The sun was shining, the clouds were white, and the cutie mark crusaders were bored. Bored, bored, bored. Laying in their clubhouse they looked at the ceiling; lamenting their boredom.
“Ever since we got our cutie marks there’s nothing to do.”
“Well, Scootaloo, wha’d’ya have in mind? Ain’t no use adventurin’ now.”
“Well,” Sweetie said, “I have an idea.”
“What’s that?” the others asked in unison.
“Lunch.”
“Oh,” they replied sullenly.
“I thought it was somethin’ fun. I don’t wanna eat, not really. We’ve been eatin’ a lot lately.”
“I know,” Sweetie chimed in, “but I’ve been on a diet this week, half portions; now I’m starving.”
“A diet? We’re too young to do that. But, maybe I should; I don’t wanna get fat. I’ve been eating six meals a day since we got our cutie marks, just from boredom,” Scootaloo said as the others groaned.
“Well, Rarity has some party planned tonight, let’s go and eat some food there.”
“Ya mean those fancy vittles? I dunno, Applejack say's they’re all fluff and nothin’ to ‘em.”
“Yeah, I know Rainbow Dash wouldn’t be caught dead there.”
Sweetie giggled. “It’s actually in honor of Rainbow Dash’s flying with the Wonderbolts a few days ago.”
Scootaloo gasped. “I have a great idea! Let’s crash that party.”
“Wow, yer a genius, Scoots.” Apple Bloom’s comment was dripping with sarcasm while Sweetie Belle giggled.
Rolling to their bellies the looked to each other and smiled. “We sure did have some great times here. Maybe we can turn it into something more useful, like an official, international, global Rainbow Dash fanclub!”
With a groan the others turned to leave the nearly empty clubhouse they had once practically lived at.
“C’mon, I think Rainbow Dash would love that idea! Girls, girls!” Scootaloo chased them as they began to gallop, giggling, into the orchard.
The girls walked into Carousel Boutique as the party was under way, having spent the better part of the day at Sweet Apple Acres having fun.
“Sweetie Belle, darling, please go upstairs to your room,” Rarity’s voice called from the next room, her mane bouncing as she approached them, “this isn’t the kind of party a filly should be at.”
“But, what about Rainbow Dash? It’s her party, right?” Rarity nodded as she trotted behind the fillies and ushered them toward the stairs, “then I should be here to make sure she knows how awesome she is,” Scootaloo reasoned.
“No,” Rarity said flatly, “you girls go play and adventure, or whatever you do.”
“We don’t adventure, we got our cutie marks. We’re bored and we’re hungry,” Sweetie squeaked.
“Yeah, and we ain’t ate all day cuza this party.” They were now at the base of the stairs and turned to look at Rarity.
“Please can we eat?” they asked in unison with their best pleading expressions.
“Oh, fine. You each get one plate, but you have to eat in the kitchen; away from my clothes,” she whispered hoarsely. The memory of the fillies eating sandwiches and then playing around the dresses she’d made for a custom party weren’t lost on her. “And wash your hooves before you leave the kitchen.”
“Okay,” the fillies sang in unison. Scattering they went to the nearest table and began loading up their plates, quickly reuniting in the kitchen to eat.
One hour later they laid on their backs on the kitchen floor groaning, their bellies distended, and their plates empty. There was a chill blowing in from the open kitchen window, sending a chill over the filles.
“Ugh, Ah’m more stuffed than a apple pie.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever eat again,” Sweetie said.
“I can’t move, why’d we sneak two full plates? I wonder if I can die from eating too much *urp*, excuse me.”
“Heh, Sweetie ate what we didn’t and she’s alive, Ah think we’re gonna make it.”
Sweetie groaned as she rolled to her side. “I feel like a ballo~on,” she whined, “I’m gonna go to the bathroom, maybe lay down.”
“Ugh, how can you move at a time like this?”
“Don’t worry none, Scoots, she’s gotta go. Ain’t good ta hold it, right?”
“Yeah, I guess. See ya in a bit.” The others laid their heads against the floor as they gasped for air, unable to take a deep breath without feeling ill.
“See you girls in a bit,” Sweetie replied slowly.
Sweetie walked through the party, nearly avoiding adults as she made her way to the stairs. She could have gone to the restroom around the corner, but her bed was so much closer to the upstairs bathroom and her friends would understand if she laid down while her belly calmed down.
“Oh, who’s this little filly? Is that Sweetie Belle?”
Mister Cake, ugh, please don’t offer me any sweets. “Oh, hi, Mr. Cake. I’m kinda in a hurry,” she said as she quickened her pace. Her stomach cramped, sending some food up her throat. She swallowed hard and felt it go back down, a tremble went through her.
“Oh, I was just going to ask if you wanted a piece of pie,” he said placing a hoof on her withers. She stopped and looked at him with a weak smile.
