//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Growing Up // by mintgreenconspiracy //------------------------------// "Sweetie," Rarity said, calling up to her sister, her face covered in dismay. "Do you need me to help you get to bed?" she asked, already holding her hooves under her sister as she slowly, and clumsily, ascended the stairs. Sweetie nodded sadly - hanging her head. What use was it to be a full grown mare now if she couldn't even walk up a flight of stairs under her own power? And why did she think that stupid spell was going to work anyway? And now, to make matters worse, not just was she going to be grounded, but she was weak, and sore all over - especially in her tummy. How in the heck did she pull a muscle down in there? Was it possible there was something wrong with that hay burger that she managed to choke down for dinner? Except it didn't feel like that, more like cramping, and not all the time. But to add to it all, she was now Equestria's biggest, and oldest, blank flank! "Here," Rarity said, using her magic to steady her sister during her long trek up the stairs. "Let me help you, Sweetie," she said, giving a motherly smile as she sighed on the inside. Why couldn't Sweetie have had parents that weren't busy all the bucking time!? Nevertheless, every once in awhile, she felt almost like she should have had the job of being Sweetie's parent, instead of her own parents; That was, when the dear wasn't driving her stark raving batty! Sweetie sighed, her strength just about exhausted from praying to Celestia and Faust that, hopefully, this would all be better by morning! She slowly trotted through the door into her room, sweat dripping down her brow the whole way. Rarity frowned, starting to close the door. "Do you think you'll be able to sleep ok, Sweetie darling?" Rarity asked, in concern. "If you need, I could try my hoof at a sleeping spell or-" Sweetie shook her head, trying, desperately, to choke out the words she wanted to shout at the top of her lungs. Great! Now even speaking was hard! "Just leave," she said, her tone coming out a hushed whisper instead of the loud shriek she was trying to accomplish. Rarity nodded, with a frown. It was moments like these where she wished that they had a mother that wasn't desperately trying to stay solvent... Meanwhile, sleep for Sweetie came quickly, as her mind began to wander. ********** "Oh Sweetie, honey!" Sweetie's mom shouted from downstairs, giving the eight year old unicorn a start. "It's time to get up, don't cha know! Today's your eighth birthday party, and your father's bought the most beautiful flowers!" she shouted, cheerfully. "And wouldn't you know it!" she shouted, pausing for a second. "All your little friends are here too!" The little unicorn fluttered her eyes against the light that was seeping through the window shades. "Oh goody!" Sweetie exclaimed, being extra careful to apply her makeup in such a way, as to look really beautiful! Yeah, not like the last time she tried this, you know - the last time, she kind of looked like she had tried to eat the lipstick instead of using it... "Oh my! Doesn't my little girl look like a charmer!" Hondo exclaimed, trotting up behind Sweetie as she painstakingly stood tippy-hoof to try to get up to where she could see herself in the mirror. "Do you need me to help you with your make-up, dear?" he asked in a tender hush. "Because I would absolutely love to help my-" Sweetie frowned. "Get out of here!" She shouted at her father, a giggle beginning to creep into her voice. "You're ruining the surprise!" she exclaimed, as her angry shouting started to turn into full on laughing. When was the last time her parents had actually managed to make one of her birthdays? And how much better would that fifth birthday have been if her mother had actually been there instead of working extra shifts to try to work her way out of debt! "Well, sorry about that pumpkin!" Sweetie's father said, bashfully. "But I just had to make sure everything was perfect for you!" He put a hoof on her back. "You are my daughter after all!" Sweetie smiled and nodded - her eyes tearing slightly. Both her parents around for one of her birthdays! Oh this almost never happened - and she couldn't be happier. "Oh, and look!" her father exclaimed, looking out the door and downstairs. "All your little friends showed up!" "You mean?" Sweetie asked, already listing the names in her head: Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Twist, Berry Pinch, Button Mash, Pipsqueak, Coronet, Snips, Snails, Dinky Doo, Button Mash ... Wait, did she mention that loser Button Twice? She shook her head, why was she blushing anyways? And why the special attention to Snips, and Snails? And why was Button even on her mind? None of them were exactly what her idea of what a dream stallion would be... Yeah Pipsqueak she could see - he was an awfully handsome young colt, and with a charming accent to boot; but the other three? All horrible choices in a stallion! "Oh yes! And they're out there waiting for you!" he said playfully, giving her a nudge. "So why don't you go on down there and meet them!" He tried to give her a slight push with his hoof. "Even the colts?" she asked, feeling her face flush again. Was it just her or did she feel her tail raising for some weird reason? And why was she feeling so nervous about talking to the colts? "Oh! Of course!" Her mother said, lovingly, giving her an affectionate nuzzle as she took great pains to help her with her hair. "Do you really think any of your young colt friends would miss this opportunity to meet a nice young pony like you?" Sweetie shook her head, eagerly, guessing they wouldn't. She thought to herself, as that traitor tail raised itself even higher. And was it her, or was she blushing again? Her father tilted his head, a concerned expression forming. "You okay, honey?" he asked, and she shook her head. "Yeah! I'm fine!" she said with a smile. "I guess I'm just eager for my party!" she exclaimed, bouncing along. What else would explain all this weirdness? Sweetie Belle took careful pains to keep herself looking good, as she slowly descended the steps. "I'm here everypony!" she squeaked, as she stopped at the top of the last flight to strike a few poses. "Oh my gosh!" Coronet shouted eagerly. "It's Sweetie Belle!" she exclaimed, holding her hooves against her muzzle, an exuberant fanfilly expression on her face. "Sweetie Belle!" Dinky replied, hopping eagerly. "Hey Dinky!" Sweetie replied with a smile. All her friends were there and they were all very impressed by her posing! She really was just like her big sister Rarity! Oh it was everything she dreamed it would be! Her eighth birthday party was going so swimmingly. And what was better! She was beautiful, just like her sister! Heck, she was the center of attention for a change, not Rarity! And all the colts were paying such careful attention to her! Wait... why did that matter? Why did it matter that the colts were looking at her? And why did it make her feel all bubbly inside? All of a sudden she found herself galloping to the bottom of the stairs, casting all caution to the wind to be in the center of the gaggle of colts. 