Packed Bags
I felt my head hit something cold and hard. I opened my eyes. Everything was a blur for a moment, but then my eyes focused. They focused on the clock. One o' six! If I slept in that long, that meant Sweetie Belle had made breakfast hours ago! How had I let myself sleep in! I tried to stand up. I suddenly realized my hooves were higher than my head. I lifted my head and looked up. I realized I had fallen out of bed last night. At least Sweetie Belle hadn't noticed this time. At least, I think she didn't. I carefully stood up.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggggg!
I groaned. My alarm clock now read 9:05- just when I wanted to get up. My head must have been upside down before, causing me to panic. Stupid nightmare.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggggg!
I sighed and hit the alarm clock. It stopped ringing.
Stupid early morning drow-
What was I doing? A lady never talks (or thinks) like that! The early morning has caused me fatigue. With my fatigue, I couldn't think straight. Mother would certainly take me to a-
No, Mother didn't know. And she wasn't going to.
I grabbed my hair brush and stroked it through my mane. I took my curlers out of my saddlebag. At least Sweetie didn't know that secret. I stepped into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I then realized I was stalling. I had to stop Sweetie Belle before she burnt yet another perfectly good breakfast. And I couldn't let that happen, not with winter here. I had to admit, every crumb was valuable these days. I rushed downsairs. Sweetie Belle heard me. She looked up. She started with a giggle, and then a snort.
"Sweetie Belle! Such rude behavior!" I scolded her. She looked down in shame.
"Sorry Rarity," she mumbled.
I saw my reflection in the window. I took the curlers out of my mane and sent them back upstairs and into their box.
"You have to curl your hair?" Sweetie giggled.
So much for that still being a secret.
"No," I said, running a list of excuses through my head. "It just helps keep my mane soft."
She just giggled.
"Now Sweetie Belle let me cook breakfast. I appreciate your... effort, but with winter here and so many snowstorms, we can't afford to waste a single crumb," I said to her as I took out the ingredients for breakfast.
I looked at them for a moment and put them away. We had one egg left, and some dried apples Applejack had given me in exchange for a coat. I sighed and cooked the egg. I hoped Sweetie Belle liked apples, because after this egg, that's all we'd be having this winter. I shivered at the thought.
I served breakfast. Sweetie Belle ate her half of the egg and suddenly said, "Hey look Rarity! It's snowing!"
"Why don't you go out with Applebloom and Scootaloo?" I asked. "Just be back by lunch."
"Okay!" Sweetie Belle started walking out the door.
"Actually Sweetie Belle," I called. She turned. "Ask if you can stay for lunch."
"Okay, sis!" she raced out the door before I had the chance to say anything else. I sighed and stared cleaning up. I finally had some peace and quiet. Once the kitchen was clean (most of the mess had been made by Sweetie Belle) I sat down on the couch and pulled out my Dream Diary (different than my regualar diary- thanks to Sweetie Belle finding it).
Same dream as always. I fear it means something, but I'm not sure what. I'd tell Mother, but you know her. More doctors and more tests, and as a bonus, more arguments. I fear it is getting serious, but I know not who to tell. Twilight would probably do the same thing as Mother; more tests no doubt. Fluttershy would try and convince me to tell someone, and Rainbow... I honestly don't know what she'd do. Same with Applejack. Pinkie Pie would probably go on and on about one dream or another of hers. I guess it's better to leave it a secret. I really hope we don't go-
My pen streaked across the page as the door banged open. I quickly shut and hid my book. Wow, had I really been writing for hours? I had kept stopping, but still, did it really take hours for me to write a single paragraph? I felt (and unfortunately heard) my stomach rumble. I blushed, and unfortunately it was very noticable on my snowy white coat. (How silly of me, there was nopony else in the room!) I hadn't eaten since breakfast, and it was already 2:15! (At least the clock wasn't upside down this time.)
"Rarity?" Sweetie Belle called. "Rarity, where are you?"
"I'm in here, Sweetie Belle!" I raced into the kitchen. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"No," said she said glumly.
I took out a knife and started neatly cutting two pieces of dried apple.
"Lunch!" I called, and she raced in. Sweetie Belle stared down at the apple.
"Rarity?" she asked. "What's this?"
"A piece of dried apple," I replied, taking a lady-like bite.
"I don't want it," Sweetie whined.
"Sweetie Belle, I know these aren't the best of circumstances, but we'll have to make due," I told her sternly. "Besides, this is what Applebloom's having, would you really be that rude about it there or would you eat it?"
