Hearth's Warming [Sweetie Belle/Rarity Short]

>You stamp around the inside of the deserted rail platform trying to vent some frustration.
>The soft murmur of discussion across the room is mostly drowned out by the scream and howl of wind and snow rattling the windows, but it's still enough to compound your anger.
>You mutter to yourself, mocking an imitation of your sister’s finely enunciated tones.
“Don't worry, Darling. We have pleeenty of time to reach our private train carriage before the storms.”
>Your angry marching becomes an exaggerated almost-dance of light, elegant steps.
“I simply MUST check that Sassy has everything just so for the changes to my Spring line in time for Winter Wrap-Up! It won't take a minute.”
>The last few words practically drip with disdain as you resume your solo tramp back and forth.
>It was all supposed to be so simple!
>Everything was going so well.
>You'd been struck dumb when Rarity surprised you and your parents with a Hearth’s Warming getaway to Rainbow Falls.
>The winter wonderland that covers the Falls area each year is legendary across Equestria, and true to form, Rarity had set you all up with five star accommodations.
>Your big sister had always seemed fairly distant with the rest of the family. It had excited you beyond belief to be spending the holiday with everypony together like that.
“I should've known...I should have…”
>Shaking your head you turn to glower at your sister’s back as she continues speaking softly with your parents.
>The two of you had grown closer recently, but with that had come a larger understanding of her.
>Rarity thinks first, and foremost of her passion.
>Her art.
>She hadn't revealed her real motivations until you'd all been halfway to Canterlot.
>Remembering, you just barely contain yourself from resuming your crass imitation of her.
>”We’ll be making a quick stop in Canterlot so I can check on the Boutique, and another afterwards in Manehattan on the way back. It won't take a moment, and I've heard there's a few choice venues in Rainbow Falls that I simply MUST investigate for the possibility of new premises.”
>Your eyes slide across your parents now, sitting calmly and nodding to whatever Rarity is saying.
>Like ALWAYS.
>Just like before. They find out that Rarity’s big family get together for the holiday is just a footnote for her growing fashion empire, and what do they do?
>They PRAISE her!
>You toss your head with a wrathful snort.
“Oh, Rarity! That's wonderful! Oh, Rarity! How amazing! Oh, Rarity! Please ruin our whole family vacation because Sassy doesn't have the BOWS RIGHT!”
>You give the floor another hard stomp.
>”Sweetie Belle!”
>The melodious voice stiffens your spine like a physical blow.
>”Must you stomp around and mutter like that? I'm trying to speak to Mother and Father about what we can do and-”
“WHAT WE CAN DO? Rarity!”
>Your mane and tail feel like they're bristling with your outrage.
“Look outside!”
>You fling a hoof at the shaking window showing nothing but whiteout and streaks of black darkness beyond.
“There's NOTHING we can do!”
>Rarity stopped for a moment when you'd yelled, but she quickly recovered and raised her nose up a bit.
>”Really, Sweetie Belle, there is nothing to concern yourself over. I have the situation well in hoof and I can assure y-”
“Assure me? Of WHAT?”
>The perfect Hearths Warming.
>Ruined.
>Your voice squeaks and cracks as you advance on your sister.
“That we're all going to have a big family holiday? Just after you check all your precious stores? Or maybe that we’ll have plenty of time again?”
>Rarity rocks back on her haunches, her ears flicking lower and a hoof rising to her mouth.
>Even now she looks beautiful, and right now that just makes your rage burn hotter.
>You and your parents, tired and bedraggled from the train ride and walking around Canterlot.
>Windswept and flustered you all look like you could use a few hours sleep.
>But not her.
>Sparkling eyes, shining hooves, and every strand of her mane and tail perfectly coiffed.
“You know Mom’s been trying to get you to stay for Hearth’s Warming more than just one night for a while now! You know Dad’s always making everything just right for when you come home! You almost never visit! It's always “the Boutique”, this. Or, “my new fashion line”, that. But Hearth’s Warming is supposed to be special!”
>You'd advanced straight up to her and thrust a hoof out accusingly.
>She opened her mouth as if to say something, but you aren't giving her the chance.
>The surprised faces of your parents and soft shushing motions they're making only make you roll forward harder.
