The Horrors That Lay Inside The Carousel Boutique

Chapters

Chapter One: The Beginning
Chapter Two: The Apple Family House
Chapter Three: Back At The Boutique
Chapter Four: Sweetie Belle's Plan
Chapter Five: Sweetie's Belle Plan Being Put Into Action
Epilogue

Chapter One: The Beginning

“Oh Sweetie Belle!” Rarity called in her refined british accent.

“Yes, Rarity?” Sweetie called back.

“I have a surprise for you. I simply can’t wait to show it to you. I’m absolutely certain that you’re going to love it!” Rarity said as she traipsed down the stairs of the Carousel Boutique to where Sweetie Belle was sitting, doing her homework.

Sweetie Belle looked up just as Rarity hopped down the last step. Her horn was glowing, but Sweetie couldn’t see anything floating around.

“What is it?” She asked, getting up and walking over to Rarity.

“I made you a doll. It’s a pony.” Rarity said as she levitated a small doll into Sweetie’s hands.

“Oh, Uhhh… Thanks, Rarity.” Sweetie Belle said looking at it. It looked really old and dirty. It had oddly placed stitching all over it, and looked as though it were made of a dirty dish towel. The buttons that were used for its eyes were completely different. One was black and the other was white. The black one was nearly twice the size of the white one. The black one had two holes and the white one had four. At least they were both circles though.

It had a few strands of yarn for its mane and tail, which were fraying and different lengths. It had a fake smile stitched onto its face in black thread, and its ears were different sizes, as well as uneven.

“You’re welcome, do you like it?” She asked. She stared at Sweetie Belle, her blue eyes wide and sparkling, awaiting her younger sister’s answer.

Sweetie Belle looked down at the hideous doll in her hands and held back her look of disgust. She looked back up at Rarity and smiled, “Yeah, I love it.” She hugged her dear older sister who had taken her in once her parents had died. She hadn’t been the same since.

She hadn’t been as clean as she had been before, she was much more sloppy and careless. She was paying less and less attention to the cat she had once loved like a part of herself. Poor Opalescence was close to starving, and the little cat became much more violent and mood.

Sweetie smiled at Rarity once more before going back to the coffee table in Rarity’s family room to continue doing her homework. Rarity stood watch over her sister for a few more minutes before retreating back to her sewing room, where she made all of her dresses.

When she arrived, she saw her beloved cat, Opalescence, sitting atop a neatly folded stack of differently colored fabrics. Rarity walked over to where her cat lay. “Oh Opalescence, what shall I do?”

Opal hissed at her and scratched at her, missing by only little bit. Rarity shook her head and shoveled a small handful of food into Opal’s cat bowl. Opal hopped down from her perch and walked over to her food bowl. She quickly gobbled it up and meowed loudly as if begging for another helping.

“No. You mustn’t have any more dearest or you’ll gain weight and become unattractive.” Rarity said, putting the feed bag away.

Opal hissed again and jumped at Rarity, this time scratching up one of her legs. “Ow!” Rarity screamed. She instinctively kicked Opal away from herself and into a wall. Opal meowed and limped away from the wall and out of the room.

“You deserved it, you dumb cat.” Rarity said. She looked down at the cut on her leg. The blood ran down her shin and pooled around her foot, staining the carpet. Rarity gasped and scurried out of the room as fast as she could, and onto the hardwood floor in the hallway outside her sewing room.

She half ran, half limped to her room and into the bathroom, making sure she didn’t stain anymore of her beautiful carpet. She cleaned of her cut and covered it up. Then she went down to the kitchen to get cleaning supplies to clean up the blood stain.

“Oh dear. I do hope the blood will come up. I would hate it if my carpet were stained red with blood forever.” Rarity said to herself as she walked back up to her sewing room holding all the cleaning supplies, which she rarely used anymore.

“Rarity?” Sweetie Belle called from her room, down the hallway.

“Yes, Sweetie? What is it?” Rarity called back.

“Could you come here for a moment? Please?” She sounded scared, so Rarity dropped the cleaning supplies on the floor and jogged to her dear sister’s room.

“Sweetie Belle, what is it? What’s wro- oh. Oh my.” Rarity said, her voice shaking. She looked at what a mess her younger sister was. She was sitting on top of her bed, she was covered in blood and her hair was tangled and matted, with blood all over it. “My goodness, what’s happened to you?” Rarity asked as she ran over to her little sister.

Sweetie Belle lifted a bloodied, trembling hand and pointed to the opposite side of the room. Rarity followed her sister’s finger. Rarity gasped when she realized that Sweetie Belle was pointing at the doll that she had made for her just earlier that day.

The stitches on the doll’s mouth had turned up into a cruel smile and it was sitting down, its deformed little body leaning against the wall behind it. The doll turned its head towards them and lifted up its arm. In its hoof was one of Rarity’s larger kitchen knives, it was covered in Sweetie’s blood. The fabric the doll was made of was splattered with blood, just like the large knife it was holding.

There was a deep, quiet, elongated meow that came from the dark corner of the room. Opalescence appeared from within the shadows, her white fur stained with spots of red, which Rarity guessed was blood. Opal walked over to Rarity and Sweetie Belle. A long, loud hiss came from deep within Opal’s throat. She skulked even closer to the two girls cowering next to each other.

“Rarity….” Sweetie squeaked, tugging on her sister’s arm, as if begging her to save her.

“Don’t you dare think about running.” The doll said in a deep voice from across the room. It stood up on its hind legs and slowly and awkwardly walked over to the girls. It held up the knife, the blood on the blade glinted in the light that came through the door.

Rarity noticed that Sweetie Belle’s entire body was shaking. She held her sister closer, “Don’t be afraid, everything is going to be alright.” She said, attempting to reassure her.

“Don’t listen to her, nothing is going to be ok, not anymore.” The doll said, edging closer, the sound of blood dripping on the floor seeming to be the loudest sound in the room.

Sweetie Belle started crying, her small body shaking even more. Rarity attempted to use her magic to levitate the doll away from them.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The doll said. Its voice seemed to be deeper than before. It screamed and jumped at Rarity. She screamed as the blade cut through her side. She punched out at the small doll, hitting its torso. Before it went flying back, it left a large gash in her right forearm.

Sweetie Belle screamed as she watched her sister get attacked by an inanimate object, a doll no less. Rarity kicked at the doll once more, screaming as she did so. She hit and it flew back into the wall behind it. Although her attack had left a cut all the way down her calf. There was a loud thump and the clang of a metal object hitting the ground. Obviously the doll had dropped the knife.