"Eat it," she sighed and took a small bite.
"Plus, Applejack gave it to me," I coaxed. She took another small bite. And another. And another.The apple slice was gone in about three seconds.
"More please?" Sweetie Belle asked hopefully.
"Sorry Sweetie Belle, we don't have much and we want to make it last," I told her.
"But I'm still hungry," she complained.
"We have to make it last," I told her through clenched teeth. She sighed and got out her boots.
"What are you doing Sweetie Belle?" I asked her abruptly.
"I'm going outside. There's nothing for me to do anymore!" she complained.
I symathized with her. I knew it was hard, not being able to do anything except play in the snow. Hopefully, we didn't have another winter like this for a while.
"Go ahead," I told her. "I'm going to go work on my winter line."
She ran outside. I sat back and sighed, not wanting to get up. So I didn't. I just sat back and thought.
I knew why I kept having the dream, but I didn't know how to make it stop. I was afraid we'd go hungry, and that fear just kept growing. I knew I should tell someone, but I didn't know who.
I suddenly sat up. I had a burst of inspiration, and I didn't want to let it go to waste. Since there were no dishes to clean, I went right into the Inspiration Room. I took out a fresh sheet of paper and started drawing. The pen stroked swiftly across the page.
"There!" I sighed in satisfaction. "Perfect!" I neatly folded up the paper and put it in my folder. I stared at it for a second and then grabbed the page out of the folder. My horn glowed as I took out fabric. I started working on the dress. I was still working when the door banged open.
"Sweetie Belle! Don't slam the door!" I called.
"Sorry Rarity!" she called. "What's for dinner?"
"This," I replied, scurrying into the kitchen and cutting to more slices of dried apple.
I expected Sweetie Belle to complain and say "Again?" but she just ate it greedily. She then got up and ran upstairs. I just shrugged and went back to the Inspiration Room. Surprisingly enough, especially with such an intricate design, I finished the dress that night. Along with a gorgeous nightgown and matching slippers. Of course, I hate to admit it, but finishing those was just an excuse to keep me from going to bed that night. Funny, isn't it? The dream had gotten so bad I tried not to go to bed. Last time this happened Sweetie Belle told me to talk to Scootaloo. I refused, but now I wonder...
Why did winter have to be so hard?
When I woke up the next morning (I guess I did go to bed last night, but I hardly remember), I was sitting up leaning against the bed. I looked at the clock. 6:30. The dream had woken me up. No doubt if I fell back asleep I'd have the dream again. Nonetheless, I climbed back into bed, after all, I had a late night last night.
"'Rarity?' Sweetie Belle asked sleepily.
'Yes, Sweetie Belle?' I answered as we walked into the kitchen.
'What's for breakfast?' she replied. I opened the pantry. It was glaringly empty. I heard laughter. I turned around. All around me the empty cabinets were open and... laughing. All of a sudden, Sweetie Belle's limp body crumpled to the ground and disappeared.
'Sweetie Belle?' I asked carefully. 'Sweetie Belle!'
"I am here, Rarity."
'Sweetie Belle? I can't see you!'
"I know."
'Why can't I see you?'
"Because I am gone."
'Gone What do you mean gone? Gone as in...'
"Yes, Rarity. But I will let you see me one last time."
A glowing body appeared. Sweetie Belle! But then she disappeared, Princess Luna in her place.
'Princess Luna,' I gasped.
"Rarity, this is a dream."
'It... it is? Sweetie Belle's alive?'
"Yes."
'Good.' I sighed of relief.
"To survive this weather you will have to take charge!"
'What... what do you mean?' I asked as Luna started to fade.
"Take a stand!!!"
I woke up, breathing heavily. I sighed. It was time to get up, and I knew I had to do something about the dream. I ran downstairs.
"AACHOO!!!" I heard Sweetie Belle sneeze.
"Sweetie Belle?" I asked cautiously.
"Ya Wawidy?" I heard her say. (I guess that means "Yeah, Rarity?")
"Are you okay?" I said.
"I wus ha go'en wah Abbwbwoom 'as," she muttered. (I must have gotten what Applebloom has.)
"Applebloom is sick?" I asked, alarmed. "Then why have you been going over?"
"Gauze shis my frien'," she replied. (Because she's my friend.)
It took me a second to understand her. "But you should have told me!"
"Yuh woh a' dowd we noh do guh!" (You would have told me not to go!)
"It would have been for your own good! I love you, and I don't want anything to happen to you!" I cried.
