Sweetie Crush

by Ceehoff

First published 23rd of May, 2012

After some time together with Connor, Sweetie Belle starts to see him in a new light.

Connor and Sweetie Belle have been doing some quality time together: helping with homework, walking to school, playing, talking, comforting after a personal dispute. After a while, Sweetie Belle begins to crush on the colt. She wants more than anything for him to be her coltfriend, but what will hold her back? The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Connor's obliviousness, or the fact that Connor is already dating Fluttershy? Dun-dun-DUNNNNNNN!

Chapter 1

"But, Rarityyyyyyy!" groaned a little white unicorn filly. "I really need help with my homework!"

"I can't, Sweetie Belle!" the filly's older sister argued. "I'm already behind on this order for a really, really, really, really important client. She expects it tomorrow morning!"

"Serves you right for spending the whole day at the spa. It won't take a while! I promise! Once it is over, you can immediately get back to work on the order. Please, Rarity? Please??" Sweetie Belle gave her the most pathetic puppy eyes ever.

"Sweetie Belle, honestly!"

"Will you??"

"No!"

"But...!"

"I said NO!"

That simple word was enough to shoot an arrow through the little unicorn's feelings and have it bleed profusely in its wake. She really needed to keep up a good grade in class, but she could not do squat if her selfish big sister would not help her. Her throat began to clog up and clench in hurt and teary disappointment. A loud, frustrated groan escaped her wee throat.

"Ugh! Fine! You did not have to act all spasmodic and jerky about it, you meanie! If you would act calmer, then there wouldn't be any problems! But, whatever! I'll do this homework all by myself, no help from you!"

Whipping around, she marched out of the room, huffing at her big sister. She marched downstairs and walked right up to her pile of schoolbooks, lying open on the floor. She slumped directly in front of them and lifted her pencil with her mouth to begin.

She froze...

Then, she hung her head.

"Who ihm I kiddthing? I cin't thoo thith buh mythelf..." she mumbled through her pencil, caught between her pouting lips.

Puh-tooie! She spat out the pencil and lied flat on her stomach, still pouting miserably. Her chin rested on top of her notebook. She could feel the paper sticking onto her chin from the dampness of her fur coat. She stared directly in front of her, looking at the front door blankly. Then, her eyes traced down to her books.

Long divisions... Sweet Celestia, were they so confusing! What kind of sick pony invented such rubbish? Did that stallion or mare hate little foals so much that he or she had given them such confusing math problems?

Well, everypony else did seem to understand it more quickly than she did. That was a blow to her reputation. What about Diamond Tiara? Pfft! Her skull was as thick as Canterlot's stoned walls. Now, there was a small victory.

But, it would be an even bigger victory, if she would just FREAKING UNDERSTAND IT!!

She slumped her forehead down on top of her notebook.

It was hopeless... She was doomed...

TWANG!

"Aw, dammit!" said a voice coming from another room.

Sweetie Belle's mind just snapped awake. Of course! Connor would help her. If Rarity could not, then why not...?

Wait... did he even know math? He used to be a human. Did humans even have math back on their world?

Probably not...

She hung her head in disappointment. Then, she looked back at her notebook with a certain undone math problem taunting her.

It was worth a shot.

She trotted into the room where Connor resided. The colt was grumbling as he was struggling to reattach his guitar string. He sure did miss having his hands. He had to use his teeth to reattach. However, he was not even progressing with it. He tugged at the string with his teeth. As he tried to slowly lower it onto the fret board, he yelped and released the string from his grip. He ran his tongue over his gums, feeling for a cut. Luckily, there was none.

"Rarity?" he called. "Can you hel--?"

"NO!" Rarity's spastic and stressed voice was heard through the ceiling.

The colt groaned and slumped onto the couch. He pouted as he gazed at his now five-string guitar. Well, if Rarity did not spend the entire day at the spa, then she would not feel so rushed to complete her very urgent and important order.

Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion. Was the colt supposed to be working at the Guzzling Gallop with Cherry Limeade? Why was he still in Rarity's house? The filly walked up to the ponified human.

"Hey, Connor," she spoke.

Her adorable little voice was enough to lighten up Connor's mood. "Oh hey, Sweetie Belle!"

"What are doing here still? Don't you have to work at the bar tonight?"

"Cherry Limeade gave me a day off. It was really nice of her, too. I guess it was because of that one night where I had to mop up Berry Punch's piles of vomit in the bathroom stalls. She was dancing a freaking conga in there!"

Berry Punch had a glass of Cranberry Soda in her hoof as she pranced around incoherently in the bathroom. She had a broom in her other hoof.

"A-conga-conga-conBLUAGH! A-conga-conga-conBLUAGH!" she sang as she vomited.

Sweetie Belle's face wrinkled. "Ew..."

"Heck, there was hardly a clean spot for me to stand on while I cleaned it up."

"Eww!"

"Yeah, I know... It was that intense."

She was not even sure she wanted to touch him. Hopefully, Connor took a bath. Still, she really needed some help with her homework.

"Well, since you're here, ummmm..." Sweetie Belle began to speak. "Can you help me with my homework? I'm stuck on something."

"On what?"

"Math..."

"Okay," the Connor's face beamed.

"R-really? You... really?"

"Sure, I'm all for it."

"So, you did have math on your world, after all! Okay then! Whew, you kinda scared me there."

"Of course, we had math. Pretty much every world does. Now, show me what you need help on."

She led him into the main lobby of the boutique, where the dresses were displayed for sale. They both walked up to the books. Sweetie Belle pointed at her notebook.

"Long divisions," she said. "I'm stuck."

A carefree raspberry escaped Connor's lips. "Pfft! That's easy!"

With that, they both lied down on their stomachs with their heads facing towards Sweetie Belle's books.

"Now," he spoke again. "Start solving the problem, and I will let you know when you need to stop."

"Okay..." She picked up her pencil into her mouth, gripped it between her lips and began to scribble onto the paper. Her face twisted and morphed as she wrote. Her eyes glared at the problem, determined to solve it. Well, so far so...

"Stop," Connor spoke. "You can't multiply six with five."

"Why not?"

"Because it's greater than twenty-seven. You have to multiply it so it would be less or exactly the number you have to subtract from. What's less than twenty seven?"

"Twenty-six?"

"That's true, but it's not divisible by six. You have to find a number that is divisible by six and less than twenty-seven."

"Ohhhh! I get it now! Um, let's see..."

Scribble, scribble, scribble!

"Like that?" she asked as she lifted the notebook up to the colt's view.

Connor nodded enthusiastically. "Mm-hmm! You got it!"

Her face beamed in joy. She got it!

"But, you're not done yet. Let's do the next one. After that, let's see if you can do the next ones by yourself."

"I'm on it!"

Scribble, scribble, scribble!

"Very good job, Sweetie Belle!" Miss Cheerilee said as she handed the young filly her homework, which was decorated with a cupcake sticker and a smiley face drawn in pink, scented ink. "You had gotten every single one correct!"

Sweetie Belle melted in her chair in bliss. She did it! Even when she got a little help from Connor, she had done the rest of the problems without any trouble. It only took two problems for her to finally figure it out and complete the rest of it by herself. If Connor had not helped her, she would be screwed.

She could not say anything but smiled in response. Then, Cheerilee turned to Diamond Tiara. Her face twisted severely at the slapdash effort put into her homework. Some of the answers did not make any sense. Heck, she even put "Appleoosa" in one of the blanks. This was math for Celestia's sake! She lowered the paper to look at Diamond Tiara, who was nonchalantly bouncing her periwinkle and white mane like she did not even give a flying feather. Even though the teacher was really put off by the filly's slapdash effort, she kept a poker face as she handed the little snob her homework.

"Diamond Tiara, youuuuu did good but..." What the hay was she talking about? It was all but good! It had nearly killed her to say that. "You still need a little more work on it, okay?" She smiled.

"What? Let me see that!" Diamond rudely snatched the paper out of Cheerilee's grip and stuffed her nose into it as she looked over all of the "X"'s marked in her homework.

"But! But..." the rich snob sputtered. "I was sure that I had gotten every single one of them correct!"

The teacher became a little more honest. "Well, if you ask me, nine-thousand seven-hundred seventy-five divided by five does not equal 'Appleoosa'. You miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight want to check on that."

"But Schmoopum Poopums said they were the correct answers!"

Whoops...

Everypony was staring at her. Diamond Tiara's eyes zipped back and forth as she tried to find something to correct herself.

"Uh... I mean...ummm, I mean Daddy! I thought Daddy said those were the correct answers!"

Cheerilee raised an eyebrow at the young filly's alibi. Filthy Rich was an ultimate business stallion. He would not be one if he did not know math. She called bull on Diamond Tiara's alibi.

"It still needs work, young mare," the schoolteacher simply said, leaving the filly to sulk and pout at her desk.

Sweetie Belle beamed like the sun. It was victory! Now, she was maintaining a good grade, and she rubbed it in her school bully's face without literally having to do it.

It was all thanks to Connor! It was really nice of him to help her. She would have had a crap day if it was not for him. The rest of the school day flew pleasantly and relaxingly by.

"Where is he?" Scootaloo craned her neck around a tree.

"I have no idea..." Sweetie Belle scratched her head, stupefied.

"Ya know, fer a big colt like Connor, he's a pretty good hider. It'll take forever jus' to find 'I'm!" Apple Bloom said as she stuck her head inside a huge hallow knot of a tree.

"Really, Apple Bloom? You think he would hide in that small space?" Scootaloo raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the country filly.

"Erm, ya never know," the yellow filly blushed.

"It was really nice of him to play 'Hide-and-Seek' with us," Sweetie Belle smiled as she spoke. "Cherry Limeade really does know how to give her employees some free time. What a nice mare!"

"For a city mare, that is. You don't see that everyday," Scootaloo added in.

"Amen," Apple Bloom nodded.

They continued to search for him. They parted bushes, leaves, and tall grass. They even looked behind thick trees and huge boulders. Still, there was no sign of Connor. Damn, he was a good hider.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were standing in a triangular formation with Sweetie Belle in the front. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were following behind, shoulder to shoulder. Their heads zipped back and forth, determined to find the hiding colt.

Tap, tap!

"What? Did ya see somethin'?" Apple Bloom replied.

"No," Scootaloo twisted her face.

"Oh... Then, why did ya tap mah shoulder?"

"I didn't."

"Of course you did! You jus' did it a second ago."

"No I didn't!"

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Pfft, whatever! Say what ya want, but ya really did tap me on the shoulder."

"Whatever," Scootaloo brushed by it.

Tap, tap!

"What? Did you find him?" Scootaloo snapped to attention when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"No," Apple Bloom answered like she was implying that the orange pegasus was numb-skulled.

"Then why did you just tap my shoulder?"

"Ah didn't!"

"Yes, you did! I just felt it! How can... Ohhhhh, I get it. You're just messing with me now..."

"Why would ah do that?"

"Because you believe that your life would not be complete without any comeback?"

"What is wrong with you, Scootaloo? You've been actin' very weird lately, ya know that?"

"You're the one who is acting all weird lately! I didn't do anything and you point hooves at me! It's not my fault that you're a ssssss... skitsy, scootsa, scuzzo, skiddsaroony..."

"Schizophrenic?" Sweetie Belle corrected.

"Yes, that's it! But, what are you, a dictionary?"

"Oh, come on, Scootaloo! You were the one who was about to act like a dictionary!"

"Whatever... Let's just find our cash colt already."

Tap!

"For Luna's sake, Apple Bloom! Stop it!"

"Ah didn't do nothin'!"

"Aha! So you did do something!"

"What makes ya say that??"

"Grammatically speaking, you can't say 'I didn't do nothing'. Besides, in speech perspective, it means you did not do 'nothing', so that means you did do something!"

"Ah can't help speakin' like that! And look who's the dictionary now!"

"Watch it, Apple Bloom!"

"Girls! Wait, wait, wait, waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait!" Sweetie Belle said as she separated the two fillies. She had a serious expression on her face. "If you both claim that you did not tap each other's shoulders, yet you still feel somepony tapping them... who's been tapping your shoulders?"

Doink... Their minds snapped awake. They both turned slowly around to find a colt frozen in some sort of sneaking position.

"Bye now!" Connor turned and ran away.

"Git' 'im!" Apple Bloom shouted.

With that, the three young fillies started chasing the colt. They darted and dodged by trees and bushes to keep up with him. However, Connor was not running too fast, though. He was running at a medium pace, like he was rolling around with them.

Well, of course he was. He was playing 'hide-and-seek' with them. It would be no fun for the Cutie Mark Crusaders if Connor went all-pro with the game. They were young fillies, after all.

Giggling and squealing sounded as the three ponies chased the colt out of the forest and out into a grassy field. The running colt looked behind himself to see howWHOA, crap! Man, they were fast runners! They were like heat-seeking missiles closing in on him. Beside the fact that he was going slower on purpose, he had to shake them off. He darted left and right, making sharp turns and feigns. The three fillies dived and lunged as they tried to tag him.

"Haha! Whatcha gon' do now? Whatcha gon' do now? You can't catch me! Whatcha gon' do no--?"

He saw a white little unicorn dive straight for him. Her cute little white face and her two little forelegs grew large as she dived straight toward him. Connor was about to dodge, but instead, he felt the weight of a bookbag wrap around his collar and pin him onto the ground. They fell into the grass with a "poof!".

"Haha! Gotcha, Connor! You thought you would get away, didn't you?" Sweetie Belle said, glaring playfully at him. She still had a smile on her face.

"For a second there, I thought I was, but you got me!"

They both laughed warmly. For a second, Sweetie Belle felt a little spark go through her heart as she still had her wee hooves wrapped around him. Connor was a really nice guy, taking the time off just to play with her and her friends, as well as helping her with her homework. Plus, he looked pretty dashing the way the sun shone down upon him.

Her wandering thoughts had been interrupted as the other two crusaders dog-piled on top of them and started to squirm and trample playfully over them.

"Ha HA! We got 'im! The Crusaders triumph! Free cutie marks for everyone?"

With that, the three little fillies turned their heads around to look at their flanks.

Nothing...

Crap...

They all hung their heads in disappointment.

"Well, so much for our 'Hide-and-Seek' cutie marks. Darn it," Scootaloo sighed.

"But we can still play, right?" Connor suggested.

They looked at each other again.

"Why not? Good call! Sweetie Belle's the Seeker!"

"Aw, why me??"

"Quit complaining and start counting! No peeking!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..."

The other three darted out of sight the moment the wee unicorn covered her face against the tree.

She called out every single number until she reached fifty.

"Okay! Here I come!"

Trip!

"OOF! OWWWW!!" She cried as she gripped her back leg. She started to roll around in the grass, groaning in pain. Apple Bloom peeked through the leaves of the bush she was hiding in.

"What's goin' on out there?" she whispered.

"Careful! She might be faking it! It's a trap! Keep low!" Scootaloo hissed.

"Ohhh... owowowowowowowww!"

"Still faking it... She's fine."

"Owwwwwwwwww! Ungh!"

"She's a stubborn one, isn't she?"

Sweetie Belle's groans of pain began to dissolve into pitiful sniffles and tears.

"Now she's really trying! Nice try, Sweetie Belle! You're not going to fool us!"

The unicorn's sniffles became more pitiful. If one had a heart of iron, it would immediately break after hearing that sound.

"She's really determined this time. She is going to have to find us the original way instead of--."

Connor was put off by the pegasus' obliviousness. "That's enough, Scootaloo! She's really hurt! We got to help her!"

With that, he descended from the apple tree and dashed over to the injured filly. Tears were dripping down her cheeks, but she did not cry loudly. She did not even blubber. Connor craned his neck to take a look at what was wrong. Her ankle was swelling up. Plus, there was a small line of blood tracing up her hoof.

She scraped herself deeply and sprained her wee ankle. Yikes...

"Quick! Somepony get something to cover the wound! A leaf or something!" They were in the woods, after all. What were the chances of them finding an idealistic band-aid anyway?

"Here you go!" Apple Bloom handed him a... band-aid?

"What the...? Where did you get this?" Connor was stupefied.

"Pinkie Pie's been stashin' items all throughout Ponyville fer some weird reason. She said it was for emergencies or somethin' like that. I dunno, but ah'm really lucky to find a regular band-aid out of the many objects she stashed."

Connor did not know whether to thank Pinkie Pie for her sense of emergency or think that she was so completely random. She scared him.

Connor placed the band-aid gently over Sweetie Belle's wound. However, he knew it was not enough. She still had a sprained ankle. How was she able to walk back? The colt lowered himself onto his knees right next to the groaning unicorn.

"Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, lift her up onto my back."

They immediately obeyed. They gently lifted her up and placed her onto Connor's back. The colt slowly lifted himself up and started walking back to Ponyville.

"Playtime's cancelled, girls."

"Therrrrre you go!" the doctor exclaimed. "All done! The estimate time would be about one or two weeks. During that time, I advise you to not let her engage in any sort of exuberant activity. She needs to keep it relaxed until it fully heals."

"Thanks, Doctor."

Sweetie Belle wiggled her back hoof, inspecting the splint with an unpleased look on her face. It looked so clunky on her. Great, now Diamond Tiara would never stop bothering her about it. Even worse, that meant that she would have to be exempted from activities that might possibly get her her cutie mark. Could this day get any worse?? She wiggled it so much, that it throbbed mightily. She yelped in pain.

"Uh, uh, young lady! You have to keep it relaxed until it's alllll better. Okay?" the doctor said with a gentle expression.

Sweetie Belle sighed, depressed. "Okay..."

The doctor turned to a small jar and pulled out a small object. He turned back around with a warm smile on his face.

"Annnnd, since you've been such a good filly, you get a special treat. A lollipop!"

A lollipop? She was not a baby, wise guy...

Still... who would not like a lollipop once in a while?

She gingerly took it and started to lick it pitifully. She was still depressed by the predicament at hoof.

"Again, thank you, doctor," Connor nodded in approval.

"Is she yours?"

"Oh, no! She's a sister of one of my friends. I was just looking after her, since her sister was so busy with work."

"I see. Well, make sure you tell her about Sweetie Belle's conditions."

"I will. C'mon, Sweetie Belle. Let's head back to the boutique," Connor said as he lowered himself to the unicorn's level.

It took her a couple of seconds to break out of her sad state and force herself to climb back onto the colt's back. Once they exited the hospital, they saw the other two crusaders looking desperately at their direction.

"Is she all right?" Apple Bloom was the first to speak.

"Yes, she is. She just has to refrain from physical activity for about one to two weeks."

"What??" Scootaloo squeaked in disbelief. "One to two weeks?? But, we have so much planned in order for us to get our cutie marks!"

"I'm sure she will catch up. Don't worry!"

"'Don't worry!'? We can't just get our cutie marks without her! We formed this society so we can all get our cutie marks! Together! Geez, shame on you for thinking that way!"

"Okay, I'm sorry, Scoot! The point is that you are both going to have to wait until her ankle is fully healed. I'm really sorry, girls."

Apple Bloom sighed sadly. "S'okay... Ah'm sure we can wait..."

"It won't be as much fun, though," Scootaloo added in.

"But it will be all worth it," Connor said, coaxing them. He turned to Sweetie, who was still sitting on his back. She stared sadly into space. She was as silent as a statue. She did not even mutter a word. "I guess we will see you guys later."

He turned to leave. The two crusaders waved at Sweetie Belle.

"Git well soon, Sweetie Belle!" the country filly called.

"Yeah! Like she just said!" the orange pegasus called.

The white unicorn said nothing.

Minutes passed by as the colt walked through town with the defeated, white unicorn filly sitting on his back. As he walked he heard small sniffles escape from Sweetie Belle's nostrils. He looked behind himself to look at her. Man, did his heart break! The poor little thing hung her head so low, it looked like her wee neck snapped in half. Her eyes were swollen with tears. Her lip quivered. It was like looking at a starving, helpless infant. It tore up the colt's heart to see her in such a state of sadness. No unicorn this cute should look so sad.

He was so lost in sympathetic thoughts, that he realized that he was already in front of the boutique. He pushed his way through the door, walked into the living room, and set Sweetie Belle on the couch. Her little hind hoof was high in the air like a dried up sapling. As his eyes traced up to her face... Oh, God, it nearly ripped his heart out. The poor thing! She was so determined to get her cutie mark, and now she had to sit and wait for mostly two weeks in order to pick up where she left off. To Connor, two weeks pass by quickly. However, it seemed like years to a foal, especially a foal who had such determination to achieve her goals.

He looked at the ceiling to the sound of shuffling, grinding, and mumbling of one Rarity at work. She was too busy to even realize her little sister's pain. Connor figured he should play "sibling" for a while until Rarity comes downstairs.

He just had to help get Sweetie Belle out of her sad shell. But, how?

Then, he gently took hold of the little filly's ankle and gave it a gentle and warm kiss. Then, he heard shifting right next to him. He turned his head to find a surprised Sweetie Belle staring at him.

"What... did you just do?" the filly asked in surprise.

"When I was a kid, whenever I had an injury, my mom would patch me up and give it a kiss. She said it would help heal the wound more than medications would do. I-I'm sorry. I should've..."

"No, it's fine. Really. I just... never experienced that before."

"Really?" He was surprised at what she said. "You mean to tell me that your mother never did it to you?"

"Nope."

"But, why? It's motherly instinct, right?"

"I guess, but with or without it, I'm perfectly fine. All I know is that she loves and cares me, no matter what."

Connor smiled. For a filly who could not understand math, she was pretty damn smart.

"But, I have to say, that... felt pretty good... what you did back there."

"Well, I'm glad you liked it. I guess a parent's love is generic..."

"Well, that, too, but I wasn't talking about that."

"What?"

"I was talking about you playing with us. Not very many ponies play that with us, considering that we are..." Her eyes lowered in sadness. "...pretty freakish without our cutie marks."

The hell did she say? Bullcrap! That was bullcrap. Connor leaned in toward the wee filly. "You're not a freak to me. I think you're a good, sweet, normal, little filly."

"You really think so?" she asked as her lips slowly turned into a small smile.

"You're as normal as any other foal to me. You're not a freak. You're you. That's all there is to it. Nothing else matters."

Sweetie Belle smiled as her heart melted. Such a kind thing to say!

Something snapped inside the colt after he what he said a few seconds ago. "Hey, do you want to listen to some music? Just to pass the time?"

"I would love to," the filly beamed.

"D'oh! That's right... I still have to fix this string. Well, I guess I'll have to--."

Sweetie Belle's horn began to glow a light green aura. Then, the string fastened itself back onto the fretboard. Rarity's little sister smiled.

"I've been practicing," she said.

"Wow! Thanks," Connor said.

He began to play his guitar, playing his usual song by Metallica. He definitely improved since the first time he played it. Sweetie Belle snuggled into the feather pads of the couch. A soothing chill itched up her wee spine as she felt the pad filled her entire back with comfort. She could not even feel her aching ankle. The atmosphere surrounding her eased all uneasiness and conflict. She gazed upon the colt, who was plucking the strings and singing in a gentle, airy voice.

It was so strange. That was the first time a colt kissed her. It was way different from her mother's. Her father's even. No, she felt a whole new wave of feeling through Connor's kiss. Hay, her ankle was still feeling tingly from it. A good tingling...

Her eyelids were feeling a little heavy. Either it was the colt's guitar playing or a wave of internal content, she did know. In fact, she did not even care. It was about time that she took a nap. Through her fluttering, sleepy eyes, she looked at Connor.

This colt was different. He treated her to how she liked to be treated. Such a kind pony.

And pretty... pretty... cute, too... she thought as she trailed off in sleep.

Sweeite Belle fell fast asleep, making smooth and silent breaths.

BRRRIIIIIIIINGG!

"Have a wonderful day, class!" sang Miss Cheerilee as all of the schoolfoals collected their books and pencils.

Yeah... "Wonderful" she said...

Sweetie Belle limped out of the school, looking as pitiful as a puppy with a broken leg. She still had her splint on.

Clop... clop-clop... clop-clop... clop-clop... clop-clop...

Her hoofbeats were way out of their usual rhythm. Plus, her ankle still freaking hurt.

Actually, it was not just her ankle that was hurting.

Stupid Diamond Tiara...

"Hey! Sweetie Belle!" called an older voice.

She knew who the voice belonged to, but it was not enough to break her out of her sad shell.

Connor walked up to the sad little filly. "Rarity is busy... again. So, she asked me to come over and pick you up. Is that okay for you?"

She did not answer. The colt's eyes bunched in concern.

"Is that okay for you?" he asked again.

This time, the white filly answered with a slow nod.

"Cool! Let's go, then!" Connor smiled, hoping to cheer her up.

Two minutes passed by like it was half an hour. Sweetie Belle did not utter or breath one word since they left. She was still hanging her head and looking sadly at the ground. Connor shifted his eye over to the little filly.

He could have sworn that a spear gored his heart when he looked upon what he saw. Hanging her head and limping helplessly, she walked beside him. He could see her little lip trembling. Was she still moping over her injury?

Well, that was kind of a stupid question... It was clearly obvious.

Still, he could not allow himself to see her sad like that. Let's see... what happened earlier today that was really funny?

He began chuckling. "Hey Sweetie Belle, guess what?"

...

"I was working at the bar earlier before I got an early leave, and I saw Cherry Limeade shaking up a cocktail soda. She was shaking it so hard, that the lid popped off and she drenched herself in orange soda!"

...

"Plus, an ice cube snuck into her pants, and she was literally dancing 'The Mule'! She was all 'Ahhhhhhhhh! It's cold! It's cold!', and was bucking all over the place! She even slid on her a--I mean, her butt like a dog with worms! Bahahahahaaa! Look! I even recorded it on my iPhone! Boy, am I glad Twilight gave me this continuum charger for my iPhone! I would have missed the whole thing!"

He smiled, looking like an overly-optimistic buffoon. Still, there was no response from the sulking Sweetie Belle.

Wow... if even she did not laugh at that what the colt just said, something was definitely up.

"Hey... Sweetie Belle," he spoke gently.

She still did not answer.

"Sweetie Belle," he spoke a little louder.

Nothing.

"What's wrong?"

...

"What happened at school today?"

...

Now, he was feeling a little annoyed. He only wanted to help her, but how could he if she would not answer him? He hated being ignored, just like how he hated being ignored in high school back at his own deceased world. It drove him crazy when he felt ignored. Still, Sweetie Belle was only a little filly. Especially after the little time they had spent together two nights ago, he did not want relationships to be sour.

He sighed sadly with a hint of anger.

"Okay... whatever. Don't tell me, then. I was only trying to help..."

Sweetie Belle gave in reluctantly.

"That stupid Diamond Tiara..."

He knew it.

"Aw, jeez... What did she do now?"

"So despicable! So despicable beyond belief! Ugh, of all the things she pulled on me, this was the most despicable!"

"What did she do?" He expressed concern.

"She got a hold of one of my tests, erased my name, and then replaced it with hers! She did the same on her test, but she erased her name and replaced it with my name!"

"...And?"

"What else? Now, I 'failed' my pony history test! Pony History, for Celestia's sake!"

Connor blinked in disbelief. He was shocked. "Wow... That...that is despicable! She sure has sunk to a new low."

"If she'd sunk any more, she would drown. I even tried to tell Miss Cheerilee! Did she believe me? No! She said I had to study harder! Ugh! She doesn't even know how hard I studied last night! Two hours! Ugh, even for the best teacher in Ponyville, she still has no clue!"

"Hey, Sweaty Butt!" called a nasally prissy voice.

Oh, dear...

"Very unfortunate of you to flunk that history test! Well, I guess that means you will have to... study harder next time!"

Diamond Tiara laughed. Silver Spoon laughed, too, but she was not very enthusiastic about it. She had an uneasy look in her eye as she laughed. Connor could feel a small tongue of seething rage boil next to him. Sweetie Belle was at the end of her rope.

"That's it, you sneaky, cowardly, piece of--!" She launched herself at the pink snob, until she felt her ankle clench painfully. As a result, she fell flat on her face in the dirt road. Diamond Tiara laughed even harder. Silver Spoon was shocked when she saw the white unicorn on the ground. The pink snob jabbed her elbow into the gray pony's ribs, forcing a laugh out of Silver Spoon.

"Oh, I mean, hahahahaaa... eh hehhhh..." she trailed off uneasily.

They both left, flicking their haunches into the air. Connor looked onward in disgust. What a bi--...

He heard squeaking coming from the downed filly. Sweetie Belle lifted her face from the dirt, revealing a crying face stained with mud from the mixture of tears and dirt.

Oh, God... Connor felt like crying himself. The way the little unicorn was sprawling on the ground, crying with the clunky splint wrapped around her little leg just tore up the colt's heart. Why did such a sweet little filly have to live through such cruelty? She did not deserve it at all. Not one little bit.

He knelt on all four knees as he lowered himself to Sweetie Belle.

"(Sniff!) Why?... (Sniff!) Why did this happen to me? Just why?!" she said with her voice cracking at the very end.

"Heyyyy, heyyyy... It's okay."

"Okay?! It's not okay! I sprained my ankle, so I can't do anything to get my cutie mark, I'm constantly being tortured by that Diamond Tiara, I 'flunked' an important test, and I STILL CAN'T GET MY CUTIE MARK!! It's everything but okay!!"

Connor lifted her face up to wipe away the mud and tears. "Okay, so everything's but okay, but that's only for today. There's a whole new day coming up, and you need to be ready for it, whether it's pleasant or not. However, you can't let that insecure, snobby, biiiiiiiihhhhhg-mouthed brat of a pony get to you."

"But she's always winning when it comes to embarrassing me and my friends. It's so frustrating!"

"I know it is. Believe me, I've been there before. However, I've heard of something called, "You may have lost the battle, but not the war". You've just got to fight every single one of them head-on until the enemy starts to wear out. Therefore, you will start to win more battles, and eventually, you will win the war. However, that depends on your will to go forward or go down."

"You really think so?" she looked into the colt's eyes.

"Absolutely. Plus, for a pretty little filly like you, I think you will do just fine," he smiled as he tousled her curly, periwinkle and light-pink mane.

"But, Diamond Tiara says I'm a freak..."

"Uh-UH! What did I say earlier?"

"Erm... don't let Diamond get to me?"

"Exactly. Plus, you're not a freak; you're pretty like your older sister. Diamond Tiara's the real freak. Snobbish, bratty fillies who dress themselves in cumbersome riches and wear insane amounts of perfume that I could hardly breath are not even close to being pretty. Especially with those attitudes. Am I right?"

"R-right!" A smile was forming on Sweetie Belle's face.

"That's the spirit!" Connor looked up into the sky. "Hoo boy, we'd better get going. Looks like a real big storm's coming!"

BOOM! The rain fell immediately.

"C'mon, Sweeite Belle! On my back!"

BAM! They both busted through the door, dripping profusely. They were covered from head to hoof in rainwater. They panted and laughed from all the running they had to do. Sweetie Belle climbed down off of Connor's back. They both tensed their legs and got ready to shake...

"NOOOOOO!!" screamed Rarity, immediately using herself as a shield to protect her dresses. "Please, no!! I've just finished these dresses and I would literally tear you to pieces if you get one drop on them!"

Whoo, was that a close call.

The white unicorn tossed them a couple of towels. "Dry yourself the proper way, if you are to live in this boutique."

The colt and filly rolled their eyes. Proper way... more like slow and inefficient way.

Connor dropped his towel. "No, thanks, Rarity. I've gotta go back to work at the bar. Who knows if some thirsty ponies happen to shelter themselves in the bar in this rain? I'll see you later."

"Very well. Goodbye, Connor! Thank you ever so much for picking up my little Sweetie Belle!"

"Anytime! See ya, Sweeite Belle!"

"See ya, Connor!"

The door closed, separating the colt from her sight. Sweetie Belle was still waving, though.

"Sweetie Belle, he's gone already..." Rarity raised an eyebrow at her little sister.

"Yeah... I know..." She never took her eyes off the door.

The older sister shrugged and went back to what she was doing before.

Eventually, the little unicorn filly stopped waving. Her eyes were halfway closed, and her smile grew relaxingly wider. She sighed deeply as she sank down to the ground, landing on her elbows. She was keeping her sleepy head up with her hooves.

He called me pretty! Nopony has ever said that to me before... Plus, he plays with me, helps me with problems, consoles me when I feel sad. I... think I love him now... Yeah! I love him!

Well, that was it... It happened.

Sweetie Belle was crushing on Connor.

To be continued...

Chapter II

"Hey," said a smooth young voice.

Connor found himself in a room full of wine-red velvet pillows and other soft fabrics. Funny, this looked much like the room he'd usually go in whenever he meets the voluptuous brunette.

Wait...

"Ohhhhhh, no! No! No! Not you again, Hot-Brunette-Who-Doesn't-Have-A-Name! You said we were done! I did NOT change my mind about you leaving!" he said without ever looking up.

"But, Connor, it's me. Fluttershy," said yours truly.

Whoops...

"Oh, hey! What's up, Fluttershy?" the colt smiled.

The colt snapped awake in a jolt, however it was not in a frightened fashion. He was just merely stupefied. What the hell kind of dream was that? Well, whatever it was, he was certainly glad that that brunette did not show up. Every time he met her, he always got pecked, bitten, or God-knows-what on the nose. If it was not anything on the nose, then it was whatever that could hit and rudely awake him. Plus, he was really glad that it was Fluttershy. She was his little pony. He always enjoyed her presence, in reality or not in reality.

He awoke just in time, too.

"Connorrrrr! Eggs!" Rarity called from the kitchen.

Yes!

He sprung himself out of bed and immediately dashed into the kitchen. As he entered, he jolted to the left in order to run over to the table. His hooves slid and skidded over the smooth tiled floor before he got the grip of it again. He sat eagerly at the table, awaiting Rarity's masterful eggs. Rarity walked up to the table in a dignified swagger with her hips swaying mesmerizingly left and right. She placed the plate right in fronton the starving colt, who was smacking his lips in hunger. Before Connor was about to gorge, he looked at Rarity.

"Didn't you eat?"

"Of course not, darling. Guests are always first," she said as she bounced her mane.

"But, I was a guest a long time ago. I'm pretty much your roommate now, right?"

"Well, technically yes. However, 'roommate' does sound a little strong."

"What do you mean?" Connor asked as he chewed his eggs.

Rarity glared at him. Whoops... Manners. He swallowed his food.

"What do you mean?" he reiterated.

"Well, seeing that you are a stallion... and I'm a mare... You know, it doesn't always play out or..."

"Doesn't play out? What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, think of it this way, darling. When two ponies room together it has to be of same sex, because if two of opposite sex room together, then... well..."

"Thennnnnn?"

"Then..." She slowly and repeatedly tapped the hollow of her hoof with the tip of her other hoof. "You know, right?"

"Thinking dirty thoughts, aren't we?"

Rarity began to stammer, feeling pretty foolish. "Uh, erm...well... I-I'm sorry, darling, but that's how I see it. Please try to understand."

"But, what about married couples? Hmm? They're like roommates, only for forever until death do they part! And you're assuming that I would...? Really? I mean, really? That's kind of quick on judging there, don't you think? You're my friend! Plus, no offense, I don't see us going that way."

"Oh," she said. "Very well, then. Terribly sorry about saying that, darling."

"Oy, first conversation of the day, and it happens to be about that. Pretty smooth there, Rarity."

"I'm sorry!"

"It's okay, it's okay. Just pick your morning conversations carefully."

"Yes. Okay..."

Connor resumed eating his breakfast. The room was silent except for the colt's chewing and silverware scraping against the china plate. Rarity was at the frying pan, making herself some eggs as well. The eggs popped and sizzled smoothly on the hot pan. The unicorn slid the spatula underneath them and flipped them onto another plate. Later, she joined Connor at the table, eating her breakfast as well.

The colt belched silently as he placed his fork down onto the table. Damn, those were gooooood eggs! The fashion queen sure could cook. His eyes traced up to Rarity, who took small bites out of her eggs and took little sips of her morning tea. He felt pretty guilty. He was pretty nit-picky just a few minutes ago. He should have showed more sensitivity toward's Rarity's conversation. What could he do to amend it? Well, it was probably not that big of a deal to Rarity now. She must have gotten over it. However, he did not. He just wanted to have a nice conversation.

"So, Rarity," he spoke.

"Yes, darling?"

"I'm surprised that I remember this, but long ago, when I mentioned something about you getting to a royalty's relative, you flipped out. Why was that? Did something happen?"

Rarity was silent at first, but then she broke out into laughter. Connor seemed pretty intimidated by it, until the dressmaker slumped onto the tabletop, letting out a loud sigh.

"Oh dear. That was the worst night of my life."

"How?"

"Well, I was at the Grand Galloping Gala about a year ago. I saw it as the best night ever, because I thought I would meet the stallion of my dreams, Princess Celestia's nephew, Prince Blueblood. Was I ever wrong!"

"Which one? The night or the Blueblood guy?"

"Everything! Especially that Blueblood! Ugh! So spoiled and arrogant!"

Connor leaned forward in his chair. He was really interested to hear what she had to say.

"He walks through doorways with him always being the first, he used my dress as a rug to walk over spilled water, he let a door close into me, and he used as a shield against a flying apple cake! I worked so hard, I mean my friends worked so hard on that dress for me, and it got ruined because of him!"

"Yikes! Puh! He's a real charmer," the colt rolled his eyes.

"Darling, you have no idea! At first I thought he was going be chivalrous as a knight, but I guess I was foolish to immediately think that sort of thing. After all, I learned a valuable lesson: colts aren't always as they look. You have to know him before you do anything else."

"Good lesson. So, what do you see in me?"

"Well, your manners still need a little work, but you are still a good friend! You are acceptable in my books," smiled Rarity.

"Thanks!"

"Only the most kind, sensitive, and generous stallions and colts get a good lady. They treat their mares like authentic ladies. They are kind, they help them with problems, they console them of stress, and always be at their side. Now, that is a true gentlecolt! Oh, would I give anything to meet a noble stallion like that! I would feel like a young school filly again."

"Haha, 'schoolfilly'."

Kind of like Sweetie Belle.

"What about a teenager? Don't you want to feel like a teenager again?"

"The younger, the better, darling."

"I guess so. Hey, speaking of schoolfilly, did you hear about Sweetie Belle's day yesterday?"

"Oh, yes, dear! Oh, how terrible!"

"I know! Seriously, somepony needs to show that Diamond Tiara some manners... and class. Well, her parents sure failed at that."

"Now, now, darling! Let's not jump to conclusions. I mean, maybe it is not the parents' fault that their little foal acts like that. Sometimes, it is up to the filly to make decisions on his or her own to act like what they want to be."

"True, but it is up to the parents to set them right."

"Oh, indeed. Well, I have to say, she did seem really happy when she came back home with you. Did you do something to her earlier?"

"I just talked to her. I told her that she may have lost the battle, but not the war. See, if she pushes past Diamond Tiara's shenanigans, then, eventually, she would start winning more battles. Diamond Tiara would lose her touch, and then Sweetie Belle would live a more pleasant life, knowing that she would not be harassed by her."

Rarity nodded in understanding.

"Plus, I told her she was not a freak, and that she was a normal, pretty, little filly. She must not let anyone tell her otherwise."

"Well, that's very kind of you! I guess that is why she was feeling so happy lately."

"I'm glad."

Speak of the devil. Sweetie Belle rushed into the boutique through the front door with a big grin on her face. Actually she was more like limping at a really high speed with her splint still on. She rushed into the kitchen.

"Hey, Rarity!"

Rarity sure was taken by surprise. "Oh! Sweetie Belle, I wasn't expecting--."

The little filly zipped directly in front of Connor and looked up to him with glossy, goo-goo eyes. Her small hind leg flicked up into the air.

"Hey, Connor," she slightly giggled in a smitten tone.

"Heyyy! Sweetie Belle! What a surprise!" he smiled. "How are you? You doing fine?"

"Yes, I am! In fact, I'm doing a whole lot better now," she said as she never took her eyes off of the colt.

...

"Well, that's good!" Connor had no clue what her motive was.

"Are you going to pick me up after school again?" she asked, opening her eyes wide in eagerness.

"Actually, darling," Rarity intervened. "I will pick you up after school."

Sweetie Belle looked defeated and disappointed. "What?! Why? Why can't Connor pick me up?"

"Well, darling, I have already completed all of my orders, so I have a free day today. Plus, Connor has to work at the bar with Miss Cherry Limeade, so he will be busy."

"But, I thought Miss Cherry Limeade was going to call him if she needs any help!"

"Well, she does need him now. Don't worry, Sweetie Belle! I, as your honorable big sister, would love to pick you up after school! We would have a deeper bond that way."

"Rarity, I'm your sister. I've pretty much known you all of my life."

"Well, whether you like it or not, I will be picking you up from now on," Rarity gently scolded.

"But...!"

"I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle, but your sister's right," Connor said. "I have a full day at the bar today, so I won't be available. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed taking you back home! Believe me! I would love to do it again, but today's not the day. Besides, it's not like we are never going to see each other again. You could still see me when the day is over."

The unicorn filly sighed sadly. She was so looking forward to being around her new crush. Without him, she just did not feel comfortable. He was like a giant iron shield to her: he protects her from bad days, pain, and sadness. Without it, the banes of the days would fly directly at her.

"Buuuuuut... Hey, Rarity," Connor said as he turned to Sweetie Belle's older sister. "How about if I walk her to school? That would be okay, right?"

"Really? You would do that?" Rarity asked.

"Well, yeah! Work doesn't start until nine, sooooo... I'm available!"

Sweetie Belle's face went from sad to overjoyed in a snap. She literally slid on her little knees up to her big sister. She clasped her little hooves together.

"Yes! Yes! That will do! Please, sis? Please? Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleeeeeeeeez?"

"Goodness, you're really excited about this, aren't you?" The purple-maned unicorn pushed out her bottom lip and tapped her chin with her hoof. After a few seconds of thinking, she finally answered, "Well, I don't see any problem at all. I approve!"

In an eyeblink, her little sister instantly jumped up and hugged her sister around her head. (She jumped pretty high for a little filly. She probably meant to hug Rarity around the neck, but did not even realize her strength.)

"YES!! Oh, thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou! WhoopI'mrunninglateforschoollet'sgo!" Sweetie Belle shouted under one breath. Then, she grabbed Connor's leg and started to pull him out of the boutique.

"C'monc'monc'monc'monc'monc'mon! Let's go!" she said as she tugged excitedly. "Don't wanna be late for our date, I mean, walk, I mean school!"

"Okay! I'm coming," Connor could not help but chuckle at the young filly's enthusiasm. "See you later, Rarity!"

"Have a divine day, Connor!" the unicorn waved back.

"Come on! We're gonna be late! Walkwalkwalkwalkwalkwalkwalkwalk! Right next to me!" Sweetie Belle's voice slowly faded away.

Rarity stood in the doorway until the two ponies were out of sight. As she walked into the boutique, she began to ponder about how unusually positive and cheery her little sister was today. Most of all, she was very excited about seeing Connor, especially the way she made goo-goo eyes at him. Also, it was pretty hurtful of her to act so defeated when she found out that Rarity was going to pick her up from school.

Rarity fiddled with a gem that was sewn onto her latest dress. As she fiddled she began to think even more about Sweetie Belle's unusual attitude. Excited to see Connor, makes goo-goo eyes at him, resumed waving at him even when closed the door, so desperate to have him walk her to school... Rarity began to add them up into one conclusion.

Was Sweetie Belle... crushing on Connor?

...

...

Nah, she probably put too much sugar in her oatmeal. Plus, Sweetie Belle was the only one Rarity knew who would put sugar on her oatmeal. Rarity shrugged it off and walked into her office.

Connor felt like he was being watched as he walked. He felt like that ever since he left the boutique. He subtly shifted his eyes to his left side, and there was Sweetie Belle walking beside him. She was making those eyes again. Half-open, glistening, and so full of...

Nah, it probably was not even love. Maybe she was already crashing from the overly sugared cereal for breakfast. Maybe oatmeal... Wait, who would be crazy enough to put sugar in his or her oatmeal? Connor much preferred salt. It tasted better that way. Along with some milk, some butter, some tofu bacon...

Ugh, he could not think straight with Sweetie Belle staring at him like that. Hell, she did not even trip! He was pretty sure that there were some stones and rocks peeking over the surface of the dirt road. How could she walk smoothly without looking where she was going? Actually, she was limping because of her splint. Still... damn!

Connor was feeling pretty awkward. What was going through her little mind in that cute little head? As a matter of fact, there was something noticeable about her mane. It definitely looked a lot more... glossy and combed. He could have sworn he smelt peaches. Did she dab peach juice on her mane this morning? Maybe that was the reason why she was running late. She was really putting a lot of time into making herself look and smell good.

"You look nice today," Connor finally spoke.

"Thank you," she giggled in glee.

Ahhhh! He noticed! He noticed! Oh, happy days! Sweetie Belle squealed inside. Oh, but I can't act so selfish! I better compliment him back.

"And you look (hee hee!) really handsome today," she said.

"Really?"

"Mmmmmmm-hmmmm!" she hummed.

Connor lifted his right leg and sniffed the area between his arm and his body. After that, his nose wrinkled. "Whoo! I guess I must have forgotten to put some deodorant on today. Smells like an onion farm! Whooooo!"

Sweetie Belle did not even give a flying feather about his small stench. She resumed looking smitten.

"It's all right! I don't mind... not one bit!" she smiled.

"Okay, then! Thank you for acting so tough about it. Most mares get really put off by it and immediately ditch you for it. It's annoying and shallow of them... but then again, I should really remember to put deodorant on."

i]Eeeeeee! He called me strong! No, he said 'tough'! He likes me!! the little schoolfilly squealed inside.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle!" said a pair of small familiar voices.

Sweetie Belle did not even hear them. The two ponies looked at each other, confused.

"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom spoke.

"Helloooooo! Equestria to Sweetie Belle! Hellooooo? Is anypony there?" Scootaloo said, actually managing to knock on the unicorn's cranium with her little hoof.

No response. What the hay was going on? Even Connor was confused. That was pretty rude of Sweetie Belle to not notice her two best friends. She still had her full focus on him. Using that to his advantage, he tried to talk to her.

"Sweetie Belle, your friends just said 'hi' to you," the colt spoke.

"Hmmmmmm?" she hummed in question.

"Your friends just said 'hi' to you," he said again.

"What did joo say?" she slurred, drunk with love.

"Your friends ju-- D'oh! For the love of..!"

Connor gave up. He simply turned her around like a statue over to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. She finally noticed the two fillies standing in front of her.

"Oh! Hey, Apple Bloom! Hey, Scootaloo! What's up?"

"Fahhne, but ah think we should be the ones asking' you 'what's up?'," Apple Bloom gave her a suspecting eye.

"Yeah, we called you about two, no, three times. What's up with you?" the little pegasus asked.

"Oh, nothing! I was just... sleepy," Sweetie Belle fibbed.

They bought it.

"It's all right. We all get tired," the little orange filly grinned.

Sweetie Belle sighed in relief. She did not want them to know about her new feelings for Connor. They would think it was pretty odd and weird that a little filly like her would love an older colt like him. Plus...

"Awww, crippled Sweaty Butt is walking to school with her new coltfriend! With him?? Ugh, so lame," Diamond Tiara jeered.

Originally, Rarity's little sister was going to argue, but now that the little snob mentioned it, that was not such a bad idea. Of course! If Connor was her coltfriend, she would not have to feel sad and unprotected anymore. She would always be at his side, protected and content. Still, she did not want Scootaloo and Apple Bloom to think that she actually was. If they had found out about her secret, then they would think it really weird and odd. A little filly crushing on an older colt? Plus, since they started their club, they even made club regulations. One of them was abstaining from feelings of affection towards colts. Why such a regulation? They believed that one of the many things that get between them and their cutie marks is love. Love distracts and postpones, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders could not wait another minute to accomplish their goal. They had to get their cutie marks now.

As much as it hurt her to say it, she argued, "He is not my boyfriend! Are you that blind? Apparently those glasses don't even work!"

"...But I'm not even wearing glasses..."

"Really?"

"And you're not even talking to me. You're talking to Silver Spoon."

Sweetie Belle blinked in confusion until it all became clear. She said all of that to Silver Spoon, thinking it was Diamond Tiara.

"Oh..."

"What a thickheaded blank flank. Am I right, Silver?"

"Ugh, yaaaaaaa!"

They both giggled snobbishly as they entered the school building. Sweetie Belle only traced her hoof in the dirt sheepishly.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Scootaloo craned her neck so her head was in front of her friend's. "You're really starting to weird me out here."

"I'm fine!" the unicorn said impatiently. "I'm just in lo-- I mean, tired! What else should I say?"

"Okay, okay!" the pegasus raised an apologetic hot in the air. "I'm sorry. You're just not acting normal is all."

"I'm as normal as normal can be! Now, can we just get to class already?"

The other two fillies shrugged at each other and resumed their way inside. Wait, something was missing.

"Sweetie Belle? Aren't ya comin'?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, just give me a moment. I... Connor has to give me my lunch."

The country filly shrugged and went back inside the building. Outside, Sweetie Belle limped up to Connor and nuzzled at his chest. The colt was pretty startled.

"Whoa! Uh, Sweetie Belle, what's..?"

"Thank you for walking me to school!" she said. "It was really nice of you, and... it made me really happy!"

"Oh! No problem! Now, I've gotta get going. I don't want to be late for work. I've got to earn enough money so I could finally start building my house."

The little white unicorn's heart sank. "But why can't you stay at the boutique? You could live with my big sister forever!"

And I could come visit you often! she included in her mind.

"That's kind of the problem, Sweetie Belle. I really enjoy living with your big sister, but I think now that she has done enough to hospitalize me. I'm not a foal, you know."

She sighed. "Yeah... I guess you're right. Wait! But I can still visit you at your new house, right?"

"No."

The filly's throat seemed to clog itself in shock and confusion. Why could she not visit him? What was the matter? Connor laughed.

"Just kidding! Of course, you can!"

Sweetie Belle sighed in relief. "Really, I can?"

"No."

...

"Kidding again!"

The filly giggled in humor. She thought Connor looked so cute when he was joking around.

"I always enjoy visitors. Whether it's Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, my girl Fluttershy... Having you as a visitor will be really fun!"

"Yeah!"

They both smiled as they ended their conversation rather awkwardly. Sweetie Belle got lost in his eyes again. She sighed, full of love. He was funny, cute, cool, and handsome. She believed that she had required a full package. Just the thought of him and her as a couple gave her a warm tingly feeling in her spine.

"Say, Sweetie Belle?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think you, uhh... well..."

"Yessss?" she flirtatiously urged him to continue.

"Do you think you could... go... out with me?"

She decided to play coy. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Do you think you should be going to class?"

Sweetie Belle shook her head rapidly. Whoa, what the hay just happened there? Did she just daydream?

