Rarity sighed as she picked up the plates from the table. She had made Sweetie Belle’s favorite, seeing as she was having to stay with Rarity for the next month while their parents went on an extended vacation, and yet the girl had left nearly all of it on her plate. She’s probably simply upset with them. They are always running off and leaving her behind. I don’t know the last time they took her on a trip with them. Even before Sweetie had earned her cutie mark, their parents had gone on many trips, or her sister had simply wanted to stay with Rarity. Now that Sweetie was nearly sixteen and preparing to strike out on her own, their parents were nearly non-existent. She didn’t remember them being so distant when she was growing up. No, I distinctly remember them coming to all of the plays I designed costumes for. She sighed again, scraping Sweetie’s uneaten dinner into the trash before she started washing the dishes.
It wouldn’t be long before Sweetie Belle, along with her two best friends Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, finished the headquarters for Cutie Mark Crusaders Inc. They had saved enough money to buy a plot of land between Sweet Apple Acres and Ponyville, and were in the process of building, what they called, the perfect place to find a cutie mark. With another sigh, Rarity picked up the towel to begin drying the dishes, floating them to their proper places once finished.
With the dishes finished, Rarity walked into her sewing room, looking around at the project designs hanging from the walls. Her business had really taken off over the last few years. She had four stores now. The one in Ponyville was still the primary store, but both Canterlot Boutique and Manehatten Boutique were proving to be more profitable. She had even made a recent venture and opened a store in Appleloosa, though the orders from that store were vastly different from the ones she received from the other three.
For the third time that evening, she sighed. With a shake of her head, she walked up the stairs to Sweetie Bell’s room, gently knocking on the door. “Sweetie, dear, can I come in?”
“Yeah,” she heard. She opened the door to see Sweetie standing in front of a full length mirror, turning in different ways. Sweetie looked at Rarity through the mirror, a smile on her face. “Is everything okay?”
Rarity smiled back, walking over to Sweetie, and looking in the mirror with her. “I am fine. I wanted to check on you. You hardly touched your dinner.”
Sweetie’s smile flickered as she turned to meet Rarity’s gaze. “I just wasn’t hungry.” She looked down, scuffing her hoof on the carpet. “Sorry.” She started when she felt Rarity nuzzling her.
“It’s okay, Sweetie. There is some left over in the fridge if you get hungry later.” She looked over her sister. “Maybe tomorrow we can go out, hmm? Doesn’t that sound nice?”
A half smile formed on Sweetie’s lips, the expression never reaching her green eyes. “I don’t know, Rare. I think I might be getting sick.”
Putting her hoof to Sweetie’s forehead, Rarity furrowed her brow. “You don’t feel warm, but perhaps some rest will make you feel better. I do hope this doesn’t last. I had such wonderful plans for tomorrow.”
Sweetie nuzzled Rarity. “We’ll see how I feel in the morning, okay? I think I’m just going to sleep for now.”
“Okay, dear.” Rarity kissed Sweetie on the forehead, below her horn. “Wake me if you feel worse through the night.”
“I will,” she said. She turned down the pink comforter on her bed and slid between the sheets, the springs in the mattress lightly squeaking in protest. “Goodnight, Rarity.”
“Goodnight, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity reached out with her magic to turn out the light, closing the door behind her.
She walked the short distance to her own room, looking around. Her room, like the rest of the house, was a reflection of her. The large tri-fold mirror with the vanity allowed her to ensure her hair was always perfectly curled and that her makeup looked good from every angle. The rather large wardrobe held a number of outfits and shoes, and her closed closet door hid her winter ware. The bed, though, was the centerpiece of the room. A large four-poster, with a canopy, and a bed of stuffed Gryffon down, it was the most luxurious item she owned.
She lay on the bed, willing herself to go to sleep. She needed to be awake in the morning to complete the orders from her shop in Appleloosa. Then there was the matter of Twilight needing her help with some vague task at the castle. Plus her little sister needed some quality time. Rarity couldn’t tell what it was, but something was bothering the younger mare. Dinner tomorrow, wherever Sweetie Belle wanted to go, was a sure way of getting her to open up. I might even take her to the new moving picture. That seems very exciting.
After what her clock assured her was two hours of not sleeping, Rarity gave up. She pulled herself from her bed and made her way down the hall, to her creativity room. If I’m not sleeping, I might as well be working. She had just sat the last bolt of thick, dull brown cloth out when she heard a small crash come from her kitchen. She froze for a moment, listening intently. Another clink, this one much lighter.
Rarity crept down the stairs to the bottom floor. No lights were on. Oh, perhaps I should have brought my scissors with me. Outside the kitchen door, she steeled herself. Come on, Rarity, you’ve fought so much worse than a common burglar. That thought did nothing to help calm her. With a deep breath, she jumped into the kitchen with a yell, her magic flared and lighting the room in a dim blue glow. “I’ll have you know, I—Oh, Sweetie, it’s just you.” She took a couple calming breaths as her magic found the light switch. “I thought I was being burgled.”
Sweetie remained frozen, looking from the food on the table to Rarity. “Umm, I got hungry.”
