Sisterly Reunion
Rarity was running full speed through the orchard, whilst yelling her sisters name out between breaths. The clubhouse was located in the northern part of the field. The apple trees blocked most of the weak moonlight, so it was impossible for Rarity to see more than 10 meters ahead of herself.
After 15 minutes of running, she eventually reached the clubhouse. The lights were out, and there was no indication of anypony being present inside the tree house. Rarity climbed the ladder ad stepped onto the platform in front of the door, she carefully opened the door and stuck her head inside. The only light inside was a small streak of moonlight coming in through a window in the side, the only sound that could be heard was her own breathing.
She softly called “Sweetie Belle.” Receiving no response she tried again, this time a little louder, but still just as gentle. “Sweetie Belle!” Still no response.
Rarity stepped inside and looked around as best she could in the poorly lit room, when scanning the room it became clear that Sweetie Belle was not in the clubhouse, like Rarity had otherwise assumed she would be.
“Okay Rarity... stay calm... were else could she have gone?” she thought whilst wandering around the field, occasionally calling out for Sweetie Belle.
After walking around for what felt like – and probably was – hours, she gave up. Realising it was better to get a short nights sleep, and then call upon the help of her friends in the morning.
By the time Rarity got home, the moon hung low in the sky, it would be sunrise in a few hours. She pushed the front door open with a hoof, head hung low, she went up the stairs, on the way to her bedroom she poked her head into Sweetie Belle´s room, quietly hoping that her sister would have returned, whilst she had been out searching. Not surprisingly, the filly´s room was still empty.
Rarity walked to her room and tossed herself on the queen size bed in a very unladylike way.
The white unicorn lay twisting and turning in her bed, unable to fall asleep. Whenever she tried to close eyes, she got pictures of all the horrible things that could have happened to her younger sister.
After tossing herself around for about an hour, Rarity finally fell into an uneasy slumber.
Sweetie Belle held on tight as she soared over the treetops, on her way to Ponyville. More and more buildings became visible. As they neared the town square, Luna started descending, her hoofs almost touching the roofs of the houses. before landing gracefully next to the large market-fountain.
Luna was thankful, that the streets where completely deserted at this hour. The last thing she wanted now, was for the ponies to make a fuss about her presence. She was here helping the sweetest little filly she had ever met, and that was nopony else´s business.
Luna lay down on her knees, to let Sweetie Belle slide of her back, and then said, “we have arrived little one.”
Sweetie Belle slid of the princesses back, first touching down on her hind legs, she stepped backwards letting her front legs land on the ground as well. She walked up next to the alicorn´s head and pressed her cheek against Luna´s.
“thank you princess” she said.
The princess turned her head and looked into Sweetie Belle´s eyes. “Just Luna... please. I get plenty of titles back in Canterlot.” she said.
“Okay... Luna” Sweetie Belle said, with a huge smile on her face. Sweetie Belle´s smile faded when she thought of what was coming next. How would Rarity react, would she be mad? Had she even noticed that she was gone, after all she didn´t say anything when she left.
Luna noticed the troubled look on the little unicorns face, and asked “Are you anxious to meet your sister?” Sweetie Belle just nodded in response. Luna nuzzled the filly, and in a comforting voice she said. “I can go with you... if you want”
Sweetie Belle was visibly relieved. Her smile somewhat returned at the comforting words of the dark blue alicorn.
“I would like that” Sweetie Belle said. Retuning the nuzzle.
Luna rose to her hoofs, standing tall, Sweetie Belle only reached Luna to the knees, so Luna had to lower her head to talk to her.
“Let us be off then!” Luna said with over exaggerated determination in her voice, while striking a pose with her head held high, and a front leg stretched out over her head.
“To the boutique and beyond!” Sweetie Belle added, while posing in a similar way.
Next thing they knew they were both rolling on their back laughing at their own silliness.
Luna was the first to rise, having returned to her usual kind voice, she asked. “Shall we be off then?”
Sweetie Belle stood up next to the princess and answered. “I guess we better.” She turned right, and trotted down the street in the direction of the boutique, Luna followed close behind.
Sweetie Belle was now standing in front of the door to the boutique, Luna had positioned herself a few steps behind her, Sweetie Belle swallowed a lump, she lifted a hoof to knock on the door, but then she hesitated and looked back at the princess, who gave her a reassuring smile. Sweetie Belle turned back around and knocked twice on the door.
Knock knock....
Rarity woke up at the sound of knocking on the door, she sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes.
Knock knock....
It came again from downstairs.
Rarity climbed out of her queen size bed, and used her magic to grab a bathrobe from the hanger next to the door, the unicorn wrapped herself in the robe before walking down the stairs to answer the door.
