//------------------------------// // The End // Story: Dear Fellow Crusaders // by M_D_Quill //------------------------------// Sweetie Bell stared at the tear stained letter, rereading it over and over again. Each word and symbol she would quote by heart, and mouthed each word as she read. The candle in the room flickered dimly, and Sweetie Belle blinked. She slowly sat up, her back cracking from being hunched over so long. “I am sorry big sis… but I can’t.” she whispered as she carefully folded the letter and placed it back in the desk drawer. She glanced and looked around the almost empty room she rented couple months back. Dark drapes covered the windows, making the tiny candle the only light in the room. The heavy shadows shifted when the mare weakly stood up and made her way to the sagging bed. She fell onto it causing a puff of dust into the air. Her stomach weakly grumbled, reminding Sweetie Belle how hungry she was. Or was she hungry? It had been so long since she last ate that she was forgot what it felt like to be full. “When was the last time I ate?” she mumbled as she turned her head to gaze at a wood-carved Unicorn. “What is on the menu today, Applebloom?” The statue didn’t answer. It wooden gaze silently cut through the thin unicorn. "Why are ya asking me?" it seemed to say, "Didn’ ya abandon me to become a famous singer?" “No!” Sweetie Bell cried, trying to “I tried to come back! But Vinyl would not let me leave!” "Why are ya still blamin’ others for your mistakes?" Tears flowed down her already stained cheeks. With a sniffle, she curled into a ball and clutched her tail in a desperate hug. “I… I am not blaming anyone. I wa… was just so busy, I couldn’t fi… find time to leave…” Ya couldn’ find time to come and visit your best friend? The sound of hoove-steps echoed through the room Ya left me alone! Ya abandoned me! Just like Scootaloo. You left me alone. You traitor. Sweetie cringed at the silent yell and waited for the wooden pony to strike her. After some time, she tried to look up at the pony again, but her head would not move. Exhaustion washed over her, and a creeping darkness began to flood her vision. The bed moved slightly. “Sweetie?” some strange voice called. With a monumental effort, she turned her head to gaze into at a… orange shape. She tried to speak, but the only sound that came out was a weak cough. “It’s okay Sweetie, I am here to help.” It said again. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.” She felt herself get lifted up. Her gaze slowly drifted to the wooden unicorn again. It got smaller and smaller as she was carried away. Desperately, she tried to reach for it… she couldn’t leave it… she couldn’t abandon Applebloom. Not again. “There is no need to struggle Sweetie. I am your friend, remember?” The voice was trying to take her away from Applebloom! The voice was trying to make her abandon her friend again! “Let… go…” Sweetie managed to breath. The figure holding her paused for a second and Sweetie took the opportunity to push against it. "Let Go!" She managed to let out in a weak moan. “What? Why?” The voice asked. The terrible voice who was trying to take her away from her only friend. Sweetie felt it turn around. The unicorn came into full view again, and Sweetie Bell used all her strength to reach for it. It got closer the harder she reached. Closer… closer… Soon, it rushed to her in an in an orange blur! Sweetie Bell clutched it tight against her chest. Applebloom is still with me! I didn’t abandon her! I promised you I would never abandon you. Cutie Mark Crusaders forever and ever. “Sweetie! Wait! Don’t fall asleep!” The voice called again. It sounded familiar somehow. “Sweetie! Sweetie!!!” She gazed up at the orange figure again… “Who… are… you?” she asked. “Don’t you… ize me? I… me Scoo…” the voice said… It was getting quieter… Sweetie couldn’t catch everything it was saying. “Swee… elle! Sw… Belle!!!” It called. Sweetie Belle smiled to herself. It does not matter who that voice was, as long as her and Applebloom were together, then everything will be perfect. Darkness grew and overtook Sweetie Belle. ----------------------------------------- Scootaloo clutched the thin, frail body of her friend. Tears flowed out of her eyes… “Why couldn’t I be faster…? I could have saved her," she banged a hoof onto the floor in frustration. “You did the best you could Miss Loo,” a small blue dragon said, “I never would have guessed it would have been this hard to find her.” “I still feel like I could have done something more…” Scootaloo whispered, “I should have never of run away…” “Don’t say that miss! If you never left, then you would have never of saved me from those hippo thugs.” Scootaloo turned and looked at her assistant. Sighing, she placed Sweetie Bell’s body onto the rumpled bed and pulled the blanket over to cover the entire body. Wiping away her tears, Scootaloo saw the unicorn Sweetie was so desperate to get lying on the floor. She walked over and examined it. It was a beautiful work of art, and the bottom had some words carved into it. To My Bestest Friend Sweetie Belle May we be friends forever! Applebloom A sob escaped the pegasus and her legs gave out on her. She collapsed on the floor, clutching the sculpture. After a few minutes, she managed to catch her breath and wiped the tears from her eyes. Slowly, she placed the carved unicorn next to her friend. “I hope you can wait for me too.” Scootaloo whispered, “We are Cutie Mark Cursaders, remember. Now and Forever.” “Did you say something miss?” The dragon asked. “It is nothing,” Scootaloo said, “Write a letter to the Princess informing her we have found Sweetie, and then make preparations for departure.” “Where are we off to now miss?” “Somewhere I should have gone a long time ago. We are going home.”