“Quickly!” Rarity yelled, grabbing Sweetie’s hand and yanking her off her bed just as Opal jumped to attack her. They ran out of Sweetie’s room and down the stairs as fast as they could.

Then Rarity decided to make the worst mistake anyone can ever make.

She looked back.

Chapter Two: The Apple Family House

Rarity’s sapphire eyes met the oddly shaped button eyes of the doll. The button’s glowed green, and soon after Rarity’s eyes flashed green as well. She stopped running from it and turned to walk towards it.

“Rarity, what are you doing?” Sweetie Belle screamed as she tried to run down the stairs without falling down them.

Rarity didn’t answer as she continued to walk up towards the doll. Opalescence meowed as she came up behind the doll. Her eyes flashed green as she stared at Rarity.

“Rarity! No!” Sweetie Belle screamed as Rarity unwillingly approached the murderous doll. Opal purred quietly as Rarity got closer, swishing her fluffy white tail back and forth.

Sweetie Belle looked away and continued running down the stairs. She heard Rarity scream, which must have been the last thing she would ever do. Sweetie Belle threw open the door to the Boutique and ran out into the dark, empty streets of Ponyville.

She continued running randomly through the streets she used to know so well until she couldn’t run any longer. Then, Sweetie finally looked behind her, expecting to be taken over by some evil power that would lead her to her own death. Instead, she saw nothing, just the darkness that had been there before.

Sweetie Belle sat there alone in the darkness, breathing heavily. The cuts she had collected had all scabbed over and stopped bleeding. Sweetie tried to get up and keep going, or at least get to some place she could hide.

She looked around in the darkness. She couldn’t see anything. She closed her eyes and lay back on the ground. When Sweetie opened her eyes again the full moon had come out from behind the clouds.

She took advantage of the newly found light source and looked at her surroundings. She was on a dirt road, and on both sides of her was a fence. Inside the fencing were trees. Sweetie couldn’t tell what kind of trees they were just by looking at them, but when she looked closer, she saw apples hanging from their branches.

“Apple trees.” Sweetie said to herself. “That means I must be close to Sweet Apple Acres. Maybe the Apple Family can help me.” She forced herself to her feet and stumbled along the dirt road.

Sweetie Belle was walking along the road and her vision had started getting foggy. She was approaching the barn when it started. Sweetie Belle arrived at the door of the barn, at which point she could hardly see anything. She began to feel dizzy, she lifted her arm up and leaned on the barn wall with it. She lifted her other hand to knock on the door, but before she could, she fainted.

Big Macintosh was the first to see her. She was still unconscious when he found her. Big Mac picked her up and carried her into the spare bedroom. When Applejack and Apple Bloom both woke up he told them he had found her, and the state he had found her in. He told them where he had left her to rest and Apple Bloom immediately rushed to the guest room to tend to her wounds.

Sweetie Belle woke up screaming, her eyes still closed. Apple Bloom rushed to tell her that everything was ok.

“Sweetie Belle, everything is alright now.” Apple Bloom said, hugging her.

Sweetie opened her eyes and looked at Apple Bloom, then she hugged her back. When the hug finally ended Apple Bloom asked Sweetie what had happened.

She looked down at herself, “I don’t want to talk about it.” Then Sweetie looked at her arms and noticed that all her cuts had been treated. “Did you do this?” Apple Bloom nodded.

“Oh, and when Big Mac found you he told me that this was lying next to you.” Apple Bloom said, pulling out the doll that had tried to kill her last night.

“No.” Sweetie Belle whispered. She began shaking her head and tears were forming in her eyes. “No, no, NO!” Sweetie Belle starting screaming. She put her head in her hands and starting crying. “Get it away, please.”

Apple Bloom left the room with the doll. She threw it in the trash can in the kitchen and then went back up to Sweetie Belle to comfort her.

“I-is it gone?” Sweetie Belle asked, looking up at Apple Bloom.

“Yeah. Its gone. Are you going to be alright?” Apple Bloom asked. Sweetie Belle nodded and wiped away some of her tears, and then she hugged Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom hugged her back. “Is there anything you need? Something to eat? Something to drink? If you need anything, anything at all, I would be happy to get it for you, all you need to do is ask.”

“I’d like some water, please.” Sweetie Belle said, wiping away the last of her tears. Apple Bloom nodded and left to get her some water.

While Apple Bloom was gone, Big Mac came to check on Sweetie Belle. “Are you alright?” He asked.

“Yes, I’m fine now. Thank you for taking me in.” Sweetie said.

Big Mac nodded, “Eeyup.” He said, and then left the room to get back to his work on the farm.

Apple Bloom came back with water and handed it to Sweetie Belle. She took it and drank all of it. “Could I have some more please?” She asked.

“Of course.” Apple Bloom said. She took the glass and left to get her some more water.

When Apple Bloom got down to the kitchen, she noticed that the doll she had thrown in the trash can had disappeared. She stared at the trash can in disbelief for a moment, and then shrugged it off. “I guess Applejack or Big Mac must have taken out the trash.” She said to herself.

She walked to the sink and filled Sweetie’s glass with water. She looked at the knife holder and saw that one was missing. It was the largest one, the one she was Big Mac sharpen every single day. “Maybe he’s just sharpening it now, and that’s why it’s gone.” She said to herself, turning the faucet off.

She didn’t notice that the knife sharpener was still inside the knife holder. She left the kitchen to return to Sweetie Belle with more water.

Suddenly she heard a scream, she jumped and some of the water from the glass spilled out, and onto the floor. Apple Bloom started walking faster and she slipped on the water that was on the floor. She fell on the ground and the glass of water broke underneath her. She screamed in pain and pushed herself up.

Glass pieces fell from her and onto the floor. Blood poured out of her cuts; she ignored it and rushed to help her injured, and deranged friend.

Sweetie Belle was screaming and crying, from what Apple Bloom could hear. She could hear something else as well, but she couldn’t tell what it was. She ran as fast as she could to help Sweetie.

When she arrived back in Sweetie Belle’s room, what she saw was unbelievable. The doll was holding their largest kitchen knife and attacking Sweetie Belle with it. She had new cuts all over her and she was screaming. The doll was laughing and slashing at her.

“Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom cried. The doll turned around to face her. The knife it was holding was covered in blood. There was so much that the blood was dripping off the knife and onto the floor.