'Oh wow! This feels great!' she thought to herself, as she felt her tail raise again. And there they all were! Snips! Snails!... Snips!? Snails!? Wait... what in the hay was she thinking!?... Pipsqueak! Featherweight! Button Mash!... Wait... Button Mash? Why was he important? Oh this felt so wonderful! And they were all saying hi! And greeting themselves like true gentlecolts! Each one coming up, and bowing in turn, causing her to titter to herself, quietly. "Why hello there, Sweetie!" Pipsqueak said gallantly, in his dreamy Trottingham accent. "I apologize for the interruption," he announced valiantly, with the dreamiest bow. "But I just wanted to tell you how smashing you looked!" He kissed her hoof. Sweetie tittered to herself again, silently. "Smashing!" she said, feeling the blush coming back. Was it just her, or was it hot in here? And was it just her, or was she ecstatic that the most eligible colt in school paying attention to her? Button rushed to the front. "Please Sweetie! Be mine!" he shouted. "I'll give up my Joy Boy!" He threw his most prized possession out the window, causing it to smash against the sidewalk. "I'll take everything you said into account!" he begged, falling on hooves and knees. "Please! Just be my special somepony!" he pleaded. 'Wow!' Sweetie thought to herself! Just absorbing the situation, she couldn't even describe the feelings she was going through! It just felt wonderful!... Well... Except for where she was looking... It was hard to remind herself that a proper lady always looks a stallion in the eyes! Not in the.... Ehem.... Wait... why was she fawning over that loser Button? Remember! The future of unemployment and type two diabetes! The smell of cheesy puffs! "Duh! Please be my special somepony!" Snails chimed in, obliviously pushing Button out of his way as he pulled a very ridiculous, lint based, caricature of Sweetie out with his magic. "No!" Snips shouted, violently pushing his friend Snails, out of the way. "Sweetie! Be mine!" Sweetie just felt herself blushing! And oh the wonder of it all! All the love and adoration! And the stallions and the cold wet feeling... COLD WET FEELING? Sweetie woke up with a start... What just happened? Why was her bed wet? She hadn't wet her bed in years! And why was it... ew!!! It was icky to the touch... and it felt nasty... And why just in one place? Ohh... she didn't even want to think about it! "Rarity!" she shouted in fright, galloping full bore into her sister's room! "Rarity!" "Who... what... where?" Rarity shouted, with a start, having awoken from the most splendid dream involving that giant red apple, and she wasn't dreaming about the fruit either... Of course, it could have also been the one where Trenderhoof finally took note of her instead of Applejack - but she wouldn't say either way. "Rarity..." the adult mare sniffled like a little filly. "Do you have any sheets I can borrow?" "Really, Sweetie?" Rarity asked softly - though inside she was shouting in contempt. "You... again?" She shivered slightly. She nodded, her face blushing, her head tilted downward in shame. Rarity dropped her head to apologize, this was no way for her to treat her sister. "I'm sorry Sweetie," she said, getting up slowly and putting a hoof on her sister's withers. "Let's see what we can find while I get those old sheets off," she remarked, returning to Sweetie's room. Yeah, it looked like the poor dear had done it again, and for the first time in years... Rarity sighed, it was a shame the poor dear was going through all this, if only their parents were here! Well best get those off and - She stopped, having put her hoof in something on the sheet. What possessed her to use her hoof like a bedraggled earth pony instead of using her magic? Maybe it was the fact that she was woken up from the best possible dream at two in the morning! Wait, this didn't feel or smell anything like what she had expected. Could it be?... Oh dear... maybe she would need to give Sweetie... The Talk... a few years earlier then she would have hoped, and once again... her, and not her parents! No, surely it could wait till she was older... after all, how much trouble could she get in, anyway? It was only for a week! And then Sweetie wouldn't need 'the talk' for a year or three! ********** Sweetie woke up feeling a lot stronger than yesterday, and a little less gross. Maybe the worst of it was over! Maybe all she needed was some rest and relaxation, though she really did wonder what that dream from last night was all about!? It's not that she hadn't had crushes on colts before, she had more than a few, but nothing on the level that she experienced in last night's dream - let alone where her eyes and mind kept drawing themselves in her dream. But, oh well! Today was a new day! And it was so very bright and sunny and cheerful! And just look at the sun! It was so much bigger, and warmer, and brighter than yesterday, she thought with a quick stretch. In fact, if anything, she was no longer feeling tired, or depressed, and was feeling positively frisky. Had the weather changed? Not that she had heard. It was supposed to be the same weather as yesterday... And yet, it seemed so different, like yesterday was the dead of winter, and today was spring. It was just so warm and wonderful! And she just felt like warming her mane and tail... Well... after she took care of something... she thought, suddenly noticing something. Why was she still feeling wet and icky down there? Didn't she take a quick shower last night to rid herself of the ick? She gave a quick humph... the sun would have to wait until after her shower! You know what? Scrap that idea! This called for a bath! And she knew where Rarity kept the bubble bath mixture! Sweetie took one of the towels out of the closet, and carefully dried off her... rather too sensitive spot. The poor towel became mysteriously wet from the liquid that seemed to be moistening that specific spot. And she didn't want to think of that any further! So she opted instead to get everything cleaned as quick as she could! Sweetie Belle frowned as she felt the spot slowly moisten, yet again. How did Rarity put up with adulthood? Her tummy hurt. She kept getting distracted. She had mood swings. Her body was painful to the touch in places. And, for the icing on the cake, her behind kept wetting itself, for no reason, and with absolutely no provocation whatsoever! Why the hay was her behind wet? And did she even want to know? She meant, that she, like Rarity, didn't really have a fondness for gross things! Though, as a crusader, she tended to be in contact with dirt and grime a lot more than other ponies, including her sister. And why, for that matter, was her mind constantly wandering? Hither and yon, here and there! It was annoying! She was trying to feel sorry for herself over here! And she kept thinking about ... well she didn't want to talk about what she was thinking about! 