//------------------------------// // For Whom the Belle Tolls // Story: Applejack's Stetson Hat // by Fattymagee1 //------------------------------// Strolling out the front door of Sugarcube Corner, Spike tossed his new prized possession up and down in his claws. Conceived as another rather unconventional pastry treat by Mr. and Mrs. Cake, the “Azurite Delight” as they called it consisted of a typical pie’s ingredients, with the exception of azurite gem sprinkles mixed in with blueberries as the filling. Naturally, the cakes wanted Spike to taste test such an eccentric and rather lapidarian new product. Pinkie Pie was also quick to remind Spike that she helped in the process of baking it. Twilight had given Spike the rest of the evening off, something normally consisting of many tedious chores. Almost instinctively, Spike walked in the direction of where else? Carousel Boutique of course, in order to discern what he might be able to do for the mare of his affections. The dragon whistled a little tune to himself, contemplating the delectations the evening had to offer. The warm twilight of the sunset seemed full of potential and possibilities. Impressed with himself, Spike grinned as he tossed his pie up and down. Just wait until Rarity sees this baby! The filling totally matches her eyes! The dragon knew ponies didn’t care for eating gemstones, but it was the thought that counted nonetheless in his mind. Spike would do almost anything in attempt to win over the unicorn fashionista’s heart, including giving up precious gemstones. He had done it before, and by now Spike and Rarity shared a long history. A relationship that included Spike graciously presenting her with his prized fire ruby, an act that eventually saved the overgrown greedy dragon after destroying much of Ponyville. His affinities for the mare went as far as helping her win the heart of another rather Swanky stallion at the last Ponyville Days festival. He even helped Rarity after she went a bit cooky with the power of a dark magic spellbook he found, before eventually absolving her of it. Rarity, however, had never done much to return any feelings. Sure Spike received a kiss from her every once in awhile for a good deed, but nothing much more than that. The unicorn almost always referred to Spike as a “good” and “supportive” friend, but Spike was tired of being designated to basically the ‘friend-zone’. Twilight had mentioned to the dragon several times of their age difference, but it didn’t register. He was determined. As Spike strolled down a busy ponyville street, daydreaming about his elegant fashionista, he failed to notice the lilac-maned filly walking in front of him in a perpendicular manner. To his complete horror, the collision resulted in his pie being launched into the air in an unknown trajectory. Falling backwards, the dragon quickly rebounded his head and gazed around for his esteemed pastry. To his relief, he quickly found and observed it land unharmed on top of, coincidentally, a blue sofa outside of the Quills and Sofas store. Rising to his feet, he quickly realized his other blunder. There in front of him lay Sweetie Belle, with googly eyes rubbing her side with a hoof. Big Macintosh bucked the metal iron-barred door again and again, but to no avail. Not even the strongest stallion in Ponyville could move the ironclad door an inch. The Diamond Dogs had made several improvements and upgrades to their lair since the last time Rarity was imprisoned, including obtaining magically sealed bolts for all their doors begrudgingly in exchange for some jewels. There was no way out from the inside. The stallion shook his head. “Ah’m awful sorry Rarity, Ah gave it all I got. It simply won’t budge a bit,” he lowered his head in shame, “some stallion Ah am…” When he gazed up again, Big Macintosh was bewildered to notice a slight grin on the mare’s face. Like the big red stallion, Rarity was covered from head to tail with dust and dirt. Earlier the two had been led to another large chamber, where they were forced at the bulldog guards’ spear points to find and dig up gems for several hours. Rarity tried to whine and complain her way out like last time, but the guards’ earplugs portended she wasn’t so fortunate this time. “Oh, it’s alright Big Mac, it’ll be okay. Before long somepony will notice our absence and come looking for us—” she paused before sadly gazing down at her ruined purple and maroon layered formal attire and letting out a discontented sigh,“—even if this has put a bit of a damper on our plans for the night.” A bit of a damper. Big Macintosh fixated on those words. A bit of a damper, that’s all she thinks this is? The stallion spun around and sat down on the dirty soot-covered ground; he simply gazed at the iron gate in front of him. Right through those bars was his salvation, a chance at a way out and save the mare of his dreams. He could see the other side, smell it, almost touch it, and yet it was agonizingly out of reach. Tonight was m’ah chance t’ really woo her, go to a nice restaurant, take a stroll in the park, give her a nice time. Who knows what could’a happened. But just m’ah luck. Now all Ah I look like’s a big baffoon who can’t rescue nopony. This ain’t what was suppose’ to happen. His eyes still fixated outside the door, Big Macintosh laid down on the musty floor; his thoughts only consisting of the wallowing associated with the night’s failure. In it he failed to notice the unicorn slowly approach him from behind. Spike gasped in shock at the sight in front of him. “Oh my gosh, Sweetie Belle! I’m so so sorry! I didn’t see you there.” The dragon offered his claw to the filly, laying haphazardly on the ground. After a couple moments, Sweetie Belle regained her composure, smiled, and gladly accepted Spike’s helping hand. Unbeknownst to the dragon, a slight blush materialized on the filly’s cheeks. “Oh that’s okay Spike, no harm done I think,” with