“If you wanted to make a business trip at this time of year, you should have just done it! Making up a bunch of stuff about wanting to be together just ends up hurting everypony’s feelings! And you don't care anyway! You probably thought you were sooo smart being able to do all the stuff that YOU wanted to do while dragging us along to make us think we were having family time. If I didn't come stay with you every week I'd never see you at all!”
>”S-Sweetie...I think I can help c-clear the tracks-”
>The tears welling up in her eyes only faze you for a second.
>You've seen her cry torrents over a missing button before.
“Then go! That way you won't miss your appointment to look at new buildings, or miss the train to Manehattan!”
>She's quivering as if each sentence is a blow from your hoof. Good.
“We know you don't care, so why pretend? Just LEAVE!”
>Rarity whips her head around as the tears begin to roll down her cheeks, giving a pained look to your Mom and Dad before rushing silently out the door into the storm.
>She didn't even take her scarf.
>Why does THAT make you feel bad?
>”Sweetie Belle...come here, honey.”
>You look around to see your Mom holding out her hooves with a sad smile and her eyes rimmed with red.
>You try to speak, but a large lump seems to have formed in your throat.
>Before you know it, you've rushed into her forehooves, blubbering into her chest as she holds you tight and makes soothing noises.
>Your Dad’s hoof softly strokes your mane and you hear him sigh heavily.
>”Ah, Sweetie. You shouldn't have said all that.”
“I know, Daddy. I didn't really mean it. Not really.”
>Mom continues to hug you and speaks softly.
>”The two of you have been getting along so well. Why does she make you so mad? You don't really believe she doesn't care about us, do you?”
>You take a deep breath as your sobs finally die down.
“No. Yes. I don't know, Mommy.”
>You glance up into her eyes.
“She's always so...perfect. Everypony always does what she says. Everything always goes her way, and even when it doesn't it ends up doing it anyway. I wanted this to be a nice Hearth's Warming like we had when I was little. We were all together. And...and now...because she wanted to stop at her store…she's probably out there now bullying the train workers until...what? What's so funny?”
>First your father had begun a wry chuckle that had built to a full, but quiet laugh, and then you felt your Mom shaking with amusement too.
>You stare back and forth between them confused.
>Dad wipes a tear from his eye before patting your head.
>”Sweetie, oh my Celestia, no, my dear. Rarity does not always get what she wants.”
>Your Mom joins in, still with that undercurrent of amusement.
>”Sometimes I forget just how different your ages are. Do you remember this?”
>She rummages in her saddlebags and produces a photograph.
>You'd seen it before. It shows a young, spindly legged Rarity sitting in front of Carousel Boutique.
>Your Dad stands on her right with saddlebags bulging with carpenters tools, and your Mom’s on her left.
>All three are beaming brightly at the camera as Rarity holds the infant you in her hooves, holding you up to face forward as well.
>Your Dad taps the photo and speaks up.
>”We took that the day we finished construction. Called in a lot of favors to get it built, but it went up fast enough.”
>Mom nods and adjusts her grip on you, turning you in her lap more comfortably like back when you were a foal.
>Your Father, Mr. Apple, Rarity, and Big MacIntosh built it from the ground up.
>You look at her, startled.
“Rarity too?”
>Dad gives that wry chuckle again.
>”She sure did, pumpkin. Made sure every board and nail was right, too. Oh, your sister likes the finer things in life. Always has. But, well…”
>He rubs the back of his neck with an embarrassed look, and your Mom pats gis shoulder.
>”...we do alright. Your Mom, and I. But we're no aristocrats. All that high fashion, rich culture, pomp, and all that. We didn't know nothin’ about it. And we couldn't give it to her either.”
>He smiles and lays his hoof on top of Mom’s on his shoulder.
>”But that didn't stop our Rarity. She never cared if we could give her fancy clothes. She learned to make ‘em.”
>Your Mom shakes her head wonderingly before looking at you.
>”She spent every free hour of every day studying fashion magazines and looking at photos of galas and parties. She taught herself stitching and sewing. Needlework, embroidery, even cloth weaving. It's like she was possessed.”
>A loud bark of a laugh escapes your Dad.
>”And she was TERRIBLE!”
>”Honey!”
>Dad offers your Mother a chastised look.
>”I'm sorry, dear. But I still have those first shirts she made me.”
>You can't help but to stare.
