“Sweetie Belle, wake up, it’s time for school!” Sweetie leapt out of bed, snatched her saddlebags with a flick of magic, and dashed down the stairs. Giddy with excitement, she rounded the corner and smiled at Rarity.
“Rarity, can I talk to you honestly for a moment?” Sweetie waited as Rarity nodded, and continued. It was important she let the conversation play out the same.
“I’m stuck in a time loop, repeating today until Friday. This is my 11th time doing it, and I know you’re not going to believe me but...I was wondering, what could I do to make you believe me?” Rarity looked amused, but turned to pick up the fabric.
“Alright, I’ll play along, you see this fabric here?” Rarity held out the fabric, and Sweetie smiled, levitating out her piece of the same fabric.
“You mean, the fabric you gave me last loop? Yes, I see it.” Sweetie smiled and held the fabric out, watching Rarity compare them with shocked eyes. Sweetie knew her sister would be able to tell they were the same piece of fabric. How Rarity did so was lost on her, but she knew her sister.
“But-that’s-impossible!” Rarity blinked in confusion, and Sweetie sighed, knowing the signs of a mental breakdown. Pulling a chair over to her sister, she waited patiently as Rarity sat down, and composed herself.
“At midday, a stallion is going to come to the door and offer you a job in Manehattan for a fashion show or something.” Sweetie knew Rarity would need more evidence, and this was her second piece of proof. Rarity scoffed, and waved a hoof.
“Now I know you’re pulling my leg. You almost had me there sister, this is a pretty remarkable fake, but a fake no less.” Rarity smiled and held out the fabric, which Sweetie took. Motioning upstairs, Sweetie smiled.
“Then let me prove it. Half the day off. If I’m wrong I won’t cook for three months. Even when Mum and Dad come to visit.” Sweetie watched as Rarity flinched, and bit her lip. Surely she’d allow half a day? Sweetie had used the perfect bribe too; her cooking skills.
“Alright, half a day. If only to put this silly charade to an end.” Rarity placed down the pancakes, and Sweetie sat down to eat. They weren’t a nice as normal today, it was probably due to the fact she had spend time talking instead of eating. In the future, Sweetie would eat first, then talk. Standing up, she trotted outside and looked to Apple Bloom.
“Go on without me, something came up!” Sweetie saw the relief on her friend’s face, and winced as she left. How much it hurt would always be an understatement. Turning, Sweetie headed up to her room to await for the appointed time. As she waited, she went over her notes, before plopping it all in her saddlebags.
“Sweetie Belle, could you come down here?” Rarity’s voice echoed, containing suspicion and surprise. Sweetie hummed a merry tune as she trotted downstairs to meet her sister. Rarity was, of course, at the door talking to the stallion in question.
“Such a shame, very well, I will get another designer to do the show.” The stallion turned, and left toward the station. Rarity shuddered, before turning and situating a serious gaze on Sweetie.
“We’re going to see Applejack.”
“Ah dun understand how, but Sweetie is tellin’ the truth. I’m guessing she believes it to be true. Has she proved it yet?” Applejak glanced to Rarity as she bit her lip and looked away. Sweetie growled and tapped her foot in the dirt.
“Technically yes, but I’m just having trouble believing it.” Rarity purposely kept her eyes trained on the apple trees, avoiding Sweetie. Seeing a chance, Sweetie smiled and opened her mouth.
“Take me to Twilight, I’ll prove it a third time.” Sweetie waited in irritation as both shared a glance, and nodded. Turning, Sweetie trotted briskly toward Twilight's, leaving the two adults to catch up. Knocking on the door, Sweetie levitated the book out of her bag and thrust it into Twilight’s grip.
“I’m stuck in a time loop. Last loop I asked you to give me proof and here is your proof. Rarity and Applejack can vouch for me, even if they don’t believe it.” Sweetie glanced back, and Rarity winced. Twilight tilted her head, but slowly looked the book over, opening it to the first page. Her wings flared as she gasped.
