The Price of Friendship

One Can Only Dream

Applebloom held her hooves as tight as she could against Scootaloo's mouth, trying her best to silence the struggling filly. They had heard the commotion far before Sweetie Belle awoke from her dead slumber, and despite Scootaloo's attempt to try and warn their sleeping friend, Applebloom had been adamant against it, “T-There ain't enough room, we can't all hide 'ere!” she tried to reason with the dense mare, but Scootaloo wouldn't have it, “She's our friend, Applebloom! We can't let her there.!”  Scoot responded just as strongly. That's when Sweetie began to awake, she called for her friends as  more sounds of fighting erupted outside, Scootaloo went to call out to the frightened mare, but Applebloom quickly suppressed her. They watched in terror hidden beneath a mass of dirty clothes and bed sheets. Scootaloo fought back tears, and forced her mouth down as hard as she could on Appleblooms hoof, but she managed to hold in the pain. Suddenly, the door rammed open, and they spied Sweetie Belle taking cover, relief flowed through them, but the feeling went away as soon as the beast had shown up. It vanished in the inky blackness no sooner than it arrived, and they held their breath as they heard the grisly voice speak up from the thin air. Scootaloo's teeth sank deeper into Appleblooms flesh, but she held in her discomfort as blood trickled out, tears flowing down her face. Out of the darkness young Sweetie let out a small whelp, and the beast emerged from thin air grinning hellishly at the pathetic filly, yet the worst of their fears had only just started.

It lifted her up by here mane chuckling, “I've been following you, Little Mare, and now you will tell me where your friends are, so that they may finally get a chance to meet me just like you.” the something said holding her up to it's face, but she didn't respond. It frowned, or at least what looked like a frown, “My children are dying to meet you, child. I suggest you give me their whereabouts or you'll be the one playing with them” it's tone became more serious, but the filly couldn't muster up any courage to talk, her body dangling in the air. One of it's arms stretched out and slowly began to rub against the filly's flank, she gave off a whimper feeling it press against her skin, and began to sob “One last chance, blank flank, or your life will be over.” it threatened, but she just continued to cry. Applebloom was almost at the limit to what pain she could bear, her heart beating wildly as she tried to hold back a scream, for Scootaloo refused to release her grip on the arm. Instantaneously, both stopped, their eyes widened as they peered through the musty sheets of soiled fabric. Sweetie Belle was looking straight at them, tears tears seeped out of her eyes as she dangled from the beasts fingers, her lips quivered into a soft smile as she mouthed out five silent words before turning back to her attacker. I'll always love you guys she said, and both of them died inside, for they couldn't even say it back.

It wrapped it's barbed arm around her mane and scalp, and with a forceful tug, both were removed. Sweetie Belle yelled out in pain as her skin was torn from her body, her own blood dripping into her eyes blinding them. The something laughed hysterically, prodding another arm at the entrance of her anus. She shook her head no, her body already at it's limit with unbearable pain, but her pleas were disregarded. The something slid it's barbed arm into the hopeless filly's ass, the pronged blades tearing at her colon as it ventured deeper. Scootaloo released her grip on Appleblooms arm and they both hid their eyes from the scene, they didn't want this to be the last memory of their friend. Sweetie Belle gasped as if she had just broken the surface of water for a fresh breath of air as her bowls failed, urine pouring onto the floor. A silver tongue lapped at her wounds, as it's arm quickly removed itself from her ass, blood and feces spraying out with bits of flayed innards. She panted loudly her cries never ceasing as she felt her body go cold. It dropped her as she hit the ground with a hard thud. Sweetie Belle looked up through pain soaked eyes, the creature grinning back as it slammed it's foot into her face. The world vanished from her mind.

The something stood towering over the half dead Sweetie Belle, looking around the room as it spoke again, “Mother has a gift for all of her children” it seemed like it expected something to happen, but nothing but silence occurred despite the gasping mare. The two girls felt like they had held their breath for minutes, their lungs stung from the lack of oxygen, yet they refused to peer at the terror unfolding in front of them. The something looked down at the suffering mare and began to walk out of the room, “Stay put, I must check on my child--” the words were drowned by the sound of splintering wood. Half the house evaporated away as the something was flung through the debris and into the surrounding fields. Shrapnel peppered the whole area in all directions as the three girls were blown off the ground. From the dust and smoke a figure began to emerge, “You can stab me through the shoulder..you can kick me through a door..but don't you dare lay another filthy arm on one of these girls!.” Slingshot's words were loud and committed, the cannon propped onto his shoulder flaring red as he took aim again. He looked bad, his body was bruised and covered in blood, and his left eye was swollen shut the whole way. Applebloom and Scootaloo shook off the bits of wood and coughed staring at the colt awestruck. The something limped towards the woods, but with another well placed cannon blast the area in front of it erupted into more madness, “NO! You don't get to run! You die like your children!!” Slingshot yelled, his voice sounding more and more personal. The something stopped in it's tracks and turned around grinding it's hooked teeth, “What have you done! You will die for this you filthy creature!” the something roared approaching the wounded colt. He loaded his final cannon ball into his weapon and took aim. The something reared back and tossed itself at the mercenary with extreme force, he closed his eyes and fired the weapon at the same time. The world around them flared up with red flames and smoke and somewhere within the forest, the wolves cried to the moon..

Sweetie Belle had barely anymore life inside of her, she was laying hunched over on a rock as the crisis around her resumed. She groaned thinking about how much she'd wanted to do in life, and how all her hopes had vanished in the blink of an eye. Tears formed as she waited for death, praying it take her soon, and when it hadn't she just closed her eyes and began to dream. She always did love to dream..

She was back at that bar again, but things were different. Slingshot smiled, his hoof tracing across her cheek as he leaned in closing his eyes. The mare blushed as she did the same, pressing her lips lightly against his. The world seemed to stop for a moment as they kissed, her body wasn't in pain anymore, she felt a rush of peace and happiness. He deepened the kiss as he took her in his hooves, eyes gazing softly into her own as he finally spoke up, “It's time to leave, Miss Belle. There's someplace I want you to see..do you know what it is?” he said smiling, walking to the exit of the bar. The grown mare broke out in sobs as the door opened. A beautiful white light bathed each of them in a handsome glow, Scootaloo, Applebloom, and her big sister were standing there along with the rest of Ponyville. Suddenly, her flank began to glow as the image of two swans courting appeared. She couldn't believe her eyes, her mind flashed back to all the silly things she's done as a child to get it, and the memories made her smile. The crowd of people began to clap as they parted making room for the two lovers. For once, her life felt like it couldn't get any better, it felt complete. They reached an enormous decorated house as he softly gently let her out of his grasp. Sweetie Belle looked up at the handsome mare, and interlocked her hoof with his, “I know where we are going, Slingshot.” she said through a whisper, The mare nodded silently and opened the door. She knew exactly where she thought to herself, and uttered one last thing as all the pain in her past vanished in her personal bliss, “I'm home..”