//------------------------------// // Act VIII: The Apothecary // Story: Sweetie Belle's Descent Into Madness- A Musical // by Matthais Unidostres //------------------------------// . . . . . . . . . Curtain Rise! Act VIII: The Apothecary Scootaloo zoomed across the ground on her scooter and up to a wooden half-pipe. She drove up the ramp and did a flip in mid air. She came down hard down the ramp and moved quickly across the ground and toward some rails. She hopped up and ground the rail, creating a trail of orange sparks behind her. She soared over the sunken pit and did a kick-flip before landing in the pit and doing a power skid on as she slid up the slope and out, stopping right at the edge. "Now that's what I call 20 percent cooler!" Rainbow Dash said as she landed next to Scootaloo. They gave each other a hoof bump as the large group of Ponyville citizens gathered round and applauded. "This skate park is way past cool, Applebloom!" Scootaloo said. Applebloom smiled and said, "Well, this is only a small quick version. If this park is gonna handle all the ponies who wanna skate, this place has to be bigger." "Well, that's gonna take a while," Applejack said, "Even with Big Mac's help it took a long time to dig that sunken pit and make it smooth all over." "Well, Sweetie Belle sure made the work go by with her singing!" Applebloom said. Applejack chuckled and said, "Ah can honestly say that it blew 'Raise This Barn' outta the water." Scootaloo looked around and said, "Hey, where is Sweetie Belle?" The door to the Carousel Boutique swung open as Rarity pranced in, with Spike right behind her pulling a wagon full of gems. "Well, we've had a very successful haul today, haven't we, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity said as she patted his head. Spike was breathing heavily and gratefully stopped pulling the loaded wagon. Once he caught his breath, he smiled widely at Rarity. "Yeah. . ." he replied. Rarity chuckled as she levitated a ruby into Spike's open mouth. "I certainly do appreciate you volunteering to help me, Spike. I was sure you'd want to have fun with Sweetie Belle and your friends today." Spike chuckled nervously, "Heh-heh, well, I'll have plenty of time to have for that. Besides, I'm always happy to help you, Rarity. . ." Rarity looked at Spike with those sparkly blue eyes of hers. "Oh, Spike. Such a gentleman." Rarity then turned to a vase on a nearby table. She levitated the white vase of purplish-blue flowers and sniffed their sweet aroma. "And so full of surprises. . ." she said, "I was truly touched when you brought these to me earlier today." Rarity returned the vase to the table and turned to Spike. To his shock and euphoria, Rarity gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Spike nearly fainted, but fought to keep himself conscious as he stared at the gorgeous unicorn before him. "I don't suppose a handsome little dragon like yourself would consider staying for some tea. . " Rarity said mischievously. Spike still smiled that lovesick smile as he nodded happily. Sweetie Belle hated that smile. The young unicorn filly had been watching and listening at the window since the pair had first walked in. Her horn was sparking with rage as she glared at the smiling unicorn and dragon. They looked so happy together. Sweetie Belle clenched her teeth angrily, the joyful scene creating fires of rage inside her while tearing her heart in two. Unable to bare watching any longer, Sweetie Belle turned and started angrily walk away from the Boutique. "He lied to me. He didn't make any plans with Rarity before. He left me just to hang around Rarity." Sweetie's horn continued to spark dangerously as she trotted on, oblivious to the world around her. "I should've known something was wrong. That bad feeling in me was Spike falling for. . .somepony else. . ." Tears slowly began to fall. "How can Spike be in love with Rarity? I thought it was just some stupid rumor, like those Gabby Gum columns! I mean, come on! She's way too old for him! Why does he go for somepony fussy and old like her and not somepony fun, pretty, and young. . .like me. . ." The tears ceased to fall as anger flared up in the little unicorn filly, and escaped in the form of pink sparks out her horn. Her face contorted in hate and pain as she gnashed and ground her teeth. "It's her fault! It's all Rarity's fault! She stole Spike from me! Well, I'm gonna take him right back! . . .But what if Spike likes her better? But Spike's my hero! Rarity doesn't even treat him right! She's just as bad a Twilight! Using him as a pincushion, making him dig up her gems for her, making him pull loads of gems. Does she even give him more than one gem each time? I'm ten times more generous than her! But why does Spike keep bending over backwards for her? Everyone but me treats him like a slave! Why doesn't Spike see it like that?" Sweetie Belle stopped running and shouted at the sky, "Grrrr! RARITY! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! IT'S NOT FAIR!" The filly hung her head and breathed deeply. She then looked up, and realized that she was right in the middle of the Everfree Forest. She gulped as she looked around with wide eyes. She then heard rustling in the buses ahead. She stepped back, insulting herself mentally for screaming so loudly, contemplating on whether to run away or not. . . "Well, well, well. Could that be the voice of Sweetie Belle?" Sweetie Belle felt relief was over her as Zecora came out of the bushes. "Yes it is, I see," the amiable zebra said with a smile, "Come with me. You are just in time for tea." After her second cup of tea in Zecora's hut, Sweetie Belle finished her tale of woe. "You are suffering from a broken heart," Zecora said in an understanding tone, "I see it is tearing you apart." "Yeah, it is," Sweetie Belle said, "I don't know what to do Zecora!" "Tell Spike your feelings, and give him