//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Home Alone with Sweetiebelle. // by No One and Nobody //------------------------------// Chapter 1: A Series of Unfortunate Events. "The fire of friendship lives in our hearts as long as it burns we cannot drift apart..." Rarity sang, while mixing batter for lemon tarts. Rarity's normally tidy and spotless kitchen (from lack of doing any laborious baking) was a mess of filthy bowls, trays soaking in warm water and containers of food. "Wow Rarity," Spike said, entering the kitchen, "Something smells... delicious." "Why thank you Spike," Rarity said, "I knew it was going to be a long trip to the Crystal Empire and I thought I should make something to eat on the way." "But I thought Applejack was going to make the snacks." "Yes well," Rarity said looking down in embarrassment and flipping her mane, "Applejack's food is delicious but her dishes are always so, shall we say... apple-y." "Well I don't mind as long as I get to lick the spoon," Spike said, grabbing the wooden ladle. "Well, what can I do for you?" Rarity asked, taking another spoon and dropping small, round balls of dough onto a metal sheet. "Well I was wondering if you needed any help with your bags," Spike said, licking any traces of dough off his face. "Why, isn't that sweet of you," Rarity said, passing Spike the other spoon for a thorough cleaning. "Anything for you," Spike mumbled, blushing as he took the spoon from the pony of his dreams. "What was that?" "Uh... nothing. So do you have any luggage I can take to the train station?" "Why yes," Rarity said, "There are a few bags in the hallway." Spike put the second spoon in the sink and trotted happily to the hallway. His eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped when he saw the gigantic pile of luggage, stretching from floor to ceiling. "'grumble' You shall not win," he muttered. Shaking his head, he rolled up imaginary sleeves and hoisted up the monstrous pile of Rarity's belongings. He staggered out the door in the direction of the train station. Rarity resumed singing and cooking. "Hi Rarity," Applebloom said as she and Scootaloo entered the house, "We wer wond'rin if we could walk with Sweetiebelle ta the train station." "Certainly girls," Rarity said, "She's in her room." "Thanks," Scootaloo said, trotting upstairs with Applebloom at her side. Rarity smiled and turned back to her baking. "Hiya Sweetiebelle," Applebloom said, opening Sweetie's door. Sweetiebelle's room was a mass of suitcases, clothes and other 'necessities to modern living' as Rarity would have put it. "Oh hi girls," Sweetiebelle said, closing her suitcase, "What's up?" "Oh, we wanted to walk to the train station with you," Scootaloo said, trying not to stare at the mountain of luggage Sweetiebelle was taking, "The train leaves at ten." "Well thanks girls," Sweetie said, "But I wanted to walk with Rarity, plus, I'm not quite finished packing." "Okay," Applebloom said, "We'll see you at the station." "How do you think she could possibly pack any more junk?" Scootaloo whispered. Applebloom shrugged. "We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders..." Sweetiebelle's singing faded away as Scootaloo and Applebloom trotted back downstairs. "We're leaving," Scootaloo said, "We'll see you at the train station Rarity." "Oh Sweetiebelle," Rarity called, but the Crusaders had already left. Rarity shook her head and rolled her eyes as she placed the last tray of scrumptious goodies on a cooling rack. "Hiya Rarity," Applejack said, waltzing through the doorway, "Are ya'll ready for this here big trip? I can't wait to see Cadence and Shinin' Armor." "Oh, Applejack!" Rarity said, smiling guiltily, "Um, yes I'm all ready for, uh, THE trip, yes." "Are you alright there Sugarcube?" Applejack looked around at the piles of baked goods. "All these treats don't have somethin' ta do with your behavior do they?" "Oh, um." Rarity stammered. Applejack hugged her. "I appreciate the thought of helpin' me out with all the bakin'. But ya should'a told me. I already have all the food cooked. Why, ya know what? We can save all this and have a nice, fancy banquet when we come back. I wouldn't insist but ya know that apples are supposed to be good food for travelin'? Why that there Trenderhoof swears by 'em." "Trenderhoof." Rarity asked, her eye twitching, "Swears by... Apples?" "Why yessire," Applejack continued, "That's why I always pack a nice bushel of apples for these long train rides." "Yes," Rarity said, fighting back the gag reflex of having nothing but apples for the journey, "How... Nice." "Well I'll be seeing ya," Applejack said, heading for the door, "Thanks again fer thinkin' of me." "Yes," Rarity said, her eye still twitching, "You're welcome." Then, turning to her hard-won efforts she cried, "All this work for nothing?! I chipped a hoof baking all this!!" Removing her designer apron, she marched upstairs to wash her mane and get dressed, grumbling all the way. "Oh drat," Sweetiebelle said, frantically searching her room, "Where did I put Rarity's present?" She opened suitcase after suitcase to make sure she hadn't already packed it. She overturned a couple of piles of luggage in this process. After a short search, she decided to retrace her steps in her mind. Sweetie thought for a moment before her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "Of course, I hid it in the attic!" She ran upstairs and began searching for the gift in all the clutter. "Nothing but apples," Rarity muttered, walking down the hallway. "Sweetiebelle," Rarity said, poking her head in her sister's room, "Oh of course, she went with her friends." Rarity's face fell when she saw the pile of suitcases in the middle of the bedroom. "Oh Sweetiebelle," she murmured through clenched teeth, "Why can't you remember to bring your things?" A light blue aura appeared around the luggage as Rarity dragged it outside to the train station. THUNK! went the slamming of the the door followed shortly by a CLICK! of the lock. Sweetiebelle skipped happily down the stairs with Rarity's gift on her back. "Rarity!" she yelled, "I'm almost ready!" Her face fell as she entered her room. "AW COME ON!"