"Oh, sorry! I'll see you later!"

She turned to leave, but not before she turned back and hugged the colt around the neck, nuzzling her cheek into his. Connor could only look at the happy little pony. Man, she sure was acting very gleeful today. The hair-job, the looks she gave him, the hugs, the nuzzles...

Wait...

Connor could not help, but think.

Was Sweetie Bell... crushing on him?

...

Nah! She was just a really happy pony. What else could he say?

After the filly released him, she began to climb the one step that lead her into the building. However, she was having a bit of trouble getting in, especially with that cumbersome splint on her leg.

"Here, let me help you," Connor said as he lifted the filly over the step.

"(Hee hee! He offered to help me!) Thanks!"

She limped the rest of the way up to her desk.

"Well, hello, Connor!" said an older voice.

"Ohay, Miss Cheerilee!"

"Oh, please! You can just call me 'Cheerilee'. So, how are you today?"

"Good, just a lot of work at the Guzzling Gallop. Going to be working there all day."

"Oh! Sounds fun! That place is very electric and exciting. Cherry Limeade sure knows how to decorate the place. Also, how's your fillyfriend, Fluttershy?"

"Looking as beautiful as a rose, as always," Connor replied.

"You certainly are a lucky stallion to be with such a sweet and pretty mare like her."

"I guess I am!" he smiled appreciatively. "She's my little pony, and always will be."

"I wish you two the best of luck."

"Thanks! Anyhoo, I'd better get going. Nice talking to you!"

"Nice talking to you, too! Goodbye, Connor!"

Amongst the cheerful clamor residing in the classroom, a negative storm cloud hung in the air. It was floating directly above a certain white unicorn. Her mouth was hung open in shock and defeat.

She completely forgot about that!

Connor already had a fillyfriend.

KONK! went her head as it struck the desktop.

Now what?

To be continued...

Chapter III

Sweetie Belle sighed in grief. She should have known that Connor was dating Fluttershy. In fact, how the hay did she forget? The evidence was right there in front of her nose the entire time! It was probably the colt's charms that caused the little filly to forget. To forget something so obvious took a lot of effort. Connor was enough to wipe it out of her little mind.

Ever since she had been reminded that he was already in a relationship back in school earlier today, her day so far had been nothing but crap. Her dreams of being Connor's fillyfriend were spiraling down the drain. Why did he have to be in a relationship... with Fluttershy?? Why?? So what if she came first into his life? Did that really mean that he was going to stay with her forever? Sometimes, first dates did not always go so smoothly. Then again, the relationship between Connor and Fluttershy looked pretty steadfast. Those two were like bees and honey, peanut butter and jelly, chocolate syrup and ice cream, two peas in a pod, two kissing fish in the ocean... Oh, dear Celestia, that was the worst part of it for her. Their relationship was so steadfast, that it drove them to kiss each other. Well, why not? They were a couple. Sweetie Belle and Connor would never be a couple. Look at her! She was only a little filly. Fluttershy was a grown mare. She was older than her! Plus, Fluttershy had charm for being a meek and shy pegasus who would usually lock herself away from the world. She was beautiful, kind, adorable, gentle, caring...

She groaned. How was she going to be Connor's little pony now?

"SWEETIE BELLE!" yelled a voice.

"Huh? What?" the unicorn sputtered.

"We asked ya if ya had any idears about what to do fer our cutie marks, and ya just sat there like a rottin' apple! C'mon, Sweetie Belle! Focus!" Apple Bloom raised her voice, though not in offense.

Sweetie Belle's mind raced furiously to come up with ideas. "Oh! Well... uh, how about taffy making?"

"We just did that," Scootaloo said.

"Oh... well, what about bungee jumping?"

"Nnnope! We jus' did that, too," Apple Bloom spoke.

"Scuba diving?"

"We already did that, too," the orange pegasus said as she stared at her like she was crazy.

"Taffy making?" Sweetie Belle squeaked meekly.

"Ya already said that, and we already did that!" the country filly said as she bunched her eyebrows.

"I did? Really?"

"Ugh! That's it! I can't take this anymore!" Scootaloo groaned. "Sweetie Belle, I've been holding back questions about your dreariness for a long time, and I'm at the end of my rope!"

"She's right, Sweetie Belle. Ah'm thinkin' the same thing. You've been actin' pretty strangely these past couple of hours, and we wanna know why," Apple Bloom intervened before leaning forward to listen. "Please, Sweetie Belle. Tell us. What's wrong?"

They could not know about Sweetie Belle's feelings for him. Lord knows what they were going to do to her if they found out. Her mind raced to create a lie.

"I'm sorry, girls... It's just that... that... I'm not feeling very good lately."

"You mean 'very well'..." Scootaloo corrected.

"Yes, that was what I meant, and you see? I'm so not feeling so well, that I can't really... (ooooog) speak correctly," the unicorn said as she tried to feign wooziness.

"Oh, dear! Ah- Ah mean, we didn't know! We're awful sorry that we yelled at ya like that. Why didn't ya tell us sooner? We would've sent ya home a long time ago," Apple Bloom said as she placed a hoof on the white filly's forehead. "Well, ya don't have a fever. Is it somethin' ya ate?"

"No, I mean YES! Yes, it is something I ate. I guess the love- I mean, clover went a little bad without Rarity realizing it. She must have put bad love-I mean, clover in my lunch."

"Are ya feelin' dizzy sick or vomity sick?"

"Love sick..."

Oh, horseapples... Did they hear it?

Crap! They did!

"What did ya say?" Apple Bloom said with a raise of an eyebrow.

"Umm, uhhvvv-v-vomity sick! Vomity sick! You girls better find me a bucket or something! Quick!" Sweetie Belle nervously said.

"No, no, no! I'm pretty sure you said, 'love sick.'" Scootaloo supported Apple Bloom.

"Girls! I'm gonna throw up! Bucket! NowOOMPH!"

Her cheeks puffed out furiously and she threw her head back way behind her back. Then, she threw her head forward and craned her back.

BURRRRP!

No vomit... Just gas...

Oy, she was in trouble.

Her eyes were wide open, not from surprise, but shock. She knew that she spilled the beans about love. The other two fillies were not stupid. Knowing that she had been caught, she slowly looked up at the two fillies, who were glaring down at her. Their expressions were grim and strict. Sweetie Belle was in boiled water now.

"You said 'love'..." Scootaloo said grimly.

"I...I... didn't!" the unicorn said, hoping the last-minute fib would work. It did not.

"Yes, ya did! Ah heard it, clear as a crystal," Apple Bloom argued.

Sweetie Belle sighed. She gave up.

"Yes, it's true. I said 'love'..."

The country filly began to scold. "Sweetie Belle! Ya know ya can't date while we are still tryin' to get our cutie marks! It is one of the many, yet most crucial things that get in the way of us and our cutie marks. It's in our society rules!"

"Society rules??" squeaked the white unicorn in utter confusion. "Since when did we have society rules?"

Scootaloo's face wrinkled in utter disbelief and disgust. "Ever since we started the society, Dumb Belle! You even wrote some of them! How on earth could you have forgotten that?"

SLUMP! The young pegasus placed a thick sketchbook on top of the table and opened it to the page where Sweetie Belle etched in the rules. One of them stated, "While still trying to achieve cutie marks, showing love interest and/or dating ponies of the opposite sex is strictly prohibited. Written and made official by Sweetie Belle."

The white filly was starting to feel really stupid. Just how much did she forget because of Connor?

"I, uh, I... I..." was all she could say.

"Listen!" Scootaloo's face was directly in front of the unicorn's. "We have been working our flanks off to get our cutie marks for a long time, and I do not feel like waiting any longer just because you are dating some stinky, snotty, nose-picking colt!"

How dare she insulted Connor like that! Sweetie Belle had to defend his honor. "He is not a stinky, snotty, nose-picking colt! He is a true gentlecolt! He says I'm pretty, he is gentle, he is handsome, and he has manners! Back off with your insults, chicken!"

"Look who is insulting now!" Scootaloo objected as her forehead was pushing against Sweetie Belle's.

"Girls!" Apple Bloom intervened at the right moment. "Take it easy! Nopony is insulting anypony! Let's all jus' relax and take a little breather here. So Sweetie Belle is havin' a crush on some colt! It ain't all that much. How to fix this problem is simple: stop crushing on him."

"What??" Sweetie Belle squeaked in defeat. She can't forget about her boo. (She called him that subconsciously.)

"Stop crushing on him?" Scootaloo was surprised as well. "Just like that? Don't mean to burst your bubble, Apple Bloom, but doesn't that sound a little... arbitrary? I mean, you can't just stop right on the dot when it comes to crushes. Things like that take time."

"And jus' how do ya know that, Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom shot a suspecting look.

"It was before we met and became the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I had this major crush on this really cute-looking colt for some time. Weeks, maybe. I was so lost into him that my grades were slipping. As much as I loved him, I did NOT want to be a failure in school. After realizing that, I vowed to myself that I would never crush on him again. It took a really, really long time to get him out of my head. It took me about five to eight days to completely forget about him. The day I found out that he was a booger eater sealed the deal."

"Ewwww!" the other two fillies retched.

"Yeah, I know. It's disgusting. But, what I'm trying to say is that it's not easy to forget about a crush so easily. It takes time."

"But we haven't got any time!" Apple Bloom argued. "Our cutie marks are waitin' fer us, and we need to get 'em! The sooner, the better! Isn't that the sayin' we lived by since we started this society?"

Scootaloo pondered. This was true. Plus, knowing herself, she did not have any patience either.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Plus, maybe it's different with other ponies," the yellow country filly spoke again. "While it takes you a long time to forget about yours, maybe it takes only a short time fer another to forget about his or hers."

"I guess you're right on that one, too," the orange pegasus agreed. "Maybe it will take Sweetie Belle sooner to forget about this colt."

"But, guyyyyyyys!" the white unicorn whined.

"Ah'm sorry, Sweetie Belle. This colt ya speak of does sound charmin' and all, but ya need to let 'im go."

"But--!"

No, 'but's! Time is money! And by 'money', ah mean 'cutie marks'!"

With that, the two little fillies sat each other down directly in front of Sweeite Belle and stared at her sternly.

"Now..." Scootaloo spoke. "I guess it doesn't matter who you are crushing on now, but what does matter is that you swear to forget about this colt once and for all."

"Once... and for all??" Sweetie Belle squeaked in disbelief.

"Well, not once an' for all," Apple Bloom corrected as she waved a hoof in the air. "Until we get our cutie marks. Scootaloo's just exaggeratin'."

"Pfft! Okay, whatever!" the pegasus huffed impatiently. "Still, swear that you will forget this colt until we get our cutie marks!"

The unicorn felt like a small puppy trapped in a small cardboard box. Her two best friends still had their sights directly on her. They hardly blinked as they eyed her, not ceasing until she answered. What a hard decision to make! She could not turn down her best friends, but she could not betray Connor either. She already felt like they had such a connection, though the colt did not even realize it. However, she also wanted her cutie mark just as badly as she wanted him. However, they said that she had to forget him until they acquire their cutie marks. It was not like they were asking her to forget about him forever.

Foreverrrrrrr! Pinkie Pie snarled.

Pinkie Pie! What're you..? Sweetie Belle thought.

Oh, silly me for not telling you! You were about to think 'forever', so I thought I'd drop into your thoughts and emphasize it for you!

Oh... well...

No need to thank me. Always glad to help! Oh! By the way, here's a mind cupcake to fill that mind belly of yours! It's super-duper-allyooper good! Well, gotta bounce into other ponies' minds! Bye-bye!

Seriously... how did Pinkie Pie do that??

Sweetie Belle shook her head, shaking out the pink pony's ridiculousness. Back to business. Where was she? Hard decision... betrayal... Cutie Mark Crusaders... Connor... oh, so handsome, studly Connor... tall, handsome, firm, gentle--NO! No! Focus! Connor... cutie marks... not forever.... just until cutie marks were acquired... Good, she was in track now. Yes, Connor could wait. She would get that cutie mark soon. She would. She... would... Connor would just have to wait in line.

She took a deep breath before answering, "I swear."

They did not respond. They only squinted their eyes tighter as they leaned closer toward her. Sweetie Belle was starting to feel a bit panicked. What else were they going to suspect about her? She was being honest as she could be. Paranoia and panic was rushing throughout her mind until a yellow hoof pointed directly at her.

"Do ya solemnly swear?" Apple Bloom grimly asked.

"Yes." Sweetie Belle tried to act calm. For a cute, little, yellow, earth filly with a big, red bow on her head, she was pretty scary.

"Do you Pink--?" Scootaloo was cut off by the country filly.

"No, no. We don' want Pinkie Pie involved with this. Especially when she hears that it has been broken..."

"Ooooh, yeah..." shivered the pegasus, remembering that last event when a Pinkie Promise had been broken. Damn, was it ever ugly. She saw things coming from Pinkie Pie that she wished she had never seen.

They shifted their sight back to Sweetie Belle, expecting an honest-to-God answer.

The little filly puffed her little white chest out and spoke, "I swear!"

That did it. The other two's grim and chilling faces changed to warm and content smiles in a blink of an eye. Rarity's little sister sighed in relief. Not only was she able to weasel herself out of time of panic and worry, but she had a hunch that she was able to fulfill her promise to forget her crush until got her cutie mark.

The filly was walking through the fairly crowded streets of Ponyville, quietly chanting to herself.

"You can do this, Sweetie Belle! You can do this! You can do this! You can do this! You can forget about Connor until you get your cutie mark! It won't take long! You can do this! You can do this!"

She was so adamant about convincing herself to forget about her crush, that she nearly walked into a cart. She was lucky that she barely missed it. Her face would have been plastered o the side of the cart, and she would have made a fool out of herself. She went right back to convincing herself, until she looked up casually to see the Guzzling Gallop bar across the street. That was where Connor works.

Excellent! Her first test of abstinence! She gave it a focused glare and sprung around, facing it. She jeeringly gazed upon it.

"Well, well, well... Look what we have here! The Guzzling Gallop, isn't it?" She placed a hoof behind her ear as she continued to jeer. "What's that? You want me to go inside and visit Connor? Ohhhhh-ho-ho no, no, no, nononono! You're not going to give the slip that easily! I promised the Cutie Mark Crusaders that I will forget about Connor until I get my cutie mark! Which will be soon.... er or later.... or later.... maybe even later.... maybe even m--NO! You get what I mean! I will get my cutie mark soon! I will! Until I get my cutie mark, I won't let one, single, handsome colt get in the way between me and my--EEP! Omigawsh, there he is!"

Sweetie Belle hid behind an apple cart and craned her neck around the edge to see Connor walk out of the Guzzling Gallop and take a deep breath of fresh air. Then, he shifted his limbs until they all cracked. He nearly melted in his spot in comfort and content. He turned and started to walk. The little filly squinted.

"Just where is he going? I thought he going to work all day. Something's up and I want to know what!"

With that, she dumped all the apples out of a basket and covered herself with the basket. She nipped a pepping hole into it, so she could see where she was going. Then, shuffling her little legs, she inched forward, following the colt.

So far, so good. The colt suspected nothing. However, everypony else did. Left and right, Sweetie Belle got stares from ponies as she inched forward underneath her basket. Did they mind? She was trying to see what Connor was d--.

"Ahhhhhh! A rattler! Ev'rypony save yerselves!" screeched an elderly green mare.

Ponyfeathers! For an old mare, she sure could scream. That would be enough to blow her cover. Oh, crap! She hated being right. The colt's head was turning around towards the racket. Before she could even collect herself, she darted out from underneath the basket and into the nearest garbage can she found.

Ew.

"That's right, ya lil' varmint! Git back in the garbage can like every other, you vacuum cleaner! Er, no, wait, ah mean vinyl record! No, wait... Aw, ponyfeathers... Ah'd ferget mah mane if it were sewed onto tha' back o' mah head."

Thank... Celestia! That was close. Sweetie Belle would wish for nothing more. Well, except for a better and cleaner place to hide. When was the last time somepony cleared this garbage can out??

Her senses were tingling. Connor was on the move again. She could not lose him.

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

The garbage can hopped as it followed Connor all the way to... Fluttershy's house?

Knock, knock, knock! The colt knocked on the door. Sweetie Belle had to get a closer look. Using the grass to silence the clanking of the garbage can, she hopped up to the nearest window to look in.

The colt was standing at the front door, checking his breath and brushing the dust off of his shoulders. He thrust his chest out and turned on his swagger, eager to meet his little pony. Then, his nose wrinkled. Something smelled bad... like... garbage... No matter. He instantly reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a can of Colt Spice and gave himself a spray or two... Actually, something smelled pretty bad.

...

SSSSSSSSSSSssss! He covered himself in a continuous spray of Colt Spice.

As soon as he heard the door click, he got startled and was fumbling with his can of his body spray. When he finally got a hold of it between his hooves, he instantly tucked it away into his saddlebag. The door creaked open.

"Hey, beautiful! How's my little pony doing?"

No answer, except for a fuzzy thump-thump-thumping. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw nothing but thin air in front of him. He looked down to find a rather grouchy-looking rabbit tap its big foot on the floor.

Silence loomed between the two besides the noise coming from the many different animals chittering around them.

"Heyyyy! Angel! What's up, dude?" smiled the colt as he lifted his hoof up to the rabbit's level.

Angel smiled as he bumped the colt's hoof with his paw in response. (Apparently, they had gotten used to each other over the weeks.)

"Is Fluttershy home?"

The white rabbit nodded and pointed toward the kitchen. Connor felt a warm scent slither up his nose. His stomach immediately growled as smelt it. Was she making soup? He was pretty hungry after having to mop up Berry Punch's little accident.

Berry Punch was singing some karaoke with a glass of berry punch in her hoof. She swayed like a ship in the middle of a hurricane as she slurred in song.

"Uh, um, c'mon ev'rypunny, Smuhl, smuhl, smuhhhhl! Fill mah hart up wif froot punch, froot punch! Alls ah reallys needs a smuhl, smuhl, smuhhhhl! And, uhhh... uh... POOP! BLAAAARGH!"

She fell face first into her own vomit, looking like a dead animal.

Berry Punch... What a character.

Connor walked into the kitchen to find the yellow, pink-maned pegasus standing in front of the stovetop with a wooden spoon gripped gently in her mouth. The colt sniffed the warm aroma of tomato soup with hints of parsley and garlic. Oh, GOD, did it smell good! It seemed as if the aroma made its way into his stomach and was melting his insides in a soothing warmth. Fluttershy did not even look behind herself. It seemed as if she did not not notice Connor's arrival.

Well... she asked for it.

Connor tip-hoofed up to the unsuspecting pegasus and opened his arms slowly.

"Gotcha!"

"YAHH!"

Turned out, Fluttershy jumped him instead of him jumping her.

"How did you...?" the colt stammered. "I mean, I was..."

She nuzzled the colt's neck before giggling, "I could smell you. I guess it's because of all of that Colt Spice you are wearing."

Connor sniffed his front leg pit. Indeed, he was wearing a lot of Colt Spice. It gave him away. D'oh! He felt the pegasus nuzzle deeper into his fur coat.

"And I love it, too. You smell wonderful."

"Anything for my little pony," Connor said before he pecked her on the cheek.

Then, he hopped into a playful pose.

"So! Whatcha makin'?"

"Tomato soup. With hints of parsley and garlic," she said as she smiled.

"I knew it! Nailed it!"

Fluttershy giggled at his youthful attitude.

"So, what are you doing here? Um, well, that is, if you don't mind me asking," she asked.

"Cherry Limeade just gave me a thirty minute break from work. I spent about ten minutes walking here, so I have about ten minutes to spend with you before I spend ten minutes walking back."

"Oh, I see. Oh! Are you hungry?"

"I'd thought you never ask," Connor said before he planted a kiss on her cute nose. "Thanks!"

"No problem at all," she said as she planted a kiss on his slightly larger nose. "The bowls are in the top cabinet."

"Got 'em!"

He laid two small, green, wooden bowls on top of the counter and Fluttershy poured the soup into them with a ladle. Connor was about to place his bowl on top of his head so he could walk over to the table with it, but the long-maned pegasus stopped him short. She carefully placed the bowl on top of her extended wing. Her other extended wing held her own bowl. She gently galloped over to the table, making sure not to fling any loose drops of tomato soup everywhere. She slid the bowls onto the top of the table. Incredible! Not one drop spilled. They both sat themselves and eyed their meal.

The soup was red and thick as blood. The bits of crumbled parsley and garlic slowly swirled. Small bits of tomato warped the red, smooth surface, making it look deliciously lumpy. Connor sniffed deeply at the picturesque meal. The scents of fresh, stewed tomatoes and freshly grinded garlic covered his nostrils like a coat of paint. Just wait until he started to eat it! The eyes had their fill, but it was the stomach's turn. The colt looked up to Fluttershy, who was already sipping her spoon of soup. Then, Connor took his spoon, dipped it in the soup, and lifted it up in front of his face. Oh, GOD... The lovely smell! He could get really high just sniffing it all day. He puckered his lips slowly until they touched the spoon and started sipping.

FFT! SHNERK! He nearly choked on it and some of it felt like it went up his nose. He started coughing.

Fluttershy instantly looked up from her spoon, concerned about her colt's health.

"Oh, my goodness! Are-are you okay? Is-is it the soup? Oh, dear, I thought I had followed the recipe step-by-step and detail-by-detail, but I guess it just wasn't good enough. Oh, dear, I just feel so silly som--"

"Fluttershy!"

"Hmm?"

"It's hot... It's just hot. That's why I reacted the way I did."

"Oh..." she said as she blushed sheepishly. "Well... does it taste good? To you, that is?"

"Let me try again," he said before he dipped his spoon into the soup again. This time, he made sure he blew at it first. He sipped at it again. He smacked his lips.

"I love it! It tastes awesome!"

Fluttershy sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness! I thought..."

Slurp! Slurp! Slurp! Slurp! Slurp! Connor was already feasting on his soup. Not only was it Fluttershy's soup, but it was so damn good! It even reminded him of his mother's tomato soup.

Seconds later, he found out that his spoon was not capable of scooping the rest of the soup that resided at the bottom of the bowl, so he lifted the bowl up to his lips and chugged down the rest of heaven. He politely placed the bowl back on the table and licked his lips, making sure he did not miss one single drop of tomato goodness.

He gave a pant of content. "Ahhh! That was delicious! Who would have thought you'd be such a good cook?"

Fluttershy did not respond, expect giggle. It was not out of flattery, but in humor. Judging by how she was looking at him, she was laughing at him. For what?

"What? What is it?" he asked.

The pegasus grabbed a napkin with her lips and gently floated over the table and in front of his face. She began wiping at his nose. When she finished, she revealed a red stain on the napkin.

Oh, of course! He should have known. He had one drop of soup on his nose. His thoughts were interrupted by a kiss on the nose.

"There we go! All clean! Nice enough to be kissed," she winked.

The colt could only chuckle. He automatically pressed his lips onto hers, kissing her. She kissed him back. Seconds later, the two were locked in a tiny make-out session that only lasted for about less a minute. Fluttershy sighed as looked into his eyes. Even though she was on the ground during the time, she felt like she was actually flying.

Peeking inside the window was a very devastated white unicorn. She slumped her face onto the glass and slid down with a low squeak coming from the window. She leapt down from the garbage can and hung her head as she sat on her haunches.

"Yeah... they're in a really tight relationship, all right," Sweetie Belle whimpered.

The images burned into her brain made her heart ache. She tried her best to shake it off.

"No, no, Sweetie Belle! You can still do this! You forget about Connor. You can forget about him until you get your cutie mark!... Until... you get... your..." she trailed off as she was starting the realize the ugly truth.

What was that truth? It was going to take forever for her to get her cutie mark! She could not wait that long. Plus, even if she did get her cutie mark, Connor would still be in a relationship with Fluttershy. It was a no-win situation either way. She felt like crying.

Why does Fluttershy need him? She's already happy with her animal friends. What about me?? I need him more than anything! Without him, I'll be forever hurt by bad and sad days! He's like my shield! My big, iron, brick-wall thick shield! My, big, iron, brick-wall thick, handsome, kind, and caring shield... But, look at me! Even without the garbage, I'm a MESS! I'm nothing compared to Fluttershy. She's kind, pretty, caring, full of grace... and OLDER! I can't compete with that! How is he going to love a crippled, talentless, cutie-markless mess like me? No, NO! You're just acting pathetic, Sweetie Belle! Quit beating yourself up! Of course, you are pretty, kind, caring, and full of grace! Of course, he would fall for a filly like you! I guarantee it! It will happen!

Her trail of thought silenced itself. There was only one problem...

They... were already... a freaking COUPLE!

It was hopeless. She could not win. It was over. Her shield was forever stripped from her.

Her shoulders started to heave as she quietly sobbed. She was embracing sadness until a familiar voice crept thought her mind.

You may have lost the battle, but not the war, Connor's voice echoed.

It all made sense... This was only a battle, but the war still goes on. She had plenty more battles to fight, and she was bound to win some of them. Maybe all of them.

She pounded a determined hoof into the mulch of the flowerbed.

The next battle had already begun. She was determined to push herself to be even more pretty, kind, graceful, and worthy for Connor's affections. She was determined to get her iron shield back.

Watch out, Fluttershy!

The war hath begun.

To be continued...

Chapter IV

"No!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yeech!"

"Seriously?"

"Really? I mean, really?"

"Aw, come on!"

"No. Too frilly!"

"Too brightly colored!"

"Too shiny!"

"Too orange!"

"Too plain!"

"No, no, no!"

"Next!" Sweetie Belle squeaked as she tossed her head, rejecting the dress.

"Sweetie Belle, honestly!" Rarity chided as she tried to fix her haggard mane. "I have thrown every single category of dresses I could throw at you, and none of them please you?"

"No, you think?" the little filly rolled her eyes in sarcasm.

"Watch your attitude, darling! I'm still your big sister. Second of all, just what is the meaning of all this?"

"I just want to look good. What does it look like?"

"Yes, of course, but that isn't what I meant entirely. Since when did you grow such a burning desire to wear dresses?"

"I just want to look good! I just told you! Stop being so nosy!"

"Yes, I know, darling, but what's the real reason? I'm sure it's just more that just that. Changes like this take inspiration. It could be art, it could be a dream you've had, it could be love, it--."

Suddenly, Rarity held her hoofs up to her mouth, gasping. Then, her face began to slowly morph into a smile that was as bright as the sun.

Oh, Celestia... Sweetie Belle panicked in her thoughts.

"Are you in love?" her older sister asked as she lowered her head to the little filly's face. She fluttered her eyelashes in hope.

"No!"

Rarity could not find out about the filly's crush on Connor. It would lead to disaster if she ever did. However, she did not seem to hear Sweetie Belle's answer.

"Oh, my dear, sweet Celestia! My little sister is in looooooove!" Rarity's voice warbled.

"No!"

"Oh, my darling, little sister is growing up and experiencing her first dose of love! Happy days! Oh, it is just so wonderful! Two young foals in love! EEEEEE-HEE-HEE!! So precious!"

"I am not!"

Rarity gently pushed a hoof onto her sister's lips. "Oh, shushushushushushush! Do not say another word, little sister, but answer me this." With that, Rarity instantly hopped onto her stomach and rested her head in her front hooves. Her eyesight was plastered onto Sweetie Belle's blushing face. "Who is this fine, handsome, lucky little colt you are in love with?" she asked as she smiled brightly.

"NOPONY!" the love-struck filly squeaked loudly.

"Oh, please, Sweetie Belle! You can tell me! I won't breathe a word to anypony. I promise! Please?"

"No!"

"Please?" Rarity's face begged.

"No!"

"Please??" Her smile grew wider.

Was this mare stupid or something? Couldn't she take "no" for an answer? Sweetie Belle turned her cheek towards her sister.

"No, I'm not saying anything..."

"Please, please, pleasepleaseplease, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEZZE?"

"No."

"Sweetie Beeeeeeeellllllle!" the purple-maned beauty queen whined. "Whyyyyyyy?"

"Even if I told you, you will still blab. It never fails! You are just so into spreading secrets, that not even twenty manticores could stop you."

"B-but... I-I will keep it a secret. See? I'm really mean it this time! Pwease, Sweetie Bewwe?"

Cue Rarity's "Puppy Eyes", and "Ducky Lips".

The little filly only snorted as she whipped her head around, avoiding her big sister's gaze. "Even though you are my big sister, I still can't trust you."

Rarity was losing her patience this time.

"Ugh! Why are you being so difficult? Why can't you trust me just this once?"

"Even if I told you, you still wouldn't understand!"

"Of course, I will! I am the oldest, after all. Thus, that means I'm the wisest," Rarity argued as she puffed her chest out.

"Pfft! Riiiiight... Like that time when you so carelessly and naïvely assumed that Prince Blueblood was a gentlecolt when it actually turned out that he was a total mule?"

An offended "Oh!" escaped the mare's throat. "Now see here!"

"Pfft, whatever! Now, can you just stop brutalizing me with all of your begging and help me with makeup here?"

Rarity's expression twisted at her little sister. Sweetie Belle sure was acting really strange nowadays. She was not acting like the sweet, little filly who always did cutesy tasks in order to achieve her cutie mark.

"Growing up" she mentioned earlier? Rarity really hoped that Sweetie Belle would not grow up to be like what she was now. That would be even worse than having her accidentally mess up her special dresses.

"What kind of setup would like?" she reluctantly asked.

"Blush, mascara, eye shadow..." her little sister answered as she sat herself on one of the chairs. "Maybe some lipstick."

"All right..."

She collected her mascara, eye shadow, blush, and tube of lipstick. She turned to her little sister, finding her sitting straight like an obedient puppy.

"Now," the white mare spoke. "First, I'll apply the blush, then the eye shadow, the mascara, and finally, the lipstick."

"Okay!" Sweetie Belle said in a much happier tone.

Weird... She was just acting sour just a few seconds ago, and she suddenly gets back into her happy mood. However, Rarity did not feel like worrying too much. It was not healthy to worry excessively. Plus, it would put bags underneath her eyes, and she wanted to look flawless instead of the other way around. She figured that once she starts applying the makeup, she would feel more relaxed, because making ponies look fabulous was what she did best.

As usual, it a long time for the make up to be applied. (Girls, right?)

"Well? What do you think?" Rarity asked as she put a mirror up to her little sister's face.

Sweetie Belle looked just as pretty as her older sister. She was wearing the exact same shade of eye shadow as her sister's, and her coat looked clean and flawless. Her lipstick was red as cherries, glossy and reflective, yet did not look to obtrusive and pompous. The little unicorn squinted as she took a closer look at her reflection.

"On second thought, let's forget the lipstick," she said.

"Of course."

Wipe, wipe, wipe!

"On second thought, I would like lipstick," she said.

"Oh! Well, okay."

Swish, swish, swish!

"Oh, you know what? I think I was right the first time."

"Okay..."

Wipe, wipe, wipe!

"Then again, I'll take that back."

Rarity let out an annoyed grunt.

Swish, swish, swish!

"Actually, I think it would look better removed."

"Sweetie Belle..."

Wipe, wipe, wipe!

"On the other hoof, it--."

Knock, knock, knock!

"I'LL GET IT!"

Sweetie Belle darted to the door. Rarity was breathing into her paper bag for relaxation. The little filly was about to turn the doorknob until she stopped herself. Grabbing a nearby mirror, she made sure there were not any flaws on her face or dress. Nope, she was clean. She began taking fast, deep breaths to calm herself. She looked into the mirror again to test her flirty face. Should she give him a toothy smile, or a small smile? Should she wiggle her eyebrows? Should she flutter her darkened eyelashes quickly or slowly?

Knock, knock, knock!

The hay with it! She will just have to go for the gusto. Sniffing dignifiedly, she opened the door. As it opened, she shifted herself into a flirtatious pose. She puffed her chest out and she swung her body forward, giving her the dignified and flirtatious lean. She was fluttering her eyelashes, gave a toothy, yet not huge smile, closed her eyes halfway, and looked pretty as a painting painted by Leonardo da Maneci.

"Hello, Spike..." she said in a soft voice.

Wait... What??

"Oh! Uhhh... Sweetie Belle. Wow!" the young, purple dragon stammered, lost in words. "Do you look...... nice. (Ahem) Anyway, is Rarity home? I was about to give her her--"

Frustrated that it was not Connor, Sweetie Belle slammed the door in his face.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity chided, affronted. "How rude of you to treat a friend like that! Now, step aside!"

The mare opened the door. Her knees buckled as she began to apologize.

"Spike, I am so sorry about that! Please forgive my sister's rudeness."

"Uhhhh... no problem? Well, anyway, here's your package," the young dragon said as she handed a box to her. "I saw Derpy deliver it to your house, but you never came out to retrieve it, so, I thought I would get it for you."

"How nice of you! Thank you very much, Spikey! I am so lucky to have such a sweet, little dragon like you to help me."

Spike blushed as she brushed his foot over the welcome mat. "Heh heh! It was nothing, really."

"Of, but of course it's something! If it were not for you, I would have forgotten this for ages."

"No problem! So, anyway, why's Sweetie Belle so... decorated like that? Are you guys gonna go to a fancy party?"

"Oh! Oh, Spike, you are not going to believe this! Sweetie Belle is in love!"

"I AM NOT!" shrieked her little sister.

"Whoops! Guess not! She was just playing dress-up," Rarity giggled, acting coy and playing innocent.

"Well, she does look pretty, I have to say," Spike nodded. "It only takes you to make a pony look absolutely stunning."

The purple-maned unicorn giggled at his compliments. He was such a sweet gentledragon.

"In fact," he spoke again. "With that look, all the little colts in Equestria would be dying to meet her. I guarantee it."

Oh, how Sweetie Belle hoped one of those colts would be Connor. She melted in her spot as she heard his name. If she were feeling any warmer, all the makeup on her face would drip off. However, how she was feeling now, she did not make it look obvious. (The dress would give it away, but how on earth would Spike know of her motives?) She knew her older sister was keen and had an eye for the most intricate detail, so she would have to be very careful around her.

"Good-bye, Spike! Thank you so much for your consideration!" Rarity called before she closed the door.

Just as she turned around, she saw a pair of green eyes glare at her. It was like staring at an angry owl. The grim feeling escaping from the filly's eyes hypnotized the mare into imagining what kind of foul thoughts her little sister was thinking of her now.

"What?" the fashion queen asked, even though she exactly knew what she did.

"You see what I mean?!" Sweetie Belle shouted. "No matter how much you say that you will keep a secret, you go waltzing up to the next pony you see, and BLAB! This is exactly why I don't trust you! Now Spike is going to think I'm in love... which I'm not."

Rarity tossed her mane as she cleared her throat. "Well, now that I have realized my weakness, I will now work harder in correcting it. I swear upon Celestia herself, that I--."

"Rarity, I'm home!" said a familiar voice.

To Sweetie Belle, it was matter over mind. She instantly and automatically zoomed right up in front of the colt.

"Hi, Connor!" she squeaked in joy.

"Ohey, Sweetie Belle! What's..." his voice trailed off when he saw her.

It was her cue to look ravishing. She swung her body forward, puffed her chest out, tilted her head downward, closed her eyes halfway, and smiled. She fluttered her eyelashes saucily as she asked softly, "How do I look?"

Connor's eyes were wide open as he looked upon her in awe with a hint of confusion. He inhaled just before he was going to respond.

The filly was squealing and prancing inside in excitement. What would he say? Wonderful? Ravishing? Hot? Adorable? Beautiful? Prettier and more graceful than Fluttershy, that colt-stealing animal lover? Oh, the possibilities! She was getting very desperate on what he has to say.

"You look good!"

Not what she had in mind, but she took it, no matter what. She nearly lost her composure.

"EEE! Thank you!" she squealed.

"You're, uhhh, playing dress up?" Connor smiled.

"Mayyyyyybe," she replied coyly as she puckered her bottom lip.

"Maybe?"

"Ohhh, yes! Yes, I am! Oh, silly me," she said, playing innocent.

"Cool, cool! That's fun."

She did not say anything, but dreamily stared at him.

"Say, Sweetie Belle?" Connor asked, blushing a little.

"Yes, darling?" she nodded.

"Do... do you..."

"Yessss? C'mon, darling, don't be shy," the filly gently urged him.

"Do you want to go out with me?" he asked shyly.

"Yes! Oh, yes, Connor! Oh, yes!"

"With Fluttershy?"

Wait a second... What??

"Hey, Rarity, I'm going to be leaving again. I've got a date with Fluttershy tonight," Connor said to Rarity.

Sweetie Belle shook her mind awake. God bucking dammit! She was daydreaming again. Oh, Lord, what had she been doing for the past few seconds? She felt something wet on her chin. It seemed to trail from her mouth. Oh, NO! She had been drooling from being so lost in her little, lovesick mind. Plus, Connor probably might have seen it and walked away from her in disgust. She dropped to the floor, embarrassed.

"Oh, splendid, darling!" Rarity exclaimed. "What are you two going to do tonight?"

"Rob banks, commit crime, assault helpless ponies, usurp the throne... The usual stuff."

The mare laughed at his joke.

"We're just going to have dinner, watch a movie, and junk," the colt laughed. "The usual."

"Splendid! Well, have fun, darling!"

"See ya! Oh, and uhhhh, Sweetie Belle?"

Her little head perked up to look at him.

"Well... Later! Have fun with your dress up!"

After giving a final wave of his hoof, he shut the door behind him, literally putting a big barrier between the depressed filly and himself.

She sighed sadly. Connor did not give her the kind of acknowledgment she wished. It was just a "You look good!" and that was it. Trying to be prettier than Fluttershy was a big fluke. However, that did not stop her. There was another thing that had yet to best: kindness. That was simple. All she had to do was to be an angel. No problem...

Her ears perked up, catching something suspicious. She sensed danger and the sound of stifled, delighted squealing. She turned to find Rarity gawk at her with her big, blue, luscious, eager eyes. Her mouth was cracked wide open in a huge, goofy smile. What was going on with her? Sweetie Belle was trying to deduct it, until the terrible truth hit her across the head like a baseball bat. She made it extremely obvious to Rarity that she was in love with Connor. As painful as it felt to Sweetie Belle, it was so adorable and precious to Rarity. The white mare nearly squealed like a dolphin she was so enthralled.

"Oh... my... goodness! You are in love with--?" the unicorn said, trying her best to not squeal until Sweetie Belle answered.

It was no use arguing anymore. The truth was present and it could not be forgotten. She had to come clean.

"Yes, Rarity... I'm in love with Connor..." she reluctantly answered. "Are you happy now?"

"EEEEEEEEEE-Hee-hee! Oh, that is just sooooo precious! A little filly like you falling for an older colt like him?? That is just adorable! I have been around a lot of moments of love, but this--!" She was cut off by Sweetie Belle's hoof rudely shoved in her mouth.

She menacingly brought her face up to her older sister's. "Yes, now you know my secret, because I was foolish to act the way I did. Now, listen to me and listen good. I don't want anypony to know about this! NOPONY! You hear me?? If you go as far as to blab about this, I will make your life a living TARTARUS! You got that?"

Rarity yanked the filly's hoof out of her mouth. "Why is this so important for me to not tell?"

"You wouldn't understand, plus I don't feel like telling you anymore than I did. Now... promise me that you will not tell anypony!"

The unicorn sighed. "I promise..."

"Pinkie Promise??" squeaked Sweetie Belle.

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Rarity recanted, drawing and "X" on her chest and placing a hoof over her eye.

Her little sister continued to glare at her. She was convinced, but she did not make it obvious. She raised her hoof slowly and pointed threateningly at her older sister.

"And you better keep that promise sealed... Pinkie Pie would not like it if you broke it. Not... one... bit!"

Now, Rarity was nervous. Her adorable little sister suddenly looked really scary. Plus, she remembered the last time the Pinkie Promise was broken. Applejack would have been screwed if she had not found a loophole. The unicorn shuddered at the thought of what would actually happen if cowpony did not find that loophole.

"It... will never happen," she reassured her little sister.

Sweetie Belle did not respond, except walk away, backwards, not taking her eyes off of the mare. Rarity could not help but worry. Wow, Sweetie Belle was really adamant about keeping her crush a secret. Why was this such a big deal to her? She did not even tell her why. Of course, Rarity would understand. However, the fear that she would not creeped in her mind. Besides, who knows what kind of damage would happen if she did tell? She would lose her little sister forever. She would lose Connor maybe. Maybe her reputation as well. And Pinkie Pie... Oh, dear Celestia...

The unicorn puffed out her chest. As hard as it seemed, being an addict for rumor and gossip, she was determined to do her best to keep that secret sealed.

Scriiiiiiiitch!

Sweetie Belle drew a large, red line over the word "Looks" with a red pencil. So looking glamorous and beautiful did not work. She worked so hard, too, but it was just not enough. Crud... Maybe she really should have applied lipstick.

No, it was too late for that. It was time to move on. She had a battle to win in the war against Fluttershy for Connor's approval. What was the next battle?

Kindness.

No problem. All she had to do was to be an angel to those in need. Besides, beauty was nothing without kindness. Only the most shallow stallions would go only for looks. So far, Sweetie Belle was feeling pretty confident about this one. She looked cute without make-up anyway, and what would be better than to be cute and kind at the same time?

Whoop! It was seven-thirty already! That was the time when Connor ate breakfast. She had to hurry if she wanted him to walk her to school. She darted out of her bed, snatched her book bag, dashed down the stairs, and wolfed down her oatmeal.

"Mornin', Sweetie Belle!" said her father. "Whoa! Where's the fire?"

"Uh'm guhmna buh latepfh!" Sweetie Belle said with mouth full of oatmeal.

"Uh-uh, Sweetie Belle!" her mother scolded. "Swallow your food before you talk. Honestly!"

Gnulp! The filly swallowed her oatmeal.

"I'm gonna be late, I said! Late for school!"

"But, honey, school does not start until eight-forty-five. You can take your time."

"I like to be there extremely early... because I want to... read... books," she said, trying to think of something unsuspicious.

"Oh! I never knew you were into reading," her father said, raising an impressed eyebrow.

"Oh-oh-oh, yes! Yes, I am! It's sooooooooooooo much fun!"

"I'm glad you think so," smiled her mother. "I always enjoyed reading when I was a young filly. My favorites were 'Little Mares', 'And Then There Were Some', 'Mother Moose Rhymes', 'Crime and Banishment', those classics."

Despite the little filly's enthusiastic nodding, she really thought, Ugh! Those boring, old books?? And I don't even like reading all that much!

Then, she jumped down from the chair and slung her book bag over her back. "Well, I'd better go! Thank you for breakfast, Mom! See ya, Dad!"

Then, she was gone in an eye blink. Her parents looked at each other in confusion.

Outside, Sweetie Belle was pumping her little legs furiously as she ran. She did not want to miss her crush. Also, she wanted to make sure that she wanted to get there before Rarity could blab about her secret. She still did not trust her big sister at that category. She careened past vendors, carts, kiosks, and ponies just to reach Rarity's boutique. So far, so good. No obstacles y--.

"Howdy, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom said.

"EEP!" the white filly squeaked as she skidded to a stop.

"What's up?" Scootaloo asked.

"Ummm... Nothing! Just going to school!"

The two other fillies looked at each other in confusion.

"But," the yellow earth pony stated. "School's that way."

She pointed a yellow hoof in the opposite direction.

"Oh! Yes, I know, but... I left my books at Rarity's. I was just going to get them."

"But you have your books already," the orange pegasus objected.

Sweetie Belle's eyes shifted towards her book bag. Indeed, her books were in her bag. All of them.

"N-no!" she contradicted. "My spelling workbook is at Rarity's. Plus, that was part of our homework, remember? Filling out one page in the workbook."

She felt a lump growing in her throat. Her spelling workbook was in her book bag, and she knew it. She had to come up with an excuse to see Connor. Just to make sure that they never see it peeking out of her bag, she used a smidgen of her magic to shove it in deeper. Luckily, they did not notice.

"Oh, yes, of course," Apple Bloom nodded. "Go on an' git yer books. We'll see ya back at school."

"Okay!" the white unicorn desperately tried to end the conversation.

"Oh, wait!" the country filly stopped her.

"Yes?"

"So, how's trying to forget yer crush? Is it goin' smoothly?"

No.

"Yes! Yes, it is. Just give me a few seconds, and I will forget him like he's ancient history."

Oh, God, how it nearly killed her to say that. Not her sweet, sweet colt! She would never!

"Good! The sooner we get to our cutie marks!" Scootaloo smiled. "Later, Sweetie Belle!"

"Later!" Sweetie Belle waved hastily.

She turned and immediately darted to Rarity's boutique.

After much pumping of her little legs, she had finally made it. She slumped on the welcome mat, trying to catch her breath. That the fastest she had ever run in a long time. When she was finally in rhythm with her breathing, she fixed her mane and tail of any loose strands. She brushed the dust off of her white fur coat. She was about to walk through the door until she remembered that she had forgotten one last thing.

Ssssss! Her perfume. It was her favorite kind: Kalvin Klop's Orange Sunday. She made sure nothing was in her teeth by rolling her tongue over them.

She was finally ready. Now, she just had to walk in through the door and...

Cough! Cough!

The hay??

She opened the door so her head could peek in. That cough sounded more masculine. Which meant...

"Oh! Sweetie Belle," Rarity exclaimed, hovering a thermometer with her magic. "You're finally here! I guess I will have to walk you to and from school today."

"Wh-what? Why can't Connor walk me to school?" the filly asked in shock.

"He's not feeling very well today. He's sick."

"Wha--? Awww!" she whined as she hung her head.

"Yes, I know, the poor thing. He's got quite a fever going on. One-hundred five degrees."

"Where is he?"

"He's in his bed. Do not disturb him. He needs his rest."

"But--!"

"No, 'but's, little sister," she said before leaning in to whisper. "I know you want to meet him so badly, but it will just have to wait until he's better."

The little unicorn sighed. "All right..."

"Now come along, Sweetie Belle. You still have school to go to."

"Yeah, I know..."

Her little head was slouched down as she walked out of the boutique with Rarity following behind her. Rarity locked the door and caught up with her little sister.

All the way over to school, Sweetie Belle never seemed to change out of her glum attitude, which worried her older sister. It could not help, but make her wonder why her little sister was being so unenthusiastic around her lately. She used to be so enthralled whenever she was around her. Maybe ever since Connor rolled into her life, things have been flipped upside down. Was the colt stealing her spotlight by that much? Sure, Rarity saw Sweetie Belle as a pain and would want to avoid her, but she still had feelings for her and tried her best to rekindle that sister-like bond. However, Connor was taking away that chance by accidentally rolling into her little sister's young mind. Plus, she liked the attention she was getting from her, always begging to her play, to converse, to do a lot of things. But, look at her now. Now, Rarity was subtly begging Sweetie Belle to do all sorts of things with her. She began to grow jealous of the colt. If only he were not so brother-like to her, then she would still have the attention. However, she knew that she could not be mad at him because he did not know how Sweetie Belle felt for him. (Plus, how could he not know? It was right in front of his nose the entire time! Was he that oblivious?) Plus, he was not feeling well now. She could not be mad at him.

Seeing the school building just a few feet in front of them, Rarity nudged her sister toward the school.

"(Ahem) Well, have a good day at school!" she meekly encouraged the filly.

"I wouldn't count on it," Sweetie Belle mumbled.

Nearby, the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at her from inside the building. They were alarmed and concerned about her status. However, they were not the only ponies who were inspecting her. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon happened to notice as well. It was Sweetie Belle's current attitude that was the pink filly's cup of tea. She knew something was screwing with her mind, and she was more than determined to screw with it even more.

In the midst of all the scholarly commotion, one filly was as silent as a rock. During class, instead of taking notes, Sweetie Belle was drawing doodles in her notebook paper. However, she was very subtle about it. She placed the paper on top of her open workbook. She placed a book underneath the top edge of it, so it would tilt, thus keeping it out of Miss Cheerilee's sight. It was all to convince her that the little filly was actually doing her work, even though she was busy scribbling down doodles instead of notes.

Sweetie Belle sighed as she drew pictures of her favorite colt, Connor, and herself together with red and pink hearts hovering around them. She even designed her own cutie mark, which was an arrow stuck through a red heart with pink outlines. She even wrote words that read, "Never will we part".

Never will we part.

Never...

Never!

Never!

"Sweetie Belle?" Miss Cheerilee asked loudly like she had been asking for her attention about three times.

"NEVER!" the filly squeaked the only words that crept in her mind.

"Very good, Sweetie Belle! The potato was never a vegetable, but it was always a carbohydrate. Just make sure you answer me the first time, okay?" the school teacher said, giving a forgiving smile.

"Y-yes, Miss Cheerilee!" the little unicorn replied, overwhelmed and relieved of what just happened.

Whoo, was that a close call! She was damn lucky to weasel out of that situation. She had better pay attention next time.

...

Screw it. She decided to keep doodling.

From the side of the schoolroom, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo eyed their unicorn friend. What was wrong with her? She had been acting very strange lately. In fact, she was acting just like she was before they even told her to forget about her crush. Either she was working really hard to forget him, tired because she stayed up late doing her homework, or... she was still mentally holding on to her crush.

Next to the little, lovesick unicorn, Diamond Tiara was subtly trying to get a peek of Sweetie Belle's "notes". However, the slouching filly and the partly closed book made it all too difficult. She could not make out one bit of it. She huffed in frustration in her breath.

BRIIIINNNG! The school bell rung, which immediately caused the young, lovesick filly to dash out of her seat, out the door, and run home.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked onward in grim concern. To them, it looked like Sweetie Belle already backed out of her promise. However, they knew that they could not be too sure, unless they had proof.

"Hey, Apple Bloom," the pegasus asked her bow-wearing friend. "What was the penalty we discussed if one fails to follow the society regulations?"

The country filly scratched her chin. "Hmmm... It depends on tha behavior and/or the number of times one has broken them, but ah'll hafta sayyy..."

She continued to scratch her chin until she finally remembered.

"Expulsion."

"But, don't you think that's a little harsh and cold?" Scootaloo objected. "I mean, she's our best friend!"

"Ah know, Scootaloo, ah know," the yellow filly hung her head. "It's darn sad to do such a thing, especially to a good friend, but ya know we can't wait any longer fer our cutie marks. We got a mission ta do, an' we can't have anythin' slowin' us down. It hurts me ta say this, but if she's gonna leave her friends behind, then we'll have no other choice than ta leave her behind..."

The orange filly tilted her head down and shut her eyes, remembering all the fun times they had doing things together. Then, they were mixed with the fear they would all perish once they kick her out.

"I sure hope that day won't come..."

To be continued...

Chapter V

Sweetie Belle crashed through the doors of her older sister's boutique, panting heavily as if she just ran a marathon. Her small lungs puffed, causing her little white chest to expand like a small balloon.