“This is Yearling’s signature! This is identical to the copy I have that I borrowed from Dash. It’s impossible to get another one because only one exists!” Twilight cut herself off, and raised her head to look at Rarity and Applejack.
“I don't believe it, but Sweetie must be telling the truth. If you both can’t deny her claims, and I know this can't be a copy, there is no way she could be lying.” Twilight held the book out to Sweetie, who took it and nodded smugly. Finally, some progress. Twilight let them all inside, and they sat down to discuss it.
“So, what have you tried so far.” Twilight put her hooves together as Sweetie held out her saddlebags, and began to pore over her notes. After a moment, she looked up and put a hoof to her chin.
“There’s a few experiments we can try, but the major problem is we can’t actually follow you through the loop, is that correct? You have ‘ponies might be able to loop with me’ crossed out with a red underline, along with a skull and crossbones.” Twilight looked down as Sweetie nodded, biting her lip and looking away as she shivered. Sweetie silently hoped they wouldn’t ask about that.
“So the main thing we need to do is get you a means of informing us quickly. I’ll muse over it tonight, meet me back here in the morning. Rarity, Applejack, can you fill the other elements in? We might need them, and it wouldn’t hurt to get them in the loop.” Twilight nodded as both saluted, and stood up. Walking over to Sweetie, she looked her directly in the eyes, and smiled softly.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you out of this.” Twilight brought Sweetie into a hug, and Rarity quickly joined in. Applejack was slow to follow, but eventually all were hugging the small filly. Sweetie closed her eyes, and tried to hold back her tears. Failing to do that, she just hugged them back and began to cry.
“Please, I don’t wanna be stuck doing the same thing week after week. I’m never going to get my Cutie Mark or anything that way!” Sweetie wanted to tell them what she truly feared, what damage that loop had done to her friends, but knew there was more important things to deal with.
As much as it hurt to admit it, Sweetie had to learn to ignore her ex-friends and focus on getting out of the loop. Sure, she’d leave time for Snips and Snails, but she couldn’t bear to hang with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, knowing what she had done.
“We’re with you, don’t worry.”
It was awesome!
I don't really mind this chapter being short (though that's just me personally). There's no need to apologize for it; there are all kinds of outside factors - such as anything involving real life, or having to write chapters for other stories - that could keep you from writing a longer chapter. I personally think this is a good chapter, even if it's not technically a full one; you got through some of the major points that were going to happen this loop, even if it might need a bit of expansion later on.
I give this chapter (and this story) 5/5 Mustaches!
They actually believed her on the first try? THIS IS MADNESS!
And now all we need is some Mimics, and we can turn this into the Equestrian Edge of Tomorrow.
5300741
It Is not Madness. IT. IS. PONIES!!!!!!!!!!!
5300741
Well they do have the Steven Jinks of ponies for the Element of Honesty. Then you have Princess of Books, Super Brain, Twilight Sparkle. So that's already 90X better than most loopers ever get, and goes a long way on the believability curve.
I needs moar
"x-friends" should be "ex-friends"
Pretty cool way to break Sweetie out of school. I would have been sad if Sweetie were to never be able to convince anyone
dont say sorry for bringing us gold
Some Theorizing
There being a mastermind behind the loop is starting to become more and more likely... I initially was confused by how Sweetie's friends rejected her simply for one thing. If people don't remember things after the loop, then how could they have a "feeling" about Sweetie? Furthermore, they died in that loop, withered away by old age to dust, there would be no "feeling" deadened or lack of, to feel. To add further insult to injury, Apple and Scoots are still friends with Diamond and Silver, if we're going by the idea that the "loop restarts everything" then why is this the case? Its puzzling but the most obvious conclusion would be that whoever the "mastermind" is, is trying to break Sweetie's will to fight or, is trying to deter her from breaking the "rules" of the loop. Another thing... the reason Diamond was a bully to them was simply because they were the "new kids" and that they took the "attention away from her" but its just... strange how that this is the case considering they're friends with two of these kids, and they still act like the bullies to Sweetie. Even further insult is how they reject Sweetie entirely based on this feeling, logically, a long standing bond of friends isn't just thrown out due to a "feeling". I suppose all we can do is wait for more information before we can truly get a better grasp on what the rules of the loop are.