'Maybe a quick bath will fix this up? ' she thought hopefully, as she hastily poured water into the bath bucket, not paying any attention to how hot or cold the water was. Sweetie Belle shivered as the bath water ran unexpectedly cold... She guessed that she should have checked the water's temperature level first, but she wanted to get the grossness off as quickly as she could! The horrible water reminded her how cold and moist her behind was... Whatever that moisture was, it wasn't the one time slip that she had hoped it was. And now, apparently, she had used cold water for her bath... what else could go wrong? 'Please, Celestia, let this go away soon,' she pleaded. Her foreleg reaching out for a soft scrubbing brush to her lather herself with soap, and hoped to Faust that this never happened again! After a few minutes Rarity could be heard from below. "Oh Sweetie, dear!" she called in her kindest voice. "Breakfast is ready! Please come down quickly!" she announced with urgency. "We simply don't have much time before the train leaves for Canterlot!" Sweetie frowned. Hopefully she got it all, as there was no more time to think about it, though she still wondered why she was feeling so sore today? Was her body still sore from a lack of magic? ********** After a few minutes, hoofsteps could be heard as Sweetie came bolting down the stairs. Her posterior was covered modestly with a lovely pink skirt that Rarity had provided, for the purpose of hiding her blank flank. "Hello Rarity!" she exclaimed with a smile. "How are you doing?" she chirped eagerly. "Ahh Sweetie!" Rarity said, returning the smile. "You seem to be feeling better today," she remarked, her mood finally improving. Sweetie nodded. "Well, mostly..." she said, gulping slightly. "Except for this pain -" she said, her hoof reaching down to point at her - Rarity put her hoof up... "too much information, Sweetie darling!" she remarked, her countenance giving off an uncomfortable vibe. "That was probably more then I wished to know," she croaked, waving her hoof a bit. Rarity frowned, looking away for a moment. This was not the best way to act after her sister's rough day yesterday - let alone her rough night last night. "But worry not Sweetie! You seem to be feeling better today, and I see no reason that you won't continue to do so!" she said with confidence, giving her sister a reassuring wink. Sweetie nodded vigorously, as Rarity gave her a motherly smile. It looked like the dear was feeling better today! So, maybe her fears from yesterday were for naught! Sweetie did seem to be feeling better, after all! Maybe all she needed was a good night's sleep? In fact, if anything, she was looking positively frisky - despite the evening's little accident; throwing her attention to her food, which she ate with great enthusiasm - probably to make up for not eating the day before! Oh it was all good news! They would most assuredly make it to Canterlot on time today! Well... assuming that she finished her meal on time. And then, after she had dropped off that dress, they could live on the top of the town... well... assuming that there were no more distractions like- "Hello!" came a stallion's voice piercing through the silence of the early morning, causing a less than subtle shake from the fussy unicorn mare, as the stallion continued to rap his hoof on the door frame again. "Hello!? Is anypony there!?" He called out, loudly. "Just ignore them and maybe they will go away," Rarity cautioned sternly. "I shall not miss the train again, for we simply must get to Canterlot on time today!" She announced, unwilling to miss the train again. Now it wasn't so much that Rarity didn't want to help, it was more that this was her absolute last chance! She absolutely, positively, had to catch this train, or it might be the end of her business! Okay... that was an exaggeration... but it still wasn't going to be pretty if she didn't make it on time! The rapping became even louder, changing into a banging, as the stallion called desperately. "Hello!? Is anypony there!" the voice begged. "Please! It's urgent." Rarity frowned for a moment, gnashing her teeth, she would have to answer this, wouldn't she? "Hello!?" the voice called again, refusing to leave. "I really need to speak to the owner of this establishment!" Rarity sighed, nodding in defeat, as she rose up from the table. "I shall be right back, Sweetie," she said, to her sister, who replied with a nod, as she started to trot towards the door. "One moment please gentlecolts!" Rarity announced politely as she grasped the door handle in her magic. "May I help you gentlecolts with something?" she asked with a reluctant smile as she cracked open the door. "Oh thank goodness! We were worried that you weren't even here!" a blue unicorn said gratefully. He had a white and pale blue two color mane and a safety pin cutie mark. "Furthermore, I thought that you might have been closed." Rarity frowned. "We actually were," she said, rubbing her hooves together reluctantly. "Nevertheless!" she exclaimed, giving them a forced smile. "What can I help you gentle colts with?" She turned to the second unicorn stallion, a bluish-grey unicorn with a dark grey mane and a trio of stars for a cutie mark. "And haven't we met before?" "Oi can't say we 'ave," said the bluish grey unicorn. "Oi've come down from Canterlot, just this weekend 'ta foind somethin' special for me wife," he said, giving her a wink. "Boit oi heard from moi froind's that ya went an' you did such a roit smashin' job fer yer friend Twoilight's dress, ya did!" Rarity gave a sigh, and her best fake smile. "Of course!" she said, her facade cracking as she turned to the other unicorn. "And you sir?" "Well actually I was looking for something extra special to give my fillyfriend," he said, his face reddening in a blush. "It's our three month anniversary tomorrow, and I felt like I should get her something special." Rarity frowned. This was exactly why she was in business! To help stallions like these! But if she helped them then she and Sweetie might never make it to Canterlot in time for her delivery! And the pony on the other end of the delivery was extremely important! Not just as a customer, but as a friend. Rarity sighed, trying one more time to make her case. "I'd really love to help you gentlecolts," she explained with a