//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Sweet Pea 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

The ship docked into the harbor and once the platform was lowered, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom saw before them a busy port.

"Princesses! Over here!" called out a voice.

The girls turned their heads to see the same messenger they saw back home.

"Hey, it's you!" Scootaloo pointed out.

"Indeed, your majesties, and it is my job to take you to the palace."

"But we need-" Apple Bloom started until Scoots stopped her.

"It's okay. Once we get to the castle and meet the king and queen, we'll be able to get the help we seek."

AB gave it some thought before nodding in agreement and they started going down to meet up with the page.

"Good luck, your highnesses!" the admiral waved.

"Thanks, Admiral!" the both of them responded.

Just as Rumble and Pip were getting off, the admiral stated, "Take good care of them."

They were confused at first until he winked at them, causing an awkward silence for them to keep going. Once they were out of earshot, Rumble asked, "What the hay was that about?!"

"I'm not sure, but whatever the admiral was indicating, I'm sure it was nothing."

"I sure hope so." he muttered just before they caught up to the princesses.

Once they did, there was suddenly a huge toot that caused the group to turn around and see a fancy yacht coming into the fjord.

"Ah, I see another of our princesses have arrived." said the page.

"Yoo-hoo! We're here!" called out a princess, who had a pink coat, purple and white curly hair, and ice-blue eyes. Next to her was a mare that was grey and had platinum-blond hair.

"Who are they?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Princess Diamond Tiara and Princess Silver Spoon. They're cousins from the kingdom of Stirram.

When the new princesses got off their ship, Princess Diamond Tiara commented, "How fitting to have servants of the castle escort us to the royal palace."

The Canterlot princesses started fuming while the guys scowled on their behalf.

The page pointed out, "Your Grace, these are also princesses invited to the ball as well."

"Princesses, huh?" Diamond skeptically said.

Princess Silver Spoon had the same tone as her cousin, "Like, where you from?"

"Canterlot." Apple Bloom proudly mentioned.

"Humph." the snooty princesses both scoffed.

Just then, a voice cried out, "Ahoy there!"

The group looked back to see another ship entering the harbor, and on that ship was a princess with curly red locks.

"Princess Twist! Welcome!" the page called out.

"Thanks!" she called back.

By then, more ships were coming in and the page greeted all of them.

"Princess Peachy Pie, Princess Sunny Daze, Princess Aura…"

Then one came off with a somber look to her.

"Princess Babs Seed! I didn't think you'd make it."

"My parents insisted that I come… Believe me, it wasn't by choice…"

"Uh, right… Now, are we all here?" he checked his list and a voice cried out.

"Oh, wait for me!"

The ship docked and off came a light purple unicorn mare with a dark blond mane.

"Ah, yes, almost forgot about you, Princess Dinky Doo."

The snobby princesses did mean-spirited giggles at the mention of her name.

"Hi! Please to meet ya!" Dinky started shaking hooves.

"Nice to meet you, too!" Twist replied and shook hooves as well.

"It's great to see other princesses like me!"

Diamond muttered to Silver, "I wouldn't go that far…" Both of them ended up giggling.

"Hi, name's Dinky." she shook Scootaloo's hoof.

"Scootaloo, and this is my sister, Apple Bloom. This is Pip and Rumble."

The three of them did random greetings to her.

Scootaloo asked, "So, where are you from?"

"Palolasia. And it is the best! I could tell you all about it if you like!"

"Maybe some other time. We're kind of busy at the moment." said Apple Bloom.

"Sure! We got lots of time! And it's always great meeting new friends." she went in line between them and Twist.

The page looked at his list again, "I say it's safe to assume that we're all here now. On to the royal palace!" he began to lead them.

In the throne room, Button gave out a huge sigh, "Do I have to be here? They're going to see me at the ball tonight, anyway."

"You must make a good enough impression for them to want to be here. Also, it's decorum. Isn't that right, honey?" she turned to face her husband, only to see he was sleeping and snoring, "Cinnamon!"

