She…

Ha…

Eyes focused. Smile sweet. Forehead vein not pulsing. Lip not twitching.

She's gotten fat!

No.

No, that was overstating it. Badly. How dare she think something like that about her sister. How dare she give a filly of that age the worst possible insult!

Oh, Rarity.

Sometimes she didn't even deserve a sister.

"Oh, Sweetie," she whispered, taking a step forwards. Sweetie Belle tilted her head down shyly, her huge eyes pointing at the floor.

She has a double chin!

Ahem.

No.

No, she most definitely did not have a second chin.

There was maybe a little hint of something bunching there, yes. And maybe a hint of something thicker around her thighs.

And a little more than a hint of something soft around her tummy.

But that wasn't important! None of that was important!

What was important was Sweetie Belle's big, shiny eyes, and how close they were to spilling tears all over the floor.

Sometimes, Rarity…

"Come here, darling," she murmured, dipping her head down, offering her warmest smile and hoping to Celestia that Sweetie spotted it.

She did.

But it did nothing to stop those budding tears. Or the claws tearing at Rarity's heart.

"Rarity!"

All Rarity could see was a white blur, which slammed into her and clasped itself around her neck.

Oh, Sweetie…

She wrapped her own hoof around her sister's back. Gently. Lovingly. Like any good sister would.

With equal gentleness, she stroked Sweetie's back, feeling her breathing calm just the slightest amount. And the little hints of softness under-hoof.

And just how heavy she was.

Yes, she had definitely indul-

No.

This was not the time to be thinking about that, Rarity. And she knew it!

Sweetie sniffled, and gave a shudder that rocked the pair of them and caused Rarity's lip to wobble. No. It's didn't do that.

Honestly.

But she did have to act.

"Shh-shh-shh…" she soothed, lifting her hoof to run it through Sweetie's curly mane, tempting out those eyes even though she knew what they would do to her.

Just as she thought. The moment she spotted those green orbs wobbling with tears…

Remember Rarity. Be strong for her. Hold back your own. Keep that smile straight.

Oh, all right, maybe she could just allow her lips to purse. And her eyes to blink rapidly.

She stroked Sweetie's mane again, just holding back the sheer effort it took to look into those eyes and not break down with her like a total drama queen.

"What happened, Sweetie?" she asked, offering another smile she hoped was far sweeter than those chocolates.

Actually, maybe not. Those had cost a pretty penny.

Rarity!

Sweetie's lip trembled, and it did the same to Rarity's resolve. Sweetie looked away.

Good, now this makes it a little… easier.

She turned back, eyes now closer than ever to brimming.

Or not.

"I don't know, Rarity," Sweetie choked. A pair of tears slipped out of her eyes. Plenty more of them followed. "I ju… I…"

It was all her little heart could take, and it was all Rarity needed to cuddle her again. Tightly, this time. Helping her squeeze out those awful feelings while she kept her expression calm and strong, just as her sister would need.

All right, maybe she wasn't completely stoic. After all, if Big Macintosh could shed a tear at his sister's sadness, then she certainly could too!

Or more than just one.

And let her own lip wobble.

She held her sister as she cried against her, silencing her own inhibitions about Sweetie smearing chocolate over hear coat. Just a day after a spa visit.

No. Sweetie's happiness was far, far more important than any spa visit, or her mountain of work, or anything else she could think of.

She brought her head down, and kissed the top of Sweetie's.

Sweetie was her sister. And she would do anything to make her sweet little smile come back out again.

At the touch of her lips, Sweetie stopped her shuddering, and looked up. Her eyes were no longer full of sadness, but each of the raw, red lines that cracked around their edges was matched by a cut through Rarity's heart.

Oh, who could have done this to her innocent, sweet little sister?

But that would have to wait. After all, Sweetie required delicacy.

"Feel better, hmm?" she asked, widening her smile as far as she could without letting it seem strained.

"Uh-huh." Sweetie Belle sniffed again, but she did give her a smile. Even if it wobbled almost as dreadfully as it did before.

"Come on, Sweetie," she murmured, with just a tiny hint of persuasion. "Why don't we talk about this?"

She took a momentary glance behind herself, and sat down as she saw there was no mess to get herself into. She patted the carpet next to her, and Sweetie's smile warmed her heart so well that she failed to notice that little swell of her rump spreading outwards.

Oh, for goodness…

She put her hoof around Sweetie again. Gently this time. She was back to being the mature, calm older sister that Sweetie needed at this moment. Sweetie nuzzled against her.

She had got it right!

But this was merely the beginning. So that spurt of pride could stop right were it was.

Right. She could do this. She just had to remember to be gentle with her.

"What happened, Sweetie," she whispered.

Sweetie looked down again. She was possibly being pulled by her enormous eyes.

Too harsh. Well done, Rarity.

"I… I just…"

Her voice faded, and Sweetie pressed against Rarity's side. Never before had she felt more compelled to throw her hooves around her and pull her into a big, tight, sisterly hug. But she didn't. That wasn't what she was going for, today.

She settled for another stroke through her mane. And another. And another.

