The Belle tolls for love

FANNING THE FLAME WITHIN

Sweetie Belle now sat on a bench in the park shivering slightly. She was lost and she had no idea which way was home or even the way back to Cheerilee's house now. Not that she really cared. “How could she do this to me? She just went along with it because she thought I would blackmail her? What kind of pony does she take me for?!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed aloud angrily as tears flooded from her eyes.

The filly sat there on the bench for a few moments longer before a gust of wind blew by which made her shiver and curl up into a ball in order to try and keep her now freezing hooves warm. “Maybe I am too young, but that doesn't mean that what I feel for her isn't real does it?” Sweetie Belle asked herself aloud with a sniffle as yet another gust of wind blew past causing her to shiver even more violently now. She couldn't stay here, she had to find a spot that would at least shield her from the cold winds.

Though summer meant warm days, it also meant cold nights and Sweetie Belle was beginning to regret running out of Cheerilee's home now as she searched for a secluded spot which would prevent the cold summer night winds from hitting her.

Finally though, she found a spot that was at least better than sitting on the bench. It was a small little part of the park that was surrounded by thick bushes which she figured was a right side better than being in the middle of everything. Above all right though, one thought was on her mind. “I want to go home.” Sweetie Belle remarked with a sigh and shivered slightly now.

A certain purple unicorn lay sound asleep in her bed until an abrupt and loud knocking snapped her awake. “Who in Equestria would be awake this time of night?” Twilight thought to herself in a drowsy tone as she went to the front door and opened it to see a very panicked and worried looking Cheerilee.

“Twilight, I need your help!” Cheerilee exclaimed in a panicked tone much to the purple unicorn's confusion.

“So let me get this strait, Sweetie Belle was staying with you because you were helping her study for math and then she got upset and ran out the door when she couldn't solve a math problem?” Twilight asked in a skeptic tone as the two mares searched through the part of town that Cheerilee lived in.

“Y-Yes.” Cheerilee lied. There was no way she could tell her the real reason, she would never understand.

“Forgive me, but I have trouble believing it was something as simple as a math problem that would cause Sweetie Belle to rush out the door like that. And why didn't you contact Rarity first. I think she would like to know that her sister is missing!” Twilight exclaimed dramatically as the two walked by the park now.

“I-I couldn't.” Cheerilee replied as she looked around.

“Why not? This is sounding more fishy by the minuet Cheerilee. What are you hiding?” Twilight asked looking at the mare now with a curious look now.

“Lets just find her! I don't know what I would do if she-” Cheerilee began to exclaim only for Twilight to appear in front of her in a flash of magic halting her in her tracks.

“I wasn't born yesterday ya know! You're hiding something, something you don't want anypony to know. Now spill it! What really happened Cheerilee?” Twilight asked in a stern tone. She knew something fishy was going on and she wanted to find out what exactly.

“We don't have time to be talking Twilight! The longer we stand here, the longer Sweetie Belle is out here in this freezing cold night!” Cheerilee exclaimed and walked past her only for the unicorn to appear in front of her in yet another flash of magic.

“If you won't tell me what's really going on then I'm going to go get Rarity. She deserves to know what's happening anyways.” Twilight said in a threatening tone.

“No, you can't! Your the only pony I can trust!” Cheerilee exclaimed in a panicked tone looking at the unicorn now.

“Then tell me! What's so bad that you don't want Sweetie Belle's only sister to know about?! If you trust me so much then tell me for pony's sake!” Twilight exclaimed in an aggravated tone.

Cheerilee stared at Twilight for a short time as if debating on whether to tell her and without warning tears began to flood from her eyes. “It's all my fault...” Cheerilee said in a teary tone as her voice cracked.

“What's all your fault?” Twilight asked looking completely confused now as to what the earth pony was referring to.

“I've been a terrible pony Twilight, I've done things with her I shouldn't have.” Cheerilee replied in a soft tone as she put her head on the ground and sobbed quietly to herself.

“What the hay do you mean things you shouldn't have?” Twilight asked in a confused yet concerned tone.

“It all started that night of the summer sun celebration school party, Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara spiked our drinks and we both got very drunk and...” Cheerilee began to say but trailed off.

“Did what?” Twilight asked though she had a good idea and hoped she was wrong.

“I-I-I slept with her Twilight! I don't know why or how we ended up doing what we did, but that's not the worst part.” Cheerilee replied looking as if she was in full blown sobs now.

