On the day the Carousel Boutique burned down, at precisely 30° in the afternoon ( around 4pm human time), the school bell rang, and the foals in each classroom grabbed their saddlebags and ran outside. Sweetie Belle had no inclination to stay behind, but Cheerilee kept her eye on her and made her stay seated at her desk.

Everypony could see the black column of smoke rising from where the Carousel Boutique used to be. When the fire first began, the flames were visible from the school.
She was being held in detention and it wasn’t even her fault.

“It’s about time that shop burnt to the ground,” Diamond Tiara had said earlier that afternoon. Sweetie recalled the conversation. “Why would you say that? I know you hate me because I’m a blank flank, but why do you hate my sister and our home so much?” Sweetie protested.

“Ugh, it’s more than you can even understand,” Silver Spoons sneered.
“Definitely,” Diamond continued, “Your mom, er- I mean ‘sister,’ is just a pathetic wannabe and a loser. The dresses she makes are horrible, and so is everything else she ever made. My daddy says she’s an embarrassment to all ponies who design fashion. Look on the bright side, Orphan Belle, whoever burnt down your mother’s shop did everypony a favor, including you.”

“What? What the hay, Diamond Tiara! And she's not my mother. She's my sister, and she's in the hospital! She could have died!”

Diamond and Silver Spoons both scoffed and chuckled. “Think of it this way,” Diamond Tiara said, placing a hoof around Sweetie Belle’s shoulders, “She’ll probably die, well everypony hopes she will, and you will be free of her forever. Don’t think we don’t know what she says about you. She doesn’t even care about you. Rarity always thought you were a burden. Perhaps that is why her, ahem, ‘line of work’ has gone down the ditch. Ever since you were born, she had to focus on keeping you alive, so thanks to you, she is a failure.”

Sweetie Belle started tearing up. She tried to hold it back. She knew deep down, Diamond Tiara, a manipulative, coercive, conniving spoiled princess, was right.

“Look on the bright side,” Diamond continued, “If you’re lucky, you might get adopted by the Apple family. You’ll probably be useful shoveling manure and bucking the apples out of their trees. That’s probably all you’ll be good for.” And with that and a laugh, she and Silver Spoons walked out of the school building.

Sweetie Belle sat at her desk, with her head down, crying silently. Cherilee sat behind her teacher’s desk reading paperwork. A mail pony arrived and knocked on the door.
“Yes?” Cheerilee asked, looking up.
The pony, dressed up in the postal service uniform, opened the door and entered, pulling an envelope from his side bag and gave it to her.
“Thank you, kindly.”

“Not at all.” And he was gone. Cheerilee opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, unfolded it, and read it. Then she put it down and went back to her paperwork.

“Excuse me, Miss Cheerilee?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yes? What is it?”
“Um, why am I in detention again? I didn’t do anything.”

Cheerilee stopped writing and put the pen down. She slid the tool-shoe off her hoof, and placed it on the desk, briefly glad to feel the cool breeze on the fur on her hoof. Then she looked up at her. “Sweetie Belle,” she spoke, “I’m sure you know this by now, but the Carousel Boutique is on fire. As per emergency arrangements at the school, and in town, we cannot let you leave until a family member or somepony they trust can come and get you.”

“Well, when’s Rarity gonna get here?”

“Rarity,” Cheerilee replied, “is in the hospital, and from what this note here says, she’s not doing good at all.”

Sweetie’s eyes widened as the shock seeped through her. Diamond Tiara’s harsh words about Rarity cut through her like knives. She didn’t want to believe it. Suddenly, no home, no Rarity.

“So what now? I get punished?” A weak argument.
“No,” Cheerilee answered, “I keep you here until somepony Rarity obviously trusts to care for you shows up. Basically, you’re going to a new home and a new family.”

“Wait, can I choose who I can-”
“No,” Cheerilee cut her off, “it’s already been decided.” Cheerilee checked the second page of the note. “In the event of an emergency, Rarity arranged for Applejack to take you in, and of course you’ll be living on her farm.”