“I-I think I should lay down, I ate too much already.”
“Oh, did you now? Well, you’d best get a move on to bed then, little missy.”
He took his hoof off her and patted her new cutie mark. “And, congrats. It was a long road, but you made it!”
She chuckled and thanked him as she rushed to the stairs, ascending them quickly, and going to her room. She laid on her bed and groaned as her belly ached and she fell into a food coma.
Sweetie woke to the sun in her eyes and a throbbing in her head. Her belly ached like it never had before, and she felt nauseous. Very nauseous. In fact she had to go to the bathroom, right now.
She scrambled out of her bed, throwing her covers off, and galloped to the bathroom. It was locked. “Rarity! Open up!” she screamed as she felt her lower jaw tremble and her mouth fill with saliva.
“Wait your turn, sweetie. I’ll be another hour, at least.”
“I’m gonna puke on your carpet then,” she retorted without hesitation. The door to the bathroom opened as soon as Sweetie finished saying ‘carpet’, letting her barge in with seconds to spare.
“Oh, Sweetie? Are you alright? What on earth happened?” Rarity asked as she trotted over and began petting her sister's mane in comfort, “you’ll be okay. It’s gonna be fine,” Rarity assured her sister until she was done.
Rarity flushed as soon as she could, the smell was almost too much, as she was near vomiting as well. Sweetie fell to the floor and laid down, weeping softly, then looked to her sister.
Rarity was slightly grey with a hint of blue showing in her mane, Her true colors. If anypony knew, Sweetie thought as she looked at her sister. “Thanks, I don’t know what happened. I just woke up and was super sick.”
“Don’t worry, sis. It happens to us all,“ Rarity said softly in a northern accent, using her magic to bring a wet towel over to wipe Sweetie Belle’s mouth.
“No, I got sick and messed up your morning routine.”
“Oh, it’s fine. You’re a filly, it’s not like you’re in heat or pregnant, eh?”
Sweetie winced. “Ugh, I’m so used to you talking fancy, not like mom and dad.”
“Oh, dear me, I didn’t notice. However could I have let myself slip after so long?” Rarity chided herself standing and trotting to the mirror. “My mane is simply atrocious and I have two fittings as soon as I open. Sweetie, hurry and clean yourself up,” she said sternly as she opened the window, “and then go play with your friends.”
“That’s more like it,” Sweetie said standing up. Her stomach rumbled and her belly ached still. She pressed her side and winced at the pain. Oh no… she began to pant as she turned to leave.
“Sweetie? Be a dear and open the windows across the floor, would you?”
“Sure thing, sis,” she squeaked. Ignoring Rarities request, Sweetie scampered down the stairs, wincing with pain, then out the front door. Fresh air, that’ll help. I can’t be. I can’t be, she said pressing her lower belly. The pain was intense. She felt her heart race as fear gripped her.
Sweetie panicked for a moment. She was standing outside her sister’s business panting and beginning to sweat; not something Rarity would appreciate. She turned and ran inside, kicking the door closed with a slam. She galloped into the lounge and jumped on the couch, screaming into a pillow.
“What the hay am I gonna do? I just got my cutie mark,” she spoke to herself, into the pillow, “now I’m gonna be a mom. A mom?! Oh, Celestia help me, what’s everypony gonna say? This’ll ruin Rarity’s reputation. The Cakes will have to close. I’ll never be allowed to come back. It’ll be the end of the Crusaders and we finally have our destinies.”
She groaned and tried to curl into a ball, but the pain stabbed her again. “Th-that must be the baby. A little foal,” she felt herself tearing up for the first time.
“Sweetie Belle,” Rarity called from the top of the stairs in her haughty voice, “don’t be late to school.”
Sweetie hiccupped at the thoughts of how her classmates would react. What will Diamond Tiara say? Sure, she’s nicer, but old habits. I have to try something. Rarity,she called back, “I’m too sick to go to school. I really feel awful,” she forced a cough for effect, “I don’t want to spread it to anypony else.”
A few seconds of silence ground on Sweetie’s fears while she waited for Rarity to answer.
“That’s okay. I’ll make certain you teacher gets a note while I’m out today.” The door audibly shut and Sweetie exhaled a breath she was holding. She fell back on the couch and laid on her back, propped up by the pillow, she looked at her lower belly, still distended and tender.
“Oh, Celestia, what’m I gonna do?”
She lay there until Rarity got her attention. Bleached white purple mane, fake voice; she’s ready for the day. “Hey Rarity. Um, mind if I just relax until I’m better? I’ve got my homework to finish still so I’ll stay busy,” Sweetie offered.
“Oh, heavens no. You’re ill, and no sister of mine will be doing anything besides resting until she’s better. I’ve learned my lessons on overworking you while you’re under the weather, never again. Now,” she said flipping her mane, “would you prefer your room or to stay on the couch?”
