Happiness
Sweetie Belle, a young unicorn filly dashed home towards Carousel boutique, rain hitting her hard like needles all over her body. Her small, white hooves struck the hard stone pavement making a long steam of loud clopping sounds that filled the space around her. The heavy, brown saddlebags she was carrying only made the journey home harder.
Looking up, she realised she was on the home-stretch. She was almost there, almost safe.
The whole atmosphere of Ponyville had darkened since it had happened. Buildings where run-down and families where broken. It was terrible to watch Applebloom crumble away as she grieved for her older sister but it was even worse to go to her funeral just a few weeks later. And after Rainbow Dash died, Scootaloo came out about being an orphan, right before she took her own life.
Carousel boutique was also in a terrible state. The place was falling apart and infested with rats and bugs. As grim as it sounded, Sweetie Belle nor Rarity could care less. Animals had families too.
Sweetie looked up again. She had reached home. She sighed with relief and began walking at a slower pace. The five minutes of walking she had just completed had seemed like an eternity but at least it was finally over now.
Using her magic, Sweetie opened the door only to find her sister coming downstairs. Rarity tried to smile but, she couldn't. All emotion had been drained from her. There was nothing to fear. There was nothing to hate. So there was definitely nothing to smile for...
Rarity's coat was grey with dirt. Her once glorious mane was now completely gone, shaved off, leaving only a few purple dots on her head. Her tail was short and messy and her spirit was broken.
"I got the food..." Sweetie Belle said. She took off her saddle bags and immediately collapsed to the floor. She'd only just realised how heavy they where, it was a relief to take them off.
Rarity noticed her sister falling and picked up her pace, floorboards creaking with almost every step she took. "Sweetie! Are you ok?" Rarity asked.
"Yeah..." Sweetie Belle replied. As she stood up, Rarity saw the true cause of the pain. There was a large red mark where the straps had been, a few bits of dried blood where stuck to the fur. Rarity sighed and levitated the bags close to her face. She effortlessly opened them up with her magic and revealed two cupcakes inside. Even though the food was probably weeks old, it was food. Rarity gave her sister a cupcake and took one herself. "Lets go upstairs," she said, "I'll tell you a story!"
"Sounds good..." Sweetie Belle mumbled.
"Sweetie Belle! I order you to put a smile on your face or... I shall tickle you!"
"You wouldn't..."
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
The two sisters argued playfully until Rarity dropped her cake and grabbed Sweetie with her magic using a tickle spell.
"Hey!... Please... Stop!" Sweetie Belle said it between of giggles. Rarity put her down. Even if she couldn't smile, she wanted to make sure her sister could.
***
The two unicorns entered Rarity's bedroom. It too was bare and horrid looking. The only things left in the room where a old mannequin, a broken mirror and a little patchwork quilt for the sisters to sleep on. Sweetie Belle's room was the animal room. It was full of bugs and rats. The small quilt barely kept even one of them warm but, in truth, it was each others love that kept the sisters warm at night.
"Now, my story..." Rarity said, sitting on the quilt. She thought for a few moments, took a bite of cupcake and began.
"There was once a happy princess named Sweetie Belle. She lived in a huge castle with her sister Rarity. Her two best friends, Scootaloo and Apple bloom were lovely angels, sent from heaven. The girls always played with each other, crusading to get their cutie marks. One day, Sweetie Belle was at home when there was a knock at the door. She went to get it and when she opened it, there was the stallion of her dreams! (Of course, she was a mare now!) the stallion and Sweetie Belle quickly fell in love. One day, he whisked her off in a beautiful carriage and they lived happily ever after!"
"Good story sis!" Exclaimed Sweetie Belle, "but, it's to unrealistic..."
"Why? Was it the princess part?"
"No..."
"The stallion?"
"Nope..."
"What then?"
Sweetie Belle paused for a moment before replying, "Only fairy tales have happy endings..."
These words, for some reason, where like blades of ice stabbing Rarity in her heart. Her own sister had confirmed it. There was no happiness anymore. It... It made her feel so... Feel... Rarity had felt... She had felt sadness... Emotions came rushing back into Rarity's head. Fear. Anger. Pain. Confusion. Embarrassment. Happiness...
Yes...
Happiness...
***
Sweetie Belle woke the next morning to the smell of off-cream. She got up, yawned, stretched and finished off her cupcake. Rarity must've been downstairs or, in the bathroom. Sweetie walked up to the bathroom door and knocked three times.
"Rarity?" She said, "Im comin in!" Sweetie walked into the bathroom, her sister wasn't there. Out of all the rooms in the house, the bathroom was the best. The sink was fine, a bit chipped but, fine. The bathtub was like the sink, chipped but working. The rest of the room was bare.
Sweetie filled the sink up with warm water and dunked her face in. She felt slight pain followed by complete bliss as the warm water spread across her bruised face. As she took her head out, she heard her sister call her name. She replied with a simple 'one sec!' Before she wiped her face on a rag and walked downstairs.
When she got into the main room she saw something that... Surprised her...
Rarity.
Brushing her tail.
Smiling...
Smiling a true, innocent smile for the first time since it happened.
"R... Rarity are you...?"
"Yes."
This word made Sweetie Belle fill with joy. Her sister was free. Her sister was happy. Her sister was... Her sister again...
Rarity grabbed Sweetie Belle and pulled her in for a warm embrace. As she did, she looked out the window.
She smiled.
Sun.
Sun for the fist time since it began.
Only fairy tales have happy endings.
That doesn't mean you have to be sad...