frown. "But the shop is closed for a few days, and Sweetie and I must be leaving for the train station," she remarked hesitantly, looking at the time. "Now if you gentlecolts will excuse me -" "Please, Rarity!" the grey colt said, on the verge of begging, as Sweetie staggered slowly into the room. "If oi don't get somthin' right smashin' fer me woif then you can kiss me ploit goodboi!" he said, dropping on all fours to a begging position, as Rarity stood there, her resolve starting to falter. Maybe she should help anyway? After all- Meanwhile Sweetie looked on from the corner with a kind of distant expression, her eyes twinkling earnestly, as a goofy smile crept onto her face. "Well..." Rarity said, with a sigh, and high hopes that she wasn't setting herself up for failure. "I suppose I could - " "I'll help!" Sweetie cooed with a different kind of enthusiasm than normal. "Why thank you!" exclaimed the darker blue of the two stallions. "I would be an honor if you two charming mares assisted me in finding the perfect gift for my fillyfriend," he continued with a fake gallantry. 'Oh brother,' thought Rarity to herself, resisting the urge to show her disdain. 'Yes Pokey, it would be a fine honor. And what would Pinkie say if she heard you talking this way to Sweetie and I?' Though maybe if Pinkie knew, she might reconsider that Cheese Sandwich stallion... They kind of had a falling out due to a streak of jealousy between the two of them, due to each other's skills. "Please come this way, gentlecolts," she remarked with her normal enthusiasm as she started to motion towards one of Rarity's racks. And was it just Rarity, or was she wearing a blush, and what was with her tail? She could swear the filly's mare's tail was raised slightly... Maybe she should stop Sweetie before it was too late! The dear was normally kind of a klutz, especially when it came to being helpful, let alone whenever she was trying to impress somepony. "Actually, Sweetie!" Rarity cautioned, as the filly mare began to lead the duo towards the display racks. Normally Rarity preferred to give her customers the personal touch, but that didn't mean that she didn't keep some of her leftovers, unsold outfits, and concept pieces on hoof - in case a customer without the money, or time, needed one urgently. "I'm not sure that - " Sweetie didn't seem to hear her, as she went around, showing the two unicorn stallions to the various designs - working diligently to be extra helpful. "I think this one would look perfect on Pinkie!" she cooed, showing the stallion one of Rarity's more unique outfits. Wasn't that the one she made the day she was suffering from that head cold? On the other hoof, it did seem to fit Pinkie's unique style. Rarity stood there, in utter surprise. Her mouth would be gaping, wide open, if it wasn't for pure force of will. Was it just her, or was Sweetie being extra special helpful today? She meant, it wasn't that Sweetie wasn't helpful at times, she tried to be very helpful. No, the problem was, though, how obsessively she was helping. Rarity could usually get her to sit quietly with a simple "no." Instead, she seemed to be utterly intent, her focus steeled, and her mind clear. And where was the normal little klutz? Instead, the Sweetie in front of her was driven, focused, and seemed to be on the top of her game - making decisions, and giving recommendations that, even Rarity, would be impressed with. Rarity shrugged and figured Sweetie must have cared as much about this trip as she did! Either that, or a few years was a good thing on her! But she did wonder to herself, though... why was the mare's tail still raised at that angle, wasn't that an uncomfortable position for it? ********** Button groaned to himself, the tears quietly coming down his cheeks. "Blah Blah Blah! Scent of stale Cheezy Puffs and unchecked body odor!" he said, taking one hoof off the controller to make a false talking motion with it, bending his wrist up and down. "I'll show her!" "Wow!" exclaimed Button's brother, sneaking up behind him. "It sounds like you're having mare problems!" His voice sounded slightly demeaning. "You don't know the half of it, Gibson!" Button replied, having reached round three of his epic battle against the monstrous final boss of his current project: Destrier's Quest. "At least I can take my frustrations out on Dull Green!" he said, casting the only spell, or so the game's manual claimed, that worked on the behemoth monster, and preparing as many curative items as he could on the other members of the party. "If only this game used magic points like any other normal game! Instead it's blah! Blah! Blah! You can't use magic points! You have to use hit points instead!" He waved his hooves in the air. "And whenever I look at you I see a future of type two diabetes and unemployment checks! Blah Blah! Blah!" His brother clicked his tongue a few times. "Tut! Tut! Tut! You still sulking about Sweetie?" he asked, his face giving a mischievous expression. "And what if I am?" Button replied angrily, ranting in Humgonian as the giant monster on screen obliterated his whole party using one quick spell - causing him to toss down the controller with some force. "I almost had him that time till you showed up!" he exclaimed, pointing his hoof at his brother. "Wow!" Gibson replied, unfazed. "Sounds like you and Sweetie must have had a falling out!" "Falling out?" Button replied, in frustration. "She was lecturing me like she was Harmony: Interdimensional Ninja or something!" he shouted, closing his mouth in a scowl, his hooves crossed. "She basically told me that she'd sooner date a rock then me!" "Oh too bad," Button's brother remarked, looking down sadly - desperate to hide the mischievous glimmer that he seemed to have in his eyes. "Yeah!" Button replied, his ears down, and his face somber. "How could she say mean things like that," he said to himself, quietly, the tears flowing again. "Blah! Blah! Blah! Get a NeighStation!" "But you know what?" Gibson replied, looking around wearily. "Maybe I know of something that can help?" "You do?" Button asked, his curiosity overcoming the sensible disbelief that swirled through his head. "Of course!" Button's brother said, waving his hoof. "But I'm not sure that I can really tell you..." he continued, turned around, as though to go away. "It's kind of a cheat code..." "Cheat code?" Button replied, rushing in front of his brother, his brain turning off. "I like cheat codes!" "Well..." Button's brother replied, with an uncertain expression. "I don't know! It's kind of a cheat code to love, and didn't you hear Princess Twilight? Friendship isn't something we should be taking shortcuts with!" "Please!" Button pleaded with his brother. "Tell me! I have to know!" "Well, I don't know..." reiterated Gibson reluctantly, as he pushed Button