“Um, my room?”
“Very well,” Rarity exclaimed encompassing Sweetie in her magic. Sweetie screamed in pain as her body raised causing Rarity to drop her. “Sweetie Belle, are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine, sis. Just cramps, I guess.”
“Oh, well, perhaps… No, you’re not old enough to be in heat yet. Perhaps I should call a doctor,” Rarity asked herself tapping her chin as she stood next to her little sister, who was holding her belly, trying to keep still.
“N-no, it’ll pass. Right? These things happen. I’ve just gotta tough it out. If I get worse I’ll let you know, honest.”
Rarity looked skeptically at Sweetie before reluctantly nodding and taking a step back. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, don’t you have an appointment?”
“Yes dear, two in about five minutes, each five minutes apart. I’ll make you some tea, should help right away.”
“Thanks, Rarity.”
“Think nothing of it. It’s what sisters do for one another. On second thought, don’t cook for me, I’m sure I need to build my immune system.”
Sweetie scowled. “I’m not that bad a coo- Owowow, okay. Laying down.”
Rarity had looked on in concern as her sister had a cramp right before her. It seems legitimate, however, as painful as it is, it doesn’t seem to be that serious. “Very well, I’ll be right back.”
Alone at last. I’ve gotta get out of here, maybe it’s not real. Maybe it’s in my head. I bet if I ask Twilight… No, I can’t just ask her if a stallion got me pregnant by accident. I know! I’ll ask her how to take care of a friend who’s pregnant. That’ll work.
Half an hour later Rarities first client showed up along with a small herd ready to offer opinions on Rarity’s work, giving Sweetie a chance to sneak out the back door.
She trotted as quickly as she could, painful cramps every few paces struck her making her wince, but she was a filly on a mission. She had to know what to do.
She knocked several times on the castle doors before walking in. “Twilight? Are you here? I need some advice.”
“Oh, Sweetie Belle? I’m in the library,” Twilight’s voice called from down the hall.
Of course she is.
“Hi Princess Twilight,” Sweetie grinned. She knew Twilight didn’t like being called ‘Princess Twilight’, especially by her friends.
“Hi, Sweetie. How can I help you?”
Sweetie walked to a bean bag and carefully laid down on her side, keeping the weight off her belly. “I have a, um, friend, who might be pregnant and, um, she doesn’t know what to do.”
Twilight’s expression turned to shock as she registered the classic ‘hypothetical’ question.
“Sweetie,” she asked calming herself and taking control of her emotions, “how did this friend of yours get pregnant?” she asked laying on the floor beside Sweetie.
“Um, there might have been a party. And a stallion might have touched her in a place.”
Twilight’s brow furrowed and her feathers bristled. She suppressed the urge to demand who touched the filly, find him, then send him to the deepest dungeon, then throw that dungeon into a volcano.
“Sweetie, who is this friend?”
“Um, you don’t know her,” Sweetie hesitated.
“I bet Pinkie does, let’s ask her,” Twilight offered starting to push herself up.
“NO! I mean, no, that’s okay. She just needs to know what to expect.”
“Okay, well, how far along is she in her pregnancy?” Twilight probed.
“Um, I don’t know,” she said looking to her belly unconsciously. Twilight felt her heart drop. “She might be close, but she can’t tell anypony.”
Twilight fought the urge to cry, hug the filly tight, and tell her everything was going to be okay. “W-well,” she cleared her throat, “she’ll have to tell everypony when she has a foal crying behind her.”
Sweeties eyes widened. “W-what? W-why…”
“You don’t know how they’re, oh my.” Her horn lit and a series of books levitated over and stacked beside them. The second book was pulled and laid open between them. Twilight began to read and explain how the foal would be brought into the world. Sweetie’s eyes were wide and she was sweating by the end.
“Th-that’s gonna come out of, um, her, back there place?” she asked nervously. Twilight nodded slowly. “I-I have to go and, uh, tell her what I know,” Sweetie said taking to her hooves and squeaking as another cramp tore through her body. “Thanks.”
“Wait. Sweetie, you have to tell your friend to talk to the guard, or me. No stallion should do what he did to her.”
Sweetie cringed in fear, nodded, then left quickly.
“SPIKE! I NEED YOU TO TAKE A LETTER!” Twilight screamed into the castle halls as soon as Sweetie had left.
Sweetie trotted into town, nervous about what was going to happen. She wasn’t ready to do what the book said. To give birth. She didn’t even know how long pregnancy lasted. It felt like it was pretty far advanced since the contractions were happening already.
Oh no, what’m I gonna do? Where’ll I have it? How’m I gonna tell Mr. Cake he’s… She abandoned the thought as she looked to find a safe place to think everything over. The clubhouse? Nah, too warm. The lake? No, too many old ponies. I know! Fluttershy’s is a great place to rest.