Applejack must have heard Sweetie Belle screaming, and not a moment later she was there. The doll’s eyes flashed green once again, as it was staring at the two sisters. Sweetie Belle stared at the doll as it was about to kill her friends.

Applejack and Apple Bloom’s eyes glowed a sickly green and then stared unblinking at the doll. When it neared them, they didn’t run away.

Just before the doll stabbed its knife into Applejack, Granny Smith jumped in front of her. The doll stabbed Granny Smith in her stomach. She grunted softly and lifted her hands to where she had been stabbed. The doll pulled the knife out and Granny Smith fell to the floor, she was dead.

Applejack and Apple Bloom blinked. The green color left their eyes and they looked down, seeing Granny Smith on the floor in a pool of blood. Apple Bloom started crying and Applejack scowled at the doll. She screamed angrily and kicked the doll into the wall next to Sweetie Belle.

“Sweetie, come on. We’ve got to get out of here, now.” Applejack said.

Sweetie Belle looked at the doll one last time before running out of the room with Applejack and Apple Bloom. The three of them ran out of the house. They found Big Mac, told him what had happened and they all ran out of Sweet Apple Acres.

They took Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom to the Ponyville Hospital to treat their wounds. Once they were better, Applejack and Big Mac asked her what had happened.

“Well, I’m not exactly sure what happened.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Rarity gave me a doll and it sort of came to life. Then it got a knife from the kitchen and attacked me. Opal also attacked me.” She paused. “And Rarity.”

“Where is Rarity?” Applejack asked.

“I think she’s…. Dead.” Sweetie Belle said. “That or she’s joined The Doll and Opal.”

Applejack and Big Mac looked at each other. “How did she die?” Applejack asked.

“I’m not sure. All I know is that while we were running away from it she stopped and turned around. When I turned back to look for her, she was right next to The Doll. I looked away and ran out of the Boutique. I heard her scream, and I don’t know what else happened.” Sweetie Belle said. She was shaking all over.

“Could you explain to us what The Doll looked like?” Applejack asked.

“Well, it was by far the ugliest thing Rarity ever created. It looked like it was made out of a dirty dish towel, she would never make something out of a dish towel. Also, the stitching on it was crooked, and uneven. The scariest part was its eyes. Those buttons, they’re different colors and different sizes. Sometimes, they even glowed green.”

Applejack and Big Mac looked at each other again. They looked over at Apple Bloom, who had also seen The Doll up close. She nodded; her entire body was shaking as well.

“You two need to get some rest. Me and Big Mac will stay up and keep an eye out for that cursed doll.” Applejack said. She pulled an extra blanket over Sweetie Belle while Big Mac pulled one over Apple Bloom.

“Good night you two.” Big Mac said as he and Applejack walked out of the room.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked at each other one last time before they both fell asleep in the hospital room; wary of the evil doll that was chasing them.

Chapter Three: Back At The Boutique

When Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had both healed up, they decided they would go to the Carousel Boutique. Maybe they would find Rarity’s dead body, or Opal. And if they found The Doll again, then they would bring weapons to take care of it.

Big Mac led them out of their hospital room and into the main lobby. He took them down to the farm where Applejack was waiting. She was all sweaty and she was leaning on a shovel. Sweetie Belle guessed that she had just buried Granny Smith.

“Good. Ya’ll are back. I just finished buryn’ Granny, she deserved to have a few words said. Ya’ll wanna say anythin’?” Applejack asked.

Big Mac stepped up to the grave and whispered something that the others couldn’t hear. He walked back to them a minute or two later with tears shining in his eyes.

Applejack looked at Apple Bloom like she expected her to say something. Apple Bloom looked back at her, and took a step back.

“What’s wrong Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Apple Bloom didn’t answer, she just looked down at the ground in front of her.

“She must just be too scared to talk. Like she’s in shock or somethin’.” Applejack said. Big Mac nodded and rubbed his hoof on Apple Bloom’s head to try to comfort her. She smiled slightly and looked up at him.

The Apples and Sweetie Belle went into the Apple family house, being cautious of The Doll that may or may not still lurk inside. They walked about the house, picking up objects they thought might be useful for fighting against The Doll.

When they left the house, they had collected a wagon full of weapons. They had a baseball bat, a hammer, a shovel (the same one Applejack used to dig Granny Smith’s grave), a few kitchen knives, a hoe, a rake, a broomstick, a few sharp shards of broken glass they had found lying around, a frying pan, a crutch that Big Mac had to use when he hurt himself, another shovel, a pickaxe, a hedge trimmer, a digging fork, and a hay knife.

Hopefully all these items would be useful and protect them from The Doll. As they were leaving Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac was pulling the wagon, Sweetie Belle remembered The Doll’s eyes.

“We need sunglasses too.” She said. “I’ll go get them.” She ran back into the house.

“No, Sweetie wait!” Applejack called, running in after her.

Sweetie Belle grabbed four pairs of sunglasses from the shelf where they were kept. She made sure not to grab any broken ones, there were plenty. She turned around to go back out to the others. When she turned around, she saw a shadow coming in after her. She heard one of the floorboards creak. She tried not to scream and she grabbed the nearest heavy object she could pick up and threw it.

The lamp barely missed Applejack. “What the hay Sweetie? What are you tryna do to me?” Applejack asked.

“Oh…. Sorry Applejack, I thought you were The Doll.” She confessed.

“Well I ain’t so lets get goin’.” She said, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her out the door.

“Ouch. Applejack, that hurts.” Sweetie whined.

“Oh, sorry sugarcube, I guess ah don’t know my own strength.” She said, letting go of Sweetie’s wrist.

Sweetie dropped the sunglasses into the wagon and rubbed her hurt wrist with her other hand. Big Mac and Apple Bloom looked at each other with confused glances. Big Mac shrugged and started pulling the wagon out of Sweet Apple Acres and towards Ponyville.

When the quartet arrived at the door of the Carousel Boutique, they were more scared and nervous than ever. They each picked a favorite weapon out of the wagon and donned their sunglasses.

Big Mac chose the digging fork, Applejack chose the pickaxe, Sweetie chose the broomstick, and Apple Bloom chose one of the shovels. They left the wagon in close proximity to The Boutique so they could get back to it if any of their weapons broke, which was very unlikely, but they left the wagon where they could reach it, just in case. Because it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Big Mac walked in first. Then Applejack, followed by Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom went in last, being the one suffering with the most trauma. Once they were inside, they evened out so they were in a horizontal line instead of a vertical line.