"Rarityyy! I'm ho--!"

"SHHHHHHH! Sweetie Belle!" the older white unicorn hissed. "Watch your volume! You'll wake Connor! The poor thing needs his rest because of his sickness."

"Sorry..." the filly whispered sheepishly. "Where is he?"

"He's in his bed behind those curtains in that showcase stand. Don't get too close to him, darling. You don't want to catch what he caught," Rarity shuddered. "I simply cannot stand the thought of those filthy, pesky germs digging and scratching their way into your body like that. Yyyeeeeewwww!"

Her little sister nodded obediently and resumed her way quietly to the podium, where Connor was sleeping. Before she parted the curtains, she placed her ear on the curtain. She could not hear anything except for some slight snoring.

She quietly parted the curtains. It nearly broke her heart to see the condition her crush was in. His nose was a bright red and his snoring sounded more like rhythmic wheezing because of his nasal congestion. His mane was haggard and messy, his eyes were baggy, and the sheets on his bed were covering his body up to his neck. Tissues were scattered on top of the sheets like a piñata had been broken open.

Quiet as a mouse, she trotted closer to the bed to get a closer look at the colt. So all she had to do was to commit acts of kindness. Well, this was the perfect moment to put them to the test. Once Connor gets over his sickness, Sweetie Belle would be the kindest pony in Equestria, Connor would finally notice it, and he would dump Fluttershy in the process. Thus, she will finally be Connor's little pony. Perfect! Today was the day to bring back her iron shield.

She ran out of the podium and into the kitchen. She swung open the cupboards to find some canned soup.

What the hay?? No soup?? Aw, come on!

Sweetie Belle called for her sister. "RAAARRRI--!"

"SHHHHHHH!! Sweetie Belle! Honestly!" the fashion queen whispered hysterically.

"Oh... sorry. Anyhoo, Rarity, where's all the soup? Don't we have any soup at all?"

"Oh, no, Sweetie Belle, we don't. I've run all out of soup, which is quite a surprise, really. I was pretty sure I had some more. Well, apparently I don't."

"Well, how am I supposed to feed Connor some soup without soup??"

"That won't be necessary, little sister. Fluttershy is coming by to take care of him, since I have orders to fill. So, you don't need to trouble yourself with that."

WHAT?? Fluttershy was coming over? Oh, perfect! Now things were going much smoothly for her. With Connor's fillyfriend (soon-to-be former fillyfriend, she hoped) around, she would get in the way of Sweetie Belle's kind deeds. Crap! Now what??

No! Sweetie Belle shook her head violently. She would not back down from this battle. This was a battle she could not afford to lose today. If she was successful in this particular battle, the more of a chance she would have in winning the war for Connor's approval. However, she still knew that she had a lot more battles to win if that were to be possible.

Knock, knock, knock! the door echoed.

"Show time..." Sweetie Belle glared. Trotting up to the door, she fixed her mane, smoothed out her coat, and lifted her chin. She opened the door, revealing a graceful, adorable, yellow pegasus holding a picnic basket with her mouth.

"Oh... Hello, Fluttershy," the filly tossed her head as she greeted the pegasus.

Fluttershy placed the basket down on the ground before she spoke. "Hello, Sweetie Belle! How are you doing?" she smiled, looking as pretty as a daisy.

"Oh, I'm doing fine... How are you?" she feigned courtesy.

"Oh, just awful, especially after hearing that Connor is sick. Rarity asked for me to come by to take care of him since she is busy with the her orders."

"Oh, yes. I heard," the filly faked concern. Well, not today, you colt-stealing, animal-loving...

"Also, she picked me because she said I was really good at hospitalizing those in need. I really appreciate her thinking that, but it's just, um, a little thing I do. It's nothing, really."

"Well, it is sooo nice of you to come, but I'm afraid you have came for naught."

"W-what do you mean?"

"I mean that Connor just recovered from his sickness, and he's as fresh as grass. I guess that means you can go home now. Sorry for having to drag you all of this--." The fibbing filly was shoved aside by her older sister.

"Fluttershy, darling! Thank you so much for coming," Rarity exclaimed, giving her favorite pegasus a pony hug.

The pegasus turned to leave. "Oh, yes! You-you're welcome, but I guess I should leave now because Sweetie Belle--."

"Oh, no, Fluttershy, you didn't come for nothing. Connor's still sick in bed, the poor thing," the unicorn stopped her.

The pegasus turned back around. "O-oh! Well then why did she...?"

"Oh, don't mind her. She was just trying to get a cutie mark in doctoring, and she did not realize that he is still..." she glared at Sweetie Belle. "... sick with a cold."

Thanks a lot, Rarity... her little sister glared.

Turning back to the pegasus, Rarity saw the basket.

"What did you bring, darling?" she asked.

"Oh! I brought my homemade tomato soup, his favorite. With this, he will be better in no time... that is, I mean, I don't mean to brag..." Fluttershy said.

"Splendid! I knew I could count on you. Is there anything I could do in return to thank you?" Rarity fluttered her eyelashes, eager for an answer.

"Oh, no, Rarity, you don't have--."

"The spa! We'll go to the spa, then! Hooficures will be all on me."

"Oh! Okay... Thank you," the pegasus smiled. Then, she picked up the basket with her mouth. "Sho, where ish my shick, handshome, colt?"

"He's just behind the curtains on the podium," the unicorn replied, pointing her hoof at the podium.

Fluttershy gently floated in, basket between teeth. Rarity closed the door, smiling at her friend. Then, she whipped around to her little sister, glaring at her.

"What was that??" she asked, making sure Fluttershy did not hear her.

The filly's only response was an angry pout.

"Look, Sweetie Belle, I know that you crushing on Connor and want to be with him for a long time, but Fluttershy has already gotten this under control. I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle."

"But, can I at least help her?"

Rarity squinted at her little sister's request. She lowered her head to Sweetie Belle's level and mumbled to her.

"You can help, BUT..." she paused. "...if you ever so much as cause a small conflict between Connor and Fluttershy's relationship, I swear upon Celestia, I will excuse him from walking you to school every morning. Understand?"

Sweetie Belle glared at her, which was not the kind of response Rarity was expecting. No, she was expecting begging, desperate wagers, and fear. Instead, she got reluctance and a cold stare. The little filly turned around to follow Fluttershy.

"Whatever," she replied with her back turned.

Now, Rarity was starting to get worried. What was with her lately?? Sure, Sweetie Belle was a pain in the haunches, but she was still her dear, little sister. Ever since the Sisterhooves Social, their bond had just started to rekindle. However, ever since Connor came into her life and swept her off her hooves, she felt that their bond would be ousted again. All the same, Rarity was starting to grow jealous of the colt. All the attention she was getting from her little sister was all focusing on him now. If only Connor were not so brotherly to her, she would still be her little sister's superior. She never wanted any of that to happen, from growing jealous to losing her little sister. Hopefully, all of it would turn around.

Fluttershy gently parted the curtains of the podium. Seeing the condition he was in, she tilted her head and cooed in sympathy. Her poor colt. She placed the basket down near the mattress and floated gently into the air, landing softly next to him. She leaned her head towards the colt's face.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," she sang softly.

The colt moaned softly in his throat as his eyelids shifted and slowly opened. His eyes were glazed with fatigue, but they were enthralled to see his favorite pegasus sitting directly next to him.

"Hey," he said, his voice clogged with fatigue. "You'd better not get too close to me. I don't want you to catch it, too."

"It's all right," she said, planting a warm and gentle kiss on his hot forehead. "I'll be fine. Anyhow, I brought you something. Something special."

"Oh? What is it?"

She lifted a china bowl out of the basket and held it up for the colt to see it... and smell it.

"Heyyy!" he chuckled. "Your tomato soup!"

"Your favorite," she smiled. "I made sure it is nice and hot for you. Well, not too hot so that you will burn yourself like last time."

"It's all right," the colt winked. "I'll be fine."

Sweetie Belle's stomach tensed at the sight of the two lovebirds. It was not going to be easy separating them. However, that did not stop her. This was a battle she had to win, no matter the obstacles. She raced into the kitchen to find a spoon, while Fluttershy was still searching the basket for hers. Finally finding the spoon, the pegasus dipped the spoon into the blood-red soup and lifted it up to the sick colt's lips.

"Say, 'ah'," she sang.

"Ahh--GLOOMP!"

A spoonful of soup suddenly shoved itself into Connor's mouth, furiously startling him. He only choked only for a few seconds before swallowing it. He saw another spoon directly next to Fluttershy's, which was still full of soup. Behind the empty, silver spoon was Sweetie Belle, smiling innocently.

"You're welcome, Connor! Mmmmmm! Yum, yum, yum!" she smiled.

"Uhhh, thank you, Sweetie Belle... I think?" he slowly responded.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle! Do you want to help, too?" Fluttershy asked the little filly.

"Oh, yes! I would love to help!" the white filly smiled, feigning competitive impulses.

"Oh, no, Sweetie Belle," the sick colt waved a hoof, "You don't have to--GLOOMP!" The filly shoved another spoonful of soup into his mouth.

"Mmmmm! Yummy, hmm?"

"(Gulp!) Ahem, yes, but--GLOOMP!"

"Yum, yum, yum!" she smiled.

"Sweeti--GLOOMP!"

"Eat up, sicky!"

"(Gulp!) Ow! Hot! Would it hurt to blow at it before you--GLOOMP!"

"Here comes the hot-air balloon... and there it goes!"

"Sweetie Be--GLOOMP!"

Fluttershy could only sit and awkwardly stare at the filly, who was rapidly shoving hot spoonfuls of soup into her coltfriend's mouth. She looked at her spoon. She did not even get a chance to feed him one spoonful yet.

"Here comes the Friendship Expr--!"

"SWEETIE BELLE!" the colt shouted, which made Sweetie Belle stiffen like a statue. "Stop! Just stop! You're going way too--!" Why was his crotch burning?

He looked down and saw an huge glob of soup splattered onto his blanket around his crotch area. What the hell? Since when--? He saw Sweetie Belle's hoof near the bowl of soup, which had a trail of spilled soup escaping over the lip of the bowl. So Sweetie Belle's big flinch caused her to lose control of her hoof, kick the bowl (not over, thank Celestia), and spill hot, seething tomato soup on him.

Now, where was he again?

...

Oh, yes...

"AHHHHHHHHH!!" he hollered, feeling the burn on his crotch. "AH! Hothothothothothothothothothot! Ahahahahahahahhhhh!" His hooves shook, trying his best not to get his hooves on the scalding stain.

"Oh! Ohmigoodness!" Fluttershy panicked. She grabbed the edge of the blanket and yanked it off, releasing Connor from the pain of having his crotch burnt off.

Sweetie Belle was more in panic than Fluttershy was. Crap! What now?? Oh! She knew! She remembered when Connor kissed her sprained ankle because he said the pain would mostly go away. She knew what she had to do.

"Oh! I'm sowwy!" she said in a sympathetic baby voice. "I didn't mean to hurt you. Awwwww!"

Connor hissed through his teeth. "S'okay, Sweetie Belle."

"I'm so sowwy. Hewe, let me kiss it," she said as she puckered up, about to kiss his--.

"NOOOOO, GOD!!!" the colt pushed her away, almost violently.

"What? I was just gonna--."

"You were--?! NO! That's--that's a no-no! A huge no-no!"

"B--!"

Oh, horseapples... Was she actually going to...? Had she lost her mind? Her mind was so clouded in panic, that she did not even think twice about kissing his... wound. Her mind just did that automatically because she was desperate to make up for her little accident. She shrank to the floor, huddled and shrinking like a raisin in embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry, Connor... It's just I wanted--."

"I think you... you shhhhooshould jussst guhhh..." he slurred as his head spun around like a dancing cobra. Then, he collapsed on his back, out like a lightbulb.

The filly's eyes shrunk and began to water. "Did-did I kill him?? Is he dead??"

Fluttershy brought her face close to the colt's and listened for breathing. "Oh, no, he's not dead. He's just blacked out. The poor thing has used up so much energy that he just collapsed. He's going to be fine. He's only sleeping."

"Oh..." she said sadly.

"And, um, I don't mean to be rude, but, um, I think you should really just go..."

"But--!"

"Please, Sweetie Belle... Please," Fluttershy begged her.

The little white filly could not speak another word with her throat filled with guilt. She could only hang her head and sadly walk away from Connor's bed.

Great... Not only did she mess up, but she actually got the colt slightly frustrated with her. Now, he was knocked out because he riled him up too much. He would be feeling even worse than before... just as much she felt now.

Just before she was about to sulk out of the room, she turned her head towards Fluttershy. The pegasus had the sleeping colt's hoof in both of her hooves. She was stroking his hoof with one of hers. Then, she leaned forward and gave the colt's burning forehead a gentle kiss. Sweetie Belle felt her stomach tense up at the sight. She glared at the pink-maned pegasus. Just who the hay did she think she was?? Connor's fillyfriend?

Yes... that was who she was...

She left the room and sadly trotted into the kitchen. She sat herself in one of the chairs of the dinner table and slumped her cheeks into the hallows of her hooves, stewing over how badly she screwed all of this up. She pulled the list out of her backpack, which was sitting on the tabletop. Grabbing a red pencil, she drew a crude line over the word, "Kindness".

Well, that was off the list. She failed miserably at that. What she wrote below the word she crossed out made her sneer in disbelief.

"Age".

Really? She really had to add that to the list? Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, she thought it was absolutely ludicrous. It was a no-win game, even if she took a potion that could turn her into a fully grown mare.

...

Actually, that idea was not so bad, after all.

The little filly tiptoed slowly up the sick colt's bed. Fluttershy had left hours ago. Beams of moonlight crawled over the floor, giving it a brighter, blue-grayish color. A warm, yellow glow coming from a candlestick engulfed the little, white unicorn filly. She was holding it up with her magic, which was only strong and experienced enough to lift small objects. She did not have the ability to summon light yet. She could hear Rarity snoring from upstairs. (Yes, she was that loud. Pretty ironic for such an etiquette and dignified mare like her.) Because of the volume of her snoring, Sweetie Belle did not have to worry about making too much noise, because it would get instantly drowned out. However, she still remained quiet as possible.

She quietly parted the curtains to look at her sick stud muffin. She frowned. Why was Rarity sleeping all the way up in her bedroom when she should be keeping her sick housemate company? Pretty selfish, if you asked her. Element of Generosity... Seemed legit.

She lifted the candle higher and shone its warm light onto the colt's squirming face. His heavy eyelids opened to look at a huggable little filly looking down at him, looking sad and empathetic.

"Mmmph, Sweetie Belle..?" Connor mumbled sleepily. "What are--?"

"I want to talk to you about something..." Sweetie Belle said as she placed the candle down right next to the bed.

"Shouldn't you be home by now? Your parents are going to worry about you," he grunted as he sat up.

"No, they're gonna be fine. I told them I was going to sleep over here tonight."

"Ohm... M'kay," the colt grunted as he rubbed his baggy eyes.

The filly nodded before looking down at the ground again in shame. "Connor?"

"Yeah?"

"I... I'm... really sorry for what I had done earlier today..."

"For what?"

"You know... the, erm... soup incident..." she sadly pouted as her shoulders rose up on her back.

"Oh, yeahhhh, that," he chortled. "Don't worry about it. It's all fine. But, if you don't mind my asking, why were you so coerced into helping me? I mean, Fluttershy has already gotten it under control."

"Well... well..." she stammered.

She desperately wanted to tell the truth, but even though she really liked him, she could not even trust him. Why? Who knows if would let his gums flap about it and the dark secret would spread wider than a grape juice stain on a white dress. Eventually, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo would find out and would kick her out. Without their help, she would never get her cutie mark. She did not want to give that up. However, deep down, she did not feel like giving Connor up either. He was like a big brother she never had. What could she say??

"W-well, what's wrong with it?? I mean, is it so wrong to help those in need because you feel sympathetic for them? Tell me. Is it??" her little voice loudened.

The colt lifted his hooves. "N-no! Of course not. I'm sorry if I offended you. I just assumed that you were, erm... havinnnnnnng a crush on me or something. Sorry."

Sweetie Belle's little chest tickled in nervousness when he mentioned that last part. That was exactly the reason why she was so coerced to care for him. However, Connor, oblivious as he was, did not even realize that? He passed it by like it was just a random guess, even though it was clearly the fact. What a thickhead...

"Me? Crushing on you? Of course not!" she waved her hoof. "Oh, but don't take that the wrong way. I mean, you are a pretty handsome colt. Who wouldn't crush on you? It's just that... well, never mind. It's okay."

The colt smiled at her. Sweetie Belle's heart felt like it was melting because of that smile. So this was what it would feel like once he was her coltfriend. She would look upon that smile every day. Every time she would look at it, all of her problems would vanish.

"Do you like me, Connor?" she finally asked, just to be sure.

"Why wouldn't I?" he replied, reacting like she asked a really stupid question. He did not act cynical, though. "You're amusing, you're funny, and you're cute. Why wouldn't I like you? It's not like I would immediately hate you after all of that. Everypony makes mistakes."

She felt like launching herself onto the colt and giving him a little bear hug, but she did not want to catch his cold. She only squealed inside. "I like you, too, Connor. You're a really cool guy."

"Thanks!" he smiled again.

The white filly casually looked around her surroundings. everywhere she looked was pitch black, except for the squares of shining moonlight and the yellow veil of candlelight.

"Say," she lifted herself up. "Do you mind if I sleep with you tonight?"

"Sleep with me? But, I don't want you to catch my cold."

"Oh, no, I'm just going to sleep outside your bed. Right there," she pointed at the space directly next to the base of the podium.

"Oh, okay. Why, may I ask?"

"Well, you just seem so lonely down here... Sick, helpless, alone... I just thought that if I slept here, I would keep you company. It can get pretty sketchy down here, believe me..."

Connor wanted to give the little foal a hug, but he did not want her to catch his cold, so all he could do was smile.

"Thanks, Sweetie Belle," he said. "You're really sweet."

Boy, did she blush.

"Well, I'm just gonna set my sleeping bag here," she spoke.

"Do what you wanna do," Connor said.

She happily trotted over to her sleeping bag and dragged it over directly next to his bed. She pinched the buckle with her teeth, which caused the sleeping bag involuntarily roll out like a tight bundle of laundry with its string broken off. She crawled into the opening of her sleeping bag. Connor could see a filly-sized lump slither about in circles before it reached the lip of the sleeping bag again. Her tail and haunches peeked out.

"Oops... Wrong end!" her muffled voice squeaked from underneath the cover.

The sick colt laughed before he coughed from his weary lungs.

Sweetie Belle's head peeked out from the lip of the sleeping bag. Her shoulders wiggled back and forth as she attempted to snuggle into the warmth of her temporary bed. Her back arched as she felt the wrenching, satisfying sensation of comfort crawl up her spine. Oh, yeah... She was comfortable now.

"Good night, Connor," she spoke.

"Night, Sweetie Belle," the colt replied.

The unicorn blew out her candle, stripping the room from its only source of light. She cuddled into her sleeping bag, trying to find sleep.

She could not.

Something was missing. She was pretty sure that she had said everything to him, from the "Sorry", to the "Do you still like me?", to the "Good night!". Still...

She did not want to believe it, but she actually wanted to confess her feelings. Damn it! Why?? How was she supposed to know whether the colt was going to keep it a secret or not? Well, maybe if she forced him to promise never to tell anypony else and it was a only a secret the two of them (Well, Rarity, too, so that made it three.) could share with each other, then the secrecy would still be intact. Nopony would ever know except for her, Rarity, and Connor.

Well, it was worth a shot...

"Um... Connor?" she asked softly.

"Hmm?" he replied.

"If you really want to know the truth why I wanted to help in spoon-feeding you... well... it's because... because... I... I love you. No, I mean I love you, not in a 'I like you' way, but I really, really love you. I love-love you. Yeah, I know... You're shocked. This coming out of me, a filly, but I can't help myself! You have been just so great to me. You played with me, you helped me with school, you helped me with my problems with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon... Those things that Rarity would hardly have the time for. She could've helped if only she were less selfish and more manageable with her time. You, on the other hand, have always been there for me. You were always at my side. You're like the big brother I have never had, but I don't want you just as a big brother. I want you more than that. I want to be your little filly. Your fillyfriend! But, of course, you're already taken... by her... Fluttershy. I could be all of that, too, if you just give me a chance! Hay, I can be even better! I can be better than her! Just please give me a chance! I'll show you!"

She paused, waiting for a response. She could only hear his breathing.

"I just want you let you know how hard it was for me to say all of that to you. It was my secret for days. I just did not want anypony to know. Who knows whether they were going to judge me for falling in love with a colt who's a lot older than me? Plus, I didn't want Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to know of it, because before I fell for you, I wrote this silly rule that a Cutie Mark Crusader must not date a colt until she gets her cutie mark. Otherwise, punishment will suffice. I forgot what the punishment was, but I don't want to take any chances with that. If they found out, who knows what they are going to do? So please, Connor, please! Don't tell anypony. I don't want to lose my friends or anymore chances of getting my cutie mark, but I certainly don't want to lose you. You make me feel so happy. You're like my iron shield, always there to deflect all sorts of bad things away from me. So, please, Connor? Please??"

"No..."

The filly's eyes were instantly filled with heart-broken tears. "Wh-what??" she squeaked, on the verge of crying.

"N-no thankssss... Uh'mm stuffed... No more cupcakes for meee... A baboon stole muh wallllet... Zzzzzzzz..."

The filly wiped her tears away, confused. "Wh-what?"

"Spaghetti and kangaroos..."

Oh, thank Celestia! He was only sleep-talking. Wait, so the entire time she was confessing her feelings, Connor was sleeping? She did not know whether to feel hurt or relieved. So, her secret was still safe. She pulled the covers over her collarbones. She found a lot more comfort than just a few minutes ago. She had let it all out, even though the sick colt did not hear one word of it. Her green eyes slowly shut.

She began to dream of her life with her iron shield.

I love you...

To be continued...

Chapter VI

"Cough! Cough!"

"Oh, my stars! She's reached one-hundred-three degrees! Sorry, hun, but you're gonna have to stay from school today," said a pink, older mare with a purple, beehive mane.

Well, she caught it...

She caught Connor's cold.

"No, Mom! I'm fine! Really! I can still go to sc--!" She was interrupted by her own coughing. She could feel the mucus peel itself painfully off the walls of her throat.

"No, Sweetie Belle, you have to stay home until this cold lets up. All it needs is a little cough syrup and a nice sleep," her mother insisted.

"Cough syrup? That awful stuff? Yech! I'd rather have a shot from the doctor."

"Enough whining, Sweetie Belle. No matter what you say, you're staying home."

Drat! How was she supposed to see Connor now?? She really wanted to see him again. She did not want to be cooped up in her room for the entire day. What a drag. She slumped on the back of her bed, knocking the back of her head against it in frustration.

"Look on the bright side, Sweetie Belle!" a white stallion with a straw hat coaxed his daughter. "All your friends back at school will make you 'Get Well Soon' cards! They might send some treats, too! As long as you got other colts and fillies thinking about you, you're gonna be all right."

That did not exactly cheer her up. Out of all the colts she met, she only wanted to meet Connor.

"Well, get well soon, my little pony! Mother will check up on you momentarily! Bye, Sweetie!" he waved as he and his wife exited the filly's bedroom.

"Get well soon"... Feh! How was she going to get well soon? Without her favorite colt, she was anything but well.

On the other hoof, as long as she had her portrait of him, she would at least feel like he was there in the room with her. She leaned over to her lavender nightstand, opened the drawer, and pulled out a frame she made in arts and crafts, decorated with red foam hearts and pink marker flourishes. Inside the lovey-dovey frame was a small portrait of Connor. She could not help but smile back at the smiling colt. Man, did she wish to see him in the flesh again.

Wait... Didn't her father mention something about colts and fillies thinking about her? He did, didn't he? Smiling brightly, she came upon a epiphany: Connor could be thinking about her right now. Yeah, he could. It was possible. What was better was that she was thinking about him, too. Wow, what a blast! Two ponies thinking about each other at the exact same moment. How romantic! Better yet, he could come waltzing in through the door and take the time to visit her. Oh, the thoughts just kept piling on top of each other! Anything could happen!

The doorknob clicked as it twisted.

Speak of the devil! However, she acted fast. Connor or not, nopony was to see her little frame with the colt's smiling portrait. She yanked at her drawer, meaning to yank it open, but the knob broke right off.

The door began to creak open. No time! She stuffed it underneath her pillow.

"Hey, Connor!!" she squeaked.

"Sweetie Belle, it's us," said a country voice.

Whoops... Slip of the tongue.

"Ohay, erm, Apple Bloom! Scootaloo!" she corrected herself.

"Howdy!" smiled the yellow filly.

"Hey!" grinned the orange pegasus. She laughed. "Wait, so you thought we were Connor? Do we even look like him?"

"Oh, um, well--," stammered the sick, white unicorn.

"What made ya think of 'im, anyhoo?" Apple Bloom asked.

"W-w-w-well, I left my sleeping bag back at Rarity's. He said he'd come over and drop it off for me," she fibbed, scrunching her muzzle. Hopefully, they bought it.

"Wait, yer were sleepin' over at Rarity's?"

"Y-yeah!"

"Oh, that's fun! Did y'all have fun?"

"Mm-hmm!" Sweetie Belle nodded quickly.

"That's good!"

Well, so far, so good. They did not suspect anything. Probably because she was sick, and they politely thought that they should take it easy on her. Thank Celestia. She did not feel like being in boiled water again, especially when she was sick. She felt hot enough already.

"Well, we heard you were sick, so we decided to come by and wish you well," Scootaloo smiled.

"Eeyup!" Apple Bloom puffed her chest out in pride. "Get Well Soon, Sweetie Belle!"

"Thank (cough!) you, girls! (cough!)" the sick filly smiled, appreciative for their concern.

"We've got so many things to do to get our cutie marks, but that will have to wait until you're better. We'll wait for you," the pegasus said. "Don't forget us!"

"I-I won't," Sweetie Belle replied. Nervousness was brewing in the filly's insides.

"We'd better git a move-on. Don't wanna be late fer school. We'll see ya later!" the country filly turned to leave with her pegasus friend.

"Later!"

Once again, she was alone in her room. She sighed stressfully. Great... Juuuuust great... Now her friends were eagerly expecting her to return to them so they could try to earn their cutie marks together. Just when she was working so hard to win Connor's heart, she had to soak in all of that? Horseapples! She could not keep up with all of that, trying to win Connor's heart and trying to accomplish her life-long goal.

But, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were her best friends. She could not just leave them out in the open. They were the ones who helped and befriended her. They helped shape her life.

Maybe she should try to get her cutie mark first. Besides, the society rules said that a Crusader would not date a colt until she gets her cutie mark. That did not seem so bad. Why couldn't she think of it sooner? All she had to do was get her cutie mark, then she would try to win Connor's heart. It was simple! Yeah, simple...

So... simple... really... really... simmm...

"And do you, Fluttershy, take Connor to be your lawfully wedded husband and always be with him in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?"

"I do," the yellow pegasus squeaked excitedly, wearing a flowing wedding dress, lined with flowers, white as snow.

"And do you, Connor, take Fluttershy to be your lawfully wedded wife and always be with her in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?"

"I do," smiled the colt, looking as dapper as a prince in his obsidian-black tuxedo.

"They have said their vows. If anyone has any objections that these two ponies should not wed, speak now or forever hold your peace. None? Then, may we see the rings, please?"

"MMMMMM! MMMMMMHHH!" squeaked Sweetie Belle, her mouth full of bird-seed. She was full of objections, but she could not speak.

"I now pronounce you, Connor and Fluttershy, mare and colt!" the stallion turned to Connor. "You may kiss your bride."

"Gladly," the colt eyed his new wife.

However, Fluttershy jumped at him first, eager to kiss her new husband. She wrapped her forelegs around his neck and pulled him in, so their kiss would deepen.

The organ rose from short single notes to a blaring melody, bringing joyful tears to many eyes in the audience, including the other five Elements of Harmony.

Breaking the kiss, the two newlyweds turned to the exit down the path and began to walk regally out. As they walked, Fluttershy happened to see Sweetie Belle coming up next to her. She revealed an evil, toothy grin as he tilted her head towards her and whispered, "Too late, Sweaty Butt."

Then, she gave the filly's stomach a firm kick, causing her to spit out the bird seed in her mouth up into the sky like she was throwing confetti like everypony else. She extended a sad hoof to her favorite colt, eyes wrinkled with defeat.

"Oh, what a lovely wedding!" Rarity exclaimed. "So you lost your favorite colt, Sweetie Belle. If only you've got your cutie mark sooner, you would be in Fluttershy's place right now. No matter now. There are plenty of outstanding colts you could meet. Like Squirt!"

A skimpy, boney colt with a runny nose ran up and stuck his licked lollipop into the little filly's mane.

"HA! Sweaty Butt! Sweaty Butt has gum in her hair! Derrrrrr!"

Sweetie Belle fell on her knees. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO--"

"--OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

"Sweetie Belle?"

The filly flinched violently at the sound of a familiar voice. Her whipped around to the sound of--.

"Connor!" she squeaked in surprise.

Wait, that was not the right approach. She slumped herself onto the bed and yanked the covers up to her chin.

"Connor," she smiled weakly, coughing.

"Heyyy," the colt said as he walked up to her. He sat next to the bed, looking at her sympathetically. "I'm so sorry, Sweetie Belle that you caught my cold."

Oh, the irony... Sweetie Belle knew exactly the reason why she got sick.

Shortly after she confessed her love to the sleeping colt the night before, she still did not feel complete. She thought she would give the sleeping, sick colt a warm hug, thanking him for all the good things he did for her. The way he felt in her arms, just remembering it gave her the warm rush. He was hot, but it warmed her chest as she pressed his forehead against it. The back of her mind as she hugged him seemed to say, "You're crazy. Hug him for too long and you will catch his cold.", but the rest of her mind argued, "Shut up. You don't know anything. This is worth the risk.". Well, she caught it. She did not want to admit that she was a fool, but she admitted that she enjoyed every second of hugging her favorite colt.

"No, it's all right. It just happened," she shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing you can do about it now, except for helping me get through it."

She smiled her most innocent smile.

"Did you come over to take care of me?"

Connor's expression became sad and apologetic. "Awww, you know I would love to, but I've got a lot of work to do today at the Guzzling Gallop. Cherry Limeade's expecting a lot of customers today because of the heat."

"Awwwww!" she groaned.

"I know. I wish I could. But you still got your mom taking care of you. So, no worries, right?"

"Right," she replied, though not enthusiastically.

"Hey, I'm still gonna be here. I'll be around. Tell ya what, after I'm done with my shift, I'll come and visit you before I visit Fluttershy."

"Oh... okay..."

Fluttershy, Fluttershy, Fluttershy! What did that colt see in that mare other than her beauty, her kindness and cuteness? What about Sweetie Belle?? She was sick, for Luna's sake! He should be spending the rest of the night taking care of her instead of visiting Fluttershy. Oh, if she heard that name one more time, she was going to lose her sh--.

"Get Well Soon, Sweetie Belle! I'll make sure to bring back a milkshake before I leave the Guzzling Gallop. See ya later!" the colt said, tousling her mane. In a matter of a few seconds, she was alone once again.

She had to move... now.

"Mom!" she hollered. "Pile on that cough syrup!!"

Saturday morning...

"Wow, Sweetie Belle!" her mother exclaimed, looking at the thermometer. "You recovered quicker than I thought! Well, splendid! Now, you can go out and play with your friends."

"Uh, y-yeah! Yeah!" she feigned enthusiasm.

"See what a lot of cough syrup would do? I bet that you don't think that cough syrup is so bad anymore now. What did I tell ya?"

"No, it wasn't."

Of course, it was still bad. Had she even tasted that awful stuff? Not even rats would enjoy it.

"Well, you go on now! Have fun with your friends!"

"I will..." she said to herself, pulling out her list.

She had one last thing to try out.

Age...

That was why there was Zecora.

She trotted out of the house, pushing past the front door like she had a whole new swagger. She sniffed the air, filling her nostrils with chilling, breezy cleanliness. Boy, did it feel good to escape from the mustiness of her bedroom! She felt fresh like a cucumber.

"Ah wonder if Sweetie Belle has recovered from her cold yet," Apple Bloom said to Scootaloo in the distance.

The unicorn squeaked in fear and ducked into a nearby bush. She could not let them know that she was well. If they found out, then their plans on getting cutie marks would only get in the way of her plan. She had to do her best to avoid them.

"Let's ask her parents!" the orange pegasus said.

No, no, no, no, no, nononononononononononononNO! It was no doubt that her parents would be quick to answer that she was well. They would go looking for her. Plus, if they could not find her for some time, they would begin to suspect that she was up to no good, then Sweetie Belle would be in boiling water all over again.

"Actually, let's not," the country filly objected.

"Why not?" Scootaloo looked at her friend in confusion.

"Let's jus' give her some time to rest up a little bit more. Besides, if she really did feel better, she'd come straight to us and let us know."

"Well, maybe she just recovered today."

"We won't know fer sure. Plus, ah don't feel like botherin' her mother about it again."

"Well, all right. If you say so. But, I still don't see why we shouldn't ask."

"S'called bein' polite, Scootaloo. Ya should try it sometime..."

"Aw, come on, Apple Bloom! Get off my back! It's not my fault that dinner was awesomely delicious back at your farm. By the way, thanks for inviting me to dinner last night."

"Yer welcome! Now, let's go see if Miss Rarity fixed our Cutie Mark Crusaders capes yet."

"Yeah! I sure hope that she sewn a lightning bolt on mine!"

"In yer dreams."

"Aw, lighten up. Lightning bolts are cool! Rainbow Dash would say the same!"

Soon, the two little fillies were out of sight, and their voices were thinned out by the distance. Thank Celestia! That was close. Wiping the sweat off her brow, she poked her head out of the bush. She leapt out and brushed the loose leaves off of her white coat.

Knowing that she had little time to spare, she pumped her little legs as fast as she could pump them. She had to get to Zecora's hut in the Everfree Forest. The zebra had to have something in her hut that would help her look older. She had oodles and oodles of crazy potions. One of them was bound to be what she was looking for.

Trip!

"WHOOOOAA!!" she squeaked.

The white filly twisted and tumbled over bushes and loose leaves down a steep hill. Her little body tumbled helplessly down like a lumpy boulder, until she landed squarely on her face upon more moist and murky terrain. Was she there? Did she make it? She could not see anything with her head in the ground. Placing her hooves flat upon the ground, she pushed with all of her might, until her head broke free from the mucky earth. She shook her head furiously, flinging off excess dirt and earthworms. She spat out the dirt that had entered her mouth. She rolled her tongue over her teeth, catching extra specks of dirt.

Ptooey!

Wait, something else was in her mouth... It felt slimy, ropey, wriggly, and--.

"YEEEEEW!!" she shrieked, spitting whatever the hell was in her mouth out furiously like a cannon. To her utmost disgust, it was a worm.

"Pah-tooie! Pah-tooie! Bleah!" she snarked.

After getting over her disgust, she looked up to see that Zecora's hut was just ahead. She trotted up to it and peeked into the window, seeing if zebra was in there. Indeed, she was. Usually, Zecora would be concocting potions with her massive cauldron, but as of now, she was only working with her small pot on the table. She was grinding some peculiar plants in her stone grinder and poured it into the small boiling pot. An orange puff of smoke escaped the lips of the pot, signaling near completion.

"Finally, complete, my potion that tampers with age! Now to take the test subject out of its cage," she proclaimed in rhyming couplets.

Whoo, was Sweetie Belle ever so lucky to stumble upon her now.

She bent over underneath the table, looking for her test subject. Standing up straight again, she placed a cage containing a small bird that hatched from what looked a day ago. Then, she pulled out a spoon and dipped it into the orange concoction. She opened the cage door by a little bit and slid the spoon between the crack, feeding the little hatchling the orange liquid.

"Eat up, little one, for in a few seconds, you will be a big one."

The hatchling choked down every drop. At first, it did nothing.

Suddenly, it started inflating like a balloon, shrinking like a raisin, bouncing off the cage walls uncontrollably, and it fell silent. The bird looked as dead as a drowned rat.

"Oh, haya! Is this some sort of cruel joke? I have followed all the directions, yet I made it croak," she huffed.

POOF!

The hatchling was engulfed by a large puff of smoke. When it cleared, it revealed a beautiful, fully-grown cardinal. It sat in its cage, singing like an angel like nothing had happened. Zecroa sighed in relief and admired her work. Everything was perfect.

"Ah! Absolutely perfect! As for myself, I stand corrected."

She clenched her teeth down on the handle of the cage and made her way towards the front door. Sweetie Belle had to hide. She ducked behind one of the decorative masks that lingered outside near the zebra's abode. Zecora walked right past her and placed the cage down to the ground. Yanking the string that was attached to the latch, she opened the cage door for the cardinal to fly out.

Now was her chance! Sweetie Belle darted inside, grabbed a vial, poured the entire potion into it, and ran away.

Her little hooves beat the ground furiously and swiftly as she careened and swerved past bushes, trees, and large tree roots. She kept the vial gripped tightly in her teeth, but not too hard the she would break or crack it. After much running, she finally made it out. Just in case some other pony was going to walk on the road towards her, she went off-road to find a place to keep herself concealed. She did not want anypony to stumble upon her while she was going to drink the potion. She had to keep it a secret. She came upon a thick tree, with curtaining, thick leaves. She slumped down onto her rump in the shade, catching her breath. As soon as she got her breathing in rhythm, she spat out the vile into the hallow of her hoof.

Uncomfortable thoughts poured into the little filly's head. So, this was it. If she drank this, then she would be a mare for the rest of her life. Then again, was this potion temporary? She did not know, but nonetheless, she knew this was going to be a huge risk. What if she did not succeed in charming Connor? If so, then all of this would be for absolute naught. She would stay as a mare forever, never again to return to her current filly self. She was not sure if she would look at her friends ever again. Should she run away to a different town, abandoning her family and friends? She was afraid that it would have to be so. Temporary or permanent? She would have to find out for herself.

Her eyes clenched tightly as she hugged the small vial of potion. "Oh, please make this work..."

Sweetie Belle tore the cork off of the vial, and after counting to three, she tipped the vial, drinking the potion. Every... last... drop...

She placed the vial gently down, shut her eyes, and waited.

...

Nothing yet...

...

...

HOOMPH! Her cheeks expanded. Breaking her lips open, she let out a huge belch.

Nothing else...

"WHAT!?" she squeaked furiously. "That's it?! Arrrrrrrgh! Zecora, you failed me!! You have fa--!"

She suddenly expanded like a balloon, shrank like a raisin, and bounced off the branches of the tree. Then, she fell silent, looking like a drowned rat.

...

POOF! Sweetie Belle was enveloped in orange smog. As it cleared, it revealed a fully grown mare. Her coat was white and flawless like snow. Her long, silky, wavy mane and tail laid upon the grass, unaltered by the thick grass blades. Her body was slender and smooth. She was not too boney or too chubby, but had supple curves, giving her the body of a supermodel.

"Ughhhh," she groaned. "Wha... what happened? Did it work? Di--EEP!"

She clasped her mouth with her hooves. Her voice sounded much deeper than she thought. Then, she looked at the rest of her fully-grown body. She was excited to see that everything held up nicely. Wait, but what about her face? She needed a mirror.

BONK!

"Ow! What the buuuuhhh..." she growled, rubbing the top of her head. What had hit her?

A mirror.

What the--?

She heard chittering. She looked up the trunk of the tree to see a squirrel skitter up the trunk and along the branches. Wait, did that squirrel just give her a mirror? There was no way a squirrel could carry a mirror that heavy.

BONK! Something else fell on her head.

"Ow!"

It was an inkwell.

Now, where did--??

She looked up to find a rubber chicken fall on her face. Looking past the rubber toy, she saw a chess piece fall out of the knothole above her.

"Oh, right. Pinkie Pie's hidden emergency items," the now-fully-grown mare rolled her eyes.

She grabbed the mirror and brought it up to her face level. She gasped in surprise. She still had her green eyes and her periwinkle and light pink mane. She had lost her baby cheeks and other baby fat. Instead, she was greeted with a taller face, complete with smooth, slender cheeks, and a sweeping nose-bridge. She looked fantastic. The mare nearly squealed by how fantastic she looked. However, she also knew that she did not look fantastic enough. If she wanted to attract a colt like Connor, she would have to give herself some more pizazz. Eye shadow, lip gloss, eye shadow, blush, the works. She could not go to Rarity's. Her acute sense of detail would give Sweetie Belle away. She would have to go to a different salon. She continued to study her face, until she noticed her flank in the reflection.

Oh, no! She still didn't have her cutie mark! Even when she was in her mature form, it still did not show up. Unbelievable! Well, she should have expected that sooner. Cutie marks were really special. Tampering with them would only lessen its value as well as spoil the surprise. Besides, it could be covered with a skirt. Wait, how was she going to buy a skirt without anypony else noticing her blank flank?

Whoosh! Ah-pifff...

A cloth fell out of the knothole and on top of the mare's head. Already at the end of her rope being rained upon by falling objects, she scrambled her hooves and clawed at her face, trying to get the mystery cloth off of her head.

Well, wouldn't you know about that?

A skirt. A periwinkle, ruffled one.

Thank you, Pinkie Pie.

"Annnnnnnd you are done! Tell me, ma'am, does it fit your needs?" the mare who owned the other salon in Ponyville asked.

Sweetie Belle looked at the mirror in placed in front of her seat. "Oh!" she exclaimed.

She looked fabulous! Her eyelids were thick with periwinkle eye shadow, gloriously ornate with black, lustrous mascara on her eyelashes. She was especially proud that her eyelashes were longer and one-hundred percent natural, unlike Rarity's. Her cheeks were as white as Princess Celestia's bath towels: pure, spotless, and ready to go. Except... her lips.

"Maybe the red lipstick is pushing it," she responded.

Wipe, wipe, wipe!

The grown mare stared at her reflection. "Actually, now that I look at it this way, maybe the lipstick isn't such a bad decision."

Whish, whish, whish!

"Ooooh, then again, maybe not. It kind of overshadows the rest, especially with that color."

Wipe, wipe, wipe!

"On second thought, they would look more kissable with it on."

"Yes, ma'am," the mare said through her teeth.

Whish, whish, whish!

"Oh, now I know why why I wanted it off in the first place..."

"Ugh..."

Wipe, wipe, wipe!

"You know, maybe--."

The salon pony could not take it anymore. Just to shut her up, she applied her a lustrous lip gloss, leaving the white unicorn with glossier lips.

"Perfect!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

Thank... Celestia! the mare sighed. "So, you are satisfied, Missssss...?"

Oh, crap! The white mare completely forgot about choosing her name. Putting "Sweetie" or anything that had the word, "sweet," would be pushing it. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for inspiration.

Lip Gloss? No.

Hair Dryer? No.

Pink Blush? No.

Hair Iron? No.

Hoof File? Hell, no!

Fillys' Room? Really?

Oh, those petunias in that vase looked really lovely.

Wait, that was it!

"Petunia," she answered.

"Ah, yes. Miss Petunia. That will be eight bits."

"Just a second," "Petunia" said.

She reached into the pocket of her ruffled skirt and took out her small purse. Clicking it open, she dumped out ten bits. She was really glad that that knothole in the tree had money in it. Again, thank you, Pinkie Pie.

"Thank you, ma'am. Here's your change."

"Keep it, Miss Rosy Cheeks. You earned every bit of it."

"Thank you!"

She pushed through the doors of the salon. Her eyes adjusted painfully to the brightness of the afternoon from the dull lighting in the salon. She blinked until her eyes were comfortable. She tried her best not to rub them. She did not want to smear her new makeup.

This was it. Time to find and woo Connor. However, she was not going to just walk around like nothing had changed. No, she had to walk around with style. She puffed out her chest, tilted her head slightly upwards, and walked, making sure her hips swayed. After seeing how her older sister walked around for so many years, she was able to mimic every flow and inch of the process. She did want to be like her big sister when she grows up, after all. Now, she could, even though she was really young at heart.

As she walked deeper into town, she casually looked around to look for her favorite colt. Instead, she saw nearby colts and stallions staring at her in amazement.

"Who's the new filly?" a blue-maned, yellow colt asked as his eyes scanned her.

"Whoa! Hoo!" a brown-maned stallion exhaled. His pegasus girlfriend kicked his shins. "Ow!"

"Hellooooooo, ponay!" exclaimed a gray colt.

"Well, now that's bloody brilliant!" a brown colt with an hourglass cutie mark exclaimed.

"EeeeeeeeeeeeeYUP!"

Sweetie Belle smiled at the results. She was attracting colts and stallions better than honey with bees. She squealed inside, barely containing her outward expression. She knew this was going to be good. If she was able to attract colts and stallions like this, she was certainly able to attract Connor. Annnnnnnd, maybe with a little push in her charm, she could convince him to break up with Fluttershy. HA! Excellent!

She nearly lost her composure when she saw him. There he was! What perfect timing, too. He was at one of the kiosks selling cherries at the marketplace. She scanned his surroundings. Good, she did not have to wait in a line. She could just walk up right beside him.

"Hiya!"

"EEP!"

A unicorn stallion who suddenly popped up right in front of her nearly scared her to death. This unicorn was baby blue, had a short, teased white and cobalt blue mane, and wore a rugged, worn-out, gray scarf. His muzzle was a darker shade of his coat, blending into his original color. His blue eyes stared eagerly into the white unicorn's soul.

"Name's WiseFree!" he smiled

"Uh, hello, er, WiseFree..." she responded. She tried her best to look past the eager colt. However, every angle she tried, his head got in front of her every time.

"What's your name?" the colt smiled brightly, eagerly waiting for an answer.

"Puh... Petunia."

"Ooh! Lovely name for a lovely pony like you!"

"Mm-hmm, yeah!" Sweetie Belle nodded quickly. Was Connor still there? How would she know? This colt was practically getting in her view. Was there some way to blow past this conversation quickly? She could not lose her favorite colt.

The colt sprang up and leaned on a nearby pole, going for the more casual, cool approach. "So, what do you do for a living?"

"I..."

Hoo, boy. There was another aspect she missed. If she was going to approach Connor and start a conversation, she would most likely be asked what her career was. How did she forget that? She was so focused on getting her stallion, that it obviously slipped her mind. Well, now was the time to rehearse.

"I, uh..."

Come on, think! Think, Sweetie Belle!

Press flowers? No, that was Lily's job.

Collect flowers? No, that was too boring for her.

Run a flower shop? No, that was Roseluck's job.

Clean flowers? Wait, what kind of career was that? There was no such thing, was there?

Gardening? Nope, Carrot Top's job.

"Making perfume," she finally answered.

Excellent choice.

"Oh, really?" WiseFree exclaimed. "Ooh, that's cool! Really cool!"

"Petunia" nodded quickly. Should she resume this conversation for a little while longer? She could use the practice.

"I make perfu--I mean, cologne, too," the colt resumed speaking. "It's called, 'Wise, Free, and Foxy," and there's always plenty of it to go around, if you catch my drift," he winked.

Nope.

"Hey! Isn't that Fleur-de-Lis, the hottest model in Equestria?" Sweetie Belle pointed.

"What?! Where?" the baby-blue colt looked to where she was pointing.

She dashed directly past him.

"Oh, wait, that's only a white pony with a pink mane. Oh, it's okay, everypony makes mistakes. It's only nat--," the colt turned to see that "Petunia" was gone. He slapped a hoof onto his face, sighing. "Ugh... really? I had to go with the pick-up line? What on earth was I thinking? Well, more cologne, it is!" He sprayed on some Colt Spice.

Behind a grapefruit kiosk, Sweetie Belle sighed in relief. Thank Celestia... she thought that would never end. She got up, fixed her mane, and looked in her mirror for any flaws. She was still good to go. She still looked as pretty as freshly cut diamond. Whipping around, she resumed her way toward to the kiosk where her crush was, without even opening her eyes.

When she opened her eyes, he was gone.

"Oh, ponyfeathers!" she stomped her hoof in frustration. "Now, where am I supposed to find him?"

"Excuse me, I'd like to buy a twenty-four pack of limes please," said a familiar voice nearby.

Turning to the voice, Sweetie Belle saw that Connor was at the citrus fruits kiosk. She thanked Celestia that he was gone completely. She trotted over to meet him.

Suddenly, she found her face flat on the ground. Passersby gasped toward the lovely mare. What the hay had happened? She struggled to get up when she realized the tip of her front hoof was behind a pile of apples which were hap-hazardously placed on the ground. She realized that she had tripped. She noticed that her mirror, purse, and tube of lip gloss had spilled onto the ground.

"Holy crap!" she heard a voice directly next to her. "Man, that looked like it hurt!"

Her face instantly turned to the owner of the voice.

"Are you okay?" Connor asked.

"Oh! Y-yes, I'm okay. Sorry, my little mind just wandered off."

"Happens to me, too. Here, let me help you with your things."

"Oh! Thank you, kindly, good sir," she smiled.

The colt lifted the mare onto her hooves and helped her pick up her belongings. As he was picking up her items, Sweetie Belle gulped. This was it. She could not mess this up. All she had to do was to charm him.

"Here," the colt said as he hoofed her her purse.

"Thank you," she said. Then, she gasped like she was surprised. Her eyes never turned away from him.

"Uh, are you okay?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry. My little mind just lost itself again. It's just... I've never noticed how handsome you look right now."

The colt blushed. A pretty mare like her just called him handsome at first sight. As good as it felt to be complimented, something felt off.

"Thank you," he spoke. "But... we haven't even met yet."

"Oh, silly me!" he tilted her head, making an impression like she was stupid. "Sorry to be so rude. My name is Sweeti--I mean, Petunia. What is yours?"

"Connor."

"'Connor'! Ooh, sounds exotic!"

"Thank you," the colt smiled humbly.

"Wait," she paused. "That name... That cutie mark... You're that human, well, you used to be, but aren't you? Equestria's First Human?? The rockstar??"

The colt only smiled, bracing himself for meeting another fanfilly. "That'd be me."

"Oh, Celestia's mane! I thought I'd never see this day coming! Your music sounds so exotic! Your 'metal', right? I've heard you on the radio. They never mentioned that you looked so dashing." She fluttered her eyelashes as she gazed upon him flirtatiously.

"Oh! Well, thank you, um, Miss Petunia," the colt grinned, stunned by the compliment she had just given him. "And, you don't look so bad yourself."

"And they never mentioned that you had such good manners! Oh, it is such a delight to meet you! Tell me, is that your career?"

"Oh, it's only a hobby. I never saw it as a career."

