IntroductionStar Crossed and Wedding Belles were a little different in their younger years. Not by a lot; just that when other foals their age were getting there cutie marks, they still had blank flanks. Even in the early years of high school, they still did not have their cutie marks.
Once or twice, it crossed their minds that maybe they were different, maybe there was something... not right. But they always reassured each other that, no. They were /not/ different, their destiny would just come... later. That it was something that they simply couldn't learn as children.
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It was a beautiful summer's day; only a week or so away from the end of the school year, and Star Crossed was engaged in her favorite pastime-- gossiping with friends.There was plenty to be heard, everything from who was trying out for an end-of-year play to what their plans for break were. Mostly small talk, things that didn't interest Star much; she drifted in and out until she caught a few words between Breeze Wings and Lightfoot.
"/No/, you're kidding me!" Lightfoot squealed, raising a hoof to her mouth to stifle a giggle.
Breeze Wings blushed (quite a feat, considering her coat was as pink as Star Crossed's) and nodded, pawing at the ground.
"I'm not. You've seen how I've been in science class, it's a wonder my grades haven't been slipping! Oh that stupid Gold Star, why does he have to be such a distraction?!"Star Crossed's ears perked up, a grin spreading over her face.
"Gold Star? What about him?"Breeze Wings lowered her head, pawing at the ground again and giggling nervously.
"I just... I... m-might... kind of have a crush on him," she said, her face flushing an even deeper red.
With that, Star Crossed lept to her hooves and galloped away-- if she was lucky, Gold Star would still be in the lab, he always hung out there after school. Sure enough, the stallion was there, frowning down at some papers.
"HEYGOLDSTARWHADDYATHINKOFBREEZEWINGS!?"
Several minutes of apologies and paper cleanup later, Star Crossed managed to calm herself down to properly talk to Gold Star, asking him all sorts of questions. Small ones at first, but she slowly edged into things like... oh, were there any ponies he liked? What /did/ he think of Breeze Wings-- oh, he thought she was pretty? That he'd really like to talk to her more?
Star Crossed slowly steered the conversation to, well, maybe Gold Star could come back with her and hang out with her friends; it was a lovely day after all! Too nice to spend in a lab! Gold Star agreed, and they made their way back to Breeze Wings and Lightfoot.
A little while later found Breeze Wings and Gold Star deeply engrossed in conversation, while Lightfoot and Star Crossed watched; trying not to giggle too much, especially when Breeze Wings asked Gold Star if he would like to join her for the last dance of the school year, and he agreed.
Star Crossed was too busy cheering-- well, internally cheering, anyway-- for her friend's luck to notice anything else had changed, not until Lightfoot prodded her on the flank.
Star, look!" she said with a grin. Star Crossed turned her head, giving a loud laugh when she noticed what Lightfoot had seen; a large red heart, crossed by a five-pointed white star.
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It was a snowy winters eve, when Wedding Belles found out she had been chosen to organize the Hearth's Warming Eve dance.
Star Crossed had been eager to help, of course, so Belle had let her take over making the decoratios, while she took care of finding ponies interested in attending, and occasionally convincing some who weren't so interested to give it a try anyway-- it was a party, after all, it'd be fun!
Before she knew it, the big night came, and Belle couldn't have been happier with the results. Everything ran like clockwork, refreshments were stocked just right, and everypony was having a great time!
Well. Almost everypony. Wedding Belles frowned, seeing a few mares and stallions lingering on the edge of the dance floor, looking much like they'd rather be anywhere else at the moment.
"Is something wrong?" Belle asked, looking at the least-shy looking mare-- Apple Butter, if she recalled correctly.
Apple-Butter
"Ah just... how'n the hay are you supposed to ask a fella to dance?!" Apple Butter responded, giving a slight snort of frustration.
"I mean, what if he's boring or thick, or doesn't wanna talk or--"Wedding Belles raised a hoof, a small smile on her face.
"I think I can help with that."--------
"Bell Pepper, this is Apple Bu--"Belle was cut off by Apple Butter nudging her aside, eager to speak to the stallion.
"Bell Pepper?! I-- wow, I didn't even know you went here!" the farmer mare said brightly.
"I love your family's hot sauce, and the peppers you produce-- best I've ever had!"
Wedding Belles chuckled and trotted off, slowly introducing the mares and stallions to one another, taking care to make sure each pair had at least one thing in common, and nothing that would immediately turn off the other party. Before long, those who had been hanging off to the side were happily chatting away or dancing, or otherwise participating rather than simply lingering away from everyone else. Delighted with the results, Belle made her way back to where Star Crossed was.
"So, everything going according to plan?" Star asked, abandoning her brooding expression in favor of grinning at her friend. Wedding Belles nodded, grinning in return.
"Yeah, I can't believe it! And I even managed to talk some of the wallflowers into dancing-- I'm so happy too, no pony should have to be alone tonight."Star nodded, looking out over the dance floor. Belle followed her gaze, raising a hoof to her mouth to hide a rather small, sad smile-- no wonder Star looked so down, it seemed Gold Star and Breeze Wings had each found somepony else to dance with.
"H... Belle, hey, look!" Star Crossed shouted, bringing Wedding Belles out of her thoughts-- and attracting the attention of several nearby ponies as well. Belle turned her head, and before she could stop herself, let out a shriek of delight.
Two silver bells, tied together with a light blue bow, had appeared on her flank-- her cutie mark, at last! Star was the first to start cheering and others soon joined in, all of them as happy as Wedding Belles herself.
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onths passed, school fled by, until one night came when Wedding Belles and Star Crossed found themselves hanging out in Wedding Belle's room, still barely able to believe they had finally graduated.
Star Crossed was simply bouncing up and down in the bed, she'd spent the entire day acting like she was on the mother of all sugar rushes.
Wedding Belles, however, was pacing back and forth with a frantic look.
"Come oooon, Belle! We've graduated, we've got our whole lives ahead of us now! Cheer up, maybe we can go to Breeze Wings' party. I hear she got Bell Pepper and Apple Butter to make treats, have you tried their new little Sweet'nSpicy tarts? They're the best!" Star Crossed said, hopping off of the bed and standing by her friend.
"No," Belle said, shaking her head. "No, no, I've got to keep thinking, I... oh, we're out of school, we're going to need real /jobs/, what are we going to do?!"Star sat down, rubbing her chin with her hoof for a few minutes, while Belle returned to her books and notes.
"Okay. It's going to sound kinda crazy, but I think I've got an idea, Belle..."-------------
Wedding Belles was hesitant at first, but she had to admit that Star Crossed's idea had merit. Between the time it took to save up enough money to even buy the premises, as well as all the time it took to get though all the paperwork and other dull work it required, it was nearly a year before Wedding Belles and Star Crossed were able to open their business. It was slow at first, just the two of them working, but they soon found more ponies who could work in their field. So their business grew and continues to grow; a force of ponies dedicated to spreading arguably the most wonderful feeling any pony-- any intelligent being-- could know.
What is this feeling they are so dedicated to spreading and studying; that tied their very destinies together?
Love.