Sweetie went to Fluttershy’s and spent the rest of the morning helping feed animals and prepare medicines.
“Sweetie Belle,” Fluttershy said from the doorway to the filly laying on the grass enjoying the warm sun on her back, “could you get Mr. Bear? I have his medicine.”
“Okay,” Sweetie replied loudly, her voice cracking slightly. “Now, where’s that bear?” She galloped to the edge of the nearby forest and called his name. “Mr. Bear? Fluttershy has your medicine!”
A moment later he emerged wearing a content smile, tongue lolling from his mouth, and a bounce in his step. She felt a pang in her side but ignored it as she trotted away, his pace matching hers.
“Fluttershy, we’re back,” Sweetie announced. Just as Mr. Bear had passed her into the cottage the pain became unbearable, Sweetie yelped in pain as she fell to the floor just inside the doorway to the cottage.
“Oh no! Mr. Bear, animal friends, hurry and bring her in.”
Sweetie was brought upstairs to Fluttershy’s bed to rest while Fluttershy checked the filly over.
“Sweetie Belle, where does it hurt?”
Sweetie blushed and looked away. “I think it’s my baby.”
A shocked expression crossed Fluttershy’s face as she looked to the filly’s face. Lifting the blanket she began to poke Sweetie’s belly, yielding a squeal of pain.
“Oh, dear. You’re certainly tender, but I don’t think this’ what you think it is.”
“Oh no, are there more in there?! I can’t have that many in there, the book said only one was safest!” Sweetie asked, beginning to panic.
Fluttershy sighed, relief washed over her. “Sweetie, come with me. Time it deliver.” If Sweetie could have turned whiter, she would have.
“B-but, it’s so fast! I thought it took months!?”
“Well then c’mon, this’ gonna be a doozy.” Sweetie was carefully helped from bed, down the stairs, out the door, and just inside the treeline to a large patch of bushes. “Shoo, little critters, there’s going to be a surprised filly in a moment.”
Sweetie trembled and felt pressure. “Oh no, this’ it!”
“Hurry, Sweetie, into the bushes and just let,” she snickered as the filly galloped past her, “nature take it’s course.”
Several minutes later Sweetie left the bushes blushing, refusing to make eye contact with Fluttershy, who was grinning widely.
“So, was it a colt or filly?”
Sweetie looked at Fluttershy and scowled.
“Did the foal have your eyes, or the-”
“Oh, shut up,” Sweetie shouted as she turned and ran back home. Fluttershy laughed to herself as the filly left.
Sweetie stomped into Carousel Boutique past her sister and several customers.
“Sweetie Belle, Twilight-”
“I don’t wanna hear it,” Sweetie shouted, entering a fast trot up the stairs to her room.
Sitting in the room with several books and sweat beading across her coat was Princess Twilight Sparkle, wearing her crown and scanning the books as they swirled around her.
“Oh, Sweetie Belle, you’re finally here. I understand that somethings are coming to light and I’m here to help you through them. I was going to ask Princess Celestia to help, but this is something I had to do myself. Sweetie,” Twilight asked looking seriously at the filly, “how long have you been pregnant.”
Twilight wore a kind, patient smile, and wasn’t ready for the reaction she recieved.
“I’m not pregnant!” Sweetie screamed, a moment later Twilight was being shoved out of the room, her books barely making it out before the door slammed shut with enough force to make it audible throughout the business.
“Twilight, what in Equestria was that about?” Rarity asked as she approached her friend just outside the doorway to the fillies room, grumbling was heard inside. “I haven’t heard her yell that loud, ever.”
“Rarity, I just don’t know,” Twilight said as she gathered her books in her magic then vanished.
Rarity knocked on the door. “Sweetie, is everything alright?”
“It was indigestion; not a baby. Go away, Twilight!” the upset filly screamed at the door.
Rarity stared at the door. I don’t even want to know.
The sun was rising and creatures all around were enjoying the day. Sweetie wasn’t among them. After learning how foals are born she was shaken, having left Twilight’s palace before she could find anymore out. No, I don’t want to know any more. This’ gonna be messy, and hurt, and be scary. I bet Fluttershy has a lot of experience with animals giving, she gulped hard, birth.
Fluttershy asked as the filly trotted carefully though the grass to find her. “Hello, Sweetie Belle,” Fluttershy asked, dropping a hoof full of nuts by a tree before trotting over, smiling warmly, “Would you like some tea? Wait, why aren’t you at school?”
“I’m kinda sick today.”
“Oh my, what’s wrong? It’s not contagious is it? I’d hate to have my animal friends get sick.”
Sweetie felt a cramp, as well as her fears spike for a second, so she sat down. “N-no. It’s not contagious. But, um, I would like to talk about something, kind of, um,” she clacked her hooves together, “adult stuff.”
Fluttershy blushed and looked away, inspecting a very interesting bush to her side. “Um, wh-what kind of adult stuff?”
