New Discoveries - Chapter 28

       Rarity and Applejack walked out of Sugar Cube Corner together.  They both had lunch together and everything was perfect.  However, as the two of them trotted out of the bakery, Rarity had a seemingly upset look upon her face.  Applejack noticed this and couldn't help but sigh; there was no doubt in her mind that the look on her face had something to do with Sweetie Belle and her sudden disappearance.  As a result, she decided to try and cheer her up, somehow.
       "So," the workhorse started, trying to start up a decent conversation with the unicorn, "That was fun, wasn't it?"
       "Yes," said Rarity, her voice a low and soft, "It was.  Thank you, Applejack."
       It was at that moment that Applejack decided not to beat around the bush anymore and confront her about her feelings; she knew how resistant she could be at these times and decided it was best to try the direct approach.
       "Look, sugar cube, ah know ya must still be upset 'bout Sweetie Belle, but it's like ah said before," said the earth pony, "Ya need to let her be from time to time, that's all.  You'll see she'll be back before ya know it!"
       "I know," said the white mare, "But I just can't shake off the feeling that something is wrong, that's all.  I have the feeling that she might be in trouble or something.  I don't know why, but..."
       "Well, bust my buttons," said Applejack, cutting off Rarity, "Would ya look over there!"
       She pointed a hoof in front of Rarity, causing the unicorn to direct her attention to where she was pointing.  When she did, her eyes went wide and smile formed across her mouth.  She saw her sister walking into town, along with Scootaloo.
       "Sweetie Belle!" she practically shouted in excitement, "She's alright!"
       "Of course she's alright," said Applejack, as the two of them watched the two fillies separate from one another, "Didn't ah tell ya she'd be alright?"
       Rarity let out a small sigh of relief.  She was glad that Applejack was right about her sister.  However, something else about her sister caught her attention and caused her to raise an eyebrow.
       "I wonder what's in that saddle bag she's carrying," she said aloud, but mainly to herself, "Sweetie Belle, what are you up to now?"
       Before she could take another step in her sister's direction, Applejack raised a hoof in front of her chest, causing her to stop where she stood.
       "Hold on there, now," she said in her southern accent, "Just where do ya think yer goin'?"
       Rarity smiled a sheepish grin as she said, "I was just going to see what she's doing with that saddle bag, that's all."
       Applejack let out a sigh of annoyance and said, "Rarity, there's just no gettin' through to ya, is there?  Ya'll have done enough snoopin' in her private business enough.  Ya'll need to leave that filly alone."
       Rarity sighed, as she said, "But I'm her sister and I have every right to know what she's doing and where she's going.  It's not right for her to just run out of the house like she did!"
       Applejack face-hoofed, as she said, "Rarity, ah've been tryin' my darnedest to keep calm with ya, but apparently, ya'll are too stubborn for the easy way, so, ah'll give it to ya straight: LEAVE YOUR SISTER ALONE!"
       Rarity went wide-eyed at the workhorse; she was never one to actually raise her voice at her for any reason and doing so caught her off guard.  Seeing the response that she wanted, Applejack cleared her throat and continued.
       "Look, ah understand ya care about yer sister so much and that ya want to keep her safe and outta harm's way, but there are times when ya need to let her be!  Ah mean, ya can't protect her from everything, sugar cube."
       Rarity lowered her head, absorbing everything Applejack was saying.
       "Ah'm not sayin' that ya shouldn't be concerned about her whereabouts or what she's up to or even that she might need help from time to time," the workhorse continued, "But yer gonna drive yerself insane if ya try to watch her every move and keep an eye on her at all times.  I know, because ah've tried that a few times with Apple Bloom and, let me tell ya, it ain't easy!  Besides, how are ya gonna build yer trust with her if ya can't even trust her out of the house for more than a few minutes?"
       Rarity closed her eyes and sighed, as she said, "You're right, Applejack.  I know that she needs to be left alone from time to time and that it'll help build our trust in each other."
       "Promise me that you'll ease off of her and stop watchin' and concernin' yerself with every move she makes," said Applejack, as she raised a hoof at her.