"You should make it your career!" she insisted as she blindly put some oranges in a small bag. "You make it sound so professional. You could be famous all around the world!"

"Well, I think I already am, don't mean to brag. As the first human to walk in Equestria."

"Who says you can't be even more famous?"

"Maybe, but I'm satisfied with what I got here for now."

"Mmm, so modest, too. Not what you'd expect from most celebrities."

Connor chuckled humbly.

"You know, you really interest me. We should get together soon and know each each other better."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. We should really go out sometime. Say, are you free tonight?"

"Oh, sorry. I got a fillyfriend," the colt said.

Yeah, she expected that kind of answer. "Awww..." she pouted coyly. "Really? You're already taken? Oh, poo..."

"But, I still would like to just hang out with you as a new friend."

She really wanted him to say, "Sure! Forget about my girlfriend! She's dead to me!", but he did not. She did not want him just for a friend. But, wait! If she hung out with him enough, his feeling for her would eventually grow and would drive him to dump Fluttershy on his own. She was pretty enough to manipulate him to do that, so why not?

"Yes, of course. I always enjoy making new friends," she winked.

"Great! Anyhoo, I've gotta get back to work. I'll catch you later next time," he smiled politely. "Nice meeting you!"

"Nice meeting you, toooooo!" she called in a sing-song voice. "I love your musiiiic!"

The colt disappeared among the crowd.

Sweetie Belle huffed through her nostrils. "Catch you later next time," he said? Well, next time was going to be right now! She knew where he worked, so she could meet him there and pretend that she did not know that he worked there. Besides, bars were places where the most hook ups occurred.

"Soooooo!" WiseFree trotted up to her, acting casual. "I happened to notice that you are looking for some fruit? MInd if I buy them for you? I can get you the most delicious fruit that anypony has ever--."

"Drop dead," she huffed, flicking her tail and trotting away.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo! This kitten's got claws!"

"Cherry Limeade, I'm back!" Connor called as he entered the bar, bag slung around the base of his neck. "I've got more cherries and limes for the cherry limeade, like you wanted."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa there, slick!" the red-maned, green mare said, placing a hoof on her hip. "Cherries and limes?? I said I wanted starfruit and tangerines!"

"Cherry..."

"Ah, so you've finally caught up with me!" she laughed. "Well, now you are officially hired!"

"Shut up!" the colt laughed, giving her the bag.

"So, what's up so far? Any interesting happening there? That place can be full of surprises."

"Well," he began. "I just met a mare there."

"Yeah? And..?" she insisted him to keep talking.

"And... she was... really hitting on me."

"Mmmm!" she hummed slyly. "Well, well, well! Didn't know you had it in you! So you are attracting mares left and right. Soon, all the mares of Equestria will be hanging off of you. You guitar-playing bachelor, you!"

"Shut up, I'm already dating Fluttershy. Besides, I'm not even that hot."

"Awwwww, should I arrange a dinner date here? This new mare sounds promising!"

"Come on..."

The lime-colored mare chortled as she wiped down a shot glass. "Anyway, thank you for getting those limes and cherries for me. We're going to need them for the Open Mike Night tonight."

"That's tonight? Wow, I completely forgot about that," Connor clapped his cheek with his hoof.

"Well, it is. Plus, before you forget any further, you might want to hook up your guitar to the speakers. Don't forget the microphone, either."

"On it."

Sweetie Belle was just outside the front door. She could just waltz right in there, but it would be all too soon. She needed to time her entry just right. If she went in too soon, Connor might think she would be stalking him.

Also, when was this Open Mike Night going to start? She noticed a sign taped on the door.

"Open Mike Night @ 7:00," it read.

What time was it now? She looked at the clock tower.

"One o' clock??" she squeaked in disbelief.

No! Too long! She had to act. Not now, though. She had to time it perfe--.

"'Scuse me, miss!" said a voice behind her.

Sweetie Belle flinched in surprise to hear it so suddenly. She whipped her head around to see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo standing next to her. Suddenly, her entire body grew cold.

"Um, y-y-yes?" she smiled nervously.

"We believe ya dropped something back at the marketplace," the country filly said, extending a hoof to offer her her tube of mascara. "My, my, my! Kalvin Klop's 'Leur'! Ah heard that's a purty expensive and rare brand of mascara to come around. Ya better be careful, ma'am!"

"Must've cost a fortune!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"Oh!" the mare blushed sheepishly, jittering nervously. "Th-thank you, girls! Thank you kindly."

Why was she acting this way? She was cleverly disguised, but why was the scary feeling that they were going to find out occurring?

"Ah haven't seen you before," Apple Bloom smiled. "Are ya new here?"

"No, I mean, yes! I am new here. I just came from... Fillydelphia."

"Well, pickle mah ponytail! That's a long trip!"

"I've always wanted to go there!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "I love the Fillydelphia Flyers. I've wanted to be at one of their games for, like, forever!"

"Yes, they... have been doing quite well."

"They're the best!"

"So what's yer name, miss?" the yellow, red-maned filly asked.

Her mouth felt like it was going to automatically say, "Sweetie Belle," but she coerced herself to not to.

"Petunia."

"Hello, Miss Petunia! Purty name for a purty lady," Apple Bloom smiled.

"Aw, thank you, Misssssss..." she hissed, requesting the little filly's name, even though she clearly knew it like the back of her hoof.

"Apple Bloom of Sweet Apple Acres," smiled yours truly.

"And I'm Scootaloo," said the little pegasus.

"Oh! And to think I'm the only one with pretty names," "Petunia giggled.

"Y'know, ma'am, ah like ya already. We do, that is," the yellow filly said, slinging her foreleg around her friend's shoulders.

"Hey, would you like a tour of Ponyville? We're more than happy to give you one," Scootaloo said.

"Oh, I'm fine, thank you. This place is small enough for me to figure out, unlike Fillydelphia. Thank you for your offer, though."

"Okay," shrugged the fillies. "Feel free to ask us anytime you need a little more help."

"I will."

"Great! Anyway, yer gonna git somethin' at the Guzzlin' Gallop? That's fun! Someone we know works there."

"Oh?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Who is it?"

"He used to be a human. He's a pony now. His name's Connor."

Sweetie Belle (or Petunia) gasped. "Really?? Ohmigawsh! I had just met him!"

"You did?" Scootaloo raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, yes! Equestria's First Human! I absolutely love his guitar skills."

"Well, you're in luck! You could meet him again in here."

"I will!"

"Great! Well, anyway, sorry we interrupted your visit. Stopped you right at the front door. Oy, we are such teases. Anyway, enjoy yourself, Miss Petunia!" the pegasus waved.

"Nice meetin' ya!" Apple Bloom waved.

"The same for me!" Sweetie Belle waved.

After walking a few feet, the two fillies took another look at "Petunia".

"Ya know, she kinda looks familiar," the country pony pondered.

"What do you mean?" the sporty pegasus asked.

"She kinda looks like Sweetie Belle."

"Aw, come on, Apple Bloom. Really?"

"Look at her! She's got the same coat color, same hair color, green eyes... everything Sweetie Belle has."

"Yeah, and Roseluck has the the same coat and hair color as Twist. Big deal! There are millions of ponies out there, Apple Bloom. I'm sure not one of them doesn't have a pony who looks exactly like him or her."

"Ah guess yer right."

Sweetie Belle sighed in relief as soon as the fillies' voices thinned out. Now that was out of the way, she finally found the notion to walk into the Guzzling Gallop. She took a deep breath, fixed her lovely, matured mane, and walked forward.

One... step... at a time...

As she pushed by the door, the air conditioning roared through the crack and blew at her face and mane. Wouldn't you know about that? It would make for a rather regal and dramatic entrance. She did not fight it; she only allowed it to beat against her mane, causing it to wave passionately as she walked in.

As she entered further in, she purposely tossed her head to emphasize the silkiness and delicateness of her mane. She fluttered her eyelashes as she fanned herself with her hoof.

"Whoo! My, my, isn't it hot outside! Oh! I could feel my fur moisten from all of that--(Gasp!) Connor!" the mare smiled brightly.

"Wha--? Oh, hey! Hey, Petunia!" the colt casually smiled, pleasantly surprised on seeing her again after such a short time.

"Small world, isn't it? Oh, and it seems that it just got hot in here, too! Whoo," she said, winking and fanning herself with her hoof once more.

"Well... I'm flattered," he smiled awkwardly, stunned yet again by her compliment.

"And what better than a nice, cold drink on such a hot day?" she winked. "Especially when it's prepared by a dashing new friend."

There she went again. Another unexpected compliment.

Cherry Limeade emerged from the swinging doors. "Hello, ma'am! Welcome to the Guzzling Gallop! Whoo, what a hot day today, amiright?"

"Oh, yes, ma'am! Especially with this handsome colt around," "Petunia" smiled.

Another one.

"Oh! Well..." she coughed. "So, Connor, is this the new mare you have been talking about?"

The white mare gasped. "You've been talking about me? Awww, so nice to know that someone is thinking about me! You're really sweet, Connor."

Should Connor jot down a tally mark for every compliment she directed at him?

"Oh, it's just one of his out-of-character moments," the green mare said. "When pretty mares aren't around, he's a complete mule."

"Cherry..." the colt grumbled.

The lime pony gave him a punch on the shoulder. "Pphft! Aw, come on! I'm just playing around with ya!" She turned back to the withe unicorn. "Poor thing's just shy. He's not used to having really pretty mares talk to him."

"Don't you have some cherry limeade to make?"

"Right after this lovely, young lady gives me her order. So, what'll it be?"

Something snapped at the back of Sweetie Belle's mind. She was at a bar. So that meant... she was actually going to drink alcohol?? Now, there was a surprise she never expected. She knew she could not drink any of that stuff. She was a filly. It would be disastrous if she drank that sort of thing under age.

But, who said she looked under age?

"Oh! Ummm..." I think I'm going to regret this... "I would like to have your specialty drink, please."

"Cherry Limeade?" the lime-colored mare asked.

"Cherry Limeade," the white unicorn nodded.

"You rang?"

"Uhhh..."

"I'm just joking! My name is Cherry Limeade, by the way."

"Oh!" the white mare giggled. "That's funny!"

"Wehehell, I'll be back with your drink. Give me just a minute. In the meantime, you can talk to Mr. Single-and-Sassy, here."

"Har har, Cherry," Connor rolled his eyes. "You know Fluttershy and I are a couple."

"Kidding!"

The green bartender trotted to the other side of the bar, where most of the accessories and ingredients were for the drink.

"Yup, that's Cherry Limeade for you," the colt sighed. "The joker."

Petunia giggled. "You're funny."

The hell? He did not even attempt a joke.

"So! How about you tell me all about yourself?" she smiled, staring at him with her big, green eyes.

"Well... I might have already told you all about myself back at the market. Why don't you tell me about yourself? Do you have a job?"

"O-oh, yes! I make perfume."

"Oh, cool!"

"Yes. My specialty is making perfume that smells mostly of flowers. Single flowers to mixtures of flowers."

"Oh."

"Yes, I think flowers just smell more sensual and passionate. After all, who would not enjoy the hypnotizing scent of flowers?"

"I enjoy a good smell of flowers every so often."

"Excellent! We have so much in common!"

Okayyyyy...

"So, are you new here?"

"Indeed, I am! I came from Fillydelphia."

"Nice. Did you move here or are you just visiting?"

"Visiting. Sad, really. I really like this place. I wish I could stay forever. Friendly folk, homey atmosphere, handsome colts," she said, winking at him.

He should find a piece of paper and a pencil. What number was that one? He should feel flattered and grateful that a lovely mare like her fancied him, but he was already in a relationship. He had to admit, she was definitely a looker compared to Fluttershy, but that did not meant that he was going to give in to her charms. His relationship with the yellow, pink-maned pegasus was very steadfast, and he did not feel like breaking it because of one charming mare.

"So, do you have any siblings at all?" Connor continued asking.

"None. It's just me. Well, of course I still have my parents," she giggled.

"Well, of course," he rolled his eyes, chortling friendly. "Do they live in Filliydelphia as well?"

"Yes, I mean, no! They live in... Cloudsdale."

"Really? But don't they both have to be pegasi to live there? I mean, you're a unicorn."

"Um... Well, my great aunt was a unicorn. Yeah!"

"Oh... I didn't know that it worked that way. Okay, then."

Sweetie Belle nodded nervously. Man, she should have put a little more time into creating her life. Luckily, Cherry Limeade placed the pinkish liquid directly in front of her.

"Here ya go, Miss Petunia! Enjoy!"

The mare felt the hairs stand on her forelegs. This was her first alcoholic drink ever. She swallowed the excessive saliva in her mouth resulting from her nervousness.

"Is something wrong?" Connor asked, noticing the uneasiness in her eye.

"Oh! It's nothing. It's just..."

"Surely, you've had an alcoholic drink before, right?"

"O-o-of course I have! It just looks... so good, I'm feeling all tingly."

"Okay..."

She was about to lift the drink up to her mouth with her magic, until her magic had shut off just as she lifted it an inch into the air, causing it to drop back onto the table.

"Whoa, easy there," the colt said, flinching to catch it. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Y-yes! Aw, so kind of you to show concern to ponies other than yourself! You're very considerate."

Tally mark.

She gripped the glass in between her hooves and lifted it up to her mouth. Her nose made its way inside the glass, catching a whiff of cherries and limeade, mixed with the strong scent of alcohol. The scent filled and tickled her nose, causing it to wrinkle.

Connor was staring at her. What was wrong with her? It was only a drink! An... alcoholic drink... a drink with alcohol in it... legitimate alcohol...

Screw it! She had to suck it up and gulp it down.

And that she did. She instantly thrusted the bottom of the glass up into the air and began chugging at the concoction. Her throat shifted noisily and forcefully until the drink was gone.

Every... last... drop...

She set the glass down firmly as she fought back a massive cough from the strong fumes of the alcohol.

"Dude..." the colt gawked.

"Another!" Petunia said.

Gluck, gluck, gluck!

There went another cherry limeade.

Behind the glass was a blushing, glossy eyed, haggard-looking unicorn, who let out a loud belch, resulting from a quickly downed beverage.

"Uhhh, wow, Petunia... You're really quite the drin--."

"(HIC!) And who jus' duz thiz Fluttershy ponee think she iz? Frum whut you juz said about her, she'z shy?? Lemme tell ya somthin': bein' shy meanz... meanz dat one iz weak! She'z nothin'! She'z a like an inzignificant nobody! She'll be nothin' more than a raggedy ol' walking' mat! A pony like that? Datin' you?? Puh-leeze! I cood do zo much better than dat little softy. Uh mean, look at me! Uh'm gorjuhz! Da nerve of her to date a colt like you! She cood take all dose lil' animal friends of herz and shove 'em up her--! ZZZZZzzzzzzz..."

"Some admirer you got there, Connor-boy," Cherry Limeade mumbled to him.

"What the hell? Seriously! What the hell? I mean, who the hell is she to talk trash about my girl like that? My girl!" the colt exclaimed frustrsatedly.

"Plus, she only drank about two and a half glasses. Pretty lightweight, if you ask me. Has this girl even sipped an alcoholic drink in her life?"

"Well, she did now. You know, she says she's a real big fan of me... but, she's no fan of mine."

"Mm-mm! I couldn't agree with you more. Jeez, and she was so sweet before."

"Well, alcohol brings out the worst and truest in us. Goes to show you that's actually just a poser."

"Couldn't agree with you more."

"Whadja call me??" Petunia slurred before hiccuping mightily. Her cheeks puffed out. "Ohm... Ohm, Phuhlephtia! Exfcuphe me furhm a muhment?"

The white mare was gone in an eye blink as she ran to the restroom.

Time to worship the porcelain god.

"HUAAAAAAAAGH!!" retched the once-lovely-looking unicorn.

Pink liquid shot out of her mouth like garden hose and into the toilet bowl. Her eyes were filled to brim with tears from the clenching of her throat.

The hiatus of her vomiting signaled that she had run out of fluids to expel from her stomach. She wiped at her mouth with her tear-stained foreleg and cuddled on the floor near the toilet bowl.

So this was what alcohol felt like when too much was consumed. She resolved to never touch an alcoholic drink again in her life, even at legal age.

The silence of the bathroom helped calm the mare from the disgusting aftermath of vomiting. Soon, the silence was broken by the singing of a bird. It rung loudly, which meant that the bird decided to perch itself onto the windowsill of the bathroom. Sweetie Belle weakly looked up to look at the feathered visitor.

It was a beautiful, red cardinal. It sang proudly on the windowsill until a puff of orange smoke engulfed it. After the smoke cleared, it revealed a small hatchling, chirping desperately for its mother.

Wait... what just happened? Why did that cardinal--? Wait... was that cardinal from earlier today? The cardinal that emerged from a hatchling from Zecora's potion?

Uh-oh...

Poof! She was engulfed by orange smoke, revealing Sweetie Belle back to her former self as it cleared.

Wait... so that potion was only temporary?

Thank Celestia! She thought she was going to be stuck as a mare forever. It was fun until the drinking part. Now, she could not live the rest of her life abandoning her family and friends...

Wait... friends??

Crap, she was going to to have to worry about them all over again.

"Petunia? Are you finished in there?" Connor asked from behind the door.

Eep! She scrambled back up, despite feeling woozy and weak from the alcohol. As she climbed the toilet, her little hoof pushed the toilet handle, flushing the expelled vomit. She hopped up to grab the edge of the windowsill and crawled safely out. She landed roughly on her haunches on the other side.

"Ohhhhhhhh..." she moaned. Her head began to hurt after that hard landing.

"Petunia?" the colt asked again. "Huh! She's gone... Well, it's probably for the best. She was not my type anyway. Even if I did break up with Fluttershy, I would not date Petunia. Sorry, girl, but you blew it."

"Who ya talking to? Connor Number Two?" Cherry Limeade called from inside.

"Why, yes! Yes, I was!" the colt responded.

Sweetie Belle hung her head.

She failed... She failed to complete everything on her list. Looks, kindness, age... What was the point?

No! It was not over!

There was only one thing left to do...

She grabbed a piece of chalky mulch and scribbled on her list...

"SABOTAGE."

To be continued.

Chapter VII

Sabotage...

Sabotage...

Sabotage...

Sabotage Connor and Fluttershy's relationship...

But how??

Lovesick Sweetie Belle rhythmically tapped her head with the pencil, trying to come up with some plan to break the two lovebirds apart. She should have been paying attention to Pony History. However, the thought that they were still together kept distracting her. Why should Fluttershy have him? He belonged to Sweetie Belle! Why? Because the little filly needed him more than the yellow pegasus did. Without him, days just felt worse for her. He made her happy and feel protected. He was always there for her, unlike her sister, Rarity. It was always, "Oh, sorry, Sweetie Belle. I've got a lot of work to do because I've wasted so much time at the spa, fixing every millimeter of my body, so I wouldn't look as boring as a bagel." Connor, however, was like "Sure! I'll help!", "Sure! I'll play!", "Sure! I'll go with you!".

"Sure! I'll be your coltfriend!"

Well, okay, he did not say that last one exactly...

Not yet, that was...

Well, he did say he liked her. He said she was cute, funny, amusing, smart...

She nearly fainted from joy when he mentioned, "cute". However, she knew it was not enough. There was just not enough meaning to it. He only said that as a friend. She wanted him to say that as her coltfriend. Ah, now there was a thought.

What should she do?

Meanwhile, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could not help but notice Sweetie Belle's lovey-dovey expression. Their eyes skewered through her soul in intent suspicion. It was weird. They thought that the reason for the white filly's strange attitude was because of her sickness. She was not sick anymore now, yet she was right back to where she was, sighing and smiling goofily. Something was definitely screwing with her little head.

The little, white unicorn sighed as she blankly looked out the window. Nothing interesting or inspirational. Just clouds. She looked on the windowsill to see a folded copy of the school paper, printed when she was part of Gabby Gums with the other Crusaders. She only see the warped image of Big Macintosh looking at the camera like a deer. He was caught playing with Twilight Sparkle's foalhood toy, Miss-Smarty-Pants, when the picture was taken. She knew at first that the Gabby Gums ordeal was cruel, but she still could not help but snicker at his startled expression. Ha, he really got caught that time. Redhoofed... caught with his saddle down... his hoof was in the cookie jar...

Wait a minute...

"That's it!" she squeaked.

"What's it, Sweetie Belle?" Cheerilee asked.

All eyes in the classroom turned to look at the outspoken filly, who was blushing.

"Umm... Er, uhhhh..." She noticed the clock. "Th-that's it! That's the time for recess, right?"

The schoolteacher craned her neck around to look at the clock.

"Oh, goodness! It is! I'm sorry, students. I guess I just got carried away with talking about Sir Issac Neighton," she giggled. "Isn't he just magnificent?" She blushed when she looked at the portrait of a rather dignified stallion with a face that looked like it was carved by angels.

"Oooookay," Scootaloo said, shifting herself off of her desk.

Soon, the classroom was empty, except for Cheerilee, who was smitten by the portrait of her historic dreamboat.

Sweetie Belle darted directly past Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, who had just asked her if she wanted to play hopscotch. She did not even have the time to answer. She had business to do. Her head twitched left and right like a bird as she looked for somepony to assist her. To her delight, she saw the pony she wanted to see. A scrawny, small pegasus with a brown bowl-cut was taking a photograph of a caterpillar chewing on a leaf.

"Hey! Featherweight! Psst! C'mere!" she hissed.

Even though the little colt looked as if he was lost in his work, he still had an open ear. He snapped the picture and galloped over to Sweetie Belle immediately.

"Can you do me a really big favor?" she asked, straining her voice. "I want you to meet me at Town Hall after school for a photoshoot."

"Okay," the white colt nodded. "What kind of photos am I going to be shooting for you?"

"Oh, just something paparazzi-related..."

"Paparazzi?? You mean the kind of photography that involves celebrities caught in their worst moments?"

"Well... y-yeah, somewhat."

Featherweight meekly dribbled a stone with his hoof. "Oh, I don't know, Sweetie Belle. I'm not sure if I want to go through that again. Ever since the Gabby Gums incident, I've felt so ashamed of myself. It nearly made me abandon my dreams as a photographer. I never thought I would stoop so low then..."

"But, this time, it's different!" Sweetie Belle coaxed the white pegasus. "You're going to be doing this for somepony's sake. You'll be doing somepony a really big favor. A really big one!"

"Oh, I don't know..."

"Pleeeease? Look, I'll pay you! After that, I will never, ever, ever, ever, EVER ask you to do something like this ever again!"

"Just how much do you have?" the young photographer's face twisted in skepticism.

"Hold that thought," Sweetie Belle said as she looked into her saddlebag. She dug through books and papers until she came across one coin.

"A quarter bit?" she sheepishly smiled.

"Well, thanks for the offer, Sweetie Belle, but..."

"And my last coupon for a free giant lollipop at Sugarcube Corner!" she desperately added in, waving a caramel-colored slip of paper.

"Sweetie Belle, you just got yourself a deal!"

"Oh, thank you, Featherweight! Now, remember: Town Hall after school."

"Got it. Now, let's see that coup--."

"Uh-uh, Featherweight! After you do the photoshoot..."

"Oh, sorry, Sweetie Belle. I just really love lollipops! They taste so good!"

"It'll taste even better once you get the job done, too."

"Ooooooooh!" the colt's eyes widened as he dribbled.

"Town Hall, after school."

"Okay."

The colt galloped away, shutting his eyes and daydreaming about his future lollipop. He tripped over his own camera.

Sweetie Belle pumped her little hoof in the air. "Yes!" she said to herself.

BRRRRRRRRIIINNNNNG!!

"All right, class! Time to come back insiiiide!" Cheerilee warbled.

Sweetie Belle sat in her chair, tense and ready like she about to do a rodeo with a manticore. Her back was arched and her little hooves pushed down against the desktop of her desk. Her flanks clenched, ready to leave her seat in an eye blink. Her brows furrowed in focus and she licked her lips to moisten them and prevent any cracks. She knew she was going to leave in a huge hurry. Her eyes shifted over to the clock over the blackboard.

Just two more minutes until the end of class. She would be gone the instant that bell rang.

Her outward appearance was not at all subtle to the foals around her. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo eyed her suspiciously. First, she came back as she was after her sickness, she blew right past them during recess, and now she looked like she was ready to leave without waiting for them. They did not like it one bit. Plus, since the white filly was not sick anymore, they bore the right to mentally throw suspicions at her. Plus, Diamond Tiara noticed as well. The way the white filly looked so determined and ready for something that was a complete mystery to the pink filly made her hungry to know what was on her mind. She thought that it could be some secret that Sweetie Belle did not want to share with anypony else. A vision of the unicorn's reaction to her dark secret being revealed made the pink brat laugh in her breath. Whatever she was hiding, she wanted to find. Plucking the white unicorn's heartstrings was just way too much much fun for her.

"And that was how the Griffon Kingdom came to be," Cheerilee concluded her lesson. "Oh! Look at the time! Did it really pass by that quickly? My goodness, that was fast! I've got to go to the Carousel Boutique to pick my dress for Miss Red Wine's baby shower. Oh, but first, class dismissed!"

A white blur zipped across the classroom floor and out the door. Sheets of loose notebook paper scattered in the air in its wake.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom exchanged looks as they climbed off of their desks in frustration. There she went again, leaving her friends and fellow Crusaders behind for her own pursuit.

"Apple Bloom," Scootaloo said to her country friend. "I think it's time that we assumed the worst."

"Ah'm afraid ah'd hafta agree with ya, Scoot. She's officially up to somethin' and ah don' like it."

"I told you it was hard to forget a crush that easily."

"Now, hold on, Scoot. We're not exactly sure if it's a crush or not."

"Are you blind? Have you seen her sigh, the blushing, or that goofy smile on her face? It's definitely a crush, all right."

"Okay, maybe so. Still, ah'd like to see more proof."

"Just how far are you going to stretch this? It's official! I know a smitten look when I see one. She's still in love! Can't you just give it up with having more evidence?"

"She's our friend, Scootaloo! We can't just call her off on the spot. Especially without her knowin'. Besides, what if we're wrong and we kicked her out fer doin' nothin harmful? The more evidence, the better."

"Fine, Apple Bloom, fine. Just to let you know, if it is a crush, I have every right to say, 'I told you so!'."

Diamond Tiara heard the two fillies as they parted. "A crush," they said?

A crush on who?

One of the sheets of notebook paper that fluttered in the air from Sweetie Belle's speed flew directly into her face. She sputtered as she tried to peel the sheet off. It was sticky with crayon. When she got the sheet off of her face, she looked at the written contents.

It was a drawing of two ponies. One appeared larger and looked like a colt while the other was a head smaller and looked like a filly. From the white, periwinkle, and light pink fillings, the small filly looked like Sweetie Belle. Who was the other pony? Wait, that cutie mark she drew onto his flank... that looked very familiar. She held it farther away from her face to see a giant red heart encircling the two ponies. Diamond Tiara realized the backside of the sheet was greasy and lumpy with lines. Apparently, Sweetie Belle drew something on the back as well. The tiara-wearing pony flipped the page to see a prose written in black pen.

"Dear Connor,

If you have found this, then you already know how I feel about you. Yes, I know, it's all so silly. Me falling in love with an older colt like you when I could be falling in love with a colt more my age, but please know this. Ever since you started hanging out with me and my friends, it felt like somepony actually cared about us. You were so nice to take the time to be around us. However, that's not the only thing you did for me. When you helped me with my math homework and helped me with my problems with that snot-nosed, bratty, blowhard, Diamond Tiara, it really touched my heart. For the first time, I felt like I was no longer a burden. You were always there for me. You always made me feel happy. You are like my iron shield, helping me get through all of the bad things in life. You're like a big brother I've never had. Only, I want you to be more than my big brother.

I love you, Connor. I love you so much. I just wish that you could see it. However, I can't let Apple Bloom and Scootaloo know about it, though. They will kick me out of the Cutie Mark Crusaders Society if they find out. I wish I hadn't written that stupid rule in the rulebook, let alone come up with such a stupid penalty. I can't give up getting my cutie mark, but I can't give you up either. You are too important and precious to me. I can't lose you. So please... PLEASE, PLEASE keep this a secret between you and me.

I want to be your favorite little filly.

I love you.

From all of my heart,

XXOOXXOO

Sweetie Belle."

...

Diamond Tiara sat in shocked silence when she looked up from the note.

Wait... she was in love with him?? Connor, Equestria's First Human?? But, why? He was older than she was!

"Snot-nosed"? "Bratty"? "Blowhard"??

Ooh, Sweaty Butt, she thought menacingly. You should be really careful with what you say...

She folded the sheet of paper and placed it in her book bag.

Otherwise, I will be less careful of what I am going to do.

"Where is he? I told him to meet me here after school!" Sweetie Belle said to herself.

She raised a hoof just above her eyes to shade them from Celestia's sun's bright light. Her twisted her head left and right, looking for the young photographer frustratedly. So far, no sign of him. Oy, wonderful...

She heaved a huge, frustrated sigh and fell onto her haunches. Well, as long as she was there waiting for her assistant, she would might as well find a pony to set Connor up with. Luckily for her, there was a good amount of ponies in the streets. Now, she just had to single out the attractive ones. She noticed Carrot Top sitting on a bench, taking a breather from carrying her huge basket of freshly plucked carrots. Should she frame Connor with her?

No. It looked too normal of a setting. Even if Connor offered to help her with carrying the basket, she still would not get a very convincing shot. Plus, she seemed to catch her breath again and was starting to leave.

Bon-Bon? No, approaching her would be too random. Plus, she was only sitting next to her friend, Lyra, who was sitting directly on her rump.

Daisy? Well, she looked busy with her planting. However, Sweetie Belle doubted that she would get a very convincing shot with her. Pictures of helping other ponies was not very convincing when it comes to framing a colt for cheating.

Mayor Mare? A little old for him. The pony she had to choose had to be more about his age.

Green Hearts? No, she was already accompanied by a colt.

Mint Leaf? No, she was into mares.

No.

No.

No.

Now, Sweetie Belle was getting frustrated. None of these ponies were perfect enough to frame Connor with.

"Sweetie Belle!" called a voice.

"There you are, Featherweight! Where have you been? I've been waiting for you for, like, forever!" the filly waved her hooves in the air, emphasizing her impatience.

"Well, I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep up. You were gone in a flash and I had to carry this heavy camera around. Not very easy for me to do, if you ask me."

"Okay, okay. Sorry. It's just that I really need to get this done."

"Apology accepted. So remind me again what we are shooting?"

"Evidence."

"Evidence? For what?"

"Relationship problems."

"Ohhhh!"

"Yup! We're doing somepony a favor," she smiled proudly. Doing me a favor, that is.

She waved a hoof at Featherweight for him to follow her.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"To find the lovebirds."

She gulped. I hope.

As she walked with the little colt, her eyes traced back and forth desperately to find the perfect setting. However, everypony just looked too normal and happy. Dang it!

They walked for a good two miles around Ponyville until they reached the park.

"So where are they?" Featherweight asked impatiently. "This camera's really taking the wind out of me, it's so heavy. I can't carry this thing forever. If you don't know where they are, just say so! We could find them tomorrow. Another thing, my mom gets really anxious if I don't make it home in time."

"We'll find them," she answered cooly, though her face was scrunched with worry.

Sniffle! Sniffle!

Sweetie Belle's ears perked up, hearing the sound. "Shh!" she hissed as she stopped the colt in his tracks.

Sniffle!

The sound was coming from the other side of the bushes. By the high-pitched whimpering, it sounded like a mare was sitting there. They quietly pushed their heads through the leaves of the bush to see a pink earth pony with blonde hair sitting on a park bench directly across the dirt road. By the cutie mark on her flank matching the flower stuck in her hair, this pony was Lily. She was crying. Her head was hung low, and her face was in her hooves. Her shoulders shook after each sob she made. She sounded as pitiful as a yelping puppy and looked pathetic like a dying flower. Through the sadness of the scene, Sweetie Belle smiled brightly. This was perfect!

"Okay, Featherweight," she whispered. "Stay here and lie low."

"Okay," he nodded, glad that he finally had a chance to lie down and rest from carrying his bulky camera.

With that, the filly dashed away toward the Guzzling Gallop to get Connor.

After five minutes of running, she had finally reached the bar.

SLAM! She pushed past the door, which had smacked against the wall as loud as thunder.

"CONNOR!!" she shouted.

"Gah!" the colt shrieked, startled. "Sweetie Belle?? What--?"

"You've gotta come with me! Quick! It's an emergency! You've gotta help me!"

"What? What happened? Did something happen to Fluttershy? Rarity? The Crusaders? What?"

"No time to explain! Come on! Come on, come on, come on, comeoncomeoncomeoncomeon!"

"Just go, Connor!" Cherry Limeade pushed the colt toward the door. "You go on! I'll take care of things here."

"Show me the way, Sweetie Belle!" the colt said as he tossed his apron and mop aside.

"Follow me! Quick!" the filly squeaked.

The colt rushed out of the bar, following the little white unicorn.

"What's going on? What's the emergency?" he asked as he ran beside her.

"I'll show you when we get there!"

The two ponies sprinted past other ponies walking on the streets in tan and white blurs. They furiously pumped their legs until Sweetie Belle braked to a stop.

The colt nearly ran into her as he stopped. When he recollected himself, his head darted left and right, looking for the "emergency". He did not see anything.

"Well? Where's the emergency?"

"Over there," Sweetie Belle said in a calmer tone. She pointed to the crying Lily.

"What's wrong with her?"

"She's crying!"

"Oh... Uhhh, Sweetie Belle," the colt said. "Crying is not an emergency. It's a natural thing."

"But, this is an emergency! Something is bothering her!"

The colt groaned. "Ugh, Sweetie Belle! You scared me half to death! I thought someone was badly hurt or worse! You dragged me all the way over here just to--?"

"Please, Connor? I've tried talking to her, but my words couldn't reach her. Besides, the other Crusaders are waiting for me. I promised I would meet them in two minutes. I don't have much more time to stay and help her."

"You know--."

"Pleeeeeeease?" she pleaded.

The colt rolled his eyes and sighed. "Oy, fine."

"Thank you, Connor!" she said as she hugged around his neck. "You don't know how much this means to me."

The colt raised an eyebrow in surprise. She seemed very enthusiastic by this. A little too enthusiastic.

"Good luck, Connor!" she squeaked as she trotted in the other direction.

She walked just over the hill and then crouched low to the ground. She shuffled over the ground and up next to Featherweight in the bushes across the grown ponies.

"Okay! You ready, Featherweight?" Sweetie Belle whispered.

"You bet! Lollipop from Sugarcube Corner, here I come!" he replied.

Connor slowly took a few steps nearer the crying mare.

He gulped.

Oh, great. Of all the mares that need to be comforted, it had to be Lily. Why her?? He did not hate her or anything; he was just intimidated by her.

Intimidated by what? Her charm. Yes, he had to admit, he did have a small crush on the pink, blonde-haired pony. Somehow, to him, she looked just as pretty and charming as Fluttershy. Plus, he had a small thing for blondes. He did not want to spend too much time with her. It could endanger his steadfast feelings for the yellow pegasus. However, that did not mean that he was not going to help a pony in need.

He slowly walked up to the whimpering mare. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.

Connor cleared his throat. After hearing the sound, Lily's head instantly perked up to see the colt standing in front of her.

"Oh," she said, her voice shaken by tears. "Connor? I'm sorry. This is your bench? I-I'll move to a different one, if--."

"No, no," he said. "It's just... a little bird told me something was up with you."

"Oh, the pain! The pain! I don't want to waste your time telling you."

"No, no, no! What is it? You can tell me."

"Well, I..." she sniffed. "I just found out... (Sniff!) that my boyfriend... (Whimper!) was cheating on me!"

"Ooooh..." the colt hissed through his teeth.

"And that's not all," she said, meekly adjusting the lily pinned in her mane. "I also found out... that he was enjoying it!"

"W-what?"

"He was enjoying cheating on me! He told me so! In my face! Wahhhhhh!"

"What a bastard!" he gasped, furrowing his eyebrows in disgust. He sat himself next to the mare. "Who was he cheating with?"

"He didn't say," she sniffled. "All he did say... is that she was hotter than I am."

"No!"

"He said that I looked too boring! I looked too plain! Uninteresting! Bland! Oh, the pain! The pain!! Wahhhhhh!"

She buried her face in her hooves. Connor's face twisted in disbelief and disgust. What kind of lowlife would say such things to a pretty mare like her? The nerve!

The colt gripped his hooves on her shoulders as he pushed her torso up to face him. "Now, you listen to me. Everything that that bag of garbage said is all bull. You're nothing like that, I assure you. You're pretty, you're cute, and you're definitely not bland! Who would not love a mare like you, other than that scumbag? He may insult you, but do not let him bring you down with him. You have far much more worth than he does. He is not worth all of this sorrow."

"But he was the one! He was the one for me! He had everything I ever wanted in a stallion!"

"Well, you now know that he is not. At times like this, you just got to stick your nose up in the air and put it behind you. Besides, there are plenty of stallions out there. Thousands, millions! If you just stay the course, then that perfect one will come to you. Or, you might come to him. Whichever way goes, but either way, you will be happy. You'll see."

What was he doing? Why was he feeling so comfortable doing this? He wanted to help her, but why was he getting the warm, fuzzy feeling? Lily stared at him with welled, swollen, red eyes.

To Connor's surprise, the pink mare leaned into him, hugging him around his chest just below his foreleg pits. Her tears stained his tan coat. The colt felt frozen. You better stop this, Connor. This is getting too intimate. Remember Fluttershy.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Connor, for saying that. I'm still going to miss him," her voice croaked with tears.

"Ohhh, he must've been a really nice colt in the beginning before all of this, huh?"

The colt could feel by the brushing of his fur that she nodded.

"I just wish I could be kissed again..." Lily whimpered.

Oh, God... What was happening? Connor could feel his chest clench. He could feel himself hug her back. It was like he was hypnotized. Like he was being controlled by somepony else. Only, he was not being controlled by somepony else. No, he was being zombified by her charm. Why was it that he would lose it every time he was near a pretty mare? Had fate cast a cruel spell on him? Why was he enjoying it? Whatever it was, it caused him to break the hug and lift the mare's chin. Two shimmering, buttercream-colored eyes stared at him in wonder on what would happen next. It was mesmerizing just staring into them.

Then, it happened.

He dipped his head down and with his hoof touching her cheek, reeled Lily's head in until their lips had met. A surprised sound escaped the pink mare's throat as she felt his lips slid further onto hers. Her eyes were wide open, still wet with tears. However, feeling the passion in the kiss, caused them to roll back and shut. The way this colt was kissing her... she loved it. It was damp, but not wet. It was gentle, but not airy. The passion... oh, yes. Plus, he was polite to not skip toward the tongue action immediately. Her shoulders perched up, feeling like she was being lifted. She leaned into him, pushing her kiss deeper into his, returning the generosity. A smooth, content moan purred from her mouth.

Soon, the kiss was broken. Lily's expression, however, lingered for two seconds longer after Connor pulled away. Reluctantly accepting that the kiss was over, her eyes fluttered open, looking at the colt in a whole, new light. Her cheeks turned a brighter hue of pink.

"I, uh... hope that helped," Connor meekly stated. "With your problem."

"It did..." was all she could say in surprise at the very moment. She blushed even more. He mentioned something about meeting the right colt, didn't he? What if..?

The colt sat back on the bench, dazing out in front of him. Oh, God... What did he just do? What had he done? He... he just kissed another mare... behind Fluttershy's back! All because he could not control himself around another lovely mare. Oh God, he felt nauseous.

"I mean," Lily said. "Thank you... for doing that. I... nearly forgot how nice it felt to be kissed like that. I really needed that. Thank you."

The colt could not speak. His throat was being strangled by guilt. All he could do to reply was nod meekly.

"Well, I'd better be on my way," the mare spoke again. "The newlyweds expect their delivery of these framed pressed flowers to decorate their new home."

The colt only nodded, his throat still not allowing him to speak.

"Well... Good-bye, Equestria's First Human. We'll meet again some other time? I mean, we'll meet again some other time."

Connor said nothing, but stare into the distance. His eyes were bagging with intensity as his mind thrashed in his head.

Lily picked up her saddlebag and started walking. She was passing in front of him as she left. It gave her the perfect time to throw a loving gaze at him, grateful for making her feel wanted, appreciated, and respected. Above all of that, she was grateful for him making her feel loved. However, the colt was so caught up in his haunting guilt, that he failed to see her expression.

She walked as if her hooves were lively springs as she trotted happily away. Back on the bench, Connor's back was arched as his head sank between his shoulders in guilt.

What have I done? he wondered.

However, he shook himself out of his guilt.

No, Connor! NO! You were just helping her get out of her funk. That kiss was nothing mutual. It was just an drastic attempt to make her feel better because nothing else seemed to work. The words were not enough. In case things get awry, I will keep this a secret. Hopefully, Lily will, too. Wait, was anypony watching?

His head darted left and right like a bird, looking for any nearby ponies. Luckily for him, there were none. Not one single trace.

Thank God! Nopony saw. This will be our secret. Nopony else will know except me and Lily. What Fluttershy don't know won't hurt her. Man, I feel so cruel and disloyal just by saying that. Damn it all to hell! Why did I do that? Why couldn't I control myself? Just why?? Well, as long as this secret doesn't go out, it will all be fine. That still doesn't mean that I am going to forget it.

Connor stood up from the bench and shifted his limbs, getting all relaxed and loose. This was the perfect time for him to get his poker face on (even though he never played poker in his life).

He took a deep breath and walked out of sight.

Inside the bushes, however, two foals had their mouths hung open in surprise. Sweetie's Belle's expression, however, was mixed between shocked and elated.

"I... had no idea that he was going to do that. I seriously had no idea!"

"Ewwwwww!" Featherweight retched. "Kissing. Bleah!"

Huh, what a little colt.

"Well, Featherweight, you had done your job and done it well. Here's my quarter bit and coupon for a free giant lollipop at Sugarcube Corner," she said, lending him the reward.

"Sweet!" he exclaimed as he hungrily grabbed his reward.

"Now, just lend me these photos."

After the white pegasus lent her the candid photos, he happily hopped away heading directly toward Sugarcube Corner.

Sweetie Belle looked at the photos. These were absolutely perfect, especially the one of Connor's make-out session with Lily. She sighed, lost in love. Soon, those lips of Lily's would be replaced with the little filly's cheek. Her cheek felt warm and tingly as she imagined the colt's lips kissing her cheek like that.

She slid the photos into her saddlebag and cracked a cheeky smile.

"Now, to show these to Fluttershy..."

To be continued...

Chapter VIII

Knock, knock, knock!

"Hello? Who is it?" a yellow pegasus softly asked as she walked up to the door.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

The sudden increase of volume of the knocking made the timid caretaker flinch back in fear. She cowered away from the door, her mind swarming with her paranoid imagination. Who or what could be knocking at the door like that? Burglars? An angry mob? Iron Will? A big, ferocious dragon that could gobble her up in one bite? Hell, she did not know! All she knew was that it sounded menacing.

The door swung open and Fluttershy instantly leaped in the air and landed behind the couch of the living room, evading whatever was storming into her cottage. Her buried her head into her forelegs, shaking furiously. She was shaking hard enough to rattle the entire sofa.

She heard rhythmic bumps fall and scrape against the hardwood floor, then it fell silent again. She heard heavy breathing, more like panting. Whatever this pony wanted to do with her, this pony looked like he or she was in a real hurry. The breathing sounded like it was coming from smaller lungs. It had a high pitch. After taking a big breath, the mysterious pony caught his or her breath. Fluttershy could hear rhythmic brushing of fur. The pony must be looking for her.

"Aw, darn it!" the voice said. "She's not here! Well, now this step of the plan just went down the--."

"Oh, Sweetie Belle!" Fluttershy exclaimed, poking her head out from behind the couch. "Thank goodness! I thought--."

The filly's head snapped back around to see that the owner was still in. Then, she suddenly started to prance in place, panicking. "Fluttershy! Omigawsh, Fluttershy!"

"Wh-what? What's wrong? I..." the pegasus noticed the filly's nervous dancing. He slowly nodded. "Oh, right! The bathroom's just down the hall and--."

"Oh, poor, poor Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle cried as she hugged her. "Why? Just why??"

"W-w-why, what? What's wrong?"

Before she was going to respond, the white filly snuck in a devious smirk. So far, so good. Fluttershy was really taking the whole "panic attack" scene well.

"Ohmigawsh, Fluttershy! You'll not believe this! It's just so awful!"

"Awful?" the pegasus' voice went higher in fear as she reiterated the filly's words.

"So devastating!"

"Devastating??"

"So heart-breaking!"

"Heart-breaking??"

"I can't think of anything else to describe how awful and cruel this is! I'm so freaked out that--!"

"SWEETIE BELLE!" Fluttershy squeaked at the top of her lungs before sitting directly in front of the unicorn. She clapped her hooves together and begged, "Please, just tell me what's wrong! I can't take the pressure anymore!"

Rarity's little sister nodded and took a deep breath, gaining a more suitable and appropriate composure for breaking the news. "There's something I must tell you, Fluttershy. Filly to filly."

The pegasus said nothing, but her large, frightened eyes notified the little unicorn that she was listening.

"It's about Connor," she started.

The pegasus gasped in fright. "Oh, no! Is he hurt? Is he dying? Is he being attacked by a hydra? Where is he? I have to help him!"

"Help him? Help him? Why do you want to help him when he is one hurting you?" Sweetie Belle asked rhetorically.

Fluttershy shook her head nervously. "N-no! He didn't mean to drop the picture frame on my head! He was only trying to hang it up, b-but the nail in the wall just slid out! I just happened to be underneath it at the very same time! It's not his fault!"

The unicorn stared at her in confusion. "No, not that. I mean--."

"Nor did he mean to step on my hoof while he was helping me feed the chickens! He couldn't help it! The coop is just so small, that you're always bumping into things in there! I've been meaning to make it bigger."

Sweetie Belle let out an exasperated sigh. "No! Not that eith--!"

"Nor did he mean to--!"

"He's cheating on you!!" the little filly stopped her from talking any further. "Connor is cheating on you with another mare!"

Silence lurked in the living room inside the cottage. Fluttershy's worried expression from earlier calmed as her eyes opened wider in disbelief. Her ears twisted down behind her head in shock. The small unicorn stared intently in her eyes, insisting that the pegasus should believe her. The filly felt no worry or uneasiness in saying what she said, because it was no lie. If she were lying, she would have tensed up on the inside. Sweetie Belle was absolutely sure that she was telling the truth. After all, she was there when it happened. She saw Connor kiss Lily on the lips, which she admitted she did not see coming at all. She thought it was just going to be a convincing hug and snuggle. But then again, she was certainly glad that it had come to the unexpected kiss. It would be even more convincing than just hugs. Chance gave her lemons, and she was making lemonade out of them.

Fluttershy began to laugh nervously. "N-no! Wait, this is a joke, right? It is! Ohhhhh! Hahahahahaaa... I'm laughing, because it's a joke! Hoooo, you're really funny today! Are you trying to get your cutie mark in comedy?"

"No! I... You know what? That's not a bad idea. Maybe I should. All I need to find is a comedy club, a microphone, and--NO! Back to the case! What I'm saying is that you won't be laughing long when you see these," Sweetie Belle said as she slid the photos out onto the coffee table.

Fluttershy's nervous laughing was immediately cut off like a rope had tightened around her neck. She saw the first photo. It was a polaroid photo of Connor holding Lily's shoulders, which was when he was telling her something. The second image she saw was like the first one, only the colt's head was leaning in closer to Lily's. She felt her stomach twinge in shock when she saw the next image of the two ponies hugging each other. The next photo showed an even deeper hug.

"Wh-where did you get these?" she asked, her eyes begging for answers.

"I was helping Featherweight shoot photos of leaves for our next school project, until I saw these two sitting on the bench in the park. Plus, I even heard Connor say, 'I think I'm in love with you, Lily. More than Fluttershy.'. Then I heard her say, 'Who needs her when you can have me?'. And then..."

At the very moment Sweetie Belle trailed off, a loud and tearful gasp rung from Fluttershy's throat when she saw the last photo. Her hoof clapped over her mouth, and her eyes were filled to the brim with tears in a matter of seconds.

"...They kissed," the filly finished.

Fluttershy shook her head furiously, trying her best to deny what she was seeing in front of her eyes, already dripping with salty tears. It was no use. This was reality. This actually happened. The images were not fakes. Her coltfriend was kissing another mare with the kiss that used to please her and only for her. Tears squished out from between her eyelids as she shut them tightly. Her chin shook violently, trying to stifle her tears. A pitiful sob broke out of her straining lungs.

"I'm so sorry, Fluttershy..." Sweetie Belle said, placing a hoof on her back. "I just couldn't stand to see you live without knowing the truth. I had to prevent you from living in a lie. You had a right to know, as I had the right to tell you. I'm helping you as a fellow filly."

"This is my fault..." the pegasus whimpered. "If only I had been prettier. More charming like Lily... Then, this would not have happened. Oh, Connor... I'm so sorry that I was not attractive enough."

"Don't say that!" Sweetie Belle scolded. "You are..."

As much as she disliked Fluttershy for "stealing" her colt, she had to say these things to her. She had to make it sound like she was on her side. She winced as she spoke.

"You are... Very pretty, very attractive, kind, caring, and graceful. All more than Lily is. Connor just could not control his hormones to see all of that in you. It is not about what you did, it's what he did. Cheating on you with a mare like her like that is unforgivable!"

"But... I thought that he was the one. He was!" she cried as she collapsed onto the floor, burying her face in her forelegs.

"Well, apparently, he's not. Besides, there are plenty of colts out there! A lot of them stink, some are okay, a few are great, but there is always one that is perfect. Connor is just in the 'few' area now."

"But, I love him..." Fluttershy's voice croaked in tears.

"Let me ask you this, why love him when he doesn't love you back? It's like studying really hard on a test and you don't get a good grade because the teacher doesn't like you. It's unfair! You don't deserve such a thing like that!"

Fluttershy's crying fell silent, but she never stood back up. She still remained a sad, pitiful, tearful little ball of yellow fur and pink hair.

"Sweetie Belle," she whispered. "Thank you for your visit, but... I just want to be alone now."

"Right," the filly said as she stood up. Before she left, she placed a gentle hoof on her back. "I am so sorry, Fluttershy." Then, she made her way toward the front door, still unclosed since her arrival. She closed the door gently, careful not to make any noise. Then, she placed her ear against the door to hear pitiful moaning and sobbing.

She smiled.

Step: "Sabotage" had worked. Finally, she had won a battle in the war against Fluttershy for Connor's approval. This battle was the most important and vital of all. However, the war was not over yet. She still had to win the colt's heart.

