//------------------------------// // L6A // Story: Happily Loopy After // by FaelaArts //------------------------------// “Sweetie belle, wake up it’s time for school...”Mumbling in her sleep, Sweetie turned over in her bed, rolling out of it. Falling to the floor with flailing limbs, she blinked her eyes open, and then rubbed them groaning. “I’m coming, I’m coming...” Almost in a half-daze, she went through the daily routine, making herself some breakfast, not realising that Rarity wasn’t making pancakes. It was only, after washing her plate clean, that her mind finally clicked, and she blinked, tilting her head, confused. “Oh no...Has the looping time gotten shorter?” Putting a hoof to her chest as a throb of fear laces through it, Sweetie dashed around the house in circles, indecision causing her to panic. Finally, she dashed into Rarity’s room, seeing her sister asleep, and quickly woke her up. “Rarity! What day is it!?” Her voice was high pitched, trying to keep the blind panic from her voice. “The weekend, now let me sleep,” grumbled Rarity, puffing her sister away as she turned her back to Sweetie. A relieved breath passed Sweetie’s lips. Whew, the loop hadn’t gotten shorter. Wait.... “WEEKEND!?” “Ooooh what a glorious moooorning~” Sweetie sung cheerfully as she bounced down the street, unable to hide her blatant joy over it being the weekend. Somehow she had gotten out, she was free! There were no tears coming from her eyes, nope. She’d just been...chopping onions! Yeah! Her bouncing came to a stop mid-air, eyes opening to notice Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walking down the street, heads hung low. For the second time that day, Sweetie felt her heart clutched in a vice, and she landed roughly, rolling and scraping her knee. Wincing, she sat up, and looked to it, it was bleeding too, she couldn’t avoid chopping more onions because of it. “Hey...Sweetie...are you ok?” The two approached hesitatingly, as if the very act of them speaking would cause them to suddenly poof into ash. Turning, Sweetie looked to them, guilty, and then looked away. “Uh...y-Yeah I’m fine...Thanks for asking...” Wiping away her onion tracks, she widens her eyes as Apple Bloom reached into her saddlebags, and pulls out a band-aid. It takes some fiddling, but she manages to place it over the scrape. Glancing to them, Sweetie’s eyes widened, suppressed. They were being nice, after what she said? “There you go...” The two share a glance, and then begin to leave. Sweetie raises a hoof, standing up and trying to stop them. “Wait!” They stop, and Sweetie lowers her hoof, looking away, ears flopping down. “I...I know it’s not anything to make up for it but...I’m sorry for what I said...” A part of her mind knew there was no way mentioning she’d thought they’d not remember it was not a wise idea. Them believing her about time loops? Unlikely. Heck; impossible. They look to her sadly, and a single word leaves their lips. “Why?” Looking down, Sweetie answers in a whisper. “At first, it was to get dirt on Diamond...but I found out she’s a good pony underneath in the process...I know I should have told you, but I acted without thinking, and...I’m sorry.” She closes her eyes, head hung, knowing words would not earn her friends forgiveness. Despite the odds, she feels herself embraced in a strong hug. “We forgive you.” “What are friends for?” They both smile sadly, obviously far from taking this incident, and forgetting it. But such wounds would heal with time. Heart melting, Sweetie closed her eyes, once more peeling some onions as she holds them tight. This had almost cost her her friends, and yet, there was one thing she had to do. “Come on. It’s time to end this silly feud with Diamond Tiara.” Leaning back, she smiles at their doubtful gazes. “You’ll just have to trust me here.” The doorbell rang, and as Diamond answered it, expecting Silver Spoon, her eyes widened in shock, seeing the CMC. Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, she fully expected Sweetie to pull out the diary, and betray her. Already, she began to steel her heart. And yet, she was wrong. “Diamond, it’s time to tell Apple Bloom what you really want to say to her.” Stepping inside, Sweetie put a hoof on Diamond’s shoulder encouragingly, and stepped to her side, looking to her friends. “If you can make me care about you, you can do it with them. This is your chance, just take it.” Looking to the two crusaders, Diamond couldn’t help but sneer. Chance with them? Why should she? They’d never cared about her before! Her mouth opened, already preparing a sharp retort, ready to discard the two, and demand Sweetie pick a side. However, her mind went back to the sleepover, and she paused. That night had been...fun. It’d been so long, she’d almost forgotten what it felt like. Was it really something she could just earn with a few words, as Sweetie stated? Her gaze went to the filly, seeing the encouraging, accepting smile. What if this was just a trick, so they could bully her once more? Her eyes narrowed once more. There was no way this was anything but a trick. Breathing out a sigh, Diamond closed her eyes, ears flopping downward. And yet... “Apple Bloom. I’m sorry for teasing you. It wasn’t right, I know that. I still did it anyway. I wanted to make myself feel better, at any cost. Besides, after the Cute-ceañera, it was all I had left to keep me from leaving this school forever, you really made everyone hate me. It hurt, knowing my money was the only way they’d hang with me now.” Eyes opening, she looked to the two shocked faces, and sighed. “Now go on, tease me for having feelings. I deserve it.” She braced herself, standing tall and ready. They would not see her cry. They would not see her shake. She was a Diamond. Unbreakable, unflawed, unremarkable...No! Focus! Blinking back to reality, Diamond watches as the two began to speak. “While I don’t condone what you did, I do believe in second chances. And if Sweetie is willing to give you one, so am I.” Stepping forward, Apple Bloom offered a hoof. “I...don’t know. I’m going to need time to think on this.” Scootaloo looked away, glancing to her wings. Diamond winced. “That’s...more than I deserve,” she admitted. Hesitating for a moment, she reached out for Apple Bloom’s hoof, taking it, and giving it a small shake. Smiling, Sweetie watched this, and let out a relieved breath. Sometimes, time could heal all wounds.