“You might get adopted by the Apple family. You’ll probably be useful shoveling manure and bucking the apples out of their trees. That’s probably all you’ll be good for!”

Sweetie did not want to live at the Apple farm. They had endless chores day and night, and when fillies worked too slow, Applejack shouted at them. That’s all she, Scootaloo, and Dinky Doo did when the four of them went to spend nights, weekends, and holidays with the Apple family. Sometimes, they had likened Sweet Apple Acres to a labor camp.

“Miss Cheerilee, I don’t want to live with the Apples! They’re mean and they make us do chores all day everyday-”

“Sweetie Belle, it’s out of my hooves. And you will have to adapt to a different family environment and get along. I’m sorry, but that’s life,” Cheerilee replied sternly, then with a smile, she said, “But I’m sure Rarity will pull through and she’ll get out of the hospital. When she’s recovered, you will go back to her. This arrangement is only temporary. Now, if you please, I've got work to do, and I think you have homework too.”

Sweetie Belle thought about sneaking out. She thought about living with Scootaloo and her family. The Loo’s were really nice and welcoming, for her anyway. They were an earth pony couple who adopted Scootaloo and gave her her name when she was just a baby. They also adopted a unicorn foal and had twins of their own. She decided she would go live with the Loo’s. The clock ticked loudly, and Cheerilee hummed to herself.

Two other foals sat at their desks, saying nothing. Sweetie Belle looked at the clock. 34°. It had been 40 minutes since the rest of the class got out.
Sweetie slowly got up, careful not to make a noise. She tip-hoofed her way to the cubby area, then near the door, which was open. Problem was, it was next to Cheerilee's desk.
But her hopes of escaping quickly evaporated, as Applejack showed up.
“Howdy, Miss Cheerilee,” she greeted her in her loud southern voice.

“Good afternoon. You’re here to pick up Sweetie Belle?”
“You betcha,”

Sweetie Belle hid behind one of the display boards. She desperately hoped not to get noticed-“Sweetie Belle! Come on out!” Applejack barked. Sweetie’s heart sank, and she slowly stepped out from behind the display board.

“What’cha doin’ hidin’ behind that there wheeler wall thing?” Applejack demanded. Sweetie Belle just looked down at the floor, “I...I was just looking for a snack I brought...”
Applejack walked up to her, and gave her the look. “What have I told you about lyin’ to yer’ Auntie Applejack?”

“I’m...sorry....”
“An’ don’t go telling me you don’t like stayin’ on the farm. The fresh air and all them chores is good fer’ you. Speaking of which, we best get on home, Grab yer’ bag and come along now.”

Once they were outside the school, Sweetie asked, “Is Rarity okay?”

“Ah ain’t sure,” Applejack replied, “She got fried up pretty bad. Them pegasi had to blast a hole in the burnin’ place with a waterspout and a tornado to get her out. Ah don’t know if she’s gonna make it. From the look of her, she jus’ might die, Celestia take her.”

“Oh...” Sweetie Belle murmured as she walked with Applejack back to the farm. She would have reacted, or got upset, but Applejack got real pissed when ponies got emotional. Still Sweetie was anything but calm. Her throat swelled and her lungs started squeezing the air out in short sharp bursts. She felt tears pooling around the corners of her eyes. Her remembering that time when Applejack whacked Applebloom with a broom for crying didn’t help stifle the emotions.

“Applejack?”

“That’s Auntie Applejack to you, Sweetie Belle. What do you want- hey, you better not be crying. Cryin’s for weak ponies.”

“I...I wanna go see Rarity!”

“NO!” Applejack shouted at her, scaring her. The filly froze.
“You will see Rarity when Ah decide you see her, understand?”

Sweetie belle nodded.
“It’s already been settled. Ah own you now, now come along!”