aside with his hoof. "We shouldn't cheat friendship!" "I'll do anything!" Button said, wrapping his hooves around his brother's back leg. "Please!" "Well..." Button's brother said, his face uncertain. "I suppose I can tell you! But only if you do me a favor later. And only then if you don't tell mom and dad that I showed you!" he said slyly, lowering his volume level to a whisper. "Of course!" Button replied, rebounding to his hooves. "So tell me! -" Button said, as his brother put his hoof on Button's muzzle, at least until their mother walked back out of earshot. "Come to my room... alone..." Button's brother said melodramatically, his hoof still on Button's muzzle, looking around suspiciously. ********** Gibson motioned his brother in discreetly, as he sat on his bed - holding an odd looking bottle of something. "Come in, Button," he said quietly, looking around to see if his mother or father were listening. "And close the door behind you." Button nodded, as he slowly did so. "So what is this cheat code?" "The cheat code, my dear brother," Button's older brother replied with a sly smile, "Is attached to the magic in my hoof. "A bottle of weird looking liquid?" Button replied, feeling gypped. His brother was going to give him colored water? Button shook his head, turning around to leave. Hadn't he learned by now to never trust his brother? "Oh, I wouldn't do that yet!" Button's brother replied with a smirk, having never left his bed. "Otherwise you stand no chance with Sweetie!" "And how is colored food dye supposed to fix that?" Button replied, angrily. He was not about to allow himself to be tricked here! "Why Button!" his brother replied nonchalantly. "Food dye can't do anything about your love problems!" he said, causing Button to freeze in place. What the hay was his brother going on about then? "But the number one cologne in father's secret stash most definitely will!" Button's brother replied, nonchalantly, as he rose from the bed, carrying the liquid with him. "But if you don't believe me, then I'm fine to keep it all to myself!" he said with a smirk. "After all, I've been meaning to score myself a date with Flitter." Button waved his hoof. "Oh come on! Gibson! You know that she's out of your league!" Gibson gave a catty smile and a wink. "She would be! If I hadn't managed to sneak into father's locked cabinet and get out the best stuff! It is, after all, designed to work on any mare, any time! And... I could probably use it on myself but - " "Even Sweetie?" Button asked, his curiosity, again, peaked. "Why yes, little brother! Even Sweetie!" Button's brother replied, pointing the bottle towards his little brother. "Especially Sweetie!... But if you don't want any then I can - " "Hold it, Gibson!" Button replied anxiously. "It wouldn't hurt to try a little!" Gibson gave a smirk. "Well then! Take a whiff!" he said, opening the bottle towards his little brother. Button gave a good sniff, as his face turned green, and he fell over, his hooves wrapped against the sides of his head as he rotated, screaming in terror; this was much worse than the time he got that horrible brain freeze during his one and only date with Sweetie Belle! Gibson gave a sly smile, as his brother slowly rose. "Yuck!" Button exclaimed, horrified by the odor that he was just exposed to. "It smells like orc guts mixed with Lutefisk!" he exclaimed in terror, promptly turning around to race out of the room, for fear of his life. "Or even..." he stated, his body shaking violently as his face was covered in abject terror. "Surströmming!!" he exclaimed, as a voice could be heard shrieking in otherworldly terror over the otherwise quiet Ponyville morning. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't run out of here right now and tell mom you're trying to poison me!" Button exclaimed, taking a belligerent stance. "Relax, little brother!" Gibson exclaimed, with a smile. "It stinks because of all the pheromones packed into it!" he exclaimed with a sly smile. "Pheromones?" Button asked, a perplexed expression coming onto his face. "What's a pheromone?" "What, you don't remember that part of your classes?" his brother asked, scoffing slightly. "Wow, you really are a slacker!" "Fine... I wasn't paying attention!" Button replied, his hooves crossed. "But tell me anyway... What are those?" "Well... I can't do Cheerilee's job for her," Gibson replied sarcastically. "But suffice it to say, our father's cologne has twenty-seven different kinds of pheromones scientifically designed to drive a mare crazy!" "But you still haven't told me what a pheromone is!" Button whined. "And why would I want to make Sweetie crazy?" "Not normal crazy, stupid!" Gibson exclaimed, scoffing at his little brother. "Crazy with love!" "You mean she'll finally love me?" Button replied. Was it just him or did was his brother overselling something again? Maybe he should tell mother... "Hey!" Button's brother replied nonchalantly, reaching up to put the bottle back into the top shelf of his closet. "If you don't believe me then you can read the bottle!" "Ok!" Button said reluctantly, as his brother showed him the back of the bottle. "Blah blah blah..." he said, skimming down the writing on the back. "Twenty-seven different kinds of pheromones... Blah blah blah! Scientifically designed to drive the mares crazy for you!..." he read, his eyes opening wide. "Designed to make the mares crazy for you! Please Gibson! Let me try some out!" "Of course!" Gibson said nonchalantly. "But only if you don't tell mom and dad, and I still want that favor! After all, without this, it'll be just that much harder for me to get that date with Flitter." "Ok..." Button said, still feeling the pangs of suspicion. "If it works..." he continued, cautiously, as he reached out for the bottle. "Don't worry, little bro!" Gibson said with a smile. "Of course it will work! How else do you think dad scored mom?" Button nodded reluctantly. "Yeah..." he said, feeling like this was the answer to a question he had been asking himself a lot. How did his dumpy old nerd dad pick up a nice looking mare like his mother? He guessed that this was his answer! And it was about to be his answer to HIS romance problems! His brother nodded with his most fervent smile. "Of course! And think, little brother: would I lead you astray!" he exclaimed, proclaiming his honesty to the world. "Well..." Button replied, his voice trailing off. "There was that one time when you - " "Nonsense, little brother!" Gibson said with a smile. "I'm not leading you astray this time! Trust me!" he said, sounding a little bit belligerent. He sighed, breathing in for a second. "Besides," he said, cattily. "Do you want to score Sweetie or not?" "Well..." Button said, grabbing the bottle and pulling it in. "I do want to score Sweetie!" "Then why don't you take my sage advice, and use my cheat code here," he said, tapping the top of the bottle. Button nodded as he struggled to remove the stopper from the foul smelling liquid, grunting and groaning all the way as he did tried to do so. "You really need to work on that upper body strength," Gibson said with a deep sigh. Button nodded, blushing slightly. "Now remember to use a lot!" he said with enthusiasm, helping his brother as the little Mash struggled to lift the one or two pound bottle. 