“She was BAD at it?”
>With a stern look at your Father who'd taken on a studiously not-laughing expression, Mom answered.
>”She wasn't gifted in that area. Oh, she had an eye for what would look good on a pony, but making it was another story. It took her months of dogged persistence to make something serviceable and years to hone that skill.”
>Dad shakes his head again.
>”She used to say, A pony can't control how she starts in life, but she can control where she ends up. I couldn't do much for her, but her dream was big enough to inspire anypony. So I gave her what I could.”
>The pieces fell into place.
“Carousel Boutique?”
>He nods quietly, and Mom shifts you again to face her.
>”She gets caught up in what she's doing sometimes, Sweetie. But do you know the real reason she does it?”
>You shake your head, but the thoughts forming dimly seem to be taking shape.
>”So she can give it all to anypony who wants it. She knows what it's like, honey, to see all that glamour and loveliness so far away and to feel like she can never touch it. She felt so wonderful when she finally had a nice gown of her own, and her mane done up all pretty, that she wanted everypony to feel that way.”
>Your Dad wraps his hooves around you both and pulls you in for a hug.
>”We don't make way for her dreams because she's demanding, or haughty, or perfect. We do what we can because we know that whatever work we do, it's only a fraction of what she's put in herself.”
>You nod slowly. Everything they're saying is true.
>It's just a way of looking at it you'd never thought of.
>You'd always assumed Rarity got her ability along with her special talent.
>It never occurred to you to think it might have been hard work.
>Almost as if reading your mind, your Dad nudges your cutie mark and taps your nose.
>”Why d’you think we always told you to stop worrying about this and to find what you truly love to do?”
>It all makes sense now.
>And you were such a monster to…
“RARITY!”
>You leap from your Mom’s lap.
“She went outside! Without her big coat and scarf!”
>Your Dad pats your shoulder.
>”Don't worry, Sweetie. It hasn't been long, and she'll be back. There'll be no clearing the tracks in a storm like this.”
>You look doubtful as the clock on the wall chimes midnight.
“It's Hearth’s Warming.”
>Your parents both snug you into a heavy hug.
>”Happy Hearth’s Warming, Sweetie Belle.”
>Their voices in unison fill you with warmth.
“Ah! Mommy! Can I have that photo?”
>The door to the outside opens letting in a blast of frigid air, and Rarity’s tail backing in out of the storm to pull the door closed after her.
“Hurry, Mommy!”
>Your Mother gives you a knowing smile and hoofs you the photo.
>Maybe she'd planned for the photo all along, you think, as you dive into the pile of luggage.
>”It is FAR too cold out there. You'd think the Pegasi might show some restraint way out between the cities like this. Um...Sweetie Belle?”
>You found it!
>You climb your way out of the luggage ripping paper off of your carefully wrapped gift to Rarity.
>She'd seen the fully wrapped gift before when you were packing, and seeing you now tearing at it ferociously made that hurt look come back into her face.
“Grah! No! Hang on Rarity! It's this...hang on a sec!”
>Now she just looks confused as you turn your back and begin fiddling with the photo.
>She eyes your parents sideways, but they keep quiet.
>Finally! You turn around, and take a deep breath.
“Rarity...I'm sorry I said all that mean stuff to you. I didn't really mean it. You're the best big sister ever and...and this is for you. Happy Hearth’s Warming.”
>You offer the item behind your back to her.
>A picture frame. Hoof made by the one and only Sweetie Belle using a kit you'd bought at the market.
>Daisies and Forget-Me-Nots sculpted from clay and glazed colorfully climb around a pale wooden frame.
>You'd wanted to add some glitter and ribbons. Maybe some sequins. But the simpler look was nice and you didn't want to mess it up.
>Best of all, Mom’s picture was now carefully tucked into it, ready for display.
>Rarity’s horn lit for a moment to take it but fizzled softly as she saw the photo.
>You watch as her eyes circle the frame, and it's careful detail down to the little “From: SB” scratched into one corner.
>”Th...th-hank…”
>That was all she could manage before throwing her hooves around you and bawling into your mane.
>You suddenly realize you're crying just as hard.
>The soft hoof-falls of your parents precede their addition to the group hug, and everything feels right with the world.
>”Happy Hearth’s Warming...Sweetie Belle.”


[The End]