And as many as it took for Sweetie to answer the questions that burned deep within her. What in Equestria could make her sweet, friendly little sister hide herself away for days? What would want, or dare to make her cry? What would make her seek out the comfort of over a hundred bits' worth of imported chocolates?

Ahem.

Not the time, Rarity.

This was about Sweetie Belle. She was upset. No, she was terribly upset. Frightfully, even.

Those chocolates didn't matter; none of this mess did. If only she could see Sweetie smile again…

But she would have to be patient.

The seconds ticked by, with nothing but the sound of Sweetie's mane softly rustling under her gentle hoof.

"I…"

Come on, Sweetie.

"I just…"

That's it, darling.

She moved her hoof again, back to resting around Sweetie.

"I just choked."

What.

She had to stop herself from going stiff. After all, Sweetie was upset. This wasn't the time for such… coldness.

Even so, she had choked. Choked? And Sweetie called her a drama queen!

Ahem.

"I don't know what happened, Rarity," Sweetie continued, in that voice of hers that wobbled and cracked and nearly did the same to whatever was holding Rarity's expression together. "I was doing everything like you said to! I kept my breathing under control… I held onto the microphone when I needed to… I even kept my eyes shut most of the time!"

Her voice cracked. Her green eyes stared directly into Rarity's blue, all wide and shiny and wobbling and endlessly cute, supported by a quivering chin.

Oh, she could be forgiven. A thousand times over. For whatever it was she said. Or implied.

Oh, Sweetie…

Sweetie let her gaze fall to the floor. A tear join it a moment later, but it was the only one. Which was good news for Rarity's heart.

"But…" she mumbled, her voice heavy. It called for another stroke. "But I saw some… some ponies in the audience."

The poor darling…

She meant that. Truly, she meant that.

"And… I-I just froze up!" she croaked. "I could hardly breath anymore!"

She cringed even further. Rarity felt her own lip wobble. Just the once.

Twice.

"And then Ms Cheerilee came over…"

Enough was enough!

She was just… just torturing poor Sweetie, now!

"Shh…" she soothed again, wrapping both her hooves around Sweetie. She meant to do that.

Eventually.

"It's all right, Sweetie Belle. I know exactly how you feel, but not to worry, everything will be fine."

She gently rocked her little sister, like their mother had done with her all those years ago.

Months ago, actually. There was that fashion shoot that blighted her memories.

"How'll everything be 'fine'?" Sweetie Belle cried. She just about refrained from turning her big eyes onto Rarity again. "Those ponies… they were laughing at me…" Rarity gently nuzzled the top of Sweetie's head.

Oh, Sweetie…

"I guess I'm just not cut out to be a singer…"

Despite everything, despite her years of learning to control her emotions, Rarity did jump this time.

No.

No. No. No!

"No, Sweetie, I refuse to let you tear yourself up like this," she said, allowing a little bit of force back into her voice. Just a little, though. She didn't want to shake any lingering tears free. "Why, you're a far better singer than any of those ponies! You have the most adorable voice, Sweetie…"

She rubbed her cheek across Sweetie's forehead, and smiled down at her. She couldn't bring one out in her sister, though.

"You're just saying that 'cause you have to," Sweetie mumbled, every voice crack doing the same to Rarity's heartstrings. Again. "You're my sister…"

"Yes, I am your sister, Sweetie." She nuzzled her again. "But that just means I have more opportunity to hear your singing." She gave her a soft smile. "Believe me, Sweetie, you have the voice of Cade-" No. She couldn't say that. That was much too… trite.

"The voice of Cadence?" ventured Sweetie, the barest hints of a smile on her lips.

Time to make them grow and flourish, Rarity.

"Better," she said, putting a hoof under Sweetie's chin. "You have a voice that would melt her heart, Sweetie."

Rarity's nearly did the same. Underneath the huge, shiny eyes and behind the wobble, there certainly was a smile on Sweetie's face.

A small one, yes. One that she might still be worried about if she saw Sweetie wearing it at the end of a school day, and then would most definitely not bite her hooves all afternoon over whether to check up on her. But it was a start, at least.

"Thanks, Rarity," Sweetie said-no, wait, she chirped-before wrapped her hooves around Rarity.

She smiled. They both smiled.

"It's nothing, darling," Rarity murmured, back to running her hoof through Sweetie's mane. She planted a kiss there, too. "It's just a matter of getting your confidence up."

Yes. That would be all of it, wouldn't it? If only she could get Sweetie to feel more secure in her own ability, then certainly she would be able to show it off more easily. The there would be no more heartbreaking routines like this, no more masses of bits disappearing into Sweetie's mouth, and Sweetie would get to show the whole of Equestria what a truly wonderful little filly she was!

It was brilliant. The perfect Rarity plan!

All it needed was somewhere to start, though.

She flicked her gaze over to the curtains. Though they were still closed, and she held back using her magic on them during such a… tender moment, the little slivers of glorious sunshine that slipped through the gaps gave her an idea.

"And I know exactly where you can go for that, Sweetie."