//------------------------------// // Aftermath // Story: I'm Sorry, Sis: Sweetie Belle // by KrishnaKarnak //------------------------------// Rarity's hoof slid across the switch of her sewing machine. With a flourish, she swung the large quilt out from her body. As it rippled through the air, fanning across the span of her workroom, she seized it in her cornflower blue aura. It floated through the air, above her bed, and flattened against the wall. Still maintaining its position, Rarity levitated a series of nails toward it and fixed it in place. She stood back to admire her work. Opalescence mewed and wound her way about her hooves, back and forth like a breeze through the sails of a ship. Now affixed to the wall over her bed was a masterfully crafted quilt, positioned her if ever she needed it for a cold night. Brilliant reds and golds adorned the outer edges, while the central design showcased a pair of unicorns. She based it upon the drawing that Sweetie Belle had once done of them, although rather than surround it with sapphires, she wanted the warmer colours. This was her reminder. She would wake up every morning and lay her eyes upon those unicorns. A reminder of her promise to always do what was truly best for the most important little filly in her life. Never again would she allow hatred to cloud her vision and her judgement. There was a knock at her bedroom door. “Enter, my dear,” Rarity called out, removing her gaze from the quilt. Sweetie Belle entered the room, wearing her saddlebag over her back. “I'm ready to go, Rarity.” “Yes, hun, I can see that,” Rarity teased lightly, beaming at her. “However, before we go, I want a quick word with you.” She straightened out her face into a more serious look, causing Sweetie Belle's smile to falter. “I... uh, alright,” Sweetie mumbled in a voice of uncertainty. “What's up?” Rarity walked over and ruffled her sister's mane. “While you were at school this morning, I had a little chat with Applejack and Rainbow Dash.” “Right,” Sweetie said with a nod, waiting for Rarity to continue as Opalescence pressed her head against Sweetie's legs. “You Crusaders may be having your sleepover next week,” Rarity explained. As Sweetie Belle's face brightened and she prepared to exclaim with delight, Rarity held up a hoof. “However... you're not out of the water just yet, my dear. Just because you've avoided a filly's worst nightmare in terms of repercussions, you will still be grounded.” Sweetie's face fell somewhat and she let out a sigh. “I... guess that's fair, yeah. I mean, we did kind of—” “For three weeks,” Rarity continued, approaching the door. “What?!” the filly gasped, mouth hanging open. “I've also been speaking with Mother. She quite agrees, and apart from the sleepover, you are to go straight home after school every day. I'll be happy to take you whenever you want, but I'll be enforcing stricter rules and monitoring your behaviour closely.” Sweetie pawed at the carpet with her hoof. “Fine...” Rarity knew Sweetie had to be thinking the same thing as she was at that time: Sweetie had gotten off pretty easily last night, when compared to her friends. After talking with the other mares, they all agreed that grounding her was a better course of action, at least to continue ensuring that this would not happen again. “Mom's not mad at me, right?” Sweetie asked cautiously as she slowly followed Rarity out of the room. “Like I said, I really didn't want her to worry.” “No, Sweetie,” Rarity explained, giving a small sigh herself. “She agreed with the grounding, but that doesn't mean that she's angry.” There would certainly need to be future chats with Pearl and Magnum, Rarity reflected sadly as she lead her sister down the Boutique stairs, across the main room, and out of the front door. Sweetie Belle's love and affection for her parents was absolute; it was not fair to her for their parents to be so indifferent, almost neglectful. In the meantime, however, Rarity was quite happy to fill the position of the caring role model. Sweetie Belle was absolutely worth it.