“Do you help your animals have babies?”
Fluttershy’s ears perked and she looked to the little filly with a raised eyebrow. “Yes, not often, but I do a few times a year. Why do you ask?” she replied walking closer to the uncomfortable Sweetie Belle.
Fluttershy, being timid and uncomfortable, was more perceptive than most others when it came to somepony asking a question like that.
“Well, I have a friend who’s pregnant, and she just learned how foals are born,” Fluttershy inhaled sharply as she looked into the fearful eyes of the little one in front of her. She sat a leg length in front of her.
“Who is your friend, Sweetie Belle,” Fluttershy stated, more than asked, while looking into Sweetie’s eyes intently.
She felt uncomfortable. Is this how she always feels? “M-my friend? Uh, y-you don’t know her, but she needs to know if you can help her when it’s time.”
Fluttershy’s wings slowly opened and she sat taller. A wave of intimidating strength and determination was emanating from the timid mare. “Who. Did. It?” she demanded to know. The weather started to change; the temperature began to drop and clouds began to form in a terrifying display of magic beyond what a pegasi should have. Sweetie whimpered and trembled under the terrifying display, cowering back.
“Who did it?!”
Sweetie screamed and turned, galloping away from the mare, the cottage, the weather anomaly, and her understanding of the once timid mare.
A bolt of lightning struck behind Fluttershy, scaring her and making her run behind a nearby tree as Pinkie came from behind a tree and Rainbow jumped from behind a cloud, kicking it out of existence. The landed side by side and looked at Fluttershy, Rainbow was giggling but Pinkie was looking intently at Fluttershy.
“Oh, that was a great prank! We got Fluttershy and Sweetie, priceless,” Rainbow said taking to the air and flying away. “Hey, Pinks, ya coming?”
“Fluttershy, what’s wrong,” Pinkie asked looking at her friend, who was sobbing loudly behind the tree…
Holy Luna, what was that?! I’ve never seen a pony so scary. I can’t get help from any adult, what’ll I do? School is still on, my sister’s friends are crazy, I can’t see Pinkie because she’s at Sugarcube corner with, him. I’ll have to hide, maybe Zecora? NO! I can’t risk my baby, Celestia, what do I do?”
A bright flash of light answered her question. Celestia stood a few seconds in front of Sweetie, who stopped as quickly as she could, fear washed over her she slid into the celestial monarch’s shadow, the sun behind her, making a glowing halo hover around her.
“Sweetie Belle, sister of Rarity?” She asked in a soft, motherly tone that carried a subtle firmness.
Sweetie nodded slightly, quickly. “Come with me,” Celestia said, turning and beginning to walk. Sweetie looked around, ponies were looking in awe at the sight of their princess walking through town, they bowed as she walked by, passing the town square she didn’t pause as nearly one quarter the town bowed.
Sweetie felt so small, especially now with added attention on her. They arrived at Carousel Boutique, entered, and walked into the lounge where Twilight, Luna, Rarity, and Spike were sitting, looking at her with restrained emotions, each wearing a forced smile, except Luna who was scowling at the floor.
“Sister, friends, we have a lot to discuss.” Sweetie turned the corner as Celestia was addressing the others and froze.
Oh no, I can’t tell them yet, I don’t even know how, Sweetie thought as she reflexively took a step back as her eyes locked with her sister’s.
“S-Sweetie, dear, perhaps you wouldn’t mind joining us? I have your favorite chair ready.”
My favorite chair? The one I keep at mom and da- Oh no! Sweetie felt her heart pounding in her chest as she looked into the room, her parents were in the room, on one of many fainting couches Rarity keeps conveniently nearby in every other room of the boutique/house.
She was enveloped in a purple magic field and carefully moved to her chair, a large bean bag stuffed heavily full with duck feathers and lavender seeds, for aroma. She was laid gently on it, on her side as the others looked to Celestia, waiting for her to begin.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice. Typically, I wouldn’t adjourn my day court for such a reason, however since it relates to a close friend’s family member I decided it was necessary.
To the sister of Sweetie Belle, and their parents, I am honored to visit your home and place of business. Now, to the matter at hoof; it has come to our attention that Sweetie Belle may be pregnant,” the room was full of gasps. Not surprise, but relief that it was said, finally.
“W-wait! H-he didn’t mean it!”
Rarity coughed into her hoof to get everypony’s attention. “Sweetie, while I am inclined to urge you to answer, I must instead, ask, how did this happen?”
Everypony looked to Rarity, then Sweetie. Sweetie lowered her head. “He said he wanted me to taste his pie,” she laid her head down on her forelegs as the room fell silent.
“And,” Rarity encouraged, barely keeping her voice steady.
“And, I said no. Then he touched me in my most special place.”
Gasps of shock filled the room, her mother cried, Spike had green smoke vapor leaving his nostrils, and the celestial sisters were scowling at each other.