"Where are you going?" Cherry Limeade noticed the colt heading for the door.

"My shift is up," Connor replied.

"Ohhh, no, no, no. You leave when I tell you to leave. In my book, you still got five hours left."

"What? But, I--!"

The green mare laughed. "I'm just messing with you! Jeez, I thought you picked up on that by now. You seemed to have picked up on it last time."

"Oh... Sorry."

"What have you got to be sorry about? It's all fun and games!"

"Sorry, I--."

"There you go again!" she smiled. "It's only--!"

"CHERRY!" he barked.

Surprised by his volume, the barkeeper stared at him.

Realizing what he just did, he stuttered apologetically. "I-I'm sorry about that. It's just... there's a lot going on in my head right now, and I'm not really in the joking mood. So, please... if you would kindly.. get off my back?"

Cherry Limeade pushed up her torso with her forelegs and laid an elbow on top of the bar counter, eyeing him sternly. "Okay, I'm sorry, but just to let you know, that attitude is going to chance the next time you come here. The only attitude you are going to have around here is going to be positive, hard-working, and relaxed, not coked-up, high-strung, and moody. The latter is only going to get you nowhere with me. This is a bar, and we all know that bars are comfort zones. It's a comfort zone for customers and staff. As long as you're working here, I want you to relax, be comfortable, and be happy, all right?" she said, finishing with a consoling smile.

Connor nodded, weakly smiling back. "All right."

"Good. Now, get outta here. You disgust me," she said jokingly, waving a hoof.

The colt only chuckled at her jokester personality as he hung his apron up. He gently pushed his way out of the bar after he waved at his boss. Just when the door closed behind him, he heaved an uneasy sigh. As inspiring as Cherry's words were, it was not enough to break him out of his nervous funk. The image of Lily's kissing face right in front of his was still burning in his brain. The more he though about, the more nervous he felt. Plus, his lips started to tingle, mentally reminding him of how Lily's lips felt on his when he kissed her. Oh, God, he could actually feel himself kissing her again subconsciously. Why the buck did he do that? He was already in a relationship with Fluttershy, the pegasus he loved since he was a human, and he had to risk severing it like that? Well, luckily, nopony else was there to witness it. He tried to convince himself with that, but at the same time, he felt like somepony was actually watching him while he was kissing Lily. Hopefully, that somepony would not spill the beans to Fluttershy or anypony else. It would only result to heart break and self-destruction.

He had better enjoy the peace while it lasted.

Now, what was he about to do again? Oh, yes! Visit Fluttershy. That name sent a nervous cringe down along his stomach walls. He could imagine the worst if she found out. The image of her crying face. Oh, dear Lord, spare him...

He walked over to Roseluck's kiosk and bought a small bouquet of posies, because he always saw her as his little posey. Nothing like posies for a posey.

He chuckled to himself. "Heh, heh... Inception. Posey-ception. Ha!"

Ugh, that latter joke was horrible. What the buck was he thinking? He was trying to laugh himself out of his nervousness, but, apparently, he was trying too hard.

"Well, here we go..."

"I must say, Rarity," Cheerilee gingerly said. "I just love what you did to ornate my dress, but why did you have to do my hair and give me a makeover? With all due respect, I just came by to pick up my dress."

"Oh, Cheerilee," the fashionista giggled. "One must look fabulous and stunning when going to a social gathering. It's for the sake of attraction and attention! It is something you want from being single and everything."

"I appreciate your concern and generosity, Rarity, I really do, but this is only a baby shower. Plus, it isn't until three days."

"Oh... Still! Everypony has a right to look fabulous, party or no party. Wherever he or she goes," she said, bouncing her mane with her forehoof. "With that look, darling, you'll no longer be single in no time!"

"Thanks, I guess," the schoolteacher said. "Goodbye, Rarity!"

"Goodbye, Cheerilee!"

The teacher stopped in her tracks. "Oh! And that... (Giggle!) secret you told me?"

The fashionista gasped before she shrieked. "Oh, yes! I know! Isn't it so adorable??"

"So adorable! Oh, it just makes me want to faint just hearing it again! So romantic! Anyway, goodbye, Rarity!"

"Ta-ta! Enjoy your look!"

Cheerilee turned to walk toward home until she saw a colt walk past her, heading towards the boutique.

"Oh! Hello, Connor! Lovely evening!"

He did not say anything. He just brushed directly past her, not uttering a peep. Rarity noticed the two ponies walking past each other, and the schoolteacher's confused look. The colt's rude silence made her lower one of her eyebrows in concern. Seeing the colt trudge toward her, she cleared her throat, tossing aside the awkwardness.

"Hello, Connor! How was w--?"

The colt brushed by her, too.

"Erm," she uttered. "I said, 'Hello, Connor!'."

He still did not say anything. He continued to drag his hooves over the floor up to his bed in the podium. He turned himself around and slumped onto his haunches. His expression was blank and dark, and his head was hanging like a vulture's head was when it was spying on some dying animal. Originally, the purple-maned unicorn was going to scold him for his rudeness, but she was instantly stopped when she looked upon the silent and glum state he was in. She slowly walked up to him, craning her neck downward to see his face.

"Connor? Is everything all right?"

"..."

"Is everything all right?" she repeated slowly.

"No..."

"What happened?" she asked, sitting on her haunches in front of him.

"I don't want to talk about it..."

"No, you tell me."

"It's nothing."

Rarity squinted as she inspected his face. "That red spot on your face doesn't look like nothing. Please, darling, tell me! I'm all ears. If you need help, I will more than gladly help you. It is generous, is it not?"

"Well, it would be generous of you to not ask me what had happened..." he added glumly.

"Now, now, Connor. Let's not be like that. Just tell me what had happened. I just want to help."

"What part of, 'I don't want to talk about it,' don't you understand?"

"And what part of, 'I just want to help," don't you understand?"

"Just stop, Rarity..."

"Darling, I will not stop until you tell me. Spit it out," the unicorn said, losing her patience.

"Oh, God..."

"Tell me."

"Rarity..."

"Tell meeeee!" she said, looking down on him.

"I said I don't want to talk--."

"Tellme..." she repeated quickly, not taking her eyes off of him.

"I said I don't--!"

"Tell me, tell me, tellmetellmetellmeTELL ME!"

Connor could not take it anymore. The unicorn was not going to stop egging him.

"DAMN IT! FLUTTERSHY JUST BROKE UP WITH ME! THERE! I TOLD YOU! ARE YOU HAPPY?!!?"

The echoes from his outburst died away into silence. Rarity stared at the colt, who was breathing heavily, catching his breath from his sudden outburst. Then, the colt heaved a despairing sigh and hung his head deeply.

"Are you freakin' happy now?" his voice was shaken.

"Happy?" Rarity reiterated as she pressed her hoof onto her chest. "Oh, darling, I certainly am not! That's awful!"

"Don't remind me."

"Fluttershy... broke up with you?? I-I don't understand!" she shook her head. "Why on earth would she break up with you? You two looked so happy together! I just see no reason in this!"

"She has every reason. It's because of me."

Wait, did she hear that just right?

"Wh... what are you talking about?" Rarity asked.

"I... I..."

"Well?" she asked, egging him to finish.

"I... kissed another mare. To be more specific... I kissed Lily, the flower-presser."

He lifted his head to look at the unicorn sitting in front of him. Her face was blank. Connor could not tell what thoughts were brewing behind that blank expression, which made his cringe to think about. Then, she lifted her hoof off of his back. She sat as still as a guard dog, staring at him. Then, her head moved slightly, looking like she was shaking her head little-by-little.

"You... you didn't," she whispered.

The colt solemnly nodded. "I did..."

Her mouth open by a little crack. Her breaths grew a little more labored.

Before Connor was going to speak, Rarity snapped, "How dare you?! What were you thinking??"

"I..."

"You kissed another mare?? Right in front of her??"

"No!"

"So you did it behind her back! Why, I never! Connor, you have sunk to a new low! How could you do that to a poor, poor, timid creature like Fluttershy?"

"That was it! I just felt like I was being hypnotized or something! I couldn't control myself!"

"Couldn't control yourself?? That's rubbish! Every action has its intent! You weren't controlled! You had an intention and I still have yet to know about it! What went through your mind to do something so forward like that? What was your intention?"

"Well..." the colt started, but was silenced for two seconds by Rarity's piercing glare. "Lily was crying when I saw her. She had just found out that she was being cheated on by her coltfriend."

"Oh, she was being cheated on? What a coincidence."

"Let me finish, Rarity. What she told me what he told her, it... it just really pissed me off. It made angry to think that some lowlife bastard would just go ahead and do something so horrible to her and say something so false and grisly to her. She reminded me of myself, back before I met you guys. I just wanted to help her. Rarity, she was crying her eyes out! She looked so freaking miserable! I did not want her to feel like that anymore. I wanted her to know that there was somepony out there who still cares for her and understands her pain. I didn't want her to feel that she was not loved or cared for. I talked to her, telling her that he was not worth the pain. But, she said that he was so perfect for her, before all of what had happened, then I said that there were lots of colts out there, and she will meet that one sometime soon, because she was pretty and she was nothing like that bastard said. Yet, she still did not feel consoled. Not yet. She said she missed what it was like to be kissed, so... there you go, I kissed her."

"But why? Why kiss her?"

"Because my words weren't enough to make her feel better. I wanted to give the kind of appreciation I always wanted when I was an unconfident loser before I met and learned from you guys. You're making this sound like I had sex with her! It was just a kiss! A non-mutual, consoling, friendly, 'I-got-your-back' kiss."

"Darling, kisses are always mutual! They are more complicated and special like that. Kiss once, then feelings of love will pour in all at once. You should not underestimate the power of a single kiss. Why did you have to kiss her? Just a talk and a hug would do! Unless, you had some more thoughts regarding Lily, correct?" she asked him testfully.

"Yyyyessss," slowly escaped from his mouth. "She also happened to be another pony I fancied other than Fluttershy."

"So I guess that means you couldn't control yourself around another pretty pony?"

"Yyyyesss..." he slowly said again, admitting it.

Rarity heaved a stressed sigh. "How is Lily now? Is she feeling any better?"

"I believe so... I actually saw her smiliing rather largely when she left."

The unicorn sighed again and closed her eyes for a few, long seconds. She finally broke the silence.

"Connor... I really appreciate your concern for helping another lovely pony with her problems, but there is always another way to convince her that you care for her. You were in a relationship with Fluttershy, the lovely, little pegasus whom you loved since you were a human, but you broke it in two, because you could not control yourself. You have made your choice to do the cowardly thing. I'm sorry, Connor, but what's done is done. You are on your own. This is out of my hooves," she said before she stood back up and turned to walk away.

"I thought you said you were going to help me. Don't you remember saying that?"

Rarity stopped in her tracks, but she never looked back. "I am helping you. I'm helping you learn from your own mistake on your own."

Then, she disappeared into the other room.

Feeling like a complete moron, Connor shifted his body around to lie down on his bed. He rolled over, turning to the closed end of the curtains.

She was right. It was all his fault. He and Fluttershy were officially separated. Why the living buck did he kiss another mare, knowing he was in a relationship with another?

Then, memories of just a few minutes ago came flowing back in.

"Hey, beautiful! How's my favorite little pony doing?"

Opening his eyes, he saw two, red, tear-stained eyes stare at him.

"Um... Fluttershy? What's going on?"

"Why?" her voice filled with tears. "Just why??"

Confused, he stared at her helplessly.

"Why did you kiss her?" she asked again.

"Oh, dear God..." the colt mouthed.

"It's me, isn't it? I'm not pretty enough for you... I'm not charming enough for you... Isn't that right?"

How? How did she find out? How the freaking hell did she find out?? He was absolutely sure nopony was around at the park. Oh, no, this was not good.

He stammered. "No! No, Fluttershy! It's not what it--!"

"It's everything that it looks like! You kissed her... with our kiss! It was supposed to be our kiss!"

He could not say anything. His throat was holding itself.

The colt scrunched up into a ball in the bed.

"You said you loved me... All of the time we spent together... This is how you repay me? You... you..!" her eyes were pouring with tears. "You pig!" she finally shouted.

He was sure he felt a spear gore his heart, hearing that word. "No, Fluttershy! I love you! I still do! Please!"

"When somepony messes with your heart, tear that pony apart!"

SLAP!

He could feel his cheek burn again.

"I don't want to see you around..." she whimpered. "Ever again!"

She slammed the door in his face. Weeping was heard from behind the door.

A bitter tear trailed down Connor's cheek. Kill me now... he thought.

He heard the front door creak open behind him, followed by the sound of small hooves clacking on top of the hard floor. They increased in volume as they approached the grief-stricken colt.

"Hey, Connor! What's going on?" Sweetie Belle asked casually.

Ugh... It nearly killed him to mention it again.

"Fluttershy broke up with me."

"Whaaaaaaaat?!" she gasped, rather overdone. "She broke up with you?? Oh, boy-- I mean, Oh, no! Why??"

"Lily... I kissed her... and Fluttershy found out somehow."

"Awwwww, that stinks! That really stinks! Really, it does. Yeahhhh..."

Behind his back, Connor's brow wrinkled. Why was Sweetie Belle talking like that? Did she even realize how painful this whole predicament was?

"So, you are broken up with her now?"

"...Yes." Didn't he just say that?

"Sooooo, does that make you single now?"

"I guess so," he sighed, facing the truth.

"Officially single?"

"It doesn't get anymore official than that..." he replied, growing impatient and put off by her attitude towards his heartbreak.

"Ohhhhh, okay. Sooooo, who are you going to date now?"

"I don't want to date anyone else. I want Fluttershy..."

"Pony, she's broken up with you! She's moved on! You should, too. You can start by dating another pony."

"Ugh, I don't even want to date another pony... I want Fluttershy."

"Well, she's gone, bro. Hate to break it to you, but it's reality. You need to date another pony."

"It's not that simple, Sweetie Belle."

"Of course it is! You just need to make friends with her first."

"Fluttershy was my best friend (alongside with Joshua)."

"It does not have to be her. It could be somepony else. Somepony who's prettier. Somepony who's kinder. More charming. More graceful. Cuter. Wayyyyyy better than her in every way..."

She stopped right there. This was it. This was her chance to finally reveal her true feelings for him. With Fluttershy out of the way, she could finally move in on him.

"Do you want to know who that pony is?" she asked, lightly nudging Connor's back.

No answer came from the curled ball of shame.

Time to finally say it.

"That pony is me! You can date me! I'm right here when you need me. I'll always be at your side, no matter what. Just keep this an absolute secret, and we'll all be fine. You and me. Whaddaya say, Connie-poo?" she said, nuzzling against the colt's back.

Silence loomed in the room, except for the sound of fur being brushed passionately by the little filly's cheek. A warm current slithered down her spine as she felt his warm hide brush against her cheek. She hummed happily. Then, she felt his body roll back, facing her. His forelegs shifted from underneath him as he reached out and hugged her tightly. She buried her face into his chest, embracing the love escaping from her favorite colt's tight grip.

Then, she felt like she was falling. She gasped in fright and found her face smothered into the mattress. Trying to wrap her mind around what had happened, she looked up to see the colt with his back still facing her. He was sitting up.

He was not hugging her. Her mind was just playing cruel jokes on her again. The colt's head turned sharply around toward her, giving her a sharp, tense, and unamused glare. Sweetie Belle shrunk back, frightened by his expression.

"Do you think this is some kind of joke?" he asked softly.

Sweetie Belle's heart wrenched in hurt. She was not even joking. She was dead serious. She tried to speak, but her fright kept her voice silenced.

"Do I look like I am in the mood for jokes right now? Do I?" he asked once more, his voice growing more menacingly.

"I... I... Uh..."

"Am I smiling? Am I laughing? Do I look like I am amused??"

"Uhhhhhhhh..." her voice shook in fear.

"I'm not!! Don't you see me right now?! Take a good look! I'm sad!! I'm depressed!! I'm heart-broken!! Fluttershy, my fillyfriend, the love of my life, broke up with me because of me! I'm freaking devastated! Destroyed!! And all you do is joke about it?? Are you that insensitive?? And that's another thing! You march in here and try to 'comfort' me, and you're taking this very lightly like you don't give a flying feather! Don't you know how serious this is?! This is damn serious!"

Connor towered over her like a lion preying on a lamb; the lamb was the hurt and quivering Sweetie Belle.

"You know perfectly well that I can't date you! Look at me! I'm a hell lot older than you! Look at you! You're a hell lot younger than I am! Do you want to me to march around Ponyville, hold your hoof, and look like a freaking pedophile?? F@#$ that!!"

The white unicorn flinched violently at the loud profanity. Her eyes began to moisten as she watch the colt of her dreams attack her with harsh words.

"I'm getting out of here," he growled as he jumped off of the bed, using the energy grown from his anger. "Until you've grown a little more sympathetic and not like some joker, don't approach me again."

Clop! Clop! Clop. Clop. Clop... Clop... His hoofbeats struck against the ground angrily as he stormed into the living room.

...

Plick!

...

Plick!

...

Plick!

Salty drops of water escaped from the wrenching and twitching eyes of Sweetie Belle as she sat miserably on the floor in front of the podium.

"Joker"?

"Insensitive"?

"Too young"?

"Don't give a flying feather"?

She hung her head.

This was not what she expected at all.

Not one... little... bit...

To be continued...

Chapter IX

"Sweetie Belle! Wake up! You're going to be late for school!" Sweetie Belle's mother barked from downstairs, voice muffled behind the filly's bedroom door.

Ugh, that loud, obnoxious voice... Go away... Leave her be. She did not want to go to school. Not after what happened last night. The memory of Connor yelling at her never left her mind. She could not forget it. It just kept goring her conscious mercilessly and left it to bleed to death overnight. What was to look forward to today? Connor was mad at her for her giving the "sensitive ear" or at least that was what she thought she was doing. What good was it to try to keep an iron shield beside you if that iron shield was less than willing to protect you? She would be exposed as a snail without its shell.

"Sweetie Belle, let's move!!"

"Ugh, nuuuuuuumph..." she moaned as she buried her head deeper into her pillow. Her pillow smelled musty from the tears that she expelled as she cried herself to sleep. Her cheeks were crusty from dried tears.

Suddenly, the door swung open and the blanket was yanked off, summoning a vast gust of cold air to cripple the little filly's body into a violent shiver.

"Sweetie Belle, get up now! You're going to be late for school!" her mother barked.

Before the little filly could say anything, her mother left her alone in her room, proving her point that she did not have time to linger for scolding.

Sweetie Belle swore that she must have woken up in hell. The cold air stripped off the warmness that used to clothe her and slithered up her spine, causing her to shudder violently.

"This day is going to kill me. Hopefully, soon," she muttered as she lifted her lead-heavy body from her soft mattress. How cruel it was to be stripped of something so comfortable from somepony so tired and troubled. It was like taking away an oxygen tank from an elderly pony.

Her eyes creaked open, but squinted again, because of the bright light from the overhanging lamp. Pretty cruel of her mother, flipping on the light spontaneously and without warning like that.

Cold, sad, heart-broken, eyes hurting... Could this day get any worse?

"Connor?" Sweetie Belle asked meekly. "Don't you want to walk closer next to me?"

"No," the colt muttered tastelessly. "I'm fine right here..."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure..."

"Oh... okay..."

She stared at her dreamboat as he walked about a pony and a half's length away from her like she smelled of garbage covered in cow dung in a garlic bottling factory. She hung her head, blankly looking at the path she was walking upon in front of her. Even though it was not cold because it was still summertime, she shivered. She felt bare to the air that brushed past her. Without Connor walking directly beside her, she could feel the bad omens leaking in. She wanted to walk directly beside him, but every time she would inch closer to him, he would only inch farther away from her. Couldn't her see her feeling so lost, exposed, and sad? Why couldn't he walk up next to her and comfort her? She was in dire need of him, but he was still too disappointed and mad at her to come closer to her.

It felt like it took ages for them to reach the school building.

"Well... here you are," Connor said in a less-than-lively tone.

Sweetie Belle turned to the colt to give him a smile, but his eyes would not meet hers. She stood patiently, waiting for him to turn and look at her, but the colt lifted a hoof, waving toward the school.

"Go... You're going to be late," he spoke again.

Realizing that he did not wish to look at her, her smile turned into a sad frown. She climbed up the one step slowly like a guilty puppy. She turned around. She had to make sure of something.

"Connor?"

He did not respond, but laid eyes on her for only one second before looking back down again.

"Do you still like me?"

"Sweetie Belle, just go..."

The answer the colt had given made the filly's eyes moisten. He did not even answer her question. Not a lying "yes," or an honest "no". He did not even care to think about it. That was what hurt the most. Her lip nearly quivering, she dragged herself through the doors of the school building. The doors shut behind her, further separating her from the colt of her dreams.

"Good morning, Sweetie Belle!" Cheerilee greeted her. "How's your morning?"

Through the window, the filly saw Connor slowly walking away from the school building. He did not even look back.

"Just... peachy," she squeaked, hardly keeping her tears back.

"Wonderful! Hurry up and get seated. Today, we are going to learn about the Gods of Ancient Pegasopolis." She turned to the rest of the class. "First, we'll start off with Apondite, the goddess of love."

Sweetie Belle's forehead landed on the desk with a thud.

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

A sparrow landed atop of a tree branch. It ruffled its feathers, trying to shake off unwanted dust from between its feathers. It combed its feathers with his beak, smoothing them out. It took a deep breath and began to warble handsomely. It swayed its torso back and forth, keeping itself in rhythm. Judging by the slow, yet upbeat speed, it was singing a waltz.

Its singing came to a hiatus when another chirp was heard from a tree sitting about fifty feet near it. The owner of the foreign chirping shot out of the tree and sat itself on the same branch. Its feathers were a lot less ruffled than the first owner of the branch, and its color was a brighter hue. It hopped up next to the other bird, and they exchanged a banter of lively singing. The brighter bird ruffled its feathers and inched itself near the other bird. The other bird did the same. They inched toward each other until their fluffy torsos met. They nuzzled each other, sighing happily.

Until a rock was hurled upward directly between them...

"Thank you sooo much for rubbing it in my face, you stupid birds!" Connor shouted, shaking his curled hoof. "While you're at it, why don't you just defocate on me??"

...

Plop! Plap!

...

"You don't know sarcasm when you hear it, do you? Geezus..."

He shook his head furiously, flinging off the birds' spiteful feces. Then, he resumed to sit on the bench, going over in his head on how idiotic he was that day he kissed Lily behind Fluttershy's back. He knew fully well that he was in a relationship. Why did he do it?

"Me and my stupid hormones..." he mumbled to himself.

Then, his inner demons thought they would poke some fun at him. They shoved haunting, ethereal memories into his brain, reminding him how Lily's lips felt on his... Her expression, which was stunned at first, but turned relaxed and enchanted... The satisfied and content moan escaping her throat as she kissed him back... Fluttershy's crying face when she found out the truth...

"Oh, Goooood! Get out of my head! Get out, get out, get out! Get out, damn it!" he growled, pressing hard on his forehead with his hooves. "Why do you torture me so?! Screw you! Screw all of you!"

"Hi, Connor!"

He gasped, jerking toward the voice.

"Lily!" he exclaimed, startled by her coincidental appearance.

She was standing directly in front of him, which sent a chill down his spine. Was she sitting there the whole time when he was having his little mental breakdown session?

"How are you?" she smiled.

"I'm... doing just great," he said through his teeth.

"Oh, good!" she said, nodding. "That's good!" Nothing else came out after that.

"...And you??" Connor asked, continuing the conversation.

"Hmm? Oh! I'm doing great. Mm-hmm," she nodded again.

"Mmyeah. That's good," the colt nodded back.

Nothing else. Two ponies sat awkwardly in front of each other, silently competing each other for finding something else to say.

"Umm, Connor? Can I tell you something?" Lily finally spoke.

"Sure."

She set her saddlebag down by the bench and hoisted her fanny up to sit next to him. Just when she sat, she pushed against the bottom seat of the bench, rocking herself like an impatient foal desperately wanting to play.

"I... never really got to thank you for what you did yesterday. For consoling me."

Oh, God. He knew she was going to say that.

"No problem..." he sighed. "Wait, I thought you already did."

"Did I?" she chuckled. "Well, to be honest, I don't remember."

"Huh... Now that you mention it, I don't remember either."

"It must have slipped my mind. Silly me!" the blonde-haired mare laughed.

"Haaa ha ha," he laughed gingerly.

Their chuckles died down before Lily spoke again.

"Well, just in case I didn't, I just want to thank you. It was really nice of you."

"Meh, don't mention it..."

"I mean, it was really nice of you. Really."

"Seriously, don't mention it. Just don't..."

"Really nice," she repeated, leaning in closer to Connor, who was backing away in discomfort.

Then, silence happened again. Seeing that she was making him feel uncomfortable, the pink flower pony leaned back, giving him some space. She casually looked up into the sky and sighed.

"Lovely day out, she said. "I just love how the small clouds look against the blue sky. It reminds me of the white lilies that grow amongst the patch of my baby blues. I've been meaning to remove them from the patch, but they just looked so spritely and lovely."

"Mm-hmm," the colt nodded.

"Do you enjoy flowers?" she asked.

"Mmyeah."

"Do you have a favorite flower?"

"I don't really have a favorite."

"You don't? What about roses? Tulips? Lilies?"

His ear twitched toward her. The way she mentioned "lilies" like that caught his attention. His eyes shifted, looking at Lily, whose twinkling eyes were pleading for an answer.

So, that's how it's going to go, he thought as he sighed. He needed to let her know that his act of "kindness" was a mistake.

"Lily," the colt said. "There's something I need to tell you..."

"Yes, I know..." she cut him off, nodding modestly.

"Y-you do?"

"Yes. You're in love with me."

"Yea-- Wait, what??"

"I'm going to come clean with you, Connor," she said, leaning in inch closer to him, looking into his eyes. "I'm in love with you, too."

"Wh--? D'er--!"

"That moment when you hugged me, when you kissed me, I felt like I've just woken up from a horrible nightmare by an angel pony. What you did, it felt like somepony actually cared for me. Like somepony actually loved me for me, unlike my previous coltfriend," she said, tossing her head around to gaze hopefully into the sky. "I've never felt so happy and relieved in my life!"

"Umm, er..." he stammered. Oh, no, no, noooo, noooooooo!

"And remember those things you said? About that one, certain somepony coming around to meet me and love me?"

"Eeeeyesss?"

Lily turned back around and gazed at the ground in front of her. Her blushing cheeks were not as noticeable behind her pink coat of fur.

"I believe," she paused before bashfully looking at the colt sitting next to her. "...that you are that one, certain somepony."

"Oh, God..." he mumbled to himself. He said aloud, "Wait, but what makes you so sure? I mean, we haven't even dated yet."

"We didn't?? Oh, Celestia, I feel so silly. We should totally go on a date!"

Oh, God. Why did I have to bring that up? he wondered.

"So, when are you available?" she smiled.

"Uh... I... Der..."

Lily's face, full of hope, newfound love, and happiness, kept Connor's throat from speaking coherently. Her expression was just so full of hope that he did not want to ruin it by saying, "No". He already broke a mare's heart. He was not sure if he was able to do that again.

"Look, um, Lily," he said, gently pushing her away from him. "Why don't you, um, come back to me on that later? I never really got to, uhhhhhh... take a look at my schedule, so I don't really know what's going on now."

"Oh, yes! Of course."

"Yeahhhh..."

"But when you do have the time, I'll still see you later?

"Uhhh..." he hummed, lost in guilty thought.

"Great! Really looking forward to it," she smiled brightly.

The colt could only nod weakly back.

She cleared her throat before smiling refreshingly. "Well, that felt nice getting that off of my chest. Now, we know how we feel about each other. It's refreshing, isn't it? Well, I'll see you later, Connor."

"Later..." he peeped.

Noticing how sad, meek, and unenthusiastic he looked, Lily thought she would cheer him up by giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Mwah! Later!" she waved, fluttering her hoof at him before trotting happily away, excited about her new date. She thought she would shoot one last, lovey-dovey look at him before leaving. She began to hum a lively tune, which died away as she disappeared behind the corner of a building. Connor threw his head back, knocking it against the back rest of the bench, and sighed frustratedly.

"Damn it! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!" he growled, rhythmically knocking the back of his head against the seat of the bench. "Now what am I going to do? I broke Fluttershy's heart, I made Lily fall in love with me, and I'm not even brave enough to break the truth to her! Buck! I am so pathetic!"

BONK! He threw his head back against the back rest once more.

Well, look on the bright side, one of the voices on his shoulder said. If Fluttershy's not willing to take you back, maybe you can date Lily. Look at her! She's pretty, she's cute, she's looks really nice, even though she may be a little panicky and overemotional at times. Meh, take what you can get.

No, you can't! the voice on the other shoulder said. You can't give up on Fluttershy! You two were so happy together before all of this. Remember all the fun times you had with her? Even when you were a human? They were just so precious! Are you just going to let all of that go to waste? This is true love we're talking about here! Your little stunt with Lily was just superficial love. That's not true love, if you ask me. You're going to have to tell her that you're off the hook with her. Lily's just going to have to look for another colt.

What?! How insensitive are you? Break Lily's heart, too? Is that what you want? Hell, no! You never know, Lily will make him just as happy as he was with Fluttershy. All it takes is a little time to know her. Besides, Fluttershy's probably moved on, too. She could be dating another stallion by now.

That's bull! Unlike Connor here, she wouldn't just date another stallion in such a short time. She's soft like that. You wouldn't know!

You never know, just like you don't even know what the hell you're saying.

Oh, it's like that now?

Oh, NO, it's tooootally not! Of course it is! You don't know what you're talking about! You're holding him back in the past. That's unhealthy! The guy needs to move forward!

I'm certainly am not!

You are! Why are you holding him back, huh? Why shouldn't he date Lily?

Because Fluttershy is his girl and always will be! Look at him! He's mortified! He's feeling more guilty than a puppy who flooded a house with shredded toilet paper! He knows his relationship with her was perfect and he wants to bring it back. He's not going to ruin it because of another mare.

Are you hearing this, Connor? Are you hearing this? You don't actually believe the drivel this sap is saying, right?

Name-calling, huh? Oh, REAL mature! Well, you're only thinking with your groin!

How dare you! Well, you--!

"SHUT UP!!" Connor shouted. "Just shut up! If it will make you two shut the hell up, I'm going to go to Fluttershy's and ask her for her forgiveness. If she forgives me, then I'll stay with her. If not, then I'll date Lily. There! Simple as that! Now just shut... the hell... UP!"

"Who are you talking to?" asked a nearby stallion with a brown mane and coat.

The self-arguing colt snapped awake, staring at him like deer in headlights. "Uh... just... rehearsing for... a play."

The stallion's face twisted, eyeing Connor suspiciously.

"What??" Connor threw his arms up.

"And everypony thought I was crazy. Bloody hell..."

BRRRIIIIIINNNNNNGG!

"Time for recess!" Cheerilee warbled.

Cheering, all the foals that were in the classroom stormed out of the building all at once like a stampede of bulls.

Except for one, who was sluggishly dragging her hooves over the ground, heading toward the door.

"Sweetie Belle? Are you okay?" the schoolteacher asked, tilting her head.

"I'm fine..." the filly replied through her sad expression.

"Is something wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it," the little unicorn moped.

"Well, whenever you feel like you do, just come to me. I'm here to help," the magenta mare said with a friendly and bright smile.

"Good luck with that..." Sweetie Belle mumbled.

The depressed filly resumed her way out the door with Cheerilee looking after her in worry, smile disappearing. The door swung open again, this time revealing a pink, tiara-wearing filly, deviously looking behind herself to look upon the grieving unicorn. A wide, trouble-seeking smile cracked across her cheeks. Sweetie Belle will pay for the things she said about her in that love note to her dreamboat. Just as she saw the magenta mare look at her, her devious smile disappeared, snapping into action.

"Oh, Miss Cheerilee! What's bothering you?" she feigned concern.

"Oh, don't worry too much about me, Diamond Tiara," the teacher replied. "It's just... Sweetie Belle. She's looking so sad lately."

"Oh, yes. That," the filly rolled her eyes like she had noticed it many times before. "The poor little filly. Love does strange things to frail ponies like her."

"Love?"

"Oh!" she gasped. "I've said too much."

"What's going on? What about love?"

Diamond Tiara sighed in defeat. "I suppose I might as well tell you."

"What's going on with her?"

"She's in love, Miss Cheerilee. Sweetie Belle... is in love!"

The teacher cooed like a high school filly. "Ohhhhhh! With who?" she asked leaning closer to the bearer of news.

"Oh, you are going to love this! Here's a hint: he's not in this class."

"He's not?"

"But, he comes here on a daily basis."

"Oh!"

"And here's another hint: he's a little older."

"Oh! Well, it is pretty natural for somepony to fall in love with somepony who's older than you."

"Can you guess?" Diamond Tiara smiled slyly.

"Hmmm... Well, I give up!" Cheerilee coyly grinned. "Who is it?"

The tiara-wearing pony stifled a cutesy squeal as she handed her the sheet of crayon-scribbled notebook paper.

"What's this?"

"A crayon drawing she drew along with a love note on the back. I know it's so deceiving and nosy to pick up something like this up, but it just so precious!"

Raising an eyebrow in interest, Cheerilee looked at the neat color drawing. At first, she passed by it like it nothing, but then her expression widened when she saw the colt she had drawn, who was taller, had tan fur, and...

Her mouth opened wide as she formed a huge smile. The shadows in the forming dimples in her cheeks had darkened.

"Is this..?"

"Yes! It's Connor!"

"Awwwwwwww!" Cheerilee cooed like a little schoolfilly. "That is so adorable!"

"Isn't it?? It's such a shame that she is keeping this a secret. We should announce this!"

"Oh, goodness, no, Diamond Tiara! She's going to be really upset if we announce this."

"She won't once we tell her that nothing is wrong with falling for an older pony. You said for yourself that it's natural. Succeed, and she won't feel so sad anymore. She'll feel proud and happy! Isn't that what you want?"

"You know what? You're right, Diamond Tiara! The happier she is, the better. When do you want this to be announced?"

"Right after recess, when everypony is in the classroom."

"Very well!" Cheerilee smiled brightly. "Oh, is this because you want to amend for all the things you did to her, and you want to be her friend?"

"Of course!" she fibbed through her smile.

"Very considerate of you, Diamond Tiara! I'm glad that you are going all this way to help her and yourself."

"It's nothing... Really..." she smiled evilly.

"Well... Here goes nothing," Connor said to himself.

Fluttershy's cottage stood on the small hill, ornate with birdhouses, kennels, and all sorts of shelters for small animals. The windows of the house, which strangely reminded him of eyes, stared into guilty conscience. It was as if they were saying, "What are you doing here?", "Well, look who's come crawling back!", "Tell me, is your plan of reuniting with Fluttershy even worth this trip? You know she will say, 'no'.", "If I were you, I'd turn back the way I came, you back-stabber."

However, he plowed past the voices, defying them. He would confess to her and convince her to take him back, whatever it takes. He would not run away. Fate depended on her answer alone.

He was so lost in thought, he nearly walked into the closed door. Thank God he stopped; he would not carry on if he made himself look like a brain-dead fool. He took a deep breath and rehearsed in his head on what he was going to say to her. He lifted a hoof to knock on the door.

Before he could make the first stroke, it had already opened. At the foot of the open door was Angel, who was tapping his furry foot against the hard-wood floor.

"Hey, Angel," he greeted the rabbit less than he used to. "Hey, um, is Fluttershy--?"

Then, the scrappy rabbit kicked Connor around and landed a foot of iron against his rump, sending him flying into the pond just outside her cottage. He slammed the door behind him.

The colt rose menacingly from the pond with a lily pad over his eyes. He spat out a steady stream of pond water until he spat out a small fish.

"I hate that rabbit..." he growled. Then, he thrashed out of the pond and shook himself dry. "I'm not going to let some punk furball get in the way of me and Fluttershy."

Then, he trotted behind the cottage, approached the small garden patch of vegetables, and yanked out a large, juicy carrot. He galloped back to the front and snapped off a tree branch from one of the trees. He plucked a long, stringy blade of grass from one of the bushels directly next to the pond. He fastened one end to the end of the stick and the other around the trunk of the carrot.

He knocked on the door again and quickly hid in the bushes in front of the cottage. Again, Angel opened the door, but as he opened it he swung his foot, expecting that it was Connor again. Instead, he kicked thin air. He flipped backwards and landed on his back. He grumbled, scolding himself for looking like an idiot, until a rich scent grabbed his nose. He sprang up like a spring when he recognized the smell. He eyed the huge, juicy carrot floating in front of him. He leaned closer, sniffing at its fleshy surface.

"Come on... Come and get the carrot... Come on and eat the stupid carrot, you mangy flea sack..." Connor whispered.

Seeing that Angel was entranced by the floating treat, he swung the carrot further away from him. The rabbit followed it, trumping like a zombie. Then, Connor stretched his foot out, pulling himself out of the bushes. He slowly and carefully shifted his hooves into the opening. Now, all he had to do was drop the carrot, and...

After a white blur, the door slammed shut on his hind hoof.

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!" he yelled in pain. "Owwwhoohoooooo!"

Connor noticed the stick felt lighter between his teeth. The carrot was gone. After tugging, he finally freed his hoof, red and throbbing in pain. Through the window, he saw Angel feasting on the huge carrot. Seeing Connor looking at him from the outside, he flicked his paw into the air and raised his...

"That... little... bastard!"

He knocked on the door. Angel swung it open, ready to kick the stubborn colt's groin, until a sack came down on top of him. Connor tugged at the string, zipping the lip of the sack shut, and threw the sack away from the cottage. He scrambled in and shut the door behind him, sighing in relief and victory.

"HA!! How 'bout that, you little sack of sh..."

Cloppa-cloppa-cloppa-cloppa!

He heard hooves clatter up the stairs behind him, followed by a door slamming shut.

"Fluttershy!" he exclaimed, running up the stairs after her.

After flying up the stairs, he slid in front of the closed door.

"Fluttershy!" he said. "I want to talk to you!"

"No!" her tearful voice sounded from behind the door.

"Please, Fluttershy! Just listen to me!"

"No! Go away!" she cried. "You have done enough! Just leave me alone! Please!"

"I came to apologize!"

"Apologize about what? That you're now in love with Lily?? Well, apology accepted! Now, go away!"

"No, I want to apologize for what I did! Please, I want to talk to you!"

"Just go... away!"

Connor's expression calmed. "Fine. If you're not going to talk, then I will."

"I won't listen!" she tearfully cried.

"Fluttershy, don't be like that! Please, don't!"

"I will be who I want to be! Alone!" she squeaked in angry tears.

"Fluttershy--!" he kept himself from getting frustrated. "I love you... I love you so much. That's why I've come here, to apologize. I want to be with you! Only you! I don't want to be with Lily! I want to be with you!"

"If you love me so much, then why did you do it? I thought we had something special... I thought we were... were--! Oh, never mind! It doesn't matter now! Our love was a sham!" she bawled.

"Don't say that, Fluttershy! Darling, please!"

"It is!! It is a sham! If you loved me so much, you would have known better than to kiss that pony behind my back! If it were not for Sweetie Belle, I wouldn't have known this from the start!"

"Fluttershy, please! I-- Wait... What did you say? What about Sweetie Belle?" his brows furrowed in concern. Since when did Sweetie Belle have a part in this?

"She told me everything! She came by yesterday and showed me the evidence! You thought you could get away with it, didn't you? Well, you didn't!"

"Sweetie B--... Showed y--..."

"Yes, she did!"

His eyes opened wide in disbelief. Without saying another word, he galloped down the stairs. His eyes shifted around the living room, until they came across the small coffee table. He walked slowly up to it. What he saw laying on top of it made his stomach wrench in nausea.

Crisp, polaroid photos laid on the table, each photo of him with Lily that very day. Eyeing scanning them frantically, he pushed each one off the top of the other. He saw the image of him holding her shoulders, looking her intently in the eye. He saw the image just like the previous one, only with his head closer to hers. He saw the image of him hugging her. He saw the image of her hugging him back. Finally, he saw the image of the kiss, which made him nearly throw up.

So, he was not alone...

Then, he noticed something off in one picture. There was an image of a white saddlebag with a green strap and a brass buckle. Written on the side of it was in marker.

"Sweetie Belle..." he read.

After that, he grew silent...

He looked at the small clock placed on top of the fireplace. It was nearly the time for Sweetie Belle to be done with school. He took the photos and slowly walked back up the stairs to talk to Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy..." he said calmly. "I have to go now, but I just want to say something. I know that I have screwed up. Forgive me or not, I will still love you. You still will be my little pony. Even my best friend... Thought that you should know."

He got up on his hooves, walked down the stairs, and out the door.

He walked up to the thrashing sack, and loosened the string to let the scrappy rabbit out. Just before the rabbit was going to sock him in the groin, the colt responded quickly by lending him another juicy carrot.

"Sorry about that, Angel..."

The rabbit still socked him before he took the carrot. Although, it was not quite so hard, it still had him yelp in pain.

"Okay, I deserved that..." he grunted.

He walked away from the cottage and toward the school.

He had to give her a little talk.

BRRIIINNNNNGG!

"Okay, my little ponies! Time for class! Come inside!" the magenta schoolteacher called.

The little foals hardly ever groaned or moaned about playtime being over, because they knew that class was just as fun with Miss Cheerilee.

"Truffles," she said to a small, grey, tubby colt. "Would you do the honor of leading the line?"

"Would I?? Sure thing, Miss Cheerilee!" he replied. He puffed his chest out and stood in his place, hearing a mixture of beating hooves behind him.

Sweetie Belle was the last to join the line, dragging her hooves over the ground, sighing in depression. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were standing two ponies in front of her.

"All right, that's it!" Scootaloo griped to her yellow pony friend. "She's been like this for more than two days! Even after her sickness!"

"I hafta agree with ya, Scoot," Apple Bloom replied. "This has gone lawng enough. We're gonna have a talk with her after school. We'll git to the bottom of this once and fer all."

"Okay, here we go!" Truffles exclaimed. He marched like a soldier into the building.

Nearby, Cheerilee was looking over them, making sure that everypony was present. Her eyes came across Diamond Tiara's who was about to walk past her. They exchanged winks, signaling the start of their little announcement. When Sweetie Belle passed, Cheerilee snapped back to her poker face, so the little unicorn would not suspect anything. However, her vision was so focused on the ground that the schoolteacher thought twice about acting suspicious. She took no chances, though. When everypony was inside chattering away happily, the kind and sweet teacher walked back over to her desk.

"Attention, class!" she said. "Right now, I just to go over some things really quick."

The entire class (except for Sweetie Belle) sat up straight, paying attention. Cheerilee snuck a look at the white unicorn before beginning.

She folded her hoofs together. "Do you all remember the Shakespony classic, 'Poneo and Muliet'?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Yup!"

Yeah! We just finished reading that a week ago."

The teacher smiled. "Great! What did you all learn from that? Refresh my memory."

"Oh! Oh! Ohohohohoh! Me! Me! Miss Cheerilee! Miss Cheerilee!"

"Yes, Noi?"

"That it doesn't matter where you come from or who you are when there is true love!" the filly smiled.

"Well done, Noi! That is absolutely correct," the teacher smiled, proud to have raised such fine students. "Looks, race, and color do not limit true love. Poneo Montaque from the pony clan knew that Muliet Capulette from the mule clan was different, but he didn't let that stop him from loving her. They loved each other very much. Everypony here has his Muliet nor she has her Poneo. For those who don't have one now, you will soon enough. Truffles?"

"Yes, Miss Cheerilee?" the small, tubby, grey colt replied.

"Do you have a true love?"

"Yes, I do!"

"Would you care to tell us who it is?"

"D'awww, gosh! I dunno," he chuckled bashfully. "It's a secret."

"Does she love you back?"

"I'm sure she does," he grinned confidently.

"Aww! Well, I wish you two the best of luck!"

"I already do," he sighed as he subtly glanced at a small picture of Miss Cheerilee between the sheets of his notebook.

"Anypony else? What about you, Sweetie Belle?"

The filly flinched violently at the sound of the sound of her own name. "Who? Me?? Oh, no! No, no, no! I don't have a true love."

"Are you sure?" the teacher asked slyly, though playfully.

"Yes, I'm sure! Single and proud of it!" she proclaimed as she puffed her chest out.

"Well, I think you do have true love. Everypony does! Even if it is only a little crush."

"Crush?? Who said anything about crushing? Ha ha! Haaaaa..." she chuckled nervously. She noticed the yellow pony and the orange pegasus glaring at her.

"So, who is this lucky colt?"

"Nopony!!"

"Watch your voice, Sweetie Belle."

"It's nopony, I tell you! I'm as crushless as a... um... pony with no crush!"

"Are you sure you don't want to tell us?"

"Yes, I'm absolutely sure... because I'm not crushing on--!"

The door swung open, revealing a colt. At first his face was blank, but then it changed to surprised, seeing the schoolfoals still sitting at their desks. His cheeks burned a little in embarrassment. "Oh, sorry, Miss Cheerilee... Did I come too early? I thought that pickup was at--."

"Connor! Such a pleasure to see you! And just in time, too," she turned to everypony in the classroom. "There he is, everypony: Sweetie Belle's crush!"

Everypony gasped, Diamond Tiara was smiling, the two Crusaders shot Sweetie Belle a look, and the colt's eyes opened in surprise.

However, none of the emotions in the room compared to mixture of emotions Sweetie Belle was in right now. Her cheeks were burning hot pink. Then, the rest of the school foals started laughing.

Sweetie Belle saw a mixture of expressions aiming toward her: ridicule from the other foals, utter disappointment from the Crusaders, and awkward shock from Connor.

She buried her face into her forearms, tears pouring out of her eyes. How did they find out? How the hell did they find out? Unless...

"Now, now, class! There's nothing wrong with crushing on an older pony. It's only natural. I mean, I've had a crush on Charming Handsomeface when I was a foal about your age..."

However, Miss Cheerilee's voice of reason was drowned out by the piercing and heart-goring sound of the foals' laughter.

Sweetie Belle shot up from her desk, snatched her saddlebag, and ran past Connor out of the school. The colt looked onto the sniffling filly as she disappeared over the small hill.

The door slammed open.

"RARITY!!!" Sweetie Belle shrieked furiously.

Her older sister yelped in pain when she pricked the soft spot of her hoof with the needle she was using to sew a ruby onto a dress. "Sweetie Belle! How many times to I have to tell you to knock first before entering? Now I've pricked myself!"

"Sucks to your little boo-boo! You deserve it, you lying, no-good, two-faced, loose-lipped blabber!"

"Sweetie Belle! What--?"

"I can't believe this! I made you swear to not tell anypony about my crush with Connor, and you go on ahead and blab!! How dare you!!"

"I didn't tell anypony!"

"Oh, yeah?! What about Miss Cheerilee, huh?! When she was coming over here to pick up her new dress?? You told her!!"

Rarity's mind traced back to last night.

"So, are you excited for the baby shower coming up, Miss Cheerilee?" Rarity asked as she handed over the teacher's dress, ornate with pebble-sized baby blue diamonds.

"Oh, yes!" the magenta mare replied, nodding enthusiastically. "I can't believe Red Wine is going to have a baby! After months of waiting, she finally made it! I was beginning to think she was infertile."

"Well, the good thing is is that she is not. Oh, I wonder if it's going to be a boy or a girl? Maybe if it's a boy, she could call him 'Wine Cracker'. EEEeeeee!"

"Oh, that is just adorable! Maybe if it's a girl, she could name her, 'Chardonnay'. Ahhhhhh!!"

The two fully-grown mares hopped and squealed like they were little schoolfillies.

"Oh! That reminds me!" Cheerilee said. "I should give her a present. Tell you what, I think I'll give her a book of baby names. Oh, she would love that!"

"Or, we could tell her the names we picked all by ourselves. But, I am not the parent, so I'll just leave it to her. Oh!" she gasped before giggling. "I have to let you in on a secret."

"Oh?" the teacher's ears pricked up.

"Guess what? I heard from the spa twins that River Dance is going to propose to Willow at the baby shower!"

"No!" Cheerilee gasped. Then, she erupted in a joyful prance. "Oh, my goodness! He is?? Ahhhh! They are just so wonderful together!"

"Oh, I know, darling! I know!" Rarity rolled her eyes as she waved a hoof. "It is just so romantic! Oh, but you have to keep it a secret!"

"I will! Don't want to spoil any surprises, do we?"

"Absolutely not," the white unicorn huffed. "It would be so inappropriate. Oh, dear!"

"What?"

"If you are going to be at this certain baby shower, you've got to look your best! Come along, darling, we'll fix you right up!"

"Er, Rarity, I don't really need a makeov--."

"Shush, shush, shushushushushush! Don't say another word, dearie! Now, where is that blush?"

"I can't believe you would do something so low like that, Rarity! I can't believe you! Some sister you are!"

Rarity flinched back in hurt. Then, she fumed. "Well, maybe I should have..."

"You just did!"

"I didn't! But, if I did, then it would serve you right!"

"What th--?! What did I do to you?!"

"You have just been acting so impatient and cruel around me. All you ever think about is Connor. Connor, Connor, Connor! What about me?? I'm your older sister!"

"So?"

"'So?'?? 'So?'?? I'm the one who you are supposed to be looking up to! I'm the one who you're supposed to pay attention to!"

"How am I supposed to look up to my older sister if all she does is put me down? You never do anything nice for me! You never do anything for me! You never help me when I need help! After all that, you expect me to respect you?? That's unfair!"

"Now, Sweetie Belle--!"

"Don't even try to deny it! You know everything I say is true! You never do anything for me! All you care about is yourself! Connor, on the other hoof does! He likes me, he plays with me, he helps me with my homework, everything that you fail to do! Come to think of it, now I wish he was my older brother! I wish I had him for an older sibling than you! Any sibling other than you sounds really dandy right now!"

Rarity felt an invisible spear gore through her feeling as her eyes welled up with angry tears. "Well don't you know how hard it is to keep a job? How to run a job? It's hard! It's taking a lot out of me nowadays! I want to spend more time with you, but my schedule would hardly allow me!"

"Maybe if you would spend less time at the spa, then would have more time!"

"I know, Sweetie Belle! I know!"

"Then why still do it?? Don't you even care about me?"

"I still do!"

"No, you don't!"

"Yes, I do!"

"No, you don't!"

"Yes, I do!!" Rarity shrieked loudly, nearly cracking a window. "You remember the time we spent at the Sisterhooves Social? Right after that?"

"Duhhh, no," Sweetie Belle sarcastically replied.