'I can't wait to see him get shot down in flames...' he thought to himself, a smirk starting to cross his face. "What are you smirking at!" Button said, his face turning red in frustration. "I'd like to see you lift this bottle! It must weigh a ton!" he whined as his brother effortlessly positioned the bottle over Button's head. 'That'll teach him to hoard the Mini Joyboy!' Gibson thought, with a sneer. 'I can't wait till Sweetie gets a whiff of the nasty stench coming off him! She'll probably call the guard on him!' "Well you're a doo-doo head!" Button retorted, as he started to drizzle the bottle which promptly emptied itself out all over him. "Gakk!!!" he shrieked, feeling the stink lines wafting off of himself already. "I smell awful!" Button whined, feeling and smelling like the bad end of a skunk attack!" "Nonsense, Button!" Gibson replied with a fake smile, surreptitiously holding his nose. "You stink of... success!... And love!..." He said with a smile, motioning his brother out of his room. "You'll drive Sweetie crazy for you!" "Really?" Button replied, his hopes renewed, and his confidence restored. "Certainly!" Gibson replied, using his most confident tone. He did, after all, 'have full faith in his brother and his chances!' Button stopped halfway out the door. "But what should I say to her when I see her?" he asked, not sure if he should be himself, like his mom recommended, or be somepony else, like his father always cautioned. "Don't worry about it, little bro!" Gibson replied with a smile. "Just be yourself!" he said as his brother galloped down the hall. 'That'll really work for you...' he thought to himself with a sinister chuckle. 'That'll really work for you!' Gibson raised his voice, as his brother galloped out of earshot. "You are ready tiger! Just believe in yourself!" he said, snickering slightly. "Level eight is just over that hill! So go out there and meet your princess!" he shouted, as his brother galloped again. 'Yeah! And she's in another castle!' "Is everything ok in here Gibson?" their mom asked, trotting into the room. "I heard a shout from in here. Did you hurt yourself or something?" she asked with concern, just before noticing the cologne bottle in his hoof and the smell of death in his room. "Dear!" she said sternly to the young Mash. "I thought I told you to throw away this stinky old stuff!" she exclaimed, already planning the lazy colt's punishment. "It stinks to high heaven." "Stinky!?" Button's dad said as he trotted in himself, having heard the conversation from below - and was, just now, noticing the bottle. "That's my finest cologne and..." he said, stopping for a second, the wheels in his head turning. "Elaina, Gibson, why is my cologne bottle empty?" he asked, turning to Gibson. "And why is it in your room?" "Umm... hey dad, how did you and mom meet?" Gibson hedged. "Oh, I love this story! Haven't I told you this one before?" he asked, his face lighting up. "No dad, I don't believe you have," Gibson said with a fake innocence. "Well it was eighteen years ago... just a bit before you were born. There she was, thirteen and drop dead gorgeous... and I was nerdy and boring... but I had one thing on my side: PONG!" he shouted. Everypony rolled their eyes at his sudden change of mood. ********** "Oh dear!" replied Rarity, looking at the contents of the cart that she had been forced to pull. Normally Sweetie would be the one to pull the cart, but the dear was still weak, and desperate times called for desperate measures. Maybe she could borrow one of the stallions from next door to help again? It didn't take long for her to notice something: the most important bag of all was missing - the one with the dress! How could she have possibly forgotten THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER!!! This simply wouldn't do! She would have to go back and get it! "Oh Sweetie, could you do me a favor, and watch my bags while I go back to the boutique to pick up the dress?" She asked her sister hesitantly, hoping she would come back, and wouldn't find them on fire. Maybe she'd ask one of those nice stallions next door to help, while she was at it? Sweetie nodded, eagerly. "Sure thing Rarity!" "Excellent!" Rarity said, with a smile, galloping off. Hopefully she could get this done quickly! Since there simply was no time to lose! Sweetie stood there for a while, hopefully Rarity would be quick. She was experiencing that horrible pain again, and she wanted to get back on the road... And why did it always bug her the most when wasn't busy? And then there was the fact that she had to be going to the bathroom all the time! And now was no exception! Hopefully Rarity would be back soon! Because she had to use it again! And why did she have the insatiable desire to be around the stallions? Yeah, she'd always been a little friendly around the stallions (a habit picked up from her sister) but never to this level! And then - "Hey Sweetie!" Said a young colt's voice, approaching her from behind. "I - " He started saying, still some distance off, as Rarity cantered up, returning from the boutique. "Sorry about that, it took longer than I expected and ... " Rarity said, with surprise, as a young colt stood behind Sweetie. "Oh!" She exclaimed to herself, with a catty smile. "Do I smell love in the air?" Rarity asked, with a smile. "How romantic!" "Rarity!" Sweetie said, in shock, and humiliation. "No! It's just button!" she said, causing a slight wince from the colt. "He's a colt I bumped into while trying to find Cheerilee's very special somepony, for hearts and hooves day, and now he won't leave me alone!!!" She shouted loudly, causing the colt's ears to drop. Button frowned, this was a bust. Did he even dare get any closer? No! He must! His brother couldn't be lying to him! He just had to get close enough for her to get a whiff of his new cologne! "And he smells of Cheese Puffs, and unchecked body odor!" She shouted, in embarrassment. "... Oh! And corn chips!" She exclaimed loudly. "Don't forget the corn chips!" "Sweetie!" Rarity stated sternly. "That's no way to talk about one of your little friends!" "But he isn't my friend! He's some colt that - " Sweetie exclaimed, causing the colt's ears and face, along with his mood, to drop yet further. Nevertheless, Button swallowed hard as he approached yet closer, still