Spike’s help she rose to her hooves, “what was that thing you were carrying though? And where did it go?” Spike smiled sheepishly and diverted his eyes from Sweetie Belle to the blue sofa to his left where his pie sat a few feet away, only happy to divert attention away from his recent gaffe. Miraculously it had landed completely intact right side up on the couch after being launched through the air like a Wonderbolt being shot out of a cannon. “Oh that…,” the dragon scampered over to his prize and promptly picked up it, “this is the newest amazing treat from Sugarcube Corner, Mr. and Mrs. Cake call it an Azurite Delight pie! It has pieces of Azurite gems and blueberry filling in it." Rubbing her head with a hoof, Sweetie Belle trotted over to gaze at the exalted pie. “Oh wow Spike, I’m sure you’ll find that delicious. That’s so nice of the Cakes to give you something like that.” Spike grinned. “I know. Today I’m a lucky dragon. Twilight also gave me the rest of the evening off. I was just on my way to see if your sister Rarity had anything for me to do.” Sweetie Belle’s heart sank a little at this. Spike obviously wasn’t aware of the plans Rarity had that night. “Oh, uh, I’m sorry Spike, but my sister actually has plans tonight…” The dragon’s smile vanished. “She does?” Sweetie Belle looked down. “Uh… yeah. She’s kinda… going on a date with Big Macintosh.” Spike nearly dropped the pie in sheer disappointment. His night off was now basically ruined, and the mare of his affection now obviously interested in somepony else. Again. “Oh… well, I guess I’ll head back home to Twilight then. Thanks for letting me know Sweetie Belle. Sorry again for bumping into you.” The dragon spun around and started in the opposite direction. After a few moments, the filly called out,“Wait!” Spike flipped around again. “I was on my way to see if Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had some crusading plans tonight, but maybe… we could hang out instead. You shouldn’t have to go back home.” The darkness of the fading twilight light concealed the intense blush on Sweetie Belle’s cheeks. Spike didn’t know what to say. Sure he knew and was acquainted with Sweetie Belle, but they had never hung out together alone. Feeling somewhat of an obligation to the filly after what happened earlier, Spike made up his mind. “Uh, alright, what do you wanna do? It’s almost dark so not much to do outside.” Sweetie Belle smiled in delight. For a while now she had wanted to spend a little time with the young dragon one-on-one… especially after seeing her own sister make plans for a date. “We could still go back to Carousel Boutique, there’s always some fun stuff to do there.” Spike ambled back over to Sweetie Belle, the pie carefully remaining in his claws. “Sounds good to me”. The two young subjects strolled through the town, chit-chatting about mostly ordinary and mundane topics such as school, the latest Cutie Mark Crusader endeavors, and Twilight’s studies. Sweetie conveniently avoided the topic surrounding the events of Applejack’s stetson hat, however. By now the sunlight mostly had disappeared, and the lights of windows illuminated the streets. The two could see the silhouettes of other ponies going about their daily business, whether it be preparing dinner, socializing with other ponies, or simply relaxing and enjoying the very pleasant evening. However as a spring evening, a slight chill made itself known in the air. Thus, Spike and Sweetie Belle picked up the pace a little in order to reach the now seemingly very cozy boutique. Located in a somewhat isolated location at the edge of town, the elegant building was almost in sight. They could not ever have been prepared for what lay ahead. Sweetie Belle rounded a corner and stopped abruptly, a confused look surfacing on her face. Spike stopped too, perplexed at the filly’s sudden halt. “What’s wrong, Sweetie Belle?” Sweetie’s eyes were still glued in front of her. She didn’t mutter a word as Spike rotated his head in the direction the filly was staring. He was shocked to see Carousel Boutique with the door frame wide open, and the front door clearly lying on the ground behind it. The lights of the boutique were on, but from afar they could not see anypony inside. Without saying a word, the two raced the one-hundred feet or so toward the front, and entered through the broken door frame. The sight inside was even more distressing. Everything was in complete disarray, as if a tornado had formed inside the building. However, the most confusing matter involved the large breach in the floor in the center of the room. Only about a foot deep with a circumference of maybe ten feet at most, the bottom consisted of mulchy wet dirt that seemed recently moved. An even weirder site consisted of the empty open chests surrounding the hole. “Rarity? Rarity? Big Macintosh?” There were no answers to the filly’s calls. Only a deafening silence. Spike walked out and stepped onto the dirt within the depression, the pie still in his clutches. “What happened here? It looks like Discord went through this place.” Sweetie Belle cantered to the side of the hole. She carried a worried face. “I don’t know, but we should probably go get help. Or at least try to find Rarity and Big Macintosh.” “Maybe… Rarity and Big Macintosh tried to go digging for buried treasure or something as part of their date,” pondered Spike. Sweetie Belle gazed around at the chests. “I don’t think so, these are Rarity’s jewel chests. It definitely didn’t seem like she needed anymore earlier today, these were all full of jewels,” The filly stepped towards Spike in the hole, “and besides, Rarity hates getting DIRT…” The exact moment Sweetie Belle’s front hoof made contact with the dirty bottom of the depression, a loud “whoosh” sound startled the two, instantly followed by the ground giving way. Sweetie Belle and Spike screamed as they tumbled into the dark abyss below.