk. “It won’t work, Scoots,” whispered Apple Bloom as she had an idea of what might be tried. “We shall see about that, chicken.” Scootaloo replied and she inserted the key in the hole of the locked drawer. Much to her own surprise it was fitting. Then it was her turn to be scared again and with a careful move she turned the key to unlock the drawer. With a small click sounding through the room it was indicated that the drawer was indeed unlocked. With her shaky hooves she managed to pull the drawer back and letting her eyes fall upon the content. What she caught in her eyes was a book. Or better said: a journal.