"After that moment, I have realized how important and precious you are to me. I have made a vow to be a better sister and show you more affection, because I was afraid I would lose you forever. I recanted my wish to see you gone. Don't you see, Sweetie Belle? I have been trying my very best to take the time for you other than work, but it just overwhelms me. I haven't forgotten about you, Sweetie Belle, but you have forgotten about me since Connor showed up! You are more enthusiastic about him than you are with me! In fact, when I volunteered to walk you to school the day he fell ill, you just griped and moaned, while I did my best to be there for you, as my little sister. Don't you see? I still care for you! I have been trying my best, but it just overwhelms me. I can change! Forgive me. I still care for you..." Rarity tearily said.

"Well, guess what?" Sweetie Belle said. "You have just broken your own oath. Especially, since you blabbed about my secret to Miss Cheerilee. We are through, non-sister! Through!"

"How dare you?!" the mare's voice was shaken by tears. "Is this how you respond to somepony who asks for your forgiveness?? Well, fine! Go! Out of my sight!"

"Gladly! Good-bye!"

Sweetie Belle slammed the door behind her as she stormed out of the boutique. Rarity ran up to her room and jumped into her bed, crying.

The filly huffed as she turned away from the front door, until she ran into Connor, who was standing in front of her. His presence was soothing, but his expression made her feel lost in emotion. She did not know how to feel.

Flicking out the photos, Connor laid them on the ground in front of her. "That's your saddlebag, isn't it?"

Leaning her head close to the photos, she squinted. Indeed, it was her white bag with the brass buckle and green shoulder strap.

"I.. Uh... Yes," she hung her head.

"You set me up..."

"N-no! I... I..."

"How could you?"

"I... I love you..."

"So, you seek out to hurt others just because you love me?"

She said nothing.

Connor picked up from there. "Guess what? One of those ponies you hurt happens to be me, too."

The filly's eye were filling to the brim with tears.

"I'm gonna go... Alone..." he mumbled.

Sweetie Belle's voice was cut off by her own guilt as she reached to him.

"And another thing..." he said with his back turned. "Apple Bloom and Scootaloo... They told me to tell you that you're out of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. That's karma, isn't it?"

He walked away, each step separating himself from the teary-eyed unicorn filly.

...

...

He was out of her sight.

Her dripping tears stained the dirt ground.

She was alone...

For good...

To be continued...

Chapter X

Sweetie Belle's eyes opened. She could see a dark wall of shadow lurk in front of her eyes. Her eyes were mucky and thick with sleep. Her cheeks were once again crusty with dried tears from crying herself to sleep last night.

Ugh... She did not want to remember the kind of day she had yesterday. However, fate was cruel and it kept on reminding her of the sights she did not wish to see again.

Connor's disappointed face...

All the foals in the class laughing at her...

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's glares of disapproval...

Their mental voice, repeating, "You're kicked out, Sweetie Belle"...

Connor saying, "That's karma, isn't it?"...

She looked out the window. The sky was a dark, blue-ish purple with no hint of yellow or orange. Princess Celestia did not even start to raise the sun yet. Crickets' soothing chirping was muffled behind the window glass, still signaling the time of rest and darkness.

What time was it?

She lifted her heavy, sleepy head and it creaked. Ow... She turned her head, looking at a platinum colored blob. She rubbed her eyes with her hoof, warm and fresh from underneath the covers. After giving a thorough rub, she sleepily glanced at her alarm clock.

"One o'clock?! In the morning?!" she squeaked hopelessly. Then, she dropped her head back on top of the pillow, sighing frustratedly. So the bad day decided to wake up early and give her a bad time. How lovely... She loved the smell of crappy days in the morning.

Well, it should be no problem. All she had to do was go back to sleep. She still had about seven to eight hours of sleep.

Right?

"Sweetie Belle! Wake up! Early bird gets the worm!" her mother called.

What was the use of telling her to wake up when she already was?

For hours?

She could feel her eyes singing with deprived sleep. Massive bags were underneath her green eyes, and her hair looked like a vulture had made its nest in there. She desperately wanted to expel a pitiful whine from her throat, but she could not manage to push it out. She sat miserably in her bed and wanted to pull the covers over her troubled head. However, if she did that, then she would have to listen to her mother's nagging barking. Her ears had hurt enough. She did not want them to feel worse. She was going to have to leave the bed anyway.

She pushed the covers off of her weak body and slowly sat up, peeling her cheek and haggard mane from her pillow.

Was that the door creaking or was that the sound of her back?

She slid off of her mattress. As soon as she touched the floor, she nearly fell forward. The limbs in her legs were weak, hardly keeping her small torso up. All around her, she felt like the air was going to crush her, engulfing her like a cocoon. Her mind was filled with assumptions of what sort of horrible things would happen today.

This was going to be a long day.

She shot her snout up in the air as she stood outside Rarity's boutique. She did not desire to walk into some traitor's house. Rarity was her "un-sister" now, and she was pretty adamant about it. She was fine just sitting outside.

She knew Connor was probably still mad at her now, but what was taking him so long? She had been sitting outside for about twenty minutes, waiting for him.

Then again, why should Connor walk beside her? She went through a lot of work into separating Connor from Fluttershy, the kind of work that could have used for something more important. Plus, not only did she hurt Connor, but she had hurt herself. Her reputation. Now, whenever he looked at her, she was nothing more than a troublemaker, a desperate lover who would do questionable, hurtful, ugly things to get what she wanted. To put it simply, he only saw her as a foal.

Then, the door suddenly opened. Sweetie Belle hopped around with remaining joy to her see her favorite colt.

It was actually Rarity, who was staring at her blankly and snobbishly. Her little sister returned her gaze.

"Sweetie Belle," the mare stated.

"Un-sister," responded the little filly.

They shared a moment of silence, mentally insulting each other of their looks and reputation.

"If you want to know where Connor is, he already left for work."

Sweetie Belle's eyebrows peaked in shock.

Rarity continued to speak. "So, you will have to walk yourself to school today... or for days, perhaps."

The filly lost the staring game as she buckled her knees together and whined. "I can't do that! I need an older pony to walk me there!"

"Ask a cop," Rarity half-heartedly stated as she closed the door firmly in her face.

Sweetie Belle hung her head and heaved a massive groan.

He did not even bother to wait for her. That was tally number one on the list. She turned toward the school and began to trudge...

Alone...

Sweetie Belle and Connor sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G read a note passed to her.

She knew whose hoofwriting it was: the pink, snobby filly wearing a tiara. The picture was drawn by her idiot friend with the grey, braided mane and a silver spoon imprinted on snobby, uptight, fat a--.

She crumpled it up and "sneezed" on it.

"Miss Cheerilee?" she asked the teacher, waving the scrunched paper in the air. "Can I throw this away?"

"Yes, Sweetie Belle, you can, but you don't really have to ask again. Are you sure you don't have a cold?"

"No, I accidentally breathed in my pencil shavings."

"Oh, okay. Well, anyway, class, Talon, the Second King of the Griffons signed a treaty with the ponies that..."

The little filly walked up to the small wastebasket directly beside Cheerilee's desk and tossed the "tissue" into it. As soon as she turned around, she saw the giggling pair of snobs. Darn those two. Darn those two to Pony Heck! That was the fourth note that they had passed to her.

She glanced over to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, who were deep into the rhetoric of Cheerilee, not paying attention to the lovesick filly. It put her even more into the dumps. They were giving her the silent treatment, which was appropriate to the damage she had done against the regulations of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She did not have the will to smile apologetically and innocently at them. Heck, it was hard just trying to see them. Her eyelids were so heavy and her eyeballs felt dry like sand. She could feel her head rock back and forth like she had dumbbells for earrings.

Boy, did those pages in her book look airy and soft... Maybe if she could just rest her head on it and close her eyes for a few seco--.

"Hopefully, I'm not boring you, am I?" Miss Cheerilee asked, giving her a stern glare.

"Huh--? Wha--? Oh, no. I'm sorry. It's just... I'm tired."

"Are you sure you're feeling all right, Sweetie Belle?"

"Maybe a little feverish," the filly responded, touching her forehead.

"Love feverish?"

"Yes, Diamond Tiara, lov-- Hey!"

All the foals in the room laughed, except for the Crusaders and Miss Cheerilee.

Celestia, how Sweetie Belle hated Diamond Tiara.

BRRRRIIIINNNNNNG!

"Oh, it's time for recess! Have fun, my little ponies!"

Everypony cheered and stampeded out of the building. Finally, a chance to wake up. The tired unicorn shifted her rear off the seat of her desk and ran to the door, nearly tripping over her own hooves.

"Sweetie Belle! Can I talk to you for a second?" Cheerilee asked.

The unicorn stopped in her tracks, nearly falling on her face. She turned back around and meekly walked up to her.

"I'm sorry, Miss Cheerilee, for nearly sleeping, I just..." she began.

"No, I'm the one who should be sorry," the teacher stopped her, looking apologetic herself.

"What for?"

"For telling your secret..."

"Oh... that," Sweetie Belle hung her head. "It's not... well, to be honest, it is partly your fault..."

"I completely agree with you. Go on."

"Well, it's actually Rarity's fault. I made her swear not to tell and she did. She told you. I just don't really understand why you would go as far as to tell it, but I guess it doesn't matter now. Everypony knows now."

"Wait, Rarity told me?"

Sweetie Belle was about to speak, until she was cut off by confusion. "Well... who else would know my secret but her? Surely, she told you, right?"

"She didn't tell me."

...

"What?"

"She didn't tell me. The secret Rarity told me was that River Dance was going to propose to Willow at the baby shower in a few days... Oops... Oh, please keep that a secret. I just don't know what it is about me and secrets nowadays."

"Okay, but if Rarity didn't tell you... Then, who did??"

"Diamond Tiara."

"WHAT??"

"She said she wanted to do this because she wanted to be your friend and said she did not want you to feel ashamed for falling in love with a colt who was older than you. There is nothing wrong with that, you know. With everypony supporting you, then you would not feel so ashamed anymore and feel happy. Apparently, you see how that turned out."

"Diamond Tiara... She... Rarity..."

"Again, I apologize for all this trouble I caused you. I was so foolish to take that chance. Maybe that is why you're feeling so down and dreary today. I'm so sorry."

"It... It's okay, Miss Cheerilee," crept out of her mouth subconsciously. She was lost in her own thought, filled with utter guilt.

So, Rarity did not sell her out after all. She still cared about to her to not reveal her dark secret, which was still revealed. All of those things she said to her big sister... Oh, Celestia, she felt like she was going to vomit.

"Do I really need to owe her an apology... A big one..." Sweetie Belle muttered to herself.

However, her big sister was not the only one she needed to owe an apology to.

She resumed her way out of the school building. She turned her head left and right. She had to find Apple Bloom and Scootaloo and convince them to take her back. The playful screeching of a nearby filly made her brain cringe in disturbance. Normally, that sound would not affect her, but today from being so tired and deprived of sleep, she was more sensitive to loud noises.

To her luck, she found them sitting on one of the lunch tables next to the playground. Her heads were low between their shoulders, which signified that they were deep in thought, thinking about what to do to get their cutie marks. She looked at her own flank, bare as a snail without its shell. Even though it was yesterday that got kicked out, she really missed working with them to earn her cutie mark.

"Well... here goes."

She walked slow up to the lunch table. Her nervousness grew every inch she walked. They just looked so intimidating from behind.

"So what are we going to do now? Painting? Sculpture?" she heard Scootaloo ask.

Sweetie Belle felt a nervous chill crawl up her little spine.

"Well, sculpture's outta the question. Remember when we tried ta put together that table when we were sleepin' over at Fluttershy's? Yuck."

Just hearing their voices made her feel like turning back, but she knew she had to come back to them. She wanted her cutie mark just as desperately as she wanted Connor. However, she was not so sure anymore. Would he ever like her now?

"Oh, yeah... What abooouuuuuut... bungee jumping?"

"Nah, we already tried that."

"Uhhh, hey, girls," Sweetie Belle meekly spoke.

"We did? Dang... Well, how about pottery?"

"Girls?" the unicorn said louder.

"Hey, yeah! No, wait. Didn't we do that just a month ago?"

"Ugh, I can't remember!"

"Girls!" she squeaked.

The two little fillies exhaled through their noses and turned to the little filly. So much for their silent treatment.

"Yes?" Scootaloo spoke first.

"Hey, girls. I... I just want to apologize for what I did. For... you know..."

"Rocking on your dreamboat behind our backs?"

"Yeah... That's it..." Sweetie Belle spoke shyly.

"Plus, you did it just after you swore not to..."

"Yeah... That, too... I'm really sorry, girls. I made a mistake, and I feel really bad about it. Will you guys forgive me and take me back?"

"No..." Apple Bloom answered firmly.

"N... No? Wh-wh... I... I'm sorry!"

"We forgive ya, Sweetie Belle, but we ain't takin' ya back."

"Why??" squeaked the distraught, white unicorn.

"You broke the rules," Scootaloo said. "It was even a rule that you came up with. You broke your solemn promise!"

"I know! I'm sorry! I won't do it again! Just give me another chance!"

"We have, and you blew it! We had a goal, Sweetie Belle: to get our cutie marks as quickly as possible! The number one and most dire goal we had. So dire, that we couldn't even wait."

"Time is money, Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom spoke. "And ya spent most of it tryin' to get a colt who is already datin' and older than you! He's outta your league."

The scolded filly was about to correct her, but her guilt got the best of her and kept her in a cage.

"We wanted ta get our cutie marks together, but you were too busy tryin' to attract a colt who is off-limits. I know Connor's a nice feller to you, but yer swimmin' the wrong creek. Yer fightin' a battle ya can't win. It's a waste of time. Yer wastin' our time makin' us wait fer you, and we can't take it anymore. If yer not gonna go along with the ride, then we're gonna hafta leave without ya. Ah'm sorry, Sweetie Belle, but that's how we feel."

"You know how desperate we are to get our cutie marks. We are all in this together. Well, we were," Scootaloo took the wheel.

"But, girls!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. "I can change! I can't get my cutie mark on my own!"

"You'd better start getting used to it."

"You're my friends! Why are you doing this to me?"

"Real friends help other friends learn," the farm filly replied simply. "That's what we're doin' right now. If yer goin' to purposely abandon us for your needs, then why should we bother keeping up with you?"

"Well, real friends forgive and help other friends!" Sweetie Belle said, pointing an angry hoof at them. "Plus, you know what? I think that rule is a stupid rule! What's wrong with love? There's nothing wrong with love!"

"You'll lose yourself if you have too much of it!" Scootaloo said. "Just like what's happening to you now! Why do you love Connor so much? Other than the fact that he was a human once, he's just a colt!"

"How dare you!" the unicorn nearly shrieked. "He's not just a colt! He's like my older brother! He's like a friend I never had! You don't even compare to him! He treats me the way I want to be: respected! You two are just so caught up into getting your cutie marks that don't even know what it feels like to be treated that way! You know nothing! Nothing, I tell you!"

"What about us?" Scootaloo asked hypothetically. "We gave you respect. We treated you like the friend we never had. We cared for you, yet you say we don't even compare to him?"

The burning flame that resided in Sweetie Belle's heart just extinguished. She really just said that in front of them in their faces? She was just so lost in her frustration, that she never realized the things she said until too late.

"N... no! I... I didn't mean--!"

The pegasus leaned closer to the farm filly. "You see what I mean, Apple Bloom? Losing yourself..."

"No!" the unicorn denied anxiously.

"If that's the way you feel about us, then don't bother coming back."

Sweetie Belle's eyes were filled to the brim with tears. At first they were sad, but then, they became angry. She stomped her little hoof.

"You're selfish! Both of you! You can't do this to me! I'm your friend! You care too much about are your stupid cutie marks over your best friend is asking for your forgiveness and help! What kind of friends ignore friends?! Well, you know what? I think that is a stupid rule! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Real friends help friends regardless of rules! That's what true friendship is! But, NO! You two are ditching me for your own desires! Come to think of it, look who's talking about ditching friends for his or her own desires? You two are hypocrites! Well, fine! If that's how you two are going to be with me, then screw you two!!" (She heard Connor say that enough times for her to learn from it.) "You two are dead to me now! The only one who's alive to me is Connor! When we are together, you'll both be nothing! Good-bye, un-friends!"

With that, the little filly stomped off in anger, the kind of anger she had not experienced since the time Rarity was stubborn about not going to the Sisterhooves Social with her. The two little fillies sitting on the desk watched on, hurt, affronted, and mad.

Then, Sweetie Belle stomped off to the farthest tree from the playground, collapsed on her front, buried her face in her hooves, and cried.

What was the point? With Connor still upset with her, there was no way she was going to prove to them that they will be together. She did not want to crawl back to them and prove them that she could not do it. She would show them. She would show them! She would show them all that it would be possible.

However, how was she going to get Connor to fall in love with her again? She did not have much time. It was not because of anything important coming up in the future. No, she just wanted it to be done. She was too impatient.

An ugly thought entered her mind. If she had any sanity left inside of her, it wished itself gone, so it would not get involved with what she was about to do next.

After school...

"The nerve of Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "Saying all of those things to us! It's unforgivable! She called us hypocrites! We're not the hypocrites, she is! We're her friends! Well, used to be..."

"Hmm..." Apple Bloom nodded half-heartedly, looking in a direction away from the pegasus.

"What's up with you?"

"Nothin', I was just lookin'."

"Jeez, and you're not even paying attention..."

"Ah was! It's just... look! See that?" the country filly pointed at a window looking into the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner.

"What?" she asked as she squinted.

Through the window, a long, glossy, waxy rope of taffy was being tugged and stretched in the taffy puller. As the stretched ropes intertwined with each other, their surfaces melted into each other, making one huge, delicious rope of taffy again.

"Look at that taffy! By it's green color, ah'd say it must be Granny Smith flavored! Mmmm, mah favorite!"

"Ew," Scootaloo winced.

"No, not mah Granny Smith, Granny Smith apples! Gee whiz, Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom gave her shoulder a firm bunny punch.

"Oh, right. But still, that sounded weird."

"Oh, hush. Mmm! That looks so darn good! Ah could just leap in and eat it all!"

"Yeah, and get your mane stuck in it," the pegasus chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Like that time when all the three of us were trying to get our cutie marks for making taffy."

The farm filly shared a laugh. "Yeah! We were such a tangled mess."

"Ha! Yeah, good times..."

The two fillies stared awkwardly into space.

Scootaloo cleared her throat. "Yeah, whatever. Good times. Whatever. I'm still mad at her."

"Yeah, me, too," Apple Bloom thrusted her nose up into the air.

"WAAHHHHHHHH!! My hair is ruined!" a mare bawled as she ran past them. Her hair was a dyed mess of blues and pinks.

From where the bawling mare ran stood two ponies standing in the doorway of a salon, a tall one and a smaller one. The taller pony glared at the smaller one, who blushed sheepishly. A gold tag labeled, "Intern," was pinned on her pink polo shirt. She glumly hoofed it over to the taller pony, who snatched it out of her hoof.

"Uh, oh," the yellow farm filly chuckled. "Somepony had a little accident."

"Remember when we tried to do that?" the little, orange pegasus laughed. "She looked like a freaking circus clown! Too bad we didn't get our cutie marks, though... Still, that was hilarious!"

"No kiddin' we didn't get 'em!" Apple Bloom said. "We had no plum idea how to dye somepony's mane. Still, ah enjoyed it. It was purty fun! It was Sweetie Belle's idea."

"Yeah, she sure had an idea going. I..."

They both stared blankly into the distance once more.

"Yeah... Sweetie Belle..." they both mumbled.

Their blank stares were broken when they heard the sound of crying. They turned to a little colt who was sitting on his haunches, tearily eyeing a lollipop, lying broken and shattered on the ground. Standing next to him was an Irish-green pegasus filly with a curly, orange mane, holding her lollipop tightly in her mouth by the handle. Seeing that the colt was stripped of his treat, she smiled warmly and tapped his shoulder with her wing. Wiping his eyes, he saw the filly lend him her own in her other wing. The little colt smiled through his tears and took the lollipop meekly like a shy sheep. The pegasus sat down next to him and placed a gentle hoof on his back as he happily licked away on his candy. However, in between his licks, he made sure to give the filly a hug. Then, they both scampered off, chatting happily, leaving the farm filly and the orange pegasus hanging their heavy heads.

"Oh, who are we kiddin'?" Apple Bloom sighed hopelessly. "We are hypocrites."

Scootaloo was about to argue. However, she could not. It was true. "She's right. We did ditch her for our own desires."

"It was more than wantin' to get our cutie marks that formed this club. It was friendship. In fact, it was her idea to start this club, too."

"Ooh! We could form our own secret society!" Sweetie Belle said, raising her hoof.

"I'm liking this idea," Scootaloo gestured to the little white filly.

"A secret society! Yeah!" the farm filly pondered.

"That's right," the orange pegasus said softly. "She did."

Apple Bloom beat her little chest with her small hoof. "Well, we won't be hypocrites anymore! Sweetie Belle needs our help! For friendship's sake, the Cutie Mark Crusaders will be reunited once again! Come on, Scoot! We got a filly to find!"

"Oorah!" cheered the little pegasus.

"To Sweeti-- Wait, what?"

"'Oorah'."

"What in tarnation is that?"

"It's a kind of cheer. Connor told me that these guys called the 'Marines' back on his world use that."

"Whatever... To Sweetie Belle's house!"

In an eyeblink, the two fillies scampered off, willing to find their unwell friend.

"Sweetie Belle's not here?" said Apple Bloom.

"No, girls, she's not," the little unicorn's mother replied. "I'm sorry about that. Did you two want to play with her?"

"Well... We really came to apologize to her for something we did to her earlier today during school," Scootaloo replied, brushing a meek hoof over the welcome mat.

"Well, that's very nice of you, girls, but I'm afraid you came at a bad time. She said she had to do something, but she didn't tell me what exactly."

"Well, okay, ma'am. Thank you," the country filly nodded. "When she comes home, tell her what we came for."

"I will, girls."

"Thank you," they both said in unison, though it did not sound very enthusiastic.

"That's kind of weird..." Scootaloo said, scratching her head. "Sweetie Belle always goes home the moment school ends."

"Ah'm sure it's fine. We'll see her tomorrow. We'll tell her then."

"I guess so. Tomorrow, then."

The two Crusaders hopped off the front steps and began walking in the direction toward the treehouse, where they always meet. As they walked, they took a moment to calm themselves from worrying by admiring the surroundings around them. The air smelled moist and clean like fresh laundry. The sun was beaming brightly, which made the temperature slightly hotter than yesterday, but not so hot that it would cause one to sweat just by walking. The color of the green leaves shone brightly against the sea-blue sky, which was ornate with small, fluffy clouds.

"It's certainly a nice day, don'tcha think, Scoot?" Apple Bloom asked her fellow Crusader.

"Yeah," the pegasus replied in awe. "It's pretty hard to stay depressed on nice days like this. Everything's just really happy and bright in color! The trees, the buildings, the sky, the grey rainbow, Sugarcube Corner, the--."

Grey rainbow?

"Well, somepony's not showing any colors today," scoffed the bow-wearing pony. "What's the deal here? Let's check it out."

They kept the bland rainbow in their eyesight as they ran past crowds of ponies. Eventually, they were out of the town and were heading into the forest. They dodged past trees and big bushes, never allowing their target to get out of their sight. Then, they ran into a flat piece of land, free of trees, making a big hole in the forest. There, they saw the end of the grey rainbow. Right next to it was a vacuum cleaner, which was on its side, as if it were left there in a hurry.

"Huh, well ah'll be darned!" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Somepony had just gone and stolen all the glow from that rainbow!"

"Rainbow?" Scootaloo asked.

"Uhhh, yeah, Scoot. It is a rainbow. Well, it was before somepony tampered with it."

"No, Rainbow! Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo hopped up and down, ecstatic to see a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail resting on a cloud. "Omigawsh! Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! Down here!"

The pegasus' head poked out from underneath the cloud. "Hey, kid..." she said. She did not sound very thrilled or happy.

Her little fan's face twisted in confusion and hurt. Did she do something? What did she do? All she did was say "Hello".

"What's wrong?" Scootaloo called. "I'm sorry for whatever I did! I'll do whatever you want! Just name it!"

"Whoa! Easy, tyke! It's not what you did, it's what your friend, Sweetie Belle, did!"

The sound of the filly's name grabbed Apple Bloom's attention. "Wait... Sweetie Belle, ya say??"

"Yes. Just a few minutes ago, I was using this rainbow to practice my totally awesome new tricks! You know, circling around it, corkscrews, backflip around it, when all of a sudden, I realized that all of the color was being sucked out of it. I saw Sweetie Belle with the vacuum and I went WHOOSH directly down to her saying, 'Hey! Do you mind? I'm trying to do my awesome tricks. I can't practice my tricks around a grey rainbow!' Then, she grabbed my sleeping cloud with her magic and tore a piece off of it, and I was like, "Hey! What gives?! This is my sleeping cloud! Stop it!' Then, she asked me for one of my feathers, and I said, 'Heck, no!" She tried to grab one, but WHOOSH! I got away before she laid her teeth on it. Suddenly, this army of rogue ponies appeared out of nowhere. She told them to grab one of my feathers like they were her slaves, and then, I said, 'Oh, you wanna do this the hard way? We'll do this the hard way!' So, WHAM! POW! WHAP! SWISH! BAM! I defeated them all! Then, one hundred more jumped me! And--!"

Scootaloo was lying on ground on her stomach, soaking in what Rainbow Dash was saying like she was listening to an epic story told by a legendary pony hero.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. Bequethed with her older sister's trait of picking up lies, she simply said, "Come on, Rainbow Dash. That's hogwash."

"Hogwash?? How is it hogwash?? It's true!"

The farm filly walked over to the vacuum cleaner and picked up the long nozzle with her mouth. The long, plastic nozzle was bent directly at the middle. In between the cracks of the broken plastic, there were pieces of hair in different colors. The filly stared at Scootaloo's role model, looking unimpressed.

"You think that's my hair?? That could be anypony's hair! I don't know what you're tal--OW!" She clenched the top of her cranium, which was swollen and throbbing in pain.

The farm filly blinked, still unimpressed.

"What?!" Rainbow Dash asked, still feeling the energy from telling her story of "heroism".

Apple Bloom blinked again, not changing her displeased expression.

The pegasus growled. "Fine! Ugh, you're just like Applejack! Here it is: Sweetie Belle knocked me out with that stupid vacuum cleaner hose and took one of my feathers while I was knocked out. You happy now? Ugh, I can't believe I let a small foal make a fool outta me! Now, the Wonderbolts would never enlist me!"

"Thank you for being so honest," the farm filly said, rolling her eyes. "Sheesh."

"Now, that's weird," Scootaloo said. "What does Sweetie Belle want with a rainbow's glow, a bit of a cloud, and one of Rainbow Dash's feathers? It doesn't make any sense."

"No, it doesn't," Apple Bloom said, scratching her head, looking confused herself. "Not one bit. Nothin' could really be done with any of those things. It just sounds so--."

The yellow filly stopped talking almost immediately. Her little head flinched upwards, causing her big, red bow to flop over her mane before springing back up again. Her pensive expression immediately changed to fright and realization of an epiphany that something really, really bad was going to happen.

"Ohhhhhh, dear..." she whispered.

"What? What is it?" her pegasus friend asked, craning her neck for her face to meet Apple Bloom's.

"A tuft of cloud, a bright rainbow's glow, stir with a pegasus feather, fast, not slow..." she muttered.

It was Scootaloo's turn to look frightened. "Wait... Why does that sound so familiar? 'A tuft of cloud'..."

"'A bright rainbow's glow'..." Apple Bloom continued.

"'Stir with a pegasus feather'..."

"'Fast, not slow'..."

"Which means... she's making the... the..."

...

If there was a symphony orchestra following them around, the sound of a violin shrieking to a crescendo would sound appropriate right about now.

"Oh, no!" both fillies whimpered.

"Connor! You're here!" Sweetie Belle squeaked happily.

"Hm, yeah," he unenthusiastically said. "Care to tell me why I'm here? I've got a lot of work to do at the bar. This had better be worth the trouble trying to convince Cherry Limeade."

It was just as she expected. Still upset. However, it was part of the plan. She fell onto her haunches and stared meekly at the red, pink, and white patterns of the blankets lying upon the grass. She took a deep breath.

"Look... I called you here because... I want to apologize for framing you with Lily..."

"And...?" he asked, eyeing her in test.

"Annnnnd, showing those photos of you two to Fluttershy. It was wrong of me to do that, which costed you your relationship with her."

"Right," he huffed.

"I'm really sorry, Connor. You want to know why I asked you here? Well, earlier today after school, I was going to cheer myself up by making some punch at home. My favorite kind, 'Berry Blend". I made a little too much. So much, that I couldn't drink it all by myself."

"Sooooo..." the colt trailed off, not getting her concept.

"I'd like to make a peace offering. I want to give you some, because I thought just saying, 'Sorry,' was not going to be enough. Plus, I would like your opinion on how it tastes."

BAM!

"MISS RARITY!!" the two Crusaders shouted at the top of their lungs, causing the white mare to nearly gore her eye out with a needle.

The unicorn fumed in her place. "Honestly! Why is it that every time I try to do something involving needles that somepony loudly intrudes, and I nearly skewer myself!? Honestly!!"

"Miss Rarity! Omigawsh! Miss Rarity! Omigawsh!..." they shouted, hopping in front of the put off unicorn.

"Girls, girls! What's going on here?"

The two fillies were both shouting at the same time. They were like two record players, playing loud songs that were not even the same. All Rarity could hear was, "Sweetie Belle!", and "She's going to--!", and "It's going to be a disaster!", and "You gotta come with us! Hurry!"

"GIRLS!!" the fashionista shrieked, silencing them. "One at a time! What's going on?"

"It's Sweetie Belle! She's lost her mind!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"Sweetie Belle?? What's--?"

"She's gone amuck!" Apple Bloom intervened. "She's runnin' wild as a goose on a sugar rush! Ya gotta help us, Miss Rarity!"

"Why--?"

"She's made the love poison! She's gonna use it on Connor!" the pegasus said.

Rarity gasped. She remembered the love poison. She remember that frightening Hearts and Hooves Day. She remembered seeing love-poisoned Miss Cheerilee smash a huge hole into the front of her boutique just when she heard love-poisoned Big Macintosh from outside. She remembered sitting and gawking in absolute defeat in that massive hole. She had to pay a very large amount of money to repair that hole when she could have used that money to buy Fleur de Lis's Limited Edition "Brass Shine" shampoo, which was closed off to the market two days later. (It was a freakishly expensive shampoo. Freakish...)

"No! Not my little sister! Not my front door!" she screamed. "Lead the way, girls!"

"We don't know where she is!" Apple Bloom responded in panic.

"Fine! Then, I'll use my seeking spell to find her!" she said as she focused her magic. Her horn grew a mighty baby-blue. "We've got a filly to catch! Onward!!"

Connor turned his head with his cheek facing toward the sorry filly. His face winced in discomfort and suspicion.

Noticing his uneasiness, she walked over to one of the two small glasses of a hot pink liquid, fizzing with heart-shaped bubbles. She sat herself down and looked at him, shooting a sad frown that begged for his forgiveness.

"Please? Do you forgive me?" she asked.

The colt's eyes shot up and down, looking at Sweetie Belle and the two glasses of sketchy liquid. When he looked back up at the little filly, she smiled weakly with her head sunk between her shoulders.

The colt's suspicious frown turned into a warm smile. As hurt as he felt that he was separated from Fluttershy, he thought it was so noble of her to apologize for the wrong she committed... which was originally his wrong. Plus, he was not the kind of guy to not be unforgiving, unless somepony did something really dastardly to him.

"Aw, how could I stay mad at you?" he smiled, which set the filly's heart afloat. "You're very considerate."

"Thanks, Connor! I'll never do anything like that ever again! For you! So, does this mean you will--?"

"Yeah. From standing over here, I'd say that punch looks pretty damn, I mean darn good! I can tell."

"I can assure you it is," she smiled with pride. At least, it will be for me... soon! she squealed to herself.

A white unicorn, a yellow filly, and an orange, flightless pegasus were brushing through bushes, leaves, and past the trees as fast as their legs could carry them. Beams of sunlight flickered over their coats like fireflies flying at high speed. Panting and the whacking of branches against their bodies overwhelmed the noise of the chittering squirrels and singing birds.

"Are we there yet?" Apple Bloom asked through her panting.

"Almost there! Hurry before it's too late!" Rarity said with her head tilted down, so her horn would lead.

"It might already be too late!" Scootaloo said.

"Well, we'd better git there before anymore damage is done!" the farm filly said to her pegasus friend.

"Whoo!" Connor hooted. "That smells good. It smells so strong with flavor. You really must've put a lot of work into it as well as love."

"Yeah... 'Love'," she smiled, giggling to herself in excitement.

She shut her eyes and imagined herself getting kissed on the cheek by her favorite colt. It was going to happen in only a few seconds. She could hardly stifle her squeal of joy. The moment had finally arrived! After so much work she had put into, she would finally achieve her dream being Connor's favorite little filly.

"Why are you shutting your eyes?" she heard his voice behind her eyelids.

"Oh! Sorry, I, uhhh, got something stuck in my eye. It's nothing!"

"Oh, okay. Well, down the hatch!"

She shut her eyes again, eagerly waiting for sounds. His chugging throat as it gulps down the liquid, the lovestruck gasp escaping his lungs, his corny yet lovely confessions of his love for her... She could not wait!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

The screaming of a familiar voice immediately demanded Sweetie Belle to open her eyes. All she could see was a white and purple blur dive between her and Connor, knocking the glass out of the colt's hoof before he could sip in one drop. Also, as it passed by, it knocked over the filly's glass, too. The blur landed, sliding over the grass, skidding to a stop. That color of the pony's coat... that purple, wavy, fabulous mane... It belonged to...

"RARITY!!" Sweetie Belle shrieked at the top of her lungs. "You idiot!! Look what you've done!"

"Yeah, Rarity, what the hell?" Connor said sounding almost frustrated as the little filly. "I was going to drink that!"

"That was close!" shouted Scootaloo as she and Apple Bloom ran up to the picnic blanket.

"Scootaloo? Apple Bloom? What are you doing here??"

"Connor, don't drink that liquid!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, pointing her hoof at the stain of the hot pink drink.

"Why not? It's punch! Punch that Sweetie Belle made for me."

"It's not punch!" Scootaloo said. "That's--!"

All of a sudden, Rarity was right next to the colt, smiling drearily. A little pink stain resided on her bottom lip. Her eyes were glowing red and pink expanding rings. She leaned really close to the colt, who was backing way up in confusion and discomfort.

"Rarity?" Connor stammered.

"Oh, Connor, I... never noticed how so... ravishing you are."

"Come again??"

"Connor, I... I...!"

"What?? You're what??"

"Connor, I... I...!

"Spit it out already! Are you okay?"

"Connor," she said not taking her eyes off of him. "I... I'm in love with you!!"

"Ohhhhhh, you have got to be kidding me! Not you, too! Haven't I--GURK!! You're choking me!"

"Hold me, my love! Hold me like you have never held me before! Embrace me, my lovey-dovey, willy-nilly, bitsy-witsy, cutie-patootie, schmoopum-poopums!" she said, nuzzling her soft cheek hard against his, humming happily. "Mmmmmmmmm!"

"Wh--? 'Schmoopum-poopums'?? What the f--?!"

"Oh, darling!" she tossed her head way back, acting very dramatic. "I love you so much! Say that you love me, too!"

"Get the hell off of me! Girls, what the hell is going on?!" he asked the two Crusaders.

"The love poison! That punch ya were about to drink was the love poison!" Apple Bloom said.

"Love... poison??" he said, looking at Sweetie Belle, who shrunk back in fear and shame.

"Whoever drinks it will be in love with the next pony he or she sees," Scootaloo nodded.

"Run away with me, wossum-possum! Run away with me! Together, we will make glooooorious music!"

"Rarity, shut--!" Connor was cut off by her hooves grabbing his face.

"Oh, my love! I cannot contain myself any longer! I must, I must, I must! Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!" she pecked at his cheek repeatedly.

"JESUS CH--! Get off of me!"

He could not take it anymore. Feeling the power coming from his hysteria, he tore the lovestruck unicorn's face from his. Her lips were soon kissing the air in front of her. Almost violently, he threw her off of him. Rarity was rolling in the grass, sighing happily and dreamily as she hugged herself. Connor's head snapped toward Sweetie Belle, who looked extremely frightened. His stare was colder than the ice in the deepest circle of hell.

"You..." was all he could say, before he dashed away.

Sweetie Belle reached for him, but he soon disappeared in the foliage of the forest. Her eyes were filled to the brim with tears.

"Yoo-hooooooo! Connor! Wait for me, my love! Wait for-WHOOP!" Rarity fell flat on her face. Behind the fallen unicorn, Scootaloo's foreleg was extended.

"Apple Bloom! Get the picnic blanket! She's out cold! Cover her face while you have the chance!"

"Darn tootin'!" replied the yellow filly, yanking the blanket with her teeth. She curtained it over the unconscious unicorn's face and fastened the ends, leaving the unicorn's head completely covered.

"That oughta take care of it," Apple Bloom said, wiping the sweat off of her forehead.

The two fillies looked behind themselves to see a teary-eyed Sweetie Belle, looking down at the grass in front of her.

"Let's go, Scoot," the farm filly said. "Ah got the top, you got the bottom."

They lifted Rarity off of the ground and began walking away.

"Yeah... She really needs our help," the pegasus said to her fellow crusader.

"Once we get Rarity back to the boutique, then we'll see her."

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Rarity disappeared behind the foliage. The only pony that remained in view was Sweetie Belle.

Tears slid down the blades of the grass.

"What have I done?" she whimpered.

To be continued...

Chapter XI

"Sleep tight, Sweetie Belle," her mother whispered, kissing her forehead right next to her horn. "It's going to be another big day tomorrow. I'm sure this will all be better tomorrow morning."

The filly said nothing. She curled up tighter underneath her covers in shame.

"Good night, sweetie," her mother sighed. The black silhouette walked towards the bright yellow light, leaving a shadow directly on the little filly's face.

Sweetie Belle could not tell if eyes were playing tricks on her, but through the roundness of her mother's silhouette, she swore she could see an angry colt march out the door. Even though her mother closed the door gently, the filly could hear a mighty slam like it was closed in anger. Not bearing to hallucinate about it any longer, she shamefully pulled the covers over her head, basking in pity and tears in the dark.

She had really done it now.

She lost her friends.

She lost her hopes.

She lost her dreams.

She lost love.

She lost her sister, Rarity.

But, most of all, she lost Connor, her only ticket to happiness and comfort.

What seemed like forever, she tried to close her eyes and sleep, but she was afraid that those bad things were going to haunt her in her nightmares. She wished not to be reminded again. However, she also knew if she did not sleep at all, she was going to feel like crap the next day. She knew it was going to be a no-win situation.

However, sleep or not, she knew she could not be comfortable in doing anything else without doing something first.

Something she had to attempt to do again.

Connor was feeling really tired. From his cussing, cursing, fits, and frustration, his anger from earlier today wore him out like a rag. He felt like an empty walnut shell, feeling derived of his one pleasure in life: Fluttershy. He was never going to get her back now. It was all thanks to Sweetie Belle, the deceiver. He was not even sure if he was ever going to speak to her again. The nerve of trying to drug him with a freaking love poison! He thought it was downright dastardly to put somepony under control like that, when that somepony was trying really hard to make amends for his past life.

He lied flat on his back on his mattress, staring up into the curtained ceiling of the podium. The buttons that pressed the curtain into the ceiling felt like looking into endless abysses, because of how they look so shaded from the dropping curtain around them. He felt his own soul being sucked away, or what was left of it. What was to suck in? There was hardly anything left in him, except for the measly residue of disappointment and sorrow residing on the walls of his insides.

He cussed in his breath...

Clop, clop, clop, clop, clop...

He could hear the sound of delicate hooves descending down the stairs. His ears lead his head toward the sound to see Rarity with a straight poker face. As soon as she hit the floor, she stood and paused, looking at the reclined colt. As soon as their eyes met, she quickly looked away as did he. She cleared her throat.

"Let us never speak of this again," she simply said.

"Speak of wh--? Oh, right."

As soon as Rarity recovered from the love poison which she intercepted from earlier today, she had been told of the things she said and the things she did under its spell. She was told that she called Connor names like "Schmoopum-poopums," and the like. She was told that she nuzzled him greatly as well as repeatedly kissing him on the cheek, which had really made her feel embarrassed. She had no memory of the like. As for the other things that had happened, when she was being carried off by the two Cutie Mark Crusaders, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, she blew off the blanket covering her head with her magic and chased Connor all through the town. She caught him and had nearly made out with him in front of the crowd of ponies. Plus, she made Connor die from embarrassment after she called him even more mushy, lovey-dovey baby names. Luckily, the two Crusaders were there to explain Rarity's behavior to everypony and they knocked her out once more with a shovel they found near Carrot Top's carrot patch. This time, they used duct tape and wrapped wrap around her head and over her eyes, which explained Rarity's newly applied eye shadow and one of her fake eyelashes looking a tad askew.

"Yes, let's just live the rest of our lives like this had never happened," she said plainly. "Anyway, I'm going to the arts and crafts store to buy some colored feathers for the dress for my next client. I won't take long."

"M'kay. See you in a bit."

Snatching her saddlebag, she galloped out the door, not saying another word. She blushed to herself in embarrassment. She should not blame herself for any of what she did because she had no memory of it, but she still felt really off.

Connor was by himself, alone with his thoughts...

The nerve of Sweetie Belle! he thought. Trying to drug me with a friggin' love poison! Poison! I didn't even know that there was love 'poison'! Well, I sure know about it now! What the hell is wrong with her?! God...

Just to calm himself down, he grabbed his electric guitar and plugged it into his amplifier. He lied back down onto his back and crossed his hind legs, so one of his legs would hold the guitar up to his stomach. He plucked a few strings and adjusted the volume and level. Clean electric... That should be enough to calm him down. He plucked at the lowest string and then the top three strings all in a cycle, playing the intro to "Nothing Else Matters."

Behind the soothing sound of the strings, he heard the door creak open. He heard some small hooves slowly walk toward him. A little, "Ahem" shortly followed after the hiatus of the hooves. Connor's eyebrows furrowed deeper. He knew what that sound belonged to.

"Um... Connor?"

He did not respond. He kept on plucking the strings of his guitar. A part of Sweetie Belle's heart ached. She remembered when he used to play that song when he was cheering her up because of her sprained ankle. What soothing memories... However, they were the reason why she was hurting so much right now.

"Connor?" she said louder.

"Shouldn't you be in bed right about now?" he asked in a soft, yet annoyed voice.

"I can't sleep..." she moped.

"Take a sleeping pill..." He resumed playing his guitar.

She sat on her haunches. "Connor... I'm really, really, really sorry..."

"That was what you said last time. Look how that turned out."

"No, I really am! Seriously! Honest to Celestia! It was very wrong of me to do that to you. I'm really sorry!"

Heard that one, too, he rolled his eyes.

"I just--! I just don't know what over me! I just lost myself, and, well, it happened! It's just..."

Connor did not feel like listening to her. He turned the knob on the amplifier to "Distorted" and increased the volume. He galloped at the low strings, playing a more aggressive series of notes.

Nonetheless, Sweetie Belle kept talking underneath the loud noise. "I like you... No, I love you! You want to know why? Those times... Those times you spent with me and my friends, it made me so happy to know that somepony cared for us, seeing that we are pretty freakish without our cutie marks. Plus, the things you did for me, like helping me..."

The colt increased the volume.

"...With my homework, my problems, and especially through the tough time I had with my sprained ankle, it really touched my heart. You made me feel happy, you made me feel loved, you made me feel appreciated for who I was. I wanted to feel like that forever! If only you would see how much..."

The colt strummed faster. Would she ever stop talking??

"... I felt for you sooner, then all of this wouldn't have happened!"

TWANG! After a strong spasm flowing through his foreleg, his low guitar string broke, nearly slapping him in the face. His shoulders shook in rage.

"So..." he spoke softly. "You're saying... that this is all my fault now?"

The filly, seeing her crush about to explode, stammered in fear. Was it his fault? Was it? She did not know what to say for an answer.

SLAM! He placed his guitar roughly on the hard surface next to the podium.

"DAMN RIGHT, IT ISN'T! It's your fault! Your fault alone!"

Sweetie Belle squeaked in fright and shrunk back.

"It's your fault that Fluttershy and I have broken up! It's your fault that I am feeling like this! Everything I'm feeling now and in the future is your fault! The mare I love is gone because of you!! It's was all in your hooves!! And you say it was all because you love me?! That's a really funny way of showing somepony that you love him! Am I right?!"

"I... I..." her voice was choked with tears.

"And, do I have to say this again?? Look at me!! I'm older than you! You and I both know that we can't date! Are you trying to turn me into a freaking pedophile?! To hell with that! I'm not and never will be! Love somepony your own size and age, instead of chasing pointless dreams and desires that will never come true in a million years!! Even if I was a younger colt, I would still not date you! I'd rather bash my own brains out with my guitar than date anyone so low as you!!"

He paused to look at the filly's frightened expression. Just what he wanted. He huffed through his nostrils, showing that he was calming himself down.

"You know what? Just get out of here..." he said calmer than before. "It's your bedtime anyway, little filly... I don't have any more time for this. You're not worth the trouble. Get lost."

Sweetie Belle gasped. Her eyes were soaking with tears.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get the hell out of here! Are you going to continue to waste my time? You've done enough..." he growled as he walked back to his bed. He hopped onto his mattress, angrily landing with a "thump!". He heaved an angry, stressed sigh. After a few seconds of silence, he began to hear bitter sniffling coming from the heart-broken unicorn.

"All right... I'll go.... I'm sorry that you feel that way... about me," she whimpered, voice croaking in clenching pain from the pent up desire to bawl. "No matter what happens, I still love you... forever and ever..."

Hanging her head miserably, she turned around, heading for the front door.

"I almost forgot..." she sniffed. "If you see Rarity, tell her that I'm sorry for accusing her for exposing my secret about my love for you. Tell her I was wrong to say such things to her since after I knew that she still loves and cares about me enough to keep my secret hidden. I want her as my older sister again. And tell her... I love her, too... Okay?"

He said nothing. Not a breath or a peep.

"Good-bye... my iron shield..." her voice cracked as bitter tears ran down her cheeks.

The door creaked to a close and Connor was alone again.

"Good riddance..." he muttered.

Clop, clop, clop...

He sat back up to she a displeased white unicorn. Her stare was cold as she looked at him from the kitchen.

"Rarity? That was quick. Wait... Where's all the feathers you bought?"

"The store was closed... I had forgotten that they closed earlier today. So, I came right back."

The colt twisted his face. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Her eyebrows furrowed deeper in response.

"You heard it?" he asked.

"From the start to the ending apology. I didn't want to interrupt, but now I see that I should've when I had the chance."

"Oh, jeez..." Connor pressed his hoof onto his forehead. "You, too?"

"Have you no shame??" Rarity scolded mightily.

"Why should I?! It's all true!"

"The nerve of you, unleashing all of that fury onto a poor, little filly like her! She's only a foal!"

"Well, foals need to learn somehow! All of this was her fault! If she hadn't shown Fluttershy those damn photos, I wouldn't be in this mess! Plus, she tried to freaking drug with a love poison! Poison, for God's sake!! You're saying that you are defending her?? What kind of cruel joke is this? Since when did this come out into the open? You don't understand how crappy I'm feeling right now! All because of her..."

Rarity eyed him grimly. She huffed, "Well, you were still the one who kissed Lily behind Fluttershy's back."

"Wh--? Th--! I--! Rarity, come on! Don't remind me abou--."

"Why shouldn't I? The only foal I see right now is you! You're the one who is acting a little foal."

"Jesus, Rarity..."

"You're the one who needs to be yelled at! Plus, you're not even teaching her a lesson; you're making her feel worse! No, you're lying to yourself into thinking you are teaching her a lesson, when you are really just frustrated with yourself for doing something wrong behind Fluttershy's back, and you're taking it all out on a little filly, for Celestia's sake!"

"How dare you!" Connor fumed.

"I dare!!" Rarity answered boldly. "Admit it! You are frustrated with yourself for kissing Lily while knowing you were with Fluttershy!"

"I...! I--ARRRGH! Fine! I am! However, that does not change the fact that she nearly tricked me into drinking that love poison!"

Rarity spoke softer, relaxing a bit. "Yes, I have to admit that was low of her, but you are still to blame."

"Oh, come on! Really?" he rolled his head.

"Yes! The very day you found out that Fluttershy knew about your little act, you acted so surly around Sweetie Belle. You even yelled at her, because you couldn't control your anger with yourself. That kind of attitude made her go even deeper into the dirt pit to do something that would get your approval. Plus, even if she was planning to frame you with another mare, you still kissed her, which made you more of the guilty one than her."

"I... but..."

"I'm glad that she caught you, because right now, you wouldn't be learning something important as this. Imagine how Sweetie Belle must feel now. She must feel so frightened and hurt. Rethink to the last time you got yelled at by your parents when you were small. Especially for something that you didn't do. You must have felt pretty scared and hurt back then. It did not feel so good, I presume? Now put yourself into Sweetie Belle's hooves. It's pretty much the same, isn't it?"

The colt stared at the ground. "Yes..." he spoke meekly.

"I know you are upset about what you did, but taking it out on other ponies, especially fillies, is never the right thing to do. I realize that now. If you do just that, then you will make yourself very foolish and bad. You aren't a bad pony, are you?"

"N...No... but, now I sure do feel like I am..."

"Well, you are not. You are a good pony. If you want to stay that way, then you will have to do the good thing. It's not too late to still be the good pony you were."

The memories of just a few minutes ago with Sweetie Belle rushed back into his head, along with the other times he acted so surly around her.

"Oh, God..." he said, his face frozen in sudden realization. He cupped his face with his hooves. "I feel like a complete jackass... No offense."

"None taken," a mule said as he chomped on Rarity's flowers in the window.

"Ahh! What are you doing? Go! Shoo! Shoo! Those are not for you!" Rarity yelped as she brushed the mule away. "Honestly... Anyway, that is a good thing, too. It's part of learning, part of life, my friend. Now, what are you going to do next?"

Connor pounded a hoof into his other. "I'm going to apologize to Sweetie Belle for my foolish behavior."

"There we go! There's the gentlecolt I know!"

Without another word, he dashed out the front door.

Wait... Really? Leave just like that?

He dashed right back into the boutique and gave Rarity a quick kiss on the cheek, who yelped in surprise. "Thanks, Rarity, for the wake-up call! You're really generous."

He ran back out the door.

"No problem, darling!" she smiled, blushing a little. "Yes, a gentlecolt..."

Outside, Connor galloped toward Sweetie Belle's house.