Sweetie Belle was the first to see Rarity’s body. It was lying on the stairs, blood pooled out and running down the stairs. Her innards had spilled out and were lying askew along the staircase. Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to scream, but Big Mac put his hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t make any noise. She nodded and he removed his hand. Sweetie closed her eyes and turned away from Rarity’s body.

She walked over to Apple Bloom and whispered to her, “Don’t look over there.” She pointed in the general direction she had seen Rarity’s body. “That’s where Rarity’s body is, it’s really bad. It would probably give you nightmares if you saw it, unless you’re already having nightmares from just seeing The Doll.” Sweetie said. Apple Bloom nodded and she and Sweetie walked in the opposite direction.

Big Mac and Applejack walked up the stairs around Rarity’s body. Applejack slipped on Rarity’s lung and nearly fell down the stairs, but Big Mac reached his hand out and caught her. He pulled her back up and she nodded at him as a thank you.

The two younger ponies looked around the kitchen and the living room. Sweetie Belle shed a few tears of old memories she had spent and Apple Bloom stood shaking, clutching the shovel like it was her best friend. Sweetie Belle looked underneath the couch, and one of Rarity’s fainting couches. She didn’t find anything, Apple Bloom relaxed slightly and Sweetie wiped away the few tears she had shed.

The two older ponies were currently looking through Rarity’s craft room. They were lifting up pieces of fabric and checking under them. They found some small blood splatters and cat fur, but nothing else. They left the room and went to check inside Rarity’s room.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle walked into the downstairs guest room. They looked underneath the bed and inside the dresser, but they found nothing. They looked in the closet and under every other piece of furniture they could look under. As they were leaving, Sweetie Belle heard a meow.

“Opal.....” She said, mostly to herself. Apple Bloom started crying slightly and tightened her grip on the shovel. Sweetie Belle walked back into the room. She looked around, but she couldn’t see Opal anywhere. Then, Opal meowed again. It wasn’t the kind of meow she had mewed when she was about to attack her and Rarity, it was a sad, hungry meow. Sweetie turned to where she had heard it. She looked up and saw Opal sitting on top of the dresser. She had only been here by herself for two days, but already she looked so much thinner than she had before.

Sweetie Belle had always kind of liked Opal, and she felt bad for her. “Here girl,” She cooed, walking over to the dresser. “Come on down, I won’t hurt you.”

Opal hissed and turned around, her tail swishing off the top and tickling Sweetie’s nose. Sweetie Belle sneezed and jumped back, startling Opal. The cat jumped down, landing right in front of Apple Bloom. She was scared, and didn’t know if the cat was bad or not, she screamed and slammed the shovel down on top of her. Blood and cat guts went flying everywhere. Sweetie Belle screamed as well, in protest. She was now covered in splatters of blood and tiny, squished organs.

“Apple Bloom!” Sweetie screamed. “What did you do that for? Opal was a good cat.” She started crying. “She only tried to kill me and Rarity when she was possessed by The Doll.”

“Ah… Ah’m sorry, Sweetie.” Apple Bloom said quietly.

Sweetie Belle gasped and stopped crying. She looked at Apple Bloom and said, “Apple Bloom! You talked!”

Apple Bloom stared back at Sweetie Belle, somewhat surprised at herself for speaking and surprised at Sweetie for favoring that as a conversation topic rather than the dead cat in between them. She nodded slowly, “Yeah… Yeah! Ah did!” She shouted happily.

Applejack and Big Mac came rushing into the room then. “What’s wrong? What happened?” Applejack said. “I heard one or both of ya’ll screamin’.” She said. Then she noticed the squashed cat under the shovel. She gasped and stepped back into Big Mac.

“Nothing, we’re fine, sis.” Apple Bloom said.

“Apple Bloom, you’re talking again.” Applejack said. Apple Bloom nodded with a small smile. She started to lift the shovel off Opal’s remains.

“You might not want to do that.” Big Mac said, putting a hand out to stop her.

“Oh… Right.” She said, letting go of the shovel and letting it fall to the floor with a soft thump. “Ah’ll just go get the other shovel outta the wagon.” She said, leaving the room.

“Ah’ll go with yah.” Applejack said. “Fer safety.” Apple Bloom nodded and left with Applejack.

Sweetie Belle looked up awkwardly at Big Mac, who towered over her. “So ummm…. Did you and Applejack find anything upstairs?” She asked.

“Nope.” Big Mac said, shaking his head.

“Okay…” Sweetie Belle said awkwardly, nodding her head.

After a minute or two of awkward silence between Sweetie Belle and Big Mac, Applejack and Apple Bloom reappeared. Apple Bloom had the other shovel in hand and Applejack still holding the pickaxe.

Sweetie Belle looked at the pickaxe in Applejack’s hand. “What do you guys use that for on the farm?” She asked.

“What?” Applejack asked.

“The pickaxe you’re holding, what do you guys use it for normally?”

“Oh. We use it to dig holes to plant trees when the ground is too rocky fer just a shovel to dig through.”

“Oh.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Where to next?” Apple Bloom asked, breaking the awkward silence.

“Big Mac and Ah will go back upstairs and continue looking around. You two look around wherever you haven’t yet.” Applejack said, grabbing Big Mac’s large hand and dragging him along with her back to the second floor.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other. “Where haven’t we checked yet?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Ummm….” Sweetie Belle said, looking at the ceiling as she was thinking. “The bathroom?”

“Alright then, lets go check the bathroom.” Apple Bloom said, leading the way.

Sweetie Belle followed her. “Umm… Apple Bloom?”

“Yeah?”

“The bathroom is that way.” Sweetie said, pointing in the opposite direction they were going.

“Uhhhh.… Ah knew that. Ah was just checking to make sure you knew where everything in the house was.” Apple Bloom said.

“Sure.” Sweetie Belle said, taking the lead to the bathroom.

“Be careful big brother, I coulda sworn I heard something round this way earlier.” Applejack said, readying her pickaxe to strike whatever living creature got in her way.

Big Mac nodded, even though Applejack was in front of him, and readied his own weapon/farm tool. He followed his sister into Sweetie Belle’s room. There was blood covering the floor and her bed. Rarity’s best kitchen knife was lying on the floor close to the bed. Applejack slowly and carefully moved towards it, looking around the room as she did so, to prevent any other attacks.

