Rarity watched Sweetie Belle and Pipsqueak play in the backyard from her bedroom that late-morning. She found it strange that her little sister’s new dream was being a princess when up to this point she was worrying about not being the last one in class to get her cutie mark. Why has her goals changed all of a sudden, she wondered.

Although their voices were muffled from the other side of the window, Rarity heard giggling and laughter coming from the two children. Pipsqueak had a blue cape on his back and a silver crown made of paper mache and Sweetie Belle still had her blue dress and plastic tiara. Despite her initial reactions, Rarity wanted to be happy that her younger sister found a fantasy world to call her own, but she found this situation all too surreal.

As she prepared for another busy day at the Carousel Boutique she found her parents in the kitchen. Father was reading the local newspaper while Mother was washing the dishes. “Good morning Rarity,” Mother said. “Going to work?”

“Indeed I am,” Rarity replied. “Those clothes aren’t going to make themselves… as much as I really them to.”

“Your mother and I are heading off for another business trip in Las Pegasus,” Father said. “We’ll be leaving this afternoon. You’ll be able to look after Sweetie Belle while we’re gone, right?”

“Of course, I always do. I’d be a terrible sister if I didn’t.”

Just as Rarity was about to make her way out the door Sweetie Belle and Pipsqueak entered the kitchen with their silly costumes and bright smiles. “Hi mom, hi dad!” said Sweetie.

“And hello to you, Princess Sweetie Belle,” her father bowed. Her mother soon followed, much to Rarity’s bewilderment. The newly-crowned princess and prince of the household bowed back to them. “Hello Miss Rarity,” Pipsqueak said bowing to her. Rarity bowed in an awkwardly fashion and smiled. “So how is my little princess?” Mother asked.

Sweetie used her best imitation of Canterlot royalty and responded, “I’m quite well, as is Sir Pipsqueak. Today is a marvelous day.” Sweetie Belle and her parents, as well as Pipsqueak, began to speak and imitate Canterlot nobility, arousing Rarity’s confusion even more. After a few minutes of pseudo-royal speak Sweetie and Pipsqueak return to the backyard with juice boxes.

“Mother, are you sure about Sweetie Belle with her new… princess obsession?” Rarity asked approaching her mother.

“What do you mean, dear?”

“It’s just that… all this time, Sweetie was focused on getting her cutie mark and finding her special talent. Her fascination with being a princess is random at best.”

“Rarity, Sweetie is just a little filly. You know how they are with princesses. It’s just a phase all fillies go through and in the end she’ll grow out of it.”

“Besides, I remember a certain unicorn who wanted to be a princess when she was a filly,” Father said winking at Rarity. “On her fifth birthday she wished for a castle and her knight in shining armor.” His words caused Rarity’s white cheeks to turn crimson.

“Anything that will take Sweetie’s mind off of forcing her cutie mark to appear is fine by all accounts,” Mother said. “If you ask me, she needs more time to be a filly and have fun and play make-believe.”

Rarity put her hoof under her chin, then turned her head to see her little sister and Pipsqueak sitting at the backyard table, laughing with each other and drawing on a huge sheet of paper. She put more thought into her parents words, and thought this was the best thing for Sweetie Belle, that maybe her new obsession came at the right time in her life. Seeing Sweetie act like the child she was supposed to be instead of watching her moping around about her cutie mark was a novelty of sorts.

Out in the backyard Sweetie Belle and Pipsqueak held a conversation about the activities they believe Canterlot royalty and nobility engage in. If Sweetie wanted to be a proper princess, then she must play the role right. “I was thinking we could have a dance, or a ball,” she suggested. “Like the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“That would be fantastic!” Pipsqueak said. “But where are we going to have the gala? We need a big hall for something like that.”

“Hmm… maybe I can ask Miss Cheerilee if we can use the school gym for it,” Sweetie answered.

“And we’re also going to need music, food… oh, and guests, lots of guests.”

Sweetie wrote the gala ideas on the sheet of paper, then began tapping the eraser on the table. “I know Pinkie Pie will help us plan the gala if I ask her, but where am I going to find guests? The only ponies I know are my friends, my sister and her friends, and the kids in our class.”

“They should be enough,” Pipsqueak said.

“I know, but if our party is going to be like the Grand Galloping Gala, then we have to have at least two hundred ponies to arrive.”

“Maybe we can send out invitations to everypony in town,” suggested Pipsqueak. “That might work. Nopony will come to a party if they’re not invited.”

“That’s a great idea!” exclaimed Sweetie. “But we have to spend all day making those invitations.”