desperate to impress her. He still had to do this! It would work! His brother wouldn't lie to him! He wasn't some failure doomed to a future of type two diabetes and unemployment checks! He wouldn't spend his waning years in his mother's basement! He was a stallion! He was a winner! He was a game master! Ok he was lying to himself, but you have to give the kid props for sticktoitiveness! "Heya Sweetie!" "Hey Button," Sweetie replied deadpan. Did she smell something? Wierd... whatever it was it smelled nice... It made her feel weird, and bubbly inside... "Yeah..." he said, desperately. "I know you hate me, and said that I should give up my Joyboy because they haven't made a new game in decades, but ..." he said, taking a moment to catch his breath, before showing his Super Joy Boy cartridge. "Guess who just finally finished Destrier's quest on their super joy boy?" he said, enthusiastically shaking the cartridge, in some futile attempt to impress the mare. "ME!" Sweetie scoffed - this was not the way to convince her that he was worth dating! And - "Ok..." Button admitted, honestly. "I didn't quite finish," he said, turning away, rubbing his legs together anxiously. "But I ALMOST did!" he said, his face perking up, his ears and tail sitting straight up. Sweetie stood there, frozen in place. Was it just her, or did something smell good? All she could smell was something weird! And was it just her, or was the sun higher in the sky, and warmer on her coat? "Hmm... " Rarity said to herself, sniffing around. "Does something smell like it lost a battle with a skunk?" She asked, sniffing her bags. "Hopefully nothing bad happened to my bags!" Sweetie stood there, frozen, her body hesitating slightly. Her mind beginning to be lost in that intoxicating aroma. It smelled like lilacs, and raw testosterone. "Is it just me, or does something smell like death around here?" Rarity asked, holding her nose discretely. Was it just Sweetie, or was there a really desirable stallion around here? Wait... what was she thinking? She shook her head. "And like I was saying - " She started saying futile before the words just vanished. Was she in love? Rarity waved a hoof in front of her sister. "Oh dear... that's odd..." Rarity said to herself, as the filly stood there motionless, trying to process what was happening to the little dear. It didn't help that she, herself, was utterly frozen by that foul odor that lingered around in the air. What was that detestable stench, anyway? Button, however, remained clueless, wondering why the mare stopped ranting, and was now standing there motionless. And was it just him, or was she looking different today? The young colt took a moment or three to look up and down the mare. "Sweetie?," he asked, curiously. "Yes?" She asked, with a spacey tone. The colt took another pass, looking at the mare from horn to tail. "Did you do something with your mane?," he asked curiously, trying to figure out what he, himself, was so interested in. Sweetie stood there stunned. That could possibly be... "that's the nicest thing any stallion has ever said to me!" She said, amorously, approaching the young colt. "Come here you big handsome stallion you!" She said, nuzzling his face with vigor. "Umm... Sweetie?" Button said, backing away slowly. The mare rapidly approached, taking two steps forward for every single step back he took. "But I thought you said that I smelled of failure... and Cheezy Puffs! And that you would never be my special somepony if I was the last colt in Equestria, and the future of ponykind depended on us!" He whined, backing away slowly, as she approached him again, nuzzling his side. "You made me cry!" He sniffed, remembering the wound that still festered within. "Why would I ever say anything so horrible and mean like that to a -" Sweetie said, swishing her tail about behind her, as she circled the shivering colt, as she purred like a kitten. "big strong - " she said, licking his propeller beanie, with great vigor. "Um... Sweetie.. I know my beanie tastes good, and all, but ... " he asked wondering if he was in over his head. " - and eligible colt like you!" Sweetie said, laughing a weird and manic laugh. "Ha! HaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHA!" Button gulped. Uh oh! Maybe his brother's cologne worked too well! He thought, trying to find a way out, as the mare started licking his face. "And those big handsome orange eyes!" she said, staring off into his eyes, before nuzzling his face again. "But..." he said, backing away again. "I thought you said my eyes were ugly! You said they looked like the eyes of a stallion who never slept, instead wasting his time on - " "Oh silly!" Sweetie said, with a spacey tone, as she went back to nuzzling his face. "You big handsome stallion you!" "Oh and just look at that physique, and those muscles!" She announced, trying to touch the muscles in his foreleg with her hooves. "Don't you just want to squeeze them!" "Umm Sweetie?" Button asked, uncomfortably, as it became more and more obvious that the mare was definitely smitten - and not in a good way. Sweetie's tail stuck straight up, as she circled the stallion, brushing her tail against him. "Umm... Sweetie... my - " he stated, unable to finish, as the mare ended up practically sticking her plot in his face, resting her tail on his beanie. "Um... yeah... " Button stated desperately, his eyes crying out for any help he could get. "Oh dear... " Rarity remarked to herself. "Perhaps this has gotten out of hoof..." "My mom is calling me!" He announced, cutting to gallop away - his face filled with utter panic - with Sweetie in hot pursuit! Of course, she didn't get far before Rarity grabbed her in her magic. 'Maybe I should give Sweetie... The talk... NOW!!!' Rarity thought to herself, looking like she would be ill - this was not the topic of discussion she was hoping to have. Rarity shook her head. No! That simply wouldn't be necessary! Remember! Only a week! Then she'd be back to normal! Except... on the other hoof... Sweetie's parents probably wouldn't be happy if they were forced to come back early to pay bail to get their foal out of jail... No! She would have to swallow her pride and give her... Rarity gave a belated grunted, her face looking very uneasy as, the thoughts even causing her to gag... She'd have to give Sweetie Belle... she gagged again... 'The Talk'! ********** The front door of the small house flew open, and then quickly slammed shut, as somepony quickly stomped up the stairs, and bashed open the doors to his brother's room. "So how'd it go?" Button's brother asked, with a smirk - and a fair amount of snickering. "You denkalith!!!" Button shouted, tossing a half drunk paper milk carton at his brother. "Hey!" Gibson shouted, having barely dodged the projectile. "What was that for!?," he asked, fully knowing the answer, as he swallowing the desire to snicker, again. "YOUR COLOGNE WORKED TOO WELL!!!" He shouted, stomping around violently. "Say what!?" Button's brother said to himself, doing double and triple takes. "What do you mean 'worked too well'?" He stopped frozen in place, his face falling rapidly, and his mood along with it. 