The following Spring, after the trip to Nimbuscait, and since when Applejack turned into a mean, cold hearted crazed disciplinarian, Rarity’s ‘death’ seemed like only yesterday. Sweetie Belle recalled the magazine she read the other day at the general store in town. Rarity was alive and well; she never died, but for the filly, somehow she died, and until the other day, was dead to her, and now suddenly resurrected. Applejack repeatedly told her with growing impatience that Rarity died; she was burnt to death in the fire last Summer.

Sweetie Belle didn’t dare bring up the subject to Applejack, as she would know Sweetie broke the ‘no-magic’ rules by looking at a magic magazine. Of all the things Applejack scolded, shouted, and whacked her and Applebloom for, she reserved full on hoof beatings if Sweetie Belle defied her expectations concerning magic.

But, she felt angry, and had to keep calm to keep magic from surging and sparking out of her horn, even with the horn cap on. She hated it before, but now it protected her, despite killing her little day by day. Without even knowing it, she did know her own magic was ‘angry’ it was being suppressed. Yet she had to remain silent about it and pretend she was happy to be at Sweet Apple Acres. Since the Winter Wrapup festival, Applejack talked several Apple ponies from across the county into relocating to Sweet Apple Acres. Some came from Abille, others came from Appleloosa, Wooton, Corlett, and even the rugged Roundbottom County. She did this by mailing out stacks of letters to as many Apple farms as she could find, and as it turned out, the Apple farm out in Roundbottom County had too many ponies and they were constantly quarreling with one another, so Applejack’s invitation to come to Sweet Apple Acres was a welcome opportunity, and in early spring, they arrived. Not too many of them were pleased about a unicorn filly living among them, and Applejack had to assure them Sweetie Belle was not going to engage in magic whatsoever. And for her safety, Sweetie Belle had to play the part.

But she couldn’t stay silent forever, so one day, during lunch hour at school, Sweetie Belle snuck off school grounds and sought the help of Ponyville’s brightest unicorn, Twilight Sparkle.

That morning at breakfast, Applejack was once again pissed off. She had these moments often when she thought too much about things. This time, however, she received a letter from Applegem saying the medicine she brought would cost Applejack 190 bits to replace. That was bloody expensive. Upstairs, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were tidying up for school.

“And when y’two get back,” Apple Dumpling, their homeschool tutor instructed them, “Ah want to see your report cards. Do not forget them.”

“Sure thing!” Applebloom said enthusiastically.
“Yes, ma’am,” Sweetie Belle replied quietly as she put on her saddlebags.

“Allrighty, have a nice day at school, and do good on your test today.” Apple Dumpling left them and returned to her room.

Applebloom grunted. “Why does Cheerilee have to make us do tests every Pluday?”
Sweetie Belle said nothing, and felt a growing resentment even for Applebloom.

Then they began to hear Applejack shouting from the kitchen downstairs. “One hunnard n’ ninety bits? Y’gotta be shittin’ me! Where the sam hell am Ah gonna get that many bits? That’s just dang expensive!”

“Applejack, simmer yer’ saddle already.” It was Big Mac.

“That medicine was supposed to last fer a whole moon! Ah bet it was that unicorn brat who smashed it.” Applejack cast a withering glare at Sweetie Belle as she and Applebloom entered the kitchen. The other Apple ponies in the house seemed unsettled as well, not only by Applejack’s ranting but by the sight of Sweetie, even with that horn cap on. The filly desperately wanted to get out of the house, out of Sweet Apple Acres, and throw the cap into the gate house, a small shed by the gate to the main road.

“You smashed it, didn’t you?” Applejack snarled as she boiled with rage.

“I didn’t, honest!”
“Don’t’cha go talkin’ to me about honesty, ya little wretch! You unicorns is anything but honest! You hexed yer’self so you could go lookin’ all innocent like, didn’t you?”

