With a fourth crusader joining her group, Sweetie Belle decided to say goodbye to the clubhouse; hopping that Rarity wasn’t home yet from her ‘important meeting”. If Rarity knew that she had gone out after being grounded…She rather not think of the consequences that would follow. Not that Rarity told her specifically that she was in trouble but Sweetie Belle didn’t want to take the risk and find out the hard way.
Unlocking the front door, she trotted in her home which seemed enormous compared to the small clubhouse from which she had come. She tried not to make any noise in case her sister was waiting for her somewhere within the perimeters.
No sign of Rarity…All seems good.
“What’s wrong Opal?”
The white feline was clawing at Sweetie Belle’s foreleg for no particular reason; turning her into a scratch post.
I wonder what’s bothering her.
Suddenly, Sweetie Belle remembered that she had to feed Opalescence or Rarity would kill her. With that ultimatum in mind, she quickly got to the feline’s food dish and fed her only the freshest fish that Equestria had to offer; Rarity would have it no other way for her precious pet. Everypony had a pet in Ponyville, even her sister which seemed to Sweetie Belle as the last pony willing to purchase an animal from Fluttershy. But as always, the yellow pegasus persuaded her to “get a pet of her own” and that “it would do her good in addition to giving an orphan pet a home”. Given her sense of cleanliness, it’s a surprise that Rarity hadn’t abandoned Opalescence on the streets after one too many accidents. But her sister seemed to love the spoiled kitten and Sweetie Belle couldn’t blame her, although at times she thought her sister had gone mad from starting a line of “kitty fashion”.
Lying down on the velvet-smooth living room couch, Sweetie Belle enjoyed her time alone, knowing that it wouldn’t last very long. So much had happened in the last few days and her head was spinning, threatening to fling out of orbit from the speed it was reaching. But thoughts aside, she could still find some comfort even in the dullest of days.
~
Key in lock, Rarity felt exhausted after another successful meeting. She always told herself that the next one would be the last but she couldn’t say no to a deal which tilted heavily in her favor; or at least it seemed so at the time. Project after project, Rarity had enough. She needed a break from all of her stress or else she would continue to take it out on her innocent little sister. Sure, Sweetie could be a pain in the flank at times but that was no excuse to treat her own sister that way; or anypony else for that matter. Her work was steering her away from the young filly as well as her friends. Ponyville had calmed down and there was no reason for the mane six anymore. Pinkie Pie worked full time at Sugar Cube Corner with barely any time to hang out with her fellow elements and preparing fewer parties than ever. Applejack was over-working herself at the farm after a long, bitter winter. She rarely slept more than four hours at a time. Fluttershy was extra busy with her animal friends while Rainbow Dash was touring around Equestria with the Wonderbolts. Finally, Twilight had a lot of work to do (that’s an under-statement) and her royal duties required her to stray away from her friends she had known to love. All across Equestria, ponies were growing desperate for rest and awaited spring break with collective enthusiasm.
The door opened and to Rarity’s surprise, all seemed perfect. Perhaps Sweetie Belle has finally started being independent, she thought to herself. Little by little, the filly was growing. Sweetie was almost a teenager and that both scared and excited the mare to which all the responsibility fell upon.
Trotting up to the living room, she finds Sweetie Belle sprawled on the living room couch; Opalescence resting on a cushion, leaving a crevice within its fabric.
“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity came closer to her sister after receiving no response. “Oh, Sweetie Belle!” Louder this time, she stunned the filly out of her deep slumber.
“Wha…What time is it?” She rubbed her forehooves to her sagging eyelids, hoping that it would help her wake.
“Five o’clock.” Rarity turned around, exhausted as well. “Come on, we need to pack.”
Wonderful...
Stretching, Sweetie followed her sister into the kitchen where she brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Caffeine never let the mare down, always waking her in even the most tiresome days.
“So how was your day?” As soon as Rarity took a sip out of her own reward for a long day’s work, she attempted to converse with her sleepy sibling.
“Fine; and you?” Sweetie Belle yawned, the last word louder than the rest of her sentence.
“Exhausting.” She responded, sitting on a stool near the kitchen island.
“Anything new? This time it was Sweetie’s turn to attempt small talk as her sister drifted away from the conversation.
“Just another project I need to get working on as soon as we get back from Manehattan.
“You’re really overworking yourself…”
“Can you blame me?! Nopony wants to come to Ponyville to buy my clothing so I have to make deals with bigger companies. I’m selling a design, not a product.”
KNOCK
A loud knock interrupted the spiraling conversation. Rarity go up, coffee sitting on the counter, to open the door.
Outside, a blue stallion with a grey mane stood, greeting the mare that presented herself before him. The officer brought news of Sweetie Belle’s fate.
“Come in.” Rarity offered.
“No thanks, mam. This’ll just take a minute.”
“Alright, any news?” Rarity was curious as to what kind of conclusion the stallions in blue had to offer.
“Yes. All is settled and Sweetie Belle can return to school on Monday. Next time, we won’t be so kind.”
“Okay, thank you. Have a nice day!”
Shutting the door, Rarity felt a weight off of her shoulders. Things could have been much worse but they managed to dodge a bullet.
“Sweetie Belle! Good news, you can go back to school on Monday!” Rarity shouted with delight. She needed her sister out of her mane if she had any chance at finishing her work.
“But I don’t wanna…”
“Too bad!”
~
Rarity, as always, over-packed and they would have to rush towards the train station while Sweetie Belle struggled to drag all of her sister’s “necessities”. Sweetie Belle always dreaded this part of the trip but her complaints were oblivious to Rarity who was whistling and skipping her way to the ticket booth; threatening to burst out into a song at any giving moment. Thankfully, Sweetie Belle wouldn’t have to witness that embarrassment once again.