I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle. You have made mistakes, but so have I. I'm sorry for taking all of my frustration out on you. I was just so angry with myself that I couldn't keep it to myself. It was wrong of me to blame everything on you. Your corruption was all my doing. Please forgive me... he rehearsed in his mind as he ran.

He slowed to walking speed. What made him slow down like that? Just thinking about her made him feel even more guilty and nervous. The image of her crying expression throbbed in his memory. Seeing that he had hurt her badly, would she ever forgive him? She had to. She loved him, right? It would be easy for her to forgive him, right?

Without even realizing it, he saw himself one hundred yards away from Sweetie Belle's house. His heart sank. The house looked just as sad as she did before she left him alone. The dark windows showed lifelessness within the premises.

Ironic thing was, what heard inside was the exact opposite of lifelessness. There was action going on in there. He heard worried and panicked voices coming from inside.

Gravely concerned by what was going on, he rushed toward the house of muffled voices. He knocked on the door, revealing Sweetie Belle's father, who was wearing his bathrobe like he had slung it on in a huge hurry. His expression was tense with worry.

"Mr. Rar--... Uh, Mr. Be--... Sir, what's going on? I was just going to come by and--!"

Suddenly, Sweetie Belle's mother, pounced on him and shook his shoulders. She sure had some muscle.

"Did you find her?! Did you find Sweetie Belle?!" she shrilled. "Oh, please tell us that you did!"

Connor broke himself from her grip. "What's going on?"

"Our little pony has run away! She's gone!!" she bawled.

"WHAT??" he said, feeling his spine grow cold in fear.

"We found a note on her bed, saying that she was!" the white stallion said, holding his bawling, hysterical wife. "We don't even know where she went off to!"

Connor dazed off into the distance, looking around himself. He could not believe what he just heard. His eyes darted around the surroundings cloaked in Princess Luna's night.

"Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. B--... Ra--. (Oy, do I need to know these guys names...) Don't worry, I'll find her!"

The pink mare instantly fell to the ground and hugged the colt's forelegs. "You will??" she asked.

"Yes."

"Oh, thank you, Connor! Thank you so much!"

"Don't mention it."

"Oh, please find her! Pleeheeheeze!"

"I will!"

"Please!"

"I will, just... Can you, uhhh, let go of my forelegs, please? With all due respect, I need them to run..."

"Honey!" the white stallion hissed at his wife, who immediately released the colt's legs.

"Sorry," she sniffled. "Please find her! Hurry!"

"I will!" he said before dashing away.

Connor pumped his legs against the dirt ground as hard as he could. Grunts of strength and frustration rung in his breath.

This is my fault he thought. This is all my fault. If only I'd forgiven her earlier, then this wouldn't happen. She ran away because of me! I've got to find her... before... something else does...

Soon, he stopped running. He fell to his haunches to take a breath as well as submission to defeat. His head whirled around, looking into the thick darkness. Hardly anything was visible. The ground looked nothing more than a pitch-black blanket. How the hell was he supposed to find hoofprints in this darkness? He did not want to just run around amuck. He would be way off course. He could be running in the opposite direction. He was sure as hell could not find her until morning. Lord knows what would happen to her. She could be gone far away. She could be hurt.

She could be dead...

His horrid imagination of what would happen to the little filly had him nearly weeping in despair and fright. What should he do?

"Hey, Connor! What are ya doin' out here?"

The colt flinched, startled by the voice directly next to him. He saw Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

"Are ya all right?" the farm filly asked with concern.

"Girls! Sweetie Belle has run away!"

The fillies gasped in horror.

"She ran away?!" the Scootaloo gasped. "When??"

"Just recently. I need to find her! Oh, God, this is all my fault! I've caused this..."

"What happened? What didja do?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I was angry with her... I said harsh things to her... With a little talk with Rarity, I have realized how badly I have screwed up... Now, this is happening. I feel so bad, that I have to find her. Can you help me, girls?"

"Sorry fer yer sins! Now, that's what ah'm talkin' about! We'll help ya!"

"Thank you so much, girls. I suppose you have an idea on where to start?"

"Git Miss Rarity! She's her sister and a unicorn! She could use her magic to find her."

Connor slapped his forehead with his hoof. "Jeez, I can't believe I haven't thought of that sooner. Good idea!"

SLAM!!

"RARITY!" All three ponies shouted.

"MOTHERBUCKER!!" shrieked the white unicorn. "It never fails!! Every time I use the needle at near-dangerous situations!! Honestly!"

She froze. Her expression became blank. She slowly turned her head around to look at the three ponies staring at her in surprise. Connor and two, small, innocent fillies...

Well, that was very unladylike of her...

Her entire face turned pink as she smiled sheepishly. "Did I just say that?"

"Rarity! I need your help!" Connor ran up to her.

"What's wrong, darling?"

"Sweetie Belle's run away!"

She gasped. "Oh, no! Not Sweetie Belle!"

"We need your magic to help us find her! Does your tracking spell help with ponies?"

"Of course! I was able to find you and Sweetie Belle with it before you drank that love poison."

"Good! Good, good!" Connor stuttered from his mind being overindulged by the spark of hope. "Now, come on! We gotta find her!"

The four ponies rushed out of the boutique, being engulfed in the unpredictable, blind darkness.

Don't worry, Sweetie Belle... I'm coming... the colt thought.

He did not know that the white unicorn was thinking the exact same thing.

The sounds of the wildlife composed of chittering, chirping, snarling, low warbling, rumbling, and growling...

As well as tearful sniffling...

"I'm sorry, Connor..." she sniffled. "I'm so sorry... (Sniffle!) You won't have to worry about me anymore... I won't be (Sniffle!) a burden to you any longer... You're life would be better without me... Rarity... I'm so sorry for the things I said to you... I want you back, but you probably wo--WHOA! OOF!"

She fell to the ground, landing roughly on her chest, which caused her saddlebag to skitter a few feet in front of her. She rolled on ground, clenching her chest and whimpering in pain. She looked up from the dirt ground. Her tears soaked in the dirt, creating two thin streams of mud trailing down her cheeks. She saw her saddlebag, alone on the ground without its owner. It looked desolate and alone like a baby that had been abandoned by its mother. Peeking out of the saddlebag was the smiling portrait of Connor. Whimpering in worry, she scrambled up to the fallen portrait and lifted it to her face level, making sure nothing broke. She moaned tearfully when she saw a long, wriggly crack trail directly across it, starting from the top left corner and ending on the bottom right corner like a big cross-out mark. the crack sullied the colt's smile, making it look more wriggled and tainted. The photo got wet because of the fallen tears that were traveling through the cracks of the broken glass. She pushed the portrait against her own chest, giving it a heart-broken hug. His image in the photo was the only presence of him Sweetie Belle had left, and she had broken it like she broke him. She was not sure if she could forgive herself anymore.

"Please forgive me..." she whispered, kissing the portrait behind the broken glass.

She placed it carefully back into her saddlebag and resumed walking, planning to leave Ponyville once and for all.

Unbeknownst to her, something else following behind her had some plans as well.

"Are we getting close?" Connor called to Rarity.

"Getting closer, but we still have a ways to go!" she called back.

Suddenly, she stopped and the other three ponies bumped into her from behind.

"Rarity, let us know when you're going to do that, all right?" the colt said, immediately backing away from her rump to prevent any wrong thought.

The unicorn said nothing.

"Rarity?" the colt said again.

He walked around her front, seeing a horrified expression on her face. "Rar--."

"Oh, dear Celestia, help us!" she said pointing her hoof out directly in front of her.

The colt's head turned to the direction of her pointing hoof.

"Oh, shhh..." he muttered.

What stood before his eyes were gargantuan, twisting, dark trees with jagged branches towering over them. Vines, tree moss, and big blades of bushes protruded from between the tree trunks. What lied past the trees was thick humidity mixed with darkness.

"The Everfree Forest," Apple Bloom shuddered.

"She went in there of all places?? What is she thinking?!" Scootaloo shrieked in worry.

"She could've walked in there without realizing it, but nonetheless, we're getting her out of there," Connor proclaimed.

"Are ya crazy??" the farm filly pulled at his hind leg. "We can't go in there! It's extremely dangerous in there in the dark! We'd lucky to get outta there alive! That forest has creatures and who-knows-whats like you wouldn't believe!"

"You... don't say?" he said, taking another look into the depths of the sketchy forest. He had never trekked the Everfree Forest before. Now that he took a closer look at it, he had a chilling feeling that there actually was something supernatural about the forest. If he took another step in there, he would be more vulnerable to danger than anypony else since this was his first time. He bit his lip nervously.

"Just stick with me, girls," Rarity tried to console them. "I've been in this forest before along with the others when we first met. As long as I'm around, you'll all be fine. Besides, I think I know who will help us, in case we run into any creature."

Connor felt his stomach wrench.

Just a few hundred yards away, Fluttershy's cottage was visible. They could see the bright yellow lights coming from the windows, which meant she was still home. They all galloped quickly up to the door. Rarity was about to knock, until she noticed the colt standing at an awkward distance, scratching his foreleg with his other.

"I know, darling. I know what you're thinking. It may feel odd, but you have to put all of your troubles and discomforts aside for now. Without her help, Sweetie Belle would be lost forever. You have to trust me on this."

The colt nodded after three seconds of self-debate. Rarity stepped aside, showing the colt the door. Butterflies grew in his stomach, but he quickly ignored them. There was no moment to lose. He knocked on the door. Just hearing the pegasus' delicate hoofsteps from behind the door made him feel nervous. The door creaked open and the yellow light poured out onto the four ponies.

"Hello? Who is--? EEP!" she squeaked when she saw Connor, standing in front of her.

"Fluttershy, I--."

"Please, Connor, leave me alone..." she said closing the door, which was stopped by his hoof.

"Fluttershy, listen to me!"

"No! Leave me be!" she said, trying to push her door shut. The colt winced in pain as his foot was being crushed by the door.

"I need your help! We all need your help!"

"With what?" she asked, still pushing.

"Sweetie Belle's run away, and she's gone into the Everfree Forest!"

She lost grip of the floor and instantly slipped, falling onto the floor, causing the door to swing open.

"Sweetie Belle?? Ran away?" she gasped. "The Everfree Forest??"

The colt nodded.

She gasped in fright. "Ohmygoodness, ohmygoodness!"

"We need you to help vend off anything that crosses our path or her path! We've got no time!"

Without another word, Fluttershy ran out of the cottage. If one of her friends' life was on the line, her fear for anything had completely vanished.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Sweetie Belle kept repeating as she walked by herself.

SNAP!

The filly gasped and froze in her place. Her head slowly turned to look behind herself. All she saw was a gaping chasm formed by huge, grisly trees. The path she walked was engulfed by the fog skulking over the ground.

SNAP!

She flinched as she turned towards the sound coming from the front. She swore she could see a dark figure cross the path, which sent a cruel chill down her spine. Noises came from all around her. The bushes and branches were being tossed around in the sudden breeze. Her mind felt suddenly awake after being foggy in sadness. She did not know where she was or how she ended up there either.

"Wh-wh-where am I... exactly?"

A large owl hooted loudly. The filly swallowed her fear and began walking again, doing her best to ignore what was behind her.

"It's fine. It's nothing. It's just your imagination, Sweetie Belle. It's just your imagination. Stop thinking so much. It's nothing. Nothing. Nothing at--."

The sound of a snarl rung loudly behind her. Having her fill of jump scares, she could not contain herself any further. She ran, pumping her little hooves against the ground. As she was running, she snuck a few peeks behind herself to make sure whatever was following her was gone. As soon as she looked back toward the front, something ran into her face. It felt stringy, sticky, and light as a feather, except for the area to the left of her head which had a black ball of fur and eight legs.

"AAA!" she squealed, throwing the web off of her face. She ran faster, dodging past bushes and tree trunks, praying that the worst would be over.

Instead, she tripped over a tree stump and tumbled down a large hill. Her eyes were blind, seeing nothing more than swirling blackness and bits of moonshine illuminating the leaves of the bushes she tumbled past. She spun furiously over the ground like a barrel. After what seemed like a half minute of falling, she had finally hit ground.

She groaned from the nausea caused by her dizziness as well as the pain from the newly formed bruise marks forming all over her body. She was lying on her stomach in the dirt. Feeling heavy from the action, she could hardly stand herself up. Her torso felt heavy as lead, and her limbs were weak. After her vision cleared, she could see her saddlebag lying six feet in front of her. Using the strength she could muster, she pressed her hooves into the ground and using only her forelegs, she crawled toward her saddlebag. Inch by inch, the bag was getting closer to her reach. The only thing that was between her and her bag was the thick fog lurking on top of the ground. The closer she got to her bag, the thicker it grew, until it was completely concealed.

However, she stayed her course. She kept crawling forward. She stretched her foreleg out further in front of her, feeling for part of it. Her hoof felt something.

Long... Slender... Made out of wood...

She felt her hoof moisten from something wet. and dripping.

"Ewww!" she grimaced. "Gross! What is this--?"

She heard something, which immediately made her stop talking. She heard a low, raspy sound, which was loud enough to vibrate in her hoof. The tingling in her forehead signified Sweetie Belle that the noise was coming from over her head. She saw a pair of angry, hungry, glowing, yellow eyes. At the same time, the fog began to clear, revealing a drooling, snarling, growling, huge timberwolf.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"Holy horseapples!" Scootaloo flinched, scared half to death by the sudden, high-pitched scream.

"That sounded like Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, holding her ear.

"She's in trouble! We have to hurry!" Connor said.

Fluttershy gasped in horror.

"Let's move!!" the colt commanded.

Once again, they ran at full speed toward the direction the filly's scream came from.

Please, just let us be there in time! the colt thought. Hang on, Sweetie Belle! You are not going to perish because of me!

"Watch the hill, darlings!" Rarity called. "Downhill drop!"

The elevation began to decrease quickly as the five ponies ran down the slope of the hill. Their strides grew larger as they used the gravitational pull for a boost in speed.

"The slope's getting too steep!" Scootaloo shouted as her hooves desperately dug at the surface, trying to find her grip.

Because of the loss of control in speed, they all lost their traction and tumbled down the hill together (except for Fluttershy, who was flying).

They landed roughly at the bottom of the hill, one by one, kicking up a large cloud of dust.

"Is everypony okay? Nopony hurt?" Connor coughed the dust out of his throat.

"Other than my mane being dirty, I'm fine, darling," Rarity replied.

"We're fine," the Crusaders said in unison.

"Fluttershy, you okay?" the colt called.

"No!!"

"What? What happened? Where are you hurt?!"

"No! Look!" the pegasus pointed.

Just a few feet away from them was a white saddlebag with a lime-green shoulder strap, stained with mud and peculiar and ghastly red stains.

"Is... is that...b-blood?" Scootaloo stammered, eyes filled with fear.

Without another word, Connor walked up to the lone, rugged, stained saddlebag. He stood as still as a statue, looking down at it like a vulture. He did not move for what seemed like ten seconds.

Then, he collapsed to the ground, pounding furious hooves on the ground. Angry, tearful snarls escaped from his lungs each pound he made.

"RMPH! RMPH! DRMPH! DURPH! DAMN! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! GOD! DAMMIT! TOO! LATE! TOO! LATE!" his voice strained in anger.

He hurled one last punch into the ground, which was polluted with craters. Feeling all the air and energy leaving him, he fell back onto his haunches. His shoulders quivered. Bitter tears streamed down his eyes. His breath was shuddering, squeaking with the longing urge to weep.

"We're too late..." was all he was able to say from his aching throat. "We're too late... Sweetie Belle... I'm so sorry... It's all my fault... Forgive me..." his voice trailed off to spasmodic outbursts of weeping.

Suddenly, the bag was engulfed with blue magic. As if it was being gently lifted by fairies, it flew up to Rarity, who wrapped her forelegs tightly around it as she stained it with her bitter tears.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle!" she cried. "Why does this have to happen? Just why?? WHY?? If only we made it in time, you would still be alive! I have failed you!"

She pressed her wet cheeks once again on the bearer of bad news. She weeped harder when she smelled the filly's peach-scented perfume in the pores of the cloth.

Her crying calmed as her face twisted in confusion.

She smelled something else as well...

Boysenberries? That was the kind of fruit Sweetie Belle hated the most. She hated them so much, she would not even buy a Boysenberry-scented perfume. Yet, why did she smell--?

Her nose wrinkled as it felt something wet brush against it. Rarity wiped at it and saw the red stain on the tip of her hoof. She sniffed it again.

"Wait..." she said before taking another sniff. "This isn't blood..."

Connor's crying came to a halt immediately, but his eyes were still red and filled with tears. "It... It's not??"

"No. It's Boysenberry..."

"So, that means..."

"AHHHHHHH!!!" Sweetie Belle squealed between her breaths as she ran.

Driven by ultimate fear, she could feel herself running at a speed that Rainbow Dash would be jealous of. However, that was from only her perspective. She could feel the breeze kicked up from the running legs from the flock of timberwolves behind her, as well as their hot breaths lightly touching the back of her scalp. As soon as she took a quick peek behind herself, she could see the hungry maw of a timberwolf snap shut one inch in front of her face, which made her shriek in fright and coerce her to pick up the pace. However, even though she looked back for only second, she was able to see that there were about four timberwolves chasing her.

Through the passing and blurry foliage in front of her, she saw a horizontally overhanging vine about to catch her head. She immediately ducked down and heard one of the grisly creatures yelp in surprise. She heard multiple bodies fall upon the grass blade and the whines disappeared behind her. However, whether or not they gave up on her, she did not stop running. She had to get out of the forest quickly. She had had enough. She immediately regretted running into this damned forest.

Suddenly, she found herself face-first on the ground, skidding uncontrollably up to a huge and wide tree. She could feel the blood flow up to her face as her back slammed into the massive trunk, upside down. Her cranium was pounding painfully, each beat of her running heart worsening the pain.

Her eyes saw yellow, blinking, glowing blobs nearing her. The timberwolves growled viciously as saliva dripped from their fangs. Sweetie Belle jumped right side up, but fell back down again, because her brain was ethereal from shifting too quickly. She lethargically wobbled in her place as the vicious beast closed in on her. She shook her head, fighting the dreariness and searched desperately for an opening to slip through. However, the huge, protruding tree roots took away her attempt to run left and right. She could not jump up over them either. It was not use to jump dart forward and plow through them either. The wolves took away that chance as well.

She was cornered.

The beasts snarled viciously as if they were saying, "No way to escape, little one. You're done fore. Let the feast commence! We will enjoy ripping you apart."

Whimpering, Sweetie Belle's eyes flickered left and right, frightened to see which one would strike first. Her shaking grew more violent seeing the wolves close in on her at once.

This was the end... She never thought she would see herself end this way... She thought she would die peacefully at old age... However, fate was insensitive and cruel to allow a little foal to die a grisly, horrid, disturbing, painful death.

Fate and its sick sense of humor...

She gave up. She shut her eyes tightly, waiting for her death. I love you, Mom... I love you, Dad... I love you, Rarity... I love you, girls... and I love you--...

She heard hooves land directly in front of her.

"...Connor??"

"Get the hell away from her, you sons of bitches!" the colt's voice roared. "Don't touch her!"

The wolves backed away, surprised to see another pony come out from nowhere and defend the little one. However, they knew that there was going to be more meat available. Their teeth bared, ready to tear through the colt if it meant getting their original target.

"Sweetie Belle! Go! Get away from here!" the colt said to Sweetie Belle.

She hugged his hind leg, crying. "No! Don't do this! I don't want y--!"

"I said MOVE, dammit! GO! I want you safe!"

"Sweetie Belle!" whispered Rarity from a distance. "Come here! Quickly!"

Seeing her older sister at a distance behind some foliage, she began to run to her. One of the timberwolves noticed the filly trying to escape and instantly leapt at her, claws and sharp teeth ready to tear into flesh. It was knocked off course by a mighty buffet to the head by the colt's hind legs. It whined as it struck the ground. Seeing one of its companions down, another wolf launched itself at the colt, willing to make the colt pay for his deed. Connor ducked, and the beast slammed into the tree trunk. The other two wolves circled around him like sharks. One lunged to snap at his legs while the other waited for an opening. As the colt strafed, keeping his sights on both of the wolves, he picked up a large stick with his teeth. However, one of the wolves knew his strategy and grabbed the other end of it with its sharp teeth. The two were engaged in a tug-of-war, one holding him down, the other trying to get his weapon. Seeing the colt's outstretched neck, the other timberwolf tensed its muscled, ready for an attack. It leapt into the air and its mouth opened wide, unsheathing its sharp teeth. Connor noticed the growing shadow and instantly moved away, causing the attacker to attack its own companion. The wolf squealed in pain and released its grip of the stick. It tugged, trying release its wooden hide from the teeth of the other.

The colt thought he would help. With a mighty swing of the thick stick, he struck the head of the biter, and the biter was knocked off the other's hide. Tree sap (which was the timberwolves' blood) dripped from the teeth that belonged to Connor's attacker. The two got on their paws, and they bared their teeth at the colt, signifying him that he was pushing his luck with fighting them. Connor jabbed the end of his stick at them, backing them off.

Wait, what about the other two?

CHOMP!! The sharp teeth of the third timberwolf sank into Connor's foreleg. He hollered in pain as the wolf clamped its jaws tighter, nearly crushing his bones. Hot blood was dripping freshly from the wounds.

"GO TO HELL!" the colt shouted jamming the end of the stick repeatedly into the timber wolf's face. However, the beast held its grip, clamping down even harder.

The other wolf saw this as the perfect opportunity to attack his other foreleg and try to tear him apart. It charged, but was knocked off course once again by Connor's weapon. It sprung back up and charged again, thus the colt swung at him again. Connor had hit something, but he found the stick gripped tightly in the beast's jaws. It flung its head violently side to side until the stick was out of the colt's teeth, leaving him exposed without a weapon. Trying again, it pounced at Connor, but the colt ducked and the attacker's teeth landed directly on the face of the wolf biting his foreleg. It yelped in pain, thus it made it start to panic. It tugged and wrenched at the colt's wound, making it wider and bleed more profusely. Grimacing through the pain, he tried to drag the stick back to him with his foreleg, but the wolf was pulling him back, being in a state of pain and panic it was currently in now. He could only find a spear-head shaped rock in his reach. Using his foreleg to drag it in, he grabbed ahold of it and jammed it into the eye of the the beast chomping on his other foreleg. It screamed in pain and released its grip, also dragging the wolf that was still stuck on its face. Connor took his first weapon and slung it down on top of the muzzle of the beast like a sledgehammer, thus causing the wolf's jaw to forcefully close and bite the other wolf's muzzle completely off.

He was about to strike again, until his mind suddenly became heavy and dreary. His forelegs were up in the air as they gripped the stick, originally ready for another hammer attack. He felt blood drip profusely on top of his muzzle. His eyes felt like they were rolling back into his brain and he staggered to the ground, dropping his heavy stick. His head was tipping from dizziness. He was losing too much blood from his wound. His vision was foggy. His ears were giving out, making all sounds around him muffled and droning. All he could hear was vicious and hungry snarling. All he could see were glowing, yellow, angry eyes, closing in on him.

"Damn you... Damn you all..." he muttered. He knew he was about to lose.

"HOW DARE YOU!!" a white and light purple blob squeaked in front of him. "Don't you touch him ever again!!"

"Rarity!" he called, feeling lethargic from his blood loss. "You were supposed to keep her with you!"

"She just slipped from me! She was really quick!"

"Sweetie Belle!" he said. "Wh... What the hell are you d... doing?! Get away! Run!!"

She did not respond. She continued to glare at the wolves in front of her. "You will not touch him ever again, do you hear me, you mangy mutts?! If you do, then you'll all be sorry! I'll turn all of you into maple syrup for my pancakes!"

Rarity, Fluttershy, and the Crusaders could not help but sit and watch in horror as the little filly stood up to the horrid monsters.

"I love him! He is my iron shield! I will not allow you to take him away from me, even if it means that I will have to risk my life! Come on! Do your worst, you sorry excuses for tree sap! I dare you! I'm not afraid of you anymore!"

The wolves' growl only became more senile and bloodthirsty. Oh, were they willing to do their worst.

Fluttershy gasped in horror. Was Sweetie Belle really going to do this on her own? Despite her bravery, even Fluttershy believed what she was trying to express in front of them was suicidal. What could she do?

She knew exactly what to do.

She glided stealthily up to her and landed quietly behind Sweetie Belle.

Then, she opened her eyes, staring into the eyes of the wolves. Her eyes suddenly shifted from sweet and adorable, to chilling, angry, and overpowering.

The wolves noticed the yellow pegasus behind the oblivious filly. At first, they thought it was nothing.

Until they got a closer look...

They instantly backed down and started whimpering in fear as they stared into the wide, terrifying, glaring diamonds of the graceful, sweet pegasus. With their will to feed immediately obliterated by Fluttershy's stare, they turned around and ran away, whimpering and howling in embarrassing defeat. They had let a pony best them.

"That's right, you dirty dogs! You'd better run! Connor is mine!! PHBBBBBT!"

Fluttershy stifled a smile. Maybe, she should let the filly have her fun for now.

"Sweetie Belle!" she exclaimed before giving her a hug. "Are you all right?"

"Mm-hmm," she nodded.

Suddenly, Rarity ran up to her and snatched her up into a tight hug. "Oh, Sweetie Belle! I'm so glad you're all right! How dare you scared us like that! We were so worried about you! I was! Why did you run away from us?"

"Everypony was mad at me..." she muttered shamefully, kicking the dust on the ground. "Connor said I was not worth the trouble and that he'd never date me if he even was a little colt and--."

"Yes, darling, I know... I was there..."

"You... you heard everything?" she asked as her head rose up quickly in surprise. "Even...?"

"Yes, little sister," Rarity smiled, gently brushing the mud streaks on her face. "However, I should be the one to apologize to you. Those things you said about me were true. Plus, those things I said to you, I regret. I promise to be the better sister than I was before. Less spa time, more sister time."

"But I made mistakes, too! I want to apologize more than you do."

The older pony smiled. "We both made mistakes. Will you forgive me as I forgive you?"

Tears of harmony and joy welled in the filly's eyes. She pounced on her older sister and wrapped her forelegs around the unicorn's slender neck in a tight hug. Rarity hugged back, cooing in glee. The other two Crusaders joined the hug.

"We owe you an apology, too, Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo said after she released her from her forelegs.

"We're sorry that we acted so insensitive back there. Ya really needed our help, and we dumped ya right on the spot. We felt so darn ashamed..." Apple Bloom moped.

At first, the white filly was surprised. Then, she smiled. "And I'm sorry for deceiving you guys. I should've been more honest with you."

"Plus, we want ya back into the Crusaders, 'cuz this whole society thing was your idea. Also, we couldn't come up with any ideas without ya. Ya, know, you bein' the one with the most good ideas," the country filly added sheepishly.

"And we missed you sooner than we could imagine," the orange filly mentioned. "Pretty dang fast, if you ask me."

"Of course, I'll come back! Your offer is accepted!" Sweetie Belle squeaked happily.

They all gathered in for a hoof bump before engaging in another group hug.

"Ungh..." grunted a certain colt in the wedge of the tree.

It made Sweetie Belle's stomach jump to hear him. She saw the colt sitting dazedly in his place, holding onto his bleeding foreleg. His head was drooping over his deep wounds. After taking a few loud breaths, he shifted his injured hoof up into the air and placed it down onto the ground. He shifted all of his hooves underneath him until they were in position to stand up. He bared his teeth, groaning and fighting the clenching pain in his injury. The pain was too much, and he collapsed onto the ground again.

"Oh, no, no, no! No, Connor. Just stay right there," Fluttershy said. She pulled out a first aid kit from her tail, which she placed in there for emergencies.

Sweetie Belle could only watch in sympathy and guilt as Connor's former fillyfriend began wrapping his wound with bandage tape. She bit at the tape, tearing the roll off. She left a longer, free piece to tightly tie around his leg directly over the wound.

"Aghhh..." he hissed through his teeth. He could feel his foreleg trembling from the crippling pain caused by the tightness. The pain slowly numbed, but he could still feel the pressure.

"That will stop the bleeding," Fluttershy softly said. She backed away about a foot, staring at him. She knew what he did behind her back with Lily was cruel, but she could not allow him to suffer. She was not the kind of pony to let another pony suffer for her own revenge. She still loved him... but only as a friend now.

Sweetie Belle slowly walked up to the injured colt, who noticed her when she was about five feet away. She stopped and sat down, staring shamefully at the ground. She drew blind lines in the dirt. She felt that she was not worthy to look at him after what she did.

"Connor..." she said softly. "I'm really sorry... about everything. Plus, you got injured because of me. If you don't want to be with me, then I understand. I'm not worth your time, as you said earlier..."

The colt frowned. The latter of what she just said reminded him of how much of an ass he was being.

"No, Sweetie Belle. It's not your fault... I'm the one who should be sorry."

"But, those things I did! Sabotaging your relationship with Fluttershy! Nearly tricking you into drinking the love poison!"

"I'm more the guilty one than you are," he sighed. "I was mad at myself for kissing Lily knowing I was in a relationship with Fluttershy, and I was extremely foolish to take it out on you. You're only a young filly, and I had to act so sultry around you. I'm the real jerk. I should have been more forgiving and patient with you. I should have been more patient with myself... Because of me, you did those things. I've lead you down the wrong path..."

"Whether or not you caused me to do them, I still feel so ashamed of myself for doing those awful things," Sweetie Belle argued.

"You did me a favor. Especially with the photo part. Because of that, I have truly discovered who I really am... a coward..."

"No, you're not!" Sweetie Belle argued taking his hoof. "I think you are the kindest, most generous colt I've met!"

However, Connor was not convinced. He sighed sadly as he continued to stare at the ground in front of him. His eyes were dark with self-loathing.

"You don't want to fall in love with me, Sweetie Belle," he softly added. "I'm... I'm just... not worth your trouble."

"No... you're... NOT!!" she squeaked. "I know a good pony when I see one! That was why I fell in love with you! Nopony is perfect, you know! You just made mistakes, that's all! Even I did! We both did! I'm sorry for what I did. Are you sorry for what you did?"

The colt's ears slowly perked up in surprise. Celestia, she was smart little filly.

"Y... Yes... I am... I am sorry," he slowly said. "I am sorry for what I did. Will... Will you forgive me?"

He felt a small pair of legs instantly wrap around his neck. She pressed her cheek near the back of the colt's head. Her little chest was flatly pressed on his, and he could feel her breathing as she hugged him tightly.

"I forgive you, Connor..." she hummed happily. "I'm sorry, too. Will you forgive me?"

The colt wrapped his forelegs around her, hugging her back. "Of course, I do..."

Sweetie Belle hummed happily, nuzzling against her favorite colt. She felt a wave of bliss rush up her spine, making her hum deeper in joy. She could feel her eyes filling with happy tears. She did not even care. She was back with her favorite colt.

"But, there is one thing I don't understand," Connor said, releasing her from the hug.

"What?" she asked, nervous about what he was going to say. Was it going to be something bad? She did not know.

"Why would you go as far as to do things to make me love you..."

She stared at him with nervous eyes.

"...When I already do love you?"

She was lost. "Erm... Y-you do??"

"Of course I do. Before all of this. You were my friend ever since we first met. You're like my little sister. There can't be any friendship without love."

She could not believe what she was hearing. Plus, she was feeling really stupid. It all made sense. As a friend, he loved her the entire time.

"But, I wanted be with you forever! You're my iron shield, protecting me from all sorts of bad things! Without you always at my side, I'm too vulnerable and weak! I never wanted to feel that way again. With you, I was really happy. I wanted to feel like that for eternity!"

"I can't be with you forever, Sweetie Belle. Physically, that is. However, there is always one thing that would make us together for an eternity... Heart. As long as we don't forget about each other, we'll always be with each other," Connor smiled.

"Yeah," she sighed happily, before hugging him again.

The colt planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. Sweetie Belle's heart felt like it flew high into the sky.

The others watched as the two ponies hugged each other. Their hearts had melted before the beautiful and reconciling sight before their eyes.

"Come along, you two," Rarity said, smiling. "Let's head for home."

She used her magic to levitate a portion of Connor's body, so it would be easier for him to walk with his other three legs.

As they walked, the colt shifted his eyes to Fluttershy, who was floating delicately in the air.

Such beauty... Such grace... Such adorableness... Would he love to be back with her.

However, deep down, he felt like he was not worthy to be with a pony with such class and beauty like her.

Nor did he feel worthy to date a nice pony like Lily either...

He did not feel worthy for either of them...

After a quarter hour of walking, they made it to Fluttershy's house.

The other ponies waved and wished good night to the yellow, pink-maned pegasus as she floated delicately up to the doorstep to wave back. As soon as her eyes met with Connor's, she stopped. She shyly brushed her hoof over her other foreleg. The colt sighed through his nostrils.

"Well... Good Night, Fluttershy... And... and good luck with..." Screw it... He was lost in words.

He limped away with the rest of the gang, leaving Fluttershy to reach a hoof toward him.

She drew her hoof back. Her eyes cringed in uneasiness and self-questioning...

She closed the door...

To be continued...

Chapter XII

"Connor, darling! It's time for breakfast!" Rarity called, warbling happily as a songbird.

As lively and convincing the unicorn sounded, the colt was in no mood. Especially at a time like this. He felt like he was already decomposing in his spot. He felt so tired and dead after what happened last night: finding a runaway filly, vending off vicious timberwolves, losing a good amount of blood from being bitten by one, and apologizing for his wrongs to Sweetie Belle. He shifted in his mattress, curling up tighter. The muscles in his back strained from being tight during his deep sleep, and his limbs were creaking like door hinges that had not been oiled. He felt like a slug. He did not feel like getting up.

Then again, he could not say no to Rarity's delicious fried eggs, which filled his nostrils with its toasty, salty, and buttery aroma. Hell, who needed an alarm clock?

He kicked the blanket off of him and craned his neck toward his rump, arching his back. He straightened all of his legs and reached far in from if him. A long, throaty, strained groan rung in his closed mouth as he stretched. He hummed contenly, feeling his muscles grow warm and loose. He slowly sat up, either he was reluctant to leave his heavenly mattress, or he was feeling really heavy this morning.

He gave his back a scratch or two before standing up.

Wait... Why was his foreleg feeling itchy? He looked down to see a bandage wrapped tightly around his leg.

Oh yeah, it was the bandage from last night when he got hurt from vending off the timberwolves.

A bandage applied on by Fluttershy...

Fluttershy...

The mare who he cheated on by kissing Lily behind her back...

...

He heaved a loud sigh. What a thing to look forward to doing on a day like this. He clicked his tongue.

He knew he had to tell her that they were officially off the hook. Even though he really wanted to ask her to take him back, he knew it was not going to be possible. He was unworthy to be with her. Not just Fluttershy, but Li--...

Oh, God... This day could not feel any more pleasant than it already seemed. He had to apologize to Lily, too. He had to let her know that they were going to be off the hook as well. He wondered how she was going to take it. Would she cry again? Would she be angry? Would she see him as Fluttershy saw him? It was such a shame. She seemed like such a nice mare, too. However, he knew he was unworthy for her, too. He felt it would be an insult to injury to break up with Fluttershy and then start dating Lily directly afterwards. He could not live with that. It would be best knowing that he did not deserve either of them.

"Darling, hurry please! Your eggs are getting cold!" Rarity called from the kitchen.

"Coming!"

Let the day begin...

"Well, here you are, Sweetie Belle," he said. His chest puffed out and his jaw clenched, stifling a loud yawn residing in his throat. "Have fun at school today..."

...

"Uhh, Sweetie Belle? You're here."

The filly sighed happily through her nostrils. Her cheek was pressed onto his side. A tiny squeak chirped from behind her closed lips as she felt his fur comb through hers. She lifted herself up onto the tips on her hooves as she nuzzled deeper into the colt's hide, elated to be this close to him again.

The colt smiled. At least he would have one pony to still appreciate him after he consorts with Lily and Fluttershy for a final time. With her attitude around him, it would get him out of this funk quicker than he could imagine. He hoped so.

The colt slung his forearm around the filly's neck and reeled her in for an appreciative hug. Sweetie Belle's forelegs instantly wrapped around his neck, more than willing to join in. Connor rested his cheek on top of her mane, nuzzling the top of her head lightly. He could feel the filly's eyelashes brush against his neck, giving him a single, slight butterfly kiss. She looked up to him with her eyes twinkling with glee and smitten love. Her smile was as always adorably innocent and irresistible to ignore. Connor chuckled through his nose, smiling warmly. Sweetie Belle frowned at the sight of his expression. Sure, there was a smile, but not a very happy one. His eyebrows were tilted and relaxed.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" she asked.

"I'll be fine, Sweetie Belle. Don't worry about me," he replied with a consoling grin. "Now, get going. You don't want to be late for school. I'll be right here to pick you up."

"Really? The Crusaders and I were going to be meeting at the clubhouse right after school. So, you don't really have to pick me up."

"Oh! Okay," he nodded.

"But I'll see you again today, right?" she smiled in hope.

"Of course. I'm always here."

They pulled each other back in for a final hug before Sweetie Belle skipped happily toward the school.

However, she was not looking on where she was going.

"Hey! Watch it, Sweat--!"

"Oh! Hey, Diamond Tiara! How are you?" the white unicorn smiled.

"Fine. Now, watch where you're going next ti--."

"That's good, that's good! Great! Hey, can I talk to you for a quick moment?"

The rich, pink filly sputtered for an answer, but the unicorn didn't let her answer.

"Great! So about my secret you told to Miss Cheerilee..." Sweetie Belle started.

Diamond Tiara snorted in humor. So, the white filly was going to blubber while asking why the tiara-wearing pony spilled the beans. Well, she was not blubbering now, but she would eventually. Diamond Tiara could wait for that. It would be worth it.

"Yes?" she insisted the unicorn to finish her statement with a conceited and predictable smirk on her face.

"Remind me again, why did you tell her? Just why?"

"Oh, you don't know?" she smiled slyly.

"Is it because you want to be friends with me?"

"Uhh, yaa--!" She froze, petrified in sudden surprise. "Wait... What??"

"With the help of the class and Miss Cheerilee, you wanted to let me know that there was nothing wrong with falling in love with a colt who is older than me, because you wanted to be my friend?"

"Wh--! No, I--!"

"Oh, Diamond Tiara! If you wanted to be my friend, then why didn't you say so? All you had to do was ask, instead of being so unsubtle, nasty, and mean about it," Sweetie Belle smiled.

Diamond Tiara's mind was tangled in a mixture of surprise and the self-agrument of whether this was real or not. No words escaped from her mouth, except for "Uh--! Bluh! D'er!"

What set her off the most was feeling Sweetie Belle's forelegs wrapping around her as she reeled her in for a hug.

"It's okay, Diamond... I forgive you," she said, not letting go. "I should apologize, too. I'm sorry for saying all of those things about you in that letter. To think... All this time, we just seemed to be on the wrong track. We never really got to know each other like fate wanted us to. Oh, Celestia's mane, that was so sweet of you to do something so considerate for me!"

"I... I..." the pink pony stuttered. Her voice sounded gradually calmer than before.

"Here," Sweetie Belle said, breaking the hug without letting her hooves off of Diamond's shoulders. "After school, come over to the clubhouse with us. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and me... We could do fun things together, play games, forget about all the things that happened in the past, and focus on rebuilding our friendship for the sake of the future. Are you in?"

"Er..."

"Great! Oh, thank you, Diamond Tiara! You won't regret this! I'll see you later!"

With that, Sweetie Belle skipped happily away and into the school building, leaving a flabbergasted pink pony standing in front of the doorway.

"Ugh, what a weirdo..." she rolled her eyes.

She fixed her mane and straightened her shining tiara. Regaining her posture, she trotted in like a royal mare would approach a banquet.

However, as prissy and snobby as she tried to look on the outside, nothing seemed to hide the blushing dimples of her long-lost, heartfelt smile. Sweetie Belle, sitting on the other side of the room, giggled warmly.

Lie or not, you're going to get what you wished for, Diamond Tiara. You'll thank me later, she smiled, snuggling her rump into her desk seat, which was warmed by the sunlight.

Connor let out a huge yawn just after he freshly sat upon the park bench. His head nodded, feeling heavy and unsupported like a bowling ball placed on top of a podium made of jelly. He arched back forward, trying to stretch out the remaining muscles that he failed to reach the first time he stretched. Celestia's bright sun made his tired eyes cringe and twitch. He wanted to spared from the bright rays and the reflecting light coming off of the ground. He shut his eyes and kept them closed for only a few seconds. Wow, did it feel nice to look into the darkness. He could stay in there for hours.

Suddenly, his head tipped quickly to one side, startling him awake. A breathy sigh of disappointment escaped his throat.

Tired, depressed, and feeling feeble... What a day so far...

"Hello, Connor! Fancy seeing you again!" said a cheerful voice right next to him, which made him jump.

"Oh! Lily, uhh... Hi," he said nervously, shy to look into her bright, gleaming, yellow eyes of newfound love.

"It's such a lovely morning, don't you think? The perfect day for blooming." She bit her lip, waiting excitedly for him to notice her subtlety.

"Uhh, yeah..."

She frowned at the sound of his low level of enthusiasm. "Is something wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

He sighed. "To be blunt, no."

Lily gasped. "Oh, you're not? I'm sorry about that! Maybe..." she said, scooting closer to him. "This will help?"

The pink mare slithered her forelegs around his shoulders and his back and placed her cheek in the crook between his neck and shoulder, nuzzling warmly. Emerging from the small breeze she was making from shaking her head was the scent of lilac perfume. He felt her head roll back, looking up at him.

"Feeling better?"

"Hmmm..." he shrugged pessimistically.

"Aww..." Her ears folded behind her scalp in hurt. Then, her ears snapped back up, and her half-open eyes stared into his. A clever smile formed on her lips. "Well, how about this?" She closed her eyes, puckered her lips, and leaned slowly toward him. An eager moan sounded in her mouth as she neared him.

Connor lifted his hoof and pressed it against her lips, stopping her halfway. Her eyes opened, shifting from his hoof to his eyes in confusion and surprise.

"Lily," he said, not taking his hoof off her moist lips. "We need to talk."

She released her lips from his hoof with a kiss. "Sure, honey! I'm all ears. What do you want to talk about?"

Connor swung his hind legs that hung from the bench as he stared into the space in front of him. Not taking his eyes off of it, he heaved a depressed sigh through his nostrils. She swallowed the excess saliva he did not need in his mouth. His eyes slowly shut as he counted to three.

Here goes... he thought to himself before speaking. "Lily... I can tell that you're a really, really, nice mare. Really pretty, too, believe me."

"Mm-hmm?" she asked with a lovey-dovey smile on her face.

"But... I... We... We can't be together..."

The hiatus of her smooth breathing made him look her way again. Her eyes widened in hurt and surprise. "Wh... What?"

"We can't be together, Lily..."

"I..." she stammered, shaking her head. "What makes you say that? I don't understand!"

"That day when I kissed you..."

"Wh-wh-what about it?" she squeaked in worry. "What was wrong with it? Oh, Celestia! Did I forget to brush my teeth then? I'll make it up to you!"

Oh, God, here we go... Lily was in the state of panic already. Bargaining... Pleading for mercy... Connor could tell that she was not going to take this easily, especially when she believed that she had finally found true love.

"No, Lily," he tittered lightly in his breath. "It is not like that. Trust me. Your breath was fine. It's just... I was already in a relationship when I did it."

Lily's face widened in surprise. "Y... You were?? With who?"

"Fluttershy..." he sighed. "You know her, right?"

She was about to say "no", until a memory played in her mind, causing her to fall silent. She remembered being behind a bunch of ponies that were crowding around Connor in his new pony form.

"Since I'm a pony now, I can walk like you, talk like you, eat like you, and... I don't have to feel awkward in doing this," he said, raising a flirtatious eyebrow at the very end.

He slung his foreleg around Fluttershy's neck and yanked her in, having their muzzles meet in a long, deep kiss.

Fluttershy's surprised squeak was muffled in her mouth. Her cheeks burned like fire, acknowledging the kiss of her favored former human. Her eyes fluttered shut as she willfully allowed the colt to have this very special moment with her. She cupped his cheek with her hoof, pulling his head in against hers to deepen the kiss.

Everypony surrounding them cooed in delight.

"Oh, dear..." she gasped, cupping her cheeks with the hallows of her hooves. "I can't believe that I had completely forgotten about that! I... I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry, Connor! I should've--."

"No, Lily... It was my fault. I meant for that kiss to be only for comfort, so that you would not feel so sad anymore. At least, that was what I told myself at first... Nonetheless, I was foolish for underestimating the power of a single kiss. It was wrong of me to have lead you down this path. I am truly sorry, Lily..."

"Did she find out about it?"

"Yes..."

Her eyes shifted left and right quickly. "So... That means you two are broken up?"

"Yes, mostly... I still need to talk to her."

Lily's head darted left and right, confused and lost on what to say next. Should she apologize? Should she try to comfort him?

"Just because she broke up with me doesn't mean that I am going to start dating you," Connor sighed, hanging his head. "You and Fluttershy have a lot more worth than I do... You two are better than I am. I'm not worthy to date either one of you. I'm weak. If I can't control myself, then what's the point? I'm not worth your time. I'm really sorry to say this, but I'm not your true love. You're going to have to find somepony else. I wish you the best of the best luck finding him. Godspeed."

His face cringed in shame when he saw tears leaving her eyes. However, her expression was calmer than he thought it would be. Her bottom lip quivered and her eyes shut tight, squeezing out the available tears that were coating her eyes. She sniffed as she wiped a tear away with her pink foreleg.

"Yes. I know what you're thinking," the colt nodded in shame. "I'm just like that coltfriend you had before. Well, I won't argue with you. I will let you have that one..."

"No..." her voice croaked. "You're not like him. Other than the breaking up part, you are not like him at all." She sniffed before continuing. "At least you are... (sniff!) being courteous about it, unlike him."

"I'm glad, I guess..." he said.

"Thank you for telling me," Lily said as she wiped another tear off her cheek. "You were really brave and humble to think that way... Are you going to tell her all of this, too?"

Connor shifted in his seat. "Well," he said as he stared out in front of him. "I might throw in one last apology. I doubt she will take me back, though."

"Of course... She was your original fillyfriend, after all. You should still try to ask her back. If she doesn't... Just don't forget about her as a friend. Don't forget me as a friend. That will be the worst."

"I won't," the tan colt pushed a weak smile.

He shifted his rear off of the bench, landing on all of his hooves with near unison sound of clops. He stood in front of Lily, who was still wiping her tears away.

"Good-bye, Lily," he said softly.

His head leaned toward her and he planted a small kiss on her soft, salty cheek. Her perfume filled his nostrils with an alluring and crisp scent.

He turned to walk away.

"Wait!" Lily stopped him.

"Yes?"

"I... I forgive you... I forgot to mention it earlier. I'm sorry. It just slipped my little mind. Silly me," she chuckled under her sad tears.

Connor smiled feebly, feeling a small spark of comfort within his conscience. What a patient and thoughtful girl...

"Thank you, Lily..."

"Well, whoodathunk it? Look who's back to bother Fluttershy even more! Haven't you learned anything?"

"You're wasting your breath. You already know what she is going to say to you."

"Preaching to the choir here! Hellooooo?"

"Good luck. You're gonna need it, all right."

"You're still going to be alone after this. Forever alone."

Connor swore to God that Fluttershy's cottage's windows were haunted. Their ethereal voices rung loud and clear in his head as if ghosts were shouting directly from behind them. His heart sank when he looked upon the cottage. Ever since Fluttershy found out about his act of disloyalty, the cottage looked sadder every day. The roof's edges were overlapping the walls of the cottage like melting ice cream. The wood has lost its chocolate-brown color, making the lonely abode look more grey and flavorless. The long, feathery blades of grass blew, subordinate to the direction the breeze was blowing toward.

He swore he heard Fluttershy's sniffling as the wind blew past his ears, passing through the empty canals. He did not bother to itch his ears. Of course it was his mind playing tricks on him. He knew the outcome was still going to be depressing. However, he admitted that the ghostly sniffling was pushing it a little too much.

His foreleg felt frozen and immovable like it was frozen in a thick shell of cement. HIs reluctant mind was rearing to go, but his legs stayed put. He had to do this. There was no turning back. He bared his teeth and expelled a strained grunt from his chest like he was trying to pull a cart carrying a twenty-four pack of one hundred pound dumbbells.

His foreleg finally lifted itself from the ground and landed two inches more in front of his other foreleg.

One step down... A lot more to go...

If he were racing a turtle with the current speed he was in now, the turtle would win.

Like the one that was walking directly next to him right now.

Wait, maybe it was a tortoise. Hell if he should know...

Connor grunted frustratedly as he picked up the pace, passing by it quickly. He looked pathetic enough. He did not want the shelled reptile to push it over the line.

Each step he took, the cottage grew and grew, looking more menacing and overwhelmingly depressing at the same time. The dark windows glared down at him like hungry, grisly condors. He could still hear their voices in his head.

"You just don't learn, do you?"

"Whatever... Do what you feel. It's not like you are wasting time or anything."

"A gambler, huh? I like your guts, but this isn't worth your effort."

"If you want to spare yourself from anymore pain, then by all means, turn around and go back where you came from."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up, shutupshutupshutupshutup..." the colt mumbled, shaking the voices out of his head. "No matter what you say, I'm still going to do it. She needs to know that it's official. I won't allow her to live without knowing it. So, screw you..."

...

"And I'm talking to lifeless windows..." he grumbled. "You're such a mental case, Connor."

He looked up from the ground and saw the front door within a foreleg's reach. He swallowed his nervousness, and steadily lifted his foreleg to knock.

Damn it. It was that encased-in-a-concrete-shell feeling again. His hoof trembled, trying to fight against his mind.

Knock...

Knock on the door...

Just knock on the door, damn it...

His jaw clenched.

Connor, you're making yourself look like a child! Knock on the goddamn door! Be a freakin' stallion! his conscience shouted.

His hoof flinched spasmodically, rhythmically knocking the wooden surface of the door. When it resided, he heard an ethereal echo whisper behind it. His innards tingled as they cringed in uneasiness. He briskly put his forehoof down. He rocked in his place slowly like a boat afloat in the ocean. He could feel a sea of excess saliva rise in his mouth. He swallowed it all, and it slithered down his throat. He found it pretty difficult, since he felt nauseous from nerves already.

Cloppa-cloppa-cloppa-cloppa...

His ears twitched violently at the sound of gentle hoofs landing on top of the hardwood floors inside. His eyes shut tightly. She sounded so graceful. How he will miss hearing such gracefulness whisper in his ears.

