"I positively don't know why you would think there's anything different about me today- I TOTALLY didn't pick the lock on Rarity's dresser and use some of her really expensive eyeshadow, and I most CERTAINLY did not sneak all the way here so I wouldn't be seen by anypony…"

"They all treat me like a baby, but despite how small I still am, I'm still growing up. I… I just wanted to feel like a pretty mare- like Rarity, like Fluttershy… I guess, despite everything me and the Crusaders have been through, I don't quite feel comfortable with what I see in the mirror every day."

"If it's alright, I wanted to say thank you for being my friend, as much as a pain in the butt as I've been recently. I love my family, I love the Crusaders, but you've been supportive in a different way- you don't judge me the way my family does, you don't chastise me the way that Applebloom or Scootaloo would if I told them what I did."

"I know I'm getting into a rebellious phase, but never once have you looked down on me for being who I am, you've always treated me with respect, even when I'm causing trouble. I… I just wanted to say that I treasure our friendship, and you've been my rock throughout all of this- thank you for being you."

"Look, I'll wipe this stuff off, and we can go get a milkshake or something, that sound good to you?"

————-xxxXxxx————-

Hey everyone,

I FINALLY got a bit of free time outside of my ridiculous pile of adopts that I'm putting together- this has been the absolute bane of my existence to be honest, but I am persevering and making my way through them. When complete, this will be the largest batch of adopts that I have ever done.

But regardless of all that, let's briefly talk about Sweetie Belle as she is in my AU.

As with the other Crusaders, Sweetie Belle is a few years older than she was in the show, but despite that, she is currently not much bigger than her depiction in Canon MLP- where Applebloom and Scootaloo have already hit growth spurts, Sweetie has not, and she doesn't like that, not one bit.

She has thus developed a more cheeky, somewhat jealous, and definitely rebellious personality and is very much driven by her feelings and emotions, regardless of the consequences. Overall, despite these traits, she is still a beloved resident of Ponyville.

(And more to the point, she's still my favourite filly of all- even if I have developed a strange and unexplainable soft spot for that adorable little psychopath Cozy Glow.)