“N...no...”
“Don’t lie to me, you little-”

Big Mac stepped right infront of Applejack. “Here’s a newsflash fer’ ya, AJ: I smashed it.”

“Wha...Big Mac, how could you? What the hell for? That stuff was gonna stop Apple Belle’s magic once an’ fer all. Yer’ lyin, Big Mac! Lyin’ for that little witch! She’s put a hex on you, so snap out of it.”

Big Mac leaned in close and stared Applejack down. “Do Ah look hexed? Maybe yer’ hexin’ yerself with all of yer nonsense, and it’s startin’ to piss me off, AJ.”

“Damn it, Big Mac,” Applejack shouted back, “That little witchling’s been hexin’ us since the day Ah brought her home. She’s been hexin everypony around here, and she hexed that cart!”

Big Mac grunted. “No, AJ, that wheel ain’t hexed. It was full of termites. They ate that wheel out from the inside, and it crushed. Ain’t no unicorn magic involved-”

“Then she put them termites in that wheel!” Applejack countered.
“Them termites been around a lot longer than she has, AJ, so quit blamin’ her for what happened to Granny Smith.”

Applejack was at a brief loss for words. Big Mac turned to the two fillies. “You two, get on out of here! You’re gonna be late for school.”

They both quietly nodded and exited through the kitchen door. But Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both hid under the window sill and listened on.

“Fine, maybe she didn’t kill Granny Smith,” Applejack conceded, remembering their longtime termite infestation in the old buildings and equipment. “Ah love Apple Belle dearly, an’ Ah want the magic snuffed right out of her so she can live right, jus’ like us. Applegem brought us that medicine so it could purify her.”

Big Mac grunted. “A purified unicorn is a dead unicorn, AJ. Them unicorns need their magic like the rest of us need air and water. Even if they don’t cast magic, they still need it to live. It’s a part of ‘em and ain’t nothing can take away a unicorn’s magic without killing it. That medicine’s been killing Sweetie Belle-”

“Her name is Apple Belle, Big Mac, get it right.”
“Whatever, it’s been killing her slowly. She gettin’ sick real often, she gettin’ weak and could hardly walk. She’d be dead by the time you stuff the last cup of that medicine down her throat. How’d you like havin’ the death of a unicorn on yer hooves, AJ-”

“If that stuff is so toxic, then why them alchemists in Nimbuscait make it in the first place?” Applejack countered.
“Them alchemists live in Nimbuscait, that’s why. As far as they’re concerned, the only good unicorn’s a dead unicorn. They dehorn ‘em, force feed ‘em that medicine, and when them unicorns are too weak to work, they burn ‘em. Unicorn health is no concern of them evil Nimbuscait ponies-”

“Don’t call them evil!” Applejack shouted. “Them Nimbuscait ponies got it right all along! They’re followin’ the true path to righteousness-” Applejack fell silent when she saw the big stallion’s cold stare.

“Like Ah said,” Big Mac resumed, “their medicine would’ve killed Sweetie Belle. It would’ve killed every cell that’s part of her magic system, then she’d drop dead from some sickness or disease we ponies are normally immune to. She’d be dead, you wouldn’t have your precious little Apple Belle no more.”

“But...that’s Celestia’s doing. She can make anypony live or die with a mere thought. Ah been prayin’ that she get Apple Belle through this so she can live on as an honest hard workin’ earth pony.”

Big Mac shook his head in disgust. There was no getting through to Applejack. “Ah can’t believe you jus’ said that, AJ. What about all them other unicorns who died like this? Anyways it’s real simple: without the magic, the unicorn will die. Or am Ah just a ‘big dumb lug’ like you told Cheerilee?”

“Dang it, Big Mac!” Applejack snapped, “Y’know full well she’s way outta yer league! She’s all smart like, an’ pretty and quite refined! She needs a pony more of her caliber! An’ Ah need you here on the farm! Big Mac, if yer’ so desperate to find yerself a mare, Ah could talk to any Apple clan in the county and we’d match you with a fine Apple mare. Y’two could get married, have a bunch of Apple foals, and you could still help us buck them apples.”