Sweetie Belle looked teary for a minute, then muttered, "Sowwy Wawidy."
That surprised me. I had thought it would take more than that for an apology. Sweetie Belle came over to me.
"Why don't you go back to bed?" I asked, and motioned upstairs. "Go on, I'll bring you breakfast."
Too tired to argue, Sweetie Belle slowly walked upstairs. I sighed. Maybe Princess Luna was right. I knew I had to do something, but I wasn't sure what.
"Wawidy?" Sweetie Belle asked. She was standing at the bottom of the steps. "I'b hubgy."
"I'll get you food in a minute. I have to check the mail first. Mother and Father haven't written us yet," I told her.
"Wu o zay?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Wha- oh! Where are they?" Sweetie Belle nodded. "They're in Zebrica on vacation to avoid the cold," I explained.
"Oh." At least she could say "oh"!
I got on my coat and walked outside. I grabbed the mail and ran back in.
"Bills; bills; bills; bills; oh, a check; another check; a letter from Fancy Pants... a letter from Mother and Father!" I set everything else down.
The letter read:
Dear Rarity and Sweetie Belle,
Greetings from Zebrica! We are having a blast here, and we still invite you to come join us! On the front of this postcard is our hotel. We have taken the tour of the town we're staying in. Did you know it was around before Nightmare Moon, and even before Discord? It's the oldest town in the world!
We miss you two. Sweetie Belle, have you had a chance to play in the snow yet? Rarity, how's your winter line going? We'd love to hear back from you!
Love,
Mother and Father
There was no doubt Father had written the letter. I could tell by the more relaxed hoofwriting, and Mother's letter would be more like this:
Dear Rarity and Sweetie Belle,
Hello, my daughters! I have finally arrived in Zebrica. Rarity, have you sent me my check? You know a lady cannot forget things like that. After all, I bought the Boutique for you, you are old enough now to understand you must pay me back.
Sweetie Belle, have you kept up with your studies? And have you made any more of those delicious pancakes? My mouth waters just thinking of them. I'm so proud of you for learning how to cook! You always make us the most delicious meals! Unlike Rarity, who just makes cereal.
I hope to see you shortly.
-Mother
Ugh! And she'd just tell Father to write his own!
I gave Sweetie Belle her lunch and then plopped down on the coach to think.
I couldn't stay here, not with this cold and without food. Applejack had written a family member for help, but there's nobody in my family who would be willing to come help. Besides, even if they would, that wouldn't solve our weather problem. I could always make Sweetie Belle and I coats, but then I'd fall behind with the rest of my work. Sure, I could make them at night, but I was already lacking sleep. With the dream and all my worries mixed in, I was having trouble falling asleep at night. Staying up all night would just make matters worse. And I already had a coat, not a very good one, but still a coat. And I wasn't sure a coat was what I needed. What we needed. No, I think I know what to do.
Dear Mother and Father...
...Thank you for your postcard. It sure cheered Sweetie Belle up, considering how down she is as she can't play outside. She is sick. We are very cold and hungry, and we would like very much to join you in Zebrica. We hope your invitation is still valid.
Sincerely,
Rarity
Hi Mommy and Daddy,
I miss you and I love you. I hope you are having fun. I am sick. My friends and I haven't gotten a chance to crusade in this weather. :(
Love,
Sweetie Belle
I enclosed the letters in an envelope. I put the envelope in the mailbox. I sighed. All I had to do was wait.
"Raridy?" Sweetie Belle asked. It was a few days later. Sweetie Belle was already getting better.
"Yes, Sweetie?" I asked.
"I'b bored," she said.
"I'm sorry Sweetie Belle, I can't help you with that. I'm terribly busy with my work. Bundles of ponies have requested winter coats, and I'm very behind on my work!" I told her.
"Ogay," she sighed.
"Sorry," I said. She just slowly walked up the stairs.
DING DONG
I jumped. I turned off my sewing machine and walked to the door.
"Who's there?" I asked.
"It's me," Applejack's voice said.
"Applejack! Come in," I opened the door.
"Are our coats ready yet? It's getting colder every day," Applejack told me as she sat down with a mug of hot chocolate.
"Careful, it's hot," I warned. "And yes, I have them right here." I went into the Inspiration Room and picked up the coats. I went back in and handed them to her. "How's Applebloom?"
"She's getting better, now that we have something to eat. Apple Brown Betty saved us, I can tell you that," Appleack said as she took a sip from her mug.
