Cutie Mark Crusader: Agent Sweetie Belle

by Unknown Ficwriter

Down The Rabbit Hole

Deciding to continue their conversation in comfort, they sat down on the nearest bench. "So let me get this straight Sweetie Belle, you're a unicorn sent from a place called Equestria to help me? Why, what makes me more important than any other person," Joyce replied incredulously.

"I'm not sure, all I know is that I was brought here and my necklace has designated you the one I need to help," Sweetie Belle replied.

A hint of skepticism lined her question, "I see but do you really expect me to believe in magic?" Sweetie Belle shot her a hurtful expressive.

"I'm a talking unicorn, how much more proof of magic do you need," Sweetie Belle countered. Unable to look into her puppy dog eyes, Joyce explained that the presence of a living unicorn wasn't a strange occurrence in her world. Furthermore, she surmised that Sweetie Belle's ability to speak was due to a successful genetic breakthrough.

"Genetic breakthrough? What's that?" The sincerity of Sweetie Belle's inquiry caused Joyce to whip her head around to stare in bewilderment. She studied the filly with new intrigue, ignoring the nervous chuckle from the newly-deemed specimen. Up to this moment, she thought Sweetie Belle was just messing with her.

Her question and tone though caused her to reevaluate her assumption while drawing ever closer to the filly. An uneasiness grew as a crazed gleam shone in Joyce's eyes. She seemed oblivious to her discomfort as she continued to inch closer to her face.

Bumping against the armrest, Sweetie squeaked out against her intrusive proximity. Giving a generic dismissal, she stopped her intrusive advancement with an inch in between them. "Interesting: absent pigmentation in the eyes, unusual eye coloring, overly dilated pupils, and..." Sweetie Belle's scowling face was the last thing she saw before the side of her face was struck hard by some unforeseen object.

Rubbing her left cheek, Joyce swiveled around in search of the assailant. After a few moments, she realized that they were the only two in the vicinity. Confused, she turned her gaze back to Sweetie Belle and immediately noticed that something had changed. Rubbing her eyes in dismay, she refocused her sight upon the small unicorn.

It wasn't a huge change but enough to warrant her attention. Around her pearly white horn, a light greenish glow had formed. Entranced by the swirling vortex, her mind raced to comprehend what she was seeing. A silent awkwardness consumed them as they stared at each other.

Without warning, a mixed gasp of surprise and awe filled the air as Joyce came to the only viable solution. A loud slap sounded as she brought her hands to her cheeks rather forcefully. Baffled, Sweetie Belle tried to formulate a reason for her erratic behavior. "I can't believe it, it's impossible but there's no other explanation. Your actually magic, a magical talking unicorn," she breathlessly chanted.

Smiling, Sweetie Belle looked on as the irrefutable proof of magic broadened Joyce's horizon. "Do you believe me now," she asked.

"Definitely but why did you resort to violence to prove your point," Joyce replied as she absentmindedly rubbed her reddening cheek. Slightly embarrassment, she explained that when her vocal discomfort was apparently ignored. She had to resort to more drastic measures.

Devastated at hearing the reason, she skulked to the opposite side of the bench. Pulling her knees up, while her head drooped until resting upon them. Facing away from Sweetie Belle, tears began to form in her eyes as she silently chastised herself.

Witnessing the unintentional degradation that befell Joyce, Sweetie Belle leaped to her side. Despite her shrinking away from the contact, Sweetie Belle kept her hoof on her shoulder. With concern laced in her words, she asked Joyce what was wrong.

"I'm sorry Sweetie Belle, I didn't mean to do that," she bewailed without turning to face the filly.

A slew of questions bombarded her mind yet one towered over the rest. "What do you mean," she requested.

"I get fixated on things that pique my interest, however, I unintentionally objectifying people if they are the subject of my curiosity. It's a habit that has ostracized me from my classmates," she spoke lightly. A soft clop filled the air as the hoof resting on Joyce's shoulder hit the wooden planks.