“Okay, so what could be worse than sleeping with a filly two times younger than your age?” Twilight asked in an shocked tone. Part of her was now disgusted with the very sight of this mare in front of her now, but the other part pitied her. She always knew that Cheerilee was into pony's younger than herself, but she didn't think that she would go this young. Yet for some reason she couldn't be upset at her. She of course knew why this was the case but she would rather forget that part of her past.

“I think she's in love with me.” Cheerilee replied in a soft tone.

“In love with you? A filly her age?! Lets think rationally here!” Twilight exclaimed in an annoyed tone. Now she was starting to get upset with her. It was as if she was making excuses now.

“Oh come on Twilight! You honestly think I would say that if I didn't think it to be so? I saw it in her eyes! The same look you gave me many years ago!” Cheerilee exclaimed feeling her temper rise now as well.

“I was five years older than her, I think that qualifies me to be a little more mature in that field that her.” Twilight replied in the same annoyed tone with a glare now.

“Of come the buck on Twilight. You and me both know that fillies mature quicker than colts in the emotional field.” Cheerilee replied countering with a glare of her own.

Twilight wanted to argue this more but she knew that they had more pressing matters to attend to and that was finding Sweetie Belle. “Be glad we have a history Cheerilee. Because if we didn't, I wouldn't hesitate to have you thrown into Canterlot prison. Now come on, we have a foal to find.” Twilight replied in a threatening tone as she turned around and began to head into the park while memories played out in her mind.

FLASHBACK

“How can you even say such a thing?! After all we've been through? After all we've done?!” Twilight exclaimed with tears in her eyes along with a hurt expression.

“Twilight, I'm sorry. But you and I both know it would never work out. Think about it. If they found out about me and you, I would not only lose my teaching license, but also my life. I can't risk that! Not even for you...” Cheerilee replied with a sigh.

“Who cares what ponies think?! I love you Cheerilee!” Twilight exclaimed as she ran over and hugged the earth pony tightly.

“I'm sorry Twilight, I love you too, but the risk is too great. I'm being transferred to Ponyville later this month and there is no way we can keep this going and keep it a secret. It would become more than obvious something is going on if we kept on seeing each other in secret.” Cheerilee replied and gave a deep sigh.

END FLASHBACK

“You really hurt me, you know?” Twilight remarked after a few moments as the two searched through the park now.

“Yes. I can't begin to say how sorry I am for that.” Cheerilee replied in a soft tone.

“So are you going to run away again?” Twilight asked as she looked behind a few bushes while Cheerilee search some others a few feet away from her.

“Is that what you think I did? Twilight, I had no other choice. Surely you understand.” Cheerilee replied in a slight offended tone.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that, it just came out.” Twilight replied in a guilty tone along with a sigh.

“I know you didn't Twilight, for now lets just focus on finding Sweetie Belle.” Cheerilee replied as yet another gust of wind blew throughout the park causing both mares to shiver violently.

“I just hope you learned your lesson...” Twilight remarked aloud to which the earth pony knew exactly what she was referring to.

About thirty minuets later Twilight was just about to tell Cheerilee that they needed to get help in order to find the filly when a rustling sound came from behind a cluster of bushes to her right. Curious, the unicorn slowly walked in that direction. “Sweetie Belle? You there?” Twilight asked in a soft tone as she walked up to the bushes and parted them to see the white unicorn shivering and shuddering violently which caused Twilight's eyes to widen in both alarm and relief.

“Cheerilee, I found her!” Twilight called out at which point a thundering of hooves could be heard and the earth pony came into view mere seconds later.

“Thank Celestia she's okay!” Cheerilee exclaimed in relief as she reached in and lifted the filly up who was still shuddering violently. “She's cold as ice! We've got to warm her up!” Cheerilee remarked in a worried tone as she held the filly tightly.

“I'll teleport us back to your house.” Twilight replied, channeled magic into her horn, and in the next moment the three disappeared in a flash of magic.

Sweetie Belle lay in Cheerilee's bedroom snugged warming in her blankets but still was shivering slightly as Cheerilee ran a hoof through her mane with a worried expression. “And that's everything that's happened so far.” Cheerilee said in a matter-of-fact tone looking at Twilight now whom was scanning the contents of Sweetie Belle's saddle packs.

“Well, the saddle packs don't lie. You should see some of the stuff she has in here. Many of the books in here are actually from my library. She must have grabbed them when I wasn't looking.” Twilight remarked as she looked over the titles of the books.

“What books did she take?” Cheerilee asked curiously as she left the white unicorn's side and looked at the books Twilight was looking through.

“Lets see, we got, Dating for foals, how to break the ice when dating somepony your own sex, popular locations within Ponyville to take your date, and...!” Twilight began to say only to trail off now with a crimson red blush.