       Rarity smiled, as she raise her own hoof and connected it with the earth pony, "I promise, I will.  And, this time, I'll keep that promise."
       Applejack smiled, as she said, "We'll, ah need to get back to the farm, so ah'll see ya later!"
       With that, Rarity waved her friend good-bye and began making her way to the Boutique.

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       When Rarity got to the Boutique, she opened the door and began making her way to Sweetie Belle's bedroom.  When she got there, she lightly knocked on the door.
       "Sweetie Belle, are you in there?" she asked, as she waited for a response.
       "Come in," she heard her sister say from the other side.  Rarity opened the door and walked in.  When she did, she was surprised to see that the filly was unpacking the contents of the saddle bag.  All across her bed was a few pieces of clothing that she was beginning to put back into her dresser.  However, she directed her attention back to her sister.
       "So, I got your note from earlier," she said, with a smile on her face.
       "Yeah, sorry about that," the filly said, lowering her head, "I know I should have told you where I was going and when I'd be back, but..."
       "Oh, don't worry about it," Rarity interrupted, "As long as your safe and sound, it's quite alright."
       Sweetie Belle had to blink twice, as she put a folded scarf back into one of the drawers.  "You mean, you're not mad at me or anything?"
       "Well, I admit that I was a little worried about where you had gone," the white mare admitted, "But I trusted that you would be back before long.  No doubt you were probably just with your friends.  It's no big deal, really.  Just, next time, at least let me know when you'll be back, so I don't worry so much, please."
       Sweetie Belle was quite surprised at Rarity's reaction.  In truth, she had expected her sister to be questioning her and scolding her for not telling where she had gone and when she would be back.  However, she decided not to say anything about the subject; she didn't want to put the idea in her sister's head and start what she didn't want her to.
       "Umm, okay," the filly said, smiling, "Sorry about that."
       With that, Rarity began to leave.  Before she closed the door, Sweetie Belle called out to her, stopping her in her tracks.
       "Um, Rarity," she began her cheeks turning a small shade of red at the question she was about to ask, "Can I sleep over at Scootaloo's tonight?  She invited me to a sleepover and I really would like to go."
       Rarity smiled, as she said, "Of course, Sweet'ums."
       "YAY!  Thank you, sis," she exclaimed, as she went over to her and wrapped her arms around her.  Rarity smiled and returned the hug.  However, one small question floated in her mind, as she drew her attention back at the saddle bag.  She knew she shouldn't ask and snoop, but she figured that it was a reasonable question, one that would only need a simple answer.
       "Um, Sweetie Belle," she said, as the two of them released their embrace, "If you don't mind me asking, what were you doing with a saddle bag full of clothing?"
       Sweetie Belle's heart raced, as she tried to think of an answer for her.  She tried to think of a good excuse for her, something that wouldn't arouse too much suspicion.  Then, she said the first thing that popped into her head, something that indirectly involved the filly on her mind.
       "Oh, nothing," she said, slightly blushing again, "Just another way to try and get our Cutie Marks again, that's all."
       Rarity smiled, sheepishly.  She didn't know how one would earn a Cutie Mark with a saddle bag full of clothing, but she figured that it was best not to question the logic on the subject.
       "If you say so," she said, as she turned and began walking to her work room, leaving the filly to continue unpacking her things.
       As she entered the room, she couldn't help but smile at her self.  She was happy to see that Sweetie Belle was out of the depression she had been in during the storm.  The once sad and gloomy filly was alive and cheerful again, back to the way she used to be.  The whole ordeal with Scott was over and done with, and the filly had put it all behind her.  She would have said something about it right then and there, but she didn't want to bring it up and upset the filly again, not after seeing how happy and lively she was
       "Way to go, Sweetie Belle," she said to herself, "I told you it'd be alright.  Glad to see you've put it all behind you and moved on."
       With that, she decided to do what she did best; she went over to her desk, manned her sewing machine and began finishing the dress that she had been working on, the dress she made for Sweetie Belle.