Then Sweetie woke up, realizing it was but a dream.
"Come on down Sweetie! I made pancakes!"
Oh no.......
There. Story finished.
....I need more! The suspense is killing me!
5300741 as 5300768 already pointed out, but there is something else. Most loopers just have what they remember. Sweetie Belle however can copy ANYTHING in existance (except ponies) from 1 loop to another by having it on her. Which I find very very strange. The things she 'copies' are not actually copies, they are the originals, made up of the same matter, as far as the universe is concern they are 1 being, in 2 different places at the same time. How can this be? And if they touched, would all of existance explode? And why can she copy anything else, but not ponies? Ponies age instantly in a second, but not objects... why? What does a pony body have differently than any other object? other than lightning in the brain controling everything?
Welp, after more than a month of Sweetie in a loop, she decides to seek much needed external help. I just wonder how many "one of a kind" collectibles she can "keep for future loops".
Something tells me Sweetie might try to use the memory spell that Twilight used on her friends back in season 2. Maybe. And darn not including the CMC with Applejack and causing her brain to fry over. That would have been hilarious to watch.
Yay, you took my advice! Anyways, don't apologize for something so brilliant! Best chapter!
Wait... "...in the loop."
In the loop.
IN THE LOOP.
I somehow doubt that you realized that pun.
A short chapter is fine. 'Cept an extremely short chapter. Anything over a seven hundred fifty words is fine in my oppinion.
5300743 Just watched that tonight actually! Really good movie!
OK, based on your current track record, something tells me there's a "but" or "well shite" moment coming. If there's not a twist I'll be surprised.
Why are they so skeptical, even after the proofs? In their world, problems like that are common. I guess it's because she's a kid.
5302813 sweetie woke up in the morning, having remembered the whole time loop thing. She got up and prepared to hear what she usually heard on a Friday loop. But, instead of hearing "I made your favorite, pancakes" from rarity, she said "why are you up so early, it's Saturday!"
It was all a dream
First
You got AB's TWICE, as well as getting Scoots mark.
Second.
You gave the one of a kind book, that your friend loaned you, to Sweetie Belle. Twilight, your current IQ is ten. You are dumber than a shovel, Sweetie is the filly that could burn water, by accident.
And third
So she knows how bad her cooking is, and blackmails her sister with it. Why would she cook if she knows how awful she is at it? Especially considering she says she won't cook, even if their parents come. So unless if she is trying to kill them, I see no reason for her to cook when they visit.
Woah... Ponies call themselves People. 0.0
And thus the revel begins. The triumph of genius shall cut through the fog of ignorance with its beacon.
Oh, this feels good.
pore, unless she's a water elemental
5361695
Just to be polite, and a good host, probably. You have to consider that.
5361695 I swear our brains are structured the same. Though your probably an older smarter me. If this is true then maybe you already are, or dreaming to be a marine biologist and go into a submarine to explore and discover new species in the depths of the ocean? Or you know, you just use logic the same way I do. Albeit if I am right about the job career idea, that would be freaky.
Unintentional puns are the best puns.
This is such a sad story to read again. In the spirit of "Be Prepared" I am rereading it.
I spotted this
*Applejack
7320296
No, the loops take her to alternate realities that are identical in every way to each other except they started five days later. Applejak is not a typo in the slightest. In fact the entire Apple family was renamed in this one and Sweetie just didn't know it. We know it was Applejak, but did you know Big Mac here is just called Daxter? Yeah, I don't know the rest though.