When she reached the bed, she looked down at where she had seen the knife before, but it was gone. “It’s in here.” She said to Big Mac, stepping away from the bed.

Big Mac kicked the railing of the bed, attempting to startle whatever was underneath it. There was a screech of metal on metal and Applejack and Big Mac took another step back. They looked at each other nervously and then looked back at the bed as The Doll crawled out from under it.

Big Mac grunted as he thrust his digging fork at The Doll. It penetrated The Doll and pinned it against the bed. The Doll flailed wildly and swung the knife back and forth, trying to hit something. Applejack laughed humorlessly and The Doll looked at her. It’s eyes glowed green, but nothing happened. “Thank Sweetie Belle for thinking of these sunglasses.” Applejack thought as she stared into the bright green, unblinking, button eyes of the small, helpless doll in front of her.

The Doll made a sound that she couldn’t describe and chucked the knife at her. Applejack yelped and jumped to the side, the knife barely missing her and sticking into the wall behind her. She gave a quick sigh of relief and then slashed at The Doll with her pickaxe.

She barely cut it open. Four inches of stitches on its chest opened up. Applejack and Big Mac expected to see stuffing pour out, because it was a doll. But instead, blood poured out of the wound. It opened up wider, and inside Applejack could see something. She dared herself to move closer so she could see what it was. She looked inside The Doll and she saw a heart. A beating heart. She gasped and jumped back.

“What is it?” Big Mac asked.

“It’s got a heart. A real one. And it’s beating.” Applejack explained, not taking her eyes off the doll, still flailing in place.

“You’re joking, right?” Big Mac asked.

“Do Ah look like Ah’m joking?” Applejack asked, looking at Big Mac.

“I can’t tell, you got big goofy sunglasses covering half your face.” He said.

Applejack sighed and removed her sunglasses, purposely trying not to look back at The Doll. Big Mac looked her in the eyes. She was panting even though she hadn’t just done anything that involved work, and her eyes were wide with terror and panic.

“No, you don’t look like yer joking.” Big Mac said. he pushed the digging fork further into The Doll.

“Just leave it there. We gotta go get the girls and get outta here.” Applejack said. She slashed at it one last time before she and Big Mac left the room. The pickaxe hit the side of its face. Instead of blood coming out, it was stuffing this time. Applejack looked back one last time, confused and scared and then left with Big Mac.

They carefully made their way down the stairs as fast as they could without slipping or tripping over Rarity or her various body parts.

“Girls! Sweetie Belle! Apple Bloom!” Applejack called as she and Big Mac neared the bottom of the staircase. The girls came rushing out of the bathroom, holding their weapons in a fighting position, ready to attack anything that came at them.

“What is it, Applejack?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yeah, and where did Big Mac’s weapon go?” Apple Bloom asked.

“There ain’t no time to explain. We gotta get outta here right now.” Applejack said, pushing the girls in front of her as they all ran out. She looked behind her one last time to see if The Doll had freed itself and was following them. It wasn’t and she sighed with relief and left the boutique, slamming the door behind her and Big Mac.

The girls threw their tools and sunglasses back in the wagon as Big Mac grabbed it. Applejack did the same and Big Mac pushing his sunglasses over his head. He pulled the wagon as fast as he could.

“Where are we going now? And what did you guys find?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“We’re goin’ back to Sweet Apple Acres. Ah’ll tell ya’ll what me and Big Mac found once we get there. Just go, no more questions.” Applejack said, shoving them softly.

As they walked through Ponyville, they realized the streets were mostly empty, and those who were out on the streets were giving them strange looks, mostly Sweetie Belle. Sweetie blushed slightly and tried to wipe the squashed cat guts off of her.

“Sweetie Belle!” A voice called. Sweetie recognized it and turned around. The apple family turned around as well. “Sweetie… Belle….” Button Mash gasped for air. He slowed from running to jogging as he neared her.

“Hi Button Mash.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Sweetie, what happened to you?” He asked, still catching his breath.

“Oh ummm…” She looked at Applejack and Big Mac as if asking them if it was ok to tell him what had happened. Apple Bloom had her hand over her mouth and was holding back hysterical giggling. Applejack had a small smile on her face and Big Mac, also smiling, simply nodded.

“Are you ok?” Button asked, getting impatient with her quietness.

“Yeah, Button, I’m fine. It’s just….” Sweetie Belle explained to him what had happened and he listened, staring at her with wide eyes.

“Holy hay!” He shouted. “You’re sure you’re ok? That sounds bad.”

“Yes,” Sweetie sighed. “I’m fine, Button.”

“Well, I guess that’s why I haven’t seen you or Apple Bloom at school.” He said.

Sweetie Belle nodded.

“So can I help you guys vanquish this evil Doll?” He asked.

“Button, this isn’t a video game, it’s real life.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Yeah, I know, but I still want to help.” He said.

Sugarcube, what would your mother say if she knew you were out with a family she didn’t know and two girls your own age fightin’ an evil Doll that could possibly kill you?” Applejack asked.

“Well umm….. She would probably ground me.” Button said.

“Exactly.” Applejack said. “Now get goin’. We can take care of Sweetie Belle all by ourselves.”

“Fine.” Button said. “Bye Sweetie Belle.” He said a little awkwardly, blushing slightly as walked away.

“Bye, Button.” Sweetie said, blushing and waving to him as he walked away.

“Sweetie’s got a boyfriend. Sweetie’s got a boyfriend.” Apple Bloom chanted.

“Oh, be quiet.” Sweetie huffed. “Lets just go.”

Big Mac started pulling the wagon and Sweetie Belle kept pace with him while Applejack and Apple Bloom stayed a big further back, talking to each other and giggling. Big Mac sighed, “Girls….”

“Ugh, I know, right?” Sweetie Belle said, walking alongside Big Mac with her arms crossed over her chest. Big Mac looked at her with a small smile and continued on back towards Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack and Apple Bloom jogged to catch up.

“Ah’m sorry for teasin’ you about Button, Sweetie Belle.” Apple Bloom said.

“It’s ok.” Sweetie Belle said.

“It’s just, ya’ll would be such a cute couple, it’s obvious ya’ll like each other. If only one of you could get the courage to tell the other-”

“Apple Bloom, that’s enough.” Applejack said.

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle, her entire face as red as an apple. “Uhhh….. Ah’m sorry… Again.” Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle ignored her and walked faster. Even Big Mac had to struggle to keep up with her.