'It wasn't supposed to work at all!' He thought to himself, shaking slightly. "What's with the shaking thing?" Button asked, angrily. "You weren't the one who was chased by a love crazed mare!" "Love crazed mare?" Gibson asked, wondering if he should have tried some of that stinky cologne on? "Yeah!" Button replied, enraged. "You said it'll drive her crazy!" he said, stopping for effect. "And it did!" He shouted, racing to the other side of the bed to throw the carton again. "It did?" Button's brother asked, in both shock and awe. "Yeah!" Button replied, hopping up on the bed to do something he didn't think himself capable of - he hit his brother. "Wow!" Gibson said, it all finally sinking in. Gibson's face changed, his expression growing catty. "So, little brother - " he said, putting one hoof on the withers of 'the conquering hero'. "Did you score?," he asked, his face looking like a young fillies, when she hears of her friend's first crush. "Score?" Button asked, in utter rage. "I'm lucky to be alive!" he said, starting to calm down. "I almost lost all of my lives running away in mortal terror! And even then I practically had to use a continue!" He shouted, leaving the room in a huff. Last time he took any advice on love from his brother Gibson! EVER!!! ********** "What happened?" Sweetie Belle asked, her hoof on the side of her head, her eyes half closed, as she staggered around like a drunken pony, the bubbles hovering around the side of her head. "One minute I was smelling Button's stinky cologne, and the next minute, I'm standing here," she chirped uncomfortably. "Wait... cologne! He put something into that cologne didn't he!" She exclaimed belligerently. "Just wait till I get my hooves - " "I don't believe that's the case, Sweetie dear." Rarity replied, hesitantly. "Then what happened then?" Sweetie replied, argumentatively. "Well..." Rarity said, gulping noticeably, as one hoof holding her chest tightly. "Um..." she said trying to put the words together. "And?" Sweetie asked, getting within an inch of her sister. 'How do I put this politely?' Rarity asked herself, steeling her nerves. "Well... um... you kind of went stallion crazy there for a second..." she said, practically fainting at her own words. "It... kind of... happens sometimes, Sweetie darling, during the spring and summer, when a mare comes into... well... um..." Rarity said, literally choking on her own words. "Stallion crazy? And when a mare comes into what?" Sweetie asked, in confusion. What was her sister talking about? And why would that explain what just happened with Button? "We'll discuss it on the train, dear," Rarity said, with discomfort. "We've lost too much time already, and we simply have to make this first train!" Rarity said, with urgency, not just because of her deadline, but also because of the fact that she really didn't want to be explaining this. "Ok!" Sweetie said, with exuberance. Rarity gave a sigh, as the two of them rushed off to the train station. She would have to explain things eventually, but what she was left wondering how everything could have gone so wrong? Well... she did suppose that the early ones were always the worst, and her family did always tend to be more friendly around the stallions and Rarity, herself, was no exception, having fawned after Tumbleweed, the good King Sombra (not the bad one so much, but the good one definitely) and that punce Blueblood. But this... well this... this was a whole new level of bad! It's not to say that Rarity didn't tend to get slightly stallion crazy - she did, especially during some of her early springs. But she never! Ever! EVER!!! Had it anywhere near this bad! She stopped for a second, a look of shock and panic creeping up her face. Could this have been a side effect of the spell Sweetie cast? And, more importantly, was it permanent? "You ok Rarity?" Sweetie asked, with concern. "You look like I'm under the effects of bad magic..." "Oh no!" Rarity lied, uncomfortably. "You're... fine... never better!" she said, with a fake smile. "You're lying!" Sweetie hissed, in disdain. "What happened back there with button?" She asked, her face showing panic. Rarity sighed. 'How do I put this, politely?' She thought, motioning towards the platform, her tickets already held in your magic. "Thank you ma'am!" The employee said, holding his hoof up. "The Twelve Twenty Four has been delayed an additional hour due to issues in Dodge Junction." Rarity face hooved... she guessed this was good... she got her train! But not so good that she was going to be delayed even longer! She turned back to her sister. "You... well how shall I put this dear?..," she said, rubbing her right front hoof against her left front hoof. "I kind of what?" Sweetie chirped, curiously, drawing nearer to her sister. "Well... you... kind of... rubbed you... well... you... um..." Rarity said, trying to figure out if there was an out to this question. "Yes?" Sweetie asked, getting within a foot of her sister's face. "Rubbed your..." Rarity said, staggering slightly, her face turning white. "YES!!!" Sweetie chirped, getting right into her sister's face. "You kind of rubbed your... tail... in his face!" Rarity said, her face turning a weird shade of green. A faint shriek could be heard carrying over the air of an otherwise quiet Ponyville afternoon. "EWWWWW!!!" "Rarity blushed, putting a hoof on her sister's wither. "I'm sure that's what he's kind of thinking now, dear, I think," Rarity said, her face changing from greens to a simply blush. "I wonder if he's ever going to talk to me again?" Sweetie asked in shame, Yeah she didn't want to date the colt, but it didn't mean that she hated his guts and never wanted to talk to him again. And even if she didn't want to talk to him again, there was still a certain amount of stigma in the whole affair that she didn't like! Rarity resisted the urge to shrug her withers, instead giving her sister a reassuring smile."It's hard to say dear, but I'm sure he shall recover," she said, nuzzling her sister slightly. "But there's one thing I can tell you for sure: that colt shan't be asking you for a date for a loooonnng while," she said, with a wink. "A long, long, long, while!" Sweetie smiled, her chipper mood returning, and a smile creeping up her face. "I guess that's ok then..." she said, with a smile. "But... I wonder if anything horrible like that is happening to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo?" She asked, her face dropping in fear.