With a raised eyebrow, Rarity nodded. “I see that. I’m glad your stomach isn’t bothering you anymore.” She smiled at Sweetie Belle. “Don’t be afraid to turn on the light next time. Do you want some tea?”
Sweetie wrinkled her nose. “No, this is fine.”
“Hmm. I think I’ll have some.” Taking the kettle, she walked over to the sink, filling it with water. “I couldn’t sleep, so I was putting the finishing touches on the order for Appleloosa.” She couldn’t prevent a yawn as she found the tea she was looking for. “Are you certain you don’t want any, Sweetie?”
Sweetie was scraping the last of the leftovers off her plate. “Yeah, I’m sure. I think I’ll try to sleep now.” She placed her dishes in the sink before walking up the stairs, leaving Rarity alone in the kitchen.
Rarity looked down at her white hoof, wondering if there was an easy way to lead Sweetie into a conversation about what was troubling her. Sweetie had been keeping her distance lately, and while Rarity did appreciate the uninterrupted time to do her work, she missed her little sister hanging around, her voice filling the boutique as she sang.
The tea kettle’s whistle pulled her from her thoughts. She pulled a cup from the cabinet and filled it with hot water. She watched the clear turn to a ruddy red and added sugar before walking back up the stairs.
Appleloosa fashion was nothing like Rarity had worked on before. She had made formal dresses more rustic for Applejack, certainly, but these ponies were truly opening a new creative avenue. One mare had asked for a simple dress that she could wear to a rodeo, while a stallion had ordered several thick brown vests made from a cool material. She relished the challenges these creations presented.
The dress was completed, and only needed boxing up, but the vests all needed the final stitch of the design on the back. The rodeo team would certainly get points for flair, if that were a judging category. If only it was, then I could get Applejack to care a little more about how she presents herself. It had taken a while, but finally, the last stitch was made on the last vest.
Rarity scowled at the clock, not wanting to believe it was already past two in the morning. She picked up the empty tea cup and turned out the lights, deciding to pack the garments in the morning. She walked downstairs and dropped her tea cup into the sink. Feeling like she could properly go to bed now, she walked into her bedroom. Grasping the blankets in her light colored magic, she slipped under. She sat up moments later, realizing she hadn’t brushed her teeth after that cup of tea.
She had just slipped her house shoes on when she heard Sweetie Belle’s door open. Light hoofsteps could be heard in the carpeted hall, and the sound of the bathroom door closing. She sat on the bed, prepared to wait a few minutes. A loud splash and a choking sound later, she was in the bathroom.
“Oh, Sweetie,” she said, seeing the younger mare kneeling over the toilet. She ran a cloth under cool water and pressed it to her forehead. “Maybe eating wasn’t such a good idea, after all.” She stroked the pink and purple curls of her sisters mane for a moment, watching the deep breaths. “Do you think that was all?”
With a tense expression, Sweetie glanced over at Rarity. “Umm, yeah. Probably. I’m sorry I woke you.”
“Nonsense. If you’re ill, I will be there to take care of you, darling. Besides, I was still awake.” Pushing Sweetie’s bangs out of her face, Rarity felt her forehead. “Still no fever. Hmm, hopefully this is just a small bug.”
Sweetie stood to her feet, not meeting Rarity’s eyes. “Heh. Yeah. Probably. Umm, I’m going to brush my teeth now.”
Poor dear. Hopefully she’ll be better by tomorrow. I would hate for her to have to stay here while I go to Appleloosa.
Sweetie Belle picked at her hayburger and fries. “So, you’re still leaving tomorrow, right?” she asked, looking up at Rarity.
Rarity nodded. “Yes, darling. Well, we’re going to Appleloosa.”
Pushing a fry through some ketchup, Sweetie bit her lip. “I don’t want to go. Can’t I just stay here?”
“Why don’t you want to go?” Rarity looked down at the half-eaten food. “Are you still feeling sick?”
Sweetie nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be okay. I’m sure Apple Bloom and Scootaloo will come by and keep me company. We uhh, we were going to go ‘crusading’ again,” she said, using air quotes. “You know, for old times sake, before we get the center up and running.”
Rarity frowned, but didn’t push the subject. Perhaps she’s just trying to show her independence. After all, many foals find apprenticeships after receiving their cutie marks. Those three were just so unique. Clearing her throat, Rarity nodded. “You’re all but a grown mare. I think I can trust you to stay by yourself for a week.”
Taking a deep breath, she shifted in her seat. This was half your reason for this. Go on and ask her. “Sweetie, I would like to ask you something.” The almost fearful expression on Sweetie Belle’s was not what Rarity had expected, but she didn’t let that stop her now that she was finally asking. “Are you certain this isn’t about something else?”
Sweetie blinked, her face losing all expression. “W-What are you talking about?” Her voice squeaked on that last word.
So, something is troubling you. “Your stomach trouble. You’re upset that our parents haven’t been, well, around for you, aren’t you?” Rarity placed her hoof on Sweetie’s as the younger girl sat back in her seat, letting out a held breath. “I can talk to them.”
With a small, genuine smile, Sweetie Belle shook her head. “I have you, Rares. That’s all that really matters.”
“Oh, you,” Rarity said, squeezing Sweetie’s hoof. “I love you, too.”