“Sweetie Belle,” Twilight said softly, “you’re not at fault here. It was his fault, understand? You’re a strong mare for handling this as well as you have. He, um, hasn’t touched you, recently, has he?”
Sweetie looked at Twilight, let her gaze sweep the room making eye contact with them all before nodding.
Luna sneered, Celestia returned to her regal calm, her mane shifted to a more red hue though. Rarity whined through closed lips.
“When and where?” Twilight growled.
“L-Last night at the party,” Sweetie whimpered, “he didn’t mean it though, it happened! It just happened.”
“These things don’t ‘just happen’,” her father shouted, covering his mouth, surprised by his outburst. Sweetie’s ears fell flat to her head.
“It was my fault! I tried so hard, and finally it happened, I got my cutie mark, and he-”
“That is enough,” Luna bellowed, the windows rattled and nearly everypony covered their ears. “Youngling, youth,” she looked at Celestia who raised an eyebrow, “Sweetie Belle. This beast of a stallion has touched you, done things to you that are, at the least, reprehensible. I demand-”
“Ahem,” Celestia said, “I think we need a moment to calm down and collect ourselves. I suggest a five minute break from this-”
Rarity lunged forward. “I’m so sorry, Sweetie Belle, I had no idea, I’m a terrible sister,” a trickle of blood left her mouth, everypony that could see noticed she had bitten her tongue to hold herself back.
Sweetie tried to recoil, the pain in her belly stopping her as she was embraced tightly by her sister. She yelped in pain while Rarity berated herself for not keeping Sweetie safe.
The front door burst open with Rainbow Dash stopping just inside, Pinkie and Fluttershy fell off her, tumbling to the floor.
“Who the buck touched you?” Rainbow seethed as she flew into the room, straight to the now petrified filly. Stopping suddenly Rainbow growled against the yellow magic field she was in.
Sweetie trembled and screamed. “Mr. Cake!” She burst into tears, crying into her sister’s shoulder. The rooms were silent as the information was processed by the mares. Twilight vanished in a purple flash, returning six seconds later with Mr. Cake in her magic.
She slammed him to the floor, the ceiling, the floor again as he tried to ask what was happening. Fluttershy and Pinkie were standing inside the lounge doorway, mouths covered, looking on in stunned silence.
“Twilight Sparkle!” Celestia shouted, “I have had enough of this escapade. Everypony in this room is getting carried away with their emotions. What you are doing solves nothing” she shouted.
Her magic overpowered Twilight’s and she took the slightly worse for wear, highly terrified, Mr. Cake under her own power. “What is your name, little pony,” she said with a hint of malice.
“C-C-Carrot Cake, ma’a, um, y-your highness,” he stammered.
“Carrot Cake, you stand accused of touching, harming, impregnating, and taking the innocence of this filly, one Sweetie Belle. How do you plead?”
He stared at Celestia for a moment then scrunched his face. “What the fuck!?” he shouted, his voice cracked and he began to cough.
“Miss Pie, would you mind fetching some water for the accused?”
Pinkie looked to Celestia and nodded, her eyes were wide and she stood on her rear legs, using her tail as balance, as she backed out of the room.
Mr. Cake drank his water greedily, coughing two last times to clear his throat while still hovering in the air; Rainbow Dash silently killing him with her glare. “I’m really sorry, your highness,” he said relenting the cup, “I’ve never been one to say things like that, but I was taken by surprise.”
Celestia pulled him closer, nearly a hoof space between their muzzles. “How do you plead?” she said, a slight twitch in her left eye sent a terror through him. He’d rather be half eaten by a manticore at that moment rather than look in her eyes. But he couldn’t avoid her gaze.
“N-Not guilty.”
“Very well, in lieu of a lengthy and drawn out court case, I shall hear from the victim, a witness, and the accused. Miss Belle, please tell us what happened.” All eyes were on Sweetie Belle, still wrapped in Rarity’s hug.
“Um, well,” Sweetie sat up, Rarity pulled her into a tighter hug sending a rumble through Sweetie’s gut. She blushed. “We were at the party, and I ate two and a half plates of food. I felt sick, so,” she sniffled as everypony’s attention was piqued, “I was going upstairs, and he asked me if I wanted to try some pie.”
The room was silent, except for Rarity’s hushed weeps. “Then he touched my cutie mark, and got me pregnant!” She began to cry onto Rarity again.
The room was awash in whispered questions as the sound of hooves meeting faces were heard.
Rarity sat up and looked at her sister, crying her little heart out. “Sweetie, darling,” she asked, wiping her eyes on a handkerchief she had hidden in her mane, “what did you just say?”
“H-he touched my cutie mark and got me pregnant,” she replied again.
“Was this at the party last night, that all this occurred?”
Sweetie nodded.