The door creaked open by a crack. His stomach flipped when he saw pink and yellow colors through it. As it widened, he could feel his eyes moisten bit by bit. This would be the very last time he would see her again as his fillyfriend.

The door was fully open. All of Fluttershy was in front him, except for her eyesight. Her front hoof was brushing over her eyes, wiping away the dampness from her face. The poor thing... She was crying before he even started talking. She lowered her foreleg and looked up to see Connor stand in her doorway. She inhaled through her nose, gasping in surprise. She stepped back slightly.

What the colt saw before him made his heart sink. Her eyes were shimmering from the coat of tears that still resided. Next to the mesmerizing color of her turquoise irises were growing shades of red. The fur on her cheeks were haggard and clung together with her tears. There were massive bags under her eyes, sin galling to the colt that she had done a good amount of crying before he got here.

The two ponies stood, still as statues. One did not move to immediately start talking, and the other did not bother to close the door in the other's face.

Connor did not want to look into her eyes for too long. He did not want to look greedy, grabby, and desperate. His head tilted down, breaking the line of sight between him and his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend. However, he did not intend to not look at her at all. His eyes meekly shifted back up to look at Fluttershy.

"Hey..." he said.

A coo escaped her throat, meekly replying, "Hello". Her eyes shifted away briskly before returning to look in his.

"Wh... What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I... just want to talk to you..." he said, staring at the ground again.

He took a deep breath. Very polite of her to not shut the door on him before he began.

"I... I have been thinking. That goes without saying... I just think that... Well..."

He was fumbling with his choice of words. What was his problem? He was able to tell Lily all of this, but why couldn't he do so now to Fluttershy?

"I... Well, I know you've heard me say this before, but... I am really sorry about this. The pain I have caused onto you. You do not deserve this. I should be the one to suffer. None of this was your fault; it was mine. I have realized now that I do not deserve you. You do not deserve me. You're too good for me. I am not worthy to be with such a beautiful, graceful, kind, loving, and caring pony like you. I am nothing more than a disloyal, back-stabbing, cheating waste of space. It would be better for us both if we were apart. Oil and water cannot go together. I'm not saying this because I'm going to date Lily from now on. I don't deserve her either. She doesn't deserve a pony who played with her heart, just like I did with yours. I would be better off if I was out from your sight for good."

He shyly kicked around a loose stone on the ground with his hoof before he resumed.

"I won't beg to take me back. I'm going to let you decide. Only you and no pony else. This is your decision alone. If you take me back, then... well, you know. We're back. If you don't, then I completely understand. I will respect your decision. What'll it be?"

It felt as if all of nature around them silenced itself just for this moment. Connor looked into her eyes, which were filling up with tears. She bit her bottom lip, stifling its quivering. The colt's face remained blank. He did not want to smile, pout, or give her any puppy eyes. It would be rude to place more pressure onto a pony who was already battered with so much of it before.

Her head shook gently left and right, hardly visible to any pony standing ten feet away.

Connor sighed through his nostrils. He was surprised that he did not feel any hint of defeat emerged from his heart, but he did not make it obvious. His face remained blank, only a little bit sadder. He looked away, nodding.

"Okay... You... You made your decision. I will not argue. I will respect it..." he said calmly. "However, let me say one last thing. I will never forget you as a friend. I will never forget everything we did together. We may forget each other, but we will not forget the wonderful memories we share. That would be the worst thing we could do. I wish you good luck in the future. I hope your next colt will treat you well."

He took a step closer to her. He lifted his hoof and pushed a loose strand of her pink, silky mane back into the mass where it came from.

"I guess... This means 'goodbye'," he breathily said.

Fluttershy said nothing, but looked into his eyes.

Connor ran his hoof down from her mane and onto her cheek, gently stroking it with one, steady swipe.

"Goodbye, my little pony..." he whispered.

After two seconds of staring into her eyes, he pulled away. His hoof remained on her cheek. As he backed away, his reach began to diminish. He released her cheek from the hollow of his hoof and his back turned toward her.

As he walked, his breathing became smoother, free of nerves and stress. He did what he did. She made her decision. It was official.

No longer were they together.

However, he knew that they will be together forever in memory...

A tearful squeak sounded behind Connor.

Suddenly, he found himself sprawling on the ground. His teeth clenched, fighting the throbbing pain that resided on his side, where he landed.

Damn it... He tripped over. What a way to break the mood.

He tried to get back up, but he was immediately pinned back down again. Her felt a pair of forelegs lasso around his collarbones and something slender put its weight down against his body, holding him firmly to the ground. He could feel something wet travel through the furs of his coat around his neck. He could feel whatever was on top of him shake and tremble. He could not see anything because of the dust that kicked up from his sudden fall. Frightened and confused, his head turned toward whatever was holding him down to the ground. He squinted as he tried to get a good look at what tackled him.

The dust cleared. He could see a yellow, slender body with a pink mane and tail on top of his side. The image of the butterflies on its flank shone brightly in pink and turquoise. He could feel the silky surface of its mane press against his cheek like a pillow. Tearful, denying squeaks vibrated through its lungs, coursing through Connor's body as well.

"Fluttershy??" he stammered in surprise. "What're y--? I thought you said you didn't--."

"No! No, no, no!" she cried into his neck. "No! No! No, I don't want you to leave! I don't want you to go! Please don't go! Please!"

She trailed off in a mess of blubbering and crying as she hugged around the collar of his neck tighter.

"Shhh... It's okay. It's okay, Fluttershy. Just hush now. Shhh..." Connor hushed her gently. "I though you said you didn't want to take me back."

Her crying had diminished to spasmodic and random sobs. Her breaths became smoother than just a few seconds ago.

"That's... That's the problem..." she squeaked. "Even though I was mad at you, I still could not forget you. I couldn't see myself with other colts. I didn't want to be with other colts; I wanted to be with you! Only you! But you..." she broke down into tearful moaning once again.

"Yes, I know," Connor said as he brushed his hoof along her mane. "And, I'm really sorry. I felt so bad after doing it. I underestimated the power of a single kiss. It was wrong of me to do such a thing."

Fluttershy whimpered. "It was... And you are an idiot for doing it... But, I forgive you..."

"Y... You do?" Connor blinked.

"Yes," she sniffed. "Do you forgive yourself?"

"Y... Yes. Yes, I do."

"Then, it's settled!" she looked at him with a look of determination. "You'll never do that again! Put it behind you and never do it again!"

"I won't. Never again! You are my girl and will be forever," he proclaimed before hugging her tightly.

Fluttershy smiled, sqeaking in the process. Oh, God, did it feel so damn good to hear that adorable sound again!

The pegasus teared up and yanked Connor in for a reconciling hug. The colt followed suit, squeezing her tightly in his arms. They hummed in content as they embraced each other's touch.

"I love you..." Connor said with his voice muffled in her fur.

A small moan of glee was Fluttershy's only answer.

The two ponies separated, but never released each other from the hug. Their forelegs were still tightly wrapped around each other. Connor used one of his to wipe away the tears that resided in his sweetheart's eyes as he smiled warmly at her. She brushed the tears in her other eye away as she nuzzled her cheek on his chest. Now that her face was free from tears, the best part was about to commence. Connor thrusted his head toward Fluttershy's until his lips made contact with hers. The yellow pegasus' eyes fluttered shut and her forelegs slid further up around his neck, pulling him in for a more passionate kiss with much desire. She cracked her lips open against his, so her tongue would slide halfway out and frolic in his mouth. The colt noticed his love's desire and followed suit, sliding his tongue halfway out to meet hers. Finally, they could taste each other again, and it was much more enjoyable since they had been separated for some time.

They slowly released the kiss with a loud, wet slurp. They gasped hugely for air. Just how long did that kiss last? It felt like it only lasted for seven seconds, but judging how much air they were trying to breath in, it seemed like they were at it for about fifteen seconds.

Hell, who cared? Connor's heart felt as if it was fresh out of the shower, warm and refreshed. As for Fluttershy, she felt like she was flying without having to be in the sky.

As they panted, their half-open eyes stared deep into each other, disappointed to separated from their passionate lip lock. Fluttershy's smooth, heavy head nuzzled into his neck.

"I've missed you so much..." she whispered.

"Right back at you," the colt responded, nuzzling the top of her head. "I never knew why I had to do what I did in the first place, but I assure you, it will never happen again. Never."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise, Fluttershy. But, you know what I think?" he said as he craned his neck down to look at her. "I think that we have been too far apart from each other lately. We've always been really busy with what we were doing, working at the Guzzling Gallop, feeding your animals and such, that we hardly have any time together. Maybe, if we could just find some more times to do things together, then we wouldn't have to feel so separated. I really enjoy being with you."

"And I you, too, love," the animal lover grinned. "But, I don't want us to do things together so constantly. If that'd be so, then we'd grow tired of each other. Oh, dear, I don't want that to happen to us!"

"Hmm, yeah. You've got a point there," Connor stroked his chin in thought. "Well, not constantly, but just enough for us to not get tired of each other way too soon. Not like I want to be tired of you, baby. We'll have to be moderate."

"Right!"

"Well..." he gingerly stated. "As long as we're here together, what do you feel like doing?"

Suddenly, the pegasus' smile cracked even wider as an idea struck her mind like Applejack had bucked her upside the head. She turned her head slowly back toward Connor's. She stared into his soul with her shimmering, mesmerizing turquoise gems, coy and begging for some familiar intimacy.

"Well, I do have one idea," she cooed, shifting her eyes back to her cottage. "But, it's nap time for my little animal friends out here. We don't want to disturb them."

"Well, whatever we're doing now doesn't have to be noisy. Maybe something a little quieter. I mean, it's not like--..." The colt stopped after noticing the filly's half-open expression.

Her wings flapped gently, setting her afloat in front of her sweetheart's face. Her forelegs slithered from Connor's back and grabbed his foreleg, playfully escorting him inside her cottage and up the stairs.

Bump! Bump! Bump! Bump!

"Oh! Oh, Connor! Oh, my goodness! Sweet Celestia! Oh!" the yellow pegasus squealed from inside her room.

"Oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, Fluttershy! Oh, my G--! Ohhh!" the colt moaned.

Bump! Bump! Bump! Bump!

"Oh, here it comes! I'm gonna... I'm gonna make it!" Fluttershy shrieked.

"Oh, God, here it comes!" he grunted. "Fluttershy, here it-- AH! G'AAAAHhhhhhhhhhh..."

"Oh... Oh, dear..."

"...DAMMIT! I can't believe it! That soon?? Awww... You were so close! Just three more bounces and you would've reached one-hundred. Dang..."

Fluttershy scooped up the red ball with her wing and snapped it back under her wing, pressing it against her side for grip.

"Oh, well," she sighed. "Perhaps some other time, I guess. Maybe then I'll be lucky."

"Probably. Anyhoo, this was really fun! I never thought this would turn out to be so much fun. It's just one of those small things in life that you learn to enjoy."

"Oh, yes, of course! I play this with Angel all the time. He always gets in a bad mood if he doesn't make more than sixty."

"Well, he should learn to lighten up, I say. It's only a game."

"That's what I tell him."

"He should really listen to you. After all, you were the one who brought him into your home. It makes you the boss of him."

"Oh, no! I never see myself as their boss. I see them as my friends. My family. 'Boss' sounds a little too, um, violent and dominating."

"You're the boss," Connor winked. "So, now what? I mean, we already played ball, so what else should we do together?"

"You know, I don't really know at all," Fluttershy replied, staring quizzically at the ceiling. "Yet, I still think that there is something that we could do as a couple. Something, you know, um, intimate and exciting."

"You really think so? I was thinking the exact same thing. What a coincidence!" the colt exclaimed. "Do you have any slight ideas what it might be?"

"Well, um... It involves contact, which goes without saying. And, uhhh... bonding. Annnnnnnnd... lots of love?"

"Yeahhhh..." his eyes widened in thought. "This may sound weird, but I was thinking the exact same thing, too. Have we got so much in common..."

His voice trailed off in a hum of wonder and pleasure from what he saw on the young pegasus. He never saw this before, but he noticed a whole new light coming off of her. Her body... It just looked a lot more alluring than just a few seconds before. The supple, slender, and smooth curves along her back and flanks. Her neck was smooth and swerve as a swan's, which made his brain jump in sudden realization. Her mane looked more lustrous, silky, and plentiful. Her lips looked more kissable and glossy.

Fluttershy stared back at him. She noticed how angular and carved he looked. His chest seemed to bulge out, exposing some buffness. His mane looked more pampered and well stylized. His eyes looked hard as stone, but they were warm with affection and character. His lips looked more plump and kissable when he coincidentally licked them.

Their heads inched nearer and nearer toward each other. Their eyelids close bit-by-bit as they neared each other, and their breaths grew louder and more affectionate. When their lips were one inch apart from each other, they stopped, but never backed away.

"A-Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Fluttershy tittered bashfully.

"Yeah..." Connor whipsered. "Are you sure you want this? So soon? I mean, if can just wait, it--."

"Shhhhh..." the pegasus whispered as she friskily placed a hoof over his lips. "It's okay. I want this. It's perfectly all right. Plus, you and I both know that we can't wait any longer... that is, um, if you think so, too."

"You're right," her love grinned. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I can't wait, actually. Let's make this the best one we've ever done."

"Yes, my love. The best ever..."

...

"Up to two-hundred!" she squeaked as she threw the ball up into the air.

"Now, we're talking!" Connor cheered. "One... Two... Three... Four... Five..."

Sweetie Belle stood off in the distance, noticing Connor lying in his bed, happily strumming on his guitar like he was a new colt fresh out of the oven. A big smile cracked across his face and he was humming along with the tune he was playing on his instrument.

The little filly sighed as she turned and walked away towards Rarity's office.

So Fluttershy and Connor were back together. As happy and joyous as it sounded, Sweetie Belle knew that she had just ended right back where she was: alone, single, sad. She dreamed to be his fillyfriend, but that dream was officially impossible to be achieved. Look at her. She was too young for him, and he was too old for her. She wasted all of that energy trying to achieve an impossible dream. She climbed the tall staircase un to Rarity's office.

"Rarity? Can you help me with my homework? It's math again. We are doing something called, 'averages' and I don't get it at all. Can you he--?"

"Zzzzzzzzz..."

Just as the filly looked up from the floor, she noticed her older sister slumping against the mannequin she was tailoring her dress on, snoring loudly. A dark stain trailed from her mouth and down the skirt of the dress. Her mane was haggard and stringy like she went through a hurricane. Sweetie Belle tilted her head to look at her older sister's near complete work.

Wow... Rarity had gotten so much done ever since she cancelled her appointment at the spa scheduled for today. The diamonds stitched into the skirt of the dress were at perfect ninety degree angles. The overlapping gold stitches were perfectly perpendicular to each other, making a mesmerizing diamond pattern.

The little filly smiled. "You see what I mean, Rarity, you silly goose? You get so much done. It'll be fun for all of us. Even me."

She closed her eyes and imagined all of the fun things she had planned to do with her older sister: catching frogs, bike riding, playing chess, singing karaoke, board games...

But, what about Connor? She wanted him to do all those fun things with her as much as she wanted Rarity to.

Speaking of which...

She slowly crept down the stairs and back into the room containing the reclining colt. He was still playing his guitar like nothing had happened, which made her smile. As always, the strings he strummed were pitch perfect, sounding a smooth melody of notes and chords. Strings strummed by his hooves... His perfect hooves attached to his strong forelegs... Attached to the rest of his good looks...

She sighed deeply. Yet, there was a sad tone behind the love she was expressing to him. If only... Oh, if only, she were the appropriate size, age, and type of his liking. She wished he was all hers.

However, the last time she tried to make that wish come true, it only made him feel sad and frustrated. It was not really fun to see him go through that kind of emotion, and she was sure she did not want to see him go through it again.

She took a step closer to him and sat on her haunches like an obedient puppy, not making a peep so she would not interrupt him. She simply stared and grinned, smitten by him.

Suddenly, the colt stopped playing. He looked to his side to see Sweetie Belle staring at him.

"How long have you been sitting there?" he tittered with a grin.

"I lost count," she smiled bashfully.

The two ponies exchanged a moment of warm laughter before it got silent again.

"Connor?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"Erm... Could you...?"

The colt raised his eyebrows, urging her to finish her question. "Hmm?"

"Could you... help me with my homework?"

"What do you need help with?"

"Math... Again," she rolled her eyes.

Connor extended a hoof toward her and placed his hoof on top of her head, tousling her mane.

"Hey! Watch the mane!" she squeaked. "I just combed it!"

The colt chuckled. "Okay, sorry. Of course, I'll help. What is it you need help with exactly?"

"Something called, 'averages'," the filly replied, fixing her mane.

"Pfft! That's easy! Here, let's find a place on the floor to lie down on before we get started."

Connor lifted his electric guitar up off his lap and over his head. He placed it gently on his bed. He leapt off his mattress and landed right beside Sweetie Belle. He walked a few steps forward from his bed to the smack middle of the floor and plopped onto the floor onto his stomach. He shuffled in his place to find a more comfortable spot. He noticed Sweetie Belle standing silently behind him, shyly brushing a hoof over the floor. With a convincing smile, he patted a patch of empty space directly next to him to notify her she was cleared for landing.

She did not budge. She continued to stand still, bashfully staring at the ground like a lamb.

"Well?" Connor asked. "Don't you need any help with your homework? Can't do much with you standing around like that."

"Um... Connor?" she squeaked.

"Yes?" he patiently asked.

"Um... C... Can I...? Um... Can I, you know, um... cuddle next to you?" she meekly smiled, her cheeks red as roses.

Connor's eyes grew wide in surprise, but then his whole face relaxed into a warm smile. She still loved him.

"Why not?" he smiled.

At first, Sweetie Belle knew she should be excited that she was going to be intimately close with her dreamboat, but something brewing at the back of her mind kept her quiet. She shuffled up next to Connor and sat down on her stomach gingerly. She did not dare to cuddle next to him... Yet.

"Connor?" she asked.

"Yes?" he replied.

"S-so... I heard that you're back with Fluttershy, right?"

"That's right."

"Well... I... I just want to say... Congratulations. It's really... Really good that you two are back together. I mean, you two are really meant for each other. I... I wish that I could be your favorite little filly and fillyfriend, but of course, you could see for yourself that that's going to be impossible. Well, nonetheless, if you are happy, then I am happy, too. I wish you two the best of luck..." she said, trying to push her chest proudly out to show humility. However, deep down, her dream was impossible to achieve.

The colt smiled. He wrapped his foreleg around her shoulders and pulled her in for a big hug. Sweetie Blle's breath sounded sharp in surprise as he hugged her so warmly.

"Thank you, Sweetie Belle. Thank you for your consideration. But what do you mean by 'impossible'? You're already my favorite little filly, and you always will be. Sure, you made mistakes... Which were caused by me, but you get the idea... But that does not change the fact that I still care for you. You're like my little sister, and a big brother would not be a big brother if he continues to hate her for the rest of his life. I don't hate you. I love you, too, Sweetie Belle."

His cheek nuzzling into her mane sent a shock of delight coursing down her spine. She grabbed around his neck, hugging him back. She felt his breath pour onto her cheek as she felt his lips kiss her warmly on the cheek. Her heart did a flip.

However, she did not want to be selfish. Once Connor broke the hug, she immediately sprung onto all four hooves and kissed him back. The colt chuckled as he blushed a little. She hugged around his neck once more, nuzzling her into his.

"Now," he smiled. "Let's get on with this math homework, hmm?"

"On it!" she squeaked.

She landed on her belly and snuggled tightly next to him. The vibration in his chest caused by his talking made her hum in content.

It was good to have her iron shield back.

The End...

Alternate Ending

"I won't beg you to take me back. I'm going to let you decide. Only you, and no pony else. This is your decision alone. If you take me back, then... well, you know. We're back. If you don't, then I completely understand. I will respect your decision. What'll it be?"

It felt as if all of nature around them silenced itself just for this moment. Connor looked into her eyes, which were filling up with tears. She bit her bottom lip, stifling its quivering. The colt's face remained blank. He did not want to smile, pout, or give her any puppy eyes. It would be rude to place more pressure onto a pony who was already battered with so much of it before.

Her head shook gently left and right, hardly visible to any pony standing ten feet away.

Connor sighed through his nostrils. He was surprised that he did not feel any hint of defeat emerged from his heart, but he did not make it obvious. His face remained blank, only a little bit sadder. He looked away, nodding.

"Okay... You... You made your decision. I will not argue. I will respect it..." he said calmly. "However, let me say one last thing. I will never forget you as a friend. I will never forget everything we did together. We may forget each other, but we will not forget the wonderful memories we share. That would be the worst thing we could do. I wish you good luck in the future. I hope your next colt will treat you well."

He took a step closer to her. He lifted his hoof and pushed a loose strand of her pink, silky mane back into the mass where it came from.

"I guess... This means 'goodbye'," he breathily said.

Fluttershy said nothing, but looked into his eyes.

Connor ran his hoof down from her mane and onto her cheek, gently stroking it with one, steady swipe.

"Goodbye, my little pony..." he whispered.

After two seconds of staring into her eyes, he pulled away. His hoof remained on her cheek. As he backed away, his reach began to diminish. He released her cheek from the hollow of his hoof and his back turned toward her.

As he walked, his breathing became smoother, free of nerves and stress. He did what he did. She made her decision. It was official.

No longer were they together.

However, he knew that they will be together forever in memory...

"Wait!" Fluttershy squeaked after him, which immediately made the colt turn around.

"Yes?" he automatically answered.

She said nothing but softly galloped up to him, hardly making a sound because of her light, weightless pegasus body. She slowed to a stop just in front of him before she lifted a hoof to stroke her other foreleg bashfully while she blankly stared at the colt's hooves. Small, strains of shortcoming breath resided in her mouth, trying to think of something to say. This made Connor anxious, leaning in closer to her to try to decipher her mumbling until she looked up at him, glancing at him in meek disapproval.

"Y... You know it's rude to turn and leave just before somepony was about to say something to you..."

A weak, shamed smile cracked across Connor's lips. "Oh... I... I'm sorry."

Fluttershy slowly leaned toward him and pressed her soft, warm, damp cheek onto his, nuzzling lightly. Small gasps for air tickled the colt's ear.

"Good-bye, Connor..." she whispered without releasing her embrace. "I'll miss you... Those times we had together... Everything."

"Me, too," the colt tearily responded, yanking her in for a final hug. "Please don't forget me entirely..."

She whimpered in response, which the colt was sure that meant, "I won't."

As they held each other, they could feel their pulses in each other's necks, the tremors in their lungs as they breathed, and the personal warmth that would no longer cease to exist between them in the future. After what seemed like ten seconds, Fluttershy lifted her head from her former lover's neck and stopped to where the tip of her muzzle caressed the fur of Connor's muzzle. An electrifying, invisible current sparked throughout their foreheads as they were pressed against each other. The two ponies stared deep into each other's eyes before their lips touched.

They remained together for one second before they separated. Somewhere in the colt's mind, he knew this was their last kiss, but he felt that it should have been deeper, more passionate, and affectionate. However, further in the back, such a kiss would only reconcile them. It was Fluttershy's decision that they should part, so the kiss had to be brief before they begin to regret their decisions.

Their eyes met again, both shimmering with approaching tears.

The space between grew as they slowly separated. Connor's eyes never left from hers for a few steps before turning fully around to break the line of sight.

The fading sound of shuffling grass hissed behind him followed by the sound of a dreary creaking of a closing wooden door.

Then, all he ever heard after the click of the door was the sound of the hissing wind brushing violently past the leaves in the trees surrounding the cottage and him.

He deemed it crazy and strange, but he was sure that he could hear the yellow pegasus' crying echo in his mind.

"Damn it..." he cussed in his breath. "I need a drink..."

The door leading into the Guzzling Gallop opened, which immediately caught a lime-green mare's ears and full attention from a tall glass she was wiping down with a clean, damp rag. She was about to say her lines that she had written and memorized in the back of her mind, but who she saw entering the room had shut it down.

"Well, look who's here!" she said with a cheeky, yet friendly grin. "Mr. Charmer! Did you woo another lovely mare on the way here today?"

Connor could only respond with a heartless grunt as he sluggishly sauntered up to the bar. He drearily lifted his rear onto the bar stool and heavily placed his forelegs on the bartop, hanging his head like a vulture with a neck that was snapped clean into two pieces. A long, disheartening sigh escaped his pouting lips. Seeing him act like this made the lime-green mare lift an eyebrow in concern as well as disapproval.

"Feeling down? Come on, Connor, what did I say before? A bar is a comfort zone for customers and staff. Nopony is gonna be feeling sour in my bar. Lighten up, buck-o! Enjoy yourself! Smile! Be positive! Kick nature in the a--!"

"Please, Cherry..." he rudely cut her off, not looking away from his forelegs resting in front of him. "Just... stop it, okay? Can't I feel sour just this once?"

The green mare's eyebrows furrowed in disapproval, feeling some bitterness grow in her heart because of his uncalled-for interruption. However, seeing him look surly and depressed shook her out of it. She gently placed the the glass, midway its cleaning, and walked along behind the bar, stopping directly in front of him. The only face she could see was the hair on his bowed head, buried behind his forelegs.

"Hey," she calmly said. "What's wrong, hun? Why the long face?"

...

"Well?" she gently pressured him.

"I don't want to talk about it..." his muffled voice responded.

"Come on, Connor," she said. "You can tell me. It's all right. I'm all ears."

"No..." he groaned.

"Don't be like that. Look, just because I'm your boss doesn't mean I can't be your friend, too. You can tell me. Nopony else is here but you and me."

"Sorry, friend, but I don't feel like telling you. It would only make me feel worse, reminding me how idiotic I was..."

"Idiotic?" her head drew back slightly in concern. "What did you do?"

The colt cussed in his breath. He said too much.

"I said I don't want to talk about it!" he barked, suddenly lifting his head up from his forelegs.

After five seconds of haunting silence, Connor buried his face into his hooves, sighing loudly. Meanwhile, a frustrated Cherry Limeade stood in front of him.

"Fine. Whatever," she huffed, turning back toward her tall glass that she was wiping on before. "If you're going to act like that, then..."

"I broke up with Fluttershy..." he stopped her, finally giving in. He didn't like where her tone was leading to.

Cherry whirled around in surprise. "Wh--? What?? You broke up with her??"

Connor nodded.

She gasped as if her feelings were hurt. "I--! You mean that sweet, yellow pegasus you were with before? Why did you do that?? You two looked so happy together! Come on, dude!"

"That's the problem..." the colt responded, looking back his folded forelegs. "It was because of me..."

He looked back up to see the barista stare at him in disbelief. He sighed through his nostrils, fretting what would happen next if he told her. Would she be mad at him? Would she take Fluttershy's side and fire him for his stupidity aside the fact that he was suffering from humiliation already?

Whatever the effect may be, there was only one way to find out.

"Get comfortable, Cherry," he sighed. "You're in for a long story."

"And... that's how I'm here," he finished.

He heaved a loud sigh, seeking rest after talking for what seemed to last about fifteen minutes. He said nothing more afterward.

He slowly looked up to see Cherry Limeade. Her eyes, full of shock, disappointment, mortification, and disbelief, pierced into his own eyes and protruding to the back of his brain. He cringed in shame. Those mixture of expressions and emotions screaming from her face were much identical to those of Fluttershy's when she found out about his moment of disloyalty.

"So, let me get this straight..." she said, pointing at him rather coldly. "You kissed that Lily character behind her back because you thought it would help her out of her funk? That's... That's just so... dumb!"

"I know," he sulked. "That was before Rarity told me about how kisses should not be underestimated. I had no idea."

"Well, she's damn right about that," she scowled. "Celestia's beard, Connor, I can't believe that you would do something so idiotic like that! I mean, really? You've really gotten yourself in a pickle! A really rotten one."

Groaning, the colt buried his face into his forelegs once more. Enough with humiliation already. Didn't he suffer enough?

"But..." she said with a calmer tone. "You admitted to yourself that it would be best for you two to separate because you felt that you weren't worthy enough for her anymore?"

"Correct..."

The lime-green mare turned away to face the wall, breaking her eyesight with Connor. She rubbed her forehead with his hoof and sighed like an overly-stressed working mother would at the end of the day, which unnerved the colt. Her hoof slowly trailed down her cheek and fell back down onto the floor.

She did not say a word for fifteen seconds.

Then, her head turned toward the clock.

"It's near opening time," she muttered, loud enough for Connor to hear it on purpose.

She turned back around, tight-lipped. Then, when she looked back at him, her expression calmed.

"Thank you for telling me," she said blankly. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Connor lowered his eyesight meekly.

"Well, now it's time to get to work," she said as she put on her rose-red apron. "Be warned, Connor, there's going to be a lot of work prepared for you today. Maybe it'll teach you something..."

"Whoopee..." he mumbled to himself as he walked to the hanger to retrieve his apron.

"Thank you for coming to Guzzling Gallop, sir!" Cherry said cheerily, waving down a stallion walking out of the door.

"And thank you for your service, Miss Cherry," he replied.

"You're welcome! Have a nice night!"

The door shut behind him and Cherry Limeade sunk in her spot, sighing in relief. The bar was as empty as a cathedral. The only sounds that could be heard was the faint buzzing of the overhead lamps and the neon lights. The ceiling fan sliced mercilessly against the inactive and lazy air. Next, there was the sound of a squeaking wheel belonging to a moving dolly.

"Whoooo!" hooted a hot pink pony with a cranberry-colored mane and tail. "Look, ma! No hoovz! Uh'm flyin'!"

"Yes. Yes, you are, Berry Punch," Connor sighed. "Come on."

After chugging large amounts of the beverage clasped in her hoof, the drunk pony summoned a loud, ear-piercing belch. "Shaddap, Fido! Yuh'll wake tha neighbors! Bad dawg! Uh, wait... ah don' havva dawg... Nuh, I havva cat..."

"Yyyyyeah. Go home, you're drunk," he said, tipping her off of the dolly just as soon as he reached the front door.

"Ahhhh, ha, ha, haaaaa! That's whut dat otha guy told me lass night! And tha night before dat, an' tha night before that, too. Ya know whut? Ya look lus' like him!"

"Yes, that was me. Now, shoo! Shoo!" He closed the door partway. "Be safe!"

Then, he shut the door, sighing in relief as well. He wedged the tip of his hoof between his coat and the neck string of his apron. As soon as he was able to get between them, he lifted his apron to take it off.

"No, no, no, Connor," Cherry cautioned him. "Keep that apron on. I still got some things for you to do. You're gonna be working late tonight."

"Really?" He stifled a defeated groan.

"Mm-hmm. Get back over here."

He sighed again as he dropped his apron back onto his neck. He walked toward her. As he walked, he wondered if him working late was another one of Cherry's plans to daunt him for his idiocy regarding Fluttershy. As if that wasn't enough, he could feel his limbs tremble from fatigue resulting from all the work he had to do during business hours. Now, he was going to work even more? Shit. That barista was tough.

As he approached the table, he was greeted with a bemused frown from the lime-green mare. The colt stood patiently in front of her, waiting for a command like an automaton. He didn't look at her for too long, because her piercing, cherry-red eyes were still skewering into his shamed soul, making him feel meek and weak.

"Now," she said, breaking the silence. "I want you to wipe this bar top down, and I want to see my face reflecting off of it by the time I return from wiping down the rest of these glasses. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," Connor meekly responded.

"You can start now..."

She placed a damp rag onto the bar top and parted for the sink, leaving the colt behind like a army commander dismissing his soldiers after a mission briefing. Still feeling rusty with fatigue and guilt, he pinned the rag underneath his hoof, allowing a bunched part of the cloth to fit snugly in the hollow, and started wiping.

After ten minutes, Cherry Limeade returned, inspecting the bar top as she slowly sauntered up the the laboring pony. He never looked up, but Connor could tell that was looking at him like a condor would, waiting for its prey to drop to the ground and die. A creak vibrated through the wood of the bar top, which was caused by the weight of a pony leaning on it. He saw through the reflection of the bar top that her expression was stern but blank. At least, that was what he made out of it at first sight. The uneven, lubricated coating morphed her face into three to five different expressions. Whatever it was, he assumed it was not very convincing.

Then, he heard the sound of a glass being placed onto the bar top. He heard the metallic ring of the shaker being placed on top of it as well. He heard some liquids being poured into it. Next, he heard ice cubes clink as they collided against the glass. Finally, Cherry Limeade shook the liquid in the shaker before pouring out a pinkish liquid into the glass. It fizzled lively, spitting microscopic bubbles on the bar top. A trail of the pinkish liquid trailed down the shimmering, crystal-like glass, spreading on top of the wooden, glossy surface.

Feeling that she made that small spill on purpose, he scowled inside. Just how far was she going to push him?

Then, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of gulping. He could hear loud slushing as mouthfuls of the cherry limeade she was drinking rushed down her throat. He glanced up to see that the glass was nearly empty. Then, his eyes looked over to her head, tipped high up, exposing her entire neck, which was shifting and moving every loud gulp she made.

When it was all gone, the mare lowered the glass, letting out a sigh, hardly coughing at all. The colt's eyebrow peaked in surprise.

"You know," she said finally, placing the glass in the small sink in front of her just behind the bar. "I have to say, you're a real jerk to have done something like that to a sweet pony like Fluttershy. You've got some nerve."

His shame clawed into his heart once again, preventing him from speaking.

"That's the worst kind of stallion to have."

"If you're trying to make me feel even more daunted and ashamed of myself, it's working..." Connor spoke.

He pushed the rag to wipe at the pink ring until a green hoof suddenly fell on top of it. He flinched in surprise, but his forearm was calm and limp after feeling the hoof gently and slowly push his closer to the stain, wiping it up. Then, sliding off from top of his hoof, the green hoof pressed down against the bar, pulling up the rest of the body attached to it.

Confused, he looked up to suddenly see the green mare's face nearing his, inch-by-inch. Her eyes glistened behind its half-lidded expression, which beheld a saucy smile growing on her lips. Her cheek glowed a rosy pink underneath her lime-green fur. Her silky, bobbed, cherry-red mane hovered over her shimmering eyes decorously like a golden-lined balcony on a marble castle. The closer she got, the more Connor could feel her moist, warm breath sift through the trunks of his fur on his muzzle and tickle the flesh in between. Soon, the barista's torso and abdomen were hovering over the bar, revealing a sudden, roller-coaster-like curviness that he he had never expected to see on her at such an angle. Her cutie mark shone over the edge of the bar. His eyes traced down from her chest to her belly, showcasing a lean front with hardly any chub at all. It was slender, smooth, and mesmerizing.

"But, then again," she said in a low, soft tone. "Admitting your faults and trying your absolute best to amend them is the best kind of stallion to have. I like humility in a stallion."

The ponified human's jaw immediately went slack.

His own boss...

His employer...

He was so stunned, he didn't notice until one second later that her lips were nearing his. He flinched back, throwing himself off of the bar. Cherry's eyes flickered open, disappointed of not being able to make contact.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! No... No... NO." He shook his head.

"What's wrong?"

"THIS. What you're doing right now. I... I just can't."

"Oh, come on," the green mare tittered. "It's all right. We've been seeing each other during work. We know each other well. We get along well. We were able to connect with hardly any trouble at all, so why not?"

"But, you're my boss!" he emphasized. "I can't do this with my boss! I mean, what if I made a grave mistake that would cost us our relationship? What if you fire me because of it? It's going to be a huge mess of emotions. I just can't go through with this."

"Don't worry about it," she smiled flirtatiously. "Besides, there's hardly even a chance that I would break up with you or fire you. That is, if you don't mess up first." She winked.

"Just stop it! Please!" he begged. "I can't do this, especially after my recent break-up with Fluttershy."

"And that's another thing," she said, pulling herself fully on top of the bar, lying of her side. "I don't want you to feel so sad about all of what happened anymore. You just looked so miserable earlier today, that it nearly broke my heart. Well, sure you needed to be taught a lesson, but I don't like it when you're sad. You need to feel relaxed when you're here with me. Things would be so much better that way."

"Much appreciated, but..."

"Ever since we first talked I knew there was something special about you. Something about you just fit me wonderfully like a hoof glove. You had good spirit. Plus, I don't know how she did it, but Princess Celestia sure made you look fine!" she purred.

The colt's expression calmed. His brows furrowed.

"Plus, surely you didn't believe that all of this time I was watching you only to make sure you were getting your work done," she winked.

"Wait..." He lifted a hoof up in thought. "You..."

Connor was wiping the floor with the mop clenched between his teeth. He looked up to look at his work and admire it until he saw a visible stain underneath a chair. Rolling his eyes, he lowered his front and bowed his head to wedge the mop between the spokes of the chair.

Behind him, Cherry was rinsing the drinking glasses. She looked up to inspect the colt, but instead, she was met with the facade of his taut rump from a distance. No matter how hard she tried to get command herself to look away, her eyes disobeyed, intently noticing the muscles working behind the coat of peach-colored fur. It felt like it was staring at her, greeting her, welcoming her to leer at it. Then, a shameless smile cracked across her cheeks. Later, her eyes traced down his legs, likewise watching the muscles tense up and sink down from behind his coat of fur. She hummed in content.

The colt's head suddenly rose from underneath the chair, and it alarmed her, immediately making her look away and resume cleaning her drinking glasses.

"You..." he stuttered. "You were... ogling me? Most of the time I was working here?"

Cherry inhaled through her bared teeth. "Well... To be honest, yes. I gotta say, Connor, you've certainly got it all. And I mean, all."

"So, the reason why you're holding onto to me is because you only see me as eye candy? Some walking beefcake poster to keep you entertained and perked up while you work? Jesus Christ, Cherry, how dare you!"

"I didn't say that! I just said that you--."

"You know what? Shut up, okay?!" he coldly interrupted her. "Just shut up! You said enough! I can't believe you would have the gall to tell me all of this while you were trying to move in on me and expect me to go along with your ride. Well, I'm not flattered! I'm offended! As if I hadn't felt like shit enough today!"

Then, he tugged at the neck string of his apron, yanking it over his head and off of his body. He hurled it onto the ground.

"If that's all you think about me, then I'm done! I'm not going to be your eye candy anymore! I quit, you hear me?! I QUIT! Have somepony else be your eye slave! See you never!"

He whipped around, stomping over to the door like an angry rhino.

When he reached within one foot of it, something suddenly flew past his head and shattered loudly against the door, throwing him off of his angry fit. Scattering around his hooves were shards of broken glass. If not only glass, there were also some ice cubes present in the pile of oblivion.

He gazed up in shock and hushed surprise. Looking behind himself, he could see a green foreleg in follow-through position, which had a pair of angry orbs glaring at him from behind it.

Connor was silent and a tad scared like a school foal who had been caught cheating on a test by classically peeking over somepony's shoulder. Whether or not it was intentional that she was going to hit his head with her projectile, he was going to find out.

"You dumbass," she growled. "How dare you think you can just quit like that! Didn't you hear a word I had just said earlier?! Do I need to repeat myself?? I didn't see you only as eye candy, you got that?! I said you had got it all! Personality, charm, and good looks! I'm not just some stupid, shallow mare as you falsely proclaimed that I am! Luna, I could fire you right here on the spot for what you just said! But I don't! I like you a lot, Connor! Get that through your thick head!"

She inhaled loudly, pushing back a loose strand of her bobbed mane back into its mass.

"I'm not shallow, Connor," she resumed. "I never will be shallow! Not again..."

Suddenly, all of Connor's lust for contempt melted away from his heart. Meanwhile, the green mare's rubbed her forehead, heaving a great sigh summoned from the deepest sacs in her lungs.

"Again?" he asked. "What do you mean, 'again'?"

After stroking her forehead for five seconds, she looked up from her hoof. Her eyes shimmered sadly at him. Then, she waved her hoof.

"Come over here and wait. I'll be back in a second."

She slid her rump off of the bar top, falling gently onto all fours, and walked through the doorway leading into her office just behind the wall. Connor meekly and obediently sat down onto a bar stool. He swung his hind legs over the ground, keeping himself slightly occupied while he waited for his boss to return. A crisp scent emitting from the bar top filled his nostrils.

That patch of the bar top was where Cherry Limeade was sitting. Feeling curious and slightly adventurous, he leaned his head closer and took another whiff at it.

His lips pursed in interest. She smelled pretty good. She smelled exactly like key lime pie. He also noticed a small patch of condensation. Surely, it had to take some heat in order for that sort of thing to happen.

Then, he heard the door to her office creak open. He leaned quickly back up to hide the notion of what kind of research he was doing. Cherry had a small, hinged, velvet box placed on her back. After stopping in front of the colt, she took it gently between her lips and placed it in front of him.

"Open it," she simply said.

Without hesitation, Connor obeyed, gripping the top of the box with one hoof while pressing his other on the bottom. Opening it, he saw a golden ring, slightly tarnished, but not completely stripped of its luster.

"You can take it out and look at it, if you want," she said.

He gripped it firmly between his cumbersome hooves. He noticed pattern-like slits engraved on the inside of it. Squinting deeper, he noticed that it was engraved lettering. He licked his lips before he read them aloud.

"Beefcake and... Cherry Limeade?"

"Yes..." she sighed. "It was my wedding ring."

"Your.. wedding ring?"

"That's right, Connor. I'm a divorced wife." She looked at her reflection in the mirror behind her collection of spirits and other alcoholic, imported, bottled drinks.

"W... Whoa," he softly exclaimed. "I... I-I-I had no idea! I-! I never thought that you--..."

The lime-green mare never looked away from her reflection. "I was so happy to know that I was one of those mares who would live her dream to be married to the stallion of her dreams. Yet, look how that all turned out. Now, I'm here, working at a measly bar in a quaint, small town when I could be raising a beautiful family and spending time with my loving husband... All because of how foolish I was..."

Connor leaned closer to her, curious to hear what she was going to say.

"Years ago, I was a child. To be more specific, I was a child in a fully grown mare's body, naïve and immature, still in the midst of growth. I was so fed up with the popular girls in college teasing me about how I would never score with a hunky stallion, that I wanted to prove them wrong. I aimed for the hottest stallion in the campus, Beefcake, who was presumably out of my league. After much effort, I finally did it, but I had nearly lost myself in the competition. It cost me my friends, my reputation. However, I didn't care. I showed those prissy harlots who was boss. I was so proud of myself. Later, I married Beefcake. He was all mine."

...

"But as soon as the wedding was over, I realized what a grave mistake it was to marry him," she grimly said. "Turns out, behind those taut, stone-cut muscles and charm was a pig. A greedy, arrogant, two-timing, double-dealing, insolent, disrespectful son of a mule. I was going to throw him out, but he had beat me to it. I roamed the streets of the city for weeks until my gift in concocting delicious spirits and drinks pulled me out of the gutter. Because of that conceited bastard, I was close to being a nopony, but I was lucky that my gift saved me. From then on out, I resolved to never betroth myself to a stallion mainly on looks. Stallions who actually talk to you, listen to you, make you laugh, do things for you, write your name on Princess Luna's moon for you are the kind of stallions I would love to consort with for the rest of my life."

A small reminiscent smile formed on Connor's lips. Rarity said something similar like that to him a few days ago. Then, Sweetie Belle's cute, smiling face floated in front of his eyes. He wondered if any of those things Cherry and Rarity said was what made the little white filly fall in love with him.

"And if I'm lucky," Cherry continued. "I could meet a stallion who is charming and all of what I mentioned."

She turned around to glance at him, half-lidded.

"Does that sound familiar?" she said with a wink.

He blushed in response.

"Best of all, I found out you are humble, too. That is passable in my books. Nopony likes a conceited, selfish pony."

She, then walked slowly up to him, not breaking her sultry gaze from the colt.

"So, know this, hun," she said. "I am not a shallow pony. I have my standards."

Her smiling face was two inches away from his now. A spark ignited in Connor's heart, seeing his employer in a whole new light.

"I now know that you aren't," he smiled.

Cherry's smile grew even wider as she pressed her forehead onto his.

"So..." she tittered. "Can I kiss you now?"

"You may."

Soon, his lips were met with hers. What started off as a simple, innocent brushing of the lips evolved into a circling lip-lock. He felt her forelegs wrap behind his neck, and his wrapped in the very swerve of her back. He felt her warm breath tickle his cheek as she panted in content. Seconds later, he felt the wet surface of her tongue pushing its way past his lips, which he would not ignore to respond.

After what felt like a minute, they separated the kiss, catching their breath. His eyes fluttered open to peek into her shimmering orbs. How her kiss felt, it was much different from Fluttershy's because of past experiences with kissing. Cherry used to be a married mare, so her experience in kissing felt a lot more advanced, yet all the more enjoyable. Her body felt different, too. It was leaner, stronger, and curvy, but not as curvy as Fluttershy's aside from her softness. Also, the scent of Cherry was entirely different, too.

Now, the taste...

"You taste just like cherry limeade." He licked his lips.

"And you taste horrible."

...

"Kidding!" she laughing.

"There's always an opening for you to joke around, isn't there?" the colt chuckled, kissing her again.

"You better believe it," she hummed, lifting her chin for him to kiss her neck.

He brushed his lips in the crook of her neck. Every small nudge or even the slightest hair of contact he made emitted content moans and squeaks from the blushing, charming mare, coercing the lucky colt to continue. The enchanting scent of key lime pie filled his nose. He could not stop himself from kissing her velvet-soft neck. Suddenly, she stopped him, which made the colt grunt in disappointment.

"Whoa, hold on," she said, pointing to the broken glass at the foot of the door. "We've gotta clean up this mess first. After that, we'll continued from there."

The colt noticed the purr that rumbled in her throat when she said the last part.

"Who's gonna clean it up?" he asked innocently.

"I will," she answered. "It's my mess, after all. I'll go get the broom and dustpan."

Unlatching herself from him, Cherry disappeared into the closet. When she returned was carrying a small, hoof-held brush and a dustpan between her jaws.

"You're really using that broom?" Connor pointed. "Why not use a longer one? You wouldn't have to worry about hurting your back with--."

Cherry Limeade tilted her hip to one side, showcasing her slender, green flanks, glancing at him saucily. She dropped the dustpan by her hooves and clasped the small broom with her teeth. She bent over, bending her forelegs as well. She began to sweep, and as she swept, she shifted her rear left and right, showcasing her taut flanks at Connor on purpose. She would occasionally lean her body backward to give him a better look. She threw in some sexy glances intermittently, allowing the colt's mind to run amuck with dozens of naughty imaginations. Normally, it was rude to stare at someone's rear end without them realizing it, but when soneone was actually allowing you to look at it, it was a hell lot more enjoyable. Her flanks just looked so... hot damn! Not only did they look so taut and curvy, but the lime-green color made it shine brightly.

Then, the lime mare picked up the dustpan and walked over to a trashcan, where she disposed of the broken bits. She placed the small broom and the dustpan back into the closet. Then, she sashayed up to the front door. She spun around to look at her new sweetheart, but never changed direction. She backed up to the door, pressing her flanks against it. She slowly lifted her hoof to turn the lock, shutting the door. Finally, she walked directly up to Connor, where she was greeted with another passionate kiss.

"I don't want you to be sad anymore, hun," she smiled innocently. "We can get through this, I promise you."

"I think I'll be jussst fine," the colt winked.

"You liked what you saw?" she purred, stroking her hoof up and down along his foreleg.

"You bet your cute little flank I did."

After another kiss, Cherry wrapped a hoof around his neck and playfully pulled him toward her until the edge of the bar top stopped her. She lifted her hind leg over the edge and lifted his other after it. Releasing her grip from the stallion, she stretched herself on top of the bar top, exposing her entire body, curvy and slender. Her silky, bobbed mane fell on top o fhe wooden surface like silk curtains.

"Thank you, Cherry..." Connor whispered in her ear, nibbling it.

"That's what friends are for," she whispered back, holding back her moans of pleasure.

The two ponies engaged in a deep, deep kiss, forgetting about tomorrow.

"Well?" Connor asked. "Don't you need any help with your homework? Can't do much with you standing around like that."

"Um... Connor?" Sweetie Belle squeaked.

"Yes?" he patiently asked.

"Um... C... Can I...? Um... Can I, you know, um... cuddle next to you?" she meekly smiled, her cheeks red as roses.

Connor's eyes grew wide in surprise, but then his whole face relaxed into a warm smile. She still loved him.

"Why not?" he smiled.

At first, Sweetie Belle knew she should be excited that she was going to be intimately close with her dreamboat, but something brewing at the back of her mind kept her quiet. She shuffled up next to Connor and sat down on her stomach gingerly. She did not dare to cuddle next to him... Yet.

"Connor?" she asked.

"Yes?" he replied.

"S-so... I heard that you and Fluttershy are broke up."

"That's right."

"Well... I... I just want to say... it's really... really sad that you two are no longer with each other. I mean, you two were really meant for each other. I... I wish that I could be your favorite little filly and fillyfriend, but of course, you could see for yourself that that's going to be impossible. Still, if you need any help with anything, I will be more than happy to do it for you," she said, trying to push her chest proudly out to show humility. However, deep down, her dream was impossible to achieve.

The colt smiled. Her wrapped his foreleg around her shoulders and pulled her in for a big hug. Sweetie Blle's breath sounded sharp in surprise as he hugged her so warmly.

"Thank you, Sweetie Belle. Thank you for your consideration. But what do you mean by 'impossible'? You're already my favorite little filly, and you always will be. Sure, you made mistakes... Which were caused by me, but you get the idea... But that does not change the fact that I still care for you. You're like my little sister, and a big brother would not be a big brother if he continues to hate her for the rest of his life. I don't hate you. I love you, too, Sweetie Belle."

His cheek nuzzling into her mane sent a shock of delight coursing down her spine. He grabbed around his neck, hugging him back. She felt his breath pour onto her cheek as she felt his lips kiss her warmly on the cheek. Her heart did a flip.

However, she did not want to be selfish. Once Connor broke the hug, she immediately sprung onto all four hooves and kissed him back. The colt chuckled as he blushed a little. She hugged around his neck once more, nuzzling her into his.

"Now," he smiled. "Let's get on with this math homework, hmm?"

"On it!" she squeaked.

She landed on her belly and snuggled tightly next to him. The vibration in his chest caused by his talking made her hum in content.

It was good to have her iron shield back.

The End...

Author's Notes:

I have added this chapter because I noticed that some of you were wishing that Connor and Fluttershy were broken up, along with some of you who were willing to see how the story will end whether they separate or not. Now, you can see what will happen.

Also, another thought came to mind before I considered writing this alternate ending. What would it be like if Connor was going to be shipped with Cherry Limeade? Then, I thought, "Why not? It would be interesting to see, since they seem to have a good connection even if they were not going to be shipped." What's wrong with a little curious creativity or creative curiosity?

Anyhoo, I hope you get a good kick out of this experimental ending!

Ceehoff out.

Zzzzzzz.......