//------------------------------// // The Snails with be with you. Always. // Story: Sweetie Belle's Unforeseen Date // by Derpator //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle loathed the following day. Cheerliee moved on to daffodils, which didn’t peak her interest. Worthless plants as she saw them, but the continuous glances she received during their lecture is what got her down. Like yesterday, she sat at a bench, only this time more groggily. It wasn’t even Rarity’s bombardment of questions that got her weary. She was just miserable. Dumped by Snails. She couldn’t believe it. Scootaloo didn’t lap it up. No, the pegasus was more sympathetic towards Sweetie Belle’s zombie-esque demeanour. Apple Bloom on the other hand, proceeded to make a smart remark with every opportunity that presented itself. A snarky comment or a one-liner to put forth her ‘opinion’ or ‘thoughts’ on the matter. She knew it was wrong, evidenced by the many glares she received, but it was a little rich for her to pass up. Sweetie Belle remained unclear on the dating front. Her heart hadn’t exactly been crushed, not even close, but the experience still lingered in her mouth. And it was a rotten taste. “Hey, cheer up,” Scootaloo said softly, rubbing Sweetie Belle’s back affectionately. “You’ve still got your pride.” “I guess,” mumbled Sweetie Belle. “Yeah! You can always look forward to our crusading!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, checking out the scenery. Their classmates were pretty active. “I guess,” Sweetie Belle repeated. “So you and Snails didn’t work out. You rejected him—“ “He dumped me, actually,” Sweetie Belle corrected her, putting great emphasis on her hatred of the fact. Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. “What? Seriously?” She mulled it over for a bit. “Okay, yeah, that kind of sucks.” Sweetie Belle groaned, planting her head flat on the bench, hiding her face. “Kill me.” The words came out disfigured, mostly because Sweetie Belle’s lips were touching wood. “Oh, come on,” Apple Bloom protested, “You’re overreacting. Snails hasn’t said anything about it.” It may not have been much, but it brought Sweetie Belle out of her stupor. She haltingly lifted her head upwards. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She went back to her more-known position: resting her head on a leg. “I can still fantasise about my dream coltfriend. So it didn’t work out with Snails, I can still pretend Rumble’s my prince.” Apple Bloom groaned while Scootaloo smacked her head with her hoof. “Have you not learnt anything?” Scootaloo whined. “I would have thought this Snails business might have told you something.” “I can dream, can’t I?” Sweetie Belle replied, taking great pride in her thoughts. “So... We’re going through this again?” Apple Bloom asked, wincing. Scootaloo sighed when she spotted Sweetie Belle gazing dreamily across the playground with half-lidded eyes. “I guess so.” * * * The seas were tough and raging. Boats fought hard just to survive in the storm. Pipsqueak’s had taken a bombardment of cannon fire; it was on its last legs, if boats had them. The brave, young colt had ventured far to save her, and at last, he swung across to the dreaded pirate ship: The Waifu Larcener The captain of the vessel, Captain Flashbeard Sentry, growled when he spotted the pesky colt aboard his ship. Drawing his broad blade, he spared no time in preparing a special welcome for his guest. Pipsqueak only vaguely managed to rip out his weapon of choice to protect himself, before the power of Captain Flashbeard Sentry’s blade caught him. The two became locked in a feisty duel of meshing steel, the clangs of metal clinking with every collision. Swing after swing, thrust after thrust, their battle proceeded for minutes as the furious waves crashed against the side of the boat. Drops grazed them, soaking them, but was unimportant. “Hand her over!” The colt demanded. Flashbeard Sentry locked his blade with Pipsqueak’s, entering the two of them in a duel of strength. “Never,” he replied. “You’ll never have Sweetie Belle.” Pipsqueak growled with a deep frown, putting all of his power into a forward thrust. Flashbeard Sentry jumped back to dodge the attack. He snarled as he lunged forward. The battle went on for ages, likely hitting an hour. Both swordsmen were weakened by their common enemy: fatigue. But Pipsqueak didn’t give up! He would fight until his last breath to save Sweetie Belle. It was a miraculous victory for Pipsqueak after an endless onslaught of flurry strikes. The Captain was down and unconscious. Pipsqueak would deal with him later. Mustering whatever energy he had left, Pipsqueak scaled the ship until he found Sweetie Belle, whom he freed from her binds. Immediately, he was met with a bear hug. “Oh Pipsqueak, thank you!” * * * “Thank you, thank you!” Sweetie Belle squealed at the bench, holding herself in a private hug. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom inched away from her a little, a little frightened for her health. “Is she... okay?” Apple Bloom asked, watching Sweetie Belle kissing her own hooves. Scootaloo dipped her head on her hoof, taking a sigh. “I wish.”