Celestia exhaled a controlled breathe. “Case dismissed and apologies to the accused.” She set him down and looked around the room. “My little ponies, please use this as a cautionary example. Under royal decree, this event is not to leave this room,” she cast a spell restoring Mr. Cake and Rarity to full health before she trotted to Luna.
“Let us depart, sister. This will resolve itself now.” Luna stood, nodded, then vanished with her sister in a flash of yellow light.
“Sweetie,” Twilight started. Fluttershy flew across the room and tackled the filly to the floor, rolling over each other.
*Pftbtbtbtblphphpbpbbtbp~squeak*
The room hushed, then Pinkie and Rainbow Dash burst into laughter. Soon the whole room was full of laughter, all at Sweeties expense as the boutique was promptly evacuated.
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity scolded, “You’ve made an unforgivable mess of things-”
“Now, now,” Spike said patting rarity on the leg before blushing fiercely and retracting his arm to his body, “ahem, ah, well, she needs to have a family talk about how and where babies come from, is all.”
The others nodded in agreement as Mr. Cake began to walk away. Not back to Sugarcube Corner, just, away.
“No, Spike,” Rarity clarified, “I mean the mess she made; all over my lounge floor!”
No, I can’t go to Fluttershy either. Twilight wasn’t a help. My sister is going to be so disappointed. My friends, what’re they going to do? What’re they gonna say?”
Sweetie was still in the shadow of the palace when she stopped, let her head drop, and began to weep quietly, softly.
I don’t have many options here. Come on, Sweetie Belle, you can figure something out.
Sweetie began walking ahead again, looking to the ground, hoping for an answer to fall in front of her, like they often did. This time, she entered the town without any answer. Her friends were at school and she was alone. Not even Rainbow Dash was seen zipping overhead, ready to crash in front of her.
She was alone in her troubles.
Alone with her thoughts.
Alone with a married stallions baby. This will ruin everything. No pony will be fine when they find out. Maybe I could leave? Where would I go? I can’t go to mom and dad’s. I heard what they did with aunt Glitter. I’ve never even met her, she got pregnant when she was young too.
Kicked out of school, the family, and had to leave Whinneyapolis while she was still pregnant.
She let a sob escape her as she walked through the town streets. The ground was all that interested her right now. The thoughts of everything she was about to lose, all thanks to a child she didn’t plan for. She was going to be like her aunt Glitter, a send away young mare that was a blight on their family name.
Wait, what family name? My parents are always on vacations or trying to dump me off on Rarity. Ever since I was a filly, they didn’t really have a place for me. They’re always trying to get rid of me. If not here, then to the cousins, or to a ‘family trip’ they couldn’t be there for.
She looked up to see herself on a nameless street in the little hamlet in the distant shadow of a mountain. Ponies of all types and colors were going about their day. Happy and content in their bliss. Her lower jaw began to drop.
“Aunt Glitter was kicked out of the family thirteen years ago. I’m twelve.” After a brief thought she closed her mouth, sniffled, and squeezed the last tears from her eyes, just as they were replaced with a new, slow, steady stream that matted the fur under her eyes.
I’m aunt Glitter’s daughter. That’s why they’re always trying to get rid of me. And now I’m her.
Her teeth ground together as she tried to steel herself. Standing as tall as her body would allow, cramps be damned. A look of strained determination on her face she used all her current will power to take a single step forward, followed by another.
Four paces. She made it four paces before she fell to the ground crying at her realization.
I am an unwanted foal of a family outcast.
She was sided by three ponies who knew she should have been at school. One, a unicorn, lifted her in his magic and began to take her back towards school with the others..
“Young lady, I understand you’re upset, however that’s no reason to avoid school.”
Sweetie looked around, still letting tears fall. The three ponies, one of each tribe. All males. All concerned for her. She frowned.
“I need to go home, I’m sick today.”
The stallions stopped and looked at her. Then her cutie mark. “Oh, hey. You’re, uh, Sweetie Top, right?”
“No, her name’s Sweetie Bop.”
“Guys, you’re embarrassing us, her name’s Sweet Wrap.”
Sweetie scowled. “Sweetie Belle. And my sister is Rarity. Let me go so I can go home, please,” she asked slightly sternly. The stallions looked to each other and nodded; lowering her to the ground before stopping his spell as she was righted to her hooves.
“Sweetie Belle? You’re one of those reckless fillies that just got your cutie marks, right?”
Sweetie tested her hooves on the ground and looked away without answering them. She felt a pat on her left cutie mark.
“Congrats, it was worth it, right?”
She looked to the warm smile of the pegasus that had touched her and screamed. Louder and with as much fear as though a timberwolf had lunged at her right then.
Reeling back the stallion watched as she galloped away in unrestrained terror.
Sweetie ran as fast as she could toward the safest and most comfortable pony she knew.
Fluttershy’s.