He shook out of his sleep, "Uh, what? Is it time for lunch?"

"No, it is not. It is time to meet the princesses, so straighten up!"

He sighed, "Yes, dear…"

"Honestly, I don't know why you two act like it's the end of the world. Oh, and Button. you have a split end hanging out…" she licked her hoof while Button was squirming from her reach.

"Mom, it's no big deal. They're not going to notice!"

"Princesses like neatness, Button! So hold still!"

Button groaned as his mother patted down his mane. Well, at least this way, I can know who Sweetie Belle's sisters are so I can take them to her. They must be worried sick about her just as much as she was worried about them…

The royal trumpeter then blew a fanfare as the doors to the palace opened up and the page came in with several princesses.

So many of them… how will I be able tell who the sisters are? They'll be the ones from Canterlot, you dope. Oh, right.

Once the girls stopped gathering in the regal room, the queen stood up to address them, "Welcome, honored guests of Equestria! On behalf my son, Prince Button Mash, I thank you for coming and I hope you enjoy your stay. Tonight, we celebrate your arrival, then within two days' time, the tests shall begin. Princesses who fail the tests are allowed to dwell until the final test or may leave, but it would be wonderful if you like to stay put. You will each have a personal servant to escort you to your rooms and help you with your needs during your visit. Once again, thank you for coming and we shall see you all at the ball." she took her seat as princesses began chatting away.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo couldn't join in the rest of them and went up to their highnesses.

"Please, your majesty, but we must tell you something." Apple Bloom said.

"Yes? And who might you be?" Queen Love Tap questioned.

"Apple Bloom."

"And I'm Scootaloo."

"Of?" Button inquired with anticipation.

"Canterlot." both said at the same time.

"Yes!" he jumped and then composed himself after he was given looks by his mother and the two princesses, "I know where she's at."

"Huh?" both said again.

"But we haven't-" AB started.

"I'll explain on the way. Follow me." he ushered them.

Scootaloo signaled the guys to come with them, which they obeyed.

As the small group was going out, Diamond Tiara caught a glimpse of them leaving and turned to Silver Spoon, saying in a hush tone, "Those two are going to be a problem…"

"Why?"

"It seems they already know the prince."

"But isn't the whole point of getting the prince is to win the contest?"

"True, but if the prince wants a girl he already knows, that's going to ruin things as it is."

"What are we going to do?"

"We're not going to do anything. You are going to keep an eye on them and find out what their pedigree is… Got that?"

"You know I do."

Then the two of them did their bumps, "Bump-rump-sugar lump-rump!"

"So Sweetie Belle was here this whole time?!" Scootaloo asked excitedly as they were climbing up the stairs.

"Yes. She washed up on shore this morning and right away, she wanted to know if a ship from Canterlot came yet. When I told her 'no', she was pretty upset."

"I'm just happy that she's here and not lost at sea!" Apple Bloom cheered.

"Me, too…" Button said under his breath.

"Did you say something, Your Highness?" Pip asked.

"Uh, no, and it's Button. I don't like being 'Your Highness' a whole lot."

"How come?" Rumble questioned.

"I just don't like ponies addressing me as something I don't feel like being…"

"Wow, you sure are no Blueblood." pointed Scoots.

"Huh?" all three of guys looked at her in a strange way.

"Long story…" she replied, "You were showing us where Sweetie is?"

"Over here." he went to the left and went to a door, slowly opening it.

He let the sisters in first so they could see her resting in bed.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle…" Apple Bloom whispered.

"Thank goodness…" Scootaloo went up to her and stroked her shoulder.

Sweetie started to stir and slowly began to open her eyes. At first, she thought she was dreaming until she heard her sister's voice.

"She's waking up!"

"Scootaloo? Apple Bloom? Is that really you?" she sat up. The two were smiling at her and embraced her, "Oh, it is you! I was so worried about you!"