“Ah want Cheerilee,” Big Mac snarled impatiently, “An’ I won’t tolerate you meddlin’ in my romantic business, understand?”

“Oh you big doofus! Don’tcha see? Everypony in Ponyville thinks you two aren’t right for each other. There’s no natural way you an’ her could fall in love! The whole thing’s a hex! It’s cuz of them dang unicorns! Ah’ll bet Apple Belle did it to curse you! Them unicorns an' their infernal magic. The folks in Nimbuscait had the right idea to deal with them-

“Even when they killed Mama?” Big Mac snarled, “When they put her on the pyre and set her on fire, with Applebloom still inside-”

Applejack exploded in a furious rage and charged at Big Mac. Her fury brought on by the electrical surge in her brain as those painful memories she vowed to bury forever flooded her mind. She’d never forget the pain, and the guilt.

“DON’TCHA EVER TALK ABOUT MAMA, YOU-”

Applejack slammed into Big Mac with her hooves up at full speed, bent on knocking the big stallion on his flank, but the big lug had remarkably fast reflexes. He reared himself on his hind legs, caught Applejack and shoved her real hard. Applejack flew backwards and slammed into the pantry, then slid and hit the floor on her back. Right then Big Mac was on her, pressing down on her chest with both his front hooves, pressing his weight against her, so she couldn’t struggle.

“Do Ah gotta remind you what happened the last time you tried to fight me, AJ?” Big Mac snarled.

“N-no...” Applejack wheezed. The hit knocked the wind, and the delusional rage right out of her.
“Ah am mighty tired of you praisin’ them Nimbuscait ponyfolk. An’ you know damn well why.”

“But...them unicorns are evil. Apple Belle...”
“But nothing. Not all unicorns are bad and same with earth ponies. You know that real good, now quit yer bitchin.”

“Get off of me,” Applejack grunted, fighting back tears. Big Mac did so, and she stormed out of the kitchen to the porch outside. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, having just heard all that, were already gone.

At the school, hunch hour came, and Sweetie Belle snuck out of the school. She galloped quickly through Ponyville when her throbbing headache and aching hooves didn't hurt too much.

She would have had her horn cap on, and told anypony who asked that Applejack forced her to wear it, and that Applejack was an abusive, controlling xenophobic freak, but her head throbbed and ached. It was almost too bright to keep her eyes fully open. These headaches and aches all over her body were almost a daily occurrence now. And she felt weaker every few days. Who knew even walking would be so much a chore. But she strode into Ponyville, all the way to the Goldenoaks Library, home of the smartest unicorn in town, and disciple of Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle. On the way, she stopped at the general store, and bought the magazine with the bits she stole from a chest in Applejack’s room.

She knocked on Twilight's door with a hoof, but got no response. Last time she was here, at least the baby dragon, Spike, opened up. Sweetie Belle felt a surge of impatience, and banged a little harder.

The top half of the door slowly opened, and a drowsy Twilight appeared, her eyes bloodshot and half closed, mane a real mess.

“Yes? what is it?” she yawned.

“I...sorry to bother you,” Sweetie said nervously, “But I need to talk to somepony and I...kinda wanted to talk to you.”

Twilight yawned. How many times a day did ponies come pestering her with their problems?

“Eh, Sweetie Belle, I’m sorry, but I can’t really take the time to talk right now.”

“Why not?” Sweetie demanded, then feeling surprised over her own response. Must’ve been the magic. “I really need to talk to you, please.”

“I have at least fifteen projects going on, and half of them are due in two days if not sooner,” Twilight replied, “and I have to finish my weekly report for Celestia; it’s due tonight. I’m sorry, Sweetie Belle, but you’ll have to find somepony else to talk to about your problems.”

