Chapter 11 Part 2: Cave Exploring Gone Right?
Button Mash opened his eyes to the sound of whimpering. It was cold and dark from within what ever realm he was in. His eyes focused and got use to the darkness and was starting to adjust to it. He could see a large pile of rocks covering the exit and Sweetie Belle a few feet away, staring at the rocks with watery eyes.
Button Mash got up slowly, causing Sweetie Belle to turn to him, a small smile formed across her face. She walked over and helped him back on all four hooves.
“What happened?” Button Mash asked innocently and timidly, scared to hear the answer. Sweetie Belle’s smile disappeared as she glanced over at the crumbled boulders.
“As we were leaving, the ceiling came down on us, trapping us here. I think Scootaloo and Applebloom went back to town to get help. They should be back any minute now,” He shook his head and looked around to find the torch still burning, producing the only source of light around them. Shadows danced and flickered on the cave walls.
“So we just have to hold out until they get here, right?” She nodded at him, though not answering. She shivered clearly but it wasn’t from the cold, it was from fear. She seemed to not believe her own words very well. Button Mash walked up to her and patted her shoulder, startling her. She looked were the hoof was placed and then trailed up to look at him in the eyes which surprisingly ignited with confidence.
“Don’t worry, Sweetie Belle, I know that we will be rescued!” She had her mouth open in shock as she was mesmerized by the look in his eyes. He looked back to the rubble and walked on over. He examined the damage and he started to move the rocks out of the way. He grunted every time he moved one but did not stop.
“Button Mash, it’s useless, we can’t move them all,”
“But we can at least try!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Maybe she is over at Rarity’s?” Scootaloo advised to the running Applebloom next to her. They have been sprinting through town to find Twilight Sparkle for help. The never stopped running, even after they left the forest. Of course the first place they checked was Twilight’s library, but Spike said she just left to go meet up with someone. They have begun searching the town for Twilight Sparkle, but their searching so far has been in vain.
They searched the market, the town center, Sweet Apple Acres, Candy Corner, almost everywhere but no one has seen her. The next place they were gonna check is Rarity, one location they haven’t checked yet.
They reached the Carousel Boutique and knocked on the door. Rarity opened it a minute or so and looked down at the two fillies catching their breath. She looked at them puzzled and slightly concerned. After a moment more they caught enough of their breath to speak.
“Rarity, is Twilight here?” Applebloom asked hopefully. Rarity raised an eyebrow and shook her head.
“I’m sorry, I haven’t seen her recently. I did an hour ago, said that she was meeting with somepony but I don’t know who,” The two fillies groaned in annoyance.
“That’s what everypony keeps saying! We need to find her quickly before it’s too late,” Rarity tilted her head slightly to the left, still wearing an expression of confusion.
“Why, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“No time ta explain. Can ya tell us where she was meeting this pony?” Rarity tilted her head back and looked away from them, deep in thought.
“Hmmm, I can’t say that I know. She didn’t really say- wait! She said she was going to Fluttershy’s house first. She was to meet them at the edge of the Everfree forest,” The two fillies smiled up at her, light shining through their smiles. They looked at each other glowing in hope, then returned to face Rarity.
“Thanks! Sweetie Belle will explain everything when she gets back. Come on Applebloom, let’s go!”
“Right, lets hurry!” The two stormed off leaving a small cloud of dust where they stood, making Rarity swat at the dust, still looking confused but now worried.
“Oh my, I certainly hope everything is alright,” Rarity said timidly, bring a hoof to her chin in thought.
Applebloom and Scootaloo cut through town to get to Fluttershy’s house. They were catching up and they knew it, they only hope that they could find Twilight Sparkle in time before their friends run out of time.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Push!” Button Mash cried out, his hooves pressed onto a big boulder. Sweetie Belle and Button Mash pushed with all of their strength against a rock that was blocking the way, but to no success. The rock didn’t budge from it’s spot. Button Mash and Sweetie Belle looked at each other with timid expressions clear on their faces, glancing back behind them to see they made no dent to the amount of rocks still blocking the cave entrance.
