I realize now that I have not been thanking people for leaving reviews. As an author, I need to appreciate every single person that takes their time to read/review my story. I just decided not to write up here because I don't think that people really read this. That shouldn't matter though. You guys have taken your time to read, therefore I should take my time to thank you all.

So I would like to say thank you very much to Scarlettaxsimon, M, Guest, fruitmcalley, Brambelle, and Me (seriously, someone left a review under the name of Me). I do appreciate your kind and encouraging words. I would also like to thank all those that have taken their time to read my story. I hope you all enjoy the next chapter and will see you soon.

Chapter Nine

Diamond in the Rough

"I can't believe it! I can't BELIEVE it!" Scootaloo jumped about fluttering her wings, "I can't believe that I actually flew. It wasn't for long," she admitted, "But it was a lot better than anything I've done before."

"I see why you want to fly so much," Babs Seed couldn't get her fanciful flight out of her mind, "I just felt so lite and airy."

"I know right," Scootaloo smiled as she went on.

Apple Bloom giggled at her excitement, "She sure is happy."

"Do you blame her?" Trinny whispered down to her, "A Pegasus feels the most free when they are in the air… save for Fluttershy… she's a very special Pegasus though," she chuckled, "It will be some time before she gets the hang of it," she looked up to Scootaloo who was still jumping around, "But I'm sure with the encouragement of her friends," she gave a wink, "that she's be up in the air in no time."

"You were the one that helped her fly," Apple Bloom stopped, "If it weren't for you, she would still be sitting there in a slump. I really never sure what to say when she starts talking about flying."

Trinny childishly smirked, "Oh really? So I was the one that picked her up and danced about the treetops? I was standing around watching the delightful ballet."

"But it was because of your magic that Babs Seed and I were able to pull her up," she pointed out, "You were also the one that told her not to think and then she flew. She flew because of you."

Trinny bent down to her level, "Words are lovely, but hold very little in this world. Because you and Babs Seed shared you light heartedness with her, she was able to find it within herself. It is true that I lifted you up, but I could only do so because you wanted to comfort your friend," she raised back up, "You do so much, but rarely give yourself credit. Big, grand things are pleasant, but," she started to follow after Babs Seed and Scootaloo who had noticed they had fallen behind, "I prefer small surprises… they often have a bigger impact in the end."

Apple Bloom was surprised by her response. Was it true that it was because of Babs and she that Scootaloo was able to fly? She didn't feel like she did much. She had more fun than anything. It was her first flight and was so thrilling. Though she wasn't sure if it was something that she wanted to do on a regular basis. But she could understand why Scootaloo wanted to so badly. Apple Bloom now could understand how she felt when she would stare up into the sky and sigh when every a bird or Pegasus flew by. She now could… comfort better… reassure more… She was closer.

"SWEETIE BELLE!" a horrified voice pierced through the air.

"Uh oh…," Scootaloo didn't like the sound of that.

"That doesn't sound good," Apple Bloom agreed.

"Let's go see what happened," Babs Seed wasn't one to stand around.

Off she ran towards the shrieking and moaning with both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo right behind her. Trinny didn't seem to be in a hurry as she keep her same pace. There was really no time to wait for her unfortunately. They had to make sure that their friend wasn't in mortal danger. By the way that the screams sounded, Sweetie Belle was in really big trouble. All three friends all up the path towards the towering boutique. As they approached, the door flew open with Sweetie Belle running as fast as she could out.

"Sweetie Belle! Sweetie Belle, what happened?" they all asked as she ran up to them panting.

"I was… just trying to help…," she answered in between breaths, "But I think I messed up big time," she look behind her.

"SWEETIE BELLE!" Rarity appeared at the door, "What have I told you about touching my things?!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, "You've gone and ruined my entire gemstone inventory! There are topazes mixed with granites and turquoise mixed with rubies! It will take forever to sort them all! Why do you always have to mess up my things?" she stomped her hooves at Sweetie Belle

"I was just trying to help," Sweetie Belle meekly answered, "I thought they looked nice together…"

"They are supposed to be separate so I can find them when I need them," Rarity huffed, "Now they are all mixed up and I have to get them all organized. You know that I have a lot of work to do to prepare for my fall line collection," she dramatically sighed.

"I know," Sweetie Belle drug her hoof in a circle, "… I was just trying to put together pretty jewelry for you… I thought I could help take a little pressure off of you," she held back her tears, "… so we could do something… I just wanted to help…"

Rarity rolled her eyes, "Sweetie Belle, I have… well," her eyes lingered back to her shop, "I Had everything under control. You just have to learn to keep your hooves out of my things. If you do, I will get done faster and we can do more things together," she gave another big sigh, "But now I have to spend most of the morning getting things back to the way they were before and the whole afternoon will be devoted to my collection…," she started to reorganize her day.