Sweetie would have felt despair...then it turned into frustration. The anger began boiling up in her out of nowhere, as all the memories of all the shit she went through the last year flashed through her mind. This was her one chance in many moons, to talk to somepony that might be able to help her. Twilight, who was one of Applejack’s closest friend, despite that she was a unicorn. Maybe Twilight could get Applejack to stop being so mean and let her do magic. And Twilight was blowing her off.

“Now,” Twilight was saying, “I need to get back to work. Please run along now,” Twilight said with a weary smile as she began to close the upper part of the door.

“Please!” Sweetie rose her voice, “I need to talk to you!”

“Find somepony else, I’m busy. And don’t shout, it’s disrespectful-” Twilight snapped back.

“Applejack doesn't want me to do magic ever! she want’s me to be another earth pony and spend the rest of my life at Sweet Apple Acres! She tried to have them chop my horn off, and she hates me because Granny Smith is dead! I didn’t kill Granny Smith! Honest!” the filly blurted out all in one big breath. All she got in reply from Twilight was a scoff.

Fed up, Sweetie reached into her side bag, grabbed the horn cap, then heaved herself onto her hind legs, and threw it hard. The horn cap flew through the air, bounced off the door, and nailed Twilight right in the face.

“Ow! What the hell?!” Twilight shouted from inside, “And what is this thing?”

“That’s a horn cap,” Sweetie hollered from outside, “That thing stops magic in the horn, and gives me a killer headache. Applejack makes me wear it all the time at home. It really hurts to wear it. I have to wear it all the time. You try and wear it for a whole day!”

Sweetie was breathing hard from yelling, and shaking from her own fury. She was never angry enough throw something at somepony. Must’ve been the magic talking right through her. It would not be ignored, not by her, not even by Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn she so desperately counted on.

“And Rarity’s alive and Applejack told me she was dead! I wanted to ask you about that-”

Twilight yanked open her door, and wrapped Sweetie Belle with her magic, and pulled her inside.

“Hey!”

Twilight plopped Sweetie Belle on a chair in the middle of the main room, which was a complete mess of books, papers, notes, scrolls, and broken quills.
“Don’t touch anything!” Twilight snarled impatiently. She trotted off into another room.

Sweetie Belle suddenly felt scared- she had angered another pony. She expected to be punished, then her eyes widened as she realized Twilight might tell Applejack that she threw the horn cap at her. She knew Applejack would pound the snot out of her and lock her in a basement closet for a week.

Twilight came back, a two emerald crystals levitating in front of her. She placed one of them on a nearby table.
“Open up,” Twilight ordered.
“Wha-what is it? I’m sorry, I was just-”
“I said, open up,” Twilight snapped impatiently. Sweetie gulped and obeyed, though full of fear. She felt no surge from her own magic. That was because she was well within Twilight’s strong magic field.
Using her magic, Twilight placed the crystal in the filly’s mouth.
“Now close your mouth and hold it there. Don’t swallow it,” Twilight said, purely annoyed at her.

Sweetie held the rock in her mouth, and felt mild tingling sensations throughout her mouth and head.

“It’s a memory crystal,” Twilight explained, “It will record all your memory so I can look at it when I am not busy with a million projects.”

Sweetie nodded, then she noticed the scratch on Twilight’s left cheek, right below her eye, from the horn cap. She sat silently as Twilight paced around the library, swearing and muttering under her breath. Sweetie cringed at what she thought would happen when Applejack found out about this.

After twenty minutes, Twilight removed the crystal from her mouth, only to place another one.
“Wha is or?” Sweetie tried to speak.
“Uhh, a magic diagnostic check, now sit there and be quiet.”

Sweetie felt some relief- at least Twilight was ‘listening,’ to her well, collecting her memory anyway.

Another ten minutes later, Twilight took the crystal out, and placed them both in a box, then opened the door. “Now, I think you need to leave,” Twilight said.

“Umm...thanks Twi...and I’m sorry I hit you with the horn cap...”

“Just take it and go!”