“What's the title of the last one Twilight?” Cheerilee asked curiously wondering why the mare had suddenly stopped naming the titles of the books.

“How to please your mate, a rookie's guide to sex. How the hay did she get this one?! That's in the adult section of the library and I put an age restriction spell on it myself! Only spike and me can get through that spell unless the pony is an adult.” Twilight remarked in shock until her eyes lit in with a glare. “I'm going to skin that dragon! No wonder he was acting so odd two weeks days ago!” Twilight exclaimed in a pissed off tone as she put two and two together as to why Spike was acting the way he was on the the same day she recalled seeing Sweetie Belle in the library.

“Well that explains how she knew how to make me, umm, erm...never mind.” Cheerilee began to say only to stop herself mid-sentence through her recollection upon seeing Twilight's expression.

“Wh-Where am I?” Sweetie Belle asked in a weak tone at which point Cheerilee rushed to her side and smiled at her.

“You're safe, don't worry.” Cheerilee said in a soft tone as she ran a hoof through Sweetie Belle's mane again.

“Cheerilee?” Sweetie Belle asked in the same weak tone.

“Yes, it's me. I'm so sorry for doing this to you. If only I had said no from the beginning, this would have never happened.” Cheerilee replied as tears of guilt swelled in her eyes and drifted down her cheeks.

“No, it's my fault. You're right, I'm too young to date you and I acted so stupid. I should have known you were putting on an act, but I thought that maybe I stood a chance.” Sweetie Belle replied still sounding weak, but less so now.

“Sweetie Belle I...” Cheerilee began to say but trailed off. Once again that kiss she gave her was haunting her thoughts and feelings.

“What is it?” Sweetie Belle asked looking at her now taking note of the fact the earth pony was biting her lower lip now as if she was hiding something.

Twilight looked at the two now and also took note of Cheerilee's behavior and sighed with a soft smile as she looked at the two.

Looking at Cheerilee now, how she was caring for Sweetie Belle, it was suddenly so clear, she would never let anything happen to her, she would never let any harm come to her, she would be there always to look after and care for her.

Of all the mates Sweetie Belle could have, this pony, this mare, a pony two times her age, was the only pony she cared about as deeply as I had.

As insane as it sounded to me, the very thought of Sweetie Belle choosing to be with Cheerilee, the very thought that this filly could possibly be attracted and fall for a pony twice her age, it was almost unbelievable. Yet here she was, doing her best to put on a brave face, doing her best to hide the fact she was deeply in love with this mare. Looking at these two now, how they looked at one another, how it was more than obvious they cared for one another deeply yet neither would admit it, it made me realize just what kind of insane world I was living in. I suppose that in an insane world, this was the sanest choice for the both of them.

“Twilight? Is something the matter?” Cheerilee asked curiously taking note of Twilight's sudden motion to leave the room which point the purple unicorn stopped and sighed.

“You never learn, do you?” Twilight replied with a half smile.

Cheerilee of course knew exactly what the purple unicorn was referring to. “Twilight, you can't possibly think that I...” Cheerilee began to say but trailed off as Sweetie Belle placed a hoof on her cheek which caused her to look back at the white unicorns face allowing the unicorn to leave the room completely.

“What did she mean by that miss Cheerilee?” Sweetie Belle asked curiously to which the earth pony sighed.

“It means she knows me better than I know myself. Would you excuse me for a few moments?” Cheerilee replied, stood up, and left the room to join Twilight whom was sitting in a chair in her living room.

“How could you tell?” Cheerilee asked in a soft tone which caused Twilight whom was staring at the fireplace which she had ignited herself up to this point to look at her.

“You honestly think that after all those years we spent together, that I didn't get to know you that well?” Twilight asked with a smirk.

“Well, a pony can change.” Cheerilee replied with a smirk of her own.

“True as that might be, you sure as hay didn't learn from your mistakes. You're still are falling for the young ones.” Twilight replied and looked back at the fireplace.

“I never meant to, what I mean to say is...” Cheerilee began to say but trailed off as she was having trouble finding the words.

“Save it, you and me both know that you care about her more than you let on.” Twilight replied as she turned to look at her again, stood up from the chair, and walked over to the earth pony. “The million bit questions is, is she worth the risk?” Twilight asked in a soft tone.

“I-I don't know. She is after all, younger than you were when we first met. She seems to know what she's feeling, but I can't help but wonder if she really does.” Cheerilee replied and let out a deep sigh a few moments later.