time," Zecora said sagely, "In the end, you must let him make up his mind." "But no one else treats him well enough!" Sweetie Belle said, "I did so much for him! Because of me, he's not Twilight's slave anymore! We share a room together! We're perfect for each other!" Zecora seemed slightly taken aback by the unicorn filly's comment about Twilight, but Sweetie didn't even notice. Her mind was reeling as all of her frustration swam throughout her body. "Thank Celestia for that Love Poison incident, or else I'd probably end up asking Zecora for a love potion. . . And that was the point when Sweetie Belle reached a sudden simple conclusion. Spike did like her, but Rarity was in the way. So, all she needed to do is stop Rarity and Spike from liking each other. "And Anti-Love Potion," Sweetie Belle whispered. "What was that you said? Are you out of your head?" Zecora said in a shocked tone. "Zecora," Sweetie Belle said, "You're an apothecary. You make potions, right? You'd know the difference between potions and poisons!" Sweetie Belle leaned across the table and looked Zecora closely in the eyes. "And I'm not looking for a love potion. I'm looking for the exact opposite! Something to keep Rarity off of Spike so that he can have his happy ending with me! I'd never give Spike a potion that could change him, but I don't see anything wrong with making my sister look somewhere else for a special somepony! Somepony her age!" Zecora got up in a huff and shook her head, "No, I cannot give you want you want. To meddle with love is something I cannot!" "But-" "This is not up for debate!" Zecora said firmly, and she pointed to the door. "Now leave! Go home! Lest I become irate!" Sweetie Belle stared nervously at the frustrated zebra. Zecora had finality in her voice, and it didn't seem as if she would change her mind. The unicorn's horn sparked. "Im NOT gonna loose Spike! And nopony, or zebra, is gonna stand in my way!" Zecora stared worriedly glanced at Sweetie Belle's glowing horn as the filly pranced around her, looking around all the objects in the hut. Sweetie Belle tapped her hooves while addressing the zebra in song. Under the curtains, the exit sign glows Do it and no one will know If you don't make it it will be too late Don't read the lines and get lost in the light on the stage Sweetie Belle hopped to the bubbling cauldron, and green sparks from her horn fell into the brew. Green smoke rose out of the cauldron and formed into the image of Spike and Sweetie Belle walking together. Two lovers standing hand in hand Powerless to choose I's are dotted, stars are crossed Alone against the muse. Zecora's eyes widened as she gazed at the image, but then she closed her eyes and shook her head. The zebra was quick to give her own rhyming reply. It may look enticing But don't walk that line That's what they want you to try If you go chasing His spark in the night Don't call my name when they're laughing and you're in the fire! Zecora waved a hoof, and the smoke image turned into Spike and Rarity. Sweetie Belle's looked as if she were about to burst from rage. A beam of green magic shot from here horn and captured the image of Rarity. Sweetie Belle glared angrily at the image as she sang defiantly. Two lovers standing hand in hand Powerless to choose I's are dotted, stars are crossed Alone against the muse. Sweetie Belle vaporized the smoke Rarity and walked in Zecora's direction, now wearing a smile. Isn't there anything that you can do for a friend? "Aren't you listening? Aren't you listening?" Zecora asked. Controlled by her charm, unable to think with his head! "Can't you hear me? Can't you hear me?" Zecora asked nervously as Sweetie Belle was inches away from her face. I see the big picture, I know the way it will end "Oh well, I guess. . .oh well, I guess-," Zecora said as she nodded slowly as if in a fog. All qualms against brewing the potion were replaced with unwavering understanding of Sweetie Belle's predicament, as well her worthiness of Spike. Sweetie Belle nodded as Zecora sang along to the beat of her song. That sometimes we have to let go There's but one way for water to flow So just sit back and enjoy the show! And with that, Zecora went straight to work, taking out leaves, flowers, twigs, and vials of liquid and laying them out on her work table. Sweetie Belle smiled mischievously and sang as Zecora worked. The ashes have settled Pawns have been played What was her part in the game? The house is now silent What was her lot? Did she rise up with the curtain or fall for the plot? Sweetie Belle smiled and turned to the smoke coming out of the cauldron. It had once again taken the form of her and Spike, and now they were kissing passionately. Sweetie Belle squealed with delight, and she and Zecora sang a triumphant chorus. Oh, two lovers standing hand in hand Powerless to choose I's are dotted, stars are crossed Alone against the muse. OHH! Two lovers standing hand in hand Powerless to choose I's are dotted, stars are crossed Alone. . . . Against the muse. Sweetie Belle jumped and danced to the beat as Zecora rocked a bit to the beat as well while drying, crushing, mashing, and mixing the ingredients. Sweetie Belle stood in the center of the hut and shook her tail to the beat, smiling with anticipation. After a few minutes, Zecora turned around holding a round glass bottle full of green liquid. "Add just a bit of Spike, perhaps a scale," Zecora said, "and Rarity's interest in Spike will fail." Sweetie Belle took the small bottle in her hooves and held it like it was made of diamond. She smiled wildly, "Thank you so much, Zecora! You've just helped to give Spike and me our happy ending!" "Hopefully I did, young mare," Zecora said as Sweetie Belle ran out happily. However, something suddenly came over the zebra, and she shouted out the door to the filly's retreating figure, "Although I must tell you to beware!" Curtian!