Chapter Four: Sweetie Belle's Plan

Sweetie Belle and Big Mac arrived back at Sweet Apple Acres first, a few minutes before Applejack and Apple Bloom. Big Mac was sweating like a pig and panting like a dog; while Sweetie Belle seemed just fine. When they got there, Big Mac sat down under an apple tree. He wiped sweat off his forehead and neck, wiping it on his dirt covered shirt.

Sweetie Belle sighed and rolled her eyes. She leaned on another apple tree, and crossed her arms. She was obviously still upset about Button Mash. After a few minutes of waiting in silence, Applejack and Apple Bloom finally arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, laughing.

“Are you guys still going on about me and Button Mash?!” Sweetie Belle squeaked angrily.

Apple Bloom and Applejack looked at each other. “No, sugarcube, we’re talking about how the other day, while we were apple bucking, Apple Bloom fell into a crate and was buried in apples until we found her again. You remember that, right Big Mac?” She asked.

Big Mac snickered. “Eeyup.”

Applejack let out a few chuckles, “It was pretty funny.” Apple Bloom laughed as well. And finally Sweetie Belle stopped being so upset and joined in the laughter.

When the laughter died down, Sweetie Belle asked, “Why are we all laughing so much like this is just another normal day?”

The Apples all looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

“I mean… We are kind of being hunted down by an inanimate object.”

“With a heart.” Applejack added.

“What do you mean? It can’t have a heart, its not really alive, is it?”

“Ah mean that Doll has a real, live beating heart inside it. Ah saw it when me and Big Mac found it.” She explained.

“Do you think… Do you think Rarity put the heart in it? Or do you think The Doll put it in itself?” Sweetie Belle asked, visibly shaken.

“Where would The Doll have gotten a heart? And Ah remember seeing Rarity’s heart lying on the stairs. Ah think she put someone’s heart in it herself.” Applejack said.

Sweetie Belle suddenly began shaking all over. She hugged herself as if to warm herself up. “Th-that means my sister killed someone…” Sweetie said. Big Mac got up, walked over to Sweetie Belle and hugged her.

Sweetie Belle didn’t react, she just kept shaking and hugging herself, enveloped in Big Mac’s huge arms. Slowly, her shaking died down and she wrapped her tiny arms around Big Mac as far as they would go, hugging him back. He let go and went to sit back down under the tree.

“Guys.” Sweetie Belle said once she had calmed down. They all looked at her as she spoke. “I think The Doll is after me. It only tried to hurt you guys when you tried to interfere with it hurting me, right?”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said, nodding.

“Like, when I first got here, and me, The Doll and Apple Bloom were all in a room alone together, it didn’t come to life and try to hurt her. It waited until she was gone and it attacked me when I was alone.” She explained, recalling the events in her head. Without realizing it, she had started pacing about halfway through the explanation.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Apple Bloom agreed.

“So… Do you guys think that maybe, Rarity had created The Doll to kill me? But instead it turned on her and killed her as well. And now it’s trying to kill me to finish its mission?” She stopped pacing and looked up at the Apples. “How the hay did I get all the way over here?” She asked, walking back over to them.

“It’s possible, and you were pacing.” Applejack said.

“I was?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said.

“Oh…” Sweetie said. “So anyway, what do you guys think of my theory?”

“It’s possible, and possibly true. But Ah hate to think that your older sister wanted to kill you.” Applejack said. “Ah certainly don’t feel that way about my little sister. And Ah’m sure that Big Mac don’t feel that way about neither me or Apple Bloom.”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said.

Apple Bloom let out a subtle, yet noticeable sigh of relief. Applejack chuckled softly. “So how exactly are we going to kill it?”

“I’m not sure. I’m still thinking of something.” Sweetie Belle said, and unknowingly, she began pacing again.

“You know, Sweetie, you’re a lot smarter than anyone at school gives you credit for.” Apple Bloom said.

“What?” Sweetie Belle asked, stopping and looking up. “Was I pacing again?”

“Yeah, but Ah also just said that you’re a whole lot smarter than anyone else gives you credit for.” Apple Bloom said again.

“Oh, really?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yeah.”

Sweetie Belle smiled, “Thanks, Apple Bloom.”

Sweetie put her head down in thought and started pacing again, trying to think of a solution to killing The Doll. Or at least stopping it from killing anyone innocent.

After a few minutes, Sweetie’s legs had gotten tired and she sat down. She tried to think, but it was just harder for her to think when she wasn’t pacing. She stood up again, and her stomach growled loudly. She blushed and put her hands over her stomach.

Applejack laughed. “Anyone for dinner?”

“Yes, please.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Me too.” Apple Bloom said, getting up and jogging into the house.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said, pushing himself up. He and Applejack and Sweetie Belle followed Apple Bloom into the house. Apple Bloom was sitting at the table and Sweetie Belle sat down next to her while Applejack and Big Mac started cooking dinner.

After they had all finished eating, the sun had finally gone down. Sweetie Belle had started pacing again. The others had pretty much forgotten why she was pacing and what she was trying to think about.

“I’ve got it!” Sweetie Belle shouted suddenly, startling the Apples.

“Huh? Got what?” Applejack asked.

“I know how we’re going to stop The Doll from killing everyone.” She said.

“Yeah? And how are you planning on us killing it?”

“We’re not going to kill it.” She said. The Apples stared at her, confused.

“Well then what in tarnation are we going to do?” Applejack asked.

“We’re going to let it kill me.”

Chapter Five: Sweetie's Belle Plan Being Put Into Action

Applejack, Apple Bloom and Big Mac all stared at Sweetie Belle with open mouths and wide eyes.

“Sweetie Belle, what the hay are you talking about?” Applejack asked.

“I mean, if The Doll is after me, if it kills me, then it won’t need to kill anyone else, right? I don’t want all you guys to have to die just because you were trying to keep me from dying. So I’m going to sacrifice myself.” She said.

“B-but Sweetie Belle…” Apple Bloom whimpered.

“I’m going to write a note to everyone I care about. Except you guys, because I’ll telling you all of this right now. I wanted to ask you though, if you would give the letters I write to the people I write them to?”

“Of course.” Applejack said.

“Sweetie Belle.” Big Mac said. “You’re being very brave sacrificing yourself for everyone else in Ponyville and possibly all of Equestria. I admire you very much.”

“Thank you, Big Mac. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say so many words at one time.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Eeyup.” He said.

“So when exactly are you going to sacrifice yourself, and how?” Applejack asked.