"You were worried?! What about us?!" Scoots motioned, "You fell overboard and we didn't know if you were alive or not!"

"But in our hearts, we knew you had to be."

Sweetie said, "We really have been lucky in our lives, haven't we?"

"I just hope it never runs out, though. We may be pushing it." said Scootaloo.

"It's great to see that you're alive and well, Princess Sweetie Belle." Pip came near them.

"Oh, please, Pip. None of that. Just Sweetie Belle or Sweetie, if you like."

"Same goes for me. Just call me Scootaloo."

"As you wish, Your High- I mean, Sweetie and Scootaloo."

"I must admit, I was afraid myself that you had been lost at sea, princess." said Rumble.

"Aw, that's so kind of you. And it's Sweetie to you. as well. I confess that I, too, thought I would have be lost forever, but was fortunate enough to land on Button's shores…" she saw him by the door and stared straight at him and he returned the stare as he came in.

"It was nothing. I'm just glad that fate allowed you to be here." he slightly blushed as she was blushing as well and her sisters noticed. He turned to them, stating, "You shall have the rooms next to your sister's. I'm sure you'll want to stay close by."

"We do. Thanks." Apple Bloom smiled with gratitude.

"And your escorts will also have rooms nearby."

"Thanks." both Pip and Rumble said.

"It eases me knowing you can look after her while I have to prepare for the ball tonight."

"The ball?" Sweetie questioned, "That's tonight?"

"It is, but you don't have to attend, considering you need to rest from what happened to you."

"But-"

"I insist. I will tell my parents you're still resting and shouldn't exert yourself."

"But I feel fine now."

"I don't want to take any chances. I'd feel better knowing you were here."

She sighed in defeat, "All right…"

"Great, I'll see you after the ball." he started walking before giving her a final glance and went out.

"Whoa." Scootaloo voiced.

"What 'whoa'?" Sweetie asked.

"Just the way you two were talking…"

"What about it?"

"It's like… you two were married or something." AB gestured.

"What?! That's… That's not true!"

"Oh, come on! You were head over hooves in love with him!" Scootaloo pointed out.

"And it was almost as if he was feeling the same way about you." Rumble rubbed his chin.

"He was?!" She nearly squealed in delight and then calmed herself while being pink, "That… That couldn't be right… I'm sure he's just being a gentle-colt… He has to be, you know…"

"Or maybe… not." AB smirked.

"Just promise me one thing."

"Yes?" both sisters said.

"That includes you two." she pointed to the guys.

"Uh, sure?" Pip said.

"Whatever you say." said Rumble.

"Do you Pinkie Promise?"

"Huh?" both guys asked in confusion.

The girls giggled while Scoots said, "Don't worry, we'll teach it to you…"

A few moments later after teaching Pinkie Promise 101, Sweetie made them promise not to say anything about her supposed feelings towards Button.

All of them said, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

The hour was at hoof as the three sisters were in Sweetie's room. The truck they brought with them was in with them as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo took out the ball gowns Rarity made for them.

"Are you sure you'll be okay with us going?" Scoots asked Sweetie.

"You two deserve to experience it and some princess has to be there on Canterlot's behalf."

"We'll tell you everything about it as soon as we get back." AB told her.

"I'm counting on that."

"And we'll tell Prince Button you wished you could have been there." Scootaloo started putting on her sparkling blue short-sleeve dress and wore a single golden pendant.

"I hope you do."

"Don't worry, we will." Apple Bloom winked and she put on her burgundy ball gown with gold trimmings. She also put up her mane.

"Have fun." she hugged them as they started going out.

"We'll try, but it won't be much fun without you." Scootaloo replied.

She waved them off as they returned the wave and shut the door. Sweetie Belle could hear and see fireworks from her balcony window. She stared at them, knowing about all the amazing things she was going to miss. She looked back to the truck that still had her dress in it. After thinking for some time, she made up her mind. I'm going to the ball…