“She paced in front of the door for the hundredth time that morning, if you could call it morning. Celestia’s rays were only barely beginning to peak across the frozen horizon. Rarity was not a morning pony, if she could avoid it, but today was exception. It was an exception she would have glad waited up all night for, if she had needed to, and nearly did, though sense forced her to bed. She knew she would need to be a least somewhat rested for this.

She checked the clock again. 5:28 AM. They… She should be here any minute now.

Yesterday, she had gotten a call from Pearl, saying she needed a little favor from Rarity. It had been nearly two months since she had heard from that wretched woman, and while she normally would be quite content to pretend Pearl did not exist, their last meeting had given her a change of heart. Not for her mother’s sake, certainly not, but for Sweetie’s.

Rarity was still ashamed of how she had acted last time the filly was in her care. She hadn’t paid her sister much mind when she still lived with their parents, and when she finally moved out she had been happy to forget her along with the rest of the family. Having to be stuck with the child for months while her parents were galavanting across Equestria hadn’t exactly endeared her to Sweetie.

When Pearl and Magnum finally had their fun and remembered they had children, however, Rarity’s eyes were opened. Pearl had to drag Sweetie back to the car, the filly kicking and screaming to stay with her “sissie” the entire time. The sisters’ time together may not have been overly enjoyable, but if she was that eager to avoid her own home…

Rarity knew she had made a terrible mistake in how she had treated her little sister during that time, a mistake she was determined to make up for this time around. She looked back up at the clock. 5:31 AM. Rarity was starting to get nervous, until she heard the sound of a car engine speeding off, and three soft knocks at the door.

She flung the door open, not caring if the snow poured in. There, standing in on the porch, was Sweetie. On her back was a backpack nearly as large as she was, and in her arms was a violet cat doll dressed in a purple jacket. She was certainly dressed warmer than her owner was, however. The filly stood in the blowing snow in nothing but a blue, sun-patterned tank top and jean shorts.

Without a moment’s hesitation Rarity scooped the filly up in her arms, cradling her close. Surprised, Sweetie dropped her baggage to the floor, and was even more surprised when she wasn’t scolded for it.

“Sis, are you mad at me?”

“No, Sweetie.”

“Did I make a fashion faux-pas?”

“No, darling. You look lovely. You always do.”

Rarity began walking to the living room, still carrying her precious cargo close to her, and levitating the filly’s belongings behind them. Her heartbeat began to slow, now that Sweetie was safely in her care once more.

As lovely as Sweetie might have looked, the snow had began to melt in the heat of the home, soaking through the thin, cheap fabric of her outfit, if you could call it that. Rarity set both her sister and her backpack on the sofa, rummaging through the bag until she found a pair of pajamas. The quality wasn’t much better, but they were dry at least. She helped the filly into them, and collapsed on the couch herself, Sweetie snuggling into her. Rarity pulled a blanket over the two of them, and the warmth began to work its magic on them both.

Sweetie let out a long, happy sigh as she rested her head on Rarity’s lap, the older unicorn softly petting her head as she did so. At long last, she was home, and she couldn’t ask for more.”