“Maybe Apple Bloom and Scootaloo can help us. Then the four of us could deliver them to everypony.”

Sweetie and Pipsqueak finished consuming their juice boxes and ran inside the house straight to into her bedroom to make further plans for their gala. A rush of excitement ran through Sweetie’s body as she thought about the wonderful things that awaited her in her new life as a princess.

That following afternoon Sweetie Belle called her friends for a mandatory meeting in her backyard. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and of course Pipsqueak were all present. The princess began the meeting by standing proudly in front of her cardboard castle to make her proclamation. “Here ye, Here ye! For I, Princess Sweetie Belle of Belltopia, have a very special announcement,” she said with her best royal accent. “On the night of Saturday on the Eighth of June I and my fair Prince Pipsqueak will host the upcoming ball! All are welcomed!”

“... A ball? You mean like what they have in Canterlot?” Scootaloo asked.

“Why of course. Isn’t that a marvelous idea?”

“Sure, it’s just that… how are we going to do this? Where is it going to be held?”

“If we are lucky, then the ball is going to be held at the school gym,” said Sweetie. Apple Bloom raised her hand and asked, “And what about stuff like food and music?”

“Simple, I’ll just have to persuade Pinkie Pie for party favors.”

“And how are you going to convince Miss Cheerilee to use the gym to hold the ball?” Scootaloo asked. “Also, how are you going to pay for this stuff? It sounds like this is going to cost a lot of money?”

“And the date,” Apple Bloom added. “June 8th… that’s four days from now. How are we going to all of this in four days?”

“... Didn’t I just said I’ll ask Pinkie Pie for party favors?” Sweetie asked. “For heaven’s sake, she carries a party cannon with her everywhere, even to situations where a party is not called for.”

“Oh yeah…”

“Anyway, Scootaloo is right about convincing Miss Cheerilee to let me use the gym to hold the ball. Just asking her won’t be enough, so I think we should offer her something special, like a gift.”

“What does Miss Cheerilee like besides school?” Apple Bloom asked. Although their teacher was not a hard pony to please, finding a gift to offer her was no easy task. None of her students have ever seen her outside of school but only a few times. “What about hats?” said Pipsqueak. “I think I saw Miss Cheerilee buy a hat once.”

“I think Rarity likes hats too,” said Sweetie. “In fact, I think all mares like hats. It’s so weird.”

“How about a nice, big ‘ole homemade apple pie from Granny Smith herself,” Apple Bloom proudly suggested. “That’ll convince her real good.”

Sweetie took account of all her friends suggestions. Then, she remembered something deep within her memory of an incident involving a certain stallion that almost got them into trouble. “How about we offer her… Big Mac?”

The stallion’s name reached the little ears of Apple Bloom, who quickly stood up to defend her elder brother’s honor. “Oh no you don’t, missy! I ain’t getting my dear brother mixed up in our antics again, not after last time! You can just forget it!”

“Please Apple Bloom?” pleaded Sweetie. “It’s only just for the ball. I promise we won’t use that love potion again.”

“Nope.”

“How can we know Miss Cheerilee even likes Big Mac?” Scootaloo asked. “It’s only been a year since that Hearts and Hooves incident.”

“Miss Cheerilee likes Apple Bloom’s brother?” Pipsqueak asked.

“We’re not really sure, it’s a long story,” Scootaloo replied.

“I never want to relive that nightmare again!” Apple Bloom said. “You don’t know how long I’ve been trying to rid my brain of that schmoosty-poo and puddin’ pie and huggly-bear and stud muffin and all that lovey dovey hoo-ha!”

“What’s a stud muffin?” Pipsqueak asked.

“Apparently that’s what Big Mac is!”

“Look, if we can have Miss Cheerilee and Big Mac go out on a date with each other, then maybe we might have a chance to hold the ball on the gym.” Sweetie smiled at her small group of would-be collaborators, waiting patiently for their approval. “I know it’s going to work, trust me.” Apple Bloom held her soft glare at Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo was doubtfully gazing at the grass below her. Since Sweetie had her heart set on having this ball and using this one night to feel like somepony special, none of them had it in themselves to deny her wish.

Apple Bloom gave a defeated sigh and said with her down, “I’ll see if I can Big Mac to go out with Cheerilee.” Sweetie gave Bloom a teethful grin and turned to Scootaloo, who then said, “And we can always help you make those invitations.”

“Thanks girls, and Pipsqueak, you guys are the best.”

“But who are we going to invite?” Scootaloo said.

“Anypony we can.”