They had been trapped for a solid hour so far with making little to no progress. They managed to move some but most of the debri is too heavy for them or is wedged in between too many rocks to slide out. The cave walls were dark and cold, the ground slick and smooth, and darkness was creeping in around them.
Sweetie Belle looked over to see the torch was burning out. Button Mash saw her face and turned to see what she saw. He frowned at the torch and shook his head. He knew they didn’t have a whole bunch of time left before they would be in complete darkness.
“Come on, there is nothing we can do here. Let’s just wait for the others to return,” Sweetie Belle nodded without saying anything gloom and despair was revealed across her face when they got closer to the torch, tears leaking out of her eyes.
Button Mash was scared, no doubt about it. Normally he would be crying and screaming like a little filly, but he felt as though he shouldn’t show her how scared he is to her. Like as if they would perish away if he showed his fear. He gulped down his cowardice and sat down next to the torch. Sweetie Belle sat across from him, also next to the torch. Button Mash looked up at her to see her blankly staring at the torch almost lifelessly as if she had given up all hope.
Button Mash saw a shiver shake her body and she grabbed her arms to keep warm. Her mane was a mess and her eyes were bloodshot from crying. She looked like she had seen hell. Button Mash walked over and sat next to her, his cheeks a little red.
“Are you ok, Sweetie Belle?” She didn’t answer. Her body shook from the cold of the cave and her eyes never left the fading torch. Button Mash scratched the back of his head, trying to think of something to break her out of the trance like state she seemed to be in.
“You’re shivering, try to get closer to the torch to stay warm,” Once again she didn’t reply, nor did she budge from her spot. Button mash wanted to cry loudly into the walls of the cave, but doing so would show her that their is no hope. he had to be brave for her, he had to show her he wasn’t a whiny baby.
He felt the cold creep up on him, giving him goose bumps and making his fur stick up on it’s end. He couldn’t keep the act up for long. He had to think of something to get her mind off of all of this. He scootched a bit closer to Sweetie Belle and took a deep breath. I have to do this, to keep her warm. I don’t like like her or anything, I’m just trying to help a friend. Right.
Button Mash raised his hoof slowly, hesitating with every inch that he managed to move. Ever so slowly he wrapped his hooves around her and pulled her in, causing her to gasp suddenly when she felt his arms around her. She looked up to him to see his face red and refusing to make eye contact with her. Once he finally managed to get the full embrace, he released his breath that he didn’t even realize he was holding. Sweetie Belle was about to push him away but her body suddenly felt a crashing wave of warmth flooding her. She held onto his arms and snuggled her face with in it.
“There, I know I didn’t ask, but I hope you don’t mind me hugging you. I just want to make sure that you don’t catch a cold,” Sweetie Belle said nothing but in response nodded her head. She felt the cruelty of the cave leave her mind. There was no cave, no torch, no cold, no darkness, only him and her. Her face turned a shade of red much like Button Mash’s. She smiled and sighed softly under her breath, basking in his warmth.
“Thank you, Button,” Button Mash was almost surprised to hear Sweetie Belle’s voice but smiled down at her, snuggling lightly at the back of her neck, smiling as well. He no longer was putting up an act, he was no calm and relaxed himself. He had no worries or fears. It was as if they were out at the beach just soaking up the sun. The thought made him smile in the darkness.
“Hey Sweetie Belle?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry that I got you trapped in here with me,” Sweetie Belle giggled ever so softly.
“It’s ok, I mean I was scared, but now. . . now I’m not,” Button Mash lifted his head to look at her, shocked. She moved her head slightly so that he could only see her emerald green eyes, which looked deeply into his light brown eyes. “Thank you,” Now he looked at her confused.
“For what?” Sweetie Belle held her gaze for a few moments, simply soaking up the scene. After that she turned her head down to hide her eyes again.
“For looking out for me,” He was surprised and didn’t fully understand why, but it made him happy to know that he could make her feel better.
“Of course, I mean we are friends, right? This is what friends do!” I think Sweetie Belle giggled softly again, snuggling herself a little closer into his embrace, curling herself up onto his chest. Button Mash looked over at the torch and saw it was almost out. Soon they would be in complete darkness. Already the walls were gone from their area of sight. He looked back down at Sweetie Belle, frowning.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fluttershy opened her front door after hearing some loud knocking coming from it. She opened the door to reveal a pair of panting fillies. She leaned down to get to their level.