As the cottage came into view she turned. I can’t go in there, it’ll be awful. What’ll she tell everypony? I can’t stay here. I have to leave, I can’t have a baby ruin everything for everypony. My friends will understand. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Rarity. Even though you’re not my real family, I’ll always feel like you are.
A firm look crossed her face and her heart pounded with determination as she approached the Everfree Forest, she didn’t look back as she had decided her new course in life.
Entering the forest she didn’t stop as the chills went through her from the dark magic that passed over her. The random animal noises didn’t stop her. The cramps had faded. The air smelled of fresh plants and she nearly dodged roots and lower tree branches with ease, and she began to make a small game of jumping over smaller bushes, knowing to not jump through them blindly.
She was half an hour, full gallop distance, into the forest when every animal went silent. She stopped in place, looking around worried. Her belly grumbled as she began to tremble. Her legs locked in place as she saw a pair of green eyes flicker in the bushes to her left.
“Leave the money on the table,” Sweetie said as she rolled to her belly on the soft motel bed.
The stallion dropped a small bag of bits on his way out without looking back at her. A mare of her own now, too ashamed to go home after the whole ‘pregnancy’ misunderstanding.
Sweetie went to the restroom and quickly turned on the shower, damn the temperature, she had to wash herself off, wash away what he’d done, wash away who she was. She wept under the cold water as it caused her to tremble, biting at the soft flesh below her white coat.
After a time she collected herself and warmed the shower, beginning to wash herself properly with soap and a scrub brush, held firmly in her magic. She often thought, during her ‘after’ showers, of how proud Twilight and Rarity would be to see how well she’d mastered her magic over the past few years.
She always made sure to clean extra well under her tail, as well as any other places on her body that her ‘dates’ would want to go.
Finishing her shower she always felt a little better about how her life had turned out since that day of youthful ignorance. Oh, to go back to then and make the choice to tell anypony, then she’d have been teased by her closest friends for a little while and life would have gone back to normal.
She looked in the mirror at the unicorn. She looked so much like her sister, Rarity, except for the tired look on her face, the tip of her horn was broken off, a scar across the left side of her muzzle, and a hollowness in her eyes. Her gaze traveled to her flanks, where her cutie marks were marred by two heavy scars in the shape of an ‘X’.
She couldn’t remove them, but she didn’t want to remember them and what they represented. She cried for so many nights after her ‘dates’ would be done with her, and they’d congratulate her on her unique mark.
She didn’t cry at her reflection anymore, it was who she was now. She didn’t yell at her reflection to go back to Ponyville and live again, to get over her shame: That her friends and family would welcome her back with open hearts. The shame of what she’d done, and let others do to her, so that she could merely survive was too much to bear.
What would she tell her old friends, that she’d run away six years ago just because?
The scars were from when she ‘tripped down a flight of stairs’, her submissiveness to any stallion was because of what? What could she say? She felt a stir of emotions ebb slightly before she pushed them back down.
Picking up a large array of mane care tools, gels, and sprays she styled her mane into something that made her smile and remember Fluttershy. She took the brush and then frazzled her mane giving it a final spray to hold it in place.
With how she was surviving she couldn’t look like her friends. She chose a wavy curl that rolled down her neck and smiled at herself and the work she’d done so quickly.
“If Rarity could see me now,” she said in a soft, mature voice, devoid of and foalish tones and squeaking, “she’d be proud to know I at least know how to take care of my mane.”
She stayed in the bathroom for what felt like hours. Time between her dates didn’t matter, only the last one so she’d get a certain few hours of sleep at the cost of a separate room, free of the scents and memories of what she’d had endured through the day.
She held her smile as a knock came to the motel room door and she turned, reentering the bedroom and, using her magic, made the bed quickly, collected the bits and placed them in her saddlebags under the dresser as she trotted through the room, like she had so many times she didn’t even have to think where everything was and she let her mind wander.
She kept her smile, thinking of her life as an innocent filly; playing with her friends and learning magic. The days spent crusading, the nights spent giggling as they had sleepovers, playing hide and seek in the apple orchard, flying through town behind Scootaloo and her scooter.
She opened the door to meet her next ‘date’ and looked her in the eyes. She broke down and fell to her chest, bawling more than she had since she was first introduced to the oldest profession, shortly after entering the Everfree forest by a group of stallions.
The years of memories flashed through her mind as she was taken by the stallions and sold to a brothel and made to work at such a young age. All it took was her cutie mark to make her legal enough. The escape from the brothel and being found and beaten, her horn being broken on the cobblestone streets of Trottingham.
The wife of a stallion that had taken a knife to her face.
The loss of what she felt was her very soul to an underworld that she had never imagined existed below the utopian existence she’d believed in.
She finally cried for her freedom, years of begging for death were pushed aside.
She cried and trembled at the hooves of Princess Twilight Sparkle; who had finally found her.
