11:59...teddybear
12:00...teddybear
1:00...teddybear
2:00...teddybear
4:00...teddybear
7:00...teddybear,
....zzzz
“Oh? What’s this doing out here?” Sweetie jolted out of her sleep, startled as she looks to the teddybear. Sure enough, Rarity was holding it up in her magic, head turning to look into her room quizzically.
“What are you doing up at this hour on a Saturday, and why is your toy in the hallway?” Tilting her head, Rarity slowly stepped inside as Opalescent skulked past.
“Uh well...” Going cross eyed, Sweetie tried to think of how to explain it. Because she was so busy trying to explain it, it was a long time before an important detail finally slipped into her mind. Eyes widening, her voice broke into a higher octave.
“Wait, SATURDAY?!” As Rarity nodded, Sweetie pivoted, looking out the window. Sure enough, there were signs of ponies she didn’t recognise walking past, and shops weren’t open so ponies could take their weekends off. Mouth falling open, she stood there as a feeling built inside her, before finally bursting.
“IT’S SATURDAY!” Jumping around the room, she brought Rarity into a tear filled hug, laughing. She was free! She didn’t know how, and she didn’t know why, but she was free! Now she’d be able to do that homework! She could get her friends their Cutie Marks! She could-
“Sweetie... Fine I won’t ask, but if you’re going to be up this early, you’re making your own toast. I’m going back to bed. I was up all night working on an order.” Giving a yawn, Rarity put the teddybear back in the hallway, and turned right, heading for her room.
Excited, Sweetie danced around the room. What should she do first? Cutie Marks? Cutie Marks. Yes, and then...oh her homework! And then she should try getting her Cutie Mark. Yes, this sounded like the perfect plan. What could go wrong?
“My name is Sweetie Belle. I have a big sister called Rarity, she’s an Element of Harmony, Generosity. How neat is that? Oh, right right. My parents are Hondo Flanks, and Cookie Crumbles. But I don’t see them that often...” Ears flopping down, Sweetie thought about that. Why was it that they rarely came home?
Shaking her head, she discarded such thoughts, “I don’t know who our ancestors are or anything like Apple Bloom, but I have my sister, and my parents. I love them very much. I would not be who I am today without them. Which is why, I composed a song for everyone today.” Putting a hoof to her chest, Sweetie smiled at her friends, and began to sing.
The song was soft, and quiet, and yet easily heard. As her voice swept around the room, her horn sparked, and lit up. Voices soon joined in her chorus, the very room beginning to sing. Even Diamond Tiara was unable to resist joining in the crescendo of ponies. Each one a celebration of their histories, of their pasts, of their family.
Opening her eyes, Sweetie’s song faded from their ears, but still stirred within their hearts. A bright flash turned her head, and she saw the mark on her flank. Staring at it, it all made sense to her now. This was who she was. She wasn’t a singer, no that wasn’t what the mark meant, though it was through song she had discovered it.
“You got your Cutie Mark!” Looking to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, Sweetie smiled joyfully, and walked over, the three embracing in a hug.
“I did,” she spoke, in tears.
‘And you will too.’ The very thought brought her to an all-time high, so overcome with emotion she found herself unable to speak. They would all get their Marks on the same day, sealing their friendship.
“Today is your day Sweetie. Whatever you want to do after class, we’ll do it!” Scootaloo’s wings buzzed excitedly.
It truly was.
Starswirl stared at the bed she slept on, before leaping onto it and sitting down. Tail swishing, his paw touched the air, it seeming to shimmer briefly.
“There you are,” he spoke, pawing through the shimmering. With a small burst of his meager magic, the room darkened, flashing briefly to a greyed out room, Sweetie on the bed, staring at the teddybear. Fading, he turned his head, to where the teddybear still sat in the hallway.
“She is experimenting.” Swishing his tail, he leapt off the bed, and left the room.