“Two tickets for Manehattan. That will be thirty five…Oh, hello miss rarity…You can have them for free this time. I owe you a lot!”
“Well thank you Rain Feather. How are your sculptures coming along?”
“Quite well. Rarity, the trains arrived!”
Leaving the Pegasus in the dust, Rarity bolted towards the train. Sweetie Belle attempted to follow her sister but without success.
“Don’t worry honey; I’ll give you a hoof with those!” Rain Feather put Rarity’s luggage in the appropriate compartments. He was met with a generous tip from the Queen of Generosity herself.
“Oh, why thank you!”
“No problem, Rain Feather. Thank you so much for the help.”
~
The clock struck six and the locomotive departed on time. It would be at least nine thirty by the time they got to Manehattan. Daylight already started to fade in the distant horizon like the memories of a long, cold winter that passed. Soon it would be twilight, then dusk as Luna ruled the night once more. Three days had passed. Three days since the rain had erupted in the darkened skies and poured all around; slithering its way through the hollow crevices of the slumbering town. Three days since Sweetie Belle ran away, overcome by the changes in her environment that seemed to happen so quickly; morphing her paradise into a toxic wasteland. Sweetie Belle knew. She knew that she had to get away; run away into the fading horizon as the stars collapsed around her. But where would she go? Who would she become? She decided to keep these thoughts to herself for the time being, knowing that there was a storm brewing deep within the confines of her mind. Tormenting her, tearing her apart from the inside and she knew that she couldn’t stop it. The outcome was inevitable like the change of seasons; it was always meant to happen. She would have to choose between her own wellbeing and her friends and family. As much as she couldn’t stand her sister at times, want she couldn’t stand more was being away from her.
Equestria passed by her, she could see the beauty of the world beyond the gates of Ponyville. The world she wanted to explore. She wanted to discover. To go places, to see things that weren’t defined by boundaries. Not just Manehattan, but Equestria or maybe even the world. She wanted to witness it all, she didn’t want to settle. But how? She was no millionaire. She could not afford to support her sense of adventure. The very thoughts both inspired her and worsened her depressive state. It was Ponyville tradition to follow in the hoofsteps of their parents; or in this case, of her sister. Rarity would soon have Sweetie Belle participate in her outfit making in hopes of someday her sister would carry on the business that she worked so hard to build up. But Sweetie Belle wasn’t too sure that she wanted to do so or what she would accomplish in life. And that would hurt her sister, her mentor, her guiding light
and the closest thing to a mother that she ever had the chance to encounter. Would Rarity understand?
~
The train came to a halt; the clock had just passed nine thirty as daylight died out completely. Awoken by her sister, Sweetie Belle hesitantly started to drag Rarity’s luggage out of the station. Rarity had planned to stay in a hotel in which she knew somepony that could help them find a room. She knew somepony for everything imaginable, or so it seemed to Sweetie Belle at the time. The cobblestoned Manhattan streets were cool from the night’s breeze after another mild spring day.
A massive building stood before Sweetie Belle as her sister ordered some help with her luggage, promising a reward to the shady stallion that brought them into their room. Rarity thanked him and the receptionist who was kind enough to help out an old friend even with a nearly full, busy building.
“Look Sweetie, Sapphire Shores is playing tonight. Maybe we can=n catch her performance if we hurry!” Rarity was a huge fan and acquaintance to the singer and would do anything to catch a show before her idol.
~
“Sorry mam, the show has been sold out for months, there’s no way you can access it. Although, we still have tickets for Flora Grace, if you would like those instead?” The ticket-stallion pointed at a poster on the concrete wall near Sweetie Belle.
“We’ll take them.” Sweetie Belle nodded. The poster looked pretty cool and besides, she always wanted to see a concert outside of Ponyville.
“I’m not sure you’ll like her Swee…”
“I said we’ll take them.” With an affirmation that shocked even the stallion before her, Sweetie Belle anticipated her sister’s disapproval.
“Alright, but don’t complain to me if it’s awful…” Rarity gave the stallion the necessary bits to which he returned the favor with tickets and pointed towards the concert hall.
“The show starts at ten fifteen…So that’s in ten minutes. You should hurry!”
“Alright, thank you.” Rarity trotted away from the ticket stand in disappointment.
Sweetie Belle followed her sister in excitement. Finally, she could taste freedom; or at least hear it. She didn’t care if the show was any good; she just wanted to enjoy her stay in the urban grounds as long as it lasted. Rarity told her that they would leave by Sunday morning.
~
The ill-lit stage was trapped between earth ponies of every shade and size. Manehattan was mostly inhabited by them, unicorns were a rare sight and the two sisters were met with wild gazes from the big city punks.
“I already can’t stand this place…Where are the seats?!” Rarity complained while trotting towards the front.
“There are none.” A teenage colt answered. “Youze have to stand fo the show.”
“Great…” Rarity was drained and now she had not only to endure awful, ear-shattering noise, but also standing in a crowd of outcasts. But in this crowd, they were the outcasts. Sweetie Belle would never hear the last of it for dragging her sister to the “deprived part of town.”
Before she could cheer her sister up, Sweetie Belle spotted a beautiful earth pony with a curly brown mane trot up on stage; guitar strung onto her back. The show was about to start and Sweetie Belle’s heart was bursting through her chest in anticipation. Finally, she was away from Ponyville. Finally, she could explore the world outside of the dome which she had called home for so long.