“In the two years I’ve lived in Ponyville, I've gotten to know Sweetie Belle fairly well. She's not so good at hiding her feelings. When she was in the library two weeks ago, she spoke of a pony she had a serious crush on but wouldn't say who. I just assumed it was one of her classmates. Now I realize it was you.” Twilight replied walking up to Cheerilee and smiled warmly at her. “Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. Just do me one favor, don't buck things up this time, okay?” Twilight said a few moments after her initial statement, walked past the earth pony, opened the door, and left the house closing the door behind her.

Cheerilee stood there stunned for a short time, unable to quite process what just happened. Then without warning something clicked. Twilight had just agreed to help her keep this relationship a secret. There was one problem however, she wasn't exactly sure how she felt about Sweetie Belle, but she knew how to find out.

Cheerilee then walked back into her bedroom to see Sweetie Belle still awake and waiting for her to return. “Cheerilee, I just wanted to say how sorry I am. I never meant to make you worry about me so much.” Sweetie Belle said in the same weak tone.

“Don't worry about it. I'm not upset with you, it was after all, my fault. If I had been honest with you from the beginning, this would have never happened.” Cheerilee replied followed by a sigh as she walked up to the bed, climbed on top, and laid next to Sweetie Belle whom turned to face her on the other side of the bed.

“I sort of knew the whole time, but I kept telling myself that you really did care about me like I did you. I was so happy to have a chance to date you that I ignored everything telling me otherwise. But when you told me yourself to my face, I couldn't accept it, so I ran away.” Sweetie Belle replied as tears dripped down her cheeks now.

“I've done my own share of running away. Just not in the literal sense.” Cheerilee replied in a soft tone as she ran a hoof along Sweetie Belle's cheek, wiping away tears as she looked into her eyes.

“What do you mean?” Sweetie Belle asked with an confused expression now.

“I thought I knew how I felt about you, I thought I could just leave things as they were. But that kiss I gave you a week ago. That kiss haunts me, makes me question my feelings for you. So I thought, maybe one more, just to see if the same flame that once burned inside us during that kiss, was really what I felt.” Cheerilee replied at which point Sweetie Belle's expression became more confused if possible.

“Huh?!” Sweetie Belle replied with expression that said “What the hay are you talking about?!” which made Cheerilee giggle and sigh.

“I keep forgetting that things like that will go over your head for sometime. Let me put it in terms you'll understand.” Cheerilee replied, put a hoof on her chin, and sighed as she tried to figure out a way to say the same thing but in a way the filly would understand. “I want to find out if what we felt when we kissed two weeks ago really meant anything. So I would like to kiss you once more.” Cheerilee said a few moments later at which point Sweetie Belle's expression changed from confused to one of understanding.

“Well why didn't you say so?” Sweetie Belle replied with a giggle, leaned in, and locked lips with the mare.

As if by magic, that same feeling, that flame that burned so brightly between the two during that kiss a week ago, suddenly reignited full force. One kiss turned into two, two kisses turned into four, and before the two realized it their hooves were running through each others manes as they made out on Cheerilee's bed only for Cheerilee to stop abruptly much to the unicorn's dismay.

“Why..did you...stop?” Sweetie Belle asked in a breathless tone.

“Two reasons.” Cheerilee replied in the same breathless tone as she regained her composure and fought her urges away before continuing to speak. “For one thing, your not feeling so well. Secondly, it's four in the morning and we both need sleep.” Cheerilee replied with a smile.

“So, how do you feel about me?” Sweetie Belle asked curiously as the mare got under the sheets and snuggled next to her.

“Hmm, I’ll put it this way, I’m willing to give this relationship of ours a real chance now.” Cheerilee replied with a smirk and gave the filly a peck on the cheek.

“Really?! No acting this time?” Sweetie Belle exclaimed as her eyes lit up with joy.

“No acting this time. I'm going to give you a real chance with me Sweetie Belle. Just remember, no pony can know. Not for a few years at least.” Cheerilee replied in a soft tone followed by a yawn.

“I understand, And Miss Cheerilee.” Sweetie Belle replied trailing off on purpose.

“Yes sweetheart?” Cheerilee asked in a drowsy tone.

“Thank you for giving me this chance.” Sweetie Belle said in a whispering tone, kissed her on the cheek, and nuzzled her affectionately before giving a yawn of her own and closing her eyes.

Cheerilee looked down at the filly whom laid close to her now and ran a hoof though her mane gently as she slept peacefully now in her hooves. “I won't buck things up this time Twilight. I promise.” Cheerilee thought to herself in a soft tone before she closed her own eyes and drifted off into a pleasant sleep.