"But you said that you would come to the schoolyard with me and listen to the story," Sweetie Belle reminded her.

"Some other time… I have too much to do now," Rarity pouted.

"Oh my! How lovely!" a voice came from inside the shop.

"Who is that?" Rarity ran through the door.

The girls looked to one another and quickly followed after her. Stopping at the door, they found that Trinny had somehow made her way into the boutique. She was holding up a necklace of indigo and red stones. She was fawning over how lovely it was and how it sparkled in the light.

"Oh my Miss Rarity," she turned with a smile towards her, "I see that you haven't lost your touch when it comes to fashion."

"Oh well I…," Rarity fluttered her lashes, "I just… Well… you know…," then she must have realized that she didn't make that, "I didn't make that one… my little sister here made that one."

"You must really have wanted to help your sister," Trinny took the simple necklace of turquoise and rubies and put it on Rarity's neck, "Turquoise is a stone that helps with meditation and thought. The red ruby is for passion and confidence," she walked around to where the girls were, "The turquoise will calm the mind, understand more and allow it to be inspired. The rubies will impart amazing energy and will give the confidence to chase after one's dreams," she sighed contently, "Truly you made this to help your sister," she patted Sweetie Belle on the head, "To help her realize her vision and make her dreams a reality," she looked to Rarity.

Staring down at the necklace, Rarity's eyes went wide, "IDEA!" she flew up the stairs and slammed the door shut.

"I guess your necklace really worked," Trinny chuckled.

Sweetie Belle gave a big sigh of relief, "At least she's not yelling at me anymore. I just wanted to help," she walked over to the table where multiple gems of every color were laid out, "She was having so many problems, I just wanted to make something pretty to go with her collection. She always says that it's just not about the cloths, it's also about how you accessorize it," she quoted, "I guess I just messed up again," a small tear escaped from the corner of her eye.

"Don't cry Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom comforted her friend, "Rarity just doesn't know how to appreciate you and your talents."

"She seemed to appreciate the inspiration you gave her," Babs Seed noticed all noise coming from above them.

"She sure is busy up there," Scootaloo had to agree.

Sweetie Belle sighed once more, "Rarity has been so busy all week that we haven't done a thing together. I thought we were growing so close… but she hasn't changed at all," she huffed, "I just don't know how to make her happy."

Looking to the little necklaces, bracelets and charms that Sweetie Belle had made, Apple Bloom couldn't help but put one on. She wasn't one to put on such fancy things, but that particular piece of jewelry called to her. It was pattern of brown stones that had swirls within themselves and clearer ones that reminded her of freshly turned dirt.

"Tiger eye and Dravite," Trinny studied the stones, "Perfect for Earth ponies," she explained, "They are for those that desire stability and orderliness. It bring balance to those that are in need of it."

"How about this one?" Babs Seed picked up one with yellow and purple stones.

She thought for a moment, "Yes… the yellow would represent wisdom and the purple inspires the imagination. A perfect combination for that seek to expand their knowledge and look for what is beyond sight."

Every single necklace or bracelet or charm, Trinny could explain what they all meant. She knew each stone and what every color signified. There had to be at least twenty or thirty pieces of jewelry, but she gladly described what each one meant.

"Wow Trinny," Apple Bloom commented, "You sure do know a lot about things."

"Well," she blushed, "I learned from a famous stone cutter in Saddle Arabia. He was informative and taught me everything I know about gems. Of course," she came up Sweetie Belle, "Knowing what the gems are is one thing, but how to put them together is a talent that few possess," she smiled to her.

"I just thought they looked good together," she didn't think much of it.

"Well if what Trinny said is true," Scootaloo held up one of the bracelets, "Then you've made some… some…," she wasn't sure what words to use, "… some amazing things…," that sounded right.

"Yeah," Babs Seed agreed, "Balance, inspiration and happiness… Ponies where I come from would go nuts over these."

"Really?" Sweetie Belle was surprised.

"Are you kidding me? Ponies here would love them," Apple Bloom agreed.

"Wow," she smiled with blushing cheeks, "I really didn't know what I was doing…"

"Or maybe your heart was guiding you," Trinny headed for the door, "Come on girls. Why don't we go out and play. It is such a lovely day," she exited.

"Come on," Babs Seed and Scootaloo followed after her.

Apple Bloom looked to Sweetie Belle, "Feeling better?"

"Yeah," she nodded her head, "I just wish that I could do something nice for Rarity that she would like for once."

"Don't worry about her," Apple Bloom shook her head, "She's just fusses over little things. She'll see one day how much you do for her and appreciate it. In the meantime, I know something that will cheer you up," she smiled, "Hey Trinny!" she called out as they both caught up with the others, "Do you think you can do that thing again?"

Looking over her shoulder with smile, "Not too high this time though. Don't want to drop any pony again."

The four of them started to laugh, but left Sweetie Belle wondering what they were talking about.