“Tomorrow morning. Tonight I’m going to write all the letters. And I’m going to go to Carousel Boutique all by myself,” She seemed to emphasize the part about going alone. “And just go up to The Doll and let it kill me, no matter how painful it will be.”

Apple Bloom whimpered, “You’re so brave, Sweetie Belle.”

“I’m also a masochist.” She said.

“Oh…” Apple Bloom said. “But you’re still so brave.”

Sweetie Belle nodded happily. “Could I have some paper, a pencil, and a pencil sharpener?” She asked.

“Ah’ll get that for you.” Applejack said, standing up. She left and when she came back, she was holding several pieces of paper, two pencils, and a small, handheld sharpener. “Here.” She handed them to Sweetie Belle. She took them and went up to guest room, where she had stayed the night after she was attacked by The Doll the first time.

She decided she would write the letter to Scootaloo first. It took her two pieces of paper, front and back, to explain about The Doll, and what had happened and to say her goodbyes. She mentioned that she hoped she would get her cutie mark soon, Apple Bloom too.

Then she wrote a letter to her school teacher, Cheerilee. Then she wrote a letter to her not friends, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. She mostly wrote that one, hoping they would be sad that she was gone. Maybe the details on Rarity’s dead body would give them nightmares.

Last but not least, she wrote a letter to Button Mash. She told him that she was going to sacrifice herself to save anyone else who might be in danger from being attacked by The Doll. She hoped he would take the news well. She also added some other stuff in the letter.

She folded up all the letters and stacked them on top of each other, in the order she wanted them to be delivered. Then she laid down in the bed and fell asleep quickly.

She woke up the next morning right as the sun was coming up. She quietly got up and left, leaving the letters where she had put them last night, hoping Applejack or Apple Bloom or Big Mac would find them and give them out to who they were addressed to. She walked all the way through Ponyville to the Carousel Boutique, where she figured The Doll would be.

When she got there, she walked in, slowly. At first, she tried to refrain from going up the stairs past Rarity’s dead, rotting body, so she looked around for The Doll downstairs. She passed the room where Apple Bloom had killed Opal, and tried not to go that way as well. When she was sure she had looked everywhere downstairs and she hadn’t found The Doll, she forced herself to climb the stairs.

When she first saw her body, she thought that it looked like a changeling’s body. It had holes in it everywhere, probably from decomposition, and her bones were showing through the holes. Her eyes were wide open, and they had been half eaten. Dozens of flies swarmed above the body.

Sweetie Belle focused on the huge hole in Rarity’s stomach. It was completely empty, and her organs were splayed about on the steps. Most of them were half eaten, and had a few flies circling over them. There was dried blood on the steps, looking somewhat like a frozen waterfall. A frozen waterfall of blood, that is.

She controlled her gag reflex the best she could and didn’t throw up. She carefully walked up the stairs, trying her hardest not to step on any part of Rarity, not even her hair or tail. She couldn’t do anything about stepping in her blood though. When she finally made it to the top without barfing she decided to look in Rarity’s craft room first.

She walked in and looked around. She saw a small bit of blood on the floor. “That must be where Opal attacked Rarity.” Sweetie Belle thought. She looked around a little longer and then left. She check Rarity’s room. She looked under the bed, inside cabinets and dressers. She didn’t find the doll anywhere.

“Where could that dumb Doll be?” She thought. She decided to check her own room. That was where it attacked her the first time. She nervously made her way to her room. She saw a pitchfork stuck into her bed, with blood splattered on it, but nothing was stuck in between the pitchfork and her bed. She figured The Doll might be in there, so she looked around a little bit. She looked in the shadows where she had first seen it.

She heard deep laughing. “Welcome back, Sweetie Belle.” A voice said. Sweetie recognized the voice, it was The Doll.

“Where are you?” She asked, her voice shaking slightly.

“I’m hiding from you.” It said. The voice echoed all around the empty room and Sweetie Belle couldn’t tell where it was coming from.

“Well, as long as you’re hiding, I have some questions for you.” She said.

“Ask away.” The Doll said.

“If you kill me, will you stop hunting for people to kill?”

“Yes. I was designed to kill you, and whoever else got in my way.” The Doll explained.

“I knew it.” Sweetie Belle thought. “Did Rarity build you?”

“No.” The Doll said. “Rarity created me.”

“She created you to kill me?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yes, and she gave me someone’s heart. Even I am not sure whose heart this is.” It said.

“If she created you to kill me, then why did you kill her?”

“She got in my way. I was trying to kill you, but she interrupted.”

“But, if she built-”

“Created.” The Doll corrected.

“Right, if she created you, then why did she stop you from hurting me?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“She was tired of living.” The Doll said.

“Why did she want to kill herself?”

“She didn’t, she wanted someone to kill her.”

“Ok, but why?”

“She was tired of living.” The Doll said again.

Sweetie Belle groaned. “Why? Why was she tired of living?”

“Because her beloved parents had died, and she was being forced to take care of you, along with her Boutique. It was too much pressure for her to deal with.” The Doll explained.

“Oh….” She said.

“Now it’s my turn to ask some questions.” The Doll said.

“Ok, go on.” Sweetie Belle said. She sat down on her bed, waiting for The Doll to ask its questions.

“Why are you here?” It asked.

“I’m going to sacrifice myself to you so you don’t try to kill everyone who tries to protect me.”

“Very brave. You’re a very brave little girl.” The Doll said.

“That’s what Apple Bloom and Big Mac said.”

“Why are you choosing to sacrifice yourself?” The Doll asked.

“To save everyone I care about from being hurt.” She said.

“Why do you care about others being hurt?”

“Because I love them.”

“What is love?” The Doll asked.

Sweetie Belle didn’t answer at first. She thought for a moment. “Love is….” She stopped. “Love is when you care about someone else more than you care about yourself. Love is when you want to keep someone else safe, even at the risk of your own life being drained away. Love is when you feel something for someone, something that makes your heart ache and burn.” Sweetie Belle explained after some thought.

“Hearts don’t ache or burn, unless you’re having a heart attack, or heartburn.” The Doll said.

“That’s not what I meant.” Sweetie Belle said. “Not our real heart, not the one that beats. Our metaphoric heart, the one that holds all our feelings.”

“Feelings are held in your brain.” The Doll said.

“You would have to experience love if you want to understand it.” Sweetie Belle said.