“Oh my, are you two alright?” Scootaloo shook her head.
“Fluttershy! Where is. . Twilight? We need her to. . . help us. It’s an emergency!” Fluttershy raised herself back up properly. She looked around to see if it was just them, which it was, then looked back down at them.
“She is over at the Everfree forest. I think she said she was meeting a pony over their. She seemed really nervous so I hope she is ok. Now that I remember. . .” Fluttershy looked over at the edge of the forest, a shiver jolted through her. She shook her head and looked a bit off at a small group of trees next to the Everfree forest. “Yes, she should be over there by those trees before you enter the forest. If you little fillies want I could -” When she looked back down, Applebloom and Scootaloo were gone.
They were booking it for the tree line, hoping they aren’t too later. When they got their it would have appeared that luck had finally blessed them, for in the middle of the grove of trees, Twilight Sparkle was pacing back and forth at it’s center. The two friends looked at each other with excitement and bolted through the bushes for her.
“Twilight!” Scootaloo shouted as they ran to her. Twilight’s ear perked up in excitement and a smile formed quickly on her face.
“Flash?” When they came out of the bushes, her smile faded slightly. “Oh, it’s you girls. Are you ok? You look like you’ve been running all over the place,” She looked away from the for a moment to let them catch their breath. Applebloom could just barely hear something muttered from under Twilight’s breath. “I could have sworn the letter said to met him here,”
“Twilight! We need your help,” Twilight returned her attention to the young fillies, now wearing a face of concern.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“We were doing some cave exploring and the cave came crashing down like Big Mac tripping over a root! Sweetie Belle and Button Mash are still trapped inside!” Applebloom explained in a panic. Twilight’s eyes widen with panic then went firm.
“Bring me to the cave!” She ordered firmly, her gaze forming that of authority. The two nodded at her and lead the way to the cave in.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Are you comfortable, Sweetie Belle?” Button Mash asked softly, still holding the young filly in his arms. She smiled to herself, nodding.
“Yes, thank you,” Button mash looked at the torch again, noticing it was almost gone. It was about to go out at any second. He frowned at the sight as the black shadows crept closer to them.
“We are about to run out of torch light here soon,” Sweetie Belle raised her head just enough to see the torch of the floor, frowning at it as well. She glanced over at her surroundings to see the darkness of the cave getting closer and closer by the second. The torch had a single flame left from it’s original, flaming glory.
“What are we going to do?” Button Mash didn’t have a single clue, but he had to keep her as calm as he could keep her.
“We wait for your friends to return with help,”
“You mean OUR friends?” Button Mash couldn’t help but smile at that. The thought was warming and pleasant to him
“Yes, OUR friends,” Sweetie Belle raised her head to face Button Mash, looking into his eyes which he returned the gaze full heartedly. Her breathing got heavier and her heart started pounding through her chest. She was certain that he could feel it, which he could easily.
“Button Mash?” The torch was at it’s end.
“Yes Sweetie Belle,” Darkness engulfed them ever so slowly.
“If we don’t get out of here-”
“Don’t say that!”
“I know, I’m just saying that if we don’t make it, I just want you to know that I’m glad we became friends,” The last flicker of flame grew smaller and smaller, fading into the blackness.
“Me too Sweetie Belle, me too,” They leaned in closer, their foreheads pressed onto one another, smiling. Their hearts thumped loudly in their chests, blending together as one strong heart beat. The flame flickered one last time and was finally extinguished. They now sat in complete darkness, not even able to see one another.
“Button Mash?!” He held onto her tighter, putting his muzzle on her shoulder.
“I’m here. I won’t go anywhere, I promise!” Sweetie Belle closed her eyes shut and held onto him just as tight. They have given up hope right then and there that they were gonna be rescued, but they couldn’t feel more relaxed about it.
The rocks moved slightly from behind them, making faint scraping sounds. Button Mash and Sweetie Belle turned over to the sound, although they couldn’t see anything. All at once, the rocks and boulders shot outwards from the entrance. Sunlight flooded the entrance with blinding light, making them cover their eyes. Twilight held onto the rubble with her magic and tossed safely aside, turning to the two ponies huddled inside.