She had a horrible bed mane, and her eye-shadow was smeared, as she hadn´t bothered removing it the night before. Under any normal circumstances she would never appear in public looking like this. But these weren´t normal circumstances, her sister was still missing, and anypony who could provide a clue as to Sweetie Belles whereabouts, was not to be kept waiting.
Still groggy from only getting a few hours of uneasy sleep, Rarity finally reached her front door. The fashion pony grabbed the the doorknob with her magic, and turned it.
When she opened the door, she was in for a big surprise.
The first thing her eyes fell upon was - the normally white, now dirt-brown from dirt – filly standing on her doorstep.
Next thing she knew, she was being tackled by the little filly, who was wrapping her forelegs around her neck in a tight embrace. After taking a moment to register what had just happened, she returned the hug. Sitting on her haunches, she pressed her sister against her chest.
For a while they just sat there. Eventually Sweetie Belle broke the silence as she said. “I´m so sorry for running away.”
Rarity´s eyes started to tear up as she said. “No Sweetie I am the one who should be sorry... I really should have paid more attention to you.”
Luna who had been standing a few steps behind Sweetie Belle, was smiling a warm smile at the scene unfolding before her eyes. She didn´t feel the need to interfere, as things seemed to be working out just fine. Her job being done, she was about to turn around and head back to the castle, to enjoy a good meal before going to bed for the day. When Sweetie Belle spoke again, saying.
“Rarity, I made a new friend you should meet.”
“Really... that´s nice Sweetie, who is it?”
Luna stepped in through the doorway. - Having to bow her head slightly to fit through the door, that clearly wasn´t build with alicorns in mind. - Standing regal as ever, she extended a hoof in greeting, and said.
“A pleasure meeting you... miss... I am not sure I got your name...”
Rarity lifted her head to identify the source of the unfamiliar voice. With a shocked expression on her face, she almost feel over backwards as she scrambled to her hoofs, proceeding to bow.
“You... you... your... majesty...” Rarity stammered. She regained her composure, as she stood back up and said. “Your majesty it is an horner to...” she trailed off, when Luna lifted her hoof to silence her.
“No need for such formalities miss...?” Luna said.
“Ah.. Rarity... your majesty.”
“Please, miss Rarity... just call me Luna” The princess said with a kind smile.
“Ah.. of course your...eh... Luna.” Rarity said, with a nervous smile.
The princess gave her a genuine smile in return. This made the white unicorn relax a little.
Rarity nuzzled her little sister, who was now standing next to her. She looked back up at the night princess and said. “I can´t thank you enough for bringing my sister back. And I am very sorry if she has been any trouble.”
“No. On the contrary, I rather enjoyed Sweetie Belle´s company, and I issue an invitation, for her to come and visit me at the castle, any night she wants.” Luna smiled warmly as she turned to Sweetie Belle and said. “Would you like for me to show you around the castle... say this weekend?” That is of course if it is okay with your big sister.
Sweetie Belle nodded happily, eager at prospect of spending more time, with her favourite princess. She jumped over to Luna and hugged her foreleg – as she only reached the alicorn to the knee – and said. “Yes yes yes.” She let go of the leg and looked at Rarity with pleading eyes. “Oooh, Rarity can I go.. please?”
Rarity smiled affectionately, and answered “Of course you can go darling.” Her face turned slightly stern, but still speaking gently, she said “As long as you are at your best behaviour.”
Sweetie Belle was beaming as she said. “I will be my best ever, I promise.”
“It is an agreement then.” Luna said smiling at the both of them. “I shall arrange for a royal chariot to pick you up at Friday afternoon. Be well rested, it will be a long night.” The princess began turning towards the door as she said. “It has been a long night, I will head back home and turn in for the day.”
Luna walked out the door, and as she spread her mighty wings to take off, she could hear Rarity yelling. “Thank you again... for everything!” With a few beats from her powerful wings, the midnight blue alicorn took off in the direction of Canterlot.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle just stood there looking, as the princess turned into a small speck on the horizon. Rarity turned to Sweetie Belle with stern expression, and said. “You are still grounded you know.”
Sweetie Belle sighed heavily and sourly said “humf... no fair”
Rarity struggled to keep her stern look and said “That is how it is going to be.” Rarity´s smile returned as she said in a sing-song voice. “But first... pancakes!”
“Yay!” Sweetie Belle yelled while jumping up and down. Her punishment temporarily forgotten.
“Now go take a shower, you must have dragged half the forest with you in here. Breakfast will be ready when you are done.” Rarity said.
Sweetie Belle sighed, and headed up the stairs to the bathroom. While Rarity used her magic to close the front door, before heading for the kitchen.