"That's good. I have enough food for now," I lied. We were running out, so I was giving the food to Sweetie Belle.
"Then why are your cupboards bare? You're lying," Applejack accused. "Come buy some food."
"I can't. We don't have enough money, I get just enough money each month to pay Mother back. Not nearly enough is left for me to do other things, too," I told her.
"Then I'll give you some," Applejack said firmly.
"No, that's quite all right," I assured her. "I have enough to make sure Sweetie Belle has her fill, I just don't have much left over."
"That's why you look so pale!"
"I'm always pale," I giggled. "My coat is white."
"How's Sweetie?" Applejack asked.
"She's recovering, too," I told her.
"Good," Applejck sighed.
"But she's terribly bored," I said.
"That's too bad."
"Yeah."
We sat, deeply in thought for a moment, then Applejack said, "Well, I better go. My family needs these coats!"
"See you later," I called as she walked out the door. I sighed. I wasn't ready to tell my friends we might be going away for the winter. But I knew I had to at some point. I just had to figure out how.
Dearest Rarity,
Thank you for your letter! We deeply appreciate it. Of course you may come to Zebrica, you poor things! (Your mother says you don't have to pay her during these cold winter months.) Is Sweetie Belle any better? We hope she is up to the trip! We love and miss you! See you soon!
Love,
Mother and Father
Enclosed were two train tickets. I smiled. We were escaping the winter!
"...and you see, well, Sweetie Belle and I are going away!" My frieds gasped. I had been rambling on and on about nothingness, but I had finally mustered up the courage to tell them. "We are leaving tomorrow morning," I finally said.
"You are?" a small voice said. I turned and saw Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom standing in the middle of the room.
"Applebloom! Were you eavesdropping?" Applejack scolded.
"Sorry big sis, we couldn't help overhearing," Applebloom apologized.
"We're going away?" Sweetie Belle shrilled. Uh oh. This was not how I had planned to break the news to her. "Rarity! You didn't tell me!"
"I'm sorry Sweetie Belle, but we have to! We're running out of supplies!"
Sweetie Belle gasped. "Why didn't you tell me?"
I lowered my head in shame. "I didn't want to scare you," I said.
"Oh," Sweetie Belle muttered.
"I'm sorry," I cried.
It was the next day. Our bags were packed and we were at the train station. The time was 8:07. The train was supposed to be here at 7:30. It was delayed because of the snow.
"I can't believe it's late," I grumbled.
"I'm cold," Sweetie Belle whined.
"But on your jacket," I snapped. I was getting impatient. My friends looked at each other.
Chugga-chugga. Chugga-chugga.
We heard a train in the distance.
Chugga-chugga. Chugga-chugga.
"It must be time to go," I said.
Chugga-chugga. Chugga-chugga.
Sweetie Belle started crying.
Chugga-chugga. Chugga-chugga.
Everyone started hugging.
"Ick!" Scootaloo cried.
CHOO CHOO!!!
The train had arrived.
"All aboard!" The conductor called.
"I guess this is it," I sighed. "I guess this is goodbye." A tear roled down my cheek.
"It's only for the winter," Twilight tried to reassure me. But she couldn't. She was crying too hard. We all were.
"Well... I'll see you girls later?" I asked.
"Yep," Rainbow said. Even her eyes were teary.
Sweetie Belle and I walked slowly towards the train.
"DON'T FORGET TO WRITE!!!" Pinkie screamed.
That was all it took. I broke down. My makeup was running, but I didn't care.
Fluttershy walked over. "It'll be okay," she whispered. But I could tell not even she believed that.
After a long and sad goodbye, Sweetie Belle and I were on the train. Sweetie Belle was writing... a song, I guess, as she tried to sing it to me; and I was thinking.
Once I got the tickets from Mother and Father the dream stopped. Why? Because I did what Princess Luna said to. She was right. "Take charge."
I knew it was sad, but I also knew it was the right thing to do. That didn't mean it didn't hurt.
I learned a valuable lesson from that experience. Do what you think is right. Take charge of a situation. Of course, that’s not the only important thing. Spending time with your friends is also important. And no matter how much leaving them hurts, they’ll always be there for you, wherever you are. I guess it’s the same thing with parents. And even though I dealt with the dream by myself, Mother had a right to know.
When the train finally stopped, we ran right to Mother and Father. A big hug for Mother, a big hug for Father.
It was time.
“Mother? I want to tell you about this dream I’ve been having…”
And then I knew everything was going to be just fine.