“Thank Celestia! Are you two alright?”
“Were fine,” They said syncronized. They looked at each other with a small smile, giggling. They looked at themselves as they were still holding onto each other. Twilight smiled with a smirk. Scootaloo and Applebloom walked around Twilight and peered inside, seeing the two in an embrace.
They let go quickly and smiled nervously, their faces beat red. Scootaloo smirked confidently over at Applebloom but she held her glare at the pair. The ones in question slowly got up and made their way out of the cave. Sweetie Belle looked up to smile at the sun getting ready to set while Button Mash fell onto the grass and started kissing it, gripping it tightly.
“Oh I am SOOOOOO happy to feel the ground again!” Sweetie Belle looked down at him and sighed happily, shaking her head at him. She looked back up at the Alicorn sanding before her, smiling.
“Thank you for saving us, Twilight,” She walked up and hugged her, which she happily returned the favor.
“Of course! I am just happy to see no pony got hurt. That was very dangerous of you guys,” She looked over to see the big red sign by the entrance. “Didn’t you guys read the sign over there?” Sweetie Belle turned to see the sign Twilight was pointing at then looked back up, smiling nervously. Her friends were looking at each other embarassed.
“Well, we didn’t think that it would actually fall down on us. We thought that if we were careful, the ceiling wouldn’t come down, but I guess it did,” Twilight shook her head at them.
“Well I hope you all learned a valuable lesson here!” The little ponies hung their heads down, ears dropping with them.
“Yes Twilight,” She smiled down at them.
“I’m glad to hear that. Now let’s go back home, I bet you four have some stories to tell,” Scootaloo snickered a bit, looking over at Sweetie Belle.
“Yea, and some explaining,” Twilight patted Sweetie Belle on the head, making her smile.
“You were really brave,” Sweetie Belle shook her head, glancing over at Button Mash who were talking to Applebloom and Scootaloo.
“Honestly, no. Button Mash protected me and kept me calm. HE was the brave one here,” Twilight giggled lightly at that, patting her head once more, this time having to shake off the cobe webs.
“Let’s go, everypony. You need to take some baths,” They started making their way but Twilight stopped and stared off at the distance in the tree lines. Button Mash turned over towards her.
“Is something wrong?” She looked back startled but shook her head.
“It’s nothing. I thought I saw something, or-” She looked back at the spot she was staring at. “More like felt something. It’s nothing though, let’s head back to Ponyville!” She turned around and led the group back to town.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cheat Code watched them head back to town, smirking to himself. He sat behind coverage of the trees where Twilight was staring at.
“That Twilight must have some good eyes, or strong magical detection. Either way she almost caught scent of me. I’ll try avoiding using her as a time extender,” He chuckled to himself once again, stretching out on the branch he laid on. “Still, she didn’t catch me, no surprise there,”
“Do not think lightly of her, she is very powerful. She defeated Nightmare Moon and-”
“Yeah yeah, I know. The royal guard has heard of them all, even in MY division. No need to pester me about that,”
“Very well. So did it work?” Cheat Code smiled widely, chuckling to himself. “Well? Has Button Mash and Sweetie Belle got closer to each other?” Cheat Code leaned forward, smirking.
“Far more than you can imagine. This couldn’t be anymore of a success!”
“Do they suspect anything?”
“No, not a bit. We are in the clear,”
“We are glad to hear, thank you. So is everything planned for tonight?” Cheat Code pulled out a juice box from his saddle and put the straw in.
Yeah. Tonight I’ll sneak in his room and allow direct contact for you and him. I have to ask, what is up with that game you sent him?” There was silence for a moment, annoying him. He brought the straw to his lips and took a long sip from it.
“That game. . . is what’s going to reveal his destiny. The game is the most important part of our plan. It has reconized him, now we must activate it without his knowing,”
“Piece of cake, I can sneak circles around him without him figuring anything out. Will you just tell me what exactly it does?”
“It reveals his destiny. The device will guide him to the door that shall unlock his full potential. All he has to do. . . is open it,”