An involuntary shiver slithered up her spine as she listened. Cold isolation, believed long buried, slowly saturate Sweetie Belle's mind as her early foalhood resurfaced. Yet, as harsh memories were about to sample her despair, a ray of light parted the clouds. Mirroring its effect, a warm smile spread across her lips.

A startled gasp shattered the silence as Joyce turned to see Sweetie Belle hugging her side. Returning a rather awkward smile as their eyes met. "I'll be your friend," she chirped happily. As those words filled her ears, Joyce's heart danced to a mixed tune of relief and joy.

Yet, as the heart rejoiced, her mind stewed in turmoil. "Why would you still want to be my friend? I invaded your personal space and reduced your very being to a mere container of magic," The words fluttered past her lips as dreary tears flowed down her cheeks.

"The fact that you apologized and displayed regret means that it was an involuntary action. Besides everyone deserves a friend," Sweetie Belle replied while tightening her hug. Overcome with emotion, Joyce nervously rested her hand atop her head.

Believing to have taken the first steps in becoming a more socially accepted individual, a joyful grin graced her lips. Not wanting to abandon the warm feeling that has long eluded her, she refused to interrupt the moment. Unfortunately, the sudden chime of a bell forced the undesired decision.

Breaking apart, Sweetie Belle asked what the bell signified. In a dejected tone, she informed her that it was the warning bell for class. Guessing the follow-up, she added that her class was about hydraulic machinery. "Hydraulic machinery? what's that" Sweetie Belle asked.

The perplexed expression on her face led Joyce to assume that Equestria wasn't as technologically advanced as they were. "Historyydraulic machines are constructs that range from simple in design to complex. They require liquid fluids to function and perform several tasks quicker than we could.

Intrigued, Sweetie Belle inquired if she could accompany her to class. Although gaining interdimensional knowledge influenced her curiosity. It was the chance to observe Joyce's interactions and formulate a possible solution that solidified her decision.

"I guess you could sneak in but you'll have to be quiet," she warned. Nodding in agreement, they got up and headed toward her classroom. However, Sweetie Belle let out a startled gasp as they approached the exit. Beyond the wide arched exit, she glimpsed Ivory floors, white painted cinder blocked walls, and white ceilings.

A big rectangular bulletin board, titled events, was attached to the opposite wall. The board itself had several pieces of parchment of varying size and color pinned to it. A sort of light seemed to pour out of narrow container looking things that hung from the ceiling. "Where are we, I thought we were outside," Sweetie Belle confessed.

"This is my school, the section we just left is called an arboretum. Although it looks like a forest, it's actually a place where students can go to relax or complete their schoolwork in serenity," she explained. Sweetie Belle was flabbergasted that Joyce's school housed such an area. Several distant voices interrupted her as she was about to ask another question.

Joyce inhaled sharply as the chattering voices grew louder. Worried that they would spot Sweetie Belle, she knelt in front of the filly. Doing her best to obscure their line of sight, she pretended to tie her shoes. Fortunately, the group of students didn't seem to notice Sweetie Belle as they walked past.

Only after their voices faded down the hall did Joyce exhale a sigh of relief. "That was close, the last thing I need is for someone to see you." Tilting her head slightly to the side, Sweetie Belle asked if non-humans were forbidden to be here. With a nervous chuckle, she informed the filly that they were allowed to bring pets so long as they were properly trained.

Sweetie Belle scrunched her face at the insinuation as Joyce stated that none of them owned a unicorn. "I am not a pet," she stomped her hoof incredulously. The outburst from the otherwise docile filly momentarily caught Jorce off guard.

"I know your not a pet but they don't, in my world certain animals are our pets," Joyce quickly clarified. Her explanation only seemed to anger the filly more as she growled the fact that she knew what a pet was. "Since unicorns were a mythological creature until several years ago. They have been created to be people's pets as well as run free in the wild," she interpreted.

Joyce prepared for another outburst but such occurrence never happened. Instead, Sweetie Belle took a deep breath before bluntly stating that she was going to be late for class. Although her voice seemed calm, Joyce could see a storm brewing behind her shimmering light green eyes. Hoping that sitting in on her class would dull Sweetie Belle's anger, they dash down the hall to class.