The Doll crawled out from underneath Sweetie’s bed and presented itself to her. It had a knife in its hand, or hoof…. but its mouth made of stitches was not curved up into a smile. Instead it was turned down in a sad frown.

It dropped the knife and opened its arms up to Sweetie Belle. “Hold me.” It begged, its deep, scary voice sounding innocent and needy. Sweetie hesitated, but then reached down and picked The Doll up. “Hug me, p-please.” It begged. Sweetie Belle slowly and cautiously wrapped her arms around the small object. The Doll wrapped its own tiny arms around Sweetie Belle.

“Does this mean you aren’t going to kill me?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Oh, no. I’m definitely going to kill you.” The Doll said, still hugging her.

“Oh…” Sweetie Belle said. “That sure took the touching moment out of all this.” She thought. “Well, I would really appreciate it if you would get this over with.”

“Right.” The Doll said, releasing its grip on Sweetie Belle. “If you could put me down please.” It said.

“Sure.” Sweetie Belle said, putting The Doll down on the floor next to its knife. It picked the knife up.

“Could you pick me up again? And put me on the bed next to you?” The Doll asked.

“Uhhh… Sure.” Sweetie Belle said hesitantly. She picked it up and set it down on the bed next to her. “Why exactly do you need to be up here?” She asked.

“I just have this strange feeling. I want to make your death quick. I’m not sure why, but I don’t want you to suffer.” It said.

“Oh, thank you.” Sweetie Belle said. “Thank Celestia. I lied to the Apples about being a masochist. I just didn’t want them to think I would suffer. But now I guess I won’t.”

“Would you lay down so I can stab the knife directly into your heart?” The Doll asked.

Sweetie Belle nodded and laid down. The Doll climbed up onto her stomach and searched for the exact coordinates of her heart.

Sweetie Belle giggled. “That tickles.” The Doll ignored her and found her heart. It lifted up the knife and thrust it downward as hard and as fast as it could.

Sweetie Belle didn’t feel a thing. She died quickly and quietly. A small smile still on her face due to the tickling; and her eyes were closed. The Doll sighed. It was too tired to pull the knife out of her chest. It laid back on top of her and stared at the ceiling. It reached its small fabric hooves up to its chest and opened the stitches. It reached in and pulled out its own heart, dropping it onto the floor.

The Doll slowly died, while laying on top of Sweetie Belle’s dead body. At least all the horror was finally over.

Epilogue

Button Mash was playing his favorite game in the Ponyville arcade when Apple Bloom walked up to him.

“Button?” She asked.

“Just a sec.” He said, mashing buttons quickly, trying to defeat the final boss. Apple Bloom sighed and sat down on the chair that was next to the machine Button was at. “Come on, come on, come on…” He whispered to himself, staring intently at the screen without blinking.

“Button?” Apple Bloom asked again.

“I said just a sec, I’m about to beat the boss, I need to concentrate.” He began mashing the buttons faster, and sticking his tongue out of his mouth. “Come on… Yes!” He jumped up and took his hands off the machine, shaking them. “I got a new high score, isn’t that great Apple Bloom?” He asked.

“Yeah, Button, that’s great, but…”

“Hang on, I have to put my initials in the scoreboard.” He said, moving the joystick to type in his initials.

He finished typing them in. “So, Apple Bloom, what did you want?”

Apple Bloom handed him a folded up piece of paper. “Here, this is from Sweetie Belle.”

“Really? She wrote me a letter?” He asked taking it, suddenly acting very shy and nervous.

“Yes, but it’s not about what you think it’s about.” She said. “You might want to wait to read it until you’re alone.”

Button nodded, staring at the piece of paper in his hands with his name on it, written in beautiful cursive handwriting inside a heart.

Apple Bloom left the arcade, holding a few more pieces of folded paper. Button couldn’t wait to read the letter. He wanted so badly to read it right then and there, but Apple Bloom had told him to read it when he was alone. So he put the paper in his pocket and went home.

When he arrived he saw his mom cooking in the kitchen. “Hi Button, welcome home. Why are you back so early?” She asked.

“No reason. I’m gonna go to my room, ok mom?”

“Ok, have fun.” She said, turning her attention back to the pot on the stove.

Button Mash walked into his room and closed the door. He sat down on his bed. “Why did I come back home again?” He asked himself. “Oh! That’s right, Apple Bloom gave me a letter from Sweetie Belle and I came home to read it.” He thought.

He pulled the letter out of his pocket and slowly opened it.

“Dear Button Mash,

Do you remember when I told you about how me, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Macintosh were going after an evil Doll that was trying to kill us? Well, I hope you do, because that was all true. I figured out that the only way The Doll would stop killing people at random, was if it killed the person it was meant to kill: me. So I’ve decided to sacrifice myself and let The Doll kill me. Please understand that it was the only thing I could do to save everyone.

I’ve always known that you had a crush on me, and I just wanted to tell you that I’ve always liked you too. Every time I got close to you, my heart would beat faster, and my face would turn red. I really really like you Button, and I’m sorry that I had to die before we got the chance to be together. Please keep on living, for me.

Love,

Sweetie Belle”

Button’s eyes teared up as he read the letter. His heart swelled up with love when he saw her name signed in a heart, and underneath the word ‘love’. His tears dripped down and landed on the paper, smudging the wording. He folded the paper back up, and put it on his desk. He picked up his pillow and hugged it tight. He buried his face in it and started crying.

Once he had all the sadness out of his system, he walked over and sat down at his desk. He reached into his secret drawer that not even his own mother knew about and pulled out all his half finished love letters to Sweetie Belle. He read each and every one of them, ripping them apart as he finished. When he had ripped them all, he started crying again.

He didn’t want to believe that the girl he loved was actually gone. Dead and gone forever. He refused to accept the fact that he would never see her again. He looked in his closet, seeing his belt hanging from the top shelf. He wondered if it would be enough to hang himself with.

He pulled out another piece of paper and started another letter, this one a suicide note to him mom. He finished writing it and signed it sloppily, his tears smudging half the page. He threw down the pencil he had been writing with and looked at the letter Sweetie Belle had written him. It had somehow opened itself. He read it a second time.

The very last words had caught his eye. “Please keep on living, for me.” He looked back at the belt in his closet, and then back at the letter. He sniffed and picked up the suicide note he had just finished writing and tore it up.

“I love you, Sweetie Belle.” He said aloud to himself. He hugged the letter she had written as though it was her. He kissed the heart where she had signed her name and put it back down on his desk.