//------------------------------// // L11.1 // Story: A little loopy. // by FaelaArts //------------------------------// “Sweetie Belle, wake up, it’s time for school!” Sweetie leapt out of bed, snatched her saddlebags with a flick of magic, and dashed down the stairs. Giddy with excitement, she rounded the corner and smiled at Rarity. “Rarity, can I talk to you honestly for a moment?” Sweetie waited as Rarity nodded, and continued. It was important she let the conversation play out the same. “I’m stuck in a time loop, repeating today until Friday. This is my 11th time doing it, and I know you’re not going to believe me but...I was wondering, what could I do to make you believe me?” Rarity looked amused, but turned to pick up the fabric. “Alright, I’ll play along, you see this fabric here?” Rarity held out the fabric, and Sweetie smiled, levitating out her piece of the same fabric. “You mean, the fabric you gave me last loop? Yes, I see it.” Sweetie smiled and held the fabric out, watching Rarity compare them with shocked eyes. Sweetie knew her sister would be able to tell they were the same piece of fabric. How Rarity did so was lost on her, but she knew her sister. “But-that’s-impossible!” Rarity blinked in confusion, and Sweetie sighed, knowing the signs of a mental breakdown. Pulling a chair over to her sister, she waited patiently as Rarity sat down, and composed herself. “At midday, a stallion is going to come to the door and offer you a job in Manehattan for a fashion show or something.” Sweetie knew Rarity would need more evidence, and this was her second piece of proof. Rarity scoffed, and waved a hoof. “Now I know you’re pulling my leg. You almost had me there sister, this is a pretty remarkable fake, but a fake no less.” Rarity smiled and held out the fabric, which Sweetie took. Motioning upstairs, Sweetie smiled. “Then let me prove it. Half the day off. If I’m wrong I won’t cook for three months. Even when Mum and Dad come to visit.” Sweetie watched as Rarity flinched, and bit her lip. Surely she’d allow half a day? Sweetie had used the perfect bribe too; her cooking skills. “Alright, half a day. If only to put this silly charade to an end.” Rarity placed down the pancakes, and Sweetie sat down to eat. They weren’t a nice as normal today, it was probably due to the fact she had spend time talking instead of eating. In the future, Sweetie would eat first, then talk. Standing up, she trotted outside and looked to Apple Bloom. “Go on without me, something came up!” Sweetie saw the relief on her friend’s face, and winced as she left. How much it hurt would always be an understatement. Turning, Sweetie headed up to her room to await for the appointed time. As she waited, she went over her notes, before plopping it all in her saddlebags. “Sweetie Belle, could you come down here?” Rarity’s voice echoed, containing suspicion and surprise. Sweetie hummed a merry tune as she trotted downstairs to meet her sister. Rarity was, of course, at the door talking to the stallion in question. “Such a shame, very well, I will get another designer to do the show.” The stallion turned, and left toward the station. Rarity shuddered, before turning and situating a serious gaze on Sweetie. “We’re going to see Applejack.” “Ah dun understand how, but Sweetie is tellin’ the truth. I’m guessing she believes it to be true. Has she proved it yet?” Applejak glanced to Rarity as she bit her lip and looked away. Sweetie growled and tapped her foot in the dirt. “Technically yes, but I’m just having trouble believing it.” Rarity purposely kept her eyes trained on the apple trees, avoiding Sweetie. Seeing a chance, Sweetie smiled and opened her mouth. “Take me to Twilight, I’ll prove it a third time.” Sweetie waited in irritation as both shared a glance, and nodded. Turning, Sweetie trotted briskly toward Twilight's, leaving the two adults to catch up. Knocking on the door, Sweetie levitated the book out of her bag and thrust it into Twilight’s grip. “I’m stuck in a time loop. Last loop I asked you to give me proof and here is your proof. Rarity and Applejack can vouch for me, even if they don’t believe it.” Sweetie glanced back, and Rarity winced. Twilight tilted her head, but slowly looked the book over, opening it to the first page. Her wings flared as she gasped. “This is Yearling’s signature! This is identical to the copy I have that I borrowed from Dash. It’s impossible to get another one because only one exists!” Twilight cut herself off, and raised her head to look at Rarity and Applejack. “I don't believe it, but Sweetie must be telling the truth. If you both can’t deny her claims, and I know this can't be a copy, there is no way she could be lying.” Twilight held the book out to Sweetie, who took it and nodded smugly. Finally, some progress. Twilight let them all inside, and they sat down to discuss it. “So, what have you tried so far.” Twilight put her hooves together as Sweetie held out her saddlebags, and began to pore over her notes. After a moment, she looked up and put a hoof to her chin. “There’s a few experiments we can try, but the major problem is we can’t actually follow you through the loop, is that correct? You have ‘ponies might be able to loop with me’ crossed out with a red underline, along with a skull and crossbones.” Twilight looked down as Sweetie nodded, biting her lip and looking away as she shivered. Sweetie silently hoped they wouldn’t ask about that. “So the main thing we need to do is get you a means of informing us quickly. I’ll muse over it tonight, meet me back here in the morning. Rarity, Applejack, can you fill the other elements in? We might need them, and it wouldn’t hurt to get them in the loop.” Twilight nodded as both saluted, and stood up. Walking over to Sweetie, she looked her directly in the eyes, and smiled softly. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you out of this.” Twilight brought Sweetie into a hug, and Rarity quickly joined in. Applejack was slow to follow, but eventually all were hugging the small filly. Sweetie closed her eyes, and tried to hold back her tears. Failing to do that, she just hugged them back and began to cry. “Please, I don’t wanna be stuck doing the same thing week after week. I’m never going to get my Cutie Mark or anything that way!” Sweetie wanted to tell them what she truly feared, what damage that loop had done to her friends, but knew there was more important things to deal with. As much as it hurt to admit it, Sweetie had to learn to ignore her ex-friends and focus on getting out of the loop. Sure, she’d leave time for Snips and Snails, but she couldn’t bear to hang with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, knowing what she had done. “We’re with you, don’t worry.”